A CODA to the Burns season.

An Ayr reader draws attention to the song below, dating to 1795-1796, when Britain was threatened by invasion from revolutionary France. It indicates that Burns had patriotic sentiments beyond the bounds of Scotland! The tune, Push About the Jorum, is a jaunty drinking song.

THE DUMFRIES VOLUNTEERS

Does haughty Gaul invasion threat,

Then let the louns bewaure, Sir,

There's Wooden Walls upon our seas,

And Volunteers on shore, Sir:

The Nith shall run to Corsincon,

And Criffell sink in Solway,

E'er we permit a Foreign Foe

On British ground to rally.

O, let us not, like snarling tykes,

In wrangling be divided,

Till, slap! come in an unco loun,

And wi' a rung decide it!

Be Britain still to Britain true,

Amang oursels united;

For never but by British hands

Must British wrongs be righted.

The wretch that would a Tyrant own,

And the wretch, his true-sworn brother,

Who'd set the Mob above the Throne;

May they be damn'd together!

Who will not sing, God Save the King,

Shall hang as high's the steeple;

But while we sing, God Save the King,

We'll ne'er forget The People!

rung=cudgel