1. MARGARET MONTGOMERIE TO JAMES BOSWELL.
C 418

Lainshaw,

Thursday, <1 October 1767

Dear Jamie,

I beg the favor of you to take the trouble to bring
out a gown of mine with you. I shall write the Mantua-Maker to
bring it to you, but, if she neglect to do it, she is a Miss Tait
who lives in Milns Square; so I'll be obliged to you if you'll send
to her.

I am glad you propose being here so soon. I hope you
intend being at the October Meeting at Ayr, as I dare say your
favorite Miss B. will be there; and as the Duke of G. has convinced
you he is earnest, I hope you will continue fixed in resolutions
of following his example. I was at Pollok this week and left Mrs.
M. in perfect health.

I fancy you have seen Lord E., as I met him on his
way to Edinburgh. I beg my compliments to Davie. All here join
in best wishes to you and him, Adieu, Dr. James, and believe
me your affect. Cousin and obliged

M. Montgomerie.

Will expect you and David the beginning of the week.

On envelope-
ADRESSED: To James Boswell, Esq., at Lord Auchinleck House,
Edinburgh.

XVII. MARGARET MONTGOMERIE TO JAMES DUSWELL. C424

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< Fainethaw, > Saturday, < 29 July, 1769. >

I was so hurried and had such a severe headache when I wrote my last letter, I had it only in my power to tell you I could not meet you at Whitburn. The Capt. was so very ill I thought it was improper for me to leave my sister, but if he is tolerably well I shall be at Glasgow on Saturday in case you think the journey will do you no harm; but I intreat you will not think of coming without you can do it safely, as a few weeks will soon pass over, when I hope to be happy with you here. You must, however, be punctual in writing, as your silence would now affect me very much. I hope nobody knowes of my letter you received in the Parliament House. You must not mention it, as it would not be right any body knew of it but yourself. I wonder you could ever imagine I would write you an avasive answer to yours, have you not often experienced my sincerity? How could you then imagine me such a dissembling mercury being? believe me, without the least hopes of a reconciliation, and with the prospect of setting out in a few weeks, perhaps in a few days, I wrote my letter. I had my uneasy refflections also, but they were quite different from yours. I was fearfull you would have the feelings you describe, but I dreaded they would not so soon wear off. I was, however, satisfied that, notwithstanding my frankness in declaring my sentiments and resolutions, I would not take any advantage of the offer you made me if you was not perfectly convinced that, in making the proposal, you consulted your own happiness. I am much obliged to you for acting so honestly by me, you told me what was your situation when you read my letter; I have therefore no doubts of the sincerity of the declaration that follows. I believe me, I am perfectly satisfied of the reality of that affection you express, and shall make it my constant endevour to be worthy of it. I neither fear for you nor myself, I am conscious my conduct will be such as you must approve, and I am likewise sensible your natural dispositions are

one good. I have therefore no doubts of our being constant friends.
You must not indulge melancholy. You know it's what we may easily bring
upon ourselves, but what is very hard to remove, be therefore as chear-
ful as possible from this generous consideration, that the happiness of
your friend depends on yours.

Did you not speak of buying some Holland for skirts? I wish you
would get some female friend to chuse it and send it to me. I'll get
them made for you • let it be pretty fine, as I hate to see you with
course linnens • don't buy any stockings for me. I assure you I want
nothing. I am determin'd to be a perfect Economist now, so you must
not put me out of my way.

The Capt. is still very much distress'd. he gets no sleep at nights,
which makes the fever continue with him. Tell me if your father knowes
your resolutions with regard to me, if he does and comes this way, I
shall be frightned to face him. Have you heard from David? Poor man,
I long to hear how he does. (Pray) is the Lieut. with you, has he received
his garters? This will reach you on Monday, I hope therefore to hear
from you on Tuesday • you see I am selfish in some respects, for,
notwithstanding your telling me how much you was busied, I scruple
not to put you to aditional trouble. Could you send me a few franks, as
I never see d. E. now to ask them from him? I doubt you pay double
postage for my letters. Write me if you do. You never mention the
Lady's name you suspect to be your father's favourite, but I imagine
it must be B. B. I believe I told you I had received a letter from
Aunt Boyd. I had also one from her husband, but not a sentence of their
coming to Scotland.

