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, 20th 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.