Prepared for the 1875 Edition.
MEETING WITH THE “ETTRICK SHEPHERD”.
Between the 18th and 25th March, 1810, James Barr, (“blythe Jamie,”) who was then in the employment of James Steven, music publisher, 35 Wilson Street, Glasgow, came to Paisley, and spent an evening with TANNAHILL. The night being very dark, he would not allow Barr to take the road to Glasgow, but insisted on his remaining, and going early on the following day. Barr remained; and after getting breakfast the following morning, the Poet accompanied him to the head of Queen Street, but on parting, TANNAHILL saw in the distance R. A. Smith and William Stuart, with three strangers, coming westward by Sandholes and Wellmeadow Street. TANNAHILL remarked—“There is something in the win,” and requested Barr to wait and see. The two kept out of sight; and the five went into a public-house, and, in a short time, TANNAHILL was sent for. TANNAHILL desired Barr still to wait; and in a short time he returned, took Barr into the house, and introduced him to James Hogg, the “Ettrick Shepherd.” Hogg had been in the Highlands on business, the other two gentlemen were on a tour in the same district; and Paisley not being far off their way, Hogg expressed a desire to see TANNAHILL, the Weaver Poet of Paisley, and they all came together. Smith's music school was near the cross at that time. Hogg had either known Smith or been directed to call on him, and Stuart would be there when the three gentlemen called. The two stranger gentlemen having business to transact in Glasgow, left the company, promising to take out a ticket for him by the evening coach to Edinburgh. Hogg, who had been acquainted with Andrew Blaikie, engraver, whose place of business was then at the Cross, wished to see his old friend Andrew; and the whole five then went down the town. The forces being now collected, they adjourned to the “Bourock,”—the club room of the Sun Tavern. Barr has said Hogg was enraptured with their company, and it was a treat to see the friendship of the two bards. The contrast was striking,—the one healthy, lively, and off-hand; the other delicate, quiet, and unassuming. Hogg and Barr were convoyed along the Glasgow Road to the three-mile house, where they parted. Soon thereafter, Hogg saw an empty coal cart lolling on the road, and he called out— My lad, are you going to Glasgow?” “Ay, man.” “Will you gie us a smart drive in, and we'll pay you for't ?” “O ay, man.” In then they went; and at the halfway house, they primed the lad with halfa-mutchkin, and galloping to the keystane of the Broomielaw Bridge, where they came off, Hogg saying it would not do to be seen galloping through the streets of Glasgow. They hurried on to the Tontine; the coach had waited five minutes, and was just starting. When they observed him running, it stopped. Hogg and Barr shook hands, and in an instant the coach disappeared in the hollow of the Gallowgate. That is the version of James Barr, who was present all the time. We shall now give the exaggerated statement of Motherwell, who was not there at all. “They” (Hogg and TANNAHILL) “spent only one night in each other's company. TANNAHILL, Mr. Hogg informed us, convoyed him half way to Glasgow on the following morning, where they parted. It was a melancholy adieu TANNAHILL gave him. He grasped his hands, tears gathering in his eyes the while, and said—‘Farewell, we shall never meet again. Farewell, I shall never see you more.’
On the first of April, 1810, TANNAHILL wrote his special friend, James King, informing him of the meeting with Hogg, the “Ettrick Shepherd.” TANNAHILL stated that they had a good deal of conversation about the Poets of the day, and in particular, that Hogg had mentioned he had been in the company of Walter Scott, Hector M'Neil, Thomas Campbell, and others of our Scottish worthies.
APPLICATION TO MR. CONSTABLE.
Thomas Stewart returned the volume to TANNAHILL, declining the publication of his works. The Poet transmitted his corrected volume and his new songs to Mr. Archibald Constable of Edinburgh, but that enterprising publisher was in London at the time. On his return he wrote, saying that he had more new works on hand than he could print that season, and accordingly returned the parcel, apparently without examination of its contents.
LAST LETTER OF TANNAHILL.
The last letter supposed to have been written by TANNAHILL was to his acquaintance, Alexander Borland, weaver in Glasgow, to whom he addressed the Epistle No. 24, in 1806, an excerpt from which has been given by Mr. Ramsay in his Memoir, page xxxv. The concluding portion of the excerpt, “What has the world to do with, or who cares (take the mass of mankind) for the feelings of others? Am I right? Happiness attend you, R. TANNAHILL,” evidently shews the wandering spirit and approaching mental calamity. It is most amazing that Ramsay did not give the last letter of TANNAHILL verbatim.
WAS THE POET A FREEMASON?
M‘Laren, in his biography of the Poet, mentions a circumstance respecting the Poet's desire of becoming a Member of some one of the Masonic Lodges, and of collecting a number of his friends together for that purpose ; that he (M‘Laren) was from home that day, but on his return he found a messenger had been, by the Bard's desire, sent for him. He then proceeds with his narrative, and abruptly remarks— “When admitted into the lodge, ROBERT was in the act of being initiated into the sacred order of Masonry;” he next relates the strange appearance of TANNAHILL, and his incoherent language, and closes with the climax— “The company gazed, his friends blushed ; but the unhappy Bard was insensible to either.” It will be observed that M‘Laren neither gives the name of the lodge nor the date or place of initiation, or the name of any person present but himself. According to the context, however, it would seem to have occurred on the Saturday or Monday before the death. We have made very particular enquiry for authentic information regarding this pretended initiation, but nothing of the kind can be found in the books of any Masonic Lodge in Paisley or Kilbarchan, and we are inclined to believe it was either a dream of M‘Laren's, or a piece of mockery practised by him and some of his acquaintances upon a person who was then insane.
CASH IN THE BANK.
The money which the Poet had deposited in bank was allowed to remain nearly three years, merely drawing the yearly interest accruing on the amount. This fact indicates that he did not require to uplift any portion of the principal sum to meet pressing demands, and proves undoubtedly that he was in easy circumstances. Every person who is able to allow his savings to remain in bank is considered to be of an industrious disposition, and not given to spendthrift or dissipated habits. Looking at the amount at the credit of TANNAHILL, we must say he was both temperate and industrious. The deposit receipt was an excellent certificate of good conduct, and completely refutes the unfounded allegation of penury which has been brought against him. The principal sum was not uplifted till May 14, 1810.
LAST VISIT.
On 16th of May, 1810, TANNAHILL walked to Glasgow and called on his friend, Alexander Borland, with whom he had a long conversation; but the speech of TANNAHILL was so incoherent, that Borland deemed it prudent to accompany him to Paisley. On approaching the road leading to Crocston Castle—the place where the “Ettrick Shepherd” and the Poet parted in the month of March previous—TANNAHILL endeavoured to elude him, but Borland prevented his doing so, and brought him to the head of Queen Street, and, after seeing him enter his dwelling, returned to Glasgow.