ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 285 



letters.^" It is evident his bachelor uncle at Sedan had 

 heard too much about this maid, since he writes somewhat 

 testily — " qaiescat Mellissa ad tempus." His sympathies 

 clearly were all against the marriage. An " auld woman," 

 a widow, under whose roof James Melville had lodged at 

 Newcastle, his uncle thought a more suitable match, and 

 he used all his influence to induce his nephew to marry her.^^ 

 James Melville died at Berwick on 19th January 1614, 



and was buried^'' in, or near, the Church of 

 Death and the Holy Trinity. That no stone marks the 

 Burial at spot need scarcely excite surprise, when one 

 Berwick. recalls how the present Church was built 



during the Commonwealth, the ancient tomb- 

 stones being used for pavement. I have long felt it 

 somewhat of a reproach to Scotland, that the writer of 

 the " DiAEY " — " one of the most delightful books of its 

 kind in the language,"2o should possess no memorial in the 



town where he breathed his last. In view 

 The Melville of the coming ter-centenary of James Mel- 

 Ter= ville's death, on 19th January 1914, the time 



Centenary seems opportune for opening a Commemor- 

 Proposed ation Fund. This scheme has already 

 Memorial. secured the support of various eminent 



antiquaries, among others, Lord Guthrie, 

 who favours the erection of some memorial — possibly a 

 medallion — at the Parish Church. 



There now only remains the pleasant duty of nominating 



a President for 1912. I submit for your 

 The New acceptance the name of Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, 

 President. Barmoor. Dr. Hodgkin has been a member 



of this Club for almost a decade. His 

 writings are numerous and varied. I need only remind 



" Melvini Epistolce MS. Edin. Uuiv. Library. 



18 



1^ Burial Register reads—" 1613. Januarie 21. James Melvill." 

 I.e. 1614. New style. Presumably this entry was made by aa English, 

 man, who would naturally use the old style. 



2" Hume Brown. 

 DD 



