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Letter from Robert Burns to Robert Ainslie, 1 November 1789

Key details

Archive number
NTS/02/25/BRN/01/30
Alt. number
3.6057
Date
1 November 1789
On display
No
Creator
Burns, Robert (Author)
Recipient
Ainslie, Robert

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Description

Letter from Robert Burns to Robert Ainslie, dated Ellisland, 1 November, 1789.

This three page letter was written by Burns at Ellisland on 1 November 1789 to his friend Robert Ainslie after a gap of several months, for which he apologises. The letter announces his appointment as an Excise Officer and the reasons leading up to it.

On the first page Burns informs Ainslie of his Excise appointment and being 'Lucky' having skipped the journeyman stage and come in at Officer level. He acknowledges the opprobrious stigma attached to the words 'exciseman' and 'Gauger' which Ainslie might feel, but explains that his family situation drove him to it.

On the second page Burns explains that he receives £50 per annum for life with a 'provision for Widows & orphans'. He then quotes an example which for him reduces the 'ignominy of the profession', and then outlines his philosophy associated with his present condition.

The last page of the letter is incomplete with a section in the top centre missing and completed by someone else. There is no signature and so it is probable that the last lines are also missing. In this final paragraph Burns reconciles himself with the thought that things could always be worse and is thus content with his 'present lot'.

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 most intimate thoughts.

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Hierarchy

  1. Letters from and to Robert Burns ( )
  2. Letter from Robert Burns to Robert Ainslie, 1 November 1789