_ LETTER the FIRST is from
Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE LUTTERELL.
Lesley Castle Janry 3rd--1792.
My Brother has just left us. "Matilda (said he at parting) you
and Margaret will I am certain take all the care of my dear
little one, that she might have received from an indulgent, and
affectionate and amiable Mother." Tears rolled down his cheeks
as he spoke these words--the remembrance of her, who had so
wantonly disgraced the Maternal character and so openly violated
the conjugal Duties, prevented his adding anything farther; he
embraced his sweet Child and after saluting Matilda and Me
hastily broke from us and seating himself in his Chaise, pursued
the road to Aberdeen. Never was there a better young Man! Ah!
how little did he deserve the misfortunes he has experienced in
the Marriage state. So good a Husband to so bad a Wife! for you
know my dear Charlotte that the Worthless Louisa left him, her
Child and reputation a few weeks ago in company with Danvers and
dishonour. Never was there a sweeter face, a finer form, or a
less amiable Heart than Louisa owned! Her child already
possesses the personal Charms of her unhappy Mother! May she
inherit from her Father all his mental ones! Lesley is at
present but five and twenty, and has already given himself up to
melancholy and Despair; what a difference between him and his
Father! Sir George is 57 and still remains the Beau, the flighty
stripling, the gay Lad, and sprightly Youngster, that his Son was
really about five years back, and that HE has affected to appear
ever since my remembrance. While our father is fluttering about
the streets of London, gay, dissipated, and Thoughtless at the
age of 57, Matilda and I continue secluded from Mankind in our
old and Mouldering Castle, which is situated two miles from Perth
on a bold projecting Rock, and commands an extensive veiw of the
Town and its delightful Environs. But tho' retired from almost
all the World, (for we visit no one but the M'Leods, The
M'Kenzies, the M'Phersons, the M'Cartneys, the M'Donalds, The
M'kinnons, the M'lellans, the M'kays, the Macbeths and the
Macduffs) we are neither dull nor unhappy; on the contrary there
never were two more lively, more agreable or more witty girls,
than we are; not an hour in the Day hangs heavy on our Hands. We
read, we work, we walk, and when fatigued with these Employments
releive our spirits, either by a lively song, a graceful Dance,
or by some smart bon-mot, and witty repartee. We are handsome my
dear Charlotte, very handsome and the greatest of our Perfections
is, that we are entirely insensible of them ourselves. But why
do I thus dwell on myself! Let me rather repeat the praise of
our dear little Neice the innocent Louisa, who is at present
sweetly smiling in a gentle Nap, as she reposes on the sofa. The
dear Creature is just turned of two years old; as handsome as
tho' 2 and 20, as sensible as tho' 2 and 30, and as prudent as
tho' 2 and 40. To convince you of this, I must inform you that
she has a very fine complexion and very pretty features, that she
already knows the two first letters in the Alphabet, and that she
never tears her frocks--. If I have not now convinced you of her
Beauty, Sense and Prudence, I have nothing more to urge in
support of my assertion, and you will therefore have no way of
deciding the Affair but by coming to Lesley-Castle, and by a
personal acquaintance with Louisa, determine for yourself. Ah!
my dear Freind, how happy should I be to see you within these
venerable Walls! It is now four years since my removal from
School has separated me from you; that two such tender Hearts, so
closely linked together by the ties of simpathy and Freindship,
should be so widely removed from each other, is vastly moving. I
live in Perthshire, You in Sussex. We might meet in London, were
my Father disposed to carry me there, and were your Mother to be
there at the same time. We might meet at Bath, at Tunbridge, or
anywhere else indeed, could we but be at the same place together.
We have only to hope that such a period may arrive. My Father
does not return to us till Autumn; my Brother will leave Scotland
in a few Days; he is impatient to travel. Mistaken Youth! He
vainly flatters himself that change of Air will heal the Wounds
of a broken Heart! You will join with me I am certain my dear
Charlotte, in prayers for the recovery of the unhappy Lesley's
peace of Mind, which must ever be essential to that of your
sincere freind
M. Lesley. _