Letter written by Robert Burns to his cousin James Burness
Letter written by Robert Burns to his cousin James Burness
Letter from Robert Burns to James Burness, Montrose, dated Dumfries 12 July 1796, lamenting his financial difficulties and asking for assistance of ��10 to pay a debt to a 'rascal of a Haberdasher' and to 'Save me from the horrors of a jail'. It is signed, rather finally, 'Farewel'.
This letter was written just nine days before Robert Burns died, and the writing is noticeably different. It was given by Dr James Burness, James Burness' grandson, to Colonel James Glencairn Burns, Robert Burns' son, who donated it to the city in 1862.
James Burness (1750-1837) was a first cousin of the Poet, his father James being the elder brother of William, Robert Burns' father. The two branches of the family kept in touch by letter, and at least nine letters were written by Burns to his cousin between June 1783 and July 1796. They met when Robert Burns was travelling round Scotland in 1787. James sent ��10 as requested but the bank draft was discovered, uncashed, among the Poet's effects after his death.
