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Show - HOW TO SPELL "BURNS." The True Patronymic of the Great Scotch Poet. In tho review of .Mr. Millar's "Literary "Liter-ary History of Scotland" In tho Spectator Spec-tator or Sept. 12 tho writer says: "The father of Burns spelt his name, not Uurna' or 'Harness,' but 'Uurnes.' " . Thoro Is, I think, ample evldeuce to the contrary, As appears from tho following fol-lowing facts: When a certain Walter Campbell moved from Argyllshire to Qlenberyle In the Mearns (Klncar-dlnshire) (Klncar-dlnshire) early In tho seventeenth century cen-tury ho assumed tho name of Burn-house Burn-house or Burness. Prom him tho fourth In descent was William Burness, Bur-ness, tho father of tho poet. The family Bible records tho ma,'-rlagc ma,'-rlagc of "William Durness and Agnes Brown" In 17G7, and I myself copied tho name of "William Burness" from tho old gravestono In Allowoy kirk-yard kirk-yard moro than forty years ago, which has since been replaced by a now one. Tho poet always signed himself "ltobert Burness" In his letters for about two years after his father's death In 1784 tho last extant letter with that slgnaturo being ono addressed ad-dressed to Mr. Aiken, April 3, 17S0. After this date ho appears to havo adopted tho spelling with which wo nro all familiar, "Robert Burns." London Spectator. |