with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns

79
cromlet's lilt.*
" In the latter end of the \Qth century, the Chis-
holms were proprietors of the estate of Cromlechs
(now possessed hy the Drummonds). The eldest son
of that family zms very much attached to a daugh-
ter of Sterling of Ardoch, commonly known by the
name of Fair Helen of Ardoch.
* Since the first edition of the Reliques was published, the
Editor has seen a Letter addressed to Dr. Anderson, of Edin-
burgh, by a Gentleman of great literary acquirement, from
which he has been permitted to make the following extract.
" I thank you particularly for Cromek's Reliques of Bums,
which are undoubtedly genuine, and breathing the same genius
and the same infirmities with his former works. I will say a
little of it. More science and better company, with his father's
worth and sound principles, would have made him one of the
best poets this country has produced. He is a bigot for laxity,
religious and moral ; and hence that jumble of sentiments
After telling me of his father's conversion to Socinianism, he
added, * hut he continued a Calvinist in his manners and conver-
sation.' The thing I liked best was the account of Scotish
Songs, which coincides with my own sentiments and theories.
His curt, sarcastic remarks, are truly characteristic. Some of
them are inaccurate. The Chisholm story is felo de se. The Re-
formation took place 1559 or 60, and great part of the Bishop's
estate went to one of his own name. Little Meg Murray was
not born then. The late Sir William Stirling told me, that it
was a tradition in his family, that James the 6th, in passing from
Perth