"-^^ >* .0 % >^>l.^-..% .\"^ '^ . 8 I A ■* \ V *' 8 I A 8 I A " \ ..#' \ ..# ■?/. '"/ ..V s^ ^L^' A^ .'^ ,*'^^^ vC^ ■'■^, SOCIAL LIFE m FORMER DAYS. EDINBURGH : PRINTED BY THOMAS CONSTABLE, FOR EDMONSTON AND DOUGLAS. LONDON, . . HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO. CAMBRIDGE, . . MACMILLAN AND CO. DUBLIN, . . . M'GLASHAN AND GILL. GLASGOW, . . . JAMES MACLEHOSIO. SOCIAL LIFE m FORMER DAYS, filjteflg hr tijt ^rnbhrtc oi p;0rag. ILLUSTRATED BY LETTERS AND FAMILY PAPERS. BY E. DUNBAR DUNBAR, (late) captain 21st fusiliers. THUNDERTON HOUSE. EDINBURGH. • EDMONSTON & DOUGLAS. MDCCCLXV. PREFACE. When arranging the family papers at Duifus House, Gordonston, and liesmurdie Cottage, the residences respectively of my brother. Sir Archibald Dunbar, my cousin, Sir Alexander Gordon Gumming, and my kinsman. Captain James Stewart, I occasionally found documents which appeared to me to throw consider- able lio^ht on old social life, or to be otherwise interesting, and which I therefore sent to the local press. Wishing to give them a more extensive circulation, I now venture to offer them, systematically arranged, to the public. E. DUNBAE DUNBAE. Sea Park, July I860. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGES I. EDUCATION, . . . . . 1-16 II. MEDICAL, . . . . . 17-29 III. PRICES OF PROVISIONS, . . . 30-32 IV. POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS, . . . 33-34 V. TRAVELLING, .... 35-37 VI. TAVERN BILLS, .... 38-41 VII. FIELD SPORTS, .... 42-46 Vin. QUARANTINE, . . . . 47-51 IX. FISHINGS, ..... 52-60 X. IMPRESSING FOR THE NAVY, . . 61-63 XL SMUGGLING, ..... 64-70 XII. THE FAMILEES OF BURGIE AND OF GRANGE, 71-76 XIII. AN EXTRAVAGANT AND UNDUTIFUL WIFE, 77-79 XIV. OFFICE OF HERITABLE SHERIFF OF MORAY, 80-86 XV. TRANSPORT OF A PRISONER, AND JAIL OF INVERNESS, . . . . 87-92 XVL COUNTRY MATTERS, . . . 93-100 XVIL EDINBURGH GOSSIP, . . . 101-104 XVIII. LETTERS FROM LADIES OF RANK, . 105-127 XIX. GENIAL LETTERS, .... 128-137 VIII CONTENTS. PAGES XX. YOUNGER SONS, .... 138-143 XXI. WHOLESALE MERCHANTS, . . 144-152 XXn. DRINKING-SONC, .... 153-158 XXin. ELGIN TOWN-COUNCIL, . . . 159-174 XXIV. INCORPORATED TRADES OF ELGIN, . 175-178 XXV. AN INA^ERNESS BAILIE'S ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE, . . ... 179-184 XXVI. MERCHANTS' LETTERS, . . . 185-191 XXVII. RECEIPTS AND ACCOUNTS, . . 192-199 XXVIII. POETIC EFFUSIONS AND BEGGING LETTERS, 200-204 XXIX. IN\^ENTORY OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, 205-213 XXX. PARLIATvIENTARY EXPENSES AND POLITICS, 214-231 XXXI. ECCLESIASTICAL, .... 232-260 XXXIL WITCHES, ..... 261-273 XXXIII. FUNERALS AND FUNERAL LETTERS, . 274-283 XXXIV. WILL OF THE DEAN OF SALISBURY, 1618, 284-291 XXXV. CATTLE-STEALING, .... 292-296 XXXVI. JOHN, EARL OF SUTHERLAND : HIS IN- FLUENCE AND POWER, . . 297-304 XXXVII. MILITARY, ..... 305-322 XXXVIIL REBELLION, 1715-1716, . . . 323-335 XXXIX. REBELLION, 1745-1746, . . . 336-388 XL. CORONATION OF GEORGE in. : SUBMISSION TO HIS GOVERNMENT, . . 389-392 L EDUCATION. King's College, Aberdeen, was the University most frequented by the youth of Moray ; and students of the first, second, third, and fourth years' regular attend- ance were known respectively as Bajans, Semies, Tertians, and Magistrands, — designations which, we believe, are still applied. " To Master Archbald Dunbar, of Thunder toun : " To ye care of the Postmaster of Elgin. "King's College, Octr. ye I6th, 1702. " Sir, — If this shall chance to find you out when you ar wandering through the north, it is sent to inform you, that (because the Bajan class is fixed in our college) I am to enter with the Semies this ensueing winter ; if therfor in the course of your peregrinations you chance to meet with any who have a mind to save themselves a yeares time and expense at the col- lege, pray be carefuU to advise or recomend them to me, who (according to the late laudable custom of other universities) can receive them for Semies, although they have never been Bajans in any college. Parti- cularly I am informed that at the school of Elgin ther 2 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. is a son of Logie Cumin s and two otliers who have learned the Greek, but because I have no acquaint- ance of thier parents, and Mr. Tod the schoolmaster is unfriendly to our college, I must recomend them to your management. In a word your Alma Mater and old Master do be thir presents constitute and ordain you their Factor, sole Actor, and speciall Errand- bearer as to the premisses in all partes and places where you pass in your northern precinct. And if you wil be so kind to let us see you as you go south, you shall have the thanks of the whole house, as weel as the gratefull acknowledgments of. Sir, your most obsequious servant, Wil. Blak. "James Keith and his wife who ar presently with me drinking your good health, send their service to you, and therwith also my wife bids me gi^^e you hers." " King's College, Nor. ye IQith, 1705. "Sir,— 1 have yours and shall carefully look after that boy you recomend. If in your peregrination through the north you will be pleased to inquire amongst your acquaintance for such as ar ready to enter Semies this winter and advise them our way, you will do a kindness both to your Alma Mater and old Master, whom upon all occasions you shall ever find, Sir, your most obsequious humble servant, "Wil. Blak." k SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEE DAYS. 3 " My brother James is not com north, nor (tho' he sayes it) do I expect him this winter. " I hear that Dr. Forbes at Eloin has a son who might be in my Semie cLass this winter : but I have not the fortun to be acquainted with the Doctor, and therfor must put you to the trouble to speak to him. "If any you meet with have Latine enough, the' they have but a small begining in the Greek, I shall see they can compleat theire courses, give them as much (and if they please mor) Greek than ever pro- bably they may have use for, and that without any hindrance to theire other studies. For my schoUars all this winter ar to have one lesson (viz., from the evening to the morning) each day in the Greek, and two each week through all the succeeding yeares." " King's College, May ye lOth, 1708, " SiE, — I have yours of the 1st current and in answer therunto am concerned to acquaint you, that, by ane Act of the last Comission of parliament for visiteing our universities, and the practise of all the colleges in this kingdom (in each whereof one master is now fixed to the Greek class) any student is, and wil be permitted to enter Semie, without being obleidged to enter Bajan, if he understand the Latine tongue, and have a competencie of the Greek, i.e. (as it is every- where now understood), can read the Greek, and 4 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. expound a litle of the Greek New Testament, and have allowance and approbation of the Greek Kegent so to do : which a small compliment for his consent does never and nowhere fail to procm^e. " If therfore any of your acquaintance in your coun- trie about you, have a mind to save theire children's time and expense at colleges the first year, they may cause teach them a litle Greek at home, and so enter them Semies in any college mthin this kingdom, who will not (nor can legally) refuse them with the qualifications and conditions for said. "And seing matters ar now^ caryed so in all the colleges of north as well as south Britan ; pray take the paines to advise some of your acquaintance to, Sir, your faithfuU comerade and most obedient servant, " WiL. Blak. "The bearer has imployed his time to very good purpose at our college : and I have made him Master of Arts/' Dr. Thomas Eeid, the eminent metaphysician, and author of the Inquiry into the Human Mind, Essays on the Intellectual Fotvers, etc., was educated at Marischal College, and in 1752 w^as elected Professor of Moral Philosophy at King's College, Aberdeen. The Professor gives an account of the admirable ar- rangements which he helped to introduce into the SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 5 latter university, and which ought never to have been discontinued : — " To Archibald Dunbak, Esq., '• of Newton, at Duffus. " King's College, Septr. 4:th, 1755. " Sir, — I did indeed intend, both last vacation and this, to have seen a little of the north country, and in that case should certainly have done myself the honour to wait of you at Duffus ; but sometimes sickness in my family, and sometimes other accidents, have liindred me hitherto. " Some ambiguity that has happened in a word of the letter you favour me with, makes me uncertain whether your intention is to put Bob to my class this session, which happens to be the Magistrand class ; or whether you intend that both your sons should enter with the Greek Professor. Give me leave, there- fore, to acquaint you what my class is to be employed in, that you may the better judge how it will answer your intention with regard to Bob, and the progress he has made. One hour in the day, for about two months, in the beginning of the session, will be em- ployed upon Optics and some branches of Mathe- maticks, which I could not overtake last session. All the rest will be employed in the Philosophy of the Mind, Logic, Morals, and Politics. If this is what you intend for Bob, you may depend upon it that I shall faithfully and timeously acquaint you 6 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. what progress he makes. If you propose to put him in the Greek class with his brother, this is not at all an unusual thing at this college of late. You may please, in that event, to acquaint him that Charlie M'Ever, his class-fellow, being sensible that he was not well founded in Greek and Latin, and finding the Mathematicks a little too hard for his age, went back last session to the Humanity class, and enters the Greek class this session, and I believe will make a fine scholar ; and Captain Fraser's son went back to the Bajan class last session. " Your concern that the behaviour of your sons be narowly looked after is most natural, and what every one that knows the heart of a parent must approve of. I can assure you that in this society we have for some years past been using our best skill and appli- cation for this purpose. While the students were scattered over the town in private quarters, and might dispose of themselves as they pleased but at school hours, we found it impossible to keep them from low or bad company, if they were so disposed. But they are on a very different footing since they lived within the college : we need but look out at our windows to see when they rise and when they go to bed. They are seen nine or ten times throughout the day statedly by one or other of the masters— at publick prayers, school hours, meals, and in their rooms ; besides occa- sional visits, which we can make with little trouble to SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEE DAYS. 7 ourselves. Tliey are shut up within walls at nine at night. We charge those that are known to be trusty and diligent with the oversight of such as we suspect to be otherwise ; and I verily believe there are few boys so narrowly lookt after, or so little exposed to temptations to vice, at home as with us at present. This discipline hath indeed taken some pains and resolution, as well as some expense to establish it. It makes our work laborious during the session, and must meet with the common prejudices that every new thing does. We behoved to be somewhat diffi- dent of it ourselves till we tried it. But now, after the experience of tw^o sessions, we are not only satis- fied that it is practicable ; but have already seen such effects of it, both upon the morals and proficiency of our students, as we hope will at last justify us to the w^orld, in sticking so obstinately to it in opposition to such an union of the two colleges as behoved to have altogether undone it. You may rest assured that I wdll take a particular concern in your sons, and shall take it upon me to acquaint you of the opinion their masters have of them. " The board at the first table is 5 nierks per quarter ; at the second 40 shillings. Some one of the masters dines alw\ays at the second table, as w^ell as at the first. The rent of a room is from seven to twenty shillings in the session. There is no furniture in their rooms, but bedstead, tables, chimney grate. 8 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. and fender — the rest, viz., feather-bed, bed-cloaths, chairs, tongs, and bed-hangings, if they chuse any, they must buy or hire, for the session, and indeed the people that let those things are very apt to exact upon them, so that it is much better, especially if one is to be some sessions at the college, to have them of their own, and dispose of them when they leave the college. Whatever they leave in their rooms is taken care of till next session. They provide fire, and candle, and washing to themselves. The other dues are — two guineas to the Master ; to the Professors of Greek and Humanity for their publick teaching, frve shillings each. All other perquisites not named, from twelve shillings to seventeen and sixpence, as near as I can remember ; the greatest part of which goes to four Oeconomy servants, and four College servants. The Professor of Medicine orders the diet and regimen of those that are valetudinary, and at- tends the Bursars and poorer sort in case of sickness, gratis. Others who are in good circumstances, if they should need the attendance of a physician, may either employ him or any other their parents recommend. " There is an advertisement from this college in the Aberdeen's Papers of Tuesday last, which contains a recommendation to the parents of students. You may please to look into it. I think it would not be amiss if your son should be begun to the Greek Grammar before he comes to town. For every one here has a SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 9 place in liis class according to his proficiency, from the first to the last ; and when one sets out in an advanced post, it proves a great spur to diligence, that he may at least keep the rank he has got. I am, with great respect. Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, Tho. Reid.'' The Eev. Lauchlan Shaw, the historian of Moray, considered St. Andrews the best place in many re- spects for a young student : — " To Archibald Dunbar, Esqr., '•' of Newton at Duffus. " Elgin, Sept. 17, 1763. "Dear Sir,— Since the time I was at Duffus I have been some days at RajBford for my health, which has been lately very much broken — and this was the reason why I did not before now let you know the issue of the commission you gave me. " Mr. Cook (who goes to Forres at Martinmass) has, I find, given you his thoughts about sending your son to the university this ensuing winter. By being in the Greek class he can have no time to improve in the Latin during the session, and he will need a proper Governor next summer to revise his Latin and Greek. In my opinion its a loss (and I found it so), to enter into the university before one is well ad- vanced in the Latin, which is the dead language most 1 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMEE DAYS. I useful and necessary to be understood. With respect to the place — Aberdeen or St Andrews — if he goes to the first, the Old Town is preferable to the New, a more free air, fewer avocations, and more strict academical regulations, and very sufficient masters, but it is too near to the vanities and diversions of the New Town. " St. Andrews is wholsome, private, far from diver- sions, but they study more the Greek than the Latin. Professor Shaw is dayly expected here, if he comes I shall acquaint you. I sincerely wish that your son may meet with all encouragement in his studies, and may make progress in learning and virtue, and with compliments to your lady and children, I ever ' am, dear Sir, your obedient obliged servant, " Lach. Shaw." William Falconar, Bishop of Moray, could not con- scientiously recommend a Presbyterian pedagogue, showed how the oath required by the Hanoverian Government could be avoided, and stated the salary of his Episcopalian protege : — " For Archibald Dunbar of Newton, Esq., " at Duffus, near Elgin. "Edtnr., April 2Srd, 1754. '' Sir, — I would have wrote you by Mr. Baldie, but when he called at my lodgings, I happened to be abroad. After I received your last, I had laid myself SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEE DAYS. 11 out to find a proper pedagogue for your sons, and intended, as you proposed, to have sent him along with Baldie, and for that reason Baldie was detained here some days ; but as I could not, in so short a time, hit upon a sufficient young man, I thought it was better to allow your son to take his journey than to spend his time and money here doing nothing. There is a young man, Mr. Alexr. Diack, just now governour to the Master of Elphinston's sons, who is well and fuEy recommended to me by those who are perfectly well acquainted with him, and, as Mr. Elphinston s sons have finished their home education, Mr. Diack leaves the family at Whitsunday next. He is a good scholar, of modest behaviour, and of a virtuous character. He understands the learned languages, the French, Mathematicks, and writes a fine hand ; so that so far, I think, he will fit your purpose. I believe he has not, nor, as I am informed, will he take the oaths ; but I think you need not mind that qualification, as Mr. Elphinston, who is an officer in the army, made no scruple as to that point, nor does indeed any gentleman in this country heed it at all, as they make these gentlemen, who perform the part of pedagogues, pass under the name of factor or clerk, or comerade, or what they please. If you like this proposal, you have no more to do but write me directly, and I shall, without loss of time, secure Mr. Diack. He has twelve gidneas a year where he 12 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. now serves, and if he answers the good character I have of him, it will be money well laid out. I cannot in conscience recommend any of our new-fashioned Blades, nor do I think them proper instructors for young gentlemen, and, therefore, if what I have pro- posed is not agreeable to you, I hope you will not take it amiss if I decline the providing you in a Presbyterian dominie or a libertin Whig ; I wish you and your family too well to do you such an ill office. I hope Baldie will do very well. He is young and good-natured, and therefore you must overlook, in some measure, former faults, in hopes of better be- haviour, which time, experience, and good instruction will bring about. With my usual comphments to all your family, I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, " WiL. Falconar." 1 Certificate in favour of a French master, — his terms, etc. :— " This serves to certifie and inform any gentleman or community, who may have taste or inclination for the French language, that the bearer heirof, Mr. John Brulet, a Native of France, near the City of Eheims, the M : of Champaigne, has lived in my family above three months, with great decency and behaviour, as a French-master. "From his knowledge in the English, as well as his SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 13 skill and method in the French, he has in the first place, taught his scholars not only to read and thoroughly understand the French grammar, but also, to get by heart such parts thereof, as are necessary for their daily improvement. "And in the second place, he has taught them not only to read and explain many Books of Telemachus, but even to pronounce the French in the most proper manner, ane attainment not to be acquired at the hands of any, but those of a true Native of France, which is the peculiar excellence of this man above other French teachers, and had not a seperation in my family, been necessary at this juncture, Mr. Brulet had not been parted with so soon. " His fees are of the common sort. Seven shillings per month, or a guinea per quarter, is what I have paid, but as I had but five scholars to give ; for their sake, and the constant benefit of his conversation with them, I entertained him here, which was no bad part of the bargain for him or them. The pains and atten- tion he gives, and the particular pleasure he takes in the progress made by his scholars, is apparently such, that he, or she, who does not proffit, must be an absolute dunce or a careless idiot. " In short, it is obvious to any person of but toller- able skill or taste in the French language, that there never was, and perhaps never will be, such another man, in his way, in our country, which, at Duffus, 14 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. the 20th Day of Octor. 