Where there is honey, there will the bees swarm.

STAND forth, playful Burns, that on sweet native

reed

Erst pip'd roundelay which of praise claims the

meed:

Tho' tarnish'd by failings, such conduct yet prov'd
Thy mind by the Muses was fondly belov'd;

For the race of Apollo have faulty been found,
In mazes performing this life's fitful round.
Forgive, then, his deeds; since the actor we know
To none, save himself, play'd the part of a foe:

And of spirit consign'd to the realms of the dead, 'Twere baseness that aught like reproof should be

said.

'Tis the produce of mind, not the labour of man, I, Sir Scribblecumdash, here endeavour to scan: So, pleas'd, I must greet our true Bard with applause,

Whose genius, divested of classical laws,

Combin'd sterling wit, vigor, pathos, and ease;
And point, feeling, energy, always must please: (1)

(9) Independently of the works published during the lifetime of Burns, which have excited, and so justly continue to excite public applause, the world is also indebted to the persevering and praiseworthy researches of the late Mr. Cromk for the poetical and prose remains of this offspring of talent; which not only tend to enhance the Bard in the estimation of literary characters, but also display him in that social point of view which truly delineates the soul of this unsophisticated child of Caledonian song.

Which attributes potent, I'll dare to engage,
Ne'er shone forth more prominent during our age.

Some scribes who write fast, and are flippant at

rhymes,

Think Genius is center'd in tol-de-rol chimes

A notion, which, aided by dull prosing Bish,

Infuses through all ranks of females a wish

Spick span from the press on wove foolscap to issue,

Of jingle and nonsense an exquisite tissue.

Alas! silly elfs; though a Burns wrote at pleasure, (r) He charms not alone with mere rhyming and

measure;

(r) If an intuitive genius for poetry be allowed to have existence, Burns, as well as Chatterton, and numerous others, was certainly gifted with the divine inspiration; which does not only consist in harmonious versification, but equally combines wit and an exquisite refinement of every emanation of the heart. As there are, however, gradations in this mental impetus, I shall leave it to the reader's judgment to decide if the ensuing anecdote

A flame he possess'd, by Apollo bestow'd,

And the Muses all cherish'd the sacred abode :

affords an instance of talent remaining dormant, or whether the force of momentary feeling actuated the soul of the writer.

In the year 1758, John Wilson, a young man of slender education, was condemned to suffer death for a riot. The contrition which he evinced for the crime thus committed, together with his youth and good character, induced his majesty, on the representation of several respectable persons, to extend that most amiable prerogative of the crown-royal mercy. In a few hours after the reprieve had reached the repentant convict, he poured forth the effusions of his grateful heart in the following verses, which were penned with his own hand; although it was never known that he had ever before attempted any thing of a metrical nature.

And live I yet, by Power divine?

And have I still my course to run ?
Again brought back, in its decline,

The shadow of my parting Sun?

Wond'ring I ask, is this the breast

Struggling so late with grief and pain?
The eyes which upward look'd for rest,

And dropp'd their wearied lids again?

In fine, 'twas as easy with Burns to excel,

As for thousands to chime forth stupidity's knell.

Torture and grief prepar'd his way,

And pointed to a yawning tomb;
Darkness behind eclips'd the day,

And check'd my forward hopes to come.

But now the dreadful storm is o'er,

Ended, at last, the doubtful strife;

And, living, I the hand adore

That gave me back again to life.

God of my life! what just return
Can sinful dust and ashes give?

I only live my sins to mourn;
To love my God, I only live.

To thee, benign and sacred Power,
I consecrate my lengthen'd days;
While, mark'd with blessings, every hour
Shall speak my co-extended praise.