'LIFE OF TANNAHILL'

TANNAHILL is a common surname in Ayrshire; in 1547 there were seven families in Kilmarnock bearing that appellation. We have no intention of tracing them downwards to the present time, but merely to remark that the Paisley Poet of that name would be descended from one of these families. The present narrative commences with his paternal grandfather and grandmother.

Thomas Tannahill, son of Robert Tannahill, weaver in Kilmarnock, was born in the year 1700, and Mary Bunten, daughter of James Bunten, weaver in Kilmarnock, and Janet Linton, spouses, was born in 1701. Thomas Tannahill, who had been brought up to the trade of a weaver in Kilmarnock, and Mary Bunten were married in that town on Tuesday, 21st July, 1730. They had a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, born and baptised as follows:-

lst,  MARION, born 16th, and baptised 18th July, 1731.
2nd,  JAMES,    "   9th,        "     10th May,  1733.
3rd,  THOMAS,   "   4th,        "      6th March,1735.
4th,  JANET,    "  26th,        "     27th Feb., 1737.
5th,  MARY,     "  11th,        "     llth Feb., 1739.
6th,  ROBERT,   "  27th,        "     29th Aug., 1742.
7th,  JOHN,     "   6th,        "      7th Nov., 1744.

Thomas Tannahill brought up his four sons to his own trade of a weaver.

The four brothers, James, Thomas, Robert, and John Tannahill, left Kilmarnock and came to Paisley in the year 1756, when the manufacture of textile fabrics was rising in importance and becoming a prosperous trade in the latter town. The population of Paisley at that time did not exceed 4,297, so that the town was a very small place indeed. It extended westward from the west side of the Old Bridge spanning the River Cart to the road formerly leading to the Over-Common, now Lady Lane; northward, from the market-cross to Sneddon Dyke, now Back-Sneddon Street; and southward, from the Cross down the Water-Wynd, now Saint Mirrin Street, and up to the head of Causeyside. There were then eight old streets as follows:-- Main Street, now High Street; Wangaitend, now Moss Street; Grammar School House Wynd, now School Wynd, Dyer's Wynd, Water Wynd, Causeyside, Gordons Lone, and Common Lone, now Canal Street; and other seven modern streets, named New Street, Shuttle Street, Orchard Street, Prussia Street, Old Sneddon, New Sneddon, and Back Sneddon. In those days the pathways at the sides of the streets were of raised earth, and the roadways were considerably lower and of the roughest description, not paved except at the Cross which was laid with small boulder stones. In wet weather these roadways were nearlv impassable from mud, as there was no provision for drainage. The Main Street curved round Oakshawhill, there being 114 properties in it, 56 on the south and 58 on the north side. The houses were of all ages, and were either one, two or three stories high, or irregular order, nearly all of rubble construction, built with clay or lime, and thatched or slated. There were 34 thatched houses on the south side, 38 on the north side, 22 slated on the south side, and 20 on the north side of the street. All the houses of two and three stories high had an outside stair to the front, leading from the street to the second story. The four most prominent houses in the Main or High Street were No. 25, belonging to Cochran of Ferguslie, built in 1700, No. 29, to Cochran of Craigmuir, built in 1618, No. 55, called the Bighouse, belonging to Alexander Wallace, Sheriff-Clerk, occupied by the Rev. John Witherspoon, of the Laigh Church, Paisley, taken down in 1786, and No. 94, built by Andrew Sempill, Master of Sempill, in 1580, and were all originally erected for baronial town residences. The houses, Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 24, 35, and 100, were built in the Flemish style of architecture, of three or four stories high, with craw-stepped twin gables in front, giving them a very antique appearance. The ashlar-built houses, Nos. 40, 66, and 79, still existing, are fine specimens of the mansion houses of the merchant princes of Paisley 130 years ago. The houses which were seen by James Tannahill when he arrived in Paisley, and can still be seen at the present time in the Main or High Street, are twenty-two, and are Nos. 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 24, 25, 29, 38, 39, 40, 51, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 70, 79, 91, 97, and 100. All the houses of the other numbers have been taken down and rebuilt. The other streets of the town in 1756 were similar in appearance to those in the Main Street, but rather inferior. The houses in the suburbs of Sandholes, Maxwellton, and Smithhills were inferior, thatched houses of one storey predominating.

In noticing the public buildings of the town when the four Kilmarnock weaver brothers arrived in Paisley, we shall commence with becoming respect at the venerable Abbey. The only portion of the building remaining then, and at the present time, is the Nave, now occupied as the Abbey Parish Church. The rebuilding of the Abbey after the destruction of the House of Devotion by fire by the incendiaries of King Edward I. in 1306, was commenced in 1330, and, correctly speaking, has never yet been finished. Abbot George Schaw, in 1484, founded and erected a high ashlar wall, of a mile in circumference, round the Abbey garden, and at the north-west angle or newk he placed a stone tablet of 5 feet 3 inches in length, by 2 feet 6 inches in breadth, containing the following poetical inscription, probably written by the Abbot himself:-

When the wall was taken down, on the Abbey garden being feued in 1777 for building houses, the stone tablet was placed as the lintel of the passage in the house created on the same site, the locality continuing to be called the "Waw-Neuk," now called Wallneuk Street. The "Waw-Newk" tablet has now been exposed to public view for nearly 400 years, and may have been the silent inspirer of the Paisley Poets, whose names are now legion. The Place of Paisley, or Mansion of the Lordship of Paisley, was situated on the south side of the Abbey, and belonged to the Earls of Abercorn, afterwards to the Earls of Dundonald, and again to the Earls (now Dukes) of Abercorn, and consisted of four houses, two of them of four stories, each fronting Balgonie Court, and two of them of two stories each, the one fronting Abbey Street, and the other fronting Abbey Close (taken down in 1874 to widen street). The other features of interest seen by the Kilmarnock weavers were St. Rocque's Cross, 8 feet high, erected about 1517, at the east end of Broomlands, in front of St. Rocque's Chapel and Kirk-yard; the Chapel was taken down in 1617, and the Cross removed in 1764. The Meal Market, erected in 1665, No. 26 High Street, and taken down in 1799. The Alms House or Hospital, erected in 1724 (No. 82 High Street), better known by the name of the Wee Steeple, from the stunted appearance of its spire. In the front of that building there was a poetical inscription:-

"HE THAT HES PITIE ON THE PUIR,
 OF GRACE AND MERCIE SALL BE SUIR,

 QUHA GIE THE PUIR TILL GOD HE LENDS,
 AND GOD AGANE MAIR GRACE HIM SENDS."

The reader will observe this is a paraphrase of the 17th verse of the 19th chapter of Proverbs, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again." These stones, with their poetical inscriptions, which had been in the previous Alms House, built in 1618, may also have had some influence in awakening the muse in the hearts of the Paisley poets. The Steeple and Hospital were both taken down in 1808; the clock and weathercock were transferred to the Steeple of Hope Temple, an edifice built by John Love, in connection with his public garden of six acres (now the Fountain Gardens). The bell was bought at the price of £14 by the Linwood Cotton Spinning Company for their Mill. The new or Laigh Church in New Street, founded 13th May, 1736 (now the Evangelical Church); the new Hospital, No. 7 New Sneddon Street, erected in 1752, and still in use; the Grammar School, No. 4 School Wynd, built in 1753, superseded in 1802, and presently used as a candlework, would be seen by the four Kilmarnock weavers. The ancient Pretorium or Town Hall and Tolbooth or Prison, with spire at the south-west angle of the Wangaitend, now Moss Street, and Main Street, now High Street, had been taken down in 1756, and a new Town Hall and Jail erected in 1757. The Cross Steeple of 120 feet high was erected at the same time, from designs by Bailie John Whyte. [1]

[1] The Town Hall and Jail fronting Moss Street were taken down in 1821, and a handsome new building erected for additional accommodation to the Saracen's Head Inn in High Street. The under storey was occupied by two shops, and an entrance to the Inn. The Cross Steeple and the old portions of the Inn in High Street, and the new portion in Moss Street, were taken down in 1870, the High Street widened from 28 to 44 feet in breadth, and the City of Glasgow Bank erected on the remainder of the site.

From the suppression of the Monastery at the Reformation in 1560, the staple trade, of Paisley had been weaving, and on the arrival of the four brothers Tannahill in 1756 there were 1,311 working looms in town, 710 employed in linen cloth, 517 at muslin and silk gauze, 30 miscellaneous, and 54 unoccupied, but which were very quickly filled. The two manufacturers of importance at the time were Mr. Humphrey Fulton from Beith, in Ayrshire, who commenced business at Maxwellton in 1749, and Mr. Andrew Brown from Kilmarnock, who commenced business in New Street in 1753. Each of these houses carried on business for upwards of a hundred years, in the face of all the fluctuations of the fancy weaving, the changes in business and depressions in trade. The weavers of Paisley were principally located in the Townhead-west end of the Main Street-Causeyside and the suburbs, Textile manufactures rapidly increased, and multitudes of weavers flocked into the town from all parts of Scotland, and particularly from Ayrshire, to participate in the prosperity.

The Tannahill brothers belonged to the more intelligent class, were superior workmen, and industrious at their occupation. Thomas Tannahill was married to Margaret Biggar in 1762, and they had several children. He purchased a house in West Brae, and he died there in 1823 at the patriarchal age of eight-eight. He was an elder of the High Church, Paisley, for upwards of forty years. In 1763, James Tannahill, the eldest brother, was married to Janet Pollock, eldest daughter of Matthew Pollock, farmer, eldest son of Matthew Pollock of Boghall, in the Parish of Beith. At that time she was domiciled in the house of her uncle, Hugh Brodie, farmer, Langcraft, in the Parish of Lochwinnoch. The banns of the proposed marriage were proclaimed in the Laigh Church of Paisley, and in the Parish Church of Lochwinnoch, on Sundays the 21st and 28th; and the marriage was celebrated at Lochwinnoch on Monday, the 29th August, 1763. The wedding festivities were held at the same place; and, after the conclusion of the day's enjoyments, the company, according to the usual custom, sang the 127th Psalm.

