Wilton Lodge
                                                            1st. August 1803

---

My Dear Sister,
      Will you never leave
off your old Tricks & Must the labour
of showing that You are in the wrong,
always be thrown on me? I really
admire the composed assurance, with
which You are pleased to abuse me, in
your Letter of the 23d. July; but, am by
no means in the humour for
bearing unmerited Reproach. You
know, are conscious, and cannot
deny, that You never answered
my last Letter, written three Months
ago; that You are in the constant
habit of treating me in the same
way; and then, forsooth, it is very
extraordinary that I do not write
to You!!! I tell you once for all,
that those who expect Letters from
Me, must fire Gun for Gun, Letter
for Letter, or else, my Ink shall

---

not blot paper. Why should I waste
my precious time, in scribbling nonsense
to You, if You do not choose either
to return the same, or some
of your blue Stocking Sense?
      Major Cathcart, I apprehend,
was not much concerned about
the situation of my family, as he
never enquired after them, from
the time he heard of their illness,
even unto this. Thank God, we are
all in general health again, long ago.
The influenza made a pretty General
Attack on my Wife, Children, & Servants
, but was civil enough to keep
clear of me. Whether this proceeded
from Respect towards His Majesty's
High Commissioner to the Church
of Scotland, or from awe of my Dignity
of His Majesty's Lieutenant for
Selkirkshire, I cannot determine;
perhaps, you may, in your superior
Wisdom, be able to account for it.
      Having now got to the bottom
of my second Page, it is necessary to
impress on your Mind, the excess of

---

my condescension in writing to You at
all, worried as I am with Militia Acts,
Supplementary Militia Acts, Defence of
the Country Acts, Army of Reserve Acts,
& innumerable other Acts to explain
& amend the foregoing, with which
I am daily & hourly pestered. I have
ridden more miles within these
last six Weeks, attending Meetings
of Lieutenancy, Justices &c. &c. &c. on all
these important matters, than I
believe I have done for six Years
before. Tell Mr. Dickenson, I have
      suffered grievously, from
      the Saddle Sickness, and
      having four more Meetings
      to attend between this, and
the 16th. of this Month, I know not
what the consequence may be.
      We have had remarkably
warm weather, and a dreadful Storm
of Thunder & Lightning, which damaged
several Houses, and killed many
Sheep. I have not heard, of any human
Life having been put an end
to by it, in this Neighbourhood. I hope
it has done no mischief with You.
      What a dreadful murder
those Irish Villains have committed
on Lord Kilwarden & his Nephew? With
such Foes internally, & Bonaparte without,

---

▼

▼

the Autumn promises to be a busy one.
If you run away from Bedfordshire, we may
perhaps see You in your endeavour
to get to some Cavern among the Highland
Hills. I had forgotten, that such Places
may be found in Derbyshire. Wherever
You & Yours take refuge, my best
wishes & those of my Rib, will ever
attend You. Therefore with hearty &
cordial Love & affection to all at Leighton
House, I remain ever My Dear
Sister
      Your faithful Friend & Brother
                             Napier


Hawick, Second August
                             1803

---

      Mrs- Dickenson
         Leighton House
           Leighton Buzzard
                Bedfordshire
Napier.