To John Campbell Esq
To be left at the Right Honourable
The Lord Banff’s Lodgings
In Mills Square
Edinburgh

Sunday night
I had just now begin to let go the hopes I have flatter’d myself with both yesterday & to day of seeing you; indeed I thought them badly founded, yet what one wishes, is so agreeable to believe, that I could not help indulging a hint I had sent me last post of your being to be here in a day or two, not withstanding your letter of the same dates, was far from promising it; I really don’t know Orsames what to think of the D’s answer, but I imagine I should explain it favourably, if it was not that I always see every thing in its worst light, when you are away from me; no doubt my Brother will write soon, indeed I must say as to him, he has enter’d as minutely into this affair, as my Papa, had he been alive, could have done; but for the D, I think my self very little obliged to him, since he has never concern’d himself about it, with the view that as an only surviving Parent I think he ought to have had.
I’m afraid your Father will insist upon your going west with him, but I can’t think he will be disobliged at your declining it, so I hope you’ll get it shifted off, for indeed I shall be sadly damped if you do not; how much am I obliged to you Orsames for that entertaining motto you enclose to me, but this I can assure you, there only wants your name, where Inlea is, to make it mine; were the case otherwise, I really fancy our affair should go better on, for I have always noticed, that where parties are indifferent, or love by halves, those matches go on most swimmingly, however, these difficulties we have met with, I persuade my self will make us yet more happy hereafter – I shall long for tomorrows letters as I hope to hear what you are doing; Lord Ruthven ask’d me just now when you thought of moving this way, I wish I may be able to answer him to morrow; if Lord Banffs affair comes to an issue so soon as it seems to us here to promise, Im afraid he’ll keep you in Town; I never heard a word from Miss Campbell about her crofts, so I fancy you have grasp’d right about it; as to the House you mention I think ‘tis a pitty [sic] there are bugs in it, for I have heard say without taking down the wenscoating [sic], there is no probabillity [sic] of getting them smok’d out, but perhaps this may be a mistake, and I should be very glad it was, for I fancy the House would otherwise answer mighty well; Mc Millan wrote last post, & I shall answer it to Night; I cant think, how you could scruple medling with any thing I had concern in, because you say I did not desire it, but I know [document damaged] of it, nor did not fancy MacMillan did, he mentions I think [document damaged] if youll be so good I wish you’d take it from him, & deposite [sic] 40 of it with my friend Hugo, & I’ll write to him soon how he is to dispose of it; the rest if you please you’ll bring over with you, in Gold; if ’tis not too troublesome to carry; I think the Bread Basket the prittiest [sic] present that can be, if it was not too expensive a one, but I imagine such a thing must come high; I hope the Captain has changed his noat [sic] by the virtue of matrimony, if he does not soon, I’m afraid he’ll find but little real Happiness in it, but that I should be sorry for; I forgot to tell you I had a letter last post from Lady Kathy Wemyss when she told me L. Strichen at going north had told her the settlements were all agreed upon, & he fancy’d there was now no further stop to our affair; Good Mrs Noble writes that she has seen you & is much taken with you (& I dare say you’ll think her a sweet agreeable woman;) indeed Orsames My favourites are all so fond of you, that I don’t believe they will suffer me to keep you all to myself; I beg you’ll take care how you are mounted next time you travel for that weak animal you rode from this on, was almost as bad as too metal a one, & Ruthven & My Sister both desire to be remember’d to you & pray make my compts [compliments] to Bess & [?]; I wait impatiently to hear of a happy conclusion to Ld R-s affair; you need not doubt my thinking of you – a tous les moments de jour; but I don't know if I should fancy so of you, for yester day I playd the whole evening at whist, & tho’ all advantages was against me, I had such luck as you [document damaged]. Farewell agreeable Orsames. GS [Grace Stewart]

