Letter to James Clark: 2 November 1807
James King Corpl Captn
McDowal’s Compy Ren[frew]shire Militia Pe[evensey] Barracks [or] Elsewhere England Paisley
2d Novr 1807 Dear James I received yours of
the 22d Sepr in due time, and according to
your wish let your Mother know that you were well, she called on me the other
night and wish’d that I would write to you directly, as she was very impatient
to have a letter from you (independent of that I should have writt|-en a fourthnight ago) you are
sensible of a Mother’s solicitude, and will not fail giving her that
gratification —-- Trade is remarkably
low with us, those who have their work continued are obliged to do it at
pitifiul low prices, and those who are thrown, can scarce get the offer of any
by calling through – Lappets, 900” have been offer’d at 3d
neat, however, peoples’ minds are not yet dampt so much as you have seen in
former depressions ——— I am obliged to you for sending the songs in your last.
“Thou’rt fair morning of May.” is a beautiful little ballad, but I would
advise you to throw out the last verse, as the subject is quite compleat
without it, besides, being in 5 stanzas, it will not suit any double tune. — in verse 4th, line 3d,
instead of “Will retire,” I would prefer “is retir’d” — “The
morning trembles o’er the deep” likewise pleases me very well. — “O why
is thy hand so cauld, love”, possesses some merit, but I think it inferiour
to the others. In my opinion your songs surpass your other productions, and I
would advise you to apply yourself in that department of our favourite
amusement in preference to any other, another thing which I beg leave to
mention, and which always makes a song appear more masterly, is to make the 1st
and 3d lines of the verse to rhyme — in the [#] old Ballad style it may be
dispensed with, but in Songs written in the idiom of the present day it is expected
and A
Fragment The Queen’sferry
Boatie rows light, And light is the
heart that it bears, For it brings the
poor soldier safe back to his home, From
many long toilsome years. How sweet are his
green native hills, As they smile to the
beams of the west, But sweeter by far is
the sunshine of hope That gladdens the
soldier’s breast. I can well mark the
tears of his joy, As the wave-beaten
pier he ascends, For already in fancy
he enters his home Midst
the greetings of tender friends. But fled are his
visions of bliss, All his transports
but ’rose to deceive, For he found the dear
cottage a tenantless waste, And
his kindred all sunk to the grave. I dont know any Air
that answers to the above measure, let me know whether you know any to it ——
You will no doubt know Lord Moira’s reel I have been trying
verses to it, and will write you all that I was able to make of it. [#] Scottish
Song Air –
–”Lord Moira’s Reel” Loudon’s bonny woods
an’ braes, I maun lea’ them a’, lassie, Wha can thole when
Britain’s foes, Wou’d gi’e Britons law, lassie? Wha wou’d shun the
field of danger? Wha frae fame wou’d
live a stranger? Now, when Freedom
bids avenge her, Wha wou’d shun
her ca’ lassie? Lou[don’s bo]nny woods an’ braes, Ha’e seen our happy
bridal days, An gentle hope will soothe thy
waes, When I am far
awa’, lassie. “Hark! the swelling bugle sings, It gies joy to thee, laddie, But the dolefu’ bugle
brings Waefu’ thoughts to me, laddie, Lanely I may climb
the mountain, Lanely stray beside
the fountain, Still the weary
moments countin’, Far frae love and thee, laddie-- O’er
the gory fields o’ war. When vengeance drives
his crimson car, Thou’lt may-be fa’,
frae me afar An’ nane to close thy e’e,
laddie.” O resume
thy wonted smile! O suppress
thy fears, lassie! Glorious honour
crowns the toil That the soldier shares, lassie; Heav’n will shield
thy faithfu’ lover, Till the vengefu’
strife is over, Then we’ll meet, nae
mair to Sever Till the day we die, lassie, Midst our bonny woods
an’ braes We’ll spend our
peaceful happy days As blithe’s yon
lightsome lamb that plays On Loudon’s flow’ry lee, lassie. I own am somewhat half-pleased
with the above myself, but that is always the case when a piece is newly finish’d
— and it must lie past some time before we are capable of judging rightly how
it may stand. Mention any defects you may see in it —— I hope you will write to
your mother immediately – and I wish to hear from you first time you have
leisure to write – if you have any thing new please send a copy — you would
receive a letter lately from Dovesland written by Borland — we spent the day
together — I have not seen him since -- I remain yours most
sincerely Robt
Tannahill Emendations Renfrew Shire •
Ren[fàààà
Shire] Pevensey
• Pe[àààààà] or • [àà] Loudon’s
bonny • Lou[dààà
àà]nny Copy Text: MS Robertson 1/10 Previous Publication: Notes: |