Burns had hoped for an appointment in the tax service and returned to farming almost in desperation after his patrons had failed to help him. At the last moment, though, he obtained authorization to receive Excise Instructions. With his commission in his pocket, he began work at Ellisland and acknowledged Jean Armour as his wife, after she had already borne him two sets of twins.
The farm went badly. Burns soon turned to the Excise to supplement his lease and moved into Dumfries. For the remaining five years of his life he was wholly dependent on his salary. The third edition of his Poems (1793), brought him no profits, since he had been so ill-advised as to sell his copyright in 1787.
