Inglis Collection of printed music > Printed music > Scots musical museum > Volumes 5-6

PREFACE.
AT the time the Editor publifhed the 4. Volume of this Work, he had
-every reafon to belieTe that five Volumes would be fufficient to con
-tain all thofe Scots Songs the merit of which called for publication; But,
owing to the exertions of the late celebrated Scottifh Bard, the Work has
been enlarged far beyond what was originally expected. To attempt to
defcribe the tafte and abilities of Mr. Burns in his Native Poetry, would
be abfurd. The Public are in pofsefsion of his productions which loudly
proclaim his merit. To him ia the prefent Collection indebted for al-
-mpft all of thefe excellent pieces which it contains. He has not only
enriched it with a variety of beautiful and original Songs compofed by
himfelf , but his zeal for the fuccefs of the Scots Mufical Mufeum promp
-ted him to collect and write out accurate Copies of many others in
their genuine fimplicity Prior to his deceafe, he furnifhed the Editor
with a number, in addition to thofe already publifhed, greater than can
be included in one Volume To withhold thefe from the public eye, would
be moft improper. And the Editor therefore at the folicitation of many
of the SubfcriberSjhas agreed to publifh them in a Sixth Volume, which
moft certainly will conclude the prefent work. As thefe however 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 Subscribers will ap-
-prove of. Thofe Ladies who Sing and perform upon the Piano Forte,
fhall be furnifhed with the Songs and Mufic for their ufe, at a reduced
price, upon application to the Editor.
To fhew the Public with what extreme anxiety Mr. Burns wifhed for
the fuccefs of this Work, the Editor cannot refrain from inferting 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 prefsure
of affliction, are alone feen the fervent fentiment and poetical language
of Burns. The original the Editor will chearfully fliew to his fubfcribers
"How are you, my Dear Friend? and how comes on your Fifth Volume?
"You may probably think that for fome time paft I have neglected you &
"your work; but, alas, the hand of pain, and forrow, and care has thefe
"many months lain heavy on me! 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 finiflh whatwehave
"fo well begun. The gentleman, Mr. L s, a particular friend of mine,
''will bring out any proofs (if they are ready^ or any mefsage you may
"have. "Farewell
"R. BURNS?
"You fhould have had this when Mr. L__s called on you, but his faddle-
"bagg mifcarried. I am extremely anxious for your work, as indeed I
"am for every thing concerning you and your welfare, _ . . _ . _
"Many a merry meeting this Publication has given us, and pofsibfy it may
give us more, though alas! I- fear /it This protracting, flow, confuming
"illnefs which hangs over me, will, I doubt much, my ever dear friend,
"arreft my fun before he has well reached his middle carreer, and will
"turn