Here is the Jedburgh Memorial Tablet it is more than a mere tablet, because the old house is still to be seen where the Poet lodged :

Then we have Innerleithen (the "St. Ronan's" of Sir Walter), which would be, when Burns visited it, a place of considerable gaiety, and where many of the literary personalities composing the Edinburgh Society, to whom the Poet was so well known, would be gathered together at the then fashionable watering-place and spa. It is evident he was entertained by the families of position in the districts-here as elsewhere-as his diary mentions Traquair, Pirn, and Holylee. The tablet is fixed close to where the old thatched village Inn stood.

The chief of the Memorials, however, is that of Galashiels, and now that it is an accomplished fact, we

close this article by quoting the appeal made to the public when the committee asked for subscriptions :

"It is exactly 120 years since Robert Burns penned this exquisitely beautiful song, which has brought the Vale of Gala and her sons within the ken of the whole world. The song is acknowledged to be one of the Poet's best efforts, and by common consent it ranks among the

finest pastoral love pieces in existence.

Its words and the melody of its music have given an added lustre to the wealth and quality of our national collection, and its undoubted charm is ratified by the testimony of the myriads who have listened to its sweet and tender strain.

It enshrines in words of inimitable beauty and fitness true human ideals, and as long as the influence of songsweet and unpolluted-sways the human race, this gem, direct from the heart of our greatest minstrel, shall remain to cheer and direct and purify those fond and imperishable

The possession of this

instincts that, since time began, have summoned hearts to tak the brae thegither.' song may well be regarded as a rare legacy, for the distinction it confers on the Vale of Gala is both permanent and unique.

To be associated, however distantly, with Burns is regarded as noteworthy and interesting. To be specially

identified and selected as a theme for his divine art is an honour that the world might envy.

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Gala may well rejoice and feel proud of her song and its author. The Memorial stands in her midst to remind her of the lustre of Robert Burns and his legacy to the

· Braw, Braw Lads o' Gala Water.''

GEO. HOPE TAIT, F.S.A. (Scot.)

FROM CRAIG-BROWN'S

LA

(Communicated by A. J. CRAIG, Esq., Galashiels.)

ATE in the afternoon of Sunday, 13th May, 1787, Dr Clarkson and Bailie Anderson were having a quiet tumbler with a friend or two in Veitch's Inn, at the West Port, when the suddenly-stopped noise of horses' feet led them to look out of the window. Two ordinary, weather-beaten travellers having alighted and sought the shelter of the house, the cronies resumed their seats and conversation. By-and-by the servant lass, coming in with a message from the strangers that they would be glad to join the company, Dr Clarkson, not favourably impressed by his first glance, thought it prudent to ask what they were like. "Ane o' them's gey like a drover, sir; and the tother's mair like a gentleman, maybe.” "Oh then," said the Doctor, " just give them my compliments, and say that our company is a private one."

And

so Robert Burns and his young friend Ainslie were left to spend the rest of the wretched rainy day by themselves. To this inconsiderate discourtesy of a Selkirk party the world owes one more poem by Burns than it might have had. It is a mercy he did not pillory the town for ever by scathing verse upon its inhospitality, as he did in the Inn at Inveraray. Ignoring the repulse of his friendly advances, Burns passed the night in writing a poetical epistle to his friend, William Creech, who had just left Edinburgh for London, and to whom he sent it, with the following letter:

No wonder the Poet was "jaded to death." After dining on Saturday night with Sir William and Lady Harriet Don, he had slept at Stodrig. On Sunday morning,. in very bad weather, he had set out for Melrose, visited Dryburgh, crossed Leader, ridden up Tweed to Melrose, dined there, visited its "far-famed, glorious ruin," and thence, still in very bad weather, ridden by Tweed and Ettrick to Selkirk. He had meant to push on to Yarrow, endeared by song and ballad; but the rain forced him to seek shelter by the way. Next morning he rode past "Elibanks and Elibraes" to Innerleithen. As Doctor Clarkson saw the two companions ride away in the morning his heart smote him for his want of courtesy to strangers; but when he learned next day that Burns was one of them, his chagrin was immeasurable. In all Scotland there was probably no more enthusiastic admirer of the Ayrshire Bard than Dr Clarkson, who till his death could never speak with patience of the privilege he had thrown away.

A four-line rhyme known as the "Selkirk Grace is now and then spoken of as having been written by Burns. on the occasion of his visit to the old burgh. It derives its name, however, from having been said by Burns when dining with the Earl of Selkirk. Contrary to general opinion it was not Burns's own composing, having been known before his time as the "Covenanter's Grace."

THE GLENRIDDEL MSS.

TH

THE HAPPY ISSUE.

HROUGH the munificence of Mr John Gribbel, Vice-President of the Public Ledger Company, and President of the Curtis Publishing Company, the Glenriddel MSS. have been restored to the Scottish nation. It now transpires that the sale was practically carried through on 3rd June, 1913, but the fact was carefully concealed from the public till the end of July following, by which date the MSS. were on their way to America. Fortunately, they were offered to Mr Gribbel, who is also the possessor of the interleaved copy of Johnson's Museum which remained so long in the possession of the Riddel family. The story of their purchase and the motives. which actuated it is best told in the words of Mr Gribbel himself, spoken on St. Andrew's Day, in Philadelphia, which we subjoin. It is perhaps too early to offer any suggestions as to the manner in which his high-souled generosity should be acknowledged on this side of the Atlantic, but we feel certain that it will not be allowed to pass unnoticed by the various bodies who have interested themselves in the matter, and the general public as well.

MR GRIBBEL'S SPEECH.

After acknowledging the cordiality of his reception at the hands of the enthusiastic Scots, Mr Gribbel said :—

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An honoured former president of this society, whose winning ways rob us of our equipoise, whose requests I have never been able to refuse, whose requests no one would ever think of refusing, as he never asks anything for himself, whose guest I am to-night, is responsible for my occupying your attention for a few minutes to-night. I have been asked to recount to you the romance of some manuscripts of Burns.

When Burns had received from Creech, the publisher in Edinburgh, his share of the proceeds of the 1787 edition of his poems, he leased and furnished the farm Ellisland,' in Dumfriesshire. Here Burns made one of the best friends he ever had, in Riddel of