LETTERS

FROM WILLIAM BURNS TO THE POET.

The Editor conceived that it might not be uninteresting to the admirers of Burns, to peruse the following letters, selected from a greater number that have fallen into his hands. They are the genuine and artless productions of his younger brother, William Burns, a young man, who, after having served an apprenticeship to the trade of a saddler, took his road towards the south, and having resided a short time at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, arrived in London, where he died of a putrid fever in the year 1790.

If the reader supposes he shall meet in these letters that vivacity of genius, which the near relationship of the writer to the poet might lead him to expect, he will be disappointed. They contain, indeed, little more than the common transactions incident to the humble line of life of their author, expressed in simple and unaffected language. But to those whose admiration and affection for the poet extend to his relations and concerns, they are not without their value. They demonstrate the kind and fraternal attachment of Burns, in a strong and amiable point of view; they form an additional eulogy on the memory of the excellent father, who had given all his sons an education superior to their situation in life, and assiduously inculcated upon them the best principles of virtue and morality; and they exhibit the picture of a contented and uncontaminated youth, who, as he would never have attempted the dangerous heights to which the poet aspired, would never have experienced

those pangs of disappointment and remorse which incessantly agitated his bosom ; but would

"Through the calm sequestered vale of life, Have kept the noiseless tenour of his way."

No. L.

T. Mr. ROBERT BURNS, Ellisland.

Dear sir,

Longtown, Feb. 15, 1789.

As I am now in a manner only entering into the world, I begin this our correspondence, with a view of being a gainer by your advice, more than ever you can be by any thing I can write you of what I see, or what I hear, in the course of my wanderings. I know not how it happened, but you were more shy of your counsel than I could have wished, the time I staid with you; whether it was because you thought it would disgust me to have my faults freely told me while I was dependent on you; or whether it was because that you saw by my indolent disposition, your instructions would have no effect, I cannot determine; but if it proceeded from any of the above causes, the reason of withholding your admonition is now done away, for I now stand on my own bottom, and that indo. lence, which I am very conscious of, is something rubbed off, by being called to act in life, whether I will or not; and my inexperience, which I daily feel, makes me wish for that advice which you are so able to give, and which I can only expect from you or Gilbert, since the loss of the kindest and ablest of fathers.

The morning after I went from the Isle, I left Dumfries about five o'clock, and came to Annan to breakfast, and staid about an hour; and I reached this place about two o'clock. I have got work here, and I intend to stay a month or six weeks,

and then go forward, as I wish to be at York about the latter end of summer, where I propose to spend next winter, and go on for London in the spring.

I have the promise of seven shillings a week from Mr. Proctor, while I stay here, and sixpence more if he succeeds himself, for he has only new begun trade here. I am to pay four shillings per week of board wages, so that my neat income here will be much the same as in Dumfries.

You

The inclosed you will send to Gilbert with the first opportunity. Please to send me the first Wednesday after you receive this, by the Carlisle waggon, two of my coarse shirts, one of my best linen ones, my velveteen vest, and a neckcloth ; write to me along with them, and direct to me, Saddler, in Longtown, and they will not miscarry, for I am boarded in the waggoner's house. may either let them be given into the waggon, or send them to Coulthard and Gellebourn's shop, and they will forward them. Pray write me often while I stay here. I wish you would send me a letter, though never so small, every week, for they will be no expense to me, and but little trouble to you. Please to give my best wishes to my sister-inlaw, and believe me to be your affectionate

And obliged brother,

WILLIAM BURNS.

P. S. The great coat you gave me at parting did me singular service the day I came here, and merits my hearty thanks. From what has been said, the conclusion is this; that my hearty thanks and my best wishes are all that you and my sister must expect from

W. B.

No. II.

Dear brother,

Newcastle, 24th Jan. 1790.

I wrote you about six weeks ago, and have expected to hear from you every post since, but I

suppose your excise business, which you hinted at in your last, has prevented you from writing. By the bye, when and how have you got in the excise? and what division have you got about Dumfries? These questions please to answer in your next, if more important matter do not occur. But in the mean time let me have the letter to John Murdoch, which Gilbert wrote me you meant to send; inclose it in your's to me, and let me have them as soon as possible, for I intend to sail for London, in a fortnight, or three weeks at farthest.

You promised me, when I was intending to ge to Edinburgh, to write me some instructions about behaviour in companies rather above my station, to which I might be eventually introduced. As I may be introduced into such companies at Murdoch's, or on his account, when I go to London, I wish you would write me some such instructions now: I never had more need of them, for having spent little of my time in company of any sort since I came to Newcastle, I have almost forgot the common civilities of life. To these instructions, pray add some of a moral kind, for though (either through the strength of early impressions, or the frigidity of my constitution) I have hitherto withstood the temptation to those vices, to which young fellows of my station and time of life are so much addicted, yet, I do not know if my virtue will be able to withstand the more powerful temptations of the metropolis: yet, through God's assistance and your instructions, I hope to weather the storm.

Give the compliments of the season and my love to my sisters, and all the rest of your family. Tell Gilbert the first time you write him, that I am well, and that I will write him either when I sail or when I arrive at London.

I am, &e.

W. B.