Chapter III: Dumfriesshire

1788. _June 11._ Burns settles at Ellisland.

_July 14._ Burns’s Excise commission issued.

_Nov. 5._ Centenary of the ‘Glorious Revolution’.

_Nov._ Jenny Clow bears Burns a son.

_Dec._ Jean joins Burns in borrowed quarters at the Isle.

1789. _Feb. 16._ Burns goes to Edinburgh to close accounts with Creech
and to settle Jenny Clow’s suit.

_Feb. 28._ Burns returns to Ellisland.

Summer. Burns meets Francis Grose.

_Aug. 18._ Francis Wallace Burns born.

_Sept. 1._ Burns begins duty as Excise officer.

_Nov._ Burns ill with ‘malignant squinancy and low fever’.

1790. _Jan. 27._ Burns’s name placed on list of those eligible for
promotion as Examiners and Supervisors.

_Feb._ VOL. III of _Scots Musical Museum_ published.

_July._ Burns transferred to Dumfries 3d Division.

_July 24._ Death of William Burns in London.

_Dec. 1._ MS. of ‘Tam o’ Shanter’ sent to Grose.

1791. _Mar. 31._ Anne Park bears Burns a daughter, Elizabeth.

_April 9._ William Nicol Burns born.

_April._ ‘Tam o’ Shanter’ published in Grose’s _Antiquities of
Scotland_ and in the March _Edinburgh Magazine_.

_June 19-22._ Burns in Ayrshire to attend Gilbert’s wedding.

_Aug. 25._ Auction of crops at Ellisland.

_Sept. 10._ Formal renunciation of Ellisland lease signed.

_Nov. 11._ Burns moves into Dumfries.

_Nov. 29-Dec. 11._ Burns in Edinburgh. Farewell again to
Agnes M’Lehose.

1792. _Feb._ Burns promoted to Dumfries Port Division.

_Feb. 29._ Capture of schooner _Rosamond_.

_April 10._ Burns made honorary member of Royal Company of
Archers, Edinburgh.

_April 19._ Sale of the _Rosamond’s_ carronades.

_Aug._ VOL. IV of _Scots Musical Museum_ published.

_Sept. 16._ Burns begins work for Thomson’s _Select Collection_.

_Nov. 13._ Burns subscribes for Edinburgh _Gazetteer_.

_Nov. 21._ Birth of Elizabeth Riddell Burns.

Mid-_Dec._ Burns’s last visit to Dunlop House.

_Dec. 31._ Inquiry into Burns’s loyalty.

1793. _Jan. 5._ Burns defends himself to Graham of Fintry.

_Feb. 1._ France declares war against England.

_Feb._ Second Edinburgh edition of _Poems_ published.

_March._ Burns asks, and receives, burgess privileges in the
Dumfries schools.

_May 19._ Burns moves to house in Mill Vennel.

_June._ First number of Thomson’s _Select Collection_ published.

_c._ _July 30-Aug. 2._ First Galloway tour with Syme.

_Aug._ The Edinburgh sedition trials.

_c._ _Aug. 30._ ‘Bannockburn’ sent to Thomson.

_c._ _Dec. 31._ Beginning of the Riddell quarrel.

1794. _Jan. 12._ Final breach with Maria Riddell.

_April 21._ Death of Robert Riddell.

_c._ _May 1._ Burns declines a post on _Morning Chronicle_,
London.

_c._ _June 25-28._ Second Galloway tour with Syme.

_Aug. 12._ Birth of James Glencairn Burns.

_c._ _Dec. 22._ Burns appointed Acting Supervisor at Dumfries.

1795. _Jan. 12._ Burns posts the letter which estranged Mrs. Dunlop.

_Jan. 31._ Burns joins in organizing the Dumfries Volunteers.

_Feb._ Reconciliation with Maria Riddell.

_April._ The Reid miniature painted. Alexander Findlater resumes
his duties as Supervisor at Dumfries.

_Sept._ Death of Elizabeth Riddell Burns.

_Dec.-Jan._ Burns ill with rheumatic fever.

1796. _Mar. 12-14._ Food riots in Dumfries.

_July 3-16._ Burns at the Brow Well.

_July 18._ Burns writes his last letter.

_July 21._ Death of Burns.

_July 25._ Funeral of Burns, and birth of his son Maxwell.

_Dec._ VOL. V of _Scots Musical Museum_ published.

CONTENTS