Letter from Robert Burns to the Earl of Glencairn, 13th January 1787
My Lord,
I wanted to purchase a Profile of your Lordship which I was
told was to be got in town.; but I am truly sorry to see: that the Painter
has spoiled a "Human face divine."- The inclosed Stanzas I intended to have
writen below a Picture or Profile of you Lordship, could I have
been so happy as to procure one with anything of a likeness.- As
I will soon return to my shades, I wanted to have something like a
material object for my gratitude: I wanted to have it in my
power to say to a Friend, there is my noble Patron, my generous
Benefactor! ---
Allowme, my Lord, to proffer, warm, my fond request,
to be permitted to publish these verses.- I conjure your Lordship
byt the honest throe of Gratitude, by the generouse wish of Benevo-
lence, by all the Powers and Feelings which compose the magna-
-nimous mind, do not deny me this my darling Petition. - I owe
much, very much indeed, to your Lordship; and, what has not
in some other instances been always the case with me, the weight
of the obligation is a pleasing load. - I trust I have a heart as
I wanted to purchase a Profile of your Lordship which I was
told was to be got in town.; but I am truly sorry to see: that the Painter
has spoiled a "Human face divine."- The inclosed Stanzas I intended to have
writen below a Picture or Profile of you Lordship, could I have
been so happy as to procure one with anything of a likeness.- As
I will soon return to my shades, I wanted to have something like a
material object for my gratitude: I wanted to have it in my
power to say to a Friend, there is my noble Patron, my generous
Benefactor! ---
Allowme, my Lord, to proffer, warm, my fond request,
to be permitted to publish these verses.- I conjure your Lordship
byt the honest throe of Gratitude, by the generouse wish of Benevo-
lence, by all the Powers and Feelings which compose the magna-
-nimous mind, do not deny me this my darling Petition. - I owe
much, very much indeed, to your Lordship; and, what has not
in some other instances been always the case with me, the weight
of the obligation is a pleasing load. - I trust I have a heart as
independant as your Lordship's, than which I can say nothing
more; and I would not be beholden to favours that would crucify
my feelings.- Your dignified character in life, and manner
of supporting that character are flattering to my Scottish pride;
and I would be jealous of ^the purity of my grateful attachment, where I was
under the Patronage of one of the much favoured sons of Fortune.-
Almost every Poet has celebrated his Patrons, particularly when
they were Names dear to Fame, and illustrious in their Country;
permit me then, my Lord, if you think the lines have intrinsic
merit, to tell the World how much I have the honor to be
Your Lordship's highly indebted,
and ever grateful, humble Serv.t
Robert Burns
Lawn Market
Jan: 13th
1787
more; and I would not be beholden to favours that would crucify
my feelings.- Your dignified character in life, and manner
of supporting that character are flattering to my Scottish pride;
and I would be jealous of ^the purity of my grateful attachment, where I was
under the Patronage of one of the much favoured sons of Fortune.-
Almost every Poet has celebrated his Patrons, particularly when
they were Names dear to Fame, and illustrious in their Country;
permit me then, my Lord, if you think the lines have intrinsic
merit, to tell the World how much I have the honor to be
Your Lordship's highly indebted,
and ever grateful, humble Serv.t
Robert Burns
Lawn Market
Jan: 13th
1787
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/10
- Alt. number
- 3.6036
- Date
- 13 January 1787
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Cunningham, James, Earl of Glencairn
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/10
- Alt. number
- 3.6036
- Date
- 13 January 1787
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Cunningham, James, Earl of Glencairn
Description
Letter from Robert Burns to the Earl of Glencairn, dated Lawn Market, 13th January 1787.
Letter written from Lawn Market in Edinburgh on 13th January, 1787 enclosing a poem titled "Verses Intended to be Written Below a Noble Earl's Picture". The letter conveys his gratitude to the Earl for his generous patronage.
Burns is indebted to the Earl who with his mother has subscribed to 24 copies of the Edinburgh Edition of Burns's poems, and has influenced his fellow members of the Caledonian Hunt to take another hundred. Robert acknowledges his debt to Glencairn but describes the weight of his obligation as a 'pleasing load' and goes on to justify his desire to 'celebrate' Glencairn's patronage as being a practice regularly adopted by others in his situation.
He also says that he intends to purchase a portrait of the Earl and below this to display a suitable verse which he has written. He encloses 'Verses Intended to be Written Below a Noble Earl's Picture', asking for the Earl's approval to publish it.
He also says that he intends to purchase a portrait of the Earl and below this to display a suitable verse which he has written. He encloses 'Verses Intended to be Written Below a Noble Earl's Picture', asking for the Earl's approval to publish it.
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 the Earl of Glencairn, 13th January 1787