No More Learning

I am ever,

My dearest friend,

Your obliged, humble servant,

R. B.

* * * * *




CV.


TO ROBERT AINSLIE, ESQ.

[The sensible and intelligent farmer on whose judgment Burns depended
in the choice of his farm, was Mr. Tait, of Glenconner. ]

_Mauchline, 3d March, 1788. _

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I am just returned from Mr. Miller's farm. My old friend whom I took
with me was highly pleased with the bargain, and advised me to accept
of it. He is the most intelligent sensible farmer in the county, and
his advice has staggered me a good deal. I have the two plans before
me: I shall endeavour to balance them to the best of my judgement, and
fix on the most eligible. On the whole, if I find Mr. Miller in the
same favourable disposition as when I saw him last, I shall in all
probability turn farmer.

I have been through sore tribulation and under much buffeting of the
wicked one since I came to this country.
Jean I found banished,
forlorn, destitute and friendless: I have reconciled her to her fate,
and I have reconciled her to her mother.

I shall be in Edinburgh middle of next week. My farming ideas I shall
keep private till I see. I got a letter from Clarinda yesterday, and
she tells me she has got no letter of mine but one. Tell her that I
wrote to her from Glasgow, from Kilmarnock, from Mauchline, and
yesterday from Cumnock as I returned from Dumfries. Indeed she is the
only person in Edinburgh I have written to till this day. How are your
soul and body putting up? --a little like man and wife, I suppose.

R. B.

* * * * *




CVI.


TO RICHARD BROWN.

[Richard Brown, it is said, fell off in his liking for Burns when he
found that he had made free with his name in his epistle to Moore. ]

_Mauchline, 7th March_, 1788.

I have been out of the country, my dear friend, and have not had an
opportunity of writing till now, when I am afraid you will be gone out
of the country too. I have been looking at farms, and, after all,
perhaps I may settle in the character of a farmer.