DEAN RAMSAY to Mrs. CLERK.

     23 Ainslie Place,

     Edinburgh, 12th Feb. 1868.

Many thanks for writing about our beloved Bessie, my very dear Stuart.  She is indeed much endeared to all the friends, and I am a friend of more than 50 years!  God’s will be done.  We have come to that age when we must know our time is becoming very uncertain.

There is only one thing, dearest Stuart, that I can say—­my best wishes, best affections, best prayers, are with her who now lies on a sick bed. She has not to begin the inquiry into the love and support of a gracious Redeemer.  She may say, “I know that my Redeemer liveth.”

     May God be merciful and gracious to support you all on this
     deeply interesting occasion, is the earnest prayer of your
     affectionate old friend, E. B. RAMSAY.

     DEAN RAMSAY to Mrs. CLEKK.

     23 Ainslie Place,

     Edinburgh, 3d June 1870.

My dear Stuart—­I had such a kind letter from you some time ago, about visiting you, and I did not answer it—­wrong, very! and I am sorry I put it off.  Should I come to England this summer I should look on it as a last visit, and would make an effort to see old Frome again.  Do you know it is fifty-four years since I first appeared at Rodden!

I preach still, and my voice and articulation don’t fail; but otherwise I am changed, and walk I cannot at all.  St. John’s goes on as usual—­nice people, many, and all are very kind.  We have lately had the interior renewed, and some changes in the arrangement, which are great improvement.  It is much admired, “a great ornament to our ponds and ditches,”—­Dr. Woodward.  However, dear Stuart, I have not yet said distinctly enough what I meant to say at the beginning—­that should I come south I would make an effort to come to K. Deverell.

     Miss Walker has left fully L200,000 to our church.  I am at
     present (as Dean) the only Episcopal trustee, with four
     official trustees—­all Presbyterians.

The Bishops seem the most go-ahead people in the church just now.  New sectioning and revision of Scripture, translation, all come from them:  both of much importance.  I wish they could get rid of the so-called Athanasian Creed.  I cannot bear it.  Nothing on earth could ever induce me to repeat the first part and the last part.  Love to yourself, husband, and all yours.—­Your affectionate

     E.B.  RAMSAY.

     DEAN STANLEY to DEAN RAMSAY.

     Broomhall, Dunfermline,

     7th August 1870.