WORKS OF ROBERT BURNS; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE, AND A CRITICISM ON HIS WRITINGS. TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED, SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF THE SCOTTISH PEASANTRY. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. II. LIVERPOOL, PRINTED BY J. M'CREERY, HOUGHTON-STREET; Sold also by Bell and Bradfute, P. Hill, and Manners and Miller, Edinburgh; 1800. ADVERTISEMENT. IT is impossible to dismiss this volume of the correspondence of our Bard, without some anxiety as to the reception it may meet with. The experiment we are making has not often been tried; perhaps on no occasion, has so large a portion of the recent and unpremeditated effusions of a man of genius been committed to the press. Of the following letters of Burns, a considerable number were transmitted for publication, by the individuals to whom they are addressed; but, very few have been printed entire. It will easily be believed, that in a series of letters, written with VOL. II. a out out the least view to publication, various passages were found unfit for the press, from different considerations. It will also be readily supposed, that our poet, writing nearly at the same time, and under the same feelings, to different individuals, would sometimes fall into the same train of sentiment, and forms of expression. To avoid therefore the tediousness of such repetitions, it has been found necessary to mutilate many of the individual letters, and sometimes to exscind parts of great delicacy-the unbridled effusions of panegyric and regard. But though many of the letters are printed from originals furnished by the persons to whom they were addressed, others are printed from first draughts, or sketches, found among the papers of our bard. Though in general no man committed his thoughts to his correspondents with less consideration or effort than Burns, yet it appears, that in some instances he was dissatisfied with his first essays, and wrote out his communications in a fairer |