1755 years, is declared to be the humble opinion of Archd. Dukbar." A dancing -master's discharge and obligation in 1704, to Mr. James Sutherland, second son of James Lord Duffus : — " I, William Badhame, danceing master in Edin- burgh, be the tenor hereof, grant me to have received ffrom Master James Sutherland, Advocat, the sum of ffiftie punds Scots money, in full contentation and satisfaction of all due me for danceing, upon acompt of Mistris Elizabeth Sutherland, his sister, preceeding the date of thir presents. And, in like manor by thir pre- sents it's provyded that in case the said Mistris Eliza- beth Sutherland shall at any tyme here after happin to come where I the said William Badhame teaches danceing, I oblidge my selfe upon the payment of sixteen pund Scots to perfect her, oblidgeing me and my heirs, &;c., to warrand thir presents good valid and effectuall of all that I can ask or clame of the said Mrs. Elizabeth Sutherland, any manner of way, at all hands and against all deadly as law will ; con- sentin thir presents be insert and restrat in the books of Councill and Session, or in any other Judges court books compitent within this realme, therein to remain ad ffuturam rei memoriam, and constituts, SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEK DAYS. 15 my prors, &c. In witnes wlierof (wry tin be George Keith -wryter in Edinburgh,) I have subscribed thir pre- sents at Edinburgh, the eighteent day of Septer., Javij and ffour years. Before witnesss James Donaldson, merchant in Edinburgh, and the said George Keith, wi^}i-er hereof. Wm. Badham. " J. Donaldson, ivitnes. " Geo : Keith, ivitnes!' The quahfications and salary of a governess : — " To the much Honoured the Lady Thunderton — These : " Ranes, Huntly, Jan. SOth 1710. " Madam, — Robert Gordon has writ now twice to my father as (by your Ladyship's desire as I suppose) concerning me, if I be willing and fit for your service. In his last he desires I should writ to your Ladyship to show that I can sow white and colourd seam ; dress head suits, play on the Treble and Gambo, Viol, Virgin- eUes and Manicords, which I can do, but on no other. He desires to let know what fie I wold have, which is threttie pound and Gown and Coat, or then fourtie pound and Shoes and Linnens, which is for a year. If those terms please your Ladyship, I am content to serve for half-a-year conform, to try if I please your Ladyship. I expect an answer with the first occassion, and I am. Madam, your most humble servant, " Jean Chein." 16 SOCIAL LIFE IX FORMER DAYS. Expenses of tlie board and education of two young- ladies whose father was serving in the Low Countries under Marlborough : — " Eeceived from Joseph Brodie of Milntown in name and behalf of Archbald Dunbar of Thundertoun, the soum of four pund Scots, and that for Alexr. Dunbar of Belmuckedie his two daughters (Meg^ and Ket) their current quarter coUedge fie, as witness my hand at Dyke the twentie-second of Deer. 1709. " Alexr. Kicolson." " Eeceived from the said Millntoun in name and behalf of the said Mr. Archbald Dunbar of Thunder- toun two pound sterline, and that for Alexr. Dunbar of Bermuckitre his two daughters Meg : and Kett : ther quarterly l3uird, and that by me Janet Dunbar. In witnes wherof I have subscrybed day and date above written. Janet Dunbah." 1 "Meg" married Lieut. -Colonel Whitney, of Ligonier's dragoons, wlio was afterwards killed at the battle of Falkirk when charging at the head of his regiment. 1 II. MEDICAL. In the early part of the eighteenth century, Dr. Eobert Innes appears to have been the principal physician in Elgin, of which town he was also a magistrate. Gilded pills with ale for the miss, snuff for the lady in an interesting situation, and plum- cakes to celebrate (we trust) the safe arrival of the babe, must not make us forget that the doctor im- ported his drugs direct from London, and profession- ally attended the Chancellor's (Seafield) Countess. " Memorandum — BaiUie Innes, in Elgin, to Mr. Arch- bald Dunbar of Thundertoune, May 28, 1705. " When it pleases God you arrive safely at Edinburgh (and at leasure) please remitt the thirtie-eight pounds sterling twelve shillings, heirwith delivered you, to Mr. Edmund Sheepherd, drugist, at the Eose and Croune on Ludegate-hiU, London, and cause gett ane acquittance or discharge for the same to me ; and whatever the current exchange is, I hereby oblidge me to remitt the same to you, on advertisement. Withall, B 18 SOCIAL LIFE IX FORMER DAYS. when your conveniencie allowes, mynd the bill, like- wyes given you now, upon the Countess of Seaiield, and gett payment thereof, all which will be verie oblidging to dear Sir, yours verie affectionatly, " KoB : Innes/' " Elgin, Sejjt. 22, 1705. " Dear Sir, — After my humble dutie to your lady and sweet self, I presume to give you the trouble to bestowe the inclosed thre shillings on ane book for my Jamie's use, which cannot be had nearer than Edin- burgh. Its neam is John Leusden's Collections of the New Testament in Greek, done into thirty-six lessons, with the Analysis. I am told its pryce is twixt half ane croune and fourtie pence ; but although it be some more, pray send it ; withall, if you have re- covered payment of the Countess of Seafield, of the twentie shilling she owed me, be pleased likewayes to buye for me, and send me by the bearer, Etmullerus, his works Compendised and Englished, the last editione, which I am told is ane most excellent mar- rowish piece of pliisik, and is bought for about seven shillings English. I return you most heartie thanks for your last favor done me. Your readiness to serve your freinds is the occasion of this trouble. All your freinds here are in health, and mynd you as oft as we meet ; and I am truelie, dear Sir, your affectionat cassen and comrad, EoB. Innes.'' SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMEE DAYS. 19 ■ To The Laird of Thundertoun, "attDuffus. "Elgin, Apr He 17 IL " SiE, — ... if your lady s true and full tym be come. I have sent ane liysterik cordiall julep which is provoking and whereof she may take a third pairt when it comes, and the other third pairt (if she is not delivered in the tym) two hours thereafter, and what remains two hours after that ; in the meintym lett her walk and take snuff or what may provoke snezing. I wish her ane happie hour and safe deliverie, and continues still, Sir, yours affectionatly, " Rob. Innes." "Elgtn, Sd May, 17 1 L " SiE, — I have sent the two plumbcakes, with two small boxes with the suggar bisket by the bearer, as alsoe the mutton ; and the baker comes alongst with them, but the plumbcakes, especially the upper, must be carefullie taken out, least the glasing or garnishing be spoyled. The baker will assist and direct in this ; and how soon they and the bisket are taken out, they may be put near a, fyre, least they grow wett by the dampness of the weather. They are all well done, and will please all concerned. I shall be with you, God willing, once this afternoon, and see them rightly sett doune to-morrow moining, all the workmen have promised to be with you by thrie this afternoon, I am, Sir, your most oblidgecl servant, EoB : Innes." 20 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. "Elgin, June 28, 1713. "Sir, — Please receive seven small gilded pills in ane little box, whereof your daughter Bettie is to swallow five in the morning by themselves, tumbling them doune her throat with ane mouthful of cold ale, either one by one or two together as she best can ; and if this begin not to work tw^o hours after taking them, lett her swallow doun the other two — observing ane phisical dyet all day, I mein keeping warm and dyn- ing on fresh broath, and when disposed to drink, let it be table ale warmed ; And I am. Sir, yours afiec- tionately, Rob: Innes/' This account is in Scots money : — " Accompt Laird ofi" Thundertown, since Jan. 22th, 1719. To Kenneth Mackenzie, Chyr Aporie (Surgeon Apothecary) in Elgin. Jaur. 22. To ane plaister for his cook, 1719. To plilebotomie of Mm, Febr. 27. To ane bottle bitters for his lady, Mar. 12. To ane bole for his lady, To haKe ane onnce balsam for her. To ane cephahck powder for her. To ane pott of hniment for her, . 15. To the bole repeated for her, 28. To two ounce calamus aromaticus for your selfe, .... To two ounces centaury for him, . May 13. To ane vomitory for your sister-in-law lb. ss. d. 10 12 10 6 13 2 6 6 r 4 4 10 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 21 19. Janr. 29 1720. 31. To ane stomacliick mixture for her, To lialfe ane ounce oyle of mace for her, To ane stomacMck plaister for her, 14. To ane lottion for her, To three ounces hungary water cam phorat for yourselfe, To ane ounce sphit of win, camphorat for yourselfe, .... To ane mixture for your servant, Eobert Kinach, .... To phlebotomie of him, To materials for wine for your lady, To ane morning mixture for her, . To therty morning powders for her, To two pound tincture for her. To ane box pills for her. To ane anodyn for her, ffebr. 23. To two pound bitter tincture for Mrs Eebecca, .... To ane ounce tincture of antimony for her, To ane cosmetick for her, . Mar. 7. To materials for ane diet drink for Collin Menzies, .... Apr. 1 5. To ane bottle julep for your lady, To ane pott of ane elecuary for her. To three masticatory balls for her. To ane bottle juices for her, 22. To ane hypnotick for her, . To ane gargarism for her. To ane box gilded pills for your daughter To two ounces oxycroceon, . J 3 J 4 18 J 19 J 14 8 8 12 18 6 J5 00 6 6 J 4 6 2 18 12 18 14 16 18 00 39 13 0" 22 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. Lord Reay encloses two prescriptions ■} — " To Archibald Dunbar, of Thunderton, Esqr. "Tongue, loth Xov : 1727. " SiE, — I send you on the other side Dr. Boorehaves receipt for any pain in the head, eyes, toothack, &c. : — Make a litle basket like a small beehive, open above, and put under it some live coal in a shovel, on which put a snufF-pen full of the powder, cover- ing it with a coarse napkin well warmed at the fire ; the smoak will pierce it, and how soon the smoak is over rub your forehead and temples pretty well with the napkin, both at morning and bed-time. I found much benefit by it. I have no fault to the Bishop, he is of the true kind, a little headstrong and will- full. If you send the swine to Mr. Gordon of Haughes, in spring, he will get them sent me, and if you think them too deir a ^e for the present advice, and curing your former dullness of hearing, ask anything I have you want, the more freedom the welcomer. — I am, Sir, your very humble servant, Reay. " Sp. Benzoni. Mastich^. Olibani. Styrae, Calamit, ad Drach. iv. M. Sp. pro Thymiamate ciijus pariim siniiill prunce insparsuiu fiimet, et pamios evaparandos. 1 The prescriptions are difScxilt to decii>lier ; and may not therefore be correctl}^ copied. SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEE DAYS. 23 '' I shall add from the same hand the best thino^ I ever tiyed for my teeth and gums, with which I rub them after dinner and supper, — " Sp. Aqua stillatit Eosae, . Sp. Matricalis Bynhs, Sahs diilcis, . . - . Tinct. giimnis Laccae, Myxr^e drach M. r. Liqiier ad dentes gengioasqiie. "' N.B. — If you can't get the Spn. Mat. Bynlis, take Sp. of Scurygrass as a Sunedauay." . luie. XY. . une. ii- . une. \i- . une. J- . une. ij- Dr. Graham would have doubtless advocated Hydro- pathy had it been established in his time. " To Sir Alexander Dunbar, " at Thunderton, by Elgin. " Edinbuegh, July llth 1778. " Six days of total abstinence ! you are a man — an angel, Sir Alexander — the worst is now over — you vindicate the dignity of your rational nature— -you transform human into divine ! — " I speak from experience Sir ; I have a double right to speak as a physician and as a man, most heartily to congratulate you. It is many years since I tasted one drop of any thing stronger than water — not even in sickness do I allow myself a vinous or spiritous medicine : what did I say ? sickness ! I am 24 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOUMER DAYS. never sick — I am never sorry, I am about yonr own age. "Go on, Sir Alexander! as you do. Such little variations as are or may be necessary, your own good sense and observation will point out to you. Take care that the bath is only milk warm. " Yes, eat as many greens boiled and raw, and as much ripe fruit, as you find agrees with you. Let no medical rascal lace you up too tight. " Let beef and mutton, kept long after they are killed, be your principal meat. Eat few soups or broth — prefer, roasting on the spit, and broihng on the gridiron. Yes, yes Sir ! you may eat fish, and roasted fowls, tame and wild, full grown. " Eat strawberries and sugar, but no milk. " Bathe, now, every other day. Let sweet music — cordial friendship— virtuous love! engage your time and attention. Project and pursue with mode- ration some great, useful, or honourable work. Set up some delightful — some mighty object to your view ; and say / will attain to it — I will finish the work — I will reach the goal ! " Go on, too, observing the directions and using the means I had the honour of prescribing to you Sir Alexander, from the first — and if your body and your mind don't sing and dance and rejoice together soon, come to Edinburgh, to Jas. Geaham." I SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 25 Dr. James Walker not only practised in Elgin and its neighbourhood, but was also an enthusiastic agri- culturist ; and having married the widow of the last hereditary Sheriff of Moray, he carried on extensive farm operations at Westfield, in which property she (" the old gentlewoman'') was life rented. " I9th May 1778. " Doctor Walker s most respectful compliments. " Shall hope the happiness of knowing that Sir Alexander, and Lady Dunbar and ffamily are in good health. " Understands that the widow of John Gordon of Auchinereath is to dwell in a house of Sir Alexander's, which, after months, remains in disrepair. " The Doctor was not asked to accost Sir Alex- ander, and hopes this freedom will be ascribed to the genuin natural motive, and not to the genius of meadling. The Doctor knows the Knight's humanity, and he well knows Mrs. Gordon's puny state, and that plaister and whitewash quite fresh must deeply affect her. " People say that the joiner he employs, chooses to act by a deputy, and the deputy by many sub- stitutes — the thing is undone. They also say the plaisterer would attentively see the whole done. " It is requested the Knight may not take the trouble to write to the Doctor on this subject. The 26 SOCIAL LIFE IX FOEMER DAYS. Doctor only suggests to the Knight what he sup- poses his humanity will draw him to consider as truly as he does the rent. " Deeds of Humanity are never repented." " 19^/i Xovemher. " The Doctor's respectful compliments. " Intended, to-morrow, to have sent Sir Alexander a formal accusation, a sour one, concluding neglect of performance upon his own proposals, that the Doctor should hear from him once a week ; but still the sloth of a Lochside Knio^ht cannot allow the mentioning; better or less better of headache, pained sides, weari- ness of back, &c., or of ails the good Lady complains of Is not the plan an easy one, my dear Sir ? If all complaints are easier, we are better. " But, in earnest, the Doctor may be bewildered in this general observation. The Doctor finds himself deeply serious. If Sir Alexander thinks that a few^ shillings excites all this concern, shall not attempt to undeceive him in theory nor scratches of a quill. " This weather persuades the Doctor to change the medicine for the time. It feels rigid. " Sends a box of smaU balls. Eecommends that three be swallowed in the morning — fasting ; three at mid-day ; and three at bed-time — nine a day. Requests particulars in next that, at least, earnest tryal may be made to mend a habit of body which SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 27 vexes the Doctor. It is easy to loath it, and say one is well ; Lut the Doctor can commend no such doinofs." " Sunday, 25th August 1779. " Doctor Walker s respects. '' Has a right to forgivenness (whether the Knight acknowledges or denys), for giving the trouhle of enquiring how Sir Alexander and Lady Dunbar are in this drenching, and now blustering, weather. " Shall be glad to know that the Lady bore her late journy better than is said, and that the Knight has weathered this soaking state, which threatens to bring animal life to a state of slubber. " The Doctor feels it— the old gentle-woman deeply — and only wariness keeps off extreme hardship. " It is like we have still more to bear, therefore — caution." "... If you broil over the fire and fry the backs of your hams, he who mends your chilliness must change the comodians of natural things, so far as you are concerned. " Particular accounts of drugs I always decline. My only interest in them being loss of money. There- fore, request my friends may hereafter excuse it ; but for your satisfaction have caused draw out the parti 28 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. culars furnished for you. Most respectfull compli- ments to your Lady.'' " The broken vial refurnished. The morning tinc- ture to be continued. " Broths to be prepared secundum artem of the cooks, with beef, mutton, or fowls. " Leek pottage may be read — ' Cock-a-leekie.' . . ." " 27t7t April 1780. "... Suffer me to enquire how market offers for grain. My acquaintances and the dealers are wondrous wise and deep I think you may rely on me ; I shall blabb nothing from you. " A little stirring offers just now ; but (as you word it) they are very costive. " Do advise me. I have half bear, half oats, in the small parcel." " Wedy., 25th Sepr., 1782. " Doctor "Walker's respectful compliments. " The butter-kitt came here, for which attention the Doctor's thanks to good Lady Dunbar ; but no notice of the price. " A verbal message bade the Doctor have the cask weighed^ — why ? as it seems it was weighed by the owner. « SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 29 " But such are the various numbers of pounds assigned to a stone weight (from fourteen to thirty- four), the Doctor must beg leave to ask what number of pounds to a stone weight at Thundertown — and what is the price of said stone weight — that he may do himself the pleasure to make thankful payment. " The Doctor proposes to kill a full-fed cow in the beginning of next week. If beef so firm is oft seen, he is imposed on. " Is Sir Alexander disposed to send for a quarter, and which quarter ? price threepence per pound, with- out discount ; — a quarter may weigh 80lb. " Notice may be sent, if he chooses it, 'twixt and Tuesday first." Ill PEICES OF PROVISIONS. Dealers in grain, meat, etc., were not allowed to charge except at such rates as had been fixed by legal authority. " Att fforres the sevinteinth day of May 1699. — The Comissioners of Supply of the Sherifdome of Elgin, appoynted by Act of Council, of the date the last day of March last by past, for stateing and setling the pryces of victual within the said shyre, having several tymes met and conveened at Elgin and fforres, and last of all at fforres, this present day having taken | true and exact tryall of the pryces of victual for five weeks space preceeding the date of the said Act, and duly considered the said pryces, the forsaid Comis- sioners, by virtue of the power given and comitted to them by the forsaid Act of Council, have stated and setled, and hereby states and setles, the highest pryces of the best victual and meal to be as follows, viz. : — The best wheat at eighteen pound scots per boll : the best bear at tw^elve pound scots per boll : the best oats at ten pound per boll : the boll of pise at twelve SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 31 pound : the best oatmeall by weight, being eight stone, at twelve pound per boll : the best bearmeall at thi'eitein merks four shillings six penies per boll : and the forsaid piyces, so setled, are appointed by the said Act of Privie Council to be the feer and setled pryces until the first day of SeptemlDer nixt : and none are to presume to sell at higher rates either in mercats, girnels, or otherwayes, within the said sheriffdome of Elgin, under the certification of being pursued as Occurrers or Userers, as the said Act bears. And to the end the above writen pryces may be published, the said Comissioners ordained, and ordains, thir pre- sents to be published at all the parish kirks of the said shyre, to be read this nixt Lord's day after devine ser- vice ; and doubles therof to be sent to the Magistrates of the burghs within the shyre, to be by them pro- claimed at their mercat-croces : and this present setle- ment of the pryces of the said victuals to be binding and take effect after the publication and intimation herof : and ordains the same to be recorded in the sederunt-book of the said Comissioners, that none pretend ignorance." " AVee, Sir Thomas Calder of Muirton, Knight Baronet, and Eobert Dunbar of Newton, Esquire, Justices of Peace within the shire of Eloin, do here- by testify and declare to all concerned that the \\a\' 32 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. of living in tlie town of Elgin, within the said shire, for merchandise of all sorts of vivers, victuals, and other necessaries for families, beino^ to be had at low rates is as follows, viz. : — ane carcass of best beef, in the shambles, at eight pund scotts ; Item — ane mutton bulk, at two merks scotts of the best sort ; ane good hen at two shilling scotts, and two shilling sixpenies scotts the dearest ; iFourteen egs for ane shilling scotts ; ffourteen haddocks for ane shilling sixpenies scotts, or two shillings at most ; ffourteen whitings for ane shilling scotts ; ane large cod-fish for four shilling scotts ; ane stone of butter of the best sort at three pund scotts, wherof ther goes twenty- two pund to the stone ; ane stone of the best chese, of the north country make, two merks scotts, or thirty shillings scotts at most, wherof ther is given twent}7'-two pund to the stone ; ane pint of milk for sixteen peneis scots ; muirfowl and partridge at two shilling scotts the pair ; waterfowl as follows, viz. : — ane goose at eight shilling scotts ; duck and drake, wild or tame, at four shilling ; and we declare that the above rates are the comon and ordinarie mercat prices, except in cases of dearth and scarcity : By these given under our hands, at Elgin, the thirtieth of December, one thou- sand seven hundred and ten years. " Thomas Caldee. eo. dunbae." I IV. POSTAL AKEANGEMENTS. Postmaster-Geneeal's obligation : — " I, Alex. Smith, post-master generall of this king- dom, doe hereby oblidge myselfe to send to Mr. Archibald Dunbarr of Thundertown ane Flying Post, and Edinbm^gh Gazette, tuice a week from the date hereof untill Candlemass one thousand seven hun- dreth and one years. In witnes whereof I have written and subscrived ther presents with my hand at Edinburgh, the nynth day of December 1700. "Alexe. Smith." Before the era of naming streets or numbering houses, recourse was had to very grotesque and often complicated addresses. The following are, re- spectively, of dates 1702-3-4 : — " ffor " Mr. Archbald Dumbarr of Thundertoune to be left at Capt. Dumbar's writing Chamber at the Iron revell third storie below the Cross north end of the close at Edinr." 