Edinburgh, 16th-
                                                         July 1805

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My Dear Sister,
      Your Letter of the 8th. Instant
reached me three days ago, and had
the weather been cooler, perhaps, I might
have answered it in course of Post.
But melting under a hot Sun, more
like that which shines in the Torrid
Zone, than what we are accustomed
to in the North, I don't like the feel
of my fingers sticking to the Paper
as I write. (By the bye, I use the
thinnest paper in the House, in return
for that you sent me). Since my family
removed here, we have all
enjoyed perfect good health, which
I own was more than I expected,
and which, I trust, I am thankful
for. The time, for taking possession
of the House, I have purchased,
is not yet arrived, and we all
look forward to it, with a slight
degree of impatience. The present
occupier must quit on the 13th. of

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August, after which, a decent time
must be allowed for valuing and
disposing of the Furniture now in
it, so that it is not likely that my
Troop will be deposited in their
respective Cells, till the beginning
of September. The House was papered
and painted within these two Years,
and is clean and neat, and every
body says that I have got a great
Bargain of it. Having brought a
good deal of furniture from the
Country with me, the Drawing Room
& Dining Room, are the only two, for
which, new furniture will be required.
In the dining Room, only Chairs
will be wanted new, as I have a set
of Tables.
      Lord Melville has been cruelly
persecuted. The idea of Opposition was,
that they would have been able, through
him, to have disconcerted Mr. Pitt. Had
not this been their object, I do not
believe that they would have attacked
Lord Melville As, however, they failed in
their views on Mr. Pitt, they seem
determined to persecute his friend
to the utmost. If ever there was a
Man who had less desire of amassing

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money than another, it is Lord
Melville. I trust, he will triumph
over his Enemies, in spite of all the
Arts, which have been used, to render
him odious to the Country. He is expected
soon in this part of the
Kingdom, when I shall not be among
the last of his Visitors. Pitt has had
a good Lesson, to warn him against
hollow coalitions. If he errs again,
he deserves to feel for it. As to my
Interest, which you enquire after, I
can only say, that no Warrant for
any addition to my Salary has
yet made its appearance. But, as
Parliament is prorogued, the Treasury
will have more leisure to expedite
their business, and the matter may
be arranged by the October Quarter.
      I pity the state & condition
of Louisa, and my advice to You is,
to settle her comfortably as soon as
possible, that she may not be tormented
with the importunities of
impertinent Suitors. When you mention
Scots Music to me, You mistake
my Taste. It is prohibited in my family
, as I hate & detest all the miserable

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drawling drunts, called Scots Airs. If
by accident, to oblige any barbarous
Native, my daughter begins one of
these Strains, off I march, and leave
them to their meditations, as I shall
now do You. Therefore, with Love
& best wishes from this Garrison
to You, Mr. Dickenson, Louisa &c. &c.
&c. I remain ever,
                             My Dear Sister
                                Your Affectionate Brother
                                                         Napier

Had I not been three
times interrupted, perhaps
I might have scribbled
to the bottom of this Page.