New Spalding Club > Records of Invercauld MDXLVII - MDCCCXXVIII [1547- 1828]

FAMILY LETTERS: MURRAY. 453
thursdays & Saturdays, the last at ten at night and the other two at
midnight, you need not be in such a hurry as you commonly are when
you write by the Carier, for some of these evenings you may readily be
by yourself in your own lodgings. Fairwell. Inquire of the Countess of
Dundonald if Mr. Hugh Hamilton be gone to London with his Brother
Sr James. If not, to know where he is."
" Letter from my Father, Janry 1746.
To
The Honourable '
Miss Amelia Murray
at Tullibardine."
" This letter was written the day before the battle of Falkirk
(i6th January, 1746)."
" Dear Amie
I write you this chiefly to recommend to you to take care of
your dear Mother, I have ever observed you of a very tender and sweet
disposition, and therefore I know your Inclinations will lead you to do
[what] I most ardently wish ; be always advised by her, and if by any
(her) aprobation you should change your situation of Life, if it be in your
power, be ever together. I .send you some of her letters, and desire you
may get from her all the others, which pray preserve, and I think it is the
best present I can make to you, were I in a situation the most prosprous.
My love to your Brothers. If ever you have a proper opportunity tell
Johny, that I wish he meddle as little as possible with politikes, and to
endeavour to be independent ; either (better) live upon a little with
contentment than covet to riot in pleasure & plenty, which breeds wrath
& distemper, and chose (with his mother's consent) a wife, & let her
regard the temper & mind more than all other considerations ; and finally,
never to do an action but what he can be satisfied it is just & right.
The same I recommend to Jamie & Georgie, & even the Infant yet
unborn. God Bless your Dear Mother & you all ; I fear I have hurt you,
my children, in your Worldly affairs, but who knows, it may turn out to
your happiness ; contentment with little is better than riches.
" This from your most affecte. Father
George Murray."
A letter written to his family by a General on the eve of a battle is
certain to breathe his inmost thoughts and display the man in his most
( Amelia Murray, eldest daughter of Lord George, ultimately, as already noticed, became
the wife of James Karquharson of Invcrcauld. She had previously been married to Lord Sinclair,
who died seven months after the marriage. The present Mr. Karquharson of Invercauld is through
her lineally descended from Lord George Murray ; and the present Duke of Athole is the
representative in the male line from the same ancestor.