The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

3o8 T.he Highland Monthly.
the dyke on which Mrs Burns found him astride with Tarn
O'Shanter in spirit, and in the very fervor of composition,
and he mu?,L .nve visited Friars Carse in which The
Whistle was drank for. In pursuing his occupation as a
stone-mason in different parts of the country he added to
his stores of songs and legends ; and a visit paid to Hogg,
then tending his flocks upon the slopes of Queensberry, no
doubt encouraged him still farther, whilst his poetic enthu-
siasm is evidenced by his having walked to Edinburgh that
he might have the pleasure of looking on the author of
Marmion. Impressed by the songs and traditions of
Nithsdale, he early began to write verses, and was already
so well known when Cromek and Stothard, the celebrated
painter, visited Dumfries in 1809 that Cunningham was
thought to be the best person to aid him in forming a col-
lection of border ballads and Jacobite songs. Further
intercourse only increased the favorable impression he had
made, and it was his visitor's exaggerated enthusiasm for
Burns, and his urgency to discover some of the older poetic
remnants in the district, that first suggested to Cunningham
the design of imposing upon the too credulous engraver.
It was in this way that "The Remains of Nithsdale and
Galloway Song" originated, which dfd for Nithsdale what
the Border Minstrelsy did for Esk, Ettrick, and Yarrow ;
and the dissertations, scattered through the volume, all by
Cunningham, contain the most valuable information regarding
the inner life of the peasantr)' of the district. From
the time of the publication of this work he spent the most
of his time in London as the friend, assistant, and adviser
of Chantrey, having little personal connection with his
native place. His last visit to it was paid in 183 1, when
he was entertained by his friends in Dumfries. The dinner
is remarkable as being, I believe, the first public appearance
of Carlyle. For the occasion he had left Craigenputtock in
the very throes of the composition of Sartor Resartus to do
honour to the poet, and his speech was earnest, apprecia-
tive, and for once, to use his own expression, to