AND THE OPINIONS OF VARIOUS EMINENT MEN ON THE WORK. "The Gentle Shepherd has exhibited rusticity without vulgarity, and elegant sentiment without W. ROSCOE. NEW YORK: WILLIAM GOWAN S. 1852. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, BY WILLIAM GOWANS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. Dedication to the Countess of Eglintoun, by Ramsay, Dedication to the Countess of Eglintoun, by Wm. Hamilton, of PREFACE. THE Publisher being desirous to present the American public with a correct edition of the "GENTLE SHEPHERD,” considerable pains have been taken to ascertain the best or standard text. Fortunately, there were, within reach, several of the best editions, as well as others of inferior character. A careful examination of these satisfied us, that, the subscription edition in quarto, printed for the Author by Thomas Ruddiman, in 1728, has higher claims to be considered the standard one, than any other within our knowledge. For this conclusion, perhaps it might be a sufficient reason to state, that, it was so considered by Andrew Foulis, of Glasgow, who reprinted it in David Allan's celebrated quarto of 1788, undoubtedly the most sumptuous edition of the "GENTLE SHEPHERD" ever published.* From the wellknown intelligence and proverbial accuracy of the Foulis', and from the fact that the same house reprinted the 10th edition of the Pastoral in 1750, (about eight years before the Author's death,) there can be very little doubt that Andrew Foulis possessed both the means and the inclination to ascer The poet Burns writes of it thus:-"I once, and but once, got a glance of that noble edition of the noblest pastoral in the world; and dear as it was, I mean dear as to my pocket, I would have bought it; but I was told that it was printed and engraved for subscribers only." [Burns to Mr. Cunningham, 3d March, 1793. |