2110-4-5-9

Ben Lomond View, North Orchard Street, Motherwell, 15/8/24.

John Buchan, Esq.,

Dear Sir

I observe from the public prints that you are compiling a new Scots anthology. You would probably notice that in the American anthology of poems for travellers entitled "The Magic Carpet" issued recently by the Houghton Mifflin Coy., in which you were represented, my name also appeared, of course, by request from Mrs. Waldo Richards. I have also had a request from Mr. Gowans of Messrs. Gowans & Gray in connection with a Scots anthology that he and Mr. William Robb are compiling.

In case you have not seen my latest book entitled "Scottish Earth", I would take it as a favour if you would kindly accepted [sic] the enclosed copy of the first edition, which I procured a year ago and have kept beside me. The edition was exhausted in four months, and a second is in the press.

I would like also to remark that Mr. Andrew Melrose will shortly publish a new book of prose by me, of which he thinks well. It is a Scots book, with some dialect.

I am, Yours, John Smellie Martin

Enclo.