"Jockie and Jenny" I would discard, and in its place would put "There's nae luck about the house", which has a very pleasant air; and which is positively the finest love-ballad in that style in the Scottish, or perhaps in any other language. "When she came ben she bobbet", as an air, is more beautiful than either, and in the _andante_ way would unite with a charming sentimental ballad. "Saw ye my father" is one of my greatest favourites. The evening before last I wandered out, and began a tender song, in what I think its native style. I must premise that the old way, and the way to give most effect, is to have no starting note, as the fiddlers call it, but to burst at once into the pathos. Every country girl sings-"Saw ye my father", etc. My song is just begun; and I should like, before I proceed, to know your opinion of it. I have sprinkled it with the Scottish dialect, but it may be easily turned into correct English. Fragment.--Tune--"_Saw ye my Father_" Where are the joys I hae met in the morning, (etc.) "Todlin hame": Urbani mentioned an idea of his, which has long been mine; and this air is highly susceptible of pathos; accordingly, you will soon hear him, at your concert, try it to a song of mine in the _Museum_--"Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon". One song more and I have done: "Auld lang syne". The air is but _mediocre_; but the following song, the old song of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript, until I took it down from an old man's singing, is enough to recommend any air.[144] AULD LANG SYNE. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, (etc.) Now, I suppose I have tired your patience fairly. You must, after all is over, have a number of ballads, properly so called, "Gil Morice", "Tranent Muir", "M'Pherson's Farewell", "Battle of Sheriff-Muir", or "We ran and they ran" (I know the author of this charming ballad, and his history); "Hardiknute", "Barbara Allan" (I can furnish a finer set of this tune than any that has yet appeared), and besides, do you know that I really have the old tune to which "The Cherry and the Slae" was sung? and which is mentioned as a well-known air in _Scotland's Complaint_, a book published before poor Mary's days. It was then called "The Banks o' Helicon"; an old poem which Pinkerton has brought to light. You will see all this in Tytler's _History of Scottish Music_. The tune, to a learned ear, may have no great merit; but it is a great curiosity. I have a good many original things of this kind. [Footnote 143: Songs for his publication. Burns goes through the whole; but only his remarks of any importance are presented here.] [Footnote 144: It is believed to have been his own composition.] * * * * * XV. _September_ 1793.