Letter from Robert Burns to William Dunbar, 7 April 1788

Mauchline 7th March April
1788

I have not delayed so long to write you, my much respected
Friend, because I thought no farther of my promise. - I have
long since given up that kind of formal correspondence
where one sits down irksomely to write a letter because
we think we are in duty bound so to do. -

I have been roving over the Country, as my farm I
have taken is forty miles from this place, hiring
servants and preparing matters: but most of all, I am
earnestly busy to bring about a revolution in my own
mind. - As, till within these eighteen months, I never
was the wealthy master of ten guineas, my knowledge
of business is to learn; add to this, my late scenes of idle-
ness and dissipation have enervated my mind to an
alarming degree. - Skill in the sober Science of Life
is my most serious and hourly study. - I have dropt
all conversation and all reading (prose-reading) but
 

what tends in some way or other to my serious aim.
Except one worthy young fellow, I have not one single Corre-
spondent in Edin.r- You have indeed kindly made
me an offer of that kind, an offer which gives me the
highest pleasure. - The world of Wits, and Gens comme
il faut which I lately left, and with whom I never again
will intimately mix, from that Port Sir, I expect your
Gazette: what les beaux Espirits are saying, what they
are doing and what they are singing. - Any sober
intelligence from my sequestered walks of life; any drou
-riginal; any passing remark, important forsooth bec
it is mine; any little Poetic affort, however embroyole
these, my dear Sir, are all you have to expect from me
When I talk of Poetic efforts, I much have it always under-
stood, that I appeal from your wit and taste to your friend
ship and good nature. - The first would be my favourite
tribunal where I defied Censure; but the last, where I
declined Justice. -

I have scarcely made a single Distic since I saw you,
When I meet with an old Scots Air tha has any
facetious idea in its Name, I have a peculiar pleasure
in following out that idea for a verse or two. -

I trust that this will find you in better health than
I did, last time I called for you. A few lines from
you, directed to me, at Mauchline, were it but to
let me know how you are, will set my mind a
good deal. - Now, never shun the idea of writing me
because perhaps you may be out of humour or spirits:
I could give you a hundred good consequences attending
a dull letter; one for example, and the remaining ninety nine
some other time; it will always serve to keep in countenance,
my much respected, Sir, your obliged friend, and humble serv.t
Rob.t Burns