You know Lady Emily's state of health, when your friendship for Sir E.induced you to leave her.

She was much harassed with the sad accounts from Scotland of the rebellion having broken out; but kept up her spirits as, she said, it became your wife, and for the sake of the future heir, so long hoped for in vain.

Alas, my dear brother, these hopes are now ended! Notwithstanding all my watchful care, this unhappy rumour reached her without preparation.

She was taken ill immediately; and the poor infant scarce survived its birth.

Would to God this were all! But although the contradiction of the horrible report by your own letter has greatly revived her spirits, yet Dr--apprehends, I grieve to say, serious, and even dangerous, consequences to her health, especially from the uncertainty in which she must necessarily remain for some time, aggravated by the ideas she has formed of the ferocity of those with whom you are a prisoner.
Do therefore, my dear brother, as soon as this reaches you, endeavour to gain your release, by parole, by ransom, or any way that is practicable.
I do not exaggerate Lady Emily's state of health; but I must not--dare not--suppress the truth .-- Ever, my dear Philip, your most affectionate sister, 'LUCY TALBOT.' Edward stood motionless when he had perused this letter; for the conclusion was inevitable, that by the Colonel's journey in quest of him, he had incurred this heavy calamity.