I take the first opportunity of thanking my Dear
Mrs. Dickenson for her obliging and entertaining letter
not, that I think I should have done it so quick but the
opportunity of General Murray's being with us to frank it,
tempted me to intrude so soon on your time as I
wished to tell you how pleased I am, with the
idea of your being so near London and likely to
continue there some time, as we flatter ourselves with
hopes to have the pleasure of seeing you on our
arrival, the distance being so easy. -- as we propose
to leave the country, the beginning of November therefore
you will be sure to hear of us, Number 110 Park Street
and if you are disposed, to follow my good example
in answering me directly, please to direct to Stanley
House, near Perth -- without enclosing it; as the General
is going South: therefore, any under his cover, would
travell a long time, before it came to me. --
your Anecdotes entertained me very much, but
that of Lady Tweedale did not surprise; as She
has been losing her memory for a great many

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years and of late, has been odd to a great degree
so no wonder she should have forgotten the Saxons &c
as for that of Sir Mathew Decker I have often heard it
from those personally acquainted with him, and the
fact was, that Sir John Germaine had been a footman
very low and illiterate. got a great fortune in the
South Sea year, and had the good fortune that, to marry
that Excellent Woman Lady Betty that we all remember
but that, neither made him a better scholar, nor a
Gentleman.. when he was a dying, he was very uneasy
and the celebrated Doctor Clarke, then Rector of St.
James's was sent for to assist him. but on coming
he found him totally ignorant of every thing and
believing in nothing. he thought it in vain to attempt
teaching a dying man, therefore asked to read to him
which being accepted he opened the Bible, and read
our Saviour Sermon on the mount. Sir John was much
pleased and said it was an excellent book, who had written
it? Sir Mathew replied Dtr. Clarke, the other never having
heard of any Saint, but a great deal of Sir Mathew
his Neighbour, replied indeed! I never thought he had

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been able to write so well. The answer surprised
the Doctor but nothing more passed, and it did not
occur to him that he confused the Saint and the Sir.
but on every body's surprise at the clause, then added
to the Will Doctor Clarke recollected and told the
circumstance that most likely occasioned it --
I must apologise for having begun this letter on
a half sheet, but the Duke of Atholl, in writing
yesterday, had torn it off so neatly, that till I
came to turn over I never found out part had
been used -- The influenza has been all over the
country even the Highlands have not escaped; and
all the family at Atholl House have had it but the
Duke, Duchess and Lady Elizabeth -- her Grace is in
expectation of soon adding another Bonny Lad, or Lass
(to use the Scots poets expression) to the number
she is already blessed with: but continues as yet
in perfect good health -- Lord Tullibardine has
passed the Last holidays at my Brothers with his
two School-fellows and was much pleased. the situation

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of Ockham and that his has been used to among
the Highlands it must appear like a different
world to him -- you give but a Melancholy account of
the Royal Family the poor Princesses seem to have
suffered very much; and though Princess Mary is got well
it does not appear Princess Elizabeth is she is so pleasing
every body is interested in her health, which
seems but very bad -- . The Duke of York does
not seem to please, so much as expected, having
with all the Follies of Youth too much of the
foreign Hauteur to pass it off. and serves to set
off his brothers to more advantage who is more
Easy -- his late purchase is certainly a good one
for a prince there is just Elbow room sufficient
for amusement, without any command to give jealousy
or distance from Court to have tales and reports
prevail before they could be contradicted -- pray
do You hear what is become of P.E. a story has
prevailed that he stripped the D. Palace of Plate
and valuables converted it into money. and then set

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off for Italy with a Venus
I am much obliged for your recommendation of
the books which I shall try and get from Perth
but fear of success as their libraries are not
very good and we generally find it easier to get
our things from London than Edinburgh --
the addition to Madame de Sévigné letters will
be a great acquisition if they can be fairly
made out, but I think the style will soon show
them to be genuine or not -- I think the account
coming out of the Memoirs of the Late Duchess
of Kingston if fairly well told, may be made
not only amusing but interesting; as she had a
busy life among all ranks. it is not thought her
Estate in Russia though a tract almost as large
as England will sell for sufficient to pay
the legacies she has bequeathed -- her death
was occasioned by the passion she put herself into
on being told one of her law suits was likely to
be decided against her, the agitation broke a blood

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Vessel of which she died next day -- her house
near Calais she has left in its present state all
to the commandant in being -- Lord Carmarthen's
choice seems to promise happiness, as that
family has been always marked as amiable
well behaved, and well Educated -- without which
I think behaviour and Character is always precarious
-- have you read The Sisters written by Mrs. Hervey
(Mrs. Beckfords daughter.) where that lesson is strongly
inculcated. and I think the whole is written in a
pleasant style, and better than the usual style of
Novels -- my paper is near at an end before I tell you
we have taken charge of a niece during the absence of
her Father, who is gone to Lisbon on the hope of recovering
his Eldest daughter a beautiful Girl of 18. he has buried
his wife (the Captains Sister) and nine children of consumption
and having only two left has separated them for fear
of the youngest catching the cough -- we shall carry her
to London to finish her masters so that I flatter myself
she will be returned to Mr. Farquharson much improved
my good Husband & Sister join me in best wishes to Your Self
& Mr. Dickenson not forgetting the fair Louisa. I am yours affectionately
                                                         Wilhelmina Murray