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Description: | Rambling four page letter in reply to an earlier one from Burns now aged 20, reflecting on the value of friendship and general philosophical matters. He gives Burns positive encouragement with respect to the Country Dancing lessons he has undertaken.
Candlish was a school mate of Burns, studied medicine at Glasgow University, Married Jean Smith, the sister of R.B's friend James Smith and one of the 'Mauchline Belles'. About 1788, Candlish settled in Edinburgh as a lecturer in Medicine. In a letter to Peter Hill, dated March 1791 from Ellisland, RB refers to Candlish as 'the earliest friend except my only brother that I have on earth, and one of the worthiest fellows that ever any man called by the name of Friend'.
In page three Candlish concludes his thoughts on Pope and then comments that he thinks Burns is making a good move in attending dancing school. He goes on to say how delighted he is with Burns's verses which he has received and hopes for more. He comments that he has not written any poetry of his own on account of the studying he is having to do in medical school at Glasgow University. | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0 | Publisher: | Burns Monument Trust | Temporal: | 1779-01-01 - 1779-12-31 | Source: | Burns Scotland | Identifier: | Letter of James Candlish to Robert Burns | Go to resource |
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