34 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. '' For " Captain Philip Anstmther off Newgrange att his lodgeing a htle above the fountain-well south side of the street Edenbrough." " fFor "Mrs. Mary Stowel at Whiteakers in St Andrew Street next door save one to the blew balcony near the sun dyall near long aiker London." The clerks in the General Post-Office must have been a careless set of fellows. Extract from a letter sent to a Morayshire gentleman : — "Edinburgh, \ 5th Aug., 1755. " There is no news, our Edinburgh mail being re- turned in a mistake for the London mail, and vice versa.'' 4 V. TEAVELLING. A JOURNEY from Morayshire to Edinburgh must have been, especially in winter, a very arduous under- taking ; it generally occupied five or six days. " ffor Mrs. Dunbar of Thundertoun, " Att Duffus. " Newtoun of Aberdeen, VJ ffehry., 1708. " My Deae, — After I came to Keith I found bothe road and the weather so bad that I chosed rather to stay ther Saturday all day than venture the hills allone on Sabath-day. By good providence there came three or four gentlemen who designed the same jurney, and after deliberation it was concluded wee should not goe by the Cairn, but by this place, w^here through both evil way and weather wee are, blessed by God, saifely come this night. We disyne sex milles farder, and so on, as the weather will allow. Through all the hills nothing but storm appears, and in the valeys, great rains and impetous watter runns. This only wee have left us for comfort, that in this road wee are now in, we have both boats and bridges, so that we will not be put to any necessity of rideiug of 36 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. watters. I wrote you aiie meniorandam from Keith, to give fFaskan what salt he calls for. Grive him like- wise the one half of the barell of figgs, which let be sawn in the midst, which is the best way of devisione. This, with duety, being from, dear Beckie, yom^ " A. Dunbar." '' 2 of the cloak, afternoon. We came here about 12. "Adiu." The Avriter of the following extract flourished in 1783. He seems to have been a bit of a philoso- pher : — *' You will be astonished when I tell you that for as many chaises and horses as are in and about Edin- burgh, and for as high as the duty is, that you must bespeak your chaise eight or ten days at least before you intend setting out, otherwise you can have none, espe- cially when you are going a long journey like mine. But the fulness of luxury, like the corpulency of the body, is a symptom of approaching decay; and as everything in nature has its different periods as well as the animal and vegetable world, namely, infancy, maturity, and decay, I am very much afraid that our poor country is at least at the middle period, for you will not know a shoemaker's or a tailor's daughter by her dress, from a lady of the first rank in this place." SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 3 7 The fare from Aberdeen to Edinburgh l)y " The Fly'' was two pounds two shillings, as we find by a ticket, dated 25th August 1789, on the back of which there is this printed notice : — NEW BLACK-BULL INN, North Side of the Register Office, Edinburgh. rpHE FLY, sets out from the above Inn, for LON- -^ DON, NEWCASTLE, and GLASGOW, every day, and from Mr. Ibberson's, George and Blue Boar, Holborn, London, Mr. Broadie's, Turk's Head, New- castle, and Mr. Durie's, Black-Bull, Glasgow, every day for Edinburgh— For ABERDEEN, by way of PERTH, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday ; and from Mr. Wilkie's New-Inn, Aberdeen, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for Edinburgh. — Fresh horses every stage. A^.i?.— SETS OUT, as above by way of Cornhill, Newcastle and Borrowbridge, at least twenty miles nearer than by Berwick and York, The ROYAL CHARLOTTE LIGHT POST COACH, which, for accommodation and expedition, is not inferior to any that ply the road; goes from Edinburgh to London in two days and one half, with the agreeable advan- tage (by setting out in the morning) (^f travelling mostly in day-light. Performed by J. Robertson & Co. VI. TAYEEN BILLS. Me. Dunbar of Kincorth was a younger son of Sir William Dunbar of Durn, Baronet, and a brother of Anne Countess of Findlater and Seafield. He would be treated as an honoured guest. The money is Scots. " Accompt Wm. Dunbar of Kincorth to Margaret Stewart, spouse to Wm. Brodie, merchant in Elgin. 2 2d Decer. Imprimis by ane subscribed oblige- 1699. ment, 26 12 6 By another obhgement, . . . 08 05 Janry. 1700. Item with ffaskin, Mr. Archbald Dunbar, and John Chalmer four pynts brunt wine, . . . 06 16 Item with Bishopmiln, Newtoun, and Mr. Arclibald Dunbar three pynts brunt wine, . . . 05 02 Item four ounce of sugar to a pynt of sack, 00 04 Item a pynt of brunt wine with Mr. Archbald Dunbar and Mr. Eead, 01 17 Item for his part of sevin pynts Jaugo is 01 05 Item a pynt that he called for after- wards, . . . . . 00 15 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 39 Item when lie went at that tyme to the west, for his own, and his servant and horse, meat and drink, 02 00 Item for his horse therafter for corn and strae, 00 13 Item his own and his servant's dyet then, . . . . . 02 00 Item two seckpossets is . . 04 16 When at your court for meat to yourself and servant, and horse corn and strae, . . . . 04 10 Item four pynts brunt aquavite, . 06 13 4 Item for corn and strae to your horse, 01 04 Item meat and drink to yourself and servant, . . . . 01 10 74 02 10 Item for the cess accompt which I took of £7 11 8, . . . 07 11 8 81 14 06 Item for your horse sevintein dayes when last here, . . . . 05 02 Item for twenty dayes dyet to your self and servant, . . . 07 08 Item one pyut brunt acquavite with Bailie Stewart, James Wiseman, and others, . . . .01134 95 17 10 Whereof receaved per recept, 16 00 9 17 UV 40 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. Copy of a bill paid in 1769 to Eobert Gordon, Land- lord of the " British Arms :" — ;h arms, To MAGNUM BONUMS, GIN} To 35 bottles Claret, 4 7 6 MM To bottles Champaign, . ^^^ To bottles Ehenisli, To 1 bottles Oporto, To bottles Zerry, . To bottles Frontiniac, . To bottles Mountain, . To bottles Madeira, To bottles Malaga, 2 To 1 bottles Lisbon, 2 To bottles Orange-wine, To 3 mutclikins Punch, . 3 To extraordinary fruit and sugar, To 3 mugs porter, . 1 To arrack, To cyder, To negus, . . . To sack- whey, .... To tea and coffee, marmalade, etc, To drams, ..... To small-beer, .... 3 To pipes and tobacco, To entertainment, 4 To paper, To cards, . . . . ^ The Royal Arms are slightly different in the original, which is a printed form, with the numbers and prices written. SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 41 To cadies, . To hay, To corn, To (irink to servants, To the saddler, . To the smith, To the barber, To grease to the horses feet To the laundress, To broken, To more wine, . To more punch, . VII. FIELD SPOETS. Hawking was long a favourite sport in the North. The Earl of Buchan appears to have replenished his falconry from the Gordonston stock. " To my honorabel and loving frinde " Sir Robert GtORdon, geve this. " Bamfe the 10 May, 1619. " Sir, — I have wryten thir fewe lynes to deseir you to doe me the favor as to send me ane facon of this yeir, with this berer, and wharin I can doe you anny pleseur or service you sail find me ever redie to obay your imployments, so hoping you will grant me this my first sent, I tak my leive and rests your loving frind, to my pouer, Buchane.'' Having received a couple of hawks from the Earl of Seaforth, the Laird of Brodie asks his friend to get them trained. " To Mr. Archibald Dunbar, " of Thundertone. " ffoRREs Qth Aug. 1712. " Sir, — I am glade to hear that you are weell, and that you are nothing the worse of your fatigue att the SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 43 Eunns of Lossie, I am also rejoysed to hear that you are clever and can voltige and waltt a litle as to your former way, in the meantime this serves to acquant you that I have two halks sent me by my Lord Sea- fort, to witt a ffalcone and a Terfle ffalcone of the best aire of the Lewis, and they are full and weell feathered, so if you please take them and breed them by your ffalconar, and when they are bredd I shall give you your choyse or both, tho I was oblidged to give a great deall of drink-money. I know Kilravock and others would take them, but I incline to give you the first offerr, so you will send me ane answer by this express, whither you will send for them or not. If I hade a ffalconar I would have bredd them myselfe, which is all from, Sir, your affectionate and humble servant, Geo : Brodie." The Laird of Newton intimates that he intends to '' blode" two young dogs ; that is, let them have their first taste of blood. " To Mr. Archibald Dunbar, " of Thundertoun. "Newtown, 2Uh Sept. 1702. " Loving Brother, — I am gleade ye ar cum saife to the cuntrie, but expected ye would halve been here befor this time. I desined to haive blode two young doges this day, but shall delay sport till Satur- 44 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. day expecting your cumming, I hoop ye will bring Capt. Dunbar alonge, to wliom give my servise. My wife will qiiarall you at meeting fFor unkindnes, wlierfor she has sent no comendations. I containou, as formarly, your most affectionat brother, " E. Dunbar.'" " Cloavs, '2^th Janr. 1703. "Affectionat BROTHER,^Cloavs and I shall met you the morou in the Spinle moore, betmxt eight and nine in the morning, where ye canot miss good sporte twixt that and the sea. ffaile not to bring ane bottle of brandie along, ffor I asheure you ye will lose the wadger. In the mean time we drink your health, and am your affectionat brother, " E. Dunbar." Sir Harrie Innes, of Innes, evidently alludes to the Loch of Spynie, then undrained, and the rendezvous of all sorts of wild fowl. '■ To Mr. Archibald Dunbak, '• ofl' Thimderton. att Elgin. " Innes, /e&. 2d, 170.3. " Dear Archie,— It is good ffor a man to pay his debt while he has gear. I send you your swan s skin, but least you have a Highland mans appetite ffor SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 45 annual rentt ffor your loan of that I had of you, I send another, which I slew yesterday. I shall be glad to play mth you att hunting or shooting any day you are att leisure. If the dayes post bring you any news, I shall be glad to know what they are. Mean- tyme, I still continue, dear Archie, your oblidged ffriend and most humble servantt, " Harie Innes." " If you have but use ffor one skin, the doctor will thank you ffor the other.'' The Loch of Spynie had attractions even for the Marquis of Huntly. '' To the much honored '' Mr. Archibald Dlnbar, '• off Thunderstoune — These : " Leuchaes, October, 1707. ' ' Wednesday. " Much Honored,— My Lord Marquesse off Huntly has been att sporte this day att the Loch off Cottise, and to-morrow desynes to be att the Loche off Spynye, therefore we your humble supplicants order you to repair in your pinace, most honoured, by to- morow, 1)6 eleven, at the mouth off the Eindes, or the gray ston off Pifctgeviny. Your personall presence is nott douljted, iff leisure allow ; however, order smookes to be putt on att Duffus, Crookmoor, &c., ffull of 46 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. Leuchar's strong ale, Ijetwixt eleven and twelve this night. We are your humble servants, " Alexr. Innes : Geo. Innes : Will. Sutherland." Extract from a letter, dated 16th March 1704, from Mr. Wiseman, commissary clerk of Elgin, to the same address. " Eeceive Grossie, and if he play tricks whip him weel for his paines, and that is the only way for him ; he has not bein in a feild, nor sett a foull since you saw it upon a Sabbath day. If I come up I will re- quire some days for acquainting you with Grossie's hunting, wliich I think the hingdome will not match." A dear dog 1 The animal must have been valuable and worth the price, as Sir Eobert knew well how to make a good bargain. " Elgin, ilfarcA 1749. " Then received ffrom Sir Eobert Gordon of Gor- donstown the quantity of ffive bolls bear, as the agreed price of a dog, called Spottie Boug." VIII. QUAEANTINE. The annexed document is docqueted " Comittee concerning the boats of Causy, 1647." The Commis- sioners of Supply, we presume, now represent "The Comitte of the shyre : "— " Elgin, 7 Juhj, 1647. " The Comitte of the shyre having mett, and it being represented to them that certaine boats, laden with goods and passengars, war com from Aberdeen, and that a cours might be ta.ken for saving the coun- tree from infection, they ordained that the goods should remaine on the shore untill the merchants com horn to whom they belong, and that thereafter thos merchants should goe to Causi and receav the goods, and open them and cleanse them thoroughli by the advis of the Town or Magistrats of Elgin, or such as they appoint ; and that the said merchants or any persons that cleans, liandls, or receaves the goods should be separat for the space of twenti thre dayes or a month, and should be admitted to noe hous or societie within the countree untill they be tried, and 48 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. found free of infection : and if any of tliem shal fail therin to bee punished by death. " Lykas, the Comitte and Barons of the shyre ordained that the persons who cam in the four boats, should be separat, and kept up from al societie, untill they be cleansd and tried, and for this effect that ther should bee a guard of persons appointed and entertained to keip them from straying through the countree untill the tym of the trial! pass, and they receave a testimonial from the comitte. And it should be intimated to the passengers and others suspected persons, that ther is warrand given to the guard to provyd for them, and in cace they offer to break out by fore, and by that means infect the countree, they have ordour and warrand to shoot them or put them to death. " The Laird of Dufus, Sherif of jMuray, Spyni, Pro- vest of Elgin, Kirtoun, James Dunbar, appointed to meit at Duffus Kirktown, for this effect, on Tuisday be eight hours. " The Sheriff has undertaken to bring twenty-four men here to see ther arms taken from them and thes ordours execute. " The Comitte ordains the parishes of Forres, Dyke, Eafert, and the Laird of Tarbet's land in Alves, to secur ffindorn as they wil be answerable, and that a guard bee put in the town to remaine ther constant- lie, that noe barques or boats upon any pass bee par- SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 49 mitted to land without the notice given and consent of Robert Dunl)ar of Burgie, Bailies of Forres, Grang- hill, Kincorth, Coubin, Brodie, Esterbin, Woodhead, or any fiYe of them being present, giving them the full powar of the comitee to that effect, and adds to them the Sherif of Murray, Tanachi, Kilbyoak, Mr. James Campbell of Moye. " The Comittee thinks fitt that the parishes of Alves, Duffus, King Edward, Spynie, guard the Causi two nights about, 24 men or 30 men apiece, and every guard to stay two dayes and two nights, till they be releived ; and the special heritours in the parishes, or their doers, to come with ther parishoners. " The Laird of Innes undertakes for the water- mouth of Spey to the boat of Bogg, and that he shall deal with the rest of the heritours to secure from Bogg to Skirdastan and Fiddich. '' The Comittee ordains every threti chalder of victuall to give a hors to carie malt and salt to Badenoch. Kobeet Goedon, Preses," Letters from the Clerk of the Justice of Peace Court, and from an officer stationed at Burghead : — " Mr. Archbald Dunbar of Thundertoune. " Elgin, Septer. 22d, 1709. " SiE, — By this dayes post ther is come a letter from her Majesties Advocat to the Justices of the Peace 50 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. of this shire, desireing that on receipt of the said letter they may meet in order to consert measures for preventing any ships bound from Danzick, or any seaport of the Baltick, for this Kingdom, to land any men or goods upon this shores, or any mens goeing from the shoar aboard of them. The Advocat has sent print instructions for this end, and since (as he terms it) it is of the very last consequence to our lyves and safeties, it ought to quicken your dili- gence. Therefor it is proper you meet here to- morrow, be ten acloak, for the end aforsaid, I am Sir, your most humble servant, "Ja: Wiseman. " Keceive, inclosed, ane letter from Major Colt, which my too nmch anxietie for news made me open — which I beg you will excuse. I have wrote to the most of all the Justices of the Peace." " To the much Honored Mr. Aechbald Dunbar, of Thunderton ; " and in his absence to the Laird or Mtrland — heast. " Beoughead, 2Uh Sejytr. 1709. "Much Honored, — By her Majesties comands, wee, the Oifeshers in this presinct, is ordered to call for asistance in caice aney ships should atemp to cume ashor, or land ther men with long boats. There is tuo ships ryding at ankor forgainst this place, and SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 51 is just noil sending ther boats ashor. Ther is men heir that is willing to wacth, but ther is neather armes nor amonitione heir. Your help and asist- ance, both for men and armes, is requered by, much honored, your humbbel servant, " Alexr. Philp." IX. FISHINGS. Landed proprietors who had sea-coast or river attached to their estates, employed fishermen, whom they paid at certain rates for the fish, after deducting the price of the curing-salt which they imported, and the fish was sent in large quantities to continental towns, where it found a ready sale among the Eoman Catholics. Sir Harrie unfortunately does not give the year. " The Eaick" and " The Pott" are celebrated pools in the Spey, near Garmouth : — " To the Laird off Thundektox — Heast, heast. " liSTNES, June 25, 5 at night. " SiK, — You will not (I hope) be displeased when I tell you that Wat. Stronoch, this forenoon, killed eighteen liiindred Salmon and Grilses. But it is my misfortune that the boat is not returned yet from Inverness, and I want salt. Therefore by all the tyes of friendship send me on your own horses eight barrels of salt, or more. When my boat returns, none, par- ticularly Coxton, shall want what I have. This in great heast from, dear Archie, yours, " HaFvPvIe Innes. SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 53 " I know not but they may kill as many before two in the morning, for till then I have the Eaick, and to- morrow the Pott. These twenty years past such a run was not as has been these two past days in so short a time, therefore heast, heast ; spare not horse hyre. 1 would have sent my own horses, but they are all in the hill for peatts. Adieu, dear Archie."' " To the Laird off Thunderton. "Innes, Aug. 20, 1716. " SiE, — I am so unweil that now near two o'clock I am gott from bed. " There is betwixt four and five last of Grilses and Salmon packed yesterday. " I know the price att Bamffe is above forty merks for Grilses. " I expectt no harm from your hands. If ye be to writte to Holland, cause bring home one thousand weight of twyne ffor next years fishing. Also, two or three pieces of holland muslin e I want, but I understand nott how to commission for itt. " Good wyne I love, such as I drunk last with you, but I want money. A barrell or two of cucumbers and capers my wife speaks of, butt I know not the value. Do on the whole as you please, and I shall pay you most thankfully, and ever remain, dear Archie, yours, Haeeie Innes." 