A head for thought profound and clear un matched; Yet though his caustic wit was biting rude, RATTLIN', ROARIN' WILLIE. Willie Dunbar was commemorated in verses of a different strain. There was an old rough Border ditty referring to a certain Rattling, Roaring Willie, of great celebrity in his day as a wandering violer. To this Burns added a stanza, which we are to take as a picture of the Colonel in his place of command and moment of highest exaltation. As I cam by Crochallan, I cannilie keekit ben; Rattlin', roarin' Willie slyly peeped in Was sitting at yon boord-en'; Sitting at yon boord-en', And amang gude companie; Ye're welcome hame to me! INSCRIPTION FOR THE GRAVE OF HERE LIES ROBERT FERGUSSON, POET. BORN, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1751 — DIED, 16TH OCTOBER, 1774. No sculptured marble here, nor pompous lay, VERSES UNDER THE PORTRAIT OF The keen sympathy felt by Burns for Fergusson was expressed on many occasions. Very soon after making the arrangements for the tombstone (March 19, 1787), he presented a copy of the works of the Edinburgh poet to a young lady, and wrote the following lines under the portrait which served for a frontispiece. CURSE on ungrateful man, that can be pleased, And yet can starve the author of the pleasure! Oh thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the Muses, VERSES INTENDED TO BE WRITTEN BE- WHOSE is that noble, dauntless brow? And whose that generous princely mien Stranger, to justly shew that brow, Would take His hand, whose vernal tints Bright as a cloudless summer sun, Among the illustrious Scottish sons THE AMERICAN WAR. A FRAGMENT. WHEN Guildford good our pilot stood, Ae night, at tea, began a plea, Then up they gat the maskin'-pat, Than quite refuse our law, man. turn quarrel tea-pot Then through the lakes Montgomery1 takes, Down Lowrie's Burn 2 he took a turn, And Carleton did ca', man ; Wi' sword in hand, before his band, Amang his en'mies a', man. dash drive before him what matters 1 General Richard Montgomery invaded Canada, autumn 1775, and took Montreal, the British commander, Sir Guy Carleton, retiring before him. In an attack on Quebec he was less fortunate, being killed by a storm of grape-shot in leading on his men at Cape Diamond. 2 Lowrie's Burn, a pseudonyme for the St. Lawrence. 3 A passing compliment to the Montgomeries of Coilsfield, the patrons of the poet. 1 Poor Tammy Gage, within a cage, For Philadelphia, man. 3 Burgoyne gaed up, like spur and whip, Then lost his way, ae misty day, In Saratoga shaw, man. And did the buckskins claw, man; But Clinton's glaive frae rust to save, Then Montague, and Guildford too, And Sackville dour, wha stood the stoure, knoll wood could sword obdurate dust 1 General Gage, governor of Massachusetts, was cooped up in Boston by General Washington during the latter part of 1775 and early part of 1776. In consequence of his inefficiency, he was replaced in October of that year by General Howe. 2 General Howe removed his army from New York to Philadelphia in the summer of 1777. 8 Alluding to a razzia made by orders of Howe at Peekskill, March 1777, when a large quantity of cattle belonging to the Americans was destroyed. |