BIB_ID
293614
Accession number
MA 47.14
Creator
Burns, Robert, 1759-1796.
Display Date
[1793 June 30].
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1906.
Description
1 item (3 p.) ; 25.3 cm
Notes
"Song -- Tune, Liggeram cosh" first line: Blythe hae I been on yon hill.
"Song -- Tune, Liggeram cosh" here without edits and as published in Kinsley.
Address panel with seal and postmarks (Dumfries and JU 30) and addressed to "Mr. George Thomson / Trustees' Office Edinr." Docketed "June 1793 Mr. Burns with new verses to the Quakers wife."
Dating and localization from postmarks.
Part of a large collection of letters from Robert Burns to George Thomson. Items are described individually; see collection record (MA 47 and MA 50) for more information.
With notes in Thomson's hand
"Song -- Tune, Liggeram cosh" here without edits and as published in Kinsley.
Address panel with seal and postmarks (Dumfries and JU 30) and addressed to "Mr. George Thomson / Trustees' Office Edinr." Docketed "June 1793 Mr. Burns with new verses to the Quakers wife."
Dating and localization from postmarks.
Part of a large collection of letters from Robert Burns to George Thomson. Items are described individually; see collection record (MA 47 and MA 50) for more information.
With notes in Thomson's hand
Summary
Lamenting the "total ruin of a much lov'd Friend," asking Thomson to "allow that it might unhinge me for doing any good among ballads." Noting that he cannot alter a disputed line in "Mill Mill O" (probably "When wild War's dead Blast was blawn" to the tune of "The Mill, Mill O"). Mentioning that Fraser "the Hauteboy player in Edinr" is at Dumfries, and that he played a well known reel known as "The quaker's wife," which reminded Burns of a song his grand Aunt used to sing to the tune. Noting that this inspired him to write a song for it, and giving verses to "Song -- Tune, Liggeram cosh."
Catalog link
Department