Murray MS.¹

 

Edinburgh Octr. 5th. 1808

Wednesday Evg 6 oclock

My dearest Annie²

I returned today about 3 oclock from my visit to Mr Scott & had the pleasure of finding your letter, which would have been more agreeable, perhaps, if you had said something of about your own health & my sons, & if you had told me what you had been about & where visiting—but I presume that you continue well & are content.³

Upon reading your letter, I really began to feel that I had been rather dilatory of late in writing to my dearest girl, but it is as she supposes, my time has been completely engrossed by business & engagements. I sent you a few hasty lines on Monday from Ashestiel when I had arrived on Sunday, intending to leave it the next day, but Mr Scott was pressing for my remaining longer & I was too happy in the opportunity of improving my acquaintance with him not to remain. A very rich literary man who lives not far from Hawkestone in Shropshire, Mr Heber, was on a visit to Mr Scott also. On the Monday, Mr S. took us along that most interesting walk to Newark Tower—the Braes of Yarrow & other places celebrated in his poem,⁴ made even more interesting to us by being shown there by the poet himself. We ran off, immediately after my short letter to you, for which they waited, & we did not return until 5 o'clock—it was a truly delightful walk—the evening was passed in most charming conversation in which both Mr Scott and Mr Heber excel.

Yesterday Mr S. took Mr Heber & myself & in his carriage & Mr Ballantyne rode on the Dickey—to Holy Melrose,⁵ which he took us over & shewed us all these beauties even the hasty look of it which I took upon a former yet more interesting occasion, had not [?allowed] me to remark. In our way we passed Mr Bruce, who happened to be standing in the Park (the father I mean) Mr Scott knew & bowed to him & I did the like but he could not have recollected me, as I never saw him but the day he dined at Mr Allens when you were there. We passed also Lord Somerville’s, where Mr & Mrs Somerville are now staying—but to my great regret I could not call upon either. When Mr Ballantyne & I left Mr Scott & Mr Heber at Melrose & travelled to Kelso—my first attention was to secure the room where my dearest love and & I rested once before, & I did not sleep, she will believe me, without a thousand thoughts of her whom I now love a thousand times more dearly than when we were there together. We passed the day tolerably especially as the Mrs Ballantyne, whom you know, came to see us[.] & this morning at six we set out for Edinburgh.

I am truly happy in being able to assure you of the most complete satisfaction which I derived from my visit to Mr Scott & it has now realized or [is] likely to do so, all that had been agitating in my mind for this last twelve months & of [which] even you shall know the particulars when we meet. I arrived so late today that I can not set out tomorrow …. [the balance of the letter is about domestic matters]

My most dear Girl

Your faithful husband

John Murray