RECOLLECTIONS OF BURNS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 2, 3 January 1870, Page 2

RECOLLECTIONS OF BURNS.

o (.From the European Mail.) The late Mr. M'Diarroid, of Dumfries, collected a good deal of miscellaneous in? formation about Robert Burns from the poet's widow, and this bas lately been incorporated with a recent edition of the poems. His domestic habits are thus sketched : — " The family breakfasted at nine. If he lay long in bed awake he was always reading. At all meals he had a book beside him on the table. He did his work in the forenoon and was seldom engaged professionally in the* evening. Dived at two o'clock when he dined at home. Was fond of plain things, and hated tarts, pies, and pudding. When at home in the evening, he employed his time in writing and reading, with the children playing about him. Their prattle never disturbed him in the least. Had but rarely company in the evening. Was much occupied composing his songs, most of which he wrote several times over. ' Had plenty of excise paper, and scrawled away.' Mrs. B. thinks he chiefly composed while riding and walking, and wrote from memory after he came in. Was not a good singer, but had a very correct ear. Could * step a tune' rudely on the fiddle, but was no player. Sometimes took this method of satisfying himself us to the modulations of a tune. Was very particular with bis letters when of aoy consequence ; and uniformly wrote a scroll before the principal. Weut to bed generally at eleven o'clock, and sometimes a little sooner. Went to church frequently iv the forenoon ; went often to Mr. Inghs's, the Disseuting clergyman. Never took supper, and never drank by himself at home. The drink was chiefly rum and gin ; very little whisky was used. Burns never spoke English, but very correct Scotch." The following are memoranda on Burns' bearing to his children and on his last illness : — " At the time of his death Robert was only ten, Francis seven, William five, and James two. When at horae iv the evening he heard them their lessons, and took pleasure in explaining everything that they had difficulty in comprehending. Was most strict in impressing on their minds the value and beauty and necessity of truth. He would have forgiven them any slight fault, but to have told a lie was in bis eyes almost an inexpiable offence. He used to read the Bible to William, Francis, and Bobert ; and William was in the habit of remarking after his death, ' Mother I cannot see those sublime things in the Bible that my father used to see.' Burns thought himself dying before he went to the Brow (a sea-bathing place on the Sol way). He seemed afraid, however, of dwelling on the subject, considering Mrs. B.s situation. On one occasion, he said distinctly, 'Don't be afraid ; I'll be more respected a hundred years after I'm dead than I am at present.' He was not above a week (a fortnight) at the Brow when he returned. Mrs. B. was so struck with the change of his appearance that she became almost speechless. From this period he was closely confined to bed, and was scarcely ' himself for half-an-hour together. By this it is meant that his mind wandered, and that his nervous • system was completely unhinged."