54 SOCIAL LIFE IX FOKMER DAYS. Letter from the fishermen in Burghecad to those in Findhorn, relative to the prices given for fish, etc. The reply shows that a salted (cod) fish cost a fraction under threepence : — " For —Thomas Findlay, Skipper, in Findhorn. or to anie other " Skeipper in the tonne, in his absence — Thes are : " Att Brough, the 30 of Januarie, 1713. " Kynd freinds, this is to let you know that Thun- dertoun and Eoshaugh was in this town this day, and is to cleire with us for our fish on the last day of this instant, and desired us to wreit Wast to you what you got for your fish, and how manie you gave to the hunder. Wreit East ane positive account, and oblidge all your freinds and weill- wishers in this toune, young and old. Pray you doe not feall to wreit to us, and this is all at present, with all having ther serwice to you all. "William Gebdes. John Prot." Answer to the above : — " flfor William Geddes and John Prot, " Skippers in Burgh Sea — These : " FriNDHORN, January the SO th, 1713. " AVe receaved your letter, and in answer therto we hav goten but an pairt of our moey, and as for the prise, we are informed by Andrew Adam that our SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 55 prise is not to be broken of what we got formirly, which was nintin pound Scots the hiinder, and we pay twelve shiling Scots for the peck of salt, and we giv six scor and twelve for each hunder. This is all we can show you as to that mater. This being the nedfull from your frends and well-wishers, '' Gilbert Thom. John Marnoch." "The Seven Brethren" was chartered by the Lairds of Kilravock, Clava, Thunderton, Kinsterie, and Muirtown. The Captain, William Dawson, afterwards Provost of Forres, also had a share of the cargo : — "FiNDHORN, the 17th November 1708. " Accompt of the first cost and charges of ane load- ing of Bear, Salmond, Hareing, and Cod-fish, shipped aboard the shipp, the Seven Brethren, for Lisbone, viz. : — To 7911 bolls of bear, at £S, 6s. 8d. per boll, To 3 last hareings, at £96 per last, To 6500 diyed codd-fish, at £14 per 100, . To 6 barrels salmond, at £38 per barrell. To 18 barrells of mlses at l-5th rebate of salmond price, ...... £2,638 6 8 288 910 228 547 4 £4,611 10 8 56 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEU DAYS. Chakges. To 300 dales for buRclaline, stelline, and bulkes-liead, To trees for stools and bearers, To nailes for bugdaline, &c., To carpentares for bugdaline, To receiveing of 791 J bolls bear at Is. per boll, To sliippeing of said bear, at 8d per boll, To sliippeing salmond, liareing, and cod-fisli, To f of averadge in and ont to Findliorn, . . . . To cockett, bill of health, suffer- ance, &c., to Custom-hous, . To cash given the surveyor for attendance, . . . . To cash for towing the dales out at the end, . . . . To personall charges and horse- hyr hence to Inverness, £100 10 10 12 39 11 6 26 7 8 5 12 8 9 12 16 5 12 2 10 2 £249 1 4 £4,860 12 0" "FlNDHORN, . . . 1717. " Invoice of the Jannet of Belfast, John Mackmichan, master, for Diepe — To 121 barrell grilsess, at £2 per barrell, To 35 barrell salmon, at £2, 10s. per barrell. To 31 barrell herreings, at 10s. per barrell is Sterling. £242 87 10 15 10 £345 0" SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 57 Here are a few items from a long account of the disbursements connected with the " securing" of four whales, which were stranded in November 1729 on the sands of Burghead. In this enterprise were con- cerned Brodie of Brodie, Lord Lyon King-at-Arms, Sir Eobert Gordon of Gordonston, Premier Baronet of Scotland, and Dunbar of Thunderton, formerly Sheriff of the County, all of whom thus became dealers in spermaceti and whale s blubber ! " To two himdred and sixty horse loads of speck, frgm ebb to high water, att 1 peny each, £118 To two hundred and sixty horse loads of speck from the shoar to the Corf house, att Ish. st. per load, . .13 To two hundred men employed att different tides for turning and tear- ing the whales, att 8sh. per tide, . 6 13 4 £20 15 To carriage of 78 hhds. 1 turce. from different places to the Corf-house, being thirty- nine horse loads, att Ish. St. per load, . . . . 1 19 To fraught of 3 6 hhds. from Cromarty to Burgh-head, . . . .228 To fraught of 12 hhds. from Chanry to Findhorn, 10 To carriage of six loads of herring casks from Findhorn to Outlet, for float- ing the whales, att Isli. st. per load, G 58 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. To returning the same, 6 To nine herring casks bought att Find- horn, for containing the sperma and blubber, £1 2 6 £6 To five drag ropes, bought from the skippers of Burghead for securing the said whales on the shoar, .500 To cash paid the five skippers of Burgh- head, with their crews, for their pains and diligence in killing and securing the whales, being fifty men in number, . . . . .10 To Anne Sutherland in Burgh-head her account of all charges, . .700 To Skipper Geddess's account of ale and brandy, 10 To a blacksmith in C outfield for mak- ing seven knives, . . . .0106 To the coupers for tighting, heading, and packing the sperma on the shoar, .050 £23 15 To ten loads of peats burnt on the shoar, att 6d. per load, by the watchmen, 5 To nine days work, of eight men, bar- relKng the blubber, at 5sh. 4d. st. per diem, 2 8 To thirty-two days attendance by Wm. ISTaughty on the coupers and cutters in the Corf-house, att Ish. st. per diem, 1 12 1 £4 5 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 59 A ship, called " Susana of Biirlingtown, of the burden of fForty tuns, then lying in the harbour of Lossie — ffrancis Bulson, master," AA\as chartered, at sixteen shillings per ton, to carry the "blubber and spermaceti " to London. It was there disposed of by Peter Machattie, factor for the parties. The unskilful manner in which the " speck " was separated from the "flock'' reduced the expected quantity of oil. Mr. Mach attic's communication must have l)rought down the ardour of the blubber co-partnery to the freez- ing-point ! " To Archd Dunbarr oif Newton, Youngar, "per Ednbr. to Elgin. "London, Wth Jully, 1730. "Sir, — Eeferring to mine of 25th and the 27th past, since have yours of 20th do., with Thundarton's account of chearges, amounting to £85, 19s. 5|d., upon the whales blobber and spermacetta, which sum is more, I am afraid, than will be made of the subject in some time. The blobber is all oyled, and the quan- tity thereofl" will not exceed six or seven tuns, as is beleived by the boyler, who cannot, as yett, give the true account — it being upon the water in fatts, ready to be run off in casks, which I hope will be in a day or two's time ; and for the spermacetta it is very littell in quantity, the most of the casks being oyll, and the spermacetta is at present low. However, I am informed it is giving a better price in Holland, to 60 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. wliicli place I have sent ovar a tray all, and att the return of my lettar shall, I hope, be eahell to give a satisfactory account thereoff. The reason which is given for the small produce of the blobber is that a great deall of the flock was cut in with the speck, which has consumed the oyll and wested the substance thereoff. There has been such propar measures taken with it, which I hope will appear to be most advan- tagious for the propreiators thereoff, and shall endea- vour to dispose of the same to the best account. Eeferring till next post, I am, with perfound respectt to Sir Eobert and Thundarton, Sir, your most obedient humbell servant. Pet. Machattie." An abstract of account shows that Thunderton's outlay was £85, 19s. 5Jd. ; Sir Eobert's, £55, 8s. 2d. ; Brodie's, £2 7, 2s. 3d. — total money laid out, £168, 8s. lojd. The net proceeds are stated at £112, 15s. lljd. ; showing a dead loss of £55, 13s. lid. sterling. Whatever profit may have accrued from cod sales to Morayshire lairds, it is evident that whales were not in their particular line ! X. IMPRESSING FOR THE NAVY. In time of war, every sea -coast proprietor was obliged to furnish a certain quota of men to the navy : — ^'' To Archibald Dunbar, Esqr., of Duffus. " Elizabeth Tender, att Sj^ey mouth, 28th Septr. 1761. " SiK, — Being appointed by the Honble. Captain George Falconer to receive the quotas of fishermen, for this district, agreeable to his letter to you, I hope you will be so kind as forward this service as fast as possible. " As it is far against my inclination to distress the fisheries of this country, I beg you will favour me with a list of your fishermen, with their age and descriptions, and your method of delivering up your quota, that I may immediately grant protections to the remaining fishermen, and the Government not be long under the expense of a vessel and forty men attending this duty that is wanted in another station. I am, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, A. Baillie." 62 SOCIAL LIFE IX FOEMEE DAYS. Captain Falconer s printed circular, to which Lieu- tenant Baillie called attention, intimates, that by authority of the Commissioners of the Admiralty, the fishermen ^vould be protected from impressment during the present war on this condition, " that you immediately furnish one man to the navy out of every six of them, and deliver them to the naval officer of your district to be approved/' The circular proceeds thus :— " Upon delivering your proportion, you will please give in to the said Naval Officer a full list of the remainder of your fishers, subscribed by you as Pro- prietor, containing their Names, Ages, Size, Com- plexion, or other description, so as five Protections may be delivered for every man so furnished to the Xavy ; and which Protections, by the aforesaid Autho- rity, 1 do assure you, will eftectually prevent the pos- sessors of them from being impressed dm'ing the present war ; or if, through mistake, they should at any time be impressed, upon apphcation to me, or the commanding Officer for the time, they will be immediately discharged. " This moderate demand, on such assurances of security for the future, I fiatter myself will be chear- fully and immediately complied ^^dth by all concerned. But if, contrary to expectation, the proposal should be rejected by any, they may depend on it, their fisher- SOCIAL LIFE IN FOKMER DAYS. 63 men, \Yliere ever found, either on sea or land, will be impressed ; nor will any solicitations on their behalf be listened to by their Lordships, and much less by your most obedient humble servant, " Geoege Falconer. " Edinburgh, " This will be forwarded 3^ou by. to whom please send your answer." There was difficulty both at Findhorn and Burghead in getting men to serve. " [On His Majesty's Service.) " To Archibald Dunbar of Newton, Esq., " at his house at DufFus. " FoKRES, '2d March 1757. " Sir, — I am surprised you have neither performed your own promise nor comply ed with my orders and advice. I know, and am informed your number of fishers (distinctly from Sir Eobert Gordon s) is not under twenty men, out of which the King must have three young men ; and I know as well as yourself that those that are fittest for me are Alexr. Sutor, Andrew Grote, and James Neilson, and if you do not quickly send me those men, the Brough shall quickly run the same fate with Findhorn ; and I am. Sir, your humble servant, " R. Hay, Lieutenant^ XL SMUGGLING. The duty on wine and brandy was thought so high, that constant attempts were made to smuggle them into the country. Extract from a letter to Dunbar of Thunderton, in 1710, written by William Sutherland, merchant in Elgin : — "... I have ventured to order Skipper Watt, how soon it pleases God he comes to the firth, to call at Caussie, and cruise betwixt that and Burgh-head, until you order boats to waite him. He is to give the half of what I have of the same sort with his last cargoe, to any having your order. Its not amiss you secure one boat at Caussie as well as the burgh boats. The signall he makes will be all sails furled, except his main topsaile ; and the boats you order to him are to lower their saile when within muskett shott, and then hoise it again : this, least he should be surprised with catch-poles. He is to write you before he sails from Bordeaux, per Elgin post." . . . SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 65 When the cliief magistrate countenanced such pro- ceedings, we cannot blame the '' Vintner : " — " 21th Ajjrile 1716. " Alexr. Erskine, Collector of the Customs att In- verness, protests against Archbald Dunbar of Thun- derton, Provost of Elgine, ffor all damage and loss that has happened to seven hogsheads of rede wine, imbezled without payment of duty, and seized by Alexr. Cummine, tydsurveyor att Inverness, in the sellar of William Crombie, vintner in Elgine, one of the keys of the said seUar being in custody of the said Archbald Dunbar, and delivered to him by Alexr. Cummine fforesaid, which key he refused to me, the said Alexr. Erskine, on the 26 th att night, and next morning the hanging lock of the said seUar of which the said collector had the key, was brock off, and the other lock of which Thunderton had the key was intire and close lockt up, which he himself opened, and upon tapping, the fforesaid seven casks was found with nothing in them but water, a little coUoured with wine, whereas they were all left by the fforsaid Alexr. Cummine ffuU of good and sufficient rede wine upon his delivering up the key to the said Archbald Dunbar, and thereffor protests that he shall be lyable in the ffiill value of the fforsaid seven hogsheads of rede wine, conforme to eighteen pound per hogshead ; and also protests against the fforsaid William Crombie, E 66 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. vintner, fFor the value of said wine being imbezled by bim and taken in without paying the duty, and also carried out of his said sellar and the cask ffilled up with water. Alexr. Erskine." " Alexr. Erskine, Collector of the Customs att In- verness, protests against Archbald Dunbar of Thunder- ton, Provost of Elgine, and Justice of the Peac of the County of Murray, ffor refusing to me a warrant to search such houses, kilns, barns, &c., of the town of Elgine and adjacent places in that countie, and refus- ing to giv me a constable to goe along with me to search ifor wine imbezled out of the sellar of AVilham Crombie, vintner in Elgine, and other uncostomed goods, confforme to a write of assistance produced to him. Alexr. Erskine." Charles Eyre, Esq., Solicitor for H.M. Customs in Scotland, took the matter up, but as he was fond of good wine, it was agreeably settled by Ludovic Brodie, W.S., who writes thus : — "... Your affair with the Exchequer has bein advysed, and the bills are ordered to be re-dely vered, you peaying the officiers' costs who seized the wynes. Now the costs to them, according to the rules of Court, will be but about three or four guineas, besyde SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 67 what may be claimed for information getting, as to whicli Mr Erskin seems not to demand anything for himself ; but to referr himself to your discretion. . . . This matter has stood the most drinking (and also some considerable charges) that ever I drunk in any other, for tho Eyre be a gentlemanie prettie litle fellow, yet he drinks lyke a d — 1, and I have had many sore heads with him. . . . Wy soman will not deny but I desyred him to cause buy or make such a brydle as would please you : if you do not plague him with your tongue, you are in wrong to yourself and me, for he would not loose ane hour s drinking for all the bussieness in the world." In November 1744, William Gordon, Master of the ship " Betty/' belonging to Portsoy, ran a cargo of wine, brandy, tobacco, etc., into the harbour of Spey, and from thence sent boats which landed part at various places along the Moray Firth. The Commis- sioners of Customs ordered a precognition to be taken by the local Justices, and a report to be sent to them. The majority of the Justices, however, said they could not legally compel parties to depone by way of pre- cognition, especially when they refused to say any- thing in a matter which might eventually be brought against them. At an adjourned meeting of the 68 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEU DAYS. Justices, held at Elgin on 13tli January 1745, the chairman read the following letter from Duncan Forbes, Lord President of the Court of Session : — " Deah Sik, — The Christmas holy-days, which have emptied the town, and adjourned the Board of Cus- toms, have prevented my being able to write you on the subject of your smuggling, as I once thought I should ; but lest what I may write upon consultation with others should come too late for your meeting on the 15th inst, I have taken the part in the mean time of dropping you this line. " I have not been more surprized for a great while, than when I heard that a majority of Justices, at your last meeting, putt off the precognition on a doubt whether they lawfully could take information from the witnesses upon oath, and thereby, however inno- cent their intentions were, flung some cold water at least upon the inquiry. " As to the doubt itself, I confess I am at a loss to guess on what it is founded ; precognitions have at aU times been taken on oath in Scotland, and hence the established practice in the Court of Justiciary, of can- celling, at the trial, the oath formerly emitted on the precognition, before the witness emit his deposition in Court, if he desire it. No occult crime, however dangerous to the common weal, or to the Crown, could be detected or punished, if witnesses w^ere in SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 69 the least backward, without a power, in those whose duty it is to enquire, to examine upon oath. And if the practice of England is enquired into, no Justice can commit, as they may in Scotland, upon a signed information only. The Justice must examine the informant upon oath before he can issue his warrant, so that, as I apprehend the scruple is without any just foundation, I doubt not at your next meeting, after gentlemen have had time to inform themselves duely, it will evanish. " I cannot suffer myself to suspect that, considering the notoriety of the mischief that smuggling does to this poor unhappy country, and the forwardness lately shown, by all ranks of men, to express their detesta- tion of it, and to bind themselves to one another and to the publick, by resolutions and engagements of honour, to discourage that villanious tralfick, any gentleman or number of gentlemen, will in broad day light, and in an open Court (whatever their connec- tion with, or tenderness for the unhappy smuggler be), be so impudently profligate as to attempt to screen the cut throats of their country, and thereby expose themselves to the universal contempt and abhorrence of mankind. Such an attempt requires more than an ordinary degree of courage and wickedness ; tlie guilty person cannot hope to remain unknown, the Minutes of the Court must record his infamy, nor is it to be expected by him that the character, which by 70 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. sucli practices he may purchase, shall remain confined to his own country : the common post can, by an Extract of the Minutes, convey his fame to Edin- burgh, from whence it may be communicated to the whole kingdom. " Now tho', for these reasons, I hope you will be unanimous at your next meeting, yet, if contrary to my expectations, and very much against my wish, the smugglers should find protection, and the national justice, as well as interest, should be defeated, I hope you will be so good as to transmit the Minutes, dis- tinguishing how eacli Justice voted, that, besides fur- nishing me as a private gentleman with information who I ought to detest and avoid as a scoundrell, I may be able to inform my fellow-subjects, as far as that may be done within the laws, whom they ought to look upon as enemies to their country. Other rebukes they may possibly meet with, but it is not necessary to speak of that at present. I write, you see, with great freedom, as I am very much in earnest ; but what I have said are the dictates of my heart, and you are at full Hberty to make what use you please of what I have wrote. This mean, shameful course to destruction must be prevented, or our unhappy country must be undone. Make my compliments to every one who can lay his hand on his heart and say he does not deserve the title of Kascal, and believe me to be, &c., Dun. Forbes.'' XII. THE FAMILIES OF BUEGIE AND OF GEANGE. Egbert Dunbar sold the estate of Burgie, about the year 1660, to his cousin, Thomas Dunbar of Grange, in whose family it continued until the death, in 1827, of his descendant and male representative, Lewis Dunbar Brodie. Although he had parted with the estate, Eobert still retained the designation " of Burgie," which was also assumed by his descendants, who, on subsequently acquiring property near Elgin, made the Dean's manse, now North College, their chief seat. The last so designated Laird of Burgie, John Dunbar, got into difficulties, sold his estates, which we have shown were in the vicinity of Elgin, and is supposed to have emigrated about 1756 to Carolina, where his brother Eobert had previously settled. These particulars are given, because, on a compe- tition by claimants for the estate of Burgie, in 1827, time and money were wasted by persons who did not attend to the fact, that the later proprietors of that estate were not the '' Dunbars of Burgie," but the " Dunbars of Grange." 