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Select Biography. he taught it to flow in a proper

channel. His knowledge of the “No part of History is more in- world was vastly superior to mine; structive and delightful tian the Lives and I was all attention to learn. of great and worthy Men.” He was the only man I ever saw

BURNETT. who was a greater fool than my.

self, where woman was the preROBERT BURNS, THE POET.

siding star; but he spoke of illicit (Continued from page 164.) love with the levity of a sailor, "From this adventure I learn- which, hitherto, I had regarded ed something of a town life; but with horror. Here his friendship the principal thing which gave did me mischief, and the consemy mind a turn, was a friendship quence was, that soon after I reI formed with a young fellow, a sumed the plough, I wrote the very 'noble character, but a hap- Poet's Welcome. My reading only less son of misfortune. He was increased, while in this town, by the son of a simple mechavič; but two stray volumes of Pamela, and a great man in the neighbourhood one of Ferdinand Count Fathom, taking him under his patronage, which gave me some idea of novels. gave him a genteell education, with Rhyme, except some religious a view of bettering his situation in pieces that are in print, I had life. The patron dying just as he given up; but meeting with Ferwas ready to launch 'out into the guson's Scottish Poems, I strung world, the poor fellow in despair anew my wildly-sounding lyre went to sea; where, after a varie- with emulating vigour. When my, ty of good and ill fortune, a little father died, his all went among before I was acquainted with him, the hell-hounds that growl in the he had been set ashore by an kennel of justice; but we mado a American privateer,' on the wild shift to collect a little money in coast of Connaught, stripped of the family amongst us; with every thingI cannot quit the which, to keep us together, my poor fellow's story without add- brother and I took a neighbour ing, that he is at this time, master ing farm. My brother wanted my of a large West Indiaman belong-hair brained imagination, as well ing to the Thames.

as my social and amorous nad. " His mind was fraught with ness ; but in good sense, independence, magnanimity, and ry sober qualification, he was far every manly virtue. I loved and my superior. admired him to a degree of enthu

6 I entered on this farm with a siasm, and of course strove to imi- full resolution, come, go to, I will tate him. In some measure I suc- be wise! I read farming books, I ceeded: I bad pride before, but Jealculated crops; I attended mar;

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and eve

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kets, and in short, in spite of the of the principal qualifications for devil, the world, and the flesh, I a place among those who have lost believe I should have been a wise the chart and mistaken the reckman; but the first year, from un- oning of raionality. I gave up fortunately buying bad seed, the my part of the farm to my brosecond, from a late harvest, we ther; in truth, it was only nomilost half our crops. This overset nally mine; and made what little all my wisdom, and I returned to preparations were in my power my old habits.

for Jamaica. But, before leaving “ I now began to be known in my native country for ever, I rethe neighbourhood as a maker of solved to publish my poems. I rhymes. The first of my poetical weighed my productions as imparoffspring that saw the light was a tially as was in my power; I burlesque lamentation on a quarrel thought they had merit; and it between two reverend Calvinists, was a delicious idea that I should both of them dramatis persone be called a clever fellow, even in my Holy Fair. I had a notion though it should never reach my myself that the piece had some ears—a poor negro-driver-or, merit; but, to prevent the worst, perhaps, a victim to that inhospiI gave a copy of it to a friend who table clime, and gone to the world was fond of such things, and told of spirits ! I can truly say, pauhim that I could not guess who vre inconnu as I then was, I had was the author of it, but that I pretty nearly as high an idea of thought it pretty clever. With a myself and my works as I have at certain description of the clergy, this moment, when the public as well as laity, it met with a roar have decided in their favour. It of applause. Holy Willie's Pruy- ever was my opinion, that the er next made its appearance, a- mistakes and blunders, both in a larmed the kirk-session so much, rational and religious point of that they held several meetings, view, of which we see thousands to look over their spiritual artille- daily guilty, are owing to their ry, if haply any of it might be ignorance of themselves. pointed against profane rhymers. 6. To know myself had been Unluckily for me, my wanderings all along my favourite study. I

, led me on another side, within weighed myself alone, I balanced point-blank shot of their heaviest myself with others; I watched metal. This is the unfortunate every means of information, to see story that gave rise to my printed how much ground I occupied as a poem The Lament. This was

a man, and as a poet; I studied asmelancholy affair, which I cannot siduously nature's design in my yet bear to reflect on, and had formation ; where the lights and very nearly given me one or two shades in my character were in

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tended. I was pretty confident meet with encouragement at Edinmy poems would meet with some burgh for a second edition, fired applause ; but at the worst, the me so much, that away I posted roar of the Atlantic would deafen for that city, without a single ac-; the voice of censure, and the no- quaintance, or a single letter of

, velty of West India scenes make introduction. The baneful star me forget neglect. I threw off 600 that had so long shed its blasting copies, of which I had got sub- influence in my zenith, for once scriptions for about 350. My va- made a revolution to the nadir; nity was highly gratified by the and a kind providence placed me reception I met with from the under the patronage of one of the public; and besides, I pocket- noblest of men, the Earl of Glened, all expences deducted, nearly cairn, Oublie moi, grand Dieu, 201. This sum came very sea- si jamais je l'oublie ! sonably, as I was thinking of “ I need relate no farther. At indenting myself, for want of Edinburgh I was in a new world, money, to procure my passage.- I mingled among various classes As soon as I was master of nine of men, but all of them new to me, guineas, the price of wafting me and I was all attention to catch to the torid zone, I took a steer- the characters and manners living age passage in the first ship that as they rise. Whether I have prowas to sail from the Clyde, for fited, time will shew.” “Hungry ruin had me in the wind.” “ I had now been for some days