To Mr John Campbell Advocate
At his House in the Cowgate
Edinburgh

I received your letter my beloved moitié last night, and am sorry to think you had any uneasiness by my neglect of writing, which was quite owing to my being at Rosedoe and not reflecting that if I did not write by the Boy that went to bring the letters, the post day for answering them would be lost, however to prevent that a second time, I wrote when the fridays letters were sent, forgetting again that it would not go till Sunday when I wrote as usual, so that my Dearest you’d be surprised to receive two in one day, but the way it happened was as I tell you; as to yr Little Mirry letter my Dear Life I was vastly happy in receiving it, and thought myself fondly obliged to you for writing it, as I saw very well it had cost you some trouble, but ‘twould have been a great change indeed if a letter from you wrote in any shape had not been [?] wd come to your little wifie; as you don't mention Lady Banff I hope she is recovering well, & the young Stranger in good health, your Mother would gladly have you purchase back Miss Jennys horse from the Captain, but as she would not give above four or five pound for it, I fancy he’ll not part with it so easily; theres none now to draw the Chaise, I got one from one of the Tennants to lead us to Rosedoe that perform’d finaly; the Book you wanted the list out of, I hope I have hit upon, & shall write it here, just as ’tis set down there;
Jurisdiction Act £0.0.6
Vesting ---------- 0.0.6
Indemnity Act--- 0.0.6
Ward holding--- 0.0.3
Return of ye Rebells- 0.0.2
Highd Dress ------------- 0.0.2

The Monie I wanted I’ve got from Mr Colin, five Pounds in case of emmergencies [sic]; we live very sollitary [sic] here since the Sheriff went away, yr letter to him I shall forward next post for ’twas so late before I received it that the Inverary [sic] post was gone, I beg my dearest you’ll get a pair of scarlet leading strings from Mrs Seton, & bring out with you; I long to hear of my Brs [brother’s] arrival as I hope you wont have any thing to keep you after that [document damaged] our little folks are very well, as all the rest are, & return their compts [compliments] this is all from my most Dearest Life yours wholly GC
Levenside
July 18th

To Mr John Campbell Advocate
To the care of Mr Menzies
of Coutteratters at Newtile [sic]
In Angus
By Perth

My Dearest Moitié when I wrote you last I was in such a hurry I scarce knew what I said besides the disappointment of finding you gone further off, when I was looking out ev’ry moment for you coming, disconcerted me so much that my spirits quite forsook me, and all last night I could not get a wink of sleep for the Dismal apprehensions that I should be brought to Bed before you got back to me; tis true indeed, I am some weeks yet from my reckoning, but as I’m now got into the ninth month, so very little thing (the very fear of it) may bring the Child now into the World that I’m quite miserable My Dearest Jewel at the thoughts of you being away, & especially at such a Distance from me: so that I hope my Dear Life you will not regulate your motions by my Brothers; Lord Rosse had a letter last post from London, & the Duke does not leave that place till some time this week, a Gentleman who comes along with him told his correspondent so, therefore I fancy my Br will be in no hurry to leave Perthshire, I must beg however my Dr when you come that you’ll make easy journeys, for hard ridding [sic] is a most likely thing to occasion a fever, & more so at present, as they were never known to be more frequent, so I beg my dearest you will for my sake take that precaution in your travelling; Fineston of the three Houses, I should rather chuse; Dalkieth [sic] is much too Near that little Town; & Caroline Park too far from a market; but upon the whole, I should chuse a worse house independent of any Body; three hundred a year may always keep us out of any friends reverence, many a good family has no more for themselves or their Children after them, that live very easy & comfortably upon it; & provided we regulate our expences [sic] accordingly, so may we; Lord Rosse’s House at Melvill [sic] we may have from year to year; as to the rent & conditions we shall talk over at meeting, & you’ll then judge of it; I wish it was possible for one in your way of business to do as Lord Rosse did, in regard of his; for he went every day to Town for seven years & return’d again to dinner to Melvill so that my Lady had so much of his company as if he had been staying close at Home, but this Im afraid would answer one in yr way, which Im sadly vex’d at, for I must own My Dearest Life yr absence from me robs me of the principal happiness I am able to enjoy in this Life; this may seem romantick to one that does not know what tis to be divided from another self, but to none else, I’m sure, otherwise their sensations are different from mine; the Horses come for us tomorrow, so that we shall be at Home by Dinner; Mrs Campbells arm I hear is better, & the Children very well; Miss Semple stays behind; Lord & Lady Napier are here just now; all this good Family regrets yr not coming & join in kindly remembring [sic] you; do my Dearest [document damaged] my affectionate Service to my Br, who I hope I [document damaged] see before he leaves this country; I even am [document damaged] most beloved Moitié intirely [sic] & forever yours GC
Halkhead
Aug: 1st 1751