Before proceeding further with the Tannahills, we will briefly notice the Pollock and Brodie families with whom James Tannahill had connected himself. The lands of Boghall were part of the lands of the barony of Braidstanes, in the Parish of Beith, belonging to Sir John Shaw of Greenock, and were feued out by him about the end of the seventeenth century. Boghall contained between forty and fifty acres; but we are not aware who was the original purchaser, or at what date it was purchased. Matthew Pollock, the grandfather of Mrs. Tannahill, however, acquired Boghall in the eighteenth century. Matthew Pollock died about the year 1770, and was succeeded by his oldest son, Matthew, who had married Janet Brodie, sister of Hugh Brodie of Langcraft. He died about 1789, leaving a family of eight children, one son and seven daughters:-1st, Matthew Pollock, tertius, then a farmer at Shawlands, near Pollokshaws, who was twice married, first, to Mary Donald, by whom he had three daughters, and, second, to Janet Purdon, by whom he had three sons and four daughters, 2nd, Janet Pollock, married to James Tannahill, weaver, Paisley; 3rd, Jean Pollock, married to John Craig, Cooper, Renfrew; 4th, Mary Pollock, married to Alexander McNeil, weaver, Paisley; 5th, Agnes Pollock, married to William Orr of Kaim, in the Parish of Lochwinnoch; 6th Anaple Pollock, married to James Stevenson, farmer at Whytehills, afterwards carter at Thorn, both in the Abbey Parish of Paisley; 7th, Ann Pollock, married to William Deans, farmer, Dovehill, in the Parish of Cathcart, near Pollokshaws; and 8th, Margaret Pollock, married to James Gavan, weaver, Millarston, Paisley. Matthew Pollock, tertius, on the death of his father, came to reside at Boghall, and he died there about 1823-about the same time as his sister, Mrs. Tannahill. Matthew Pollock, quartus, his eldest son, then succeeded to Boghall; and in ten years thereafter, in 1833, sold the property to Mrs. Margaret Sheddan, wife of James Dobie, writer and banker, Beith. The lands of Boghall, after remaining in the family for four generations, then passed quickly through several proprietors, and were acquired in 1858 by William Ross, Esq., Gallowmuir, Perth, the present proprietor, who has repaired the farm steading of the Pollocks in a substantial manner, and erected a large mansion-house, and otherwise laid off and improved the whole grounds in a very tasteful manner.

We will now take up the Brodie family. Hugh Brodie, farmer, brother of Janet Brodie, wife of the second Matthew Pollock of that name, was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Brodie, Langcraft. In 1760, the lands of Lancraft belonged to three persons, viz., the said Hugh Brodie, one-third; Andrew Brodie, one-third; and Bailie Robert Fulton, merchant, Paisley, the remaining one-third. In 1762, Andrew Brodie conveyed his one-third part to Elizabeth Brodie (his daughter) and Hugh Brodie (her husband) in liferent, and to Andrew Brodie (their eldest son) in fee; and the other one-third was acquired from Bailie Robert Fulton at the same time, and conveyed in the same manner. Hugh Brodie was the poet-laureate of Lochwinnoch, and wrote several songs which were sung but never published. He was one of the twenty-four founders, in January, 1765, of "The Kilbarchan Farmer Society" for the parish of Kilbarchan and neighbourhood. It was one of the rules of the Society that the preses should deliver an address to the members after his election. Hugh Brodie was elected fifth preses in 1769, and he delivered an excellent poetical address on Husbandry, containing sixty verses, which was printed in William Semple's continuation of George Crawfurd's, History of Renfrewshire, published in 1782, page 116. Andrew, his eldest son, a strong-built man, 6 feet in height, went to Dublin, and commenced business as a manufacturer. In 1804 he sold the lands of Langcraft. Hugh had another son, Robert Brodie, a little man of about 4 feet 3 inches high. He was sent to Paisley to learn the weaving, and became a frequent visitor at James Tannahill's house, being a cousin of Mrs. Tannahill. He was a poet like his father, and, being highly respected,.and a thoroughly sterling man, and well gifted, he was frequently invited to weddings and funerals, at which he acted as chaplain. Robert Brodie removed to Saltcoats, and commenced the business of a linen manufacturer, and made money thereat. He still attended funerals and weddings, and when the Rev. Mr. John Henry was minister of the Parish of Ardrossan, the Kirk Session appointed him one of the elders of the Parish Church in Saltcoats. Robert Brodie took a deep interest in the welfare of the poor, and saw justice dealt out to them. This "Nathaniel without guile" died, esteemed and lamented, in 1823, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. This is the individual whom Tannahill refers to in the Kebbuckston Wedding-

"Wee Patie Brydie's tae say the grace-
        The bodie's aye ready at dredgies an' weddin's."

We will now return to the Tannahills. On 29th November, 1763, Thomas Tannahill entered as master with the Weavers' Society, and on 9th December following, his brother, John Tannahill, entered as journeyman with him. On 2nd March, 1764, James Tannahill entered master with the Weavers' Society, and the same day his brother, ROBERT TANNAHILL, entered journeyman with him. This Society had been incorporated by charter from the Bailies and Town Council of Paisley on 20th October, 1702. The other two incorporated Trade Societies in town at the time were the Taylors, instituted in January, 1658, and the Shoemakers, on 16th September, 1701.[2]

[2] The Taylors' Society was dissolved in 1858, after existing 200 years, and the Shoemakers' Society was dissolved in 1859, after existing 158 years. The Weavers' Society, now called the Old Weavers' Society, has existed for two centuries, and is at present the oldest trade or friendly society in Paisley.

It would thus appear from these entries that James Tannahill, the eldest brother, had taken charge of the third brother, ROBERT; and Thomas Tannahill, the second brother, had taken charge Of the fourth brother, John.

The vacant Breedings in the modern streets of Paisley had now been all built up with houses, but these did not accommodate the increasing population. With the view of supplying the demand for houses, the Corporation laid off several streets in the lands of Broomlands in 1764, containing hundreds of steadings. These steadings were rouped at different times, and purchased by persons for the erection of houses for their own occupation, by builders and joiners on speculation, and by magistrates and councillors, to encourage the sale of the town's steadings. Bailies Andrew Smith and John Slater each purchased in 1769 two steadings in Castle Street and two steadings in Queen Street, lying together, and formed a street across from Castle Street to Queen Street, which was called Cross Street-thus increasing their building stances from eight to sixteen steadings. Bailie Smith sold his steadings lying on the north side, and Bailie Slater his steadings on the south side of Cross Street.

Printing was commenced in Paisley in 1769, says our namesake, William Semple, the historian of the town, by Messrs. Alexander Weir, bookseller, and Andrew McLean, printer. They were burgesses of Paisley-the former in 1758, and the latter in 1771. These printers and Mr. John Neilson, who commenced business shortly thereafter, printed numerous works of different authors by subscription, which, being circulated among the inhabitants of the town, increased the intelligence of the inhabitants of Paisley. These books generally contained a list of the subscribers' names, and it is very interesting at the present time to read the names of our forefathers recorded and preserved in these printed volumes. About 1770, and for thirty years afterwards, a number of book clubs were instituted in Paisley for mental culture. One club purchased one class of books for circulation among its members, and another club procured another class of books for their members. These several clubs again accommodated each other, and interchanged books until every member had an opportunity of perusing the whole books in the several clubs. The most important of the book clubs was the Encyclopaedia Club, which took out the first edition of the work of that name in 3 vols., quarto, published in 1771; the second edition of 10 vols., in 1778 and 1783; and the third edition of 18 vols., in 1797.

In 1775, James Tannahill acquired Bailie Slater's steading in Queen Street, and erected upon it a one-story thatched cottage, with a passage through the centre-the north side being occupied as a dwelling-house and the south side as a four-loom weaving shop. James Tannahill was a very accurate individual, and he kept an account of the whole cost of the building, which has been preserved in his memorandum or note pocketbook to the present day. The book was originally rather tastefully got up, and this precious relic of the Tannahills is still in existence - carefully preserved by one of the daughters of James Tannahill, the immediate elder brother of the Poet. The handwriting of the father is even better than that of any of his sons. The building of the house was one of the important acts in the life of James Tannahill, and to show the cost of a house of a bein weaver in Paisley a hundred years ago, we give it here: -

Account of Erection of James Tannahill's Cottage in
Queen Street, Paisley.

Wood,  -        -       -     £13 13  0         Brought forward,     -     -    £54  1  7
Windows,        -       -      £5  4  3         Nails,         -     -     -     £1  3  6
Wright work,    -       -      £3 16  8         Sand,                            £1  4  3
Mason work,     -       -     £16  9  9         Bricks, carriage, and
Plastering,     -       -      £2 10  9         tolls,         -     -     -     £1  2 10
Roof and safe lintels,  -      £3  0  6         Smith work,    -     -     -     £0 18  0
Thatch, twine, and                              Carters' wages and
	wages,  -       -      £2 14  2	        tolls,         -     -     -     £0  5  0
Steading,       -       -      £6 12  6         Rigging,       -     -     -     £0  6  9
                                                Drink,         -     -     -     £1 14  5
---------------------------------------         -----------------------------------------
          Carry forward,-     £54  1  7                                         £60 16  4

Only the last item in the account requires explanation. In these days, and for centuries previous, it was the practice to give the masons "founding and finishing pints," and a drink every morning of a certain beverage during the progress of the work. The amount of these, it would appear, came to £1 14s. 5d. There is also another entry in the memorandum notebook, "5th June, 1776, Widow Dunn, dinner and drink, £2 14s. 6d.," which we believe was the sum expended in the "house heating" - the entertainment given to friends on entering upon the occupancy of a newly-finished house. At that entertainment, we believe, the three Bailies of the town were present.

