a granddaughter of a cousin of the poet's mother-precisely the same relationship as Mrs Low, who is cousin to Mrs Coutts. Mrs Coutts' and also Mrs Low's grandmother, Agnes Brown, was married to a William Walker, a small manufacturer in Stonehaven, and her only son William was Mrs Coutts' father. William was educated in Stonehaven, and for a time assisted his father in business. He then went to Fraserburgh, and was engaged as a schoolmaster for several years. He married in Fraserburgh and subsequently became lessee of the Union Inn there, where for many years he conducted a successful business. Ann Walker, or Mrs Coutts, was born in the Union Inn, and she has happy recollections of her grandmother coming to reside at the inn on the death of her grandfather, Mr Walker, Stonehaven. For fourteen years-till the time of her death-old Mrs Walker lived with the family at Fraserburgh, and Mrs Coutts remembers the pleasure she as a child had in romping with her grandmother, she being considered "grannie's pet.” In the evenings the children would gather round the old lady and listen to many stories regarding Burns, and hear her reciting some of his unpublished verses. Unfortunately, Mrs Coutts cannot recall all that may have been spoken then of the Poet, but she has distinct recollections of hearing of the journeyings southwards of several of her relatives on visits to the Burns family at Dumfries. Mrs Coutts possesses an interesting heirloom in a large old Bible which she received from the hands of her grandmother while she lay on her deathbed. Mrs Coutts states that on the fly-leaf of the Bible there was much interesting information regarding the family written, but unfortunately the leaf, having become loose, had got lost. She also cherishes a number of other relics which belonged to her grandmother, including an old-fashioned chair and several earthenware articles. Mrs Coutts is the widow of Mr S. Coutts, who died two years ago. She has a family of two daughters and Aberdeen Daily Journal. one son. ROBERT ANDERSON. CHAIR OF SCOTTISH HISTORY AND LITERATURE. UST as our last sheets are passing through the press, we learn that a meeting of the Burns Federation has been called, in Kilmarnock, for Monday, 6th January, 1908, to elect a president in room of the late Mr David Murray; and to make arrangements for the promotion of the scheme for the establishment of a Chair of Scottish History and Literature. So far as our information goes, the resolutions submitted in support of the latter will be in the way of recommending the scheme to the Burns Clubs as part of their business at the approaching Anniversary Meetings. What was so enthusiastically and successfully accomplished by the clubs in response to Lord Rosebery's appeal on behalf of the Auld Brig o' Ayr is a signal example of what concerted effort on the part of the Federation is capable of ; and it is fervently to be hoped that a similar effort will be put forth, and a like measure of success attained in connection with the proposed Chair. The attention of chairmen and secretaries is requested to the circulars about to be issued, which will doubtless contain full particulars and instructions. EDITOR. MOTTO " A MAN'S A MAN FOR A' THAT." The Burns Federation. INSTITUTED 1885. Hon. President The Right Hon. The EARL OF ROSEBERY, K.G., K.T. Hon. Vice-president-Captain D. SNEDDON, V.D., J. P. OFFICE-BEARERS. President-D. MURRAY, M.A., B.Sc., Kilmarnock. WILLIAM WALLACE, LL.D., 36 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow. Dr WM. FINDLAY, 19 Westercraigs, Dennistoun. JAS. M'CULLOCH, 13 Clarence Drive, Hyndland Rd., Kelvinside, Glasgow. J. B. MORISON, Burns Club, 36 Nicholson Street, Greenock. THOMAS BROWN, Maryfield, Lowwaters, Hamilton. J. S. JAMIESON, 27 Broomhill Drive, Partick. HUGH ALEXANDER, J. P., Eastfield House, Rutherglen. J. JEFFREY HUNTER, 109 Bath Street, Glasgow. A. M'CALLUM, News Office, Pollokshaws. ALEXANDER POLLOCK, 52 West Nile Street, Glasgow. Alderman WM. BURNS, J.P., Normanhurst, Stockton Rd., Sunderland. W. H. TURNER, Mossgiel, 9 The Oaks, Sunderland. Hon. Secretary-THOS. AMOS, M.A., 19 Glebe Road, Kilmarnock. CONSTITUTION. 1. The Federation shall consist of an Hon. President, Executive Council, and the affiliated members of each Club. 2. The Executive Council shall consist of a President, Vice-presidents, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Editor of Annual Burns Chronicle, and two Auditors-all of whom shall be elected annually and be eligible for re-election --also of the President, Vice-president, and Secretary, or any other three members of, and nominated by, each affiliated Club, and other gentlemen of eminence as Burnsites nominated by the Executive. 3. All Past Presidents of the Federation shall ex-officio be members of the Executive Council. OBJECTS OF THE FEDERATION. I. To strengthen and consolidate the bond of fellowship existing amongst the members of Burns Clubs and kindred societies by universal affiliation. 2. To superintend the publication of works relating to Burns. 3. To acquire a fund for the purchase and preservation of Holograph Manuscripts and other Relics connected with the Life and Works of the Poet, and for other purposes of a like nature, as the Executive Council may determine. RULES. 1. The Headquarters of the Federation shall be at Kilmarnock, the town in which the Federation was inaugurated and carried to a practical issue, and which contains the only properly organised Burns Library and Museum in the United Kingdom. 2. Properly organised Burns Clubs, St. Andrew's Societies, and kindred Associations may be admitted to the Federation by application in writing to the Hon. Secretary enclosing copy of Constitution and Rules. 3. The Registration Fee is 21s, on receipt of which the Diploma of the Federation shall be issued, after being numbered and signed by the President and Hon. Secretary. 4. Members of every Burns Club or Kindred Association registered by the Federation shall be entitled to receive a pocket Diploma on payment of Is. (These payments are final—not annual.) 5. The Funds of the Federation shall be vested in the Executive Council for the purposes before-mentioned. 6. A meeting of the Executive Council shall be held annually during the Summer or Autumn Months at such place as may be agreed upon by the Office-bearers, when reports on the year's transactions shall be submitted by the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, and Office-bearers elected for the ensuing year. 7. A meeting of the Office-bearers shall take place some time before the Annual Meeting of the Executive Council to make the necessary arrangements for the same. 8. That each Federated Club shall subscribe tos 6d per annum towards the fund for the publication of the Burns Chronicle. 9. Notice of any amendment or alteration of the Constitution or Rules of the Federation, to be considered at the Annual Meeting, must be sent in writing to the Hon. Secretary not later than the 31st March. BENEFITS. 1. Registered Clubs are supplied free with copies of newspapers containing accounts of meetings, demonstrations, &c., organised, conducted, or attended by the Executive Council of the Federation, and of the Annual Meeting of the Kilmarnock Burns Club. 2. Exchange of fraternal greetings on the anniversary of the Poet's natal day. 3. Members of Registered Clubs who have provided themselves with pocket Diplomas are entitled to attend meetings of all Clubs on the Roll of the Federation, they being subject to the rules of the Club visited, but having no voice in its management unless admitted a member according to local form. 4. Members are entitled to be supplied through the Secretaries of their respective Clubs with copies of all works published by the Federation, at a discount of 33 per cent. BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE FEDERATION. BURNS'S HOLOGRAPH MANUSCRIPTS in the Kilmarnock Monument Museum, with A few copies of the back vols. may still be had on application to the Hon. Secretary. Increased prices are charged when the vols. are out of print. |