demolition of the Auld West Kirk and destruction of the grave of Burns's Highland Mary, unless it is found impossible to secure any other suitable site."

Might I say that forcible expressions were made as to the frequency these old historic and sentimental landmarks are being assailed by those who cannot, or will not, realise what they mean to the Scottish race.

Wishing your Federation every success, and with fraternal greetings. W. D. LECKIE, Secretary.

HAMILTON JUNIOR BURNS CLUB.

REPORT-1916-1917.

Our Club has had a most successful season, and is still progressing under the guidance of our esteemed President, Mr W. Ferguson. We have continued to hold our regular meetings, and the attendance has kept up well, although the social side of the Club life has been greatly curtailed. The Treasurer, in submitting his annual statement, showed that the Club was in a good financial position.

Our Burns Choir gave two very successful concerts during the past winter, from which we were able to hand over £40 on behalf of the War Funds. On the invitation of Ye Cronies Burns Club twelve of our members spent a very pleasant social evening in Glasgow, at which we were treated to a very high-class entertainment. Our Annual Outing was to the High Parks, when about 80 ladies and gentlemen took part, including representatives from the Burns Choir. Lunch was served at Cadzow Castle, and the afternoon was pleasantly spent amid the delightful surroundings, while several Burns songs were rendered by members of the choir. Our meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, at 7.30 p.m., at 1 Union Street, Hamilton, when we will be pleased to welcome any member of a Federated Club.

W. WILSON, Secretary.

YE CRONIES BURNS CLUB, GOVAN.

ANNUAL REPORT, 1917.

Once more I am glad to report a very successful session, notwithstanding the fact that we are still in the midst of the most

terrible war the world has ever known, the worst feature of which is the low-down, below-the-belt tactics to which the enemy stoopsin order to gain his ungodly end of might and power; and yet, in the face of it all, pacifists would have us stop the fight, to sit at the same conference table with men who cast aside great National agreements as mere scraps of paper. Though all of us long for peace, I am sure no real Burnsite would like to see our brave young ladscome home to a patched-up peace with such scoundrels. Thank God there are no pacifists in Ye Cronies Burns Club, at least I don't know of them.

We are very proud of our Roll of Honour, for it now contains over thirty names of members, members' sons, and brothers who have gone forth to fight and defend the glorious principles of liberty and peace. Most of these brave lads have been in the thick of the fight. Some have been home wounded and are still in hospital, others have recovered and gone back again to endure the hardships. of life on the battlefields. But there are others-five-who have made the supreme sacrifice, one of which I feel in duty bound to mention, for he has truly left a vacant chair in our Club, as he wasa most energetic, willing, and active member of our committee. I refer to Bro. A. M'Kinnon, who voluntarily joined the Army, and after training, was sent out to Salonica. There, while attending to a wounded comrade who lay in the danger zone, he was shot by a sniper, thus giving his life to save a brother soldier. and all who have fallen we reverently bow our heads.

To him

During the year we have been in touch with many of the Clubs of the district, and have been visited by representatives of no lessthan seven different Burns Clubs, and I think, without exception, all have gone away with a good impression.

We have also been well represented at the meetings of the Burns Federation and the Glasgow and District Burns Associations, and our members have been well posted up in the business of the Burns world by taking advantage of the Burns Chronicle and our Delegates' reports. We have had two outstanding functions in connection with our Club, the picnic being dropped again owing to present conditions. The first was a Smoking Concert and Lecture, when Mr J. Jeffrey Hunter gave us a very interesting half-hour on A Lawyer's Reminiscences," and a fine array of artistes contributed to a very successful night, the proceeds providing funds to send parcels to the boys at the front.

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The Annual Supper, held on Saturday, 22nd January, 1917, was really a great success. Again we were indebted to Mr J. Jeffrey Hunter for the eloquent manner in which he proposed the 'Immortal Memory."

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Our meetings during the year have been fairly well attended, and great credit is due to the President and Office-bearers for the way the members are held together in these terrible times.

Our membership is still at its maximum, and several desirable and influential brothers are waiting an opportunity to join us. Our financial position is still improving, for although we have had many extra expenses, we show a balance on the right side. Taking all things into consideration, we have had a very creditable year, and our best thanks are due to Past President Tait for the way he conducted our meetings, and the dignified manner in which he has upheld the honour of our Club at all our functions. Mr James Rellie, who is now our honourable President, will, I am quite sure, prove a most capable and worthy successor. At the present time our hands are tied so far as new experiments are concerned, but I sincerely hope that before long the tyrant who has been the cause of all the terrible suffering of the last three years will soon be laid low, so that we may once more live in peace and that fraternal blessedness which is expressed in the words of our National Bard :'Man to man, the world o'er, Shall brothers be for a' that."

