Letter to James Clark: 10 June 1808
Mr James Clark Argyle-Shire
Militia Band Aberdeen Paisley
10th June, 1808 My Dear Friend I have scarcely so much
leisure time as to say God bless you —— In these hard times the man who would
live on any thing like honourable terms with the world must toil hard to attain
it: you must be sensible of this and will excuse me. I have seen Mr Kemble
play Falstaff, it was a glorious treat. Alas! Smith, poor fellow is lying very
badly — he has a tremendou[s] cough, and I fear the worst for him; he hurt
himself flitting about a fourthnight since and has been confined to bed ever
since – I will [drop] you a few lines ere long letting you know how he is; a
worthier fellow exists not. Mr Stuart has returned to Paisley
quite disgusted with the Antiburgherian bugs. —— I send you a few Play Bills,
and a copy of what Will. Taylor, The Commodore, is pleased to call Poems, his
elegy on Findley, the Change-keeper, who died lately, has met with universal
deprecation, the Kilbarchan people are likewise very ill pleased with him. I
hope you received the short letter I sent you lately wishing you to favour me
with a few Irish airs. I already have Kitty Tyrrel, Patheen a Fuen,
˄& Woodhouselee, none of which you need send. but I am
depending to hear from you soon with something of that kind; the sooner, the
better: I am sorry I have nothing worth sending you but these trash of Taylors
– I thought, as you know the man, you might wish to see them. Remember me to
my friend Tom and Mrs
B. kind respects to my auld-fauren cronie J. King — there are so many more, to
mention them all would be endless. Now, may you be d—d with want of good
fellowship if you dont write soon, and let me know how you are coming on. I
remain, Yours most sincerely. R. Tannahill. Emendations: tremendous • tremendou[à] drop • d[ààà] Copy Text: MS Robertson 1/17 Previous Publication: Notes: |