"Whiskey Jean, that took her gill
In Galloway sae wide,"

represents the borough of Kirkcudbright; a town of old standing; neat, clean, and prosperous; the country around is picturesque, and old ruins add an aspect of grandeur to the whole.

"Black Joan frae Crighton-Peel,
O' gipsy kith and kin,"

stands for Sanquhar, noted for its fine coals, its carpetmanufactory, and likewise for that species of comfortable stockings called Sanquhar hose: its castle had the honour of a siege from Edward I. in person, and endured an English garrison, from whom it was wrested by stratagem.

The duty which these five ladies met in Dumfries to perform was to decide whether Patrick Miller, younger, of Dalswinton, or Sir James Johnston of Westerhall, should be preferred as their representative in the House of Commons. On the side of the former all the Whig interest of the Duke of Queensberry was mustered: and on that of the latter all the interest which the Tories could command among the Hopes, the Jardines, and the Johnstons. The contest was fierce and acrimonious, and on the part of the following" threatened blows if not blood. The young, active men of Nithsdale, Annandale, and Eskdale, together with the youth of Galloway, marched into Dumfries, all armed with oak sticks, which in those days they were taught how to use in case of a fray; and had not prudent and sensible men on both sides interposed and directed their eyes and minds elsewhere, confusion and strife would have ensued.

The election was at the hottest, when Burns wrote the "Five Carlins :" he sent a copy of it to Mr. Graham of Fintray, saying, "The election ballad, as you will see,

alludes to the present canvass in our string of boroughs. I do not believe there will be such a hard-run match in the whole general election. Sir James Johnston does what man can do, but yet he doubts his fate." The poem is printed from a copy in the Poet's own handwriting, presented to me on a late visit to Dumfrieshire.

A copy of the ballad, which the Poet sent to Mrs. Stewart, of Stair, contains some curious variations: verse 17 stands thus :

"Then started Bess o' Annandale,

A deadly aith she's taen,
That she wad vote the border-knight,
Tho' she should vote her lane."

In verse 22" Black Joan" says―

"For fools will prate o' right and wrang,
While knaves laugh them to scorn:
But the sodger's friends hae blawn the best,
So he shall bear the horn."

Marjory o' the mony Lochs" exclaims

And

"There's some great folk set light by me,

I set as light by them;

But I will send to London town,

Whom I lo'e best at hame."

Whiskey Jean that took her gill" is called

throughout "Brandy Jean."

EPISTLE

TO ROBERT GRAHAM, Esq.

OF FINTRAY:

ON THE CLOSE OF THE DISPUTED ELECTION BETWEEN

SIR JAMES JOHNSTON AND CAPTAIN MILLER, FOR

THE DUMFRIES DISTRICT OF BOROUGHS.

FINTRAY, my stay in worldly strife,
Friend o' my muse, friend o' my life,
Are ye as idle's I am?

Come then, wi' uncouth, kintra fleg,

O'er Pegasus I'll fling my leg,

And ye shall see me try him.

I'll sing the zeal Drumlanrig bears
Who left the all-important cares

Of princes and their darlings;

And, bent on winning borough towns,
Came shaking hands wi' wabster lowns,
And kissing barefit carlins.

Combustion thro' our boroughs rode
Whistling his roaring pack abroad

Of mad unmuzzled lions;

As Queensberry buff and blue unfurled,
And Westerha' and Hopeton hurled

To every Whig defiance.

But cautious Queensberry left the war, Th' unmanner'd dust might soil his star; Besides, he hated bleeding:

But left behind him heroes bright,

Heroes in Cæsarean fight,

Or Ciceronian pleading.

O! for a throat like huge Mons-meg,
To muster o'er each ardent Whig

Beneath Drumlanrig's banner;

Heroes and heroines commix,

All in the field of politics,

To win immortal honour.

M'Murdo and his lovely spouse,
(Th' enamour'd laurels kiss her brows!)
Led on the loves and graces :

She won each gaping burgess' heart,
While he, all-conquering, play'd his part
Among their wives and lasses.

Craigdarroch led a light-arm'd corps,
Tropes, metaphors and figures pour,

Like Hecla streaming thunder:

Glenriddel, skill'd in rusty coins,
Blew up each Tory's dark designs,

And bar'd the treason under.

In either wing two champions fought,
Redoubted Staig* who set at nought
The wildest savage Tory:

And Welsh,+ who ne'er yet flinch'd his ground,
High-wav'd his magnum-bonum round
With Cyclopeian fury.

Miller brought up th' artillery ranks,
The many-pounders of the Banks,
Resistless desolation!

While Maxwelton, that baron bold,

'Mid Lawson's ‡ port entrench'd his hold, And threaten'd worse damnation.

To these what Tory hosts oppos'd,
With these what Tory warriors clos'd,
Surpasses my descriving:

Squadrons extended long and large,
With furious speed rush to the charge,
Like raging devils driving.

* Provost Staig of Dumfries.

+ Sheriff Welsh.

Lawson, a wine merchant in Dumfries.