To Mrs Frances Anna Dunlop of Dunlop

                                        Stewarton, 30th or 31st July 1787

I am sure, Madam, you have most effectually surprized me this morning.- Send your servant 20 miles to enquire for me!!!  By all the towering flights of Pride; ’twas doing me an honor so far beyond my wildest expectation that for half a second the shadow of a Doubt eclipsed my belief, whether perhaps you might mean, to burlesque me.- I have indeed been ailing, but your verses have given my spirits a fillip for one day.- Without any poetic licence, I assure you upon the honor of plain, unfettered, truth-delivering Prose, they are  excellent.- I have a long letter to Dr Moore just ready to put into the Post Office, it is on a subject you have done me the honor to interest yourself in, so if you dare face 20 pages of an epistle, a reading of it is at your service.- I don’t doubt but you will laugh at me; I know you will; and I insist on your taking that amusement at my expence, solely by yourself.- I am not bound to contribute at so dear a rate to the diversion of the rest of the family.- I have no copy of Dr Moore’s letter, I mean the one I send him, so this you read must go to post.- If you can contrive a better way, I shall call for it myself tomorrow, as I am going to Edinburgh by way of Paisley & Glasgow, tomorrow morning.-

Most respectful compliments to Lady Wallace, Miss Logan, who I heard at Ayr t’other day is at Dunlop, The Major & all your good family.-

I have to honor to be, with the highest respect and most sincere gratitude,

                    Madam, your much oblidged very humble servant
                                                                   Robt Burns