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LETTER-BOOK OF AN
INVERNESS MERCHANT, 1745-46.
Our third series of
extracts from the columns of the “Courier” has come to a close, covering
fifteen years in the annals of the Highlands. In course of our
examination we have found several papers of interest, which may be given
as an appendix. The first we have selected is entitled “The Letter-Book
of an Inverness Merchant,1745-46.” The circumstances in which it came
into the hands of Dr Carruthers are given below. No doubt the
letter-book is still in existence, and might repay further examination.
Dr Carruthers, however, appears to have skimmed all that was valuable in
it. As the articles were first published in 1846, they are unknown to
the present- generation.—'
[From “Courier” of August 1846.]
An old manuscript letter-book lately fell into the Lands of a gentleman
of this town, who has obligingly furnished us with copious extracts from
it. They illustrate the state of the town and trade of Inverness at an
interesting time, and hence, though without any pretensions or
historical importance— though neither learned, witty, nor romantic —they
seem worthy of preservation in the pages of our Highland journal. The
letters have no signature, but in one of them the writer tells his
correspondent that his communication had been delayed in consequence of
a wrong address; “it was directed to Major Grant, our Governor, whereas
it ought to have been Dunoan Grant, merchant, Inverness.” This gives us
the name of the careful Inverness merchant, whose letter-book has cast
up after so many years’ oblivion. Another entry gives us his place of
residence. There was no bank agency in Inverness at that time, and
Duncan negotiated all his bills with the Royal Bank in Edinburgh, where
he held a cash credit for £300. Mr Alex. Innes was one of the officials
in the Royal Bank, and he usually transacted Mr Duncan Grant’s money
matters in Edinburgh. To this gentleman accordingly Mr Grant applied on
the subject of insurance, in May 1746, after the affairs of the
Rebellion had disturbed the state of society, and rendered the property
of a substantial merchant, staunch to the Hanoverian cause, somewhat
perilous and insecure. Mr Grant writes to Mr Innes—
My chief design in this is to request you to get my house insured with
the Sun Fire Office for £400, and my furniture for £200, without delay.
Pay for the policy and a year’s insurance, and send me the receipt, with
one of their lead stamps having the number on it My house is a slated
one, built with stone, on the east side of Castle Street; one lodging in
the back court is possessed by my mother, Margorie Grant, relict of
Duncan Grant, late merchant in Inverness; another lodging also in the
back court, is possessed by Mr Robert Barbour, professor of mathematics;
and the forepart, looking to the street, is all occupied by myself. The
whole, behind and forward, is three storeys high and garrets.
GRANT’S BUSINESS.
A good roomy house, like that of a man “well to do in the world.” And
Duncan Grant appears to have been a man worthy of such a designation. He
was not only a merchant carrying on a large trade, but he was a sort of
military commissary, having had to supply the garrisons of Inverness and
Fort-Augustus, and the troops at Bernera and Ruthven, with provisions
and firing. The plodding, money-getting style of the letters, in the
midst of .all the excitement of the Forty-five, makes Duncan Grant seem
like a Bailie Nicol Jarvie in the Highlands; but he must have been a
native of the north, for in one of his entries he alludes to his
knowledge of the Irish language—the term by which the Gaelic was then
known. Our first extract will relate to Air Grant’s doings as
commissary, and the remainder of his transactions as a merchant. On the
8th ot Alarch 1745 he writes to General Guest, then Commandant of
Edinburgh Castle: —
Dear Sir,—I received your favour of 28 past, and am glad to inform you
that the barque from Portsoy arrived. I have wrote to the Governor to
order down the galley, and I have ordered another lock to be put on the
girnel, and David is to have but one of the keys; so that it will be bad
luck indeed if any of this meal goes a wrong way. He was in arrear of
meal on 31st December last, 324 bolls; he ha9 satisfied the troops ever
since, which now reduces the arrear to 200 bolls; and I intend to beg of
the Governor and Major Talbot not to allow a peck of this meal to be
given out while David can supply them. When I was there, I brought him
before the Governor, and desired him to declare whether or not he had
received from me every boll charged, so that he might not imagine it was
any fault of mine; he could not say that it was overcharged a peck, only
complained of the inlake betwixt here and the girnel3 at Fort-Augustus,
which he said was his only ruin. I am indeed very sensible it is so,
having known 11 bolls of an inlake in 200. I am heartily sorry for the
vexation that Fort-Augustus occasions you, and if I can do more to
prevent it, may I not live to write you again.
HIS PERPLEXITIES.
