Glasgow 14 June 1796
My most affectionate father
For some days past I have been
endeavouring in vain to write you and indeed at this
moment I am in no better condition, my spirits
being wholly [?depleted] and my mind rendered incapable
of either [illeg] on a thing Good God can it otherwise
be after having lost the woman in whom all my
future happiness was [illeg], my delightful companion
the mother of my sweet babbies, my best and dearest
beloved wife, she in whom my soul was [illeg] in
whom I {?adored} and {?doted} on to [illeg] my God her
sudden [illeg] {?unapprehended}, what an irreparable loss to my
helpless infants and me, but why do [illeg]. Alas
the will of God, and to this will we must {?subborent}
it was only on Friday evening that I had the most
distant hint given me of danger, and from that time
I was scarcely ever from the bedside administering every
thing that was [illeg] and giving that attention to my
dear charge that I would not {?entreat} with any other
indeed

indeed from the moment she was taken ill untill the
fatal moment I was scarcely absent from her, which
gives me much {?unsaid} {?affection}, our time together
has been short indeed, only five years, yet I am fully
assured that [illeg] that short [illeg] we [illeg]
more real [illeg] happiness than there [deleted]
does in five time fives years, in the midst of all
my {?duties} I have been fortunate in gotten [deleted] nurse
that we know for the infant, Mrs {?Marr} has been
complaining but is better The rest of the children
are all well and {?altogether} life is great they {?know}
not — O my {?Dearest} what a [illeg] [illeg] I am
in [deleted] it is beyond all {?discription} and my sorrows
without {?interruption} It gives me [?release] to hear that
I am to [illeg] James so soon this [illeg] I hope will
on some measure enable me to think what is {?best}
to be done with the children, my Love and duty to the
Watt & Gregory and with fervent prayers for your health
{?Remain} on all occasions
My most affectionate father
Your affectionate son
Ja Miller

James Watt {?hg}
Heathfield
near Birmingham
[horizontal bottom side] Mr Miller 179 7 6

Glasgow 14 June 1796
My most affectionate father
For some days past I have been
endeavouring in vain to write you and indeed at this
moment I am in no better condition, my spirits
being wholly [illeg] and my mind rendered incapable
of either thinking on acting - Good God can it other worse
be, after having lost the women in whom all my
future happiness was centred, my delightful companion,
the Mother of My sweet babbies, my heart and dearest
beloved wife, she in whom my soul was [illeg] in,
whom I ador'd and doated on to dis[illeg], my God how
sudden how unexpected, what an irreparable loss to my
helpless infants, and me, but why do [illeg] it is
the will of God, and to his will we must submit,
it was only on friday evening that I had the most
distant hint given me of danger, and from that time
I was scarcely ever from her bedside administering any
thing that was ordered and giving that affection to my
dear charge that I would not entrust with any other indeed

indeed from the moment she was taken ill untill the
fatal moment I was scarcely {?abroad} from her, which
gives me much inward satisfaction, our time together
has been short indeed, only five years, yet I am fully
af[illeg] that during that short period we experienced
more real uninterrupted happiness than {?thousands}
does in five times five years. in the midst of all
my distress I have been fortunate in getting nurse
that we know for the Infant; [illeg] [illeg] has been
[illeg] but is better the rest of the Children
are all well and at the [illeg] [illeg] is great they know it
not _ O my dear for what a distress of [illeg]tion I am
in it is beyond all [illeg] and my sorrows
without interruption. It gives me pleasure to hear that I am to expect James so soon, his presence I hope will
in some measure enable me to [illeg] what is best
to be done with the children, my love and duty to Mrs
Watt & Gregory and with fervent prayers for your health
I remain on all occasions
My most affection father
your affect [illeg] son
James Miller

James Watt Esq
Heathfield
Near Birmingham