Letter from Burns to the Baillies of Canongate, 6th February 1787

Burns was upset when he saw that the grave of Robert Fergusson, a poet whom he greatly admired, was unmarked, and undertook to have a headstone erected "over the "Narrow house" of the bard". This was eventually completed in Craigleith stone by an architect commissioned by Burns named Robert Burn in 1789.

On this page headed "Epitaph", Burns starts with an introductory sentence for the headstone of conventional style, and follows this with a four line verse whose first and third lines he changes in the final version. The remaining two verses were used unchanged.

The essence of this epitaph can be sensed from the lines: "This humble tribute, with a tear, he gives. A brother Bard, he can no more bestow".

On the reverse of the folio sheet is the "Epitaph" on Robert Fergusson, 3 four line verses in Burns' holograph. This is Burns' draft of this letter asking permission "to lay a simple stone over the revered ashes" of Robert Fergusson. The letter was wrongly addressed by the Poet; it ought to have been addressed to the "Managers of the Kirk and the Kirkyard funds of Canongate," It is docketed in the hand of Dr Currie.