> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Address of Beelzebub: Robert Burns in defence of migrants - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/address-of-beelzebub-robert-burns-in-defence-of-migrants/ - Published: 2014-01-25T00:01:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-22T10:10:54.000Z - Description: As political rhetoric against migrants reaches a new height, it's Robert Burns' birthday. We're re-publishing a letter he wrote in 1786 to the representative of Scottish Highland landlords, as if from Beelzebub. He is defending the right of Highlanders to migrate to Canada and seek a better life, - Author: Robert Burns - Tags: Europe, #Migrated, Migration, United Kingdom, Scotland, Migrants, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 15:58, #appended-excerpt To the Right Honourable the Earl of Breadalbane, President of the Right Honourable and Honourable the Highland Society, which met on the 23rd of May last at the Shakespeare, Covent Garden, to concert ways and means to frustrate the designs of five hundred Highlanders, who, as the Society were informed by Mr. M'Kenzie of Applecross, were so audacious as to attempt [an](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/41.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) escape from their lawful lords and masters whose property they were, by emigrating from the lands of Mr. Macdonald of Glengary to the wilds of Canada, in search of that fantastic thing-Liberty. Long life, my Lord, an' health be yours, [Unskaithed](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1759.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) by hunger'd Highland boors; Lord grant me nae duddie, desperate beggar, Wi' dirk, claymore, and rusty trigger, May [twin](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1747.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) [auld](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/62.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) Scotland o' a life She likes-as butchers like a knife. Faith you and Applecross were right To keep the Highland hounds in sight: I doubt na! they [wad](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1771.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) [bid](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/143.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) nae better, Than let them [ance](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/42.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) out owre the water, Then up among [thae](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1664.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) lakes and seas, They'll mak what rules and laws they please: Some daring Hancocke, or a Franklin, May [set](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1417.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) their Highland [bluid](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/195.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) a-ranklin; Some Washington again may head them, Or some Montgomery, fearless, lead them, Till God knows what may be effected When [by](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/291.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) such heads and hearts directed, Poor dunghill sons of dirt and mire May to Patrician rights aspire! [Nae](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1179.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) sage North now, nor sager Sackville, To watch and premier o'er the pack vile, - An' whare will ye get Howes and Clintons To bring them to a right repentance- To [cowe](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/434.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) the rebel generation, An' save the honour o' the nation? They, an' be d-d! what right [hae](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/839.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) they To meat, or sleep, or light [o'](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1208.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) day? Far less-to riches, pow'r, or freedom, But what your lordship likes to [gie](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/769.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) them? But hear, my lord! Glengarry, hear! Your hand's [owre](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1218.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) light to them, I fear; Your factors, grieves, trustees, and bailies, I [canna](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/309.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) say but they do gaylies; They lay aside a' tender mercies, An' [tirl](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1702.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) the hallions to the birses; Yet while they're only poind't and herriet, They'll keep their stubborn Highland spirit: [But](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/288.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) smash them! crash them a' to spails, An' rot the dyvors [i'](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/949.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) the jails! The young dogs, swinge them to the labour; Let [wark](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1789.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) an' hunger [mak](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1124.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) them sober! The hizzies, if they're [aughtlins](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/59.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) fawsont, Let them in Drury-lane be lesson'd! An' if the wives an' dirty [brats](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/237.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) Come [thiggin](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1670.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) at your doors an' yetts, [Flaffin](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/681.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) wi' duds, an' grey wi' beas', Frightin away your ducks an' geese; [Get](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/767.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) out a horsewhip or a jowler, The langest thong, the fiercest growler, An' [gar](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/744.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) the tatter'd gypsies pack Wi' [a'](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/4.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) their bastards on their back! Go on, my Lord! I [lang](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1054.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) to meet you, An' in my house at [hame](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/858.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) to [greet](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/815.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) you; [Wi'](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1859.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) common lords ye [shanna](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1422.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) mingle, The [benmost](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/137.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) [neuk](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1190.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) beside the ingle, At my right [han'](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/859.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) assigned your seat, 'Tween Herod's hip an' Polycrate: [Or](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1212.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) if you on your station tarrow, Between Almagro and Pizarro, A seat, I'm sure ye're well deservin't; [An'](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/40.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) [till](http://www.robertburns.org/works/glossary/1695.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) ye come-your humble servant, Beelzebub. ***Liked this piece? Please donate to OurKingdom*** [***here*** ](http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/donate)***to help keep us producing independent journalism. Thank you.*** As political rhetoric against migrants reaches a new height, it's Robert Burns' birthday. We're re-publishing a letter he wrote in 1786 to the representative of Scottish Highland landlords, as if from Beelzebub. He is defending the right of Highlanders to migrate to Canada and seek a better life, but it is as relevant to the rights and plights of migrants today.