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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-01-32 · 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-01-19 · Item · 1754 August 15
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

To John Campbell of Stonefield Esq
At Inverary [sic]
Argyleshire [sic]

My Dearest Life
My impatience to hear about you made me send to [?] to enquire where he left you, & all he know of you which he was so good as to write me, so I suppose by what he says youd be at Levenside last friday night, & I hope would leave a letter there for me; which I shall expect by tomorrows post; & tho I don’t think that my Epistles are now of that consequence to you, as to make it necessary for me to write thus often, yet from a piece of selfishness as tis a pleasure to me I do it. Good Dear Lord Strichen drank tea with me this afternoon, and askd kindly for you, I had likewise the pleasure of Mrs Menzie’s Company; not to speak of a young Squire that dined with us, so you see my dear Im not quite diserted [sic] in your absence tho’ I own I’m still so much of the romantick opinion as to like no Company so well as yrs, who I hope to have for Life. as I [document damaged] to miss the post I shall only add my best wishes [document damaged] for you My Dearest most beloved Moitié who has in me an unalterable & affectionate wife GC
Aug: 15th.

GB 3452 SF-01-07 · Item · 1754
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

To Mr Campbell of Stonefield
Cowgate
Edinburgh

My Dear Sweet Life upon no account I beg Discontinue your goodness in writing to me regularly for ’twould be robbing me of the greatest pleasure I can have in your absence, and as our seperations [sic], I hope will never be very long or frequent, you need not my Dearest Life be afraid of teaching me a bad custom; the Sheriff, your Mother says, was for the first twenty years of his marriage so regular in his correspondence that she never fail’d to hear from him every post; but few occasions may we have for this manner of conversation, that’s my sincere prayer; you don’t tell me my Dearest if you have been looking out for a House near Town, when you write next do let me know what you are to do about it, Lady Inveraw & Miss Jessie have just left us, they came yesterday evening & are in a hurry to get to Kilmun, so put off their stay here till they return; the Sheriff & Captain set out for Inverary [sic] yesterday by the way of Lough Goyle Miss Semple & Miss Betty were both very keen to have gone to Kilhamack, but in one nights time yr Sister tack’d about , & turn’d quick of another mind. She now again talks of going soon to Taymouth; if Lord & Lady Ross come soon to Halkhead, Miss Semple & I propose being there, & if you pleas’d my Dr I should be glad that you would meet me there, otherwise I’ll be back here before you return; next thursday is the last day at Dumbarton where we all propose god willing to be. Miss Semple yr two sisters & I were at Church there last Sunday (being the preparation day) and had the old Captain to escort us, which piece of Gallantry cost him more than He expected for Mathew gave him in such a swinging bill that he swore a number of oaths He might have been cheaper in London; I fancy Captain Cunningham & his Wife are a very happy couple, for whenever thats the case the world cries out theres a Hen pecked Husband and really ’tis odd enough to hear people talk in that way because a man gives the woman he married more of his Company than any body else, as if he had not married with that very purpose to have a constant friend & companion in her, however ones private happiness is much to be preferr’d to the idle ridicule of the world, which Im sure in this case is most unreasonably founded; I beg my Dr you’ll contrive some method for conveying the Basket here for there’s no such thing as laying-in genteely without it; as for our dear little Archie, Lady Inveraw who is a great friend to dipping says Doctor Clerk forbid it to a Child of her acquaintance who had such a breaking out upon his face as Archie, because he said it heal’d it up (by closing the pores of the Body) which would be of very Dangerous consequences, tis been quite whole all this time, but is now beginning to break out again; he is in fine health & Top Spirits, sweet little Jenny gave me a Buss just now which I told I was to post in this letter & send to Uncle; I hope my dr you won’t forget to lay in some coals before you leave Town, which I wish My Dear Jewel you’d take occasion to hint at now & then in yr letters as I like the subject[document damaged] perhaps youll think this all a phase so I wont insist upon it further, nor detain you any longer than to bid you my Dearest Aimable Moitié a fond affectionate adieu.
GC
June 25th

Yr mother & all here are well
My kind respects to Lord & Lady Banff
& all at Lady Dirltons, how does
Missie agree with Edin[burgh] My dr adieu
My compts [compliments] to Mr Dalrymple.

