amiable and Bonie as she is I think Clarinda is more entirely Congenial to the Heart of Sylvander. Why did not you see Her first? Young, Blooming, disengaged!-but-'tis too late-dear as I love Her-I could not spare her a Heart so precious to mine—no, unless you wished it! 'twould be an effort more than Human! Come to-morrow evening as soon as you can get off-You'll see no stars-without at least; within you'll find the Star Venus which always attends the Sun you know. (interrupted). A call from Mr. Kemp-offering to pay Andrew's quarter at School-I have refused it-I told him "unless I had his Friendship, I would not be under Pecuniary Obligation."-He express'd compassion for my situation -and talked in a strain that has melted me a good deal! Oh! If I be disappointed in my but I'll not wound you even with the Cruel Supposition. I see you with your noble Patron. May He who has the "Hearts of all in his hand " turn many to love and serve you-Adieu! My Prayers and wishes are yours. I thought this letter would be welcome on your return. Yours, CLARINDA. NOTES. I. Printed from the original draft, in Burns Cottage. Museum at Alloway; the letter itself is not known to exist. See Burns Chronicle, 2nd series, vol. I., page 62. II. Printed from the original holograph, in Burns Cottage Museum at Alloway; pages 3-4 are amissing. III. Printed from a facsimile of the original holograph in sale Catalogue of the collection of autograph letters and historical manuscripts formed by Alfred Morrison. (Part IV., Sotheby, 1919.) IV. Printed from the original holograph, in Burns Cottage Museum at Alloway. V. Printed from the original holograph, in Burns Cottage Museum at Alloway. The letter is in frail condition and a portion of it is amissing; the words within brackets are supplied conjecturally. The enclosed song was "Craigieburn-Wood." VI. Printed from a facsimile of the original holograph, now in the Library of Harvard University. VII. Printed from a facsimile of the original holograph, now in the Bibliothèque Municipale de Nantes. VIII. Reprinted from Notes and Queries (Series VI., vol. VII., 1883, page 46; Series VII., vol. IV., 1887, page 323), to which it was communicated by I. W. Hardman, LL.D., who wrote: "In a book of autographs which came into my possession some years since I have found the following interesting letter of Robert Burns. . . There is no date or address or name of person to whom written." Internal evidence points to Maria Riddel as the addressee: see Robert Kerr's Memoirs of the life, writings and correspondence of William Smellie. (Edinburgh, 1811, vol. II., pages 357-399.) IX. Reprinted from The Glasgow Herald, Saturday, 31st March, 1928. The letter is undated, but appears to have been written on 18th March, 1788, in acknowledgment of Sylvander's" note of the same day. It is addressed to "Mr. Robert Burns, At Mr. Cruickshank's, St. James's Square." BURNS IN THE AUCTION-ROOM. RECORD OF THE MORE IMPORTANT SALES DURING 1927-1928 OF BURNS MANUSCRIPTS AND OF BOOKS WITH BURNS ASSOCIATIONS. 1. The concluding portion of an autograph letter to Alexander Cunningham, containing "O, my Love's like the red, red rose (4 verses); no place or date, but written from Dumfries in the summer of 1794; 4 pp., 4°; initialed (twice) "R. B." (Sotheby; 15th December, 1927.) See Burns Chronicle, 1928, pp. 5-7. (2 2. Autograph letter to Patrick Miller, Junior, con- 3. Autograph poem, beginning "Come rede me, The poem is one of those printed 4. Autograph letter to James Clarke; dated "June 5. Burns's Poems (2nd edition, Edin., 1787, 8°): 6. Burns's Poems (2nd edition enlarged, Edin., B £2000 1050 185 530 600 600 7. Burns's copy of Voltaire's La pucelle (Paris, 1755) presentation copy from the Poet, with autograph inscription on the back of titlepage To Mr. White, un petit gage d'amitié, Robt. Burns." (Puttick and Simpson; 5th July, 1928.) 66 8. Burns's copy of A select collection of English songs, Vol. II. (London, 1783, 8°): with the names of the authors of some of the pieces added in his autograph. (Sotheby; 19th July, 1928.) 9. Autograph verse, beginning "That hackney'd judge of human life"; eight lines; page, 4°. (Sotheby; 1st August, 1928.) 10. Autograph poem, "New Psalmody for the General Thanksgiving on the King's Recovery, April 25th, 1789 "; 10 four-line verses, on 1 folio pages. (Sotheby; 1st August, 1928.) 11. Autograph poem, "The Fête Champêtre "; 7 eight-line verses; with Autograph letter to John Ballantine, written from "Mauchline, Thursday night," and signed "Robt. Burns "; 3 pp., 4°. (Sotheby; 1st August, 1928.) 12. Autograph letter to his brother William; dated Ellisland, 10th Nov. 1789"; signed; 2 pp., 4°. (Sotheby; 1st August, 1928.) 13. Autograph "Song on Miss P[eggy Kennedy]"; 4 eight-line verses, on 1 quarto pages. (Sotheby; 1st August, 1928.) Total for the 13 lots, £80 300 54 630 840 400 240 £7509 |