The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-25

tude which no man amented more than himself Next,
nerves. has 60 debtated my mind that dare neither re-
view the past events nor look forward into the future
for the least anxiety or IN my breast pro-
il for an hour or two my spirits are enlightened and gm
futurity quite transported o. the thoughts
farewell To- al he pains and anxetes Of this e-for
assure you am heartily tired OF l-anu 90 not de-
ceve myself could at any time gaay heHg ra Was
back this world that he joined IN carouse ana
celebrated the coming in Of the New Year-(iavgnerl-
and as the mcrrment OF that occasion went high the
epr caught the flax and the work Of six months was
burnt in many minutes. daughter lie returned
again TO his father the age Of twenty three or twenty
four He wrote poetry, but it only relaxation,
as resource from Improbable life He says-My pas,
sons, when overweight, ragged IKE 30 many DEVILS ana
then the coming over Of my verses like spell eoothcd
all into quietn With all that flood Of soul within him
that rebounding from the highest conviviaty into the
lowest despondency-with yearnngs and lodgings for he
knew not wha.-with a sensibily that every object
caused to tremble-wth an ambition underneath them
all that tossed him as the ocean swell losses the boats an
ships in the bay he 10 make himself think he was
fner and he bitterly felt what years after he blind
y expressed go, for little of the carthorse part OF hui
man nature" We understand his character. Here
was one the wonderful men that ever was born
He never dreamed of his real places be never asserted
for mscf 1.-THE of what the world eagerly heaps
upon him. AT twenty five his father dies and Gilbert
and his mother take the farm Now hc means 10 settle
this vexed question and be farmer lie IS full OF reso
luton He says read farming books calculated crops,
attended markets, and he believes he should have been
successful farmer had it not been for buying bad seed
not be farmer first and then poet. He could
thrive till his real genius had full opportunity for express
sion. When once ne had poured his love forth in its
am of his beng then he might have become secondary
and good farmer but not And thus while he bought
poor seed for the farm he was awng grand good seed for
poetry At length, when 20 years OF age he ventured 20
write "Robert Burns, poet" for the first time ne writes
honor and not his real name; now, his being poet
is something aside from the purpose OF his e On the
LIST OF August 1885, no published the first volume OF his
hv Ia luaAx Many mt inn
publisher would be glad TO give him housand-or that
matter ten housand-or one Of them He had got into
great trouble; the mother of his babes not his wife,
prosecutions hung him; his farming lapors were
disastrous, and he determined the last resort OF
broken discouraged man. TO to Jamaica as an oversecr
of plantation think sec Robert Burns on planta
ton with whip under his granddaughter III think sec
him following gang Of slaves shouting " mans man
for a. that" Great laughter Poor Burns was in very
bad way, but he not bad that yet Qaughter)
new dawned He was summoned from the south to
Edinburg and for nearly year he was coured honorsd
and fetsd in the metropolis Of the north by men who
existed then and attracted universal attention. and who
marked for being the friend Of Burns. Zap
conversations, and, indeed his whole life showed what
he was. Had Burns been placed in favorable
he found as many friends to esteem
his decease to build his monument and claim him as the
child Of genius-then they would have seen IN by gone
times what Burns Burns then, with the profits of
his books takes farm at Eston and marries his Jane
whom he should have married long ago previous. He
turns agricultural pursuits and is farmer. No
clouds are to sail melodiously his head No
brooks are TO rush under the overhangng bushes No
more birds are to sing over him. Burns is going TO
leave poetry and attend to the casks daughter
We then the year $780, and find yet the poetic
nature OF his soul truly developed, and, although far
mer yet ne is the poet In December 1885, he writes to
friend that his mind is agony, and yet he composes
% A mans man for a. that" aud there is something
even more oacnng tnan tnat wnan ne wT.os van.
cannot follow him in detail tonight in all the episodes of
bis life and his mseres We will just glance at his removal
from Eston to Dumfries and TO his entering upon the
duties Of excisemn After wildly describing the suernes
and trials Of the poet whilst engaged exciseman the
reverend gentleman proceeded-Burns, himself has said
in of his lines, ~ have heart for such scenes"
Yet he passed day after day the views Of nature he
went upon his rides and accepted the cup from
many a "guden soul. But whilst Burns was so co.
gagged domestic difficulties still pressed upon him.
