An email or phone call we get quite frequently is from someone in search of "anything in the hand of M'Cheyne." We must almost always disappoint the inquirer. "Anything in M'Cheyne's hand" is quite scarce and we have handled less than five autograph items in the last 30 years, three of those being simple clipped autographs.
So we were delighted when this little item became available. It was written in the year of his death [1843], and was perhaps one of the last little pieces of correspondence he ever penned. Though undated, it was penned on the rear of a small tract / broadside of Horatius Bonar's hymn, which was written and first published in January of 1843, The Fulness of Jesus. Printed by Alexander Elliot of Kelso. This makes the dating of the letter rather secure. He died on March 25 of that year, so the manuscript must be within 60 days or so of that.
It is a brief, charming little note of introduction, fittingly simple and Christocentric. Entirely in M'Cheyne's hand, it is addressed to Miss Elizabeth Urmston at Walmer, and reads,
"Dear friend,
Allow me to introduce to you Miss Clark, one who loves Jesus and whom you also will love..
Ever yours in the gospel.
Robt M. M'Cheyne"
Folds as shown, small chips to the margins, but very nicely preserved on the whole.
