| Description | Copy letter from James Duff, London, to his brother Patrick, Fort William (Bengal), thanking for his letters, apologising that the boots he sent are too small, sending breeches and gloves by Falmount and snuff (bought by Captain Walker) with the boots, pleased that he wants to buy an estate and recommending Durn, currently owned by ‘your quondam acquaintance and cousin James Dunbar now here a prisoner for debt in the Fleet’, the garden is the best in the country after Cullen House, lengthy description of the amenities and the neighbours, ‘even a smaller income for instance six hundred a year clear would enable you, if you reside constantly in Scotland, to have every comfort and satisfaction, upon a footing with most of the gentlemen there, a good and plentiful table, a glass of port and madeira every day, and a bottle of claret for your choice friends, a chariot and pair for journeys or wet weather, and a pair of good saddle horses for yourself and servant’, suggesting that Patrick should be sure of his income before committing himself, but advising that there are few estates so good as Durn, 3 October 1784 |