[52] This song comes highly recommended to public notice by the warm commendation of the poet Burns, who, in a letter to his friend, Mr. Thompson, writes—"DONOCHT-HEAD is not mine—I would give ten pounds it were. It appeared first in the Edinburgh Herald, and came to the editor of that paper with the Newcastle post-mark on it." And Dr. Currie says, respecting this song, that "the author need not have been ashamed to own himself, as it is worthy of the pen of Burns or Macnell."
THE HERBAGE COMMITTEE[53],
(That is, The Jewel of a Committee).
BY R. GILCHRIST.
Not composed over the midnight oil, but amid the noon-day broil of the Barge-day, May 8, 1834.
ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN.
While others of great deeds may dream,
Yet still commend to me, sir,
A subject rare, and prouder theme,
The Herbage Committee, sir:
This Committee a jewel was,
From truth that never swerv'd sir,
And gain'd much glory and applause,
And well they both deserv'd, sir.
The time has been when bread and cheese
Was wont to be their fare, sir,
What think ye now of turkeys, geese,
A partridge, or a hare, sir!
Well I remind their many joys,
And many happy days, sir,
For O they were the bonny boys
For getting up surveys, sir.
I have seen gallant Mister Woods,
And Mr Grainger, too, sir,
Approach us—though dress'd in our duds—
With an obsequeous bow, sir;
For Martin, Miekle, and Maggall,
Calbreath, friend Charles, and me, sir,
Wanless and Angus, Garrett—all
Were in the Committee, sir!