James Tannahill was about 5 feet 4 inches in height, and of slender make. He was of a gentle disposition, with a considerable amount of pride. Mrs. Tannahill was nearly the same height as her husband. She had a hale constitution, was a strong-minded woman, and well able to manage the affairs of her household. The couple generally appeared in public on Saturday afternoons to take a walk, as was the custom in those days, the gudeman dressed in blue coat with dollar buttons, silk vest, knee breeches with silver buckles, linen thread stockings, and silver buckles in his shoes; and his wife in white linen cap, or mutch, and scarlet cloak. They had eight children, seven sons and one daughter, born and baptised, as recorded in the Register of Baptisms for the Burgh of Paisley, as follows:-

1st, Robert, born on 2nd, and baptised 2nd August,1764.
2nd, Thomas,    "   27th Nov.,   "     3rd Dec.,  1766.
3rd, Janet,     "   23rd,        "    23rd April, 1769.
4th, James,     "   17th,        "    19th Sept., 1771.
5th, ROBERT,    "    3rd,        "     5th June,  1774.
6th, Matthew,   "   14th,        "    27th July,  1777.
7th, Hugh,      "   25th,        "    25th Jany., 1780.
8th, Andrew,    "   19th,        "    19th March, 1784.

As the entries of the births in the handwriting of the father in the memorandum book may be considered interesting, we insert them, as follows:-

"James Tannahill and Janet Pollick was married at Lochwinnoch, August 29th, 1763.
"Their son Thomas was born August 2nd, betwixt the hours of nine and ten of the clock forenoon, 1764. Died, September 27, 1765.
"Second son, Thomas, was born November 27, betwixt the hours of four and five afternoon, 1766.
"Our oldest daughter, Janet, was born April 23, betwixt the hours of one and two of the morning, 1769.
"Our third son, James, was born October 17, at seven o'clock in the morning, 1771.
"Our fourt son, Robert, was born June 3, betwixt nine and ten of the morning, 1774.
"Our fifth son, Matthew, was born July 14, betwixt the hours of eight and nine at night, 1777.
"Our sixt son, Hugh, was born January 25, betwixt the hours of three and four of the morning, 1780.
"Our seventh son, Andrew, was born March 19, at one o'clock in the morning, 1784."

The eldest child, named Robert in the Register, is called Thomas in the private memorandum book of the father, and died in infancy at thirteen months; Thomas, the second son, would be named after his paternal grandfather, Thomas Tannahill; Janet, the daughter, after her maternal grandmother, Janet Brodie; James, the third son, after his father; Robert, the fourth son, after his paternal uncle, Robert Tannahill; Matthew, after his maternal grandfather, Matthew Pollock; Hugh, after his maternal granduncle, Hugh Brodie; and Andrew, after Elizabeth Brodie's father, Andrew Brodie.

Bailie Slater died before James Tannahill obtained his Feu Disposition, and the granting of it had to be delayed till his only child, Janet Slater, was served heiress to her father.

On 25th May, 1779, the Bailies and Town Council of Paisley, with consent of Janet Slater, spouse of Robert Orr, manufacturer, Paisley, executed the Feu Disposition to James Tannahill, weaver in Paisley, of "All and Haill, that steading of ground in Broomlands of Paisley, with the house built by him thereon, and yard at the back of the same; bounded by Alexander Gibson's house and yard on the south; a corner steading, sold to Thomas Whyte, on the north; the highway on the west; and Walter Macfarlane's yard on the east parts." James Tannahill and his wife were strongly attached to the cottage belonging to, and erected by, themselves. All the children were brought up in that dwelling, and their earliest associations were connected with their sweet home, where their happiest days were spent.

The Hospital, in New Sneddon Street, was managed by fifteen Directors - three from the Town Council, three from the Kirk Session, and nine chosen from the town at large. On lst June, 1786, Mr. James Tannahill was chosen one of these nine Directors of the Hospital, and he was re-elected annually for five successive years. In several of these years he stood at the head of those chosen from the community, which showed the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-townsmen. During his term of office the bell was put into the belfry of the Hospital, and three times a day called the inmates to their meals. Those acquainted with bell language interpreted its voice to ring:

"Tinklum, tanklum, tinklum, tanklum,
 Tak' your parritch, or want them!"

Porridge in these days was the chief article of food for breakfast and supper. The bell settled all complaints about the food; and those inmates who would not take the diet at one meal, could take it at the next. James Andrew, schoolmaster, an acquaintance of James Tannahill, carefully educated the children in the Hospital, and took charge of the Minute Book of the Hospital. The names of James Tannahill and James Andrew will be found as subscribers to books published about this period.

James Tannahill, the respected head of the family, was chosen Deacon, or Boxmaster, of the Paisley Old Weavers' Society on Monday, the 9th day of October, 1786. The Incorporation of Weavers at that time were owners of several pews in the Laigh Kirk of Paisley, and one of them was devoted to the use of the Deacon and Managers of the Society. Like the Bailies, the Deacons of the weavers in these days wore cocked hats to the Church. On Sunday, the 15th of October, 1786, Deacon Tannahill came out of his cottage in Queen Street, dressed in his cocked hat, to attend, along with the Managers, the ministrations of the Rev. Colin Gillies in the Laigh Kirk. On the 1st of June, 1788, he was further elevated in being elected one of the Directors of the Paisley Dispensary (now Paisley Infirmary), instituted on 18th April, 1786. Only the intelligent and respectable inhabitants of Paisley have filled these responsible offices, and these appointments at once establish the position and status in society in which the Poet's father was held by his fellow-townsmen.

This upright and intelligent tradesman tried the manufacturing of patent netts (a fancy textile fabric of the period) for a short time, but he had not the dash about him to embark largely and plunge deeply into the business. He brought up a large family respectably, and being an attentive and industrious weaver, and proprietor of the house in which he resided, he was always looked upon as a person in easy circumstances. He followed the even tenor of his way till the day of his

death in December, 1801, or January, 1802, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. He was interred in the burying-ground attached to the Relief Church (now the United Presbyterian Church), Canal Street, Paisley.

Having now spoken of the respectability of the parentage of our Author from authentic documents of easy access in a much fuller manner than other biographers, the atmosphere becomes clearer to enter upon the life of his son. It did not require to be enveloped in the scholastic language and polite literature of one original biographer, or wrapt up in the flowery language of another. It stood out in bold relief among his imperishable songs. Subsequent compilers, without making the smallest enquiry to glean a little new and true information, attempted to improve the former biographies, either by modifying or exaggerating previous statements, while their emendations or inferences were more frequently on the wrong than the right side.

ROBERT TANNAHILL, according to the memorandum note-book of his father and register of baptisms for the Burgh Parish of Paisley, was the fifth child and fourth son of his parents, and was born between the hours of nine and ten o'clock in the morning of June 3rd, 1774. A sickly child during his infant years, with a delicate constitution, he endured considerable pain. The careful attention bestowed in the nursing of his tender frame established his health and strengthened his body. A slight bend in the right foot was straightened, and the slender appearance of the leg overcome by the simple contrivance of wearing additional stockings. During his childhood he was shy in the meeting of strangers, and that bashfulness continued more or less during his whole life.

Both the father and mother had received a liberal education themselves, and they had a strong desire, and were both able and willing to give all their children a similar advantage. Robert was sent to school when about six years of age, and he continued for several years to receive the usual instruction taught in English schools to the children of parents moving in their position. All his brothers received a good education, and some of them afterwards filled situations which required a superior knowledge of writing and arithmetic. We have read letters written by several of these brothers, and can testify that they had either received a better education or had applied the instruction they had obtained with great ability. In support of the education of the Tannahills, we may refer to the daughter, Miss Tannahill, having been sent to a ladies' school to learn sewing, a course of instruction in these days only given to the daughters of the upper classes in town. Miss Tannahill sewed a neatly executed sampler having the letters of the alphabet in roman capital and small letters, the initial letters of the names of her parents and brothers, and the front elevation of her father's cottage in Queen Street, all bearing the imprimatur, "Janet Tannahill sewed this sampler in 13th year of her age" (1782), closing with the 30th verse of the xxxi. chapter of Proverbs, "Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord shall be praised." Robert Tannahill did not distinguish himself in school from the other boys and girls on the forms, but it has been said that at ten years of age he astonished his schoolmates in attempting impromptu rhyming and making verses on the public characters in town or on a curious boy in school. After he had left the school, he procured a pocket dictionary to obtain the meaning of words, and from a grammar in the volume he instructed himself in the art of speaking and writing correctly.

After leaving school, he was bound, in 1786, apprentice to his father at the weaving trade for the space of five years. It was the custom at that time to bind all apprentices whether they learned the trade with their parents or other parties. In the Minute Book of the Weavers' Society, now called the Old Weavers' Society, the following entry occurs: "7th December, 1786, Robert Tannahill, son of James Tannahill, weaver in Queen Street, Paisley, is entered apprentice with his father."

Muslin, linen, and silk gauze weaving was a very light employment, and a child could have wrought at it. Robert Tannahill being brought up with his father and two elder brothers, who were all weavers before him, and the weaving shop and dwelling house being a but and ben, he would occasionally try his hand at the shuttle, and very naturally and early took to the weaving. Twelve years of age was then a very common age for boys to be sent to the weaving, and they were not subjected to long confinement. It was neither from necessity nor poverty, as insinuated by some of the Poet's biographers that he was thus early sent to the loom, but from the industrious habits of the family, the lightness of the manual labour, and the highly remunerative wages derived from the employment. The Weavers' Society, when they entered ROBERT TANNAHILL, then twelve and a half years of age, an apprentice, must have considered him quite fit to learn the trade at his age, and we think it must be admitted the managers in 1786 would be better judges of the capacities of the young lads engaging in the trade of the period than the biographers of TANNAHILL giving their opinions thirty years afterwards, when a generation had passed away, and new kinds of weaving carried on altogether.

