Page:Life of Robert Burns.pdf/10

 10 fence to so large a family, and came at last to the resolution of trying his fortune in the West Indies. To this step, it is probable, he was more eagerly urged by the treatment he received from the family of the celebrated Jean, his future wife, and now respected widow. This young woman, who, from the first period of her intimacy with Burns, was loved by him with an ardent attachment, which continued till the close of his life, unfortunately became pregnant ; and the disclo- sure of the fact to her father, whose name was Armour, a master mason in Irvine, drew down upon herself and her lover the most fierce resentment. The old man would not be ap- peased, and when Burns wished to repair their error by marriage, spurned at the proposal; and to such an unreasonable length did he carry his indignation, as to prevail on his daughter to de- stroy a written acknowledgment she had got from Burns of her being his wife,—a document which the law of Scotland holds a valid proof of marriage. The poet has recorded in some of his letters the anguish of his feelings on this occasion. Jamaica was now his mark; and, through the influence of a friend in Irvine, he procured a situation as assistant overseer on a plantation in that colony. To defray his outfit, and other expenses, it now occurred to him, for the first time, to publish his poems, though of their yielding him any thing he was extremely doubtful. They were at length printed at Kilmarnock, the edition consisting of 6OO copies ; and our poet, after paying all expenses, cleared about £20. In the meantime, his fame began to take a start, and copies of bis volume having fallen into the hands of people of taste and judgment, a general inquiry