Letter from Robert Burns to Robert Ainslie, 6 January 1789
Ellisland Jan 6.th- 1789
Many happy returns of the season to you, my dear Sir! May you be
as happy comparatively happy among the sons of men up to your com-
parative worth, among the sons of men; which wish would, I
am sure, make you one of the most blest of the Human-race. -
I do not know if passing "a Writer to the Signet" be a trial
of scientific merit, or a mere business of friends & interest. -
However it be, let me quote you my two favourity passages, which
tho' I have repeated them ten thousand times, still they rouse my
manhood & steel my resolution like Inspiration -
--- On Reason build Resolve,
That column of true majesty in man!
Young
Hear, Alfred, hero of the State,
Thy Genius Heaven's high will declare;
The triumph of the truly great
Is never, never to despair!
Is never to despair!
Masque of Alfred.
Many happy returns of the season to you, my dear Sir! May you be
as happy comparatively happy among the sons of men up to your com-
parative worth, among the sons of men; which wish would, I
am sure, make you one of the most blest of the Human-race. -
I do not know if passing "a Writer to the Signet" be a trial
of scientific merit, or a mere business of friends & interest. -
However it be, let me quote you my two favourity passages, which
tho' I have repeated them ten thousand times, still they rouse my
manhood & steel my resolution like Inspiration -
--- On Reason build Resolve,
That column of true majesty in man!
Young
Hear, Alfred, hero of the State,
Thy Genius Heaven's high will declare;
The triumph of the truly great
Is never, never to despair!
Is never to despair!
Masque of Alfred.
I grant you enter the lists of life, to struggle for bread, business,
notice and distinction in common with hundreds. - But who
are they? Men, like yourself: and of that aggregate body, your
compeers, seven tenths of them come short of your advantages,
natural & accidental; while two of those that remain either neglect
their parts, as flowers blooming in a desart, or mispend their
strength, like a bull goring a bramble bush. -
But to change the theme, I am still catering for Johnson's
publication; and among others, I have brushed up the follow.g
old favorite Song a little, with a view to your worship. - I
have only altered a word here & there; but if you like the hu-
mour of it, we shall think of a Stanza or two to add to it. -
O Robin shure in hairst,
I shure wi' him;
Ne'er a heuk I had
Still I stack by him -
Fal lal &c.
As I gaed up to Dunse,
To warp a web o'plaiden
At his daddie's yet
Wha met me by Robin. -
notice and distinction in common with hundreds. - But who
are they? Men, like yourself: and of that aggregate body, your
compeers, seven tenths of them come short of your advantages,
natural & accidental; while two of those that remain either neglect
their parts, as flowers blooming in a desart, or mispend their
strength, like a bull goring a bramble bush. -
But to change the theme, I am still catering for Johnson's
publication; and among others, I have brushed up the follow.g
old favorite Song a little, with a view to your worship. - I
have only altered a word here & there; but if you like the hu-
mour of it, we shall think of a Stanza or two to add to it. -
O Robin shure in hairst,
I shure wi' him;
Ne'er a heuk I had
Still I stack by him -
Fal lal &c.
As I gaed up to Dunse,
To warp a web o'plaiden
At his daddie's yet
Wha met me by Robin. -
O was na Robin bold,
Tho' I was a Cotter,
Play'd me sie a trick
And me the Eller's dochter. -
O Robin promis'd me
A' my winter-victual;
Fient haet he had but three
Goose-feathers & a whittle.-
I shall be in town in about four or five
weeks, & I must again trouble you to find
& secure for me a direction where to find
Jenny Clow, for a main part of my busin[Page torn]
in Edinburgh is to settle that matter with her, [page torn]
hand of the process. –
I shall not be above two or three nights in town; but one
of them I shall certainly devote to witness with how much
esteem & affection I am, My dear Friend, yours,
Rob.t Burns
Tho' I was a Cotter,
Play'd me sie a trick
And me the Eller's dochter. -
O Robin promis'd me
A' my winter-victual;
Fient haet he had but three
Goose-feathers & a whittle.-
I shall be in town in about four or five
weeks, & I must again trouble you to find
& secure for me a direction where to find
Jenny Clow, for a main part of my busin[Page torn]
in Edinburgh is to settle that matter with her, [page torn]
hand of the process. –
I shall not be above two or three nights in town; but one
of them I shall certainly devote to witness with how much
esteem & affection I am, My dear Friend, yours,
Rob.t Burns
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/29
- Alt. number
- 3.6056
- Date
- 6 January 1789
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Ainslie, Robert
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/29
- Alt. number
- 3.6056
- Date
- 6 January 1789
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Ainslie, Robert
Description
Letter from Robert Burns to Robert Ainslie, dated Ellisland, 6 January 1789. 2 leaves.
This three page letter was written at Ellisland shortly after New Year, on 6 January 1789. Burns congratulates his friend Robert Ainslie who had at the age of only twenty-two become a Writer to the Signet. He also encloses a 'brushed up' version of an old song 'O Robin sure in hairst' for him, and announces his intention of visiting Edinburgh shortly to find Jenny Clow.
In the first page, Burns wishes Ainslie an exuberant New Year greeting in the opening paragraph. He then follows with a congratulation on Ainslies' elevation to become a Writer to the Signet, a position which Burns confesses to be unfamiliar with, and offers a couple of his favourite quotations by way of support and 'Inspiration'.
In the second page Burns concludes his thoughts on Ainslie's elevated position and turns to more personal matters. He includes an amended version of a bawdy old song which he had earlier sent to Ainslie on hearing that Ainslie had fathered an illegitimate son. This Burns offers 'with a view to your worship' and remarks that if he finds it humorous, Burns will add a verse or two for him.
The last page of the letter Burns reveals for the first time the name Jenny Clow, a servant girl of Agnes McLehose, whom he had got pregnant the previous winter in Edinburgh and who was now looking for support for their illegitimate son. He is asking Ainslie to help him locate her so that on his next visit to the Capital he can sort the matter out.
Robert Ainslie was a Law student in Edinburgh where Burns and he first became acquainted. He accompanied Burns for part of his Borders tour in 1787 and was a lifelong correspondent with whom Burns shared many of his thoughts and ideas.
In the second page Burns concludes his thoughts on Ainslie's elevated position and turns to more personal matters. He includes an amended version of a bawdy old song which he had earlier sent to Ainslie on hearing that Ainslie had fathered an illegitimate son. This Burns offers 'with a view to your worship' and remarks that if he finds it humorous, Burns will add a verse or two for him.
The last page of the letter Burns reveals for the first time the name Jenny Clow, a servant girl of Agnes McLehose, whom he had got pregnant the previous winter in Edinburgh and who was now looking for support for their illegitimate son. He is asking Ainslie to help him locate her so that on his next visit to the Capital he can sort the matter out.
Robert Ainslie was a Law student in Edinburgh where Burns and he first became acquainted. He accompanied Burns for part of his Borders tour in 1787 and was a lifelong correspondent with whom Burns shared many of his thoughts and ideas.
Archive information
Place of creation
Themes
Hierarchy
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Letters from and to Robert Burns
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Letter from Robert Burns to Robert Ainslie, 6 January 1789