GO Trdvunctioiis. 



ill it wlicn a seivaiit tliei'e. Slie describes it as a " wee, black, 

 oak bed, so low in tlie top that you could scarcely stand on your 

 knees in it," and adds that her father got many a shilling for 

 showing his bed to travellers who came to the inn. She also 

 states that Gilbert Burns when at Dinning was the first fsirmer 

 in Nithsdale who had a dairy of Ayrshire cows. She tells the 

 following story : — One evening when Burns and Bacon were 

 sitting in a room of the inn a man from Leadhills entered. In a 

 little Burns rose and went out, and the man inquired who he was. 

 Bacon answered that he was the poet, and the man remarked 

 that he was but a clown, which doubtless Burns overheard. 

 Thereupon Bacon bet a bottle of wine with him that Burns 

 would make a poem on him when he came in. Accordingly 

 on Burns' return he was asked to make a poem. Burns asked 

 his name, and was answered Andi'ew Horner, and also when he 

 was born, and was told 1739. Then said Burns : — 



In the year seventeen hundred and thirty-nine, 

 The dell got stuff to make a swine, 

 And threw it into a corner, 

 And called it Andrew Horner. 



Mr Wilson discovered several other letters bearing upon the 

 erection of the mausoleum. The first is from Robert Ainslie, 

 "W.S., who accompanied Burns on his Border tour, and to whom 

 he addressed many of his best epistles. It runs : — 



William Grierson, Esq. 



Sir, —The letter addressed by you and Mr Henry Duncan to me, dated 

 16th December, having been sent to Edingham, where I have not been 

 since tlie middle of November, and the roads having been blocked up by 

 the snow, tliese two circumstances have combined to prevent me from 

 receiving it until within these two days. I am much gratified by the 

 gentlemen at your very respectable meeting relative to the mausoleum to the 

 memory of Burns having thought of me as a member of their Committee, 

 and I willingly accept of their nomination. I am only afraid that being 

 so much resident in Edinburgh, where I am following my profession of a 

 Writer to tlie Signet, I may be but an inefficient member. When I am in 

 the county, however, you and your friends may rely on my always attending 

 every meeting which takes place during that time. — I am, sir, your most 

 obedient servant, Robert Ainslie. 



Hill's Street, Edinburgh, 

 3d Feb., 1814. 



There were two letters to the Secretary, Mr Grierson, from K. 

 W. Burnett. Edinburgh, who, along with Sir Walter Scott, took 



