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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.
On page seven Burns enumerates some of the Tory grandees, pointing out that even the riches of his daughter in law's father will not buy success for himself. While others are cursing or rejoicing at the outcome, our Bard says, tounge in cheek, it has all nothing to do with him in patient obscurity. | 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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