To Mr Campbell

My Dearest Jewel
I received yrs to day & have nothing new to say about the children as I wrote last post. As to the monie Mr Stewart has got no order upon the Bank so thinks you have forgot it; as for what you mention all has happend as it should be the little folks are just as when I wrote last. I was yesterday at a play being for Mrs Salmons benifit [sic], I sent to several of my acquaintances when I saw it advertised in the news papers, & carried with me Miss Betty Rosse, Ld [?] Primrose, Mrs Benny, Mrs Campbell auchline & her sister Miss Maxwell tog [together] yr Sister Miss Macgill & some few Gentlemen who went on my [?]: the poor woman was in Prison & she is Childless so that I think twas a great act of charity indeed twas the only inducement I had to be there; I’ve suppd at Rosse House with Mrs Macdual [MacDowall] Castle Semple who I had calld for some days before. this is an account of my proceedings & for fear of missing the post I must conclude here being, My Dearest Life ever yrs intirely [sic].
Grace Campbell
April 11th

To John Campbell Esq
Sheriff Depute Forfarshire
At Forfar

My Dearest Life
Yrs of last saturday I had the pleasure to receive this day & was quite surprised to find you had alter’d your rout [sic], for I imagined you then at Forglen; I do think yr coming would be quite unnecessary [sic] as the 2d of September [letter clearly dated September 25th] is so very near at hand, but I long much to hear how you think of disposing of yr self after that time; I should think if you did not chuse it you might very easily, make out the rest of yr time any other time within the twelve month, at least so evry Body tells me. Its very little minded now when or how long the Sheriffs stay in their jurisdiction. Archie keep his Spirits still very well, but has lost a great deal of his flesh, & his looseness proves very obstinate, the Doctor ordered him vomit last Sunday, & has given him every [document damaged] that is most binding, boild [sic] bread and milk he has been taking morning and night but now [document damaged] sours upon his Stomack [sic] & the doctor has sent [document damaged] kind of mixture to give him morning and evening. I [document damaged] it may have a good effect; Sandy poor little man has never recoverd his looks and Spirit, but they say tis common for some Children to grow dull for some time after weaning; Lady Leviston and Miss were here to tea this afternoon; the Boy is as whole as I could make him for I had him throw the Talour & Coblers [through the tailor and cobbler’s] hands & have renew’d his stockings; the Court is pretty free of any Dirty thing, but I think the Gardiner quite neglects the weeding of it this season; I long for your next & remain My Dearest
Toujours la Meme
Grace Campbell
September 25th

To Mr John Campbell
Advocate at
Levenside
Dumbartonshire [sic]

I received yrs My dearest of the 11th only by this days post; the two you wrote before came on the same day & did not arrive till last thursday, so that I was beginning to think you had forgot your little wifie; Im sorry my dr Life to observe you don't say a word about the time of your returning home, I assure you I am heartily tired of being so long alone and am every day counting how long you have been gone: yr sister Miss Betty came to Town on Wednesday, & stays with Mrs MacDonal, except two nights (while she was out of town) that She was my Bed fellow; Miss Peggie James’s [?] happen’d to come at the same time & we arrested her all night & were all very merry together; Cribage employ’d us both before & after Supper, and the grateness [sic] of my Luck inform’d me I had the mortification to be quite out of your thoughts; Miss Betty assures me that youll be at Levenside along with Lady Betty & My Br on Monday, so upon that facts I shall direct this Epistle to you there. Do My Dearest make all the Dispatch you can to get Home for really ’tis but dull for me ever used to a companion dearer than my self, to be without my beloved Moitié; I have no more to add but to assure you my Dearest Life that Im unalterably yours Grace Campbell
Aug: 15th
Miss Mailly leave us
for Struthers on Monday.
Remember me My Dr acceptably
to all with you; & mention their
Mama to my Dr little folks -

To John Campbell Esq
Advocate at
Levenside
Dumbartonshire [sic]

