Letter from Robert Burns to The Rev. Patrick Carfrae, 27 April, 1789

Ellisland 27th April - 1789

Reverend Sir,
I do not recollect that I have ever felt a severer pang
of conscious shame, than when I just now looked at the date of your oblidging
letter, which accompanied M.r Mylne's excellent Poem. - I could make a great
many apologies, Sir; & some of them very plausible ones; but none of them
would exculpate me to myself, so I do not wish the should satisfy
you.- I am much to blame: the honor M.r Mylne did me, greatly
enhanced in value by the endearing though melancholly circum-
stance of its being the last production of his truly amiable Muse,
deserved a better return. -

I have, as you hint, thought of sending a copy of the Poem to some Periodical
Publication, but on farther reflection, I am afraid, in the present case,
that it would be an improper step. - My success, perhaps as much ac-
cidental as merited, has brought an innundation of nonsense over the
Land.- Subscription bills for Scots Poems have so dunned and do daily
so dun the Public, that the very term; Scots Poetry, totters on the brink of
contempt. - For these reasons, if publishing in magazines, & c. any of
Mr Mylne's Poems, be at all prudent, in my opinion it should certainly
not be a Scots Poem. - The profits of the labours of a Man of genius
are, I hope, at least as honorable as any other profits whatever;
and M.r Mylne's relations are most justly entitled to that honest

harvest which Fate has denied himself to reap. - But let M.r Mylne's
the friends of M.r Mylne's fame, among whom I crave the honor of rank-
ing myself, always keep in eye his respectability as a Man, and as a
Poet; and take no measure that, before the world knows any thing of
his character, would risk his name & productions being classed
with fools & nonsense of the times. -

I have, Sir, some experience of publishing; and the way in which
I would proceed with M.r Mylne's Poems is this. - I would publish
in two of three English & Scots Public Papers any one of his English
Poems which should by private judges be thought the most excellent, and mention it at the same time, as one of the many poetical productions
which a Lothian Farmer ^ of respectable character left behind him at his death, - That his
friends had it in idea to publish soon, by subscription, a Collection of
his Poems, for the sake of his numerous family (I think M.rs Dunlop
informed me that he had a numerous family)- not in pity to that
Family, but in justice to what his friends think the Poetic Merits
of the deceased; and to secure in the most effectual manner, to
those tender connections whose right it is, the pecuniary reward
of those meritc. - After thus advertising the Public of the design,
I would proceed to disperse Subscription bills. - Suppose the book to
be 200, a few odd pages, and that there are printed; 600 copies.- This,
done on elegant paper, & stitched, or in boards, will be done for less than
forty pounds. - Though not above 300 subscribers are got, that, at
4sh. or even at 3sh. per copy, price to subscribers, will more

than pay costs; and thus without risking anything and with
a probability of considerable profits as the work should succeed
in the world, I would bring Mr Mylne's poetic Merits to
that Bar which is alone competent to decide on them, the
Voice of the Public. -

From what I have seen of his works, & from [page torn]
abler Judge, my honored friend M.rs Dunlop, [page torn]
Has often mentioned to me of those works
of his which I have not seen, I have the
Most sanguine hopes that M.r Mylne's
Poems will be a very respectable & much estee [page torn]
addition to that specie of Polite Literature.
I expect to be in Haddingtonshire sometime in
summer, & if then, or ^at any time prior or
to then, my information or assistance can be
in the business, employing me in it will be giving a real
pleasure to, Reverend Sir,
your obliged humble serv.t

Rob.t Burns
My direction is - M.r R.B.
Ellisland near Dumfries