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CLARINDA'S COPY OF BURNS'S "POEMS."

At the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Scottish National Library, held in Edinburgh on 26th October, 1925, a valuable gift, in the form of the copy of his printed Poems which Robert Burns presented to Mrs. Agnes M'Lehose-the "Clarinda " of poetry and prose was announced from Sir Henry S. Keith, of Hamilton.

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The copy of the Poems chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, which thus formed the first donation to the National Library, is of the fourth edition-" the second edition considerably enlarged "-published in February of 1793. It includes the contents of the second and third editions (1787), with twenty additional poems and songs, these additions embracing a considerable portion of Burns's best work "Tam o' Shanter," Elegy on Captain Matthew Henderson," "On Grose's Peregrinations,' and "The Whistle." The Poet's agreement with his publisher the dilatory William Creech-stipulated that he was to receive, in payment for these additional pieces, "a few books which I very much want, together with as many copies of this new edition of my own work as Friendship or Gratitude shall prompt me to present; I mean to present them among a few Great Folk whom I respect and a few Little Folk whom I love." Twenty copies were sent by Creech to the Poet, and most-if not all of them were given away by him. The recipients included his daughter-" dear-bought Bess "the Earl of Glencairn, Robert Riddell of Glenriddell and Maria Riddell of Woodley Park, Miller of Dalswinton and M'Murdo of Drumlanrig, Mrs. Graham of Fintry and Mrs. Farquhar, and Thomas White, teacher in Dumfries Academy.

"I present you a book; may I hope you will accept

of it," Burns wrote in one of his last letters to Mrs. M'Lehose, shortly after her return from the West Indies. Dr. William Wallace, in his revised edition of Dr. Robert Chambers's Life and Works of Burns, conjectured that the book presented was a copy of the new edition of the Poems, though it was not known then (1896) to be in existence. It has lately come to light, however, though, unfortunately, minus the leaf which carried the presentation inscription. Identification is made easy, however, by the appearance on the title-pages of "Mrs. M'Lehose, June, 1802," and " A Present from the Author "both in the hand of " Clarinda " herself. Besides these inscriptions, there are three corrections of the printed text in Burns's hand: one of them the alteration of "wake" to "break," in the sixth last line of the piece "Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage."

By the patriotism of Sir Henry S. Keith, this interesting and precious relic of Burns and the "charming Clarinda" has been saved to Scotland, and has returned to the city where they first met-there to be preserved "for public use to all posterity."

MISS BURNS:
GRAND-DAUGHTER OF THE POET.

(Died 10th May, 1925.)

Miss Annie Burns Burns, who was the only surviving grand-daughter of Robert Burns, died at Cheltenham on 10th May, 1925. She was in her ninety-fifth year, and was the only daughter, by his second marriage, of Lieutenant-Colonel James Glencairn Burns, fourth son of the Poet.

Lieutenant-Colonel Burns, who died in 1865, was in the service of the East India Company. He retired from the Army on pension and took up residence at Cheltenham. His second wife, Mary Beckett, mother of Miss Burns, died in 1844. For some years Miss Burns's companion at Cheltenham was Mrs. Sarah Burns Hutchinson, a half-sister, and since the death of the latter, in 1909, Miss Burns had lived a quiet and retired life. She was the nearest living relative of Robert Burns, a distinction which now passes to the nephews and nieces of her half-sister, Mrs. Burns Hutchinson.

The funeral of Miss Burns took place on 14th May, 1925, to Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire, where her halfsister is buried. Wreaths were sent by the Burns Federation, the Burns Club of London, the National Burns Memorial and Cottage Homes at Mauchline, and by many relatives and friends.

AN APPRECIATION.

My acquaintance with the family began in 1896. It was the centenary of the Poet's death, and as President of the National Burns Memorial and Cottage Homes, Mauchline, it was my privilege to invite some of the descendants of the Poet to be present at the laying of the foundation stone and to stay with me for the

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