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-01-23 · 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
GB 3452 SF-01-21 · Item · 1754 August 20
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

To John Campbell Esq
Advocate at Levenside
Dumbartonshire [sic]

My Dearest Moitié as this is the twentieth of the month, I hd some distant hopes (as you said you’d be back by this time) to see you to day or Tomorrow, however the arrival of yrs My Dearest by this days post has disappointed me greatly, for I see by it you are only about leaving Inverary [sic] now: I think indeed My Dear since that is the case ‘tis better for you to stay at Levenside till the Circuits come on, as you r to attend them, than to make this journey; ’twill be a great deal more agreeable to yourself being there, and give pleasure to your Papa and Mama who has scarce seen you yet, as for me I thank God I am in grate [sic] good health & only omitted writting [sic] by the post you mention upon account of Company coming at the time I had allotted for doing it, but if youll remember my dearest I was far from insisting with you to write evry post, or oftener than you incline it, for I should be sorry if to gratify me you were to put yourself under any sort of restraint, & when I omit a post I always think it does not signify, because I know that so much fondness as makes one uneasy at a neglect of that sort, you would look upon as romantick, & therefore I take it for granted dont run any risk of that kind, which makes [sealing wax damage to document] more remiss than I should be otherwise, but far from [document damage] mindful of you My Beloved Orsames than during the period that you said days seem’d months to you while we were divided, I enclose two letters ie one from Ld Banff came to day, & as I thought it contained the news of Lady Banffs delivery I opend it. the other has been here some posts but because I thought you might see the Author of it at Inverary [sic] I quite neglected to enclose it all this time. remember me my dearest so ceptably to all at Levenside, & let me hear particularly about my poor little Folks. Jackie I have a notion is not so thriving as his Br so write honestly if tis so & believe Me My Dearest yours for ever Grace Campbell
Thursday 20th

Campbell, Grace (1722-1783) née Stewart, Lady, wife of John Campbell, Lord Stonefield, daughter of James, 2nd Earl of Bute
GB 3452 SF-01-31 · Item · 1754 October 2
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

To Mr Campbell

I received yours My Dearest by this days post, & am sorry to find you think of [?] the Lords to Perth for I thought you was not obliged to wait on them out of yr own Jurisdiction, & people of the Law have told me even that was optional; I cant but think my dearest [?] peoples who press yr going to Inverary [sic] must either be very thoughtless or very selfish to ask you at a time when you have been so long from Home, the folks here abouts on the contrary wonder that you stay so long away (as tis not look’d upon at all as necessary) when I am living without a Soul to speak to except Infants & Servants, those who are used to this way of Life may think it comfortable, but to me who have always livd in a large Family tis really something new; not but there was generally some body coming when the weather is fair, but the long nights curtail the length of their stay greatly; Miss Peggie Campbell was here some nights with me, & I was in hopes she’d have come again, but I believe She that is used to so good a society at Home did not admire living here so I have not seen her since; Mrs Campbell was in great concern tother day when I was at Bruce Hill because Mr Campbell talkd of going to the west for a fortnight; so you see whether I have reason to tire; I saw Mr Johnstone a day or two ago he drank tea with me, & talkd of writing to you by that nights post; he seems heartily tired of the Town for want of some acquaintance for he says he has not scarce any Body to speak to, so notwithstanding his turn to Study he’d soon tire without a companion; you’ll see by the mondays papers that the poor [?] Lyon has paid his debt to Nature, a pluratick fever has carried him out of this evil world, poor soul if he was rightly prepared for a better I’m sure he has made a most desirable change; he complain’d a good while of a pain in his side without fearing the consequences of it, I fancy He has been taken off very suddenly; I see My Dr by yr way of writing that you intend going to Inverary [sic], in which case I think youd better go from Perth as you first proposed for ’twould save you a great deal of needless travelling: Archie I think has been better since Sunday; the cure you recommend I saw d: Austin give [document damaged] to Mrs Campbell [?] son without the [document damaged] success, archies illness is in his Stomach which makes a vomit & Rhubarb the best thing he can get, he is taking Rhubarb every third day just now which I think is the thing agrees best of any with him, his food is all solids, but till these few days he eat nothing, & had very bad digestion; but both I hope are mending fast. The rest are very well. I conclude My Dearest Life Yours GC
Oct: 2d

GB 3452 SF-01-13 · Item · 1754 July 18
Part of Campbell of Stonefield Papers

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