---
title: "To Patrick Miller"
author: "Robert Burns"
recipient: "Patrick Miller"
letter_number: 251
roman: "CCLI"
date: "April 1793"
place: "Dumfries"
source: "Project Gutenberg #18500 — The Complete Works of Robert Burns (ed. Allan Cunningham)"
editor: "Allan Cunningham"
source_url: "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/18500/pg18500.txt"
canonical_url: "https://robert-burns.com/letters/251-to-patrick-miller/"
---

# To Patrick Miller

## Editor's note
The time to which Burns alludes was the period of his occupation of Ellisland.

— Allan Cunningham

## Letter
SIR,

My poems having just come out in another edition, will you do me the honour to accept of a copy? A mark of my gratitude to you, as a gentleman to whose goodness I have been much indebted; of my respect for you, as a patriot who, in a venal, sliding age, stands forth the champion of the liberties of my country; and of my veneration for you, as a man, whose benevolence of heart does honour to human nature.

There _was_ a time, Sir, when I was your dependent: this language _then_ would have been like the vile incense of flattery—I could not have used it. Now that connexion is at an end, do me the honour to accept this _honest_ tribute of respect from, Sir,

Your much indebted humble servant,

R. B.

---

Source: [Project Gutenberg #18500 — The Complete Works of Robert Burns (ed. Allan Cunningham)](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/18500/pg18500.txt), edited by Allan Cunningham  
Canonical HTML: https://robert-burns.com/letters/251-to-patrick-miller/