71, Queen Street
                                                             26th- September 1807

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My Dear Sister,
      How could You wonder
at my not writing to You? You say
that You commanded me to do so.
It is true, that you did; and your having
done so, explains the reason why
I did not write. With the recollection
of your habitual disobedience, fresh
in my Memory, how could You suppose
that I would not profit by
it, when it suited my conveniency.
Certainly, when I arrived at home,
it was my intention to tell You,
that I had reached my Domicile
without any strange Adventures.
And, it is not above three days ago,
that I interrogated my family, with
the view of discovering whether any
of them had heard me say that
I had written to Mrs- Dickenson since
I came home. Not one of them could
say Yes, or No, on the subject. So, I comforted
myself with the belief, that
I had done so. And should have

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been convinced of it, had not Your
Scrap of Paper undeceived me, this
Morning.
      In the first place, my
most extreme acknowledgements are
due to Mr. & Miss Dickenson, for
the kind escort they gave me, and
for the trouble Mr. Dickenson took in opening
half a hundred Gates. When I got to
Stony Stratford, I found the Cathcarts
so reasonable (as indeed they always
have been) as to let me proceed on my
Journey that Evening. By this means,
I slept at Welford on the Monday
Night; reached Sir John Warren's before
Dinner on Tuesday; left Stapleford Hall,
at Seven in the Morning on Wednesday;
dined at Newcastle on Thursday; drank
Tea there, with Mrs- George Clavering,
& then went on to sleep at Framlington
; started from thence at Six O'Clock
in the Morning of Friday, and arrived
at my own Door before Ten O'Clock
at Night, to the great & unexpected Satisfaction
of all the Family, who did not
look for me sooner, than dinner Time
on Saturday. On Sunday, I received a
Note from Admiral Vashon telling
me to send my Son Francis to Leith,

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by Ten O'Clock next Morning, that
he might be put on board a King's
Ship, and sent off to seek his Fortune
on the Mighty Deep. This Summons
was obeyed, and the Boy sailed in the
Shannon Frigate to arrive for a short
time in the North Seas, & then to be
conveyed to the Southward, where
he is to join Captain Adam, in the
Resistance Frigate, as soon as he
can meet with her. We have had
one Letter from him since he sailed,
written in high Spirits. He had experienced
no Sea Sickness, though
the weather had been rough, and
the Shannon had taken a prize.
A few days, after shipping off Francis,
my duty, as Lieutenant of Selkirkshire,
took me to that County, to set the
new Militia Act agoing. At present,
I am, in State, in my Library, surrounded
by the Portraits of many of my Ancestors
, smiling (or grinning if you please)
very graciously, on their hopeful Representative
. This instant, I am interrupted
, by a living Scion of the family, who
I have sent up Stairs to my Lady, to
remain there peaceably till I have
done scribbling, and that I shall
now do, as quickly as possible.
      Your Congratulations to Lady

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Cathcart will not be delivered by Me,
as She is in the Country with her
Sister Lady Kinnaird. I did not
fail instantly to assure her how
much I was gratified by her Lord's
Success & good Conduct, at Copenhagen
. Indeed, I was most sincere, for
I do not think it possible for any
body to have behaved with more
prudence, humanity, and propriety
than he has done; and I do trust,
that his Services will be rewarded
as they ought to be. I see they have
already given his Son Frederick, a
Troop of Dragoons. By the bye, he is a
most uncommon steady young Man.
      My best wishes attend Your
Husband, your Daughter, & your
Ball. The papers will announce
the grand Illumination of the Grand
Saloon at Leighton House; the Gardens
& Grotto decorated with coloured Lamps,
so as to darken the Light of the Moon
&c. &c. &c. Rib, begs her Civilities; as I do
mine to my Countrywoman. Adieu.
Ever Your faithful Friend
                             & Affectionate Brother
                                                         Napier