The last letters be wrote were to his friends, beseechng
them for some small loans to save himself from the jail
and his family from starvation. And yet the money
refused, although no man was more scrupuous his
penses and at the time of his death he did not any
man penny. At length, the 21st Of july l7O6,
Burns permitted TO depart out Of this clement and
give up that body which he had borne. His Of
the wonderful natures that time has ever known
Has any dreamed Of making q saint Of BurnsY II
any one has ever attempted 70 paint his faings It will be
opinion. There is no more sincere confession walls
more agonizpg, no sorrow moro complete no suffering
intense. He has himself given heartfelt confession
Of those suerings and feelings which wrung his bee ling
heart and add thing TO those things which
couded and ecipsed his joys and embittered
part, my duty is plain and simple one requested
have been to appear here in this position by the country
duty and in following the Of the poets fe have
often had TO lnger between light and darkness-between
smiles and tears But am to pay and TO
condemn; and in gancing over the shady side of his
career let initiate the example Of the ancents and draw
curtain over them But amid all this, from the begin
ming OF this work the memory and the thought OF Burns
have grown upon my heart, and have felt and more
tendery towards him. as one whom loved and towards
whom my heart melted andwhen came TO the END
Of my task and laid him the grave was with the feel
ing Of one who has parted with brother and friend.
(Appause.) Burns was indeed remarkable man; his
AL
wrote was regular and bold and clothed with earnest
ness and vitality that is beyond all praise. Even In your
criticism upon him you felt that you were finding
lault with superior There more put int0
Burns than into any other man in any age what be has
given OF himself does not BY any express what he
was really capable Of doing In him mines OF undug
gold-of unwashed diamonds and the stray thoughts he
gave TO the world like the scattered particles of ore
Californian shores which seem 70 give an idea of
the rich veins from which they have been dsntgrated
Would that the genius OF Burns had been appreciated in
his day While all the world was paying homage that
who was greatly endowed With faculties of the highest
order, and whose conversation stamped with the a-
tvty Of his mind But for the most part fell on the
ears Of those who unat to Judge Of its worth and
beauty and Ike stalls and white staaces hid in the
deep caves Of earth, unable to shine forth in their
pure respendency in the light Of day the gems of his
thoughts were allowed to lay comparatively un.
noticed in bis own lifetime. Such was the vita.
lily Of Burns that there was not spot Of
earth which be placed his that was lot made TO
spring with flowers. The spots that dear with his
glory and with the richness of his soul have long since
been deserted and have had such tenant since the last
years Of his life. Alive, he would wiring ten pounds
from any source TO himself from ruin dead he has
made many rich. Alive, he could not command the
means OF existence for himself and his family HAVING
from very necessity to take the Office Of excisenau: but
now that he lies In the grave, he has filed men with
riches and with the food Of sturdy courage Death which
overthrow him. came Ike autumnal winds scattering The
faded leaves Of the forest trees an thus were his Thoughts
scattered abroad carrying with them the seeds Of genius
II lie could nave known what would have been the jujg
ment Of losteTty, II would have formed an agreeable
episode in bis tong and struggling life. There nos
nothing left for him to nrieve for He has left the
OF bis manhood, but yet now he walks crowned with
praises ADD wreathcd with sympathy. He IS the
nserarabe companion OF the scotcnman wherever he
goes; and where is the place that the Scotcbman
dces lot so to make his fortune, aud 10 max
II easyY He Is rad In the mountain and the town. in
the hed and ia the camp he swings in the hammock ami
dwcls N the home he read by the glare of torches aud
BY The light OF the borcalis the north the
crowded city and the quiet village. There not place
in Scotland that he s no. known and IN the heart OF his
connrymen he dear 10 them their JOYS and in their
sorroWs; and he ia as much known through the earth
Strange power Of the unleshcd spirit There thing
TO be remarked the Of Burns and OF those great
thoughts which he breaibedthcughts like those which
had engaged Homer aud Socrates The worst things he
wrote written carly. His most exquisite songs and
successful epstes the fruit Of his later life But IL
seems a mockcIy 10 speak of n life which ended
N period in which many others do but commence
ma lad firee taat upop forsv