Sandy, "... But facts are chiels that winna ding, An downa be disputed: ... " This quotation is from `A Dream'. It was a very political (and some might consider outrageous) poem written by Burns in 1786 in response to an Ode written by the poet laureate of the time on the occasion of King George III's 48th birthday. The particular quotation refers to the loss of Britain's American colonies. Eunice Smith Edinburgh, Scotland From: <DFSGAL@aol.com> Burns used a saying which I have to paraphrase (i.e. imaginatively reconstruct it because I can't find the source, but no doubt somebody can): FACTS ARE CHEILDS THAT DINNA DING