MY DEAR FRIEND,
I hope you have been well since I heard from you. You will herewith receive Mr. M‘Donald's works, and I am much obliged to you for the loan of them. The ode on Scotch Music is the only piece of his I had seen before. The odes by Mat. Bramble, Esq., [1] please me much. Though urname. In 1777, he became pastor
not so richly witty as the celebrated Peter's, [2] they are the first after him I have seen. His “Velina” has many fine passages, but, as a whole, it perhaps is too laboured. The story, too, is the child of fancy. I should be happy to know more of the author. From the volume, I guess that he is under the sod. I have not one particle of news. The enclosed song is newly published. It has a very beautiful air, which, as far as I know, has never before had verses to it. I have no other new things past me at present, but there's another song of mine in the publisher's hands, which I hope to have the pleasure of sending to you soon.
Yours most truly,
R. TANNAHILL.
P.S.—Mr. Smith's every hour is occupied in teaching; so much the better. Mr. Stewart has been poorly in his health, and off work for a fortnight past; so much the worse. Your humble servant is boxing away something in the old way, with scarce an afternoon to spare. So I cannot say when we will have the pleasure of seeing you in your good town, but trust we will have a night of it some time. Thomas Auld [3] tried all Edinburgh some time since for the copy of Burns' works which you wanted, but he could not find one. These Irish editions are contraband on this side of the water. Forgive haste. This business looking scrawl does not please me. I will maybe tire you with a letter some day as long and as dull as an Anti———r's [4] best burial-blessing.
The original letter is in possession of Mrs. J. Wright, Kirkcaldy.
[1] Andrew Donald, son of a gardener In Edinburgh, was born at the foot of Leith Walk of that city in 1756. He studied at Edinburgh University, and was admitted in 1775 into Deacon's Orders in the Episcopal Church, At that time he added the prefix of Mac to his surname. In 1777, he became pastor of the Episcopalian congregation at Glasgow. His congregation having afterwards decreased, he resigned the charge and his profession. He wrote poems, and his “Velina” was first published in 1782. He also wrote novels, tragedies, and operas, but he was both unsuccessful and unfortunate. He then commenced writing humorous and satirical pieces for the newspapers, under the signature of “Matthew Bramble, Esq.,” from which he contrived to earn a precarious subsistence. He was reduced to destitution, which affected his weak constitution, and he died in August, 1790, aged 33. His miscellaneous works were published in 1791, and it was this volume which Tannahill was returning to his friend in Neilston.—Ed.
[2] Peter Pinder—Dr. Wolcot. See the poem No. 15.—Ed.
[3] A bookseller in Paisley.—Ed.
[4] Antiburgher.—Ed.