TO MR. THOMSON.
[While Burns composed songs, Thomson got some of the happiest embodied by David Allan, the painter, whose illustrations of the Gentle Shepherd had been favourably received. But save when an old man was admitted to the scene, his designs may be regarded as failures: his maidens were coarse and his old wives rigwiddie carlins.]
August, 1793.
My dear Sir,
“Let me in this ae night” I will reconsider. I am glad that you are pleased with my song, “Had I a cave,” &c., as I liked it myself.
I walked out yesterday evening with a volume of the Museum in my hand, when turning up “Allan Water,” “What numbers shall the muse repeat,” &c., as the words appeared to me rather unworthy of so fine an air, and recollecting that it is on your list, I sat and raved under the shade of an old thorn, till I wrote one to suit the measure. I may be wrong; but I think it not in my worst style. You must know, that in Ramsay’s Tea-table, where the modern song first appeared, the ancient name of the tune, Allan says, is “Allan Water,” or “My love Annie’s very bonnie.” This last has certainly been a line of the original song; so I took up the idea, and, as you will see, have introduced the line in its place, which I presume it formerly occupied; though I likewise give you a choosing line, if it should not hit the cut of your fancy:
By Allan stream I chanced to rove.[231]
Bravo! say I; it is a good song. Should you think so too (not else) you can set the music to it, and let the other follow as English verses.
Autumn is my propitious season. I make more verses in it than all the year else. God bless you!
R. B.