Account and Receipt for Robert Fergusson's headstone
Account and Receipt for Robert Fergusson's headstone
Account and receipt sent to Robert Burns for the erection of a headstone on the unmarked grave of the poet Robert Fergusson (1750-1774) in the Canongate Churchyard, Edinburgh, 1789. Burns commissioned the stone during his stay in Edinburgh in 1787.
The monument was designed by Robert Burn of Messrs R and J Burn, Masons. Burns wrote the Epitaph 'Here lies/ Robert Fergusson, Poet/ Born September 5th 1751/ Died October 16th 1774/ No sculptur'd Marble here, nor pompous lay/ No story'd urn nor animated bust/ This simple Stone directs Pale Scotia's way/ To pour her Sorrows o'er her Poet's Dust' (the year of birth was misdated and should be 1750, not 1751). On the back of the stone is the inscription 'By Special grant of the Managers to/ ROBERT BURNS who erected this/ Stone this Burial place is to remain for/ ever Sacred to the memory of/ ROBERT FERGUSSON'.
Framed manuscript - dated 11th July 1789 and addressed to 'Mr Robert Burns, farmer at Mauchline' itemising the work carried out and requesting payment of ��5 10s. The account was not paid until 5th February 1792, when, in a letter to Mr Peter Hill, stationer, Edinburgh, Burns wrote 'He was two years in erecting it, after I commissioned him for it; & I have been two years paying him, after he sent me his account; so he and I are quits'. A copy of the letter is on the reverse of the frame. Gifted by the poets' sons, 1863.
