from Cheltenham, but connected by electric tram, I copied the following inscription from a gravestone :

"Sacred to the memory of Sarah Burns Hutchinson,, widow of Berkley Hutchinson, M.D., and daughter of Lt. Col. James Glencairn Burns, died 12th July, 1909, aged 87 years. Also of Margaret Constance Burns Hutchinson, her daughter. Died 8th December,

1919, aged 57 years.

A PRAYER.

When soon or late they reach that coast,

O'er life's rough ocean driv'n,

May they rejoice, no wand'rer lost,

A family in Heaven.

BURNS."

MANUSCRIPT of Burns.-Will you have the goodness to inform me, under your head "Memorabilia," whether an original MS. of Burns's celebrated poem, "Tam o' Shanter," of which I became the purchaser about thirty years ago, is of much value in the market for relics? The copy alluded to was evidently one of the very first penned by the Poet, containing as it does several interlineatory corrections previous to publication, or to even circulation in the MS. state among his most intimate friends. The manuscript in question, I was told, was given by Burns to a friend of his in Dumfriesshire, just after its having been composed, and long before having been printed. It is written on quarto-size post paper, and worn through on the outer leaf where folded for the pocket-no doubt to show to friends; and there are some memoranda written on the outside blank leaf in allusion to Melrose Abbey as being mentioned in Grose's Antiquities of Scotland. I had this relic preserved in morocco half binding, and titled on the back 'Burns's Tam o' Shanter: Original MS.," with the intention of presenting it to Lord Byron, having just then (about 1824-5) read his eulogium on the Scottish Bard; but the death of the noble Poet interfered with my design. Apropos of Burns: I may here observe that about thirty years ago, while passing through the small town of Lockerby, a young minister of the Scotch Kirk, named Duff, told me he was in possession of a considerable number of Burns's original manuscript pieces, chiefly verses, never published, which his father, then a small tradesman in that place, received at various times from Burns, who used not unfrequently in his poverty to share the humble bed of his friend Duff. It often happened during these times that Burns-under the powerful influence of his native “mountain dew," while sitting round the small three-legged table of the humble public-housewould repeat or pen down the extemporaneous flashes of his wit ("which used to keep the table in a roar ") or let fall his withering sarcasm upon some hapless wight who had attracted the lightning

of his muse's ire. Copies of these effusions he would frequently, at the time, present to Mr Duff, sen. I endeavoured to advise Mr D., jun., to publish these pieces, along with any other unpublished effusions of the poet that could be found, with the interlineations or corrections of the manuscripts faithfully given; but I never heard that my suggestion was ever acted upon, nor what became of the relics then in Mr Duff's possession.-J. J.

Believe me, dear sir, yours faithfully,

WILLIAM WALE.

AN UNPUBLISHED BURNS LETTER.

[Dr Maxwell Wood has obligingly forwarded us the following interesting communications.-ED.]

Dr J. Maxwell Wood,

Portland, Maine, July 27, 1921.

3 Comely Bank, Edinburgh, Scotland.

MY DEAR SIR,-Enclosed please find the letter of Burns for which you asked. It has been a pleasure to copy it, as it is always a privilege to be connected, even in so simple a capacity, with the words of a true poet.

Our autograph collection, from which this letter was copied, was a bequest to the Maine Historical Society, made by John S. H. Fogg, M.D., who was born in Eliot, Maine, May 21, 1826, and died in South Boston, Mass., October 16, 1893. For the last twenty years of his life Dr Fogg was completely paralyzed in his feet and legs, so that he could neither stand nor walk. To keep his mind from his sufferings, he devoted himself to his autograph collection, and his faithful wife was his assistant. Together they gathered, prepared, and mounted what is said to be the third best collection in the United States-the very best in point of mounting. When this collection came to our society it was appraised at $25,000, which is ridiculously low. Colonel James Manning, of Albany, himself a noted collector, told me that the two volumes containing the signatures of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence were worth at least that; and we have fifty-seven volumes besides.

Trusting that these few particulars may be what you wish, I am

Yours very truly,

EVELYN L. GILMORE, Librarian.

N.B. The erasures and insertions of the letter are those which

Burns made in the original.

SIR,

[Burns Letter referred to.]

