The following year he came near losing his place through an act of
indiscretion which proved him to be more poet than exciseman. He
bought four guns which had come into the possession of the government
through the seizure of a smuggling vessel, and sent them with
expressions of admiration and sympathy to the French Legislative
Assembly. These were the early days of the Revolution when young men
in many parts of the world were enthusiastic in their support of the
movement. Fortunately the guns failed to reach their destination, and
the poet having made his peace with the authorities kept his position
until failing health obliged him to give it up. During his later years
he wrote little but songs, and for these he would take no money,
although he was, as ever, a poor man. He died in 1796, at the age of
thirty-seven. In 1815 his remains were transferred to a mausoleum
built as a tribute to his genius.
As a man, Burns was far from perfect. His passions were strong and he
never learned to control them, and in consequence he had reason to
repent bitterly many a rash act. Yet he was brave and honest; he had a
righteous hatred of hypocrisy; as the champion of the humble, he
claimed for the poorest the full privileges of sturdy manhood; he cared
heartily for his fellowmen and had a place in his affections even for
the field-mouse and the daisy.
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