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Letter from Robert Burns to Patrick Miller, 3 March 1788

Key details

Archive number
NTS/02/25/BRN/01/25
Alt. number
3.6052
Date
3 March 1788
On display
No
Creator
Burns, Robert (Author)

Description

Letter from Robert Burns to Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, dated Mauchline, 3 March 1788.

In this letter, Burns continues his correspondence with Patrick Miller regarding the lease of Ellisland Farm. Burns is planning to settle down and establish himself as a farmer with Jean Armour in Dumfriesshire.

Burns has visited and viewed Ellisland farm with his friend John Tennant. Having been advised by Tennant, Burns encloses Tennant's 'ideas on the subject' describing them as 'extremely just.' Burns states that the start of a lease at whitsun 'will not do at Ellisland' because 'the farm is so worn out' and cannot be properly worked in the current season.

Burns goes on to describe anticipated problems due to the poor state of the farm and addresses the financial issues, proposing a rent of £50 per annum for the first three years which he anticipates is probably less than Miller expects. Burns closes his letter by indication his intention to be in Edinburgh the following week.

The letter also contains a near complete wax seal used by Robert Burns, this is on the address page of the letter containing the name and address of both sender and recipient. It contains a Postal mark of Mauchline and an almost complete wax seal showing detail in relief. It is interesting to note that the seal is not the one which Burns had designed for himself.

Archive information

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Hierarchy

  1. Letters from and to Robert Burns ( )
  2. Letter from Robert Burns to Patrick Miller, 3 March 1788