Transactions. 73 



was conducted. Mr Jerdan made great exertions, and they were most 

 deservedly successful. Enclosed are copies of a few lines of mine in com- 

 memoration of Burns, but neither wiitten for nor recited on the above 

 occasion, and have no other merit than their simplicity and truth. I was 

 sorry to observe what you said about the meeting of the Seven Trades in 

 their hall on tlie King's birthday, that so few of the heroes of 1777 were 

 present. 



E'en he whose soul now melts in mournful lays, 

 Shall shortly want the generous tear he pays. 



But you may depend on it that neither Deacon Threshie nor Willie 

 Berry shall be forgotten in the next edition, if ever there is another edition 

 of the " Siller Gun '' in my lifetime. 



Cracking his jokes, and unco kerry, 

 Here's Deacon Threshie, wise and merry ; 

 And yonder's blameless Willy Berry 



The ladies' glover, 

 At five and fifty bright as sherry. 



And still a lover. 



This is something like the manner in which these gentlemen will be 

 mentioned and introduced in the poem, but as I am not certain that these 

 will be the precise words, I shall be obliged by your saying very little to 

 anybody about them. Any notice in the text will allbrd an opiwrtunity 

 of saying something handsome if you will furnisli me witli it in tlic Notes. 

 — I ever am, my dear sir, yours truly, J. Mayke. 



William Griersou, Esq., Dumfries. 



The verse contained in this letter was identical with tliat of 

 verse 13, canto 3d, of the edition of the "Siller Gun," «fec., 

 published in 1836. 



There were otiier letters by M.vyne, but tliey referred to 

 matters strictly private or to subjects unimportant at the present 

 day. After his death, Mr Grierson appeared to have been the 

 moving spirit in placing a tablet to his memory in the vestibule 

 of St. Michael's Church, Dumfries. His son wrote to iiim giving 

 some information for tlie tablet : — 



My Dear Sir, — I now reply more fully to your last communication on the 

 subject of the tablet proposed to be placed in the vestibule of St. Michael's 

 Church, Dumfries. I gather from what you say that your arrangements 

 are now nearly complete, which being the case, I need not further 

 advert to some regret which I feel at not having earlier been made 

 acquainted with the design. You will readily belic\-e that my sister and 

 I are deeply sensible of the value of a testimonial of esteem for the memory 

 of a parent, so dear to us, proceeding from his native townsmen, who in 

 recording their appreciation of his merits will do honour to their own 

 sentiments as well as to his good fame. Collectively and individually, 



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