How rich am I who have such a treasure as you! You know me; you know how to make me happy, and you do it most effectually. God bless you with "long life, long youth, long pleasure, and a friend!" Tomorrow night, according to your own direction, I shall watch the window--'tis the star that guides me to Paradise. The great relish to all is that honour, that innocence, that Religion are the witnesses and guarantees of our affection, Adieu, Clarinda! I am going to remember you in my prayers. SYLVANDER. * * * * GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. LETTERS. (_General Correspondence Resumed_.) * * * * * LXXXIV.--To MR. GAVIN HAMILTON. [_April_ 1788] MOSSGIEL, _Friday Morning_. The language of refusal is to me the most difficult language on earth, and you are the man in the world, excepting one of Right Hon. designation, to whom it gives me the greatest pain to hold such language. My brother has already got money,[75] and shall want nothing in my power to enable him to fulfil his engagement with you; but to be security on so large a scale, even for a brother, is what I dare not do, except I were in such circumstances of life as that the worst that might happen could not greatly injure me. I never wrote a letter which gave me so much pain in my life, as I know the unhappy consequences:--I shall incur the displeasure of a gentleman for whom I have the highest respect and to whom I am deeply obliged.--I am etc. ROBERT BURNS. [Footnote 75: Altogether L180. Gilbert is meant, and the business referred to was renewal of lease of Mossgiel, the poet to be cautioner.] * * * * * LXXXV.--To MR. WILLIAM DUNBAR, W.S., EDINBURGH. MAUCHLINE, 7_th April_ 1788. I have not delayed so long to write you, my much respected friend, because I thought no further of my promise. I have long since given up that formal kind of correspondence where one sits down irksomely to write a letter, because he is in duty bound to do so.