Wednesday 1 January 1845 - Jamesirvinerobertson.co.uk

JAMES ROBERTSON'S JOURNAL 

Wednesday 1 January 1845 

Thursday 2 January 1845 1 

Friday 3 January 1845 

Well dry. From the 24th ult until to day the weather continued remarkably fine, and 

latterly very mild and calm, the wind remaining in the S. and S.E. To day the wind 

changed to N.W., the glass fell and there was some rain in the morning, but it cleared 

up at 10 and became a fine day. 

On Tuesday 24th December I went to Achnacroish. Coll sent his Car with me to Salen 

where Possil's groom met me with a Dog Cart. I found the Ladies just going in to Lunch, 

and went with them. Afterwards walked to Lochdon head and met Possil and Kilpatrick 

coming from the new packet which is building there. 

At Dinner George Maclachlan WS and George Campbell R.N. joined us, having been 

out Shooting, and our party was a jolly and agreeable one. 

I was somewhat struck with George Maclachlan's appearance which I thought indicated 

premature old age. He is not only bald, but also gray. I wonder if he looked upon me in 

the same light. I suppose he did, and that we are both sinking into the condition of 

elderly men, though I certainly consider that George is more bald, more gray, and above 

all much more fat than I am. But perhaps he returns me the compliment. As usual he 

was full of Edinburgh anecdotes, jokes and scandal. Among other things he told me that 

Professor Wilson never writes any thing, that he has not done so for years, that George 

Moir is the real Editor of Blackwood; that the Second Division of the Court of Session is 

nearly abandoned on account of the unpopularity of the Justice Clerk (a circumstance I 

hear from all quarters); that he expects an appointment through the Lord Advocate, and 

that Archy McNeill told H Inglis WS that his brother 2 had now only to provide for George 

and Allan Macdougall. 

He told me also of his row with George Leith, or rather of the scrape he had nearly fallen 

into by mentioning an anecdote of Leith to the Lady's brother Johnny Ferrier. And he 

confessed that he himself had nearly proposed to Miss Ferrier but that he wanted 

courage, and that his pride would never suffer him to make an explicit declaration to any 

woman for fear of meeting with a repulse. How strange that men so different in other 

respects as George and I should feel so exactly alike in this matter. 

He farther talked freely of his brother the Laird of Maclachlan, and his sisters Mrs 

Campbell Possil and Mrs Carruthers, and particularly so of Possil whose character he 

appreciates. 

Altogether George displayed a considerable deal of sense and tact, and practical talent, 

but a very limited reach of thought; his knowledge of the world and of society is 

1 For these two days see entry for 3 January 1845. 

2 The Lord Advocate, Duncan McNeill. 

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considerable, but of books extremely superficial. Upon the whole he is a good tempered 

fellow, but with a selfishness peculiar to men who have been "used up". 3 

Kilpatrick is rather more amusing and cleverer than I had given him credit for; but he is a 

small minded man after all, and his temper is not good. I do not much like him. George 

Campbell is slow, rather simple, fond of his wine, but a manly honest fellow, and I like 

him better than before. He is very grave, and very silent. 

Of Possil, Mrs Campbell and the young Ladies I had no reason to change my opinion. I 

like them all, and Miss Campbell in particular is a ladylike, and apparently a most 

amiable and sweet tempered Girl. 

Our day was generally spent thus. A short walk in the morning with Kilpatrick and 

George Campbell. Prayers. Breakfast. A talk with Possil in the dining room. A long walk 

with Kilpatrick and George Campbell. Lunch; and Possil and George Maclachlan who 

were engaged in business in the mornings joined us till dark. I generally accompanied 

Possil, and the others walked by themselves. Dinner at 6. Port, sherry, madeira; three or 

four hocks, clarets &c &c. After tea George Maclachlan, Kilpatrick and Miss Mary 

Campbell played Backgammon; Possil read; and Mrs Campbell and George Campbell 

and Miss Campbell and I played whist. Possil's youngest son Donald came home on 

Saturday. He is a fine boy of 14, studying at a Naval School near Portsmouth. He is 

quite English in his manner and accent. 

I left to day after breakfast. Possil sent his dog cart with me to Salen, and asked me in 

the kindest manner to repeat my visit as often as I could make it convenient. Donald 

came with me to Salen, and we called on Mr Dewar together. I walked home, leaving my 

Carpet Bag at Salen. Called on the Colls en passant and on Miss Macleod on my 

arrival. Every thing quiet in the Town since I left. 

Found Letters from John mentioning that my dear mother has been unwell; from 

William, Sheriff Bruce, and J Maclachlan with his book account. 

Saturday 4 January 1845 

W by S. Rain and breeze; mild. 

No walk. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil with address of Tillicoultry Manufacturers &c. 

Wrote to Emily, Milton, about my mother's illness &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Milton Rent, visit to Achnacroish &c. 

Wrote to Mr Fletcher, Postmaster Aros, not to send Possil's letters &c by Achnacraig. 

Called on Miss Macleod. 

Hypped. 

Letters from William, Mr Kennedy. 

Sunday 5 January 1845 

W by S. Breeze and rain. 

Coll and Alick called and I accompanied them to church. The Rope having broke the 

church bell did not ring, and we were late. 

3 'Used up' had the general meaning of 'exhausted' but in this case JR may have meant that George 

Maclachlan, as a man and as a lawyer, was already past his best. 

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No walk; dismal day; slightly hypped. 

Monday 6 January 1845 

W. Fine day. Slight shower at 3. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about accounts due by me in Edinburgh, and to remit 

balance of my salary; almanacs; Findynate's letter and George Maclachlan. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil, sending John Campbell's receipt for wages; Coll's 

letter to Mr P Maclean; Punch &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; my mother's health &c. 

Called on Nisbet who has been ill with Boils. 

Walked to side of Point. 


Letter from William sending £25. 

Tuesday 7 January 1845 

S W. Fine day; dry and sunny. 

Called at Drimfin. 4 

Mrs Maclean unwell with Liver complaint, and leeched. She is confined to bed. 

Coll showed me the Copy of a Letter he wrote to Mr P Maclean on the subject of the 

Free Church Secession, Mr Maclean's answer, and an unfinished Pencil Draft of his 

own reply. He walked with me by the high road to near Tobermory. I afterward walked to 

the top of the Point. 

Took Tea with Miss Macleod along with Mr Ross. 


S E. Breezy cloudy but dry day. 

Court day; 15 cases in S D Roll; H Macdougall's cases continued. 5 

Pirie just came over from Lochaline. 


Cases of Camerons of Dumbuck and McGilvrays. 

Letters from Emily and Mrs Campbell of Possil. 

Thursday 9 January 1845 

S E. Breeze and showers. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil about her Shawl Clippings; Mrs Maclean of Coll's 

illness; Free Church irritation and its Causes of Schools &c; but principally Miss Kitty 

Ballyscat's dream; Donald C's temperance Party, Minister and boys; singing; Hullah 

system &c; Peter Maclean's correspondence with Coll. 

Note to Donald Edinburgh; law as to Lochbuy's Quarter's Rents &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; my father and mother's health; Court days; curious cases as 

Donald Drovers &c; Morag, Froachan &c &c. 

4 At this time JR generally spells Druimfin as Drimfin. 

5 There had been earlier hearings of cases brought by Hector Macdougall, Merchant, Tobermory; he died 

suddenly later in the year on 27 June. 

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No walk. 

Read Process McGregors. 

Mr Kennedy Strontian took tea with me. 


S by S E. A stormy rainy dark and very dismal day. 

Mr Kennedy breakfasted with me; but though he is a good enough creature he is 

offensively vulgar, and I laid myself out successfully to get quit of him. Beatson too has 

been in the harbour for some days and has repeatedly sent for Newspapers, but I have 

neither gone on board nor asked him here. Why should I burden myself with the 

company of men whose society I dislike. 

After Kennedy was gone I put up a long arrear of letters, and made up my accounts. 

No walk to day. 


S W. Breezy fine day. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh acknowledging receipt of £25; about Mr Wm Kennedy's 

visit; housekeeping. 

Wrote to A L Macdonald Sheriff Substitute Stornoway, recapitulating D Macnaughton's 

observations on the additional items in the 2nd edition of his account current. 

Coll called and left with me copy of his correspondence with Mr P Maclean. Walked with 

him to Drimfin and home by upper road. 

No post. 


S W. Fine day; breezy; slight showers. 

The Toward Castle Steamer came in to day at 10 o'clock in the morning, having come 

round the Mull of Kintyre on Thursday and been detained at Islay ever since. I went 

down on its arrival, saw McDonald the Master and got my travelling bag which had been 

lying at Salen since my return from Achnacroish on the 3rd. 

Went to church with Coll and Alick; Mrs Maclean I am sorry to understand is rather 

worse. Captain Beatson in church. 

The Post came in and letter from Donald about William and Mary. 



E by S. Fine breezy day. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about his household matters, recommending him to 

overlook "foibles and frailties" of William and Mary; William's apparent insensibility to 

benefits conferred since 1828 downwards, 6 £50 to John &c. 

6 JR's youngest brother William came to Edinburgh as a 16 year old clerk in 1828. In the entry for 17 April 

1844 JR puts it on record that he and his brother Donald had supported William in many ways, financial 

and otherwise, and had him living with them "free of all expense of board, rent or lodging". This seems to 

have continued after JR left Edinburgh in 1841 until William married in December 1843, since when 

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Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil sending Extract from Donald's letter about her son 

Donald; Coll and Mr P Maclean &c. 

Made copy of correspondence between Coll and P M, and gave originals to Mr Ross 

who took tea with me. 

Letters from Emily; my mother better; and from William. 


W. Morning fine and sunny. S E Evening, cloudy and breeze. 

Called with Mr Ross at Drimfin where we found Miss Roy. Mrs Maclean rather worse. 

On our return met Coll and Capt Campbell here; Coll showed Revd P Maclean's third 

Letter. 

Capt Campbell dined with me. 


S E. Breezy dry morning. Showers in the Evening. 

Court day; a few ordinary actions only. 

Coll called and shewed me letter of this date to Mr P Maclean. 

Pennycross, Killiemore and Mr Ross called; and in the Evening Mr Pirie called about 

Process McGregor (Removing). 

Accompanied Coll to near Drimfin. 

Letter from William enclosing 20 pages of his article on Scotch Criminal Law. 


S E. Showers and breeze. 

Letter from Mrs C Possil this morning and Quarterly Review came by Callum Post's 

wife. 

Pennycross and Killiemore breakfasted with me. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh acknowledging receipt of and commenting upon his article 

on Crime. and about succession of Miss Campbell of Glenfeuchan. 

Miss Macleod passed the Evening with me. Coll is at Quinish, Mrs Maclean is better, 

and Miss Roy with her. 


S. Rain all day; calm and mild. 

Steamer came from the south this morning. 

Nisbet called; then Angus Cameron; then Dr Lachlan Rum to whom I explained the risk 

incurred by the Free Ministers in marrying without proclamation of banns in the Parish 

Churches, and who talked sensibly on the subject, thanked me for my kindness in 

warning them and promised to advise them to comply with the legal requisites in future. 

Dined with Nisbett; present Miss Macleod, Achaleek and Mr Hart the new Distiller. Mr 

Ross and Mr Stewart Ardnamurchan came in to Tea and supper. 

William and his wife had lived with Donald paying "only a nominal board". Furthermore, JR notes that 

when he left Edinburgh he "made over his business" to William "allowing him at the same time from £200 

to £300 of debts standing in [his] books to enable him to commence business on easy terms". 

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No walk. 


S. Breeze and rain all day. 

Wrote to Emily Milton, responding to her last letter; account of Dr Rum's visit. 

Pennycross and Killymore dined with me. 

John McCallum 7 called about being admitted as a Procurator. 8 

Letter from Jane Banchor. Mrs Clarke Dalnavert's death. Donald Macdiarmid. 


S. Cold and dry breeze. Snow on high hills. 

Wrote 2 copies of Coll and P Maclean's correspondence. 

Walked to Erray. 

To church; Coll there with Alick and Jane Albyn. 


N. Cold breeze. Snow showers, but almost dry. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil with Coll correspondence; Free Church Ministers in 

Ardnamurchan and violent Lay preachers; classification of Frees and Moderates gave 

offence to Mr Kennedy; Mr David; proclamation of Banns question and Dr Lachlan; Mr 

Ross and Mr D S; visit of Misses Kitty and Flory Ballyscat, and of Killymore; Fete in 

School house at Achnacroish; lichen for distemper; Mrs Maclean better; Schools and 

Precentors; PS about daily post to Mull &c. 

Wrote to Sheriff Bruce Edinburgh; Business of District, criminal cases falling off, 

ordinary actions as usual; S D and References increasing; submission by Sir J M and 

McColl; settling differences of Frees and Moderates about Proclamation of Banns and 

attack on School; visits to Quinish and Achnacroish &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh with Coll correspondence and about Campbelltown; to 

speak to Lord Advocate and Sheriff Bruce. 

Private Note to Ditto and that Sir John Campbell is said to be applying. 

No walk. 

In Evening looked over Submission Sir J Riddell. 


S. Showers. Breeze. 

Tried Duncan Henderson for cutting tree in Drimfin wood; he pleaded guilty, 5 days 

imprisonment. 


Hypped. 

7 This is the first reference to John MacCallum in the Journal, suggesting that he had only recently arrived 

to practise as a writer in Tobermory 

8 A Procurator is one who manages the affairs of, or is authorized to act for, another; it also refers to an 

agent in a law court. 

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S W. Showers. Breeze. 

Court day. Ordinary cases only. 

Called at Drimfin, and Coll came to Ballyscat with me on my return. 

Letters from William, Emily, Sheriff Clerk Inveraray with Precept for taking evidence of 

fiar's prices. 

Going to Oban to morrow. 


S. Evening S W and W. Rainy and storm; very bad day. 

This morning at 6 o'clock I got up and while dressing Tom Smith came up to tell me that 

the morning was most unfavourable, and that the probability was we could not get to 

Oban in a boat. I told him if it did not look better between 9 and 10 o'clock that I would 

ride up to the Grass Point; and to get me a horse. He came back at 9 by which time the 

storm had become much more violent. He sent me a pony and I rode off at 10 with a 

strong wind and heavy rain blowing right in my face. Fed my horse at Salen and called 

on Mr Dewar. Rode off again and by the time I got to Scallastle the Storm had abated; 

but my pony which was a miserable little black rat of a creature could then scarcely 

crawl. Corned it again at Craignure, but could not feed. Rode on to try and over take Mr 

Parr of the P O who was to cross over to Oban; and after a very tedious day reached 

the Grass Point soon after night fall. Mr Parr had sailed nearly an hour before; and I 

remained at the Point. 

Old Norman Macleod and the Schoolmaster Grant in the house. 

My saddlebags completely saturated with the rain and all their contents destroyed. 


W. Fine day. Sunshine; one or two very slight showers. 

Crossed the ferry of Achnacraig at 7 in the morning in a row boat, and made out the 

passage in an hour. Walked across the Island of Kerrera in 40 minutes. Reached Oban 

in good time for breakfast; breakfasted with Achadashennaig; saw Mr Parr (a great 

whiskey drinker). Achadashennaig says that the Marchioness of Lorn is enceinte. 

The Duke of Argyll's factors Stewart of Glenbuckie and Robertson Inveraray in Mull 

about letting farms which looks ill for poor Achadashennaig. 

84 cases in S D Roll; began at quarter before 11 and finished at quarter after 2. 

10 cases continued. 

Walked back again to the Ferry; sailed for Mull at 4 and took from 3 to 4 hours crossing. 

Refreshment at Grass Point; young Norman and his sister Mary. 

Rode to Achnacroish and arrived as the Ladies were sitting down to Tea. Very kindly 

received by Mrs Campbell. 

Possil and Quinish who was there looking after the wrecked Schooner in Scallastle Bay 

soon joined us, Possil in great good humour and his face shining like the Moon, sure 

indications of a claret sederunt. 9 

Quinish left us soon after the Ladies retired, 10 and the Colonel and I sat up till 12. 

9 A claret drinking session. 

JBL 11/1/06 7



W and N. Rainy and bad day. 

Could not leave to day from the state of the weather and none of us went out all day. 

Sat with Possil and Capt Campbell in the dining room in the forenoon, and with the 

Ladies in the Drawing room till dinner time. Dr McColl of Salen called. 

Mrs Campbell conversed a great deal, and cleverly and agreeably. After tea Mrs 

Campbell and Marion played Backgammon, and Possil and Quinish talked together. 

I sat with Miss Campbell who for the first time, that I had ever observed, spoke freely 

and unreservedly. She is certainly a remarkably accomplished, intelligent and pleasing 

girl. 

Watchmaker's book. To bed at 11. 

Wrote to Sheriff Bruce Edinburgh about Oban Court. 


N. From 1 to 6 a m a Hurricane. Gale all day. 

The Brigantine Vibilia of London driven ashore in Dowart bay and much injured. A 

Schooner and Sloop driven ashore in Scallastle bay. Went down and saw the Vibilia 

with Capt Campbell. Left him with the Master, and walked to Church with Possil. The 

Ladies and Donald drove. 

Went with Possil to Chas MacDougalls to enquire about Vessels in Scallastle bay. 

Dinner, and worship after tea. Conversation with Mrs and Miss Campbell and Donald 

about Jacobitism. Another very pleasant Evening. Donald is a fine boy. 


N W. Snow. Showers. 

This looked an unpromising morning , and poor Donald was going off by boat to Oban, 

and from thence to proceed to his School near Portsmouth via Inveraray, Edinburgh &c. 

I do not know whether he got across to Oban, as I left myself soon after breakfast. 

Possil gave me Bank order for £8.3.9 to pay his account to George Black Tobermory. 

Capt Campbell rode up towards Scallastle with me, and returned with two or three of the 

wrecked Skippers whom we met on the road going down to Achnacroish to Protest 

against Wind and Weather before Possil as a J P. 

Mrs Clerk the Minister of Torosay's wife had a son (the first) this morning at 7. 

Fed my pony at Salen and saw Dewar. Home at night-fall. 

Letter from William with more of his article on Crimes; and from Donald that he had 

shown my first letter of the 20th to the Lord Advocate, and that he considers 

Campbelltown is safe, and that I will be sure to be appointed on McTaggart's retirement. 

N E. Cold clear day. 


10 Captain Campbell, Quinish, was still at Achnacroish in the morning, showing that he went to bed before 

JR and his host, but did not, as might be thought, leave the house. 

JBL 11/1/06 8


Nisbet called. I called on Miss Macleod who is better. Paid George Black's account 

against Possil. 

Sally Willis again. 

Went to Drimfin, met Mr Ross and took him with me. Mrs Maclean is still confined. Coll 

shewed me the draft of a letter he is writing to McNicoll of Coll, and accompanied us on 

our return to near Tobermory. 

Read Submission Sir J Riddell and McColl. 

Dr McColl called with Deposition executed by Major Maclaine. 


Shifting from S E to W. Snowy and cold breeze and showers. 

Court day. 11 Small Debt Cases. Quinish dined with me. No walk. 

Letter from A L Macdonald about accounts. 


W. Shifting. Deep snow. Calm. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil with Bag of Shawl parings; her son Donald leaving; 

Lord Advocate travelling to London on 1st February; Mrs Maclean Coll still confined to 

her room; Coll's correspondence; guano; &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh; short letter acknowledging his last packet; journey to Oban. 

Wrote to Donald, Gwyder House London; thanking him about Campbelltown; Lord 

Advocate; Sir J Campbell &c; Mull news; i e Letting of Ross farms; 11 Achdashennaig; 

Marchioness of Lorn to be confined in July &c; Coll Correspondence; journey to Oban. 

All day before dinner engaged in hearing parties in Riddell and McColl Submission; 

Kennedy and McColl. 

No walk. 


W. Frost. More snow than I ever saw in Mull. 

Engaged from 10 in the morning to 10 at night in taking proof in Submission Riddell and 

McColl. 

Saturday 1 February 1845 

S. Calm day. Snow still on ground. 

Finished proof in Submission. Verbal References. McFee of Fortwilliam's adultery case. 

Walked to Erray and on Erray road. 

Letters from: Priest Rankin recommending Donald McDonald for Tide Waiter 12 ; from 

Mrs R Irvine, journey to Strathtay, Free Church &c; from Donald, packing for London. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh with authority to act for Ballyscats. 

S. Thaw; much rain. 

Sunday 2 February 1845 

11 Ross refers to Ross of Mull. 

12 A Tide Waiter [or Tides Man] was a customs officer who waited the arrival of ships. 

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Miss Roy very ill for the last three or four days with inflammation. 

I feel unwell to night myself with a bowel complaint; but I hope a good night's rest will 

cure me; "In -le dom me speravi". 

Monday 3 February 1845 

N W. Fine dry mild day; snow gone. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh returning his article revised and with D Macdiarmid's Letter. 

Wrote to David Macdiarmid, Portnellan, Pitlochry, referring him to William. 

Wrote to Ranold Rankin, Roman Catholic Priest, Moidart by Strontian, that I cannot 

procure the situation of Tide Waiter for Donald Macdonald Police Officer. 

Wrote to Donald, 9 Charles St Grosvenor Square London, enclosing Rankin and Mrs R 

Irvine's Letters; William's article &c; short. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; account of journey to Oban &c; long. 

No walk. 

Quinish called on his way to Sale of Guano to morrow; Alick Coll too. 

Tuesday 4 February 1845 

N W. Mild misty calm day. 

Mrs Dugald McColl called about Sea Ware 13 from Mingary and others called about 

other disputes. 

Walked to the side of the Point. 

Called on Miss Macleod; Miss Roy is better and sitting in Parlour. 

Letter from Sheriff Bruce with Letter of Credit for 14 Guineas being my share of Lochbuy 

Sasine [illegible], 14 and approving of what I did in Church disputes; letter from Mrs 

Campbell of Possil with mad Parson Fraser's mad letter to Mrs Lamont; 15 and from Mr 

Stewart Ardnamurchan about Coll correspondence. 

Wednesday 5 February 1845 

N by W. Breeze. Showers. 

Adjourned Court. 

Called on Miss Macleod and with Mr Ross on Coll and shewed him Mr David Stewart's 

Letter. 

Quinish came when we were at Drimfin. Quinish afterwards called and took Tea with 

me. I was very sorry to hear from him in confidence how very bad a state poor Coll's 

pecuniary affairs are in. 

Quinish told that the Guano was principally purchased yesterday by Downie of Glasgow 

at £6.11.0 per Ton. He himself and others bought 10 Ton. 

Ross Farms. 16 

13 Sea Ware is seaweed. 

14 See 441206 for giving Lochbuy the Sasine; the illegible word clearly refers to the fee shared by JR with 

Scipio McTaggart. 

15 Mrs Lamont was one of Mrs Campbell's daughters and the first of Possil's daughters to marry. 

16 Ross refers to Ross of Mull, where farm tenancies were being re-negotiated at this time. 

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Thursday 6 February 1845 

N. Hard frost and breeze. Light snow showers. 

Wrote to Sheriff Bruce Edinburgh acknowledging 14 guineas; Coll's correspondence has 

done good; return from Oban; Possil's hospitality; cases from Tyree and Ross of 

Shooting and Cutting; &c. 

Wrote to Donald 9 Charles St Grosvenor Square London, enclosing Sheriff Bruce's letter 

of 1st with comments. 

Wrote to D McIntyre County Clerk Inveraray with extract from Minutes of Road Meeting 

in May 1844 (Resolution 6) and enquiring what the opinion of Counsel is. 

Nisbet called to report complaint by George Maclean, Haynish, Tyree of two Shots 

having been fired at his house &c. 

Callum Post, Dugald Jailor &c called about Nets; awarded 5 shillings to Dugald, the 

others to retain nets and appendages, and paid 1 shilling of the 5 myself. 

Niel Macphail called to borrow £3!!!; the impudent rascal. 


Sandy Macdougall's revelations in the Evening; very cold. 

Friday 7 February 1845 

S E. Calm, frosty and shifting. Dry but not sunny. 

Took Declaration of D Macdonald, Tailor, Ross of Mull, accused of Cutting and maiming. 


Walked to Point, and wrote Letters. 


S by E. Dry, strong beeze. Gray day. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil; Callum Post and tail; "Young Lady" and her story; mad 

Parson's mad Letter; Colls; schools, Ministers and other Tobermory news. 

Walked to upper Drimfin gate, and met Coll coming from Quinish on my return. 

Letters from: Donald, first of the season from London; William Edinburgh; and J 

McGregor Fort William about Submission Sir J Riddell and McColl. 

Wrote to Margaret 5 South Hanover Street about their own prosperous affairs; my 

visiting this winter; &c. 

Wrote to Jane Banchor about their Badenoch news; visiting in Mull; Bialled's Poem; 

Strowan's visit to Banchor, clanship &c. 


S E. Constant rain and sleet. At night W and calm. 

No walk. To Church with Coll and Alick, and called on Miss Macleod. 


S E. Dry breezy day. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about my mother's health; Hiring Servant, Mary MacColl, 

Irishwoman and Coll's cook; Morag and Manse at the Manse. 

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Wrote to Mary 66 Great King Street about Hiring Servant &c. 17 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about his article. 

No walk. 

Letters from D McIntyre and A L Macdonald. 


S W. Raw moist day, dry almost. 

Meeting with Nisbet and Pirie in Submission Riddell. 

Received Precognition Macdonald. 

Called on Mr Ross and found Mr Fraser of Ulva with him. 


In the Evening after tea wrote Notes on Sir J Riddell's side of the account in 

Submission between him and McColl. 

Steamer came in at 11. 


S E. Showers; rain in Evening, and at night. 

Mr Ross and Mr Fraser breakfasted with me. 

Adjourned Court. 

Achdashennaig dined with me. Called on Miss Macleod. 

No walk. 

Finished Notes in Submission Sir James Riddell, a very fashious job. 

After 9 and no post. 


W. Much rain in the previous night. Mild. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil in answer to a note received from her this morning 

about sailing of George Black's Smack "the Flora"; about Mrs McLean's new parings &c. 

Wrote to Revd Jas Dewar, Salen, with my copy of the Coll correspondence. 

Wrote to A L Macdonald, Sheriff Substitute Stornoway about his accounts against 

Glencripesdale; Letter and Interlocutor writing &c. 

Wrote to Dun Macnaughton, Glencripesdale, Strontian, with Mr Macdonald's two last 

accounts received last night by Post. 

Mr Ross called after breakfast, and McNab and his Cousin the builder in the Evening. 

No walk. 



N. Cold. Snow on hills. Squalls and light snow showers. 

17 These two letters seem to have been the first steps taken by JR to find a replacement for his servant 

Mary McColl. It may be noted that he looked outside Mull for these later servants. His sister in law in 

Edinburgh found the first replacement, Mary MacCallum, who arrived in May 1845 but only stayed for six 

months. The second replacement, Chirsty Webster, was found by his sister Margaret in Glasgow and 

arrived in November 1845. 

JBL 11/1/06 12


Mr Ross breakfasted with me, and afterwards we called to see the insane patient of Dr 

Sinclair, Ewen McColl, Lettaig. 

Took evidence of Miller and Distiller (Hart) as to Fiar's price. 

Walked to burn. 

People calling about disputes. John Campbell working and pruning hedges. 

Miss Macleod passed Evening with me. 


N. Snow still on top of hills. Almost dry. 

Went with Nisbet and Dr Sinclair to Jail to see Lunatic; granted warrant for his 

confinement. 

People calling on business. 

Walked to Point. 

Read Quarterly. Post not come at half past 10 p m. 


S E. Dry, except one heavy shower at 2 o'clock. 

Walked before breakfast to top of Point, and again at 2 to new gate at Erray. 

To church. Campbells Quinish there. 

Captain Campbell came in at 7 and passed Evening with me. 

Post came in. Letters from Revd J Macleod about assault by red Donald Mackinnon; 

from Donald about assault by Galbraith of Machrihanish. 


S E. Dry gloomy breezy day. 

Gave Nisbet Precognition taken by Mr Sinclair JP in case of assault against Donald 

Mackinnon. 

Wrote to Donald 9 Charles Street Grosvenor Square London about Campbelltown; not 

irritable; improvement in temper owing to Small Debt Court!! Galbraith's secret told by 

Scipio ; Kintyre people quarreling; William's article must be written by himself and 

revised by his friends; Politics; Scottish banking; effect of abolishing one pound Notes; 

Tobermory, Fort William and Oban; Tenants, rents, Landlords, Merchants, Servants; 

Argyllshire and the Advocate and Sir Robert; 18 anecdote of English Robbers and 

Saunders 1 shilling; One Pound. 


S E. Dry breezy gray and mild day. 

Miss Macleod walked on the lawn after breakfast; joined her, and observed Primroses 

and daisies in blossom for the first time this season. She came in with me, and Nisbet 

called with warrants for signature; afterwards Coll to consult me about buying in his 

plate for his son from his Creditors [?] and their Trustee. 

Miss Macleod left us, and when we were talking Miss Kitty Ballyscat called with a letter 

from her cousin Mrs George Campbell about Miss Campbell Glenfeuchan's succession. 

18 Peel the Prime Minister. 

JBL 11/1/06 13


Walked by low road and home by Erray. Talked with Sinclair about purchase of bay 

mare. 

Hair cut. 

Country people calling to settle disputes. 

Paper and Envelopes from Cameron. 


S E. Fine dry breezy gray day. 

Small Debts Court day. Tried D Mackinnon, Drover, who pleaded guilty to assault; fined 

him 2 Guineas. 

Walked to Drimfin. Coll came back with me to upper gate. Mrs Maclean still invisible. 

After dinner walked to side of Point and called on Miss Macleod. 

Letters from Emily and William. 


W. Fine mild sunny day. 

Wrote to Emily, Milton, about my mother's health; servant; Possil and Colls; Small Debts 

Court case of sailors and weeping witness; red Donald Drover's trial. 

Wrote to Mary 66 Gt King St; servant; offering £10 to Mary MacCallum; &c &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Ballyscait's succession; will draw lots for shares of it. 

Wrote to A L Macdonald Stornoway approving his Interlocutor and note in Seaforth v 

Oliver. 

Wrote to J Macleod, Manse of Morven; trial and sentence of D Mackinnon. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil about sale of horse (Erray) to Col Campbell. 

Walked after dinner to top of Point , and along with Mr Ross took tea with Miss Macleod. 

Fine night; full moon. 


S. Very fine sunny day. Breeze at night. 

Trial of Angus Gillies and Charles Cameron for assault; not proven. 

Took Declaration of Angus and [blank] Sinclair Tyree for firing at George Maclean 

Haynish's house. 19 

Walked to side of Point; met with Mr Ross at Erray new dyke and returned to Point 

again with him. 

Read Dublin University Magazine. 

Beatson in town. 


S E. Dry gray day. Breeze. 

Walked to top of Point and home by Well and Moor. 


Note from Mrs Campbell Possil. 

Napier's Montrose returned. 

19 See 450206. 

JBL 11/1/06 14



Calm. N. Very beautiful sunny day. Warm. 

Walked to top of Point and after dinner to top of near Erray plantation. 

To church; collection for Church Schemes. 


N E. Fine dry day; sunny about 1. 

Wrote to Donald 9 Charles Street Grosvenor Square London enclosing Mary's last; my 

mother's health; his coming down at Easter; 20 Emily; Sir R Peel's financial Scheme; 

Lord Dalhousie; Scotch Banks &c. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil; Sinclair's horse; Donald Possil; Charles Maclean 

proposed schoolmaster for Torosay; McNab and McFadyen; the latter's "adoo"; 21 

Buinible [?] and Liston; sending Mark Napier's Montrose; Kilpatrick and Breacacha's 

colds and Possil's wine; cases of assault; the Tailor and his razor, and Donald Roy 

Drover, his fight, Trial, love affair with Miss Sinclair; new Laird &c. 

After dinner walked to side of Point. 

Letters from Emily, my mother better, and Donald about his money matters. 


S E. Clear breezy morning. Rain and strong breeze at 6 Evening. 

Examined Riemore accounts, a tedious business that reminded me of former days. 22 

Pirie called with letter from McColl about Submission. 

Nisbet with Petitions in cases of Lunatics; pronounced Interlocutors in Lachlan Maclean 

and Flora Cameron's cases finding Heritors of their Parishes liable. 

Called on D Sinclair, who is unwell, at his request. 


W. Mild weeping day. 

Steamer came in at 8 Morning and Mr Nairne arrived by it. 

Mr Ross called and I walked with him to side of Point. 

Letters from William and A L Macdonald. 


S E. Clear breezy day. 

Wrote to Donald 9 Charles Street London about Riemore account &c. 

Wrote to Emily, Milton about my mother; interruptions by writers &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh with names and designations of Ballyscait family, and for 

copies of Riemore C A. 

20 'Coming down' is of course a reference to Donald coming down from London on a visit to Scotland. 

21 This must surely have been a joking attempt to reproduce the American pronunciation of "adieu". 

22 The legal and financial affairs of the Robertsons of Riemore were one of the matters which, when JR 

left Edinburgh in 1841, he handed over with relief to his brother William. 

JBL 11/1/06 15


Wrote to Wm Simmons 46 Judd Street Brunswick Square London with P O order for 

£1.6.6 for 2 quarters of Times. 

Wrote to A L Macdonald S S Stornoway recommending to give Mr Pirie £20 or £25. 

Wrote to C M Fraser General Register House Edinburgh; no Barony Courts in this 

District. 

Walked to Ballyscait. 

Inspected Jail. 


S E. Breeze. Clear day. 

Mr Nairne called and I accompanied him to Drimfin; saw Coll, Quinish and Alick there; 

walked with Nairne until 5 and was much pleased with him. 

Drafted Decree Arbitral 23 in Submission Riddell and MacColl. 

Sailors refused to work and called with the Master (Duncan) for advice. 

Saturday 1 March 1845 

S E. Showers of sleet. Snow on the hills which are white. 

Mr Nairne breakfasted with me; an agreeable companion. 

Nisbet called with Precognition in Salen case of assault. 


Letters from Mrs Campbell Possil and Mrs William. 

Sunday 2 March 1845 

W. Weeping calm day; mist. Snow still on hills. 

To Church with Coll and Alick and Jane Albyn. 

Mr Nairne dined with me; a good social fellow, amusing and easily amused; drinks well; 

is good tempered; plain, and afraid of fine people, fine manners and especially so of 

family worship, and pious people. Upon the whole I decidedly like him. 

Monday 3 March 1845 

N E. Very beautiful sunny day. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil that I had paid Miss MacNab; suggestions as to orders 

to Tillicoultry Manufacturers; 24 C Maclean Salen; Examination of Schools; Coll and 

Ardgour about publishing correspondence; Mr Nairne. 

Wrote to Mary 66 Edinburgh about Mary MacCallum. 

Went with Mr Ross and Mr Nairne to look for site for School. Afterwards with Mr Nairne 

to Calve where I landed for the first time. 

In the Evening the Minister of Ardnamurchan came in. 

Letter from Andrew Fraser, Fortwilliam, about Lunatic. 

Tuesday 4 March 1845 

S E. Gray cloudy day; almost rainy. 

23 A Decree Arbitral is an arbitration judgment. 

24 Tillicoultry was a centre for the manufacture of woollens. 

JBL 11/1/06 16


Pirie called and I gave him Draft Decree Arbitral Sir J Riddell. 

An immense number of people called about business. 


Called on Miss Macleod; both she and Miss Roy are ill with bad colds. 

Dugald Campbell came in the Evening and I gave him Medicine. 

Wednesday 5 March 1845 

S E. Very fine sunny day. Snow on tops of high hills. 

Alick Coll called; then Achaleek; Mr Nisbet; Mr Ross; Mr Dewar of Salen; and Coll. 

Went down with Coll and examined as a Witness in the case of Captain Wood and his 

Sailors. 25 

Called with Coll at Miss Macleods and saw Mrs Maclean Coll for the first time for 2 

months. She looked very well. Went with Coll first to proposed sites of School House 

and to Drimfin. 

In the Evening Mr Ross came to tea and shewed Letter from Mr Rose Invergordon 

about Parish of Roskeen. 

Letters from Donald London and William with Riemore C A. 

Thursday 6 March 1845 

A very beautiful sunny calm day. 

Duncan MacLucash and others called and I settled the Cow case for them. 26 

Captain Wood called about Mutineers; and afterwards with Nisbet. 

Dr Maclean Rum called with Complaints, and Coll came to the window at the same time. 

Afterwards Nairne called 

Wrote to Mary Edinburgh countermanding hiring of Mary MacCallum. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Riemore accounts &c. 

Wrote to Donald 9 Chas St about buying books in London; Donald Possil; Mary 

MacCallum; Nairne; Coll's correspondence and publication of it; Andrew Fraser &c &c. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil about Donald Possil; Mrs McColl; Mr Nairne a 

chevalier sans peur; Schools, Gaelic, planting; gardening; telling truth and packing 

portmanteaus. 

Went out with Coll; met Sir Chas Gordon, who is lame and looks ill. 

Nairne accompanied Coll and I to Drimfin, and Coll having left us we walked to Lakes 

and saw about 16 men at work on Moss. Nairne is a man of more taste and refinement 

than I had given him credit for, and I like him better and better. 

McCallum called in the Evening about Sailors &c. 

Friday 7 March 1845 

N. Fine gray day. 

Examined case of Hugh MacColl, Tobermory lunatic; took precognition and committed 

him to Glasgow Jail. 

25 Presumably this is the same case as that involving Captain Duncan and his sailors on 28 February, 

when JR did not give the correct name for the Captain. 

26 See entries for 5 November and 2 December 1844. 

JBL 11/1/06 17


Afterwards called with Mr Nairne at Drimfin and saw Mrs Maclean; then we walked on to 

Ardnacross, called on Capt Campbell and returned by Ebermore, 27 the first time I ever 

took that route. 


E. Dry gray day. 

Mr Nairne called to walk with me, but I was engaged all day in trying Seamen of the 

Schooner Waterloo for refusing to obey orders. J Ps convicted them; sentence 2 days 

imprisonment. 

Walked after dinner to top of Point. 

Letters from Donald London; from Mary Edinburgh enclosing paper of Engagement 

signed by Mary MacCallum; from Wm Simmons acknowledging £1.6.6; and from John 

Maclaren, Manse of Grandtully. 


E. Calm beautiful gray day. 

Walked with Mr Nairne to Drimfin and home by high road. 

To church with Colls. 

Walked before dinner to Erray gate. 

Cut my cheek with Razor this morning. 


N. Dry gray day. One slight shower. 

Wrote to Donald London returning Sophy Helen's Letter; marriages; law appointments; J 

McCallum and sailors; Mr Nairne. 

Wrote to Aunt Betsey; enquiries about Atholl friends; Mr Nairne. 

Wrote to Revd John Maclaren, Manse of Grandtully by Aberfeldy; that I know nothing of 

the Will of Dr Patrick Robertson of Calcutta. 

Walked by low road and home by Erray; shower at burn. 

Letters from D Munro Stornoway, and from Mrs Campbell Possil about Donald Possil's 

appointment as naval cadet. 

981017 


N. Cold snow showers. 

The Minister of Tyree and Coll called; not together; indeed they do not seem to have 

any great time for each other. Nisbet and A Cameron also called about Tyree 

precognition. 

Walked with Coll to Drimfin and home by high road; met Miss Campbell Breacacha and 

Jane Albyn in the High Waterfall Walk. 

Mr Nairne confined to the house by a cold yesterday and to day; did not see him to day. 

27 It is probable that 'Ebermore' is probably 'Apper Mor' as shown in the 1976 Ordnance Survey map. 

JBL 11/1/06 18



N E. Cold fine sunny day. 

Court day; only a few cases in the ordinary action Roll. 

After breakfast Lochbuy came in, and I went with him and Mr Nairne to Drimfin where 

we saw the family and Miss Campbell Breacacha and her cousin Alexander Campbell. 

Went with Coll to see the Labourers working at Drains; and Coll came in to Tobermory 

with us. Mr Nairne and Lochbuy dined with me, and the latter remained all night. 

Letters from Emily; William and Mary; and D Munro Stornoway. 


N. Fine frosty sunny day. Showers of snow and hail in Evening. 

After breakfast called with Lochbuy on Mr Nairne, and the former rode off. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil thanking for intimating Donald's appointment; Capt 

Macdougall; steamer; Miss MacNab sending parings; 28 Mr Nairne's admiration of 

Carpets &c; mode of Waling them; Coll and Mrs Maclean well; to remove in beginning of 

May; Coll's affecting attempts to look cheerful; Cares; L.S.D.; Lochbuy not much of a 

wolf; Mr Nairne a gentleman in grain; employing people; Gaelic; not going to Lochbuy; 

Sir C Gone; Revd Duncan's cases; Minister of Tyree; marriages in his family; Norman 

Macleod; &c &c. 

Wrote to Donald London that Donald Possil has got his appointment; County Committee 

to watch the Scotch pound note measures. 

Wrote to Emily Milton short letter about sundries. 

Wrote to Mary Edinburgh about Servant &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh short letter about sundries. 

Wrote to Donald Munro Writer Stornoway advising him not to come here. 

Walked before dinner with Mr Nairne through Ebermore and the two Ebers bog 29 to a 

point that commands a magnificent view up the Sound that I never saw before. Home 

about dark by high road. 

Have a cold. 

Dr and Mrs McLeod Morven visiting Miss Macleod. 


N E. Cold day. Showers of snow. 

A bad cold of hoarseness; did not go out. 

Dr Macleod and Mr Ross dined with me. Mr Nairne called. 


E. Cold clear day. Snow on hills; severe weather. 

Cold better. 

Coll, Dr Macleod and Mr Ross called, and I went upstairs with them to see Mrs Macleod. 

The Macleods left. 

28 Parings were probably cut off pieces of cloth sent as samples. 

29 It is possible that 'Ebermore' and 'Ebers bog' are identical with what are shown in the 1976 Ordnance 

Survey map as Apper Mor and Apper Beag. 

JBL 11/1/06 19


Mr Nairne called; he is unwell too. 

I admitted Niel Macphail to day as a Sheriff Officer. 

Note from Mrs Campbell Possil; intimation of the death of Lieut Alexander P Campbell 

son of my relative Capt Archibald Campbell, Perth. 

Finished "St Ronan's Well". 


S E. Cold dry day; very. 

Coll and Alick called in the morning, and Nairne after dinner. 

Did not go out. Better. 


Calm. Shifting. Frosty morning. Slight thaw at night. 

Walked to Drimfin and saw Coll and Mr Nairne superintending the landing of Mr Nairne's 

trees &c. Saw Mrs Maclean. 

Nisbet asked me to dinner to day; declined. 

Coll asked me to morrow; will go if my cold is better. 

The ice at the lower end of Drimfin Loch bearing to day; Alick came running across on it. 

Called at School of Industry. 

Mr Ross passed the Evening with me. 

Letter from Mr Macdonald Stornoway agreeing to give Mr Pirie £20. 

Letter from William intimating that Mr Hopkirk WS had made an offer of entering into 

partnership with him. I am heartily glad of this as showing the estimation in which 

William's character and qualifications are held. I hope they may agree as to terms. Mr 

Hopkirk is a highly respectable man, and I approve of the connection. 


N. Calm fine frosty day. 

Examination of Schools to day, but I could not attend having been engaged in taking a 

proof in Gemmell's Ardnamurchan fishing cases from 11 to half past 4. 

Dined with Nairne at Drimfin. 


N. Fine frosty day. Cold. 

Walked with Mr Nairne through Drimfin grounds; Ebers; surveyed approach &c. Called 

with him at Drimfin. He came up after dinner. 

Letters from Mary that servant is engaged, from Donald, from Mrs C Possil with copy of 

her letter to Minister. 


N. Fine sunny frosty day. 

No walk. 

Wrote to Donald London about William and Mr Hopkirk &c &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Ditto. 

JBL 11/1/06 20


Wrote to Mary Edinburgh about hiring servant; approving. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Mr Clerk and her letter to him. 

Mr Nairne left to day. He is an excellent fellow and I like him much. 


S. Dismal day of wind and rain. 

No walk and no one called but Dugald Jailer. 

Letter from J McCallum enclosing his Discharged Indenture and certificates. 

