Transactions. 231 



of the six thousand printed of the life only a few copies are unsold. 

 Though I understand that my labours have not been quite acceptable to 

 sundry persons in the vale of the Nith, it is otherwise with the rest of 

 the country, and some of the first men in the island have written con- 

 cerning the life and notes iu terms of praise too flattering for me to 

 mention. I am not much mortified at this reception iu my native valley ; 

 so long as it is remembered that I wore an apron and wrought with a 

 scabling hammer in the Friars' Vennel, so long will my works not have 

 " fair play ; " but time reudei-s justice to all, and the day is not distiint 

 when I shall either be forgotten altogether or be more honoured than at 

 present on the banks of the Nith. 



I am told that our friend Mr M'Diarmid has a life of Burns in 

 progress. I am ghid of this. He will set the world right iu many 

 important matters regarding the genius and fortunes of the poet. So 

 solicitous w;vs he, I have heard, about the truth, that he actually sat 

 beside Mrs Burns with an interleaved copy of my life for two days ques- 

 tioning her till, to use her own words, .she was both weary and ill-pleased 

 about it. His love of truth on the part of our friend did not shorten, I 

 trust, the life of the lady, though it seems to have embittered it. T 

 observe that he says the true history of the poet's marriage h;ia never 

 yet been told. That is true, but can it be told with propriety ] Should 

 he desire to tell the whole truth, I can help him to three of the poet's 

 lettei-s on that very subject which have not been published, and which 

 contain his sentiments on the matter. 



I hear with some sorrow that the poet's sword and pistols, which he 

 presented to Dr Maxwell, were sold at a sale of the latter for a mere 

 trifle. This is not at all creditable to the admirers of Burns about Dum- 

 fries. I am trying to regain them, and I hope to succeed. 



I beg you to accept my best thanks for the kind expre.ssions con- 

 tained in your letter regarding my edition of the poet. When I am next 

 in Dumfrie.s— and that will be soon — I shall find my way to Thoruhill, 

 without an invitation, and spend a day with one whom I remember with 

 pleasure. 



When I was a humble labourer in Dumfries, I looked up to you as 

 one of those who loved literature, and I assure you time has rather 

 strengthened than diminished this feeling. 



Allan Cunningham. 



Belgrave Place, 30th July, 1834. 



Tlie minute book, concluded Mr Wilson, contains no further 

 information in regard to the cost of the ]\IausoleLim and .sculpture, 

 although it appears that all charges against the Committee were 

 duly advertised for and called in. Mr Grierson, the secretary, 

 appears from a correspondence with Mr M'Diarmid in regard to a 

 disputed subscription to have got his strong iron box robbed of the 

 cash book, visitors' book, and otJier documents connected with the 



