Chapter LI: Letter XVIII

July 29.
Dearest Creature,

It’s impossible to express the trouble and
uneasyness Mrs. Amond has been in since the last misfortune, which
you know of long ere now both from Duncan and her; and to add to
her trouble she had not heard from Mr. Ashton for two months, for
yours of the 3 and another of the 12 of July only came to her hand
last night. I can assure you, both were most acceptable and gave her
that quiet of mind which she had not felt of a long time. Duncan told
me in his last letter he was to writ to you, and he will inform you
better of that unlucky affair and how it now stands than I can doe.
But he has acted a winderful part, and has been so far successful to
delay it till Mr. Ashton be on a surer footing.... Who knows but it
may turn to Mr. Ashton’s advantage, and in the meantime I hop you
will soon get a good account of all ... which, if rightly managed,
will be of use. Key and Mrs. Amond has both been in pain how to
manage everything that could occasion the appearing of what they
were earnest to hide as long as Humphray had anything to do in the
country. At such a time it’s impossible to think all will succeed as
we wold have it; but with Duncan’s diligence we got more time for all
than could have been expected, and if it had not been for Duncan, Mr.
Ashton wold a been undone by one who has the same relation to Mr.
Ashton that Duncan has, but he acted the contrary part and pusht Mr.
Ashton’s ruin, and said it was to serve him and his family. How will
Mrs. Amond live with that man that has used her best friend so ill?
To be just to his wife, she thought it really was as he said; but his
actings in that particular has made him odious, and yet I intend to
be in good friendship with him, more for his ill than his good.

Key goes to his Country-house this week and intends to go from
thence to the Carse (Holland) by way of Airth (London) that he may
talk with Duncan, and then go and find Peter (Dr. Erskine) by whose
help only we are to expect something done. Mr. Ashton is doubtful if
it will doe. No body can say it will or it will not, but as things
now are, it seems absolutely necessare to try; and had Mr. Ashton
been attainted and the misfortun to follow, there could a been no
retrieving; and if Peter doe not secure it before Humphray return, we
will be in a very hard state. But there has been so many different
turns of providence in that affair, Mrs. Amond has hopes yet, tho’
when she reflects how many difficulties (there are) and perhaps that
of Mr. Ashton’s not being willing to agree to terms that may be askt,
she fears the worst. But her greatest concern is for Mr. Ashton, and
she begs if you do come to the Carse to meet Key or Peter that you
may take care not to come where you may be in danger, because the
Prints bears that Lord D.(uffus) was taken at Hamburg, and she had
rather all want to Pot before Mr. Ashton’s person were in the least
danger. It certainly was a right measure for Key to go and see Peter,
and the more that a near friend was sent to Peter’s master with a
view to prepossess Peter with an ill opinion of Ashton, Key, Duncan
and all the rest, that so they might play their own game; and when
they hear of Key’s going it will put that family (the Haldanes) mad.
Certain it is Humphray has made Peter great offers if he will get his
master to agree to what he desires.

I doubt not Duncan will supply you with money, for he is the only
person that can do it just now, and he has the effect, so write to
him freely.

Mrs. Amond was afraid you had been displeased with her for asking you
to leave your society. It was a hardship on her to ask you; but when
she thought how much was at stake, and the opportunity lost could
never be recalled except Kid had better success, she thought it right
to lay it before you; and your being content to yield to your friends
and her, makes her both wish and hop it may be done in the manner you
wold have it, and she will never wish you to doe anything that may
reflect on you or occasion you uneasyness.

If you saw what different affairs Mrs. Amond has every day you wold
see it’s impossible for her to leave this place, and indeed, as
things now are, she cannot leave it a day; so she has not the least
thought of coming tho’ she inclines it very much, but she could not
doe it without partly blaming herself, and all the world wold do the
same. And as she has always preferr’d Mr. Ashton’s interest to her
own satisfaction, she intends to continue in her duty till providence
sends her a happy opportunity of seeing that person who is so much
the object of her thoughts, and for whom she thinks she can never doe
enough; and it’s her satisfaction that, barring the vilainy of that
creature (Hamilton) which was no way her fault, all her matters had
been as well as could have been expected at such a time. Mr. Ashton’s
boys are well.
Dearest Life, Adieu.

I writ to Duncan last week to send you money that you might not be
obligt to wait for it in case you intended to leave the place. May
God preserve you and direct you in every particular, and for God’s
sake beware of coming where you may be in danger.