opinion on this subject. If it will not suit, as I proposed, we will lay two of the stanzas together, and then make the chorus follow. Fee him father-I inclose you Fraser's set of this tune when he plays it slow; in fact, he makes it the language of despair. I shall here give you two stanzas, in that style; merely to try if it will be any improvement. Were it possible, in singing, to give it half the pathos which Fraser gives it in playing, it would make an admirably pathetic song. I do not give these verses for any merit they have. I composed them at the time in which Patie Allan's mither died, that was about the back o' midnight; and by the lee-side of a bowl of punch, which had overset every mortal in company, except the hautbois and the muse. Thou has left me ever, Jamie, Thou hast left me ever, Thou hast left me ever, Jamie, Thou hast left me ever. Aften hast thou vow'd that death, Only should us sever, Now thou's left thy lass for ay-I maun see thee never, Jamie, I'll see thee never. * Thou * The Scottish (the Editor uses the word substantively, Thou hast me forsaken, Jamie, Thou hast me forsaken: Thou hast me forsaken, Jamie, Thou hast me for saken, Thou canst love anither jo, While my heart is breaking: Soon my weary e'en I'll close-Never mair to waken, Jamie, Ne'er mair to waken. * Jockie and Jenny I would discard, and in its place would put There's nae luck about the house, which has a very pleasant air; and which is positively the finest love-ballad in that stile in the Scottish, or perhaps in any other language. When she came ben she bobbet, as an air is more beautiful than either, and in the andante way, would unite with a charming sentimental ballad. Saw ye my father, is one of my greatest favourites. The as the English) employ the abbreviation!I'll for I shall as well as I will; and it is for I shall it is used here. In Annandale, as in the northern counties of England, for I shall they use l'se. E. * This is the whole of the song. The bard never proceeded farther. Note by Mr. Thomson. The evening before last, I wandered out, and began a tender song; in what I think is its native stile, I must premise, that the old way, and the way to give most effect, is to have no starting note, as the fiddlers call it, but to burst at once into the pathos. Every country girl sings-Saw ye my father, &c. I have My song is but just begun; and I should like, before I proceed, to know your opinion of it. sprinkled it with the Scottish dialect, but it easily turned into correct English. may be FRAGMENT. Tune-" SAW YE MY FATHER." WHERE are the joys I hae met in the morning, Nae mair a winding the course o' yon river, Nae mair I trace the light footsteps o' pleasure, Is Is it that simmer's forsaken our vallies, No, no, the bees humming round the gay roses Fain wad I hide, what I fear to discover, CETERA DESUNT. Todlin hame. Urbani mentioned an idea of his, which has long been mine; that this air is highly susceptible of pathos: accordingly, you will soon hear him at your concert, try it to a song of mine in the Museum. Ye banks and braes o' bonie Doon. One song more and I have done. Auld lang syne. The air is but mediocre; but the following song, the old song of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript, until I took it down from an old man's singing; is enough to recommend any air. AULD AULD LANG SYNE. SHOULD auld acquaintance be forgot, CHORUS. For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, We twa hae run about the braes, And pu't the gowans fine; But we've wandered mony a weary foot Sin auld lang syne. For auld, &c. We twa hae paidlet i' the burn, Frae mornin sun till dine : But seas between us braid hae roar'd, Sin auld lang syne. For auld, &c. And |