Letter from Robert Burns to Captain William Johnston, with 'The Rights of Women - Spoken by Miss Fontenelle on her benefit night'

Sir,
Send your paper ^from the first to Rob.t Riddell Esquire of Glenriddel
by Dumfries. - The inclosed is (entre nous) by him; & if you
chuse, it is at the service of your Publication. -
I am, Sir, your Servent well wisher &
very humble serv.t Rob.t Burns

Dumfries 27 Nov.r
1792

For the Edin.r Gazetteer -
The Rights of Woman - An occasional Address
spoken, on her Benefit Night, Nov.r 26th, at Dumfries.
by Miss Fontenelle. -

While Europe's eye is fixed on mighty things,
The fate of Empires & the fall of Kings,
While quacks of State must each produce his plan,
And even children lisp, The Rights of Man,
Amid the mighty fuss, just let me mention,
The Rights of Woman merit some attention, -

First, in the Sexes intermixed connection,
One sacred Right of Woman is, Protection. -
The

The tender flower that lifts its head, elate,
Helpless, must fall before the blasts of Fate,
Sunk on the earth, defaced its lovely form,
Unless your Shelter ward th' impending storm. -

Our Second Right, but needless here is caution,
To keep that Right inviolate's the fashion
Each man of sense has it so full before him,
He'd die before he'd wrong it - 'tis Decorum. -
There was indeed, in far less polished days,
A time when rough, rude man had naughty ways:
Would swagger, swear, get drunk, kick up a riot,
Nay even thus invade a Lady's quiet. -
Now, thank our stars! these Gothic times are fled;
Now well-bred men- & you are all well bred -
Most justly think (and we are much the gainers)
Such conduct neither spirit, wit, nor manners. -

For Right the third, our last, our best, our dearest,
That Right, to fluttering Female hearts the nearest,
Which even the Rights of Kings in low prostration
Most humbly own - 'tis dear, dear, admiration!
In that blest sphere alone we live & move,



There taste that life of life, immortal Love!
Smiles

Smiles, glances, tears, sighs, fits, flirtations, airs,
'Gainst such an host, what flinty Savage dares -
When awful Beauty joins with all her charms,
Who is so rash as rise in rebel arms?
But Then truce with Kings, & truce with Constitutions,
With bloody armaments & Revolutions;
Let Majesty your first attention summon,
Ah! Caira! The Majesty of Woman!!!