During the schoolboy days of ROBERT TANNAHILL, he rambled much in the grounds of Fairy Woodside and the lands of Sweet Ferguslie, which were within three minutes' walk from his father's cottage - up Queen Street and down King Street, into the dark waving plantings and green shady bowers of Craigilee. As he grew older he extended his rambles to Meikleriggs Muir, Newton Woods, the Braes of Gleniffer, Stanley Castle, Cruickston Castle, Neilston, Kilbarchan, Lochwinnoch, and Beith. During these delightful excursions he was storing his mind with material, which afterwards broke forth into lyric strains which astonished his companions. These walks would also be taken to strengthen his delicate constitution that it might endure greater fatigue, although in long -walks he felt pain in the necessary exertion.

The five brothers of ROBERT TANNAHILL were all brought up to the trade of weaving, as the textile manufactures of Paisley, whether of linen, silk gauze, or cotton lawn, had maintained their superiority both at home and abroad. With the view of still further encouraging the weavers and manufacturers of the town, the ladies of the Court of Queen Charlotte all appeared in Paisley silk gauze on 19th May, 1790, Her Majesty's anniversary of her birthday. From a leaf of the shipping ledger of Messrs. Fulton and Pollocks of Maxwelton, Paisley, dated 15th October, 1790, and pasted on one of the boards of the Minute Book of the Paisley Burns Club to form a pocket for pens, pencils, and papers, it appeared that goods of that extensive house had been shipped, per the Mediterranean Packet, of the following patterns:- Spider Nett, Clermont, Corded, Soft Lawn, Gauze, Patent Nett, Inkle Spots, Silk Spots, Tiffany, Figure, Italian Tiffany, Chain Figure, Cut Chain Figure, Stripes, Black Soft Turkey Gauze.

It was customary for the youths of both sexes in Paisley in those days to acquire the art of dancing. The teacher of dancing during the life of TANNAHILL was William Banks, whose school was situated in the Wangaitend (No. 5 Moss Street). Previous to 1767 the Flesh Market was situated there, when it was removed to the opposite side of the street, on the ground now occupied by the Exchange Rooms. The under flat of the old Flesh Market was then converted into the Custom-Booth, and, in 1771, the upper flat into an Assembly Hall, and let to William Banks, who continued to occupy it till the building was taken down in 1807, and the present range of four story houses erected. The young people were afterwards in the habit of attending the dancing halls, of which there were several throughout the town, to enjoy the exhilarating exercise and practice for the annual ball. It was also a common practice for several companions to unite themselves into convivial parties, and invite their sweethearts to a night's enjoyment when the song, innocent conversation, the jest and banter served to pass many a tedious winter's evening.

About this time the Poet's eldest brother, Thomas Tannahill, the tallest in the family, was in the hey-day of his youth, and considered one of the greatest beaus among the young Paisley weavers, while his sister Janet Tannahill was looked upon as the chief of belles. They dressed each other on the Sundays for the church. The High Church in those days was the most popular place of worship, and the seats were let by public roup. The dress of Thomas on Sundays was a three-cornered cocked hat, powdered hair with a queue tied behind, the coat of blue cloth, mounted with yellow gilt buttons. The coat had a low collar, so that the stoned silver buckle which bound his neck-tie behind might be seen. A silk vest with black and yellow stripes across, with a row of small buttons on each side; two large flaps were folded over to allow his shirt of 1700 linen, pure as the snow, to be seen, with large projecting ruffles down its breast. The knee breeches were of nankeen cloth, with silver buckles at the knees. Silk stockings and cordovan leather shoes with large silver buckles. Such was the dress of a Paisley weaver in those days, and many such were to be seen in the area and front of the gallery of the High Church on Sundays.

Janet Tannahill dressed equally grandly on Sundays. A satin bonnet, gaudily got up, white muslin dress or silk gown according to the state of the weather, red silk quilted petticoat, silk stockings, cloth shoes, and pattens in wet weather. In winter, cloth gown, muff and cloak. In all seasons an umbrella, an article which had then been recently introduced into Paisley, and was sold by Mr. Alexander Weir, cloth merchant, at the Cross. Miss Tannahill, being a dressmaker, came out pretty strong in the fashions of the day to show her ability for the business. On the 27th of January, 1792, Janet Tannahill, then twentv-three years of age, was married to James Smith, weaver in Paisley, after two days' proclamation of banns, thereby showing that they belonged to the middle class of society. James Smith was a native of the neighbouring parish of Inchinnan, and was a very quiet, inoffensive person, respected by all his acquaintances.

The apprenticeship of TANNAHILL had expired in 1791, and in that year the tale of "Tam o' Shanter" was published in Captain Grose's Antiquities, a very expensive book; but in 1794 it was published in a cheaper form, and could even be bought for a penny. "Alloway's auld haunted Kirk" was the resort of tourists in those days, and became more interesting to Paisley bodies from Burns introducing the heroine of the tale, Wee Nannie, as dressed in

"Her cutty sark o' Paisley harn."

TANNAHILL, with a few companions, walked from Paisley to Alloway Kirk. He remained there six weeks admiring the scenery of the land of Burns, and storing his mind with the beauties of Coila. On reaching Ayr, the Paisley Lyrist wrote the song of "My ain kind Dearie."

Persons like TANNAHILL, desirous of acquiring knowledge, sought to improve their minds by reading and study. The qualifications to which he directed his attention were those treating of poetry and music. The songs of the bards were his delight, and his favourite musical instrument a German flute. He insensibly became an antiquarian in the pursuit of old airs which had been favourites in their day, and by writing appropriate verses to these airs which he hoped would again become as great favourites in their new dress as they had been formerly. He became known among his companions for the gift of song. The old airs which be recovered be hummed over at his loom, and tried to fit them with words. To catch every fugitive thought, he hung an inkbottle to his loompost, and fixed up a coarse shelf which served as a desk that he might jot down his ideas without rising from his seat tree (i.e., seat while weaving). Thus was his mind elevated above the commonplace dullness of weaving, although in driving the shuttle forwards from right to left, and backwards from left to right, and knocking up the weft with the lay to form the cloth, he could only produce a whirring, humming sound, like the monotonous ditty of

Fing at him,
 Fung at him.

Dancing and convivial meetings have generally the effect of brushing up young folks to greater forwardness and self-possession, but they had not this effect upon TANNAHILL, whose bashfulness and diffidence still continued. In 1795, TANNAHILL became acquainted with Jenny Tennant, who then resided in the neighbourhood of Queen Street. She was born in Dunblane in 1770, and came to Paisley with her mother to obtain employment in one or other of the subsidiary operations necessary in finishing the productions of the loom. They kept company for nearly three years, walking out in quiet roads in the vicinity on summer evenings, and extending their walks on Saturday afternoons. In dancing together, particularly in the Mason Lodge, New Street, and meeting occasionally with the members of the core in the evening for a night's enjoyment, the life of the poet passed quietly and happily on; but, as of old, the course of true love did not always run smooth. A rupture occurred between the betrothed. Jenny Tennant was married to another person in 1798. Two causes have been assigned for the estrangement between TANNAHILL and Jenny. The Poet tells his version in the "Fareweel" (No. 77). Two versions have been given for Jenny - one by herself, and the other by her female companion, Jean Crawford (who married Andrew Smith, killer, Paisley). These form the feminine side of the story, and will be found fully detailed in the notes to the song of "Jessie the Flower o Dunblane" (No. 75), to which our readers are referred. Like other lovers' quarrels, there may have been faults on both sides. The versions of TANNAHILL and Crawford, when compared with each other, explain the true reason.

Thomas Tannahill, the Poet's eldest brother, died in 1795, in the twenty-ninth year of his age. His brother, James Tannahill, was married in December, 1796, when in the twenty-seventh year of his age, to Mary Barr; and in the same month and year his brother, Matthew Tannahill, in the twenty-first year of his age, was married to Margaret Cochran. The Poet was bridegroom's man to his cousin and namesake, Robert Tannahill (born in 1764, son of his uncle, Thomas Tannahill), married to Jean Barclay on 16th April, 1797.

We have prepared a table of the yearly population of Paisley from the year 1756 (when the Poet's father arrived in town from Kilmarnock) up to 1800, to show the rapidity of the annual increase.

Table of the Yearly Population of Paisley for 45 Years

1756,  4,297      1771,  8,872      1786, 17,950
1757,  4,331      1772,  9,584      1787, 18,340
1758,  4,365      1773, 10,296      1788, 18,730
1759,  4,400      1774, 11,009      1789, 19,121
1760,  4,435      1775, 11,722      1790, 19,512
1761,  4,470      1776, 12,435      1791, 19,903
1762,  4,505      1777, 13,148      1792, 20,345
1763,  4,530      1778, 13,861      1793, 20,789
1764,  4,563      1779, 14,574      1794, 21,229
1765,  4,600      1780, 15,287      1795, 21,679
1766,  5,312      1781, 16,000      1796, 22,113
1767,  6,024      1782, 16,390      1797, 22,555
1768,  6,736      1783, 16,780      1798, 22,997
1769,  7,448      1784, 17,170      1799, 23,439
1770,  8,160      1785, 17,560      1800, 23,881

During the period embraced in this table, 42 additional streets had been laid off in Paisley, and house after house had been erected to accommodate the increasing population. In 1799 the failure of the crops occurred, and that calamity created a stagnation of trade throughout the United Kingdom, and the town of Paisley suffered severely. Provisions rose to famine prices, and the privation of the poor becoming severe, a meeting of the inhabitants of Paisley was called in January, 1800, for devising means to alleviate the distress. At that meeting it was resolved to raise a subscription and open soup kitchens. A thousand guineas were collected, and four kitchens for making soup and broth, one in each parish, were put into operation, furnishing excellent soup and broth, which, on an average, only cost one penny per quart. During the distress one hundred and twenty thousand quarts of soup and broth were supplied to the necessitous poor. Mr. John Love,[3] a philanthropic gentleman, besides his subscription, delivered the produce of four acres of potatoes, free of expense, in quantities corresponding to the number receiving relief at each kitchen.

