Engraving of Robert Burns and Gavin Hamilton at Nanse Tinnock's

"Robert Burns and Gavin Hamilton at Nanse Tinnock's", print of a steel plate engraving.   Gavin Hamilton (1751-1805) was a Mauchline lawyer and landlord to the Burns family at Mossgiel farm. He was also a dear friend and patron to Robert Burns. Burns found a like-mind in Hamilton – they were both freemasons and held similar views with regard to the church and religion. Burns dedicated his first book of poems "The Kilmarnock Edition" to Hamilton, calling him, “the poor man’s friend in need, the gentleman in word and deed".   Nanse Tinnock's was an inn in Mauchline which Burns had visited, and referred to in his poems. In "The Complete Works of Robert Burns", this print illustrates the poem "The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer to the Scotch Representatives in the House of Commons". The following verse mentions Nanse Tinnock's:   "Tell yon guid bluid of auld Boconnock's, I'll be his debt twa mashlum bonnocks, An' drink his health in auld Nanse Tinnock's Nine times a-week. If he some scheme, like tea an' winnocks Wad kindly seek."