John Shearer, Esq., 13 Crown Terrace, Dowanhill. Sir G. O. Trevelyan, Bart., M. P., Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. David Tullis, Esq., Glencairn, Burnside. James T. Tullis, Esq., The Anchorage, Burnside. Sir John Watson, Bart., of Earnock. Chairman of Executive. Andrew J. Kirkpatrick, Esq., 179 West George Street. Vice-Chairman, Patrick S. Dunn, Esq., 107 St. Vincent Street. Executive Committee. W. Craibe Angus, 159 Queen Street. David Sneddon, Kilmarnock. Robert Sorley, I Buchanan Street. David Tullis, Glencairn, Burnside. Robert Walker, 175 Sauchiehall Street. William Wallace, Glasgow Herald. John Watson, 2 Burnbank Gardens. W. Young, R.S.W., 65 West Regent Street. Honorary Treasurer. Robert Philips, Esq., Bank of Scotland, 235 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. Joint Honorary Secretaries. Captain David Sneddon. W. Craibe Angus. Office-175 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. General Committee (as at present organised). The Executive Council of Burns Federation, and the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Secretaries of the Federated Clubs are, ex officiis, Members of this Committee. Members of the Executive Council of the Burns Federation. President Peter Sturrock, Esq., Kilmarnock. Vice-Presidents-R. W. Cochran-Patrick, Esq., LL.D.; Edward Combes, Esq., C. M. G.; Rev. William Dunnett, M.A.; Robert Goudie, Esq., Ayr; Colin Rae-Brown, Esq. Honorary Secretary-Captain David Sneddon. Honorary Treasurer -Captain Arthur Sturrock, Kilmarnock. Editor, "Annual Burns Chronicle"-D. M'Naught, Esq., J.P. Members-Provost David Mackay; George Dunlop, Esq.; John Baird, Esq., J.P.; John Newlands, Esq.; Dr. William Findlay; Dr. James Adams; W. Craibe Angus, Esq.; William Martin, Esq.; William Wallace, Esq.: Joseph Brockie, Esq., Kilmarnock ; Dr. A. Patterson, 22 India Street; J. B. Wilson, Esq., Kilmarnock. George Aikman, A. R.S.A., 8 Forth Street, Edinburgh. James Aitken, 220 St. Vincent Street. James A. Aitken, R.S.W. Major F. W. Allen, 125 Buchanan Street. Wm. Anderson, Springburn. T. G. Arthur, Carrick House, Ayr. F. T. Barrett, Mitchell Library. Colonel Robert J. Bennett, Gordon Street. Jas. E. Christie, 81 St. Vincent Street. J. W. Fraser, 168 West George Street. Thomas Gentiles, Sauchiehall Street. W. G. Gillies, 65 West Regent Street. The Rev. John Glasse, 16 Tantallon Place, Edinburgh. James Guthrie, R.S.A., 7 Woodside Place. A. R. Henderson, 62 North Street. Rev. Kirkwood Hewat, Free Church Manse, Prestwick. Rev. J. C. Higgans, The Manse, Tarbolton. Hugh Hopkins, West Regent Street. John Hunter, J.P., Kilmarnock. Wm. R. Hunter, 69 Albert Road, Crosshill. Henry Johnston, 125 Buchanan Street. John Keppie, I.A., 42 St. James Street, Hillhead. A. J. Kirkpatrick, 179 West George Street. John Laird, Springburn. The Very Rev. John Marshall Lang, D.D., 5 Woodlands Terrace. William Laird, 168 West George Street. John Lavery, A.R.S.A., 248 West George Street. D. Murray Lyon, Edinburgh. Tom MacEwan, R.S. W., West Regent Street. John M'Kie, Springburn. W. A. Scott Mackirdy, Birkwood, Lesmahagow. Allan M'Lean, 41 West George Street. James J. MacLehose, M.A., 61 St. Vincent Street. The Right Rev. Donald MacLeod, D.D., I Woodlands Terrace. John M'Naught Campbell, Kelvingrove Museum. William MacTaggart, R.S.A., Deanpark, Broomiknowe, Edinburgh. J. MacWhirter, R.A,, I Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, London. George R Mather, M.D., 11 Annfield Place. Hamilton Maxwell, Glasgow Art Club. J. O. Mitchell, LL.D., 69 E. Howard Street. Daniel Munro, 39 Hope Street. J. M. Munro, 4 Wilton Mansions, Kelvinside. J. G. Orchar, Dundee. Alex. Patterson, M.D., 22 India Street. Robert Philips, Bank of Scotland, Sauchiehall Street. George Pirrie, 134 Bath Street. Robert Renwick, Depute Town