page_title: Robert Burns's diamond point engravings
section_title: Jessie Lewars
hierarchical_section_title: Robert Burns's diamond point engravings / Diamond point / On drinking glasses / Jessie Lewars
caption_attribution_description: English: Jessie Lewars - friend of the Robert Burns family. Born in Dumfries.
context_page_description: Robert Burns came to know James Cunninghamme, Earl of Glencairn in Edinburgh in 1786 through a 'Letter of Introduction' provided by Dalrymple of Orangefield who was married to Lady Glencairn's sister. The Earl received the poet warmly in his house and introduced him to his friends. One of several gifts from the earl to the poet was a diamond point pen, stylus, or cutter which he used to write upon many windowpanes and glasses, scribing verse, his signature, epigrams, or other writings for posterity. Many of these diamond-point engravings survive, some however are contentious as regards either their authenticity, meaning, or both.
context_section_description: Jessie Lewars was a friend and neighbour of the Burns family in Dumfries who nursed Robert Burns during his last days. When she was briefly ill or indisposed Robert write an epitaph to her on a crystal goblet and asked her to retain it as a keepsake:-
  He also wrote a rhymed toast to her on another crystal goblet containing wine and water using his diamond pen. He had been ill and seemingly in slumber, he observed Jessy Lewars moving about the house with a light step lest she should disturb him. He presented the goblet to her.
  The Toast
  Fill me with the rosy wine;
  Call a toast, a toast divine;
  Give the Poet's darling flame;
  Lovely Jessie be her name:
  Then thou mayest freely boast
  Thou hast given a peerless toast.
caption: Jessie Lewars.
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