BIB_ID
293517
Accession number
MA 47.7
Creator
Burns, Robert, 1759-1796.
Display Date
[ca. 1793 Jan. 6].
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1906.
Description
1 item (3 p.) ; 25.5 cm
Notes
"Galla Water" first line: Braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes. Alternate first lines given (but canceled) here: Braw, braw lads o' Galla water; There's braw braw lads on Yarrow braes.
"Song -- Tune, Cauld kail in Aberdeem" first line: O poortith cauld, and restless love.
"Song -- Tune, Cauld kail in Aberdeem" with edits and differing from published version in Kinsley (this manuscript gives variant Chorus). "Galla Water" also edited and with a canceled preliminary or first stanza. See notes in Kinsley.
Address panel with seal and postmarks (Dumfries and JA 6) and addressed to "Mr. George Thomson / Trustees' Office / Edinr." Docketed "Mr. Burns Jan. 7 1793 Containing Cauld kail in Aberdeem & Braw lads a Galla water."
Localization and date from postmarks and docket.
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 in Thomson's hand stating "These verses I humbly think have too much uneasy & cold inflection, for the Air, which is pleasing, & rather gay than other verses." Below this is a response in Burns's hand reading "The objections are just, but I cannot make it better. The stuff won't bear mending, yet for private reasons I should like to see it in print." With additional notes in Thomson's hand on "Galla Water."
"Song -- Tune, Cauld kail in Aberdeem" first line: O poortith cauld, and restless love.
"Song -- Tune, Cauld kail in Aberdeem" with edits and differing from published version in Kinsley (this manuscript gives variant Chorus). "Galla Water" also edited and with a canceled preliminary or first stanza. See notes in Kinsley.
Address panel with seal and postmarks (Dumfries and JA 6) and addressed to "Mr. George Thomson / Trustees' Office / Edinr." Docketed "Mr. Burns Jan. 7 1793 Containing Cauld kail in Aberdeem & Braw lads a Galla water."
Localization and date from postmarks and docket.
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 in Thomson's hand stating "These verses I humbly think have too much uneasy & cold inflection, for the Air, which is pleasing, & rather gay than other verses." Below this is a response in Burns's hand reading "The objections are just, but I cannot make it better. The stuff won't bear mending, yet for private reasons I should like to see it in print." With additional notes in Thomson's hand on "Galla Water."
Summary
Giving the verses for his Song to the tune of "Cauld kail in Aberdeem" (here titled "Weel loe I my Jeanie") and "Galla Water." Inquiring after Thomson's publication, asking to see the proofs "merely from curiosity & perhaps to try to get you a subscriber, or two." Asking what other songs he intends to print with each tune, mentioning "I would wish to give you my opinion on all the poetry you publish."
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