Cold better. 


S by S W. Dirty, rainy and windy day. 

No walk. 

Wrote to D McNaughton, Glencripesdale, by Strontian. 

"I have now gone over and examined the whole of Mr A L Macdonald's accounts 

against Mr Stewart from 1835 to 1843, and having taxed them and struck a balance I 

have pronounced my award finding Mr Macdonald entitled to £21.17.3 (including 

interest to 31 Oct 1844) with interest on £18.17.3 thereof, being principal, from that date 

until payment. I recommend that the money be immediately paid. In communicating the 

decision to Mr Macdonald I stated to him what you said about your claim of £3.1.0 

against him as Trustee for the Creditors of McIntyre late at Rahoy. Yours &c". 

Wrote to A L Macdonald S S Stornoway, in same terms as above; also that Mr Pirie will 

accept of £20 in full, reserving Mr M's claim against him; that Mr Munro should not 

attempt to settle here; Mr Nairne; Coll, Sir C Gordon, Macquarrie; Possil; A Cameron's 

marriage; Tobermory out [?]; Niel Macphail; &c. 

Wrote to John McCallum writer Tobermory, returning his discharged Indenture and 

Testimonials which appear regular and satisfactory, and recommending that his Petition 

to be admitted as procurator and procedure on it be recorded here 


W. Fine breezy sunny day. Mild. 

Did not go to Church. Mrs Maclean there to day for the first time for many weeks. Coll ill 

with a Cold, and did not come. 

Achdashennaig was taken ill with a spitting of blood (from the Lungs) on Thursday 

Evening on his way from Tyree and is now lying at the Inn here attended by his wife. 

Post came in this morning. Letters from Sheriff Clerk Inveraray about return of Paupers, 

Lunatics &c. 



W. Very fine mild sunny day. 

Struck a final balance of Riemore accounts. 

Coll called. Quinish came in when Coll was with me. Quinish remained dinner. 

Walked afterwards to top of Point. 

JBL 11/1/06 21


Letters from William about Partnership, from Mary with music, and from William 

Kennedy enclosing fee of £10 as Sir J Riddell's share in Submission. 


W by S. Wet morning; cleared up after 12. 

Nisbet and Pirie called on business. 

Finally revised Riemore Bank accounts; balance £37.6.7. 



I am told that Achadashennaig is better to day. 

The Steamer came about 9 o'clock. 


SW. Dry morning. Rain and Gale after 3. 

Court. Advised 2 Ardnamurchan Fishing Cases. 

Called on Nisbets. 

Coll called on me, and I went with him to Drimfin. 

Letters fom Margaret and Emily. 


SW. Rainy. 

No walk. 

Wrote to William Kennedy Strontian acknowledging receipt of £10, and about half 

expenses of proof. 

Wrote to Mary Edinburgh thanking her for Music &c. Handkerchiefs 13. 

Wrote to Emily Milton that I desired William to send her £5. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Ditto; returning Riemore accounts revised with 

instructions about balance of £37.6.7 in bank; Partnership &c &c. 

The Minister of Tyree took tea with me, and told a story of Hugh Innes Cameron's wife 

leaving him on account of his violence and his flirtation and correspondence with a Miss 

Stewart. 


SW. Gale. Showers. 

The Minister of Tyree breakfasted with me. 

Afterwards Nisbet came up about Tyree Precognition and I wrote to Sheriff Bruce 

Edinburgh: 

"Dear Sir, Mr Nisbet having shewn to me the DA's Note upon the precognition 

against J and A Sinclair Tyree, and mentioned that he is to write to you on the subject 

by the first post, I think it but fair towards him to say that the steps taken by him in the 

case had my full concurrence and approbation. Mr George Maclean, the gentleman who 

made the complaint, is a respectable tacksman in Tyree, and his name stands on the 

roll of Justices of the Peace for the County. The representation made in his letter is 

certainly a pretty strong one, but before incurring the expence of sending out an officer 

JBL 11/1/06 22


Mr Nisbet consulted Mr Stewart of Achadashennaig the Chamberlain of Tyree who you 

are aware is an intelligent country Gentleman and Magistrate, and well acquainted with 

the country and the people, and he gave it as his decided opinion that an investigation 

should take place. Under these circumstances and considering the alarming nature of 

the alleged offence and the unprotected state of that remote District, I do think that Mr 

Nisbet exercised a sound discretion in taking a precognition, and that it would not have 

been consistent with his duty as Procurator Fiscal to have overlooked such a complaint 

as that of Mr Maclean. That upon investigation the case should not have turned out so 

strong as it was represented in Mr Maclean's letter could not have been foreseen by 

him, and with all due deference it does not appear to be a sufficient reason for 

disallowing his expences." 

"The Small debt circuit court is held at Strontian on Tuesday the 8th April and at Oban 

on Friday the 25th. I am" &c &c. 

Sally Willis calling. Got paper and Envelopes from Cameron. 

Walked to Erray gate, and after dinner by low road past Eagles cliff and home by Erray. 



NW. Fine breezy sunny day. 

Nisbet called on business; also Quinish, Sally Willis and Dr McColl. 

Walked before dinner to Erray and home by Park. Called on Miss Macleod. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil about Mr Nairne's Trees; Colls; William Robertson and 

Mrs Barry; Coll going to Dervaig Cottage; Achadashennaig's illness; Minister of Tyree's 

account of Northern Fanatics; Mr Clerk; &c. 

Wrote to Margaret 5 South Hanover Street about John's business, George's deafness, 

her own health, &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh to retain Riemore Interest on £37 odds. 

Wrote to Donald 9 Chas St Grosvenor Square London; William and Mr Hopkirk; 

enclosing Kennedy's letter about Submission Riddell; Ardnamurchan people's letter to 

the Lord Advocate about Fishing Interdict &c. 

Achadashennaig went home in a boat to day. 


SE. Storm of wind and rain from 8 am to 5 pm, and after that a storm of rain from NW. 

Snow on hills. 

To Church. Colls not there and congregation very thin. 

No walk of course. 


S W. Fine dry breezy day. 

Wrote to Archibald McIntyre, Killean, Lismore by Oban, to consult Sheriff Clerk Oban 

about his Case. 

Wrote to Donald in London about Partnership with Mr Hopkirk &c. 

Wrote to William in Edinburgh about Partnership with Mr Hopkirk &c. 

JBL 11/1/06 23


Wrote to Secretary, Committee of Council on Education, Downing Street, London about 

Tobermory School of Industry. 

I sent for my servant Mary McColl at 2 o'clock to day, settled her house book, took down 

the names of Paupers from her, and then gave her Warning that I would not require her 

services after Wednesday. "Very well Sir' answered she mildly. I rejoined "I don't think 

you are strong enough for the situation Mary". "No I am not very strong Sir" was her 

reply. Poor Creature, I am grieved and vexed at parting with her, but it cannot be helped 

for she is unfit for the situation. 

Walked to Bridge on High way above Drimfin before dinner, and to side of Point after. 


Letter from Mrs Campbell of Possil; her son Donald coming down before he sails. 

Tuesday 1 April 1845 

S. Rainy and windy. 

Tried Donald Macdonald Tailor Ardverquish for assault. 

No walk. 


Mrs Nisbet sent Jam. 

Wednesday 2 April 1845 

S.E. Fine sunny mild day. 

Income and assessed Tax Meetings of Commissioners: Coll, Capt Campbell Quinish 

and I; McAulay and Millan present. 

Walked with Coll to Drimfin and lunched there; afterwards round Ebermore with Coll. 

Letters from W Kennedy: and from William about Partnership. 

Thursday 3 April 1845 

Calm. S.E. Warm sunny very beautiful day. 

Wrote to William in Edinburgh about Partnership; public companys and advertisements 

&c. 

Wrote to Donald in London about Ditto; going to Strontian &c; short. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Mary Macarthur's letter; better for Colls to go at 

once to London; Achdashennaig, McQuarie; deplorable Duncan; Salen Examination; 

Strontian. 

Wrote to Bohain, Monsieur London; 10 Wellington St; for Courrier de l'Europe. 

Wrote to David Nairne of Drumkilbo, Meigle; Tobermory news. 

Walked after dinner to Drimfin and found that Coll has gone by the Antelope Steamer to 

day to meet his brother in law Mr William Robertson at Glasgow. Sat for upwards of an 

hour with Mrs Maclean who was very agreeable. 

Miss Macleod came down at half past 8 to talk about her Will. 

Friday 4 April 1845 

S.E. After half past 2 calm. Very beautiful warm and sunny. 

Ordinary, Removing, and Small Debt Courts. 

JBL 11/1/06 24


Walked after dinner past Erray; long crack with Sandy Sinclair. 

After dinner Miss Macleod dragged little Flora up to my window, having convicted her of 

various acts of petty thefts, lying &c. Poor little wretch. I fear there is no reforming of her. 

Saturday 5 April 1845 

Calm and stifling. Hot very beautiful day. 

Wrote no letters. Mr Dewar of Salen called. Walked with him to farther Drimfin gate, and 

home by low walk. 

Miss Macleod instructed me to alter her settlement. 

Pirie called in Evening and I gave him all McColl's productions 30 in Submission Sir J 

Riddell &c. 

Letters from Derculich with account of Dearg's grave; from William with my accounts, 

Partnership &c. 

Sunday 6 April 1845 

N.W. Light breeze. Fine sunny day. 

To Church. Mrs Maclean, Alick and Jane Albyn there. 

Walked before Church to top of Point, and after dinner to side. Very agreeable day. 

Monday 7 April 1845 

S.E. Fine breezy day. 

Went up in Tom Smith's boat to Strontian to hold a Small Debts Court. Was informed 

that John MacCallum, writer, broke Mrs Smith of the Inn's door and windows in a 

drunken row on Sunday morning at 2 o'clock. 

Campbell of Carneck went to Strontian with us. Left at half past 10 and reached 

Strontian at half past 4. 

After tea called on Colin MacVean the Minister and saw his mother and sister; he 

returned with me to the Bridge. 

Tuesday 8 April 1845 31 

W. Showery. 

Held the Court, there being only 7 cases in the roll. 

Called on Mrs Kennedy. Kennedy himself and Colin MacVean walked down with me to 

Camusain where I had directed the Boat to go with the Ebb tide and to wait for me. 

I went on board there, and the wind being a head we did not reach Tobermory till half 

past 10 at night; but the night was clear tho' there was little moonlight. 

S.E. Fine clear day. 


30 In Scots law a production is a paper produced in court. 

31 For two days JR most unusually gives the date incorrectly. Tuesday 8 April is given as "Tuesday 7th" 

and 9 April as 'Wednesday 8th". He makes no attempt to alter these mistakes, which have been corrected 

in this transcript, but gives the date of 10 April correctly and in full, as was his custom at the top of a new 

page, as "Thursday 10th April 1845". 

JBL 11/1/06 25


Many people calling on business. Reprimanded John MacCallum privately. 

Walked by low road and home by Erray. 

Mrs Barry, Mrs Maclean of Coll's sister, came by Steamer last night. 

Letters from William, Mary, and J P Kay Shuttleworth, 32 and important and startling 

letter from Donald about Sir D Macdougall 33 and Forbes McNeill's affairs. 34 

Reprimanded John MacCallum for breaking Inn Windows. 35 


NE. Cold, but fine clear day. 

Wrote to David Nairne of Drumkilbo, Meigle; dated yesterday with John Campbell's 

Report on works at Druimfin; plants removed to Quinish &c. 

Wrote to Donald London; long, about Lord Advocate's splendid speech in introducing 

the Poor Law bill into the House of Commons, and Donald's affair with Sir Duncan 

McDougall; &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; dividing Milton rent with Donald; journey to Strontian; McVeans 

and Kennedies &c. 

Nisbet, Pirie and various other persons calling on business. 

Walked after dinner to side of Point. 


NE. In Evening W. Fine sunny cool day. 

Called on Miss Macleod and Nisbets; then called at Drimfin where I was introduced by 

Miss Roy to Mrs Barry, Mrs Maclean's sister, a fat, very fat, vulgar looking woman, 

much inferior in every way to Mrs Maclean who looked to much advantage beside her. 

Conversation about Tawell [?] Murders and Executions. Returned by high road. 

Miss Macleod and Miss Roy took Tea with me. Miss Roy gave a 36 deplorable state of 

Coll's affairs, and of poor Mrs Maclean's distress. 


W. Fine day. Cool. 

Case of insane woman from near Dervaig. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil; journey to Strontian; mad people in Tobermory &c. 

Wrote to Donald London about Partnership; colony in King Street; William and Archy; 

Mary, Miss Nancy and Mrs Archibald &c &c. 

Walked after dinner to Cow Park and inspected workmen engaged on drains. 

Letters from Glencripesdale, Courrier de L'Europe, Jane Banchor. 

32 James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth 1804-1877 was the first secretary of the Committee of the Council of 

Education, to which JR had written on 31 March 1845 about Tobermory School of Industry. 

33 Sir Duncan Macdougall 1787-1862, lieutenant-colonel 79th Cameron Highlanders, was a former 

professional soldier with a distinguished record who became 'a prominent figure in the volunteer 

movement' and was 'buried in St Paul's Cathedral' [DNB]. 

34 Forbes McNeill died on 22 August 1845. 

35 The ink of this sentence suggests that it was written later than the rest of the entry, and that JR did not 

notice that he had already recorded reprimanding John MacCallum. 

36 JR seems to have left out some such words as "full account of the" at this point. 

JBL 11/1/06 26



W. Shifting. Showers all day. 

No walk; went to Church with young Coll. Mr McIntyre of Kinlochspelve preached; his 

wife in church. 

No walk; bilious to night; must take medicine. 


NW. Breeze and showers. Cold. 

Wrote to A de Lizy Courrier de l'Europe Office 10 Wellington Street Strand London 

enclosing P O order for 7/- for Quarter of his paper. 

Wrote to A Stewart of Glencripesdale 38 Northumberland Street Edinburgh with copy 

letter to D McNaughton of 22 March last. 37 

Quinish called. 


Letters from William about Ballyscaits; &c. 


N. Fine breezy sunny day. 

Nisbet called with letter from Mr Bruce that DA still adhered to his opinion about 

Expences in Tyree case. 

Called on Mr Ross who accompanied me first to the Female School of Industry and then 

to Miss Campbell Ballyscait. Gave 8/- to Miss MacNab to pay conveyance for children to 

Salen to morrow, and gave William's letter to Ballyscaits. 

Met Mrs Maclean and Mrs Barry at Miss Macleod's and saw them to their boat. 38 

Met Killiemore on the street; he dined with me. 

Afterwards walked to top of Erray wood. 

Met Mrs and Miss Nisbet. 


N. Calm; mild; fine gray day. 

Committed lunatic woman from Dervaig. 

Rode up to Salen on old Duncan Mackinnon's dun pony, to attend examination of 

Schools for Celtic prizes. Gave my horse for part of the way to the Minister of 

Kinlochspelve who with Dr Macleod, Mr Clerk, Mr Dewar and Mr Fraser 39 were all 

present. Mrs Campbell of Possil and her two daughters were there. 

The examination was much more interesting than I had anticipated, and the Salen 

Scholars made an excellent appearance. The Torosay girls were by far the best readers 

and singers, and the best informed on the subject of scripture, history and doctrine. 

37 Duncan McNaughton was factor to Alexander Stewart of Glencripesdale. 

38 It is not clear how often members of the Coll family travelled by boat between Druimfin and Tobermory. 

Coll seems usually to have walked. Perhaps the boat was used on this occasion because Mrs Maclean's 

sister Mrs Barry was so fat that she was physically incapable of walking more than short distances. 

39 The Ministers of Morven, Torosay, Salen and Ulva respectively. 

JBL 11/1/06 27


Attended the Christening of Mr Dewar's son who was named John (by Dr Macleod and 

who was handed to me as Godfather). 

Lunched with the Possils, and left Salen at 7. Arrived at Tobermory at 9. 

No Letters. 


Calm. Shifting to N. Mild hazy beautiful day. 

Wrote to Donald London; short; Sir D Macdougall; Mary's proposed visit to Tobermory. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh; Ballyscaits; speculating in Railways &c; Mary &c. 

Capt Campbell breakfasted and dined with me. Coll called and I went to Drimfin with 

him and bade good by to Mrs Barry. 



Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil sending Music; examinations; Colls to leave. 


Calm. Shifting N and S. Beautiful sunny hot day. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds to top of Drimbreck. 

Talk with J MacCallum, and afterwards with Smalman Excise officer about dispute 

between them. 


Walked after tea to Burn. 

Read l'Consulat [sic]. 


N. Calm. Shifting. Sultry clear very beautiful day. 

Wrote to Sheriff Bruce Inveraray about Tyree case against Sinclairs; long; and Private 

Note with Ditto; country news; arrangements of S D Circuit courts; &c. 

Walked after dinner to top of Point. 

Calls from J MacCallum, Pirie &c. Nisbet is at the Isle of Muck, as also old Thorburn 

who has taken the Island. I met his wife and daughter and spoke to them. 

No letters. 

Poor Law Bill sent by Lord Advocate. 

No fire to day; first time this season. 


SE. Beautiful clear breezy day. Calm warm Evening. 

Walked before breakfast to side of Point. No service in church. Read new Poor law Bill. 

Before dinner walked to top of Point. Saw nobody to day. 40 Nisbet came home. 

40 The meaning of the word 'nobody' is obvious enough. It means that he neither called on any one, nor 

received any calls, and did not by chance meet somebody in his social circle or worth mentioning. It would 

not have been possible for him to have walked to the side of Point before breakfast and to the top of Point 

before dinner without seeing a human being. 

JBL 11/1/06 28



SE morning. NW Evening. Calm sultry day. Sunny. 

Wrote to Donald London about Poor law Bill; long. 

Wrote to Mary Edinburgh; to send my servant by Toward Castle of 19th May; organ &c. 

Walked by low road, across Cliff and Point, and home by Well and Moor, after dinner. 

After tea walked with Coll and Jane Albane to Drimfin burn. A most lovely night. 

Received most pleasing letters from Donald, Emily and Mrs Campbell Possil. 


SE. Clear sunny day. Warm. 

Read till 3. Walked to Burn. After Tea walked to side of Point. 

Called on Miss Macleod and met Mr Norman Macpherson son of Dr Macpherson of 

Eigg, one of the Professors in the University of Aberdeen, a young lad of pleasing 

manners, gentlemanlike and well informed. He supped with me and remained till 12. 


SE. Evening W. Beautiful warm day. 

Engaged with Ordinary and S D Courts; and then with examination of Havers 41 on 

Commission from the Court of Session in Suspension and Interdict Gemmell against Sir 

J M Riddell; Havers Lochshiel, his brother Dr Coll Macdonald and Mr Kennedy 

Strontian. Quinish in Court as a Witness. Never met Lochshiel before; he is an 

intelligent man of fifty five apparently, a batchelor, and I fear a "Victim to drink". 

Walked after dinner to side of Point, and then with Miss Macleod on Terrace. 

Letter from William; he has concluded his partnership with Mr Hopkirk, profits divided 

equally. I wish them God Speed. 


Calm. Shifting airs, generally SE. Beautiful day. 

Went after breakfast to Drimfin with Capt Campbell. The Colls sore about furniture, and 

Nairne's conduct in regard to it. Capt Campbell took an early dinner with me. 

Steamer came in at quarter past 3. Macleod of Macleod and his Lady on board; he 

handsome and young and tall, and she a very pretty woman. Lamont the Sheriff Clerk at 

Oban on board. Went to Oban, which we reached at half past 8 at night. 

The Evening was gray calm and lovely; the Sea smooth and glassy. 

No one in the public room of the Caledonian. 


SE. Fine morning. Rain and high wind after 7 at night. 

The Revd Dugald Campbell Kilmore and Mr Hunter Kilninver called on me at the 

Caledonian. 

Went to the Court at 11; thirty three cases in the Roll; troublesome; a great many of the 

cases from Lismore and relating to Comprisements. Kilpatrick sat with me for an hour. 

Finished at 4. 

41 In Scots law havers are the persons in whose custody a document is. 

JBL 11/1/06 29


Wrote to Donald London about Poor law Bill &c; John's speculating in Inverness Railway 

shares; &c &c. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Ditto, and advising to sell when shares are high. 

Wrote to Emily, Milton; journey to Oban; Colls, Possils, Lochbuys &c &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh; partnership; Angus Cameron's stamp; Punch; &c. 

Dined at Caledonian; took tea at Mrs Col Gregorson's. 42 Returned to Hotel at night fall, 

and found Collector [Kenneth] Maclachlan of Tobermory in public room who introduced 

me to Collector Oman of Oban, a vulgar fellow and a foolish, and Capt [blank] of the 

Cutter [blank], Tobermory Station, an Englishman, and apparently a good and modest 

fellow. 


SE. Stormy night. Cleared up at 11. Clear till 2; then light breeze. 

I intended coming home along with the Tobermory Jurymen, who however did not return 

to Oban at 10 o'clock to day. I therefore engaged the Oban Wherry (Isabella) and with 

Donald Maclachlan and Donald MacSomething for crew left Oban at 10. We had light 

airs and calms and an opposing ebb Tide to Ardtornish; after that a light breeze, 

increasing to a strong and steady one which brought us in to Tobermory harbour at 4 

o'clock, that is to say in six hours from Oban, a very good passage. 


Received letters from Mr Macdonald Stornoway about Pirie's Submission approving 

highly of my suggestion; and from Mr Nairne, a very humorous one and most amusing, 

rather emphatic, curious statement about his affairs, scandal &c. 


SE. Rainy; breeze. Mild 

Dr J Macleod preached and I went to Church twice; Coll, Alick and Jane Albane there. 

Dr Macleod dined and remained all night with me. He is a first rate Gaelic preacher, and 

an agreeable sensible man. 


SW. Rainy. Mild. 

Wrote to David Nairne of Drumkilbo, Meigle about sundries. 

Wrote to Donald London; Frees attack on Lord Advocate and Dr Macleod's sermon 

condemning Popery, disapproving Maynooth Grant and vindicating the Governments 

Attacking Frees for holding Communion with Slave oppressing Churches in America 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Punch; is new servant a free Churchwoman; Frees in 

Tobermory; Family legend &c. 

Walked after dinner to side of Point; wet. Crack with Sandy Sinclair. 

42 Mrs Col Gregorson was Phoebe Maclaine, the widow of Colonel Donald Gregorson and the sister of 

Murdoch Maclaine of Lochbuy 1791-1844 and of Mary Maclaine, who married John Gregorson DL of 

Ardtornish. formerly Sheriff Substitute at Tobermory. 

JBL 11/1/06 30


Received intimation of poor Tom Duncan the Artist's death; 43 [indecipherable] Post. 


S.W. Mild breezy day - dry but cloudy 

Walked after breakfast across the top of the Point, and home by Well and Moor. The 

grass is springing fast, the braird 44 covering the ground and the woods almost in 

foliage. The larches are quite green, other trees half clothed with leaves. 

I have not heard the cuckoo yet. The Oban Boatmen told me that they heard it a 

fortnight before I was there, and that they never heard it so early before. They 

accounted for this by the unusual heat of the weather in the month of August. I have 

fires again though all this week. On my return had a walk and crack with the McNabs 

pere et fils; speculative bodies, and energetic. 

Took tea with Miss Macleod along with Coll, Mrs Maclean and Jane Albane; a 

melancholy Evening. The Colls are a most amiable and interesting family, and I 

sincerely and deeply sympathise with them under their present difficulties. 

Yesterday the Dervaig Post Runner left 10/- with me to pay Mrs Henderson, being the 

first instalment of the Sum decerned for in the Small Debt Court on Wednesday last at 

her instance against her brother. I gave her the money last night in presence of my 

servant Mary McColl. The debt is payable in quarterly instalments. 


SE. Evening S and by W. Heavy showers. 

Rained the greatest part of the day. No walk. 

Nisbet called about Fiscal accounts in Exchequer &c. 

Letters from Donald (coming to Edinburgh in May) and William. 

Thursday 1 May 1845 

SW. Heavy showers and breeze. 

Wrote to Donald London 1st May; philosophical letters on general questions to be burnt; 

meeting him at Edinburgh, no; fishing question; scringing [?]; Maynooth question, 

Sydney Herbert; suppose grant necessary and proper; orange men; Jacobites, Archy 

and I 1829-34; Easdale Politics. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh; partnership; Ballyscaits; don't visit Tobermory at present; R 

Is. 45 ugly people; comley others; not fragrant; &c &c. 

Mrs Maclean Coll, Alick and Jane Albane left to day; ehu! 

Coll himself dined with me. I saw them on board at 10. A melancholy day. Quinish and 

his daughter and Miss D Campbell also going south. 

Mr Ross has arrived. 46 

43 Thomas Duncan, 1807-45. Portrait painter; A R A 1843. He was born in Perthshire at Kinclaven, on the 

River Tay, about 8 miles downstream from Dunkeld. Before beginning his formal training as an artist in 

Edinburgh his father insisted that he served his time in the office of a WS. JR may have got to know him 

then. He died in Edinburgh from a brain tumour just as he was becoming known as a portrait painter of 

distinction and great promise. 

44 Braird [Scots] means the first shoots of corn or other crop. 

45 Can the 'R Is' possibly be the Robertson Irvines of Blair Atholl? See entry 450512. 

JBL 11/1/06 31


Friday 2 May 1845 

W. Occasional showers. Breeze. 

Called with Mr Ross on Coll at Drimfin. Miss Roy there. 

Walked before Dinner to Burn. 

Signed final decision in 2 Fishing cases Gemmell. 47 

Saturday 3 May 1845 

W by NW. Showers; breeze. 

Wrote to Sheriff Bruce Edinburgh enclosing Declaration of residence for Exchequer; 

Oban courts &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh with List of Articles to be sent by Servant. 48 

Wrote to David Nairne of Drumkilbo by Meigle; sale of Drimfin; movements of Coll 

family; warrant to N McPhail, 49 Jail; Frees, Mods and Maynooth; &c. 

Wrote to Capt Campbell Quinish; Oban; old Thorburn sailed on Wednesday at half past 

5 morning. 

Walked after tea to side of Point. 

Note from Coll enclosing one to Nairne. 

Old Thorburn come in from Muck safe. 50 

Letters from Donald, John, William and Mary. 

Sunday 4 May 1845 

N. Dry breezy day. Lights and shadows. 

Walked to side of Point; then to church with Coll and Miss Roy. 

Coll dined with me. Went to Drimfin river with him at half past 8. 

Monday 5 May 1845 

N. Dry breezy day. 

Wrote to Revd Henry Beatson, Minister of Small Isles, Eigg, Arisaig by Fort William with 

printed Letter and Memorandum of descent of Catharine Campbell or McIver, Salen, 

and requesting him to make enquiry about her pedigree in Eigg. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh; not a subscriber to Sandy Hill's Picture; Contract of 

Copartnery. 

Wrote to Mary; List of Condiments; burning correspondence necessary. 

Wrote to Mr Mitchell Exchequer Edinburgh with Return of Salary &c. 

Inspected Jail. Lunatic woman recovered. 

After dinner went to Drimfin with Mr Ross and took tea with Coll who was in good spirits 

and accompanied us to near Ballyscait. 

No letters. 

46 Where he had arrived from is not clear. 

47 See entry 450318. 

48 JR's new servant was due to arrive in Tobermory from Edinburgh on 19 May. 

49 The name of Niel McPhail is mentioned in the Journal from time to time. 

50 Thorburn had become the tenant of Muck; see entry 450419. 

JBL 11/1/06 32


Lord Chas Wellesley's son born this day; July 1846 Died. 51 

Tuesday 6 May 1845 

E. Cool breezy. 

Tried case of Lunatic woman MacArthur, and found it not proven, and discharged her. 

Coll called. Meeting of Presbytery. Coll dined with them. 

Walked to side of Point after Tea. 

Dr J Macleod supped and remained with me all night. 

Wednesday 7 May 1845 

N. Breezy cool day; clear. 

Court day (2nd box day). 6 new cases in S D Roll. 

Called with Coll at Presbytery Meeting and sat a considerable time with the clergy while 

they discussed Case of Coll Church &c, and Promise of Marriage case from Acharicle. 

Walked with Coll to Drimfin, and went through the house with him. Poor fellow, I felt 

deeply for him. He came up after dinner to shew a kind and friendly letter from Nairne, 

and to intimate the intended marriage of his daughter Isabella to a Mr Scott son of Capt 

Scott RN. 

Letters from William and Sheriff Bruce, and Intimation of poor Lewis McIver Stornoway's 

death on 26 April. 


N. Cloudy morning. Still rain after 12 o'clock. 

Dugald Jailer called with Macleans from Luing [?] about Spirit License; and when they 

were at the window Coll came up from Drimfin for the last time as his own, to write to his 

daughter about her intended marriage, and to answer Capt Scott's letter. Left him 

writing, and went to Drimfin, where I felt destroyed and disgusted at seeing the house 

laid open to the unhallowed intrusion of a mob. There was a great gathering; but I left 

immediately. 

Mr Dewar of Salen walked with me to Tobermory. 

I found Coll finishing his letters, and copied out Capt Scott and Sir Alexander Downie's 

letters to himself to be sent to Alexander Hunter WS. We then walked to the P O and by 

the low road towards Ru nan Gall. He dined and remained all night with me and was in 

wonderfully good spirits all things considered. 

Got a letter from and wrote answer to Chas A Macqueen, Scour, declining for Coll and 

myself to have any thing to do with his proposed plan for keeping possession of his farm 

for another year. 


E. A little snow on top of high hills. Dry but cloudy. 

After breakfast walked with Coll to Lochs. After dinner walked to Burn. 

Miss Macleod and Mr Ross called in the Evening. 

51 This sentence is written at an angle in the margin of the entry. 

JBL 11/1/06 33


Coll has gone to Quinish. His factor Capt Campbell was to have gone to Rum to day 

with a Mr Nicolson from London who is to inspect the place with a view to its purchase 

by (supposed) the Marquis of Salisbury. Next week he and Mr Ross go to Coll to convert 

the Free heathen and bring them within the Pale of the Establishment. 


N. Fine calm day. 

McNabs and Hen [?] poisoning. Inspected Hector McDougall and Henderson's houses 

with Cumming Pender &c. 

Wrote to my mother; new servant; Colls leaving Drimfin; &c. 

Wrote to David Nairne of Drumkilbo; Coll pleased with his last letter to him; his motions 

till he leaves Mull; weather &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Ballyscaits, Inventories &c. 

Walked after dinner to Burn; met Sinclair Erray and looked after hurt sheep with him. 52 

Letters from Donald, Emily and Mrs Campbell Possil; all good. 


SW. Dry till 1. Rain thereafter till 8. 

To Church in afternoon. No walk. Very few people in Church. 


N by W. Cold; breezy. 

Wrote to Donald London, dated Edinburgh; sheeps; trotted him out; Cut R Is. 53 William 

and Hopkirk; H's affairs; doomed Bankrupt; should have concealed nothing from me; 54 

John's Railway shares; Donald's own wooden Ditto; J Macleod's Deanery &c; Alick 

Coll's situation; Sir D McD shd apply direct to F, not go to Col McD; 55 &c. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; her return home; Coll's movements; Mrs Maclean and 

Mrs Barry; sale at Drimfin; Coll and Mr Ross going to Isle of Coll; marriage of Miss 

Isabella Maclean; &c &c. 

Wrote to Emily, Glasgow; a short letter of congratulations, and enclosing one for 

George, my little nephew, to be read to him by his Mama or Emily. 

Walked to side of Point accompanied by old Thorburn. 

The only letter by this night's post was an intimation of the death of Macquarie. Poor 

fellow, I regret him sincerely; and the more because I feel that of late I avoided him; yet 

what could I do? Peace be with him; he had many good and kind qualities. 56 

52 'Look after' here had the meaning of 'to look for' or 'to seek' and not of 'to care for'. 

53 Can the 'R Is' possibly be Sandy and Sophy Robertson Irvine; if so, why cut them? See entry 450501. 

54 Assuming that 'H's affairs' refer to Hopkirk, this probably means that JR felt that William should not 

have concealed Hopkirk's financial situation from him. 

55 These are Sir Duncan McDougall, Forbes McNeill and possibly Col McDougall of Gallanach; Forbes 

McNeill was the youngest son of John McNeill of Colonsay, Oronsay and Ardlussa and youngest brother 

of the Lord Advocate and of Archy McNeill. He was already mortally ill and died on 22 August 1845. 

56 As is the case with many of the references to Macquarie in Journal entries made between 1842 and 

1845, JR has marked them in pencil in the margin. These marks, usually consisting of the initials 'McQ', 

often with vertical double lines, were presumably made on or after 17 February 1851 when JR writes in 

JBL 11/1/06 34



N by W. Coll clear breezy day. 

Pronounced Interlocutor appointing Condescendence 57 and Arbiter in Morison v 

Morison. 

Admonished Free Kirk Macleods for abusing McNabs. 

Gave to Mr Nisbet instructions about Miss Macleod's settlement, and consented to allow 

myself to be named as one of the Trustees. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds by Summer House, Ebermor &c for several hours. 

Mr Kennedy Strontian passed the Evening with me. Talked about Sir J Riddell, Free Kirk 

&c. Poor ball [?] 


SW. Wet very misty dull and drizzling day. 

George Macdonald Langamull arrived with his wife by last night's Steamer and called to 

day. He mentioned that the Dolphin was engaged to bring poor Macquarie's remains 

from Craignish Castle to Salen to day; that by his own desire the funeral was only to be 

attended by three or four relatives and by his own Tennants. 

Little Punchion called to announce Capt Oliver's arrival. 

Wrote article on Poor laws for Times. 

Walked to Erray gate. No Letters 


W by N. Misty; not wet. 

Wrote to A de Lizy 10 Wellington Street Strand London discontinuing Courrier de 

l'Europe. 

Wrote to John Joseph Lawson 25 Ludgate hill London (Times) about Scots Poor law 

Bill. 

Capt Oliver of Prince of Wales called. 

No walk. 

Miss Macleod passed Evening with me. Miss Roy gone to Quinish, also Mr Ross. 

Dr and Mrs MacArthur went by steamer to Edinburgh. 


NW. Misty but no rain. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds to farthest gate; home by Ebermor, Cow Park &c. 

Saw Prince of Wales sailing southward past calve at half past 2. 

Met Maclean Sheriff Officer Salen who told me that Macquarie left his Estate to the 

Master of Strathallan, and a legacy of £2000 to George Campbell Airds. Macquarie told 

his Journal entry for that day: "Looked up my Journal and took Notes of meetings &c with Macquarie". He 

did this in preparation for his appearance as a witness in the High Court in Edinburgh in the difficult and 

contentious Macquarie case heard in October 1851. 

57 In Scots law a condescence is an articulate statement annexed to a summons, setting forth the 

allegations in fact upon which an action is founded. 

JBL 11/1/06 35


me that he had altered his Settlements in favour of the Master of Strathallan in the 

Toward Catle Steamer on Tuesday the 28th May 1844 and he told me six months 

before that he intended doing so. 

Pirie called in the Evening and confirmed the Statement of Maclean. 

Miss Roy returned from Quinish and says that Coll and Mr Ross went to Isle of Coll to 

day. 


N by E. Fine dry day. Cool and clear. 

Wrote to David Nairne of Drumkilbo Meigle about planting, draining &c &c at Drimfin. 

Walked to Drimfin and through grounds for 4 or 5 hours. 

Mr Macdonald Stornoway called in my absence. 

Letters from William; Sophy Helen Montreal; John Butler Excise Officer Lerwick about 

Dr MacColl's accounts against him; Mr Sinclair of Lochaline about case of Theft. 


N. Dry day; cool. 

Mr Stewart of Ardnamurchan preached. He lunched with me and I went to Church in the 

afternoon. 

Mr A L Macdonald dined with me; he is still very grateful; full of Stornoway news, and 

apparently happy. 


NE. Dry cool day. 

Took Dr McColl's oath in supplement in cases at his instance against Butler and 

Macdonald in Commission from S D C of Shetland and Glasgow. 

Capt Beatson dined with me, and Coll came in, joined us, and left immediately after 

dinner for Quinish. He and Mr Ross came in from Isle of Coll. Saw Ross afterwards at 

Miss Macleod's; pretty successful. 

Walked after tea to Erray gate. 

Wrote to John Joseph Lawson Printer 22 Ludgate Hill London about Scots poor law. 


NE. Cool dry day. 

Mr Fraser Ulva called. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds. 

Mr Ross passed Evening with me. 

My new servant Mary MacCallum arrived per Steamer but I have not seen her yet. 

Letter by her from William who is now installed at 75 Great King Street with his new 

Partner Mr Hopkirk. 

R George Macdonald Langamull supped with me. 

Beautiful night. 


JBL 11/1/06 36


N. Fine sunny day. Cast off flannels. 

Nisbet called. 

My new servant made her first appearance after breakfast to day, and my impression of 

her is favorable; I hope she will prove a good servant. 

Paid accounts. 


Coll and Alick Campbell 58 came in after dinner. Walked with Coll after tea to side of 

Point. 

Letter from Donald. 


NE. Beautiful sunny day. 

Wrote to Donald London about sundries, briefly. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh announcing arrival Servant; Riemore discharge &c. 

Wrote to J Butler Excise Officer Lerwick that I only report Dr McColl's case to Sheriff of 

Shetland who decides in it. 

Wrote to J J Lawson Printer 22 Ludgate hill London about Scots poor law. 

Engaged with Coll in morning. Mr Ross dined with us and the Steamer having come in 

at half past 3 we accompanied Coll on board where we took leave of him. I felt 

sincerely sorry at parting with him; he is the sweetest tempered man I know. He 

presented his Saddle bags to me; they are large and handsome, but I will keep them for 

himself or his son. I wish heartily I could be of use to them in more important matters. 

His affairs are much involved, and I fear that he is hopelessly improvident. 

Walked after tea to side of Point; beautiful Evening. 


NE. Hot morning. Cool Evening. 

Pirie, Nisbet, McCallum, Dr McColl &c &c &c calling on business. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds to farthest woods; tore my jacket. 

Miss Macleod took tea with me. 

Sally Willis calling about house. 

Walked after tea to Erray Glen and home by Moor 


N. warm sunny day. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh that Riemore papers and vouchers sent by Mr Pirie; and 

Introduction. 

Wrote to John Robertson 84 Queen St with order for Groceries. 

Wrote to my mother about Colls, my servants &c &c; Macquarie. 

Wrote to Emily Glasgow about Colls, my servants &c &c; Macquarie. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; Colls departure; crusade aginst Free Kirkers in Isle of 

Coll; Nairne; Parkers; Geo Macdonald; Frees, Pope and Lord Advocate; Lord 

Robertson's poems; &c. 

58 Alick Campbell was a nephew of Quinish. 

JBL 11/1/06 37


Wrote to Sophia Helen 53 Great St James Street Montreal; complimentary. 

Paid off Mary MacColl; a scene. 

Walked to Burn. 

Pirie called; sent Riemore Papers to him to carry to William. 


Shifting. Beautiful day. 

Mr Ross preached at Kilmore for Dr McArthur; there was no sermon here until his return 

in the Evening. 

Walked across Point, down to Riraig and home by Moor. In the Evening walked to top of 

Point, when the view was extremely beautiful. 

The Government Steamer Vulcan in the harbour. 


NE. Very cold Evening. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Mary Maxwell, "an impostor"; Mrs D Maclean's 

baby; &c. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Sale of Perth and Inverness Railway shares. 

Alick Campbell, Quinish's nephew, called to borrow £2. 

Walked after tea to low Point. 

Dumbuck come for the first time this season. 

No letters. 


NE. Cool,dry day. 

Walked to Ebermore and home by high road. 

John Campbell working with Well. 

Talk with Cameron of Dumbuck. The boat is to go to Oban very early on Tuesday, to 

return on Thursday, to go to Oban again on Friday and return that night. Cameron is 

disfigured since I last saw him by a deep scar on the right cheek and a hanging of the 

under eyelid. 

Walked at Sunset to low Point. Saw people working in their potatoe 59 fields; the ground 

as dry as ashes. 


NE. Calm; hot day, very clear. 

Court day; 3 or 4 ordinary actions and S D cases. Trial of Livingston &c for assault on 

stupid lad (McVarish) from Drimkin. 

Walked with Mr Ross to Drimfin and home by high road, and with him again in Evening 

to low Point. 

Saw Chisholm of Lochans for a moment in Court. 

Took tea at Miss Macleod's with Mr and Mrs Parker; he a trifling taciturn little Yankee 

doodle, she a good natured eating drinking and cooking half bred Englishwoman. 

59 This was JR's usual spelling of 'potato'. 

JBL 11/1/06 38


Letters from Mrs Campbell Possil, William and Nairne. 


NE. Clear dry day. 

Quinish called. 

Wrote to David Nairne of Drumkilbo, Edinburgh; dry weather; trees; peats; Mrs Smith 

long tongue, improvements &c; arrival on 10th June; &c &c. 

Wrote to The Mayor of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland:- 

"Sir 

A begging letter was lately addressed to a gentleman in this neighbourhood signed 

'Mary Maxwell' containing a distressing account of the pretended shipwreck, destitution 

and sufferings of the writer and bearing to be attested by Mr J W Watson JP Limerick. 

The applicant describes herself as a native of Tobermory, 60 and the Gentleman 61 to 

whom the letter was addressed having been absent from home his lady was on the 

point of sending a money remittance to Mrs Maxwell but fortunately she was advised 

first to make some enquiries regarding that person. She accordingly sent the letter and 

Declaration to me for that purpose, and I had no difficulty in ascertaining in this small 

village that there is no such person as Mary Maxwell a native of it, that she is wholly 

unknown in the place, that she never lived here, and that she is not now expected to 

come to this country. Farther there is no person of the name of Cuthbertson at the P O 

here; the 71st regiment is in the West Indies, and not in North America; and if Mary 

Maxwell were really a soldier's wife as she presents herself she would be passed on 

free of expence from one military station to another until she reached her destination. 

The woman then must be an impostor, but I have no means of ascertaining whether the 

declaration is a forged document or not. At the same time as it is a common practice in 

Scotland for impostors to beg with forged certificates bearing to be under the hands of 

Magistrates in the South of Ireland, and especially of the Mayors of Limerick and Cork, I 

think it right for the protection of charitable individuals in this country who are frequently 

imposed upon, and in justice to Irish Magistrates whose names are most unwarrantably 

used, to send you enclosed Mary Maxwell's letter and the relative Declaration which 

accompanied it in order to afford you an opportunity of detecting and punishing, or at 

least of exposing, the parties connected with the present attempted fraud. 

I have the honour to be Sir, your very obedient servant" JR. 

Walked to Drimfin and home by upper road. 

Miss Macleod is alone and passed the evening with me. Miss Roy went to the Cottage 

62 with the Parkers. 


NE. Fine warm day. Cloudy beautiful calm Evening. 

Walked to Drimfin and walked through grounds for 3 or 4 hours. 

60 The phrase 'and wife of Color Sergeant Maxwell of the 71st Regt stationed in North America' is inserted 

by JR in pencil at this point and is barely legible. 

61 Campbell of Possil. 

62 The whereabouts and ownership of the Cottage are not known. 

JBL 11/1/06 39


Called on Miss Macleod; Miss Roy returned from Cottage, pleased with Parkers who are 

quiet people. 

Read Process Lamont writer Glasgow v Lamont. 

Walked after tea; saw Dr McColl's house, which he exhibited to me; went through Erray 

wood; searched for and discovered Well from which the March burn springs. 

Dumbuck come in. 


W. Calm, shifting; beautiful day. Gorgeous sunset. 

Wrote to A de Lizy not to send Observateur Francais, and that I would not pay for it. 

Wrote to Donald London about Emily, William, Georgie; 63 Mrs D Maclean's baby; when 

is he coming to Scotland; &c &c. 

Walked half way to Drimfin. In Evening to top of Point and home by Erray. 

McVean Iona with Miss Macleod. 

Letters from Donald, William and Coll. 

Sunday 1 June 1845 

SW. Cloudy. Slight shower at 4; warm. 

Walked past Erray. 

To church with Miss Macleod; Mary McCallum there for the first time; also officers of 

Vulcan Steamer. 

