Burness, James (1750-1837)

On 3^rd August, writing from Mossgiel, Burns devotes most of his letter to telling Cousin James about the arrival in the district of 'the Presbytry Relief', or Buchanites. On 4^th September 1787, Burns writes from Inverness asking James to meet him at the Inn, 'Stonehive'. They duly meet on 10^th September in Stonehaven.

Burns does not seem to have written to his cousin again until 9^th February 1789, when he writes from Ellisland giving James news of his farm and announcing his marriage to Jean. There is then a long gap in the surviving correspondence, until 12^th July 1796, when Burns in the agony of anxiety over debts, real and imaginary, which troubled him in his last days, wrote begging his cousin to send him £10: 'O, James! Did you know the pride of my heart, you would feel doubly for m! Alas I am not used to beg!... Forgive me for once more mentioning by return of post. Save me from the horrors of a jail!' James sent the money and after Burns's death a further £5 to Jean with an offer to take young Robert and educate the boy with his own children, a generous offer since James does not seem to have been a rich man. Jean, however, did not want to part with any of her children.