Balgowan 2nd- February 1779.

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      Since you are saucy and won't
write to me, I'll be revenged by writing often
& making you pay the Postage -- I am at present
upon a Visit to Mr- & Mrs- Graham, the latter
of whom has very frequently & very affectionately
enquired after you. She was always a prodigious
favourite of mine & I find no reason to alter
my good opinion of her. Tomorrow we go in a Body
to Dunkeld, how Duchess Jane will receive us
I'm quite at a loss to guess. Her Noble Husband ought
to be ashamed to see me, as he has twice been
guilty of a breach of promise to myself & to my
friends --
      Now that I have leisure I shall
give you a short account of my Sisters & of
the Situation in which I found them. To
begin regularly & methodically I shall first
touch upon Miss Napier. Her person is not tall,
thin & not ungraceful. Her countenance good
were she a little fatter, but the Death of poor
Mary has made a visible alteration in her
looks. This joined to a natural lowness of Spirits
has made her take a turn which I ever dreaded.
In short she lives the life of a recluse; associates with
none but of her own disposition & gives herself up so
much to her religious duties as to make her in a great
measure neglect her social ones. I see with Concern

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the way of Life she has got into, but find matters
become too serious to afford even a hope of her
relaxing in her strictness -- But this must be
entre nous & go no further -- Harriot is short,
rather inclined to be fat, cheerful, lively, affectionate
& is possessed of as fine a countenance as I could
wish. I am as much pleased with her improvement
as I am hurt at the very serious turn of her
elder Sister. Jane is a most delightful child,
promises to be tall, has a remarkable degree
of gentility in her figure & is reckoned in Temper
& countenance not unlike her Brother. To the
full as lightheaded. She is at present at a boarding
School.
      I beg pardon for not sending you
the Hair I promised, but shall take the first
opportunity so to do, after my return home, which
will be next week and to atone for my neglect
by accompanying the Hair with a Miniature
of my father which I doubt not will be
equally acceptable. It will be copied from
a half length of him done by Sir George Chalmers,
as it is by far the likest picture in my possession.
Were I richer it should be set in gold, but in
the mean time you must even take it in a
shagreen Case. If I make out my Match with
the Fair Mistress of the Cannons, perhaps I
may treat you to a better. Don't forget to
write to me soon & send the purse you was
working for me. Present my best
respects to Lord & Lady Dartrey & Miss Katerina Clarke