communicated to that work a series of humorous papers in prose, entitled, 'Memoirs of a Paisley Bailie,' which afforded considerable amusement at the time; and towards the end of this year he collected his scattered poetical fragments, and formed them into a small volume with the title of 'Poems, Narrative and Lyrical,' which he dedicated to his friend Kennedy. Most of these pieces, if not the whole of them, were reprints. I am not quite sure about the Battle Flag of Sigurd, but I rather think it appeared originally in the pages of the Paisley Advertiser.
This volume was, upon the whole, well received. There could be no doubt about the high quality of the poetry which an unknown author had ventured thus to submit to the world, but its character was peculiar, and for the most part not fitted for extensive popularity; and the season which was chosen for its introduction was eminently unfavourable to its chances of immediate success. No adventitious murmurs of applause had announced its approach, and at a time when little was heard but the noise of political contention, it was perhaps too much to expect that a comparatively obscure bard should draw towards
them. It was in this year that Jeanie Morrison appeared in an Edinburgh magazine, and for that exquisite lyrical composition he was paid—thirty shillings! George Buchanan was not far wrong when he exclaimed three hundred years ago,
Denique quicquid agis, comes assidet improba egestas
Sive poema canis, sive poema doces.
