The Complete Works. Robert Burns

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      An’ there will be Collieston’s[125] whiskers,

      An’ Quintin, o’ lads not the worst.

      VIII.

      An’ there will be stamp-office Johnnie,[126]

      Tak’ tent how ye purchase a dram;

      An’ there will be gay Cassencarrie,

      An’ there will be gleg Colonel Tam;

      An’ there will be trusty Kerroughtree,[127]

      Whose honour was ever his law,

      If the virtues were pack’d in a parcel,

      His worth might be sample for a’.

      IX.

      An’ can we forget the auld major,

      Wha’ll ne’er be forgot in the Greys,

      Our flatt’ry we’ll keep for some other,

      Him only ’tis justice to praise.

      An’ there will be maiden Kilkerran,

      And also Barskimming’s gude knight,

      An’ there will be roarin’ Birtwhistle,

      Wha luckily roars in the right.

      X.

      An’ there, frae the Niddisdale borders,

      Will mingle the Maxwells in droves;

      Teugh Johnnie, staunch Geordie, an’ Walie,

      That griens for the fishes an’ loaves;

      An’ there will be Logan Mac Douall,[128]

      Sculdudd’ry an’ he will be there,

      An’ also the wild Scot of Galloway,

      Sodgerin’, gunpowder Blair.

      XI.

      Then hey the chaste interest o’ Broughton,

      An’ hey for the blessings ’twill bring?

      It may send Balmaghie to the Commons,

      In Sodom ’twould make him a king;

      An’ hey for the sanctified M–y,

      Our land who wi’ chapels has stor’d;

      He founder’d his horse among harlots,

      But gied the auld naig to the Lord.

      CL. THE HERON BALLADS

      [BALLAD THIRD]

      [This third and last ballad was written on the contest between Heron and Stewart, which followed close on that with Gordon. Heron carried the election, but was unseated by the decision of a Committee of the House of Commons: a decision which it is said he took so much to heart that it affected his health, and shortened his life.]

      AN EXCELLENT NEW SONG.

      CLI. POEM, ADDRESSED TO MR. MITCHELL, COLLECTOR OF EXCISE. DUMFRIES, 1796

      [The gentlemen to whom this very modest, and, under the circumstances, most affecting application for his salary was made, filled the office of Collector of Excise for the district, and was of a kind and generous nature: but few were aware that the poet was suffering both from ill-health and poverty.]