64 Transactions. 
Il. Further Original Letters, &c., of the Burns Period. 
By Mr James R. Wixson. 
Mr Wilson stated that he had discovered these letters among 
the papers of the late Dr Grierson, Thornhill, and although they 
were scarcely of the same literary merit as those he made public 
last year, they were still of considerable value to all interested in 
the literary characters of the Burns period, and of the early part 
of this century. The members were, of course, aware that there 
were in the museum in Thornhill many relics of Burns and of his 
associates. In particular and most prized of all there was a copy 
of “The Whistle” in the poet’s own hand-writing, bearing the 
following note by Mr William Grierson, the doctor’s father :— 
* Received a present of this poem, which is in the hand-writing 
of the poet, from his brother Gilbert Burns, enclosed in a letter 
dated Grant’s Braes, 14th December, 1815.—William Grierson.” 
On opening the case in which the poem is preserved the letter 
referred to was found. It is most interesting, and shows clearly 
the known sagacity of the writer. This is the letter :— 
Grant's Braes, 14th Dec., 1815. 
Dear Sir,—A thousand times have I reproached myself for being so long 
of acknowledging receipt of your obliging letter by Mr T. Sibbald, with 
the very elegant engraving accompanying it (an engraving of the 
mausoleum), but I have been much and disagreeably occupied of late with 
sequestrating stock and crop, attending meetings of creditors, the sale of 
bankrupts’ subjects, &c. 
‘¢ Peace and plenty,” formerly the toast and wish of the ill-advised, 
have come upon us with a vengeance, and their ill effects are felt par- 
ticularly severe in this county of wheat--almost exclusively devoted to 
corn farming—and I have not seen the country in general in such a 
depressed desponding state since the conclusion of the American War. 
Not after all but we are to consider peace as a good thing, but a newly- 
acquired peace, while the war expenditure has not yet ceased, can scarcely 
fail to produce a depression—I hope only a temporary one—but it appears 
somewhat preposterous that plenty should be productive of evil. I was 
quite vexed I was not at home the last time you called here, that I might 
have given you your choice of the specimens of the poet’s hand-writing in 
my possession. The one I have sent is not a good specimen of his writing, 
being hurriedly written with bad ink ; but upon the whole I considered it 
the most respectable I had to send you, being a poem composed on the 
banks of the Nith, the persons and scenery familiar to you. 
My wife joins me in kindest compliments to Mrs Grierson and you. 
Tell Mrs G. it would give me great pleasure to see her at her ain fire en’, 
and I am not without hopes of having that pleasure, but every year I live 
meth 
See ee ee 
