Chapter II: Edinburgh

1786. _Nov. 29._ Burns arrives in Edinburgh.

_Dec. 9._ Henry Mackenzie praises the Kilmarnock _Poems in The
Lounger_.

_Dec. 14._ William Creech issues subscription bills for the
Edinburgh edition of the _Poems_.

1787. _Jan. 13._ The Grand Lodge of Scotland toasts Burns as
‘Caledonia’s Bard’.

_April 21._ Edinburgh _Poems_ published.

_April 23._ Burns sells his copyright for 100 guineas.

_May 5-June 1._ Burns tours the Border.

End of _May_. VOL. I of _Scots Musical Museum_ published.

_June 2._ Burns receives Meg Cameron’s appeal.

_June 8._ Burns’s ‘_éclatant_ return to Mauchline’.

End of _June_. Burns tours West Highlands as far as Inverary.

_July 29._ Jean Armour ‘in for it again’.

_Aug. 2._ Burns completes his autobiographical letter to Dr.
John Moore.

_Aug. 8._ Burns returns to Edinburgh.

_Aug. 15._ Burns freed of Meg Cameron’s writ.

_Aug. 25-Sept. 16._ Highland tour with William Nicol.

_Oct. 4-20._ Tour in Stirlingshire.

_Oct._ Death of poet’s daughter, Jean.

_Nov._ Burns begins active work for the _Museum_.

_Dec. 4._ Burns meets Agnes M’Lehose.

_Dec. 7._ Burns dislocates his knee.

_Dec. 8._ The Clarinda correspondence begins.

1788. _Jan. 4._ Burns’s first visit to Clarinda.

_Feb. 13-14._ Peak of the Clarinda correspondence: four letters
in two days.

_Feb. 18._ Burns leaves Edinburgh.

_Feb. 23._ Burns returns to Mauchline; is ‘disgusted’ by Jean.

_Feb. 27 (?)-Mar. 2._ Burns visits Ellisland with John Tennant.

_Mar. 3._ Jean bears twin girls, of whom one dies on Mar. 10 and
the other on Mar. 22.

_c._ _Mar. 13._ Burns returns to Edinburgh.

_Mar. 18._ Burns signs lease of Ellisland.

_Mar. 24._ Burns leaves Edinburgh.

_Mar._ VOL. II of _Scots Musical Museum_ published.

Late _April_. Burns acknowledges Jean Armour as his wife.

_April-May._ Burns receives Excise instructions at Mauchline.