My Dearest Moitié
I received yrs Dated from Stirling this Morning and hope by this time you are got safe to Levenside where you’ll have got I suppose My last Epistle; I was all last night perplex’d dreaming of your ridding [sic] the Nasty Horse that gives me so much uneasiness; the dreams I had lately of fire I think is in some degree explained by poor Miss Crawfords sudden Death, which happen’d this day at two in the morning; last night at Seven she had nothing but her usual complaints in her Stomach, but that long uneasiness she had there burn’d in the end to a mortification, & appear’d outwardly upon her Legs a few hours before her Death, She died quite sensible but without pain or any sort of emotion. I was at her House this morning & saw her stretch’d a coarpse [sic] who yesterday at the same time of day was sitting by her fire side,
God prepare us all for so suddain [sic] a fall, not indeed that hers was suddain [sic] for she has long felt much pain & sickness tho’ few believed it, but may we who are in health and Strength now remember that as sure as she is now Dead so sure shall we sooner or later be in the Self same condition. I long sadly my dr for those nasty circuits being over, but that they wont be this age, however it gives me pleasure in the meen [sic] time to think that you are where your Company is so well bestow’d, and where there is so much to amuse you, which I cant say is the case here for the Races being over there is neither business nor Diversion going on; I was to have dined today at Bruce Hill had not poor Miss Crawfords unlook’d for Death prevented me; if you think it safe, I wish My Dearest you enclose a twenty Shillings note in yr next for I have used & paid away all to a few Shillings that you gave me. I hope James is not to leave us but if he is Miss Crawfords servant is a sober faithful Creature, & if we are to lose the other, I dont know of any that would be so easy in the House; he has been with her these three year; but I think whoever you get, you’ll change for the worse; we had a perfect hurricane here all yesterday the bed Rock’d all night like a cradle; Remember me properly to all with you I had Miss Jennys letter to day she was so good to let me know the reason of yr not writting [sic] from Levenside, poor dr little Archie she tells me is getting more teeth, let me know my dearest if he is better, & how my sweet little laughing Jack does; tell Miss Jenny I am pleased to [Document damaged] he is her little favourite, for Archie I know [Document damaged] has interest enough with his Grand Papa & [Document damaged] to secure him very good friends. Jenny grows more diverting evr’y day, as if she wanted to make me some amends in her dr papas absence who She says is away to see his two Babas. I conclude My Dearest best loved Half yours
for ever
Grace Campbell.
Aug: Saturday 22d.

To John Campbell Esq
Advocate at

My Dearest Life
I had the pleasure of yr most welcome Epistle by this days post but not a word yet of your moving which Im surprised at, as it draws so nigh the twentieth when you talkd of being here for some tryal, not that I can hear of any and I have been asking all the Lawyers I have seen about it. The Races or Diversions are going on evry day tho’ since Sunday I have not seen a Soul, for early on Monday morning Miss Mailly left this to go to Strathers [sic] the report of Miss Bettys coming made her write sooner than she proposed for her Horses, for She told me she intended to have waitted [sic] yr return, but that she thought yr Sister would have occasion to occupy her appartment [sic], & regretted much her going when she understood where Miss Betty was to put up, but the Horses were summoned, so there was no help for it. I saw yr Sister & Lady Dolly for a start & Sunday evening I forgot My Dearest to write you in my last that the poor old Captain is departed this Life; he died this day sevenight [sic], I heard say he recovered his senses, but I don’t know if it was so, only this I know that if he died as he lived, it fills me with the utmost horror to think of the lost [?] condition that his wretched Soul is now in for an endless eternity; tis really quite shocking to think of it, but the mercy of God thro Christ is infinite, & I hope poor Creature he has found Grace tho’ at the last, to ask it. I’m vastly pleased My Dr Life to hear you pass your time so agreeably, but dont forget among so many gay & agreeable Persons that you’r engaged elsewhere; I heard this day from yr Sister Jenny, all at Levenside are well, I design to enclose this to her, as she’ll know where you are. I proposed My scheme of Nursing to the Doctor he seems to have no objections but the risk one runs of catching cold which is an objection every Body tho’ ever so robust might have. I was interrupted here by the arrival of Appin & the young Bailly of Jura who has been drinking Tea with me. the last tells me the Commissioners promises are like to come to nothing, for he says now he cant serve him, the opposition he finds is so strong against him. I hope my Dr Life to see you this week notwithstanding you dont say any thing of it; in the mean time I remain my best Loved Moitié
Yr sincerest Friend as
well as Dutiful Wife
Grace Campbell.
Tuesday 18th

To Mr John Campbell Advocate
at his House in the Cowgate
Edin[burgh].

