When ance life's day araws near the gloamin', | Gie wealth to some be-ledger'd cit,

POEMS.

That, to adore.

Here Doon pour'd down his far-fetch'd floods; | This, all its source and end to draw,
There, well-fed Irwine stately thuds:
Auld hermit Ayr staw thro' his woods,

Brydon's brave ward I well could spy,
Beneath old Scotia's smiling eye;

Who call'd on Fame, low standing by,
To hand him on,

Where many a patriot-name on high,
And hero shone.

DUAN SECOND.

WITH musing-deep, astonish'd stare,
I view'd the heav'nly-seeming fair;
A whisp'ring throb did witness bear,
Of kindred sweet,

When with an elder sister's air

She did me greet.

All hail! my own inspired bard!
In me thy native muse regard;
Nor longer mourn thy fate is hard,
Thus poorly low,

I come to give thee such reward
As we bestow.

Know, the great genius of this land

His COUNTRY'S SAVIOUR,+ mark him well! Has many a light, aerial band,

Bold Richardton's heroic swell;
The chief on Sark § who glorious fell,
in high command;

And he whom ruthless fates expel

His native land.

There, where a sceptred Pictish shade ||
Stalk'd round his ashes lowly laid,
I mark'd a martial race pourtray'd
In colours strong;
Bold, soldier-featur'd, undismay'd
They strode along.

Thro' many a wild, romantic grove,¶
Near many a hermit-fancy'd cove,
(Fit haunts for friendship or for love
In musing mood),
An aged Judge, I saw him rove,

Dispensing good.

With deep-struck reverential awe,**
The learned sire and son I saw,

To Nature's God and Nature's law
They gave their lore,

The Wallaces. ↑ William Wallace. Adam Wallace, of Richardton, cousin to the immortal preserver of Scottish independence.

Who, all beneath his high command,
Harmoniously,

As arts or arms they understand,

Their labours ply.

They Scotia's race among them share;
Some fire the soldier on to dare;
Some rouse the patriot up to bare
Corruption's heart:
Some teach the bard, a darling care,
The tuneful art.

''Mong swelling floods of reeking gore, They, ardent, kindling spirits pour ; Or, 'mid the venal senate's roar,

They, sightless, stand,

To mend the honest patriot-lore,

And grace the hand.

And when the bard, or hoary sage,
Charm or instruct the future age,
They bind the wild poetic rage
In energy,
Or point the inconclusive page
Full on the eye.

Hence Fullarton, the brave and young;
Hence Dempster's zeal-inspired tongue;
Hence sweet harmonious Beattie sung
His "Minstrel lays ;"

Wallace, Laird of Craigie, who was second in com.
mand, under Douglas Earl of Ormond, at the famous
battle on the banks of Sark, fought anno 1448. That
glorious victory was principally owing to the judicious
conduct and intrepid valour of the gallant Laird of Or tore, with noble ardour stung,
Craigie, who died of his wounds after the action.

Coilus, King of the Picts, from whom the district of Kyle is said to take its name, lies buried, as tradition says, near the family seat of the Montgomeries of Coilsfield, where his burial-place is still shown.

Barskimming, the seat of the late Lord Justice

Clerk.

Catrine, the seat of the late Doctor, and present Professor Stewart.

The sceptic's bays.

To lower orders are assign'd
The humbler ranks of human-kind,

• Colonel Fullarton.