To Mrs Frances Anna Dunlop of Dunlop

Castle Douglas, 25th June 1794

Here in a solitary inn, in a solitary village, am I set by myself, to amuse my brooding fancy as I may.-Solitary confinement, you know, is Howard's favorite idea of reclaiming sinners; so let me consider by what fatality it happens that I have so long been exceeding sinful as to neglect the correspondence of the most valued Friend I have on earth.-To tell you that I have been in poor health, will not be excuse enough , though it is true.-I am afraid that I am about to suffer for the follies of my youth.-My Medical friends threaten me with a flying gout; but I trust they are mistaken.-

I am just going to trouble your critical patience with the first sketch of a stanza I have been framing as I passed along the road.-The Subject is, LIBERTY: you know, my honored Friend, how dear the theme is to me. I design it as an irregular Ode for General Washington's birth-day.-After having mentioned the degeneracy of other kingdoms I come to Scotland thus-

Thee, Caledonia, thy wild heaths among,
Thee, famed for martial deed & sacred Song,.
To thee I turn with swimming eyes;
Where is that soul of Freedom fled/
Immingled with the mighty Dead,
Beneath the hallowed turf where WALLACE lies!
Hear it not, WALLACE, in thy bed of death!
Ye babbling winds, in silence sweep;
Disturb ye not the hero's sleep,
Nor give the coward secret breath
Is this the Power in freedom's war
That wont to bid the battle rage?

Behold that eye which shot immortal hate,
Crushing the despot's proudest bearing,.
That arm which, nerved with thundering fate,
Braved Usurpation's boldest daring
One quenched in darkness like the sinking star,
And one the palsied arm of tottering, powerless Age.-

You will probably have another scrawl from me in a stage or two.-

Yours ever most gratefully

Robt Burns