‘Tis
full time your last obliging Letter should
be acknowledged, which gave us the Plea-
sure of hearing you &and good Mrs Forbes
were both well: all Thanks be to God!

2021 (2021)
have it in your power to oblige some
well-deserving Friend, I here incloseenclose a Du-
plicate, tho’though I can assure you, very hard
to be spared. I know a Gentlewoman of
your Acquaintance &and mine sent down 3 or
4 to some particular Friends of hers much
about the same time, which probably you
may have heard of.

This moment a Letter is come in from my
Sister in Dumfries, who acknowledges yours
&and good Mrs Forbes’s great Civilities to
her. Her Fellow-Traveller, I perceive,
would not wait her celebrating the great
Festival, just at hand, in EdinrEdinburgh, Presby-
terian-like. Alas! how pitiable is the Ig-
norance?

I have inclosedenclosed some Franks1 to CaptnCaptain
Keith, now at Potsdam with his Friend
LdLord Mareschall. His Sister, who favour-
ed me with them, will deliver me
what you incloseenclose.

My Sister tells me the Primus had a-
bove 200 Communicants on Easter-Day, &and
Mr Harper as many more; &and no doubt Dr
Drummond a great many too. These are
pleasing Things to hear at this time o’of
Day. All Glory be to God!

It has been whispered, tho’though I cannot
tell from what Quarter it comes ^yet I guess
from Mrs Bowdler’s Correspondence
with Mr Cheyne, that in Case of a cer-
tain Event, our people won’t be received
by the Scots BpsBishops upon the Footing they
stand now: DreadfullDreadful to hear! it will
be no less than breaking &and shattering 2022 (2022) the faithful Remnant of Confessors to
Pieces. What says my good Friend to it?
We must not wonder at any Thinganything; nor
will you, Sir, when I tell you, that Mr
Brett, with his Family (in case of the
said Event) as Mr Dodwell did, seems
resolved to go to the PublickPublic, &and has
mustered up all the old, battered, refut-
ed Arguments to apologize for his so
doing, &and presumes to tell the Remnant
what they ought to do. How will this ap-
ply to your Dream? O the World, the
World &and the Interests thereof! I have
long thought him Lukewarm, &and ^a mode-
rate Man, &and this comes of Mode-
ration falsely so called. Let them ytthat
think they stand, take heed lest they
fall!

Knowing your kind Concern for my Health,
I must tell you, Sir, that (blessed be God)
it is very good at present. I have indeed
a Sore in one of my Legs, wchwhich I am in
no haste to heal up, as it discharges
a laudable Suppuration, which they
tell me will be of Service to my Health;
but God’s Will be done! Grant me Content!
I must not chusechoose; He only knows what
is best for me.

Mr Smith the RevdReverend sends his best Re-
spects &and Duty, &and Mr Smith the ‘SquireEsquire &and
his Lady send their Thanks for your
obliging ComplimtsCompliments. The Lady insofar
very complying, &and attends the Church wtwith
her Husband. I wish they may hold
steady in this giddy Age.

You &and good Mrs Forbes have our best 2023 (2023)
Wishes, those particularly suitable
to the great &and holy Festival just near
approaching. That God may ever have
you &and yours, Dear Sir, in his holy Keep-
ing, is the hearty prayer of
Yours ever faithfully