BIB_ID
293510
Accession number
MA 47.3
Creator
Burns, Robert, 1759-1796.
Display Date
1792 Nov. 8.
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1906.
Description
1 item (4 p.) ; 25.7 cm
Notes
"My wife's a winsome we thing" first line: She is a winsome wee thing.
"O saw ye bonie Lesley" first line: O saw ye bonie Lesley.
Address panel with postmarks (Dumfries and NO 9) and addressed to "Mr. George Thomson / Trustees' Office / Edinr." Docketed "Nov. 1792 Mr. Burns - Saw ye bonnie Lesley and My wife's a winsome wee thing. Ans[wered]."
Localization from postmark.
Part of a large collection of letters from Robert Burns to George Thomson. See collection record (MA 47 and MA 50) for full description.
With notes alongside "My wife's a winsome wee thing" in Thomson's hand discussing changes to the verses.
With very minor edits to each, the songs are as published in Kinsley.
"O saw ye bonie Lesley" first line: O saw ye bonie Lesley.
Address panel with postmarks (Dumfries and NO 9) and addressed to "Mr. George Thomson / Trustees' Office / Edinr." Docketed "Nov. 1792 Mr. Burns - Saw ye bonnie Lesley and My wife's a winsome wee thing. Ans[wered]."
Localization from postmark.
Part of a large collection of letters from Robert Burns to George Thomson. See collection record (MA 47 and MA 50) for full description.
With notes alongside "My wife's a winsome wee thing" in Thomson's hand discussing changes to the verses.
With very minor edits to each, the songs are as published in Kinsley.
Summary
Stating that Thomson will find difficulty in compiling his collection if he intends that all the songs "shall be Poetry of the first merit," noting that "there is a particular rhythmus in many of our airs." Giving the text of his songs "My wife's a winsome wee thing" (initially titled here "My wife's a wanton wee thing") and "O saw ye bonie Lesley." Discussing every seventh line of the latter, and giving a line of melody in musical notation. Mentioning that he has "hitherto deferred the sublimer, more pathetic airs" until he has more leisure to compose them.
Catalog link
Department