T.R.M.

* * * * * {300}

INEDITED LINES BY ROBERT BURNS.

The following lines by Robert Burns have never appeared in any
collection of his works. They were given to me some time ago at Chatham
Barracks by Lieut. Colonel Fergusson, R.M., formerly of Dumfriesshire,
by whom they were copied from the _tumbler_ upon which they were
originally written.

Shortly before the death of Alan Cunningham I sent these verses to him,
as well as two Epigrams of Burns, "On Howlet Face," and "On the Mayor of
Carlisle's impounding his Horse," which were not included in his edition
of Burns' works. In a letter which I received from Alan Cunningham, and
which now lies before me, he says:--

"The pieces you were so good as to send me are by Burns, and the
Epigrams are old acquaintances of mine. I know not how I came to
omit them. I shall print them in the next edition, and say it
was you who reminded me of them."

I believe that one or both of the Epigrams were printed in the 8vo.
edition of the works in one volume, but my name is not mentioned as the
contributor, which I regret; for, as an enthusiastic admirer of Burns,
and a collector for many years of his fugitive pieces, it would have
been gratifying to me to have been thus noticed. Perhaps Cunningham did
not superintend that edition.