Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-19

Poor Tannahill, stung with indignation from
a sense of mortified pride, and, as he con-
ccived, hopes blasted irremediably, rushed
from merry circle where he had spent the
evening", and rashly put an end TO all his
earthly troubles by drowning himself near
the place of his nativity.
Many months previous to his death he had
become gloomy and distracted, and contem-
plated sei-destruction with a fearful compo-
sure. The following words. soemnly adj
dressed, and written by a brother poet on
the eve of committing similar act, were
ever on his tongue:
"AD CC-UM
ofiood Hcnvcn the nys,e.y OF life cxpl.in
" Nor let ME think | bear the load ian vain.
y lei, with the tedious journey cherries grown,
Crs'd by despa', threw the burden down"
ASI'nahil had long been the sport Of way.
~aio 'ut. accustomed. i'll some degree, bv
itu.ts "It'.ih himself; but More particularly
ny INC %pd'n! I'D rcmissness of his country
men, who, with ala .hoir boosted genoros;t,.
neglected him. Lie most noats ~, 49,
sensitive to excess, ant deadly ,eaIous of his
talr fame. Always suspicious of tho ,,,o,;r,,,
or his patrons. he was reserl Il and rnon,;o
bic before them. That they -bu'Id 1i innt
down on him as an object for Their n,r,n I'm
ration, or entertain him as they would; ri
creature for their amusement, was T. h;S
naughty spirit notifying in the extreme; all
rather than submit to the humiliatino caprice
Of patronage broadly assumed, he chose TO
clasp poverty to his aching heart, and. in the
ragged abode Of misery, was pleased 10 utter
those brilliant strains OF imagery and sent.
ment which have beguiled many Il weary
hour, anI yet shall enliyen the social circles
in his native land Of there be any thing in
immortality 10 the ''crack OF DOOM"
fhe cause for irritation which immediate
~ preceded his act OF seif,destruction was a
supposed insult given by one Of his associates
on the fatal evening. Talent will always
create envy, and, consequently, beget enc
lnies, who will seize opportune moments 10
morhfy and annoy. This is accordinu tn
human nature, and poor TannahiN ought to
have estimated il with the mind of Il phjIo
snpher; but, unfortunately for himself. he
Carried within his bosom the heart of q poet
tremhingly ''aiiyc all GER with high sense
81 honorable feeling, rendered sill more IN
tense by Il vivid Imagination.
VI his songs none have been more UNI
versaliy esteemed than his ''JeSs;e the Flozper
Y DMa6tane." The beautiful imagery of
the verse, and the plaintive sweetness Of the
arr gained ii an immediate popuIaritv
which promises to be as lasting as the Ian.
gaage in which il is written.
The fair subject of this song was bonnie
lassie i'll Dumblanc. Her family were of poor
extraction, and Jessie herself was contcntcd
With peasants lot. When Tannahill be-
came acquainted with her, she was in her
'teens," q slight, dimpIe-cheeked, happy
lassic; her hair yellow-coloured and iuxuriant;
Der eyes large and full, overflowing with the
toluptuous langour which is so becoming in .
young blue eyes with golden lashes. The |
tinge which lit up her oval checks was deli !
cate and evanesccnt, and her pulpy lips bub /
b!ed with bliss as she gave uttcrancc to her /
heart.
pannahlIl was struck with her beauty, and. .
as IN all things he was enthusiastical, became, |
forthwith, her ardent worshippe.. But her
heart was not to be won. Young, thought !
less, and painting to know and see the world |
she lett her poor amourante "to con songs 10
lis mistress eyebrows" while she rccklGisIy !
f.ambled among the fowery mcads of DUN !
Diane, or OF ali evening sang his inspired !
verses to hun with the most Notifying nom
ChalanCe. This was twofold misery TO the
sensitive poet. A creature so swecty elc-
CANT, 50 dear to him. so very lovely and limo
cent, and yet, withal, so encascd in inscnsi
blhIy as apparently neither to be conscious
al tho beauty Of the verses trembling on her
dulcet tongue, nor caring for the cares5cs of.
hc: lover. Twas too much;--to mark ali
mis-, and feel it with the feelings Of a poet.
was the acme Of misery.
But the "FIowcr of Dumblane' was moi
i9at uniecing, uninaginatiye being which
1annahiil pictured her. She was a creature
all feeling, all Imagination, although the bard
pod not that in his person or manners 10
engage her attention or to arrest her fancy.
dhe young affections are not to be con;roil-I
ca. Love, almighty Love, must be free.
else 1t ceases TO be love. Tannahill was
pam ia MIS- person aud uncouth in his man
hers, and felt and expressed discontontmentI
at the cruel disappointments which II had
been his unhappy fate almost invariably 70
encounter. Jessie, OH the contrary. looked
upon the world as brilliant spectacle vet to
be seen AMI enjoyed,--as a vast Paradise
iull Of the bounty of heaYen and Of enrlh-