truly immortal song."

Later Burns copied the verses

into his interleaved copy of the Museum.

From that date Burns had no further intercourse with his Duchesses. But he was fated to have his name linked with that of the Duchess of Gordon in a fashion that was repugnant and distressing. First the London Star, next the Gazetteer in March, 1789, fathered on him an offensive lampoon, with the remark that " Mr Burns, the ploughing Poet, who owes much of his good fortune to Her Grace's critical discernment and generous patronage, made this elegant stanza on that occasion (of a ball in Edinburgh). When Burns learnt of this, he gave a passionate denial, and later it was announced that the true author was the lawyer politician, Henry Dundas, Lord Melville.

After his return to Edinburgh, Burns sat only once at the table of a nobleman, when, at the end of July, 1793, he and Syme visited Lord Selkirk at The Isle, Kirkcudbright.

PHILIP SULLEY.

CLUB

NOTES.

[COMMUNICATED.]

THE LONDON ROBERT BURNS CLUB.

REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING 30th APRIL, 1919.

In more than one respect the Club year just closed has been a notable one. In the first place, the members have had the satisfaction of celebrating the Jubilee of the foundation of the Club; and I think that we who are privileged to be members to-day have a right to feel that we are not disgracing the memory of the Poet or the memories of those who, fifty years ago, by founding the Club, set themselves to the perpetuation of the Poet's message. In every respect our activities are varied and healthy.

In the second place, the year to which we have all bidden goodbye has been notable in that it has seen the end of the great world conflict, and in the only way possible if truth and justice and democracies, and even the common decencies of life are to prevail. Everything that the name of Robert Burns stands for was at stake in this great struggle, and it was unthinkable that they should be trampled upon with impunity by a people, however great. The cost of the travail has been tremendous, and many members of this Club are to-day suffering from wounds that can never be healed on this side of time, caused through the loss of those who have been as dear to them as life itself. Words cannot heal a wounded heart, but it must be some consolation to know that their glorious deaths have not been in vain. The bereaved members of this Club have our sincere sympathy.

The first semi-public event of the Club year was the Welcome Home Luncheon to our friend and fellow-member Mr (now Sir) Harry Lauder, and his good lady, who we most heartily congratulate on the knighthood which has been conferred upon Sir Harry.

Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Lord Glenconner, and the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher, were also among the speakers.

In order to celebrate Hallowe'en, the Club organised a Matinee at the Pavilion, Piccadilly Circus, which was kindly lent by Mr C. B. Cochran. The result of a successful concert, at which many prominent music-hall and concert artistes gave their assistance without fee or reward, was that with members' contributions £414

was handed to the London Committee of the Harry Lauder Fund for Scottish Sailors and Soldiers. As usual the work of the matinee fell on the shoulders of Mr M'Farlane, who we thank heartily for the great success of the gathering.

THE 25th OF JANUARY,

The Birthday Festival, being the Jubilee Festival of the Club, was celebrated at Prince's Restaurant, Piccadilly, under particularly happy circumstances, and the attendance of members and friends was most gratifying. (We have been honoured by a full report of the proceedings in this year's Chronicle.)

The year that has passed has had much shadow as well as much sunshine. The Club has suffered grievous loss by the sudden death of Past-President Neil Turner, whose memory will not soon fade in this organisation. Mr Turner, quiet and enthusiastic, rendered marked service to the Club, and his year of office was one of great activity and prosperity. We sympathise with Mr Allpress and Mr Hyde, two members of Committee and active workers, in the losses they have sustained by domestic bereavement. Mrs Allpress and Mrs Hyde, whose loss we deplore, were both regular attenders at our social gatherings, and we feel their deaths to be personal losses all the more on this account.

In this connection, I must make mention of the serious trials through which our worthy Vice-president, Mr L. G. Sloan, has passed. I have on several occasions conveyed to Mrs Sloan the messages of sympathy from the members. Mr Sloan is obliged to go on a business tour in the United States and, consequently, for some little time at any rate, we shall be without his sage advice and assistance:

Financially, and in point of members, the Club is in a flourishing condition. Thanks largely to the Membership Committee, of which Mr Florence is the Chairman, the roll has been increased during the year by thirty-four, and as the number of deaths and resignations is nine, the net increase to our membership is twenty-five. The Treasurer's report will show a substantial balance to our credit.