I see by the Papers your friend general Paoli is on his way to
England. he will surely visit Scotland also, the Capt. has got your
Dog. I was obliged to write James Bruce to send him. I ought to have
ask'd your liberty first, but he was so impatient I had not the time,

* sic in the typescript. But the word may have been "quarters".

It made me very uneasy to be obliged to apologize for not coming to G., but I found it impossible for me to do otherwise, as the Capt. continues so distress'd, and Sandy is also very ill of a sore throat.

I did not receive your letter till late last night, otherwise I would have told you how kind I thought you for remembering me so often. You may believe it hurts me to be obliged to act so ungratefully and inconsistently to one I am bound by the strongest ties to behave in a different manner. But the opinion of those we live with must be attended to if we wish to have any satisfaction in life. You know I have often told you I am a coward, and in some measure a slave to publick report. I never but in one instance got entirely the better of these two, and then I thought the affair of too great importance to me to be witheld by either.

I shall send this under cover to Mr. Grahames least my letter should not reach you in time to inform you of the impossibility of my meeting you as you desired, and to beg you will come to Lainshaw if you can. I am not at all the Housekeeper; I keep close in my own room except when call'd to the dining room or to take a walk, and am never out of bed after Eleven; so you see I follow all your prescriptions, and, what's more, I obey your commands in not writing to any disagreeable person.

I really wish above all things to see you, and, believe me, I am almost convinced you'll be here. If you do not come, figure what will be my disappointment, Newes I have none to entertain you with. I am accustomed to very little variety, and, in fact, with no conversation at all. The whole amusement I have is reading my friends' letters and sometimes a paper of the Spectator or some serious book, as to my French. I have apply'd a little of late. A mind taken up with more important concerns is capable of making small progress in any piece of learning, but as you desire me to give attention to it, you may believe that is sufficient.
*Dippenstift, my.

C 425

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135

I will be much obliged to you for the picture. I often regret the
one I have has no resemblance; the only thing makes it valuable is
knowing who it was design'd for, and remembering out of whose hands
I received it. I shall walk at least a mile or two to meet you on
Saturday evening; if you don't come, I shall go Home not in good spirits.

You did not tell me if your father proposes coming this way. I
should like to know, that I may be out of the way.

The Capt. is still very feverish; he got no sleep last night,
which has fretted him and makes him more uneasy today. I must now
bid you farewell, with wishing every happy thing to attend you, and
assuring you I am, with sincerity, My Dear Jamie's ever affectionate

and faithfull friend,
M. Montgomerie.

You are not angry at me for calling you by your name, tell me and I
will not do it again.

Marked on outside

ADDRESSED: To James Boswell, Esqr., Advocate, Edinburgh.

XIX. MARGARET MONTGOMERIE TO JAMES BOSWELL
C 426

<Lainshaw,> Thursday, < 10 August 1769.>
With the utmost impatience,

I wait the arrival of the Post in hopes he will bring me a letter from my Dear friend ... What an anxious, uneasy time have I spent since I received your last letter! I am fearful you are not well—your fatigue, hard drinking, and going to the opera all join to make me unhappy. I imagine you perhaps met some Companion there Who prevailed on you to sup abroad and by that means finish'd the irregularity of the day. O what would I give to be Certain this was not the Case, and to hear you had not suffered in the least by your journey! I can write no more till I see what accounts the post brings. I am just going to set off for Stewarton, so adie for a little and god bless you, My best friend.

[I am now] return'd and beg you will accept of my sincere, my grateful thanks for your kind letter. I have read your friend's Epistle and admire him much, setting aside the partiality his goodness to me must naturally inspire me with. his Sentiments are beautifull, and his having so much Vivacity is a convincing proof there is perfect peace within. I shall be happy to get acquainted with him, and hope our good opinion of each other will rather increase than diminish. how glad I am to see him of the same opinion I has with regard to your father. I hope you and he shall allways live in the strictest friendship, for such a Companion, whose goodness you have experienced, is certainly valuable, and his advice will allways be an unspeakable advantage.

[I am happy to think your father treats you with so much kindness. It shall be my constant endeavour to behave so to him as that he shall have no cause to regret your choice. I am sensible of my faults, and very desirous to amend them. he shall ever find me dutifull to him, and extremely ready to follow his directions,

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137

as far as lies in my power.

