Robert Burns World Federation Limited www.rbwf.org.uk The digital conversion of this Burns Chronicle was sponsored by Ian McIntyre The digital conversion was provided by Solway Offset Services Ltd by permission of the Robert Burns World Federation Limited to whom all Copyright title belongs. www.solwayprint.co.uk BURNS CHRONICLE 2018 Edited by Bill Dawson Burns Chronicle founded 1892 The Robert Burns World Federation © Burns Chronicle 2018, all rights reserved. Copyright rests with the Robert Burns World Federation unless otherwise stated. The Robert Burns World Federation Ltd does not accept responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed in the Burns Chronicle, contributors are responsible for articles signed by them; the Editor is responsible for articles initialled or signed by him and for those unsigned. All communications should be addressed to the Federation office. The Robert Burns World Federation Ltd. Tel. 01563 572469 Email [email protected] Web www.rbwf.org.uk Editorial Contacts & addresses for contributions; [email protected] [email protected] Books for review to the office The Robert Burns World Federation, 3a John Dickie Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 1HW ISBN 978-1-907931-68-0 Printed in Scotland by Solway Print, Dumfries 2018 Burns Chronicle Editor Bill Dawson The Robert Burns World Federation Kilmarnock www.rbwf.org.uk The mission of the Chronicle remains the furtherance of knowledge about Robert Burns and its publication in a form that is both academically responsible and clearly communicated for the broader Burnsian community. In reviewing, and helping prospective contributors develop, suitable articles to fulfil this mission, the Editor now has the support of an Editorial Advisory Board. Articles submitted for consideration will normally be read both by the Editor for general suitability and by a relevant Advisory Board member or other specialist, who can provide any needed feedback about the submission. Academic contributors whose institutions require that publications be formally refereed should notify the Editor at the time of submission so he can ensure the regular review procedure is appropriately implemented. To allow time for appropriate feedback, contributors are asked to submit articles before June 30 each year for the forthcoming volume. The Editor is always pleased to discuss proposals for articles with potential contributors. The preferred length for full articles is between 1500 and 5000 words, and the Editor also welcomes shorter notes, especially when based on primary source materials. References should be kept simple, and as far as possible included in the text. Contributors are asked to contact the Editor ahead of submission if their proposed article differs significantly from these guidelines. Editorial Advisory Board Dr. Corey Andrews Prof. Liam McIlvanney Prof. Murray Pittock Prof. David Purdie Bill Dawson, Editor Born in Scotlan fully-f avoure d d ev , er sin ce Proud sponsors of 2 Editorial Burns Chronicle 2018 Editor’s Welcome to the new look Welcome to the new look Burns Chronicle, the binding in printed boards embraces the development in print finishing and bookbinding technology, albeit the Burns Federation, an organisation rooted in tradition, has taken a few years to adopt this variation. We have not pinched the pennies and opted for what is known as “Perfect Binding”, which has exhibited signs of being less than perfect in the past, sticking with the traditional stitched gathers, giving a quality volume that will stand the test of time and be a readable volume for the generations of Burns enthusiasts and researchers that follow. The content has not changed from the recent style, a selection of studious scholarly papers and articles contributed by Club enthusiasts sit side by side with the record of our organisation’s year, notable occasions and unique events of the year. I hope you enjoy all the articles in this Chronicle, I have enjoyed reading them as I edited and prepared the edition although at times I became quite stressed about the amount that I have been receiving, it is indeed hard work pulling on all contacts and resources to find material to fill these pages. The latest series of Burns Chronicle has sometimes been criticised as too academic but I argue that content is balanced, 50% of the content of this edition comes from individuals!, and I encourage all enthusiasts to keep up this flow of contributions reflecting the grass roots interests which fill our enthusiasm for the Life and Poetry of Robert Burns. I cannot appeal more strenuously for more articles from Club experts and enthusiasts, contributing the benefits of their hard work pursuing their specific interest to the wider readership of the Burns Chronicle, The other articles we have from the scholarly community show the range of quality work being carried out and the sometimes surprising discoveries in the constantly developing world of Burns studies and your Burns Chronicle is there to capture and record all of this. The changes to the hard copy Burns Chronicle do not end the development of outputs from the Burns Federation. I continue to pursue the opportunities offered by the website for the publication of chronicle style content, presenting opportunities for even more variety of styles of article. The generations which follow us are so engaged with the digital era that we have to place our mark firmly in this arena, if we do not then we will be in virtual nowhere. I earnestly hope that the new Management Board can finally move forward to enable this essential addition to our publication arsenal. Again I apologise to readers for errors in the Burns Chronicle of 2017. These Burns Chronicle 2018 Editorial 3 were not entirely of my making, an unexpected compression of the timescale of the process through the print set up led to several slips that I accept I should have caught and possibly would have in different circumstances. I am assured that the setting process is more stable this year and hopefully I will not be repeating a similar apology again in the next edition. I am delighted that the Board have again renewed my term as Editor, I trust my readers feel the same way. Bill Dawson Editor Articles for inclusion in the Burns Chronicle should be emailed to chronicle@ rbwf.org.uk in a word document or similar. Illustrations should be included separately from the text document as jpeg or similar. Deadline for the next, 2019, edition is July 31st 2018 and all articles should be submitted by that date. Earlier submissions at anytime will be most appreciated by the Editor. An acknowledgement of receipt of an article from the Editor should not be taken as a signal that the article will be included in the Chronicle. The Editor cannot give any prior undertaking that anything submitted will be included. Articles may be referred to other advisors for qualified opinion, and may be edited for publication. 4 Burns Chronicle 2018 CONTENTS Editorial ................................................................................................................................2 Welcome to the new style Burns Chronicle Robert Burns and Gibbon’s Decline And Fall: .........................................................6 A Recently-Acquired Autograph Manuscript Elizabeth Sudduth and Patrick Scott “The Gloomy Night is Gath’ring Fast”, ................................................................... 12 The Poet & the Biographers Jake Sillyman “Epigram on Rough Roads”, ....................................................................................... 21 Fresh Transcriptions Discovered Bill Dawson “What Ails Ye Now” ........................................................................................................ 24 An Early Manuscript Patrick Scott A mind diseased? .......................................................................................................... 34 Examining Burns’s mental health Moira Hansen Recently Re-discovered Burns Manuscripts ........................................................ 44 Scott Douglas and his publisher. Chris Rollie First Ukrainian Translation of Burns ........................................................................ 75 Who published ? Hanna Dyka Masters Champion ........................................................................................................ 80 Epistle to John Lapraik, an Old Scotch Bard Rev. Hamilton Paul’s Grave Restored ...................................................................... 82 Taking Home a Piece of the Poet ............................................................................. 83 Mauchline Ware as a Burns Relic Thomas Keith Burns Chronicle 2018 5 José Martí and Robert Burns ..................................................................................... 93 Connections Between Two National Icons Arun Sood & Félix Flores Varona Gavin Turnbull and Robert Burns ..........................................................................100 A Lost Protégé Patrick Scott Expletives in Burns ......................................................................................................117 Reviews .......................................................................................................................... 118 Obituary Tributes .........................................................................................................122 A Suppressed Poem of Robert Burns ? ................................................................126 James Davidson The President ................................................................................................................130