Letter from Robert Burns to Mrs Dunlop of Dunlop 15 April 1787
Madam,
There is an affectation of gratitude which
I dislike.- The periods of Johnson and the pauses of
Sterne may hide a selfish heart. - For my part
Madam, I trust I have too much pride for servility, and
too little prudence for selfishness. - I have this moment
broke open your letter, but, "Rude am I in speech -
"And therefore little can I grace my cause
"In speaking for myself, - " so shall ^not trouble you
with any fine speeches and hunted figures. - I shall
just lay my hand on my heart and say, I hope I
will ever have the truest, the warmest sense of your
goodness. –
I come abroad in print, for certain, on Wednesday
Your orders I shall punctually attend to; only, by
the way, I must tell you that I was paid before for
D.r Moore's & Miss William's copies through the
There is an affectation of gratitude which
I dislike.- The periods of Johnson and the pauses of
Sterne may hide a selfish heart. - For my part
Madam, I trust I have too much pride for servility, and
too little prudence for selfishness. - I have this moment
broke open your letter, but, "Rude am I in speech -
"And therefore little can I grace my cause
"In speaking for myself, - " so shall ^not trouble you
with any fine speeches and hunted figures. - I shall
just lay my hand on my heart and say, I hope I
will ever have the truest, the warmest sense of your
goodness. –
I come abroad in print, for certain, on Wednesday
Your orders I shall punctually attend to; only, by
the way, I must tell you that I was paid before for
D.r Moore's & Miss William's copies through the

Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/115
- Alt. number
- 3.6350
- Date
- 15 April 1787
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
Archive information
Place of creation
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Letters from and to Robert Burns
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Letter from Robert Burns to Mrs Dunlop of Dunlop 15 April 1787
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