I am sorry you met with Sir Thomas Wentworth, since it led you into a riot. It is on account of your health I am most Uneasy, as I am not afraid but you will be very sober when you reflect that being otherwise will make a person unhappy who would sacrifice a great deal for your satisfaction.

As to your going to London, I cannot, will not object if it's your interest to be there, but how will your father relish such an expedition? I'm afraid he will be greatly offended. In that case, I should be extremely uneasy if your health is not in question, you could see Mr. Johnson some other time, but you are surely the best judge yourself. I pretend not to dictate; I only wish you to act so as not to disoblige my Uncle when he is so very good to you.

You are quite right as to my anxiety. I suffer as much from that as you can possibly imagine. I must surely see you before you set out for London, if you are determined to go, I'll endevour to be in Edinburgh before you leave it. There's a great odds betwixt the distance of the two places to me; in the one I can see you in a day, but I would have no sort of excuse for setting out to London without the ceremonie had been put over. I really think it should; it would have been much more satisfactory to me to think I had it in my power to see you without giving real cause for censure; and, when once people are determined, the sooner they put it over the better. I must have many promises of sobriety before I give my consent to your going to L. The Capt., poor man, is extremely distress'd; he seems to think himself, as he really is, in a dangerous way. Did you tell Archie Stewart, or was it his own supposition? I must surely write Lady Maxwell, as I was her confidant when she engaged herself, and I think I ought to act in the same manner as you. But I shall not do it till I have your准許. You are very

death, his murderer is Nephew to Netherplace. I doubt not but
they will apply to you to be his Counsell, but I am likewise
certain their application will be vain, it was put in the newes
papers that it was accidental, but My Lord express'd himself in a
very different manner, and his servants were witnesses to its being
design'd. I forget if I told you Lord E. settled L 100 a year
on Chas. Crookshanks and two hundred a year on Mrs. Broun.

My sister talks of being in Edinburgh in ten days to settle her
Eldest son at the college and secure a house for herself and
family. I wish you could come west while she remains in Town.
I am clearly of opinion you should continue your servant, and I
don't believe that his wages are higher than Thomas's were, but you
may try if he will agree to the same terms, as it will not sound
so ill to the Commissioner and some more of your Oeconomical
friends.

I hope you will not be angry at me for objecting to the presence
of Paoli. I am only telling you my uneasiness, at the same time
assuring you that I shall do all in my power to get the better of it.
This will not reach you till after your return from Devonshire,
but I hope I shall hear from you while there. I must now conclude
with assuring you that I sincerely am My Dear Jamie's ever faith-
full and affectionate

M M.

M M.

my room, where I shall be alone to receive My Dear friend, but
if you are in the least degree complaining, or imagine your
father will disapprove of your coming, do not think of it; for,
believe me, I shall not misconstruct the delay. Will you take
the trouble to tell Doctor Boswell to send out the Picture he
took to get framed, as the Capt. is impatient to have it. I
shall not lose hopes of seeing you on Saturday till I hear
from you MMXXIIII that you are not to be here, so you see
by this that it is no small sacrifice to give up a point of
that kind. Adieu, and believe me your faithful and affectionate

M. M.

I have only one Frank for you, which I keep till I have a longer
letter to write.

On envelope -

ADDRESSED: To
✓ James Boswell Esq,
Edinburgh.

MARGARET BOSWELL TO JAMES BOSWELL.
C437

Lainshaw, Feb. 7th, 1770.

How much am I indebted to mykindest, Dearest friend for the
relief his friendly letter gave me. I dare say you can figure my
distress, and may therefore judge how agreeable it was to receive
good accounts when I was so apprehensive of the contrary. I thank
god for his goodness to me and pray for his friendship and protect-
ion to My Dearest Life.

I am to write to Grahame for Chaises to night, and hope, if
health permit, to be with you on Saturday Evening. My sister begs
you will get from Coutts and Company L 180 Ster for her and grant
your Bill for it, and she will give her on her arrival. You must
pay it to Mr. Wight, the writer. It is interest she owes for
Borrow'd Money, and she wishes to be punctual in her payments. You
must give Peggy strict charges about laying out the beds to
air, as Mrs. Cuninghame is affraid they may be damp. I shall inclose
a line for her, as it's a chance when she is to be found, and I know
you will forgive me. How good you are, My Dearest, to assure me you
will be careful of yourself. May the almighty bless and preserve
you to your ever faithful friend. I am sorry your father has been
indisposed. Is it the cold or his old complaint?

