ever, of this important ambassador from the Antiquaries, was amply repaid to me by the noble exhibition of the 'Ballat of Auld Robin Gray's Courtship,' as performed by dancing-dogs under my window. It proved its popularity from the highest to the lowest, and gave me pleasure while I hugged myself in my obscurity.
"Such was the history of the first part of it. As to the second, it was written many years after, in compliment to my dear old mother, who said, 'Anny, I wish you would tell me how that unlucky business of Jenny and Jamie ended.' To meet her wishes as far as I could, the Second Part was written. It is not so pleasing as the First; the early loves and distresses of youth go more to the heart than the contritions, confessions, and legacies of old age. My dread, however, of being named as an Authoress still remaining, though I sung it to my mother, I gave her no copy of it; but her affection for me impressed it on a memory which retained scarcely anything else. I wrote another version of the Second Part, as coming from Jenny's own lips, which some people may like better, from its being in the same measure.
"I must also mention the Laird of Dalziel's advice, who, in a tête-a-tête, afterwards said, 'My dear, the next time you sing that song, try to change the words a wee bit, and in-
