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FAMOUS SONGS
it is to trace the origin of airs, I have heard it repeatedly asserted that this was an Irish air ; nay, I met with an Irish gentleman who affirmed that he had heard it in Ireland among the old women, while on the other hand, a countess informed me that the first person who intro-duced the air into this country was a baronet's lady of her acquaintance, who took down the notes from an itinerant piper in the Isle of Man. How difficult then to ascertain the truth respect-ing our poesy and music." Difficult indeed, when we remember that Burns himself was a great culprit at disguising and appropriating any melody that took his fancy. For example, here is what he writes to this friend Thomson, the publisher, in another letter, respecting an Irish tune of extreme beauty; " Do you know a blackguard Irish song called ' Onagh's Water-fall' ? The air is charming, and I have often regretted the want of decent verses to it. It is too much at least for my humble rustic muse to expect that every effort of hers shall have merit." Burns wrote some very ordinary stanzas to it, called " Sae flaxen were her ringlets." Whether the tune of " Bonnie Doon" is Irish or Scot-tish, it certainly bears a close resemblance to an English song," Lost is my Quiet," published in Dale's " Collection of English Songs" towards
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