Chapter 687 of 984
XLVII. · Section 3
The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence.: With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham · Robert Burns, Allan Cunningham
XLVII.
TO JOHN BALLANTYNE, ESQ.
[The picture from which Beugo engraved the portrait alluded to in this letter, was painted by the now venerable Alexander Nasmyth--the eldest of living British artists:--it is, with the exception of a profile by Miers, the only portrait for which we are quite sure that the poet sat.]
_Edinburgh, Feb. 24th, 1787._
MY HONOURED FRIEND,
I will soon be with you now, in guid black prent;--in a week or ten days at farthest. I am obliged, against my own wish, to print subscribers' names; so if any of my Ayr friends have subscription bills, they must be sent in to Creech directly. I am getting my phiz done by an eminent engraver, and if it can be ready in time, I will appear in my book, looking like all other _fools_ to my title-page.
R. B.
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