Letter from Robert Burns to Gavin Hamilton, 16 July 1793

My dear Sir,
I understand that our friend, M.rs
Muir of Tarbolton Mill, is likely to be involved
in great difficulties as to the settlement the late
Miller made. - Will you be so obliging as to
let me know the state of the case, &, if you
think that it would answer any good purpose
to advocate the business to Edinburg at once?
I can answer for an agent for her, a Writer
to the Signet, an intimate friend of mine, who
will cheerfully undertake the business, without
a single sixpence of fee; & our Countryman,
David Cathcart, lies under promise to me, to
be advocate at small expense, wherever I represent
Female poverty in distress. I am
much

much interested for her, & will, as far as I have
interest in either, move Heaven & Earth in
her behalf. - My interest in the first is vastly
improved since you & I were first acquainted
Ah! there is nothing like matrimony for set-
ting a man's face Zion-ward! Whether it be
that it sublimes a man above this visible, diurnal
Sphere - or whether it tires him of this Sublunary
State - or whether the delicious morsel of happiness
which he enjoys in the conjugal yoke gives him a
longing for the feasts above - or whether a poor
Husband thinks he has every chance in his
favour, as should he go to H-ll he can be no
worse.- - - - I shall leave to a weel-wa-
Presbytry of Orthodox Ayrshire priests.
Yours most sincerely
Rob.t Burns
Dumfries
July 16th
1793