The Book of Robert Burns. Vol. II. By the Rev.
Dr. Rogers. (Grampian Club.)—The second volume of Dr. Rogers's large work, concerning rather than on Burns, is quite as interesting as the first, giving biographies of such different persons as Mrs. McLehose ; Jessie Lewars ; Dr. John Moore ; Ramsay of Ochter- tyre ; Mrs. Walter Riddell; Alexander Nasmyth, the painter ; William Nicol, the irascible teacher; the Rev. John Russell, of "black" fame; Skinner, the author of " Tullochgorum ;" and Professor Josiah Walker, who visited and reported upon Burns when he lived in Dumfries ; while in an appendix are given still briefer notices of others, such as Dugald Stewart, Henry Erskine, Lord Eglinton, and the "lovely Burnet," who can scarcely be reckoned among the poet's friends, or even among his acquaintances, but who yet crossed his path. As Dr. Rogers is an enthusiastic and almost too well-informed genealogist, he will, by his laborious investigations, gratify the curiosity of the very many who are more interested in the details of the private history of indi- viduals than in subjects of public interest. He uniformly, too, takes a kindly view of human nature and its frailties, and ex- presses his sentiments in somewhat old-fashioned English. Thus, in reference to a curious literary, scientific, and political adventurer, named James Tytler, who seems to have been the first editor of the Encyclopedia Britannica, he says :—" Subject to moods of despondency, he had recourse to stimulants, and was understood at intervals to be under the influence of liquor. With only a few companions, he, instead of frequenting the clubs, improved his leisure by playing upon the Irish bagpipe, which he did sweetly, or singing favourite melodies, also songs which he had personally written." Occasionally, indeed, Dr. Rogers is apt to be to personal faults a little too blind, as—to take but one example— in the view which he takes of the transgression against propriety which led to a quarrel between Burns and one of the best of his latter-day friends, Mrs. Walter Riddell.
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