Letter from Robert Burns, Ellisland, to Frances Anna Wallace Dunlop, 1789 February 5 : autograph manuscript signed.

Replying that he searched every stationer's shop in Dumfries for long and broad, ample and capacious, sized sheet of writing paper specifically for letters to her; complimenting her and showing his admiration for their friendship; showing his sadness of poor MIlls (James Mylne) and saying "to gratify your wishes by a little compliment, in the way of my trade, to the memory of a friend of yours, you know it will give me the highest pleasure to do it"; mentioning the small river Afton and how it inspired him to write a song that is meant for Johnson's Musical Museum "Flow gently, clear Afton, among thy braes ..." (Afton water); stating that he formerly mentioned some of the verses to her and includes them for her reading "Now, maddening, wild I curse that fatal night ..." (Passion's cry); apologizing that she was informed of his supposed guilt in composing a stanza or two that was not proper for a clergyman's reading to a company of ladies; enclosing a piece of his prose for her sole amusement; concluding that if she cares to write to send it to Peter Hill, bookseller, Parliament Square.