Burns, Robert

Autograph manuscript signed ("Robert Burns") of his satirical poem about a census-taker,"The Inventory" (here untitled), 3 pages (13 x 8 in; 330 x 202 mm), n.p., n.d. [22 February 1786], on good quality paper watermarked "R. Williams," the fourth page blank except for the notation "copied by W. W. C" (W. W. Chambers), numbered "C v 2 fol 293" before the first line of verse; a small ink stain on first page, the central vertical fold skillfully rehinged, the extreme fore-edge of second leaf a trifle frayed (without loss), laid in loose in a dark blue morocco gilt protective folder, edges gilt, by Riviere; in fine condition.

Unnamed consignor (sale, Christie's, 14 December 2000, lot 22)

Printed in Poems and Songs of Robert Burns, ed. J. Kinsley;  Index of English Literary Manuscripts, ed. M. M. Smith,  vol. 3, BuR 426;  J. W. Egerer, A Bibliography of Robert Burns (1964)

Autograph manuscript signed ("Robert Burns") of his satirical poem about a census-taker,"The Inventory" (here untitled), 3 pages (13 x 8 in; 330 x 202 mm), n.p., n.d. [22 February 1786], on good quality paper watermarked "R. Williams," the fourth page blank except for the notation "copied by W. W. C" (W. W. Chambers), numbered "C v 2 fol 293" before the first line of verse; a small ink stain on first page, the central vertical fold skillfully rehinged, the extreme fore-edge of second leaf a trifle frayed (without loss), laid in loose in a dark blue morocco gilt protective folder, edges gilt, by Riviere; in fine condition.
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"I send you here a faithu' list."  This witty and lengthy (62 lines) poem is subtitled: "Answer to Mandate sent by the surveyor [identified by Burns in a footnote on page 1 as Mr. Robert Aiken] of windows, carriages, etc. to each farmer, ordering them to send a signed list of their horses, servants, wheel carriages, etc. and whether they were married men or bachelors, and what children they had."  Burns opens his jocular "Answer to a Mandate" with: "Sir, as your mandate did request, / I send you here a faithfu' list, / My horses, servants, carts and graith, / To which I'm free to tak my aith."  He goes on to enumerate in verse his four horses, wheeled-carriages, and male servants: "For men, I've three mischievous boys, / Rum-de'vils for rantin and noise ... I rule them as I ought discreetly, / And often labour them completely ..."  He has no female servants: "I've nane in female servant station, / Lord keep me ay frae a' temptation! / I hae no wife, and that my bliss is, / And ye hae laid nae tax on Misses."   

Burns concludes his poem as follows, ending with a nice, large signature:

                       And now, remember, Mr. Aiken,

                       Nae kind of licence out I'm taking,

                       Thro' dirt and dub for life I'll paddle

                       E'er I sae dear pay for a saddle;

                       I've sturdy stumps the Lord be thanked,

                       And a' my gates on foot I'll shank it. –

                       This list wi' my ain hand I've wrote it,                        

                       The day an' date as under noted;

                       Then know all ye whom it concerns,

                       Subscripsi huic

                                                  Robert Burns

 

"The Inventory" is known in two forms: one of 62 lines (as here) and another of 76 lines. The poem was first published in a 1799 Glasgow chapbook (Egerer 43); the following year it was collected in the James Currie edition of Burns's Works.  Another fair copy manuscript, which Burns sent to Lady Don, is at the University of Edinburgh.