SIR JAMES THE ROSE.

THE author of this interesting ballad was Michael Bruce, a Scotchman, who died at an early age, in 1767. It has no claim to originality in the subject, as many ancient compositions record similar incidents. Bruce has incurred the anathema of Motherwell and other antiquarians for tampering with old versions. In their anger against the plagiarist, they forget the greater ease and elegance of the modern composition.

THE CLERK'S TWA SONS O' OWSENFORD.

THIS version of a very curious old ballad is copied from the volume of "Scottish Ballads, collected and illustrated by Robert Chambers." It has been printed in various forms, but without any authentic information regarding it's authorship or antiquity. Even the locality is disputed by the annotators, Buchan laying the scene in Billsbury, and Chambers in Paris, "fair Parish." A fragment in the "Border Minstrelsy" entitled the "Wife of Usher's Well" has been evidently interwoven herein by Mr. Chambers.