New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-02
CLENRIDDELL MSS.
BACK TO SCOTLAND
Missing Literary Treasures
in Possession of a Phila-
delphia Publisher.
BOUGHT VOLUMES
TWO WEEKS AGO
Scots Have Sought for Months to
Regain Possession of
the Books.

Philadelphia, Dec. 1.-The mystery sur
rounding the whereabouts OF the piehriu'
dell manuscripts OF Robert Burns WHICH
were sold by the Athen8um Library, OF
Liverpool. last summer and for when a
committee OF Scots i'm England ana Sco''
land have been searching, was cleared up
here tonight when John Gribbel, wee
president OF THE Philadelphia Pubic
Ledger" announced that the two volumes
were in his possession.
Mr.. Gribbel made the announcement az
dinner OF the st. Andrews Society ne
stated that he had purchased the manu-
scripts from n dealer and that he wouIn
roatore them to Scotland forever pro-
tected by a deed Of trust as gift to the
people who gave Robert Burns to the
world.
Mr. GribbeI. who was not assigned
toast on the programme, surprised the
diners when he rose to give an account OF
the romance OF some Burns manuscripts
and revealed the whereabouts or the
missing volumes. As he finished speak
ing the two quarto volumes. bound In Ola
polished calf. were removed from steer
and freproof box and laid before the
guests.
Mr.. Gribbel in his address recounted
low Burns between 1858 and 1871 pre-
uarrd n manuscript volume containing MS
selected poems finished as ne Wah'eu
them known 10 posterity and also VOL
ume containing his manuscript letters
lie also told OF Burns presenting them 10
his friend Rlddell. OF Glenriddle. Ridden
died I'm 1874. and his widow returned 'hei'
IN Burns Mr. Griboel then detailed the
SUBSEQUENT ownership OF the two volumes
and how they came into the possession
Of the Liverpool Athen@um Library "'
1888. where they remained for sixty years
Continuing. Mr. Gribbel said:
During the summer just passed the
English reading world was shocked u
read in the public press that the author-
Ties OF the Liverpool Athenaum had sold
FOR money. these priceless trusted treas
ures Hurried efforts were made To stop
tho transfer Of the volumes. but the de-
livery had been made. and in the excite
meut they disappeared with the unknown
buyer unhindercd Two weeks ago was
astonlshed beyond measure by having a
dealer come to Philadelphia and submit
IN me for sale the missing manuscripts
Having an aversion 10 the possession
OF property OF a certain class rcused
10 consider them as any possible posses
sion o, my own. priceless though they
are. but. gentlemen. here they are sold
AS merchandise I'm the market place and
I'm my possession. but with purpose oil
which am sure you will approve. These
manuscripts after the death OF Burns
we're the property OF Bonnie Jean. she
only lent them TO Dr. Currie. who wrote
life Of the poet. and those who came
after him had no stronger title 10 them.
To whom, then, do they now belong by
right but to Scotland. whose chief pos
session now is the glory OF her immortal
SOM"
Mr.. Gribbol explained that he has not
vet decided TO which institution In Scot
land the manuscripts should be presented.
but that he had communicated with Lord
Rosebery. who had been active last sum
mer on the committee OF Scots who were
attempting TO prevent the sale OF the vol
umes He said he would be guided by
the answer received from his lordshp.