The rebellion occasioned no small trouble to honest Duncan. He thus
writes. November 1, 1745, to his faithful banker, Mr A. Innes,
Edinburgh: —
Your favour of 18th past came to hand only Tuesday last. I see the bill
of £80 I sent you is in the hands of Mr John Hay, who, as agent for the
Prince, demands the payment as public money; but I cannot conceive how
he thinks it to be such, when in truth it is not; it is my own private
concern. As I thought that a Paymaster’s bill, bearing subsistence to a
regiment, would be better than one drawn by a private person, so I gave
my money and
took his bill; and any one that will force that money to be paid to any
one but to my order, does in effect rob me of so much. I hope,
therefore, the Prince, and the gentlemen about him, will reckon it a
very great hardship to keep the bill from me. If you could see Colonel
John Stewart, I durst venture to assure you he would see justice done to
me. As to Sir John Cope’s bill of £26. I am much of your opinion, that
the present situation of affairs renders it imprudent to return it;
therefore, if you can get it safely transacted on your own account, do
it, and I will allow the value in part payment of George Dunbar's 3 hods.
of wine.
A fortnight later he writes to Mr John Crowe, Newcastle—
This will be delivered to you by my friend, Mr Hugh Inglis of this
place, who, as his own vessel is to > small, goes to freight a larger
one, to carry down coal for the use of the troops here. Now, as sugar is
somewhat scarce here at present, and as we have no communication with
Edinburgh or Glasgow—occasioned by the Highland army that lays betwixt
us— please ship for my account 4 cwts. of finest loaf sugar, 4 cwt. of
second sort, and 4 cwt. of lump do.; and if flour be good and cheap, 8
firkins of the finest, 16 of the second, and 16 of the third sort. Send
me also six chests of window glass, a barrel of tar, and a good large
fire-pan, such as you use to carry fire from room to room. Insure to the
full value, so that I may he no sufferer, in case of capture or any
other misfortune.
On the 7th of December he addresses Mr John Mowatt, Campvere, Holland: —
Exert yourself to the utmost of your power in getting me a good
sufficient vessel, or none at all Your friend Lachlan Mackintosh, who
came with you to my house, has given over our trade, and taken another
by the hand. He is now with the Highland army fighting for Prince
Charles. There has been no action yet between the King’s forces and the
Highland ers in England. Several French ships have landed money and arms
in Scotland, and some transports have arrived with Lord John Drummond’s
regiment from France. We are alarmed here with an invasion from Dun kirk,
and we are told that the Dutch troops which we have are to be recalled.
Pray, what is all this? Favour me with your news.
FLIGHT AND RETURN.
There are no entries in the letter- book for three months previous to
May 1746. On the arrival of the first portion of the Highland army in
Inverness, on 18th February, poor Duncan Grant was obliged to fly. His
loyalty to the reigning family and his situation as commissary, made him
a marked man to the rebels. He hid the most valuable of his goods and
left the remainder in charge of his wife, who seems to have been ai
clever woman, for although the malt in town was seized to feed the
rebels’ horses, she found means to secret about forty bolls till her
husband’s return. His first letter is to his friend Mr Alex. Innes, of
the Royal Bank, Edinburgh—it is dated 14thi May 1746: —
As I have not seen my own house from the day the rebels came to this
place to the day the Duke of Cumberland made them leave it. I think it
were high time for me now to look to some business; and yet I find
difficulty in it still, for, by the great number of troops we have here,
my house is so full that I scare can get room in it to write this. I
send you enclosed Major Mackenzie’s bill on London for £150, and Major
Grant’s, our Governor, ditto, for £68 5s, out of which I desire you to
pay the sums on the other side, and place the balance to my credit with
the bank. I have neither time nor room to look at my accounts, but when
the town is somewhat thinner I will write again.
All his letters at this time complain of the disturbance and lose he
experienced “from the day the rebels took possession of the town till
the day that our deliverer, the Duke of Cumberland, made them leave it."
In the following, addressed to Messrs John Coutts & Co., Edinburgh, 14th
May 1746, he sets down his own losses at £400 : —
Never was a poor country so distressed as ours has been for some months
past; for my own part, I did not see it, but felt it pretty much — £400
will not pay my loss by them. Was it in point of dealing, I should have
myself to blame, but 't was by the most arbitrary robbery that ever was
heard—and that too under the pretence of authority—all the world, as
well as I, must condemn them. Our town is so full of troops, that my
house, tho' a private one, is as full as ever you saw a tavern in
Edinburgh. I have not opened out my books and papers, nor will I, till I
can put them into their own places, so that I know not how I stand with
your company, but I think I owe nothing. I hope in two or three weeks to
be able to call part of my house my own, and then I shall satisfy you
and myself about our account current. I have been all along very
sensible of your good intentions to serve me, for which I shall al ways
be grateful, and notwithstanding what i have lost, I thank God I have
yet more left, so that I need ask neither discount or delay of anything
I owe.