72 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. The Earl of Moray's letter had the desired effect. The King's authority was vindicated by the expulsion of " young Burgie." " For the Eight Honorable my Lord Chancellor, and remanent Lords of his Majesties most honorable Privle Counsell : " Castle Stewart, l^th May, 1668. " Eight Honorable, — I am treuly sory that ther should such a necessity ly upon me as to give your Lordship notice of any rude and illegal disorders falling out in the place of my residence ; but that your Lordship in your wisedome may both punish and redress this and obviat the lyke, I find myself oblidged to give your Lordship ane accompt of what has past upon some civil transactions betwixt the Lairds of Grange and Burgy. Burgy did give Grange possession of his hous and estate, and did dispone the same unto him for very onerous causes ; and whilst Grange, his wife, and family were settled and hving in the hous of Burgy, young Burgy did, on the six- teenth day of May inst., with armed men, enter the hous, and eject Grange, his servants and family, and possess himself of the hous, plenishing, trunks, papers, and whatever was in the hous, and plants a garrisone in it. Upon notice whereof I wrot to the actor by a messenger, and required him in the King's Majesties name, and your Lordship's, to disband these armed men, and retire himself, repossess Grange to the hous SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 73 and goods which he had wrongfully invaded ; but instead of yielding, he did with great contumacy re- fuse either to render the hous or restore the goods, as the letters and instruments thereupon will make appear to your Lordship. Upon which high contempt and violation of his Majesty's laws and peace of the kingdom I could not be silent, but give your Lord- ship an accompt theirof, that you may in your justice vindicate the King's authority and laws from such barbarous contempt, and tak some speedy and sum- mare way to reduce and punish this insolency, to the terror of others, and encouragement of his Majes- ties good subjects, who place ther safety from violence in the shaddow of his Majesties laws and G-overment. The partie grieved will apply himself to your Lord- ship for redress, whose just cause and the peace of the countrey I crave leave to present to your Lordship's favour ; and that his Majesties service may prosper in your hands is the constant desyre of, Eight Honorable, your most humble servant, Morray." " These are to empower macers of the Justice Court, or messengers of arms, or town officers, within the town of Edinburgh, to apprehend the persons of Kobert Dunbar of Burgie, elder, and of Alex. Petrie, and to require all Magistrates to concurre with them, 74 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. and to seize the saids persons till they find caution to appeare when they shall be cited, and that they shall demean themselves in the interval peaceablie. Given at Edinburgh the sixteenth day of June sixteen hun- dred thrie score eio^ht. Eothes, Chancellor.'' " I, Sir Charles Araskine of Cambo, Knight Baronet, Lyon KiDg at Amies, Wheras be ane act of the Privie Counsell, dated the eighteinth day of June instant, given in favours of Thomas Dunbar of Grainge against Eobert Dunbars elder and younger of Burgie and their complices, wherupon letters ar raised direct to me, you, and our remanent brethren heraulds, to pass with ane coat of armes displayed and sound of trumpet, and in our Soveraigne Lord's name and authoritie to charge the said Eobert Dunbar, younger of Burgie,^ and his complices speciallie named in the said act, to compear beforr the Lords of Privie Coun- sell upon the threttie day of July next to come, for the causses at length contained in the said act and ^ In tracing tlie history of north, country families, it were "weU to bear in mind that the designation of an estate added to a person's name, does not necessarily prove the ownership of such estate ; of this we could give numerous examples, let one, however, suffice. Archibald Dunbar sold the lands of Thunderton, in Aberdeenshire, in 1712, to Charles Gordon of Buthlaw, yet during the remainder of his life, he (Archibald) was designed "of Thunderton;" and his successors in the estate of Duffus, though never possessed of an acre of the Thunderton estate, were for upwards of a century commonly so designated. SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 75 letters : These ar therforr ordaineing you, Herome Spence, Kothsay Herauld, with ane trumpeter in your companie, conform to the tenor of the said act and letters, to cite and charge the said Eobert Dunbar, younger of Burgie, and his complices, and to do all other things requisit and necessar prescrybed be the said act and letters, conform to the tenor of the samen, and this my order and warrant to you for that effect in all points. Given under my hand at Edinburgh the tuentie third day of July 1668, and sealled with my seaP of office. " Char. Askine, Lyon!' The Laird of Burgie's License, 1665. " We, AVilliam Lord Bellenden of Broughton, Lord Thesourer Deputt of the Kingdom of Scotland, dooth hearby give libertie and lisence to Eobert Dumbear of Burgie, and all such as ar of his family, or shall accom- pany him att table, to eatt flesh in this forbidden tym of Lent, and on all other forbidden dayes, till Lent nixt, in the yeir 1666, without any trouble or penaltie to be incurred be him or them for the samyen, notwithstanding of any Acts made, or to be made, in the contrary. Dated Edinburgh the 20th daye of Febuary. Bellenden." ^ A copy of this seal will be found in Mr. Laing's Catalogue of Scottish Seals, about to issue from the press. 76 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. The widow of Eoss of Pitcalnie was proud of her descent from the house of Burgie. '• To Alex. Dunbar, Esq. " EDii^BUUGH, 20th July, 176L "Sir, — In answer to yours of the 13th, threatening me with caption, I can only repeat what I wrote when you acquainted me in yours of the 4th, that you was obliged to raise horning on my bill. Therefore I re- fer to what I then TSTote, and shall only add that your father may put his caption in execution against me. I can go to prison ; the affront won't be mine, and before I come out, the Fifteen Lords shall know the merits of the cause that laid Burgie's daughter and Pitcalnie's widow in such quarters. " Not in the least finding fault with yom^ conduct, which I verily beheve is much against your inclina- tion, I am, dear Sir, your affectionate cousin, and very humble servant, Naomi Ross." XIII. AN EXTEAYAGANT AND UNDUTIFUL WIFE. Inhibition proclaimed at the market-crosses of Elgin and Forres : — " Charles, be the Grace of God, King of Great Brittane, ffrance, and Irland, Defendar of the faith, to our Lovits, Messingers, our Shrefs in that pairt, conjunctlie and severalie specialie constitute, greiting. fforsnameikle as it is humblie meined and shown to us be our lovit James Dunbar of Inshbrok, that where Katharine M'Kenzie, his spous, having casten off the fear of God and that conjugall respect and reverence that she owes to the said complainer, her lawfuU husband ; and having betaken hirselfe to the councill and ad- vyce of certain evill disposed and ungodlie persones, who haunts with hir, she daylie spends, abuses, and waists, the said complainer his substance with the said persones ; and contracts and takes on debts and sowmes of money, which the said complainer is alto- gither unable to pay ; and makes, blocks, and bargains for merchand weir ; sels and hypothecats his houshold plenishing, inshight goods and geir ; and ther are some persones who furnish hir with merchand wair, aill, 78 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. wine, bread, baken meats, and lend hir money, wliicli the said complainer is altogitlier unable to pay, and whilk will tend to the mine of him, his wife, and children, and the litle fortune whilk it has pleased God to bestow upon him, without remeid be provyded. as is alledged. Our will is theirfor, and we charge you straithe and comand that, incontinent thir our letters seen, ye pass, and in our name and authoritie, inhibite and discharge the said Katherine M'Kenzie, the said com- pliner his spous, that she on nawayes sell, analyie, dispone, hypothecat, nor put away any of his said houshold plenishing, goods, geir, inshight, abulzie- ments, nor others pertaining to him ; nor yet contract nor ontake debts, sowmes of money for merchand wair, wine, aill, bread, baiken meats, or others, where- by the said complainer may be driven in debt or compelled to pay the same ; nor yet contract, block, nor bargin with any persone for that effect ; and sicklyke, that ye, in our said name and authoritie, inhibite and discharge all and sundrie, our leidges and all others whom it effeirs, be open proclimation at the mercat croses of our burghs of Elgin and Forres, and other places neidfuU, within this our kingdome, that they, nor none of them presume, nor take upon hand, to take or receave, be dispositione or hypothecatione, nor pledge, fra the said Katharine M'Kenzie, any of the said complainer's houshold plen- SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 79 ishing, goods, geir, insliight, abulziements, or others pertaining and belonging to him ; nor yet lend to hir sowmes of money upon band, ticket, acompt, or other way es ; nor yet furnish to hir merchand wair, wine, aill, aquavitse, brandie, baiken meat, nor other hquors, whereby the said complainer may be driven in debt ; nor yet contract, l^lock, nor bargin with hir, any maner of way, to the said complainer his pre- judice : certifieiug them, and ilk of them that failzies and does in the contrair, the samen shall be decerned to be null and of no availl. And the said complainer shall not be holdin to pay any debts, sowmes of money, or others, furnished to his said spous, eftir the publicatione of thir presents conform to the lawes and practiqe of this kingdome in all points. And that ye cause registrat thir our letters, with the exe- cution therof, within fourtie dayes nixt eftir the execution of the samen, conform to the act of parlia- ment, according to justice, as ye will answear to us therupon : the whilk to do we committ to you, conjunctlie and severalie, our full power be thir our letters, delyvering them be you, duelie execute and indorsit again to the bearer. Given under our signet, at Edinburgh the third day of September, and of our reigne the threttie fift yeir, 1683. " Ex deliberatione dominorum Concilij. " And : Young.*" XIV. OFFICE OF HERITABLE SHERIFF OF MORAY. Sir Alexander Dunbar of Westfield was, about the year 1446, created Heritable Sheriff of Moray, and the office continued ^Yith the descendants of his eldest son, who either acted themselves or by depute, for nearly three hundred years. Order to the Sheriff regarding the County Mem- ber : — " To The High Sheriff of the SMre of Elgin, " Free. " From the House of Commons, ''the22dofMay 1721. " Sir, — I am commanded by the House of Commons to acquaint you that you are immediately, upon re- ceipt of this, to summon the Representative of your Shire to attend his service in ParHament on Monday the ffifth day of June next, and you are to give me an account of the receipt of this, and what you have done thereupon, upon pain of incurring the displeasure of the said House. — I am. Sir, your humble servant, " Sp : CoMPTON, Speaker!' SOCIAL LIFE IN FOE^fEK DAYS. 81 Even the ducal house of Gordon paid deference to the Sheriff of Moray. Thomas Miller had been assaulted by dependants of the Duke, who wished to settle the matter in his own Eegality Court. The delinquents were, however, seized and imprisoned by the Sheriff:— " Mr. James ffRASER, Sriff-Clrk. of " Elgine and fforres, ^' Elgine. " Gordon Castle, 2Sd June, 1720. " Sir, — The Sheriffs of Murray have always observed a strict decorum and a neighbourly way with the Duke of Gordon, with reguaird to his and their juris- dictions, which is cumulative. The present Duke, my master, will cultivat frindshyp and good correspond- ence with the present Sheriff of Murray, not doubting but he will receive just returns. "A little, fantastick, nonsolvent, and troublesome animal, Thomas Miller, no weaver, no prentise, no inhabitant, yet maliciously takes upon him to raise vexatious processes against some of my master's ser- vants : I humbly expect my Lord Sheriff will deal tenderly in this matter. I dare not pre-limit his judg- ment, but I say to you that the matter pursued ought to be remitted to the judge ordinary of the place. — I am your most humble servant, " Alexe. Abeecromby." 82 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER, DAYS. Ludovic Dunbar of Westfielcl, in 1724, being in reduced circumstances, sold the jurisdiction for two thousand pounds to the Earl of Moray. Against this sale Thomas Dunbar, D.D., Vicar of Little Bustead, Essex, the nearest heir-male, had entered an inhibi- tion, but it was found that " Westfield," the seller, was " absolute ffiar, and under no prohibitory, irritant, or resolutive clauses, by the rights and infeftments of the estate and office, to bar him from selling." To his kinsmen in Moray, who wished him to redeem the property and to prevent a sale, Thomas Dunbar sent an answer which proves that he could feel, act, and write like a scholar and a gentleman : — " LoNDO]sr, July 2^, 1723. " Gentlemen, — I received your favour of the 2 0th of May, by the hands of the Right Honble. the Lord Lovat, for whose generous condescention and kind concern and endeavours I have the greatest defference and regard, But as to the subject matter of your letter, (not to trouble you mth the unkind treatment I mett with from those of your name I had the hotmor to be presented to, and particularly from the present Shereff's father when I was in that countrey,) I must beg leave to enquire what power the late Sheriffe James, or his brother, had to lay so great a burthen of debts, as you mention, upon an entailed estate ; and who they were that encouraged, countenanced, or con- nived att their so doin^ ; for I have seen an instru- SOCIAL LIFE IX FORMER DAYS. 83 ment of resignation by which their father, Alexr. Dunbar of Westfield, seems to limite that estate, and the inheritance of it, to his heirs male, and for each of such to his heirs female, with certain conditions and restrictions, as the kind bearer hereof \^11 inform you more at large. Now, if your law, (to which I am pretty much a stranger,) notwithstanding such entail, leaves it in the power of every prodigal or extravagant heir to confound an estate which has been so long in a family, and descended to him in a regular line of succession, surely this can be no inducement to any tollerrably discreet person to improve or augment, but much less to redeem such an estate. But this you seem to have intirely given up, or to acquiesse in, and I doe confess it is not now my business, but the pre- sent SherifFe's, to consider, and I wish it may long be so. Tho' if it should be my fate to survive, which I by no means desire, the purchasers must expect to be called to account. But that the office should be liable to the same fate, is so prodigiously shocking that I hardly know how to declare myself upon that head with any toUerable temper and decency {ohstupui, steterwitque comce, et vox faucihus liwsit)} That it should be in the power of any one sherifFe, without the consent of heires presumptive or in reversion, to dispose of, or allienate, an office which, in all the in- 1 " I was amazed, and my hair stood on end, and my voice clung to my jaws." 84 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. struments I have seen, and by what I have heard, was ever called and esteemed hereditary. The argument you are pleased to make use of, in justification of so rash and bold an attempt, is that without the sale of this valuable branch of the Sheriffe's inheritance, his family must want subsistence. But I pray, gentle- men, give me leave to aske how his family would have been subsisted if his predecessor had lived. And can you thinke it reasonable, that I (who am threat- ened to be excluded, disinherited, and finally cut off, from a reversion to which, in my turn, I am entitled by birth, by blood, and by all the laws of God, of nature, and I hope of my countrey) should straiten myselfe or lessen that small fortune, which, by the blessing of God, I owe entirely to my own industry and application, to the afiiuence of a person who has so shamefully prostituted all the rules of honour and justice ? That I have a due regard to the character and dignity of that ancient family, you will observe by the steps and measures I have taken, and (by God's permission) am steadfastly purposed to maintain, and pursue at the expence of all I am worth, even to the dernier resort^ and therefore, caveat emptor.^ " And now, gentlemen, though I have expressed my- selfe with some warmth in an affair which not only affects me, but yourselves, and, as you justly observe, ought to have very great weight with all that bear the 1 The last resort. 2 Let the purchaser beware. SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 85 name of Dunbar, or that have the remotest connection with it; yet I doe most sincerely acknowledge your goodness, in the kind concern you express for the support of an ancient family, and all the honour you have done me in this application. I pray God have you all in his good care and protection, and am, with greatest regard and esteem, your affectionate kinsman and most obedient humble servant, " Tho. Dunbar. " I had once some thoughts of giving my selfe the pleasure of visiting my native country this summer ; but the loss of my dear and only brother, and the difficulties I have been involved in on that account, render such an absence impracticable att present. But if it should please God to spare my life and health another year, I will not despair of that satisfac- tion, nor of an opportunity of waiting upon you att your several seats, and making a personal acknow- ledgement of this favour and condescention.'' It is remarkable that of the Westfield family, which for centuries was of great importance, there should be difficulty in finding out the heir-male. The Vicar of Little Bustead predeceased Ludovic Dunbar, whose death and succession are thus alluded to in letters 86 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. from Ludovic Brodie, W.S., to William King of Ne^Y- miln, Elgin : — " Edinburgh, 25 Aprlle 1744. " I return you many thanks for your early intelli- gence of tliat unhappy and melancholy accident which terminated the life of poor Dunbar of Westfield. I should be glad to know whether he hath left, signed by him, any deed of settlement of his estate in favours of the Lady Hemprigs, nearest heir of line, for other- wise I am afraid, as it is provided to heirs male what- soever, it may be difficult to find them out ; and if they are found out, that Lady, who is the heir of line, may be in a great measure cut off*.'