To John Campbell Esq
Advocate at his House
In the Cowgate
Edinburgh
June 18th
My Dearest Life
As all Hands were at the Hay last night I had the patience to defer sending to the post office till nine o’clock, which I tell you My Dearest as ‘tis proof of the command I lack over my self; your dear letter my sweet Life gave me vast pleasure and revived my spirits greatly, they are every second day much upon the decline till a letter from you makes its appearance, and restores them; oh My Dearest tis an age to look forward to the end of the session, but I hope you’ll leave Town (if it please God you’re well) a week or two before that, as you said you’d do; the Charm of this place is my security for it ; our Dear little archie is very well but now after I bespoke a Tub for bathing him in, I can’t tell how to use it, for he has got such an antipathy to water, that tho’ he is only set in to such a Tub as Jenny has, not up to mid Leg, he cries & sobs & trembles to that degree that you’d think he never had felt cold water, which indeed is quite owing to the way they had of only washing him in a little bason [sic] when he could not set his feet in hardly; so my Dear I hope you will excuse My not dipping him since this is the case; do let me know when Lady Banff lies in & where they live, & how Missie O’ agrees with Edinr; if Lord Banff would be so good to commission half a dozen Hams for us from the North, ‘twould be a great favour, but I wish they may escape in the Ship, for the last was all eat by Rats or some such animal: there is one hangs up in the Kitchen, if it be fresh James might give it to the Tavern as they’d boil it better there, & ‘twould eat well cold of a night with bead & butter, We have still cold showery weather here; you’ll remember My Dear to appoint Mrs Gordon (the woman that kept me of Archie) here about the sixth of Sep; a period I tremble to think of, as the pain is unavoidable, let the danger be greater or less; all here are well, poor little Jenny lies in the room by me, & every morning pays me a visit in bed & expresses her concern at Missing Uncle by a sorrowful moan; I remain My Dearest Love for ever wholly yrs
GC
Ill enclose my next to Mr Chambers
so my brother knows where to send for it.