of the illustrious Ferguson, as well as that of the eccentric dwarf of Manor water.* The eccentric dwarf, as the same writer states, also requested that a clump of rowan-tree might be planted above his grave, on the Woodhill. A promise to this effect was given him. But he changed his mind on his

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death-bed, and was gathered to his fathers," like a decent Christian, in the church-yard of Manor.

This "innocent and interesting enthusiast," as he has been called by the author,† is said to have been a real person, named Robert Paterson, who for many years during the latter half of the last century, traversed the districts of the southern parts of Scotland, which had been the scenes of "the persecution," in the very strange and romantic employment, described in the introduction to the tale. Every peculiarity of his figure, of his character, and of his occupation, is so accurately delineated in that work, that there is scarcely any thing left for us to add. Even the manner of his death is perfectly exact-he was found stretched upon the road near Lockerby, in Dumfries

"A short account of David Ritchie, with an elegy on his death printed for the author, July, 1816."-This is curious as having been in print some short time before the Tales of my Landlord appeared. But it was never published, and the author does not imagine that any of the few copies which he privately distributed, could possible have found their way to the hands of either Mr. Peter Pattieson, or his learned and worthy patron, the schoolmaster of Glandercleugh.

+ Note to Swift's Memoirs of Captain Crichton.

shire, almost dead, and just expiring. This event happened in the year 1789, as we are informed by an Ayrshire gentleman, who remembers his father having frequently given quarters to "Auld Mortality." This intelligence may be interesting; as the Author of Waverley does not seem to have been aware of the date of his decease. The grave-stones which it had been his pride to preserve, are now fast running to decay; for his enthusiasm, however beautiful and meritorious in its character, has found no successor in the land.

COVENANTERS' CHURCHYARD.*

There exists in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, a scene nearly resembling that which is described in the beautiful preliminary to Old Mortality, as the deserted burying-ground of the Covenanters. It is commonly entitled St. Catherine's Kirk-yard; though there does not now remain the least trace of a place of worship within its precincts. It lies about a mile from Glencross Bridge, among the solitudes of the Pentlands; and coincides remarkably well with the descriptions of the fiction, by having been the grave of a few of the presbyterian insurgents, who were killed near the spot, in retreating from the battle of Rullion Green. It seems to have been long disused as a place of interment; and so complete is its desolation, that a slight mark of an inclosure and a few overgrown grave-stones, themselves almost in the grave, are all that now point out the spot.

The situation is particularly pastoral, beautiful, and

See page 62, vol. I.

interesting. It is placed where the narrow ravine, down which Glencross burn descends, opens into a fine expanse of country; and in general it agrees well, as to circumstances of scenery, with the author's "vale of Glandercleugh," though, we are happy to inform the reader, the horrific dry-stane-dike, projected by "his honour the Laird of Guse-dub," does not appear ever to have "substituted its rectilinear deformity for the graceful winding of the natural boundary." The ground is not otherwise destitute of the qualification of classic; for at no great distance stands Logan house, the supposed mansion of Sir William Worthy, of the Gentle Shepherd, and at the head of the glen lies what has generally been considered the "Habbie's How," of that drama, though others incline to suppose it situated near Newhall, on the South-Esk.

BALFOUR OF BURLEY.

The name of this remarkable person, who bore so conspicuous a part in the unhappy scenes of bigotry and tyranny which Scotland displayed towards the close of the reign of Charles II, must be familiar to every class of readers, since the appearance of the Tales of my Landlord." By the author of that work, and the discussions to which it has given rise, Burley has been drawn from the comparative obscurity in which he had hitherto remained, known only to the divine and the historian, and held up to the world as a person eminently entitled to respect or

reprobation, according to the opposite views which are still taken of the cause in which he was engaged. At present it is not our intention to enter into this discussion; but, anxious to gratify the curiosity of our readers, if we should fail in higher objects, we are happy to be able to lay before them some account of this extraordinary character, drawn up from original manuscripts in his own hand-writing, and from accredited works already before the public, to which we shall refer.

John Balfour, of Kinloch,* was the son of John Balfour, portioner of Kinloch, by his wife, Grigger Hay, daughter of Hay, of Paris, of Perthshire. He was probably born about the year 1640;† and we find him served heir to his grandfather, Robert Balfour, on the 26th of February, 1663. His grandfather appears to have had a daughter Helen, married about the year 1621, to John Williamson, son of John Wil

* The appellation of Burley was used in consequence of his close connexion with the Balfours of Burley. About 1560, Sir Michael Balfour, of Burley, (more properly Burleigh) a gentleman of an ancient and highly respectable family, made a grant of the lands of Kinloch to his "near kinsman," the grandfather of Burley-Edin. Mag. & Lit. Miscell. 1817.

+ According to the Scot's Worthies, he was born about the year 1640, in which work his life is recorded. He joined early with the party which showed resistance to Episcopacy; and was ranked among their leaders or principal men, long before the assassination in which he took so deep a share. It is impossible, however, that he could have fought in the cause of the covenant before the restoration, (as he is always represented to have done in the tale we illustrate) for he had only come to the years of maturity, about the time when Episcopacy was established in Scotland (1662) after that event. Retours of Fife.

liamson, portioner of Kinloch; she died before her husband (whose death took place in 1644) leaving four daughters, of whom Christian, the eldest, disposed of her heritage to John Balfour, her uncle.

This John, the father of Burley, seems to have died before the year 1655, as his son was then boarded with John Hay, who grants a receipt to Robert and Alexander Tamson, for four-score pounds Scots, as payment of the said board, dated at Auchtermuchtie. Hay was Burley's uncle; and it is certain that he afterwards resided with another of his uncles, as the following discharge proves :

"I, Francis Hay, of Strowie, grant me to be completlie payed and satisfied by John Balfour, portioner of Kinloch, my nevoy, of the sume of four hundreth merks, for the boarding and entertaining of the said John in meat and clothes, horse and man, for the yeires of god 16 threescor six, and 16 threescoir seven, and of all years preceiding the day and date hereof; as also of the soume of thrie hundereth eighteen punds Scots layed out, payed, and advanced by me at the earnest desire of the said John his friend, for his necessair and lawful affaires, and other public binders. As also of all compts, reckonings, charges, claims, as were named as not named, ever since my intromission with the goods and geir of Umq'. Grizzel Hay, my sister, and mother, to the said John, for whatsumever cause or causes knowen, dispens and with the generalite hereof, as if everie particular were herein exprest, &c. In witness whereof, ther presents, written by John Moncrief, of Tippermalock, are subscribed with my hand, at Auchtermuchtie, this twenty-third day of Januar, 6 threescoir aught years, befor thir witnesses, George Moncrief, of Reddie, George Duncan, portioner of Auchtertermuchtie, and the said John Moncrief, younger.

Balfour seems to have joined pretty early with the party which shewed resistance in episcopacy; for he