[3] John Love, merchant in New Street, Paisley. Born, April, 1747; died, 1st December, 1827.

The Poet, now in the twenty-sixth year of his age, and his brother, Hugh Tannahill, then in the twentieth year of his age, left Paisley for England about the end of the year 1799. The real cause of his leaving town has not been mentioned; but Mr. McLaren, one of the two original biographers of the Bard, merely conjectured two reasons - either on account of slighted love, or the distress in the town at that period. It may have been partly both. The two brothers on their arrival in England found the distress as severe there as in the place of their nativity, and every day matters looked gloomier and darker. They took up their residence in the manufacturing town of Bolton, in Lancashire, and tried to procure employment unsuccessfully. The price of provisions was rising every day, and the small stock of cash they had taken with them diminished rapidly. They resolved to try other places, and even accept a different employment before returning to Paisley. Previous or subsequent to starting,. they met a cheerful-looking person, who observed them with sympathy, no doubt, thinking from the appearance of their dress they were Paisley weavers on the tramp. He spoke to them in a friendly manner, inquiring where they had come from, and where they intended going. The new companion, on hearing their pitiful story, stated that he also had been a Paisley weaver, and that his name was William Kibble. The three became friends at once; and the Bolton weaver offered the Paisley weavers accommodation for the evening, and promised to find employment for them the following day. The Tannahills accepted the preferred hospitality of their new friend, enjoyed a good night's rest, partook of an excellent breakfast the following morning, and obtained employment that day. This at once raised their spirits, and drove despondency from their minds. TANNAHILL remained in Bolton, and his brother Hugh returned to Preston. The Poet, from the simplicity of his manners, modesty of his nature, and sympathetic disposition, became a favourite among his class of society in his adopted town, and was much respected by them.

In consequence of the severe indisposition of their father, the two brothers were written to in the latter end of the year 1801 to come home immediately, if they had any desire to see their father in life. In the depth of winter they hurried homewards; and either in the month of December, 1801, or the month of January following, they arrived in Paisley, and attended along with the other members of the family the bedside of a beloved parent in his last illness. McLaren in his biography mentions that TANNAHILL remained two years in England, and, on receiving information of his father's illness, left Bolton, and arrived in Paisley in the middle of 1802; while Ramsay states that TANNAHILL left Paisley in 1800 for England, where he remained for two years. We had great difficulty in fixing the probable date of the time when the father died, as no record of the decease existed; and the interment sheets of the Relief burying-ground of that period had been mislaid or destroyed, and no person had any recollection of the matter. From a circumstance that occurred with the brother, Hugh Tannahill, after his arrival in Paisley, we were enabled to fix the period of the two brothers arriving in town either in the end of the month of December, 1801, or early in January, 1802.

TANNAHILL, after the decease of his father, and paying the last tribute of respect to his memory, continued in town, apparently satisfied with his two years' residence in Bolton. He settled down contentedly in the house of his mother in Queen Street of Paisley, and resumed his labours at the loom. The loomshop contained steads or spaces for four looms, and the one which the Poet occupied was situated next the gable wall, to the back, near the fire-place. He sat at the loom facing the door of the loomshop, so that he could see every person who entered the shop.

TANNAHILL had received a Moral Epistle from his old acquaintanoe, James King, and, in return, had written the Epistle (No. 18) to his friend in May, 1802, which showed that he had again resumed his pen after his return to Paisley from England. It also proved that he had returned from the South before the middle of the year. Some time would be taken up by King writing his Epistle to TANNAHILL in Paisley. TANNAHILL must also be allowed some time for the preparation of his poetical Epistle in answer.

In the same year, and in the month of August, the Poet's brother Hugh, then twenty-two and a half years of age, was married to Marion Allison, and TANNAHILL was the only child then remaining with his widowed mother. Silently mourning the death of her son Thomas and the decease of her husband, she grieved that she might become burdensome to her surviving children, when the Poet, in the fervour of his heart, and to soothe the sorrows of his mother, wrote "The Filial Vow." It was an honourable and honest expression of his unbounded affection, and showed the filial love that adorned his character. Mrs. Tannahill, however, had that strong Scots character of independence about her which enabled her, so long as she was blessed with health, to make every exertion for her own maintenance. It was not her nature to fold her arms and remain idle. Always commanding light remunerative employment from the manufacturing establishments in town, she maintained herself respectably.

In the same year, 1802, TANNAHILL renewed his companionship with his former acquaintances of literary, poetical, and musical tastes, which was further extended by the new intimacies which had sprung up during the Poet's absence. At that time there were a considerable number of tradesmen's clubs in Paisley for different objects. These met on Saturday evenings to engage in a little innocent convivial enjoyment, or to discuss the stirring events of that martial period. TANNAHILL'S acquaintances had frequently talked of commencing another Club. The new Club was accordingly instituted in 1803. It was composed of a select few of the admirers of literature, poetry, and music. The place of meeting was the house of Mr. Allan Stewart, Sun Tavern, 12 High Street, Paisley - a very respectable house. The object of the meeting was for the reading and discussing of essays, songs, and musical compositions and any other subjects which might be competently brought before the Club. The members numbered from fifteen to twenty, and they considered themselves the cream of the intellectual tradesmen in town. TANNAHILL was one of the chief promoters of the Club, and was its quietest and most inoffensive member - never indulging in the bowl, and maintaining his temperate habits at all the meetings he attended in spite of the frequent ridicule of his associates.

In the year 1803, TANNAHILL was induced by Mr. Archibald Pollock, comedian, to undertake a dramatic piece, and accordingly wrote "The Soldier's Return"; but it was not much more than commenced when Pollock died. We are inclined to think that TANNAHILL considered "The Soldier's Return" a complete masterpiece; and he was not prepared for the coolness with which it was received by his friends. He had spoken and written to his acquaintances much about it, and he evidently looked upon the piece as his darling production. He pressed his friends for their criticisms; and when they reluctantly expressed their opinions, he became sullen and morose. The songs which are interspersed throughout the Interlude are the gems that adorn the piece; and it was the singing of one of these, while in manuscript, that was the means of bringing R.A.Smith and TANNAHILL together. Mr. John Ross, an eminent composer of music in Aberdeen, had been employed, and set two of these songs - "Our Bonnie Scots Lads" and "The Dusky Glen" - to music. Mr. Ross also set the songs of Thomas Campbell, author of the "Pleasures of Hope," to music, and had composed music for London publishers.

TANNAHILL only became intimately acquainted with William McLaren in 1803, and with R.A.Smith in January, 1804. McLaren, in his prospectus for publication of The Life of the Renfrewshire Bard, Robert Tannahill, issued in 1815, stated that he had only known him intimately for the last seven years of his life. According to that statement, he would only know him previously by name or sight. It would also appear from statements made by R.A.Smith in his letters, and comparing them with other circumstances referred to by him, that he was only introduced to TANNAHILL for the first time in January, 1804. Like McLaren, Smith would know nothing of TANNAHILL'S private life previous to that introduction.

McLaren would then be 31 years of age.
TANNAHILL  "    "     29      "
Smith      "    "     24      "

Their acquaintanceship was, therefore, not the friendship of youth, but after their characters had been formed.

There was nothing very striking in the personal appearance of TANNAHILL. Altogether, he was a slender, mild-looking man, his features rather inclining to the feminine. He was about 5 feet 4 inches high, and, consequently, diminutive looking; his head well proportioned; the hair a fine light brown, and his eyes a soft mild grey; his nose long and slightly acquiline, the mouth small, lips thin, and the chin round. He had a halt in his walk, and, in walking, generally preferred the middle of the road. A staid, quiet, inoffensive man, beloved by his townsmen, and frequently visited by strangers. We have seen more of the Tannahill family than any other person presently alive, and have observed the existence of a striking family likeness; in one instance the resemblance was so perfect that we thought we saw the likeness - the bust - of TANNAHILL walking into the room in which we were sitting at the time.

The Poet dressed appropriately, modest and becoming, quite a contrast to the display of finery of his deceased brother, Thomas, already noticed. His working clothes were a small bonnet, a cravat round his neck, a blue jacket with metal buttons, a buff waistcoat with small buttons, cashmere breeches buttoned at the knees, worsted stockings, and leather shoes tied with leather thongs, and a white apron in front. His holiday garments were a beaver hat, neck tie, light blue coat with silverised or gilded buttons, buff vest, clean dressed shirt with ruffles, cashmere breeches buttoned at the knees, linen or cotton thread stockings in summer, and worsted stockings in the winter, and shoes. The Bard expended his spare cash

in the purchase of books, stationery, and postages, and occasionally travelling expenses in visiting different places in Scotland for his intellectual improvement.

The Poet, constitutionally, was not a strong man; but he took great care of himself. He seemed to be aware of the nature of the exhausting disease with which he was afflicted, from the dry cough rasping in his breast. In 1804, it would appear to have become so painfully severe that, in writing the Second Epistle to his friend, James Scadlock (then in Perth), he informed him of the state of his health in the following verse:-

"But, ere a few short summers gae,
 Your friend will mix his kindred clay;
 For fell Disease tugs at my breast
       To hurry me away."

The Poet, and all the members of the Club with which he was connected, were inveterate smokers, and his own teeth were blackened from the narcotic fumes of tobacco. He has vividly described the members of the Club enjoying the weed, assembled in their "bourock," in a poem written in 1805 (No. 54):-

"Encircled in a cloud of smoke
  Sat the convivial core;
Like lightning flash'd the merry joke,
  The thund'ring laugh did roar."