BUSINESS RESUMED.
The losses occasioned by the rebels, and the presence of the King’s
troops in tbe town, caused a general demand for provisions, and Duncan
Grant, as usual, was on the alert. To Messrs Coutts & Co., Edinburgh, he
writes as follows, June 3: —
I am glad to hear that corn comes from England in such plenty, and I
daresay that for this summer and harvest this will be as good a mercat
for it as any in Britain, not only for corn, but for anything that is
eatable and drinkable; and had I money to pay for them I should soon
commission for five or six cargoes of different kinds. If you will allow
me to go halves with you for a cargo or two of articles, I will
endeavour to be as punctual as possible in paying my share of it. Most
of the cattle in the Highlands are, or very soon will be, destroyed by
the army, which must occasion great scarcity; and as no doubt we shall
have a great number of troops amongst us for some time, things will be
in demand; and what would make a capital trip of it is, if you could, on
application to the commissioners, obtain a license to import such
cargoes for the benefit of the troops here, it would suit well; and if
you think any interest I could make with the Duke of Cumberland, or
General Blakeney, would contribute, I would try it. The articles chiefly
in request will be beef, pork, butter, cheese, tallow candles, soap,
bend-leather, linen from 8d to 2s 6d, 5 or 6 tons— good rum—yea,
potatoes, rather than waste room in the ship
To Collector Cheape, Prestonpans, 11th June—
It is said Fort-Augustus will be repaired, and a new fort built in
Inverness, but not on the ground of the former; but I don’t think we can
know anything certain till the Duke reaches London. This is now the
season for making peats, and as the men who used to supply us were all
in the rebellion, I have sent to others to see if they will contract
with me. When the Duke goes to Edinburgh, no doubt he will give you full
directions, and you will find what number of troops we are to provide
for next winter; if so, I think the following particulars ought to be
adverted to. We have neither bedding, meal, nor malt, for them, nor will
those things be got here for money; therefore, as Comissary Dundas got
the last cargo of coal (which I am very glad of. as they were truely
bad), you should send another cargo or two, for what with the wetness of
the season and the want of hands to work at the peats, we must be scarce
of firing this year; and as no grain was left us I would advise your
sending 600 bolls of meal and 200 bolls of Dunbar malt.
There had been complaints that meal was not sent to the garrison at
Bernera [Glenelg], a charge which Duncan indignantly denies. To Major
Caulfield he writes—
T give you my word its not ten months since they had twelve months’ meal
sent them overland from Fort-Augustus. In place of sending it under an
escort, as General Guest ordered, I took it on me to trust it entirely
to my namesakes of Glenmoriston, and, though it happened very well, I
shall never do the like again. My reason was, I had some suspicion of
the rebellion, and therefore thought if anything would save the meal it
would be such a worthy honest guard.
Might not the Glenmoriston men have helped themselves to part of the
meal by the way? It was seldom they had so good a pretext for levying
black-mail on the Government stores. There was great difficulty in
procuring meal, and Duncan Grant writes to Collector Cheape—
I know of no meal to be got in our neighbourhood, deliverable here, but
Lord Lovat’s and Campbell of Cawdor’s. Koss-shire is a very good country
for meal, but what we get there must be received at Cromarty. You may
talk to Lord Ross, for his son’s estate of Balnagown affords very good
meal. There is no such thing, I fear, as bargaining with Lord Lovat’s
people for their meal on the spot, for unless some person is appointed
factor to receive it they will never deliver it, so it will be lost to
the King and private party.
JACOBITE AGENTS.
With all old Lovat’s faults his people still clung to him. They
preferred him, at least, to the Government, and were content to suffer
loss for their clanship. Jacobite principles appear to have got in among
some of the northern officials, which troubled honest Duncan, who cared
for none of these things. He informs Collector Cheape of a renegade at
Bernera : —
Watt, of the barracks at Bernera, has got into a scrape, by a soldier’s
wife swearing that he drank the Pretender’s health as King James. The
Duke has heard of it, and he is so very angry that he has intimated to
me that he must be immediately turned out, and one Maclean (who I know
nothing about) put into his place I wrote in the strongest manner to
Major Caulfield, that if he was turned out be fore he cleared his
accounts the General would be a sufferer by him. I have, in the
meantime, wrote in the most pressing manner to Watt to come and clear
his accounts, without letting cn anything of this.