After Tea walked by upper road to Drimfin and the farthest end of the Loch; home by 

low walk. Beautiful solemn Evening. 

McVean of Iona preaching in Free Church of Tobermory to day. 

Monday 2 June 1845 

W. Bright breezy day. 

Wrote to Coll, Lanark; tool chest; Mrs Maclean and Jane Albane; Parkers; Nairne 

arrival. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh; to manage Riemore affairs as he likes; Sandy Hill's Print; 

Highland Dancers; Tina and Romeo; Nairne's letters; &c. 

Wrote to Donald London; Potts and Wilson; Pedestrianism, age and appearance; Drs 

John and Norman Macleod, recommending former; Sir John Campbell's appointment 

and Georgy [?] about C.; Poor law and politics. 

Walked in the Evening to top of Point. 

Letter from John; and Intimation of death of Mrs Macpherson Bialled on 30th ult. 

Tuesday 3 June 1845 

S in morning; then SW and in Evening W. Rainy. Breeze. 

When I awoke this morning between 5 and 6 it was raining, and it continued to rain with 

a high wind till 1, and therefater the wind subsided and it rained till 7. 


Mr Ross sat an hour with me. 

63 Georgie was almost certainly Georgiana Robertson, one of JR's Canadian first cousins. 

JBL 11/1/06 40


Steamers came in before 10. 

Wednesday 4 June 1845 

W. Breeze, sunshine and showers. 

Box of Groceries arrived all safe and containing tool chest with which I forthwith cut 

down and lopped some of the Trees on the Lawn. Also Tea arrived; took 25 lb of which 

gave 5 lb to Miss Macleod. 

Walked to Drimfin, Ebermor and Drumdarroch. 

Letter from John Robertson Glasgow with Invoice. 

Thursday 5 June 1845 

SE. Gale and rain. 

Wrote to John Robertson 84 Queen St Glasgow with Letter of Credit for £7.8.6 for 

groceries. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Bialleds &c &c. 

Wrote to Lachlan Macpherson Bialled on death of his wife. 

Wrote to Andrew Dunn WS Edinburgh enquiring if appeal is taken in Bridges v Fordyce 

May 1844. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about missing part (6 Vol 6) of Decisions; Bialleds &c. 

Wrote to Donald London about Cosmo and Tom Innes, Edinburgh; Glasgow John's 

business; John and Jane Banchor and L Macpherson's wife; Margaret and Emily to be 

at Milton to day; scene with my mother &c; John Banchor at Kindrochit; 64 Manse and 

Morag; Chest of Tools; &c &c. 

No walk. 

Drew on Bank for £17, and settled about remittance for Tea. 

Friday 6 June 1845 

SW. Breeze. Rainy forenoon. Clear day. Showery Evening. 


Read Life of Sir James Macintosh. 65 

Mr Ross called in the Evening about Tea. 

Saturday 7 June 1845 

SW. Fine clear warm breezy day. 

Wrote to my Mother about Emily, Margaret &c. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil that I had written Mayor of Limerick; Parkers; Mrs George 

McDonald; &c. 

64 Until this day Emily seems to have been staying with Margaret in Glasgow. There is no indication of the 

reason for a "scene" or why John Banchor was at Kindrochit; "Manse and Morag" may have had 

something to do with it. Two days later [450607] JR wrote to his mother about Emily and Margaret, by 

which time Emily had returned home from to Milton from Glasgow. She then wrote to him on her return. A 

few days later [450612] JR replied, telling Emily that he was "glad and sorry" about something, but what it 

was cannot now be guessed at. JR did not find it necessary to write again to Donald about whatever 

happened. 

65 Sir James Mackintosh 1785-1832, philosopher, lawyer and historian. 

JBL 11/1/06 41


Walked to top of Ebermor. 

McNab Achranish called and took tea with me. 

Walked in Evening to Erray. 

Letters from Sheriff Bruce and Nairne. 


N in morning; Evening W by N. Dry breezy day; sunshine and shadow. 

Walked to Burn, then to church with Miss Macleod. 

Walked to Point and after tea to Erray. 


W. Rainy morning. Cleared up but misty in Evening. 

Mr Dewar called and lunched with me. He talked of the Kirk; Macquarie's death bed and 

settlement; Lochbuy's brothers &c. 


Letters from William; Mrs Campbell Possil; Emily on her return from Glasgow; Mayor of 

Limerick. Mr Ross called and walked with him to Ballyscait and left William's letter with 

Miss Campbell. 

Henry Beatson Small Isles called at 10 o'clock at night; left MacIntosh's Gaelic Proverbs 

and talked about McTavish Campbelltown &c. McTavish is the representative of the 

McTavishes of Dunararry, an old small family. His grandfather and father were Sheriffs 

Substitute of Kintyre; is himself a man of talent and information, social and agreeable; 

can be dignified; vindictive and violent tempered. 


SW. Misty and rainy morning; cleared up at 2. 

Henry Beatson breakfasted with me, and sat till 2 detailing his grievances on the Isle of 

Eigg and his quarrel with the Schoolmaster Murray, Kiel &c &c. A clever curious fellow, 

but a bore. 

Walked to head of Ebermor. 

People calling on business (Potatoes). 

Dumbuck came in at half past 8 and went to Drimfin Pier. 66 I suppose with Nairne and 

his friends. He has now then taken possession. 


SW. Light breeze; cloudy; mild. 

After breakfast went to Drimfin. Nairne was at Calve and I waited for him at the Quay. 

He arrived with his cousin Mr Graham of Kincaldrum, a thin elderly man in delicate 

health, and a fat jolly old fellow Capt Neish of the East India Company Naval Service. I 

was introduced to both. Kincaldrum is a Gentleman, and an agreeable man. 67 Walked 

66 At that time Druimfin had its own private Pier, a little distance to the south of the Pier at Tobermory. 

67 The implication that Neish was not a Gentleman is confirmed by his description of them as a Swan and 

a Goose in JR's letter to Mrs Campbell Possil written on the following day. 

JBL 11/1/06 42


with Nairne to several Wells from which he proposes to take water to the house; to 

Ebermor. Nisbet dined with us at Drimfin and left before Tea. I came home at 11. 

Letters from William and Donald. 


SW. Mild cloudy day. Light breeze. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Ballyscaits; division of Moveables; Riemore; &c. 

Wrote to Andrew Dun WS Edinburgh thanking him for offer of Appeal Cases Fordyce. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil with Mayor of Limerick's answer; Sir J Campbell of Aird's 

appointment; Macquarie's settlements; excommunication by Miller of Lochdon; Free 

excitement in Tobermory; Mr Ross activity and energy; Nairne's arrival with Swan and 

Goose in his train. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; glad and sorry; &c. 

Wrote to Dr Macleod of Morven enclosing Introduction to Mrs Robertson 53 Great St 

James Street Montreal. 68 

It seems that a Lecture delivered by Mr Ross on Tuesday Evening in the Church, on the 

General Assembly, Dr Macleod's Mission to America, Free Kirk &c has created a great 

sensation among the Frees, who it is said sent for two men of the name of Gray and 

Livingston to insult him; but he disregarded their petty malice. Not so McNab the 

Schoolmaster, who called on me this forenoon with a complaint against these men for 

calling him a drunkard. I refused to advise him and referred him to Mr Nisbet. 

Walked by Tobermory River, and after Tea to Erray. 


W. Calm misty sultry day. 

A lazy idle day, reading Newspapers and peerage. 

Walked through Erray wood to far side of Point and back through Erray glen. 

Mr Ross called and told of his Lecture on Tuesday, and visit to Morven last night. 

John Campbell Sheriff Officer and Dugald McColl Schoolmaster called and I settled a 

dispute between them. 

Old Donald Mackinnon talked to me at window. 

Walked to Erray after Tea. 

Drew Report of School Competition for Celtic Society Prizes and wrote with it to Mrs 

Dewar of Aros, Salen. 


W. Calm, cloudy sultry day. 

Wrote to Sheriff Bruce, 8 Randolph Crescent Edinburgh about Exchequer Circulars; 

state of the District; long; Macquarie's settlements. 

Wrote to Donald London; Nairne's character; Sir J Campbell's appointment; Ross; Dr 

Macleod Morven; &c &c. 

Nairne, Kincaldrum and Neish called; accompanied them to Aros House Lodge. 69 

68 Mrs Robertson was JR's aunt by marriage, the widow of his uncle Dr William Robertson. 

69 Aros House was synonymous with what JR always previously referred to as Druimfin or Drimfin. 

JBL 11/1/06 43


Walked after dinner to Burn. 

Hair Cut. 

Sugar. 

Letter from John Robertson Glasgow asking £7.8.6, being amount of Invoice. 


SE. Calm. Rainy. 

Attempted to walk in morning but came on to rain. Walked at night to Erray; Bay mare 

running off among the fields and caught her. 

Nairne not in Church. 


SE. Calm. Heavy rain. Cleared at night. 

Police called about death and burial of pauper pensioner; and for leave to go to Arisaig 

for a few days. 

Dining with Miss Macleod; Mr Ross there; walked in Evening with him along Dervaig 

road. 

Letters from: William with Riemore accounts; Georgiana Montreal of 28th May 1845; 

and Sheriff Bruce about Fiscal accounts &c. 


Shifting S. Sultry day. Dry. 

Sale of Lady's Work or rather of Free School of Industry at which I spent a pound. 

Walked from sale with Nairne, Kincaldrum and Capt Neish to low Point; they afterwards 

lunched with me. 

Got up to day at 7 and revised State of my Intromissions with Riemore funds. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh: 

'I last night yours of the 14th sending the Riemore Cash accounts and your own 

Draft state of my intromissions all which I now return. I wish you had kept your Draft 

beside you until next week and gone carefully over it. I would then have received it on 

Wednesday and written you in answer on Thursday, before which day this letter cannot 

in course of post be dispatched. The principle upon which the State is made out, being 

simply one of classification, is necessarily correct; but I hope it will not interfere with the 

taxed accounts down to 1833 which must stand. I cannot pretend to say without having 

the vouchers etc beside me, whether the details are in every instance correct; that you 

must attend to, and remember that the responsibility rests solely with you; it is your 

paper; with this observation I note the following errors: 

Discharge 

1 Branch III April 29 1833. Omitted an Item of £19.11.10 halfpenny (A Robertson 

Dunkeld account). 

2 Branch VI Item of 31 Dec 1832 stated at £9.1.11 halfpenny in place of £34.13.9. 

3 Branch VI Item (R W Niven's account) 29 December 1831 was incurred previous to 

my management and should be stated under BIII (Open account). 

Charge 

JBL 11/1/06 44


You guess the periodical Interest at £4. As you have stated the account this is a great 

mistake for on 17 June 1834 I received £12.9.3 of Interest; and £4.19 on 18th May 

1839, neither of which are dated against me by you those sums will fall to be added to 

the £4 of Interest guessed by you. 

These are your errors; now for mine. I observe only one, viz the omission of an 

additional account paid to A Robertson writer Dunkeld ending 1838 and amounting to 

£2.17.6. You will find the voucher among his accounts; it is possible it may still be 

outstanding, but I believe not. 

The balance is now reduced to £15.8.10 and I paid you £37.6.7, as also £6.6 towards 

payment of your own account which I see you now state at about £4. I am glad to think 

that the balance is now considerably in my favour on this accounting which has so long 

been a burden and a sore to me. Proceed with all the expedition in your power to obtain 

my discharge; and when you have finally struck a balance let me know exactly how it 

stands. 

Donald R's share was not included in the £149; see the papers. Go very carefully over 

all the papers'. 70 


Shifting; NW. Sunny sultry day. 

David Robertson Kinlochmoidart called at Breakfast with an English cousin. 

Held Court. Mr Pirie arrived. Mr Bruce's Packet arrived last night with Ardnamurchan 

Fishing Process advised, and my Interlocutor affirmed. 

Went to Drimfin at 1. Then to Lochs. Spent day and dined with Nairne. Log in Loch. 

No Letters. 


NW. Fine sunny day. 

Dispatched letter to William. 

Glass put in Window by Pender. 


In the Evening Mr Pirie called. Lent him Punch. 

Walked at night to Erray. 


W. Fine sultry cloudy day. Mist at night. 

Walked to top of Point. 

Read up arrears of Newspapers. 

Lopped off branches of Trees, and walked with Miss Macleod. 

Nairne and his friends called when I was out. 

981019 

70 There is a largely incomprehensible calculation in the margin at the end of this entry. 

JBL 11/1/06 45



NW. Fine breezy day. Sun and shade. 

Read law. Revised Miss Macleods Settlements. 


Letters from Jo Ady 71 £200 and Mr Clerk of Torosay. 


W by N. Misty but dry. 

Walked to burn. 

Nairne and Capt Neish called, and brought Mr Furlong with them, a ridiculous pompous 

lying good natured Glaswegian who has a small property on Lochfineside. To Church 

with them; Mr Nairne gave £1. Walked up to near Drimfin but refused to dine with them. 


NW. Dry mild misty day. 

Wrote to Mr Clerk of Torosay about Grant. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil with Summary [?] against Ditto; Nairne and Furlong; Mr 

Clarke of Ulva; Achadashennaig; operation on Sir C Gordon; School Sale &c. 

Mr Clarke of Ulva called; then Achadashennaig; then Mr Ross and before he left Nairne. 

Walked with them to Drimfin. Capt Neish's ludicrous fall into the Loch. 

Letters from Sheriff Bruce about Tyuree case, and with Solicitor general's Letter, and 

from Donald about Sundries. 


W. Fine warm day. Slight showers at night. 

Walked by low road across burn, Point and home by Well and Moor. 

Mr Ross gave me Letter quoted in his celebrated Lecture. 

Quinish took tea with me. 

Steamer came in at half past 9. 


SW. Showers in Morning. Fine day. Cool Evening. 

Quinish and Mr Ross breakfasted with me. 

Court day (Ordinary). 

Mr Graham and Capt Neish in Tobermory. Went with them to Drimfin. Did not see 

Nairne. 

A Cameron Caligary in Town. 

Letters from Mrs Campbell Possil and William. 

Mr Ross repaid me money for Tea. 


NW. Fine sunny day. Slight shower in the morning. 

71 Joseph Ady 1770-1852 was a notorious circular-letter impostor. See entries for 460629 and 460718. 

JBL 11/1/06 46


Wrote to Sheriff Bruce 8 Randolph Crescent Edinburgh; Tyree case; Ardnamurchan 

Fishing case; going to Edinburgh; Clarke of Ulva, Kilpatrick and Nisbet; 

Achadashennaig; Sir J Campbell; Possil. 

Wrote to Jas Aynsworth, Inveraghty House, Kincaldrum, Dundee. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh; Riemore accounts; sending receipt for Quarter's Salary. 


S.E. Calm cloudy beautiful day 

Passed the day at Calve and Drimfin with Nairne, whose guests all left by the Dumbuck 

this morning. 

Hector Macdougall, Merchant, Tobermory died to day suddenly. 


N. Clear cool day, breezy. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Amount of my quarter's salary; to divide Miss 

Campbell's Glenfeuchan's effects in 7 lots. 

Wrote to Georgiana Robertson 53 Great St James Street; excuse for not writing sooner; 

her letters original and not like those of an ordinary Miss; Sophia's marriage; 72 

description of Laird for Georgy &c &c. 

Walked by low road and home by Erray. Dr McColl went part of the way with me. 

In the Evening walked to top of Erray wood; talk with old Niel McColl, a cheerful 

contented old man. 

Letter from Emily giving agreeable accounts of their health at Milton, and melancholy 

and astounding accounts of the lapses in the McInroy family. Young McInroy dismissed 

the Service and married to a private's daughter. His mother near her confinement; and 

one of the nursery maids with child. A bad lot indeed. 


W. Fine day; misty Evening 

Walked to Burn. Afterwards to Church with Nairne, and dined with him at Drimfin. 

Walked in a shower to look out site for a Cottage above the Lodge. He walked to 

Village with me at half past 9. 


W. Light showers. Warm. 

Attended Hector Macdougall's funeral with Nairne, who called repeatedly. 

Packed my portmanteau. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil that I was going South; and that Nairne was going to 

Lochbuy &c. . 

S. Rain till 2 o'clock; bad day. 

Rose at half past 2. 

72 This Sophia was almost certainly Sophia Helen Montreal, not Sophy Kindrochet. 

JBL 11/1/06 47


Sailed thro' narrow channel with Dumbuck at 3. Several Tobermory people on board, 

including Wilson the Watchmaker's nephew. 

Left Oban by the Dolphin at 8. Sir Alexander Campbell Barcaldine breakfasted with me. 

73 Dr Maclean Kinlochspelve came in at Easdale. 

Met Knox and McNee of Stornoway at Ardrissaig looking at a Distillery belonging to 

Achindarroch. Travelled with Achindarroch himself by Steamer to Glasgow. 

Saw Dr Macleod 74 of St Columba at Greenock in a green Steamer and afterwards in 

Clyde near Glasgow. 

Niel Mackinnon of Tobermory drunk in Shandon. 75 

Saw John and Robert Robertson in 84 Queen Street; splendid Warehouse and 

premises. Supped with them at 5 Bath Street. 

Slept at Wellington Hotel, George Square, a good House. 

Wednesday 2 July 1845 

W. Fine day. 

Went in by half past 8 o'clock Train to Edinburgh and Mr Gordon formerly Secretary of 

Edinburgh College was my only travelling companion. 

Found William and Mary at 75 Great King Street and surprised both; they did not expect 

me. They are thin and pale, but in good spirits. 

Went with William to Parliament House, and saw a legion of friends and old 

acquaintances. 

Dined at 66 and Mr Hopkirk dined with us. He is a quiet modest and intelligent man. 

Walked with William and Mary at 9 by Queensferry road and home by Dean Bridge. 

Archy came up and sat with me till half past 1 o'clock. 

Thursday 3 July 1845 

E. Misty rainy day 

Shopping. 

Archy and William Skene dined with us; a merry party. 

Archy left at 8. Jas Edradynate came in, and then William Canada; Skene left, and we 

had a dance. Jas Edra a nice youth, but growing talkative. William Canada rather a poor 

concern. 76 

Wrote to Donald in London. 

Friday 4 July 1845 

73 Sir Alexander Campbell of Barcaldine 1819-1880 was the unmarried 2nd Bart; he did not marry until 

1855. Barcaldine Castle, north of Oban, was sold in 1842, on the death of Sir Duncan the 1st Bart but it 

was bought back in 1896 by Sir Duncan the 3rd Bart, son of JR's breakfast companion. 

74 Dr Macleod was presumably Norman Macleod senior 1783-1862, the famous clergyman of the Church 

of Scotland who was at this time chaplain in ordinary to Queen Victoria; his equally famous son Norman 

Macleod junior 1812-1872 did not get his Doctorate of Divinity until 1858. 

75 How did JR know, and why did he make a note, of Niel Mackinnon being drunk in Shandon, which is 

surely not on the route to Greenock. 

76 JR's first cousin William, son of his uncle Dr William Robertson of Montreal, was not the most 

entertaining of the Canadian cousins. 

JBL 11/1/06 48


W. Fine day 

Great Shopping day with Mary. Went to Maclachlan & Stewarts; met Achindarroch there 

and went with him to Blind Asylum. 

Called on Dallases 77 with Mary and met them on the Road. Afterwards visited new 

cemetry at Warriston - a fine place. 78 

Dined with Sheriff Bruce. His brother, nephew and Chas Stewart WS there. 

Wrote to Emily that I am to be at Milton D.V. on Monday. 

Saturday 5 July 1845 

W. Fine day. 

Went to Parliament House. Saw a host of friends. Ed Gordon 79 and Archy Swinton 80 to 

be married. 

Shopping with William. 

Called with C Robertson advocate on Geo Maclachlan and missed him. 

Called on Mrs Douglas, Jas Nisbet and Mrs Capt Stewart and saw them; also called on 

Sir C Gordon 81 who is confined with operation on his leg. 

Wrote Journal on detached slip up to this date. 82 

Dined with Archy; Dalness Thomson Gordon and Skene were the party, a jolly Evening. 

Walked up to Queen Street Gardens on coming out. Archy has a cold and did not join 

us. T Gordon a clever fellow, but dissipated, and too much of a professed wit. I prefer 

Wm Aytoun. 

Sunday 6 July 1845 

W. Warm gray day, heavy rain at night. 

To St Pauls and communicated. 83 Bishop Terrot 84 and a rough voiced young man 

officiated. Mr Yorke left Edinburgh near a twelvemonth since. 

77 William Dallas WS of Edinburgh died in 1852. 

78 Warriston Cemetery was laid out in 1842. A neo-Tudor tunnel with Gothic archways was constructed in 

1845 to connect the north and south sections under a railway embankment. This new tunnel may have 

been the main attraction for sightseers. 

79 Edward Strathearn Gordon, Baron Gordon, 1816-1879; called to Scottish bar 1835; Lord Advocate 

1867-1868 and 1874-1876; Dean of Faculty 1868-1874; MP Thetford 1867-1868, Glasgow and Aberdeen 

Universities 1869-1876; Lord of Appeal 1876-1879. 

80 Archibald Campbell Swinton 1812-1890; author and politician; professor of civil law at Edinburgh 1852- 

1872. 

81 Sir Charles Gordon of Drimnin was born in 1791, the son of William Gordon of Minmore, Banff; he died 

on 26 September 1845. In 1826 he married Helen, daughter of John Fletcher of Dunans, Argyllshire, by 

whom he had 6 sons and 2 daughters. Drimnin is about 1 mile north of Bonnavoulin on the west coast of 

Morvern, almost exactly opposite Tobermory across the Sound of Mull. The house is described by John 

Gifford [Highland and Islands: Penguin Books 1992] as a gawky Elizabethan manor with an opulent 

interior, built in the 1850s on the site of the previous house, originally a McLean property, which was 

destroyed by fire in 1849. Gifford says that it was built for Sir Charles Gordon; if so, he may have 

commissioned it but did not live to see it. 

82 It is of some interest that J R kept notes on previous days for his Journal on detached slips of paper. 

The contents of the slips do not seem to have been written up in his Journal book until he got back to 

Tobermory; he mentions doing so in the entry for 16 July. 

JBL 11/1/06 49


Mrs D Stewart, Mr and Miss Dallas, old Mrs Mitchell and many other acquaintances 

communicated at the same time. Sat in my old Pew. 85 Went home to No 6 Howe Street 

with Mrs Mitchell. 

In the afternoon William and Mary accompanied me to St Pauls; an old fair bald man 

read the Service. The Bishop Terrot preached an admirable discourse (John the 

Baptist). 

James Edra and William Canada dined with us. 

Packed. 

Monday 7 July 1845 

E. Misty morning - cloudy warm day. 

Rose at 4, and left by Perth Mail at half past 5. Bade William good bye in house. 

Alastair a Ghresich took my luggage to Black Bull, and mentioned that his brother 

Robert is confined to Morningside. 86 

Donald Stewart the Guard of the Perth Mail told me that he saw Donald lately in London. 

Breakfasted at Perth. 

Went inside at Cowdenbeath. 87 

Dr Duncan a passenger and told me that he operated on Sir C Gordon's leg. 

The Stewarts on the Inverness Coach; sat beside Robert and got country news from 

him. Yesterday was the Sacrament Sunday at Blair and there was divine worship to day 

when we passed. 

Overtook Emily and little George under the Ground Officer's old house, and went home 

with them. John Banchor, Margaret, Aunt Betsey and old Mrs Robertson Kanglinne [?] 

at Milton. 

John left and I walked with him to AltnaCoill. 

Received a Note from William Irvine asking me to dine at the Manse to meet McInroy 

but did not go. 

Bohally and George Stewart called after Tea. 

My father very frail but in good health; his mind wanders a little occasionally and Emily 

says that he then talks incoherently about my mother. My mother herself is tolerably well 

and strong, but old looking; and so is John. Emily looks well, and is in excellent spirits. 

83 St Paul's Episcopal Church in York Place, by Archibald Elliot, was built in 1816-1818 and was therefore 

brand new when JR first came to Edinburgh. Gifford, McWilliam and Walker, in their Edinburgh [1984] 

describe it as "remarkable, considering its date, for the delicacy and scholarship of its detail both inside 

and out". JR does not seem to have had an eye for that sort of thing. 

84 Charles Hughes Terrot 1790-1872; B.A. and Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge 1812; Pastor of St 

Peter's Edinburgh 1817; Bishop of Edinburgh 1841-1862. 

85 These words "Sat in my old Pew" confirm that JR was a regular attender at St Pauls in his Edinburgh 

days. 

86 Morningside was the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Tipperlin Road, designed by William Burn in 1839 to 

accommodate the pauper lunatics of Edinburgh and Leith. Alastair and his brother Robert were both dead 

six months later; see entry for 21 January 1846. 

87 The fact that JR went inside the Coach at Cowdenbeath indicates that he had hitherto travelled outside, 

including the crossing of the Firth of Forth at Queensferry. 

JBL 11/1/06 50


Poor Margaret is not strong. Her boy is a very fine child, and remarkably handsome both 

in face and figure. 

Tuesday 8 July 1845 

S.W. Showery, mild 

Saw Bohally at Burn, and walked up the hill with him. Wrote this Journal on a detached 

slip in the Garden watching the Bees which were swarming. 

Called and lunched at the Manse. 88 Sophy looking tolerably well, excepting her mouth 

which is awful. 89 She is near her time and very large. Both their mothers, and his 

daughter, there. Returned to Milton to dinner. Did not see Irvine who was at Lude with 

the Buchanans Methven. Took Aunt Betsey with me to the Manse where she remained. 

Went up in the Evening with Mrs Robertson Kindrochit to the Cottage where we took 

Tea. 

I came to Milton at 11. 

Wrote to William in Edinburgh. 


Showery 

Called at Stewartston and saw Mrs Margaret and George Stewart. Went with little 

George my nephew to see the old Corcar and Alastair Roy. 

Dined and went to the Manse, where they waited dinner for me. Walked about the farm 

in the Evening with Irvine. 

Aunt Anne came to Milton. 

Wrote to Donald in London. Letter from William. 


Fine day 

Breakfasted at the Manse. 

Irvine drove me down to Mrs Hay's. Saw her, her step daughters, and the Alstons her 

nieces. 90 

Passed the afternoon at home. Wrote a few lines at manse to William in Edinburgh. 


Fine day 

Called at Manse to bid them good bye. On my return found Findynate, John Douglas 

and Bohally at Milton. I had not seen Findynate for 4 years. He looks well and like a 

88 Blair Atholl. 

89 The reference to Sophy's mouth probably means that her teeth were in bad condition, in part no doubt 

because she was far advanced in pregnancy. 

90 Mrs Hay, widow and second wife [married 1821 of James Hay of Seggieden 1771-1838] was childless. 

She was the sister of James Stewart of Urrard; hence the connexions with the Alston gitls, whose mother 

was her sister; she had two step daughters, Jane and Barbara Hay, whose mother had been Margaret, 

daughter of John Richardson of Pitfour; she died in 1819. 

JBL 11/1/06 51


gentleman, but thin and old. 91 He drove me up to the Cottage from which he went to 

Ricehail [?]. Mrs Robertson took tea with us at Cottage, and I went to Milton at night. 

Bohally complained bitterly of the Tory's Government and told me that there is to be a 

General Election. He left late, and J Douglas remained all night. 


N.W. Dry except for one shower at Drumnachten 

Aunt Betsey came over from Manse to breakfast and I stuffed her tooth with Thomas' 

succedaneum. 92 I then took leave of them at Milton, drove across the river with Aunt 

Betsey and J Douglas who went to the Manse. 

Donald du drove me in John's Phaeton to House of Hills, where John's servants, Rob 

Roy Tombane met me with the Brown mare. 

Reached Banchor soon after 4. 

Mr McPherson Fo'ness and Mr McIntyre dined with us. 

No great change in Jane. 

The crops at Milton and Banchor excellent, as indeed they are everywhere this season. 


W. fine day, till 4. Heavy rain thereafter. 

John drove Jane and I to Belville. The Stewarts looked much as usual excepting the old 

man who is very old and frail looking. He is more altered since I saw him two years 

since than any other of my Atholl acquaintances. 

Went to Church at Kingussie. A good Church, 30 of a congregation, and a poor sermon 

from Mr Grant. It rained as we came out and we went to the Bankers. 

Capt Oneas Macpherson at Church. 

Young Burney, whose father has the shootings of Newtonmore, dined with us. 

Cluny at the Free Church. 

Bialled came from the Inverness Fair in the Evening, and we took Tea with him, and 

passed a joyous Evening. 


N.W. Showers 

Rose early and saw John's thrashing mill in operation. Breakfasted all with Bialled; the 

old Gentleman uncommonly kind. 

At 12 o'clock John drove Jane and I to Fortwilliam by Cluny, Dalcholly, Strathmashie. 

The Mashie and Pattag. Pretty scenery at upper end of Lochlaggan. Showery. Marquis 

of Abercorn's forest Lodge. Moy near end of Loch. And farther on corned the brown 

mare. 

91 Dr John Stewart of Findynate was then aged 58. It would be interesting to know exactly what JR meant 

why he wrote that he looked "like a gentleman", when Findynate's social standing in Athole was not in 

question. 

92 Aunt Betsey Robertson's tooth must have had a cavity in it if JR could stuff it with Thomas' 

succedaneum, which was a kind of substitute filling. 

JBL 11/1/06 52


A man from Annat, riding beside me when I walked on before the Phaeton, pointed out 

the direction of Strath and Lochoisin; Loch Treig; Craig guanach; the Treig; Aldlarich, 

The Fersaid, Inverlair &c &c. This is the scenery of the fine old Poem of the 

Combachaig, and to me it possesses a very peculiar charm. I do not remember that 

there is any other part of Scotland that interests me so much as the Braes of Lochaber 

down to Inverlochy; and even to a stranger unacquainted with its historical and poetical 

associations it is a grand highland country. By far the finest view of Ben Nevis is as you 

approach Fortwilliam from Keppoch. 

We reached Fortwilliam about 9. Took Tea, strolled about and to bed at Campbells. 


N.W. Fine clear day. 

Rose at 4. John also got up then to bid me good bye. Left by the Glencoe coach at 5. 

Colonel Stewart of Achnacoan. At Ballahulich went on Oban Coach; Col Stewart again. 

His descriptions of James Stewart's trial. 

Fine drive thro' Appin. Two young Englishmen. The Colonel left us at Achnacoan. 

Ardshiel, Appin, Innstor [?], Achnacoan. Lochnell. Shian Ferry, breakfasted there. 

Connel Ferry. Reached Oban soon after 12. 

Wrote long letter to Donald in London describing my journey, Edinburgh, Athole and 

Badenoch. 

Remained at Oban till 8; came home by Antelope. Kilpatrick going to Achnacroish. Mr 

Ross and Mr D Stewart coming from Torosay Sacrament. 

Home at 12. 


N.W. Fine day, clear and dry 

Unpacked. Wrote Journal. 

Walked with Mr Ross to top of Point; home by Erray. 

Called on Miss Macleod who has her sister and niece with her; the latter delicate, and 

good looking. 

Post came in and no letters. 


W. Mild and rainy day 

Wrote to Emily at Milton; letter describing my journey from Badenoch. 

Wrote to William in Edinburgh ordering 6 doz of wine; books; to remit balance of money. 

Wrote to Maclachlan Stewart & Co, Booksellers, Edinburgh, sending Volume of 

Decisions as pattern for binding of 5th & 6th Volumes and ordering Macleod's Gaelic 

Dictionary &c. 

Wrote to A R Irvine, Blair Manse, about Free Church and politics, Bohally &c. 

It rained incessantly and I did not go out. 

Nisbet, Mr Ross, Country people, Pensioners, Camerons about bastard case, and 

others calling. 


JBL 11/1/06 53


Gave trowsers to Chas Campbell. 


W. by N. Light showers in morning - clear after 12 - hot 

Walked thro' Drumfuin grounds and saw men employed in leading water from spring at 

farther to the house. 

Took Tea with Miss Macleod, her sister, niece and Mr Ross, and walked thereafter with 

Mr Ross to Erray gate. 

Toward Castle just come in. 

Beautiful night. 


S.E. Fine sunny warm day 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil of my return; visits; Achnadarroch, Sir C Gordon, Sheriff 

Bruce; Queen at Blair &c. 

Wrote to Maclachlan Stewart & Co for Reform Act No 1. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Return home from Fortwilliam. 

Wrote to William in Edinburgh about Ballyscaits &c &c. 

Walked to Drumfuin and home by high road. In the Evening walked to low Point. 

Letters from William, Mrs C Possil, and A R Irvine, the last intimating that Sophy had a 

daughter on Sunday Evening the 13th inst. 


N. Evening E Very beautiful and hot day. 

To Church twice, and then to Low Point; again at 9 to side of Point. 

Sailors and officers of Vulcan Government Steamer in Church. 


E. Clear sunny and very hot day, the most sultry of the season. 

Wrote to Donald in London about McInroy; Sam Fergusson; Findynate; Irvines, birth of 

Sophy IV; 93 Markets; Argyll politics &c; sending Irvine's last. 

Wrote to Mrs C Possil that I'll go up on Thursday. 

Wrote to A R Irvine, congratulating him on birth of his daughter &c. 

Mr Ross came and took tea with me and I walked with him to Low Point, and afterwards 

sat an hour in his house talking of the Duke of Wellington &c. 


E. Calm - hot sunny day 

Parkers in town. 

Walked with Mr Ross to low Point and sat in shadow of the hill. 

93 JR must have known that the Irvine baby was to be named Sophy and referring to her as 'Sophy IV' 

shows his awareness of the names of members of the female line for three generations. 

JBL 11/1/06 54


Took tea with Miss Macleod and Parkers. The Minister of Tyree, his wife, daughter and 

brother came in. Miss Macleod sang Gaelic songs very well. Saw them on board 

steamer. 

Minister himself came up and sat with me till 12. 


Shifting. E. Calm - very hot and sunny day 

Small Debts Court and Ordinary Court. 18 or 20 cases in former. 

Quinish dined with me. Mrs Macleod Morven, Mr Stewart Acharacle and Mr Ross at 

Miss Macleods. Quinish and I took tea with them, and saw Mrs Macleod and her 

daughter on board her boat. She had letters from Dr Macleod who was only 12 days on 

the passage from Liverpool to Halifax. 


Fine day. N. 

Wrote to William in Edinburgh - that remittance not arrived &c. 

Went to Achnacroish at 4 by Antelope. Dr McAuley of Stornoway and McVean Iona in 

Steamer. 

Found family at Achnacroish at Dinner. Mrs Clarke Ulva and her son, an objectionable 

pair, present; the Lamonts too, 94 and Campbell of Kilpatrick [indecipherable]. 

Thursday 31 July 1845 95 

Friday the 25th was a fine day. Walked about with Possil; hay stack making. 

Saturday 26th Rained; Bees. Lamont and Kilpatrick went to fish at Lismore. The day 

was bad, and the family anxious for their return. Whist in the Evening. Clarkes gone. 

Sunday 27th Rainy - To Church and back with young Ladies. Sermon at night. Monday 

28th Bees dead. Wandering about with Possil eating gooseberries. Lamont fishing at 

Ardjura. 

Tuesday 29th Showery warm day. Possil and Kilpatrick argue about Achadashennaig's 

arrear of Road money. Went to examine school with Ladies and Possil. Dined at 5. 

Lamont came to Tobermory with me by the Antelope. Fine Evening. Arrived at 1. 

This was upon the whole a pleasant visit to Achnacroish. Possil was always cordial and 

kind, and I now find the Lady equally so, or more. I liked Mrs Lamont too better than 

usual. Lamont himself is a nice fellow; a perfect gentleman, quick, well educated, good 

natured, and as open in talking about himself and his friends as either Possil or Mrs 

Campbell. 

John Maclachlan I met for the first time. 96 He is overgrown with fat, but a good 

humoured and good looking fellow, and a considerable talker when I had him solus. 

94 The Lamonts were Possil's eldest daughter and her husband. 

95 The first part of this entry consists of short retrospective Journal notes for 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 July. 

The last part of this entry contains an entry for 30 July. Both parts were written up at Tobermory at the 

same time as the entry for 31 July. The notation of a cross or circle shows that the whole of this entry, and 

the entry for 24 July, was written up on 31 July. 

96 John Maclachlan was Possil's brother-in-law, the youngest of the brothers of Mrs Campbell of Possil 

and fourth and youngest son of Donald Maclachlan of Maclachlan. 

JBL 11/1/06 55


Found Letters from Donald, William, Emily &c. 

Wednesday 30th July. Held Court with Lamont. Went with him to Drimfin and 

Lochnameal. Fished with Tom Robertson; Lamont a first rate fisher. Home and opened 

packages from Edinburgh containing wines, books &c. Lunched. Lamont came soon 

after. Dined at 7. Conversations about Possils. Possil a Tiger according to Lamont, but 

just. Mrs Lamont's management of the old gentleman. John Maclachlan not sensitive. 

When we were still speaking Lamont received a letter announcing that his daughter by 

his first marriage is dangerously ill. He was much distressed. 

Thursday 31 July continued 

S.E. Heavy showers. Thunder 

Got up at 5. Breakfasted with Lamont and accompanied him to Ardnacross hill where 

we parted. He goes south by the Steamer to night to Rothesay where his daughter is. 

Wrote to Emily at Milton thanking her for her letter; Irvine's child; visit to Achnacroish; 

Free Minister's call to day about drunkards along with Dr Maclean; my movements in 

August &c &c. 

Wrote to William acknowledging receipt of £30.8.3. Rating [?] Income tax received &c. 

Dr Maclean and Rev Peter Maclean called, 97 the latter for the first time. 

Friday 1 August 1845 

S.E. Fine day - very slight showers - warm 

Called on Mrs Nisbet. Walked round Ebermore. 

Balanced my accounts. Got new Cash Book; also small cabinet for Parlour. 

McNab Schoolmaster called about Prizes given by me to School. 

In the Evening I walked with Mr Ross to Low Point. He gave me an account of the 

annual agitation of Nisbet's sculduddery case. 98 

Saturday 2 August 1845 

S. Cloudy dry day. Rain at 10 at night. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Lamonts; Sir J C's salary; Free Minister's call &c. 

Short walk up by Tobermory river; and in Miss Macleod's garden. 

Mr Ross took tea with me. 

Letter from Mr Kennedy Strontian enclosing Submission by Capt Cameron, Carnock 

and Mr Alexander. 

Short walk after Tea towards Erray. It is now raining. 

Sunday 3 August 1845 

W. Calm cloudy Morning - rainy Evening - warm 

Walked to side of Point, and was driven home by showers. 

To Church. 

Young Islay in the harbour with a party in a Yacht. 

97 The Revd Peter Maclean was a Free Church Minister calling on JR to discuss drunkards. 

98 'Sculduddery' is a facetious Scotch word for a breach of chastity and for bawdy talk or writing. It is 

probably a different word from 'sculduggery' which means 'underhand malpractices'. 

JBL 11/1/06 56


Monday 4 August 1845 

W. Fine day - cloudy but dry and warm 

Wrote to Mr Kennedy Strontian on Saturday 2nd acknowledging his letter proposing 

additions to Submission and consenting to accept of it conditionally. Returned 

Submission; kept other papers. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil with Memorandum about Nurses. 

Got Whiskey, 13 Gallons, from Hart and paid him £5.10.6. The Whiskey he says was 

made in the beginning of June. 

Walked to Drimfin. 

Breacachy supped with me. 

Letters from Mr Dewar and from Mrs Campbell Possil intimating that Mrs Lamont was 

delivered of a still born son on Saturday morning. I feel for them most sincerely. 

Tuesday 5 August 1845 

W. Calm very fine day. Showery morning 

Went to Drimnin; Sir C Gordon unable to see me. 99 

Advised 2 processes. 

Walked to Drimfin after Tea; beautiful Evening. 

Falcon passed Tobermory. 100 

Wednesday 6 August 1845 

S.W. Rainy - mild 

Morven women Maclachlan and MacEachern came with a reference 101 which I settled. 

Pirie called about hypothec 102 case by Landlord who had sold the property. 


Letter from William with £3 to pay £3.6 to Capt Jas Campbell and Ballyscaits. Called on 

Capt C. and paid him 30 shillings his share. 

Women at Well, and hospitable others that took me in to their little smoky hut to get a 

drink of milk. 

Called at Livingston's shop and reprimanded him for keeping irregular house. 103 

Letters from Donald, to leave London to morrow with Advocate, and from Mrs Campbell 

Possil to say that Mrs Lamont better. 

At Stafford House The Marchioness of Lorne was this day delivered of a son and heir. 104 

Thursday 7 August 1845 

99 This was a wasted journey because Gordon was dying. He was moved to Edinburgh before he died on 

26 September. 

100 Falcon was the name of a Steamer. 

101 A 'reference' in legal contexts is the act of submitting a dispute for investigation or decision. 

102 In Scots law a 'hypothec' refers to a right to have security over goods or to retain possession of 

another's property until the owner pays a debt. 

103 Was Livingston's reprimand judicial or personal? Surely it was irregular for a Sheriff Substitute in that 

role to go round telling people how to behave, especially if they are breaking the law. 

104 This sentence is in the margin. 

JBL 11/1/06 57


W. Sultry day. Dry (Fast day). 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Ballyscaits and with acknowledgment by the Ladies 

for £38.8.0 each. 105 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Mrs Lamont; Lamont's carpet bag and steamers; 

Lewis deaf; Colls; Gordons; Nairne; Free Kirk, Swarm of Parsons, &c 

Walked round by P.O. and Mill. 

The Misses Ballyscate called and I paid Miss Colina C. £1.16. 

To Church when Mr McArthur Dr Macleod Morven's assistant preached, a tolerably 

good sermon. 

Frees off, excepting Mr Begg who I was told is still here. The others are Drs Mackay and 

McKellar and Mr Beith. Dr Candlish did not come ashore with them from the Dolphin 

and the Mull people cared nothing for the others. 

Walked to side of Point before dinner, and after Tea by low road accross Eaglescliff and 

home by Erray. 


N.W. Cloudy. Dry 

Mr Ross and Mr Macarthur called. 

Signor Jacobowitch a Made Pole 106 called at Miss Macleod about getting up a concert. 

Geo Macdonald Langamull and the Macleans came with a Reference which I settled for 

them. 

Macdonald and Alexander Cameron Calgary dined with me, and when they left I walked 

to Burn. 

Afterwards adjusted dispute between Pirie and a countryman and his wife about the 

expence of an Ejection. 


N. Misty cool dry day 

Mr Dewar preached. Walked to Low Point before dinner and again after Tea. 

Letters from A R Irvine, Mrs C. Possil, and Emily 

9th Augt Parliament prorogued this day, and the Queen gone to Germany. 107 


N. Breezy. Sacrament day. 

To Church with the Breacachas &c. Mr Ross, Dr McArthur and Mr Stewart Acharicle 

officiated; and in the Evening Mr McArthur of Morven came from Salen and preached. 

The Revd P Maclean is at Strontian. 

Breacacha dined with me. After dinner I walked to side of Point. 

N. Cool breezy dark dry day 


105 This figure is hard to fathom in the light of the £3.6.0 which William sent on the previous day. 

106 This may be a slip of the pen for "mad" or perhaps it means that Jacobowitch was a self-styled Pole. 

107 This sentence is in the margin. 

JBL 11/1/06 58


Wrote to Emily at Milton about Morag, Manse, Missie; Robertson Irvines; Mull news; 

places to visit &c. 

Wrote to Donald in Edinburgh about his arrival in Scotland; to get new Acts of 

Parliament for me; about Sedition of Free Kirk Ministers - Mull news &c. 

Wrote to A L Macdonald Sheriff Substitute Stornoway about purchasing cattle for Possil. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Ditto; Lamonts; Free Sites, refusal by Possil; Free 

Sedition; Lords Salisbury, Compton and Strathallan &c. 

Went to Church; Mr Stewart Acharicle preached. 

Dined at Mr Ross with Miss Macleod, Miss Roy and Miss Elizabeth Campbell Quinish, 

108 and Drs McArthur and McColl, and Messrs Stewart and Fraser. Minister of Tyree's 

wife and daughter. 

