Letter from Robert Burns to William Cruikshank, 3 March 1788

My Dear Sir,

Apologies for not writing are frequently
like apologies for not singing - the apology better than the
song. I have fought my way severly through the
savage hospitality of this country - to send every guest
drunk to bed if they can. -
I executed your commision in Glasgow, and I hope
the Cocoa came safe I should return my thanks for your hospitality
(I leave a blank for the epither, as I know none can do it
justice;) to a poor, wayfaring Bard who was spent
and almost overpowered fighting with Prosaic wicked-
. - 'Twas the same price and the
very same kind as your former parcel; for the
gentleman recollected your buying there before perfectly well -

-nesses in high places; but I am afraid lest you burn the
letter whenever you come to the passage, so I pass over
it in silence.
I am just returned from visiting Mr Miller's farm.
The friend, whom I told you I would take with me,
was highly pleased with the farm; and he is without
exception the most intelligent farmer in the
Country, he has staggered me a good deal. I
have the two plans of life before me, I shall balance
them to the best of my judgement; and fix on the
most eligible. I have written Mr Miller, and
shall wait on him when I come to town which
will be the beginning or middle of next week.
I would be in sooner, but my unlucky knee is
rather worse, and I fear for some time will scarcely
stand the fatigue of my Excise instructions.
I only mention these ideas to you; and indeed except Mr
Ainslie whom I intend writing to tomorrow, I will not
write at all to Edinr till I return to it. I would
I would send my Compl.mts to Mr Nicol, but he would be hurt
if he knew that I wrote to any body and not to him:

so I shall only beg my best, kindest Compliments to
my worthy Hostess and the sweet little Rosebud. -
So soon as I am settled in the routine of life, either as an
Excise Officer or as a farmer, I propose myself great plea-
sure from a regular correspondence with the only Man
almost I ever saw who joined the most attentive prudence
with the warmest generosity.
I am much interested for that best of
men, Mr Wood; I hope he is in better
health and spirits than when I saw
[page torn] last

I am ever, My dearest friend,
your obliged humble servant
Rob.t Burns
Mauchline
3d March
1788

Key details

Archive number: NTS/02/25/BRN/01/43
Alt. number: 3.6070
Date: 3 March 1788
On display: No
Creator: Burns, Robert (Author)
Recipient: Cruikshank, William

Explore correspondence between the creator and recipient

Description

Letter from Robert Burns to William Cruikshank, dated Mauchline, 3 March, 1788. [2 leaves].

Robert Burns wrote this three page letter from Mauchline after returning from Edinburgh in spring of 1788. He thanks William Cruickshank for allowing him to stay with him in Edinburgh over the previous winter, he relocates Jean Armour, now eight months pregnant, at the house of John Mackenzie the local doctor.

In the first page, Burns apologises for not writing sooner and of the hospitality of the friends he has stayed with en route to Mauchline. He hopes his parcel of Cocoa sent from Glasgow arrives safely and finds himself unable to come up with a suitable epithet to express his thanks for the fear that Criukshank may 'burn the letter'.

On this second page, Burns describes his pending visit to Miller's farm at Dalswinton in the company of an expert John Tennant, 'the most intelligent farmer in the Country'. He also comments that his knee injury from previous December is worse and is delaying his return to Edinburgh.

Burns finishes the letter by sending his compliments to Cruikshank's wife and daughter 'sweet little Rose-bud', a talented 12 year old musician whose accompaniment on the harpsichord had assisted him in his song writing.

Burns lodged in two rooms of William Cruickshank's attic in Edinburgh when he completed his highland tour in October 1787, staying until February 1788 when he returned to Mauchline.

Archive information

Place of creation

Mauchline

Themes

Hierarchy

Letters from and to Robert Burns ( )
Letter from Robert Burns to William Cruikshank, 3 March 1788

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