Item 05 - Letter from Lady Grace Campbell to John Campbell of Stonefield, Cowgate, Edinburgh, concerning domestic news.

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.