It is not many years since the touching and simple song of "Auld Robin Gray" was affirmed by most to be an ancient ballad, of, at the latest, the sixteenth century, and the obscurity in which its origin was involved, led not only to warm disputations and frequently contests, but also to the offering of rewards to discover the author, who was asserted by others to be living. In the year 1825, however, Sir Walter Scott enlightened the members of the Bannatyne Club with a tract which contained an account of the fair author, and of the circumstances under which the song was written. This tract was exclusively circulated among the Club, but as it has been at length offered to the world, we think the value and interest of the paper warrants our giving it a place in a miscellany which we hope we have already distinguished by the literary merits of its contents. It will be seen that the melody alone claims the title of ancient, and that the words were written by Lady Anne Lindsay, of Balcarras, who afterwards married Sir Andrew Barnard, and died in 1825 at an advanced age. We have purposely omitted the continuations of the song, which were in fact almost of another character, and far less effective.

"The beautiful and long contested ballad of Auld Robin Gray,' was well known to the Editor, from a very early period of his life, as the production of Lady Anne Lindsay, of Balcarras; in whose name it is now formally claimed. Mrs. Russell, wife of Lieutenant-colonel Russell, of Ashesteil, and maternal aunt of the Editor, was upon a visit at the house of Balcarras when it was written; and, as a most intimate friend of the

fair Authoress, was admitted to her confidence while it was in the course of being composed. Mrs. Russell sang beautifully, and with much feeling; and it may easily be supposed, that Auld Robin Gray' was often her choice. Whatever secresy she might at first think proper to observe, the name of the real Authoress was not withheld at a later period, when attempts were made to deprive her friend Lady Anne of her just fame. In fact, most of her domestic circle became acquainted with the particulars, and amongst others the present Editor.

"This circumstance, joined, perhaps, to a continuance of regard which may be termed hereditary, induced Lady Anne to distinguish the Editor, by imparting to him the following interesting account of the origin of Auld Robin Gray,' contained in a letter, dated July, 1823; in which, after mentioning that the Editor was the first person whom she had favoured with such an explanation, her Ladyship proceeds thus:—

"Robin Gray,' so called from its being the name of the old herd at Balcarras, was born soon after the close of the year 1771. My sister Margaret had married, and accompanied her husband to London: I was melancholy, and endeavoured to amuse myself by attempting a few poetical trifles. There was an ancient Scotch melody, of which I was passionately fond; who lived before your day, used to sing it to us at Balcarras. She did not object to its having improper words, though I did. I longed to sing old Sophy's air to different words, and give to its plaintive tones some little history