Halliday, James

Writing on 7^th November 1789, to the Dumfries lawyer, David Newall (at whose house, Isle, Burns stayed while Ellisland was being completed), Burns said 'The bearer, James Halliday, is the lad who executed the drain between Isle and Ellisland. It is now finished, at least four or five days work more will conclude it; and these few days' work must, I doubt, stand over until next Spring, as the business is impractible in Wintry weather... I have not taken an accurate [sic] measure of the drain, but by a pretty near guess, I take it to be about 80 Roods in length. Seventeen pence per rood was the bargain, which, taking 85 roods as the just length, makes the whole amount £6-0-5 but at this rate the poor fellows will scarce have I/- per day... and between you and me, they very well deserve 14 or 15d per day, as they wrought both hard and dirty and kept no stated hours, but from sun to sun almost.'fre

Writing again to Newall in the Spring of 1790, Burns said: 'Inclosed is a state of the account between you and me and James Halliday respecting the drain. I have stated it at 20d per rood, as in fact, even at that, they have not the wages they ought to have had, and I cannot for the soul of me see a poor devil a loser at my hand. Humanity, I hope, as well as Charity, will cover a multitude of sins, a mantle, of which — between you and me — I have some little need.'