as a point of vantage. From it he looks back on the course of previous criticism of Burns, showing how the excesses of the patriotic and personal view have gradually been tempered by the perception that the human and literary value of Burns's work is "elemental and universal," that Burns is to be "reckoned among the Di Majores-to be placed with Catullus in virtue of his perfection and his passion, but above him in virtue of a richer and profounder humanity." Henley's brilliant-and perverse-" Essay" is too well known to-day to require more than mention.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

A final word of praise is due the illustrations-sixty-nine in all-which add very considerably to the interest and value of the volumes. These consist of nine portraits of Burns and his friends; six facsimiles of his manuscripts; and a remarkably fine series of 54 views, most of them from photographs taken by Mr. Charles S. Olcott (of the Houghton Mifflin Company) during a recent visit to the Burns country.

Masonic Edition: Robert Burns, the complete works and letters. (London and Glasgow: Collins' Clear-type Press; 21/-.)

Remembering that Burns was a keen freemason during the last fifteen years of his life, we are surprised to find that no edition of his writings specially prepared to appeal to the "brothers of the mystic tie" has hitherto been issued. This omission, however, has been supplied by Messrs. Collins, the old-established firm of publishers at Glasgow, who have recently issued the "Masonic Edition " of his Poems and Letters handsomely printed, nicely illustrated, and bound in "masonic colours." The volume opens with a reprint of Mr. William Harvey's review of "Burns as a freemason,' published from Dundee some years ago. The Earl of Rosebery's brilliant oration in St. Andrew's Hall, Glasgow, on the occasion of the centenary of Burns's death in 1896 follows, by special permission; it is here entitled "Burns, the Universal Friend"-from a phrase which occurs in it. A brief but informative "Life" of the poet is from the pen of the late Robert Ford; and the "Letters " are introduced by Dr. Robert W. MacKenna. Burns's poetry and prose are accompanied by brief notes and a glossary; but the texts do not appear to be of the latest revision. The illustrationsseventeen in number-include excellent reproductions of

several relics of the poet's association with masonry that are beyond suspicion-which, alas! can't always be said of Burns relics; and there is added a useful map of the Burns Country." The Masonic Edition" makes a very strong appeal to members of the craft.

Robert Burns: The letters of the poet. Introduction by R. W. MacKenna, M.A., M.D. (London and Glasgow: Collins' Clear-type Press; 7/6.)

66

This volume is composed of the " prose portion of the "Masonic Edition" of Burns, with some additional illustrations. In his Introduction Dr. MacKenna treats in critical fashion of Burns as letter-writer of his sincerity (or his lack of it) in letters to patrons, and of his communications with women, and with Johnson and Thomson. He has little that is new to say on a subject which has called forth the opinions of many writers, though he considers the letters remarkable productions. "Even the cold shackles of prose," he says, "could not restrain his ardent spirit from bursting through and revealing itself, so that, apart from all else, his letters are of supreme value in enabling us to see and know the man as he was. The true lover of

Burns will return again and again to his letters. They are living epistles, for right in the heart of almost every one of them, as in the centre of each of his deathless songs, we find a man. Dr. MacKenna, however, will have none of the correspondence with "Clarinda "-he appears to lose control of himself in the very thought of them! "That perfect lyric, Ae fond kiss,' is worth more than all the tumultuous words that were ever written by the delirious pen of Sylvander." Of course it is; but Dr. MacKenna can't have it both ways. Had there been no "Clarinda," there had never been "Ae fond kiss." The selection of letters appears representative, and should whet the appetite of its readers for the complete prose writings of the poet.

Selected poems of Robert Burns. Edited with an introduction by J. DeLancey Ferguson, Professor of English at Ohio Wesleyan University. (New York: The Macmillan Company; 6/-.)

