Syne bairnheid, Fergusson haed dree'd ill-heal (jaloused tae be ane o the heidmaist reasons why he didna gang til the Ryal Hie Schuil till a year efter maist fowk his eild), an it wis aften merkit bi chiels that saw him that he leukit gey pale an frail. Aither in or juist afore the stairt o 1774, it became clear that Fergusson wis dreein some kynd o the depression, his ordinar blytheness wis gane an he semmed tae retreat intil a sort o releegious doul, readin ainlie The Bible an his behaviour becam gey orra. Gaun by Alexander Peterkin in his The Works of Robert Fergusson. To Which is Prefixed a Sketch of the Author's Life (London, 1807) bi March 1774 Fergusson wis: "...quite aware that his mind was in disorder, and he anticipated with terror the confinement in a mad-house, which he saw would be unavoidable." In Juilie, the members o the Cape Club raised a collection o siller for tae help their freend, but maugre o some seemin rallies o his heal, he wis on the hail gettin waur. Later that same month he teuk a faw doun a stair, an furder skaithed his heid. Athin days he wis incarcerate in the Edinburgh Bedlam, Darien Hoose. The traigic, rapid faw frae genius tae madness wis endit bi his daith on the 17t o October 1774. He wis juist twinty-fower.