Herewith an interesting extract from the Burns Encyclopedia

http://www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/Ecclefechan.328.html

<QUOTE>
Ecclefechan
A small village in Dumfriesshire which became the birthplace of Thomas
Carlyle.
Burns twice visited the village. On the second visit, 7th February 1795, he
wrote to Thomson: 'You cannot have any idea of the predicament in which I
write you. In the course of my duty as Supervisor (in which capacity I have
acted of late) I came yesternight to this unfortunate, wicked little
village. I have gone forward - but snows of ten feet deep have impeded my
progress: I have tried to 'gae back the gate I cam again', but the same
obstacle has shut me up within insuperable bars. To add to my misfortune;
since dinner, a Scraper has been torturing Catgut, in sounds that would have
insulted the dying agonies of a Sow under the hands of a Butcher - and
thinks himself, on that very account, exceeding good company. In fact, I
have been in a dilemma, either to get drunk, to forget the miseries; or to
hang myself, to get rid of these miseries: like a prudent man (a character
congenial to my every thought word and deed). I, of two evils have chosen
the least, and am very drunk - at your service!'
<UNQUOTE>

Roger