Inscribed and initialed in red ink in a hand believed to be that of Peter Taylor Young, Procurator Fiscal of the Sheriff Court Glasgow, at the head of first page: G. 215. P.T.Y. What it means remains to be discovered.
Inscribed in ink at the bottom of the fourth page: "Lodges, JM, BML." These are the signatures of Glasgow sheriff-officer John Murray and his assistant Bernard M'Lauchlin. The word "Lodges" signals where the letters were found.
Cross-writing on pages 1-4.
Dated "Friday evening".
Apologizing for being "so late" in writing him and promising to be more attentive next week; expecting only two more letters from him this year; stating that she always feels sad at the end of the year; remarking that this time last year, she did not think she would be his intended wife, writing that she "did not anticipate such happiness"; reflecting on how she did not think of him then, and often tries to remember when it was that she first really loved him; feeling that she loved him before they were introduced, and that she will never forget their meeting, a memory that they cannot upset; regretting that he cannot be part of their family Christmas celebrations and hoping that in the future they can spend the holidays together; sharing that there is a Ball in Glasgow that she might go to with some friends; reminding Emile that she does not wish to go; writing about how everyone is telling her that she looks ill, and that her father says she looks ten years older since they came to Town; stating that "unhappiness makes some look ill" and remarking that he probably already knows this; feeling that her unhappiness will vanish when she is his wife; telling him to write to his sister and pass on her love; wondering if he will visit his mother in the summer. Postscript stating that she is sending him a kiss and a fond embrace, and noting that she would give him as many kisses as he requested if they were together.