No More Learning

[Who the John Kennedy was to whom Burns addressed this note, enclosing
"The Cotter's Saturday night," it is now, perhaps, vain to inquire:
the Kennedy to whom Mr. Cobbett introduces us was a Thomas--perhaps a
relation. ]

_Mossgiel, 3d March_, 1786.

SIR,

I have done myself the pleasure of complying with your request in
sending you my Cottager. --If you have a leisure minute, I should be
glad you would copy it, and return me either the original or the
transcript, as I have not a copy of it by me, and I have a friend who
wishes to see it.

"Now, Kennedy, if foot or horse. "[157]

ROBT. BURNESS.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 157: Poem LXXV. ]

* * * * *




XIV.


TO MR. ROBERT MUIR,

KILMARNOCK.

[The Muirs--there were two brothers--were kind and generous patrons of
the poet. They subscribed for half-a-hundred copies of the Kilmarnock
edition of his works, and befriended him when friends were few. ]

_Mossgiel_, 20_th March_, 1786.
DEAR SIR,

I am heartily sorry I had not the pleasure of seeing you as you
returned through Mauchline; but as I was engaged, I could not be in
town before the evening.

I here enclose you my "Scotch Drink," and "may the ---- follow with a
blessing for your edification. " I hope, some time before we hear the
gowk, to have the pleasure of seeing you at Kilmarnock, when I intend
we shall have a gill between us, in a mutchkin-stoup; which will be a
great comfort and consolation to,

Dear Sir,

Your humble servant,

ROBT. BURNESS.

* * * * *




XV.


TO MR. AIKEN.

[Robert Aiken, the gentleman to whom the "Cotter's Saturday Night" is
inscribed, is also introduced in the "Brigs of Ayr. " This is the last
letter to which Burns seems to have subscribed his name in the
spelling of his ancestors. ]

_Mossgiel, 3d April_, 1786.

DEAR SIR,

I received your kind letter with double pleasure, on account of the
second flattering instance of Mrs. C. 's notice and approbation, I
assure you I

"Turn out the burnt o' my shin,"

as the famous Ramsay, of jingling memory, says, at such a patroness.
Present her my most grateful acknowledgment in your very best manner
of telling truth. I have inscribed the following stanza on the blank
leaf of Miss More's Work:--[158]

My proposals for publishing I am just going to send to press. I expect
to hear from you by the first opportunity.