17 Melvill St Edinburgh March 17th 1860 My dearest Donald I am just in receipt of yours from Wellington with its enclosed bill for forty pounds £40.0.0. quite safe. Oh my noble & kind hearted brother. I feel that nothing that I can say with much love to youself my darling little nephew and all my brothers. May the giver of all good bless and keep you all is ever the prayer of your attached sister Catherine McLean A bundle of love from Annabella. I saw her yesterday. She is quite well. I nearly forgot to mention that Catherine did get eighty pounds from Archy a few months ago but there was no mention made that any of it was for us and I make no doubt but she will need it all for her outfit & passage money Ever yr Catherine Allways address Stob Castle can express half my gratitude to you for your never failing consideration of Anna's wants. We both fear that our .... & demands are considerable knowing that you have had so much to do with so many friends unprovided for. The sum now sent will be quite sufficient for this session which ends on the first of August. It is ten pounds per yr that the board & education comes to independent of books & washing & as for her clothing I do what I can to keep them up myself & when in town I do all her washing. I am so thankful to find that you think her improving. She is most anxious but poor girl she finds the music up hill work. I was much greaved to find by your former kind letter that you had been ill. I know to my sad experience how these rheumatic attacks tells upon the constitution & I do hope my dear D that if in the good providence of God you are spared to visit your native land. The change may work a complete cure upon you. We are all looking forward that happy time with feelings of unspeakable delight. Poor Uncle is in great glee about your coming and is counting the months & weeks till you arrive. It will be a bad disappointment to him & all of us if anything occurs to prevent you & I hope you are to bring my dear little boy with you. I am so greived to hear that dear Archy & Alexander is not getting on so well. Poor Archy has had so many trials & losses of late years which I make no doubt tells much upon him. Catherine is a sweet woman and will do him & Alexander a world of good. She leaves on the 10 of May & I hear that her brother James is going with her. She is in a great state at me not going also but now that we have the near prospects of your coming home I shall not think of it. 3rd I do not know whether James Douglas goes out with a capital or not but one thing is that he is a great tradesman & may get on very well but take you my advice & let him begin on his own footing for too many relations never get on well. Pleas burn this letter soon as you read. Annabella told you in her last that she had been staying with Flora Ann till after her confinement. I heard from her a few days ago they were all well. She named her baby for our poor dear mother which I am very much pleased at. I have not seen Capt McDonald Porto for a long time but I mean to call upon him soon. I do hope that your visit to dear John has been a pleasing one & that you will be able to give me good accounts of them. I wrote to Jessie some time ago. I have been so often interrupted since I began your letter that I fear it is ill written & ill expressed but the mail goes out today so that I have not time to write another, but A. B. shall, God willing, write you a longer by next mail. I shall now conclude