Letter from William, laughable misadventures of A McNeill &c. 

No walk. 


N. Fine sunny breezy day. Cool 

This is the 12th August and as good a day for the Moors as a Sportsman could wish. 

Mr Ross and Mr Fraser breakfasted with me. 

Afterwards I examined in to dispute between old Smith and his tenant, and inspected 

the house. 

Then I attended the Examination of the School, and gave the Prizes provided by myself 

to the successful competitors. 

Drew up and sent Constable round with Notice to the Spirit Dealers of Tobermory; and 

after Tea walked past Drimfin and home by upper road. 


N. Misty morning. Dry fine cool day 

Trial of Donald McArthur for assault adjourned on his requisition. 

Walked to Low Point. Messrs Ross and Fraser dined with me; and I walked with them 

after tea to Low Point. 

Letters from William going to the Country on Saturday, and from Sheriff Bruce coming 

here on Tuesday, and describing Festivities at Inveraray on account of the birth of an 

heir to the House of Argyll. It is a singular fact that the Duchess of Sutherland should 

have been delivered of a son at Stafford House on the 2nd and her daughter the 

Marchioness of Lorn on the 6th, also at Stafford House. 


N. Dry cool morning. Misty and showers in Evening. 

I received in the Morning a letter from Mrs Campbell Possil enquiring about Wilson from 

the Macpherson Grants. 

108 Elizabeth Campbell, Quinish, daughter of Captain Donald Campbell, was JR's future sister-in-law; she 

married his brother Donald on 26 September 1850. 

JBL 11/1/06 59


Wrote in reply to Mrs Campbell Possil about Wilson and also about Blair and Free 

Leaders; Lamont's shooting and fishing; Examination of School; Mrs Fraser, Dr 

McArthur and Mr & Mrs Clarke. 

Wrote to Sheriff Bruce, that I am disengaged, enclosed in Note to McArthur, Caledonian 

Hotel, Oban. 

Walked to near Drimfin. General Lindsay 109 and Dr Lachlan met me again on walk. 

Writers &c calling. 


N. Dry gray day. 

Walked to Drimfin before Dinner and after Tea, and spent the [time] in pleasant 

wanderings among the woods gathering wild fruit &c. 

Did not go to Jacobowitch's concert. 

Miss Albane McColl arrived. 


N. Gray dry breezy day 

Received a Note from Miss Barabara [sic] Campbell Lossit asking me to direct her how 

to get to Tyree where she was going to see her father who is dangerously ill. 

I went down to the Inn, got her and George Maclean Haynish to come up to breakfast, 

and procured a cart to take her across to Calligary, where she might get a cast 110 

across the Minch in the Minister of Tyree's boat. She is getting miserably old and ugly 

looking, poor little thing. 

Inter alia she says that Collonsay 111 is barely able to walk out occasionally to the 

Garden Terrace; that Archy has gone to see him; that Sir John went south the other 

day; and that the Advocate is to have a Grand deer chase at Jura on the 21st, that 

being his birthday. 

I suppose Sir John is going south about his new appointment of paid Convenor at the 

Supervision Board which William writes is conferred upon him. 

Wrote to P Forbes, Wine Merchant, Edinburgh for 8 dozen Port for Quinish. 

Wrote to Dun Clerk Writer Oban - that I am for no Shares in Oban Railway. 

I then called on Miss Macleod and saw Miss Breadalbane Maclean by day light. 112 She 

is exceedingly like her brother; only she has blue eyes and a pale complexion, which 

last perhaps is not natural to her. 

Called at Drimfin, missed Nairne, and left word that I could not dine with him. 

Dined at Miss Macleods with Miss Maclean and Mr Ross. 

Received a Short Note from Mrs Campbell Possil enclosing a letter to Miss Maclean. 

109 General Lindsay may have been Sir Alexander Lindsay 1785-1872. 

110 A 'cast' is a Scotch usage meaning 'a good turn, such as a lift or conveyance in a vehicle'. 

111 John McNeill of Colonsay 1767-1846 was the father of six sons. Three of them are mentioned here. 

Duncan McNeill 1793-1867 was Lord Advocate 1842-1846 and later created Lord Colonsay when he was 

Lord Justice General; Sir John McNeill 1795-1883 was Chairman of the Board of Supervision of the 

working of the Scottish Poor Law Act 1845-1878; Archy McNeill was a Writer to the Signet who had been 

in practice with JR in Edinburgh and remained one of his close friends. 

112 Miss Breadalbane Maclean was the sister of Hugh Maclean of Coll. 

JBL 11/1/06 60



S.E. Rainy 

Walked to Erray gate. 


Nairne called on me with a Mr Pentland, I think that's the name. There were three men 

in all with him in church, and all apparently Griffins. 113 

Miss Maclean and Miss Roy walked with me on Terrace after Tea, and thereafter I went 

again to Erray gate. 


N. Fine dry day 

John Beaton worked at Well which is dry. 

Geo Black assisted me to draw a Gallon of Whiskey. 

Walked with Miss Macleod and Miss Maclean on Terrace. 

Wrote to Margaret, 84 Queen St Glasgow, about her own and George's health &c. 

Grand Palaver about Duck Case; Jas McNeill; Paterson &c calling; Nairne called with 

Mr Guthrie, also young Gallanach from Steamer. 


N. Fine day 

Sat and walked with Miss Maclean. 

Concluded Trial of John McArthur for assault. 114 

Went to Drimfin, Ebermore Garden, and dined with Nairne. Mr Guthrie and Mr Thorn 

there; also Mr Clarke of Ulva and his son. 

Came in at 9 and found Sheriff Bruce and Scipio McTaggart here. Supped. They came 

by the Falcon. 


N. Wet day 

Court day (1st box day). 115 Registrations, ordinary action and Small Debts Courts held. 

Nairne, Breachacha, Achadashennaig &c present. 3 Claims registered. 

Dined with Sheriff Bruce at the Inn. Present: S Mactaggart, Achadashennaig, 

Breachacha, 3 Tobermory Writers, Alexander Cameron Calligary, Geo Maclean 

Haynish, Kenneth Campbell Ardour, Young McMillan Tax Surveyor, and Dugald 

Campbell Craigniche. 

113 The word "Griffin" may have meant that these three men were home on leave from India or elsewhere 

in the East, where they had been novices or relative newcomers, perhaps as recent recruits to the East 

India Company or some other kind of business. 

114 Formerly named as Donald McArthur. 

115 'Box-day' is one of the Court of Session vacation days when papers ordered to be deposited in court 

must be lodged. 

JBL 11/1/06 61


Mr Bruce came up with me at 7, and we passed the Evening alone talking of Sir Walter 

Scott, Lockhart, Hogg, the Spottiswoods of Spottiswood who are his second cousins, 

Mull gentry &c &c. 

Every one seemed to think that Lochbuy is blown. 116 


N. Fine warm gray day 

Sheriff Bruce and I breakfasted alone and talked over filiation cases. 

S Mactaggart called, and the Sheriff and I went up stairs and saw Miss Macleod, but 

Miss Maclean had gone out. 

Afterwards we walked with Mactaggart to Low Point; came back, when they packed and 

I called on Miss Maclean. Saw her off to Quinish. Dined and saw Sheriff off. 

Wrote to William at Milton about sundries; no word of Ballyscaits. 

Nairne called when I was writing William, he having been seeing his own friends, 

Messrs Guthrie and Thorn off. Rowed to Drimfin with him and Tom Robertson the 

Keeper. Walked about and passed the Evening pleasantly and came home at 10. 


S. Rainy day - a breeze 

No walk. Sent an apology for not dining with Nairne; he afterwards called and I returned 

him the Memoirs of Mrs M. 

Miss Macleod passed the Evening with me. 

Received a Note from Miss Maclean. 

Drowned Wasps with boiling water. 

Forbes McNeill (Collonsay's youngest son) died near London this day Friday 22 August. 

117 


W. Rainy (showery) morning - Dry Evening 

Received a Note from Nairne asking me to dinner. 

No walk excepting on Terrace with Miss Macleod, who passed Evening with me. 

Wrote to Miss Maclean of Coll at Quinish about Miss Macleod &c. 

Wrote to Donald in Edinburgh; enquiring what has become of him, whether he is in Jura, 

Athole or Edinburgh; informing him of my motions (Strontian, Oban &c). 

Letter from Coll of the 19th. 

Niel Macphail called for Warrant against Macphee for breaking windows at half past 9 

tonight. 


W. Cloudy but dry day. Rainy night 

Went twice to Church with Miss Macleod, and heard an Excellent English discourse 

from Mr Ross. Breachacha there, also a brother of Pirie's. 

116 'Blown' in this context can only mean 'worthless'. 

117 This sentence is written vertically in the margin of the entry. 

JBL 11/1/06 62


Received a Note from Mr Nairne asking me to go to Drimfin which I answered declining, 

but promised to dine with him which I did. We were alone, and walked across 

Drumbreck. 118 


W. Fine warm dry day 

Tried McPhee or McDuff for breaking Niel Macphail's window. Convicted. Sentence 14 

days imprisonment. 

Opened up leader to Well, but there is no water in it and in the meantime Niel 

Fergusson advised that nothing farther should be done until rain comes on. 

Letters from Donald, Wm Kennedy and Bailie Forbes with Wine Invoice &c. 

Miss Maclean and Miss Roy came over from Quinish. 


N. by W. Fine dry gray day - breezy 

Wrote to A L Macdonald Sheriff Substitute Stornoway about Possil's beef; business of 

this court semiplena probatio lacep [?]; Miss Black; Submission Carnock and Alexander, 

and Arbiters quarrelling &c. 

Walked with Miss Maclean and Miss Roy past Ledaig. Afterwards to Erray. 

My servant Mary MacCallum taken suddenly ill and got Dr MacColl to attend her. 

Passed Evening at Miss Macleods. 

Nairne called in at 9 and read his answer to Tobermory Petitioners; a good paper and I 

hope it will have a good effect among the people. 

Mary McColl attending me. 


W. Fine warm day. Sunshine and shadows 

Walked with Miss Maclean and Miss Roy by Low Road. Afterwards to Side of Point. 

Read Hood's amusing book "Up the Rhine". 119 

Dined at Miss Macleod's with Mr Ross. 

Walked in the Evening on Terrace with Miss Maclean, and by myself to Erray gate. 

Mary MacCallum better but still unable to attend. 

Letters from: Emily about Christening of Sophia S R Irvine; from A L Macdonald about 

Possil's Stots (none to be had); 120 and from Donald announcing the death of Forbes 

McNeill on the 22nd at 7 o'clock a.m. I am distressed at this. How many and what 

scenes have I witnessed and gone through with him, poor fellow. God rest his soul! 

Fine day; dry. 


118 Nairne seems to have been much on his own these days and in need of company at Drimfin. 

119 Thomas Hood's "Up the Rhine" was published in 1839. 

120 A Stot was an Ox or Steer. 

JBL 11/1/06 63


Went to Oban per Antelope. Mr Ross went as far as Funeri 121 to attend the Morven 

sacrament. Miss Maclean Coll went as far as Achnacroish. She told me of the hitch in 

her niece Isabella's marriage owing to settlements. Mary Nisbet, her aunt and 

Governess went as far as Oban on their way to Glasgow. Donald Lamont the Sheriff 

Clerk came in at Achnacroish and told me he is applying for the situation of Surveyor of 

Taxes at Glasgow. 

Wrote to Donald in Edinburgh asking him to use his influence in Lamont's behalf and to 

T Pender, Comptroller of Stamps and Taxes, Edinburgh, in same terms. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Lewis Cattle, 122 about F McNeill's death, and 

asking J Maclachlan 123 to come with me to Tobermory &c &c. 


Fine dry day 

Small Debts Court day at Oban. There were 41 Cases in the Roll, and only 2 continued. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene WS Edinburgh long nonsensical letter about Oban &c. 

Angus Fletcher of Dunans came into the Public room just as we were sitting down to 

dinner. He was on his way to Drimnin to visit his brother in law Sir C Gordon and we 

travelled together in the Toward Castle. There was a thick mist came on as we left 

Oban which soon cleared up. 

At Achnacroish J Maclachlan came in. Bishop Scott (R Catholic) was also a passenger 

and going to Drimnin. Dunans, Maclachlan and I passed the time agreeably enough 

until we came to opposite to Drimnin where Fletcher and the Bishop went ashore. 

Fletcher gave us a number of Portugese and Italian anecdotes, and made himself 

exceedingly agreeable. He has only lately returned from the Continent, where he had 

been travelling with his young wife, a Portugese. 

Maclachlan and I got here about 11. The night was beautiful. 


Fine dry day again 

Wrote to Emily Milton about my mother's illness (Influenza) and about my journey to 

Oban &c. 

Called on Miss Macleod with Maclachlan. Miss Roy has gone to Morven. Walked with 

MacLachlan to Drimfin, and missed Nairne who was at Aros with Blackadder. He and I 

dined alone. Mary MacCallum attended. 124 

Letters from Donald and Possil. 

Fine dry day 


121 Fuinary is in Morven, across the Sound of Mull and opposite Salen. 

122 Lewis Cattle were the Stots from the Island of Lewis about which JR had written to A L Macdonald, his 

opposite number at Stornoway. 

123 John Maclachlan; see entry for 31 July 1845. 

124 Mary MacCallum, JR's servant, seems to have recovered from her recent illness but she was replaced 

by Chirsty Webster on 12 November. 

JBL 11/1/06 64


Walked in Morning (after breakfast) with MacLachlan to Low Point. 

To Church and heard a good sermon from the Minister of Iona (McGregor). 

Nairne called on us with Blackadder and we dined at Drimfin. Blackadder is a 

"blethering ideot", a talking projector, a Donsterswival. 

Came home at nightfall. 

981020 

Monday 1 September 1845 

Fine dry day - E. by N. 

Dr Macleod of St Columba preached a magnificent Gaelic sermon and a good English 

one. I prefer him on the whole to his brother. 125 He gave the Free Kirk people a dixi. 126 

McGregor of Iona breakfasted with us, and the Doctor dined with us. Mr Stewart 

Ardnamurchan came in as we had finished. 

Wrote to Possil about Blackadder and that J MacLachlan and I will go up on Friday. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about his money matters, Punch &c &c. 

MacLachlan and I walked after dinner to Drimfin. Dunans came in the Evening and took 

a tumbler with us, and I saw him on board the Toward Castle. Dr Macleod, Mr McGregor 

and Mr Stewart went by her. Mr Stewart fell into the sea. Again delighted with Dunans. 

No Letters. 

Tuesday 2 September 1845 

E. Fine dry day 

Walked with Maclachlan thro Drimfin grounds. Nairne still busy with Blackadder the 

Engineer and Land Valuator, and we did not see him. Ross was to have dined with us, 

but he could not get back in time from Ardnamurchan where he had gone to baptize a 

child; he came in in the Evening. We called on Miss Macleod, who consulted me about 

the succession of her cousin the late Mr Macleod of Jamaica; Mrs Jack's case &c &c &c 

Wednesday 3 September 1845 

E. Fine dry gray day 

Ross to dine with us. Preparing to go out to walk. 

Walked to Drimfin, across Drumdarroch and home by Ebermor. Ross dined. Ardfinarys 

[?] came to visit Miss MacLeod. 

Thursday 4 September 1845 

N.E. Fine dry gray day 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil repeating what I said to Possil on Monday. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about William; William Canada's Irish Jaunt; Robertson 

Irvines; Donald's coming here &c. 

Wrote to Hugh Maclean of Coll, 3 Northwick Terrace, Edgeware Road, London about his 

sister, Oban Railways, Free and Moderate Parsons &c. 

125 His brother was Dr John Macleod of Morven. 

126 A "dixi", from the Latin "I have spoken", means an authoritative reproof. 

JBL 11/1/06 65


Wrote to James Forsyth of Dunach; enquiries about Law of Succession in Jamaica. 

Wrote to J G Hopkirk WS 75 Great King Street, Edinburgh, about Ditto. 

Miss Macleod called to tell about Miss Maclean &c. 

Walked by low road and home by Erray. We dined alone and John MacNab, Teller, 

National Bank, called on J McLachlan in the Evening and took Tea with us. 

Friday 5 September 1845 

N. Fine clear dry day 

Court day. Engaged for 4 hours taking Judicial Examinations of Parties in case Marion 

or Sally Maclean v Roderick Macleod. 

Walked past Erray. Maclachlan and I dined alone, and in the Evening walked to side of 

hill. 

Saturday 6 September 1845 

N. Fine gray day. Warm. 

Advised 4 Processes. Meeting about Ditto with Nisbet and McCallum. 

Nairne called. J Maclachlan and I went up to Drimfin. Nairne and I walked across 

Drumbreck to see line of new road planned from Narrow Channel along side of 

Drumbreck; then rowed to Calve Island. Walked across Moss and inspected Drains; the 

Moss nearly dry and firm. Afterwards rowed up narrow Channel to where the men were 

cutting out wood to mask the new road; and then home. We dined at Drimfin, and came 

here at 8. 

Letters from T Pender Chesthill, a very kind one about Lamont Oban's application; Mrs 

Campbell Possil, A L Macdonald and A R Irvine. 

Sunday 7 September 1845 

S. Misty morning. Cleared up in Evening. 

Nairne called. I went to Church and heard Pirie's brother preach. Nairne dined with us. 

He and J Maclachlan walked to Point. I saw them half way home at night. A cheerful 

Evening. 


SW. Misty morning; threatening rain. Fine Evening. 

Preparing to go to Achnacroish. 

Granting Warrants and Orders. 

Wrote to Peter McNab Drimnin about his brother's succession; Conf [?] division of 

property &c. 

Nairne dined with us and about 4 we set off by the Toward Castle. 

Sellar came in at Ardtornish and spoke to me about case of Lunatic in Morven and 

disputed accounts. 

Nairne mentioned that he had received an offer for the whole of Drumkilbo, and wrote 

an acceptance of it here. 127 

127 'Here' was Achnacroish. 

JBL 11/1/06 66


Arrived at Achnacroish about 8, and found the family in the Drawing room. Mrs Lamont 

on the sofa and much better than I expected to see her. 

I slept in Red Room. 


Wet Mist, but not rain. 

Sat with Possil in his Den. He shewed me his correspondence with the Free Kirk 

Ministers about a Site, and relative Lists of population on his Estate &c. The population 

comes to near 500, of which the Frees only number about 50. 

There were no visitors, but the Lamonts, John Maclachlan and myself. 


Fine sunny very hot day. 

Took Declaration of Janet McCallum (in filiation case) at Craignure in presence of Chas 

McDougall. Afterwards Possil drove me up to Ardura where I took the Declaration of the 

defender John Currie. He is dying of consumption and confined to bed. My impression is 

that he had connexion with the girl, and yet he solemnly denied it. 

Possil done shearing. 128 


Fine day again. 

Got letters yesterday from Donald Lamont Oban and P Sellar. 

Wrote to Donald Lamont Sheriff Clerk Depute Oban in answer about re-hearing in case 

Ronald Maclaurin; also about his application for Surveyorship, and sending W Lockart 

MP's letter. 

Wrote to Thos Pender Edinburgh thanking him for his letter about D Lamont. 

Walked to the Minister's House by Torgorinaig [?]; measuring Dyke with Possil; &c. 


Fine day. 

Received packet of Letters via Tobermory in the morning from A Fletcher Dunans with 

Gaelic periodical, Donald, Emily, Mrs Robertson Kindrochit about Sergt Macdonald's 

debt. Read them at Point lookout. 

Afterwards walked to Merry's farm where Possil followed me, and then J Maclachlan. 


Rain; mild. 

Drove with Ladies to School and heard Examination and prizes adjudged. Rain came on 

while we were there, and I ran in for the Carriage. 


Rain. 

To Church; text "God is love", a poor sermon. Ass [?], old Merry, and Possil. 

128 September is far too late for shearing sheep. Shearing in Scots is reaping with a sickle. 

JBL 11/1/06 67



Beautiful sunny morning. Rain at 3 and all Evening. 

Breakfasted with Lamont at half past 6 and drove out to Ardjura to a deer hunt. Had 

about 20 beaters. Went first up the Lussa 129 on the heights, and waited several hours 

on a Pass; then crossed over to the Lochbuy side and lay on a pass there again. The 

day was delightful and the surrounding scenery beautiful. Came down and ate our 

sandwiches at Ardura, and afterwards drove past Ardachoil with old Norman Macleod 

who accompanied and amused us all day, until we came to "Maclean's Pass" where we 

waited two hours more. This was an exposed situation, and a very heavy shower of rain 

came on which lasted an hour. Drove home with Colin MacKillop, having first 

discharged our guns at a stone which I missed. 

Saw the Lamonts, Mrs Campbell and Mary Campbell off by the Dumbuck. 

The Minister dined with us. Rather a dull Evening. 


Rainy day. 

Attended meeting of Parochial Board with Possil; Lochbuy, Dewar, Clerk and McIntyre 

present. Wrote out Minute for them. walked to House and back to the Manse with 

Possil. 

After dinner William Ivory WS arrived; a queer original little body. Opinion [?] about 

King's printer; Waddell case &c. 


Rainy. 

Possil walked with Ivory and I with J MacLachlan to Lochdon head (J Macdonald's). 

Afterwards alone to the Rocking Stone above the Manse. Ivory letting himself out again 

about religion, Sabbath &c. 


Rainy. 

Walked with Ivory and Possil. 

Wrote to Mrs Robertson of Kindrochit, Blair Atholl, with draft letter to J Macdonald 

Montreal. 

Chatted with Miss Campbell and J MacLachlan. Ivory and Possil about Wines at 

Harrogate &c. 


Fine sunny cold dry day. 

Ivory went to fish on the Lussa. Possil, Middleton and I walked to Manse to talk with the 

Minister about Meeting of Tenants. Afterwards Possil, J M and I walked thro' grounds. 

129 The River Lussa runs into the sea Loch Spelve at Ardura. 

JBL 11/1/06 68


Dined at 5 and left by Toward Castle at 8. Home at half past 10 or 11. A son of Col 

Macquarie on board going to Salen, Charles. Mary Nisbet and her Aunt Miss Douglas 

on board returning from Glasgow. Fine night. 

Blues in boat. 

This upon the whole was a pleasant visit to Achnacroish. The subject of conversation 

generally with Possil was the new Poor law. He spoke out more strongly than usual 

against Clerk the Minister, who is a good but a senseless and lazy creature. The Ladies 

talked of the School, and Mrs Campbell herself against Middleton. 130 

Possil gave me the history of the Oswalds of Achnacruive and Shieldhall and Scotstoun 

(all one family). 

This day he took me through the Cellars, and Ladies apartments, and I felt that we were 

trespassing in the latter. Little Susan his grandchild is improving. 131 J Maclachlan says 

that the old Gentleman and Lamont would quarrel if they lived in the same house during 

the winter. Possil gave no money with his daughter, her portion being payable on his 

death. Both Lamont and J Maclachlan say that he has a prejudice against all marriages. 

He treats Ivory kindly but cavalierly, and looks half amused and half indignant at the little 

fellow's heresies in religion and politics, and his absurdities as a man of the world. Ivory 

is quite a character, simple kind and honourable, but a mere man of forms, weak, and 

entertaining curious out of the way opinions about most matters. 

While the Lamonts remained we played whist. Miss Campbell and Ivory played chess 

and she beat him easy. 

Found letters fom Donald, J G Hopkirk, Forsyth of Dunach and John Banchor on my 

arrival. 

Snow on Ben Nevis. 


SE. Rain at 3. Cold. 


Trials of Flora Campbell and Niel McGillivray; adjourned. Judicial Examinations of 

McMillan and Duncan Cameon (curious). 

No walk. 

Brought up this book. 

Wrote short letters to Donald Edinburgh and Emily Milton. 

Letters from Donald, going to Collonsay, and Forsyth of Dunach. 


N. Heavy showers; strong beeze; cold. 

Last night a heavy bouncing overhead announced an arrival at Miss Macleod's 132 about 

12 o'clock. This proved to be the Revd Dr Wylie of New York. 

130 This seems to be the first time any mention is made of Mrs Campbell's feelings about Middleton. 

131 'Little Susan' may have been a daughter of Possil's daughter Susan, wife of General George 

Campbell, late the Royal Bengal Artillery. 

132 The name Macleod has accidently been omitted in the original and has been silently inserted 

JBL 11/1/06 69


Walked to Burn and low Point, and again to low Point after Church. To Church with Miss 

Roy and Dr Wylie. 


N. Cold dry breezy day. 

Walked before breakfast to top of Point. 

Wrote to Mary Edinburgh and Margaret Glasgow to engage a new servant for me. 

Took declaration of Donald Sinclair Tyree in assault case (throwing stone). 

Dr Wylie dined with me, an intelligent man of 73. Gave him a letter to W F Skene WS 

Edinburgh; introductory. Saw him off in Steamer. 

Sheriff McDonald arrived. 

Death of Sheriff Macdonald Edinburgh (Dalness). 

Walked round Drimfin in Evening. 

No Letters. 


N. Cold day. Light showers in Evening. 

Well closed up. Walked before breakfast to Low Point. Cut down two barked Trees. 

Apples taken off little Tree on lawn. Walked round Ebermor. 

Sheriff Macdonald Stornoway dined with me. His account of the Dinner and Ball in 

honour of Mr Matheson; 133 Matheson a plain care worn man of 50, Mrs Matheson a 

sharp black eyed affable little woman. Treachery of Munro about report of Dinner in 

leaving out Sheriff Macdonald's "health" &c &c. He left me at 7 and I now hear the Bell 

of the Lewis steamer ringing for Stornoway. 

Contrasting my guests of yesterday and to day, "which of the two would you rather 

choose", I say Dr Wylie. He is a nice old man, a republican to be sure, but pious, 

amiable, learned and kind hearted. He said "Scotland is the country of my ancestors, 

Ireland that of my birth, and America of my adoption". His great grandfather fled from 

Allandale in Dumfries Shire to avoid the persecutions of the times of James the Second. 

He himself went to America upwards of 45 years ago. He was bred at Glasgow College. 

Wrote to Sheriff Macdonald Stornoway; Testimonial in favour of D Macdonald Police 

Constable Tobermory. 


SE. Gloomy day but dry. Rain at night. 

Last night as I was stepping into bed William Skene's card was handed in to me. I 

immediately went down to the Inn and found him there with Miss Clephane, who had 

returned to this country for the first time since her mother's death. I took Skene up with 

me. 

This morning we went down, and I tried a boy of Tobermory for throwing stones. Went 

afterwards with Skene through Drimfin grounds. Dined alone. 

133 Matheson, later Sir James Matheson, was a founding partner in Jardine, Matheson & Co, traders in 

China and the Far East. 

JBL 11/1/06 70


Beatson Minister of Small Isles called in the Evening and gave us an account and 

explanation of the Galloway Celtic names which he reduced into pure Gaelic; ex: gr: 

McCracken into MacNaughton, McIlbury into Bowie. Curious anecdotes of John Bowie 

WS ancestors; his grandfather was a weaver, his father a Doctor and his grand uncle 

was hanged! 


N. Fine cool harvest day. Light showers. 

Walked with Skene to Low Point. 

Ross dined with us. Conversation about Greece; Greek Church. After Ross was gone 

Skene explained the disputes about the keeping of Easter &c. His new work &c &c &c. 


W by N. Fine harvest day. 

Went after breakfast to Round Tower near Tobermory. Afterwards to Drimfin. 

On our return home Skene farther explained his plan and theory of early Scottish history 

as developed or to be developed in his forthcoming work. In particular of the 5th and 9th 

Centuries; Kenneth Macalpine; conquest by Scots; invasion by Lochbroom &c 

Wrote to William Edinburgh with receipt for Quarter's Salary; P Forbes account to pay; 

Poor law Act; servant &c. 

Skene bathed. 

Sir C Gordon died this day at Edinburgh. 134 


W by N. Breeze. 

Post did not come in. 

This morning we intended to go to Aros, but were prevented by the state of the weather. 

About 12 it cleared up and we went to Drimfin. A heavy shower drove us for shelter to 

the low Summer House where we remained chatting near an hour. We then walked 

round Ebermor and afterwards to the heights above Ardnacross. 

Skene bathed. 


W by N. Heavy showers. 

Letter from William describing his Journey to the North and his return to Edinburgh. 

Skene had letters from his sister Miss Skene and William Forbes Medwyn. 135 

We argued fiercely about the Free Kirk and the Drummondites, walked out to the low 

point, went to church; then by low Misnish walked and Skene bathed. 

I called on Miss Macleod who has a bad cold. 

In the Evening we disputed again about the Churches. 


134 This sentence is written vertically in the margin. 

135 William Forbes of Medwyn, advocate, was Skene's first cousin. 

JBL 11/1/06 71


N by W. Heavy showers. 

Skene wrote letters. Mr Ross called on us. We walked on terrace. Dined early and the 

Toward Castle came in at 4. Saw Skene on board and introduced him to Captain 

McDonald who promised to land him in Jura, and to take up Donald there on Friday. 

Walked to Drimfin. Called on Miss Macleod. Dr MacColl and David Thorburn called, and 

I finally settled the dispute between them. 

Letters from Mary about servant. from John about my mother's health, and intimation of 

Sir Charles Gordon's death. 

Skene told me that William Turnbull advocate has translated and published a Volume by 

a Pole containing the last Will of the notorious Earl of Bothwell, suppressed 

correspondence, and other documents which completely establish the innocence of 

Queen Mary of all the infamous charges made against her. I'll get this work. 

Skene was very communicative about his own forthcoming work; gave much information 

on early Scottish History; the Pictish language about which he is to publish an essay in 

French, and antiquarian literature in general. He is certainly very clever and ingenious, 

but whimsical, conceited, paradoxical and impracticable as ever. 


W. heavy showers, breeze. 

The Nairnes came to Aros House 136 by the Dumbuck this morning at a quarter before 8, 

and in the Evening Cannon were fired and an illumination got up in the village. 

Examined House books; paid Baker. 

Finished trials of Niel McGilvray and Flora Campbell. 

After dinner called on Miss Macleod and walked to side of Point. Miss Macleod better 

and came down this Evening to see the illumination; her story of the Lamonts, Iona's 

opinions of M C's marriage. 

Wednesday 1 October 1845 

W. Rainy. 

Court; 2nd box day. 25 cases in S D Roll. 8 ordinary actions. 

After Court called on Miss Macleod; then Nairne came in and took me across in his 

boat. We went on board Capt Oliver's Cutter which had joined in the illumination last 

night, and I introduced Nairne and Oliver. Dined and remained all night with the Nairnes. 

The Ladies agreeable and ladylike after the old Scotch fashion, but deaf as adders. 

Nairne himself agreeable as usual. 

Thursday 2 October 1845 

W. Fine morning. 

Came over to breakfast. 

Pensioners. Witch case (Gisagan). Great numbers of people calling. 

136 Aros House was the name used by Nairne, no doubt correctly, for the house at Druimfin which JR 

mostly continues to call by that name, although he later writes to 'David Nairne of Aros, Aros House'. 

JBL 11/1/06 72


Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; Lamonts; Lewis cattle and parish meetings; arrival of 

Nairnes, illumination, Ladies agreeable but deaf; schools; library; Miss Clephane; Wm 

Skene; McNeills and Donald. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; my mother's health; Donald, reserving plans till his arrival; 

William and Mary's northern tour; John and party at Banchor; Nairnes; Skene disputes 

about Churches, books &c. 

Wrote to John Banchor about my mother; crops, weather &c. 

Walked to P O and top of Point. 

In the Evening Capt Oliver came in and sat till 11. 

Friday 3 October 1845 

NE. Bad wet stormy day. 

Writers calling about cases at advising. Advised three actions. 

Nairne called before I was out of bed and sat some time with me. 

Walked towards Drimfin. Went into Nairne's boat in the middle of the Bay; called with 

him at Macleans &c about fishing Lines &c. Tested lime stone at Smithy. Refused to 

dine at Drimfin. 

Mr Ross took Tea with me, also Henry Beatson who took a protest against Wind and 

Weather. He says that Scipio McTaggart's grandfather was a Sheriff Officer and his 

great grandfather Town Officer at Campbelltown, and his paternal grandmother's father 

a Smith; that Sir John Mactaggart's grandfather was Beadle to the Revd Mr Hunter 

father of Sam Hunter of the Glasgow Herald ; that Mrs Galbraith of Machrihanish was a 

bastard and bred a barefooted fish girl at Hungerford Stairs &c. 

I much fear that Donald will not be here to night. 

Saturday 4 October 1845 

NE. Fine dry day, breezy, lights and shadows. 

Went out with Nairne in Niel Smith's old crazy boat with Hugh Livingston and Archy 

Gray boatmen to fish at the Red Rocks and Black Stirks, 137 and after putting in at Calve 

for Bait, were obliged to put back from want of time and stress of weather just as we got 

close on the Stirks. 

Nairne dined with me; a Jolly Evening. 

Letters from William with salary and accounts &c, and Mrs Campbell Possil. 

The Dumbuck came in last night at half past 11 and I went down and waited half an 

hour on the Quay, but Donald did not come by it. 

Sunday 5 October 1845 

W. Fine breezy dry day; sun and shade. 

Walked to burn and top of Point. 

Nairne called and I accompanied him to Church, and then to dining at Drimfin. Walked 

home at 9. The Schooner with his furniture arrived. 

137 The Red Rocks and the Stirks are small reefs lying out at sea at the northern end of the Sound of 

Mull. 

JBL 11/1/06 73


Monday 6 October 1845 

SE. Fine dry day. Gloomy morning cleared up at noon. 

Tried young Macleans for cutting wood in Ardow. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh acknowledging receipt of £55, accounts &c; about servants; 

Nairnes; his own trip to the north; Capt Donald Mount &c. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Mrs Lamont's health and Dr Davidson's favourable 

opinion; Mrs and Miss Nairne of old Scotch School; Nairne a famous Laird and his 

improvements in the village, schools &c; our fishing on Saturday; Wm Skene on Church 

question, his ingenuity and perverseness; Scotch History. 

Walked across Eagle's Cliff. 

Letters from Emily; Sophy R Irvine; Mrs Campbell Possil; Intimation of C Kynachan's 

death. 138 

Tuesday 7 October 1845 

SE. Fine day. 

Tried Livingston Vintner and Duncan McLucash for assault. 

Walked to Drimfin and about grounds with Nairne from 1 to 5. At 6 Donald came by the 

Falcon just as I had finished dinner. He is looking well, and is in good spirits. The Lord 

Advocate, the Capt Archy Skene and Colquhoun left Ardlussa on Sunday, and Donald 

remained there till to day, when he came on here by the Falcon. Sat together till 2 

talking of London, the Advocate, Forbes, 139 Politics &c. 


SE. Light showers, but on the whole a fine day. 

Poor law attended by Clarke of Ulva, Ministers, Nairne &c. 

Nairne came up and called on Donald, after which Donald and I went to Drimfin and 

walked about the grounds till 5. 

Dined alone and discussed the general question. 

Letter from A R Irvine. 

To bed at 1. 


SE. Fine dry day. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Bea Line, and George Black; Donald; &c. 

Wrote to Wm Simmons 46 Judd St Brunswick Square London sending a P O order for 

£1.6.6 in payment of Times from 18th August to 18th February 1846. 

Donald and I walked to Drimfin by upper Road, home by lower and to side of Point. 

Called on Miss Macleod and Mr Ross. Dined alone and sat up till 12. 


S E. Fine breezy day. A slight shower at half past 6. 

138 Charles Stewart Kynachan. 

139 Forbes McNeill, the Lord Advocate's youngest brother and an old friend of JR, died on 22 August. 

JBL 11/1/06 74


The Falcon was expected at 1 and did not come till half past 6. Donald and I walked 

about all day on the Terrace in expectation of it. He left by it for Badenoch and Atholl; 

and left Buscar a deer hound of the Lord Advocate behind with me. 140 

Mr Ross breakfasted with us, and Donald liked him. Saw no one else. 

I am now left once more alone, sad and solitary in my den, but I look back on Donald's 

visit with pleasure. He is in good health and spirits and looking well; improved in 

manner; strong, active and not old looking. Kind and affectionate as ever. He discussed 

all his affairs, money matters, love passages, politics and private history of himself and 

friends, with all the unreserved confidence and freedom of former times. He offered me 

one, I think the only remaining one, of his horses; I'll keep it for him but not take it. He is 

generous (more suo) to others and self denying upon the whole to himself, and saving 

money very fast. This year his office will be worth upwards of £1200. 141 He says that 

John Robertson Glasgow will clear £2000 or £3000 by his business!! 


S E. Light showers; mild. 

Took deposition of Mary MacMillan in bastardy case. 

Walked to Drimfin and with Nairne to Well head and home by upper road. 

McPhee Vintner calling about License, Dr and Mr P Maclean &c; McDonald 

Schoolmaster about hap straw. 142 

Letter from William. 


S E. Light showers in morning; dry and breezy after 12. 

Walked to Burn with Buscar who chased sheep. Little Hugh Sinclair, lame sheep and 

hare. 

Nairne called and went to Church and dined with me. Left at 9 and I walked half way 

home with him. 


S. Rain from 12 last night till now. Breeze. 

Wrote to Margaret, William and Emily about servant, Donald's visit, &c &c. 

No walk except for a short time on Terrace. Dismal day. Dr McColl called in the evening. 

The post not come in. 

140 It was a mistake for JR to have agreed to look after Buscar the deer hound belonging to Duncan 

McNeill, the Lord Advocate. No doubt there were social pressures on him to do so of which he may have 

been partly unaware. JR did not greatly care for dogs and was no good with them. He presumably agreed 

to look after Buscar to help Donald and because of the indirect pressures of the McNeill family's 

patronage. Buscar chased sheep on 12 October, 'misbehaved' in church on 19 October, killed a sheep on 

20 November and 'dirtied the house' during the night of 7 December. JR sent the dog back to Captain 

Alexander McNeill, the elder brother of the Lord Advocate, on 13 December 1845. 

141 There is no sign of JR having had any feelings of resentment about his own comparative poverty. His 

own salary for the year ending April 1844 was £255. 

142 Hap is Scots and North English for a wrap. 

JBL 11/1/06 75



S. Strong beeze. Light showers till 7; then rain. 

Dr McColl, Nisbet and Pender called about boundaries of Doctor's property; 143 Pirie 

about Morison's action; A Cameron about Count and Reckoning Sinclair. 

Went with Mr Ross to Drimfin and saw Mr Nairne and his mother. 

Ross is in great admiration of Donald, and sure enough Donald has something 

wonderfully taking about him. 


In the Evening McNab called about leaving his School during the winter in charge of an 

assistant. 

The Post came in this morning. No letters. 


W by S. Light showers. Breeze. 

Court day. Walked through Drimfin grounds. Overtook Miss Roy and Mrs and Miss 

Nairne on the Road. 

Called on Hart about a horse. 

Breacacha called in Evening. He says that the marriage of Coll's daughter is off again. 

Letters from: Margaret, Chirsty Webster of Caputh engaged as my Servant; from A 

Robertson 144 Dunkeld gone to Glasgow; from William, strange plan of settling in 

Rannoch; Mrs Campbell Possil. 


W. Stormy; slight showers. 

The Toward Steamer only came in this morning at 8 from Glasgow. 

There was a Poor law Meeting attended by Mr Clarke, Breacacha, Dr McArthur and Mr 

Fraser; Messrs Ross and Dewar were detained at Salen and did not attend. 

Wrote to Donald Milton about William's Rannoch plan; his travels; Buscar, Horse, 

Servant; A Robertson Dunkeld; Maggie; &c &c &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Rannoch project. 

Wrote to Margaret 5 Bath St Glasgow about Servant; Mr A Robertson &c; new servant 

Chirsty Webster to be here on Tuesday 11th November. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil about Cheese; Wilson's engagements to Jura, Mr 

Matheson and L Morton's brother; Colin McKillop's living; Miss Isabella Maclean's 

marriage; Lord Salisbury; Mr Sellar; Poor law meeting; Frees Witchcraft and giving 

evidence; &c &c. 

No walk to day except down the village and to PO. Saw George Macdonald at PO and 

Miss Dun Campbell at Miss Macleod's. 

Mr Ross returned from Salen and took Tea with me. 

Great Thunder Storm at 10. 

143 It seems that Dr McColl may have built a new house and had boundary problems; see entry 450530. 

144 Alexander otherwise Sandy Robertson, Dunkeld, was JR's father's cousin and the writer to whom he 

had been apprenticed for three years from 1815 to 1818. . 

JBL 11/1/06 76



W. Rainy; misty day. 

Nairne sent a dozen of Madeira and a case of brandy, and dined with me. We called on 

Miss Macleod, the Nisbets, Hart &c and he left at 4 by the Toward Castle. "We was 

dronke". 

No walk. 


W by N. Breeze. Light showers. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds and called on Mrs Nairne. Borrowed Napier's 

Peninsular War. 145 

Hair cut. 

Nisbet called about Tyree case of assault with Stone. 

Old Campbell Hogue 146 dead. 

Wrote to Mr Lamont Sheriff Clerk Depute Oban enquiring if 24th is Oban Court day. 

The post has not come in. 


SE in morning; after 12 SW by W. Rain and mist. 

This has been a dismal day, and I have only been as far as the Church. Minister's seat 

crowded. Buscar misbehaved in Church. 

Letters from Donald, W Simmons acknowledging £1.6.6, Jane Banchor and D Lamont 

Oban. The latter informs that the Court day at Oban was the 17th and that there were 

only 3 new cases. It was most unfortunate that I missed the day, and I feel more than 

vexed at it. On the other hand it is fortunate that the Number of cases is as small. It was 

never so much so before. 

Donald says that William has a threatening of Dropsey. This is indeed unexpected and 

most serious. I feel a sinking of the hear at the bare idea. Young strong and healthy, 

who could anticipate a tendency in him to such a distressing complaint. But I hope and 

trust it will wear off. It was this that made the poor fellow think seriously of leaving Town. 


NW in morning; N Evening. Stormy gale; almost dry. 

Wrote to Donald Milton about William's illness; my mother's; Rannoch plan; declining 

horse; 147 &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh; Rannoch plan; disapprove of it; asking him here for his 

health. 

Wrote to Jane Banchor; Donald's journey; her brother Dr Stewart. 

145 'History of the Peninsular War', (published 1828-1840) made the deservedly high reputation as an 

historian of General Sir William Francis Patrick Napier 1785-1860. 

146 Hogue is presumably the same as Hough. 

147 On 451010 Donald had offered to give JR a horse. On 451015 William had mentioned what then 

seemed to JR to be a "strange plan" of settling in Rannoch. 

JBL 11/1/06 77


Wrote to Mr Lamont Sheriff Clerk Depute Oban; mistake as to Court day; offering 

expence of bringing on the cases of new; next Court last Friday of January 1846. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds for 2 hours. Stormy. 

Commenced reading Napier's Peninsular war. 


W. Light showers. Breezy. 

Processes McVean v McGregor (Library) and Morison. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds. Washed Buscar. Post came in and no Letters. 

Falcon arrived. 


W. Light showers. Breezy. 

Court day. Tried John Maclachlan Shoemaker for stealing Water pail; sentence 8 days 

imprisonment. 

Walked to Drimfin with Mrs and Miss Nairne. 

Mackay the Police Capt dined with me. 

Letters from Nairne Inveraray, William and D Lamont. 


W by [blank]. Showers. Breezy. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Sundries (Railway surveyors; his own Clerks; Lady 

Rendelsham; Powland [?]; &c. 

Wrote to Dr Macleod of St Columba Glasgow recommending Chas Campbell. 

Wrote to David Nairne of Aros, United Services Club, Edinburgh about Savings Bank; 

School prizes; Water pipes; Police Constable; Nicol &c. 

A Campbell and Mr Ross dine with me. 

Wrote to J McMillan Surveyor of Taxes Oban with Schedule of assessed Taxes and 

about Lord Advocate's dog. 


S by W. Misty; rain at night. 

A Campbell Hough and Mr Ross dined with me yesterday and Campbell went off this 

morning, but the smack in which he sailed put back again. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds and to Drumbreck a nutting. 

Pirie called about Lamonts Tyree case (about house). 


SW. Light Showers. Almost dry. Light breeze. 

