£938
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs | 605
Auction: 17 June 2020 at 11:00 BST
from one of his excise books, made up of two smaller pieces joined together, written on both sides, with blurred red circular excise stamp on the recto, c 85 x 135mm., undated, probably early 1790s
Note: A note at the head on one side states "The Autograph of Robert Burns, taken out of one of his Excise books - given to J.C. Loudon of Bayswater, by John Syme of Ryedale, and authenticated by the signature of the latter gentleman". On the verso Syme has written "Autograph of Burns, J.Syme".
Burns' commission as an excise officer was issued in July 1788, and he began work at Dumfries in September 1789 at a salary of £50 a year. The work was strenuous, and largely involved searching for contraband materials and checking weights and measures. The entries here state that he "Weighed one stage of Candles at 149lbs", "Took of the Brewer's Worts", "Weighed six Hides & 122 Calves at 16 lbs", and "attended Collection as per margin". There are in all six references to taking off "Brewer's worts". A 'wort' is an infusion of malt or other grain which after fermentation becomes beer, or which may be used for the distillation of spirits, and Burns was evidently checking the strength of the alcohol being offered for sale.
Burns at first tried to combine his work as an Excise officer with farming at Ellisland, but this proved too exhausting, and after promotion he was able to give up his farm in late 1791 and move with his family into a house in Dumfries. He was, perhaps surprisingly, a conscientious official, and in December 1794 was further promoted to acting supervisor. Despite his radical sympathies Burns took a considerable part in organising the Dumfries Volunteers, who paraded with weapons expressing their loyalty to the Crown.