Letter of Flora Macdonald, 1772
To John Mackenzie of Delvine, concerning the Macdonalds' imminent emigration to America, 12 August 1772:
Dear Sir
This goes by my Son Johnie who thank God tho I am missfortunat in othere respects is happy in his haveing so good a freind as you are to take him under his protection, he seemed when here to be a good natured bidable Boy, without any kind of Vice; make of him what you please and may the Blessing of the almighty attend you alongs with him which is all the retourn I am able to make for your many and repeated freindships shown to me and this family; of which there will soon be no rememberanc in this poor miserable Island, the best of its inhabitance are making ready to follow theire freinds to america, while they have any thing to bring them; and among the rest we are to go, especially as we cannot promise ourselves but poverty and oppression, haveing last Spring and this time two years lost almost our whole Stock of Cattle and horseis, we lost within there three years, three hundred and twenty seven heads, so that we have hardly what will pay our Creditors which we are to let them have and begin the world again, a newe, in a othere Corner of it. Allen was to write you but he is not well with a pain in his Side this ten days past Sir I beg of you if you see any thing amiss in the Boys condut to let me know of it as some Children will stand in awe of ther parents more then any body Else, I am with my respects to you and Mrs McKenzie, Sir with esteem your most obedient humbe Servant
Flora McDonald
Kigsburgh, agust th12 1772
