Letter from Robert Burns to John Richmond, 27 September 1786
My Dr
I recd yours of Connel's * last return, and
I have just a moment at present to tell you that I amin the land of the Living, and in the place of hope. - I am going perhaps to try a second edition of my book - If I do, it will detain me a little longer in the country; if not, I shall be gone as soon as harvest is over.- Bettsey M- waits me--
God bless you
Rob.t Burns
*Connel. The Mauchline & Edinburgh
Carrier.
I recd yours of Connel's * last return, and
I have just a moment at present to tell you that I amin the land of the Living, and in the place of hope. - I am going perhaps to try a second edition of my book - If I do, it will detain me a little longer in the country; if not, I shall be gone as soon as harvest is over.- Bettsey M- waits me--
God bless you
Rob.t Burns
*Connel. The Mauchline & Edinburgh
Carrier.
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/09
- Alt. number
- 3.6035
- Date
- 27 September 1786
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Richmond, John
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/09
- Alt. number
- 3.6035
- Date
- 27 September 1786
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Richmond, John
Description
Letter from Robert Burns to John Richmond, dated 27 September 1786. 2 leaves; no place, no date, but docketed by Richmond, "Poet Burness, 27 Sept., 1786."
John Richmond was a close friend of Robert Burns from his Mauchline days who became a lawyer in Edinburgh and with whom Burns conducted an active correspondence.
This letter shows the first indications that Robert's desire to move to Jamaica is weakening and the potential of another book of poems is giving him a renewed lease of life.
The letters between Burns (in Mauchline) and Richmond (in Edinburgh) appear to have been carried by an acquaintance name Connel. The hastily written letter shows Burns keeping Richmond up to date with his plans and letting him know that he is doing all right.
These letters show the change Robert made to the spelling of his surname: from ‘Burness’ (or ‘Burnes’) to ‘Burns’. This is probably because the name was pronounced ‘Burns’ in Ayrshire, so he simply removed the unused letters.
The letters between Burns (in Mauchline) and Richmond (in Edinburgh) appear to have been carried by an acquaintance name Connel. The hastily written letter shows Burns keeping Richmond up to date with his plans and letting him know that he is doing all right.
These letters show the change Robert made to the spelling of his surname: from ‘Burness’ (or ‘Burnes’) to ‘Burns’. This is probably because the name was pronounced ‘Burns’ in Ayrshire, so he simply removed the unused letters.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Letters from and to Robert Burns
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
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