The Second Commonplace Book, 1787 - 1790

Burns wrote down his thoughts and ideas a note book which he referred to as his ‘common place book’. This is the second such book which he started writing while in Edinburgh in 1787.
He writes:

‘As I have seen a good deal of human life in Edinburgh, a great many characters which are new to one bred up in the shades of life as I have been, I am determined to take down my remarks on the spot.’

Burns writes his thoughts on a number of people he met during his time in Edinburgh. Burns feels he has been ignored by the Earl of Glencairn in favour of a person whom he considers has not the abilities to become ‘an eight penny taylor’. Dr Hugh Blair seems to both delight and frustrate Burns, in one respect being someone he can truly like and on other occasions being too pompous and condescending. Burns's view of William Creech, his publisher, is ambiguous but generally favourable. Notably, this was written before Burns had to chase Creech for his long overdue publication payments. Creech also appears to have been the best dinner table host who Burns had visited during his first stay in Edinburgh.

Two letters written by Burns are copied into the book. One was written to Lord Buchan in reply to Buchan’s criticism that Burns should concentrate his future work on larger and wider subjects. Burns copied this more than a year after the original was sent to Buchan and clearly thought it important. A letter to the Earl of Eglinton, also originally written in the previous year, differs slightly from the letter itself which stated that he intended to send this to several persons. This may have been copied into the book for future use.

A number of early drafts of poems are also written in the book, along with fragments of other people’s work which Burns has collected. These include:

A Fragment. (Rantin Rovin Robin)
Elegy to Stella by Rev John Mackenzie of Portpatrick.
Verses in (Friars) Carse Hermitage
Verse-epistle to Graham of Fintry
Verses written in Friars Carse Hermitage, a second version.
Ode to Mrs Oswald
Castle Gordon
Bonnie Lass of Albanie
The Chevalier's Lament
Extempore epistle to Gavin Hamilton
A sonnet to Robert Graham of Fintry
On seeing a fellow wound a hare - spring - 89
Elegy on Captain Matthew Henderson