No Letters. Walked through Drimfin grounds to Well head, across Ebermor and 

Drumbreck; nutting; killed Wild cat; Buscar caught hare with which I called at Drimfin 

and took home 2nd Volume of Napier's Peninsular War. 


JBL 11/1/06 78


W. Heavy rain in showers or plumps all day. 

To Church with Miss Roy; about 80 present, or more. 

Walked to Erray gate, and driven back by the rain. 


S. Almost constant rain after 11. 

Mr Ross called and at his suggestion I wrote to J A Macrae WS Edinburgh about 

appointing a Schoolmaster at Coll and Robert Macdonald. 148 

Wrote to W F Skene WS Register Office Edinburgh enclosing McRae's letter; Mull 

people have now ceased to wonder at him; Donald and Buscar; Enquiries about Books; 

&c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; enquiries about my mother &c; warning about Railway 

shares; that I will take none; that Distiller is leaving and cannot accommodate horse; 

Wild cat. 


Called on Miss Macleod who is ill with Toothache. 

Letter from Mrs Campbell Possil. 


W by S. Gloomy day. Rain from 4 to 6. 

Callers: Nisbet about Ardnamurchan case against Macdonald, and Prison accounts, and 

Criminal order (Expenses) on County Collector for £15 Tyree case; Jas Dorie about 

"Pass" by Inverness; John Campbell about Tiles at A House; Dugald Campbell with 

Criminal Petition to sign warrant. 

Called on Miss Roy about Mrs Maclean of Coll's project to transfer income from 

Tobermory School to Tyree School; Miss Macleod and her Will. 

Wrote to Donald McIntyre County Clerk Inveraray, transmitting Prison accounts from 1st 

January to 1st Current amounting to £26.0.8, and shewing balance of £24 odds due; 

also with vouchers. 

Walked with Mr Ross to Drimfin; saw Miss Nairne. Mrs Nairne confined by Cold. 


SE. Dry till 3. Heavy rain thereafter. 

Callers: Norries, father and son about their paper; Miss McNab. 

Walked through Drimfin grounds and to Drumbreck; a nutting. 

Letters from Donald, Jane, William. 

Miss McNab called and left £7.4.6 of money for Minister's Gown. 


W. Fine dry day. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about P O order for £5, and ordering Gown, Bible and 12 

Tea Spoons for Minister. 

Wrote to Margaret 5 Bath St with List of Groceries to be sent to me by Servant. 

148 Macdonald was appointed; see 451108. 

JBL 11/1/06 79


Wrote to D Lamont Oban that I am to be here for weeks. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; acknowledging to be pitied; Lochbuys going off the 

country; comparison between Lochbuys, Pennycrosses &c and Dervaigs; Lady Gordon, 

Priest and Piper; Nairne to be in Edinburgh; Margaret of Kinloch, Sir A Agnew's 

daughter and the Chevalier J S Stuart; Old Ladies, "a'body fond of Davie" Society of old 

Ladies; Minister; Free Sacrament at Torosay; Schools at Dervaig and Tobermory and 

Marquis of Lorne; Miss McNab and her pupils singers; "I'm ower young to marry yet"; 

good news of friends at a distance; &c. 

Walked to top of Point. 

Ordered and got 2 Barrels Potatoes. 

Looked up Newspaper Articles about Noble conduct of Dr J Grant Stewart RN in going 

on board Eclair, and wrote to Jane Banchor his sister about him. 

Cross dogs. 


W by S. Occasional Showers. 

Miss Macleod signed her Will before Angus Cameron and Dugald Campbell, witnesses 

and in my presence also. 

Miss Nairne, Misses Campbell, Gourlay and Gregorson Oban called on Miss Macleod. 

Breacacha also. Breacacha dined with me. 

Called at Drimfin. Water taken in to the house at the time by new pipes. 

Saturday 1 November 1845 

W. Calm dull dry morning. Cleared up at 3. 

Wrote to D Nairne of Aros U S Club Edinburgh; water in to house; "no nothing" done at 

Tobermory. 

Walked to Drumbreck a nutting from 11 to half past 3. 

Breacacha promised Hay from Muck at 4; exclusive of freight. 

Gave her executed settlement to Miss Macleod. 

Letters from Mr Sellar about Morven Submission; Nairne; Drumkilbo sold to Lord 

Wharncliffe; good news for Tobermory. 

Sunday 2 November 1845 

E by S. Fine cold sunny bracing day. 

Called at Drimfin and walked by Ebermor and Drumbreck. Miss Nairne came to Church 

with me. Capt Beatson there. 

Monday 3 November 1845 

SE. Fine sunny breezy day. 

Wrote to D Nairne of Aros Edinburgh about sale of Drumkilbo; his mother's recovery; 

Donald McInnes Piper; &c &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh with Letter of Credit in favour of William for £5; his accident; 

Horse; I will take it conditionally; old Ladies at Drimfin; &c &c. 

Wrote to Patrick Sellar of Ardtornish Morven: "Dear Sir, On Saturday night I was 

favoured with your letter of the 27th ult. Having had an interview with you personally I 

JBL 11/1/06 80


did not answer your letter of 6th September, but immediately on my return home I 

communicated with Mr Nisbet on the subject of the Reference. In consequence of the 

illness and death of Sir C Gordon he has not yet laid any of the papers before me. I sent 

for him this morning and read your letter to him when he pledged himself to lodge them 

all with me by Wednesday first. You may depend upon my taking up the case the 

moment it is submitted to me; and in the meantime I beg you will keep in mind that I 

have not as yet even seen the Minutes of Reference. I remain" &c. 

Walked to Drimfin and Water Source. Water overflowing Cistern at Road. Met Mrs and 

Miss Nairne with Ballyscaits on the Road. At night called to see Miss Roy's Bond from 

her Uncle. 

No letters. 

Tuesday 4 November 1845 

SE. Breeze. Cold dry sunny day. 

Engaged from 11 to half past 3 taking Precognition in Macdonald assault case from 

Ardnamurchan. Then walked to Drimfin River. Read Napier. 

Wednesday 5 November 1845 

SE. Gloomy morning. Rain in Evening. 

Adjourned Court. Admitted McDonalds to Bail. 

Paid Dr McColl 7/6 for medicine and attendance on my Servant. 

Walked to Drimfin and Ebermore. 


Read and advised Process McGregor v McVean and Library. 

Letter from Margaret about Servant. 

Thursday 6 November 1845 

SE. Breeze. Gloomy dry day. Showers at night. 

Callers: Nisbet about McGregor v McVean; pronounced Interlocutor; Ardmore man; Dr 

L Maclean; Colin McVean who dined with me. 

Wrote to Jas Graham Agent for Steamers to caution Owners against bring 149 infected 

with disease here. 

Walked to side of Point. Buscar started a hare and I followed them across the hill to 

Erray Valley; the hare lost in wood. 

Friday 7 November 1845 

SE. Breeze. Dry sunny day. Showers after 5. 

Read Reference Morven Heritors about Lunatic and wrote order. 

Walked to Drimfin; met Mrs and Miss Nairne and Miss Roy at Bridge. Borrowed 4 and 5 

Vols of Napier's Spanish War. Home by High Road. 

Callers McPhails and McLucashes Penmore; settled verbal Reference. 

Bottled 3 Gallons or 18 Bottles of Whiskey and 8 and a half of Brandy. 


149 A word has been accidentally omitted. Was it potatoes, persons or livestock? 

JBL 11/1/06 81


W. Mild calm misty day. Rain last night. Clear now. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; going to Milton between 10 and 15th January; &c &c. . 

Walked to Drumbreck, Ebermor &c. Called at Aros House and saw Ladies. 150 


Letters Wm Kennedy about Potatoe Murrain; note from J Macrae WS that R Macdonald 

appointed to Coll School. 


NW. Constant drizzling mist and rain. Dismal day. 

Walked to Burn. To Church with Miss Roy. Miss Macleod unwell. 


Calm; cloudy but dry day. A little rain at night. 

Wrote to Donald about Potato disease; horse; Punch; &c. 

Wrote to Wm Kennedy Strontian about Potatoes. 

Consulted with Nisbet and Dr Maclean about Coll people affected with Small Pox, and 

then along with Cumstie made a collection among the shopkeepers of £2.4.6 for them. 



Talk with Sandy Sinclair Erray about potato disease. 

Letters from William, Milton; Nairne de omnibus rebus; Donald McIntyre Inveraray with 

£24.1.5 on account of prison. 

Wrote Draft letter for Miss Roy to Mr Busfield. 


Calm. SE. Fine day. Light showers from 12 to 2. 

Martinmas 

Paid Nisbet his prison account and Miss Macleod her rent. 

Walked to Well head beyond Drimfin. Beautiful appearance of Drimfin Loch. Called on 

Mrs and Miss Nairne. 

Quinish passed the Evening with me and told that he has got a Commission for his 

nephew from the Duke of Wellington; and that Achranish is sold to Mr Smith of London, 

brother to J A Smith Banker and MP, poor F McNeill's opponent. 151 

My new Servant has arrived and brought letter from Margaret; I have not seen her yet. 

Malcolm Post brought me a Note from Mrs Campbell Possil this morning. 


Calm N. Fine sunny day. 

Walked to Ebermor, Drumbreck and crossed to Calve; brought back by Morven boat. 

Met Tosh and his young wife. 

My new Servant Chirsty Webster made her appearance to day; a coarse decent elderly 

woman. 

Paid Butcher and Baker. 

150 Mrs and Miss Nairne. 

151 Forbes McNeill assaulted Smith and served a prison sentence of three months in consequence. 

JBL 11/1/06 82


Letters from Nairne, William, John and Archy McNeill. 


W. Beautiful sunny day. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Minister's Gown, Potato disease &c &c. 

Wrote to Margaret 5 Bath St; arrival of Chirstie Webster. 

Wrote to Wm Kennedy about Potato disease. 

Wrote to D Nairne Edinburgh; his affairs at Drimfin &c. 

Wrote to A McNeill WS Edinburgh about Sir John's letter to Grace Campbell Hough. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; Bee Hive; prosperous state of Tobermory; Schools; sales 

of Drumkilbo and Achranish; A Macdougall; Potatoes; Sellars; &c. 

Walked to Drimfin; met Mrs and Miss Nairne in the Village. returned 4th and 5th Vol of 

Napier. 

Paid Mary McCallum's wages and she left by the Toward. 


SE. Fine dry breezy. 

Walked to burn; then to Aros House. 

John McCallum told me that he has appealed my Interlocutor in McGregor v McVean 

(Library Case). 


SE morning; afternoon SW. Rainy day; clear night. There was a breeze and the day was 

dismal. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about new servant; potato disease; &c. 

Wrote to D Nairne Edinburgh about Nicoll; potato disease; small pox; &c &c. 

Wrote to James Forsyth of Dunach Oban; thanking him for advice to Miss Macleod; see 

4 Sep. 152 

Wrote to A Fletcher of Dunans, Stamp Office, Edinburgh; dismal "Fionnis" contains no 

news. 

Walked to Low Point and got wet. Invoice of Groceries but no Letters. 

Dr Macleod Morven arrived at home yesterday morning from North America. 


SE. Rainy morning. Dry from 12 to 8. Showers now. 

There was no English sermon in the Church to day, Mr Ross having gone to Morven to 

preach for Dr Macleod at [blank] and I walked to Drimfin across Drumbreck. Lost Buscar 

in the woods and found him at home on my return with a spot of blood on his muzzle. 

Has he killed any game? 

My servant still awkward, but very willing. 


N. Cold breezy dry day; one or two very light showers. 

152 The advice was about the law of succession in Jamaica. 

JBL 11/1/06 83


Walked to Aros House Wells; John Cameron told me that the water in the cistern was 

principally from the Cow Park! Passed Ebermor to Drumbreck Nutting Wood, and saw a 

very few Nuts, the last of the Season. 

Post not come in. Read law. 


SE in morning; Evening W. Cloudy and showery. 

Walked to Drimfin Cistern; met Nisbet there and we came home together. Afterwards 

walked to Low Point. 


At night Letters from Emily and Mary with Mr Ross' gown; &c. 


SW. Thunder and heavy showers. Breeze. 

The box containing Mr Ross' gown arrived; called on Miss Macleod with it. 

Held Court. 6 Ordinary and 11 S D Cases. 

Walked to Drimfin Cisterns, Ebermor; again with J Campbell to Cistern and Cow Park 

water. Called on Ladies. 

Took Tea with Miss Macleod. Mr Ross there. He came down and sat with me till now 

(half past 10). 

Post not come. 


W by N. Breezy. Cold showers. 

The Minister's Gown &c were this day presented to him in the School House by Mrs 

Nisbet in presentia, when the honest man treated them to the fag end of one of his old 

sermons by way of rejoinder. He and I then walked to Burn, and Buscar worried a 

sheep, I am afraid to death. 

Great many people calling. 

Chirsty improving. 

Letters this morning from William and Pat Sellar. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh acknowledgment of his and Mary's last. 

Wrote to John Robertson 84 Queen Street Glasgow with P O order for £2.5.7 to pay 

groceries. 

Read cases Lamont (Tocher) 153 and Flora Campbell (Wages). 


W. Cold and breezy; almost dry. 

Sent Buscar to Quinish by Breacacha's shepherd. 

Walked to Drimfin, Ebermor and Drumbreck; called on Ladies at Aros House, on Miss 

Macleod. Geraniums taken up. 


153 Tocher is Scots for dowry. 

JBL 11/1/06 84


W. Thunder storm at 5 am. Beautiful and sunny day. 

Miss Macleod walked out to day. 

Wrote inscription to be put on the Bible etc given to the Minister. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; no horse; about Buscar killing sheep. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about Atholl news; my neighbours here. 

Wrote to D Nairne Edinburgh; coals, horses, small pox, potato disease and cholera; 

Buscar; Dugald Tailor in the Free Kirk; drunken wives; presentation of Bible &c to Mr 

Ross; diary of weather. 

Walked to P O and by low road to Burn; went to Erray and had long conversation with 

Sandy Sinclair about Churches; very conciliatory and complimentary on both sides. Our 

unanimity was wonderful. The Sheep worried by Buscar on Thursday is recovering. 

Letters from Donald McIntyre; Donald. 


W. Showery breeze. Snow on tops of hills. Cold. 

To Church. Miss Macleod there and Mr Ross in his Gown for the first time. Wore Clogs. 

Walked to side of hill after Sermon. 


SE. Fine clear morning. Rain and breeze after 2. 

James McIntyre, Mr Pirie &c &c &c calling. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; sheep recovering; missing letter; sundry news. 

Wrote to John Banchor; crops &c. 

Wrote to Donald McIntyre acknowledging £24.1.5; that in future I will examine and 

certify Jailer's accounts, but that there is no other member of Committee in Mull. 

No walk. Called on Miss Macleod. Met Mr Parker when going to P O. 

Letter from Wm Kennedy about Potatoes; Mrs Campbell Possil; Emily. 


W. Showers and rain; mild. 

Walked to Ebermor and Drumbreck; called at Aros House. Met Mr Ross going there as I 

was returning. 


Miss Grace Campbell Tyree has come there since Mrs Nairne told me that she knew the 

present Glenfalloch's father and mother. He was a second son of Glenfalloch; was first 

a Waiter; next Quarter Master of the Breadalbane Fencibles which Col Nairne 

commanded, when Mrs Nairne knew him; and his wife was an old low actress. She was 

said to have sold one of her three pretty daughters to a Gentleman going to India, but 

Mrs Nairne does not know whether he married the girl. She rather thinks not. 


W. Heavy rain. Breeze. 

Ordinary Court. J McCallum in the south. 

JBL 11/1/06 85


Walked to Drimfin. Pirie went so far, and returned with Nisbet whom we met in the 

wood. 

Took tea with Miss Macleod; Grace Campbell there. 

Post not come in. 


SW. Darkgloomy mild day; dry. Rain at night. 

Wrote to Donald about Kirkcudbright &c. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; Bee hive; her foreign news; Lady Gordon; Mr Nairne; 

Mrs Nairne and Miss Macleod's old stories; killing time; presentation of Gown &c to Mr 

Ross and with copy of Letter to Revd D Clerk. 

Wrote to Revd D Clerk Torosay about claim of Ann Buchanan Gualacholish to parochial 

relief. 

Walked to low Point. Called on Miss Macleod and Miss G Campbell. 

Steamer not come in yet. 

Letters from J R Glasgow acknowledging receipt of £2.5.7 in full; from William about 

Sundries. 

Last night the drains at the road above Spring bank choked with mud, and the water 

overflowed into this ground, and carried off a great part of the gravel, and made 

Channels in the Walk at the end of the house and in front. 


SE. Gloomy mild and showery; heavy rain at night. 

Called at Aros House. Toward Castle came in; went on board with Miss Campbell, and 

ascertained that it is going to Skye. 

Paupers calling. 

Mr Ross called 


W by N. Cold showers and breeze. 

Wrote to Revd D Clerk Torosay, explanatory of my last. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil with Copy of Ditto. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; Mrs Nairne's account of Mr Tory and Capt Popham &c. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh; resume of his Edinburgh news; Mrs Nisbet's speech on 

presenting Minister's Gown &c &c. 

Buscar brought home. Walked to Drimfin Summer House. Met Miss G Campbell at P O 

and walked home with her. The Steamer came in at half past 8 and she has gone on 

board. 

No post. 


W. Showers. Evening heavy rain; tops of hills white. 

Walked to Upper Summer House Drimfin, and lost Buscar in the woods. 

To Church; an excellent sermon. 

JBL 11/1/06 86


Post came in and letters from Donald, Mrs Campbell Possil, P Sellar and Circular from 

Crown agent about Railways. 

Received a letter per Express from Mr Sellar dated 29th. 

Wrote to P Sellar of Ardtornish answering and acknowledging it. 

Monday 1 December 1845 

My birth day. 

W. Showers of rain and hail. Breeze. Cold. 

Wrote to P Sellar that Reference is borrowed by Mr Sinclair to lodge answers and 

cannot be advised as soon as I had expected. 

Wrote to D Nairne Edinburgh; state of matters in Aros House; Island; Tobermory. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; laughing at Kirkcudbright; his Edinburgh news; Tyree 

cases. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; Bee hive; Ann Buchanan a statement about clear [?]; 

Buscar &c. 

Called at Aros House and on Miss Macleod. 

No post. 

Tuesday 2 December 1845 

W. Constant showers of Sleet. Ground whitish with snow. 


Looked over Reference by Morven Heritors. Long calls from Nisbet and Pirie. 


Post came in at 8. Intimation of death of poor Gruinard on 14th ult at Glasgow. 

Wednesday 3 December 1845 

W. Showers of Sleet. Hills white. 

Engaged all day in advising 154 Submission by Mr Nisbet and Messrs Sellar and Sinclair 

regarding Assessments on Morven Heritors for Lunatic John Mackinnon, and preparing 

Notes for my opinion. 

Walked half way to Drimfin, met Mr Ross returning from Presbytery Meeting and came 

back with him. 


No post. 

Thursday 4 December 1845 

W. Showers of sleet. Hills white; low ground liadh. 

Revised Notes in Morven Submission. 

Walked to Drimfin Park and spoke to Macquarie who was ploughing it. Called on Ladies. 

Advised Process Macdonald v old Sandy Maclachlan. 

Post not come yet (half past 9). 

154 In Scots law 'advising' is taking to avizandum. 'Avizandum' in Scots law is the private consideration of 

a case by a judge before giving judgment. 

JBL 11/1/06 87


Post came in at 10. Letters from Donald (Kirk ?), 155 Nairne, and John Maclachlan 

Achnacroish. 

Friday 5 December 1845 

W. Showers of Rain and Hail. Snow off low grounds. 

Walked to Drimfin and called. 


Hair Cut. 

Saturday 6 December 1845 

W. Very rainy. Sleet and snow on hills. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; laughing at Kirkcudbright; Sellar's submission &c &c. 

Wrote to D Nairne, N S Club, Edinburgh about Sundries. 

Walked to Drimfin river. 

Letters from William and Nairne. 

Sunday 7 December 1845 

W. Calm clear beautiful day. Rather frosty. 

Walked to Drimfin Cow Park and home by High road. 

To Church. 

Buscar dirtied house last night. 

Banns in Church, McDonald Schoolmaster of Coll &c. 

Cholera, old people dying of it. 

Sent for Sutherland, Police Constable, about barking dog. 


Calm. S. Dull day. Showers of rain and hail. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Riemore accounts; Savings Banks &c. 

Wrote to D Nairne Edinburgh about Savings Banks; Tartans; Col F and Buscar &c &c. 

Walked to Drimfin High Waterfall and home by upper road. 

Talk with Jas Graham Post Office about his leg. 


Wrote to John Maclachlan Achnacroish, Barnabuck Ferrymen and Savings Bank. 

Letter from Emily of 3rd. My poor father taken very ill on 28th ult. 


N.W. Breeze. Showers of hail and rain. Snow almost gone from the high hills. 

Pirie called about Closing Records in Wages and Tocher Cases. 156 Nisbet called about 

Banks. 

Walked to Drimfin; saw deer. Called on Ladies. Called on Miss Macleod; she left Poor 

Rates notice with me. 

155 'Kirk' may refer to Kirkcudbright; see entry 4512. 

156 'Tocher' is a Scots word for dowry. 

JBL 11/1/06 88



Calm mild dark morning. S.W. Breeze and rain in Evening. 

Court day; 2 ordinary actions. J MacCallum not well and absent. 

Walked across Drumbreck. Met Mr Ross at upper end of loch when returning. Called 

with him at the Gardener's and met Mrs and Miss Nairne there. Came home by upper 

road and sat an hour with Mr Ross; he and his people wish to elect me an Elder!! 

Quinish passed the Evening with me. 

The Post not come in. 

I was seized this morning with a bowel complaint and do not feel at all well. 


N.W. Breeze almost amounting to a gale; light showers. 

Kept in the house all day, headache, until dinner time and now I am quite well. 

Breacacha and Mr Ross dined with me. After Breacacha left Ross remained behind and 

I declined the Eldership. His modesty would sooner move [me] to accept the office, if 

that were possible, than the urgent entreaties of most men. 157 He is certainly a most 

worthy and excellent fellow. 

The Steamer came from the South this morning and was unable to proceed to Skye 

from the strong head wind. It is to proceed onward to morrow. 

Wrote to Emily Milton acknowledging her letter of 5th recd this morning, expressing my 

delight at hearing that my father is better; going to Atholl in January; specimen of a day 

in Tobermory &c. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil acknowledging her letter intimating gratifying accounts of 

her son Donald; 158 about their School; Eldership &c. 


N.W. Calm sunny beautiful frosty day, "with night to correspond". 

Breacacha breakfasted with me. Walked to Ebermor and got John Campbell to inspect 

and open Water pipes; Cistern dry. 

Miss Macleod sat with me before dinner. 


S.E. Cloudy but dry day. 

Wrote to Capt McNeill Yr of Collonsay, Portaskaig, with Buscar; Mull gentlemen &c. 

Wrote to D Nairne Edinburgh with account of Water works; Col Forbes &c. 

John Maclachlan Killean called with complaints against Donald McLachlan and his wife 

and [blank] Buchanan Killean; and Mrs Fletcher and her daughter with complaint of 

breach of promise of marriage against Robert Macdonald, Schoolmaster, Coll. 159 

157 JR may well have found it impossible to accept the offer of eldership because, although nominally a 

member of the Church of Scotland, his inclinations at this time, and for a number of years after, were 

towards the Episcopal Church. These inclinations seem to have changed, so that his obituarist in The 

Orkney Herald of 19 January 1876 was able to write that JR "was an elder of the Established Church, to 

which he was strongly attached." 

158 Donald Campbell was the younger of Possil's two sons; he had obtained a cadetship in the Royal 

Navy in March. 

JBL 11/1/06 89


Walked by low Road and home by Burn and Erray; then put Buscar on board Toward 

Castle; paid the Clerk 2 shillings and 6 pence for its passage, and the Cook for its food. 

Gave my letter to Capt McNeill to the Clerk, and ordered the dog to be landed in Islay. 

Post came. No Letters. 


S.W. Constant rain. 

No walk. No nothing. Achaleek in church. 


N.W. Dry day. Breeze. 

No walk except to Post Office. 

Wrote to Donald in Edinburgh that Buscar was sent on Saturday. Change of Ministry? 

Mr Dewar and Mr Ross dined with me. The former mentioned that Achdashennaig is 

deprived of his Factory. 160 


N.W. Occasional showers. Gale. 

No walk. No post yet. Wrote Interlocutor and long Note in proceedings Morison 

against Morison dismissing the action as incompetent; it involves a question of heritable 

right. 


Calm. S. Dry gray day. 

Court day; engaged in court from 11 to 3. Breacacha's half straw case. 

Dined with Mr Ross at Miss Macleods. 

Letters from Donald (Resignation of Peel Ministry!) and from Nairne. 

This night's post not come yet; Saturday's letters only arrived. 


Calm. Sunny day. 

Drimfin Loch partially covered with ice. 

A beautiful day and many people calling on business. 

Wrote to Donald in Edinburgh: short letter about resignation of Ministers; Angus 

Gregorson &c. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; Bee hive forgot; John Maclachlan Killean; Miss McLean 

Coll and Schools. Schoolmaster of Coll's marriage &c. 

Wrote to Emily at Milton: short letter; busy; going south &c. 

Wrote to Claud Muirhead 161 91 Rose Street with paragraph about presentation of plate, 

Pulpit Gown &c to Mr Ross. 

Walked to Aros House; saw Mrs Nairne; to Cow Park; home by Upper Road. 

159 Macdonald's banns had been called in Church on 7 December. 

160 Factory may here signify Factorship. 

161 Editor of the Edinburgh Advertiser. 

JBL 11/1/06 90



Letters from William, my father not well, and from Mrs Campbell Possil to go up on 

Tuesday. 

It is now (11 at night) blowing and raining S.E.!! 


W. Heavy Showers of rain and hail. Thunder. 

Long visit from Nisbet. 

Walked across Drumbreck. 

Steamer expected and not arrived. Packed my Portmanteau for Achnacroish or 

Edinburgh. 


N. Calm Morning and sunny. Evening breeze. 

Wrote to Emily at Milton that I'll go south instantly if my father is worse, if he is better 

that I'll go to Achnacroish. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil that I'll go up on Tuesday or Monday. 

Wrote to Hugh Maclean of Coll, 3 Northwick Terrace, Edgeware Road, London: queries 

about case of McDonald; half straw; country news. 

Wrote to David Nairne in Edinburgh: marriages; Calve &c. 

Wrote to William in Edinburgh: Captain Jas Campbell R N's case; not to take it up. 

Wrote to Captain Campbell Quinish: Macdonald's case &c. 

No walk past Post Office. 

Pronounced Interlocutor in Cameron v McArthur (adjusting Record). 

Letters from Mrs Campbell Possil; Charles Alexander yr of Letesdale with Submission 

by him and Carnock; Angus Gregorson, Oban, about Bank agency; and Donald £40 to 

John 162 &c &c. 

Read papers in Submission. 


N. Cold day. Slight sprinkling of snow. 

Called at Aros House. To church. Wrote following letters. 


N.W. Gales. Showers. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; plans for going south 15th Jany; his giving money to John 

[illegible] &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; Ditto Ditto; Mrs Nairne on marriages &c &c. 

Wrote to D Nairne Edinburgh; Ditto Ditto; to call on Donald &c &c. 

Wrote to Chas Alexander Yr of Letesdale accepting of Submission by him and Carnock. 

Wrote to Angus Gregorson Oban about National Bank agency &c. 

Wrote to Miss Ranken, PO Oban; to send my letters by Post and not in Tobermory bag. 

Wrote to Margaret 5 Bath St; going south 15th January. 

162 John was their eldest brother, the farmer at Banchor, Kingussie. 

JBL 11/1/06 91


Took precognition, or Declaration of Donald Cameron, Postmaster Strontian, about 

assault on Macpherson. 

Prepared to leave for Achnacroish, but I fear the Steamer will be late, if it comes at all. 

After 8 at night; the weather stormy, and the Steamer not arrived. It will not be here to 

night, or if it should it cannot go off before morning. 


N Dry cold day. Breeze. Last night stormy with lightening. 

The Steamer not come yet and I am waiting for it. 

Mr Ross called again last night and this Morning about the Eldership. I cannot accept, 

but I'll reconsider. Post not come in. 

Went up at 4 by Toward Castle to Achnacroish. Skye Dr &c in Boat. Landed at half past 

6 and found the family and John Maclachlan in the Drawing Room and Possil not come 

from Edinburgh yet. 


S.E. Light showers. 

Walked about with J Maclachlan until Possil and Geo Campbell Airds arrived by the 

Oban Wherry about 7. The old Gentleman had a fall at Greenock, but he looked well 

and was in great spirits, and resumed his whist playing. I played. 

Thursday 25 December 1845 Christmas Day 

S.W. 

Sat with Possil for an hour after breakfast, and then walked with him and the other 

Gentlemen till 4. 

Met little Girnie on the road coming from School. 

A pleasant dinner party. What is a Green Grocer; or a Dry Salter? 


W. Very wet day. 

I had a Note by Post from Breacacha about Tobermory Meeting to hear Dr J Macleod. 

Letters from Emily and Mary by the Police man. 

Short Walk with Possil. 


W. Showers and rain. 

No post. Walked with Geo Campbell on Shore road; to Farm with Possil. 

Pleasant Evening: "Emperor of Morocco is dead". 


N.W. Fine frosty morning. Snow showers in the afternoon. 

Malcolm post came in at half past 1 and Possil and I met him on the road and eagerly 

enquired if Peel was in office again, but Callum had never heard that he was out, or 

perhaps had never heard of such a man. 

JBL 11/1/06 92


Came in and got the Papers. Peel is in again!!! Hurrah. 

To Church; short cold Sermon; home in Snow; run to Boat House. 

In the Evening Mrs and Miss Campbell read religious questions and answers by Janet 

Merry and Isabella Macdonald. 


S.W. Showery morning; rainy day. 

Engaged in hearing dispute between J Maclachlan Killean and D Maclachlan and Hugh 

Buchanan there along with Possil; Middleton present. Two little boys brought forward as 

Witnesses who could not repeat Lord's Prayer. 

Little Susan ill, and invisible. 


N.W. Gale. Last night stormy. 

No post. Letters via Tobermory from Nairne who is coming to Mull on 6th January; this 

disarranges my plan of walking through Breadalbane to Oban with him on my return to 

Mull on 29th January: from Emily that my father is better: from Donald. 

In House till 2, and then walked in ground till 4. 

Dr McColl came to see Susan and declared she had nettle rash. 


S. Evening N.W. 

Post came in; no letters for me. 

Dr McColl sent for to see Mrs Dr Macleod who is apprehensive of a miscarriage. The 

Tartar Steamer came and he went with it from the Dinner Table to Morven. 

No walking to day. Stormy Evening. 

Played Backgammon with Mary Campbell. 

1846 

Thursday 1 January 1846 

N.W. Gale. Almost dry. 

Run to Shore before breakfast. First person I met this year was Mr Campbell. Walked 

with J Maclachlan to Lochdon head; talk with J Macdonald, Miller, and purchased 

measuring line. 

Walked on shore with Mrs Campbell who was apprehensive for Colin McKillop. Looked 

in vain for his boat with Glass from point Look out. Then walked with Geo Campbell to 

Craignure and saw the boat high and dry on the shore. We suspected that Colin and his 

JBL 11/1/06 93


merry men were drinking in the Public House, and little Chas Macdougall the Innkeeper 

came out and made a prodigious fuss with me. 163 

At 5 o'Clock Dugald Bannatyne (11 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow) came to serve a 

Railway notice on Possil. He is a lad of 15, intelligent and stirkish; 164 they asked him 

kindly to remain which he did. 

Wrote to Sheriff Bruce Edinburgh that I was going south on 15th. 

Then Back Gammon. 

Friday 2 January 1846 

Calm fine frosty day. Rain at night. 

Letters this morning from Donald, Alexander Robertson Dunkeld, and Breacacha about 

Tobermory Meeting. Walked with Possil, J Maclachlan, Geo Campbell and D 

Bannatyne to Lochdonhead. Met young Ladies walking there; then to Boat builders; 

then to Merry's. Pleasant Evening. 

Saturday 3 January 1846 

S. Drizzling Morning; dryish day. Stormy night. 

D Bannatyne left Breakfast Table and went off by Steamer. 

Wrote Notes for Mrs Campbell about application to Lords of Committee of Council for 

building School House. 

Walked with Possil about grounds. Played cards in room of the old Gentleman. Dinner 

and Evening pleasant. 

Sunday 4 January 1846 

N.W. Light showers of snow and hail. 

Sat in the house until near Church time. Went to Church and the only thing noticeable 

was the stopping of the Psalm by the Minister who touched the Precentor on the head 

when the latter was beginning an additional verse to finish off the tune. The poor fellow 

had just repeated the words "Tis finished" when he was interrupted, and his voice sunk 

and rose several times until at last it died away in a quaver of consternation. The scene 

was indescribably ludicrous. 

Pleasant Evening again, and questions and answers of Sunday School girls read after 

Evening Service. 

Monday 5 January 1846 

S.E. Fine frosty morning. Rain at half past 3. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about going south as I formerly announced, and enclosing 

letter to Alexr Robertson, care of Robert Stevenson, Royal Exchange, Glasgow with 

account of Robbie Bane and Woodsheal &c. 

Wrote Draft letter for Possil to Graham Spiers, Sheriff of Edinburgh, refusing site. 

163 'Made a prodigious fuss with me' means 'made a prodigious fuss of me'; in other words, the Innkeeper 

was not making a complaint but being excessively deferential and amiable, . 

164 Stirk means a young ox. JR presumably meant it as a compliment to describe Dugald Bannatyne's 

physique. 

JBL 11/1/06 94


Left in Dog Cart at 2; Callum Post and Markham. Called on Mr Dewar at Salen and saw 

his son, a nice child. He walked with me past Aros and we met Miss Catharine 

Campbell Achadashennaig whom I passed. Reached home at quarter past 5. It came 

on to rain when I was at Kininlaten [?] and I got thoroughly wet. 

Called on Miss Macleod who told me that the Nisbets and Macleans Promp [?] have 

quarrelled, and that the marriage between Sandy M.[Maclean?] and Miss Douglas is 

broken off. Nisbet himself lost temper and committed himself. 

Letters from Coll, Donald, A Gregorson &c. 

This last visit to Achnacroish was perhaps the most agreeable I ever made there. The 

old Gentleman was uncommonly pleasant, and dilated on his Southern trip, his dinner 

with Sir J MacNeill, J Hall Maxwell's appointment, 165 Railways, Achdashennaig's 

resignation, Politics, Farming improvements &c. The Ladies are occupied with their 

Sunday School, and the erection of a School House at Lochdonhead. They also were 

unusually frank and agreeable. 

Tuesday 6 January 1846 

W. Misty rainy dismal day. 

Calls from Nisbet, A Cameron and J MacCallum on business. 

My servant has lost her sister. I am glad to find that she is a first rate Laundry maid. 

Tried to arrange getting south this week, but cannot. 

N.B. I kept a regular jotting in pencil when at Achnacroish of above diary. No walk. 

Wednesday 7 January 1846 

W. Misty rainy blowy very dismal day. 

No walk except to Inn about D Bannatyne's luggage and my own. 

Called yesterday and to day on Miss Macleod. 

Post came in unexpectedly. Letters from D McIntyre and William with order for £64, 

balance of Quarters Salary. 


W. Misty dull day. 

Wrote to J W Miller, Bookseller, Oban: "Dear Sir. On arriving at home the other day I 

found a parcel containing an Edinburgh Almanac waiting me. If it was sent by you I beg 

to say that I did not order it, that I do not want it, and that I will not pay for it. It will be 

delivered to any person that calls for it here, and I request that you will send me no 

articles unless I order them." 

Wrote to William Edinburgh acknowledging receipt of letter of credit for £64; copy of 

Possil to G Spiers. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; account of visit to Achnacroish; Miss Macleod's Tobermory news 

on my return. 

Wrote to Mrs C. Possil [about] going south next week; Mr Dewar and Miss Catharine 

Campbell; Return to my Den; Nairnes arrival. 

165 John Hall Maxwell 1812-1866, agriculturalist, was appointed Secretary to the Highland Agricultural 

Society. 

JBL 11/1/06 95


Wrote to Dugald Bannatyne 11 Woodside Terrace Glasgow. His Carpet and Bag &c 

sent by Steamer to day. His bill £1 may be paid to Mrs Smith by PO order. 

Nairne came home last night by Steamer and called this morning when I was writing. 

Walked by low Road and home by Erray. Met Sandy Sinclair near village and had a long 

crack. 



S.W. Dry cloudy day. 

Called on Nairne. Walked across Drumbreck and by projected road to opposite Calve 

Island; he pointed out to Tosh site of Limekiln; back by path to top of Drumbreck; to 

Ebermor and called on John Campbell's wife; to River and saw 25 or 30 labourers pass 

from Calve to Tobermory. Returned by Aros House to Dinner. Jolly merry Evening. 

Home at half past 10. 


S.W. Cloudy day. Dry except a little drizzle at 5 in the Evening. 

Wrote to Secretary of Guarantee Society London with Answers to Queries regarding 

William; letter dated 8th, posted to day. 

Called on Nairne and walked through grounds with him for 2 or 3 hours. 

Called on Miss Macleod who passed Evening with me discoursing about the Campbells 

of Mull. I took down a few notes from her which I will insert here some day soon. 166 


o Post come; note from Mrs Campbell Possil. 


S.E. Dry. Breezy day. 

Walked to Burn. To church with Nairne. He dined with me. Good humoured arguments 

on Politics. Confound the fellow, he is a Whig. Walked half way to Aros House with him. 


S.E. Occasional showers of rain. Breeze. 

Miss Macleod, Pirie, A Cameron and Breacacha called. Latter dined with me; and Mr 

Ross came in at half past 8. 

No Letters. Maclachlan & Stewarts' account £7.3.9. No walk. 

Wrote to Mrs C. Possil; Ticket system for schools; time of competition at Salem; 

Pennycross Quay; John Maclachlan cold; green grocer in Porter jug; Death on Dry 

Salter. 167 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about going south. 


166 JR did not write them up until 470607. 

167 There are earlier references to 'Green Grocer' and 'Dry Salter' in the entry for 25 December 1845. 

They may have figured in a word game. 

JBL 11/1/06 96


S.E. Breeze; almost dry. 

Engaged all day with people calling until 3. Then walked with Nairne to McNabs, John 

Campbell's, Weavers, Mackillocks, and lastly to Drimfin grounds; went by upper road, 

returned by lower. 

Wrote letter for Miss Roy to Mr Smith of Jamaica about her £50 legacy. 

Miss Macleod sat with me till 9. 

Got letter by Steamer from Mrs C. Possil enclosing copy of one to Possil from Sheriff 

Spiers. 


S.E. Breezy. Cloudy dry day. 

Court day. McDonald Dervaig, half Straw case &c. Advised two processes. Call from 

Mr Ross and from Miss MacNab! 

Wrote Draft letter to Mr Spiers for Possil and to Mrs Campbell Possil, enclosing Draft 

about Salen Prizes in May; going off &c. 

No walk. 


On Thursday the 15th January 168 I prepared to start by the Tartar for Edinburgh. Alister 

McDonald the Master of the Toward called about the Titles to a House in Tobermory 

and lunched with me. I went on board at half past 3. Achadashennaig was there going 

to Greenock and Edinburgh, as I suppose to settle accounts with the Duke of Argyll's 

agent. He was apparently in [blank]. A number of Lord Macdonald's servants, two 

London Attorneys, and a Doctor were also on board. The Legitimacy Case between his 

Lordship and his brother is likely to go on. 

At Achnacroish I threw out my letter to Mrs Campbell and got a packet of letters in 

return to be posted at Oban. Allan Lochbuy came in from Achnacroish. 

Achadashennaig went by the Tartar round the Mull of Kintyre. Allan and I went to Oban. 

John McKenzie waiter not at home. 


Got up at 4; went on board the Rob Roy at 5 and found Allan Maclaine 169 there; he had 

slept at his Aunt's Mrs Gregorson. 

Also a poodle looking old man who I afterwards discovered to be Captain Spalding, 

Barrackmaster at Fort Augustus, going to see his son off to Ceylon. 

Miss Stewart going up to Glasgow with a friend to purchase wedding dresses; she is to 

be married to Mr Macdougall of Lunga. 170 

168 Journal entries for the period from 15 January to 3 February, together with more than half the entry for 

4 February, were written up on 5 February. The whole of this accumulation of entries take up about 6 

pages of the Journal, each of which is headed 'Thursday 5th February 1846 continued'; but the dates of 

each day's entry are given in the text and it seems simplest to reproduce them here as if they had been 

written in the way which JR used when making entries retrospectively. He frequently wrote up entries after 

the events they describe but in every other instance discovered so far he does so for each day seriatim, 

not as in this case in a text presented under the date of the day on which they were actually written. 

169 Allan Maclaine and Allan Lochbuy are identical. 

JBL 11/1/06 97


A fellow of the name of Brown, with whom Allan soon got acquainted; he gave himself 

out as an officer of the 92d, and I found out in Edinburgh from Col Macdonald that he 

was a Sergeant. He had a blackguard looking dog of which he told incredible stories. 

The Cumsties of Oban were on board, and gave a long account of their potato Mill. 

At Ardrissaig I met with my old friend Thomas Knox formerly of Stornoway whom I was 

very glad to see. He dined with me, and told that he had some intention of going out in 

Summer to Ceylon to superintend Mrs Stewart Mackenzie's Coffee Estates. 

Slept at Greenock where we arrived at half past 9. I was the only Passenger that went 

ashore. 


Breakfasted at Greenock, went by the first passenger train to Glasgow, alone in Coach. 

Called first at 84 Queen Street where I left my Luggage, found John and Robert well, 

and saw Alick Clarke Dalnavert a boy of 9 or 10 for the first time. 

Went to 5 Bath Street. Margaret was not up but she soon came in looking thin and weak 

and exhausted. My heart bled for her poor thing. She said that her last attack was Liver. 

George is a fine and beautiful boy, tall, but not strong looking, and still a little deaf. 

James Robertson's eldest daughter came in with a little brother. 

I went out with George and made a number of purchases at Sir J Campbells &c &c &c. 

Robert dined out, and I dined with John and Margaret and left at 7 by the Train for 

Edinburgh. 

Found Archy McNeill, Miss Drysdale, 171 Donald, William and Mary in the little Parlour; 

they expected me to dinner, and Archy bantered Donald about his mis-arrangements; 

and about the haunch of Venison. They all looked well and gay, and the house 

appeared particularly nice and clean. 

The Advocate 172 and Donald going off to London on Monday. Slept in William's old 

room. 


To Chapel with Donald and heard Bishop Terrot preach an excellent sermon. 173 

Walked with Donald between Sermons and had a conversation with Miss Drysdale. 

Called on Archy and went to church by myself in the afternoon; heard Mr Garden preach 

for the first time; transubstantion [sic]. 

James Edradynate and our cousin William Canada dined with us. At 7 I went across and 

took my wine with the Advocate and Archy. I had not seen the Advocate for upwards of 

two years. He is not much changed except that his hair is almost white. He received me 

very kindly, talked cheerfully about Jura (Ardlussa), the new Poor Law (of which he is 

170 Richmond Margaret Ingles Stewart, daughter of Donald Stewart of Luskintyre, married John 

Macdougall of Lunga in 1846. 

171 This seems to have been when JR first met Anne Drysdale. On 15 February 1846 he learnt that she 

and his brother Donald were engaged to be married; the engagement was broken off in October 1846 

personally and professionally. 

with considerable troubles in which JR was deeply involved both 

172 The Advocate was Archy McNeill's elder brother Duncan McNeill, Lord Advocate 1842-1846. 

173 Charles Hughes Terrot 1790-1872 was pastor of St Peter's, Edinburgh from 1817 and Bishop of 

Edinburgh 1841-1862. 

JBL 11/1/06 98


somewhat proud) and the Church question (Dr J Macleod), the ministerial crisis &c &c, 

Sir John (McNeill) &c &c &c. 

