When the crops failed on his farm, Ellisland, in Dumfriesshire before his 29th birthday, Burns became disillusioned with farming and looked for another source of income. Having little experience of other types of work, apart from a short time as a Flax Dresser, he contacted some influential friends in the hope of gaining their patronage in his change of career. One such man was the Earl of Glencairn, to whom Burns wrote a hopeful, pleading letter in the January of 1788, outlining his desire to be an Exciseman.
Government Taxes
It was an unpopular trade and the Excisemen themselves were little liked, for their job was to make sure people paid their taxes, especially with regard to alcohol. Employed by the government, it was the equivalent of today’s HM Customs and Excise. Once he had applied for a position, Burns then appealed to Robert Graham of Fintray for further patronage. They had been introduced at Athole House and Burns took advantage of this when he needed help in order to attain a regular pay and security for his family.
Smuggling and Customs and Excise
Burns was subsequently added to the roll of Excisemen in September 1789. It was a hard and often dangerous job. Covering ten parishes in his first area, Burns rode extensively, writing that he was “condemned to gallop at least 200 miles every week.” From his letters recorded in the Life and Works of Burns by James Currie, Burns later complained: “My fingers are so worn to the bone in holding the noses of his Majesty’s liege subjects to the grindstone of Excise that I am totally unfit for wielding a pen in any generous subject.”
The danger was real in a period when smuggling was rife, with huge profits on items such as beer, cider, brandy, tea and coffee, and Excisemen were sometimes beaten or killed. They made surprise visits to traders to check books for accurate accounts and to make sure the correct tax was applied on whisky. It certainly was not one of the most popular jobs.
Illicit Whisky Stills
As well as the roaring trade in smuggled goods there were also illicit stills for making whisky. In the 1780s over 6000 of these stills were seized and destroyed by Excisemen. For his trouble, Burns was paid £50 per year and if he should be fortunate to arrest any smugglers he earned an extra £50 and half of the captured goods. In 1790, Burns was transferred to the Dumfries Collection where he was mainly responsible for the Excise duty on goods coming into the port, such as tobacco.
The Rosamond on the Solway
There is a recorded moment of glory for Burns in the seizure of the Rosamond, on the Solway, when Burns evidently kept watch on the stranded smugglers while awaiting help to board the ship. There are, however, conflicting stories as to the exact proceedings. Some versions talk of the ship being scuttled by her crew to avoid the goods being seized. Whatever the correct version of events, it seems that Robert Burns was indeed involved in her capture and there is a full account in Maurice Lindsay’s The Burns Encyclopedia.
Port Glasgow and Dumfries Excise Divisions
According to Lindsay, in 1790 Mrs Dunlop, who had become a motherly friend to Robert Burns, asked Burns if her acquaintance, Mr Corbet in the Excise, could be of any use in helping him get on. Since Burns was eager to progress to the larger ports of Greenock or Port Glasgow he replied: “Were he to interest himself properly for me, he could easily, by Martinmas 1791, transport me to Port Glasgow, port Division, which would be the ultimatum of my present Excise hopes.”
It was, however, only in the Dumfries Port Division that Burns received his promotion. He moved to a town district of Dumfries in 1792, where he was able to work from his home at Mill Street, controlling brewers, tanners, chandlers and over fifty tea and wine dealers.
Robert Burns Poetry and Song
While Burns carried out the day job, he continued writing his poems. The fact he was an Exciseman himself did not prevent him writing the song, The Deil’s Awa wi’ the Exciseman’. This illustrates Burns’ empathy with the people in their wish to be rid of these government men, so they could continue drinking their purloined goods.
Although he never served at the Port Glasgow division, Burns seemingly was a good officer and his name was on the list for promotion to supervisor. Robert Burns remained at his station working from Mill Street until his death on 21st July 1796, still a serving officer of the Excise.
Rosemary Gemmell - Professional freelance writer of published short stories and articles in the UK, US and online. Author of historical romance and ...
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