_Citadel of Leith, September 7th, 1747._
_P.S._--PALINURUS has promised to drop me a line by post to inform
me of his safe arrival, and about your welfare, and that of other
friends. Pray keep him in mind of his promise, and let him not
mention any other thing in his letter. Is it possible to get
Boisdale's part from himself? I would gladly have it. You see I am
exceedingly greedy. Adieu.[147]
[147] See ff. 701, 792, 837.
COPY of a LETTER to CAPTAIN MALCOLM MACLEOD
of CASTLE in RAAZA.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 323.] DEAR SIR,--This comes by honest PALINURUS to
congratulate you upon your safe return to your own place; I wish I
could say to your own fireside. But I hope that and all other losses
will be made up to you with interest in due time. A mind free from
the sting of bitter reflections is a continual feast, and will serve
to inspire a man with spirits in a low and suffering state of life,
made easy by contentment, whilst others are miserable under a load of
riches and power, and must betake themselves to a crowd of company to
keep them from thinking.
I hope you are happy in meeting with Mrs. MacLeod in good health.
Long may ye live together, and may your happiness increase.
I need not put you in mind of my Memorandum to Kingsburgh, and of
your promise to procure me an exact account from the mouth of your
brother-in-law, Mr. MacKinnon, as to his particular concern in the
adventure, for you have too much honour to neglect anything committed
to your trust.
I heartily wish that honest Armadale could be prevailed upon to give
a full and plain account of his part of the management [Sidenote:
_fol._ 324.] in a certain affair which is very much wanted. If he
intends to visit Miss Flora while in Edinburgh, I then can have
the happiness of conversing with that truly valuable man, and of
getting his history from his own mouth. But if he comes not to this
country soon, I earnestly beg you'll employ your good offices with
him to allow you to write it down in his own words. Though I have
not the honour of that worthy gentleman's acquaintance, please make
him an offer of my best wishes to him and his family in the kindest
manner, and tell him that he has a most amiable character amongst the
honest folks in and about this place. May God Almighty multiply his
blessings upon him, and all his concerns both here and hereafter.
If I rightly remember I desired the favour of you to lay yourself
out in procuring me an exact account of all the cruelties and
barbarities, the pillagings and burnings, you can get any right
intelligence about, which will be an infinite service done to truth.
In doing of this be so good as to be very careful in finding out the
names of persons and places as much as possible. But where the names
cannot be discovered, still let the facts themselves be particularly
set down.
Though I have not the honour of being known to the worthy [Sidenote:
_fol._ 325.] family of Raaza, I beg my most respectful compliments
may be presented to them.
I need not mention to you that regard which is entertained for you by
the worthy person, the protection of whose roof I enjoy; for I dare
say you cannot fail to be sensible with what respect you and all such
are made mention of here.
That God Almighty may bless you and Mrs. MacLeod with health and
happiness and give you your hearts desire is the hearty and earnest
prayer of, my dear Sir, Your most affectionate friend and very humble
servant,