Echoes of the 18th Century. 95 



that as letter-writers our predecessors of the 18th century were 

 greatly our superiors : — 



My Dear Madam, — The many obligations I have received ever 

 since I had the happiness of being of the number of your 

 acquaintances makes me regret when I think of now being 

 deprived in a short time of that usual pleasure I had in being 

 allowed at all times to have the pleasure of being admitted when- 

 ever I did myself the pleasure of calling, and am sorry to say I 

 did not imbrass (sic) it so often as my inclination would have 

 had me, from auquardness (sic), being sensible of my own weak- 

 ness, and not having the least prospect of its ever having my 

 desird efect ; and am now still more at a loss than ever for words 

 to express my gratitude and true sentiments for the late and 

 unspeakable favour you was so kind as to make me understand 

 you would have had the condisention (sic J to have mentioned to 

 one I must own I have had an unmoved warm side to for some 

 time past, and shall for ever regard and esteem, tho', alas, I have 

 now no more in my power, nor never had to my knowledge, or 

 none else should have had my hand, I must confess, but it was 

 too delicate an afair for me to let be known, as I knew one of 

 so good sense would have rather shun'd than made up after, and 

 the prospect of being for ever debarrd from the pleasure of wait- 

 ing of you, and of being in the horrid situation of refused, was a 

 thing I could never once let myself think of ; but in spite of this 

 I still hope you will alow me to wait of you err (sicj. I leave 

 town, and when I return, if ever, will you be so kind as do 

 me the favour of a visit. At whatever place or time, I assure 

 you, it will be doing me an unspeakable favour, and ever am, 

 my dear Madam, your most obedient and obliged humble 

 servant, Harriott Gordon. 



Lord Eliock's reply to his sister's letter is unhappily not forth- 

 coming. That he did reply is certain fi-om a letter written by 

 Miss Veitch a fortnight later: — 



Edinburgh, March 1, 1760. 



Dear Jamie,— I wrote you by last post that I had received 

 yours of the 23rd. Though I had known your sentiments sooner, 

 it would not have prevented me from writing as I did this day 

 fortnight, for from all their proceedings, wliich was minutely as 

 I informed you, and a great deal more, the dread of their apply- 

 ing to you by some other hand was not till now out of my head • 



