To John Campbell Esq
Advocate at Levenside
Dumbartonshire [sic]
My Dearest Moitié as this is the twentieth of the month, I hd some distant hopes (as you said you’d be back by this time) to see you to day or Tomorrow, however the arrival of yrs My Dearest by this days post has disappointed me greatly, for I see by it you are only about leaving Inverary [sic] now: I think indeed My Dear since that is the case ‘tis better for you to stay at Levenside till the Circuits come on, as you r to attend them, than to make this journey; ’twill be a great deal more agreeable to yourself being there, and give pleasure to your Papa and Mama who has scarce seen you yet, as for me I thank God I am in grate [sic] good health & only omitted writting [sic] by the post you mention upon account of Company coming at the time I had allotted for doing it, but if youll remember my dearest I was far from insisting with you to write evry post, or oftener than you incline it, for I should be sorry if to gratify me you were to put yourself under any sort of restraint, & when I omit a post I always think it does not signify, because I know that so much fondness as makes one uneasy at a neglect of that sort, you would look upon as romantick, & therefore I take it for granted dont run any risk of that kind, which makes [sealing wax damage to document] more remiss than I should be otherwise, but far from [document damage] mindful of you My Beloved Orsames than during the period that you said days seem’d months to you while we were divided, I enclose two letters ie one from Ld Banff came to day, & as I thought it contained the news of Lady Banffs delivery I opend it. the other has been here some posts but because I thought you might see the Author of it at Inverary [sic] I quite neglected to enclose it all this time. remember me my dearest so ceptably to all at Levenside, & let me hear particularly about my poor little Folks. Jackie I have a notion is not so thriving as his Br so write honestly if tis so & believe Me My Dearest yours for ever Grace Campbell
Thursday 20th