Letter from Robert Burns to Patrick Miller, 3 March 1788
Sir,
I have been at Ellisland with M.r Tennant, the
gentleman on whose judgement I told you I would so much depend. - I inclose you his idea on the subject, which are, I think, extremely just. - I am fondest of a farming life; and that generosity and benevolence, so very unlike the world but
so very like yourself, make me ardently wish to be your Tennant. I know a little of the world, Sir; the sentiments of generosity and bowels of compassion they have usually for one another - from one in my situation of life to one in yours,
even the native grateful tribute of the heart is perhaps with more propriety suppressed in silence. -
It is usual, I understand, to make the entries to leasses in your neighbourhood, at Whitsunday. - This will not do at Ellisland; the farm is so worn out, and every bit of it, good for any thing, is this year under tillage; at least the fields are so intersected with pieces under crop, the four horses;which I will need this summer for driving lime and materials for building, with a cow for a married servant perhaps the first year, and one for myself as I must be on the spot, will eat up the whole pasture. - I'll pay for the grass & houses
whatever it they deserves for the summer, and if you please, make my entry to my lease at Martinmas. - I wish too, to have it at the present rent, 50£ p.r An. for three years. - The lands are so exhausted, the to enter to the full rent would throw me under a disheartening load of debt. - Not, Sir, that I would mercenarily cheapen your goodness;
if you do not chuse to drop the deficiency of 60, £, I will try to pay it by small additiond to my rent in subsequent years. - You offered me a long lease; I wish it, four nineteens.
I suppose you will have no objection to let me manage the farm as I think proper, till the last six years of the lease: these years I shall bind mysel not to crop above one third of the farm in one year, and what fields I lay down in grass to lay them down with manure. - I shall be in Edin.r beginning of next week, when I shall wait on you.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
your highly oblidges humble serv.t
Rob.t Burns
Mauchline 3.d March
1788
I have been at Ellisland with M.r Tennant, the
gentleman on whose judgement I told you I would so much depend. - I inclose you his idea on the subject, which are, I think, extremely just. - I am fondest of a farming life; and that generosity and benevolence, so very unlike the world but
so very like yourself, make me ardently wish to be your Tennant. I know a little of the world, Sir; the sentiments of generosity and bowels of compassion they have usually for one another - from one in my situation of life to one in yours,
even the native grateful tribute of the heart is perhaps with more propriety suppressed in silence. -
It is usual, I understand, to make the entries to leasses in your neighbourhood, at Whitsunday. - This will not do at Ellisland; the farm is so worn out, and every bit of it, good for any thing, is this year under tillage; at least the fields are so intersected with pieces under crop, the four horses;which I will need this summer for driving lime and materials for building, with a cow for a married servant perhaps the first year, and one for myself as I must be on the spot, will eat up the whole pasture. - I'll pay for the grass & houses
whatever it they deserves for the summer, and if you please, make my entry to my lease at Martinmas. - I wish too, to have it at the present rent, 50£ p.r An. for three years. - The lands are so exhausted, the to enter to the full rent would throw me under a disheartening load of debt. - Not, Sir, that I would mercenarily cheapen your goodness;
if you do not chuse to drop the deficiency of 60, £, I will try to pay it by small additiond to my rent in subsequent years. - You offered me a long lease; I wish it, four nineteens.
I suppose you will have no objection to let me manage the farm as I think proper, till the last six years of the lease: these years I shall bind mysel not to crop above one third of the farm in one year, and what fields I lay down in grass to lay them down with manure. - I shall be in Edin.r beginning of next week, when I shall wait on you.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
your highly oblidges humble serv.t
Rob.t Burns
Mauchline 3.d March
1788
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/25
- Alt. number
- 3.6052
- Date
- 3 March 1788
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/25
- Alt. number
- 3.6052
- Date
- 3 March 1788
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
Description
Letter from Robert Burns to Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, dated Mauchline, 3 March 1788.
In this letter, Burns continues his correspondence with Patrick Miller regarding the lease of Ellisland Farm. Burns is planning to settle down and establish himself as a farmer with Jean Armour in Dumfriesshire.
Burns has visited and viewed Ellisland farm with his friend John Tennant. Having been advised by Tennant, Burns encloses Tennant's 'ideas on the subject' describing them as 'extremely just.' Burns states that the start of a lease at whitsun 'will not do at Ellisland' because 'the farm is so worn out' and cannot be properly worked in the current season.
Burns goes on to describe anticipated problems due to the poor state of the farm and addresses the financial issues, proposing a rent of £50 per annum for the first three years which he anticipates is probably less than Miller expects. Burns closes his letter by indication his intention to be in Edinburgh the following week.
The letter also contains a near complete wax seal used by Robert Burns, this is on the address page of the letter containing the name and address of both sender and recipient. It contains a Postal mark of Mauchline and an almost complete wax seal showing detail in relief. It is interesting to note that the seal is not the one which Burns had designed for himself.
Burns goes on to describe anticipated problems due to the poor state of the farm and addresses the financial issues, proposing a rent of £50 per annum for the first three years which he anticipates is probably less than Miller expects. Burns closes his letter by indication his intention to be in Edinburgh the following week.
The letter also contains a near complete wax seal used by Robert Burns, this is on the address page of the letter containing the name and address of both sender and recipient. It contains a Postal mark of Mauchline and an almost complete wax seal showing detail in relief. It is interesting to note that the seal is not the one which Burns had designed for himself.
Archive information
Place of creation
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Letters from and to Robert Burns
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Letter from Robert Burns to Patrick Miller, 3 March 1788