Page:Life of Robert Burns.pdf/15

 15 truded themselves, and his penetration was not long in apprehending that their own gratification is often sought by the great in their notice of the poor man who has nothing to offer in return but his own talents. Nothing was done in the way of procuring him an 'appointment, which he had rea- sonably been led to expect. Some convivial ac- quaintances were also contracted about this time not much to be desired, and it is believed some of his great friends were pleased to take rather an exception at this Burns did fall into some errors. But it were well for those who may be disposed to pass too sweeping a condemnation on the aberra- tions of Burls in this part of his career, as well as in some other passages of his life, to pause and re- flect whether there was ever almost any man who stood in such peculiar circumstances, or who had so much in his history to account and apologise for his indiscretion. On the 6th May, 1787, after spending about six months in the capital, Burns departed from Edinburgh, in company with a friend, on a coun- try excursion before he should return to Ayrshire. His route was southward, and he visited in the course of his tour several distinguished families. He returned to Mauchline on the 8th July, where he remained but a few days, and undertook ano- ther tour through the north. In this excursion he was received with much courtesy at the houses of many eminent persons--among these were the noble family of Argyle. On these occasions he composed some of his most admired lyrics. After another visit to his family at Mossgiel lie repaired, in March 1788, to Dalswinton, in Dumfries-shire, the residence of Mr Miller, with whom he was in treaty for the lease of a farm on his estate. Du-