TO JOHN M’MURDO, ESQ.,
DRUMLANRIG.
[These words, thrown into the form of a note, are copied from a blank leaf of the poet’s works, published in two volumes, small octavo, in 1793.]
Dumfries, 1793.
Will Mr. M’Murdo do me the favour to accept of these volumes; a trifling but sincere mark of the very high respect I bear for his worth as a man, his manners as a gentleman, and his kindness as a friend. However inferior now, or afterwards, I may rank as a poet; one honest virtue to which few poets can pretend, I trust I shall ever claim as mine:—to no man, whatever his station in life, or his power to serve me, have I ever paid a compliment at the expense of truth.
The Author.