Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/ Document : 313 Title: Letter Written by J Murray to a Friend Author(s): Murray, J St Andrews April 1st and thank God for it Dear Campbell I find it impoſsible to apologise for so long a silence, even in any manner, much leſs can I find a just excuse, an excuse which I durst offer to a Friend _ To acknowledge my Fault and promise amendment is the only hope I have of forgiveneſs _ I do not however expect this to succeed as it is the means I took to obtain that last time I trangreſsed in this way _ you can not suppose it neglect or Forgetfulneſs of our former acquaintance If you do you wrong me much I aſsure you _ I may plead busineſs this however you will doubt Judging from yr knowledge of my application. you will be wrong for once, and you will wrong me in supposing that I offer a Lye in my [Excuse] Upon reading over this last Page I find it perfectly unintelligible but I cannot begin another as I am at present in great hurry it may serve you for amusement if you are fond of puzzles when you have nothing Else to do _ By This Time yr Amusements will be very near if not altogether over, & the bees with which the D of Gordon must have filled yr Head will be pretty nearly settled tant meaux for yr Studies but what is of more consequence tant pis for yrself I should think so were I in yr Case _ I hear you stood in the most favorable light with her Grace the Envy of the [whose] beaux in Edinr _ Nay I even heard it alledged that you supplied the place of a Certain _ not 100 miles from Gordon Castle - Happy you If this be true - But I rather doubt the facts In which Case I envy you not at all as I myself can boast a small share of favour in a womans breast whom I prize before all the Dutcheſseſs in Christendom Do not suppose that I _ her, _ My Heart revolts at the Idea, tho' she is a most Capital Piece _ The Enclosed Hair is hers for which reason I set the greatest value upon it _ and were I not convinced of yr care would not even trust it a moment in yr poſseſsion _ I send it to you begging that you you will get it set _ I would urge the setting plain but neat _ the Hair braided, I believe they called you will understand plated better _ Let it be a Locket such as Gentlemen wear _ tolerable big, in the plates & tolerably large altogether _ I shall like it better if it is set in plain Gold without any ornaments as these are not neceſsary to render it dear to me I shall make no apologies for troubling you with this [¿] To serve a friend is to me always agreable, you [¿] will not find it disagreable _ If you will Either pay it or send to me the Jewellers bill I will transmit the Money immediately _ Pray if poſsible let me have it here on Friday Put it carefully in a letter & it will come safe _ This ought not to be considered as a Letter as so much of it is taken up in busineſs of My own I shall write to you as soon I get the locket - My Letter will I hope be better [¿] 4th _ If you can get a Frank to put the locket on it will be better as the postage will be Exceedingly high I would not however want it 24 Hours for all the postge that is paid in a year - yrs Ever J Murray This Letter is wrote in a great hurry so I beg you will excuse its Faults Blemishes &c &c &c &c Do you know one Mrs Smollett My aunt where does she live Be so good as send back the Hair if any is left it is too valuable to loose _ remember Friday Night if poſsible - Put it into the post office on Thursday afternoon.