“I was favoured with your letter, and send you Anne’s stockings along with this: I would have sent them last week, but had some expectations of a private opportunity. I have been very happy for this fortnight; we have some plan or other for every day. Last week my uncle, my cousin William* and I, rode to Smailholm, and from thence walked to Sandy-knowe Craigs, where we spent the whole day, and made a very hearty dinner by the side of the Orderlaw Well, on some cold beef and bread and cheese: we had also a small case-bottle of rum to make grog with, which we drank to the Sandy-
* The present Laird of Raeburn. |
| ROSEBANK—BALLANTYNE. | 155 |
“The fishing has been hitherto but indifferent, and 1 fear I shall not be able to accomplish my promise with regard to the wild-ducks. I was out on Friday, and only saw three. I may probably, however, send you a hare, as my uncle has got a present of two greyhounds from Sir H. MacDougall, and as he has a license, only waits till the corn is off the ground to commence coursing. Be it known to you, however, I am not altogether employed in amusements, for I have got two or three clients besides my uncle, and am busy drawing tacks and contracts, not, however, of marriage. I am in a fair way of making money, if I stay here long.
“Here I have written a pretty long letter, and nothing in it; but you know writing to one’s friends is the next thing to seeing them. My love to my father and the boys from, dear mother, your dutiful and affectionate son,
