NOTES, QUERIES, AND ANSWERS.

THE BURNS COTTAGE AND MONUMENT, ALLOWAY.

Despite the unfavourable season there was an increase in the number of visitors to the shrines at Alloway during the twelve months ended 30th September, 1927. The number of persons who paid for admission to the poet's birthplace was 68,684, being 12,452 more than in the previous year. At the Burns Monument during the same period 57,603 persons passed through the turnstiles, an increase of 10,745. The Glasgow Fair week was the busiest period, the visitors to the Cottage numbering 7715 and to the Monument 6711.

BURNS'S NURSING CHAIR.

An interesting relic, in the form of a chair on which the poet was nursed, has been added to the museum at the Burns Cottage, Alloway, through the generosity of Sir William F. Stuart-Menteth, Bart., Mansefield, New Cumnock. The chair bears an inscription indicating how it came into the possession of the late Sir James Stuart-Menteth. The inscription records that when Gilbert Burns, brother of the poet, quitted the farm of Mossgiel for that of Dinning, on the estate of Closeburn, belonging to Sir Charles G. StuartMenteth, his mother went with him. Afterwards Gilbert became factor to Lord Blantyre over his estate in East Lothian. His mother again went with him. When Mrs. Burns removed from Mossgiel to Dinning she took with her the chair on which she had nursed Robert and her other children. While living at Dinning, she became intimate with Christy Flint, wife of a blacksmith, a native of the parish, and before going to East Lothian she gave the chair to Christy Flint, who afterwards presented it to Sir James Stuart-Menteth.

An illustration of the chair appears in Rev. P. Hately Waddell's edition of the Life and works of Burns (Glasgow, 1867, page 256).

ALLOWAY KIRK SCHEDULED AS AN ANCIENT MONUMENT.

The Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland have decided that Alloway Kirk be scheduled as an ancient monument

owing to the association of the building with Burns's "Tam o' Shanter." On this account only was the building recommended for scheduling, as it was considered to be of no architectural, archæological, or historical interest of national importance.

At a meeting of Ayr Parish Council held on 2nd August, 1927, intimation was made that the Board had reported to H.M. Office of Works that the Kirk, of which the Council are owners, was a monument the preservation of which was of national importance, and that the Commissioners would accordingly include it in the list they were required to prepare.

AULD BRIG O' DOON.

At a meeting of Ayr County Council held on 20th December, 1927, the Law Committee reported that they had received a letter from the Inspector of Ancient Monuments regarding the Auld Brig o' Doon, immortalised by Burns in "Tam o' Shanter." The Inspector stated that the condition of the bridge appeared to be unsatisfactory, and that the parapets suffered from souvenir hunters.

The Council approved of a recommendation by the Committee that the Clerk be authorised to obtain a report regarding the condition of the bridge, and take estimates for the work necessary to put it in a state of repair.

MR. BARRINGTON NASH'S ALLEGED PORTRAITS OF BURNS BY SIR HENRY RAEBURN.

Within the rooms of Messrs. Sotheby & Co. in New Bond Street, London, on 6th July, 1927, there were offered two portraits which belonged to Mr. E. Barrington Nash, of Roehampton. One was on canvas, 23 by 19 inches, a bust slightly turned to the left, in dark dress and white cravat; the other, on canvas 50 by 40 inches, was a three-quarter length, in a dark suit with white cravat, seated in a red upholstered armchair in front of a column and red draperies, a landscape setting beyond. Both portraits had been shown at exhibitions held during the last thirty years, and their owner declared them to be the work of the greatest of Scottish painters, Sir Henry Raeburn, and to represent the greatest of Scottish poets, Robert Burns. They were alleged to have been painted-one in 1787, the other in 1790-to the order of the Earl of Glencairn; but not a jot of evidence has ever

been submitted to show that Raeburn painted Burns from life or that there ever was a portrait of Burns at Coates House, the Edinburgh residence of the Glencairns. Indeed, the Raeburn-Cadell correspondence preserved in the Museum of the Burns Cottage at Alloway provides conclusive evidence that Raeburn never even saw Burns. The paintings are in the same street as innumerable others for which similar claims have been made, and no student of the portraiture of the Scottish poet has ever accepted either of them as a representation of Burns.

This adverse judgment of the Burns world was confirmed by the " market," for the smaller of the portraits brought only £25, and the larger one £50: proof that dealers did not credit either the alleged Raeburn authorship or Burns subject.

