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- 1755 (Creation)
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Letter, 2 pages
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To John Campbell Esq
Sheriff of Forfar - shire
At Forfar
Free
Mr McMillan
Friday night
My Dearest & most amiable Moitié
I was so pinced in time when I wrote the two last short epistles that I have begun this one to night that I may have time to converse a little longer with you my Dearest Life, tho’ perhaps you maynt thank me for intruding so much upon yr leisure; however I must let you know my beloved moitié that I am already counting the days you have been absent & so long the time appears that I can scarce persuade my self you only left me last monday; I am vastly glad my dr Life that you got yr journey made out so easy, if you had not met so soon with the Sheriff I should have grudged very much yr leaving this so suddenly after the Session set you at Liberty to have pass’d some time with me, who I reckon have not has the least enjoyment of yr Company since we left Levenside. Miss Betty cross’d the water on wednesday & by a letter I have had from her I find Lady Dirlton is not yet arrived nor her coming very soon expected, I was very sorry to let Miss Betty go without we had been quite positive that the Chaise was waiting her at Ld [Lord] Balgrays however she was so sure about that I could not prevail on [document damaged] stay & now she is so good as to write me that she requires her [document damaged] stay as she left me alone. Betty Kintire [sic] has leave for a month [document damaged] continuing here after her Cousins leave this, which wont be till [document damaged] & Mrs Young says without her Mama had given her these orders she cant let her stir suppose they were gone, therefore Bess has to write to her Mama for a particular order to come here, before she can have [?], which will take [?] so much time that I hope my Dearest Jewel you will be returnd before all that can happen so that I have no chance of any abiding Person to keep me Company till yr Dr self arrives, and I hope my dearest you contrive it so as to make a month at this time finish all you have to do & then please god we are all well I’ll make the next northern expedition [document damaged] this way of living; we are all very well, Sandy is wean’d & doing very well hitherto; I have been but one day visiting since you left this which was to see Mrs Smollet & on missing her drank tea with Mrs Donaldson. They say here the Duchess of Gordon is surely married to the Laird of Woodney & Lord Justice Clerk to his favourite widdow [sic] but I have not faith enough for either. I leave the following paper in hopes to have a letter to answer by tomorows post but I would first enquire where Miss Mackeller is to be found – I am disappointed of the pleasure I flatterd myself with last night & besides what was in such despair about you my best loved moitié that I hardly slept a wink while in Bed. Ld & Ly Balgony are both angry at you for neither calling on them or sending in as you pass’d. Yr Sister sends you [?] thence her affectionate compts & I remain My Dearest Life yours jusqu’a La Mort. Grace Campbell
I send some franks that I may have my letters free.
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Wear at the fold of page 2 and sealing wax damage.
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- English
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Note
Levenside was the Stonefields' family home in Dunbartonshire. Lord Balgray – lawyer whose estate was near Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire. David Leslie, 8th Earl of Leven married Wilhelmina Nisbet, daughter of William Nisbet of Dirleton, in 1747. He succeeded as the 8th Lord Balgonie on 2 September 1754. Lady Dirleton was the mother of Janet Nisbet, Lord Ruthven’s first wife. 'Sandy' was the Campbell's son Alexander, born August 1754. The American Lewis Morris married the allegedly 'eccentric' dowager Duchess of Gordon, mother of six children, in 1756. 'Lord and Lady Balgony' may have been David Melville, 6th Earl of Leven, who married Wilhelmina Nisbet and lived at Balgonie Castle in Fife.