I left them at 10 and he 174 sat up the greatest part of the night preparing to start in the 

morning. 


William and I saw Donald off at 8 a m with the Advocate by the London Mail. Archy and 

the Advocate went up in a carriage and the former drove out to a hare coursing at 

Fushie Bridge. 

Went over with William to Maclachlan Stewart & Co, and Farmers. Afterwards called on 

Sheriff Bruce who was not at home, then on James Nisbet, back to the Sheriff's who 

gave me Process Morison with an Interlocutor affirming my judgment. Sat an hour with 

him. 

Called on Col Macdonald Dalchosnie in Charlotte Square; met Coquhalzie and his wife 

there. Saw Archy on the street and called with him on Dunans 175 at the Stamp Office. 

Dined with Archy and Mrs McNeill alone. Went to a party at the McInroys (King St) at 11 

where I met the Macdonalds, Whigham, Auchleekses, Culdares, Menzieses &c &c &c. 

Dalchosnie introduced me very particularly to the Auchleekses. A remarkably pleasant 

party; danced heartily and did not go home till 4. 


Went with William to the Parliament House. Saw a cluster of pleasant friends as usual. 

Received a letter from. and wrote to Mrs C. Possil about G Spiers; Edinburgh, dancing 

&c &c. 

Shopped; dined quietly at home having refused an invitation from McInroy and a score 

other friends. Called on Auchleeks; a clever pleasant old Gentleman. They are at 

Douglas' Hotel. 

It was this day I saw Lord Murray Solus on the bench with a dim gas burner, and half 

asleep. A very rainy day. 

William sat on bed side for an hour talking of Hopkirk &c &c. He is a clever fellow 

William, but does not appear to be quite certain of his partner. 

Archy the kind fellow came from a dinner party at Inglises' to bid me good bye, and 

William had to turn him out of my room to have a talk himself. 

Thus ended my Edinburgh trip, agreeable as Edinburgh always is. 


Rose at 4. Breakfasted. John Fergusson took my luggage to the Mail. Poor Alastair a 

Ghresich who did the same office for me on the last occasion, in July, is dead, as also 

his brother Robert. 

Went inside to Perth; Railway people; breakfasted at Perth; went to Blair on the top. 

A R I and Sophy at the Boat House 176 when I came off. Horses running wild on 

Lochan. 177 The country clear of snow. 

174 Donald. 

175 Fletcher of Dunans. 

JBL 11/1/06 99


Emily met me on the Dale. My father very weak in mind and body both, but looking well. 

My mother too much failed and looking old, but pretty strong. Alas how changed both 

within the last 10 years. Emily better, and looking better, than for many years. 

Sat with them the whole Evening. 


Spent the whole day close at Milton, and alone with them; God help them. 

Wrote to Donald London, William Edinburgh and Margaret Glasgow. 


Wrote to Alastair Bui, Nova Scotia, for my mother. 

Then Emily and I went up to the Cottage; saw my Aunts, looking well. Went up to 

Kindrochet House with Aunt Betsey; a sweet spot even in Edinburgh, and looking warm 

and clothed from the Plantations growing up. 

Emily and I changed Hats and Cloaks at the Gate and astonished and puzzled our 

aunts completely. 178 

The Minister called when we were there. 

Aunt Ann accompanied us to Milton and then to the Manse to dine. I remained there all 

night; they went home. Sophy the third rather a plain child. 179 


Breakfasted at the Manse, then went to Milton; at 3 received a Note from Sophy asking 

me to dine with them to meet Wm Irvine. 180 Went. William Irvine a good fellow and kind 

to my father and mother. He left at 7 and A R I and Sophy went to tea and supper with 

me at Milton. 


To Church at Strowan with Geo Stewart. Aunt Anne and Emily drove up. Sat with Sophy 

and Emily in Minister's Pew. Dalchallochs; dined with my Aunts; Aunt Betsey went down 

with Emily and I. 


176 The Boat House was on the north bank of the crossing of the River Garry, near Bruar. 

177 The Lochan was a field on Milton of Invervack's land. See 430923. 

178 JR and Emily conspiring to play the fool with their aunts says a lot about the affectionate relationship 

between brother and sister. 

179 This seems to be the first time JR saw his cousin Sophy's firstborn child to whom he refers as 'Sophy 

the third' although when first referring to her on 450721, shortly after hearing of her birth on 450713, he 

calls her 'Sophy IV'. He repeats his comment about her being a plain child when he next sees her on 

460817. Sophia Stewart Robertson Irvine 1845-1910 married in 1867 John Robertson, a civil engineer on 

the Highland Railway who became factor to the Duke of Atholl; they had four sons. She was the 

godmother of Morag Lees, who was the third daughter of her first cousin Jessie Irvine and the mother of 

JBL. 

180 William Irvine 1812-1893 was Alexander Robertson Irvine's brother and the doctor in Pitlochry. As the 

father of Jessie Irvine, 'Sophy the third's' first cousin [see previous note] he was JBL's great-grandfather. 

JBL 11/1/06 100


Left at 2. Went to the Manse and bade good bye to Mrs Robertson Kindrochet, drove 

down with the Minister and Sophy to the Boat House (the Boatman's wife unwell) and 

went off by the Inverness Mail at 3. 

I parted with my father and mother with a heavy heart; God grant that we may meet 

again in this world. 181 It is inexpressibly painful to find them at every succeeding visit 

weaker than at the last, and so changed from what I knew them a few short years since, 

without a hope of ultimate recovery or restoration. It is indeed a stern lesson to us to see 

them. 

Mrs Robertson Kindrochet is also breaking down. 182 Oh world, what are you that we 

should struggle for you as we do? 

Went on the top of the Coach to Dalwhinnie; dined there and went to the Bridge of Spey 

inside. Bialled and John came down the Island to meet me. The former spent the 

Evening with us, and then carried me off in triumph to his own house where I slept. 


We all breakfasted with Bialled. 

Went round John's farm. John, Jane and I drove to Belleville and the Bankers; Banker's 

wife. Ball play. 

All dined with Bialled; Jane angry about next day's breakfast, and Bialled gave in and 

agreed that we shall go to Banchor in the Morning. 

The old Gentleman is failing too; and as for poor old Mr Stewart Belleville he is a rotten 

wreck. 


Bialled lent his horse to Kinlochlaggan. John drove me there, and then we got Brown 

Bess who took us to Fort William by 5. We left Banchor at 9. I promised John £20 to 

assist in building his house next Summer. He and Bialled expect to be called to London 

as Railway Witnesses at 5 Guineas per day. 

Showers at Lochlaggan but upon the whole a pleasant journey, and John very good 

company. Put up at Campbells. We fed the mare at Bridge of Roy. Anicolie[?]. 


John and I breakfasted at 8 and I left at quarter to 9 by the Rob Roy Steamer. Kinross 

shire man, Alexander of Lillesdale, Maclean Glenforslan, and McColl factor for Appin &c 

Passengers. 

Met Ned Baxter 183 at the Caledonian. Slept in No 16, the best room in the House. 


181 JR did not see his father again. Duncan Robertson died on 30 July 1846. 

182 Sophia Stewart, Mrs Robertson of Kindrochet, did not in fact die until 27 February 1861, when she 

was about 82 years old. She seems to have moved from Kindrochet to live in the Manse at Blair Atholl 

with her daughter and son-in-law when Sophy married A R Irvine in 1844. 

183 An Edinburgh writer, one of JR's oldest acquaintances and his former partner. 

JBL 11/1/06 101


Called at Dunolly on Allan Macdougall. He is looking very well and was most happy to 

see me. He invited me to see the Ladies, and the Lady sent me an invitation to dinner, 

but I was obliged to decline both. 

Held my Small Debts Court; 28 Cases in Roll, and Submissions, verbal; fixed next Court 

for 24 April. 

Stormy and could not get off. 

Wrote to Donald London, John Banchor, Margaret and Emily and William, of my arrival 

at Oban, Athol and Badenoch trip &c &c. 


Stormy day and detained at Oban. 

Breakfasted with Gregorsons. Read Martin Chuzzlewit, and took tea and played a 

Rubber with Gregorsons. 

Sunday 1 February 1846 

Still stormy; in house all day. 

Angus Gregorson dined with me. 

Monday 2 February 1846 

Off with Duncan McLachlan and John Dallas at 9. Wind moderate, but ahead. Tacked 

to Lismore, landed Light House people. McInnes Piper. Went through Needle's eye. 

Landed at Achnacroish at 3. Found Mrs Campbell alone and chatted with her for half an 

hour. Went out to Torosay. On my return met Minister; afterwards met Possil and 

George Campbell at Plantation Gate. 

Came back and read Spiers correspondence with the old Gentleman. 

Dressed. 

Met young Ladies in Drawing room. 

Pleasant Evening. Rubber at Whist. 

John Maclachlan's cold. 

Tuesday 3 February 1846 

Draughted Letter for Mrs Campbell to Secretary of Education Committee. Breakfasted. 

Spiers correspondence again. Walked with Possil to Church; Poor law Meeting. 

Dog Cart came at quarter past 1 and I went off in a pour of rain. Drove to Salen within 

the hour. Walked home in 2 hours more; saturated with wet. Boxes from Edinburgh and 

hamper from Glasgow; all right but honey jar which was smashed. 

Letters from Donald, A W Belford, Dr Campbell Oban &c. 

Breacacha came in and took tea with me. 

Wednesday 4 February 1846 

Held Court. Wrote Letters. Saw people calling. Called on Miss Macleod. Advised and 

wrote Interlocutors in 4 processes. Meetings with agents &c. 

JBL 11/1/06 102


Mr Ross dined with me 184 first Bishop of Jerusalem &c &c. 

And now I have gone through my time for the last three weeks up to this day. 185 

I wrote to day to John Robertson 84 Queen St with Letter of Credit for £5.13 being price 

of Groceries &c per Invoice. 

Wrote to Emily Milton with £5 enclosed; account of journey from Oban and of my life 

since. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil with £5 being my subscription to Torosay School; wet 

journey on Tuesday. Prizes. 186 

Wrote to William Edinburgh a short account of my arrival &c. 

Wrote to Donald London; my arrival; Church, Dr J Mcleod; Poor law &c. Tarriff short. 

Posted letter to A MacGlachan; arranged and brought up accounts, and brought up this 

journal, 187 a good evening's work. 

Thursday 5 February 1846 

[There is no specific entry for this day; see note for 460115] 

Friday 6 February 1846 

W. Breeze. Constant rain; now stormy. 

People calling on business all day. Pirie and McCallum about cases. 

Took tea with Miss Macleod. 

Hair cut. 

Crumb cloth laid. 188 

Saturday 7 February 1846 

N.W. Gale. Showers. 

Wrote to John Banchor journey from Oban; Tariff; enquiries as to farm &c. 

Wrote to Angus Gregorson, Oban; enquiries about Allan Maclean about Eldership. 

Wrote to Archibald Campbell, Oban (M.D.) to put down my name for £1 to Episcopal 

Minister Oban. 

Wrote to Wm Simmons, 46 Judd St, Brunswick Sq: London; Times not coming regularly. 

Called at Aros House; Mrs Nairne on McDonald of St Martins &c. 


N. Almost fair. Hills white with snow. Breeze. 

Read Bishop Terrot's Sermons, both in the morning and at night with great pleasure and 

I hope with instruction. 

184 At this point JR uses a personal abbreviation which might possibly be a misconstructed ampersand; 

but it could have some other meaning. The symbol is not so much illegible as unintelligible. 

185 Each of 6 pages is headed 'Thursday 5th Feby contd' but he wrote them up on 4 February and there is 

no separate entry for 5 February. See 460115 and note 6 above. 

186 This is yet another reference to the prizes JR was to present at the school at Salen, near Achnacroish 

in which Mrs Campbell took great interest. 

187 See note 11 above; see also note for 460115. 

188 Laid under a table to keep crumbs from the carpet. 

JBL 11/1/06 103


At 12 called at Aros House. The post not arrived. To Church with Miss Macleod. 

Passed the Evening entirely alone. 


E. Fine clear cold day. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil in answer to a letter from her received this morning about 

School. Mr Clerk and his Memorial. Salen prize Meeting. Old Ladies and their 

beaux. 189 

Wrote to Jane Banchor about the New house; to write to Donald about it. 

Walked to Low Point. Post not come in. 


Changing. N.W. Fine calm day. 

Had long meeting with agents in cases Campbell v Campbell (Wages) and in 

MacCallum v Sinclair (Damages). Interlocutors. 

Walked through Drimfin Grounds; Pirie accompanied me to River. Met Miss Nairne on 

my return at River. 

Mr Ross took tea with me. Miss Macleod came down. 

Fire in Torloisk House. 


N.W. Rain. Mild. 


Court day. Taking evidence of Fiar's Prices. 190 

Called on Miss Macleod and Mrs Nisbet. 

No walk. 

Read White Slave Novel. 


This morning I received a letter from Archibald McNeill enclosing one from Mr Neaves 

offering me the appointment of Sheriff Substitute of Orkney and requesting my 

immediate attendance in Edinburgh. 

Wrote note to Mrs Campbell of Possil that I was going to Edinburgh by this day's 

Steamer. 

Mrs Nisbet and her daughter Mary went in Steamer; the latter is going to a Boarding 

School in Edinburgh. Mary Campbell Possil and Mrs Little came in at Achnacroish. At 

Caledonian with latter this night. 


189 It is not impossible that this is a reference to a flirtatious remark by Mrs Campbell about her warm 

relationship with JR. 

190 Fiar's Prices are "the prices of grain in the different counties, fixed by the sheriffs respectively, in the 

month of February, with the assistance of juries": Bell's Dictionary and digest of the Laws of Scotland 

1861. The function of the Fiars Court was to regulate the payment of stipend, rent and prices not 

expressly agreed upon. 

JBL 11/1/06 104



Went through Canal in Rob Roy and to Greenock. 

Mrs Nisbet went to Glasgow. Miss Mary Campbell to White Hart and I to Tontine. 

Six sickly children in boat. 


Fine day. 

Called on Mary Possil 191 at White Hart. 

To Glasgow at half past 9. Alone in coach; passed through to Edinburgh direct. Steele 

Sheriff Substitute of Dumbarton and two others in Carriage. Went in same Omnibus with 

Steele to King Street. 192 William, Mary and A McNeill out looking for me. 

Went to Parliament House, Exchequer and Registration office and saw no friend. 

To Blackwoods and met William and Archy at last. Called with them at Neaves who was 

out at the funeral of Capt Balfour of Trenaby. 193 We met him in Prince St when I at once 

accepted of Orkney. 

Called with Archy on Sheriff Bruce who was out. 194 

Went [to] Archy's Chambers and wrote to Donald London and Mrs Campbell of Possil 

intimating what happened. 

Called again on Bruce who was evidently sorry at parting with me. 

Archy [and I] dined with Neaves. His wife was unwell and did not appear, and his father 

was the only other guest. 

Sunday 15 February 1846 195 

Fine day. 

This morning Mary and William told me that Donald is engaged to Anne Drysdale 

daughter of the late Sir William Drysdale WS!! Sat in the house all the forenoon 

discussing the subject. 196 Wrote to Donald London on the subject and to John Banchor 

and Margaret about my appointment to Orkney. 

191 Mary Possil, Miss Mary C[ampbell] in entry 460213 and Mary Campbell Possil in entry 460212 are of 

course one and the same girl. 

192 JR frequently refers to Great King Street as King Street. 

193 William Balfour of Trenabie, 1781-1846, Captain R.N. and Vice-Lieutenant of Orkney, married 1st in 

1806 his cousin Mary Balfour, only child of William Manson of Kirkwall, by whom he had 6 sons and 2 

daughters. He married 2nd in 1823 Mary Margaret, daughter of Andrew Baikie of Kirkwall, by whom he 

had 2 sons and 5 daughters. Members of the Balfour family, especially Captain Balfour's fourth son 

William Balfour 1813-1871, came to play a very important part in J R's life in his first years on Orkney but, 

as this entry shows, the head of the family died shortly before JR arrived at Kirkwall. J R's home in 

Kirkwall had been part of Captain Balfour's house there: see entry 460316. 

194 As Sheriff of Argyll Bruce was J R's official superior in the legal hierarchy, for whom he was Sheriff 

Substitute. When JR moved to Kirkwall he had the same official relationship with Neaves as he had 

formerly had with Bruce. 

195 It is some indication that JR was in a state of excitement about his appointment to Orkney that he 

most uncharacteristically wrote the date as 'Sunday 15th March 1846', which he later corrected to 'Sunday 

15th Feby 1846'. On the following days he wrote 'Monday 15th', which he failed to correct, and 'Tuesday 

16th' which he corrected to 'Tuesday 17th'. By Wednesday 18th he was back to normal. 

196 See note 8 above. 

JBL 11/1/06 105



Fine day. 

Went in the morning to Justiciary Court and heard Trial for Robbery before Lord Justice 

Clerk &c. Musselburgh case. 

Archy McNeill came to me in Court and we called together on Nairne. Went to 

Exhibition of Paintings; saw D O Hill &c. We met Geo Maclachlan at Blackwood's; then 

Neaves came in and we went out with him and met Bruce. He urged me for the fiftieth 

time to suggest some other person for Tobermory, and I at last, and for the first time, 

suggested William's name. 

Dined with Archy; his sister Mrs McNeill Larne whom I had not seen for 12 years was 

there, looking thin worn and gray, but still the same kind and amiable Lucy McNeill of 

former times. Capt Wade also dined there. Supped at Peters. 197 

Wrote to H Nisbet about Orkney. 


Fine day again. 

Went to the Parliament House with Nairne. 

Called at Kincaldrum's Lodgings; 198 went with him to Exhibition; saw Dr N McLeod 

there. 199 

To the Theatre in the Evening with William and for the first time these five or six years!! 

Forrest the Yankee Roscius in Othello; a miserable exhibition to one who had seen 

Edmund Kean's splendid representation of that finest of all his characters. 

Farce the Cricket on the Hearth. 

Sheriff Bruce called about Tobermory. 


Fine day. 

Breakfasted with Sheriff Bruce to see the Lord Advocate's letter to him about 

Tobermory. It did not arrive. 

Called on John Gibson WS about Torloisk fire; 200 on Alexr Hunter WS and missed him; 

on Mrs D Stewart. 

Went to the Drysdales in the Evening. 

Long satisfactory letter from Donald. 

Archy called to say that Bruce had determined to offer Tobermory to William. 

Fine day. 


197 There is no obvious reason for the heavy underlining; see note 103. 

198 Kincaldrum may have been a member of the Baxter family, merchants from Dundee. 

199 This was probably Dr Norman Macleod the elder 1783-1862, the famous divine who was chaplain in 

ordinary to Queen Victoria from 1841. His son Dr Norman Macleod the younger 1812-1872, the even 

more famous divine who was chaplain to Queen Victoria from 1857 until his death, was not awarded the 

degree of D.D. until 1858. 

200 John Gibson was lawyer to the Clephanes of Torloisk 

JBL 11/1/06 106


Breakfasted with Sheriff Bruce who shewed two letters received from the Advocate 

which recommended William. Bruce then wrote out an offer of the Sheriffship which I 

carried to William and told of to Mary. 

Wrote to Donald London about Sundries especially expence of Circuits at Tobermory 

&c. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil about Orkney and offer of Tobermory to William &c. 

Wrote to Miss Macleod Tobermory about Orkney and to Henry Nisbet. 

Wrote to Mrs Nairne that I had seen Mr Nairne. 

Wrote to Emily Milton. 

Went in the Evening to the Dallases. Called on Major Menzies. 


Went to Parliament House with William; arrangements as to Orkney and Mull 

Commission. 

[Went to] Maclachlan & Stewarts about Law Books; young Auchleeks and his mother 

there, long conversation with them. 

Called on Penders. 

Miss Millers in Evening, Earl of Traquair there &c &c &c. 


To Parliament House; further arrangements. 

Neaves' instructions as to Criminal Trials by Jury. 

Called on Henderson Exchequer. 

Dined at Neaves with Sheriffs Jardine, Bruce and Urquhart, George Moir, Archy, Mr 

Cheyne, Mr Baikie and old Mr Neaves and his wife. 

Wrote to Donald London; explanation of William's appointment. 


First rain and bad day since I left Tobermory. 

Went with Mary and William by 8 o'clock Train to Glasgow. Spent day at John's. Called 

on Nairne at Bath Hotel; sleepy. 


Came off at 8 a m by Train to Greenock with William and Nairne. 

Old Sheriff Gregorson's body in Rob Roy Steamer when we went on board. 

Mrs Little Achnacroish, D Cameron Inverailast [?], McKay Callert, Angus Maclaine and 

little Angus Gregorson &c on board. 201 

Pretty good passage to Ardrissaig. Nairne, William and I walked on in the dark from 

Ardrissaig to Carnban where we supped and slept. 

201 If, as must have been the case, this was the dead body of John Gregorson of Ardtornish, J R's 

predecessor as Sheriff Substitute at Tobermory, J R's reaction is surprisingly muted, especially as he 

knew the Gregorson family well and they were related through marriage with the Maclaines of Lochbuy. 

Furthermore John Gregorson's sister was the wife of Captain Donald Campbell of Quinish and, as it 

turned out, the future mother-in-law of J R's brother Donald. 

JBL 11/1/06 107


John Gibson WS on board going to Torloisk. 


Still bad weather. 

Nairne called us up at 4. Walked with him and William to Crinan. Stewarts Harris came 

in at Lungas[?]. 

At Oban met Breacacha and Kilpatrick and introduced William to them. Dined at Oban 

and went on board Tartar where we met Lochbuy, Clarke of Ulva, &c. 

Arrived at Tobermory at 6. William disappointed with size of house. 

Letters from Emily, William, John, Donald, Mrs C Possil &c &c &c. 


Held Court, William present. Advised cases with him. Farewell address in Court. Called 

with William on Miss Macleod. He is better pleased with the house to day. 


S.E. Breeze and showers. 

Wrote to Donald London about our Journey and plans. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil that we will go the Achnacroish on Monday or Tuesday. 

Wrote to Maclachlan Stewart & Co with Order for Books to [be sent to] Kirkwall. 

Wrote to Pat Forbes, Edinburgh, with order for wine to [be sent] to Kirkwall. 

Wrote to John Robertson, Glasgow, with order for Groceries to [be sent] to Kirkwall. 

Long call from Nisbet. 

William is now busy advising 202 Processes and I have given orders for packing box &c. 

We are to dine at Nairnes. 

o Dined there with Nisbet and William and got jolly. 


Busy taking precognition in Fire raising case at Torloisk, 203 and packing. 


Mr Gibson went away this morning. 

Farther packing. 

Wrote to Maclachlan Stewart & Coy farther about Book order. 

Dined with Nisbets and in Evening received letters from Emily, Mrs Campbell Possil, 

and Irvine. William got large Packet of 4 letters, and one from James Walker enclosing 

his Commission and intimating that mine as Sheriff Substitute of Orkney have been 

given in to Exchequer. 

S.E. Breeze and rain. 

Sunday 1 March 1846 

202 In Scots law 'advising' is taking to avizandum. 'Avizandum' in Scots law is the private consideration of 

a case by a judge before giving judgment. 

203 The fire at Torloisk seems to have taken place on or before 10 February, when JR first mentions it. 

JBL 11/1/06 108


To Church with William. Mr Nairne dined with us and I went up at 9 to see Dr Macleod, 

Morven, at Miss Macleods. 

Monday 2 March 1846 

S. Showers; very mild. 

When I was dressing this morning at half past 7 John Campbell, Sheriff Officer, came in 

to tell me that the Mary Traill sloop of Kirkwall was in the [bay] going direct to Kirkwall. I 

immediately sent off my luggage consisting of: 3 Boxes; 1 large Chest; 2 leather 

Trunks; 1 Tool chest &c; 1 Hat box by the Mary Traill, took a receipt from the Master, 

John Reid, and wrote to Bryce M Ranken, Procurator Fiscal, Kirkwall, about luggage. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about my motions; travelling, William, &c. 

Wrote to Mrs C of Possil; going up to morrow; William and Nairne not. 

Wrote to Sheriff Bruce and to Mary, Edinburgh, about William and his duties &c. 

Wrote to Miss Clephane, Castle Ashby, Northampton about fires at Torloisk; long. 

Breakfasted with William and Dr J Macleod &c at Mr Ross's. 

Tuesday 3 March 1846 

Called on Miss Macleod and Nisbets and bade them good bye. I think that poor old Miss 

M. really regretted my leaving. 

William and I then walked up to Aros House; splendid breakfast with Nairnes which we 

finished off by a bottle of Champagne. Afterwards Nairne, William and I walked on and 

Mr Ross overtook us below the Summer House. Nairne surprised us by a salute of 

Guns, first at the Summer House and next in the Cow park. He and William walked us 

beyond Gualagu [?] and then returned. 

Mr Ross had a horse and he and I walked and rode by turns. 

On our arrival at Salen we met Mr Dewar and Mr Clerk of Torosay. 

Soon after Possil came out to see me from the Road meeting and we had a long talk 

about my promotion &c. The good old Gentleman was very cordial. 

Called at the Manse and saw Dewar's boy walking at 11 months old. Dr Mcleod and Mr 

McArthur came. 

Wrote Note to William Tobermory to come up to Salen on Wednesday night with Nairne 

&c &c. 

Wrote to Wm Simmons, 46 Judd St, Brunswick Sq, London with £1.6.6 for Times. 

Went to meeting of Road Trustees - Present, Possil, Lochbuy, Breacacha, C Patterson, 

Clarke of Ulva, Kilpatrick &c &c - next they had an agricultural meeting. 

Left with Possil, Lochbuy and Kilpatrick, and reached Achnacroish at 7. All well there. 

Examined paper of Privy Council Education Committee with Mrs Campbell. 

Wednesday 4 March 1846 

Strong breeze this morning. 

Engaged after breakfast for upwards of an hour in answering paper of questions with 

Mrs Campbell. 

JBL 11/1/06 109


Lochbuy left; he gave me several Drafts of Epitaphs on his father to revise and leave 

with his mother in Edinburgh. 204 

It rained and we had short walks about the grounds; Geo Campbell Airds and John 

Maclachlan are still there. 

Cards in the Evening. 

Thursday 5 March 1846 

Short walk before breakfast. Possil sent his carriage to Salen for Nairne and William, 

who arrived after we had breakfasted. No trepidation. 

Walked with William to Root house to give him my last instructions. 

Campbell Patterson's boat announced and I ran up to bid the Ladies good bye. Walked 

a little with Mrs Campbell and Miss Campbell joined us in the Flower Garden. 

Possil came to say that I must leave and I ran with Nairne for my plaids and great coats. 

Said Good bye to the Ladies at the end of the Green Avenue outside the Gate, and 

walked down and went on board. 

Is this my last at Achnacroish and in Mull? I hope not. I have met with very much 

kindness from all classes of people in that country, and if I am to judge by what they one 

and all express to me I carry their Good wishes along with me. 

I like the Possils, and may not again meet with such friends. 

God bless them all, and farewell to Tobermory, to Achnacroish and to Mull. 

Got across to Oban by 3. 

Left William with the Possils and Nairne accompanied me. Walked beyond Dunolly 

Beg. Posted Letters of Possils to Mr Simmons. 

Friday 6 March 1846 

Started with Nairne from Oban at 5. Col.McDougall, Gallanach, Mr and Mrs Loyd &c on 

board. Walked from Crinan to Ardrissaig and dined with Nairne at the latter place. Good 

passage to Greenock. No sea sickness. Reached Greenock at 9 and slept at Tontine. 

Saturday 7 March 1846 

To Glasgow at half past 9. Went direct to Railway with our Luggage. Spent the day 

with Margaret and John in looking at furniture &c &c. Left by the 3 o'clock Train and 

found Mary engaged with her Napery &c &c. 

Wrote to William Tobermory of my arrival; Mary &c &c &c. 

Wrote to Donald London; arrangements about his house; William &c &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about Ditto Ditto 

Long chat with Mary. Annie Drysdale came in and wrote to Donald. Every thing 

proceeds smoothly between them. Saw Annie home. 


Nairne breakfasted with us. To Chapel and heard the Bishop. 

Lunched with Drysdales. 

204 Lochbuy's father, Murdoch Maclaine of Lochbuy, died 20 August 1844 aged 53. 

JBL 11/1/06 110


Long chat and walk with Miss Miller thro' Moray place grounds to see her pictures &c. 205 

James Edra and William Canada dined with us. 206 


Called on Nairne and look round a shopping &c &c for 3 or 4 hours; Maclachlan Stewart 

& Co; P Forbes; Exchequer; Cowan & Co; Mair Dentist &c &c. 

We called on Sheriff Bruce who was kind as usual. 

Called on Lochbuys. 

Dined with Nairne at Rainbow. 

Got my Commission. 


The weather has been fine ever since I left Glasgow. 

Breakfasted with Mr Bruce. 

Walk and talk in Parliament House with Neaves about Orkney business. 

Called on Nairne. Went with him and Skene to Antiquarian Library; then came down 

here and lunched. I am now to dine with D O Hill 207 

o Poor D O Hill. I dined with him at his house on Calton Hill where I had never been 

before. I saw his Calotype for the first time; a fine invention but surely it is unworthy of a 

man of genius to spend his time upon this mechanical sort of work. The party consisted 

of James Wilson, 208 P.Fraser, 209 Harvey 210 and McCulloch 211 the artists, Chas Black 

the Bookseller, 212 Logan 213 and myself. Wilson and Fraser and Hill himself were good 

and amusing - the rest passable. Fraser sang Widow Machree and Wandering Willie 

beautifully - and Hill a new old Ballad of a Sailor or Cabin boy. I had a good deal of 

conversation with Wilson and walked so far home with him. 

205 Miss Miller not yet identified but Moray Place, built in 1822 and described by Gifford, McWilliam and 

Walker [QV} as 'a prodigious duodecadon', was, together with the neighbouring Ainslie Place, perhaps the 

best part of the Moray Estate, which was perhaps the best part of the Edinburgh New Town. On 11 March 

JR went to a musical party given by Miss Miller in Ainslie Place; perhaps that is where she lived and the 

walk with her through Moray Place grounds on 8 March was en route for her house in Ainslie Place. 

206 See Index for these individuals. 

207 David Octavius Hill 1802-1870, landscape and portrait painter, was the first artist to apply photography 

to portraiture. Calotype was an early kind of photography invented in or about 1840 by W.H.Fox Talbot. 

208 James Wilson may have been the zoologist of that name. 

209 Patrick Fraser 1819-1889 was called to the bar in 1843. In 1846 he published 'Treatise on the Law of 

Scotland as applicable to the Personal and Domestic Relations'. He became Lord of Session and Lord 

Ordinary in Exchequer cases in 1880, taking the title of Lord Fraser. 

210 George Harvey 1806-1876, R.S.A. 1829, figure and landscape painter, was an original associate of 

the Royal Scottish Academy and contributed to its first exhibition in 1827; knighted in 1864, he was 

President of the R.S.A. from that year until his death. 

211 Horatio MacCulloch 1805-1867, R.S.A. 1838, was the most popular landscape painter of his day in 

Scotland, who exhibited only once at the Royal Academy, London, in 1844. 

212 Charles Black carried on a bookselling business in Edinburgh in partnership with his uncle Adam 

Black 1784-1874, politician and publisher. The firm acquired the copyrights of the 'Encyclopaedia 

Britannica' in 1827 and of Scott's novels in 1851. 

213 Logan may have been James Logan 1794?-1872, author of 'Scottish Gael, or Celtic Manners as 

preserved among the Highlanders', 1831. 

JBL 11/1/06 111



Did little to day. Dined with Neaves; nobody present but his own family and his Clerk. 

Went to a party at Miss Miller's, Ainslie Place; a full fashionable dull musical affair. 214 


Called on A Wm Robertson about Riemore accounts; 215 Tod & Hill about a house; 

Register Office for Acts Sederunt [?]. Went to Parliament House; conversation with 

Neaves; he advised me to take Capt Balfour's house. 216 

Came down with Skene and called on Mr Dickson WS 217 about Papdale. On coming 

out I saw the Lord Advocate and Archy talking, in Dundas St, to Geo Brodie, advocate. 

The Advocate received me very kindly and, on parting with Brodie, took my arm and 

walked along Abercromby Place with me. He and Archy spoke in very friendly terms 

about William's appointment and my own. He spoke of Ross Tobermory, and I 

recommended both him and Dr J McLeod. 

Wrote to Dr J Macleod, Morven, about Inspector of Schools, and about Deanery. 

Wrote to Miss Macleod, Tobermory: good bye. 

Wrote to: My Mother; Donald; Margaret and John; William; about going to Orkney &c. 

Sheriff Bruce called; then Mr Balfour; then D Lamont. 

Packed. 

Annie Drysdale came up. Good bye to her and Mary. 


A wet morning; wind S W. 

I got up at 4, dressed, locked my travelling bag, took a solitary cup of tea and a little 

after 5 left 66 King Street for the far north on this 13th March 1846 as I had formerly left 

it for the Lewis on the 13th July 1841. How time flies - and what creatures of 

circumstances we are. Little did I think when I got up on the 12th February that I should 

be on my way to Orkney on 13th March. 

John Fergusson was my porter. He lost his brother in law, who died of consumption, a 

few hours before. Remained at a Common Stair at the end of Warriston Crescent until 

the Coach came up and I had difficulty in getting a seat. The Steamer sailed at half past 

6. The day was showery and breezy, but the wind was fair. I was not sea sick. 

We called at Crail, Arbroath, Montrose, Inverbervie, Aberdeen &c. Mackay the late 

Assistant Schoolmaster Tobermory on board. Bagmen 218 . 

Went to bed at half past 8 and slept tolerably well. 


214 See entry 460307 and note 38. 

215 See entry 450617. 

216 See entry 460214 and note 25. 

217 Dickson was probably the lawyer of that name who acted as agent in Edinburgh for Lord Dundas. 

218 'Bagman' is an obsolescent word for a commercial traveller, defined as an accredited travelling 

representative of a trading house. 

JBL 11/1/06 112


This morning I awoke when we were getting in to the Bay of Wick. A Musselburgh man 

who slept below me and several other Bagmen went ashore. It rained heavily. 

We breakfasted, and I made the acquaintance of a fine young lad of the name of Traill, 

a son of Mr Traill of Woodwick on Orkney. He was sick during the voyage, and had a 

lady under his charge who suffered more severely still. 219 

It came on to blow fresh from the N.W. and we went below. Went up when the Steamer 

was opposite to Ness Head, saw Duncansby Head, and Orkney! All hail Orkney. 

A threatening shower was pouring out of the Pentland Firth. The Orkney lands looked 

low, as did the whole of the East Coast from Berwick to John O'Groats. Went on Deck 

occasionally to reconnoitre until we reached Copinshay, a small rocky island. We 

neared the District of Deerness on the Mainland of Pomona, and I certainly was not 

prepared for the appearance of cultivation the country presented. The arable land 

stretched down to the water's edge, and there seemed to be no moor or Waste land. A 

number of well built farm houses and steadings gleamed along the shore and altogether 

we seemed to be approaching a well cultivated country. 

After passing Copinshay we sailed in a N Westerly direction in among the Islands 

towards Kirkwall. The country seemed to improve as we went along. We soon had 

Shapinshay on the right. A squall with a shower of snow and hail came in our face as 

we were nearing the Harbour. 

I went on deck and there lay Kirkwall before me. About the size I had imagined, but 

more old and townlike, and lower. The fine cathedral of St Magnus is more entire than I 

had supposed. 

The Fiscal came to meet me 220 . I knew him at once from having known him slightly in 

Edinburgh ten years before. I went ashore with him and was struck with the extreme 

narrowness of the High Street. Came direct to Brotchie's. 221 Then went to the Fiscal's 

house and saw his wife, a nice looking person. He took me to see the Museum and St 

Magnus. I dined with him and met Dr Duguid a razor like discontented man and a Free 

Churchman 222 . Introduced to Mr John Baikie 223 in the Museum, and to Messrs Scarth 224 

and A Bayne 225 on the Street. 

The Doctor left Ranken's and I remained till 10. My opinion of him is not high; I like his 

wife better. 

219 JR was to meet this lady again before long: see entry 460417, note 1. 

220 Bryce M Ranken, aged 41, to whom JR had already written on 2 March, was from Dumfriesshire. In 

addition to being Procurator Fiscal he was a prominent Kirkwall writer with an Orcadian wife Janet aged 

30; in 1846 they had three children. 

221 Brotchie's was one of the Inns in Kirkwall. 

222 Alexander Russel Duguid MD aged 47 was one of the Kirkwall general practitioners; he was a 

widower living with his unmarried sister and his six children, the eldest of whom was 12 and the youngest 

less than 2 years old. 

223 John Baikie, aged 59, formerly a naval officer, was a banker and a member of the junior branch of the 

prominent Orkney family of Baikies with whom JR soon became very well acquainted. 

224 Robert Scarth of Scarth aged 47 was the head of a prominent Orkney family; in 1846 he seems to 

have been living at Papdale, near Kirkwall, but he was developing his estate near Finstown where in 1850 

he built a new house named Binscarth. 

225 The man named 'Bayne' by JR was Alexander Bain, a prominent writer in Kirkwall. 

JBL 11/1/06 113



Walked out past Rosemount at half past 12. Ranken called and took me to Church. 

Again struck with St Magnus which is exceedingly grand and impressive. Young 

Logie 226 preached a very good discourse. Introduced to the Baikie and Pollexfen Ladies 

after Church; a composed and self-possessed set of old Dames 227 . 

Walked with the Fiscal past Green Bank. 228 Passed Evening alone. 


Mr Fotheringhame the Sheriff Clerk called, a queer shy nervous man, round faced, 

round and bald headed, and round and plump and short in his figure. They say he is a 

musician, and an Italian scholar, and no great man of business. I like him. 229 

I took the oaths at his house. Mr Baikie of Tankerness 230 and Mr Bayne and Mr Scarth 

called. I went again to see Captain Balfour's house 231 . Called on Mr John Baikie, saw 

his wife. He accompanied me to Captain Balfour's house and said I might have 

possession of it immediately. 

We agreed that I should have the new part with the Kitchen &c &c, and Mr William 

Balfour 232 the old house, I to pay a rent of £30. 

Wrote to Jas Kinnear WS Edinburgh to this effect 233 . 

Wrote to Mrs C Possil account of my journey here and short account of the country, 

town and people. 

Wrote to my mother on the same subject. 

Wrote to Donald, John, William Edinburgh and Margaret, also on the same subject. 

Wrote to Charles Neaves, Sheriff of Orkney, Edinburgh on same subject and short 

account of the business and proceedings here. 

Read some processes; alone. 

226 Young Logie was William Logie, son of the Revd William Logie, Minister of Kirkwall, and sister of 

Harriet Logie whom JR married in 1859. 

227 Which Baikie and Pollexfen ladies JR met is not clear. 

228 Grainbank. Gifford [1992] describes it as a 'smooth and sophisticated villa built for Lord Dundas of 

Aske [later first Earl of Zetland] in 1829. In 1846 it was occupied by Andrew Gold, who may have been a 

tenant of the Dundas family. 

229 Fotheringhame is often spelt by JR without the final 'e'. The use of Fotheringham's surname alone and 

unadorned is rare. At this time he is quite often referred to as Mr Fotheringham or Mr F. He then becomes 

W H Fotheringhame and soon, and thereafter almost always, he appears as WHF. One gets the 

impression of an easy relationship of mutual respect and even affection combined with the acceptance on 

both sides of unquestioned social boundaries which reflect the very fine line drawn between a Sheriff 

Substitute and his Sheriff-clerk. It is worth noting that when JR eventually got married in 1859 WHF was 

his best man. 

230 James Baikie of Tankerness 1786-1869 was the eldest son of Robert Baikie of Tankerness and 

succeeded him in 1817. He married in 1814 Eleanor Anderson, daughter of W Wemyss of Cuttlehill, Fife, 

who died in 1862. They had no children. 

231 Captain William Balfour of Balfour and Trenabie died on 10 February 1846, aged 65. He was 

succeeded by his eldest surviving son David Balfour of Balfour and Trenabie 1811-1887. 

232 William Balfour 1813-1871 was the second surviving son of Captain William Balfour. 

233 James Kinnear WS was the son-in-law of Captain William Balfour 1781-1846 who also acted as legal 

agent for the Balfours in Edinburgh. 

JBL 11/1/06 114


Fraser &c called. 


N.E. Stormy. Snow storm. 

The Steamer only went off this morning and my letters were dispatched by it to be 

posted at Aberdeen. The storm was furious last night and it has continued with short 

intervals ever since, and is raging at this moment. The Orcadians say that this is their 

first snow during the Winter 1845/6. "I hope so". Remained in the house all day - and 

wrote a note to Mr John Baikie about my new house. Called several times, but I cannot 

get the parties to go ahead. 

Mr Baikie has just called, and matters remain in statu quo; obliging but slow, very. His 

son called with him, and they are a queer looking pair of stumpies to be sure. I felt 

getting blue, but the little man has put me into good spirits again. I dine with him on 

Thursday. 

Wrote to David Nairne of Aros, Aros House. Private: an account of my journey, of this 

place and people &c 


Frost and snow. 

Went to Court House at 10. Took my seat on the Bench at Kirkwall for the first time at 

the summary Trial of Benjamin Cormack for reset of Theft. 234 Not proven; Mitchell 235 

his agent. 

Called on Tankernesses with Fiscal. Removed Books to Balfour's house. Arranged 

them in the Evening. 


N.E. Clear day. Intense frost. Ground covered with snow. 

Opening up and arranging packages. 

Court Day. Few cases. There is greater form observed than in Tobermory, and the 

procurators are better men of business, but the amount of business is trifling. 

Dined with Mr John Baikie. Present: Messrs Heddell, Scarth, Ranken, Bremner, Bayne, 

Dr Logie and myself. Mrs Ranken was the only Lady except the members of the family. 

The house is excellent, the dining good, and altogether the turn out better than I 

anticipated. I stole off at half past eleven, leaving the rest of the company entire, playing 

cards, and waiting supper . 

The cold was intense to day. 


N.E. Clear frosty day. Snow covers ground still. 

Conversation with Brotchie about Church &c. 

Removed all my things to Balfour's house. Took Deposition of Havers, and evidence of 

farm servant in Action of Damages Smith v Johnston there. 

234 'Reset' in Scots law is the receipt of stolen goods. 

235 Mitchell was a writer practising in Kirkwall; he was also Town Clerk of Kirkwall. 

JBL 11/1/06 115


Dined at Brotchie's and took tea here. 

I am now fairly in possession, and the house seemed comfortable, but there are many 

things wanting that I must get. 


S. by W. Snow and sleet. A gale. 

Did not go out the whole of this day. Mr Fraser called about Road business, Stewart's 

Trust &c. 

A Deerness man called for advice, and I gave him an admonition. 

After dinner opened and put up wine; 8 dozen. Finally arranging furniture &c &c. 


S. Breeze, but dry. Snow gone. 

Steamer came in this morning at 9; took 26 hours coming from Wick. 

Tom Innes came to me yesterday, and I am to engage him to morrow. Rather a slow 

servant but he seems sure. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil with narrative of my proceedings with the people 

here 236 . Rankens, Baikies, Mr John Baikie, Mr Fotheringham &c &c. Posted to day. 

Wrote to William Tobermory congratulating him on his position. Account of Orkney Isles; 

of this house; Mary &c 237 . 

I have removed to the Drawing room which I find a more cheerful and agreeable room 

than those below. 


Wrote to C Neaves about proceedings. Trial for reset of Theft. Ordinary Court; resulting 

cases from Small Debt to Ordinary roll. Road Meeting. Evie Commonty 238 &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; account of House servant &c. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene WS 29 Inverleith Row with Receipt for Quarter's salary. 

Wrote to John Banchor; weather, soil and climate of Orkney. 


N. Showers. 

Court day; few cases; advising processes. Commonty of Evie and Earl of Zetland v 

Geo Irvine. 

Wrote to Donald London, long letter about Kirkwall Magnates; Sherrif Clerk; Fiscal; 

Baikie; Court, and amount of business not much greater than at Tobermory; Road 

Trustees &c &c. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene WS about John Robertson Glasgow's account. 

