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 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 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 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
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]