Letter from Robert Burns to Alexander Cunningham, dated 20 February 1793
What are you doing, what hurry have you got on your hands,
my dear Cunningham, that I have not heard from you?
Are you deeply engaged in the mazes of Law, the mysteries of
Love, or in the profound wisdom of modern politics,
Curse on the word which ended the period!
Quere, What is Politics?
Answer, Politics is a science wherein with, by means of nefarious
cunning, & hypocritical pretence, we govern civil Polities
for the emolument of ourselves & out adherents. -
Quere, What is a Minister?
Answer, A Minister is an unprincipaled fellow, who by the influence of
hereditary, or acquired wealth; by superiour abilities; or by
a lucky conjuncture of circumstances, obtains a principal
place in the administration of the affairs of government. -
Q. What is a Patriot?
A. An individual exactly of the same description as a
Minister, only out of place. -
my dear Cunningham, that I have not heard from you?
Are you deeply engaged in the mazes of Law, the mysteries of
Love, or in the profound wisdom of modern politics,
Curse on the word which ended the period!
Quere, What is Politics?
Answer, Politics is a science wherein with, by means of nefarious
cunning, & hypocritical pretence, we govern civil Polities
for the emolument of ourselves & out adherents. -
Quere, What is a Minister?
Answer, A Minister is an unprincipaled fellow, who by the influence of
hereditary, or acquired wealth; by superiour abilities; or by
a lucky conjuncture of circumstances, obtains a principal
place in the administration of the affairs of government. -
Q. What is a Patriot?
A. An individual exactly of the same description as a
Minister, only out of place. -
I have been interrupted in my Catechism, & am
returned at a late hour, just to subscribe my name; to
put you in mind that there is a forgotten friend of
yours of that name, still in the land of the living,
though I can hardly say, in the place of hope. -
I made the following Sonnet the other day, which has
been so lucky as to obtain the approbation of no ordinary
judge - our friend Syme. -
Sonnet - On hearing a thrush in a morning
walk in January. -
Sing on, sweet thrush, upon the leafless bough,
Song on, sweet bird, I'll listen to thy strain;
See aged Winter 'mid his surly reign
At thy bly the carol clear his furrowed brow .-
So in lone Poverty's dominion drear
Sits meek Content, with light, unanxious heart;
Welcomes the rapid moments, bids them part,
Nor asks if they bring aught to hope, or fear. -
I thank thee, Author of this opening day!
Thou whose bright sun now gilds yon orient skies,
Riches
returned at a late hour, just to subscribe my name; to
put you in mind that there is a forgotten friend of
yours of that name, still in the land of the living,
though I can hardly say, in the place of hope. -
I made the following Sonnet the other day, which has
been so lucky as to obtain the approbation of no ordinary
judge - our friend Syme. -
Sonnet - On hearing a thrush in a morning
walk in January. -
Sing on, sweet thrush, upon the leafless bough,
Song on, sweet bird, I'll listen to thy strain;
See aged Winter 'mid his surly reign
At thy bly the carol clear his furrowed brow .-
So in lone Poverty's dominion drear
Sits meek Content, with light, unanxious heart;
Welcomes the rapid moments, bids them part,
Nor asks if they bring aught to hope, or fear. -
I thank thee, Author of this opening day!
Thou whose bright sun now gilds yon orient skies,
Riches
Riches denied, thy boon was purer joys,
What Wealth could never give, nor take away. -
Yet come, thou child of Poverty & Care,
The mite high Heaven bestowed, that mite with thee I'll
Share
______________________________
Adieu! --- Rob.t Burns
Feb 20th 1793
What Wealth could never give, nor take away. -
Yet come, thou child of Poverty & Care,
The mite high Heaven bestowed, that mite with thee I'll
Share
______________________________
Adieu! --- Rob.t Burns
Feb 20th 1793
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/52
- Alt. number
- 3.6080
- Date
- 20 February 1793
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Cunningham, Alexander
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/52
- Alt. number
- 3.6080
- Date
- 20 February 1793
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Cunningham, Alexander
Description
Letter from Robert Burns to Alexander Cunningham, dated 20 February 1793. Includes text of poem 400 "Sonnet - on hearing a thrush sing on a morning walk in January".
This is a three page letter which Burns wrote to his friend Alexander Cunningham, enclosing a recent sonnet he has composed and asking why he has not heard from his friend recently. He includes a 'Catechism' on politics, ministers and patriotism.
In the first page Burns asks why he has not heard from Cunningham, surmising that 'the mazes of Law, the mysteries of Love' or the 'profound wisdom of modern politics' might be the reasons. The mention of politics sets Burns off on a critical view of the subject. Answering his own question 'what is politics', he writes that 'through nefarious cunning, & hypocritical pretence, we govern civil Polities for the emolument of ourselves & our adherents'.
In page two Burns continues his concern with politics and examines the position of a Minister (MP) whom he describes as 'an unprincipled fellow' as he obtained a place in parliament through 'the influence of heredity, or acquired wealth; by superior abilities, or by a lucky conjecture of circumstances'. Burns then describes a Patriot as being the same as a Minister, 'only, out of place'. He is then interrupted in his letter and when he returns it is too late and his train of thought is not concluded.
The last page contains a clue to his current frame of mind when he describes himself as being 'still in the land of the living, though I can hardly say in the place of hope'. Before signing off he includes a sonnet 'On hearing a thrush sing on a morning walk in January', saying that he has already shown it to his friend John Syme, who approves.
In page two Burns continues his concern with politics and examines the position of a Minister (MP) whom he describes as 'an unprincipled fellow' as he obtained a place in parliament through 'the influence of heredity, or acquired wealth; by superior abilities, or by a lucky conjecture of circumstances'. Burns then describes a Patriot as being the same as a Minister, 'only, out of place'. He is then interrupted in his letter and when he returns it is too late and his train of thought is not concluded.
The last page contains a clue to his current frame of mind when he describes himself as being 'still in the land of the living, though I can hardly say in the place of hope'. Before signing off he includes a sonnet 'On hearing a thrush sing on a morning walk in January', saying that he has already shown it to his friend John Syme, who approves.
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 Alexander Cunningham, dated 20 February 1793
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