Letter from Robert Burns to Mrs Agnes McLehose, 28 December 1787
doubt of his abilities nor his sincerity. - I do love [you?]
if possible still better for having so fine a taste and
turn for Poesy. - I have again gone wrong in my
^ usual unguarded way, but you ^may erase the word, and put esteem
respect, or any other tame Dutch expression you pre-
in its place. - I believe there is no holding converse or
carrying ^on correspondence, with an amiable woman mu-
less a gloriously amiable, fine woman, without some
mixture of that delicious Passion, whose most devoted
Slave I have more than once had the honour of being:
but why be hurt or offended on that account
Can no honest man have a preposition for a fine
woman, but he must run his head against an
intrigue? Take a little of the tender witchcraft of
Love, and add it to the generous, the honourable sentiment
of manly Friendship: and I know but one more
delightful morsel, which few, few in any rank ever
taste. - Such a composition is like adding cream
to strawberries - it not only gives the fruit a more
elegant richness, but had a peculiar deliciousness
of its own. -
if possible still better for having so fine a taste and
turn for Poesy. - I have again gone wrong in my
^ usual unguarded way, but you ^may erase the word, and put esteem
respect, or any other tame Dutch expression you pre-
in its place. - I believe there is no holding converse or
carrying ^on correspondence, with an amiable woman mu-
less a gloriously amiable, fine woman, without some
mixture of that delicious Passion, whose most devoted
Slave I have more than once had the honour of being:
but why be hurt or offended on that account
Can no honest man have a preposition for a fine
woman, but he must run his head against an
intrigue? Take a little of the tender witchcraft of
Love, and add it to the generous, the honourable sentiment
of manly Friendship: and I know but one more
delightful morsel, which few, few in any rank ever
taste. - Such a composition is like adding cream
to strawberries - it not only gives the fruit a more
elegant richness, but had a peculiar deliciousness
of its own. -
I enclose you a few lines I composed on a late melancholy
occasion. - I will not give above five or six copies
of it at all, and I would be hurt if any friend should
give any copies without my consent.
You cannot imagine, Clarinda, (I like the idea of Arcadian
names in commerce of this kind) how much store
I have set by the hopes of your future friendship.
I don't know if you have a just idea of my character, but I
wish you to see me as I am. - I am, as most people of
my trade are, a strange will o' wisp being; the victim
too frequently of much imprudence and many follies.
My great constituent elements are Pride and
Passion: the first I have endeavoured to humanize
into integrity and honour; the last makes me a
Devotee to the warmest degree of enthusiasm, in the
Love, Religion, or Friendship; either of them
or all together as I happen to be inspired. -
'Tis true, I never saw you but once; but how much
acquaintance did I form with you in that once!
Don't think I flatter you, or have a design upon
occasion. - I will not give above five or six copies
of it at all, and I would be hurt if any friend should
give any copies without my consent.
You cannot imagine, Clarinda, (I like the idea of Arcadian
names in commerce of this kind) how much store
I have set by the hopes of your future friendship.
I don't know if you have a just idea of my character, but I
wish you to see me as I am. - I am, as most people of
my trade are, a strange will o' wisp being; the victim
too frequently of much imprudence and many follies.
My great constituent elements are Pride and
Passion: the first I have endeavoured to humanize
into integrity and honour; the last makes me a
Devotee to the warmest degree of enthusiasm, in the
Love, Religion, or Friendship; either of them
or all together as I happen to be inspired. -
'Tis true, I never saw you but once; but how much
acquaintance did I form with you in that once!
Don't think I flatter you, or have a design upon

Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/127
- Alt. number
- 3.6363
- Date
- 28 December 1787
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- McLehose, Agnes
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Letters from and to Robert Burns
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Letter from Robert Burns to Mrs Agnes McLehose, 28 December 1787