with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns

2^6
mon civilities of the day passed between us, but no-
tbing more. We never visited. I understood he
possessed a great singularity of character ; but he was
ever polite and civil to me. Early in September,
1803, I frequently heard a great swearing and noise
in his chambers, and, on meeting his laundress on
the stairs, I asked her the cause of the disturbance I
had heard. She answered, that she believed her
master was out of his mind, for his conduct in every
respect proved him so; and that she was greatly
afraid that in his delirium he would do himself or her
an injury. She said she had taken him his dinner the
day before, but that he had not touched it, and that
he never ate animal food. She was then going to
him, but expressed a fear that he would burst into a
rage, and abuse her as I had heard him before. The
last time she was in the chambers, he had shut him-
self up ; however, she left his dinner upon the table,
and was then going to see if he had eaten it. I said,
as she had expressed herself fearful, I would go with
her to her master, which I accordingly did. I saw
his dinner on the table, but he was still shut up in
his room. I asked the laundress whether he had any
relations in town. She said he had not ; but that he
had a nephew somewhere in the North, who had
lived with him for many years, but that Mr. Ritson
hsid turned him out of his house for eating animal