Page:Life of Robert Burns.pdf/19

 19 condemn more severely, or feel deeper compunc- tion and repentance for his errors, than he did himself. It was unfortunate for Burns that he about this time got embroiled with the Excise, who had been informed of some rash expressions, and it is be- lieved rash actions, of which he was guilty in re- lation to political matters. The French Revolu- tion was then beginning to break out, and the fascinating glare with which it was at first sur- rounded, misled, as every one knows, the minds of many men of virtue and understanding, and none more so, perhaps, than such as, like our poet, were embued with the largest portion of philan- thropy. The sickening horrors of that sanguinary drama, as it came to unfold itself, of course soon dispelled the illusion : but at the early period we speak of, the Revolution came recommended to the wishes and sympathies of many. The interest of his friends at the head of the Excise saved Burns, but his indiscretions were remembered for a time, and were the cause of much uneasiness to him. He was also in the habit of indulging in jests on his new profession without much circum- spection, but these were comparatively harmless. On one occasion, for instance, while glancing at what he considered the discreditable nature of his employ, he said, “I have the same consola- notes,) I had done myself the honour to have waited on you long ago. Independent of the obligations your hospitality has laid me under, the consciousness of your superiority in the rank of man and gentleman of itself was fully as much as I could ever make head against ; but to owe you money too, was more than I could face."