“THE LAND O’ THE LEAL.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18156, 29 January 1921, Page 6

“THE LAND O’ THE LEAL.”

* TO THE JEDiTOH.

Sib, —I was very muen surprised in reading mo report ot tno Rev. xuhocn xuiiios aqaiess at tne Rums anniversary coieoraiions, to see that no threw out the bait, to start tne controversy again as to tno authorsuip of “me Land o' tne Real." Wiiue, as a Scotchman,! give all credit to Robert Burns as our national poet, yet let us give iionour wliere it is due. As in tne case ot many other songs of merit, much lias been said and hazarded- about tne authorship oi this famous song, i know some have ascribed it to Burns, others to almost every notable writer; hut it was fashioned entirely in the sympathetic soul of Carolina Obpnant, Rady Nairne. One thing that surprises me in tracing out the 'origin of this song is, that in ho edition of Burns’s works {and I have looked through a number of editions) is any mention made of this poem. Surely the editors of those .editions would have been pleased to include such a matchless lyric ip them if they knew; that Burns wrote it. I would respectfully commend to Mr Yuille’s notice that excellent work, “Life and Songs of Lady Naime,” by the Rev. Chas. Rogers, D.D.—I am, etc., C. H. M‘Lean.