Wrote to John Robertson 84 Queen St Glasgow to send his account to Skene &c 239 . 

Walked on Tankerness Road for the first time. 

236 Mrs Campbell of Possil was one of the few Mull people with whom JR kept in regular touch. 

237 It may seem strange that JR wrote to his brother William congratulating him on taking over as Sheriff 

Substitute at Tobermory but it was a courteous kindness now out of date. s 

238 Commonty [Scots] was land held in common. 

JBL 11/1/06 116


Received letter from C Gordon Robertson. 


Showers. 

Wrote in reply to C Gordon Robertson Sheriff Substitute Newhaven about Commonty of 

Evie &c. 

Attended meeting of Prison Board; Messrs Baikie, Ranken and Heddle present. 


Cold. 

Ranken called; then Heddle; walked with latter past Papdale to site proposed site of 

Prison. Steamer came in. Walked past Grainbank and met Tankerness who called just 

as I returned about Barry's Trust. 


Cold but dry. 

Walked to Inganess Bay. Then to Church and heard Mr Spark for the first time. Walked 

to Pier with Mr John Baikie. 


Wrote per Steamer to William Tobermory with law forms; about his arrangements &c. 

Wrote to Maclachlan & Stewart for Connell on Tythes and Parishes. 

Wrote to Peter Scott South Bridge Edinburgh for a Sheriff's Gown. 

Mr Heddle called and wrote to Wm F Skene Edinburgh introducing him. 

1st Letter from Donald to Kirkwall. 

Examination of Packman Bain. 


Wrote to William Tobermory about Increase of Salary &c. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene Edinburgh about Heddle &c. 

Attended Excise Court. 

Letters from Dr J Macleod and C Alexander Letesdale. 

Wednesday 1 April 1846 

Messrs Fotheringham and Tankerness called about Stewarts Trust. Attended meeting of 

Barry's Trust. Walk with Tanks. 240 Letter from John. 

Attended Court. 

Thursday 2 April 1846 

239 I do not know which account J R's brother-in-law in Glasgow was being asked to send to Skene, who 

had been J R's partner in Edinburgh, nor why Skene was being asked to deal with it. 

240 In this instance, the first time JR refers to Tankerness as 'Tanks' it is undoubtedly an abbreviation; but 

later entries suggest that Tankerness may well have been referred to as 'Tanks' in conversation with 

others even if that shortened version of Tankerness was never used to his face. 

JBL 11/1/06 117


Then wrote to Chas Alexander younger of Letesdale, Peebles resigning 241 Submission 

by him and Capt Cameron Med: fugie warrant. 242 Ranken called about Ditto in Evening 

and took a tumbler with me. 243 

Blue for the last 4 or 6 days; now rosy red. 244 

Letters from Emily and Mrs Campbell of Possil. 

Friday 3 April 1846 

Met Ranken again about Med fugie warrant. Took declaration in case of assault about 

Mr Gordon's servants; sheltering young man assaulting Dairy maid. 

Sent for Mitchell and had talk with him about Stewarts Trust. 

Dined with Ranken: John Baikie, Jas Spence, Drs Duguid and Bremner present. No 

post. 

Saturday 4 April 1846 

Removing Court. Council met when we were done. 

Walked to Inganess Bay. Called on Mrs Baikie. No Letters. 

The weather is very cold. Showers of hail and snow. 

Sunday 5 April 1846 

N.E. Boisterous cold showery day. 

I hear Steamer is not come. 

Wrote to Donald London about Annie, in whom I have implicit trust and confidence; 

warning against flaws and fits. 

Wrote to John Banchor, that I'll send him £25 now or in July. 245 

Wrote to Revd J Dewar, Manse of Salen, Aros to alter day of School Competition as Mrs 

C Possil, Mr Ross and himself shall see cause. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; changes in life; Donald; William and Mary; M's truth. 246 

Wrote to Mrs C Possil, Oban. Long Replying to her letter. School Competition. Weather 

and flowers. Mrs Clerk. Mr F Ulva. Ex her wife's son in law. Donald McKinnon's portrait. 

Highlanders contrasted with Orcadians. Sutherland Piper. Mrs Baikie. Schools. Charities 

of Kirkwall. Poor laws. Annie Sclatter and Tom Linklater. Mrs Ranken &c. 

Went to Church. Walked afterwards to Grain Bank with Ranken, and in the Evening Mr 

Baikie sent Newspapers. Great Battle of Sobraon fought on 10th Feby on the banks of 

the Sulley. Poor Sir Robert Dick of Tullymet was killed while gallantly leading the 3rd 

Division. Col Maclaren is dangerously wounded in the knee and both are highly 

241 'Resigning' means, in this case, to relinquish dealing with it. 

242 In Scots law a 'fugie warrant' is a warrant to apprehend a debtor supposed to be about to abscond. 

243 A glass of whisky. 

244 This sentence is written very small and crammed in as if it was an afterthought. It was rare for JR to 

describe his moods in this way; the short and lifeless entries for the past five or six days seem consonant 

with an attack of mild depression. Compare entry 460408, note 1. 

245 John Robertson, Banchor, seems to have been helped by his brothers with gifts or loans of money 

from time to time. 

246 'M's truth' means her faithfulness and constancy. 

JBL 11/1/06 118


eulogised by the Commander in Chief and Governor General. 247 Curious that two 

distinguished Atholl men should have fallen; but I hope that Maclaren may recover. 248 

Monday 6 April 1846 

E. Rather milder 

Letters this morning from Skene remitting salary [and from] Neaves. 

Wrote to William F Skene WS acknowledging remittance of £45.18.1. Cold weather N 

P. &c. 

Wrote to William Tobermory: Policy of Insurance; Plate; Strowan papers; Contn [?] of 

days in S D Cases; Their neighbours &c. 

Attended meeting of Stewart's Trustees from 1 to 5. Lodged £60 in Bank. 

Wrote to Major Maclaren, Portobello, Edinburgh about his brother. 

Tuesday 7 April 1846 

S.E. Mild; and a fine day. 

Attended adjourned meeting of Stewart's Trustees; finished the business, our List of 

poor came to £6.7. 249 

Wrote to A R Irvine, Blair Manse, about Orkney; law; Clergy &c &c. 

Walked past Ingaster Bay. 

Post came. No letters. Whisky from Borwick & Company 10 and a half Gallons per 

Permit. My Gown and Connels Books came per Steamer. 250 

Wrote to Alexander Bain, Writer Kirkwall: offer of rent at rate of £30 per annum for this 

new house from 20th ult to Whitsunday 1847. 


Walked by London Road. Home by Palace and Cathedral both of which I went to see. 

No Letters. Reading Processes Harvie v Hamilton, and Lord Zetland v Irving[sic]. No 

Letters. 251 


Heavy showers. N. Mild. 

Lone visits of Messrs Urquhart and Mitchell. Walked to house above Inganess Bay. 

Letters from William and Mary about Tobermory; agreeable. 


247 These military engagements were part of the Sikh war. 

248 Colonel McLaren did not recover; see entries 460426 and 460427. 

249 This statement presumably means that the Stewart's Trustees settled on £6.7 as the sum to be given 

to the poor, but there is no indication of the number of the eligible poor to whom distributions were made, 

nor therefore of the total sum distributed. 

250 The Sheriff's Gown and Connell's Books on Tythes and Parishes took eight days to get to Kirkwall 

from Edinburgh from the date of J R's order sent on 460330. 

251 The repetition of 'No Letters' and the general tone of this and the next two day's entries suggest that 

JR may have been feeling depressed again: see entry 460402, 

JBL 11/1/06 119


Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh; Court days; no call for his coming north; cases of 

Geo Irvine, Bea 252 &c. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory about their house, furniture &c. William and Sheriff Bruce at 

Oban &c &c. 

Walked with Ranken to Scapay. 


E. Fine morning. Rain at 6 Evening 

Trial of Vaux for throwing out ballast in Harbour; fined 1/- and Costs £3.19. 

Walked with Ranken past Grain Bank and home by Moor and Stromness Road. 

Letters from Major Maclaren that his brother Col Maclaren is recovering; from C 

Alexander declining to accept the resignation of my submission; and from Mrs Campbell 

Possil about her son Donald &c. 

Wrote to Mrs C.Possil about Donald; Indian war; Col G Campbell; Sir R Dick and Major 

Maclaren; Mary Campbell; Young Lonachan [?] and Young Coll; Mr Dewar and Salen 

Competition; Dr Macleod and Lord Advocate; William and Mary and their house &c; 

Strowan; Kilpatrick visiting me. Will write her on my return from Sanday. Enquiries about 

Mull folks. 


S.E. High wind; thick and rainy morning, and bad day 

To Church with Tankerness to hear Mr Paterson. 253 Introduced to Mrs Baikie. Ladylike 

person. 254 


Wrote to Alexander Cameron, Carnock by Strontian: "In consequence of my removal to 

this distant locality I would beg leave strongly to recommend to Mr C Alexander and 

yourself to recall the Submission by you and him to me, and to enter into a new one to 

another Arbiter in your own district. I think that my successor at Tobermory would 

undertake it. But in the event of your not agreeing upon a Referee, I will conduct the 

existing Submission to a conclusion, though such a course must prove troublesome and 

inconvenient both to me and to yourselves. 

I request to hear from you by return of post what your determination is; and to say that I 

have sent a duplicate of this letter to Mr Alexander, whom you should see. Very truly 

yours J R. 

Wrote to Chas Alexander Yr of Lettesdale; sent him a duplicate of the foregoing. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Ditto. 

In the morning took Declaration of Janet Mackay, Thief. 

Then Mr Fotheringham called and we sailed by the Sanday Packet, David Wastness 

Master, for Sanday. We sailed at 10 and reached Castlehill at quarter before 2. The 

252 There are several farms named Bea in Orkney, all in West Mainland parishes. 

253 Paterson was the Minister of the United Presbyterians in Kirkwall. 

254 This seems to have been J R's first meeting with Lady Tankerness; he makes the same remark about 

her being 'Lady like' after his first visit to the Hall of Tankerness on 460501. 

JBL 11/1/06 120


wind was S.E. and nearly fair so that we never once tacked from Kirkwall until we cast 

anchor in Kettletoft Bay. 

At first the day was dry, but always thick and dirty looking. We sailed inside of the low 

island of Shapinshay, 255 having the Mainland, Rowsay and Eday with the small Isles of 

Gairsay, Wire and Egilshay [on the left] and on the right Shapinshay and Stronsay. The 

left hand or Western Isles were undulating hilly especially Rowsay, while Shapinshay 

and Stronsay are flat and level. 

The Stronsay Firth is rapid and difficult "to tide" but we made it out well having a fair 

wind and a good breeze. When we passed Stronsay it came on the rain, and we were 

exposed to a heavy sea from the German Ocean having opened to us. Mr 

Fotheringham and I went down below, got squeamish, went on deck again, found the 

Clerk sick, and what with the rain and our own sensations we were as uncomfortable as 

could well be. 

We landed in a power 256 of rain; got our luggage carried to the Inn at Castlehill, an 

unpromising looking caravanserai 257 which Mr Fotheringham soon left for Mrs Trail 

where he was going to Inventory her late husband the Revd W Trail of Westove's 

furniture. 

I passed a cheerless evening at Castlehill reading the Statistical Account of Orkney, 

Punch's pocket Book for 1846, both of which I was obliged to throw away, and finally I 

procured a Bible from the Squinting Servant wench Janet Sinclair which was printed in 

the reign of Queen Elizabeth which I read for some time and then went to bed early 

among the coarsest sheets I ever slept in. 


Beautiful clear day. S.E. 

Went out after breakfast and walked along an almost level moor which felt as soft and 

almost as smooth as velvet under my feet. The island is very narrow, and I felt pleased 

and exhilarated on walking along breathing the pure air, surveying the sea on either 

side, the horns of the Nesses or headlands towards the North, the strange appearance 

of the houses, dykes and animals which all stood on the verge of the horizon and 

seemed of preternatural size. Bating the want of trees, the scenery reminded me of the 

level plains of Lancashire or Yorkshire. 

On the East the effect of the sun on both the sky and sea was peculiar striking and 

beautiful; the sky rose from the glistening sea apparently at no great distance like a 

huge perpendicular dark wall until it reached the sun from whence it cast a magnificent 

arch across and around the visible world. I could see no other Islands in any direction 

excepting Stronsay. Towards the south the ground rose into a gentle eminence of about 

150 or 200 feet high, and its sloping declivities contrasted pleasingly with the flats of 

Lady and Burness Parishes on the North. I walked back again. Looked over the Roll of 

Cases, 5 in number, and took the following 

255 All J R's spellings of proper names have been retained in case they are of interest. 

256 The word 'power' to indicate a great deal is now obsolete. 

257 Caravanserai originally had the meaning of an enclosed court or a kind of unfurnished inn where a 

company of people, travelling together for security, could stop. 

JBL 11/1/06 121


Tabular view of S D cases tried at Sanday 

from the commencement of the Court in 1838 

to this date. 

1838 Cases in Roll Def_endan_ts present 

March Circuit 7 5 

June Circuit 25 8 

September Circuit 1 1 

1839 




1840 




1841 




1842 




1843 



October Circuit 2 0 

1844 




1845 



October Circuit 3 1 

1846 

April Circuit 5 1 


Held my Court; there were 5 cases in all, and only one of them, between Muir and 

Smith, two farmers, about the death of a horse, defended. 

At 1 o'clock sailed back without Mr Fotheringham who had not arrived. Smith Harper ex- 

Schoolmaster &c &c in packet; the day was still fine but wind and tide were against us 

and we did not reach Kirkwall until 9. 

JBL 11/1/06 122


Found letters from Donald, William and Mary, Emily and Jane; all well and happy thank 

God. Also letter from John Maclachlan Stewart & Co. 


S. Dismal day; almost rainy. 

Wrote to John Maclachlan 64 South Bridge Edinburgh that the old Editions of Connell's 

works must be exchanged. 

Wrote to Emily [at] Milton about Banchor, William and Mary, Donald, and my circuits; 

House Servants; Visits, visitors &c &c. 

Advised 3 processes and after dinner walked past Grain Bank. 

Post but no letters. 

Visit to day from Mr Fotheringham who arrived from Sanday at 10 last night; and [from] 

Dr Duguid. 


S. Thick dirty but dry day. Gale. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh; Circuit Court at Sanday with foregoing Table; State of 

Poor; Character of the people as contrasted with highlanders; So[uth] Ronaldshay men; 

Mode of living among Orkney poor; Stewart's Trust &c; long 3 Sh[eets of paper]. 

Hair cut. 

Advised Division of Evie Commonty. 

Walked after dinner to moor beyond Grain Bank. 

Letter from Miss Macleod Tobermory. 


S. Dirty but dry day; breeze. 

Wrote to Miss Macleod Tobermory; kindness of Mull; distinguishing between the many 

and the few; pleased and amused with her news; hopes and enquiries about 

Tobermoryans; Breachachs and Colls; my house here; Mackay Schoolmaster and 

Hector Maclean; Orkney a lowland country; character of people &c. 

Wrote to Peter Scott 9 So Bridge St Edinburgh: "I send you enclosed a P.O. in your 

favour for £3.10, being in payment of the Sheriff's Gown which you sent me on the 2d of 

which be pleased to acknowledge the receipt I am &c. P.S. I send a Bank in place of a 

P.O. order". 

Went to a party at Mr John Baikie in the Evening; a dance. Traills Woodwick, Bains, 

Spences, Rankens &c present. I left before supper. Miss Harvey who came down in the 

Sovereign from Granton on the 14th ult was there also. 258 

S. Misty morning; day better. 


258 Miss Harvey must have been J R's fellow passenger on 14th March, referred to in the entry for that 

day as a lady under the charge of "a fine young lad of the name of Traill a son of Mr Traill of Mr Traill of 

Woodwick"; see entry 460314. William Traill of Woodwick, born in 1818, married on 4 February 1847 

Emma, second daughter of James Harvey, of London. See also entry 460423. 

JBL 11/1/06 123


Have an attack of Lumbago to day and be hanged to it. Walked to Quanterness and 

saw the Pict's House; 7 rooms; you can only see two holes on the top of a green knoll 

more like the lair of foxes or Badgers than the abodes of men. 259 



S.E. Very fine sunny day. 

Ill with Lumbago and sat in the house all day. 


S.E. Another beautiful sunny day. 

Wrote to William Tobermory; his application to Treasury; Donald at Blackwood; Strowan 

papers; enquiries about Mull folks &c; 4 pages. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; Salen competition; William and McDs Langamull; sail to 

Sanday and description of the country and people; poor there and in Kirkwall how 

maintained; Trusts; peep at Stewart's Trustees; former quarrels composed and how; 

description of Seceder Kirk and preaching; enquiries about home news &c; 12 pages. 

Wrote to Revd Dr McLeod Morven Oban about Gaelic Inspectorship and Deaneries; Is 

Deputation coming to the north; Orkadians and Free Kirk; Mr Heddlestone Presenter to 

Orphir; Mr Spark; p 19. 

Wrote to Donald London; to tell me about Blackwood; 260 John and Mundell; William and 

his application; Railway shares &c; his pose gone, and mine too; retrenching, cheap 

living in Orkney; asking no one to house; Skenes and Cash credit; Railway panic and 

failures; Sheriff Skene, St Patrick and Ossian; Fruachan Morag and amenity of 

Kindrochet; poor Glenstool; 261 Chirsty McD; Wine Rubbers. 

Letters from Sheriff Robertson Stonehaven and John McNicoll. 

Wrote to John McNicoll, Craig, Alyth about Mr Ramsay's death on 16th. 

Wrote to Alexander Mitchell, Exchequer, Edinburgh ending Return of my Salary for 

Income Tax Commissioners. 

Wrote to Wm Simmons, 46 Judd St, Brunswick Square, London; Times arrive 

irregularly. 

Walked on the Tankerness Road past Bridge and met young Spence and several other 

persons. 


S.E. Another fine day, but cold. 

Wrote note to B M Ranken, Procurator Fiscal, to bring up Janet Mackay for Commitment 

or Trial. Ranken called and I accompanied him to Court house, took a 2d Declaration 

from the girl and committed her for Trial. Then walked with Ranken and Dr Duguid to 

Oliver Cromwell's Fort and Mr Pollexfen's farm. 

259 The Pict's House probably the Chambered Cairn at Quanterness; radiocarbon dating places its 

construction at about 3400 B.C. 

260 Blackwood was the Drysdale family's home. 

261 Glencripesdale was presumably mortally ill; he died on 1st May. 

JBL 11/1/06 124


Letters from William and Mary. 

In the Evening walked past Grain Bank; and had meeting with Messrs Bain and Fraser 

about Commonty Division of Evie. 


N.E. A fine clear cold day. Light breeze. 

Walked to the top of Whiteford hill 262 from which I saw all the Orkney Isles, and the 

Coast of Caithness. The view is certainly fine, but not so grand as that from the top of 

Sbinne 263 in Mull. It wants hills. 

No Letters. 


E. by N. Cloudy dry cold day. 

This was the 2d Box day. Tried Jas Eunson, Qoys, Deerness for an assault on a 

woman. 264 

Dined at Mr Scarth's; Mr Fortescue there; Traills Woodwick, Miss Harvey and a Host of 

Natives. Dancing, singing and the like frivolities. 


E. Clearing sunny but cold day. Breeze. 

Wrote order in Community of Evie Division. 

Then had a meeting of 3 hours with Mr Urquhart and George Irvine of Bea. 

Letter from Emily. I grieve to hear that my poor father is irritable and unmanageable. 

Walked by London Road. 


N. Cold high wind; mist, but almost dry; strong breeze. 

Read about Lord Zetland v Irvine; Connell on Teinds; Orkney Rental, Process; Printed 

cases in Westray Case &c. Very dry reading. 

Walked by Tankerness Road; came back in a mist and met Mr Ranken on horseback. 

No post and no Steamer. 


E. by N. Gale. Showers of sleet and hail. Stormy day. 

Went to Seceder Chapel with Mr Baikie. When we came out the Steamer had just 

arrived and I went down and ascertained that Mr Neaves had not come. Mr Heddle 

arrived by it. Did not go to Church in the afternoon. Mr Logie came by Steamer. 

262 Wideford or Whiteford Hill became one of the favourite destinations for J R's [almost] daily walks. It is 

about 3 miles from the centre of Kirkwall and at 225m or 740 feet counts as a high hill on Orkney 

Mainland. There is a chambered cairn of some interest on the west side, probably dating from the 3rd 

millenium. Despite his interest in antiquities JR never mentions it. 

263 Speinne Mor. 

264 In 1996 there were members of the Eunson family still living at Quoys, Deerness. 

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At night I received a long and interesting letter from Donald describing his visit to 

Blackwood. And an intimation of the death of Colonel Maclaren at Ferozepore 265 on the 

26th February.His death is a public loss for he was a very distinguished officer, and I 

pity and feel for his brother and sister from my very heart. 


N. Cold cloudy day. Breezy; almost dry. 

Tried Janet Mackay twice for theft; sentence 30 and 14 days. 

Walked past Grain Bank. 

Wrote to Major Maclaren, Portobellow [sic], Edinburgh: "I last night was greatly shocked 

at receiving the intimation of your brother's death. From the tenor of the last accounts 

that had reached you I had hoped that his valuable life would be spared; but it has 

pleased God in his all wise providence to order it otherwise; he has fallen gloriously, 

distinguished by his Sovereign and lamented by his Country. At the first burst of grief felt 

for the loss of such a man the recollection of the qualities that were most admired in him 

serve only to add poignancy to the sorrow of those who mourn his loss. Yet the time will 

come when it will be an enduring though a melancholy gratification to his family to know 

that his character is appreciated, that his fall is deplored, and that his name is never 

mentioned but with honor. 

"I will not vainly attempt to offer you consolation at such a moment, or say to you - be 

comforted. May God who alone can bind up the wounded heart and heal the broken 

spirit strengthen and support you and your sister under this most distressing affliction. 

Believe me to be with sentiments of the most heart felt sympathy and sincere regard &c 

&c". 

Wrote to Emily Milton about my father's infirmities; burning letter; Donald; Mary &c. 

Wrote to Donald London about his journey to Blackwood; settlements; Mary and Chirsty; 

William's salary; Trials of Janet Mackay; Sheriffship of Cupar &c. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory; returning Plate account; Gorgeous furniture; House 

economy; Balls and Parties at Kirkwall. 

Mr Paterson called. 266 


N.E. Cold. Showers of snow and hail, and occasionally the ground was white! 

Meetings with Messrs Ranken and Bain and with Mr Urquhart to adjust Record. Long 

call and talk with Mr Fotheringham about genealogical and antiquarian subjects. 

Received Duncan Stewart's history of the Stewarts from him to read. Walked after 

dinner past Grain Bank. 

Letter from Mary that she was going to Achnacroish, and enclosing Notes from Annie 

Drysdale and Dona. 267 


265 Ferozepore is in the Punjab 

266 Paterson was the Minister of the United Presbyterians in Kirkwall. 

267 Dona may have been Dona Nickle. 

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N. Showers of snow. Hoy hills quite white! 

Mr Logie called and we had a long talk about the church, the poor &c. He is a sensible 

man and respectable; in appearance a good deal like Lord Jeffrey, but not dark eyed, 

nor so vigorous looking; I mean not so vigorous in intellect. 268 He told of his son's 

induction at Buchanan; the prosperous condition of the Church at Glasgow; the Frees in 

Orkney; and was for a general support of the poor in Kirkwall, not a congregational. He 

alleged two inconsistent reasons for this last opinion; 1st that the dissenting poor were 

not properly cared for by their own Kirk Managers; and 2d that many of the dissenting 

poor were receiving relief who were not entitled to it. 

Mr Petrie the Clerk to the Commissioners of Supply called; went to Mr Fotheringham's; 

found him engaged with Mr Heddle and did not go in. Walked to Inganess Bay and 

home by Birston where I had a talk with Tait 269 the gardener. 


E. Dry. Milder than for some time. 

Commissioners of Supply and Road Trustees met: Tankerness, Heddle, Fortescue, 

Trail of Holland, Spence Crown Chamberlain present. I met the two last for the first time. 

Short walk with Mr Baikie Tankerness. Called on Mr Fotheringham. 

Letter from J G Hopkirk WS about Riemore discharge. 

Walked in Evening to Park below Grain Bank. 

Revd S Trail, Birsay, called at night. 

Friday 1 May 1846 

S.W. Rainy morning. Dry Evening. Gloomy day. 

Tried J Ballantyne, Mr Gordon of Evie's servant, for assault on Dairy maid, and took 

precognition in case against 270 for assault on Hugh Scott. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory returning Annie's Letter to her. 

Wrote to Emily [at] Milton with extracts from Ditto. 

Adam Paterson WS and Mr Baikie of Tankerness called on me and according to 

promise I went out to Tankerness with them in Mr Baikie's Dog Cart. The house at 

Tankerness is a low straggling thatched cottage with a good deal of awkward 

accommodation, and surrounded by large storing offices thrown about the grounds at 

random, but still very good and commodious in themselves. 271 The place is situated on 

a Loch or Sound, and the country around it is low, grassy and tolerably well cultivated - 

but without a tree or bush except a few stunted and miserable willows, alders &c in the 

268 William Logie of Isbister was First Minister of Kirkwall. Lord Jeffrey, with whom JR compared him, was 

Francis Jeffrey 1773-1850, Judge of the Court of Session. He was a Whig, best known in the world of 

Scotch affairs as the judge who gave a decision for the Free Church at the Disruption. 

269 In the 1851 Census William Tait is shown as the gardener at Balfour Castle on Shapinsay, then aged 

50, born in Dunnet, Caithness [cf Marcus Calder the Balfour's Factor] and living with his wife and 18 year 

old son William, a gardener's apprentice, in part of the Gardener's Lodge at Balfour. 

270 It is not clear whether Ballantyne was accused of assault on Hugh Scott or whether it was another 

person; there is a gap between the words 'case against' and the words 'for assault'. 

271 There is a full description of Hall of Tankerness in John Gifford's Highlands and Islands [1992] from 

which it is clear that most of the house seen by JR in 1846 survives substantially unaltered. 

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immediate vicinity of Mr Baikie's house the tops of which even on the 1st of May looked 

like half worn brooms. 

Mrs Baikie is rather a Lady like person; and he himself is very well too, rather soft, and 

with some pretensions to be a beau Garcon. 272 

Paterson is a sensible man, but awkward and as little of a gentleman as a man of his 

education, talents and opportunities could well be. All of them are Whigs, but we 

waived the subject of politics, and talked cheerfully enough about General topics. 

Saturday 2 May 1846 

W. by N. Strong Breeze. Dry clear day. 

Drove in in Dog Cart with Mr Baikie and Paterson after breakfast. 

Examined accounts of Fiscal Sheriff Clerk and Sheriff Officers against Commissioners 

of Supply along with Mr Heddle, who sat an hour in here with me giving an account of 

his Edinburgh trip. Then walked to farm house beyond Grain Bank. 

Steamer came in at Five. No Letters. 

Sunday 3 May 1846 

W. by N. Clear day. 

Remained in the house writing till 2. Went to Church and walked afterwards round outer 

parks and home by Grain Bank. 

David Balfour, his Lady and his brother William came by the Steamer and are at Mr 

John Baikie's. Mrs Balfour accompanied the Baikies to Church; but I did not wait to 

speak to them. 

Monday 4 May 1846 

S.E. Clear. Breeze. 

This morning I received a letter from Mary dated Achnacroish 28th April. It should have 

come on Saturday. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil, Achnacroish, apologizing for writing too often; cheap 

living in Kirkwall; servants' wages and house rent; how can I spend my enormous 

income; to send agreeable people to economize here, and tell them how pleasant and 

accomplished we are; party at Mrs John Baikie's; Mrs, Mr and Master John Baikie; Miss 

Bains; Mrs Ranken; the Fiscal; Miss Craig; the Misses Traill and Mrs Heddle; Miss 

Harvey; dancing; Party at Mr Scarth's; Mrs Scarth and Mr Fortescue; Mrs Bain and Mrs 

Ranken; Miss Logies; Mr Logie; anecdote of Sea Horse; second Miss Logie and 

Orcadians and Mr Lang and Miss Jane Lochbuy; our beaux, viz the young Traills, 

Spence &c &c; very very few in Kirkwall; singing of dolorous ditties and comic songs; 

return home; I generally live quiet; Balfours' arrival; visit to Tankerness; description of 

place, offices and mansion house; Mrs Baikie an agreeable person bating her whiggery 

&c; Adam Paterson WS the man of Vellum drinks well; family worship; affection in the 

272 This is probably a suggestion that Tankerness was a bit of a dandy, perhaps with foppish tendencies; 

on 460521 William Balfour told JR that Tankerness dyed his hair, surely an unexpected thing for a 

prominent Orkney landowner. 

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Evening, extempore prayers in Morning; concluding apology for this saga; and for their 

kindness to William and Mary. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory, enclosing letters received this morning from Mr C Alexander 

and Captain Cameron about Submission; Connell on Tythes; enquiries about 

Achnacroish; furniture &c. 

Wrote to C Alexander Yr of Lettesdale, Strontian; to communicate with William about 

Submission &c. 

Wrote to Hopkirk & Forsyth WS; that accountants Report on Riemore's's accounts is 

satisfactory and that the abstract is sufficient without a full copy being sent me. 

Engaged the greatest part of the day at Road Meeting. 

Afterwards with David Balfour of Trenaby; introduced by him to his wife. 

Tuesday 5 May 1846 

S. Rainy and stormy. 

In the Morning Bain and Fraser called. 

Walked past churches and driven home by the weather. 

No post. Read Edinburgh Review. 

Ranken and Bain called. 

Wednesday 6 May 1846 

S.E. Mild. Rain in Morning. Dry after 12. 

Bottled two Gallons of Whiskey. 

The Balfours took Inventory of articles in the house for Stamp Office, and I walked out to 

Inganess Bay and home by Moor above Birstane. In the Evening walked through Park 

below Grain Bank. 

Wrote to Margaret 5 Bath St Glasgow about Inhabitants, intercourse with them; Lairds; 

Servants &c. 

Wrote to Jane Banchor; Bialled's Ode; enquiries about Farm &c; servants &c. 

No post. 

Thursday 7 May 1846 

Mild dry day. 

2d Box day. Meeting of Road Trustees. 

Got acquainted with William Balfour. 273 

Long hearing in Lord Zetland v Irvine; 2 processes. 

Letters from William; Mrs Campbell Possil; Salen Meeting; Emily; John. Intimation of 

Alexander Stewart of Glencripesdale's death on 1st inst. Poor poor Sandy. 


Gloomy dry day. 

Wrote to Charles Neaves Edinburgh about his health; no occasion for his presence 

here; also about Business of George Irvine; supervisor and appeal; Road Trustees; 

273 This first acquaintance developed into a close and, at least for J R, an important friendship. 

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South Ronaldshay; poindings 274 explained, case compromised; District Committees; 

additional assessments; visit to Tankerness; Balfours' arrival; Antiquarian Studies; 

Hennscruyla not read; Gregor & Skene not read in Hebrides, but their names familiar; 

Skene's visit to Tobermory; weather; farm produce &c &c. 

Dined with Heddle along with Mr John Baikie, Messrs Ranken, Fotheringham and Dr 

Logie and William Balfour. Miss Traill and Miss Heddle were also present. We did not 

separate till 3 or 4 this morning; rather an uphill party. 


S.E. Clear day; Warm Morning; Breezy afternoon; Rain at night. 

Arranging my Drawers and Wardrobes. 

My new servant Barbara Brock called and I engaged her at £3 per annum with 10 

shillings optional to me to give in addition should she give satisfaction. A thin plain 

modest looking girl; no beauty. Her name is Barbara Brock!! 275 

Called on Mrs Ranken and walked with Fiscal to Mrs Pollexfen's farm. Conversation 

with Mrs Pollexfen in her garden. No Letters. 


S. Mild. Clear; occasional showers, and Thunder. 

Walked in forenoon beyond Grainbank; to church and home with Mr John Baikie. 

Walked again, and caught in a plump 276 of rain on Eyre or Ayre. 

In the Evening went for the first time to the Sunday School; Teachers Mr and Dr Logie, 

Misses Bella Baikie, 3 Miss Bains, Schoolmaster, Precentor and Bellman or Beadle. 

Took tea at Mr Baikie's. 


S.E. Fine morning; slight showers at 4. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about Balfours, Baikies, Tankerness and Heddles. 

Wrote to Donald London about Ditto Ditto Ditto. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about his trip to Oban, visit at Achnacroish and Salen 

Examination; Enquiries about Mullers; My Policy of Insurance. 

Walked across Berstane Moor and home by Tankerness Road. Found William Balfour 

and his wife and Miss MacIntyre of London below; introduced to the Ladies and invited 

to Berstane. 277 

Ranken, Bayn &c calling on business. 


E. by S. Dry; high breeze. 

William Balfour breakfasted with me and afterwards we attended Meeting of Standing 

Committee on Roads, and with Dr Bremner went out to Berstane where I remained to 

274 'Poindings' in Scots law are distraints or impoundings. 

275 I can see no reason for the repetition of her name or for the double exclamation marks. 

276 'Plump' is Scots for a sudden heavy fall of rain. 

277 This seems to have been J R's first meeting with Mrs William Balfour and her cousin Mary Macintyre. 

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Dinner. I came home at half past 10 much pleased with Balfour and his wife. Miss 

McIntyre a pretty girl and her Cousin is living with them. 



E. Dry clear day; breezy. 

Walked by sea side to opposite Great Pacts house and home by Moor. No letters. 

Read John Riddell's Stewartonia, a very learned, a very malicious and flippant and a 

very absurd book. 278 The main design of it appears to be to expose Cosmo Innes. 


E. by S. Dry dusty day. 

Richard Hay from Sanday asked to see me in the morning and on my admitting him he 

stated that he was to be married to my Housekeeper old Annie Sclatter to day, invited 

me to be present, and asked to have the Ceremony performed in this house; to all which 

I agreed. 279 

I called at Berstane; then at Ranken's and saw the Fiscal only; and then on the Heddles 

who were out. 

At 7 William and Mrs Balfour and Miss Mary McIntyre came in to attend the marriage. 

Mr Logie performed the ceremony, William Balfour gave away the bride, and I acted as 

best man to the Blacksmith. Some dozen people besides were present. The Balfours 

remained here till half past 9 and I saw them home. 

Long letter from William. 


E. by S. Dry dusty breezy day. 

Wrote to Charles Neaves, Sheriff of Orkney, Edinburgh about the present state of the 

Admiralty Droits. They consist principally of single logs of timber. The Charges on them 

are 1st Customs duties, 2d Auctioneer's fees and 3 Salvage, Carriage and Storage. The 

two first charges generally more than exhaust the whole price. Logs salved from 

December 1845 to April 1846 not sold on that account and will spoil and be lost to the 

Revenue. People use them often without reporting; bad effects of this. Change of 

management recommended; temporary expedients only prolong the evil. 

Suggested 1st that Custom and Excise Boards should be got to resign their claims for 

duties; or 2d that the Droits should be surrendered to Customs. This would not interfere 

with Admiralty jurisdiction qua Sheriff. Admiral and Depute and Substitutes only 

Collectors of branch of Revenue and cannot perform the duties assigned to them. 

278 John Riddell 1785-1862 was a lawyer who was an acknowledged authority on Scottish peerage law; 

he published treatises on genealogical questions. Cosmo Innes 1798-1874 was an antiquary and lawyer 

who engaged in peerage cases; in 1846 was Sheriff of Moray and in that year was appointed Professor of 

Constitution Law at Edinburgh, a chair he occupied until his death. 

279 JR appears so unruffled by this sudden piece of news that one can only think he must have been 

dumbfounded; but the couple were matrimonially contracted on 460417, so he must surely have known 

that the marriage was in the offing The attendance of the Balfours suggests that the bride must have 

worked for them for some time before JR presumably took her over with the house. 

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These duties not imposed on other Sheriffs; or 3d Let Collection be devolved on Crown 

Chamberlain. Some remedy loudly called for. 

Walked through Grainbank Parks and Plantation for the first time. 

No letters. 

Barbara Brock my new Servant came home to night and Janet Wishart last night. Tom 

goes to morrow or Monday to Berstane. 

The Bride and bridegroom slept here last night and set off for Sanday this day at 12. 


S. by E. Breezy dusty day. 

Fotheringham and Craig Schoolmaster called. Long talk about Session Records &c. Mr 

J Baikie called and I went out with him to Library; 280 borrowed April Number of 

Blackwood. 

New Servant a nice girl and Cook so so. Vent of Oven cleaned. 

Scarth and Bain called in Evening about French Consul. 


S.E. Rainy and windy; mild 

To Church in the afternoon; my servant Barbara there too; Janet is a seceder. 

No walk; no nothing. 

Well pleased with my Servant, a cleanly respectable looking girl. 


S.E. Dry day; breeze. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about his furniture; secrets; J McIver; Declaration of 

residence within Jurisdiction; French officers; my plate and note of what I proposed to 

get &c. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh with Declaration to be certified by him and sent to 

Exchequer. 

Called on Mr Fotheringham about form on Fiar's prices. 

Gave opinion Case of Expences of search to Mr Urquhart. 

Attended funeral of old Miss Mackenzie. 

Mr Scarth asked if I would become Commissioner in Division of Commonty in Firth to 

which I agreed. 

In the Evening he brought the officers of a French Cutter to pay their respects to me as 

"Chief Magistrate". The Captain is a manly and Gentlemanlike fellow, very. The Surgeon 

enormously fat; and another bearded like the pard. 281 

Post came in at half past 9. Letter from Irvine. 

S.E. Dry. Breeze. 


280 In 1840 there were two subscription libraries in [Kirkwall]. The older of the two was The Orkney Library 

founded as the 'Bibliotheck of [Kirkwall]' in 1683 and the oldest public library in Scotland 

281 As you like it vii 139. 

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Wrote to A R Irvine, P O Edinburgh about Legacy duty on General Stewart's Estate; 

none due and why. 282 

Wrote to Editor of Witness Newspaper Edinburgh with P O Order for 3/4 for week of 

paper. 

Attended Striking of Fiar's prices from 11 to 3. 

Called on Mrs John Baikie and found her in Garden. Asked to Tankerness to Dinner to 

meet Balfours and to Scarths at 7 to meet French officers; declined both and walked 

past Grain Bank farm. 

Letters from William and Miss Macleod. 

Tom Innes left to day and I paid him off. 


S.E. Breeze; dry. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Riemore affairs; Cock of the North &c. 

Wrote to Mrs Baikie of Tankerness with Advertiser Article about Captain E Dalrymple. 

Attended meeting of Prison Board; adjourned to tomorrow. 

Walked by Stromness Road, Moor and home by G[rain] Bank. 

No Letters. 

Majority of 48 for Ministers on 3d reading of Corn Bill in the House of Commons. 


S.E. Misty morning; fine breezy day. 

First Court day; few cases. Interlocutor 283 about Weights and Measures. 

Meeting of Prison Board; drafted a letter to L Colquhoun. 

William Balfour came here and I walked towards Berstane with him. He says that 

Messrs Logie and James Baikie dye their hair. The latter is an advocate. 

My servant Barbara ill. 

Mrs William Balfour and Miss McIntyre here in the Evening, but I did not see them. No 

letters. 


S. by W. Misty day; light breeze. 

Wrote to C Neaves for information about actions of dau: [?] in Small Debt Court; Lud [?] 

Colquhoun's threatening letters. 284 Lord Zetland Sub[missio]n. Mr Anderson a Candidate 

for County; Weather &c. 

Wrote Donald London; enquiries about Drysdales, marriage &c.; William's recovery or 

restoration to good health; story of Lord Robertson 285 Whigham and William Balfour; 

Public business here; Anderson and Lord Zetland &c. 

282 Major-General David Stewart of Garth 1772-1829 was A R Irvine's uncle, his mother's brother. 

283 An abbreviation for 'interlocutor', which in Scots law is a judge's decree. 

284 A letter to Colquhoun was drafted at a meeting of the Prisons Board on 460521. 

285 Lord Robertson was probably the judge Patrick Robertson 1794-1856, who held the title of Lord 

Robertson as a Lord of Session. 

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Wrote to Mary Tobermory; joking her about Tobermoreyans; furniture &c &c.; economy; 

Butcher & Bakers acts; Servants; marriage of Anne Sclatter; Tom Innes singing &c. 

Walked to P O; then past Grain Bank and down to sea. People planting potatoes. 

Dr Duguid called to see Servant. 

Removed Stationery &c from Dresser below to dry part of the house above. 

Letters from Donald; he is to be married on 15th September; may it be a happy union! 

286 and from Emily. 


W. High wind; dry. 

Sat in house till 3 arranging papers. 

Went out to Berstane and saw William Balfour alone. 

Letter from Mary enclosing one to her from Marion Campbell. 

Barbara Brock confined to bed yet. 


W. Wet morning. Dry Evening. 

To Church in afternoon. 

Dined at Berstane. W Balfour confined to bed and I did not see him. Passed an 

agreeable Evening with Mrs B and her cousin Miss McIntyre. Home at half past 10. 


W. Wet misty day. 

Broke pane in Bed room window. 

Attended Excise Court; 12 cases; all convictions. 

Mrs Baikie Tankerness called. 

Mr Anderson is to oppose the Dundases for the representation of the County. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; to engage nurse for my father, and that I would pay her wages; 

Aunt Betsey's illness; Sophy Helen's son; Balfours; Evening with them yesterday; Sir 

Somebody Roberts 287 and old Aunt &c; Servants. 

Wrote to Donald London; congratulations on his interview with Dr Drysdale; asking him 

to delay marriage to 18th Sept and reasons; Tankerness and Balfours &c; dispensing 

favours to all alike; impartiality; dinner at Berstane; private histories &c; politics; 

enclosing John McNeill's characteristic letter, honest soul. 

A Princess born to day. 288 

N.W. Showers; coldish. 


286 Donald's engagement to marry Anne Drysdale was broken off: see 461010 et seq. 

287 'Sir Somebody Roberts' may have been General Sir Abraham Roberts 1784-1873, the father of Field 

Marshal Earl Roberts K G. 

288 These words were added later, in the margin. JR again refers to this birth on 460529. The child was 

Princess Helena Augusta Victoria; she married in 1866 General H R H Prince Christian of Schleswig- 

Holstein [died 1917] and had three sons and two daughters. She died in 1923. 

JBL 11/1/06 134


Took precognitions at Rankens 2 to 5. 

Read Barnaby Rudge. 

No post. 

Saw Barbara in bed; Doctor called. 


N. Showers; cold. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory; congratulating them on their comforts; Nairnes, McLeods, 

Possils &c &c; Sunday at Berstane; she and Mrs Wm Balfour like &c. 

Precognitions at Rankens 2 to half past 4. 

Servant up. 


N by [blank]. Dry cool breeze. 

Court day; few cases. Went with Mr Fotheringham to his house; examining criminal 

Record and met Supervisor about Excise cases. 

Went with Mr F through Earl Patrick's Palace. Walked to Inganess Bridge. 


Witness Newspaper. 289 


W. Breeze; dry; mild. 

Took farther declarations in Housebreaking Cases Bruce girls. 

Proclamations about distribution of Prize money among Naval officers. 

Queen had a daughter on 25th. 

Walked after dinner by Berstane Road and home by Tankerness Road. 


W. Fine dry day. Breeze. 

Walked to Scapa. Met Mr Fortescue on my return, and he called here to meet Fraser the 

Road Trust Clerk. 

Mr Balfour Trenaby came in at the same time, and I accompanied him to Cliffdale. 290 

Good House; fine Paintings, and first rate Library. Very kind and hospitable family. Miss 

Baikie was the only other Stranger. Family worship Evening. 

S.W. Fine gray day. 


289 JR ordered this paper from Edinburgh on 460519. 

290 Cliffdale was the house on Shapinsay built by David Balfour of Trenabie's grandfather Major Thomas 

Balfour who bought the Elwick estate in 1782. The house was said in 1790 to have "rather the 

appearance of a neat little villa in the vicinity of some opulent city, than of a gentleman's house recently 

raised in a remote sequestered part of the kingdom". A good deal of the original Cliffdale was retained 

when David Balfour built Balfour Castle, the "confidently relaxed but inventive Baronial mansion of 1846- 

50, designed by David Bryce". See John Gifford's Highlands and Islands [1992] pp 360-362. 

