[A composite volume : containing The ballads and songs of Ayrshire ...

:
THE PEAIS OF AIGE.
be justly awarded to the Ayrshire poet. His verses are characterised by
an easy flow of composition not possessed by those of Auld Reekie's muchfamed
bard. The correspondence took place in 1719. It would appear
that to the few and now almost forgotten productions of Hamilton,
who was the senior of Ramsay by at least sixteen or twenty years,
we owe the poetical emulation of the author of the Gentle Shepherd.
From Gilbertfield, the Poet, towards the close of his days, removed to
Latterick, in Lanarkshire, where he died " at a very advanced age," on
the 24th May, 1751. He married a lady of his own name — probably a
relation— by whom, it appears from the parish records of Kilbirnie, he
had a daughter baptised Anna on the 16th of June, 1693, so that he must
\ have entered the matrimonial state at an early period of life. Whether
he lefb any issue is unknown.
\
The Hamiltons of Ladyland, however,
I
are not without descendants. The brother of the Poet, having sold the
property to the ninth Earl of Eglintoun, about 1712, proceeded to the
\ north of Ireland, where he purchased an estate, which was subsequently
\ disposed of by his son and heir, William, who, returning to Scotland in
I
1744, bought the lands of Craighlaw, in Galloway. The lineal representa-
\ tive of the family, William Hamilton of Craighlaw, is, or was lately, an
\ officer in the 10th Hussars. He was one of the protestors against the
\ Veto Act of the General Assembly in 1839.
At matyne houre, in midis of the nicht,
Walkeit of sleip, 1 saw besyd me sone,
Ane aigit man, seimit sextie yeiris be sicht.
This sentence sett, and song it in gud tone
O thryn-fold, and eterne God in trone !
To be content and lufe the I haif caus,
That my licht yowtheid is our past and done ;
Honor with aige to every vertew drawls.