Our Pipers have been reinforced by the appointment of Piper J. C. Archibald, whose assistance at the Festival we appreciated so greatly. Pipe-Major Reith deserves our thanks for the splendid services so ungrudgingly given at our various gatherings. Now that the war is nearly over, we may soon expect the return of PipeMajor George Shand, who has been with his regiment, the London Scottish, since the war began.

We offer to our members Sir George Riddell, Bart., Sir Harry Lauder, and Mr William Noble, hearty congratulations on honours

conferred. Sir George Riddell, who is liaison officer between the British Empire Press and the British representatives at the Peace Conference, has been presented by the Imperial Pressmen with a souvenir of his services to them, and the French Government have honoured him by admitting him to be an officer of the Legion of Honour. These tributes to the work and worth of Sir George are hailed with great pleasure by his many friends in England.

The knighthood to Sir Harry Lauder is an honour which has been well earned.

To Mr William Noble, who has been appointed to the high office of Engineer-in-Chief to His Majesty's Post Office, we also offer our hearty congratulations. Mr Noble has, from the lowest rung in his professional ladder, climbed steadily to the very topmost step. It was only the other day that we congratulated him on having had an important Belgian decoration conferred upon him for services to Belgium during the war.

In bringing my report to an end, I must take this opportunity of thanking the members of the Committee for their hearty support during the year; and particularly I would like to say how very greatly the work has been lightened because of the energetic services of Mr M'Farlane, our Honorary Secretary, who has co-operated with me on every occasion with great heartiness. Without Mr M'Farlane's assistance one dreads to think what the Club would do. WM. WILL, President.

(In which is Incorporated "Ye Saints Burns Club.")

Progress has been the experience of the Club for the past season. An average attendance of over eighty was maintained. Two Ladies' evenings were held, when Mr MacKerracher provided very high-class vocal and musical talent.

About 150 were present at the Anniversary. "The Immortal Memory was proposed by Sheriff R. Macaulay Smith, LL.B. The address was afterwards printed, and is a valuable addition to Burns literature.

To meet the demand for membership, the Club raised the limit to 200 ordinary members and 10 honorary members, and the membership is again full.

The Club has sustained a sad loss through the death of Mr W. F. Frame, the well-known comedian, and one of the Club's most enthusiastic members.

Undernoted are details of present season's syllabus :

1919.

SYLLABUS, 1919-1920.

Sept. 22. Napoleon "-Mr J. K. M'Dowall, J.P.

Oct. 27. Musical Evening (Ladies'

Nov. 24.

66

Kerracher.

Night)-Mr J. G. Mac.

Shakespeare "-Mr George M'Gill.

Dec. 22. Knox "-Dr James Devon.

Jan. 26. "The Immortal Memory "-Alex. Cargill, Esq., Edinburgh. Feb. 23. "Cromwell "-Mr T. A. Fraser.

Mar. 22. Annual General Meeting at 6.45 p.m.

(Ladies' Night) at 7.30 p.m.

Musical Evening

The meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month, at 7.30 p.m., from September to March inclusive, in Reid's Rooms, 30 Gordon Street, Glasgow.

J. KEVAN M'DOWALL, Hon. Secretary.

GLASGOW BURNS CLUBS ASSOCIATION.

The Association has now completed its twelfth year, and has 42 Clubs affiliated.

All the meetings were largely attended during the year.

The newly-formed Glasgow Masonic Burns Club has been admitted to the membership of the Association. The payment of subscriptions has been satisfactory.

The Burns Anniversary was celebrated this year much more generally than has been possible since the outbreak of war. A number of Clubs which had suspended resumed their work, and the number of celebrations was largely increased. Several Clubs took a collection on behalf of the Burns House, Mauchline, including a collection of £20 from the Bridgeton Club, and £8 from the Tam o'Shanter.

As usual, the Burns statue was beautifully decorated by the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, and individual wreaths were sent by the Rosebery, Sandyford, and Tam o' Shanter Clubs, and by this Association.

66

The third Anniversary Sermon was preached on 19th January, by the Rev. Jas. Barr, of Govan, whose subject was The Religious Teaching of Burns." The Service was the most successful yet held.