Ecclefechan

Burns twice visited the village. On the second visit, 7^th February 1795, he wrote to Thomson: 'You cannot have any idea of the predicament in which I write you. In the course of my duty as Supervisor (in which capacity I have acted of late) I came yesternight to this unfortunate, wicked little village. I have gone forward — but snows of ten feet deep have impeded my progress: I have tried to 'gae back the gate I cam again', but the same obstacle has shut me up within insuperable bars. To add to my misfortune; since dinner, a Scraper has been torturing Catgut, in sounds that would have insulted the dying agonies of a Sow under the hands of a Butcher — and thinks himself, on that very account, exceeding good company. In fact, I have been in a dilemma, either to get drunk, to forget the miseries; or to hang myself, to get rid of these miseries: like a prudent man (a character congenial to my every thought word and deed). I, of two evils have chosen the least, and am very drunk — at your service!'