The sequel of this story is that Maclean turned out as bad as Watt! In a
few weeks Duncan writes to his friend the Collector, that Maclean had
proved to be a “rank Jacobite,” and was sent by General Campbell in
irons to Fort-Augustus. With Lord Albemarle’s consent, however, the
worthy Commissary put the delinquent’s son “to officiate in his stead.”
Next in importance to the supply of meal was the supply of peats, and we
have a curious letter on this subject, addressed to a firm named
“Balnain and Leeks.” It is dated June 4th, 1746: —
It being now the proper season to make peats for Fort-Augustus, and as
poor Ochtera is not in a way at present of doing it, I make the first
offer to you. I shall first propose the terms on which I cm content to
deal with you. I shall leave it to you to accept or not as you please,
and then give you my private opinion in case of your not doing it. I
want to have delivered, in the peat-yard at Fort-Augustus, 14,000 loads
of good and sufficient peats, betwixt the date hereof and 1st Nov. next,
each load to consist of 120 peats, for which I am satisfied to pay
threepence sterling for each load. I don't tye you down to that precise
number, but in your answer to me bind yourselves to what number you
think you can give, only perform what you promise, and when I know what
that is I shall provide the rest. Now, as to the consequence it will be
this, if you undertake to do the thing it will be serving yourselves and
the country; if not, then as the moss is looked on as the King’s now,
cutters from all quarters will be put on it, and I am much of opinion
that while there is a horse within twelve miles, they will be pressed to
carry the King’s firing; so, in the first place, study your own
interest, and then the good of the country around you. I know this
principle prevails much with us, tho’, indeed, we ought to defer the
public to the private interest at all times.
True, Duncan, but this balancing between the public and the private
interest, and the hint about the moss being looked upon as the King’s
own, say more for your pawkincts than for your patriotism
TRADE AND GENERAL AFFAIRS.
A vessel from Holland, laden with spirits, was taken by the Eltham,
man-of-war, but was afterwards liberated, “As we have a great army
here,” writes Duncan, “I thought if I bad interest to get my rum and
brandy out, it would be better and quicker than exporting it.” He
accordingly made application to the Duke of Cumberland, who ordered it
ashore for the use of tbe troops, and gave an indemnity to the ship in
the case of prosecution. Duncan obtained a general order to take out all
the rum and brandy in the ship, by which means be was able to oblige his
neighbours in trade, who also received their stores. General Blakeney,
commander of the Royal troops in Inverness, took lodgings with Duncan
Grant, and Ins business again got brisk. The General, he says, was an
excellent judge of wine! His commissary accounts, however, were still in
a perplexed state. On the 27th of May he writes to Collector Cheape at
Preston-pans—
If David Baillie of Fort-Augustus does not come here in ten days to
clear his accounts, I must go where he is. It’s true he was always
backward with his accounts, tho’ I cannot blame him so much this year,
for really our present commotions put a stop to all sort of business
here, even with the most punctual men. Except it be some remains of some
walls, there is not a vestige of either barracks or barrack stores left
at Fort-Augustus or Ruthven, and when they got possession of our town
and garrison, they did the same here, and fed the horses with our malt.
. In short, there was nothing but ruin and destruction wherever they
came. They often wished to lay hold of me to put me to death, on account
of my correspondence with the General, some of my letters having fallen
into their hands. The rebels got hold of Main’s coal ship, and carried
off, I daresay, 70 tons. I am glad to know you are soon to be here, and
if you will let me know your route, I will meet you on the road, and
show you the way to my little house, where I assure you of most hearty
welcome.
Our merchant, notwithstanding all his care, could not, in those
disturbed times, conduct his affairs without the aid of an Edinburgh
lawyer. There are several letters requiring advice. The following is
dated 30th May 1746, and is addressed to David Munro, writer, Edinburgh:
—
Some Highland scoundrel of a rebel is now wearing that piece of fine
linen you sent north of mine; however, as it was for the best you did
it, I cannot blame you. I have a debt of £40 against Glengarry, upon
which nothing has past but a horning. Pray what ought I to do with it,
for I think, by the manner in which he is used by the King’s troops, it
looks as if his estate was to be forfeited, for all his country is
ruined, and his castle and offices burned to the ground. I had at
Fort-Augustus some rooms furnished for the officers there. When the
rebels took it, they carried off, burnt, or destroyed all Major
Caulfield’s furniture and mine. Some of the furniture (but whether his
or mine I know not yet) was found in Glengarry’s house. Can I claim on
his estate payment for my furniture? John Baillie of Torbreck is dead,
and several of his creditors are applying to the Lords to get an order
for W. Fraser, W.S., to set the lands.