July 23d

I received yours my dearest last night and with infinite pleasure read your order for the Horses, which I have been long wishing for with impatience; My expedition to the Halkhead Ive so often talk’d of & Miss Semple has delay’d her going there so long on that accounting that I cant now my Dearest easily put it off, But all the care imaginable shall be taken to prevent the least accident; Finlay drives very well and I shant forget yr caution as to not fording the water; I am only sorry my Dear Jewel to think you are under any apprehensions about my moving, & if I had been free of this appointment with Miss Semple I should not have gone, not withstanding I promise my self a great deal of pleasure in the jaunt , & don’t know when I shall have another opportunity to be at Halkhead; I think my dear the best way for us is to leave this so soon as to be there by Dinner time, Miss Jenny goes along, and we shall take your Horse too, so that Finlay may go strait from Halkhead to Edin[burgh], & the other horses Matthew will carry back to Levenside, he is grown of late a traveling Governor, having made an expedition to Tay mouth with Miss Betty, & since then has been jaunting about with Miss Semple this week past, so when he has conducted us to Halkhead he’ll have made the round of the Family; Miss Jenny Carrick if she can procure a Horse goes with us; I did not tell yr Mother what you said about training Miss Jenny’s Horse for the Chaise, because yr Sister would not like to have it put to that use, & values the exchange she has made with the Captain particularly as she thinks will secure it to her self, its not being proper for any other business. I hope my Dear Life you have remembered to fill the cellar with coals; if there be a cat in Lady Charles’s I wish she would allow it to hunt in our House, for we shall be quite overrun with Mice especially in the Pantry, which is a vast inconvenience; I’m extremely glad to hear Lady Banf [sic] recovers so well, and hope they propose being here this autumn; My best compts [compliments] to her, and all Lady Dirltons Family. Pray my dr [dear] is Mrs John Carmick in the way of being a mother or not, for they say here she is; the little folks are both very well, Dr [dear] little Archie has not been bath’d yet, but the tub Doctor Gordon bespoke for that use is arrived & so soon [document damaged] you come he shall be put into it, for as [document damaged] you before My Dearest I had not courage in your absence to [?] it; he is certainly as understanding a little fellow as ever was of his age, & really a Child to a wish: the leaders are not for him, but Jenny, who you cant offend more than to take her by her leading strings, but in the fields , theres a necessity for it, for when she trips, to catch [?] hold of her arm would be apt to pull it out of joint, the Captains Horse is apt to scar [sic] going first, so I beg my Dearest youll take care of him; may God send us a happy meeting, which is all from my most amiable moitié yours for ever
GC
[Postscript] I stay here tomorrow in hopes of another letter; I cant think how mine does not reach you regularly for they are always in the post office long before the post gets met.

To Mr Campbell of Stonefield
Cowgate
Edin

The arrival of yours on Friday My Dearest Moitié put an end to all my fears which were indeed not a little increas’d by some very disagreeable dreams that interrupted my rest the two nights before; however I now see with unfeign’d thankfulness that there has been nothing prophetick in them; now my dr [dear] sweet Life I can’t by any means agree with you in thinking all expressions of fondness even from a person that one likes are disagreeable, provided one trusts to their sincerity, which you must do if all their actions correspond with such professions; but you seem My Dear to think that even ones actions too should conceal their sentiments of fondness, in which case tis impossible they can ever be known at all, till the great day when the secrets of all hearts will be laid open; but I fancy My Dearest you only talk in this stile [sic] to a Wife, for was you to use the same in speaking to a Mistress, believe me you’d be long of coming to your point, as she’d be apt to think your affections as cool, as this manner of arguing is; I am very glad My Dear Life, that your Horses are not in Town, for, for as much as tire without you, & long to see you I should not wish it at the dear expence [sic] of yr risking your Life riding backwards & forwards, in so little time, and bad weathers, so I hope my dear you won’t think of it; poor Lady Grace Boin has soon ended her career, which I fancy will be some concern to the Husband she has left, as their Honny [sic] Moon could scarce be over; many are the young people I have lived to see [?] go to their long Home, Lord! Make such things remind us to prepare for our own;
all here are well, Dr little Archie points now, as well as crows to Papas picture, I wish Lady Banff a safe & easy time with all my heart, & beg my Dearest youll remember me affectionately to good Worthy Lord Strichen, I fancy youll hear from the Sheriff by this same post as you get this, for he talks of setting out tomorrow; I walk very little now, so that twill be a vast advantage to me how soon you return; you see my Dear Jewel ’twas true enough what I prophesied about yr early rising; I rejoice to hear you live regularly for a Different Life Im sure would not agree with you; May all imaginable good both here and here after attend you My most beloved Moitié; believe My Dearest you cant possibly meet with a more affectionate faithful wife or more sincerely attach’d friend than your GC
Sunday
June 23rd [1754]

PS God forgive me for my impatience for yr return makes Me as glad every night to reflect there is one day more past, as if I had no account to give of them at all, when this scene is over. Adieu [document damaged] remember my Dr a Waistcoat for the Nurses Husband; Dr Little Archie came to see me to day before I got up & whenever he enter’d the room said Papa & looked about the bed for you – which he was tenderly caress’d for
Do my dr burn all my letters the minute you read them.