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Description: | This poem takes the form of a verse epistle written to Burns's friend Sir Robert Graham of Fintry describing the characters and background involving the then recently completed general election of 1790 for the Dumfries Boroughs seat. In this poem Burns shows his wide knowledge of the contestants and their backers in this rousing commentary. (Poem no 318)
Robert Burns wrote at least three Epistles to Robert Graham whom he met at Athole House, Blair Atholl in 1787. Burns took to him personally and later, once Graham had become a Commissioner of the Scottish Board of Excise, sought Graham's good offices to get himself a position with the Excise in Dumfries.
In the elections of the late 18th century blood was often spilt between rival factions but in these verses on page four, Burns exaggerates the battle for effect and describes a murderous drive by the Whigs against the embattled Tories. | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0 | Publisher: | Burns Monument Trust | Temporal: | 1790-01-01 - 1790-12-31 | Source: | Burns Scotland | Identifier: | Poem by Robert Burns: 'Epistle to Robert | Go to resource |
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