[f.26]
Clerkington 17^th May
I cannot longer resist the desire I have of writing you, will
you forgive me my ever dear Duncan for disobeying your
express order which was not to write untill Monday, in
every other thing I will endeavor to attend to your Commands
but in the present case time has been most uncommonly
tardy, and I feel such an itching for my pen, that
I am Convinced you will overlook this first breach in my
faith - in pity to myself I will say little of yester
day, which really was amongst the most sad and disagreeable
I have ever spent, I thought it never was to finish
and inclin’d to own the truth the whole house seemed as if
infected by stillness and stupidity, this Gloom did not
as you may imagine tend to raise my Spirits, which
were sunk down to their lowest ebb – Mrs Johnston Miss
?Isacrd, and ?Jan came to tea, I could most willingly have

[f.26v]
dispenced with their Companye but xxx we cannot allways expect
to meet every thing xxxx ^our own way, the Ladies stayed till
past eight, and I found myself so well that I walked
the length of the Little Bridge with them, the ?Comm
than gave his orders for a return, and you know the
Commy must be obeyed, ay least, to disobey is a
dangerous undertaking, to the Community of Clerkington,
his humour is not to be trifled with. I was much
the better of a little exercise, and Slept tho not
extraordinary much better than I expected this
Morning I once intended going to Church, but I gave
up all thoughts for the more pleasant task of
scribbling to you. Lady Hay Miss Anderson and Miss ?Steele
are gone as they poor damsels have to dearly to conv
:erse with, I thank my stars am more lucky, Miss Steele
left a message to you which I promise to deliver
she sayd you went off yesterday without ?visiting her


[f.27]

?Rosia” to please the poor Girl I have in the open goodness
of my heart satisfied her with the promise ?of a
?Kiss when you return, but remember I’ll allow but one
as for your Brother I durst not venture the same
assurance, as I am not certain whether the fair Ann
would agree, he can settle the matter with her before
his return and act accordingly the three Gentleman
are gone to dine at Sir Robert Sinclairs and don’t
come home this Evening last night a Packet a[rrived]
from your Brother John which Miss Ander[son]
?did open, it Contained Mr ?Nicholes Papers, and as I don’t
think you left any objections about them I intended to
send them back tomorrow to John don’t think I wil ?de[…]
the ?nerve of writing this Epistle, I am perfectly well
and for your sake will not hurt myself by any
fatigue whatever do not forget often to write me
and return to me as soon as possible, for I am tired
already of your absence, I am certainly an unfashionable

[f.27v]

wife, but I can’t help it remember me affectionately
to your Brother, I regret much I did not see them
yesterday all here join in best wishes don’t ?neglect
your picture and try and ^get James to sit also

I will write you in two days, perhaps sooner, I must
conclude tho now on account of fatigue – if I don’t get a
Letter tomorrow I shall be horridly out of humor
Believe me my dearest Spouse your most

[change of orientation]
sincerely and affectionately Christina Anderson

[change or orientation]

David Anderson Esq^r
No. 6 York Street
St James’s Square
London

[f.26]
Clerkington 17^th May
I cannot longer resist the desire I have of writing you, will
you forgive me my ever dear Duncan for disobeying your
express order which was not to write until Monday, in
every other thing I will endeavour to attend to your Commands
but in the present case time has been most uncommonly
tardy, and I feel such an itching for my pen, that
I am Convinced you will overlook this first breach in my
faith - in pity to myself I will say little of yester
day, which really was amongst the most sad and disagreeable
I have ever spent, I thought it never was to finish
and inclined to own the truth the whole house seemed as if
infected by stillness and stupidity, this Gloom did not
as you may imagine tend to raise my Spirits, which
were sunk down to their lowest ebb – Mrs Johnston Miss
?Isacrd, and ?Jan came to tea, I could most willingly have

[f.26v]
dispensed with their Company but xxx we cannot always expect
to meet every thing xxxx ^our own way, the Ladies stayed till
past eight, and I found myself so well that I walked
the length of the Little Bridge with them, the ?Comm
than gave his orders for a return, and you know the
Commy must be obeyed, ay least, to disobey is a
dangerous undertaking, to the Community of Clerkington,
his humour is not to be trifled with. I was much
the better of a little exercise, and Slept though not
extraordinary much better than I expected this
Morning I once intended going to Church, but I gave
up all thoughts for the more pleasant task of
scribbling to you. Lady Hay Miss Anderson and Miss ?Steele
are gone as they poor damsels have to dearly to conv
:erse with, I thank my stars am more lucky, Miss Steele
left a message to you which I promise to deliver
she said you went off yesterday without ?visiting her


[f.27]

?Rosia” to please the poor Girl I have in the open goodness
of my heart satisfied her with the promise ?of a
?Kiss when you return, but remember I’ll allow but one
as for your Brother I durst not venture the same
assurance, as I am not certain whether the fair Ann
would agree, he can settle the matter with her before
his return and act accordingly the three Gentleman
are gone to dine at Sir Robert Sinclairs and don’t
come home this Evening last night a Packet a[rrived]
from your Brother John which Miss Ander[son]
?did open, it Contained Mr ?Nicholes Papers, and as I don’t
think you left any objections about them I intended to
send them back tomorrow to John don’t think I will ?de[…]
the ?nerve of writing this Epistle, I am perfectly well
and for your sake will not hurt myself by any
fatigue whatever do not forget often to write me
and return to me as soon as possible, for I am tired
already of your absence, I am certainly an unfashionable

[f.27v]

wife, but I can’t help it remember me affectionately
to your Brother, I regret much I did not see them
yesterday all here join in best wishes don’t ?neglect
your picture and try and ^get James to sit also

I will write you in two days, perhaps sooner, I must
conclude though now on account of fatigue – if I don’t get a
Letter tomorrow I shall be horridly out of humour
Believe me my dearest Spouse your most

[change of orientation]
sincerely and affectionately Christina Anderson

[change or orientation]

David Anderson Esq^r
No. 6 York Street
St James’s Square
London