“The Shipwreck, a Poem, by William Falconer, a sailor. With a Life of the Author. Edinburgh: Printed by J. Ballantyne and Co., for Alexander Mackay, High Street, Edinburgh, and John Murray, No. 32, Fleet Street, London. 1807.”
At an early age Falconer became a sailor on board a Leith merchantman, and in his eighteenth year was wrecked in the Britannia off Cape Colonna, only three of the crew being saved. He was again wrecked with the Ramilies, when only twenty-six escaped out of a total of 734. After a period on shore, during which he published several poems, he joined the Aurora, and sailed for India in September 1769. The vessel touched at the Cape, but was never heard of again, and was supposed to have foundered in the Mozambique Channel. “The Shipwreck” is his best work, and is believed to embody his experiences in the wreck of the Britannia.
“Poems by James Grahame. In Two Volumes. Vol. I. containing The Sabbath, Sabbath Walks, Rural Calendar, &c. Edinburgh: Printed by James Ballantyne and Co., for William Blackwood, South Bridge Street; and Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster Row, London, 1807.”
Two neatly-printed little volumes, each containing a Glossary of Scottish words at the end. “The Sabbath” first appeared in print in 1804, and was published anonymously. So careful was the poet regarding the authorship of this work, that he exacted a promise of secrecy from the printer of the first edition, whom he used to meet clandestinely at coffee-houses for the correction of proofs, but never twice at the same house.
“Shakespeare’s Works, in eight vols. 8vo. 1807. Printed by James Ballantyne for Longman and Co., London.”
“The Cottagers of Glenburnie; a Tale for the Farmer’s Ingle-neuk. By Elizabeth Hamilton, Author of The Elementary Principles of Education, Memoirs of Modern Philosophers, &c. Edinburgh: Printed by James Ballantyne and Co., for Manners and Miller, and S. Cheyne, Edinburgh; T. Cadell and W. Davies, Strand, and William Miller, Albemarle Street, London. 1808.”
Elizabeth Hamilton (1758-1816) was born in Belfast of Scottish parentage, and is worthy of note for her faithful pictures of lowly Scottish life, as well as for her works criticising the republicanism and scepticism of the time. The “Cottagers” passed through many editions, and is her best book.