I am now
to acknowledge the curious &and valuable Anec-
dotes from good Lady Gask; to whom you
will be so good as make our best Respects
acceptable; together with our best Thanks
for the Honour her Ladyship does us. The
Originals themselves you have here return’dreturned
under this Cover: but I don’t see how in their
present Condition, or without History intro-
ducing, they could ^be properly sent to to a News-
Paper. — I purpose before the Week be out
to have a Parcel for you containing Pen-
nant’s Tour, the Assembly-Piece from Mr
Brett &and the Italian Account of Scots Af-
fairs in 1746, put on Board a Leith Ship;
but I am sorry to tell you, to my great
Disappointment, as it will be, Sir, to yours,
that

1988 (1988)
that it is not a Translation of the Narrative,
as I was at first by Mistake made to hope
it was; but my Friend, who picked it up at
Verona, was so kind as to make me a Pre-
sent of it, &and such as it is, I wish it was bet-
ter, ‘tis at your Service. An Account of a
Defeat, tho’though it speaks honourably of a great
Prince, is not very pleasant to read; espe-
cially too when for the most part consist-
ing of very insufficient Materials. I would
hope before the End of this Month to hear
of Cousin Peggie. — Your Parcel comes
by CapnCaptain Kid of Leith, &and he purposes to sail
on Friday Morning.”