72 J'ransactions. 



irritable, nervous, and bilious. If you and any other dear friend will help 

 me to materials I will attack them piecemeal, and endeavour to render a 

 second edition, if ever we arrive at it, more worthy of the puljlic favour_ 

 I am proud that any lady, a friend of yours, does me the honour of singing 

 a composition of mine. I have therefore enclosed a correct copy of 

 " Bonaparte o'er the sea," which you can transcribe for her amusement. 



I wish it were in my power to assist you in the goodly work of charity 

 which so laudably engrosses your attention. A good deal of money in old 

 guineas might be picked up here annually for the purpose of improving and 

 extending the comforts of the town's hospital in Dumfries. I do not know 

 any person in Loudou so likely to promote this great end as Mr Kay— he 

 is so well known, and so generally esteemed. I wish you would write to 

 him once more before you go to press with your annual report. I am not 

 only too obscui-e, but too much occupied with business to be of service to 

 you or him on this occasion. By all means, however, write to the Duke of 

 Queensberry by post. His Grace is benevolence itself, and will, I am sure, 

 be delighted with a new opportunity of smoothing his path to eternity, now 

 fast closing upon him. I claim to myself some merit in having suggested 

 to Mr Laurie of Ironespie the London subscription for the family of Burns, 

 to which I was the first subscriber of five guineas. Mr Laurie was inde- 

 fatigable for a while, and collected upwards of 200 guineas, which was 

 ultimately vested in the hands, I believe, of Alderman Shaw. I do not 

 know how it comes, but I have a kind of presentiment that this spring will 

 see you in London. Is there any hope of such a pleasure ? Commend me 

 to all friends, and believe me truly, my dear sir, your much obliged, 



J. Mayne. 

 William Grierson, Esq. , Junr. , Dumfries. 



In a friendly letter Mayne congratulated Mr Grierson upon 

 his marriage witli Miss Sibbald in a very neat manner : — • 



London, 14th September, 1815. 



I lose no time, my dear sir, in replying to your letter of the 7th from 

 Haddington, received this morning, announcing to me the consummation 

 of all your wishes in your marriage with Miss Sibbald— an event on which 

 I beg leave to congratulate you with my whole heart, entreating my most 

 respectful compliments to your amiable lady, with every wisli that you 



may be - 



Blest with all that Heaven can send- 

 Long life, long health, long pleasure, and a friend. 

 I have sent the Star, as you desired, to Dr Sibbald, and shall always be 

 proud to manifest the respect with which I am, my dear sir, yours truly, 



J. Mayne. 



Many editions of tlie " Siller Gun " were published, and in a 

 letter of date 25th June, 1816, tlie following occurred : — 



London, 2.5th June, 1816. 



Dear Sir,— I am glad that you were so well pleased with the manner in 

 which everything connected with the dinner at the Freemasons' Tavern 



