| Description | Copy letter from Colonel Patrick Duff, Fort William (Bengal), to his brother James, London, thanking him and his wife for taking care of his boy Davie, he has altered his will to appoint guardians, noting what James had to say about Durn, asking him to assess from his knowledge of Patrick’s finances whether or not he should make the purchase, wine trade, communicating with Robert in Madeira and assuring him of calico for a shirt, looking forward to receiving boots and shoes, brother William’s trouble travelling in the monsoon, death of Captain Patrick Duff of Whitehill and enclosing a copy of his will, ‘he has left two or three children, which I hope his friends will take care of’, arrival of Peter Duff, Hatton’s second son, ‘it is not in the power of all the interest in India to get a man from the King’s to the Company’s service; it took place last war, it is true, but was in consequence of particular instructions from home’, Peter is the heir to Whitehill, visit to Dr Laird at Beshampore during the hot weather, gossip that he was to be married to Miss Donaldson but barely saw her, ‘no more intention of marrying than I have of blowing my brains out’, glad that Captain Gordon has taken a wife, ‘I am in doubt whether I shall send my little boy Kenneth John home this season or not, he is fairer than his brother Davie but not so stout, he is remarkably good humoured and entertaining, and of course a very great favourite with Papa whom he only comes to visit now and them; his home is at Captain Deare’s where he has been since he was nine days old …’, gossip about mutual acquaintances, news of Peter Gordon, Aberlour’s son, and Gordon, Collergreen’s son, mention of Mr Lawtie, son of the parson of Fordyce, who has a wonderful memory except when it comes to paying his debts, hoping the material has arrived for Mrs Duff and asking if there is anything else he can procure for anyone, he has already sent ‘an Indostan Matchlock and an Indian sword in the Highland manner, that is, with a Basket handle’ … ‘I had some Tomato seed from the servant at Batchelors’ Hall Madeira, they throve here remarkably well, but I think are now degenerating, they were the first of the sort ever seen in this Country … I have a Country house with a very good garden … and I have a Bungelo or straw and matt house … I have a great number of trees, shrubs, flowers etc., all planted with my own hands’, looking for more seeds, enclosing letters to their father and to Captain John Gordon, settlement of Captain Ogilvie’s estate, wine business, effect of a fever on his eyesight, cane with gold top for Robert, set of china for Mrs Duff to be sent home in a year or so, visit from Captain Lawson who has not called to see him, ‘I fancy he will not be able to do anything here as he seems to be known’, ceremonial arrival of General Sloper, bad weather, unhappy at news that Lord Macartney is to be Governor General, ‘he left Madras detested by both Civil and Military’, the breeches and gloves have arrived and are too small, not happy with ‘Pitt’s Bill, some parts of which are so unjust, and so humiliating to those who have been in India’, and outlines the opposition to it in India, acknowledging receipt of more letters, 15 July – 5 August 1785; letter enclosing copy of Captain Patrick Duff’s will for Mr Stuart, minister of Turriff, mention of ceremony for General Sloper, when they were all sunburned, 22 July 1785 |