Clerk, City Chambers. David Robertson, 94 Mitchell Street. David Ross, LL.D., Established Church Normal. J. Orr Sinclair, Breaksplough, Stevenston. Rev. Thomas Somerville, M.A., Blackfriars. Robert Sorely, Buchanan Street. Rev. James Stalker, D.D., Glasgow. W. Grant Stevenson, A. R.S.A., 34 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh. J. D. Taylor, Glasgow Art Club. Wm. Young, R.S.W., 65 West Regent Street. A complete list of the various Committees will be issued at an early date MORE MAUCHLINE TOPOGRAPHY. R OBERT BURNS, with his brother Gilbert, entered into the occupancy of the farm of Mossgiel at Martinmas, 1783, which continued till the month of June, 1788, when the Poet entered on the lease of Ellisland. Mauchline and her people bulk largely in the early career of the Poet. Yet how little does he himself tell of his acquaintances there, or of the places he frequented! Poet he was an intense admirer of Nature-but unfortunately for the student of his life and works he was no historian or archæologist as these terms are generally understood. My purpose then will be, as one who has all his days lived in the quiet, pleasantly situated town of peculiar fame, and whose privilege it has been to know many of her people and to hear many of their tales, to try and throw some light on some points which may be of interest to many who are seeking towards a better knowledge of our Scottish Bard, his associates, and surroundings in the Mossgiel district. But let me premise that the task is no easy one, for even with respect to the most outstanding places and people there is a lack of reliable information. How much more difficulty, then, must there be with places of which we have only the slightest indication in the Poet's writings? Take, for example, Mossgiel, which might fittingly be called the "other shrine." Readers of Burns all know, or at least ought to know, that the house of Mossgiel (or Mossgavil as it was anciently called) was a very superior residence for its time, having been specially appointed by Gavin Hamilton as a summer house for himself and family; and that the present house is not only greatly altered, but, with the exception of one particular, is altogether different from what it was in the Poet's day. Yet how many know what Mossgiel was like then, or what have been the nature of the alterations since Burns's time, and when such alterations were made. Among the illustrations will be found two views of Mossgiel. On the authority of Mr. John Wallace, factor to Major General Sir Claud Alexander, Bart., of Ballochmyle, I am enabled to state that, previous to 1858, the steading had undergone no change for a great many years, so far as he could trace. In 1858 The first is that of Mossgiel prior to 1870. the farm steading was remodelled, the walls of dwelling house being heightened about four feet, the windows about. one foot, and the roof covered as formerly with straw. The reader will notice, in the foreground of the picture, the stones and lime laid down towards the next alteration, which took place in the year 1870, when the walls of the dwelling house were further raised and the roof slated as it now stands. The building at the west-end of the dwelling house was added in 1883, and is used as a cheesehouse. The hedge in front of the house is said to have been planted by Burns and his brother Gilbert, and from its appearance, this is very probable. I will now proceed to deal with Mauchline and her people in Burns's time, begging the reader to recollect that absolute correctness is nearly impossible, and earnestly hoping that what I may submit will stimulate further research, so that, as far as possible, we may hand down to posterity all that remains of Burns-Mauchline lore as it has been left to us at the end of one hundred years. |