with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns

206*
APPENDIX (c.)
Th e reader will be pleased to find, from the fol-
lowing communication to the Editor, by Mrs.
Murray, of Bath (authoress of " 'Roys Wife of
Aldwalloch), that Mr. Ross was one of the very
few writers that practised what they taught.
*' I knew a good deal of Mr. Ross, author of the
Fortunate Shepherdess, but it was many years ago
— I still remember him with respect, as a man of
most amiable character. His genius and talents
speak for themselves in the above-mentioned beauti-
ful little Poem, and «ne cannot help regretting that
such abilities were only born to " blush unseen, and
waste their sweetness on the desert air ;" for in truth
his humble abode was little better than a desert,
though not inhabited by savages ; nothing on earth
being less savage than a mere uncultivated High-
lander. I speak from the experience of many years
of the early part of my life, which I had the happi-
ness of spending in the North Highlands of Scot-
land, the country of * Honest men and bonny
Mr. Ross was also author of two excellent