62
NOTES AND QUERIES. m s. v. JAN. 27, 1912.
STATUES AND MEMORIALS IN THE
BRITISH ISLES.
(See 10 S. xi. 441 ; xii. 51, 114, 181, 401 ; 11 S. i. 282; ii. 42, 242, 381; iii. 22, 222, 421 ; iv. 181, 361.)
MEN OF LETTEKS (continued).
Ayr. The town is redolent with memories of the poet Burns. Here still stands the " clay bigging " in which he was born 15 Jan., 1759. Near by are Alloway Kirk and " the Auld Brig o' Doon." Of " the twa brigs o' Ayr," the old dates back to the thirteenth century, and the new to the eighteenth. The former was reopened by Lord Rosebery after extensive renovation on 29 July, 1910. In the east parapet wall, above the second arch, two bronze panels have been inserted. The first, placed by the Preservation Committee, is thus in- scribed :
" In admiration of Robert Burns and his immortal poem ' The Brigs of Ayr,' this brig was during 1907-10 restored by subscriptions re- ceived from all parts of the world. B. A. Oswald, Chairman of the Preservation Committee."
The second panel, placed by the Town Council of Ayr, contains a portrait of Burns, the Ayr Burgh coat of arms, and the follow- ing inscription :
" The Auld Brig of Ayr. Erected in the thirteenth century. Preservation work 1907-10. Reopened by Lord Rosebery July 29, 1910. James S. Hunter, Provost of the Burgh of Ayr."
In 1820 a Greek temple was inaugurated to the memory of Burns at Ayr. It cost 3,300Z., which was raised through the exer- tions of Mr. (afterwards Sir Alexander) Boswell. Within the building are enshrined many relics of Burns and also his bust by Park. Here, too, are placed Thorn's characteristic models of Tarn o' Shanter and Souter Johnnie Alloway.
In 1892 a fine bronze statue of Burns was erected in the centre of the town. The sculptor was Mr. George A. Lawson. The pedestal was designed by Messrs. Morris and Hunter, and executed by Mr. Taylor of Aberdeen. In the four sides are inserted bronze bas-reliefs illustrative of scenes from the poet's works. The frieze is carved in the form of a symbolical ribbon, on which are inscribed the names of all the places at which Burns at various times found a home, with the dates of residence indicated. The statue represents the poet bareheaded, with folded arms, and clad in the costume worn by Scotsmen of his rank of life in his day.
It is itself 9 ft. high, and with the pedestal
rises to a height of over 21 ft.
Dumfries. Burns died at Dumfries 21 July, 1796, and was buried in St. Michael's Churchyard. A modest stone was placed by his wife over his grave. Twenty years afterwards a mausoleum was erected by public subscription hard by, and on 19 Sept., 1815, his remains were removed thither. The structure contains a symbolic represen- tation in marble of " The Muse of Coila finding the Poet at the plough and throwing her inspiring mantle over him." " To this was added." says Principal Shairp, " a long, rambling epitaph in tawdry Latin."
On 6 April, 1882, a statue of Burns was inaugurated at Dumfries. It was designed by Mrs. Hill, and represents the poet resting in a half-sitting posture against a tree trunk, with his dog reclining at his feet. He is apparently meditating upon a daisy which he holds in his hand. The statue is of Car- rara marble, and the pedestal of grey stone. Let into the four sides are inscribed marble tablets. Those on the north, south, and east sides contain appropriate quotations from Burns's poems, and that on the west the following :
" Erected by the inhabitants of Dumfries (with the aid of many friends) as a loving tribute to their fellow townsman, the National Poet of Scotland, 6th April, 1882."
Irvine. On 18 July, 1896, the Poet Laureate, Mr. Alfred Austin, unveiled a statue of Burns at Irvine in the presence of 12,000 spectators. It is the work of Mr. James Pittendrigh MacGillivray, R.S.A., and was presented to his native town by Mr. John Spiers of Glasgow. The statue is said successfully to
"embody Burns in the abstract ... .He wears the coat and breeches of the period and the Scots plaid, which makes a natural, national, and correct accessory to his costume, and at the same time gives the bronze flowing lines and all the classic- effect it is desirable to associate with Burns."
Paisley. Lord Rosebery unveiled a statue of Burns in the Fountain Gardens on 26 Sept., 1896. It cost over 1,500Z., the funds being raised by a series of concerts by the Paisley Tannahill Choir.
Edinburgh. A Greek temple was erected to the memory of Burns in 1830 from sub- scriptions by Scotsmen in all parts of the world. It was designed by Thomas Hamil- ton, and contains many manuscripts and relics of Burns and his bust by Brodie.
Aberdeen. In 1892 Prof. David Masson unveiled a statue of Burns in the Union Terrace Gardens. It was the work of the late Henry Bain-Smith, and represents the
