Chapter XLIX: Letter XVII: (Wemyss.)

MY DEAREST LIFE,

I delay’d writing in hops to have heard from you,
butt it is more than a month since I had that pleasure, and it was
just when you was 41, so you may judge what a pain it is to me. Now
that our London friend can convey our letters, it surprises me there
is none. I pray God you may be well.

I had a letter from our friend at London, and he tells me he has writ
to you of the discovery James H. has made of Mr. Nabit’s affair. It
has griev’d me very much, and it is no small satisfaction that it
has not failed by any neglect of mine, but he certainly designed to
commit the villainy and went away with that veiu, for nothing I could
do could make him stay. God in his wise providence has order’d it,
and I must submit, but it is a great tryal. I have done already what
was fit to do upon such ane exigence, and my friend will doe all in
his power at London, but what will be the end of it God knows! I
am not altogether without hope, tho’ I must own my grounds are but
small. I dare not write so plainly to you of it as I incline, lest it
should mis-carry and doe ane injury on that particular, but I think
it a lucky providence it went off, and I hope it shall never come on
till it do it (with) the right owner. God in wise providence thinks
fit to try us many different ways. I pray God make us both have the
right use of them, and seeing the vanity and emptiness of all things
in this world, we may seek what is more lasting and durable.

Bess was married Wednesday last, and after I had order’d my unlucky
affair the best I could, I came to my father’s that morning. Now I
am at her own house, where I could have been merry and blithe, but
now melancholy prevails so much that I cannot express it. And yet
I cannot help thinking this cannot last; but at another time I am
ready to despair, and my being absent from you without any prospect
of meeting is the bitterest part of all. But I ought to be resigned
in that and every other particular, and wait the Lord’s time with
patience.

Your boys are well and my health is better now than it used to be,
tho’ my toyl has been great and my mind much disturbed. The earl and
his wife salutes you and wishes often for you here, and remembers
with great respect your good company.

I cannot frame a notion now but everything will be unlucky, but that
is a fault. Aunt Betty is here and is in great concern for all that
may affect you. Hope the best and trust in God, for what he sends
is certainly best for us. Dearest Life, let me hear from you, and
endeavor to make your misfortuns as easy as possible. I can say no
more just now but that I hope the person who comes shall never see
far in Mr. Nabit, but you shall know. Write to our friend at London
when you want money, for that is the only way I can supply you.
Melancholy increases when I either write or speak on this subject, so
I’ll end. Wishing you all patient submission and intire trust in God,
who is able and ready to help us if we be not wanting to ourselves.
May (He) ever preserve you and send you His blessing is the earnest
wish of her who is ever

Yours.

July 8.