To Mrs Frances Anna Dunlop of Dunlop

                                      Edinburgh, 21st January 1788

After six weeks confinement, I am beginning to walk across the room. They have been six horrible weeks, anguish and low spirits made me unfit to read, or think.

I have a hundred times wished that one could resign life as an officer resigns a commission: for I would not take any poor, ignorant wretch, by selling out.  Lately I was a sixpenny private: and, God knows, a miserable soldier enough: now I march to the campaign, a starving cadet; a little more
Conspicuously wretched.

I am ashamed of all this; for though I do not want bravery for the warfare of life, I could wish, like some other soldiers, to have as much fortitude or cunning as to dissemble or conceal my cowardice.

As soon as I can bear the journey, which will be, I suppose the middle of next week, I leave Edinburgh, and soon after I shall pay my grateful duty at DunlopHouse.