Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-15
Death of Jessy Lewars.

Mrs Thomson, the Jessy Lewars of Robert
Burns, died in Dumiries on Saturday the 26th, at
the advanced age of nearly four-score years. Up
to recent date Mrs. Thomson enjoyed excellent
health, but for some months has been gradually
sinking M
Persons familiar with the life Of the poet will re-
member that Jessy Lewars was on the most init
mate terms with Burns and his family. Her father
had been supervisor of excise for the district but
died some years before the poet, and Miss Jessy
Lewas, during most of the time that the poet lived
In Dumfries, resided with her brother, John Lew
ara, who was then an officer Of excise, and who be-
came afterwards also supervisor of the district.
In the short interval which took place betwixt
the poets return from Brow and his death, Jessy
Lewars was unremitting in her attention to Mrs.
Burns and the children--Mrs. Burns being almost
constantly confined to bed as the youngest child
of the poet was born on the day ofthe poets fune
ral-and conveyed from her brothers house such
cordials of all kinds as she supposed would be
ceptabe to the bard After Burns's death, two of
the children, Robert the eldest, and another, lived
with the Lewarss family for about fourteen months
II must not be forgotten that Jessy Lewars closed
the eyes of the poet dmmed with death-that eye
of which Sir Walter Scott said, have seen most
of the eminent men of my day, but never saw an
eye like Robert Burns's"
Jessy Lewars, some years after the poets death,
was married TO Mr.. Alexander Thomson, writer In
Dumfries, who died in l849, and was succeeded in
business by his son, Mr.. A. Thomson. Mrs. Thorn
son had five sons and two daughters, most of whom
survive their mother. Mrs. Thomson, in personal
appearance, was tall, somewhat stout, with beau
tful blue eye. She was of cheerful disposition,
with akindness and openhoartedness which en-.
deared her TO all but her warm friendship for,
and unremitting attention to the poet constitute
the claims which the memory Of Jcssy Lewars has
upon the affection and grateful remembrance OF
the admirers of Robert Burns When in his later
days evil reports TO the tendency of his political
opinions and his private conduct had aienatcd
many of his acquaintance, Jessy Lewars, with her
brother and sister, became the more unrs hitting
and constant in their friendship.
With such opportunities ofjudging Of the poets
sentiments and character, and herself eminenty
qualified, by her strong religious opinions and men.
tai capacity, to speak such subject, 1t becomes
interesting to know that Jessy Lewars frequently
stated that there never was a man more maligned
than the poet, and that especially he was by no
Incorporate as he was said to be-" She visi
ted his death.bed both by night and day and scorn
ed the idea that the poet died sceptic. "He died."
she said, in the faith Of Christian" At the
poets death Jessy Lewars possessed great many
manuscripts and letters Of the poet. These she
gave to DR.. Maxwell of Dumfiies, to be forwarded
TO Dr. Currie for the biography, and it was often
Of great regret 10 her that none OF them were
returned.
She possessed the Ms Of The Bue-eyed Las
sic" two verses on the back Of bill for al exhibi
ton of wild beasts in Dumfres, and presentation
copy of Johnsons Miscellany, with verses in the
handwriting of the poet. Two large glasses, re-
Ecrred to in 1.-The Life of the Poet" on which he
wrote some verses with diamond, were unfortu-
nately broken in thousand pieces by the careless.
ness Of a servant who was carrying them from one
house to another in Dumfries. Few have lived
more respected and beloved than Jcssy LewMs,
and so long as the. human heart beats in unison
with anything that is noble in genius and senti.
ment, 80 long will the name Of Jessy Lewars, the
aflectionate and constant friend Of Robert Burns,
be dear to the admirers of Scotland's poet.-ScotS
man,