I find it utterly incredible that McGrath and bunter can trot out that unconvincing pro-Union line about "unite..and look to the future", and expect anyone to take them seriously. Look at the second verse for as neat an encapsulation of "Realpolitik" as one could find. True it is that Burns rises above the explicit religious bigotry of the contemporary version; indeed, he rises above organized, "revealed" religion entirely in the final commendation of Deism, or something like it, at the rear. But to see this version of "Ye Jacobites" as somehow pro-Union is as foolish, or deliberately devious, as to claim Burns's true views on "Great Britain" and Union are found in "The Dumfries Volunteers" (without drawing attention to the specific historical circumstances and clever irony of the song) rather than "A Parcel of Rogues". But there are plenty of British politicians who attempt it, and I would roll over laughing if it were not that they and their hangers-on and fellow-travellers still occupy positions of influence and power. Still, Burns's "Letters" remain as evidence clear and convincing of his own views on Union &c; if any explicit refutation of the two views from some years ago be needed, ye'll find them there.