To Miss M'Murdo, Drumlanrig To John M'Murdo, Esq., Drumlanrig To Mrs. Riddel To Mrs. Riddel To Mrs. Riddel To Mrs. Riddel To Mr. Cunningham To Mrs. Dunlop To Mr. James Johnson To Mr. Peter Hill, Jun., of Dalswinton To Mrs. Riddel To Mrs. Dunlop To Mrs. Dunlop, in London To the Hon. The Provost, etc., of Damfries To Mrs. Dunlop To Mr James Johnson To Mr. Cunningham To Mr. Gilbert Burns To Mrs. Burns To Mrs. Dunlop To Mr. James Burness, writer, Montrose To his Father-in-law, James Armour, mason, Mauchline THE THOMSON LETTERS BURNS'S LETTERS. It is not perhaps generally known that the prose of Burns exceeds in quantity his verse. The world remembers him as a poet, and forgets or overlooks his letters. His place among the poets has never been denied--it is in the first rank; nor is he lowest, though little remembered, among letter-writers. His letters gave Jeffrey a higher opinion of him as a man than did his poetry, though on both alike the critic saw the seal and impress of genius. Dugald Stewart thought his letters objects of wonder scarcely less than his poetry. And Robertson, comparing his prose with his verse, thought the former the more extraordinary of the two. In the popular view of his genius there is, however, no denying the fact that his poetry has eclipsed his prose. His prose consists mostly of letters, but it also includes a noble fragment of autobiography; three journals of observations made at Mossgiel, Edinburgh, and Ellisland respectively; two itineraries, the one of his border tour, the other of his tour in the Highlands; and historical notes to two collections of Scottish songs. A full enumeration of his prose productions would take account also of his masonic minutes, his inscriptions, a rather curious business paper drawn up by the poet-exciseman in prosecution of a smuggler, and of course his various prefaces, notably the dedication of his poems to the members of the Caledonian Hunt.