To the same gentlemen he writes on 11th June—
I return you thanks for sending me a note of adjudications against
Torbreck, and as I find mine is the first by year and day, I hope I
shall be paid, come of others what will. It is agreed that the estate is
worth more than all the adjudications. If you think my money safe in the
event, tho' not soon, I don’t care to be the first to insist in a
process of mails and duties and of a sale; but if you think it
contributes to my safety and interest, I’ll certainly do it; for as now
I have got to windward of them all, it were a shame to allow myself to
be distanced. You give me great pleasure in letting me know that there
was a meeting to concert measures to recover payment, not only of debts
due, but also damages done by the rebels. I have claims of both kinds.
The situation of Inspector of Fisheries became vacant at this time, and
Duncan wrote to his friends requesting their influence to procure him
the appointment. He writes as follows to Collector Cheape, October 21st,
1746: —
I am much indebted to you for the interest you take in getting me
appointed Inspector of Fisheries. As to my asking President Forbes’s
interest, it’s what I do not care to do, and that for the following
reasons:—You must know that for the last ten or twelve years there has
been a kind of political quarrel between the family of Grant and his;
and as far as I could observe, ever since, my name is not the most
agreeable to him. My next reason is, that I hear he has promised his
interest to one John Frigg of Findhorn; but, according to the rules laid
down by the Trustees, the person appointed must speak Irish, and he
knows no more about it than I do of Arabic. It is, no doubt, a loss to
me that Lord Elchies is not a member; but although he has no vote, yet I
am sure there are votes he can get—solicit him therefor. My Lord
Justice-Clerk and my Lord Advocate have done me the honour of promising
me their votes. I look upon that as gaining the cause. This is a place
that, if my friends were to think of one for me for twenty years, they
could not hit on a more proper one—being a place that does not depend on
Court or Ministry.
In another letter to the Collector, written a month afterwards, Duncan
congratulates himself on obtaining the support of Grant of Grant, and he
hints that it would be well if the Trustees could be got to appoint him
“before the President comes down from London. We hope he secured the
object of his ambition. We may here remark, that though Duncan does not
seem to have looked on the excellent President Forbes as one of his
patrons, the President was one of his customers. From the accounts still
preserved at Culloden House, it appears that wine was occasionally
furnished by Duncan Grant, merchant, at the rate of 18s per dozen for
the very best claret. Another Inverness merchant, named Willison,
charged 16s per dozen. The Bank directors in Edinburgh now began to look
after Duncan’s security for his cash credit of £300. He writes to Mr A.
Innes on the 11th of June 1746: —
I received a letter last post from Mr Baillie of the Royal Bank,
acquainting me that the directors desired that I should find new
cautioneers, in place of Lord Lovat and General Guest. I do not wonder
at their not looking on Lovat now as a good man, but surely General
Guest, tho’ he is gone to London, is as good as ever: and I hope the
bank will think him. Evan Baillie. and myself, good for £300—yea, if it
was £3000, the bank could not be sufferers by the two last, tho’ the
General was not in the question. For my part, I am so ashamed to trouble
my friends to join me for £300, that if the bank be not satisfied with
the security they have, I believe I shall send them word to balance and
shut up the account.
FOREIGN TRADE.
This threat had the desired effect—nothing more was said about the
security. We shall now turn to the commercial letters. The commerce of
Inverness was very different then from what it is at present. There were
not more than two ships in the London trade, and each of them performed
only three or four voyages in the year; while there were four vessels
sailing regularly to Rotterdam, and occasionally they required to
charter a fifth. Sometime previous to the Forty-five a considerable
trade was carried on with Boulogne, Bordeaux, and Dunkirk; but this was
superseded during the French war, and all wines and other commodities
were sent to Holland and re-shipped for Inverness. Honest Duncan was a
good deal of a freetrader, as appears from his frequent directions to
his correspondents to give certain goods to “the particular care of the
shipmaster, and let them have nothing to do with coquet or
custom-house.” His plan of providing himself with Mogul cards (no doubt
the English soldiers created a demand for this luxury) is an instance of
his contraband traffic. He orders no less than twelve gross of packs to
be purchased in London, free of duty, for exportation; to be shipped for
Rotterdam, and re-shipped for Inverness, under the special care of the
master. Duncan seems to have been a very correct man of business—always
desirous to have the best article—and equally precise in his orders,
whether for ten tons of wine or for “a few yards of very pretty flowered
silk, for a gown to my little daughter, nine years of age.” The
following letters illustrate, to some extent, the tastes and habits of
the Inverness public. To Messrs James Smith & Co., Bordeaux, he writes
on the 4th December 1745: —
On receipt of this please send me a very exact account of last vintage,
as to quality, quantity, and price of red and white wines: also, brandy
and vinegar: to which add the prices of such other goods as we generally
order, particularly rock indigo, prunes, playing cards, olive and
jessamine oils, Hungary waters, capillaire, gloves, velvet corks, with
such other articles as may occur to you. I find there is no such thing
as sending you a vessel from here while this war continues; therefore,
if you give me any encouragement to order any wine, you will tender me
your best advice how to get it home, for I can think of no way at
present but by Holland. Pray, how would the Isle of Man, or Ireland, or
Norway, answer?