66

It would be [a†] reason sufficiently just, if I were to tell you that I have not sent you my Poetic Epistle to Fintry, because I actually could not find time to transcribe it; but a better reason is, I am out of conceit with it myself, & transcribing a thing of my own I do not like is a drudgery I know not how to bear.-I dare say if you have [not†] met with Captn. Matthew Henderson about Edinr., you must have heard of him. He was an intimate acquaintance of mine; & of all Mankind I ever knew, he was one of the first [I ever met with‡] for a nice sense of honor, a generous con tempt of the adventitious distinctions of Men, and sterling tho sometimes outré Wit.-The inclosed Elegy has pleased me beyond any of my late poetic efforts.-Perhaps 'tis the memory of joys that are past," and a friend who is no more, that biasses my criticism. It is likewise, ever since I read your Aiken on the poetical use of Natural History, a favorite study of mine, the characters of the Vegetable & the manners of the Animal kingdoms.-I regret much that I cannot have an opportunity of waiting on you to have your strictures on this Poem-How I have succeeded on the whole -if there is any incongruity in the imagery-or whether I have not omitted some apt rural paintings altogether.-I will [not†] pretend to say whether it is owing to my prejudice in favor of a gentleman to whom I am so much indebted, or to your critical abilities; but in the way of my trade, as a Poet, I will subscribe more implicitly to your strictures than to any individual on earth.

I have written Captn. Grose, & inclosed him a billet to you.– If he comes to your neighbourhood you will probably see him. I shall have leisure soon to write off for you several of my pieces.

(From the Fogg Collection of Autograph Documents and Letters

in the library of the Maine Historical Society, Portland, Me.)

† Insertions.

Erasures.

* Letters in brackets beneath paper strip pasted on for hinge. Cannot be seen through paper.

REPORT OF THE VERNACULAR CIRCLE COMMITTEE.

It was inevitable that for the first session the work of the Vernacular Circle should be explanatory, that is, that while many conflicting opinions had to be reconciled, it was necessary for us to carry out a first-session programme that would provide entertainment and instruction, and at the same time help us to form some idea of the volume of support that we might expect, in London and at home, for more extended educational work. Although this Circle was formed as an appendage of the London Robert Burns Club, not one of us would have been satisfied had ordinary club work -the reading of papers and delivery of lectures to our members -been the beginning and end of the Circle's activities. Had there been nothing else before us, the Circle in a few years would have gone the way of all such things. Our real work lies outside London.

The end of our first session's programme will form but the jumping-off ground for the educational work which has now to be undertaken. We are certain that here in London those of the Lowland Scottish people who know of our work sympathise with it, and are ready to support it. We know also that we can show the Scottish education authorities a great volume of opinion in favour of the more extended use in schools than hitherto of the Vernacular Language of Lowland Scotland.

DR CRAIGIE AND COL. JOHN BUCHAN'S LECTURES.

It can be no reflection upon those of us who have contributed to the session's programme to say that the outstanding contributions were those of Dr W. A. Craigie, Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, and Colonel John Buchan, novelist and historian. Dr Craigie gave the work of the Circle a direction that it needed. His knowledge of the renaissance of other languages similarly placed to our own gave great heartening, and the lecture attracted considerable attention in Scotland. Colonel John Buchan's lecture also was of great value to the Circle. No man living would have put the subject more eloquently, more lucidly, or more pawkily; and while it had not the particular reference to the work of the Circle that Dr Craigie's lecture had, it was of great value to the

patriotic Scots whom we are anxious to interest in our work. Colonel Buchan warned us that if the decay of our language continued, Scots people would be identified by their accent rather than by their language.

WORLD-WIDE APPEAL TO SCOTS.

Now that the work of the session is over, we have already turned to the future. First we are appealing for the co-operation as corresponding Associations of Burns Clubs and other Scottish organisations throughout Scotland, England, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India; indeed, wherever Scotsmen gather.

Professor Craigie proposes visiting India and the United States next winter, and he is prepared to address Scotsmen on the work of our Circle and what we are doing to arrest the decay of the Scottish language, and how they can help. We are communicating with Scottish organisations in those towns which he will visit, asking them to arrange for lectures by the Professor.

OUR OBJECTS.

Naturally, the first

It is undesirable at this stage, even if it were possible, to lay down a hard and fast programme; but generally our work may be indicated as the encouragement by every means possible of the use of the Vernacular Language, oral and written. attention will have to be paid to the children, who are fast losing their grip of the Lowland tongue. We have evidence of the sympathy of many schoolmasters, and we will support them by the presentation of prizes for singing and reciting of pieces of classical Scots, and for the composition of prose and verse, leaving to them and the education authorities the fixing of conditions that will secure the greatest possible educational advantages.

The presentation of prizes in Primary, Secondary, and Continuation Schools and Universities is bound to have a great influence on the future of the language.

SCHOOL PRIZES.

Until we are able to raise a Scottish Language Fund, which will have to be undertaken sooner or later, it is suggested that individual members of the Circle, and through them non-members, should give prizes annually to their mither-schools for singing and reciting, or composition in verse or prose, or all of these things.

PRIZES IN UNIVERSITIES.

As was suggested when this Circle was founded, an important matter to be considered is the presentation of annual prizes in Scottish Universities for the best poem for the year in the Lowland Vernacular. This was suggested for more than one reason. As we are aiming at killing the false pride that is choking the use of