Letter from Simon Fraser, Edingborough Castle, to an unidentified recipient, 1746 : autograph manuscript signed.

Discussing the prospect of death and thanking him for his friendship and his kind offers of help; saying "Your letter was safely convey'd to me some time ago, but my confinement is so close, that I had no opportunity till now of telling you how much I reckon my self oblig'd for your friendship I want words to Express my obligation, and my present melancholy situation afford me no other way of doing it, Thank you D'r S'r, for all your kind offers, the only one I have at present occasion for I willingly accept of, which is your endeavor to do me Service in my unhappy circumstances, and as I am ignorant whether I shall be brought to a tryal or when, the only way I know you can contribute to this, is either by your own Interest, or with that of your friends with some of the Great men about Court. It is certain that my present condition has a very gloomy aspect, tho in one respect I reckon it a happy one, as it introduces me into a train of thinking which I might otherwise perhaps have been long unacquainted w'th. Misfortunes are never messengers without an errand, they either come to correct past errors, or reform the present, or prevent the future. and I hope I shall be directed to look upon them in that light, and find the proper use of them, I have in a short life seen so much of it's vanity and folly, that Death tho terrible to my Nature, is hardly more so to my reason than launching again into the stormy Sea of life. My small knowledge of this life affords me but a disagreeable prospect, and tho I am ignorant of the next, Reason and Religion encourages me to hope for happiness. My misfortunes I look upon as a blessing, because they warn me to prepare for Death and should a short life be my lot, convince me how vain it would be to employ it otherwise than as a Nursery for another and a better state. In short, I hope to live, but do not fear to die. Whatever be my fate, I am convinc'd whatever is, is right But I wander insensibly without thinking this is a letter, Adieu my D'r friend, be assured whilst I am myself, I will be yours."