1 DECEMBER 1928, Page 19

JINKING

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sm,—It might interest your readers to see Burns's "Address to the Deil," which was written a hundred and forty-five years ago.

The last stanza but one reads :—

" An' now, auld cloots,' I ken ye're thinkin' A certain bandie's rantin', drinkin', Some luckless hour will send him linkin'

To your black pit ;

But, faith he'll turn a corner jinkin', An' cheat you yet."

I scarcely think " jovial Mr. Jinks " had much to do with the

origin of this word.—I am, Sir, &c., J. A. GIBBON. Craigmillar, Scotforth, Lancaster.