Parliament (1901); Relations between England and Scotland (1901); Lusus Regius; being unpublished writings of King James VI. and I. (1901); The Kingis Quair and The New Criticism (1898); The Life and Campaigns of Hugh, 1st Viscount Gough, Field-Marshal (1903); Scotland in "The Making of the Nations" (1911); Life in the Medieval University (1911). A small work on Scotland in the Home University Library is being published this autumn.

PRESENT POSITION OF THE CHAIR.

Scottish History and Literature is a subject recognised as giving either one course or two courses for a degree in Ärts. As a subject of examination it stands by itself, and candidates may take their degree in it without taking a degree in European History, though they must attend a course in European History. It is also recognised as an alternative subject in the curriculum for a degree with Honours in History. There will thus be three classes in Scottish History and Literature-an Ordinary class, a Higher Ordinary class, and an Honours class; though, for the immediate future, the Honours class is to serve as a Higher Ordinary.

Last session Professor Rait had a class of twenty-one men and ten women, which he regards as a very good beginning, for he understands that general History began in 1894 with eighteen students. He has reason to believe that the numbers will shew a considerable increase in the current session, and two of his 1913-14 students propose to proceed to an Honours Degree.

1

In various parts of the country Professor Rait has been honoured by Burnsians. He is an honorary member of the Glasgow Tam o' Shanter Burns Club, and he delivered the Immortal Memory" at the Mother Club in Greenock in January last. Previous to that, on 15th December, in the Grand Hotel, he was entertained to a complimentary dinner by 200 Burnsians of Glasgow and

West of Scotland, under the presidency of Lord Strathclyde. The committee in charge of the arrangements was presided over by Mr Alex. Pollock, the Chairman of the Glasgow and District Burns Clubs' Association, while the Secretary of that body, Mr J. Jeffrey Hunter, discharged the duties of Secretary. The committee in charge of the matter included Mr Hugh M'Coll, Capt. Wm. Douglas, Dr Cullen, Mr Robert Carmichael, Mr Peter Glasse (President of the National Burns Club), Mr D. R. Cowie, Councillor John Smith, and others.

The Grand Hotel gathering was a strikingly successful function, and gave great satisfaction to all concerned.

Lord Strathclyde was supported on the platform by Professor Rait, Professor Medley, Sheriff-Principal Gardner Millar, Sheriffs Fyfe and Lyell, Bailie W. B. Smith, representing the Corporation of Glasgow; Mr Duncan M‘Naught, President of the Burns Federation; Mr J. C. Ewing, Colonel Bennett, Rev. David Graham, Rev. Dr M'Millan, Professor Murdoch Cameron, Mr Graham Moffat, the wellknown Scottish Actor, and others. The duties of Croupierswere discharged by Mr Alex. Pollock, and by the Presidents of seven leading Burns Clubs of Glasgow.

The Toast List was as follows:

"The King'

"The Queen, Queen Alexandra, Prince of Wales,

Chairman.

Chairman.

Sheriff Lyell.

Colonel R. J. Bennett.

...

Professor R. S. Rait.

"The Chair of Scottish History and Literature " Chairman..

Rev. David Graham.
Professor Medley.

George Neilson, Esq., LL.D.

D. M'Naught, Esq., J.P., President. Sheriff-Prin. W. Gardner Millar, K.C. The Right Hon. Lord Strathclyde. Graham Moffat, Esq.

...

Alex. Pollock, Esq.

པ་

Lord Strathclyde, who had a rousing reception, gave an interesting speech on Scottish History, and Professor Rait made an eloquent reply. The other speeches were

of a high order.

An interesting programme of song and story was submitted by Mr Peter A. Hope, Mr J. Louden Hilton, Professor Murdoch Cameron, Mr Graham Moffat, and others.

Mr John Duncan of the Glasgow Herald, contributed a very artistic menu card.

After the committee in charge of the function had been discharged of their obligations, they held a pleasant social function in the Trades House Restaurant, under the chairmanship of Councillor John Smith.

[COMMUNICATED.]

DAVID SILLAR.

РОЕТ, LOVER, PLOUGHMAN, AND FIDDLER."

TH

HE farm of Spittalside, pleasantly situated within a mile of the old Ayrshire Village of Tarbolton, was the birthplace, in 1760, of this companion of the early years of Scotland's National Bard.

Apart from the interest which thus naturally attaches itself throughout the Burns world to the name of David Sillar, the vicissitudes of his life, and the many-sidednessof his character and personal peculiarities, assist materially to bring into clearer focus the latter half of the eighteenth century.

Like his inspired Biblical namesake, the hero of our review first appears to sight as a herd-boy. His two elder brothers were, at the time, also actively engaged on the farm, along with their father, while William, the family Benjamin, was only the length of being able to rin a canny errand to a neebour toun." As he grew

in strength David left "the kye," to put his hand to the plough, and under his guidance, as Burns puts it, the --

While thus enveloped by Nature's changing moods, the poetic temperament took firm hold of the subject of our theme, and consequently, sooner or later, he was bound to gravitate towards that kindred spirit, and rising star, on the neighbouring braes of Lochlea. It was in Tarbolton Church that David Sillar first saw Burns. He had previously heard of his opinionativeness, and that his avowed principles were causing some trepidation in the district. He noted particularly that the youth from.

Lochlea carried his plaid after a fashion peculiar to himself, and that its colour marked a new departure in texture. And from the same source also the information comes, that Burns wore the only tied hair in the parish. These considerations, of course, indicated the presence of individuality, besides whetting desire to know the new comer to the district who owned the flashing dark eyes, and the youths were duly introduced by the Poet's brother, Gilbert Burns. The acquaintance, as may well be imagined, soon ripened into friendship, and betwixt sermons on Sundays the two would forsake the other young folks from the country round about, who generally took their lasses to the village inn.

At this juncture we venture a departure from our subject to make mention of the view that, in a professed Sabbatarian age, this was a queer resort, especially between church attendances. There was certainly no Forbes Mackenzie Act in the eighteenth century, and many worshippers came great distances. The village inn was, of course, the only place of refreshment and refuge from weather stress; but even after all these reasons have been adduced, the present-day citizen teels that, in many respects, the former times were not better than these.

We return again, however, to the newly formed poetic intimacy, and find the principals adhering to the tendency of birds of a feather, and cementing their attachment by communings in the fields, along with excursions over the pleasant vicinity round about the old weaving clachan. Sillar informs us though, that when any female acquaintance appeared on the scene, the most strenuous discussion received its death-blow. And on the like authority too, we have it that in converse with the fair, Lochlea outshone Spittalside; for while Sillar, after a self-conscious fashion, was searching about for words of greeting and remark, his friend had no difficulty in giving expression to the most deftly turned phrase. Whether at kirk or market, mill or smiddy, both devotees of the "tuneful Nine" were much together, and, among other affinities, they both dearly