^ " Edinburgh, oth May 1744. " I see by a letter from Sir WilHam Dunbar of Hemprigs to Baillie George Dunbar, merchant here, that he hath found among Westfields papers a dispo- sition of his estate in favours of Sir William's Lady, daughter to Alexander Dunbar of Westfield, which will prevent disputes about the succession." XV. TEANSPOET OF A PEISONEE, AND JAIL OF INVEENESS. Country people, such as farmers and their servants, had to act as guards in the transport of prisoners. The unhappy woman was accused of child-murder : — " A Hst of the guard for conveying the person of Jean Mill from the Tolbooth of Elgin to Nairn, to be delivered over to the Sheriff of Nairn there, in terms of the principall warrand from the Lords of Justiciary herewith sent :■ — " Alexr. M'Kimmie, in Overtown, g. John Allan there, coh. George Ogilvie in Houme, g. John Cook in Barnhill, g. 5 Thomas Murdoch in Westhill, g. Alexr. Murdoch in Achthiyre, ah. Duncan Grant in Green of Manbean, g. Alexr. Grant in Coxtown, g. James Gallan in Insharnach, g. 1 Andrew Couban in Mostowie, g. George Kynnoch in Inerlochty, g. John Allan in Mostowie, g. William Murdoch in Crossley, g. James Brander, elder in Lliltown, g. 88 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 1 5 James Brander, younger there, g. George Imlach there, or Ms servant, g. James Sim in Miltown, g. Alexr. Gilzean in Inverlochty, g. John Skeen, there, g. 20 John Eobb, there, g. James Douglas, there, or a servant, g. Alexander Glass in the Coledge of Elgin, g, " These are warranting Alexander Pitriken, officer, to summond the above persons to compear before the Shirriff of Murray, his deputes or substitutes, within the Tolbooth of Elgin, upon Thursday next, the twenty-fifth of Aprile instant, at nine o'clock in the morning, to carry and convey the person of Jean Miln, presently prisoner in the Tolbooth of Elgin, from the said Tolbooth to the town of Nairn, to be delivered to the Shirriff of the shire of Nairn, and from thence to be carried by a party from the said shire to the Shirriff of Inverness, to be incarcerated within the Tolbooth of Inverness untill the tryall of the said Jean Miln before the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary at their Circuit, the first of May next, con- forme to the warrand directed to me, Shirriff-Depute of this shire of Elgin and fforres : And I hereby nominate and apoint the said John Grant to be Cap- tain of this Guard, and each person to appear, under the penalty of tAventy punds Scots money. Given at Elgin the twenty- third day of Aprile 1745 years. " Will. King." SOCIAL LIFE m FORMER DAYS. 89 "Elgin, 25 Aprile 1745. — The Sheriff -Depute fines and amerciates John Allan and Alexander Murdoch, two absents, marked in the within list, in the sum contained in the within warrant, each of them payable to the ffiscal of Court. " Will. King." " Nairn, 2Qth Aiorile 1745. — Then received by me, Sherriff Deput of Nairn Shire, the person of therein named Jean Mill, in order to be transported to Inver- ness, as the Lords' warrand under mentioned directs, together with the said Act and warrand it self, and that from Alexander Grant, Captain, appointed by the Sheriff of Elgin and fforres, for commanding the party that brought her, the said Jean Mill, here. " Da. Cumyng.'^ The Court-house and the " holes'' in which pri- soners were incarcerated at Inverness, were truly dis- graceful : — " Inverness, \1th March, 1786. " Memorial for the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of Inverness, for themselves and the community, to the Heritors and Commissioners of Supply, and Magistrates of Burghs, in the Counties of Inverness, Ross, Moray, Sutherland, 90 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. Caithness, Nairn, Cromarty, Orkney, and Zet- land : " Sheweth, " That the Oircuit Court of. Justiciary for the northern district, comprehending the above-mentioned counties, has been invariably held at Inverness. " That the present court-house, which is very antient, having been built only for the town and county, is very inadequate to the proper accommoda- tion of the Lords of Justiciary and other members of the court, the sheriffs, and the number of gentlemen who are called upon to attend as assizers. " That the jail, which is adjoining to the court- house, consists only of two small cells for criminals, and one miserable room for civil debtors, and is often so crowded with prisoners from the different counties as to render their situation truly deplorable ; to give some idea of which it is only necessary to mention that there are at present, and generally, about thirty persons confined in these holes, none of which is above thirteen feet square. " That the court-house and jail are now so much decayed as to render it necessary immediately to repair or rebuild them. " That the memorialists have long anxiously wished to rebuild them on an enlarged plan, so as to afford ample accommodation for the Circuit Court, and to !i SOCEAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 91 soften the rigour of confinement to unfortunate pri- soners, by removing the necessity of having them so crowded together as they are at present. " That with this view they have lately purchased, at a considerable expense, a piece of ground, adjoin- ing to the present jail, fully equal to the purpose, and have procured a proper plan and estimates to be made. " That the sum necessary for carrying their plan into execution will be about fifteen hundred pounds sterling, which they are utterly unable to advance from the funds of the community over which they preside, and must, of course, abandon the idea, unless liberally assisted by the different counties and burghs connected with the Northern Circuit, and who are so very materially interested in promoting this necessary work. " The memorialists, therefore, relying on the public spirit, generosity, and humanity of the gentlemen of the northern counties and burghs, do now call upon them for liberal aid towards erecting a Court-house, in which their accommodation as assizers will be a principal object, and providing for such criminals as they may send for trial : a prison decent and secure will be particularly attended to. " The memorialists, while soliciting the assistance of others, think it incumbent on them to declare the extent to which they will go for carrying this useful 92 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEE DAYS. work into execution, and they have resolved on Jive hundred pounds sterling, being a sum equal to the utmost stretch of their ability as a community. If, then, contrary to their hopes, the present application should fail of success, they claim that the want of accommodation in their Court-house, or smallness of their jail, may never be charged against them in future. " Signed by appointment of the Magistrates and Council, " William Macintosh, ProvosC XVI. COUNTEY MATTEES. Befoee the general introduction of coal into Moray, so necessary was a supply of peat, that it almost in- variably formed an item in the rent of farms. " nth July, 1732. " Wee, John Watson, William Gilzean, and John Laing, all tennents in Ardgy, do hereby certify and declare that sixty loads of peats or therby (when filled by our own servants, and lede by our own horses), was usually applyed for makeing up a leet of peats, fourteen foots square, carried up seven foots high, and rooffed in to fourteen foot from top to bottom ; and, accordingly, wee the declarants, and the other tennents of Ardgy, were in use to cast, winn, lead, and stack, for behoof of the heretors of the lands and barronie of Duffus, upon their and our proper charges and expences, certain leets of peats, conform to our re- spectif possessions at the dimentions above-writen, and that yearly ; and failzieing of the saids peats, we paid ten pounds Scots money for each leet. '' I. W. William Gilzean. John Laing." 94 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. From Sir Harie Innes, Convener of the County : — " To xIrchibald Dunbar, Esq., " of Newton, at Duifus. "Elgin, Fehrij. 2\st, 1747. " Sir, — Provost DufF wrote me this morning com- plaining of the distress the inhabitants of this town, and military, are reduced to for want of peats being brought to town : that the soldiers must be supplied some how or other is without doubt, and to do with- out ground of complaint there is a necessity of a meeting of the Justices of Peace. I wrote Sir Eobert Gordon to this purpose, and if Monday will suit both your conveniences, you will be expected that day to concert what is proper to be done. I am. Sir, your most humble servant, Harie Innes." Many estates, and even royal burghs, were, to a recent date, 'Hhirled'^ to particular mills, — that is, the tenants and inhabitants were obliged to send their grain to the established mill of the barony or burgh, to be ground, and to pay a proportion of it as ^' multure." The town of Elgin was " thirled" to " Oldmilns," which had formerly belonged to the Prior of Pluscardine. Greyfriars was the seat of Mr. King of Newmiln ; it is now within the Parlia- mentary bounds of Elgin. SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 95 " Archbald Dunbar, Esquire, " of Newtoun, Duffus. " Grayffriars, near Elgin, 30 Decer. 1736. " Sir, — I liad your's this day, mquireing me anent what multure I payed att Oldmilns. ffor answer, know that I am not thirled to that miln, or doe I live, or have I any land within the thirlage ; but being informed that they ground wheat better att the Oldmilns than att my own miln, I sent my servant, the last year, with two boles of wheat to the Old- milns, and after he returned I asked him what multure they had taken from him. He told me a peck out of each bole, and that they would take noe less, although he scrupled the giveing it. And when John Naughtie, one of the millers, came asking me ten shileing Scots for each bole of the wheat I had ground att the Old- milns, as the millers wages, which I payed him, and quarrelled him for taking so much multure, and so much money from me that was out sucken, and noe wayes bound to them, he told me they made noe dis- tinction, but tooke the same multure from evrie one that came to them whither out or insucken ; upon which I told him that I should take care of ever grind- ino; afterwards att their miln — which is all I know of their multures, and am yours W. King." Just as poultry now belongs to the lady's depart- ment in the management of a country house, so in 96 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. former days did the breeding and rearing of young horses. Honi soit qui mat y pense. " To Arceiibald Dunbak, " of Newton, Esquire, at DufFes. " Arndilly, 17 th June 1756, " Dear Sir, — You may think I have been ungrate, as I have not thanked you before this time, for the use of your fine stalion to one of my chaise mares last year, and that you was at so great trouble as to keep the mare and servant for some days. That mare has this year a pretty stood fole from your horse. I cannot at present tell how I can return so great a favour, but when it falls in my husband^s power or mine, our inclination is great, and the im- plopng us will be a compliment. I would gladly have a pair of horses from your fine horse, therefore I have ventured to send my other mare to be served by him, if you will be so good as to grant me this second favour. My husband is pretty much reco- vered. I am heartily sorry I did not see the young gentlemen as they went to Edinburgh. My husband and I present you. Lady Newtown, and all the young family with our deutie, and intreats you will allow me the honour to be, dear Sir, your most affectionate cousin and obedient humble servant, " Jean Grantt.'' '' P,S. — We was made happy by Mr. Cohan's in- SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAY8. 97 formation that your lady designs to see us at Arndilly this summer. Tam intends you a visite, in a week or two, that she may deliver the Cairngorm stone she promised/' The wages of servants, as given in a document dated 1760. " Eegulations of Fees for Servants in the county of Bamif :— £ .s. d That the best man servant who drags the ware, and is capable to big and sow corns, shall have 27 That the second man servant who fills the side of the ware horse, threshes the side of the barn, lays on loads, and is a good hook in harvest, shall have 25 That the third man who likewise fills the ware horse, is capable to thresh the side of the barn, and can shear in harvest, shall have . . 20 That the first best man servant where there are no waring, who can big the corns, and hold the plough, shall have . . . . . 23 That the second man servant who works the horse, and holds the horse plough, shall have . 19 4 That the third man servant who drives the plough, shears in hervest, and threshes in the barn, shall have . . . ' . . .13 6 8 That the best woman servant who can beke, brew, and miln, shall have . . . .12 That the second woman servant who is capable to shear in hervest, but otherwise not so cap - able, shall have 10 16 10 4 6 5 4 10 98 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. That the best man hook who can big and bind corns, shall have ...... That the second sort of men hooks shall have That the best woma.n hook, who stays out the harvest, shall have ..... That the second sort of woman hooks shall have That hirds according to their charge shall have from £6 to £1, 10s. every half-year. "And which respective fees are declared to be in satisfaction to men and women servants, of aU that can be asked or given to them for their year's services above inscribed, in name of fees, shoes, or any other bounties whatever ; and where the master gives, or where the servant receives, any higher or greater fees, under any pretence whatsoever, such feeing shall not only be void, but the master and servant who shall contraveen the premesses be fined therefor." The moral Grieve got, when at Kilcoy, "^ve pounds in money, twenty shillings for shoes, eight bolls of meal, and a cow's grass annually : " — " Wee, the Justices of the Peace hereto subscribing, do certify and declare, that the bearer hereof, George Calder, from the county of Aberdeen, served Lady Kilcowie in station of a grieve, behaved himself hon- estly and moraly for the course of ffive years in her t SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEK DAYS. , 99 service, and may be received into any Christian society ; and the same is attested by us, two of the Justices of Peace of the county of Eoss, and united parishes of Suddie and Kilmuir Wester, where the said George Calder resided for the time above mentioned. At Allangrange, this 1st of June 1767, " EoD. Mackenzie, J.P. Geo. Mackenzie, J.P" The certificate by the Minister of Langbryde is of recent date, but too amusing to be omitted : — " To aU his Majesty's loving subjects who can feel for a feUow-sinner in distress, I beg to certify that the bearer, W. J , is the son of my old bellman, a man well known in this neighbourhood for his honest poverty and excessive sloth, and the son has inherited a full share of the father's poverty and a double por- tion of his indolence. I cannot say that the bearer has many active virtues to boast of; but he is not altogether unmindful of scriptural injunctions, having striven, and with no small success, to 'replenisli the earth,' though he has done but little to subdue the same. It was his misfortune to lose his cow lately, from too little care and too much berc chaff; and that walkino; skeleton, which he calls his 'horse,' liaving 100 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEE DAYS. ceased to 'tear the oppressor's voice, or dread the tyrants load,' the poor man has now no means of repairing his loss but the skins of the defunct and the generosity of a benevolent pubHc, whom he expects to be stimulated to greater liberality by this testi- monial from- theirs, with respect, &c., " Will. Leslie." I XVII. EDINBUEGH GOSSIP. John Sutherland was the Edinburgh agent of the gentleman to whom he wrote :— " Archibald Dunbar, Esqr., of Newton, '• at Duffus. "Edinburgh, Id Fehy. 1749. " Dear Sir, — I hope you receive your news papers safe. Eeceive enclosed this weeks three Mercuries. " There is nothing here new, only a very comical piece of humour, said to be done by the Duke of Mon- tague. It was advertised in London that a man was to go into a chopin bottle and there play on the fiddle ! — a curious piece of necromancy, you will say ; but lo ! when a numerous cloud of spectators are convened, at half-a-crown each ticket, a man appears on the stage, and, addressing himself to the audience, says, ' If you will but double the above sum, the man will appear in a pint (that is a mutchkin) bottle ; ' upon which they discovered the trick : among the rest the Duke of Cumberland, who in a furious passion drew his sword, which was presented by the Queen of Hungary, 102 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. valued at ten thousand pounds, and Montague alone took tlie deceiver's part, but yet he was not able to withstand the fury of the spectators, who were now turned actors, and they tore and broke everything in the house and set fire to it. During the squabble the Duke's sword was thwarted out of his hand, and he, thinking it to be some of his friends, did not mind it during the fray, but upon enquiry for the sword it was gone, and now one hundred pounds premium is offered for restoring it. '' A few nights after, the same man is alleged to have, at a masquerade, employed another to go through the masquerade with a sheath and sword, and call, in a hurry, near where the Duke was, ' A fine sword ; a fine sword; who lost a fine sword?' The Duke, comming in a surprise to look at it, said, ' It was the Duke,' meaning himself, and upon looking at it, it was found to be a piece of stick in a white paper sheath. I wish you would be so friendly as to signify if such collections be troublesome or agreeable to you, and I shall continue or desist, as you please. I am, dear Sir, your much obliged and obedient servant, "John Sutheeland." Such collections being " agreeable," Mr. Sutherland was requested to continue them. We give extracts : — SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 103 " 2Zd Fehy. 1749. — We are here in a great hubbub about setthng the poors'-rates. The Merchant Com- pany have agreed to pay seven per cent., and the Faculty of Advocates have refused to assess them- selves with anjrthing, after a long debate, when it carried. No — seventy-two against five.'' ''20th Aprile 1749. — You will observe a letter in this day's paper anent a ploy which was occasioned by about thirty or forty officers jumping on the stage, when in the last part of the act King Henry says, ' Hence, let rebellion be for ever quashed.' Upon this one of the officers called to the fiddlers to play ' Cul- loden Eeel,' and then the gallery people hissed, and threw potatoes, &c., at them, which is to let you into the rise of that stir." " 1st June 1756. — The Edinburgh Banks have sent some of their directors with twenty-five thousand pounds of Glasgow notes to get specie for them, which may crack some of them." ''IZth March 1759.— The Duke and Dutchess of Douglass are, alas ! parted, through faults on both sides, as is all edged. Two very handsome fellows were this day found guilty of a robbery, and will pro- bably string, and the only defence their councill urged, it were better send them to Martinico or Guardulope than to the gallows." " ^th October 1759. — George Baillie, your cousine, married 29th September last, and from superabund- 104 SOCIAL LIFE IX FORMER DAYS. ance of complaisance set out next day with another lady for this place, where he presently is, and I had the pleasure of saluting him on the happy event this day." " Ibth Octr. 1759. — I congratulate you upon the reduction of Quebeck, and consequently the empire of North America ; but amidst our joy we are enjoined prudence and caution, for it is certain Thurot is sailed, and the Solebay Man of War says he sailed through his fleet (under French colors), consisting of six war ships and twelve transports, and Admiral Boyes with eleven ships in quest of him, steering northwards, either to the Murray (where I pray God Thurot may never come) or Pentland firths. This afternoon Boyes is anchored in Leith road, drove up by a nore-east gale, and, so soon as the wind permits, and he pro- vided with a little provisions and pilots, is to proceed on towards the north. We have expresses from Eng- land, two or three a day, and it is rumoured the Brest fleet is out. May Hawk fly and catch him/' "2c/ July 1760.