with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns

190
question. In his answer he states, that never having
had any conversation with Mr. Mickle on this ballad,
!ie applied to his relict, who perfectly remembers re-
ceiving a copy of it from Mr. Mickle, but is not
positive that he affirmed it to be his production,
though, on being questioned, she thinks he did not
absolutely deny it. He adds, that her powers of
recollection having been impaired by a paralysis, she
cannot speak decidedly of a conversation which took
place so many years ago. In Mr. Mickle's copy two
fine stanzas are omitted, which, on the authority of
the Rev. Patrick Davidson, of Rayne, in the county
of Aberdeen, are ascribed to Dr. Beattie, who af-
firms that they were inserted by th^ Doctor soon
after the first appearance of the piece.*
* The following are the lines attributed to Dr. Beattie:
*^ The cauld blasts of the winter wind,
That thrilled thro' my heart,
They're a;" blawn by ; I hae him safe,
Till death we'll never part
But what puts parting in my head ?
It may be far awa;
The present moment is our ain.
The neist we never saw !"
Without controverting the Doctor's claim to these eight dis=
puted lines, the Editor cannot help remarking, that the tw9
best,
" The