Item 22 - Letter from Lady Grace Campbell to John Campbell, Advocate, at Levenside, Dumbartonshire, concerning domestic issues.

Letter, 3 pages

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.

Minimal wax seal damage

• English

Mention of Jenny and her ‘dr (dear) papa’ suggest a daughter, but no evidence of a female child’s birth, baptism, or death is recorded. 'Miss Jenny' is John Campbell's sister Jane, who would marry Sir John Campbell, 5th of Airds in 1764. 'Archie' is Lady Grace's son Archibald, born 02/11/1752. 'Jackie' is John, born 07/12/1753. Levenside is the home of 'Grand Papa' Archibald Campbell, 2nd of Stonefield, advocate and Sheriff Depute of Argyllshire and Lady Grace's father-in-law.

Entry created by Marian Pallister, 20/12/2018