siderably indebted to Scotsmen for the part they had played in the life and history of their town. The Scot and his influence had had the effect of bringing into being the Burns Club movement throughout the world and the Burns Federation movement, and he sincerely trusted that the Federation would be the means of influencing and of continuing to influence Scottish life in all that was great and high and honourable and good. He wished the Federation meeting in Derby every success, and trusted it might be enjoyable and lead to something definite for the well-being and uplift of humanity.

The President (Sir Robert Bruce), in acknowledging the Mayor's cordial welcome, said that His Worship had been kind enough to remind those of them from Scotland that this was not the first occasion on which hordes speaking a strange dialect had invaded Derby. The ease with which the members of the Federation entered the town that day rather proved the truth of another remark of the Mayor's, namely, that the garrison was really now in the hands of the Scots. It was a very serious thing to defend a city from the enemy when the enemy was in control, and, as the Mayor had reminded them, the welcome which Prince Charlie and the Jacobites received in 1745 was very different from that accorded to the Burns Federation. He had heard many explanations of the sudden determination of Prince Charlie to get back to Scotland, but he thought he had found the right one at last. Travelling up from Scotland by train he (Sir Robert) found it a long and wearisome journey, but what must it have been to those fellows tramping the whole way! He was convinced that the real reason for their getting away was that they had not the strength to go a step further. It was rather interesting, he thought, to link Prince Charlie with Burns. Prince Charlie and the Jacobite movement put again into Scottish history what he might call the heart of

romance.

The man whose devotees they were put into the mouth of the common folk of Scotland the richest gift of song that had ever been conferred on any people. What country could fail to be great which had two such gifts-romance and the songs of Burns? Take these away, and what a dull place Scotland would be! In fact, far more Scots would leave Scotland than persisted in doing so under present conditions.

The Burns Club of Derby dated back to 1890, five years after the institution of the Federation, but Derby had a much older connection with Burns, for an edition of Burns's Poems was printed in that town in 1843. Of that edition there were six issues, and he held in his hand a copy of one printed in 1844. It was interesting to note the progress of the publication of Burns's Poems in England. The first was published in London in 1787, and there were obvious reasons why London should take pre-eminence in that matter. They should, however, note the geographical position of the different places from which editions were afterwards issued. There was

a slow penetration of England, much after the fashion of the Jacobite penetration in 1745. The first English edition was published at Berwick in 1801, and others followed at Newcastle in 1802, Alnwick in 1808, Durham in 1818, York in 1822, Halifax in 1836, and next the edition printed at Derby in 1843. Of the last-mentioned there was, he believed, no copy in the Town Library of Derby, and he therefore had pleasure in asking the Mayor to accept on behalf of the community the copy which he now held in his hand. In conclusion, Sir Robert conveyed to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Town Council the warmest thanks of the Federation for their gracious welcome to Derby. He was sure that during their stay in the town everything would go well.

The Mayor, in accepting the book, assured Sir Robert Bruce that it would be looked upon with interest for years to come, and would be carefully preserved and treasured.

Sir Robert Bruce, referring again to the flight of Prince Charlie and his followers from Derby, said he had just been informed by the Town Clerk that the real reason was that they had borrowed hundreds of pounds, and being unable to pay back the money they thought it better to bolt.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

Before beginning the business of the Conference on Saturday, the President announced the receipt of two messages: one from the Earl of Rosebery, Senior Hon. President; the other from Colonel Walter Scott, also an Hon. President.

The Earl of Rosebery wrote

Dalmeny House, Edinburgh,
September 6, 1927.

Dear Sir Robert Bruce,-I am glad to hear that the Burns Federation are going to hold a meeting at Derby. It shows that they are going strong, and are determined on a long existence.-Yours very truly,

Colonel Walter Scott cabled

(Signed) ROSEBERY.

With you in thoughts. May this conference be the best ever in its work for the gospel of the world's poet. Deeply regret absence. Honoured to offer prize of 100 dollars to be used as Federation thinks best.

Thereafter Sir Robert Bruce said

It has not been customary to have at our annual conferences anything in the nature of a presidential address, but as this is the last occasion upon which I shall have the honour of occupying the presidential chair I may be permitted to say a few words about the position of the Federation.

Forty-two years have now passed since the Federation

came into existence with a four-fold purpose, namely— (1) To strengthen and consolidate the bond of fellowship existing amongst the members of Burns Clubs and kindred societies; (2) to purchase and preserve MSS. and other relics connected with the poet; (3) to repair, renew, or mark with suitable inscriptions any buildings, tombstones, &c., interesting from their association with Burns; and (4) to encourage and arrange school competitions in order to stimulate the teaching of Scottish history and literature.

In the course of its history there have been vicissitudes. Periods of great activity have been succeeded by years when matters were taken leisurely, and these again have but proved to be a preparation for renewed effort. Never at any time, however, have its ideals been forgotten; all the time it has striven to spread a knowledge of the poet's message and to keep his laurels ever green. The response has been wider than the Empire, for affiliated with the Federation are clubs in places far beyond its bounds. The progress of the cult indeed brooks no arresting. Only this week I have a message from Canberra, the newly constituted Federal Capital of Australia, with the information that the Canberra Highland Society and Burns Club has called a conference for a date next month to consider the question of the erection of a memorial to the poet in that city. So far has the proposal been carried already that the Federal Capital Commission has invited the committee to select four probable sites. On On your behalf I propose to send a message of congratulation to the committee and to ask the members to affiliate themselves with us.

As for the Federation itself, it can now be claimed that it occupies a recognised position amongst the cultural forces of the nation. The belief that there was something vulgar about association with a Burns Club has gone; gone also in large measure is the belief in the allegation that the annual celebrations were more

concerned with drink than with devotion to the "Immortal Memory." "Tam o' Shanter would find himself in uncongenial company at some of these modern festivals even, perhaps, at our annual Federation luncheons, for these latter for two years now have been run on a teetotal basis. It is to be hoped we are not becoming too respectable, too much afraid of "sullen dames, nursing their wrath to keep it warm," too nervous perchance of being "catch'd wi' warlocks in the mirk." The root of Tam's trouble was that his Kate bided at hame. Had she gone with him the events of that night would certainly have turned out differently. The modern Kates have come amongst us as members of clubs, and to this fact may be attributed in some degree the change of customs. The ladies have gone farther. They have formed clubs of their own from which mere men are excluded. As we so long excluded them we may not complain; but it is something that they ask for the signature of your President and your Secretary upon their certificates. These certificates,

needless to say, we have signed with satisfaction.

Whilst the ladies have been an uplifting influence, I make bold to claim that the Executive of the Federation, through the working out of its policy, has been the chief factor in lifting the cult out of its old reputation. The cult is now moving forward shoulder to shoulder with all those other agencies that are toiling for the social amelioration of the people. It is the realisation of the poet's ideal, the brotherhood of man, that we are reaching after. We want that amongst ourselves in industry, we want that socially, we want that in our international relations. And "it's comin yet for a' that." Just think how the poet would have been thrilled by that part-realisation of his dream in the League of Nations.

In another direction the Federation has been carrying out successfully a work which the poet made his