The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-10-07
BURNS.
From the London Magazine


The last time saw Burns in life was on
his return from the Brow-well of Solway
he had been aiing all spring, and summcrhad
come without bringing health with it; he had
gone away very ill and he returned worse.
He was brought back, think, in "a covered
spring cart, and when he alighted at the
foot of the street in which he lived, he
could scarce stand upright. He reached
his own door with difficulty. He stopped
much, and there was a visible change in his
looks. He was at that time dressed i'll a
blue coat with the under nankeen pantaloons
of the volunteers and his neck, which was
inclning to be short, caused his hat to turn
up behind, in the manner OF the shovel hats |
of the Episcopal clergy. He was not fas-
tidious about his dress and an officer, Curl |
Gus in the personal appearance and equip |
mcnts of his company, might have question
ed the military nicely OF the poets clothes
and arms.
From the day of his return home till the
hour of his untimcly death, Dumtrics was
like a besicged place. twas known he was
dying, and the anxiety, not of the rich and
! learned only, but of the mechanics and pea
SAINTS, exceeded all belief Wherever to or
three people stood together, their talk was
Of Burns, and of him alone; they spoke OF
his history--of his person-of his works-of
his fame, and of his untmcly and approach
ing fate, with warmth and an enthusiasm
which will ever endear Dumtries to my re-
membrancc.
His good humour was unrufflcd, and his
wit never forsook him. He looked to one OF
his fellow volunteers with 4 smile, as he
stood bv the bedside with his eyes wet, and
said, "Jo',n, don't let the awkward squadfrc
10 t1,nt
dealing with him he asked a lady who visit
ed him, more in sincerity than in mirth,
what commands she had for the other world
He rcprcsscd with q smile the hopes OF his
friends, and told them he had lived long
enough. AS his life drew near close, the
eager, vet decorous solicitude of his fellow
townsmcn increased. He was an excise
man, it is true-a name odious, from many
associations, to his countrymen; but he did
his duty meckly and kindly, and repressed
rather than encouraged the desire OF some
of his companions to push the law with sc.
verify he was therefore much beloved, and
Z the passion of the Scotch for poetry made
them regard him as little lower than spirit
inspired. 1t is the practice of the young
!, men of Dumfrics to meet in the streets dur
ing the hours of remission from labour, ant
= by these means had an opportunity OF wit
Messing the general solicitude OF all rank.
and of all ages. His differences with then
in some important points of human specula,
i tion and religious hope were forgotten ant
2 forgiven: they thought only of the genius-o
a the delight his compositions had diffuscd-
: and they talked of him with the same awe
as of some departing spirit, whose voice wa
!, to gladden. them no more. His last mo
it mcnts have never been described: he hat
laid his head quietly on the pillow, awaiting
dissolution, when his attendant reminded
. him of his medicine, and held the cup to HI
u lip. He started suddenly up, drained tin
9 cup at gulp, threw his hands before hin
l. like man about to swim, and sprung iron
e head to foot of the bcd-fcll with his fac
If down, and expired with groan.
>. When Burns died was then young, bu
l was not inscnsblc that mind Of no com
mon strength had passed from amongst us
He had caught my fancy and touched m
heart with his songs and his poems. wen
a to see him laid out for the grave: sepcia
n elder people were with me. He lay in
% plain unadorncd coffin, with a linen shec
A. drawn over his face, and on the bed, and a
r round the body, herbs and flowers wer
C. thickly strewn according to the usage OF tn
d country.-He was wasted somewhat by lon
IS illness but death had not increased til
III swarthy hue of his face, which was uncommon
u ly dark and deeply markcd-thc dying pan
=, was visible in the lower part, but his broa
u and open brow was pale and serene, and a
"a round it his sable hair lay in masses, slight
= touched with gray, and inclining more to
- wave than curl The room where he Ia
!; IL was plain and neat, and the simplicity OF til
II II poets humble dwelling pressed the pre-
in scncc of death more closely on the heart tina
if his bier had been cnnbellishcd by vant
X. and covered with the blazonry OF high an
a cestry and rank. We stood and gazcd o
III him in silence for several minutes-we wer
lie and others succeeded us-thcre was no jos'
lg ling and crushing, though the crowd wa
a great-man followed man as patiently an
he orderly as if all had been matter OF mutuf
IT. Observation-Disclosures a question was asked
ic not whisper was heard. Iiiis was scvcri
n days after his death.
II. The multitude who accompanied burr
=. =. to the grave went step by step with tn
:, -, chief mourncrs they might amount
~ twelve thousand.--Not word was heard
and though all could not be near, and man
could not see, when the earth closed on the
darling poet forever there was no rude In
patience shown, no fierce disappeintmel
c expressed. 1t was an impressive and mourn
We full sight to see men Of all ranks and pcrsu'
at sions and opinions minSling as brothers an
w. stepping side by side down the streets
=. Dumfries, with the remains OF him who ha
y sang of their loves and joys and domestic ei
~v~A xlx.,,s