mother's best songs, almost word for word. No doubt I was piqued,
but it saved me much trouble, paper, and ink; for I am carefully
avoiding anything which I have seen or heard of being in print,
although I have no doubt that I shall err, being acquainted with
almost no collections of that sort, but I am not afraid that you too
will mistake. I am still at a loss with respect to some: such as
the Battle of Flodden beginning, "From Spey to the Border," a long
poetical piece on the battle of Bannockburn, I fear modern: The
Battle of the Boyne, Young Bateman's Ghost, all of which, and others
which I cannot mind, I could mostly recover for a few miles' travel
were I certain they could be of any use concerning the above; and I
might have mentioned May Cohn and a duel between two friends, Graham
and Bewick, undoubtedly very old. You must give me information in
your answer. I have already scraped together a considerable
quantity--suspend your curiosity, Mr. Scott, you will see them when I
see you, of which I am as impatient as you can be to see the songs
for your life. But as I suppose you have no personal acquaintance in
this parish, it would be presumption in me to expect that you will
visit my cottage, but I will attend you in any part of the Forest if
you will send me word. I am far from supposing that a person of your
discernment,--d-n it, I'll blot out that, 'tis so like flattery. I
say I don't think you would despise a shepherd's "humble cot an'
hamely fare," as Burns hath it, yet though I would be extremely proud
of a visit, yet hang me if I would know what to do wi' ye. I am
surprised to find that the songs in your collection differ so widely
from my mother's. Is Mr. Herd's MS. genuine? I suspect it. Jamie
Telfer differs in many particulars. Johnny Armstrong of Gilnockie is
another song altogether. I have seen a verse of my mother's way
called Johny Armstrong's last good-night cited in the Spectator, and
another in Boswell's Journal. It begins, "Is there ne'er a man in