*

:

W. PARKER, Past Secretary.

SHETTLESTON BURNS CLUB.

ANNUAL REPORT, 1916-1917.

Another successful Session in the history of Shettleston Burns Club has come to a close.

The war cloud still hangs over us, but signs are in the air that it will break up sooner than most people expect. We shall then resume our activities, if not as in pre-war days, at least with less of the spirit of restraint which has characterised our gatherings since that fateful day in August over three years ago.

The meetings have been very well attended. The Annual Dinner on 27th January was a particular success, both as regards the excellence of Mr Lucas's Address and the large turn-out of members and friends.

The other lecturers were ex-Bailie Willox and the Secretary, Mr Stewart. Bailie Willox's paper on Burns was a scholarly exposition by an ardent lover of the Poet. Mr Stewart's paper Alexander Anderson, Surfaceman and Poet," was delivered

on

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on the Ladies' Night, and was highly appreciated by a very attentive audience.

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At all our meetings we have had the pleasure of entertaining representatives from kindred Clubs. To Mr Chalmers of Ye Cronies Club, Govan, we give thanks for the beautiful Mallet which he presented to the Club.

The School Competition was a magnificent success. Both teachers and scholars entered into the scheme with zest and glee, with the result that its success was never in doubt.

Many Burns Clubs have bards whose inspired compositions educate and delight their less fortunate brethren. We are no longer behind; Mr Duncan Rodger, our good old accepted the Laureateship of Shettleston Burns Club. he adorn the office.

friend, has Long may

The Bowling Members are to be congratulated on the splendid show they made in the M'Lennan Cup Competition. separated the winners from Mr Greenshield's rink.

One point

The

Messrs Wilson and Butler have audited our accounts. finances of the Club are in a very sound condition, thanks to our worthy Treasurer, Mr Barrie.

The Committee desire to thank all members and friends of the Club for their many kindnesses, which have gone a long way to make our functions so delightful.

President Milholm, who retires this year, is to be congratulated on the success of the Club during his term of office.

On behalf of the Committee.

JOHN L. STEWART, Hon. Secy.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF BURNS.

There is a break in the published correspondence of Burns between the last letter dated from Ellisland, 3rd October, 1791, and the first letter written from Dumfries, 23rd November, 1791, and the five letters conjecturally dated by editors November, 1791. During that period the Poet had given up Ellisland and settled in Dumfries. The exact date when he left his farm is not known, and certain of the circumstances attending his removal have not yet been satisfactorily explained. The letter here published for the first time fixes almost to a day the date of his removal from Ellisland, and the document following confirms what has hitherto been a vague tradition as to the difficulties Burns experienced in settling with the gentleman who acquired Ellisland at the time the Poet left it.

When, after three years' tenancy of Ellisland, Burns wished to part with his farm his landlord, Patrick Miller, happened to be more than willing to cancel the lease. A neighbouring proprietor, John Morin of Laggan, offered to purchase the property for £1900. Miller was ready enough to part on such terms with a portion of his estate which was inconveniently cut off from the rest of his property by the river Nith. Accordingly on Saturday, 19th November, 1791, Morin became laird of Ellisland, and Burns was a party to the transaction by signing a renunciation of his lease. He immediately set about rouping his stock and implements, and bidding goodbye to his neighbours. Amongst these was the Rev. Joseph Kirkpatrick, minister of Dunscore, in which parish Ellisland is situated.

Mr Kirkpatrick wrote the description of his parish for the old Statistical Account of Scotland (Vol. III., 1792), in which volume also appeared one of the first of Burns's letters to be published. The Poet addressed the minister in these terms :—

The Rev. Mr J. Kirkpatrick, Dunscore Manse.

Rev. and Dear Sir,-On Thursday first I intend doing myself the pleasure of waiting on you, as I am thinking to flit the Monday or Tuesday following.

If the weather is such that she can accompany me, Mrs Burns will also do herself the pleasure of waiting on Mrs Kirkpatrick before we leave Dunscore.

If I do not hear from you I shall conclude that our waiting on you will not be inconvenient for you.-I am, with sincere respect, Dear Sir, Your very humble Servant,

Ellisland, Saturday, Noon,

12th November, 1791."

ROBT. BURNS.