to Robert Chambers in 1843, we find that the silver snuffbox presented by Mr G. M'Iver to the Poet was then in the possession of Mr Dobson, proprietor of the Preston Chronicle. In 1851 a Mr Hilson writes that he is owner of Burns's copy of Junius, and the same year Mr Hugh Macdonald of the Glasgow Citizen newspaper records the existence of the Poet's copy of Cicero's Orations belonging to Mr David Robertson, Glasgow. The volume contained the following inscription in Burns's holograph:-" EDINR., 23rd April, 1787.-This book, a present from the truly worthy and learned Dr Gregory, I shall preserve to my latest hour as a mark of the gratitude, esteem, and veneration I bear the donor-so help me God !-ROBT. BURNS." Perhaps even more interesting was the copy of Young's Night Thoughts presented by Burns to Clarinda, and bearing the following inscription :-" To Mrs M'Ilhose this poem, the sentiments of the Heirs of Immortality told in the numbers of Paradise, is respectfully presented by Fobert Burns." This is followed by a note in the handwriting of Clarinda, presenting the volume to Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, the well-known Edinburgh antiquary. This interesting relic was sold with the contents of Mr Sharpe's library in 1851, and has not since been heard of. HOLY WILLIE'S PRAYER (With apologies to the Shade of Burns.) “He is a barking fox, and will bite and do a lot of mischief yet.' Bismarck on the Kaiser. [Mr Killin informs us that the sale of his parody of "Holy Willie's Prayer has yielded £54 19s 6d (including about £15 from the Burns Clubs) which sum he has contributed to the " War Fund." Great credit is due to Mr Killin, both for his literary effort and its object.] When grannie died, wi' crape on hat, At uncle's, too, my een were wat, And lots o' sympathy I gat It's four months now since I began Smite them, O Lord, wi' Thy right han', O Lord, if Thou couldst see Thy way I'd gi'e Thee a' I ha'e, and say Lord, then I'm sure I'd ha'e a chance Conquer the world wi' shot and lance, Thou kens I'm cursed baith far and near, An' that in words baith loud an' clear, Grant me, O Lord, this prayer divine, Until the en' We twa will rule the warld richt fine. Amen Amen !! THOMAS KILLIN. DEAR-BOUGHT BESS. ILL a TILL more connected narrative is forthcoming, we deem it fitting to put the following notes upon the record, as contributions to the family history of Elizabeth Burns, daughter of Betty Paton, of Largieside, Mauchline, who afterwards became Mrs Bishop, died in 1817, and was buried in Whitburn Churchyard. It will be observed that the date of the child's birth has hitherto been believed to be November, 1784, but this is erroneous. We have seen the original of a legal agreement between the Poet and Elizabeth Paton, dated December 1st, 1786, and drawn up by Gavin Hamilton, in which the date of the birth of “ dear-bought Bess is set down as 22nd May, 1785. As this document is conclusive evidence, the dates in the notes which follow fall to be corrected accordingly. On the authority of Mr John Bishop, Shawlands, Glasgow, we are enabled to say that Elizabeth Bishop, the eldest daughter of John Bishop and Elizabeth Burns, married a Mr Muir, whose daughter, Miss Kate Muir, was present at the meeting of the Burns Federation, held at Dunfermline, in 1909. Regarding this young lady, Mr P. Paterson, of the Dunfermline Burns Club, writes as follows: D. M'Naught, Esq., Kilmaurs. 23 Bruce Street, Dunfermline, 19th October, 1909. Dear Sir,-Doubtless you will remember when here being introduced to a young lady, a Miss Muir, who claimed to be a greatgreat-granddaughter of Burns, who had in her possession some china which, she claims, belonged to Burns. I have just had a call from her wanting me to try and do something with same, and she left the enclosed letter as proof of the relationship. Perhaps you will give me your opinion on the matter, and at the same time say what you think regarding the china. She seems to have a high idea of its value. With kind regards, Yours faithfully, P. PATERSON. The Miss Muir was then resident in Lochgelly. late Mr James Wilson, Banker, Sanquhar, contributed the following to the Dumfries Courier, in February, 1905 : 66 Many relics of Burns and of the time in which he lived have been unearthed in recent years, some of them of great historic and literary value, and others of no interest whatever to mankind in general. I lately came across a large pewter plate in the possession of the Rev. James Richmond Wood, minister of this parish, and which he described as Betty Burns's porridge plate." I ascertained he acquired it from his relatives, the Richmonds of Mauchline, one of whom, John Richmond, afterwards a writer in Mauchline, was fellow-lodger with Burns in the Lawnmarket of Edinburgh when the Poet was engaged in publishing the Edinburgh edition of his poems. Here is the plate in good preservation still, although upwards of 120 years old. Plates almost of the same shape were used as meat trenchers, porridge plates, and collection plates at the Established Church doors. This one was used for "the halesome parritch, chief of Scotia's food," and was capable of containing five English pints-a repast sufficient for half-a-dozen grown-up persons. When all sat at the same table this plate would be common, and then could be seen the never-to-be-forgotten social picture when "Wi' ram-horn spunes, And soup for soup, A' wars'l'd for The hinmost goup." The question then arose, Who was Betty Burns"? when it was found that she was the daughter of Elizabeth Paton in Largieside, in triangular form on the rim, and the letters are placed much in the same fashion as on the marriage stones you will still find inserted into the walls of old buildings. We may therefore presume that these are the initials of the father and mother of Elizabeth Paton, |