To Mr Alexander Livingston, Rotterdam, Dec. 4, 1745—
I writ you on 1st ult., copy whereof you have prefixed; I now confirm
the same. This will be delivered by Donald Mackenzie, master of the
Hercules, on board of which you will ship, on my proper account and
risque, the following goods, taking care that not only the full value,
but also the charges and discount, be insured, so that in case of
capture or any other accident I may be no sufferer. 30 ankers brandy, 15
do. best rum, 1000 weight of sugar of four different qualities, 4 chests
of lemons, and 2 do. of bitter oranges. If I can meet with a small
vessel to freight, shall send her soon over. Amongst other goods I shall
want 20 hhds. good claret. Will you undertake to get it for me? It must
be racked off fine.
On the 4th June 1746, he writes to the same correspondent in Rotterdam:
—
Messrs Brodie and Shaw of Elgin wrote me that if I wanted a few tuns of
wine in addition to my last commission, I might have room for it in
their ship. You will therefore ship it of the following kinds—2 hods of
the very strongest port wine that can be got; 1 pipe of mountain malaga,
and 2 do. of veritable sherry, without tendency to the least sweetness.
You know the British and the Dutch differ much in their taste of wine;
the one for sweet, the other for soft, smooth, silky wine. I beg,
whatever wines you send me now, or at any other time, may be
extraordinary good of their kinds, should it cost the penny more: I
would rather have none than not have it really good. Insure to the full.
I believe David Mackenzie and his ship will be soon over with you, by
whom I shall trouble you with a commission for several things, which
must be all very good; but what I shall chiefly recommend to your
particular care will he about 20 hods. claret, and that at two prices;
if you don’t think that 70 or 80 guilders can fetch such wine as I want,
then let it be 80 and 90, for I shall leave you no excuse.
TASTE IN WINES.
Our townsmen of that date must have been choice and select in their
wines—the strong port forming a kind of foundation for the
“extraordinary" fun claret! The Dutch guilder or florin is at present
equal to Is 8d sterling. In two months after the foregoing (August 7),
we have another largo order addressed to Mr Alex. Livingston, Rotterdam.
In this commission Duncan plumes himself on his reputation as a
wine-merchant, which the “Highland rebels” seem to have duly
appreciated: —
On receipt hereof, I desire you may order to rack off, quite fine, the
following wines, to be shipped by David Mackenzie, master of the
Providence, which sailed from here yesterday:— 16 hods. claret, 2 do.
best old port, and 1 good mountain malaga. I think the following prices,
which I am content to allow, should bring me exceeding good wines; if
not, I shall never put pen to paper to order wines from Holland. 8 hods.
at 80 guilders, 4 do. at 90, and 4 do. at 100. I have for upwards of 20
years retained the character of keeping as good, yea, some will tell you
the best, wines in the north; and I hope I shall not now lose that
character through you. I think what you sent me last was very good at
the price, and I thank you for it which is more than it yielded me—the
blackguard Highland rebels having drunk it and paid nothing for it. I
hope what I now get will be prime; it is partly intended for General
Blakeney, who commands here this year, and stays at my house. He is a
man of very nice taste, and I would not for the whole value that it did
not answer his expectation. Clear out the ship from Lisbon and Rotterdam
for Inverness and Bergen. I will write you fully by next post, when I
must trouble you with a commission from my wife, for a thousand articles
for aught I know; and she says she will trust neither you nor me with
the choosing of them, but must beg Mrs Livingston to see them all,
otherwise she will not be pleased.
VARIED COMMISSIONS.
