"Caledonian name, lie in your church-yard among the ignoble dead, unnoticed and un"known. "Some memorial to direct the steps of the "lovers of Scottish song, when they wish to "shed a tear over the "narrow house" of the "bard who is no more, is surely a tribute due to Fergusson's memory: a tribute I wish to "have the honor of paying. "I petition you then, gentlemen, to permit me to lay a simple stone over his revered "ashes, to remain an unalienable property to "his deathless fame. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your very humble servant, (sic subscribitur) 66 "ROBERT BURNS." Thereafter the said managers, in consideration of the laudable and disinterested motion of Mr. Burns, and the propriety of his request, did, and hereby do, unanimously, grant power and liberty to the said Robert Burns, to erect a headstone at the grave of the said Robert Fergusson, and to keep up and preserve the same to his memory in all time coming. Extracted forth of the records of the managers by WILLIAM SPROTT, Clerk. No. No. XXII. To MY DEAR SIR, You may think, and too justly, that I am a selfish ungrateful fellow, having received so many repeated instances of kindness from you, and yet never putting pen to paper to say, thank you; but if you knew what a devil of a life my conscience has led me on that account, your good heart would think yourself too much avenged. By the bye, there is nothing in the whole frame of man, which seems to be so unaccountable as that thing called conscience. Had the troublesome yelping cur powers efficient to prevent a mischief, he might be of use; but at the beginning of the business, his feeble efforts are to the workings of passion as the infant frosts of an autumnal morning to the unF 2 clouded clouded fervor of the rising sun: and no sooner are the tumultuous doings of the wicked deed over, than, amidst the bitter native consequences of folly, in the very vortex of our horrors, up starts conscience, and harrows us with the feelings of the d*****. I have inclosed you, by way of expiation, some verse and prose, that if they merit a place in your truly entertaining miscellany, you are welcome to. The prose extract is literally as Mr. Sprott sent it me. The Inscription on the stone is as follows: HERE LIES ROBERT FERGUSSON, POET, Born, September 5th, 1751-Died, 16th October, 1774. No sculptur'd marble here, nor pompous lay, "No storied urn nor animated bust," This simple stone directs pale Scotia's way To pour her sorrows o'er her poet's dust. On the other side of the Stone is as follows: By special grant of the managers to Robert Burns, who erected this stone, this burial-place is to remain for ever sacred to the memory of Robert Fergusson." "* * The following Extract from the Elogia Sepulchralia Edinburgena, on this subject, may be interesting to some readers. readers. "From inattention in the mason employed to erect this monument, the foundation soon gave way, and it was in danger of falling. When this was observed, Burns, as well as Fergusson, was then also numbered with the dead. Some members of the Esculapian Club, animated by that pious zeal for departed merit, which had before led them to prevent some other sepulchral monuments from going to ruin, applied for liberty to repair this tribute from one Poet to the memory of another; and, permission being granted, they took that opportunity of affixing to it an additional inscription commemorating the genius of Burns. The poetical part of it is taken, almost verbatim, from the Elegy written by Burns himself on Captain Matthew Henderson. Dignum laude verum Musa vetat mori, Lo! Genius, proudly, while to Fame she turns, ROSCOE. TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT BURNS, THE AYRSHIRE BARD; WHO WAS BORN AT DOONSIDE, ON THE 22ND OF JULY, 1796. O ROBERT BURNS! the Man, the Brother! Life's dreary bound! Like thee, where shall we find another, The world around! Go |