Little Ann sits by me and offers you her kindest compliments
to you. She bids me assure you she would with pleasure have
accompanied you had her Mother allow'd her, but she hopes to spend
some agreeable hours with us when she comes to Town. She is an en-
gaging, sweet girl. I have no newes to write you all here are
much as when you left them. Treesbank left us on Tuesday and
Mrs. Campbell goes tomorrow. She offers you her love, as does Mrs. M.
C. and all the children. Adieu, My Dearest Life, and be assured of the
prayers and best wishes of your ever faithfull and affectionate

M. B.

ADDRESSED: James Boswell, Edouard

Aichinleck May 26 1789

A thousand thanks to you My Dearest Mr. Boswell for all
your letters which are great comforts to me and what I stand much
in need of. You will have received intelligence by this time of
your Brother's arrival - he is really the most disagreeable companion
I ever lived with. He has not one grain of compliance in his
disposition - he will not accommodate himself to any one Domestic
rule, however at dinner he never arrives till after we are all ob-
liged to sit down and begin, and then his sullen pride is shock'd
that he is not waited for as if he was something above the common.
At tea supper and at breakfast the same. Last night he would
not come to prayers and the day before would not kneel and little
Jamie said Mama that man stood all the time of Big prayers as if
it had been the little ones (meaning the grace) I trust in god you will give
him no encouragement to pitch his tent here otherwise adieu to every
comfort. Mr. Miller and Miss Young are quite confounded - and I
cannot help being ashamed - In my last I wrote you about Sandy
he still continues better and I would gladly flatter myself with
care and attention accompanied with gods blessing he may soon get
quite well - I have had him out in the Chaise for some days past
every day and he does not complain. Your brother rides your horse
I may say all day and mounts and dismounts perhaps ten times in a
mile. I see him now moving in a slow solemn manner up the avenue.
In your letter on a certain subject you desire me not to oppose
you. I never had any desire to do it I only wish you to be per-
fectly settled in your own mind and convinced of the propriety of
quitting your country and profession for in that case England or
any where is equally the same to me, so put me quite out of the
question and if you resolve I am already prepared in my heart to
follow you or accompany you where I have not to sail, but my weak
lungs and sea sickness forbid that method of transporting myself.

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I am sorry for poor Davis I shall write him soon. I shall be anxious till I hear how you and Mr. Pitt behaved to each other. I think you should tell Mr. Dundass your Plan of practice at the English Bar. I have not yet gone to see Lady Crawford. I could not think of leaving Sandy.

I have nothing new to write you. I am amazed you do not get my letters for I have wrote you frequently since you left us. We had Mr. Auld one day at Dinner and Mr. Bruce Campbell was here yesterday. He was very friendly - he came upon hearing their was a Roup of wood but it was only a small parcel. Adieu- the children offer you their duty and long for your return, they have cleaned out the Bell House in order to keep the Kings Birthday and they propose dressing it all up with flowers and spending the day in the most loyal manner. You can imagine, the two girls laid themselves up yesterday with downright hard labor to get all the things prepared for this joyfull occasion. It never struck them to do this before - it looks as if it was a disease over the land and young and old infected by it.

I have wrote to your Br. and send it for your perusal. If you approve of it pray seal it and deliver it to him. Write me whether you are to come here or go straight to Edinburgh. Your brother says you tell him you are to be down the 12th of June. He conversed a little this Evening - as he did not come to Tea till an hour after the rest had done he and I had a tete a tete.

I must now conclude with assuring you how sincerely I am your ever
faithfull and affectionate M. B. Rockefull Compts. to Gen. Paoli,
and kind love to Worthy Sir Charles Preston when you see him. I wish
Capt. Robert would come down and take a fancy to Lady M. Lindsay and
she for him.

