71, Queen Street
                               17th- October 1806

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My Dear Sister,
      I have just received
your Letter of the 11th. Instant. Before
I take any notice of the contents
of it, I must inform You of a recent
melancholy Event, which is uppermost
in my Thoughts. It has pleased God
to deprive us of my Sister Hunter.
She died on the 9th- of this Month.
Her health, for many Years, was
much impaired, and during the whole
of this Summer she had suffered
severely, at times, from violent pains
in her Stomach attended with retchings
and vomitings. She returned from
the Doctors house in Dumfries Shire,
about 70 miles from hence on the third
Instant, and did not feel so tired as she
expected to have been. Though looking
thinner than when I had seen her
last, yet she was cheerful; but, on
the Monday after her arrival, the pains
in her Stomach returned. Still no

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danger was apprehended. On the
Wednesday evening, the Surgeon,
who has attended our family for
upwards of Thirty Years, was with
her at eight O'Clock, At that time
no change in her pulse indicated
an approaching dissolution, and he
left her with no apprehensions of any
immediate danger. During the Night
she was extremely unwell, and a visible
alteration in her countenance
alarmed her Maid, who called up
the Doctor of the family between five
& six on The Thursday Morning. The
Surgeon was sent for; but, before
his arrival, my poor Sister had
breathed her last, in so gentle a
manner, that the precise moment
of her death was not known. Her
excellent Husband was praying
by her Bed side, and was stopped
by perceiving her Eyes fixed & herself
motionless. She did not say anything
from which we can collect whether
she was sensible of her approaching
end, except the day she returned to
Edinburgh, when, on the Doctor's
congratulating her, on having made

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out her journey well, she replied, “Indeed
Doctor, I never expected to have
“been here again.” She has left two
Sons, & two Daughters. The eldest Daughter
, is twenty two, & the eldest Son just
come of Age. Dr. Hunter is a most sincere
Christian. His pious and resigned
Conduct, on this occasion, has set an
excellent example to us all, and taught
us how we ought to receive the mournful
dispensations of Providence.
      At any other moment
      than this, I should have
      been apt to have expressed
      myself rather sharply,
      on the subject of old Mr.
Dickensons conduct relative to Mrs- Skinner.
It was surely cruel to employ me
to make such enquiries as were likely
to raise the hopes of this unfortunate
Woman, and then to take no notice
of her. It was using both her, & me
ill. I know of no situation in a public
Charity here, into which she can be admitted
. In the Poor House, where She is,
she receives such support, as may preserve
Life, but, certainly, without comforts or
conveniences. I shall make no observation
further on the subject, except to add, that
five Guineas annually, would be a
great assistance to the Poor Woman.
      Our Cousins behave

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very properly to us. He has shown
much affection & feeling, at this time.
It is a pity that he cannot lay aside
being fine, which would make him
much more agreeable in general.
Maria & my family are well. Adieu
My Dear Sister. With most sincere affection
for Your & Yours, I ever
am,
      Your faithful Friend
                             & Brother
                                                         Napier

Edinburgh, Seventeenth October 1806

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      Mrs- Dickenson
      Leighton House
          Leighton Buzzard
                             Bedfordshire
Napier.