with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns

194
The following original Letter of Burns affords an
additional proof of the interest which the Poet took
in the ancient Minstrelsy of the West of Scotland.
Many compositions of this description he rescued
from oblivion, and sent them to the Scots Musical
Museum, and it appears to have been his design to
recover all which were worthy of preservation. Se-
veral of them underwent his correction and emenda-
tion, as the subjoined unpublished extract from one
of his letters will testify.— " The songs marked 2 in
the Museum, I have given to the world as old verses
to their respective tunes ; but, in fact, of a good
many of them little more than the chorus is ancient,
though there is no reason for telling every {)ody this
piece of intelligence.'*
Sir,
To William Tytler, Esq. of Woodhouselee.
Inclosed I have sent you a sample of the old
pieces that are still to be found among our peasantry
in the West.—I had once a great many of these frag-
—