MY DEAR FRIEND,
I received in due time your very welcome letter. Your intention of reciting my Ode pleased me highly. I am sure you could do it justice. I hope the meeting succeeded to your wishes. Ours went on gloriously. Eighty-four sat at supper; after which, Mr. Blaikie addressed us in a neat speech calculated for the occasion, concluding with a toast—“To the Memory of Burns.” The Ode which you gave the first spur to the writing of was well done. The plan was something novel. Mr. M‘Laren spoke the recitative parts very well; and Messrs. Smith, Stewart, and Blaikie, sung the songs, harmonised in glees by Smith, in their best styles.[1] In the course of the night were toasted the Kilbarchan meeting and yours. We had a number of original pieces. Smith sung an appropriate song by the author of “The Poor Man's Sabbath,” who was out from Glasgow joining us.[2] Not one disagreeable occurrence happened; all was harmony, enthusiasm, and goodwill. We had two rounds of toasts,—one of sentiments and one of authors. We broke up about one, and were well pleased and happy. I am sorry to inform you of the death of William Stewart's mother. She died on last Friday. I called on him for a tune which he had, and he told me she had just then expired. She was interred to-day.
Moss has taken our Theatre. I don't know when he comes. [3] I have not been at Kilbarchan since I received yours; but first time I am there, I will call per punct on your brother-in-law and Mrs. Clarke. The “Lament of Wallace,” which you advised me to publish, is already done. Mr. Blaikie has engraved and published it in a very elegant style. I will send you a copy first opportunity. By-the-bye, have you heard that I have proposals out for publishing, by subscription, “The Soldier's Return, with other Poems and Songs.” I have taken the liberty of sending a few to Mr. Hamilton [4] to distribute among the booksellers in Edinburgh. I told him to send one to you to let you see how I was doing. “The Soldier's Return” is dramatic, and I hope having the pleasure of yet seeing you perform a part in it. ’Tis a Scottish Interlude, in two acts. Alas! it was poor Pollock who is now in his grave, with our most worthy friend, Livingstone, who set me first to it. Should you be in Edinburgh soon, you will oblige me much by calling on your friends, Richardson, Gray, or any others who you think will help me to a few subscribers. The, number is increasing rapidly here. I am sure I will have as many as will enable me to publish. I am much hurried at present, or I would have written you a longer letter ; but depend I will do it first time I have leisure. Too little has been said, indeed, among the poets respecting Wallace. I know of no poet belonging to Scotland, save Campbell, who is half competent to do the subject justice. I gave your compliments to your friends as you desired. They all return them with mutual kindness. I will take it very kind if you will write as soon as you see the proposals, and let me know how you relish the specimen of the Scottish Interlude, and how affairs are going on in Edinburgh. It perhaps was presumption to write to Mr. Hamilton [5] on any such business; if you think so, do what you can to apologise for me. Give my compliments to my cousin, M. M‘Neil, [6] and William Whiteford, [7] and particularly to Tom and Mrs. Buchanan. [8] Please write soon, as I am anxious to hear how affairs are going on in the great city ; and
Believe me,
Your friend in true sincerity,
R. TANNAHILL.
The original is in possession of Mrs. Scott, U.P. Manse, Kirkcaldy.
[1] The Ode referred to was that written for Burns' Anniversary held on Thursday; 29th January, 1807,—No. 7 of the Poems.—Ed.
[2] Mr. John Struthers, shoemaker, Glasgow, the author of “The Sabbath,” published in 1804, was present at the meetings of the Paisley Burns' Society held on 29th January, 1806, and 29th January, 1807. At the first of these meetings, he read an Ode containing fourteen stanzas, which will be found printed in the Glasgow Selector, Vol. IV., page 105. He was the author of several other poems and essays. He edited the Harp of Caledonia, published in 1815 ; and respecting Tannahill, with whom he had become acquainted at the Burns' Society meetings, he said—“The Songs of Tannahill will be read till the incrustation of time render the language unintelligible, and the revolution of society render his descriptions inapplicable. His person was rather under the middle size, and his appearance indicated no marks of genius. His powers of conversation were not great; but from the sympathy which he manifested in all that he said, his company was often very interesting. He was always, however, ready to speak in praise of depressed merit,—in mitigation of the censure which the world is liberal in bestowing upon the unfortunate against faithful friendship and disappointed love, of which he never spoke but with the keenness of one whose heart had been deeply wounded.” Mr. John Struthers was born at Forefaulds, Long Calderwood, East Kilbride, 18th July, 1770; and he died at Glasgow on 30th July, 1853, in his 78th year.—Ed.
[3] Tannahill mentions the name of Mr. Moss as one with whom he and his correspondent were familiar. Mr. Moss came to Paisley at that time. The first notice of this comedian is in the year 1773, when he was announced in the bills of the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh. He obtained a place in Kay's Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings; and he appears in No. XC1V. in the character of Caleb, in “He would be a Soldier,” and singing “I'm the Dandy, O.” In 1783, he again appeared on the Edinburgh boards, and attracted great attention in the character of Lingo in the “Agreeable Surprise.” On one of the nights of his acting was added a new musical farce called “Lingo's Wedding,” as a sequel to the “Agreeable Surprise,”—Lingo, the Latin Schoolmaster and Parish Clerk, by Mr. Moss. Next performance in Edinburgh was in 1788-1789. He was for many years Manager of several Provincial Theatres, and it is stated he had taken Paisley Theatre.
In the beginning of December, 1874, we had a very interesting conversation with Mr. John Barr, Castlehead, Paisley, an intelligent old man who knew Mr. Moss. Mr. Barr died on Christmas Day of that month, in the 92d year of his age. He mentioned that he had been born and brought up in Kilbarchan, and recollected of himself and Mr. James Barr, Kilbarchan, frequently coming to Paisley to see Mr. Moss and his company acting. He spoke of Mr. Moss having been twice in Paisley on two separate occasions, and saw Tannahill in the theatre, which was on the east side of New Smithhills Street, near the south-end of the street. The next time we hear of Mr. Moss was a benefit night in Edinburgh Theatre on Saturday, 20th May, 1815, from his having been disabled and confined in the Royal Infirmary with a lingering disease. That benefit night realised £130. The last notice of him is in the obituary of the Scots Magazine:—“11th January, 1817.
—Died at Edinburgh Mr. Moss, after a lingering disease of three years' duration, the pains of which he bore with exemplary fortitude. Mr. Moss was long the great dramatic favourite of the Edinburgh public, and many still recollect the excellence with which he pourtrayed Lingo and many characters of the same stamp."—Ed.
[4] This is Mr. John Hamilton referred to in the Note to “Winter is Gane,” No. 71.—Ed.
[5] Ibid—GP.
[6] Matthew M‘Neil, weaver, son of Alexander M‘Neil, weaver in Causeyside. Paisley, and Mary Pollock, sister of Tannahill's mother. Matthew M‘Neil had enlisted as a soldier in the Argyleshire Militia, and was, therefore, in the same regiment with the bandmaster, James Clark.—Ed.
[7] An acquaintance, also in the Argyleshire Force.—Ed.
[8] Thomas and Mrs. Buchanan kept a tavern in the beginning of this century in the High Street,—a short distance westward from the Cross of Paisley; and he sung Tannahill's songs to any company who entered the hostelry. We suppose that Tom was an instrumentalist in the Band of the Argyleshire Militia at this time, for Tannahill, in his letter of 20th September, 1807, asks Mr. Clark “to give my best respects to my cousin, and to my friend Tom and Mrs. Buchanan.” The Argyleshire was one of the finest bands in Scotland at the time.—Ed.