FOURTH EPISTLE TO MR. GRAHAM OF FINTRY. The third Epistle to Mr. Graham, which has been assigned to the summer of 1791, expresses, though hintingly, the eager wishes of the poet for a better appointment in the Excise, and at length, by the kindness of that gentleman, it was obtained, towards the close of the year. He had expected, as we have seen, a supervisorship; but this was to remain a hope deferred. The arrangement was, that Burns should perform duty in Dumfries as an ordinary exciseman, and enjoy a salary of £70 per annum. This was an advance of £20 upon his Ellisland income, and as he did not now require to keep a horse, the advantage must be reckoned at a still higher sum. However this was, Burns considered himself as for the mean time independent of the farm. The income was indeed a small one, and it was something of a declension to be the common exciseman only; but hope at this time made up for all. He was led to expect an advance in the service, which, though increasing his toils, would put him comparatively at ease in his circumstances. 1 CALL no goddess to inspire my strains; A fabled Muse may suit a bard that feigns. Friend of my life! my ardent spirit burns, Thou orb of day! thou other paler light! SWEET SENSIBILITY, HOW CHARMING. We have but an obscure notice of a visit which Burns paid to Edinburgh in the November of 1791, being the last he ever made to that capital. Up to nearly this time, Mrs. M'Lehose had maintained the unforgiving distance which she assumed after his final union with Jean, notwithstanding his having sent her several exculpatory letters. She had lately written to him in a style which drew forth a letter in which Burns asks her opinion of the following verses. SWEET Sensibility, how charming, But how Distress with horrors arming, Fairest Flower, behold the lily, Hear the woodlark charm the forest, Dearly bought the hidden treasure 1 "I have sent in the verses On Sensibility, altered to 'Sensibility, how charming, Dearest Nancy, thou canst tell,' etc., to the editor of the Scots Songs, of which you have three vol umes, to set to a most beautiful air out of compliment to the first of women, my ever-beloved, my ever-sacred Clarinda."- Burns to Mrs. M'Lehose. AE FOND KISS. TUNE-Rory Dall's Port. Clarinda had resolved, though with much hesitation, to accept an invitation from her heartless husband, and join him in Jamaica. In the softened feeling arising from the contemplation of such a movement, she relented so far towards Burns as to admit him to a visit. What one would give to know the particulars of the interview! It took place on the 6th of December. That it gave occasion to an effusion of passionate feeling, is strongly hinted in a letter of the poet written a twelvemonth after. We may also hesitate little in reading as a record of the scene a series of lyrics, one of which is amongst the most earnest expressions of intense feeling ever composed in verse. AE fond kiss, and then we sever! Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, Who shall say that Fortune grieves him, Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me; I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy; Had we never loved sae kindly, We had ne'er been broken-hearted! Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest! Ae fond kiss, and then we sever! Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, |