This letter was dated August 7th, 1746. The next is only one week later,
and it also contains an extensive order to Mr James Livingston,
Rotterdam. Duncan was rejoicing in a flowing trade. In this commission
we have an order from the merchant’s wife, which is as varied and
miscellaneous in its contents as ever lady dictated: —
fine fla\our and deep body. I know you can send me such, and if you do
it not, a quarrel must ensue; I leave it to yourself, and as you serve
me, so will I pay you. Meantime, for your encouragement, I send you
enclosed James Taylor’s bill for 1000 guilders, with which credit my
account. When I shall pay the rest of my commission, God knows; but be
assured it will be as soon as possible. The exchange you draw at does
not at all sit easy on me. I can buy many thousands of guilders at 21
and 22 per G.; therefore I hope you will resolve to draw on me at a
lower exchange, or wait till I can remit you. You will add to my former
commission—1 hod. best rum, 1 chest lemons, 1 do. bitter oranges, 1
firkin good hair-powder, a piece fine muslin for cravats, 2 pieces
cotton handkerchiefs, a ream popatria paper, 1 ream London arms, do.,
cut in halves, 25 lbs. raisins, 24 lbs. currants, 1 lb. cinnamon, 1 lb.
mace, 1 do. nutmeg, 6 large delft pots, 5 do. basins, 6 of the largest
sponges that can be got, for drying tables, 1 cheat Seville oranges, a
bushel of good fresh walnuts, 1 do. of chestnuts, a barrel of good
onions, and 25 lbs. best and freshest clover seed. Now follows my wife’s
commission, which gives me more trouble than all the rest, and if Mrs
Livingston does not see and approve of most of it, I tell you beforehand
they will not please: —8 lb. good Bohea tea, 12 lb. best Hyson, 20 lb.
best coffee, and 20 finest chocolate, 2 firkins best butter, 6 lb.
cucumbers, 6 do. capers, 12 do. anchovies, 6 bottles best pickled
walnuts, 6 jars best green olives, 1 large coffee and 1 chocolate pot,
12 Dutch ells of pretty half-lace, of a narrow kind, but of three
different patterns, a piece of the finest calico, fit for women’s
aprons, and a piece India yellow taffetty for petticoats, with a piece
of the very best and largest India silk handkerchiefs. “Mind cocks and
hens, and see they be very large; we have plenty small ones here. My
wife was to have made you a remittance of 60 or 80 crowns, which she has
either stolen or robbed from me, but David Mackenzie going off uncalled
for, the purpose is still extant.
This is a half jocular epistle—evidently proceeding from a comfortable
citizen. Duncan was getting on bravely, notwithstanding his losses from
the rebels; and his wife, as became the helpmate of such a thriving
citizen, wished to have her little luxuries and ornaments. Some of these
would, of course, be designed for their lodger, General Blakeney; but
the pretty lace, the fine calico, and Indian yellow taffetty, were
doubtless destined to adorn the person of Mrs Duncan Grant. The goods
were duly sent from Holland, and gave entire satisfaction, as we find
from the following to Mr Livingston, dated November 7th, 1746: —
The goods by the Providence arrived last week. It would be doing the
wines injustice to pretend to give a character of them before they have
time to settle in the cellars. I am sorry to tell you that a hod. of No.
5 ran out in the hold, occasioned by the insufficiency of the cask, per
enclosed declaration. Upon whom that loss will come—whether on the
insurers, on you, your cooper, or on me—I leave you to determine. You
will have my sincere opinion of the wines in three or four weeks, and if
it is truly good I will be as ready to acknowledge it. and thank you for
it, as I shall be to condemn if it does not please: for I am as ready as
any Scotsman to complain when I have rea son. Now, as to the articles
sent my wife, shall only say, that if you do by me at. Mrs L. has done
by her it will be impossible to find fault. The lace is vastly pretty,
and the calico the best I ever saw, and everything good of its kind. I
beg to return Mrs L. my hearty thanks, and my wife sends her ten
thousand. The butter-dishes do not answer my purpose, and it’s my own
fault. What I want is little dishes, or boats, I believe, they are
called, to carry beat butter to table in; they are shaped very like a
weaver’s shuttle, a stroop at each end and a handle at each side. Try
and get such, of very pretty china. You will now send me by Captain
Rodgers, 2 hhds. best port wine, and one best Bene Carlo, and ditto best
promac white wine, brisk like champagne, and add 2 cocks and 4 hens of
the largest breed in Holland : also, for my own use, a handsome joint of
a cane, at least three feet long.
PLAYING CARDS, &c.
