History of the Fife Pitcairns

3 i8 THE FIFE PITCAIRNS.
From E. D. West, aged eighty (her last Letter to her Brother
before his Death), to The Rev. Canon Pitcairn, Eccles
Vicarage, Manchester.
Thomastown Rectory,
April 2nd, 1892.
My dearest James, — I must write you a line to tell you how
all goes on here. I am better, but still very weak, and I can't walk
at all except about my room with the help of a crutch ! ! Still, I
have much to be thankful for, and I can read and work a little.
The others are all well, thank God, and we have good accounts
from Will. He is just now very busy preparing for some Easter
Manoeuvres at Chatham. William 1 has had very much parish and
diocesan work. He and Amy hope to go to London in the middle
of May, and he much needs the rest. Harriet 2 would not leave
me, which I am very sorry for, as I have a nice young maid who
sleeps in my room, and feeds me with beef-tea in the middle of the
night. But she (Harriet) will get a change when the others come
back. I had the great happiness of seeing my dear Henry for one
day on his way back to Cork.
Tell me about all your dear ones when you write, and how
Connie is getting on. I can't write more now, my loved James,
for it tires me. All here send much love to you and the dear
ones. — Ever your fondly attached Sister, E. D. W.
From The Duchess of Roxburghe, on the grave Illness of her
Son, the Duke of Roxburghe, to The Rev. Canon Pitcairn,
Sir John Watson's, Earnock, Hamilton.
Friday, Oct. 1892.
I write to you, my dearest James, in the greatest distress. My
darling son Bowmont is laid low, and may be in danger any
moment ! He was in excellent health on Monday, went to a
meeting, and thereafter killed a 30-lb. salmon. He had pain dur-
ing the night, but no one thought of mischief till Tuesday evening,
when agonies came on. Doctors from Edinburgh, and on Wednes-
day I hear that he was " seriously " ill. He is kept perfectly tran-
quil, and so far neither fever nor inflammation have supervened.
But until the evil be removed, his position is very critical. If the
slightest change for the worse comes, I go to Floors, of course.
Now, I am advised not, as I could not see my dear child, as it
would frighten him, and I am very unhappy.
Dear James, I am so very grieved about you. But I hope and
1 Archdeacon Gorman of Kilkenny, and her son-in-law.
2 Mrs Gorman.