Poems of William MacRitchie, (1754-1837), minister of Clunie, Perthshire

Composite volume, mainly containing poems written by Rev. William MacRitchie in 1775.

Item 1: Selection of items pasted into the front end board and flyleaf. Includes a short printed poem titled ‘Song; June, tho’ prudence may press me’, and sketches of Castle Stewart and a mountain at the head of Glencoe. 'Song; June...' appears later in the volume in manuscript at p.81.

Item 2: Section titled ‘Poems chiefly in the year 1775, written on 164 numbered quarto pages. An inscription quoting from Virgil is overwritten and illegible. Subjects are varied, beginning with a 16 page poem on leaving St Andrews College ('Fanandria', p. 9-23) in 1775. Many entries are letters featuring love poems adhered in ('Elegy to Anna', p.31-34), address specific people ('Epistle to John Hamilton Brown, Esquire, of Glasswell, Dundee' p.35-36), or commemorate specific events ('Daphnis, a Pastoral Elegy occasioned by the death of the late Duke of Atholl', p.41-46).

One composition, 'Cynthio; An Ode' (p.129-139), was clearly written to be set to music. Parts are identified, as well as MacRitchie's prefered style and number(s) of singer. Other entries have a clear Masonic influence ('A Masonic Song, sung at the anniversary meeting of the Lodge of St John', p.151-155).

Several poems and passages within this section are overwritten and illegible. Some are annotated in MacRitchie's hand, and feature the phrase 'deleted' next to illegible sections. It is unclear whether this was in preparation for publication, as no published versions have been identified yet.

Item 3: Manuscript poems bound in from other sources. These writings are dated later than the previous entries, and are written on smaller octavo pages. These span 5 October 1792 to 7 November 1809, and cover topics ranging from 'The death of a favourite Horse' through to 'On receiving the news of the battle of Trafalgar'.

Item 4:

Small sketches laid in at back board. These depict pastoral scenes at Loch Ness, Finlarig, Auchlyne and Glendochart

---

MacRitchie's personal style is unusual throughout the four sections. Death and commemoration appear to be poignant inspirations, with several titles alluding to passing as an inspiration for literary output. These include 'On the death of a young fellow student, of the most promising genius', 'Elegy; on the death of a favourite setting dog, killed accidentally in the act of pointing', and 'On the death of an amiable child [Miss Frances McDuff] who died in the 6th year of her age'. His habbit of adding clarifying footnotes is also noteworthy, with key information such as names, dates, and geographic location often noted through asterisks and daggers.

MacRitchie generally favours alternate rhyme and 4-line stanzas, but does not use this structure exclusively.