| Description | Copy letter from Colonel Patrick Duff, ‘Gardens four miles below Calcutta’ to his brother James, London, regarding uncertainty over Lord Macartney’s appointment, likes the idea of the estate of Knockando, fears that Durn will be too expensive, the mains is let to Keith Dunbar, there is a great deal of land available and this is the time to buy, reasons for not helping the careers of his brothers William and John in India, experimental balloon flights, ‘people will I believe get into the Balloon spirit here as well as in Europe, some persons begin already to talk of going up in them, I wish them much satisfaction in their journey and hope they may avoid falling into any of the lakes or into places infested with Tygers etc. … I hear a large one is to be made by subscription, I will not join in any measure to get people murdered’, Lord Macartney now plans to go home, inadequate paperwork for his appointment, breakfast with General Sloper, ‘Europe shops as we call them are multiplying very fast’, news from uncles at Letterfourie, possible news of James’ wife expecting a child, responses to various items of news in James’ letter, 6 – 10 August 1785 |