r has succed so brilliantly inbining his work with folk material, or in carrying on with such continuity of spirit the tradition of popular song. for ge thomsons collection of scottish airs he performed a function similar to that which he had had in the “museum”; and his poetical activity during the last eight or nine years of his life was chieflyvoted to these two publications. in spite of the fact that he was constantly in severe financial straits, he refused to accept any rpense for this work, preferring to regard it as a patriotic service. and it was, ied, a patriotic service of no small magnit. by birth and temperament he was singularly fitted for the task, and this fitness is proved by the unique extent to which his productions were accepted by his countrymen, and have passed into the life and feeling of his race.