The parent's heart, that nestled fond in thee, So from it ravish'd, leaves it bleak and bare. I have proceeded no further. * Your kind letter, with your kind remembrance of your godson, came safe. This last, Madam, is scarcely what my pride can bear. As to the little fellow, he is, partiality apart, the finest boy I have of a long time seen. He is now seventeen months old, has the small-pox and measles over, has cut several teeth, and yet never had a grain of doctor's drugs in his bowels. I am truly happy to hear that the little floweret' is blooming so fresh and fair, and that the 'mother-plant' is rather recovering her drooping head. Soon and well may her cruel wounds' be healed! I have written thus far with a good deal of difficulty. When I get a little abler you hear farther from, shall Madam, Yours, &c. No. 101. TO LADY W. M. CONSTABLE. Acknowledging a Present of a valuable Snuff-box, with a fine Picture of Mary Queen of Scots on the lid. MY LADY, NOTHING less than the unlucky accident of having lately broken my right arm could have prevented me, the moment I received your ladyship's elegant present by Mrs. Miller, from returning you my warmest and most grateful acknowledgments. I assure your ladyship I shall set it apart the symbols of religion shall only be more sacred. In the moment of poetic composition, the box shall be my inspiring genius. When I would breathe the comprehensive wish of benevolence for the happiness of others, I shall recollect your ladyship; when I would interest my fancy in the distresses incident to humanity, I shall remember the unfortunate Mary. No. 102. TO MRS. GRAHAM, OF FINTRY. MADAM, WHETHER it is that the story of our Mary, Queen of Scots, has a peculiar effect on the feelings of a poet, or whether I have in the inclosed ballad, succeeded beyond my usual poetic success, I know not; but it has pleased me beyond any effort of my muse for a good while past; on that account I inclose it particularly to you. It is true, the purity of my motives may be suspected. I am already deeply indebted to Mr. G's goodness; and, what in the usual reays of men is of infinitely greater importance, Mr. G. can do me service of the utmost importance in time to come. I was born a poor dog; and how ever I may occasionally pick a better bone than I used to do, I know I must live and die poor: but I will indulge the flattering faith that my poetry will considerably outlive my poverty; and without any fustian affectation of spirit, I can promise and affirm, that it must be no ordinary craving of the latter shall ever make me do any thing injurious to the honest fame of the former. Whatever may be my failings, for failings are a part of human nature, may they ever be those of a generous heart, and an independent mind. It is no fault of mine that I was born to dependence; nor is it Mr. G's chiefest praise that he can command influence; but it is his merit to bestow, not only with the kindness of a brother, but with the politeness of a gentleman; and I trust it shall be mine, to receive with thankfulness and remember with undiminished gratitude. No. 103. FROM THE REV. G. BAIRD. SIR, London, 8th February, 1791. I TROUBLE you with this letter to inform you that I am in hopes of being able very soon to bring to the press a new edition (long since talked of) of Michael Bruce's Poems. The profits of the edition are to go to his mother—a woman of eighty years of age-poor and helpless. The poems are to be published by subscription; and it may be possible, I think, to make out a 2s. 6d. or 3s. volume, with the assistance of a few hitherto unpublished verses, which I have got from the mother of the poet. But the design I have in view in writing to you, is not merely to inform you of these facts, it is to solicit the aid of your name and pen in support of the scheme. The reputation of Bruce is already high with every reader of classical taste, and I shall be anxious to guard against tarnishing his character, by allowing any new poems to appear that may lower it. For this purpose, the MSS. I am in the possession of, have been submitted to the revision of some whose critical talents I can trust to, and I mean still to submit them to others. May I beg to know therefore if you will take the trouble of perusing the MSS-of giving your opinion, and suggesting what curtailments, alterations, or amendments, occur to you as advisable? And will you allow us to let it be known, that a few lines by you will be added to the volume. I know the extent of this request. It is bold to make it. But I have this consolation, that though you see it proper to refuse it, you will not blame me for having made it, you will see my apology in the motive. May I just add, that Michael Bruce is one in whose company, from his past appearance, you would not, I am convinced, blush to be found; and as I would submit every line of his that should now be published, to your own criticisms, you would be assured that nothing derogatory either to him or you, would be admitted in that appearance he may make in future. You have already paid an honourable tribute' to kindred genius, in Ferguson-I fondly hope that the mother of Bruce will experience your patronage. I wish to have the subscription papers circulated by the 14th of March, Bruce's birth-day; which I understand some friends in Scotland talk this year of observing-at that time it will be resolved, I imagine, to place a plain, humble stone over his grave. This at least I trust you will agree to do to furnish, in a few couplets, an inscription for it. On these points may I solicit an answer as early as possible; a short delay might disappoint us in procuring that relief to the mother, which is the object of the whole. You will be pleased to address for me under cover to the duke of Athole, London. P. S. Have you ever seen an engraving published here some time ago from one of your poems, O thou pale Orb. If you have not, I shall have the pleasure of sending it to you. No. 104. TO THE REV. G. BAIRD. In answer to the foregoing. WHY did you, my dear Sir, write to me in such a hesitating style, on the business of |