I think that fog has somehow survived to this day. In the genial months of July and August, however, it may lift. We have some very worthy friends in Edinburgh. Our speakers on the 21st are three Edinburgh men-Lord Rosebery, who has done everything in his power for us; Professor Masson, one of the best Scotsmen and lovers of Burns that ever lived; Rev. Dr. Walter C. Smith, who has proved by being a poet himself that he is a disciple of Burns. I would ask these friends if they have any influence to help us to complete our collection by securing the two portraits that are awanting. If not there is nothing for it but to send a battalion of the “wild west Whigs" of the modern school, headed by the Old Guard of Burns from Kilmarnock, to “inform them and storm them" that these portraits must be here. The portraits are of great value. But there is something more important than the portraits, and that is the manuscripts. I have said that Burns speaks to you here. Being dead he certainly speaks in these marvellous manuscripts, written, I should think, in the finest and boldest handwriting that ever literary man, or any man, ever wrote. Then we have the marvellous literature that has accumulated round the memory of Burns shown in these books. I believe I am right in saying that there is not room for them all in the cases at present. I asked a librarian in Edinburgh the other day if there was any personal literature at all comparable with it, and he said there was only one such literature, and that centred round our Scottish heroine, Queen Mary. It is very remarkable that the two greatest personal literatures in the world belong to Scotland. You can see all these things in the galleries. They speak for themselves, and therefore I need not speak of them or for them. But I may say one concluding word. Scotland has often been called by her friends in the South the knuckle-end of England. It may be, but it has never knuckled down to England. It has been conquered twice, and twice only, and by whom? By two great Scotsmen-John Knox and Robert Burns. John Knox conquered its head; Robert Burns conquered its heart. It is his heart that has filled these six galleries. He gave that heart and his life-blood for us, and the very least we can do is to show how our hearts feel towards him.

Provost M'KAY, Kilmarnock, said-I have been asked to undertake a very pleasant duty, and that is to move

a very cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Wallace for the very able address which he has just given to you, so full of humour, and good, solid sense. I am sure no one could have been asked who had greater ability to discharge the duty of giving an address on this occasion than Mr. Wallace. You know he has just been engaged in editing a life of the Poet, and that work, I believe, when issued-some of the volumes have already been issued-will stand second to none in the matter of Burns literature. He has written a sketch of the life of the Poet, and of all the scenes of Burns which are worth preserving. I am sure that we feel greatly indebted that Mr. Wallace should have to-day undertaken this duty of addressing you. In addition to the vote of thanks to Mr. Wallace, I have to ask you to give a vote of thanks to your chairman, Mr. Kirkpatrick, and I may say this, that unless it had been possible to secure a man of his influence in this great city, backed up as he has very well been by the Corporation of Glasgow, it would have been perfectly impossible for such an exhibition of treasures as are in this hall to come to this city. It is a unique collection, and I am sure the people of Scotland will take pride in it-pride in their National Poet, and pride in the fact that there has been a committee organised able and influential enough to secure these treasures from all quarters of the kingdom, and from the United States and the Colonies as well. I know the labours that Mr. Kirkpatrick has undertaken in connection with this Exhibition-they have been exceedingly arduous. He has had associated with him a most excellent executive council, who have spared no pains in order that the Exhibition should be worthy of our National Poet. You will agree to give them a hearty vote of thanks. I have to ask you, at the same time, to give a vote of thanks to the committee who have so assiduously, day by day, and week by week, for the last twelve months, been collecting these treasures. I am sure, speaking for Ayrshire-I think I can speak for Ayrshire-Ayrshire men are all considered to be Burns daft, but the mania is not confined to Ayrshire enthusiasts. It extends to our Colonies, to America, and, from every part of Scotland and England, I hope enthusiasts will come to spend many days in this Exhibition. I think, as one result from this Exhibition, we shall be able to procure a purer text of the Poet's work

than we have hitherto had. I believe the manuscripts will be carefully scrutinised by men like Mr. Wallace and others who are distinguished in the Burns cult, and that they will take advantage of them to verify any doubtful passages in the Poet's works.

The chairman and Mr. Wallace briefly acknowledged the vote of thanks, and the proceedings terminated.

THE POET LAUREATE ON BURNS.

ΟΝ

UNVEILING OF THE IRVINE STATUE.

N the afternoon of Saturday, 18th July, the statue of Robert Burns, presented to the burgh of Irvine by Mr. John Spiers, of Glasgow, was unveiled by his daughter,

Mrs. George Spiers, and the inaugural address was delivered by Mr. Alfred Austin, the Poet Laureate of England.