with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns

25£
In Mr. Scott's remarks on the ' Jolly Beggars/
the reader will observe that he praises a thin volume
published at Glasgow, as containing some of Burns's
' most brilliant poetry.' — Whatever regard the
Editor may have for the judgment of Mr. Walter
Scott, he has a still greater respect for the good
fame of Robert Burns ; and he cannot suffer this
erroneous statement to pass without correction.
With the exception of the Cantata, and Holy
Willie's Prayer, not one of the pieces in the
volume above-mentioned can be considered as ' bril-
liant poetry.' They consist either of rubbish, con-
fessedly not his, or of salHes, of which, in Mr, Scott's
own opinion, * Justice to the living and to the dead,
alike demanded the suppression.' It is lamentable
to observe, that those effusions which the Bard him-
self would have consigned to oblivion, have been
drawn into public notice by his ozen countrymen
only; and (as evil communications seldom fail to
corrupt good manners) in consequence of the recom-
mendation here given to this contemptible volume,
to this 'skimble-skamble stuff,' the Editor saw it,