Transactions. 65 



time express my sense of the additional honour they have done 

 me, in union with the many past. Circumstances oblige me to be 

 absent from you personally, but I shall be present with you in 

 spirit and participate in all the glee and feeling that will mark 

 your jubilee. If this should be thought worthy of the press, will 

 you oblige me with a few copies on fine paper for my friends, and 

 drop me the Courier with the account of your meeting. Mr 

 Talonia unites with me in remembrance to Mrs Grierson, Mr Syme, 

 and all friends. — I am, dear sir, yours truly, 



"W. S. Walter. 

 "January 16th, 1817." 



The heading of it is, " Verses on occasion of the meeting at 

 Dumfries of the friends and admirers of Burns to celebrate his 

 birthday, the 25th January, 1817." 



He in days past who on the Poet's bier 



Shed the warm tribute of an artless tear, 



And as he gazed, would heave the frequent sigh 



To see that Poet's bones unhonoured lie : 



He who so lately hail'd the happy day 



Destin'd the long-protracted debt to pay, 



To hush the censures men would still obtrude, 



And place the corner-stone of gratitude : 



Now hastens with no common zeal to greet 



The long-wished hour that sees that work complete ; 



That sees the Poet's hallow'd relics placed 



In yonder cenotaph, the work of taste. 



'Tis done, and though that unforgotten name 

 Asks no memorial to ensure its fame. 

 Secure through lapse of ages still to find 

 A deathless record in transmitted mind. 

 Though, when the column, faithless to its trust, 

 Shall lie a nameless ruin in the dust. 

 His fame, with inborn vigour shall respring 

 Fresh from the wreck of each material thing : 

 Yet do we pay whatever can be paid 

 To mark our reverence to his mighty shade ; 

 Honours like these befit the seer and sage. 

 Those great contempories of every age. 



How many round this festive board I view, 

 Who knew the Bard, and all his merits knew. 

 Yes, you have mark'd the soul, the raptures high 

 That flash'd expressive from his eagle eye ; 

 Have seen the light of mind, the meteor-ray 



