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GB 3452 SF · Fonds · 1700-1800

Correspondence, mostly from Grace Campbell to her husband, Lord Stonefield, but with occasional other correspondents, concerning family life and domestic arrangements and providing an insight into the life of an 18th century aristocratic lady.

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-03 · Item
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

To
The Right Honble [sic]
The Lady Grace Campbell
At her House in the
Cowgate oppiset [sic] to the fish
Market Close
Edr [Ednburgh]

My Dearest Sister
tho’ nothing has occurred worth your perusal, since I wrote last, yet cou’d withstand, so good an opportunity sending you a few lines, fraught wt my best wishes to you & yours; I am glad you agree wt moving about, since I am persuaded ’twill do you good, & make you less unwieldy, as you increase in bulk; so Mrs Campbells arrived, & how fares it wt her, honest woman, does she patrolle [sic] about the streets, by way of wholesome exercise; tis certainly as good as the Dean’s runing [sic] up and down stairs, of a rainy day; well I long to hear what Milton says of the Duke’s motions, if he chuses to be communicative; my Lord, & Jack, left this Sunday, to look after his harvest, but preposed [sic] being back this week, & if Dumbarneys ready in some measure, to receive me, I shall go up again wt him; & where have I been to day, think you, at Leven, to gather shells, I’m not fee you see, but a most fruitless expedition ’twas, never did I see such barren sands; extensive but bare of any beautiful productions, Conscience Jenny &c: is now at London, wt her shining greasy Spouse so we cou’d not see her; but to make amends for this days disappointment, shall beat up the shelly beds at St: Andrews soon, where I hope to be more successful; do you know my Dr Lady Mary’s marriage wt young Greeme, is confidently talk’d here, & one of these days, he’s expected in his Country, so probably will soon come out if true; all you heard about her conversation wt Lady [?] was fact, who knows not, what to think; I believe I wrote you, miss weer, was here really a fine smart like Girl; did the little wife call at you, wt: the diaper, since I saw you, has Dr little Jenny said Mama again, My Love attends them but shall write Dr Jane for so soon as I have a spare moment, & am vastly indebted to her, kind anxiety about me; in consequence of her last letter, am to see his Grace, before his departure, in any event; now my Dearest, if you’d oblidge me, write a nice card, to the Ladies of Tweedale, who excell so much in breeding canary’s at least, & beg the favour of them to give me a she Canary, which I’ll take, as a singular favour, & will send a purpose for it, if they consent, now forget not this, as you love me, & I persuade my self, they will not refuse, when you show’d them off at plays, & all that:
must now wind up all, wt kind Complements [sic] to our friends, from me & mine, & all here; & best wishes to you, whos most Affect’d is AR [Lady Anne Ruthven]

Struthers
tuesday night.

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-35 · Item · 1755 April 28
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

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

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-26 · Item · 1754
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

To Mr Campbell

As I thought My Dearest you might be anxious to hear further about the Children I write again by this post to let you know Jack is quite recovered; archie got his Physick yesterday & is very merry and hearty tho indeed his couler [sic] & thiness [sic] makes me uneasy the heat in his hands & foulness of the Tongue is the same as yet; I don’t know what effects the mercury and Rhubarb may have after this; I do nothing hardly but gad about, yesterday I was in Town both Morning & afternoon, the first part of the day seeing my Br, & in the afternoon was at Mrs Campbell Finabs etc: so much more I can do with a companion than without one, for Miss Jenny and I visit together if we miss one place we meet in the next visit I was in hopes to have had My Br here to day to dinner but he has so much bisness he could not come but said he’d come some time to day, or let me know that I might come & see him, he has askd about you often when you are to be here, & how you do, & where you go as all [?] occurrd at different times: he was vastly good and sweet as could be. I hope you are well & am my dearest yrs
Grace Campbell
Tuesday

I believe my dr you need
not look out for a nursery
maid as I think of getting one
I know here.

