Murray had been in Edinburgh about nine months, it was his intention to visit his wife and family in the April of 1813, who were still living at Urr, but his health finally gave way. His wife having been warned of his condition, arrived in Edinburgh on the 13th of that month, and found him wasted away to a mere shadow, but deeply engrossed in his favourite studies, quite unconscious of his approaching end. The next day he was induced to remain in bed; towards evening he became worse, and gave his wife instructions about the payment of some small debts. the shadows of death fell upon him he expressed his deep regret in not being able to see his little boy and girl, to give them his last parting kiss and blessing. On the following day, April 15th, he took a last farewell of his sorrowing wife, and quietly passed to his rest.

As

The last letter Murray wrote to his faithful friend, Henry Salt, reached London in the absence of that gentleman, and before he had a chance of returning an answer Murray was no more. Although he and Murray never met, the correspondence produced a friendly attachment between them, and Salt never referred to "that great and noble man," as he called him, without a deep sense of emotion.

This then, is the story of Dr Alexander Murray, who, though he rose from the humble position of a shepherd boy, his gentlemanly disposition and scholarly attainments made a deep and lasting impression on all with whom he came in contact. He was interred in the burying-ground of Greyfriars' Church, Edinburgh, where a monument has been raised to his memory. A monument has also been erected to his memory on a commanding eminence at Tanotrie, overlooking his birthplace. It is build of square blocks of granite hewn from the mountain side, rising to a height of eighty feet, where it stands in solitary magnificence amid the Galloway hills.

Few distinguished men are so little known outside their native land as Alexander Murray. The indomitable perseverance and courage with which he struggled and

overcame difficulties would have crushed many a brave spirit with a more robust physical constitution, and speak more in his praise than the learned works which were their result. In his own country, however, he has not been forgotten, and it is gratifying to state that his fellowcountrymen did not allow the centenary of his death to pass unheeded. In the month of April, 1913, people flocked from all parts of Scotland in their tens of thousands to the wilds of Minnigaff to do homage to this distinguished Scot amid the shadows of his native crags and peaks.

WM. M'ILWRAITH.

BURNS AND BONIE MARY MENZIES.

DISCOVERY OF A DESCENDANT.

ON

N the 27th August, 1787, Robert Burns, Scotland's greatest Bard, set out in a chaise from Edinburgh along with Mr Wm. Nicol, teacher, on a tour to the north, partly with the view of visiting a number of relatives he had in Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, going by way of Linlithgow, Falkirk, Plean Castle and Stirling, then on to Kenmore and Aberfeldy, where he composed "The Birks of Aberfeldy," which at that time belonged to the Menzies of Bolfracks. It is said that when here he met Sir John Menzies, fourth Baronet and Chief of Clan Menzies, and may have visited him at Castle Menzies, which is only about two miles from Aberfeldy-this is said to have been on the 30th of August, 1787. From there he visited the Duke of Atholl, and at Blair Castle he met Lady Charlotte Murray, eldest daughter of the Duke of Atholl, and afterwards the wife of Sir John Menzies, the fourth Baronet of Castle Menzies. Proceeding north he visited the Falls of Fyers, Gordon Castle, Fochabers, and Aberdeen, arriving about 8th September, 1787. From there he went out to Glen Dye, and the Mill of Dye, in the Mearns, which is in the parish of Strachan, a few miles from Banchory. In this part of the country the Poet had many relations, and had thus gone off the main roads for travellers to visit his kith and kin and to meet bonnie Mary Menzies, one of the greatest beauties then in Aberdeenshire or the North. Her beauty-fame had travelled far south to Burns and his relatives in Ayrshire, from relations of the Poet who lived or owned a farm called " Jelly-brawns," where bonnie Mary Menzies had spent some time on a visit to the relations of Burns, who had that farm. The wife of the farmer was then a very old woman, and was a near relative

of the Poet. There were other relations of Robert Burns who had lived for a considerable time there before the visit of bonnie Mary Menzies to the farm of "Jelly-brawns."

At that time "Mary Menzies was well known throughout the Mearns for her good looks." She is described by a descendant relative as being acknowledged as "being beautiful," and is recorded to have been "tall," as were most of the Menzies at that time, and she had lovely hair

of a reddish-golden colour-a type of hair common among many of the Clan. Her hair she kept divided into sidelocks and side-ringlets. Burns himself took poetic note of her hair and complexion and bright blue eyes, her white brow, her rosy cheeks ay dimpled with a smile, &c. From the first Burns was struck with her natural beauty and presence, and thus describes his first meeting -

Then the Poet goes on to paint her portrait in poetic language, inspired by the charms of a young and beautiful girl, in such a way as only an artist like Burns could do. He says:

Burns was received by the father of bonnie Mary Menzies with true Highland hospitality, and at once got the piper lads of the district together and enlivened the scene by reels and other dances to the music of the great Highland bagpipes. Burns describes that mirthful and gleeful time in the following lines:

"We lap an' danc'd the lee-lang day,

Till piper lads were wae and weary."

Burns, ever observant and ready to turn every incident to poetic account, observed that there was a young gallant of another and kindred Clan " gone" on bonnie Mary Menzies, of the name of Charlie MacGregor, who, attempting to kiss bonnie Mary Menzies, lost in the scuffle his tartan plaidie. The Poet thus describes the incident :

"Theniel Menzies' bonie Mary,

Theniel Menzies' bonie Mary;

Charlie Gregor tint (lost) his plaidie,
Kissin' Theniel's bonie Mary."

Not only did MacGregor lose his plaidie for his impulsive act in kissing such a bonnie lassie, but Burns tells us that he had to stand treat for that great honour, in the following words :

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"But Charlie gat the spring (treat) to pay

For kissin' Theniel's bonie Mary."

The father of bonnie Mary Menzies, whom Burns calls

Theniel," was Nathaniel Menzies, the Miller of Dye, and