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TRANSACTIONS. 233 
company enjoyed the entertainment to a late hour. In the course 
ot the evening Mr Gilbert Burns, the brother of the poet, and Mr 
Mayne, of the Star Office, London, a native of Dumfries, and 
author of the “ Siller Gun,” were created honorary members. Mr 
Gilfillan, a new member, and a rising artist, intimated that he 
would paint and present the Club with portraits of Burns and his 
widow, an intimation which was received with much pleasure. On 
llth January, 1822, the Club met and appointed Mr John 
M‘Diarmid president, and created as honorary members Robert 
Burns, Wm. Burns, and James Glencairn Burns, sons of the bard ; 
Sir Walter Scott, Thomas Campbell, James Montgomery, Allan 
Cunningham, William Tennant, Professor of Oriental Languages, 
and author of “‘ Anster Fair,” and George Thomson, Edinburgh. 
Sir Walter Scott replied to the secretary :— 
23d January, 1822. 
T am honoured by the intimation that the Dumfries Burns Club 
have distinguished me by admitting me an honorary member, to which 
I am not otherwise entitled, excepting my sincere and heartfelt admira- 
tion of the great national poet, whose memory it is the purpose of the 
institution to celebrate. 
I beg you will make my respectful thanks acceptable to the 
members. 
WALTER Scort. 
The original of this letter is framed and hung up in Dr 
Grierson’s Museum, Thornhill, and it is believed to contain the 
first notice of Burns as the ‘Great National Poet.” At the 
dinner on the 25th, James Hogg was present, and at the particular 
request of James Glencairn Burns “a strong bottle was filled with 
punch from the bowl to be sent out to him to India,” the carriage 
of which to London cost 7s 8d. James Hogg appears to have sung 
several fine songs. Keith Douglas, M.P., and Thomas Moore were 
admitted honorary members, and Mr Gilfillan presented the 
portraits of the bard and his widow decorated with wreaths of 
laurel taken from the shrubbery at the poet’s tomb. Letters were 
also read from James Glencairn Burns and Mr Mayne. 
In 1823 it was agreed to ask General Dirom of Mount Annan 
to preside at the anniversary dinner. The General consented to 
preside, and he was elected president for the year, while Sir John 
Malcolm, Sir Pultney Malcolm, and others were enrolled honorary 
members. 
