Fragments of letter from Robert Burns to Jean Burns, 20 February 1789

Key details

Archive number: NTS/02/25/BRN/01/152
Alt. number: 3.6017
Date: 20 February 1789
On display: Yes
Creator: Burns, Robert (Author)
Recipient: Burns, Jean Armour

Explore correspondence between the creator and recipient

Description

Fragments of a letter from Robert Burns to Jean Burns, dated 20 February 1789, 2 leaves, with note explaining provenance.

This manuscript has been assembled from three components: the bottom two appear to be from one letter to Jean Armour and the top from another letter written by Robert Burns but at an earlier period.

Burns at the start indicates a return home in about eight days presumably from Edinburgh to Nithsdale. Robert writes to ‘his dearest friend’ Jean, telling her ‘I long much to see you’. They had been officially married for less than a year. In the latter part of the document he is describing his negotiations with Creech his publisher, saying he is ambivalent with the result.

It seems that the manuscript has been assembled because the content as read makes rough sense. However the widely differing writing style of the two parts makes it questionable as to why there were brought together this way.

Archive information

Themes

Hierarchy

Letters from and to Robert Burns ( )
Fragments of letter from Robert Burns to Jean Burns, 20 February 1789

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