THE FLY'S LETTER-BOX. "A New Subscriber."--Portraits of the lead- 8.-Robert Burns and his Highland Mary. 9.-A Special Pleader sueing for Half a Crown. 10.-Humming Birds. 12.-A beautiful Portrait of Robert Burns. *** Every purchaser of a number of the "Fly" is entitled to a print gratuitously. ROBERT BURNS. Sir, I feel that I am performing a duty to ac knowledge publicly the very great benefit which I have derived from taking Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills, after having been afflicted with Rheumatism in my left hip, thigh, shoulders, head, and arms for forty years-for a long period the pain was so great that I frequently started up in bed-in fact, for seven years before taking Blair's Pills, I had little or no rest night or day, although I had the best medical advice, both in and out of the army. I now am happy to say that I am free from this painful disease, and have been so for three months. So great was the excitement created by the These Pills were recommended to me by my brother appearance of the beautiful print, "Robert in Bath, who has been cured by them of Gout and Burns and his Highland Mary," given with Rheumatism of long standing, and advised me to lose no time in applying for them to your agent, Mr. the 8th number of the " Fly," that the ProWalker, druggist, Malmsbury, which I did, and prietors are induced to announce an accu-after taking five boxes am completely cured. Wit rate portrait of that favourite of all classes, the ness my hand this 22d of February, 1838, "true Poet of Nature," which will be presented to all subscribers to the "Fly" on the 23d instant. It will form the first of a GALLERY OF MODERN POETS, ARFIELD'S DIAMOND PLATE "The Young King," with No. 55; Mrs. BARFI Honey as "Don Juan," with No. 57 of the MADAME VSTRIS. The excitement caused by the hasty return from America, and re-appearance at the Olympic Theatre, of this beautiful and talented actress, induces Mr. Glover to re-announce his accurate portrait of her, which created such a sensation previous to her departure. It is a full-length drawing on stone, by the first artist in lithography of the day, and is printed on India paper, imperial size, for framing. duced price, 6d.; or 1s. coloured. POWDER. WARRANTED NOT TO WEAR THE PLATE. HENRY WILKINSON, The above is another proof of the great efficacy of this excellent medicine, which has called forth the grateful thanks and approbation of all classes of society. From many of the highest branches of the nobility to the poorest peasant, they have happily been the means of giving a degree of health and comfort which in most cases have not been enjoyed for years; they effectually relieve the most acute fit of Gout in a few hours, ad seldom fail to enable the patient to resume his usual avocation in 2 or 3 days, and if taken on the first symptoms, the patient is frequently left in doubt as to the reality of the attack. And there is another most important effect belonging to this Medicine-that it prevents than disease flying to the brain, stomach, or other vitak part. W Sold by Thomas Prout, 229, Strand, London r. and by his appointment by all respectable medi cine venders throughout the United Kingdom Price 2s. 9d. per box. This article instantaneously cleans all kinds of tarnish or rust, and, as if by magic, produces a most inimitable polish upon Gold, Silver, Plated Goods, Brass, Tin, and Copper, and makes British Plate, Zinc, or Pewter, look equal to the best Silver. Sold wholesale and retail, at Hallet and Co.'s British Plate factory, 41, Ludgate-street; and at Old Kent-road; Birchmore, 4, New Kent-road; Wilson's, 87, Fenchurch-street; Thomas and Co., | Thomas, Hammersmith; Kussel, 67, Whitechapel road; Brown, Commercial-road; Parker, Bridgestreet, Lambeth; Whitehead, Minories; Bateman, Re-Chemist to the Queen, 8, Castle Inn, Leicestersquare; S. Chappell, 84, Lombard-street; and wholesale, at the Manufactory, 92, Fenchurch-street. Agents wanted for every Town in the Kingdom. Published for JAMES GLOVER, at Water-lane, Fleet-street. N.B.-Plate cleaned with this Powder will not again tarnish. Price 6d. per Box. A mere sanguine temperament often passes for genius and patriotism. Ask for Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills; an observe the name and address of "Thomas Prout 229, Strand, London," impressed upon the Govern ment Stamp, affixed to each box of the genuine medicine. John Cunningham, rinter -court,' Fleet-street e is "UBI MEL, IBI MUSCA." No. 12-NEW SERIES.] SATURDAY, MARCH 23. Every purchaser of this number of "THE FLY," is entitled to an exquisitely-executed Lithographic_PRINT of which is presented gratuitously.—[A similar print with every number.] THE FLY'S PICTURE GALLERY. ROBERT BURNS. (No. XII.