Letter from Gilbert Burns to Jean Burns, 14 January 1822.

Gilbert takes the opportunity presented by a friend journeying to Dumfries to write to his sister in law. Page one brings her up to date with the welfare of Gilbert's children who reside locally James, Thomas and John, who are all well. He refers to his concern for the two Irishmen, these being his two sons who are living in Ireland at the time.

His son Gilbert lives in or near Dublin and gives less cause for concern, but his other son Robert lives in County Clare which apparently is in the proximity of the disturbances, is the one he is most worried about as he has not heard from them recently.

In page two Gilbert continues to ply his sister-in law with news of Mrs Begg & her family and of the death of a friend in Kilmarnock who Jean Burns has met on an earlier visit to Gilbert's home, a benevolent lady who will be sorely missed.

He then reports that the portrait of her husband which she had, after some earlier persuasion by Gilbert, sent to Edinburgh had arrived safely. This portrait has now been sent down to the sculptor Flaxman who has been commissioned to produce a bronze statue of the Poet to be erected in Edinburgh.

Gilbert also reports in page three that the selection panel have rejected some other portraits but that his silhouette of Robert by Houghton, which he considers the best likeness, has also been chosen and sent down to London where the work is to take place.

However he reports that he has no news of the progress of the preparation of the statue. He finishes the letter by saying he has no news to report of her son Robert and he sends wishes from everyone and asks to be remembered to the Perochon family at Castle Dykes in Dumfries.