A BURNS BED IN EDINBURGH INFIRMARY.

At a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, held on 26th September, 1927, intimation was made of a donation by Mr. Thomas H. Whitehead, Reform Club, London, consisting of £1000 registered 4 per Cent. Funding Loan, for the purpose of naming a "Robert Burns Bed" in the Infirmary.

Mr. Whitehead was subsequently elected an Hon. President of the Edinburgh District Burns Clubs Association, in recognition of his gift.

At a sale of books in the auction rooms of Messrs. J. & R. Edmiston, Glasgow, on 15th September, 1927, a set of the first series of the Burns Chronicle, 34 volumes (bound in 17) with Index, was offered, and was purchased for £7 10s. by Mr. James Thin, of Edinburgh. It subsequently appeared in one of Mr. Thin's Catalogues, the price being £11 11s.

BURNS CLUB NOTES.

14 DUNDEE BURNS CLUB.

I have pleasure in submitting the Secretary's Report for the year 1926-27.

Three other

We commenced the year with a membership of 38, one of whom, Mr. Jas. Sharp, passed to his rest. members in the persons of Messrs. M. Gibson, Robert M'Laggan, and John Purves were appointed to life membership.

Our annual celebration took place in the Club Rooms on 25th January, when a large number of members and friends attended, presided over by Lieut.-Col. Lamond, who submitted the toast of "The Immortal Memory." Thereafter a splendid programme of song and story was sustained by members.

A number of interesting lectures were delivered during the session, the lecturers being Messrs. R. J. Watson, W. Davidson Love, and W. Waddell, and the subjects in every case of a most educative and interesting nature.

Our annual drive took place on 19th June. Leaving the Club Rooms we proceeded via Blairgowrie, Kirkmichael, and Pitlochry to the Falls of Bruar, returning via Dunkeld, Caputh, and Perth.

Col. Lamond and Mr. Davidson Love represented the Club at the annual Federation meeting held at Derby.

A syllabus is again being arranged for the winter months; it is hoped that every member will make a point of being present at the meetings.

I am glad to report that the Club goes steadily on, serving a useful purpose.

H. R. PATON,

Secretary.

40: ABERDEEN BURNS CLUB.

SYLLABUS 1927-28.

3. Presidential Address: on "Burns as a Temper

ance Reformer."

31. Hallowe'en Night.

Nov. 7. Ladies' Night.

30. St. Andrew's Night.

Dec. 5. Councillor Clark, LL.D.: on "Burns as

Democrat."

a

Mar. 5. Rev. Canon Wilkinson: on "Burns as a Religious

49: BRIDGETON (GLASGOW) BURNS CLUB.

At the end of another year the Directors have pleasure in submitting their Annual Report, which enthrones a most successful season. Mr. Hay, in resuming office as President, added further lustre to the Club's records. 103 new members have been added to the roll, making the membership 1122.

Programme for the year :-Annual Excursion to Ayr and Girvan, on 17th June; Tattie-and-Herrin' Supper on 29th October, at which George Eyre-Todd, Esq., gave his illuminating address on Glasgow Poets, and the pawky humour of the Senior Vice-President of the Federation, Sir Joseph Dobbie, was much in evidence, as well as the Secretary and the Treasurer of the Federation, Mr. Thomas Amos, M.A., and Major George A. Innes, M.B.E.; Ladies' Night on 3rd December in the Ca'doro, where the President's good lady and family entertained the company; Annual Concert and Distribution of Prizes in Bellgrove Hall on 14th January; and the Anniversary Dinner in the Grosvenor on 25th January, when "The Immortal Memory was given by Dr. Joseph Hunter of Dumfries, in an oration which will be remembered by all present as one of the finest in the Club's existence, treating the story of the Bard from his entrance into the world to his exit; the Ladies' Night on 25th February, in the Albert Hall, by one of our own members, Mr. J. B. Crawford, organist of Rutherglen Parish Church, showed that within the membership of the Club there is undoubtedly outstanding talent which, in many cases, has not been tapped.

In connection with the School Competitions the total entries for the year were 7458, showing an increase of over a thousand compared with last year. The elocutionary and solo singing and choir tests took place in Calton School on 17th December, the examiners being-for elocution, Miss Nan MacDonald; and for singing, Mr. Peter White, J.P., and Mr. George Newton.