— By this night's news Mineer Dutchman seems to try us in that country ; but, in the true sense of the word, they ' catched a Tartar,' for their seven ships of war are all taken, six hundred of twelve hundred are killed, the rest prisoners, and the Governor of Batavia, who sent them, acknowledges his fault, and pays, beside begging pardon, a hundred and twenty thousand pounds." XVIII. LETTEES FEOM LADIES OF EANK. IsoBELL, Countess of Seaforth, widow of Kenneth, third Earl, Avas daughter of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat, and sister of George, first Earl of Cromarty. Her Ladyship's daughter, Margaret, married James, second Lord Duffus, who, having killed William Eoss of Little Kindeace in the year 1688, fled to Eng- land, where he remained until influential friends pur- chased a remission from the Crown. The writing of the Countess is large and well formed ; that of Lady Duflus is very inferior. " For my Lord Duffus '^ They : " Chanori, 8 Ajyryll 1688. " My dear Duffus, — We are mightily afrayed of your health, and has sent this expres to conjure you to be cairfuU of yourself. As for what is done. Lord pardon you the sin of it ; but no man thinks ye could have done less, or that ye could have born with what ye met with. I pray you have a cair of yourself, and goe on to doe your business, and let us know wher or 106 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. to whom we shal derect your leters whil ye are at Court ; I tHnk to my Keny/ when ye are at London. Ye may writ to Megg with every ocation, to give her asurance of your health, which she will still be doubt- ing. We all think, and Siddy,^ who has better skill in such afairs, that after al the provocations ye met with, yet that it was in your own defence what ye did, for certinly ye had been killed if it had not fallen out as it did ; so your busines will not cost you much trubel to get it don. Be cairfull of yourself for Megg's caws and the babys. Many a man has falen in such ane accedent warse than your circumstances was, yet has bein at peace with God and all the world, and lived very happily for all that. The Lord's peace be with you, and derect you and preserve you from all ill. — I am your affectionat mother, " ISOBELL SeAFORT." " Chanori, the ISth of Apraill 1688. " Dearest Hert, — I can slip no ocation but I most wrait you, knowing you will be earnest ahvays to hear how I am, which, I blis the Lord for it, is very well, and so is all your childrin and all frinds heare ; and now it is my greatest trubill the fear of your wTong- ing your own helth, which I hop you will considir how much it wdll ofend God, and what a gref it will 1 Her son Kennetli, foiu-th Earl. _^ - Mackenzie of Suddy. SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 107 be to me, so I expek to hear good neuse from you, and writ to me ase oft as you have ocation. No mor at the taim, but that the Lord may bhs you, and direk you and protek you, is the earnest prayer of your own till death. M. Duffus. " My Lady presents hir respecs to you." Henrietta Duchess of Gordon, wife of the second Duke, was a daughter of the celebrated Earl of Peter- borough. Her Grace had sufficient influence to induce the ducal family to renounce Popery and embrace the Protestant faith. The writing of the Duchess is par- ticularly good and distinct. The lady to whom her Grace sent the following letters was then unmarried. She was daughter of the deceased Alexander Dunbar of Westfield, and she resided with her maternal uncle, Sir Thomas Calder of Muirton, Baronet : — " To Mrs. Elizabeth Dunbar at Muirton. " Gordon Castle, August the 20th, 1722. *' My deare Freind, — It being now just ten days since I had the pleasure of hearing from you, which to me is a tedious age, I send the bearer on purpose to bring me acounts of your health, and of all I have a consern for with you ; and I send you and Lady Muirton sum of the flowered painted satin which you commended in the winter, having had an occasion to 108 SOCIAL LIFE IX FORMER DAYS. Holland. I belive the thirty yards will make each a night gownd, and the tea is, I belive, a litle l)etter than the ordinary that is sold ; the imperiale will doe well to mix with the green. You will, I hope, forgive me this libertie I take in hopeing you will, without any uneasiness, except from your freind such a trifle, since I hope you are truly convinced that nothing can be so agreable to me as the hopes I have of enjoying the vast satisfaction in the most entire freindshipp that is possible for two hearts so sincere and so simpathising as, I belive and hope, ours are. *' This is all the July flowers that are as yet blown, and the very first, which I belive are the best ; but if Lady Muirton wants more, next week she may have as many as she pleases. '' I have also sent two more trajedies. There is two lady^s and one man's character in the ' Imperial Captives,* that I belive will please you ; and also I am sure the oddness of the lives of the misfortunate paire in this litle book will move your pity, as it did mine. It is a strange mixture of prodigeous love and penitence for a fault, where the strugie of our frail nature, and the glimerings of divine grace, apear in a very naturale manner ; and though it is not quite so well as in the French, yet, if you have not abeady seen it, you cannot but be entertained with it, for it is a litle out of the common method of our days, where vice hardly makes sutch a penitent end. I hope it will not be many days SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 109 before I have the pleasure of seeing you ; and belive me, where ever I am, my kindest thoughts will ever be with you, and I shall never be so well pleased as Avhen I enjoy the charming company of my dearest freind, from whoes and your aunt's aquaintance I shall ever begin the date of my satisfaction and happyness in this country. " Wishing you all the prosperity that this world can aford, I continue with the greatest esteem, my dearest, your most faithfuU and most affectionate freind and sarvant, H. Gordon. " Just now I hear Generale Sabin and the Earle of Kothes are gone back to the south, so that as soon as my Lord returns from Badenoch, I hope to see you. My kind sarvice to Lady Muirton and Sir Thomas., Henri and Betsy offer ther kind sarvice to you all." " Gordon Castle, Octbr. 9th. " My dearest Freind, ... I am glad the Art of Love pleases you ; I thought it very prety, and did not imagine a subject of that nature could have been quite so modestly expressed as to be of so good use to us ladys as it realy is. You may keep any book of mine that is in your hands as long as you please, and be asured nothing will ever be more agreable to me than to have any oportunity to contribute, any manner 110 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. of ways, to your fellicity and pleasure. I have a good many late editions, with sum additions, of sum books that may please you, particularly sum translated out of the French, which I sent for on purpose for you ; but I belive, with what you have already, and the time you are so justly to employ in the care of your good aunt, you will want no more, till we have the pleasure and happyness to meet here, and then you shaU chuce what ever pleasses you best. Since I knew you I can- not find the way to make my houres fly but in your charming dear companey, although you are always present in my kindest thoughts, which makes up the most agreable time of, my dearest, your most faithfuU and ever afifectionate freind and sarvant, " H. Gordon. " My most kind sarvice to all at Muirton. I shall shortly answer Sir Thomas's letter." " GrOicDO^ Cas.T'le, fryday noon. "My dearest Freind,— This morning I had the favour of your oblidgeing letter by which I was very sorry to hear of good Lady Muirton's loss. My two godchildren have had such badd luck that I can scars expect Lady Muirton will venture to make choice of me for a third, but if she does me that favour, I hope I shall have better fortune, since none can be better pleased to have any opportunity of SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. Ill doeing her any kind of sarvice. I was once fearing Sir Thomas's absence would oblidge Lady Muirton to goe and oversee the hering feshing, and so our camming on Teusday might be unseasonable ; but now since you expect him so soon, I hope nothiug will happen to me to deprive me of that pleasure which I long very much for. As to the mariages talked of, I belive this day, by Sir Thomas or Walter Hamilton, we shall know if there is any truth in them. I saw lately two letters from Brodie, since his return from Berwick, wherein he says his jorney there was only to make a visit to the Earle of Deloraine, but tells they had him at Edin- burgh maried one week to Mrs. Stuart of Camila, and the next, to Mrs. Slye, but adds that he was then confined to his chamber, his eye being almost as badd as when at London, and the same kind of operations to be again made, except the boreing his nose ; so I fear it will be yet a time before he enter the state of matrimony. By what he says of Sir Robert Gordon, it looks very probable his affair may succeed since it apears he is in earnest, but how farr the lady's father may be engaged will take a litle time to know, for it is possible there may in time be a very great fortune, if Innernighty make his peace. I hear nothing of Sir Hary's progress, but we are every minute expecting to see Sir Thomas, who will tell us all the news. " By all those who pretend to skill, I hear the herring fishing has all apearance of being very good. 112 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. which I most heartily wish for the good of all con- cerned, but more particularly for my freind Sir Thomas. When that affair is over, I hope you will all be at leisure to cum here for sum days, which will be a very great pleasure to me, who always am, with utmost esteem, my dearest, your most faithful! and most affectionate freind and sarvant, " H. Gordon. " All here make their compliments to you and Lady Muirton." '' March 28th. "My dearest Freind, — It is impossible for you to imagine how very great my disapointment was on Tuesday night, when I had with so much pleasure expected to hear from my dear friend, and found myself balked, the cause of which I could not com- prehend, and in my heart I can never suspect you of the very smallest neglect or unkindness to any, but specialy to one who, next my own, will ever love and value you above all things in the world ; so after passing some anxious hours, my Lord in the morning sent my charming freind's letter to me, which he had forgot, which gave me unspeakable pleasure, and I shall promise you hereafter never to trouble you again with any excuse of any kind ; but I truly was so hurried and balled upon by my Lord, to see a dyeing SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 113 gentleman, that I reaiy fancy I writte nonsense, but kind nonsense I hope it ay as. " You AYill now, I belive, my dearest, be very agre- ably surprized to hear from Lady Muirton the parti- culars of a treaty of peace, formarly proposed sum houres after we parted with Sir Thomas on Sunday last, which was happyly concluded last night. I term it my forth wedding night, and am hopefull it will be the last I shall ever haYe. As there are many good things, I hope, may attend this reconcilement, there is none, I asure you, more agreable to me than two per- sons being united who, I am sure, wish you as well as it is possible ; for my part, ther is no pleasure to me that surpasses what I enjoy in the very hopes of being sum time in a possibility of doeing you the least sarvice- — judge you then, my dearest, what would be the effects if my wishes could turn to a reality. '' I have just dune Avith these two Yollumes of no veils. You will, I asure you, find the most of them very prety, and as I fancy you will not have mutch time to spare that way before Easter, I shall only disier you to read, till that is over. The Force of Freindshipp, which I am sure you Avill like. I read Avith great pleasure all I can com at upon that sub- ject, that I may knoAv if any surpasses me in the notions I hai^e of that happy state I am s(~) deeply engaged in Avith you, Avithout which I always must H 114 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. think life a oreat burden. The next I would recomend to your reading is The Princess of Cleaves, which you will be charmed with, and where there is admirable examples for all the maried ladys who live in the temptations of this corrupted age. The heroine of this novell goes through all the strugles, and I think more, than ever Heloise did, and made not the least fallen stepp ; and her husband's is also a most ad- mirable charactar. The next that should follow should be Don Carlos, it being a part of the histor3^s of France and Spain of the same ages. When you have had the pleasure of reading these, I think you will have a mind to begin and read them in course. The first is very prety, but there being many adventures, perhapps you would think it a htle tedious at the first, so I have recomended those I fancy will please your tast, and be a litle diverting, which is what I belive all of uss, in this part of the world, want at times ; but I asure you, as odd as a good part of my life has been since I came to this contrey, I never thought the time apeared tedious to me till I had the happyness of your acquaintance, and the charming satisfaction of enjoying so dear a freindshipp. But judge how it is possible in nature to be content with so very litle of what one loves so very much, but as providence has, no doubt for sum wise and nessesary end, alloted to me a life of mortifications, so belive me this last is a most sensible one ; but I must still live in hopes the SOCIAL LIFE IN FOKMER DAYS. 115 time will shortly come when we may with more ease and fredom enjoy the pleasures that must flow from so entii'e a freindshipp, which will be, my dearest, a happyness beyond expresstion to your most affec- tionate and ever faithfull freind and humble sarvant, " H. GOEDON." " Gordon Castle, September Isf. "My dearest Friend, — You will easily belive how sensibly 1 regret any thing that prevents our meeting, which I find is put off, I believe, to this day fortnight, if you can at that time part with Lady Muirton for a litle start, or else it must be sooner, but Lady Thun- derton will be pleased to hear a sermon, and her peats and harvest will be prety well over by that time. By her servant, the bearer of this, I send the King of Sweden's picture frame, and a litle box with two fidleing new fashioned tipits and a faun, which I hope you will doe me the favour to except. 1 have sent Mrs. Elizabeth Dunbar of Duffus a faun a litle more gaudy, but I like the Godess Diana best, so sent it to you : had you been here, you should have chose your- self You know, my dearest, what must always please me best, when you are absent from the person ^^'ho loves and values as I doe, so be kind and fail not to lett me hear from you, as often as it is not troublesum to you. I also think Lady Muirton, if she lias occa 116 SOCIAL LIFE m FORMER DAYS. stion to writte, must use the freclom to make use of you for her secretary ; for it is not convenient she doe any thing now that is the least trouble to her. I fancy, before now, you have heard the comicall adven- ture that had like to have happened to us, a litle after I parted from you, occastioned by Captain Gumming haveing made Ned drink at King Edward : ^ he came home in the chaise with Arundele in it, to hold him, and his soun to drive, and we ride home in the dark at great leasure, but, thank God, no accident hap- pened ; but when you come here you will laughf at a more particular acount, since I was very Kke to have had my lodgeing in the fine green place that night. My dearest, you must know with what kindness and tenderness I shall always think of you and look upon your picture : till we meet next I fear I shall not, with my will, part with it, till I get Mr. Alexander to draw an other. I continue, as long as life, my dear, your most faithfull and ever affectionate freind and sarvant, " H. Gordon. " My kind sarvice to Sir Thomas. All here send there complements to you all at Muirton." Miss Anne Stuart, niece of Charles, fifth Earl of Moray, dates her letters from Dunibristle, Fileshire. ^ Now called Kinnedar. SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 117 8he was probably daughter of Francis, who succeeded, as sixth Earl, on the death of his brother Charles. Lady Anne Stuart, daughter of the sixth Earl, married Stewart of Blairhall, so, on our hypothesis, the lady did not change her name, — a subject on which she had expressed doubts when writing to her friend. " To Mrs. Dunbar, at Muirton : " To the care of the Postmaster of Forres. " DuNiBP.iSTLE, Jan. 28, 1723. " My dear Spouse, — You needed not have given me half so many reasons for your long silence, for I was perswaded it was not forgetfullness in you, but some cause which I waited with impatience to know, and I am so rejoiced when I get a letter from you, that it takes all thoughts away of accuseing you of un- kindness. My Lord has had a fit of the gout, and is not perfictly recovered yet. I hear nothing of our going north this summer, which I am very sorry for. Duke Hamilton is to be married the 6 th of February, it being Lady Anne Cochran's birthday ; she is to be married in white velvet trimed with silver. I hear Bracco is going to be married to Lady Mary Mont- gomery, but some say he is going to London. Earle Kothes, it is said, is to marry Lady Isabella Scot, and is to get thirty thousand pounds sterling with her : I wish it may be true, for he wants the money and very well deserves it. Lord Deskford's marriage witli 118 SOCIAL LIFE IX FORMER DAYS. Drummelier s daughter is still talked of. They have got an assemble}' at Edinburgh, where every Thursday they meet and dance from four o'clock to eleven at night ; it is half a crown the ticket, and whatever tea, coffee, chocalate, biscuit, &c., they call for, they must pay as the managers direct ; and they are the Countess of Panmure, Lady Newhall, the President's Lady, and the Lady Drummelier. The ministers are preaching against it, and say it will be another horn order : it is an assembley for dancing only. Lord Crighton gave a ball lately, where there was a vast many ladys — Peggie Bell was queen. My fingers are so cold that I cannot hold the pen, as you may see by my write ; so I add no more but that I am, my dear spouse, your most faithfull affectionate humble servant, " Anne Stuart. ''My mother gives her humble service to my Lady Calder. I do the same to all friends at Muirtoun, especially Jamie, my young lover." " DuxiBRisTLE, May 1, 1723. "My dear Spouse, — I doubt not but by this time you think me very much to blame that has not answered the kind and oblidging letter you write to me about a moneth since, but I declaire solemnly I received it only a few days ago. It is, I believe, the SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 119 carelessness of the post at Aberdeen that occasions our letters to be so long ere we get them. I reckon, my dear spouse, all the ladys in the north have got cocades of willow green for the rich laird : were I not in mourning for Earl Panmure, I would certainly give good example to those in our neighbourhood. This marriage will make me very cautious who I talk slightingly of, least they fall in my own lap, for you may remember I told you what past betwixt that young lady and I at Castle Grant. She did indeed use a good deal of freedom with his person, but I fancy London has given him a better air, together with the possesion of seven thousand pounds a year, which is a very genteel thing, and has a great deal of beauty in it. I suppose you have heard of the death of Earl Linlithgow, Countess of Errol, and Countess of Strathmore. Earl Panmure dyed of a plurasie, which is not ordinary for a man of his age — he was sixty -eight. The Duchess of Hamilton is with child, so is the Countess of Wigton. Lord Crichtoun is making his adresses to Lady Susan Hamilton, but the Duke does not seem to favour it. Lord Blantire is to be married to Lady Catherine Cochran. I am ex- treamly glad of the good agreement in the Duke of Gordons family,; I wish it may be always so. One would think a man could not wish greater happy- ness than he may find in that fine lady ; and the Duke, in conversation, seems very agreable, but, alais ! 