Bard. As an Honorary President of the Dunfermline United Burns Club, he frequently attended the annual celebrations, and he was able to acquit himself with conspicuous success on these occasions.. By those who were present at the celebration at which he proposed "The Immortal Memory," his brilliant appreciation, given with rare oratorical effect, will not be readily forgotten. Speaking without manuscript or notes of any kind, and quoting extensively from the Poet's works, he held the guests spell-bound for considerably upwards of an hour. On one occasion he entertained the members of the United Club at Tulliallan. One of his last appearances in a Burns capacity was at the celebration by the Culross Club, at which he proposed "The Immortal Memory."

One of the first fruits of his liberality after he took up residence at Tulliallan was to restore the ancient market cross of Culross, the destruction of which, according to tradition, was ascribed to the men of Tulliallan on the occasion of a filibustering expedition to Culross. At the unveiling ceremony, Sir James delivered a speech which showed an intimate acquaintance with the lore of the ancient burgh of Culross.

A keen agriculturist, he devoted much attention to stock-breeding. In this connection his most successful venture was a herd of pedigreed shorthorns, which he founded twelve years ago, and which has acquired celebrity all over the United Kingdom.

Sir James was well known in Dunfermline, where he appeared in various public capacities. On several occasions he was one of those who supported the late Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman at his meetings with his Dunfermline constituents. His gift of oratory, combined with wellinformed mind and fine intellect, enabled him to impart lustre to his public appearances, and his unbounded liberality made him a welcome functionary on occasions when the raising of money for charities was the object in view.

Sir James, who was sixty-eight years of age, is survived by Lady Sivewright.

The funeral took place on the 15th.

At the graveside a short impressive service was conducted by the Rev. John M'Laren, minister of the parish. There were present members of the Dunfermline United Burns Club and Burns Federation, of both of which Sir James was an Honorary President. The representatives included Mr T. Plant and Mr H. H. Holbeck, on behalf of Mr Alexander Gibb, Rosyth, an honorary president of the Dunfermline Club, and Mr P. Paterson, Secretary of the Dunfermline Club and a Vice-president of the Federation.

BURNS'S HOUSE AT MAUCHLINE.

PURCHASE OF DR MACKENZIE'S HOUSE.

N Saturday, 9th September, the Executive Com

ON mittee of the Glasgow and District Burns Clubs

On arrival they at

Association made a pilgrimage to Mauchline, travelling from the city in a saloon carriage. once proceeded to the old churchyard, where they spent some time around the graves of Gavin Hamilton, Daddy Auld, and others immortalised by Burns. The party next visited the Burns House in the Back Causeway. This property was acquired by the Glasgow Burns Clubs Association some time ago, and was formally inaugurated last year, part of it being utilised as a museum, while the other rooms are occupied by three aged women, who have found comfortable homes wherein to spend the evening of their days free from "cankert care." Adjoining the

Burns House-the house where Burns and Jean Armour commenced housekeeping-there is a ruinous property which was at one time occupied by Dr John Mackenzie, who was medical attendant to the Burns family, and who proved a true friend to Jean Armour when she incurred the wrath of her parents in consequence of her relations with the Poet. It is believed that Dr Mackenzie afforded "Bonnie Jean" the shelter of his house when, in a state of distraction, she was first driven from home. Dr Mackenzie's house has now also been acquired by the Glasgow Burns Clubs Association, and although the directors have not yet decided what is to be done with it, the feeling appears to be that the house will be restored in the same way as the Burns House, and additional accommodation provided for aged poor people who have in the battle of life been "tempest driven." The little museum in the Burns House was inspected with much interest. During

the year many gifts have been received, and the exhibits have been most attractively laid out.

The company afterwards sat down to tea in the Black Bull Hotel. Mr William M. Douglas, President of the Association, occupied the chair, and Mr Charles R. Cowie, Vice-president, officiated as croupier.

The Chairman, after proposing "The King," said he was delighted to see such a large and representative turnout of Burns Clubs at this the first annual visit to their

property in Mauchline. They had been very fortunate as regards the weather, and he was sure they had all enjoyed their visit. They regretted very much the absence of their friend, Mr Alexander Mackenzie, President of the National Burns Club, and still more they regretted the cause of his absence. At the Federation meeting the previous Saturday it had been announced that he had lost one of his sons in the war, and to-day he was sorry to say that he had lost another. This was really a very severe blow to Mr Mackenzie, and he thought they might ask their Secretary to convey the sympathy of this gathering of Burnsians to their friend in his great and serious bereavement. (The members rose to their feet for a few moments in token of their sympathy.) Proceeding, the Chairman said he believed the present was the first of many visits that the Glasgow Burns Association would pay to Mauchline. It was intended that they should have an annual visit, and he was sure the members would always be glad to come there to see the Burns House and the old ladies who were so comfortably housed within its walls. Everyone of them, he was certain, must have been delighted with the condition of the property. He thought it reflected great credit on the old ladies that the houses were in such excellent order. They had also visited the house next door-the old house which was in rather a ruinous condition —and he was authorised to make the public announcement that that house was now the property of the Glasgow Burns Clubs Association. After considerable correspondence with the proprietor in Belfast, they had been

able to secure this property through the good offices of their friend, Mr Cowie, who, on this occasion, as on many others in connection with Burns matters, had shown a generosity that was beyond all praise. This was neither the time nor the occasion to discuss what was to be done with the property. That would be settled by the Directors of the Association, but they were greatly indebted to Mr Cowie for his devotion to the memory of Burns, and more especially to the memory of Jean Armour. After all, the Burns House was a memorial to Jean Armour rather than to her husband. The adjoining house, or at least part of it, had been occupied by Dr Mackenzie, the friend and neighbour of the Poet, and in acquiring this property he thought they had completed the work of the Association in this part of the town of Mauchline. The members of the Association and lovers of Burns generally could not feel too grateful to Mr Cowie for putting them in possession of a property having so many interesting associations with the Poet. He would ask them in the very heartiest way to accord a vote of thanks to Mr Cowie for his devotion to the memory of Burns and Jean Armour, and for his exceeding generosity in giving all assistance to the Glasgow Burns Clubs Association in purchasing this property.

Mr Cowie, who was received with loud applause, said it was certainly a great gratification to him to know that on this the first anniversary of the opening of the Burns House property they should be enabled to come down to Mauchline again and see those houses finished now as they were not then-inhabited by old ladies who were deeply grateful to the Glasgow Burns Clubs Association for the kindness and assistance that. had been given them, and to find the houses such models of neatness, tidiness, and cleanliness. On the occasion of the opening of the Burns House twelve months ago, he had mentioned in his remarks that Mauchline was a perfect museum for Burns lovers, and that there were three objects which he thought Burns lovers should endeavour to attain in connection with Mauchline, to go no further afield. One of them was the