He grasps the mermaid's scaly sides, As with broad fin she oars her way; Beneath the silent moon she glides, That sweetly sleeps on Colonsay. Proud swells her heart! she deems at last In softer, sweeter strains she sung, O sad the mermaid's gay notes fell, And ever as the year returns The charm-bound sailors know the day: For sadly still the mermaid mourns The lovely chief of Colonsay. ODE TO AN INDIAN GOLD COIN. Slave of the dark and dirty mine! So bright, whom I have bought so dear? The jackal's shriek bursts on mine ear When mirth and music wont to charm. By Chérical's dark wandering streams, Where cane-tufts shadow all the wild, Where loves of youth and friendship smiled, Uncursed by thee, vile yellow slave! Fade, day-dreams sweet, from memory fade! Revives no more in after-time. I haste to an untimely grave; The daring thoughts that soared sublime Are sunk in ocean's southern wave. Slave of the mine! thy yellow light Gleams baleful as the tomb-fire drear. A gentle vision comes by night My lonely widowed heart to cheer; Her eyes are dim with many a tear, That once were guiding stars to mine; Her fond heart throbs with many a fear! I cannot bear to see thee shine. For thee, for thee, vile yellow slave, To roam in climes unkind and new. The cold wind of the stranger blew Chill on my withered heart; the grave Dark and untimely met my view-And all for thee, vile yellow slave! Ha! com'st thou now so late to mock Vile slave, thy yellow dross I scorn! ODE TO THE EVENING STAR. How sweet thy modest light to view, Fair star! to love and lovers dear; While trembling on the falling dew, Like beauty shining through a tear. Or hanging o'er that mirror stream, To mark that image trembling there, Thou seem'st to smile with softer gleam, To see thy lovely face so fair. Though, blazing o'er the arch of night, The moon thy timid beams outshine As far as thine each starry light, Her rays can never vie with thine. Thine are the soft enchanting hours That soon the sun will rise again. With silent awe I hail the sacred morn, The sun a placid yellow lustre throws: JAMES SCADLOCK. BORN 1775 DIED 1818. JAMES SCADLOCK, one of the minor minstrels | continued to pursue the business of copperof Scotland, and a friend of Robert Tannahill, plate engraving until he was thrown out of was born at Paisley, October 7, 1775. He was employment by a general stagnation of trade. at first apprenticed to a weaver, but feeling After a period of inactivity he obtained work dissatisfied with the vocation selected for him, at Perth, where he remained a year, returnhe abandoned it after a year's trial, and ob- ing again to Paisley. He continued to write tained employment in a bookbinder's establish- songs, and to improve himself in drawing ment. Before attaining his majority he turned and painting and by the study of classical himself to copperplate engraving, and became literature and the modern languages, as well an accomplished engraver. From his boy- as by cultivating the society of Tannahill hood he had been addicted to verse-making, and other kindred spirits. He died of fever and having made the acquaintance of Tanna- July 4, 1818, leaving a wife and four chil hill, he became ambitious to distinguish him-dren, for whose benefit his poems and songs self, as his friend had already done by his beautiful lyrics. Scadlock, by his judicious praise and excellent judgment, also stimulated his friend Tannahill to greater efforts. He were collected and published. "October Winds," and several other lyrics by Scadlock, still enjoy no small degree of popularity in his native land. "Edinburgh, or the Ancient Royalty, a sketch of Former Manners, with notes, by Simon Gray," followed the year after by "Clan-Alpin's Vow, a Fragment." The latter poem, founded upon a terrible tragedy connected with the clan Macgregor, was perhaps the most popular of all his productions. Boswell's latest poetical work, entitled "Skeldon Haughs, or the Sow is Flitted," is a tale founded on a tra SIR ALEXANDER BOSWELL, Bart., the author | thology." In 1810 appeared an amusing poem, of a number of very popular Scottish songs, was the eldest son of James Boswell, the biographer of Dr. Johnson, and a grandson of Lord Auchinleck. He was born October 9, 1775, and received his education at Westminster School and the University of Oxford. On the death of his father in 1795 he succeeded to the paternal estate of Auchinleck, and after a tour of Europe took up his residence in the family mansion. Inheriting his father's love of lit-ditionary story regarding