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-32 · Item · 1754 October 25
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

My Dearest Life
I has the pleasure of yr last wrote just as you was going to set out for Kilhamack, indeed My Dearest I can’t but say I grudged the Ladies yr company to Ardkinlas [sic], as it kept you so much longer from your expedition to Kintire [sic], and I’m afraid when you are there you’ll find things to keep you longer than you intend, so that my Dearest Life I dont expect to see you for long enough, the children I bless God are all very well; Miss Nanny Hamilton is here just now, & longs much for your return; I doubt my Dear your frequent absence’s [sic] from me will make it quite easy & familiar to you to be away, for tho you write me otherwise, you know letters don’t signify as some people often say things in that way they don’t mean; I fancy we shall have Sir James & Lady Hellen here tomorrow, for they are now at Mr Smollets; we have had two very bad days here, yesterday & to day, so Im afraid the weather is broke; My dr Lady Jane & Mr Courtenay was to go for Doublin [sic] about this time, and Im vastly afraid these high winds may overtake them in their passage, & confirm a fear I have long had that I shall never see her more; I have wrote to Miss Kerr about settling my little Jenny in the Country, for I will never risk her in Town again; Archie Im really afraid is born without any natural affection, as he is the only Child I ever saw that seem’d to carry a dislike to their Mother, I assure you it both vexes and angers me that one come of one should have a disposition so opposite to my own. but when I take him home I hope to see better things of him - all here are well, & I am Dearest ever yours unalterably GC
Oct 25th

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-08 · Item · 1754 July 4
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

To Mr John Campbell Advocate
At his House in the Cowgate, Edinburgh
Thursday July 4th [1754]

Last night I took my usual post day walk to the foot of the avenue, & was so fortunate there My Dear Sweet Life as to receive yrs of tuesday, which gave me the higher pleasure as I had entertain’d some secret apprehensions about your expedition to Cranston from what reason I don’t know, unless it was from the fear of your engaging with a rash driver or a viscious [sic] Horse, which two things were neither of them impossible, and to a timorous mind very probable; tho’ I know my Dearest Jewel you won’t thank me for taking such a Burden upon me; Im heartily glad to hear of Mrs Campbell Finab’s happy Dilivery [sic]; poor Black Betty has ended her days; while Whitestone was at London, she miscarried 3 or four months gone with Child, & in that condition catch’d cold, which immediately fell upon her Lungs, & has hurried her out of the world in a Gallopping [sic] consumption; the poor man is in great concern; her being with Child gave him vast pleasure, so blindly do short sighted mortals often wish for things that prove in the end their greatest misfortunes; from the experience of which, we should all of us learn to submit our own wills intirely [sic] to that of our unerring Maker, because we May generally observe (as Mr Young says) our very Wishes, give us not our Wish; so much my beloved Moitié for serious considerations; none I am sure has fewer wishes left them, than my self, such infinite reason have I with the utmost thankfulness to acknowledge the peculiar kindness of indulgent Heaven, in the favourable disposition of my Lot - Sir James & Lady Ellan were here last night after having replaced Master at School, Miss Semple, yr Sister Jenny, & I go to Rosedu the beginning of next week, & the week after (if it please God) to Halkhead where I hope My Dearest Life to meet you, the very first of the last week in Jully [sic]; you promised me at parting to return the third week of this month, which I have most impatiently long’d for, and kept an exact account of ev’ry day; if you please My Dearest to enclose to me one or two more of those bits of paper you gave me at parting, in case any unlook’d for expences [sic] may cast up when I’m upon My expeditions from Home. I had a long letter yesterday from my Sister Ruthven, who in the kindest manner bids me remember her to you; Rossie was often with my Br Mackenzie while at London & was to see my Br Bute, who he thinks not at all well, & his Spirits sadly Sunk; youll order Nanny Macgrigor here My Dr the minute you leave Town, for the Nurse wants of all things to be Home, indeed I cant blame her, as the Queen should not keep me so long from My Husband, & she seems to have a great tenderness for hers than is at all common among the country people; we all of us long to hear good [? Document damaged] of Lady Banff; Lady Balgony I fancy is near her reckoning [? Document damaged]. My compts & good wishes attend them both; our little folks are both in quite good health, Archie says papa very often & always looks in the mean time to me with a conscious little laugh, expecting approbation; when he is angry he thrashes all about him, & scolds like anything; The Bailie of Kintires Wife and Daughter are here just now, we have had a good deal of rain here, the Hay in the Avenue is mostly cut down but none in yet; in the clover Park hs been all in above a week, except a little that the rain keeps out yet; Miss Betty begs youll send her Stockings directly by the Carrier to Glasgow. She sets out next week for [?] I forwarded yr letter to the Sheriff the same day I receiv’d it; he leaves Inverary [sic] for Kilhamack tomorrow. Remember me my dr to Ld [?], Ld Banff and good Lady Charles’s Family. & believe My dearest most beloved Moitié you have in me a sincerely fond and faithful little Wify. GC.
Do my dear get me some franks from Mr Kerr.