In a

note to his Introduction Professor Ferguson writes that "this edition includes practically all of Burns

that has interest for the general reader. It seemed better to err by perhaps including too much than by almost certainly including too little, the presence of a few of the poet's frigid efforts in English verse after the manner of Shenstone or Pope being justified by their effective contrast with the fullflavored Scottish poems. Almost all the Epigrams, Epitaphs, and political pieces have been omitted, and none but the most fanatical Burnsite will mourn their loss. The necessity of omitting more than two-thirds of the three hundred Songs presents more difficulties. Many of them, to be sure, are feeble and commonplace without the music for which they were written, but after these are discarded there still remains a large group among which the editor must choose more or less arbitrarily, with no guiding standard except his personal taste and judgment." In the result the "Modern Readers' Series" edition of Burns contains scarcely two hundred of the (approximately) seven hundred poetical pieces known to have been written wholly or partly by Burns; but the selection may be welcomed as that of an American scholar who knows his Burns uncommonly well. The "text is that of the "Globe "Burns, collated with Henley and Henderson's "Centenary Edition."

Professor Ferguson tells briefly the story of Burns's life from Alloway to Dumfries, and has something of interest to say on the poet's environment and on the literary tradition from which his poetry sprang. Notes, glossary, and an index of first lines are added; but Professor Ferguson's notes are not always to be relied upon-e.g., "Dear-bought Bess was not born in February, 1784; and Shanter Farm can hardly be correctly described as situated "near Brig o' Doon."

Natural history in the poetry of Robert Burns, by the late James Fairlie Gemmill, Professor of Natural History, University College, Dundee. Edited by J. Leiper Gemmill. (Glasgow: N. Adshead and Son, 11 Union Street; 5/-.)

The late Professor Gemmill's undelivered lecture was printed, by kind permission of his brother, in the 1928 issue of the Burns Chronicle, and is now issued in volume form. The lecture is the most exhaustive contribution yet made on the subject of Burns's remarkable knowledge of the fauna of the countryside, and is well deserving of separate publication. A memoir of Professor Gemmill, by the Editor, is prefixed to the volume, which contains also 3 portraits of him and a five-page list of his printed contributions to scientific knowledge.

The Scots year book, 1928-1929. Edited by A. Bain Irvine and J. E. McLachlan. (Published at 96 Farringdon Street, London, E.C.4; 1/-.)

In the new number of the Scots year book Mr. Bain Irvine deals effectively with "Burns-a dying cult," contributed by "R. M. W." to the (now defunct) Westminster Gazette. The foolish diatribe wasn't worth notice. The volume includes also the useful World list of Scottish societies, as well as several articles of special interest to Scots people.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ROBERT BURNS.

PART I.-EDITIONS OF HIS WRITINGS.

Large-Paper Edition: The complete writings of Robert Burns, in ten volumes. With essay on Burns's life, genius, and achievement, by W. E. Henley; and with an introduction by John Buchan. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1926-27, 8°.

Same. London: The Waverley Book Company, 1927, £12: 12/-.

Vols. 1-5: Poems; Vol. 6: Notes, glossary, and indexes; Vols. 7-10: Letters.

The letters of Robert Burns, selected with an introduction by R. Brimley Johnson. London John Lane, 1928, 12°, 4/. (The Quill Library.)

Robert Burns, the complete works and letters

Masonic edition.

[1928], 8°, 21/.

Robert Burns: the letters of the poet. Introduction by R. W. MacKenna. London Collins' Clear-type Press, [1928], 12°, 7/6.

Selected poems of Robert Burns, edited with an introduction by J. DeLancey Ferguson. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1926, 12°. (The Modern Readers' Series.)

PART II.-BURNSIANA.

ALLAN (JOHN) The charm of Burns, a study in antithesis. In
Scottish Country Life, January 1928.

BIRRELL (AUGUSTINE) Robert Burns.
Athenæum, 25th August 1928.

BYRON (MAY) A day with Robert Burns.
and Stoughton, 1927, 8°, 2/.

In The Nation and

London: Hodder

(Days with the Poets.)

CLARKE (JOHN S.) Robert Burns. In The Scottish Co-opera

tor, 21st January 1928.

CLOUSTON (MAUD) Poets of the month.

In Young Scotland, January 1928.

I., Robert Burns.