Letter from Robert Burns to George S. Sutherland, 31 December 1789
Ellisland Thursday morn:
Sir,
Jogging home yesternight it occurred to me that
as your next night the first night of the New
Year, a few lines allusive to the Season, by way of
Prologue, Interlude, or what you please, might take
pretty well. - The enclosed verses are very incorrect,
because they are almost the first crude suggestions of
my Muse, by way of bearing me company in my
darkling journey. - I am sensible it is too late to send
you them; but if they can any way serve you, use, alter,
or if you please neglect them. - I shall not be in the
least mortified though they are never heard of; but if
they can be of any service to Mr Sutherland and his
friends, I shall kiss my hand to my lady Muse, and
own myself much her debtor.
I am, sir, your.
Sir,
Jogging home yesternight it occurred to me that
as your next night the first night of the New
Year, a few lines allusive to the Season, by way of
Prologue, Interlude, or what you please, might take
pretty well. - The enclosed verses are very incorrect,
because they are almost the first crude suggestions of
my Muse, by way of bearing me company in my
darkling journey. - I am sensible it is too late to send
you them; but if they can any way serve you, use, alter,
or if you please neglect them. - I shall not be in the
least mortified though they are never heard of; but if
they can be of any service to Mr Sutherland and his
friends, I shall kiss my hand to my lady Muse, and
own myself much her debtor.
I am, sir, your.
Old[?] disputes me here before ye,
Not for ^here to preach - but tell his simple story. -
The sage, good Ancient coughed & bade me say,
You're one year older this important Day:
If wiser too, he hinted some suggestion,
But 'twould be rude, you know, to ask the question;
And with a would-be-roguish leer & wink
Said Sutherland in one word bid them Think!
Not for ^here to preach - but tell his simple story. -
The sage, good Ancient coughed & bade me say,
You're one year older this important Day:
If wiser too, he hinted some suggestion,
But 'twould be rude, you know, to ask the question;
And with a would-be-roguish leer & wink
Said Sutherland in one word bid them Think!
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/33
- Alt. number
- 3.6060.a-c
- Date
- 31 December 1789
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Sutherland, George S.
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/33
- Alt. number
- 3.6060.a-c
- Date
- 31 December 1789
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Sutherland, George S.
Description
Letter from Robert Burns to George S. Sutherland, 31 December 1789
a. Letter
b. Fragment with 8 lines of Prologue
c. Note of authentication
This single page letter from Burns to theatre-owner George Sutherland encloses a 34-line poem for Sutherland to use as a prologue at his New Year performance of the Dumfries theatre company in January 1790.
In the letter, Burns recalls being reminded while riding home and musing in the dark of the imminent New Year performance of Sutherlands' theatre players and quickly puts together his first 'crude suggestions of my Muse' on some verses celebrating the New Year for Sutherland to use as he wishes at his show.
The fragment is eight lines, from line 7 to line 14 of the poem, titled 'Prologue spoken at the Theatre at Dumfries' ('No song nor dance I bring'). The published version is not identical with this fragment and has probably been taken from the version which Burns sent to his brother Gilbert a few days after the performance.
In the 'Prologue', Burns offers some words of wisdom in the name of Father Time and in the fragment, his first attempt at the 14th line is crossed out but reads 'Said Sutherland in one word bid them - Think'. The corrected line reads 'He bade me on you press this one word - Think'.
George Sutherlands' Dumfries Theatre had been visited by Burns who in a later letter to his brother described him 'a man of genius' and reported that Sutherland had 'spouted the prologue to his audience with great applause'.
Page two of this letter contains a number of child like drawings of birds.
The fragment is eight lines, from line 7 to line 14 of the poem, titled 'Prologue spoken at the Theatre at Dumfries' ('No song nor dance I bring'). The published version is not identical with this fragment and has probably been taken from the version which Burns sent to his brother Gilbert a few days after the performance.
In the 'Prologue', Burns offers some words of wisdom in the name of Father Time and in the fragment, his first attempt at the 14th line is crossed out but reads 'Said Sutherland in one word bid them - Think'. The corrected line reads 'He bade me on you press this one word - Think'.
George Sutherlands' Dumfries Theatre had been visited by Burns who in a later letter to his brother described him 'a man of genius' and reported that Sutherland had 'spouted the prologue to his audience with great applause'.
Page two of this letter contains a number of child like drawings of birds.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
NTS Property Archive Collections
(
a fonds is a whole collection of material created or accumulated by a person, family or organisation)
-
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum - Archives and Manuscripts
(
a fonds is a whole collection of material created or accumulated by a person, family or organisation)
-
Letters from and to Robert Burns
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Letter from Robert Burns to George S. Sutherland, 31 December 1789
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