ERWALD AND LOUISE, skulking from covert to covert, under the terrors of a jail ; as

A TALE, soom ill-advised people had un

By Crowquill the Younger. coupled the merciless pack of the law at my heels; I had taken the “ Nay tarry, Erwald, do not last farewell of my few friends ; quit your moorings this evening, my chest was on the road to Gree- or you may fare roughly,” said an nock. I had compassed the last old fisherman to his young comsong I should ever measure in Ca- rade, who was silently preparing ledonia, “ The gloomy night is his boat; “ for,” continued he, “I gathering fast,” when a letter see the black spot in the horizon from Dr. Blacklock to a friend of that foretells a storm, so ye had mine, overthrew all my schemes, much better return, and be merby opening new prospect to my ry over a flaggon with me; for ye poetic ambition.—The doctor be- looked as if an evil spirit had belonged to a set of critics, for witched ye, as ye crossed the whose applause I had not dared to moor.mEgad though,” said he hope. His opinion that I would tapping his fore-finger on his

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wrinkled forehead, “I think I his hand, and Erwald pushed his have guessed it; ye have been boat from the shore. quarrelling with that laughing The good-natured Hendric teasing jade Louise ; an ye have watched him until he was lost. in ye are a fool; for though she is a the twilight; then, muttering to romping little slut, she is the best- himself something about.“ headhearted girl in the village, and strong boy and foolish girl," he moreover one of the handsom- drew his cloak around him, and est." “ You have guessed right, turned his steps towards his peaceHendric," said the young man ful home. sullenly, “and by St. Bridget I The evening mists floated heaviam sorely vexed; for I saw her ly over the waters, and the clouds just now on the moor, laughing rolled darkly in the heavens; the with that scapegrace young squire, wind moaned mournfully along though I have so often told her it the beach, as if bewailing the de displeases me. And though we vastation it was about to commit; were to have been wed come next the withered leaves twirled high in Lammas, I care not if I see her the air; the sea-fowl dipped its more."->" Well, well, Erwald ; purple beak into the waters, and now, by my faith, ye take it too Aapped its wings, as if to lull them much to heart,” said Hendric; into calmness; and the dark pine “ the girls will tease us all in our creaked upon the mountain's side time. I remember my old wife as the roaring blast grew strongdid torment me sorely when I was er:--the waves foamed higher and courting her; but she makes none higher, until they almost kissed the worse wife, nor did she love the rocky summits, and raged in less; and if thou art crossed, a chorus with the rolling thunder ducking will not cure thee; so that burst through the heavens in moor thy boat, and come with me, awful peals.--the fishermen pressand shew her ye care not for her ed their wives and children to freaks. I warrant ye she will their bosoms, as they listened to .Soon come to, for I know she loves the horrid din, and thanked the you dearly.” “I will not be per- Divine Being that they were safe suaded," said Erwald, sighing, from its fury. “ for I am not in humour for any company except the roaring of the As the morning dawned, the - Waves ; they at present best suit storm sunk into silence, and the the turbulance of my mind; so waters floated still and calmly tn adieu, Hendric."-"Well then the beach ; the sụn rose amidst a good even, if it must be so," re- golden mist of fleecy clouds, and plied he," and may ye be pleased threw his rays upon the scene with your company.” He waved that yesterday had flourished fair

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To be continued,

and beautiful; but now the tree dared not pain her by acquainting that late had held its head so her with his fears; but said, with proudly to the skies, lay blasted as much unconcern as possible, on the earth, and the tender flow- that he supposed he had gone rets drooped upon the weeping early to see if any wreck had come herbage. Soon as the light had upon the rocks, and to lend his broke, the anxious Hendric, whose assistance, “ Well then,” said fears for his young friend had Louise, gaily, “I will go and kept him from sleeping through surprise him, if you will accomthe dreadful night, arose, and pany me Hendric, for I know you opened his casement, fearing, yet will take me safe over the rocks, hoping, that he might have re- for the love you bear Erwald.". turned ere the last night's storm Hendric sighed, she took his arm, commenced. He looked towards and they proceeded towards the the cottage of Erwald, but his beach. heart sank as he perceived that the shutters had never been closed, and one of them was rived from its hinge, and swung in the wind;

Travels. he hurried on his clothes, and hastened towards the cottage, He looked through the casement

An Abridgment of the Travels of a

Gentleman through France, Italy, but all within was silent-he lift

Turkey in Europe, the Holy Land, ed the latch and entered-he sigh

Arubia, Egypt, &c. ed, as he looked around the silent

(Continued from page 167.) dwelling, where he had spent so many happy hours, and felt a se- There are in Genoa about thirty cret foreboding that it would never parish churches, besides a great be again. He was startled from number of colleges, convents, and his mournful reverie by a slight religious houses. The cathedral, tap on the casement, and the soft dedicated to St. Laurence, may be voice of Louise calling upon Er- mentioned rather as a large than wald ; he immediately opened the beautiful edifice: but the marble door.-Louise started at seeing pillars on the inside, which suphim, but recovering herself, asked port the roof, and a marble statue for Erwald," for," said she," he of St. John the Evangelist, are promised to meet me last night, worthy observation. In this church and he did not come; so I must they pretend to have the ashes of scold him for his neglect--for I St. John the Baptist, in a silver am sure he could not be fishing shrine, supported by four columns in such a night as last.” Hendric of porphyry. They shew also a looked upon her smiling face, and large dish made of one single