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-05 · Item · 1754 June 18
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

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.

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-06 · Item · 1754 June 23
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

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.

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-27 · Item · No date
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

To John Campbell Esq
Sheriff Depute of Angus Shire
at Perth
Free
M. McMillan

My Dearest Life
I received yrs by this days post which is the third I have had; the other two I answerd by the same post they came to me. We are tollerably [sic] well here, Archie however since Tuesday the day I wrote last has had these heats & colds as before with a foulness in his tongue but he is very [?] & eats well enough, I thought indeed as he had been a week free of any complaints & lookd so well that all his disorder was removed, he is now paler again as he used to be; the Doctor saw him yesterday & is to give him the second doze of the Rhu: [rhubarb] & Mercury, & thinks that, with the [?] of the [?] & goats milk, will restore him quite; the sops is left off for a little; poor little Jackie has been drooping these two or three days, he has one tooth yet not quite out, if ’tis that, or a slow fever, or measles I don't know, but there is something hangs about him, the other two are quite well & we think it only teeth ails Jack; I beg my dr youll send the order on the bank, both for Cash to me and payment of yr Sisters acct [account] to Mrs Seton, I see they think it odd yr doing otherwise. I have been making great inquiry about a Maid for the Nursery, but [document damaged] none with tollerable [sic] character so I wish if any [document damaged] Ladies in Angus could recommend one from [document damaged] that they would do it their vices here are almost [document damaged] I want one that could keep Jack & was fit to wean [document damaged] young child who could sow [sic] their cloths [sic] well, & wash [document damaged] iron; & perfectly good natured. the one who Mrs [document damaged] engaged at Levenside she writes was engaged tho I don't know what she can mean for the same letter that mentiond peggies being to go to Levenside desired the one Mrs Campbell had got for the children to be hired for us. Do write immediately if you hear of any for I would send for one to some other Country Place without loss of time. My Br Mackenzie I saw for a [?] yesterday, he goes North I believe on Monday. I find Lady Banff is much in the same way that I was but not in so much danger. Many are dying just now of Fevers; if ‘twas as easy to be prepared for next world as to be weand from this one, I should not if twas Gods will care much to be among the number. I hope you are quite well & I am My Dearest yrs - G Campbell.

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-23 · Item · 1754 September 21
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

To John Campbell Esq
Advocate at
Inverary [sic]
Argyllshire
Free
H. Mackenzie

My Dearest Moitié, by a mistake of an unusual kind I did not Write as intended by last post, but I wrote by the Saturdays post after you left this & on tuesday had the pleasure of yrs My Dearest Life; this day however I was disappointed, for theres no letter from you tho I had two from Levenside, one from each of yr Sisters. Miss Jenny seems to decline coming in such a manner, as makes me believe it would not be her inclination to be here, in which case I should be Sorry to ask her; she says that she hears you was begging of Mrs Campbell to come & therefore imagined She cant be of any use, besides she never has courage to Witness a crying out, but that in her Mamas absence she’ll take all care of the Children. this is what she says; I’m of the opinion [?] that Mrs Campbell would much rather Stay at Home as take this journey, so don’t my Dr on my account put any of them to trouble, for I may take my chance as to the care that I shall need, as both my Sisters have done before me; who have lain in without any particular female friends about them; poor Mrs Johnston has again [document damaged] at Duncrub & has been at the point of death tho’ but very little time gone. I pray god preserve you my dearest & send you safe home. Miss Peggie Campbell has been so good as to be some days with me: the Cook Maid has follow’d [?] Brice’s example & given me warning too, so that at this troublesome juncture I have servants of all sorts to get, not so much as Nurse have I heard of yet, or a nursery maid & one or tother I must have if Mr Gordon approved I would gladly take archies Nurse (in case of failling [sic] myself) nothwithstanding of Archies [?] & that her milk will be six months old. I am my dearest better half most faithfully, & most surely yrs.
Grace Campbell
Sept: 21st

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute