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Country code |
GB |
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Repository code |
234 |
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Organisation |
NAS |
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Repository |
National Records of Scotland |
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Reference |
GD170/797 |
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Title |
Letter from John Campbell of Achallader to Barcaldine, his cousin |
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Dates |
1723-1738 |
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Access status |
Open |
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Description |
Dated at Auchmore etc.
1723, October 19. "I hear Lady Annabella is with chylde of ane E: of B: and that My Lord Glen: wants much to come home to England ... [Note: John Campbell, later 3rd Earl of Breadalbane, married Annabel, first daughter of Henry (Grey), Duke of Kent, on 20 February, 1718. Her second child, Jemima, was born 9 October 1723. See 'The Scots Peerage', Vol 11 p. 208]"
1724, August 18. About Funab's funeral preparations, and possibilities of a romance between said Funab's daughter, Jean, and recipient's son John. " ... for any thing I can yet learn a little conversation might make them equally agreeable to each other but how that can be brought about at such a dismall occasion must be left to time and chance ..."
1725, February 17. 'Lovett, Grant, Lochnell and Munro have gote their Commissons for certaine and that Duncan Forbis is made King's Advocate and that it is not doubted greater changes will follow ..."
Encloses "materialls for a dyet drink".
1726, January 20. Enclosing letter, 23 December, 1725, to [Patrick Campbell of] Monzie from [Sheriff] James Campbell, Inveraray, describing the trial in the Justice Court of one McIldonich, who was found guilty of stealing a cow. John Campbell comments "McIldonich is to be brought to Finlarige in order to be transported ..."
Mentions "Mr. William affaire". " ... he must be guided lyke a childe and his bussnies done for him without asking him any questions. I am affraide he has done himselfe ane ill turn by his marriage ..."
1727, January 9. "Yesterday I burried my good friend L. Ormly in the Chappell of Finlarige (.) he was the best branch of the Chamberlanshipe (.) yow and your bretheren commissioners will I hope provide me in another lord ..."
[Duncan Campbell, commonly styled Lord Ormelie, was the eldest son of the 1st Earl of Breadalbane.]
1727, December 28. "The old lady Ardewnage was burried Saturday but I may say without breach of charity to the no small satisfaction of her son ...".
1728, January 10. About family and estate matters; the recovery of "Dungallants" children from their illness; gossip about a shooting incident at Crieff when Drummond of Drumchony was slightly wounded; and information that "Gallbreath payes 15 1 str. for the park and obleiged to lyme 4 acre of it every year, and payes 100 1 for the meadow and the full rent of Kinikrakine ..."
1728, January 29. "Colin who took the fever last seems to be most in danger. I hope all will be well in a short time, tho' we ought to be prepared for the gloomiest event ..."
"... I am told my Lord Glen is very busie looking out for a wife (.) I wish him good speed. Our Ladys of Quality in Scotland are lyke to pass only for shoots ..."
1728, March 7. "You'l see by the bearers instructions he is orderd to goe clean throw with the wadsetters, but I imagine the brea of Lorn is what is chiefly aimd at, for our Breadalbane politickes of setting the people at liberty will not answre in this country ..." And similar estate matters.
1728, March 22. A fragment of post scriptum reads: "I had a letter just now from Mungo ... doctors think Colin past all danger."
1728, March 25. "I have just now gote express from Mutton hole to send down the boat for poor Colin and am desyred by John at Mutton hole to bide yow send down Sandy Auchnabas brother to waite of him in all heast upon the road. I doubt not this was your positive orders ... I wish from my heart it may be for the better but it is what I woud not have done with my son ..."
1729, September 2. "The wicked scoundrall Pat. Dow who was at Barcaldine when your daughter in law was brought to bede brought most surprysing dismal news to this country that it was your son Colin had shot the woman in a fitt of passion which was keept up from yow. John in Sronmellochan was the first that gave use ease here an assurd us the whole affaire was just as yow write. I bless God it was no otherwayes then as it happnd...
1730, May 30. "Nixt week I hope to be at my wits end with my low country friend. Ld. M. expecting him to the country stopt me hitherto. Every post we expect to hear of Ld. Glens. marriage with a fyne lady and estate of 1500 1 ... Generall Wade is to quarter at Taymouth whyle the roads in that corner are makeing out ..."
1731, August 2. " ... I was last week attending General Wade for 4 or 5 dayes at Taymouth ... after a long track of fyne weather a down poure of raine which has demolished my fine timber bridge at Auchmore and had lyke to have carried off my change house ..."
1731, August 20. Includes information that Lady Glenorchy has had a miscarriage after an accident.
1732, February 4. " ... I have inclosd up a roll of gazets transmitted to me by my good fried Lord Lovat whoes match with Miss Dallrimple its said is not lyke to go on. Some are pleased to impute the delay to the peer who shud be excusd to take some time to put himselfe in order before he ingadge so formidable a prize ...
... what is come of our strong winne or when is any part of it to come this way (.) I wish it may be better cook'd than the last which has more than a gill of dregg in it ..."
1732, February 14. " ... aske Sir Duncan if he will allow me twenty of the firr trees cutt down in the wood of Cranick such as I coud get daills off the root cutt and the rest for joysts ... yow'l imagine I am going to build a house but its only an addition to my stable and a little sellar to accomodate straingers ..."
1732, March 27. " ... Lord Monzie is not yet come to the country (.) His son who is here recrutting tuo of your cousins Robs sons came here and went away in a pett since there was no room for them in Lord Lovats company (.) They did not seem inclynd to travell furder to learn the airt of husbandry in Flanders ..."
1732, May 19. " ..Mungo in Killin told me he was informd by Alexander Campbell at the ferry, a cousin of Dunstafnages, that he alone could bring such evidence against McAlvory as woud hang him (.) I wish to have information of all can be made evident againest him, which might be a means to inclyne the fellow to attest, that and threatning to return him to the pitt might possably break his stuborn temper ..."
1732, October 11. " ... your apparent chieff E.I. will have Johny Campbell flung out of the Bank at any rate because he was not apprysed of his being made secretary and puts in a favorit of Lady Miltons ... this peice of conduct does not look very clanish to throw out a Campbell and a cousin for on[e] Bogle that has neither Campbell or Talmish blood in him ... if Johny had not superior meritt in every respect of his successor little could be said ..."
1732, December 18. " ...I came home from Edinburgh where we left all your acquaintance in good order (.) as to outward appearance your son Donald is to succeed your cousin Ewen in the Kirk Treasury (.) he is fully as grave and composed as the other ..."
... I left Johny Campbell sauntering in the Bank striving to get the Secretary office divided betwixt him and Bogle independent of each other (.) he is offerd sixty pound of sallary as ane assistant which he wont accept in any shape but that of Independency ..."
Discusses court of session matters particularly a case involving "Culdaers".
" ... I have no more to ad but nixt year we hope to be up sydes with yow for roads (.) the Lawers syde of Lochtay is heartily begun to ..."
1733, March 3. Giving details of Lord M[onzie's] offer of "a better Estate then Ardewnages for halfe price ... your son John has a better guise of it then I have ..."
Relates gossip about Lord and Lady Glenorchy, "the Doctor, Lord M: brother," the Duke of Atholl, John McNab "our old forrester," "honest Duncan McHerlich," and "your friend Kinloch."
1734, February 8. " ... Ile have difficulty to keep up the caracter of this country the year in getting up the rents. I hear your Lochdocharts good brother Finart is broke to peices who was reckond the narrowest sickerest fellow in the highlands. This is a warning to drovers ..."
1734, May 30. " ... Doctor Gilbert Burnets second part of History is come out which stains the late E. with the slaughter of Glenco, for which he offers no evidence or proof, save that no other coud know the passes of that narrow glen so well as describe them so well to K.Wm. The good Lord Bishope might have shewd more charity and less pains in being sillent, then to leave such a heavie task upon a family without good authority ..."
" ... I heard your son Colin was strongly poynting an other way then you intended (.) if that is the case and that his heart is so fixed as not willingly to change, I belive yowl agree with me that Paternall Authority is no ways to be made use of on nither syde but to let Providence take place ..."
Dated at Auchmore.
1734, June 24. Discusses frankly and at length the possibility of the recipient's son Colin, marrying the writer's daughter. " ... strong application was made to me since yow was here by a person I no wayes thought unworthy of my daughter ... I must now come soon to apoynt with him, whom to tell yow plainly I have no minde to cast off, that is if my friend Colin continues to be fonder of a stot than a milk cow ... all I want is to live with yow as I did and to drop this affaire finaly unless you finde Colin matrimonially bent which perhaps may do of itselfe without our interposition ..."
[The daughter referred to may have been Jane Campbell, who married John Cameron of Fassiefern, her cousin, on 23rd August, 1734. See Burke's 'Landed Gentry' under Campbell of Achallader.]
1734, July 6. " ... perhaps we may finde the same arguments made use of be J[ane] as yow had from C[olin] and if that is the case Ile press no furder then yow did which I think was goeing as great a length as was descent ..."
"Mrs. Cameron of Errocht has been here this fortnight giving the history of the living and the dead from Benderloch to Lochabber since Oliver Cromwells dayes of which her cousin is no more tyred then she was 24 years ago of the Arabians night entertainment
1735, February 10. Bearing news that the House of Lords has ordered a new trial in the case over the forest, because it was decided that it was a royal forest of which the Breadalbane family were merely the hereditary keepers; and the king should therefore have been consulted.
1735, March 12. " ... By last accompts from Edinburgh your friend old Kethick got a charge of horning in my behalfe... I am resolved to press forward haveing still strong suspicion of the Lairds being richer in cash then some apprehend ..."
"Patriot Culdaers arived at Castle Menzies Saturday last and represente to his friends that nothing less then the Kings interposeing coud put a stope to his success ... its handed this length that the Patriots will come down no greater men then they went [up] ..."
1735, August 30. After a short tour, Lord Glenorchy and Lord Monzie seem well pleased with the lairdship and the house at Nairn. A "congress" is to be held at Taymouth on the 9th September, which recipient is urged to attend.
1735, December 18. Breadalbane has set out for Edinburgh to manage his plea against Culders; Downie has 'given quite a different Map of the forrest then Foster did who made it as bad for the Earl as coud be devised,' writer has been asked for information anent carrying of arms in the Brea of Lochanber, which will be hard upon Sir Duncan's company, there, where they 'are as well Armed as at Sheriffmoor.'
1736, March 26. Commenting angrily on a libellous letter sent to Lady Glenorchy alledging that the tenants in his part of the country were being oppressed, and on the result of an unspecified law case - " ... all unbaised [sic] people of sence are fully convinced the Jury acted a most villanous part ..."
" ... The war in Ballquidder is carried on with vigour on both sydes Rob Roys two sons James Ranald and two of their accomplices were seasd by Munros Company and carried to Crieff ... young Rob when he has done all the mischieff he can will go to the plantations ..."
1736, August 7. "The Lords have put off the forrest to November and seem much inclyned that it shud be taken away by arbitration ... I wish it was submitted for I am afraide we loose it."
"We expect to hear the faite of Rob Roys sons this day who do not want friends to support them as appears by their living in great plenty and fynly dresst up ..."
1737, January 17. " ... I reckon all your bad news comes from south west where I believe yowl never hear a good word of your friends. I doubt much if the two combatants Culdaers and Barisdail will venture a new prosecution at Inverarey ..."
1737, February 22. " ... I had a letter from Lord Monzie ... who I finde very unwilling to enter into open war with Kintraes and concludes that it must take some time to bring Robert to reason. When he knows perfectly well the state of the question I know pushing of it will be of no service ..."
1737, July 15. Letter to Patrick Campbell of Barcaldine from John Campbell of Achallader about various matters; the "short history" of Duncan More; the failure by one vote of the appeal in the forest cause; and news that Lady Glenorchy has had a miscarriage.
1739, April, 28. "I am not a little anxious to know how the misscarriage of the submission happn'd which is the occasion of this express ... Its very possable some thing might be writ in that packet relating to the forrest that was not fitt to fall into any of your neighbours hands. I bege yow use pains in finding out ..."
" ... I am heartily sorry for the bad new of poor Archie Roros being cast away at sea after haveing compleated his bargan of 19 years Tack fo the £10 land of Roro. I do not thing their is such ane other of the whole Glenlyon family ..."
1729, November 12. "I returned Saturday last from my scrub lairdshipe of the Storemount where bankrupts and clampers are more plenty then cash ..."
In a p.s. he notes that "Mungo in Killin is married to Killpunts sister Ardewnags brother relict. |
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Level |
File |
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Extent |
65 letters, 3 answers and an enclosure |
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