The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Athole

Key details

Archive number: NTS/02/25/BRN/02/196
Alt. number: 3.6268
Date: September 1787
On display: No
Creator: Burns, Robert (Author)

Description

The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Athole. Begins "My Lord, I know, your noble ear". The first three four-line verses only. Another partial copy of this poem is in the collection see Item ref 309.04.

In this poem Burns observes that the river is short of water and asks the noble Duke to plant trees and shrubs along the river bank to shade it from the sun. Then it would be home to more wild life and make a pleasant place for wandering shepherds, lovers and bards. (poem no 172)

The beginning lines of this poem is where Burns sets the scene of the almost dry river and pleads with the Duke to help. He even envisages the trout finishing up high and dry on the banks.

Burns sent the original of this Poem with a covering letter ( letter no 135) to Josiah Walker, tutor to the son of the Duke of Athole, from Inverness on 5th September 1787 after he had visited the Duke a few days earlier while on his Highland Tour.

Archive information

Themes

Hierarchy

Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs ( )
The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Athole

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