Letter from Robert Burns to Mrs Graham, 10 June 1790
Madam,
Whether it is that the story of our Mary Queen of
Scots has a peculiar effect on the feelings of Poet, or whether in
in enclosed Ballad I have succeeded beyond my usual ^poetic success
I know not; but it has pleased me beyond any late effort
of my Muse: on that account I beg leave to enclose it
particularly to you. - It is true, the purity of my
motives may be suspected - I am already deeply indebted
to your & Mr Graham's goodness; and, what in the usual
ways of men is of infinitely greater importance, your
& His Patronage can be of the utmost service to me
in time to come. - I was born a poor dog; and how
ever I may occasionally pick a better bone than I used
to do, I know that a poor dog I must live & die. - But
I will indulge the flattering faith that my Poetry
will considerably out-live my Poverty; and without
any fustian affectation of spirit I can promise & affirm
that
Whether it is that the story of our Mary Queen of
Scots has a peculiar effect on the feelings of Poet, or whether in
in enclosed Ballad I have succeeded beyond my usual ^poetic success
I know not; but it has pleased me beyond any late effort
of my Muse: on that account I beg leave to enclose it
particularly to you. - It is true, the purity of my
motives may be suspected - I am already deeply indebted
to your & Mr Graham's goodness; and, what in the usual
ways of men is of infinitely greater importance, your
& His Patronage can be of the utmost service to me
in time to come. - I was born a poor dog; and how
ever I may occasionally pick a better bone than I used
to do, I know that a poor dog I must live & die. - But
I will indulge the flattering faith that my Poetry
will considerably out-live my Poverty; and without
any fustian affectation of spirit I can promise & affirm
that
that it must be no ordinary demand of the latter shall ever
make me do any thing injurious to the honest fame of
the former. - Whatever shall be my failings, for failings
are a part of Human-nature, may they ever be those of
a generous heart & an independent mind!- It is
not my fault that I was born to dependence, nor is it
Mr Graham's chiefest praise that he can command
influence; but it is his merit to bestow with the
politeness of a Gentleman and the kindness of a
Brother and I trust it is mine to receive with
ingenuous thankfulness, and to remember with
undiminished gratitude -
I have the honour to be,
Madam,
your highly obliged & most obedient humble serv.t
Robert Burns
Ellisland
10th June 1790
make me do any thing injurious to the honest fame of
the former. - Whatever shall be my failings, for failings
are a part of Human-nature, may they ever be those of
a generous heart & an independent mind!- It is
not my fault that I was born to dependence, nor is it
Mr Graham's chiefest praise that he can command
influence; but it is his merit to bestow with the
politeness of a Gentleman and the kindness of a
Brother and I trust it is mine to receive with
ingenuous thankfulness, and to remember with
undiminished gratitude -
I have the honour to be,
Madam,
your highly obliged & most obedient humble serv.t
Robert Burns
Ellisland
10th June 1790
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/69
- Alt. number
- 3.6101
- Date
- 10 June 1790
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Graham, Margaret
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/69
- Alt. number
- 3.6101
- Date
- 10 June 1790
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Graham, Margaret
Description
Letter from Robert Burns to Mrs Graham, dated Ellisland, 10 June 1790. The letter begins 'Whether it is that the story of our Mary Queen of Scots...'
This two page letter which Burns wrote to Robert Graham of Fintry's wife enclosed the poem Epistle to Robert Graham Esq: of Fintry on the Election for the Dumfries string of Boroughs, Anno 1790-. The letter expresses Burns's indebtedness to the goodness of Robert Graham and his wife.
In the first page Burns starts by introducing his reason for writing as being the poem which he is inclosing 'particularly to You' (Mrs Graham). Burns feels this ballad, whose subject is Robert Graham, is more successful than most of his work. He then goes on to express how deeply indebted he is to Mrs Graham and her husband for their goodness and Patronage. He wells on his own poverty, which he hopes will be outlived by his poetry.
On page two Burns continues to discuss his failings and says that it is not his fault that he lives a life of dependency but he still hopes to retain a generous heart and independent mind. He then reflects that his patron Robert Graham is bestowed with the politeness of a Gentleman and the kindness of a Brother when exercising his influence for which Burns is greatly thankful.
On page two Burns continues to discuss his failings and says that it is not his fault that he lives a life of dependency but he still hopes to retain a generous heart and independent mind. He then reflects that his patron Robert Graham is bestowed with the politeness of a Gentleman and the kindness of a Brother when exercising his influence for which Burns is greatly thankful.
Archive information
Place of creation
Themes
Hierarchy
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Letters from and to Robert Burns
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Letter from Robert Burns to Mrs Graham, 10 June 1790