an Ayrshire feud of erature, and deriving from his mother a taste the fifteenth century between the Crawfords for elegant accomplishments, he by reading and the Kennedys. It appeared in 1816. From and study became a highly cultivated gentle- his private printing-press at Auchinleck apman. From his boyhood he had been passion- peared various fragmentary poems, ballads, ately fond of the ballad poetry of his native land, burlesques, and songs of his own composition, and indulged in the pastime of poetic compo- besides reprints of a number of rare and curious sition, the results of which appeared in a small brochures, chiefly tracts preserved in the volume published anonymously in 1803, and Auchinleck library. One of these was the disentitled "Songs, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect." putation between John Knox and Quentin Subsequently he contributed to "Thomson's Kennedy at Maybole in 1562, of which at that Collection," and Campbell's "Albyn's An | time his own was the only copy known; another has since been discovered. A complete edition | the Ayrshire Yeomanry Cavalry, devoting much of Boswell's Poems, with a memoir by Robert Howie Smith, was issued in 1871. To Sir Alexander Boswell we are chiefly indebted for the erection of the Burns Monument on the banks of the classic Doon. With a friend who like himself was an enthusiastic admirer of Scotland's greatest poet, and who warmly approved of the design, he advertised in the papers that a meeting would be held at Ayr on a certain day, to take into consideration the proposal of erecting a monument to Robert Burns. The day and hour arrived, but save the projectors not a single individual was present. Nothing disheartened, Boswell took the chair, and his friend proceeded to act as clerk; resolutions were proposed, seconded, and recorded, thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting adjourned. These resolutions being published and circulated, were the means of raising by public subscription nearly two thousand pounds. Sir Alexander laid the foundation stone January 25, 1820. At a time of great political excitement he unfortunately wrote and published some personal pasquinades, for one of which he received a challenge from James Stuart of Dunearn, a leading member of the Liberal party in Edinburgh, which was promptly accepted, the parties meeting near the village of Auchtertool in Fifeshire, March 26, 1822. Feeling himself in the wrong, Sir Alexander resolved not to fire at his antagonist; but Stuart's shot took effect; the unfortunate baronet fell, mortally wounded. He was carried to Balmuto in the vicinity, where he expired the following day, in the forty-seventh year of his age. His remains were deposited in the family vault at Auchinleck. Sir Alexander was a member of parliament for his native county, and lieutenant-colonel of time to drilling and disciplining his troops. The corps afterwards acknowledged his services by presenting him with a handsome testimonial. In 1821 his zeal and patriotism were rewarded by the honour of a baronetcy. He was much devoted to elegant pursuits, was a member of the celebrated Roxburghe Club, and in his earlier years was fond of field sports. He was full of anecdote and humour, and a general favourite in society. Had he been a poorer and socially humbler man than he was- - had he had his bread and position to make like so many of Scotland's sweetest singers-he would probably have achieved immortality. Some of his songs are as familiar as household words, though their author is comparatively unknown-as, for instance, the song of parental farewell beginning "Gude night, and joy be wi' ye a', Your harmless mirth has cheer'd my heart," and ending with this fine and genial touch:"The auld will speak, the young maun hear; Be cantie, but be gude and leal; Yer ain ills aye hae heart to bear, Anither's aye hae heart to feel: I'll see ye triumph ere I fa'; Gude night, and joy be wi' ye a'." Boswell's "Jenny dang the Weaver," "Auld Gudeman, ye're a Drucken Carle," and "Jenny's Bawbee," are of another character, and display considerable comic humour, as well as the peculiar spirit of the man, which consisted in hitting off the deeper and typical characteristics of Scottish life with an easy touch that brings it all home at once. His compositions seem as if they were the spontaneous expressions of nature, rather than the result of efforts of talent or genius. THE HIGH STREET OF EDINBURGH. Tier upon tier I see the mansions rise, The dripping barrel madifies your head; |