Your Hand-writing
of DecrDecember 31st proved a real Cordial to
me, especially as I had some Anxiety
to have agreeable Accounts about you &and
your nearest Concerns; though I must own,
the melancholy Narrative you give me
about honest Malcolm MacLeod served
to throw a Dash of Bitters among my
Sweets in the perusal of your Letter.

May God Almighty grant him a happy
&and Speedy Recovery; for (woe’s me!)
the Faithful are minished from a-
mong the Children of Men.

The Welfare of the happy Pair I
heartily rejoice at, &and shall be glad to
have the like Information renewed to
me as frequently as possible. That Match
is much to the good Liking of all
Friends &and Well-wishers, who agree
in affirming it to be one of the best
judged Events of Life, that could be
devised by any SettSet of honest Folks.

Pray, make an Offer of my best Wishes
in the kindest Manner to my worthy Mrs Flora (1628)
Flora MacDonald, &and tell her from me,
that I looked for some few Lines
under her own Hand to let me know
her Marriage-Day, which I &and Some
others are quite ignorant about.
I am glad to find, that your Birth
proved to be a New-Year’s-Gift,
which has turned out to be So in more
Senses than one; &and though you be
advancing well in Age, yet, may God
grant you to see many happy &and agree-
able Returns of your Birth-Day, &and
that you may live to see your Chil-
drens Children at their own Fire-
sides in Health &and Prosperity, and
then your gray Hairs will go with
Joy to the Grave. I most earnestly
wish, it were in my power to apply
the proper Medicine. In that Event,
you Should have a fair Chance for
renewing your Age.

Some time ago I writwrote to Dr Burton
Accounts of your Son’s Marriage;
upon which he writwrote me the following
Words. – “I heartily wish my worthy
“Flora as happy as it is possible to be on 1629 (1629)
“on this Side the Grave; &and that she
“may live to see her ChildrensChildren’s Chil-
“dren so too; &and also peace upon I-
“srael; which God grant that we
“may soon see, &and we be be saved. Amen.”

Honest old Nestor! I am glad to
hear of his Recovery. May he live to
enjoy all he wishes &and all he wants,
&and to have a Son &and Heir, to chearcheer
his Heart in his old Days.

I truly deem you at no Loss in
not conversing with a certain, notorious,
grand, &andc. for there is neither Com-
fort nor Credit in converting with
those, whose Hearts are steel’dsteeled in
Wickedness &and Treachery. For God’s
Sake, take Care of a certain extra-
ordinary Letter, &and let it not depart
out of your Family; let it not depart
out of your Family; for (besides
other Considerations) it may prove
of no small Use to you &and yours in
a certain Event. pray, will you fa-
vour me with an exact &and faithful
Copy of said Letter, which I solemn-
ly promise to preserve as a dead se-
cret, till a proper &and seasonable Op-portunity1630(1630)
portunity shall offer of bringing to
Light the Mysteries of Iniquity &and
the hidden Works of Darkness?

All Friends here join with me in
wishing all Things good &and happy
to you &and Mrs MacDonald, the young
pair, &and Mr &and Mrs MacAllastar, &and in
praying, that all of you may enjoy
a happy &and prosperous Year with
large Amends.

What is become of Donald Mac-
Leod’s Family, &and what are they doing?
I have a Respect for them all upon
Account of that honest old Cock,
now in Eternity, the faithful Palinurus.

With great Sincerity &and Esteem
I ever am