Auchinleck May 29th, 1789

I am sorry I mention'd your Brothers sullem manner **inxxx** least
**nigxxx** it should vex you or cause you write to him which would make
him worse. I therefore intreat you will take no notice of it
to him and let him just do as he pleases till you return and when
present you may by some gentle method try to bring him right.
I went to Lady Craufords yesterday and found her Ladyship quite
well and Lady Mary vastly better and looking charmingly. She told
me she had a vast inclination to write you as Lord and Lady Dal-
housie attended by Baron Stewart were gone to Earl Davids - that
there were Lords in this House. I wish you would write to
either Lady Crauford or her and give them any little agreeable
intelligence you can pick up to amuse them in their rural abode.
They go to the Sea Bathing beginning of next week. They have a
sad story about Lord Pembroke in this country and find it comes
from the Muirs he set off with an Opera girl and left poor
Lady Pembroke and his dying daughter - the most amiable beautyfull
girl that ever was seen. I cannot think it is possible other-
wise I should look upon him as the greatest monster of inhumanity
that is in existence. If it is true I hope you will have no
connection with him as I realy think he is a disgrace to human
nature who is void of the feelings of affection and humanity.
Your Brother did not dine with the family yesterday nor sup as I
was not at Home he cannot bear the **Teachers** of either sex - in-
deed I was a good deal disgusted myself to find upon my return
that the Children had not got on single lesson of any one branch
of Education but the **two** had spent their day in amusing each
other. You may believe I was not silent nor not very sweet upon
this occasion. It show'd me how little confidence I had to place
in a certain persons attention when under a necessity of trusting
to her. Indeed I believe they are upon the whole not doing very

Auchinleck June 8th 1789

I no sooner send off a letter to you on the subject of _Emigrating_ than I turn uneasy least it should stagger you in your _resolution_ and by that means deprive you of your present pleasing Ideas. I therefore beg that you will always consider anything I have written or may in future write only as hints thrown out for you to consider on or not as you think proper. I was disappointed at not hearing from you last night as you had mention'd your being low spirited. You was sure it would make me anxious to know if you was better and also the cause. James Bruce would write you about your sale of woods, xc. I hear no more about the Tennant to Brearhead. David Reaside from Stewarton was looking at it as he says he do's not know but he is to leave Mr. Hunter Blair's Farm of Robertland as he had wrote him to that purpose. He said if that was the case he would give 50 L yearly for a Tack but as I think it an unfriendly thing to entice away either a Servant or Tennant. I advised him to remain where he was as I aledged the Stewarton people were not fond of any other place. He seem'd however very anxious that you should let it without telling him. I think Mr. Blair should not part with him for a triffle as he is an honest industrious Creature. He was so surprised and pleas'd with Veronica's Musick that he begg'd I would allow him to make an annual visit for the pleasures of hearing her. As to Mrs. Chalmers's claim in equity I think she has none. She and her family have possess'd a Farm for 28 or 29 years from which they have had a profit of near 50 pd. per ann: and upon which they have built Houses to the value I shall suppose of 300 Ld. Your father gave them wood (Mr. Auld informs me) so that is to be deducted. They have worn out your land and she has taken every advantage that Law could give her upon these different considerations. I said nothing to James Bruce till you come yourself. My idea of Equity in this affair is, she should be preffer'd as a Tennant if she gives the value of the land,

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    <td>PUN</td>
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    <td>AGEN</td>
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    <td>U.S.</td>
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and I would give her nor no person a Tack of it without binding
her hand and foot with regard to managing the ground. She has
plow'd the Holmes after allowing them only two years rest. D.
Reaside says he thinks them in no way inferiour to the Lainshaw
Holmes which after 7 years rest gave 5 & Sterling per acre for
ploughing. She had proposed to pick your ground and give you
at the Rate of fifteen Shillings per acre for what she should
chuse and this T. Bruce seem'd to think was a reasonable offer.
I wish you would write about your servant, whether he is to come
to Auchinleck or remain in Edinburgh on Board wages. I would
think if you remain in London till July he had better come West
and Thomas Edmonson will do if you go to Edinburgh, or you may
take your own servant from this. Sandy continues pretty easy,
he is surprised you are not coming Home and begs I will desire you
to come soon. Phemy is not well today. Mr. John is also com-
plaining. He set out for his Evenings ride and did not return
till near twelve o'clock at night but nobody knowes where he go's
or dare ask. I wish he may not get drink as that and the heat will
most certainly do him harm. Adieu, god bless and preserve you
to your ever faithfull and affectionate

M. Boswell.

Spring London 1784. No. 8.

To
James Boswell, Esq.
London.