Friday 6th August 2010
Light cast on Robert Burns last days
BBC News
A letter which describes how Scottish poet Robert Burns was "reduced and shattered" in his final days has been unveiled.
The letter, which was written in 1796 by Burns's boss at the Excise, where he worked, has only recently been discovered.
It describes how the poet made a journey to Dumfries to collect his salary exactly a week before his death.
Despite his ill health, Burns's "wit and humour remained", the letter said.