The second volume was never handed over to Robert Riddell, a quarrel intervening while it was being written out. The first volume was returned to Robert Burns, at his written request, on Riddell’s death. After the death of Burns, the two volumes were sent to Dr Currie as material for his edition of the poet’s works (published in 1800), and remained in the possession of the Currie family until 1853, when Mrs S Currie, the widow of Dr Currie’s son, William Wallace Currie, presented them to the Athenaeum, Liverpool (her autograph letter is pasted on the inside of the back cover of the first volume). Sold in 1913 - see correspondence in the press, republished in the 'Burns Chronicle and Club Directory' (1914), pages 5-38), they were bought by John Gribbel, Philadelphia, United States of America, and presented by him to the Scottish nation. On the establishment of the National Library, the volumes, in accordance with the provisions of the deed of trust, were formally handed over to the Trustees of the Library in 1926 ('Scotsman', 2 June 1926). A copy of the deed of trust and relevant correspondence are in the steel box which contained the Manuscripts.