120 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. they don't see the charms that is in one another. My Lord and Lady Moray gives you their most kind ser- vice. Pray let me know what is become of Mrs. Cummin. Give my humble service to all friends at Muirtoun. I ever am, my dear spouse, your's most affectionately, Anne Stuart." " Jan. 10, 1725. " My dear Spouse, — Your kind letters are always most acceptable to me, but none was ever more so than the last, for I very much wanted such a cordial. My spirits were as low as you can immagin, which you will not be surprised at when I tell you my Lady Morray was so ill at the time, I knew not whether she would dye or live. I am sure you would pitty me on such occasions, did you know my anxiety, and I flatter myself you would sympathize w^ith me, not only out of regard to my Lady, but from friendship to myself. Blissed be God, she is now perfictly well, but she was for many weeks she did not stirr out of her room ; and I must do her the justice to say she never com- plains without reason, nor keeps her room longer than is absolutely necessary : her greatest fault is that she is not carefull enough of her self. There arises great vexations to me from my Lady's bad state of health. The long tract of years she has enjoyed without the lest indisposition, till within this little time, gives me SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 121 tlie greatest fear when she takes this fitts of illness, and I were the most iingratefull creature on earth if my conscern for her were not prodigeously great, for she has been to me, from my cradle, liker a mother than ane uncle s wife ; and the fears of my being dis- apointed of my so much wishd for journey to the north is a vast affliction. I dare not let myself ex- pect that journey will hold unless my Lady's health were better established, though still my Lord talks of it as a thing certain. * You see, my dear, I tell you all my grievances, but I hope it will go no farther, for it is a subject I would write on to no mortal but your- self. x4ny news I have, I doubt not but you have heard before now, unless it be Mr. Hay Drummelier's marriage with my Lord Blantire's sister. The Master of Stormont and Lmernity's daughter are to be married this week ; so of four of five Anne Stuarts that were last winter in town, there remains but me, and I know not whither to be ashamed of being behind with those ladys, or proud of keeping memory of that name ; some say the latter, and that I ought to continue so to do, and not follow the example given me, but I am not as yet positive to follow that advice, and I believe you will think I should not be rash in my resolutions. I rekon you have got a particulare acount of Major Erskin's marriage, which was the most magnificent that has been in Edinbure^h of a ofreat while. The most remarkable of the bride's cloaths were a crimson 122 SOCIAL LIFE IX FORMER DAYS. velvet smoke petecoat, trimed with a silver or gold arras (I have forgot which), and a cherry sattin hoop. She had three sute of cloaths, viz., a white sattin, a blue podesoy trimmed with scollopt open silver lace above the knee, and a green stuff with gold flower, all very pretty. At Lady Cristian Hamilton's marriage with Sir James Dahymple, they were all prodigeously fine : Lord Binny's cloaths were fine yellow cloath, richly laced Tx^ith open silver, which was, I think, a comical choice. Mr. Keith, Colonel Keith's son, and Mrs. Peggy Cunninghame have made a runaway mar- riage. I am affraid his fortune is not so good as she might have got. I have been longer in ^TOting to you than I designed, but I waited for Mr. Eussle's 1)eing the bearer, because that was a surer way than the post. I heartily wish you, and all the good com- pany where you are, a happy new year, and am, my dear Spouse, most sincerely yours, " Anne Stuart." Mrs. Ann Dunbar was known as " Lady Dykeside." Her husband's father had sold Dykeside, in the parish of Birnie, but the family retained the designation. '' The Lady Thuxdertox, •■ att Duffus House. "FoRETSs, 17 Sept. 1745. " Madam, — I hope the tea came safe as ordered, tlu'ee pound bohea, one green. The rock indigo was SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 123 all sold to a man in this town before I knew it was come home. There is no news in town. Now for trifels. Mrs. Carltown and I are very great already. It was a mistake when I wrote yon no new fashions ; she has severals, all of which I am to have the look- ing att, and patterns when next we meet. The morn- ing caps are worn extremely full in the border, and full behind. The hair and wiggs still curled. Lady Force's cap, last from Edinburgh, the flowered lawn, the very newest fashion att London. All plain silk night-gowns, worn with different coloured sattens sewed on the breast and sieves, almost like Miss Brodie's yallow gown, but not pucked. Velvet clokes, laced round with black lace, and made a little longer than they are here, and newer than capuhins. Lady Force, Miss Brody, Captain Gumming, and Mr. Sinclair was in this kirk Sunday. They called here, spent an hour agreeably, and all remembered you. The Lady is to be to visit Mrs. Carltown soon. I continue to be, with great regard, dear Madam, your Ladyship's most obedient humble servant, " Ann Dunbar." " To Miss Nelly Dunbar, " att Duifus House. " FoRRis, 25 December. •' My dear Miss, — I rejoice to hear you and all the family are well, and that you are happy in having 124 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. your brother with you this holydays. I long to see every one of you, and assure you, when I have not that pleasure, I often think of you. May every one of you be as happy as I wish you, and your Papa live to see itt. We shall drink all your health att eating the fine goose and pears you send ; in the mean time accept our thanks. Tell your papa that Miss Brodie is to be married, on New Year's day, to Maclod younger, whoe she seems really to be fond of, which surprises every body, as he is not the most charming person in the world, and, till folks saw with their own eyes, everybody supposed itt a match that had more of prudence than love. He is absolutely the ugliest chield I ever saw. They were in town in company with the Lyon, his lady. Sir William Dunbar, and all the Eoses, Miss Forbes, the Master of Forbes, Captain Gumming, Jack Sutherland, G-range, Birds- yards, his familie, Tannachie and his, Kinsteary and his, Captain Beekworth and his, and your humble servant, att a grand ball given by an officer here. Miss Brodie looked at her intended spous, not only with liking, but with rapture, which all the company observed, pleased to see her happy against their ex- pectations. Ask papa if he will even do us the favour to take a ride this lenth, and tell him none would be fonder to see him. Make offer of our joyned com- pliments to him and all the familie. Deliver the en- closed paper carefully to him, and return him thanks SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. 125 in Mr. Dunbar's name and mine for all his favours. Say we wish him, and every individual he has any concern with, a series of happy New Years, and be- Heve me to be, with the greatest affection, my dear Uttle Elfe, your most obedient humble servant, "Ann Dunbar." Margaret Countess of Moray, wife of James, seventh Earl, was daughter of the Earl of Wemyss, and sister of the Countess of Sutherland. " To Miss Dunbar, " at Mrs. Glase's, Edinburgh, " DuNiBKiSTLE, 21111 May 1763. " Dear Nelly, — You have been much more mind- full of my commissions than I have been, for which 1 thank you, for I did not say a word to you by Lady Jane to-day, who is by this time in town ; but my woman Jenny will be in town this week, and then I shall rectifie all mistakes. In the meantime bespeak from Mrs. Fife as much of the green and purple as will trim a gown. She will know the usual quantity, but as I am of the broad and tall growth, she will make and send six yeards more than the comen quantity, with a dozen and a half or two dozen of tassels. 1 would not have any gimp in them, but just the green and purple silk mixed. Now the sooner this is done the better ; and as 1 will have 126 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. frequent opertunityes of folks in town, I shall always make them call at you. My Lord was quite vexed about the very bad day you got. He and I hopes you felt no bad effects from it, and will be glad to hear that all at Duffus are well ; and mind our compli- ments to your brother Sandy, who we hope to see when he is at leisure. " I hope Lady Jane Home and Mrs. Katterie and you will continue your acquaintance. They are sen- sible good people both of them ; their cleverness in conversation, and little turn to railerie, has given them some enymies, but every body that knows them as I do, m.ust like them and will be their friends ; for their smartness is more for funn than mischief, but every body has not good nature enough to understand them on the right side. A long long intimacie makes me speak from experience of their merits, and the longer you know them you will have the better opi- nion of them. I assure you I have not failed in recommending you to them. " I remember, when here, you mentioned about ride- ing cloaths, and I have made inquirie what has the preference amongst the young ladys that are really riders. I find it is a plain cloth with a small rope or twist of gold or silver, for tho' the white fustion is cool and pretty for summer they soon loose their good looks, and to have as manny as to wash other, which is the way necessary, comes to more expense than the SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 127 price of the plain cloath one. If I hear of any bodj that wants a maid I shall certainly not forget Mrs. Glase s friend. The character you gave me of her, and the good esteem the world allows her, shall always make me very willing to do anything that is obliging to Mrs. Glass, and T shall thank you for puting it in my power. You tell me of another strong claim to my ci villi tys, in l^eing related to the Sinclair family, for I assure you I am as clanish as if I had been born be-north the Grampion hills. " I have returned the pretty patterns. They are very neat and well done. I have keept a very little bit of each, in case of any further whims about this said triming. " Now, dear Nell, adieu, and bellieve me ever your sincere friend, M : Moray. " Now if my two good friends takes more libertie with you than would come in the way of strangers, remember it is in and through me, for I always think young folks the better of being in an intimate state with elder folks than themselves, even though they do not spare their complexions sometimes. " If your flower-maker has any flowers on hand that you think would suit my wild taste, I will be glad to purchase a few. You may send me a sight of them by the carrier, and the prices, for the incournge- ment of industry." XIX. GENIAL LETTEKS. One of tlie Presbyterian ministers of Elgin was such an enemy to keeping holidays that he searched houses, to prevent the owners from having a Christmas goose — to this Sir Harrie alludes. Mess Jon was pro- bably the Episcopalian clergyman. ^- Mr. Archibald Dunbar. " off Thunderton, att Elgin. " IxxES, Deer. 23, 1702. '^ Dear Archie, — I am not so greatt a fooU as to make ffeasts that wise men may eat them, nor yet so greatt a presbeterian but I can eatt a leg of a goose, and play at umber on yool-day. If you will come out here on Thursday's night, the doctor and you and I shall be as merry as we can, and if you bring Mess Jon with you to be ffool in the ifamilie, and make us laugh, you shall have a revenge off your lost fifteen shilhngs, and mightily oblidge, your obliged friend and humbell servant, Harrie In:nes.^ " Send me your news by this days post. 1 The Duke of Roxbiirghe is the direct male descendent of Sir Harrie. The hospitalities of Innes have been transferred to Floors. SOCIAL LIFE IN FOIIMEE DAYS. 129 " If you have any commands fFor Edinburgh, I am to send ane expresse which will be dispatht this night." John Forbes, of Culloden, elder brother of the cele- brated President, was familiarly known as " Squire Bumper." ''Sept. 2Qth, 1705. " Dear Thoundertoun, — I pray God be with you and your distrest lady, which I am fforced to do in this maner, being straitnd with tyme — tyde being be- twixt nyne and ten aclock. If you intend I should have your horse att the pryce I offered you last night, viz., a ginea dead arles, and my note ffor ffive hunder marks, payable att Whitesenday seventeen hundred and six, you may take my horse ffrom my boy and send doun yours to Leith, and if other wayes you desyre to dispose off him I wish you good markett, being your intyrely affectionate comrade and most humble servant, Jo. Forbes." " Innes, August \st, 1711. " Dear Archie, — Culloden and I bid you heartyly welcome home. " I thank you ffor your care of my letters, but wish you had made this your rod. Were my side reco- vered of my horse-fall, and my own, I had seen you I 130 SOCIAL LIFE IN FOEMER DAYS. this day ; wliich also hindered my seeing your chil- dren when I desio^ned. " Colloden and I do most earnestlie beg you to take your morning drams vvith us here Monday morning ; and it is hard to say but either, or both of us, will convey you a pairt of the way home, if both be able, and perhaps the whole length home. In the mean- tyme satisfie us if there be a battle in fflanders, or not, because it is so told, and, if so, who won, and what other of news you please. We are, dear Archie, your obhged and affectionatt comrades to serve you, " Haerie Innes. Jo. Forbes.'' William Dunl^ar, W.S., was a younger son of the Laird of Boath, Nairnshire. " To Alexander Dunbar, Esquire, Advocate, " To the care of Rhind and Warren, " Merchants, London. "Boath, Wednesday, *ltli September 1768. " Tho' I have been days in the country, yet an un- interrupted course of \^sits and card-playing has put it beyond my power to pay that tribute which I owe to you, not only in virtue of a solemn promise, but from the ties of gratitude and esteem which I shall always endeavour to hold sacred. It is true, indeed, I might have scrawled a few lines in the interval of a rubber when I happened to cut out, but I know that SOCIAL LIFE IX FOEMER DAY8, 131 would not be such a letter as you would expect ; be- sides, it would be shamefully overrated at the value of tenpence. I am afraid even this one will fall under that condemnation, for I am not vain enough to imagine that anything, the produce of this Northern clime, can so much as engage the attention of a gen- tleman encircled by the splendid allurements of a capital where pleasure springs under every footstep. My sober ambition is to know that you pass your time agreeably, and allow me to assure you I shall feel very sensible satisfaction to learn that your pur- poses are fully answered. "Mr. Cosmo Gordon, Jock Innes, and I travelled together. I parted from them at the Bridge of Dy, and prosecuted my intentions of joining my friends at Kemnay. During the course of our journey I made repeated observations of the learned counsel, which would not be in any degree new to you, as they were only such as I have often heard you remark formerly. They confirmed my opinion that the designation in the list of jurymen was no less true than droll. The remaining part of my journey furnished nothing worthy of notice, except Miss Mary Burnett, who, I will venture to say, would be accounted handsome even at Vauxhall or 'Raneleigh' — (I fear not right spelled). At Hatton Lodge I fell in with young Knockando, accompanied by an old college acquaint- ance of your s called Bean. This gentleman went out 132 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. to India in 1761, and is already said to have accumu- lated ten thousand pounds sterling ; notwithstanding of which I thought him a puppie, and d forward in prating. We found the noble family at Cullen House emerged from the cloud of melancholy which lately hung upon them. Lord Deskford appeared to me like the ghost of Tenducie — tall, meagre, feeble. Were he like the Italian in every respect, Te Deum might be sung in Erse along the banks of the Spey; but that prospect seems to have evanished, as it is thought a short while will restore the young Lord to health and vigour, after which it will be necessary that he marry. I had the honour of a second inter- view with our Advocate -Depute on my getting on to Fochabers. I touched the lips of his fair sisters, and ate some very good bread and butter. Dr. Levingston of Aberdeen is in attendance at Gordon Castle to in- troduce to the world a young Marquis or a Lady, perhaps both — for the Duchess is prodigiously big. The young Commissary and his Clerk were the only acquaintances I saw at Elgin. Many enquiries were made about you. Chittock's fame and intrepidity were extoled at great length 1}y the young Provost, and he said his father had no doubt but that yours would be restored to perfect health, and return to pass his days in tranquility at Duffus. " I saw George Ogilvie, Advocate, at Nairn yester- day, on his way to Inverness. There is no other SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMER DAYS. 133 youngster upon this Circuit, and for ought that I can learn, very little business. All the prisoners made their escape from the jail at Inverness, so the Lord Pitfour Avill have the trouble only of ffugitation, and reprimanding the magistrates. Ogilvie told me there would be one trial on criminal letters, where it seems the prisoner had been liberate on bad. He is to figure away to the jury, and begged I might go with him, but I declined. Never were such speeches, it is said, as this young counsel made about the end of last Session, and yet you or I heard nothing of them, although then upon the spot. However, they were echoed to the North by the Lords Kaims and Pitfour in letters to Lord Finlater. His Lordship asked me at Cullen what I thought of Mr. Ogilvie's appearance. I answered I had heard of no public appearance, but defending his annexa. My Lord looked surprised. I was no less so. How the hero behaves at Inverness shall be the subject of another letter, as I intend to go in to-morrow. " I hope it is quite unnecessary for me to assure you with what readiness I would execute any com- mands you may have in this or the eastern part of the country. I have time and horses at command, and you know I will not be wanting in inclination. Believe me to be, with the greatest regard and affec- tion, my dear Sandie, your sincere friend and obedient servant, Will. Dunbar. 134 SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEU DAYS. " N.B. — Might you not give me an order for one or other of your pointers ? I will not make a demand on Brodie, not even for the privilege of shooting. Pray can you lend him seven thousand pounds sterling, at four and a half per cent. ? ' apply to Eobert Donald- son, writer, Covenant Close/ — Ed: Ev: Courant!' Sir William Gordon endeavoured to prevent the proprietor of an adjoining estate, who was also a wealthy London merchant, from draining part of the Loch of Spynie : — " Sir Alexander Dunbar, " of Northfield, Bart. " GoRDONSTowN, Sth June 1782. " Dear Sir,^ — Be so good to inform me how it fares with you and the Lady. It will be some time before I recover from my late fatigue, so as to be able to pay you and her Ladyship my personal respects. But, if I live, I am determined it shall not be full three years. " I have at last read over the proof, and am obliged to allow our friend, the bailie, all possible merit as a partisan in the predatory war, which he has had the conduct of, and in which, had not Providence been upon our side, I plainly perceive my EegTilars must have been totally discomfitted, both from the natural difficulty of the ground, and their not having so thorough a knowledge of the country. Indeed, by SOCIAL LIFE IN FOIUIEK BAYS. 135 my Jiealth not permitting me to be present, my opo- nents ]iad every advantage they could have wished or desii-ed, though after all, I think it will not mucli avail them, as the main points I go for, are fully estab- lished, and I cannot help thinking that Mr. will find, in the end, that before he broke ground he should have sent me a friendly summons to capitulate, in which case I would have surrendered upon much easier terms than can now be expected. ' I grant his foreign imports ffresh and fair, What I complain of is his homespun ware — His manners, principles, and length of ear, Which make him prey on those he should revere. To take a goose or duck were no great matter ; But this marauder steals both land and water. If such a fox your toils should come within, AVould you not hang him first — then stuff his skin ? When thus prepar'd — he — we a nuisance call — Might serve to grace the portal of a hall.' " I thought these few lines, which I lately found in an old manuscript, were not inapplicable to the pre- sent subject, and might help to warm and divert my friend in one of his cold fits. " Wishing to know that Lady Dunbar is on the way of recovery, I remain, dear Sir, your most obedient and much obliged humble servant, " Will. Gordon." 136 SOCIAL LIFE IK FORMER DAYS. Glowing description : — " Sir Alexander Dunbar, Bart. " Banff, 2^th Deer. 1783. " Sir, — Mr. Keid called on me tliis evening with a proposal of letting you see my violin, and on terms of parting with her. I have sent her, per the bearer, from the consideration that it were pity not to gratify a musical genius of your extensive knowledge with such an easy granted request. " She is an old one — Italian— and the original price, as I am informed, was ten pounds. She has been well cared for. The breast has been off, from what cause I know not — but ever since, she has sustained a very good character. From Wales I got her for another violin, and a considerable balance, as he stood in need of a little ready cash. Perhaps the new tenor and treble may not (merely on account of the newness) at first touch emit such a fine body of tone, but a few strokes of the bow will remove that inconveniency. The counter has never pleased me Hke the counter I first got her with, which was very mellow. We have no assortment of strings here. Her present counter is mis-sized, but you can try her with another size if you have any by you. " I shall say nothing more as to the merits of the instrument ; your own knowledge of music will per- fectly well enable you to ascertain her value ; — and tho' I would not choose to part with her under value, SOCIAL LIFE IN FORMEE DAYS. 137 yet if you ^Yisll to have her, you would let me know what you would willingly give for her. I own she came to me under her original value, but not a very great deal ; and as I esteem her for being well- toned and mellow, as well as for being easy to stop, you may believe I will be the more reluctant to part mth her. '' I fancy you play the psaltery too. Sir. I have got an uncommon (I believe I may call it new invented, as I was the first in this country who thought of get- ting such an instrument made,) instrument, which, by partaking both of the nature of the violin and psaltery, becomes a kind of psaltero-violin. Its strings are therm — tuned thus — E A E A E cc ro CD CD 'CD w m .B