-New Series.) THE HEROINES OF BURNS. It is generally known that the fine impas- -"Nelly, not Neæra was her name." her still"-a very poor set of rhymes truly, [TWOPENCE. "Robert Burns," wald. The fair maid's name was Peggy Thomson, and he celebrates her in his song, "Now westlin win's and slaughtering guns :' she became the wife of a person named Neilson, and long lived in Ayr. the happy parish of Tarbolton who had not been a transient object of worship to Robert Burns. There was one whom he celebrates under the name of Montgomery's Peggy. To this girl, who had been reared in rather an elegant way, he made love, merely to show his parts in courtship: he got really in love, and About the time when he was two or three time served, communicated, through a news- and twenty, his attachments came in such Burns's visits on the occasions when "rock-dividualising them. Scarce a lass existed in paper, a few years ago, her recollections of thick and rapid succession, that there is no inings" were held in the house. These were meetings of the rustic youth of both sexes, at which the lasses plied their spinning-wheels (formerly their rocks-hence the name) and the lads knitted stockings, the entertainment consisting of songs, and a light supper of country fare. Often did this lady meet Burns at the head of a little troop, coming from a distance of three or four miles, to attend these meetings, with the spinning-wheel of some lass over his shoulder, and a hundred jokes in his mouth to keep the party in merriment. Often had the lady of the house to find fault with her damsels next day, for their lack of alacrity, the result of Burns's too late sitting at his courtship with Nelly Blair. Another of his very early Dulcineas was a certain Isabella Steven or Stein, who lived e have the poet's own authority, that the near his father's farm of Lochlee. He was lame in his bosom was kindled in his 15th then about 17. But, alas! she was an heiress nn by "a bonnie sweet sonsie lass," who her father a laird; that is to say, the prossigned to him as his partner on the har-prietor of probably twenty acres of moor-land, field. She was unwitting at first of the with a cot-house and garden. She therefore she had acquired over him, and he him- looked high, and the consequence was that the id not know, as he tells us, "why he poet had occasion to write his songso much to loiter behind with her, when ing in the evening from their labours; he tones of her voice made his hearts thrill like an Æolian harp; and partiy why his pulse beat such a furious rattan he looked and fingered over her little to pick out the cruel nettle-stings and Love brought poetry to its aid, and composed his first verses, beginning, e I loved a bonnie lass, and ay I love was then refused. "It cost me several heartaches," he says, "to get rid of the affair." Another, named Anne Roland, the daughter of a farmer, is said to have been the "Annie" of his lively song of "the Rigs o' Barley." The heroine of My Nannie O," that most exquisite of songs, was Agnes Fleming, the daughter of a farmer at Caldcothill, near Lochlee, and at one time a servant : "Her face is fair, her heart is true, As spotless as she's bonnie, O; The opening gowan, wat wi' dew, Nae purer is than Nannic, O." At about four-and-twenty, while still assisting his father in the small poor farm of Lochlee, he became acquainted with the young woman whom he addresses in several of bis published letters as "My dear E." From these letters he appears to have at first made sure of obtaining the young woman's hand, but to have been finally rejected. It is probable that this person was the heroine of his song, "From thee, Eliza, I must go," which seems to have been written when he contemplated leaving her for a distant clime. His next serious fit of passion took its rise The letters are in surprisingly pure English, while he was studying mensuration at Kirkos-and of a more moderate and rational com "Oh, Tibbie, I hae seen the day, John Cunningham, Printer, Crown-court, Fleet-street. plexion than the most of his compositions of **Farewell, farewell, Eliza dear, The intest thru that icaves my heart, And thine that latest sigh.” This brings us to Highland Mary, the most -Xa gentle dames though e'er so far. tiles & LTE CINT SL. W. The wand then the IT sitt know, The design of going in search of fortune to Wyrt the Indes, my M&T, AZE JORTE ELL NULL § SLITE, Wo ye go to the lathes my MIT. At length be resolved to marry her, and en- TETER Ogeruk, má tire imser or a mass line. She was rather above the middle sta- though, if the wives of putical husbands a The subsequent history of this pair is well * Of at the air the wind can law, For there the bounн lassi IvES, Though wild woods grow and rivers Tow. Te dy anë me my fancy's fight 1 ser her in the dewr flowES. I be her the tunes birds But mas me i my deal" Not long afterwards be infused his love for her into the sta. more passionate verses beginking, “Oh were I on Farnassus which one half stanza conveys a description certainly not surpassed, and we are inclined to ↑ think not ever approached in the whole circle. of British poetry-che vividness and passion rising in union from line to line, unt at the, last reaches a periert transport, in which the post varves the reader as well as himself : * see thee dancinger the great, Try was, she imp, ty imbs sut ciELI., Try lempang ips and raguist, e CDBy beaver and earl I love thee .” Mrs. Burns as likewise celebrated in the facility of one carving fam memary, the song. This is my an lassie," in which FERGY MBIKAChoy Iymn deginting. - Thor Ingering sun, vill jessenang tay.” We have created Hirtland Mary shares, for her stury has been inter tid. We shi aford more space to the lacy whe next tre sided over the imagination of the hard-the cnetrated Jean Armor. The father of this YOUNG WOMEN WAS 2 master mason or hunder, of some substance, in the village of Mauch THE DOVES. Reasoning at every step he treads, And heard the voice of love; And soothed the Istening dove: Wher hightnings fast among the trees, I fear lest thee alone they seize, Ts then I feel myself a wife, · Forgive a transien. thought) Cowr the poet describes himself as meeting a face of, |