This bacchanalian poem, like others of a similar kind in the volume, was written by desire of some of the members of the Club, and for which TANNAHILL would be sure to receive the applause of the members. The Club had a powerful fascination for the Poet that he could not resist. His ambition was to please them, as he considered these worthies the ablest of men; and they were nothing loth to suppose themselves possessed of wonderful ability. When a new song or poem was read before them, it was subjected to the severest criticism; and not only that, but to captious hypercriticism. Each stanza, verse, line, and word was scanned and keenly discussed. The criticism, it may be remarked, was occasionally not very polished - approaching on some occasions to rudeness. This was the kind of criticism that affected the sensibility of TANNAHILL and not that of outsiders.

The Burns' Anniversary Society or Club was instituted in 1805, William McLaren and ROBERT TANNAHILL being its chief promoters. The former was chosen the first President, and the latter elected the first Clerk of the Society; and they both acted in these capacities on Tuesday, 29th January, 1805, when the First Anniversary of Burns was celebrated in Paisley. The Preamble or Argument (as it was called in those days) for the institution of the Society, is the composition and in the handwriting of ROBERT TANNAHILL, and occupies the first page of the Minute Book of the Club:-

"That Man is the only creature capable of enjoying an eminent degree of felicity, is a truth so evident and so generally admitted that it were foolish to labour for its proof. An indulgent Nature, ever attentive to the happiness of her offspring, has enriched the world with men of superior intellect, who, by the splendour of their genius, the fascinating charms of their writings, have, like the sun which dissipates the vapours of the night, dispersed the dark clouds of ignorance, have taught the vacant hours of life to steal on with uninterrupted felicity, and thus in an eminent degree contributed to the happiness of mankind. Shall we, then, suffer such characters to pass unnoticed? No. Ye illustrious benefactors of the world! we will cherish, we will celebrate your memories! your virtues are already engraven on our hearts, and the tears of honest gratitude shall bedew your tombs; posterity will imitate and applaud the deed, and your proud names shall roll through an eternity of years."
"Animated by these reflections, a number of the admirers of Robert Burns met on the 29th of January, 1805, in the Star Inn, Paisley, to celebrate his memory, when a beautiful bust of the bard, painted by an eminent artist (Tannock or Muir) was exhibited from the window. The company, amounting to near seventy, sat down to supper; after which the President (William Maclaren) addressed the company, as follows." [The address is then copied into the Minute-Book in the handwriting of Maclaren, and concludes by proposing "The Memory of our immortal Bard, Robert Burns," and is printed by Maclaren at the end of the Life of Tannahill published in 1815.]
"The toast was drunk with enthusiasm; after which the following Ode on the birth of Burns - 'Once on a time, almighty Jove,' etc. (written for the occasion), was read over to the company." [The remainder of the minute, as also the toasts and list of Committee, is in the handwriting of Tannahill.]
"Among many toasts proposed in the course of the evening were the following - 'May the genius of Scotland be as conspicuous as her mountains;' 'May Burns be admired while a thistle grows in Caledonia;' 'May Scotia never want the sword of a Wallace, or the pen of a Burns.' The night went off with uninterrupted harmony; and the company, resolving to meet annually on the same occasion, appointed the following gentlemen to conduct the business of the ensuing year:-

WILLIAM MACLAREN.               WILLIAM STEWART.           
WILLIAM ANDERSON.               JAMES TANNAHILL.           
CHARLES MARSHALL.               WILLIAM WYLIE, West Street.
PATRICK McLERIE.                WILLIAM WYLIE, Abbey Close.
ROBERT MORGAN.                  JAMES SCADLOCK.            
ROBERT LANG.                    WILLIAM GEMMIL.            
ROBERT A. SMITH.                JOHN KING.                 
                 ROBERT TANNAHILL.                         

Then follows, in the handwriting of the Clerk, a

TANNAHILL duly attended all the meetings of the Society during his lifetime, and also wrote the two Odes for Thursday, 29th January, 1807, and Monday, 29th January, 1810 (Nos. 7 and 8); but he did not act as Clerk. We are not surprised at this. More than his leisure hours would be taken up with the composing of his poems and songs - making several copies for his friends and the Press, correspondence with his acquaintances, attending meetings, preparing for his first edition, and correcting the proofs. That record of the Burns' Anniversary Society has now become a valuable relic of TANNAHILL.

A club had also been instituted in Kilbarchan similar to the Paisley Literary, Poetical, and Musical Club which assembled in Allan Stewart's; these clubs reciprocated the feelings of each other, and frequently the members of the one club joined those of the other in friendly convivialities and discussion. In conveying each other towards home, they generally made the hostelry of Jean Hattrick, situated at Thorn, two and a half miles from each club-room, the half-way house for parting. The house itself had obtained the distinctive name of "Hamburg," from the, person who had built it making his money at Hamburg; and by that name it is known and called at the present time. It was a short distance off the road. Jean Hattrick was remarkable for intelligence, and she enjoyed the literary and musical conversation of the members of the combined clubs in a high degree, and even joined them in their conversations and discussions. The members were always made welcome by Jean; indeed, she would frequently refuse to supply their orders, declaring, she had admitted them as friends for their intellectual conversation and not for their money. The bard was a principal favourite of Jean's.

Mr.McLaren, in his biography, says of the author:-
"Such was the extreme modesty of his nature that, though the qualities of his mind had ripened into superior excellence, it was with difficulty that his friends could persuade him to offer any of his early pieces for publication. With doubtful hesitation a copy of his verses was, however, prepared for a periodical work then published in Edinburgh (but which cannot be found); but, whether from that modesty for which he was conspicuous, or from a dread that his name might swell the list of disgraced correspondents, they appeared under a fictitious character. The fears of the bard were vain. His verses appeared in the first number, accompanied by a flattering compliment to the author, and soliciting a continuance of his correspondence."

Laing, in his compilation of the Life of the Author, said:- "To the Poetical Magazine, published by Vernor and Hood of London, in 1804-5, and to other respectable periodicals of the day, he also contributed many poetical and lyric pieces."

Ramsay, in his memoir of the Author, said:-- "The fame of the 'obscure verse-making weaver' (as he styles himself in a letter to a friend) now reached London, and about the year 1805, having been requested to become a contributor to a leading metropolitan magazine, he wrote for it." (The pieces mentioned by Ramsay will be found in the previous Edition.)

TANNAHILL also contributed to two periodicals published in Glasgow in the years 1805 and 1806 respectively, namely, the Selector, in four volumes, and the Gleaner, in one volume, both edited and published by William Maver, book auctioneer in Glasgow, the latter being a continuation of the former - a gleaning of the selections. These works consisted of extracts from publications of merit, with original essays and poems. TANNAHILL contributed seventeen pieces. The names of Vernor and Hood appeared on the title page as one of the four London publishers.

The next publication to which TANNAHILL contributed was the Paisley Repository, edited by John Miller, bookseller, who commenced business in the early part of the present century in the shop, No. 24 Wellmeadow Street (then called Sandholes), at the northeast corner of Castle Street. The periodical was commenced in 1805, and continued down till 1811. It was very erratic as to the time of publication of the numbers and its series. TANNAHILL contributed eight pieces to this local publication.

He next sent twenty-five songs to the Nightingale or Songster's Magazine - a choice selection of Scots, Irish, and English songs - printed and sold by A.and G. Leslie, Glasgow, 1806.

Two of the pieces, Nos. 113 and 117, which appeared in the Nightingale, also appeared in the Caledonian Musical Repository, a selection of esteemed Scottish songs adapted for the voice, violin, and German flute, published at London in 1806 by R. Crossby and Co. These may have either been contributed by TANNAHILL himself, or have been copied from the Nightingale.

TANNAHILL sent one piece to the "Goldfinch or New Modern Songster, being a select collection of the most admired and favourite Scots, English, and Irish songs," without date or publishers' names. From the appearance of the paper and printing, and the songs inserted, the date was probably 1806 (the Braes of Yarrow being the song sent. A complete list of the songs sent to the different periodicals will be found in the previous edition).

In consequence of the difficulty of tradesmen procuring books in their small club libraries for reading and reference, ROBERT TANNAHILL and Alexander McNaught, and a number of other persons, opened a subscription in 1805 for the purpose of forming an extensive library to which working men could have access. The Paisley Library for gentlemen had been opened at Whitsunday 1803. The Rev. Robert Boog became a subscriber to the proposed library, for the purpose of guiding, by his counsel, a proper selection of books. The new institution was named the Trades Library, and was opened on 1st January, 1806. The subscribers submitted to the judgment of Mr. Boog for a short time, and then asserted their independence. The minister afterwards withdrew from the library, and became instrumental in forming the Theological Library in 1808. The books in the Trades Library were mostly of a philosophical, scientific, and moral description. (The library was broken up in 1846.)

Since the year 1756, when the Poet's father came from Kilmarnock to Paisley, till 1806, a period of fifty years, forty-five new streets had been opened, and the general appearance of the old streets considerably improved, old thatched houses having been taken down and new buildings erected on their sites; but it was still deficient in roadways, side pavements, lighting, and cleansing, so essentially necessary for the comfort and health of the inhabitants of a manufacturing town. The manufactures and other trades in the burgh had been in a prosperous state for several years, and there were engaged at this time in the manufacture of muslin 6,750 weavers, of silk 120 weavers, and of tape 100 weavers. The population of the town increased considerably, as the following table will shew, which we give in continuation of the previously inserted table, bringing it down to the year 1810, when TANNAHILL died-

1801, 24,324      1804, 25,889      1808, 27,975
1802, 24,845      1805, 26,409      1809, 28,497
1803, 25,366      1806, 26,931      1810, 29,019
                  1807, 27,453

On 12th July, 1806, the local Statute 46, George iii., cap. 116, called the Paisley Police Act, for paving lighting, and cleansing the Burgh of Paisley and suburbs, was passed. The first section enacted that proprietors should form pavements of flat hewn stone in front of their houses. The sixth section provided for the Town Council paving and keeping in repair the roadway of the streets. The ninth section ordered the removal of all outside stairs and outshots in the streets. And the seventeenth section directed the houses, buildings, shops and warehouses to be numbered with figures. The first, sixth, and ninth sections of the new local Acts were immediately carried into execution by the roadway being causeyed, the outside stairs and outshots removed, and freestone pavements laid down on each side of the streets, and the lighting, watching, and cleansing attended to. Although the removal of stairs and laying of pavements were very expensive to proprietors, a vast improvement was effected upon the whole town. [Mr. Semple gives an interesting note to this paragraph as to the numbering of the houses in the previous edition.]

