Argyle papers

XVI INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.
regarded as in the slightest degree exceptionable. Even at a later
period, although manners were more refined, the writers were
equally unfettered in their remarks, and the Suffolk Papers afford
good evidence that ladies of the highest rank could write in a
manner which, if adopted at the present date, would place the
fair correspondent in the unfortunate predicament of being
thought no better than she should be.
These letters, however, possess higher claims to attention, as
containing probably the most complete existing memorials of
the opinions, manners, habits, and domestic economy of the
Scotish gentry at the beginning of last century. Mrs. Campbell's
orthography is singularly vicious, — not more so, perhaps, than
that of other ladies, of an age in which the ambition was, to
be good housewives rather than accomplished letter writers ;
but although female education was then too much neglected,
it may be questioned, whether females now a days, might not
be more usefully employed in giving a greater degree of atten-
tion to domestic duties, than in wasting so large a portion of the
most important period of their lives, in acquiring those profit-
less embellishments, which, in modern parlance, obtain the
denomination of accomplishments.
The Editor, for some time, doubted the propriety of al-
lowing this odd correspondence to see the light ; but as the
Campbells of Burnbank are now extinct, and as this Volume is
intended for private circulation, he was induced to forego his
scruples.
It may be proper to give some account of the husband and