M`Lehose, Agnes ("Clarinda") [Robert Burns] Long autograph letter signed from Agnes M`Lehose (signed "Clarinda"), to John Syme, requesting and beseeching the return of her love letters to Burns, "I have indeed, wondered at your and Dr. M`s unaccountable silence... it was so with common politeness not to answer a Lady`s letter. I am truly sorry for the cause of Dr. M`s silence... but as to your apology - it reminds me of some lines of Lord Lyttleton`s to his Lucy "She would have answered with her tears, But that she had not time"!.... I was glad however you came to the point, at last- and more so, that your opinion coincides with mine, as to the utter impropriety of these letters being given to the world at present - but, what can have impressed such an idea as that I ever conceeded the most distant intention to destroy these precious memorials of an attachment the recollection of which would warm my very soul were I to live till I was fourscore! - No, no - be assured I never will suffer one line of them to perish if I can prevent it - this I give you my solemn word of honour upon- which I trust is all the "pledge" you would desire from Clarinda. Nay, more, on condition you send me my letters, I will select such passages of our dear Bard`s letters, as well do honour to his memory.... every mind of the least taste must be gratified by any thing that flowed from the pen of him! who was indeed "his country`s glory & her shame", describing Burns`s letters to her as "not really literary - they are the passionate effusions of an elegant mind", promising to show them to Syme or Dr Maxwell when they come to Edinburgh, claiming that she too is eccentric "she too glory`s in these gifts of heaven that makes her so" and assuring Syme that the public would react with opprobium if the letters were published "you know well in what light even worthy people views a love correspondence with a married woman ? The bulk of mankind are strangers to the delicate refinements of superior minds". Clarinda promises to release for publication some of Burns letters to her "conditionally after securing my own letters" and assures Syme that if her conditions are not agreed to quickly she will feel "not at all well used", referring to a letter from Mrs Burns regarding Burns`s trustees, her feelings for Mrs Burns, the subscription in Edinburgh, her inability to help Burns`s children &c., 3pp and integral address panel, small later printed portrait of Clarinda and Burns pasted to blank margin of address panel, double glazed, 24 x 39cm., Edinburgh, 30 December - [17]96 Provenance: Note: A fascinating letter from Agnes M`Lehose ("Clarinda"), alternately entreating and demanding the return of her love letters to Burns which were then in the possession of Dr. Maxwell, following Burns`s death on 21 July 1796. Apparently unpublished. Agnes M`Lehose had left her married husband because of his cruelty and moved to Edinburgh in 1782. She met Burns on 3 December 1787 and thereupon they immediately began to exchange letters and verse, Burns addressing Agnes as "Clarinda" and she addressing him as "Sylvander". Their correspondence was short but passionate and they met for the last time on 6 December 1791, after which sent Burns sent Clarinda the moving poem "Ae fond kiss". After Burns`s death Agnes M`Lehose was naturally extremely keen to have her letters to Burns returned and six months after Burns`s death, as this letter makes clear, she is still doing everything in her power to get them back. Dr. William Maxwell (1760-1834), Burns`s doctor and friend attended Burns during his last illness, diagnosing the stabbing agonies of endocarditis as `flying gout` and prescribing sea-bathing in country quarters and horseriding, `cures` which probably hastened Burns`s end. Together with Cunningham and Syme, Maxwell became one of the Trustees who collected money for a fund to ensure that Burns`s widow and children did not want. It would appear that Maxwell had retained Agnes`s love letters to Burns for `safe keeping` as Agnes asks Syme "to exert yourself to persuade the other gentleman to restore them to me immediately... I can see no use they can be lying in Dr. M`s desk". John Syme (1755-1831), Collector of Stamps, became a friend of Burns when the poet moved to Dumfries in 1791, renting a flat on the floor above Syme`s office. He befriended the poet and in the summer of 1794 accompanied Burns on an extended tour through Galloway. He visited Burns at Brow on 15th July 1796, and again a few days later, when Burns had returned to Dumfries and was horrified at the poet`s deteriorated condition. After Burns`s death, Syme, with Dr Maxwell, organised the funeral, and, with Alexander Cunningham, worked unsparingly raising money to help the poet`s widow and children. He was one of those who urged Dr Currie to undertake his edition of Burns`s work. In a later letter, dated 9 January 1797, Agnes tells Syme "I am happy you have consented to return my letters at last , and that my pledge has pleased you.... you must pardon me for refusing to send Burns`s. I never will. I am determined not to allow them to be out of my house" (quoted in J.C. Ewing. Robert Burns`s letters addressed to Clarinda. 1921)
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