We have already mentioned that TANNAHILL'S pieces were brought before the convivial club with which he was connected, and their merits and demerits freely discussed. He was in the habit of repeating and shewing to his neighbours any new pieces he had written, and absent friends were supplied with copies; by this latter circumstance several of his poems and songs have been preserved from oblivion. A few of his best songs were set to music by these eminent composers, John Ross of Aberdeen and R. A. Smith of Paisley, and were engraved and published in sheets. By the publication of his poems and songs in the periodicals referred to, his name was soon brought into notice. His lyrics were easily committed to memory, particularly by the gentler sex, and by that means they quickly obtained a widespread popularity. In every company where singing delighted the ear, in the cottage, in the hall, at concerts, and in theatres, they were heard. Paisley at that time had a large adopted population from all parts of Scotland, and these, in revisiting their friends, carried the sweet songs of TANNAHILL in their memories, and sung them to their acquaintances; these again and again re-echoed them. At that period Caledonia was the habitation of a loyal and martial people - almost every person capable of carrying arms was either a volunteer, a militiaman, or a soldier in the line. These had their mothers, sisters, wives, or sweethearts, and would be inspired with chivalry when they heard a female voice in sympathy and pathos singing the series of "The Soldier's Return"-

"Our Bonnie Scots Lads in their Green Tartan Plaids;"
     "Langsyne beside the Woodlan Burn;" or,
"We'll meet beside the Dusky Glen on yon Burnside."

TANNAHILL had now become famous, and he was urgently pressed to publish his songs in a selected volume. He acceded to these repeated demands, and on 19th January, 1807, he issued a prospectus of the work, giving a specimen of the typography from "The Soldier's Return," and containing a sheet for subscribers' names. These sheets were issued to his friends, who promptly returned them filled up; and the edition, consisting of 900 impressions, was issued in May, 1807 - TANNAHILL supplying his own relations with copies. Mr.Semple visited a cousin of the Author's in August, 1875. For the particulars of that visit, see the previous edition. The "Interlude" was placed first in the volume, his whole heart and soul being absorbed in the dramatic effort. He expected it would raise his name to never-dying fame; but it was unhappily condemned by some critics, while his other commonplace lyrics were lauded to the skies. The snarling critics and treacherous friends - the prophet who can foretell events after they have happened - then came forward with their crocodile lamentations on their supposed predictions having been fulfilled, that the publication was premature , and TANNAHILL should have waited their time, and their time meant doomsday. They merely wounded the fine feelings and sensibility of the Poet, and caused his songs to be sung by a greater number of vocalists, and more applauded by the people. In looking over the edition, we observed five of the songs had been set to music by John Ross (Nos. 80, 84, 90, 93, and 137) and four by R.A.Smith (Nos. 76, 83, 107, and 136).

The publication of the edition must have yielded the Author some profit, as he was enabled to deposit, on 10th July, 1807, the sum of Twenty Pounds sterling with the Paisley Union Bank, which had been established in Paisley in May, 1788, now the Union Bank of Scotland.

TANNAHILL was an ardent admirer of the Drama, and attended the theatre in Paisley when a company of comedians arrived in town, and occasionally travelled to the theatre in Glasgow when Thespian Stars made their appearance in that city. He was acquainted with several actors, particularly with Messrs. Archibald Pollock and William Livingston, both of them very worthy men. TANNAHILL stated that the "Interlude" was undertaken by desire of the former, and urged by the latter. Pollock died before the "Interlude" was well commenced, but Livingston lived for forty-eight years afterwards. Livingston was a correspondent of TANNAHILL'S, and sent the poet two very interesting letters dated respectively 18th November, 1804, and 7th March, 1806. In the former Livingston expressed his impatience to see the "Sodger's Return." Mr.James Moss, an Edinburgh comedian, was another of his theatrical acquaintances.

TANNAHILL soon directed his attention to the collection of old Irish airs, and to the writing of verses to suit, taking a Paisley maiden for his model of Nancy Vernon, another for poor Sheelah, and a third for Kitty Tyrrell. In 1808, he aspired to become a contributor to Mr. George Thomson's work, then publishing in Edinburgh, A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the Voice, with select and characteristic verses by the most admired Scottish Poets. TANNAHILL opened up a correspondence with Mr. Thomson on the airs and verses of the songs we have noticed; but these not coming up to the editor's standard, he did not admit them into that important work. However much TANNAHILL may have known regarding Scottish airs, it was quite a different matter to enter upon Irish tunes, when he neither sufficiently understood the subject of the ancient song nor the old air to which it should be sung. The fourteen Irish songs (Nos. 151 to 165, both inclusive), it must be admitted, did not please the fine critical acumen of Mr. Thomson; and, in the circumstances, it was quite out of the question to suppose that a sedate Scotsman like TANNAHILL was capable of writing verses to suit the wild airs of Hibernia. TANNAHILL, nothing daunted with the refusal of Mr. Thomson, continued his search after Irish airs, wrote verses to them, and submitted the pieces to his personal friends, James Clark and James King.

In the end of the year 1808, TANNAHILL wrote the humorous song of "Caller Herrin," to the air of "The Cameronian Rant," which, he said, had been suggested by an observation made by Mollison in an essay on "Melody, the Soul of Music."

This was the last periodical TANNAHILL patronized, and from 1807 to 1810, inclusive, he sent the six following pieces:-

No. 95  Loudon's Bonnie Woods and Braes, October, 1807
 "  75  Jessie, the Flower o' Dunblane,  March,   1808
 " 102  The Worn Soldier,                  "       "
 "  89  Cruikston Castle,                Sept.,    "
 "  73  Simmer Gloamin,                  January,  "
 "   8  Ode for Burns' Anniversary,      February, "

The songs of TANNAHILL had now obtained great popularity, and young persons both in town and country delighted to lilt them. The singing of an author's songs in his hearing by persons unseen must be gratifying to the ear; and the sensitive TANNAHILL was very much delighted to hear his songs sung by persons whose voices were unknown to him. The pleasant sensation which tickled his cars was communicated in a letter to his friend James King on 10th September, 1809, as follows:-- "Perhaps the highest pleasure ever I derived from these things has been in hearing, as I walked down the pavement at night, a girl within doors rattling away at some of them." The pavements then recently formed in Paisley became promenades for walking, and were much frequented in the fine autumn evenings before the weavers of Paisley commenced lighting on the 15th of September for the winter (i.e., the Festival of Saint Mirin).

In the beginning of the year 1810, the Author resolved to publish a new edition of his poems and songs, and he authorised Mr.R.A.Smith to negotiate with a publisher, who accordingly called upon Mr. Thomas Stewart, bookseller in Greenock, on the subject. On the lst of March, TANNAHILL wrote a letter to Mr. Stewart regarding the publication of a new edition of his poems and songs, and, at the same time, sent Mr. Stewart a copy of the first edition, stating that he had almost re-modelled the Interlude. In the poems he merely intended to suppress several which he had deleted with pencil, and supply their places with as many other pieces.[4]

[4] Former editors and biographers have made vague statements and lamentation over the great loss that had been sustained from the Poet, two days before his death, destroying a great number of his songs, without having ascertained the actual number of songs he had really written. The letter referred to in the text discloses the number to have been between 60 and 70, and it was well known that TANNAHILL supplied copies of all the songs he wrote to his acquaintances, and these were not destroyed. Each editor has boasted how many of these he had recovered.

To the songs he could add 60 or 70, and the whole would comprise about 240 pages 12mo, being 65 pages additional to those of the first edition. He also stated that he intended to improve the arrangement of the poems, and correct some of the faults that were to be found in the first publication. The Author deprecated the idea of again publishing by subscription from the obligations it laid him under. He desired Mr. Stewart to consider the matter for a month and then give his opinion freely on the business.

Between the 18th and 25th March, 1810, James Barr ("blythe Jamie"), who was then in the employment of James Steven, music publisher, 35 Wilson Street, Glasgow, came to Paisley, and spent an evening with TANNAHILL. The night being very dark, he would not allow Barr to take the road to Glasgow, but insisted on his remaining, and going early on the following day. Barr remained; and, after getting breakfast the following morning, the Poet accompanied him to the head of Queen Street, but,

