BIB_ID
294042
Accession number
MA 50.26
Creator
Burns, Robert, 1759-1796.
Display Date
[1796] July 12.
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1906.
Description
1 item (2 p.) ; 25.7 cm
Notes
"Song. Tune, Rothmurchie" first line: Fairest maid on Devon banks.
"Song. Tune, Rothmurchie" without edits and as published in Kinsley.
Address panel with seal and postmarks (Dumfries and JY 14) and addressed to "Mr. George Thomson / Trustee's Office / Edinr." Docketed "12 July 1796 about 8 or 10 days before his death Rob. Burns with Eng[lish] Verses to Rothiemurchie -- and asking £5 -- sent by return of post."
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 below the text of the letter reading "This idea is exaggerated -- he could not have been in any such danger at Dumfries nor could he be in such necessity to implore aid from Edinr." With additional notes in Thomson's hand alongside the verses reading "These I presume are the last verses which came from the great Bard's pen as he died very soon after. G.T."
"Song. Tune, Rothmurchie" without edits and as published in Kinsley.
Address panel with seal and postmarks (Dumfries and JY 14) and addressed to "Mr. George Thomson / Trustee's Office / Edinr." Docketed "12 July 1796 about 8 or 10 days before his death Rob. Burns with Eng[lish] Verses to Rothiemurchie -- and asking £5 -- sent by return of post."
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 below the text of the letter reading "This idea is exaggerated -- he could not have been in any such danger at Dumfries nor could he be in such necessity to implore aid from Edinr." With additional notes in Thomson's hand alongside the verses reading "These I presume are the last verses which came from the great Bard's pen as he died very soon after. G.T."
Inscriptions/Markings
Watermark: Countermark: "CURTEIS & SONS".
Summary
"Imploring" Thomson for £5 by return of post to pay a haberdasher's bill, noting that the "cruel scoundrel" believes Burns is dying and has "commenced a process & will infallibly put me into jail." Stating that upon his return to health, Burns promises to "furnish you with five pounds' worth of the neatest song genius you have ever seen." With a postscript giving the verses for "Song. Tune, Rothmurchie."
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