To John Campbell Esq
Sheriff Depute of Forfar
At Perth
April 28
As the boy is not returned from the post House, I cant my dearest answer yours if you have wrote, but I thought you might be anxious to hear of the Children, so I write without having almost any thing more to say but that they are all very well; archie is now blessd be God in a confirmed good way, & does not appear better & worse as he used to do, & such a Romp with such a flow of spirit I never saw. Ld [Lord] Strichen & Ld [?] were here tother day at tea but Jack and him were so noisy we were forced in an obliging manner to dismiss them to the Nursery. I have just now my Dearest received yrs & yr Sister one from Miss Betty she says Lady Banff recovers slowly & only sits up an hour in the day My D is quite well again but they have quite given over thoughts of the south she writes for this year poor young Mrs Campbell of Saddle [sic] is dead. I have been a great visitor since you saw you [sic] & to day am going to Lady Braedalbanes [sic] last Rout. Jamies Nurses Child is dead, she bears it very well considering she is a very affectionate Lady: Mr Colin has been in Town I saw him twice for a start but that was all tho I proposd him much to dine with us. Archie bids me to say he wants a better fiddle stick from Forfar; they are all vastly diverting at present being in great good health & I am my Dearest Moitié ever yrs
Grace Campbell
My Sister sends her best Compts [compliments] we have a vast fall of snow here I believe she longs much to be away but till the season changes greatly the children cannot move.
[Contains a note in very childish writing:]
Come home soon Papa & bring me another fiddle stick
Yr little son archie