The following calculation shows the loss to be very small indeed:-

The songs in the first edition of 1807 were     33
Recovered and added in edition of 1815 No.1  20
                                  1815    2  12
                                  1817        3
                                  1819       20
                                  1833        1
                                  1838        6
                                  1875        7
                                             --
                                             69
Deduct Scadlock's Song "Killochburn," No.89   1
                                              --68
                                               ---
                                               101

on parting, TANNAHILL saw in the distance R.A.Smith and William Stuart, with three strangers, coming westward by Sandholes and Wellmeadow Street. TANNAHILL remarked, "There is something in the win," and requested Barr to wait and see. The two kept out of sight; and the five went into a public-house, and, in a short time, TANNAHILL was sent for. TANNAHILL desired Barr still to wait; and in a short time he returned, took Barr into the house, and introduced him to James Hogg, the "Ettrick Shepherd." Hogg had been in the Highlands on business, the other two, gentlemen were on a tour in the same district; and Paisley not being far off their way, Hogg expressed a desire to see TANNAHILL, the Weaver Poet of Paisley, and they all came together. Smith's music school was near the Cross at that time. Hogg had either known Smith or been directed to call on him, and Stuart would be there when the three gentlemen called. The two stranger gentlemen, having business to transact in Glasgow, left the company, promising to take out a ticket for him by the evening coach to Edinburgh. Hogg, who had been acquainted with Andrew Blaikie, engraver, whose place of business was then at the Cross, wished to see his old friend Andrew; and the whole five then went down the town. The forces being now collected, they adjourned to the "Bourock" - the club room of the Sun Tavern. Barr has said Hogg was enraptured with their company, and it was a treat to see the friendship of the two bards. The contrast was striking - the one healthy, lively, and off-hand; the other delicate, quiet, and unassuming. Hogg and Barr were conveyed along the Glasgow Road to the three-mile house, where they parted. Soon thereafter, Hogg saw an empty coal cart lolling on the road, and he called out, "My lad, are you going to Glasgow?" "Ay, man." "Will you gie us a smart drive in, and we'll pay you for't?" "O ay, man." In then they went; and at the half-way house they primed the lad with half-a-mutchkin, and galloped to the keystane of the Broomielaw Bridge, where they came off, Hogg saying it would not do to be seen galloping through the streets of Glasgow. They hurried on to the Tontine; the coach had waited five minutes, and was just starting. When they observed him running, it stopped. Hogg and Barr shook hands, and in an instant the coach disappeared in the hollow of the Gallowgate. That is the version of James Barr, who was present all the time. We shall now give the exaggerated statement of Motherwell, who was not there at all. "They" (Hogg and TANNAHILL) "spent only one night in each other's company. TANNAHILL, Mr. Hogg informed us, convoyed him half way to Glasgow on the following morning, where they parted. It was a melancholy adieu TANNAHILL gave him. He grasped his hands, tears gathering in his eyes the while, and said, 'Farewell, we shall never meet again. Farewell, I shall never see you more.'"

On the 1st of April, 1810, TANNAHILL wrote his special friend, James King, informing him of the meeting with Hogg, the "Ettrick Shepherd." TANNAHILL stated that they had a good deal of conversation about the Poets of the day, and in particular that Hogg had mentioned he had been in the company of Walter Scott, Hector McNeil, Thomas Campbell, and others of our Scottish worthies.

Thomas Stewart returned the volume to TANNAHILL, declining the publication of his works. The Poet transmitted his corrected volume and his new songs to Mr. Archibald Constable of Edinburgh, but that enterprising publisher was in London at the time. On his return he wrote, saying that he had more new works on hand than he could print that season, and accordingly returned the parcel, apparently without examination of its contents.

The last letter supposed to have been written by TANNAHILL was to his acquaintance, Alexander Borland, weaver in Glasgow, to whom he addressed the Epistle No. 24, in 1806, an excerpt from which has been given by Mr.Ramsay in his Memoir, page xxxv. The concluding portion of the excerpt, "What has the world to do with, or who cares (take the mass of mankind) for the feelings of others? Am I right? Happiness, attend you, R. TANNAHILL," evidently shews the wandering spirit and approaching mental calamity. It is most amazing that Ramsay did not give the last letter of TANNAHILL verbatim.

McLaren, in his biography of the Poet, mentions a circumstance respecting the Poet's desire of becoming a member of some one of the Masonic Lodges, and of collecting a number of his friends together for that purpose; that he (McLaren) was from home that day, but on his return he found a messenger had been, by the bard's desire, sent for him. He then proceeds with his narrative, and abruptly remarks: "When admitted into the lodge, ROBERT was in the act of being initiated into the sacred order of Masonry"; he next relates the strange appearance of TANNAHILL, and his incoherent language, and closes with the climax: "The company gazed, his friends blushed; but the unhappy Bard was insensible to either." It will be observed that McLaren neither gives the name of the lodge nor the date or place of initiation, or the name of any person present but himself. According to the context, however, it would seem to have occurred on the Saturday or Monday before his death. We have made very particular enquiry for authentic information regarding this pretended initiation, but nothing of the kind can be found in the books of any Masonic Lodge in Paisley or Kilbarchan, and we are inclined to believe it was either a dream of McLaren's, or a piece of mockery practised by him and some of his acquaintances upon a person who was then insane.

The money which the Poet had deposited in bank was allowed to remain nearly three years, merely drawing the yearly interest accruing on the amount. This fact indicates that he did not require to uplift any portion of the principal sum to meet pressing demands, and proves undoubtedly that he was in easy circumstances. Every person who is able to allow his savings to remain in bank is considered to be of an industrious disposition, and not given to spendthrift or dissipated habits. Looking at the amount at the credit of TANNAHILL, we must say he was both temperate and industrious. The deposit receipt was an excellent certificate of good conduct, and completely refutes the unfounded allegation of penury which has been brought against him. The principal sum was not uplifted till May 14, 1810.

On 16th of May, 1810, TANNAHILL walked to Glasgow and called on his friend, Alexander Borland, with whom he had a long conversation; but the speech of TANNAHILL was so incoherent that Borland deemed it prudent to accompany him to Paisley. On approaching the road leading to Crocston Castle - the place where the "Ettrick Shepherd" and the Poet parted in the month of March previous - TANNAHILL endeavoured to elude him, but Borland prevented his doing so, and brought him to the head of Queen Street, and, after seeing him enter his dwelling, returned to Glasgow.

We have heard and read so many different accounts of the melancholy death of the Poet that it will be a difficult matter to relate the event without contradicting one biographer or other. We shall condense all the statements as truthfully as possible. Our whole aim in connection with the present edition is to relate facts. The Poet, it will be observed from our preceding remarks, was sinking under constitutional disease, and the symptoms of aberration of mind were developing. His mental strength had been overworked, and his mind, like a musical chord brought to its fullest tension, was ready to snap. His fine feelings were overcome by unjust criticism, and the sensibility of his nature overwhelmed with captious remarks. Both diseases were rapidly increasing, and his reason hung like the beam trembling in the balance. His relations observed the progress of the physical disease, but they were loth to believe he was suffering from a disorder the most calamitous that can afflict the human race. Either shortly before or after the arrival of the Poet from Glasgow, his two brothers, James and Matthew, called at their mother's house in Queen Street to enquire for their brother, who in the meantime had retired to rest. The eldest son of his youngest brother Andrew, a boy about nine years of age, had been the Poet's bedfellow for some time. The brothers remained two or three hours; and Mrs. Tannahill, after listening at ROBERT'S bed, and hearing him breathing as in a sound sleep, advised her two sons to go home to their families, and she would attend to him herself. They acted on her advice, and she lay down on her bed, as she required a little rest, and unconsciously fell into a drowsy state. Hearing a little noise, she immediately arose and went to the Poet's bed; and, discovering it to be empty, she instantly sent for her two sons, James and Matthew, and also for Peter Burnet, a familiar friend and attendant on all occasions. (A full description of Black Peter is given by Mr.Semple in the previous edition.) The three met and resolved that each of them should take different courses to find the Poet. Burnet went down Queen Street into George Street, where the police night-watchman informed him he had seen a small-sized man hurrying from Queen Street, crossing George Street going westward. Burnet then made for Brediland Road, and soon found the Poet's coat and silver watch on the south side of the culvert of Candren Burn, an inverted stone syphon under the Canal. The instruments of the Humane Society were procured, and the body was lifted therefrom. (This Society was instituted in 1806.) The Poet left his mother's house about 3 o'clock, and his remains were lying on the bier in the same house by 5 o'clock in the morning of Thursday, 17th May, 1810. Before 8 o'clock the sad intelligence had spread over the whole town, and in every street small groups were congregated, talking over the melancholy occurrence. The Poet being so well known and esteemed by his fellow-townsmen, his death caused an unusually sad impression on the inhabitants. In the Glasgow Courier of Saturday, the 19th, and Glasgow Herald of Monday, 21st May, 1810, the following paragraph appeared:-

"Thursday morning a young man was found in a linn in the Cart a little above Paisley. Some of his clothes were found near the spot, which led to the discovery of the melancholy circumstance." This paragraph is a mistake so far as a linn in the Cart is concerned, and the misstatement has led to many mistakes and acrimonious discussions.

The day after the Poet's decease, John Morton, an acquaintance of the Tannahills, made a sketch of the features of the deceased.

In those days, before Science had spread among the people, they drew no distinction between bodily and mental disease, and applied one inflexible rule of judgment upon the acts of the sane and insane. Mr. James Tannahill - see the previous edition for information regarding Mr. James Tannahill - the eldest brother then living, a very sensible person, resolved, in the circumstances of the case, to have the funeral as privately as possible, and invited only near relatives to attend - no invitations being sent to any of the deceased's acquaintances. The funeral took place on Monday, 21st May, 1810 - the Rev. John McDermid, minister of the West Relief Church, Paisley, officiating as chaplain. The acquaintances of TANNAHILL, however, met in the house of William Stuart, No. 7 Cross Street, in the neighbourhood of No.6 Queen Street, and when the mourning relatives moved in the funeral procession, the acquaintances fell in behind. The interment took place in the lair, No. 366 of the West Relief (now the United Presbyterian Church) burying-ground, Canal Street.

A monument was erected over the Poet's remains in 1866.

We conclude the biography with the following natal, nuptial, and obituary table of the TANNAHILL FAMILY:-

PARENTS.

     NAMES.            BIRTHS.              MARRIAGES.            DEATHS.       AGES.
James Tannahill,   9th May,  1733                               1801. or 1802    69
Janet Pollock,               1738       29th Aug., 1763       19th Aug., 1822    84

CHILDREN.

Thomas Tannahill,  2nd Aug., 1764                             27th Sept.,1765     1
Thomas Tannahill, 27th Nov., 1766                                        1795    26
Janet Tannahill,  23rd April,1769       27th Jan., 1792                  1803    34
James Tannahill,  17th Sept.,1771            Dec., 1796       20th Mar., 1843    72
ROBERT TANNAHILL,  3rd June, 1774                             17th May,  1810    36
Matthew Tannahill,14th July, 1777            Dec., 1796       29th June, 1857    80
Hugh Tannahill,   28th Jan., 1780            Aug., 1802       15th Jan., 1811    31
Andrew Tannahill, 19th Mar., 1784            June, 1801       25th May,  1811    27

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