The cane “for my own use” is a decided mark of advancing prosperity and
importance. _ We may conceive a little of pomposity in worthy Duncan’s
manner, as he set out with this cane in his hand from his three storey
house in Castle Street, to the parish church every Sunday. We have next
a specimen in a small way of the manner in which free trade was carried
on at that period: —
To Mr Alex. Gordon, London,—Sir, I am told that Mogul cards come very
cheap in London, when bought for export, and still cheaper if not stampt;
you will therefore purchase for me 12 grosses, and ship them, well
packed, by first vessel for Rotterdam, consigned to Mr Alex. Livingston,
to my account.
The same day he writes to Mr Livingston—
I have writ to Mr Alex. Gordon, London, to send you by first ship going
over—12 grosses of Mogul playing cards, which, when they arrive, you
will reship by David Mackenzie or David Robertson, but to the special
care of the master. Send at same time 4 reams of London arms writing
paper, and 1 do. gilt, cut in half sheets; send me a hamper or two of
delft, viz.: —4 prettiest roast plates, 2 dozen soup do., and to each 4
dishes; an anker of the very strongest rum to be got; 20 dozen lemons,
and 20 dozen oranges; and a piece of thick cambric, such as is used for
ruffles.
The following to Mr John Hassell, London, 27th November 1746, shows that
Duncan was not a man to be treated with neglect or suspicion : —
I wrote you some time ago to send me some porter by Captain Reid, which
commission you was not pleased to obey, whether doubting my credit or
for what other reason I know not; but this I believe, that General Guest
(who desired me to deal with you or your brother the major) would not
doubt me for a ship-load of porter. You will now send me, by Captain
Hugh Inglis. of the Pledger, eight hhds. of the best fresh porter,
which, if it is not very good, cannot sell here at present, for we have
an army with us who are very good judges. Captain Inglis will pay the
value; but if in your next you doubt me, let me know that my
commissions, whether with or without money, are welcome to you; I’ll
forbear giving you any more trouble.
Air Hassell sent the porter, as appears from the subjoined letter,
addressed to Captain Hugh Inglis, at his house, Shore, Inverness : —
You have here enclosed Mr Campbell hia bill, at three days’ sight, on
the Ordnance Office, Tower, for £30, out of which pay Mr Hassell’s
account for porter, and with what remains you will buy the following
articles—all of the best kind, though they cost the penny more. If the
things you buy tor me exceed the value in your hands, in that event I
allow you to draw on me for not only what you overpay, but also, if you
have occasion for it, any sum you please within a hundred guinea®, and
I hereby promise your bill will meet with due honour. In reading over my
commission, I find it contains more of my wife’s than of mine, so part
betwixt you, for I have obeyed my orders. A handsome stone for the
chimney of my little room that smokes, 18 inches in the ribs; a pieoe of
arras hangings for the partition of said room, 31 yards by 21 high; a
double dozen of ivory-hafted London bladed knives and forks, with a
shagreen case to hold a dozen of spoons, 2 salts, and a marrow spoon; 2
jappaned drinking mugs, to hold a bottle each; 2 firkins best butter; 4
best Gloucester cheeses; 4 choppin bottles best eating oils; 4 firkins
flour; 2 best steel snuffers; a handsome kettle, hard mettle, to contain
about 4 Scotch pints; 4 dozen most fashionable wine glasses; 2 thick
water glasses; 2 glass decanters to hold some more than a bottle; 1
dozen glasses for washing hands at table; 1 glass lamp to hang in the
stair; a pretty lanthorn to hold 2 candles; 6 pair women’s largest best
stockings, viz., 2 pair blue, 2 do. green, 1 do. scarlet, and 1 do.
black; an iron toaster of plates, well polished—what I mean is that
machine that stands before the fire full of plates to keep them till
there is use for them; a table bell.
THE HOUSE IN CASTLE STREET.
Two other letters relate to the embellishment of Duncan’s house in
Castle Street, and from the first of these we learn that the merchant
also had a farm and six cows. To Mr Ralph Carr, Newcastle: —
dairy with a sufficient stock of your earthern-ware, such as is used
with you for holding milk, butter, &c, I should be much obliged to you.
To Messrs George Dunbar and Co., Edinburgh : —
I believe, by the time my wife gets the mournings I wrote you for, it
were time for her to go out of them. I have a little daughter of nine
years, who thinks the finest things she ever saw here not equal to the
coarsest with you, so that I can have no peace till I get her a gown,
shoes, and stockings from Edinbro’. Pray, at how much a yard can I get a
genteel silk, light in colour? I believe a flowered one would please
best, and I think a white ground would not be improper. Give me your
advice, that I may send for it and get rid of her. Can shoes be got by
her age without her measure?
Note.—This is the end of the quotations in the “Courier.” We hear no
more of Mr Duncan Grant, but no doubt he continued to be a prosperous
man. |
