A Scottish Idyl. 95 



If I had known where to have directed for my Dear Alicie, I 

 shou'd not have been so long of wishing' her all the Joy and happi- 

 ness that is possible to be met with in a married Life. I am ex- 

 tremely sorry I shan't have the pleasure of seeing you this Summer, 

 but there is no help for it, it is not fit it seems, tho' there is noth- 

 ing I wish so much for as to sing once more in company with my 

 sweetest of Alicies, Willys fair and Willys rare &c. So I am g-lad 

 to hear you are grown so clever at riding since you left Moffat, 

 it was lucky you was not seized with the Panick which poor Mrs 

 Pal ton's horse was so misfortunate as to throw you once into. 



I had almost pun'd a little here upon your venturing to ride a 

 runaway, but thank my stars, 1 have escaped it, for I hate a pun. 

 I pity you most heartily till your visiting time is over, or as papa 

 us'd to call it your sitting time, by the by have you sent him a 

 Willow Cokade I desire you'll have one ready for him the first 

 time you see him, you must dn-ect for Mag-uire at a place they 

 call Auchendinen by the Dumbarton post, pray write to her 

 soon, I desire my dr you'll do as you would be done by, I 

 mean not to show my letters to your husband, now remember 

 positively I won't so much as allow him to see my name, till I see 

 him, and am acquaint with him, farewell my dear Alicie Baird. — 

 I am. Yours affectionately. 



JEAN KIRKPATRICK. 



Though these are the sole specimens of the infinite jest of 

 which her grandson speaks, yet they show tender feeling as well. 

 The elegy on her death by Lord Ilailes (the historian) is the only 

 mention of her after this date wdiich I have l^een able to discover, 

 beyond the ordinary announcement of the birth of her elder and 

 only surviving- son. Lord Hailes' verses are composed in the 

 fervid pastoral style then fashionable for such elegies, but, indiffer- 

 ent as they are, indicate an appreciation of the amiable qualities of 

 the deceased on the part of the writer which give them some value. 



" She died — eternal wisdom so decreed. 



Dread Father, we submit, Thy will be done ; 

 Yet must our hearts with fond remembrance bleed : 

 Yet Friendship must bewail Amanda gone. 



" Witness those tears which for Amanda flow, 

 Witness her kindred sore with grief ojiprest. 

 Witness her hoary Parent's jDensive woe. 

 And sighs quick throbbing from iier Consort's breast." 



