Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Scots musical museum > Volume 5

Ill
PREFACE.
AT the time the Editor publifhed the 4. Volume of this V\brk.heha.j
■erety reafon to believe that five Volumes would be fuffiriciit to con
-tain all tiit^e Scots Songs the merit of which called for publication; But,
owing to the exertions of the late celebrated Scottifh Bard, ihe Work h;is
been enlarged far beyond what was originally expected. To aftcirpt to
defcribc the tafte and abilities of Mr. Burns in his Native Poetr^j, would
be abfurd. The Public are in pofsefsion of his productions which loudij
proclaim his merit. To him is the prefent Collection indebted for al-
-moft all of thefe excellent pieces which it contains. He has not onlj,-
enriched it with a variety of beautiful and original Songs compofed b}
himfelf, but his zeal for the fuccefs of the Scots Mufical Mufeuin pron j>
-ted him to collect and write out accurate Copies of many ^thers in
their genuine fimplicity .Prior to his deceafc, he furnifhed the Editor
with a number, in addition to thofe alreadj' publifhed, greater thaii can
be included in one Volume _To withhold thefe from the public e^e.wouM
be moft improper. And the Editor therefore at the folicitation of man_y
of the Subfcribers,has agreed to publifh them in a Sixth Volume, which
moft certainly will conclude the prefent work. As thefe hovstver will
not fill up a Volume, the Editor means to infert a number of tunes adap
-ted to the Flute, which he is confident many of the Subfcribers will ap
-prove of, Thofe Ladies who Sing and perform upon the Piano F^orte,
fhall be furnifhed with the Songs and Mqfic for their ufe, at a reduced
price, upon application to the Editor. ,,,
To (hew the Public with what extreme anxiety Mr. Burns vNifhed far
the- fuccefs of this Work, the Editor cannot refrain from infciting an
Extract of a letter which he received from that admirable Poet a few
weeks before his death ^In this letter tho* written under the prefsurt
o.f affliction, are alone feen the fervent fentiment and poetical language:
of Burns. The original the Editor will chearfully fhew to his fubfcribers
'iHow are you* my Dear Friend? and how comes on ^our Fifth Volume;'
* You may probably think that for fome time paft I have -neglected .^ ou &
"your work; but, alas, the hand of pain, and forrow, apd care has thefe
"many months lain heavj' on ,mei Perfonal and domeftic affliction have
"almoft entirely banifhed that alacrity and life with which I ufed to woo
"the rural Mufe of Scotia, In the mean time, let us finilh whatweha\e
"fo well begun. _The gentleman, Mr. L s, a particulalr friend of mine,
''will bring out any proofs ^if they are read;) -^ or any mefsage you m:y
'have. "Farewel'
"R. BURNS?
"You fhould have had this when Mr. L _s called on you, but his faddle -
"bags mifcarried. I am extremely anxious for your work, as indtcd T
"am for every thing concerning ^t)u and jour welfare,
"Many a meriy meeting this Publication has given us, »nd pofsiblj it maj,
"give us. more, thougk alas! 1 fear it This protracting, flow, confuting
"illnefs which hangs over me, will, i doubt much, my ever dear ft itnd,
"arreft my fun before he has well reached his middle carreer, and will
"turn