JBL 11/1/06 135


Walked to Church with Mrs Balfour and Miss Baikie; no service. 

Walk with Mr Balfour; agreeable conversation; Mr Balfour fanciful, poetical, antiquarian 

and Chivalrous. Delicate in health. His wife a very amiable woman. 

Family worship and Evening. 

Monday 1 June 1846 

S. Warm sunny day. 

Chatted with Mr Balfour and the ladies. Took Excerpts and Copy of McKenzie's account 

and illustration of the Nairn Arms. 

Walked along shore with Ladies. 

Dined and returned home by Balfour's Boat carrying Rhubarb &c from Mrs Balfour with 

me. 

I like the family very much. The house is good and he is to build a large addition next 

year. He farms and improves extensively. The soil is good, and for grass it is especially 

so. The lawn was laid down in 176something, and is still in the finest order. 

I found Dugald MacCallum from Kilpatrick, Achnacroish Gardener, at Cliffdale! 

No letters. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil Oban to send Possil's correspondence with Graham 

Spiers to the Lord Advocate. 

Tuesday 2 June 1846 

S W. Clear very hot day. 

Breakfasted at 8 and set out for Stromness along with Mr Fotheringham between 8 and 

9. F came here while I was at breakfast. 

Firth; Scarth; Standing Stones of Stennis; 291 Stromness. There is a chain of hills 

intersects the island of Pomona through which there is a sort of Pass at Scarth; beyond 

Scarth there is a very extensive plain in the centre of which is situated the Loch of 

Stennis. The Loch is said to be 17 miles long and towards the south it contracts to some 

135 or 140 yards in width. 292 Across the narrow part there is built a Causeway with 

either 9 or 11 holes in it through which there is a gentle run of Water from the upper to 

the lower loch and which is called the Brig of Broigar. 293 The upper Loch is fresh water, 

and the lower is brackish. When there are very high tides and strong southerly winds the 

Water pours from the lower to the upper lake, though rarely. 

Some hundred yards to the eastward of the Brig of Broigar there [are] several stones 

still standing and evidently part of a circle; they are apparently from 15 to 17 or 18 feet 

high. One said to be a Sacrificial Stone was thrown down and broken some years since 

by a Capt Mackay who was the tenant of the farm and is now living at Stromness. A little 

above the Circle of Stones there are the foundations of a considerable building, 

apparently an old Castle. But neither Fotheringham nor the country people could give 

291 The Cairns, Henges and Standing Stones at Stenness are the remains of a ceremonial and burial 

complex of the third millennium B.C. 

292 Both these figures are crossed through as though to be deleted but they are not replaced by any other 

estimate. 

293 Broigar is shown on the 1976 Ordnance Survey map as 'Brodgar'. 

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any account of it. On the other or Western side of the Bridge, and quite close to it, there 

are other ruins, much smaller, and apparently round Towers or "Pict Houses"; and 

beside them are several standing stones. Still farther to the West and beyond a farm 

house there is the celebrated Circle of the Standing Stones of Stennis. I paced it 

carefully and took down the following dimensions on the ground. There is first of all a 

circular ditch, several yards in width. Twenty feet within the ditch there is the Circle of 

Stones the diameter of which I made 106 yards. There is a distance of 14 feet between 

each stone, and the breadth of each may average about three and a half or perhaps 

four feet; which would give a circumference of [blank] yards or [blank] feet and make the 

number of stones [blank]. At present there are only [blank] standing. 294 

As at Collanish there are several smaller Circles within sight; but there are no rows of 

stones running outwards from the Circle towards the four points of the Compass. 

At the lower end of the Loch of Stennis there is another causeway similar to that of 

Broigar and called the Brig of Wayth which we crossed to Stromness. The water here is 

salt. 

We ascended a gentle eminence from the top of which a very fine few 295 burst upon us 

of the hills of Hoy and Loch or Sound of Stromness. 

The Village of Stromness itself is a poor place, something like Fortwilliam, but not so 

well built and the street not one half so wide. We drove at once to the place where the 

Court is held. There was a crowd of people, among whom were Dr Hamilton 296 and 

Messrs Ross and Wylie, writers. There were just 4 cases in the Roll. After the Court the 

two writers lunched with us at the Inn and we returned home, and reached Kirkwall soon 

after 5. 


Wednesday 3 June 1846 

S W. Very hot sunny day. 

Wrote to Donald, to keep his own Counsel; 297 place of marriage; visit to Shapinsay; 

David Balfour and Mrs B. &c &c. 

Wrote to Mrs C Possil, Oban; about G Spiers; Salen Meeting; promise to send special 

prizes to Janet Merry and Colin McArthur Achadashennaig, Gigha; her own family; 

flowers and bees; humble bee on top of thistle in Mr Baikie's Garden; visit to Shapinsay; 

David Balfour chivalrous; Shoulders of Mutton and legs of Veal! 298 

294 JR presumably got too bored with his measurements ever to work out the figures which he left as 

blank spaces; but the figure '13' has been inserted in pencil, possibly by another hand, in the blank space 

for the number of stones left standing. 

295 For 'few' read 'view'. An interesting phonetic slip of the mind and pen. 

296 See entries for 461111 and 461121. 

297 Whatever it was that Donald said in his letter J R's characteristic reaction was to urge discretion; 

compare his advice to William later in this day's entry. 

298 Although he constantly refers to meals it is very unusual for JR to make any mention of what food he 

ate on a particular occasion. 

JBL 11/1/06 137


Wrote to Wm Tobermory; caution about discussing Small Debt cases of damages. 299 

Took Declaration of James Murry for Theft of Brushes from Reids. 

Went out to Berstane to Tea, and helped to put up Books. 

Thursday 4 June 1846 

S. Very hot. 76 in shade. Sunny. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about Stromness; Cliffdale; good neighbours; happier than since I 

left Edinburgh in 1841. 300 

Held Court. 

Went out with Ranken and Bain who bathed. 

Dined with Bain: present Fortescue, William and Mrs Balfour and Miss McIntyre, Mr 

John Baikie, the Rankens, Bains &c. Dancing. I stole away before 11. 

Letter from William about plate &c. 

Friday 5 June 1846 

Shifting. Clear hot. 

Sat from 11 to 4 in Court hearing Road Appeals. Meeting with agents in Process of 

Interdict, peat cutting, Petre 301 &c. 

Walked before dinner and after tea beyond Grain Bank. It is now cloudy, and I hope 

there will be rain. 

No letters. 

Saturday 6 June 1846 

E. Cloudy; a few drops of rain at half past 10 a m. Warm. 

Finished Road Appeals; Mr Goold assisted and I heard the last here. 

Walked by Tankerness and home by Birstane Road. 

Steamer only come in now - 10 p m. No post as yet. 

My Servant still ill and Dr Attending her. 

Sat on appeals to day from 11 to 3. 

Sunday 7 June 1846 

E. Warm cloudy day; heavy mist in morning. 

Mrs W Balfour, Miss McIntyre and three Misses Newell lunched with me; and I went to 

Church with them. 

Afterwards walked by the Tankerness road and home by Berstane road. 

Dr Duguid visited Barbara Brock in Evening, and took his wine and tea with me. 

299 JR again thought it necessary to urge a brother to be discreet. However admirable his guiding 

principles in private and professional standards of behaviour, there must have been times when Donald 

and William found his advice uncalled for and irritating. 

300 Why did JR leave Edinburgh if he was so happy there? See entry 460620 and others. He found 

Kirkwall society surprisingly friendly and entertaining, and a great improvement on Tobermory and 

Stornoway; but when in Edinburgh some time later he writes in his journal that he still longed to live there 

again and was determined to do so when he retired. But of course he never did. 

301 'Petre' is short for 'saltpetre'. 

JBL 11/1/06 138



E. Dry cool day. Light breeze. 

Letter from Emily of 5th; [about] Mary; [about] Morag &c. 

Called on Mrs John Baikie; then at Berstane and saw Mrs Steele and Mrs Newell for the 

first time. Walked with the Ladies down to the Sea Shore. 

Jean Heddle came and I engaged her for a month at the rate of £4 per annum in room 

of Barbara Brock who continues unwell. If Barbara does not return in a month I continue 

Jean. 


S E by E. Misty and foggy till 3. Clear Evening. 

Left Kirkwall at 8 o'clock for South Ronaldshay in Magnus Heddle's Gig along with W H 

Fotheringham. The day was so misty that we could not see 100 yards from us. Took 

boat from St Mary's Ferry in Holm for St Margaret's Hope. Passed Burray. Crossed the 

"rough" of Hunda, and after a few calks 302 got in to the bay and Quay of St Margaret's 

in an hour and a half. 

The distance from Kirkwall to St Mary's is said to be 7 miles and from St Mary's to St 

Margaret's by sea 7 miles more; it is longer by the Ferries, viz. 3 miles from St mary's to 

Burray, 3 miles across Burray, and [blank] mile from Burray to St Margaret's Hope. From 

the very little I could discern of the country Holm, Burray and South Ronaldshay appear 

to be a fine productive country. 

There were only three Cases in the Roll. In 2 of these Decree was given in ab[sentia] 

and the third was withdrawn, and the Def[enc]e was assoilzied 303 of Consent! 

We returned to St Mary's in an hour and with some little difficulty crossed the reef 

backwards, the men pushing forward the boat over the sands with poles. We eached 

Kirkwall at 3 o'Clock! 

Walked passed [sic] Grainbank, and met and returned with Mr Bain. 


S W. Rain. 

Letter from John. 

Interlocutors recalling Interdicts in Pest cases. 

Called on Mrs Bain jr and Mrs Scarth and missed both. 

Walked with Fiscal and Dr Duguid a botanizing. 


S W. Breezy and dry. Much rain last night. 

Wrote to John Banchor about his house; that Skene [?] 304 will send him £25 from me on 

1st or 2nd July; crops; rain; wages; my own servants. Bargain with the Ainslies (he shd 

not go into Court). Balfours; Miss McIntyre Badenoch &c. 

302 To calk, otherwise caulk, is to render watertight by pressing oakum etc into the seams of a boat. 

303 In Scots law to be assoilzied is to be freed of a claim or charge. 

304 Skene is uncertain; JR seems to have written "that I will send him" and then changed it to read "that 

Ske will send him £25 from me". 

JBL 11/1/06 139


Wrote to Emily [at] Milton; pleasant news from Milton; John's exultations about house, 

farm, servants &c &c; Wm's epistles and Mary letters; hymns of praise and songs of 

triumph. Secret: review of Wm Mary, John and Donald's affairs. Rain; Morag and 

Froachan; my own health; servants; court at So Ronaldshay. Berstanes, Newels and 

McIntyres. Invitation to Gairsay; going to Court &c &c. 

Held short Court. 

No Letters. 

Going out to Walk before dinner and to P O. 

Jean Heddle come home. 

Walked to P.O. Got Blackwoods from Reid. Called on no one. Walked out by 

Tankerness Road and home by Berstane Road. Showers in Evening. 305 

Jean Heddle came this morning as House maid. 306 


S W. Breezy, but dry. 

Wrote to Wm Tobermory; numerous enquiries about Mull friends; business here and 

there; plate &c. 

Wrote to Donald London; Banchor, Milton and Tobermory; mysterious hints of Emily as 

to Tobermory; Circuit Small Debt Courts shd be abolished or at least restricted in 

Orkney &c. 

Trials of Wood for assault, and of Murry for theft; both pled guilty. 

Walked by Scalpa [sic] Road and home by Holm Road. 

No Letters. 


W. Fine mild day. Breezy. 

Received deputation of Destitute Sick Society, and subscribed to funds £1.1. 

Paid most of balance of Stewart's Trust Charities. 

Attended Road Meeting, but left before discussion on finances. 

Walked by sea shore and home by Grainbank Parks. Walked by Upper parks at night. 

Bad news of Ministry; I fear they will be out. 307 

Letters from Wm and Mrs C.Possil. 


W. Dry dark day. Breezy. 

Sat in the House writing till 2. To Church in Balfours' Seat. 

Miss Traill of Woodwick unwell and carried out. Rumpus in consequence. 308 

Service very unedifying. 

305 This passage was added later. 

306 This sentence is written vertically in the margin of the entry. 

307 Sir Robert Peel was succeeded as Prime Minister by Lord John Russell in July 1846. JR had a very 

high opinion of Peel. 

308 Miss Traill was probably Harriet, eldest daughter of William Traill of Woodwick. In 1846 she would 

have been in her mid twenties. She died unmarried. 

JBL 11/1/06 140


Saw Balfours past Manse. No other walk. 


W. Dry breezy clear day. 

Wrote to Angus Gregorson of Oban, Campbell's Hotel, Prince Street, Edinburgh with 

Letters to J G Hopkirk WS and John Scott WS, Directors of National Bank, 

recommending him for Agency at Oban vacant by C. Paterson's resignation. 

Wrote to Archibald McNeill WS recommending him in Lochnell's affairs &c and wrote to 

John Wright WS to recommend him to his Uncle a Bank Director. 

Did not go out till Evening. Mrs W Balfour and H Newells called. 

Sheriff officers with affidavits to their accounts. 

Wrote to William Tobermory with list of letters sent to Tober since 1st May. He-he. 309 

Weather here; glass at 55 &c. Mrs R's cold. Ewen McNeill's reported death. Dewar 

Salen. Stewart Ardnamurchan; no scandal; Clerk Torosay a Private &c; Kilpatrick &c; 

Bastards; Lochnel dead; don't be familiar with your neighbours; my address. 

Wrote to Mrs C.Possil; her family, enquiries about; her son's return and love affair; 

Governor should be the last to take exceptions; Schoolmaster and Mary Macarthur; 

story about Davie; his terror at A. and character; Dugald McCallum; Stennis and So 

Ronaldshay. Peep of John o Groats. Visitors at Berstane. Miss Traill ill in Church. 

Wrote to C. Neaves Edinburgh that Collection of Prison Assessment is in train, and 

sending Statement about Poinding for Roads Assessment in So Ronaldshay. 


W. Breezy and clear day. 

Sat all the morning auditing accounts of Collector of Commissions Mr Geo Petrie. 310 In 

the Evening saw Geo Stephens, Master and part of Owner of Brig Ariadne of Arbroath 

who was brought up and charged with assault on his Mate. He was drunk and I sent him 

to Jail till he should get sober. I fear he may not be well for days as he is said to have 

been in a state of intoxication for several weeks. 

Walked by Sea Shore before Tea. 

Letters from Mary and from Donald enclosing a clever and amusing Epistle to him from 

Wm Ayton Advocate. 311 


W. A very hot clear beautiful day. 

I am to finish auditing Petrie's accounts, take Stephens Declaration and dine with the 

Balfours at Berstane. 312 

Took Declaration of John Stevens and admitted him to Bail. 

309 'He-he' represents a gleeful laugh. 

310 George Petrie was Clerk to the Commissioners of Supply. 

311 In 1846 William Edmonstone Aytoun 1813-1865, advocate and poet, was professor of rhetoric and 

belles-lettres in Edinburgh. He succeeded Charles Neaves as Sheriff of Orkney in 1852. 

312 The remainder of this entry was added later. 

JBL 11/1/06 141


Wrote to Donald London about Politics; Mary's prospects &c; Wm Aytoun's Letter; 

Margaret at D. 

Dined at Berstane. Party: Dr Bremner, Mr and Mrs A Bain, and myself, with the party at 

the house. A Pleasant Evening. Mr and Mrs Balfour and Miss Mary Newell drove me in 

to Town. 

Party made up to go to Gairsay. 


W. Hot clear beautiful day. 

Wrote Note at 8 a.m. to Mrs Balfour Birstane that I cannot go to Gairsay. 

Court day. Trial of John Stevens; pled guilty; fined £5. 

Wrote to David Balfour of Trenaby; Balfour Genealogy; Sir H Dryden &c. 

Called on Sir H Dryden. 313 


W. There was this morning a thunder storm. I was wakened by the thunder at 6 a.m. 

and for 20 minutes thereafter (I timed it with my watch) it never ceased for an instant. 

Sometimes or rather generally it was a low muttering distant sound, mounting up at 

short intervals into sharp loud rattling peals. There was a good deal of lightening [sic], 

though I have seen it more vivid and more frequent at other times, and there was only a 

short shower of heavy rain. It looked extremely dark and threatening towards the north. 

As the morning advanced it cleared up into sunshine, but at 4 in the afternoon it blew a 

cool breeze from the N.W. accompanied by a heavy mist or fog. 

I took a 2nd Declaration from Rebecca Skelhaway [?] who confessed that she bore a 

still born child. No Letters. 


S.E. Clear hot day, 

Read Antiquated law and Genealogy. 

Man came from Cliffdale with a Drawing room Cabinet, and told me that a young man 

was killed in Evie or Eday yesterday by the Lightening. 

Called at Birstane. 

Garden cleaned. 

Sir Henry Dryden supped with me. He is a man about 30; slender, dark eyed, round and 

stooping in the shoulder, and his manner is that of a student, shy and rather awkward. 

Mr Fotheringham the Sheriff Clerk also came, and we had a joyous party of it, sitting up 

till between 2 and 3. I have not passed so jolly a night since I left Edinburgh in 1841, or 

one that reminded me so much of former times, when Donald Gregory, Archy McNeill, 

William Skene, Donald, William and myself used to hold our symposiums, and laugh 

and be merry in the face of all the sorrows of this sorrowful world. 


313 Sir Henry Edward Leigh Dryden 1818-99 7th Bart of Ambrosden and 4th Bart, of Canons Ashby, 

Byfield, Northamptonshire. Antiquarian. 

JBL 11/1/06 142


S. Dry. 

Went in afternoon to Secession Church and heard a ranting Sermon from the last 

chapter of Revelations. 

Walked by Sea side in Evening. 

Monday 22 June 1846 314 

S W. Rain last night. Dry to day. Fog at night. 

Letter from A R Irvine and Donald. 

Wrote 19 pages to Donald London; politics in London and Orkney; letter from A R I; 

Jenkins and Strowan; Coll, his wife and sister; Plate; Sir H Dryden and Mr 

Fotheringham. Party to Hoy. 

Tried Hourston for theft. Record closed in Aliment Case. 

To St Magnus with Mr Baikie of Tankerness and introduced him to Sir H Dryden. Went 

to the top of the Tower and through the Church with the Balfours Berstane. 

Farther precognition in Skelhoway. 315 

Letter from A Gregorson. 316 


S. Misty; warm. Thunder at 10 Evening. Rain last night and this night. 

Walked by Tankerness road and home by Moor. After tea walked by sea shore and got 

home as a plump of rain commenced. 

Letters from William and from David Balfour. 


S by E. Breeze and showers. 

Message from Berstane by Tom Innes that I am to hold myself in readiness to 

accompany Balfours to Hoy. Bad day for the purpose surely. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene WS Edinburgh enclosing Receipt for my Quarter's Salary. 

Wrote to Wm Tobermory de omn reb: 

Excise Court. 

No Letters. 


S E. Fine clear hot day. 

Wrote to Mrs C.Possil about Dugald MacCallum; Excursions; Sir H Dryden. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about Ditto. 

Miss McIntyre and Miss Mary Newall drove here at 12 and I went off with them in the 

Dog Cart. We over took the rest of the party at the end of the Town in the Phaeton; they 

consisted of Mr and Mrs Wm Balfour, Mrs Steele, and Mrs and the 2 eldest Miss 

314 This entry is headed 'Monday 22d Decem[be]r 1846'. This is a most unusual error. The entry is 

marked with a cross 'X' which indicates that JR wrote it up on the day but there is no indication in the text 

of what made him write December in place of June. It is strange that he did not correct it later, for there is 

plenty of evidence to show that he frequently read over and referred back to earlier entries. 

315 Rebecca Skelhoway had already confessed on 460619 that she bore a stillborn child. 

316 JR wrote a number of references for Angus Gregorson on 460615. 

JBL 11/1/06 143


Newalls. We baited at Finston and again at Stennis; went to the Stones of Stennis 

where we lunched, and then to Stromness. I drove Dog cart. 

Dined at Flett's Inn. 

Went out in the Evening by Sea Shore, threw stones and walked in sight of the Atlantic. 

It was a lovely Evening and the scenery of Hoy Sound is magnificent. I almost prefer it 

to that of the Sound of Mull opposite Benluanton [?]. 

Sat up with Wm Balfour till 2. 

Carried a parcel of Bank Notes to Mr Beattie from Mr John Baikie which Balfour and I 

delivered. 


S E. Fine dry breezy day. 

We breakfasted at 9 this morning and the whole party set out in John Gray the Pilot's 

boat for Hoy at 12. 317 Landed well up the mouth of the Sound and walked on a Mile or 

more to the Manse where we called on the Minister Hamilton, a man of 84 much failed 

in his Memory but his other faculties are entire. He seemed glad to see us, gave us 

wine, and we set out for the top of the Ward Hill or highest point of Hoy. We called at the 

School House where we left Mrs Newall. Mr Sinclair the Schoolmaster (a man wanting 

an arm) accompanied us up the Valley to the North West of the hill and soon returned. 

Our Pilot John Gray then became our guide and we began the ascent. Mrs Steele was 

at first at the head of the party, but she soon got sick and returned; the rest all went up 

to the very top; it is a very steep hill and a hard pull, and the height from the sea and 

almost from its base being 1555 feet 4 dec[ination]s [?]. We were on the lee or sheltered 

side of the hill, and it was warm work; the Ladies required some assistance. At the top 

we had the benefit of a refreshing breeze, and climbed one after another to the top of a 

Cairn of Stones placed there by the Survey party that visited Orkney some years before. 

The view of Orkney was not perhaps so good as that from Wideford hill, Hoy being on 

the outside of the whole group, and Wideford being in the very centre. 

We descended towards the valley on the opposite or South East side where the hill was 

still more steep than on the N.W. The ground however was neither rocky nor dangerous, 

and we had much fun in assisting each other down, some of the ladies getting 

innumerable falls into sitting postures, and sometimes sliding down in that position for 

considerable distances. 

We crossed over the Valley at the bottom, until we came to the lower part of the ascent 

of the opposite ridge where we saw the celebrated Dwarfie Stone. It is a large detached 

stone measuring 28 feet 4 inches in length, 14 feet 6 1 / 2 inches in breadth and 6 f[eet] 10 

in[ches] in height at the deepest or upper part. There is an opening or door on the S.W. 

side, and the inside is scooped or hollowed out into a miniature hermitage of the 

following dimensions: 9 feet long across the door, breadth 4 feet 9 inches, and 3 feet 

high in the centre. On the right hand side of the door there is a bed, with the stone cut 

into the shape of a pillow at the one end. The length of this bed is the breadth of th cell, 

viz. 4 feet 9 inches. In the centre opposite the door there is a hole in the roof in which 

317 It is interesting to compare this visit to Hoy with the next visit JR made as a member of a party on 

Melsetter's yacht in July 1850 [see entries 500726 and 500727]. 

JBL 11/1/06 144


several people could stand at a time, and which Mr Hamilton informed us is much 

enlarged within his own recollection. He seemed to think that it was intended for the 

purpose of a chimney. There are no traditions among the inhabitants whether the stone 

was hollowed out for an actual hermit's cell, or for a religious relic, or monument, or for 

what other purpose it was designed. 

We got a peat cart for the ladies to the Manse, a distance of 3 or 4 miles; met the two 

old Ladies there; took tea with the Minister; sailed across with a favourable breeze and 

tide, and came to Stromness to a late dinner. 

I should note that I took the dimensions of the Dwarfie Stone with a measuring line. 


S E. Very rainy bad day until about 1 or 2. 

I had a bad headache. 

Wm Balfour read a few chapters of Harry Larragins [?] to amuse the Ladies. 

When it cleared up we walked out, came back at 3, dined, and drove in here to Tea. 

Mrs Steele ferreted out the family of Mr Rae at Stromness whose two daughters are 

believed by the Orcadians to be represented by Sir Walter Scott's Minna and Brenda 

Trail. 

On my arrival I found letters from John and John Wright WS 318 and a Note from Sir 

Henry Dryden. I called on Sir H. and sat with him till 12. 

Sunday 28 June 1846 319 

S E. Fine dry day. 

Wrote to Mrs W Balfour that Sir H Dryden and I wd go out at 1. 

Got notes from her and from Sh[eriff's] Clerk that there are no cases enrolled for the S D 

Court at Sanday. 

Called at Birstane brae with Sir H and then walked across by moor to Holm road and 

home. 

Sac[ramen]t Sunday and did not go to church. 


S E. Light shower or two. Mild. 

Wrote to Joseph Ady, 320 accountant [?], 5 York Street, Charlotte Street, White Chapel, 

London; that if he presumed to write to me again I would take steps to have him publicly 

exposed and punished. 


S. Warm; a little thunder; dark day. 

Draughted Interlocutor or Judgement in Excise Case of James Oman. 

Called on Sir H Dryden and arranged about going out to Tankerness at 5 to day. 

Then called and walked with Mr Fotheringhame in his Garden. 

318 JR had written a reference for Angus Gregorson to John Wright W S. 

319 'Sacram[en]t day' is written beside the date. 

320 Joseph Ady 1770-1852 was a notorious circular-letter impostor. See entry for 460718. 

JBL 11/1/06 145


Letters from John and William. 

Drove out in Magnus Heddle's Dog Cart with Sir H Dryden to Tankerness and dined 

there along with Birstane party. Came in all of us at 11. We passed a cheerful Evening. 

Wednesday 1 July 1846 

W. Dark day mild and dry. 

Wrote to My Mother [at] Milton about the destruction of the farm of Milton and steadings 

by the late floods; and that my opinion as to what should be done will be regulated by 

her wishes. 

Wrote to Donald London, John Banchor [and] William at Tobermory about the farm and 

asking whether it should be given up, mentioning what I said to my mother; and about 

resignation of Ministry. The old place at Milton has been sadly devastated by the rains; 

the offices swept entirely away, and the burn of Aldvack running in a new channel, 

having burst the old one and covered one half of the old grounds with Sand, Gravel and 

large Stones. It makes me feel low and melancholy to think of it. 

Walked to P.O. and home by Moor and Ayre. In the Evening walked by Sea Shore. Sir 

H Dryden came at quarter past 10 and remained till 12. He is an amusing and very 

original fellow. He dined at Fortescue's with the Honble Capt Stuart (Earl of Moray's 

son) and others. 

Thursday 2 July 1846 

S.E. Misty and almost rainy. 

Court day; only one Small Debt case in roll. Took proof in Spence v Irvine (Turf Cutting 

Case). 

I was introduced on the street to Mr Anderson the Radical Candidate for the County. 

Called at Birstane where I met Tankerness. 

No letters and did not go out in the Evening. 

Friday 3 July 1846 

S.W. Wet day; warm and calm. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh that £367 have been paid into Prison Board account at 

Bank, and that Mr Ranken to send £100 to General Board to day. Business in S.D. and 

Ordinary Rolls. Cool mode of conducting it; instances yesterday. Number of cases at 

June circuits. Canvassing by Anderson and Dundas' agents. Strangers in Orkney &c &c. 

Peel out. Experience. 

Wrote to William Tobermory; short note congratulating him on increase of Income &c. 

I have a letter from Donald intimating that Sir Robert Peel holds office only until a 

successor is appointed (ehu!); enclosing good letter from Annie Drysdale dated Prague 

June 19 and describing the Country they had passed through &c. 

It rains and I fear I cannot get out before Dinner. I require it too, for these politics make 

me feel low and unhappy. Heigh ho. 

In the Evening I had a message from David Balfour and went across in his boat along 

with Mr Calder his factor. I reached Cliffdale at 9 and met with a very kind reception. Mrs 

JBL 11/1/06 146


John Baikie and her youngest daughter were there. David Balfour played the guitar; 

Orkney airs. 

Saturday 4 July 1846 

Fine day. Warm. 

Walked with Mr Balfour across the greater part of the Island of Shapinsay and called at 

Work's [?] farm. I was utterly astonished at the insignificant rents paid for apparently 

good and large farms. From £2 to £5 for places that would readily let at £25 or £30 in 

the Highlands of Perthshire. Went to the highest point of the Island, and home to dinner 

at 4. Music again. 

A very beautiful sunset in Enhallow Sound. 

Received a gratifying letter from Mrs C. Possil. 

Sunday 5 July 1846 

Warm Morning. Rain at 4. 

To church at Shapinsay with Mrs Balfour and Mr Calder. A Mr Gardner of Westray 

preached a good sermon, but screamed dreadfully loud. 

The Factor discomposed us all by snoring during family worship at night. They have 

Worship Morning and Evening every day. Good people. 

Monday 6 July 1846 

N.E. Cool day; high wind. 

We heard that the Berstane party had gone to Zetland and returned by the Steamer. 

Read pedigree and poetry with David Balfour. He writes beautiful verses. Walked 

through the farm and village with him. Went to the garden at night. 

Tuesday 7 July 1846 

N. Cool day; breeze. 

Came away by a Sanday boat after Lunch, much pleased with my host and hostess, 

and also with Mrs Baikie. The Factor I don't admire particularly. Found letter from W F 

Skene with Quarters Salary account &c. Wrote in Evening 


Mild showery day. 

Wrote to Mrs C. Possil about her grandchildren's deaths; trip to Hoy; visit to Cliffdale; 

her country news &c &c. 

Wrote to W F Skene Edinburgh acknowledging Quarters Salary; excursion to Hoy, 

climbing hills &c; Sir H Dryden inviting him to go to England. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; politics; I have no purpose in doing the amiable to Ladies at 

B.; 321 Milton; inviting him and Annie to [Kirkwall] &c &c. 

Called on Dryden. 

Lodged money in Bank. 

Met Mrs W Balfour. 

321 It is not clear whether this is Balfour or, more probably, Berstane. 

JBL 11/1/06 147


In the Evening went to hear singing in Grammar School and met Berstane Ladies and 

Dryden. D came home with me and sat till after 12. 

Letter from John Banchor. 


Fine warm sunny day. 

Held Court. Took Declaration of Gilbert Skea. 322 

Walked past Inganess Bay with Mr Fotheringham. Met Tankerness and declined to 

dine with him to morrow. 

Dined at Berstane with Scarths, Mr Logie, Mr John Baikie. In the Evening Dr Logie, the 

Misses Baine and Miss Baikie came and we had a dance; hot work and I stole off before 

dinner. 323 

Letters from William and Emily. 


W. Breezy fine day. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about farm; Margaret and George; life here. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Ditto; Dryden; sending Rory Macleod's letter &c. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Milton; advice about Money. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene enclosing note from Sir Henry Dryden. 

Walked with Mr Fotheringham past Whiteford Bridge. 

Sir H Dryden and Fotheringham passed Evening with me. 

Letter from William; he has got addition to Salary. 


W. Showery and warm. 

Mr Fortescue and Mr Bain called with old Mr Boswell of Kincaussie [sic]. 324 

Walked after dinner to bottom of Wideford Hill. Letter from Emily 325 no. 


S.W. Sultry day. Showers. 

Walked by Sea shore and meditated on a very important matter; resolved to amend my 

life. 326 

322 Gilbert Skea came to trial on 461224 and JR found the Charge not proven; there is no indication of the 

nature of the Charge. 

323 Having already dined at Berstane JR must mean that he stole off before supper or perhaps before late 

evening tea. 

324 Mr Fortescue was probably the 27 year old son of the Revd William Fortescue. After his father's death 

in 1856 he became Arthur Irvine Fortescue of Kingcausie, Aberdeenshire, and of Swanbister, Orkney. He 

married in 1848 Anne Irvine Syme, grand-daughter of Claude Boswell of Balmuto, who assumed the title 

of Lord Balmuto when he became one of the Senators of the College of Justice in Edinburgh. This may 

have been the 'old Mr Boswell' who called on J R; he was a member of the family of James Boswell, the 

biographer of Dr Johnson. See entry 460811. 

325 The name "Emily' is deleted. 

JBL 11/1/06 148


On my return found the Balfours in the Parlour and went to Church with them and Mr 

Valentine, their fellow traveller to Shetland. Mr Dundas M P there. 

Dryden passed Evening with me. 


S.W. Warm showery day. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil about Dugald MacCallum. 

Received letter from Donald and wrote to Donald Edinburgh about politics; Milton; &c. 

Attended Meeting of Stewart's Trustees and took two Declarations from Ann [blank] 

accused of Theft. 

Went out in Evening to Berstane with Dryden and met James Kinnear WS 


This day five years I left Edinburgh for Ross Shire. May it prove a happy anniversary. 


S.W. Showery and mild. 

Paid Stewart's poor. Heard John Swannay and Inspector for Poor and took Evidence. 

Wrote to Wm Monson, Writer, Cupar Fife with £1.1 Subscription for Memorial of the late 

Sheriff Jameson of Fife per P O order. 

Wrote to W F Skene W S Edinburgh with Circular about my Insurance and "to save my 

Life". 

Wrote to Andrew Jameson S S Edinburgh about Meeting of Sheriff Substitutes on 16th 

May last. 

I am going to dine at Tankerness. Mr Gould has just called and asked me to dine at 

Grain Bank to morrow to meet Mr Dundas. Truly, I would rather not; but what must be 

must. 

Went out in Magnus Heddle's Gig and dined at Tankerness with Mr Dundas our MP, 327 

Mr G W Trail Veira and Mr Shiraff son of my predecessor C.S. 

Dundas is a quiet Whig, a gentleman and no witch. Veira a quiet Liverless 328 East 

Indian and a millionaire, as dark and hard as mahogany, dining on one dish and silent 

as a dumby b --- his b ---. 


W. Clear breezy day. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Milton; increase of his Salary; Economy; Franky; 329 

mode of spending Evenings; Riemore and Trusts generally &c. 

326 JR gives no hint of what this matter may have been. One cannot help wondering if, when he later 

came to read through his Journal, he was able to remember what the matter was. 

327 Frederick Dundas 1802-1872, M P for, and Lieutenant of, Orkney and Shetland, was the only son of 

Charles Lawrence Dundas 1771-1810, third son of Thomas Dundas 1741-1820, 1st Baron Dundas, and 

brother of Lawrence Dundas 1763-1839, 1st Earl of Zetland. In 1846 Lord Zetland was his first cousin 

Thomas Dundas 1795-1873, eldest son of the 1st Earl. 

328 Liverless meant lacking in liveliness. 

329 'Franky' may have been Frances Robertson, younger daughter of George Duncan Robertson of 

Struan 1766-1842. She was a very close friend of J R's cousin Sophy Robertson of Kindrochet, who 

JBL 11/1/06 149


Dined with Mr Dundas at Grainbank along with Mr Gold, Mr Hutton, Messrs Logie, 

Stewart of Brugh, Spence and Charles Shiraff. Dundas spoke more than usual and told 

anecdotes of Kings Lords and Court ladies to the great delectation of the good company 

who hung upon his lips. I found him especially attentive (more so than to the others) tho' 

why I cannot divine seeing I can be of no use to him. He is rather a slow coach; Hutton 

is a hard headed sensible and rather vulgar man; young Shiraff a snob, "like the rest of 

us. 330 Came away with the Minister and Banker 331 at 10 and found Process Smith v 

Johnstone with appeal dismissed. Both parties appealed, and both in vain. 


S.W. Sultry fine day. 

Court day. No ordinary actions; 2 Small Debt. Processes Harness v Hamilton. Took 

proof in Spence v Irvines (Flaying 332 of Ainai Park near Stromness) from half past 12 to 

half past 5. And Judicial Declarations in Case of Aliment Jean Sandison v George 

Foulis, Stronsay Fishing Station, from 7 to 10. 

Declined to go with a party to Damsey [?] and Scarth. 


W. Breezy day; threatens rain. 

Took second Declaration of Gilbert Skea. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh for Plate. 

Wrote to P Forbes & Coy, 97 S Bridge Edinburgh for 1 Gal Brandy 1 Gal Hollands 1 Gal 

Rum and 3 Bottles Liquers. 

Mr Dundas and Mr Hutton called, when the former entertained us with a dissertation on 

the Roman Camania, Pontine Marshes, Malaria and the Pope. He says the Malaria is 

capricious and may affect one part of a street, or one storey of a house, and not the 

rest; that it changed the colour of a Carriage which lay for some time in a house affected 

by it from Skye blue to pea green, and that the sun afterwards partially restored the 

original blue colour; that it is worse in low situations, under hills, and where the earth is 

turned up, as Gardens; and that travellers should be specially careful to select healthy 

hotels and Lodgings. Some fine Hotels near the Entrances to the City are dangerous 

and the unwary are doubly taken in by them. 

No walk. 

usually refers to her as 'Franky' in her letters to her mother. JR knew her and her family well when he was 

in Edinburgh. She died unmarried in 1851 when she was about 30 years old. It is possible that JR referred 

to her in a letter to William because she was already ill in 1846 and because William may have been 

involved in the Struan Robertson trusts. 

330 JR omits the inverted commas at the end of this phrase, so that it is hard to guess whether these 

words were being shown as spoken by 'young Shiraff' or whether they are a comment by JR himself. In 

the first case, if it was the reproduction of a remark made by Shiraff, opening with inverted commas was 

reasonable and failing to close them a simple slip of the pen; but to whom could Shiraff have been 

referring? In the second case it is hard to understand why JR opened with inverted commas at all. 

331 The Minister was Logie; the Banker was Spence. 

332 In the context of earlier mention of this case as involving the cutting of turf, flaying presumably refers 

to the removal of the top layers of turf. 

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Fine day. S W. Clear and dry. 

Wrote to Sir Peter Laurie, Alderman, Mansion House London about Joseph Ady. 333 

Wrote to David C McNish, National Advertiser: addresses of Sheriff Substitute of 

Kincardine, Zetland and Orkney. 

Walked by Tankerness Road with Mr Fotheringham and home by the valley of Wideford 

and the Holm Road. Passed the Evening with Dryden and Mr F. 334 

Received a letter to night from Donald enclosing one from Emily mentioning that my 

father is seriously unwell and that he (D.) intends going to Milton on Saturday (this day). 

I much fear that these repeated attacks will prove fatal. 335 God's will be done. 

A letter from William. Heavy rain at night. 


S.W. Very fine clear breezy warm day. 

To Church in the forenoon. The Berstane brae ladies came here between Sermons, as 

also Sir H Dryden and Capt de la Toquenay. 

Walked on Orphir Road in the afternoon with D. and he passed Evening with me. 


S.W. Fine clear mild breezy day. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about my father's illness; Mr Neaves expected, business here and 

difficulty of my going south &c. 

Called on Mrs John Baikie. Walked to top of Wideford Hill. Received two letters from 

Emily of 17th and 18th and thanks be to God my father is better. 

Wrote to Donald [at] 66 Great King Street Edinburgh about my father and sending a 

desert and Table spoon and a fork for patterns. Letter sent per mail; parcel containing 

plate by Steamer. 


S.W. Fine breezy day; threatened to rain but didn't. 

Took Precognition of Jas and John Muir in Skea's case. 

Walked with Tankerness and met Mr Dundas. No letters. 

Jus[ticiar]y [?] proclamation. 

James Kinnear 336 called. 

Walked towards Severack. 337 

Dryden coming to night. 

333 Sir Peter Laurie 1779-1861 was Chairman of the Union Bank from 1839 until his death; he had been 

Lord Mayor of London in 1832. Joseph Ady was probably the notorious circular-letter impostor of that 

name, who was born in 1770 and died in 1852. See entry for 460629. 

334 It is interesting to observe that Sir Henry Dryden soon graduates to 'Dryden' in J R's Journal. 

335 J R's father Duncan Robertson died less than two weeks later, on 30 July. 

336 James Kinnear W S was married to Mary Balfour, the sister of Trenabie and Berstane, and was the 

Balfour family's legal adviser in Edinburgh. 

337 Now Saverock. 

JBL 11/1/06 151



S.W. Mists and threatening rain. 

Last night about 9 o'Clock my old friends Sherrifs Bruce and Jardine, and Allan 

Stevenson, 338 called about 9 o'Clock and sat with me for some time. I went out with 

Stevenson to secure horses and coneyance to Stromness to morrow. Came back and 

saw them into their boat. 

At the same time I saw in a boat at the Quay Adam Urquhart, Cosmo Innes, the Bobbies 

and Lumsden; all Sheriffs. Returned and sat with Dryden here till 12. 

This Morning sent a Note to William Balfour for his Dog Cart which he declined. 

On looking out the first object that presented itself was Bobbie Thomson bending 

backwards in a very imposing manner and nearly filling the narrow street with his portly 

presence. Stevenson called and I went out and after much difficulty got horse and gigs 

for them and saw Stevenson and Hunter off in Magnus Heddle's Gig, and Lumsden and 

Thomson in John Baikie's. On my return here Mr Dundas called, and went to the P O. 

I then went towards the shore, met Bruce and Jardine, came back with them. Met 

Dundas in the street; introduced them. Jardine and Dundas wished to become 

acquainted. Afterwards introduced them all to Sir H Dryden at the Cathedral. Took 

Bruce and Jardine throw the Earl's Palace and Cathedral, and then to the Library and 

Ayre. 

On returning we met Lumsden who told that he and Thomson were obliged to return as 

their horse refused to get on. L[umsden] came in here with me; the others went on 

board their Steamer. Dryden, Dundas, C Shiraff and I are to dine with them on board at 

5. 

Cosmo Innes, his son and Urquhart have walked to see the Stones of Steness. 


S.E. Breeze. Rain at 4. 

Breakfasted with Mr Lumsden at Mr Dundas'. He left for Sutherland Election by Ferries 

at half past 12. 

Court day. Few cases. 

Dined at Mr Jas Spence with Mr Dundas, Logie &c &c. 

On Wednesday we had a jolly party on board the Steamer and to my surprise and 

gratification Sheriff Bruce hinted at my obtaining promotion in Argyle yet. This must be 

Inveraray, and I would prefer that Sheriffship to any in Scotland. Dryden and Lumsden 

came in with me after coming ashore from the Pharos. 

Received letter from Mrs C.Possil and wrote answer about Dugald MacCallum. 


338 Alan Stevenson 1807-1865, one of the uncles of Robert Louis Stevenson 1850-1894, was civil 

engineer to the Scottish Lighthouse Commissioners from 1843 and one of the prominent members of the 

Stevenson family of lighthouse builders. His father was Robert Stevenson 1772-1850, civil engineer and 

the great designer of lighthouses and bridges. His younger brother Thomas Stevenson 1818-1887, also a 

prominent civil engineer and meteorologist, was Robert Louis Stevenson's father. On this occasion the 

Commissioners of Northern Lights were visiting Kirkwall in their ship 'Pharos'. 

JBL 11/1/06 152


Fine day, wind S.W. 

Going out to walk. 

Walked with Mr Fotheringham by Holm Road and home by Wideford Valley and 

Tankerness road. 


Fine dry day. 

Walked by sea shore past Severack for several hours. 

Found Kinnear and the Balfours here. Kinnear dined with me. 

Letters from Donald, Emily, P Forbes & Co with Brandy &c. 

Mr Neaves coming on Saturday. 

Went out with Kinnear and met Fortescue and Bosewell and Bryce the Architect from 

Edinburgh. 339 

Kinnear went to Cliffdale. 


Fine day. 

To Church in Morning. Balfour Ladies and Dryden came there at 1. 

Walked by Moor of Grainbank and home by Seashore of Severack. 

Dryden dined with me. 


S.W. Fine sunny day. 

Wrote to Emily Milton that Mr Neaves is coming on Saturday and that I would go to 

Atholl next week if at all possible. 

Went out and passed the day at Berstane more happily than any day I have spent for 

the last 14 days. 

Came in and wrote to Donald Edinburgh about my father; Northern Light 

Commissioners; Bruce wishing me back in Argyll &c; Plate Commission, and politics. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh to come here on 1st; Business &c. 

Wrote to P Forbes & Co, Edinburgh ordering 3 dozen Porter and 4 dozen pints [sic]. 

Wrote to Maclachlan Stewart Co, ordering Gregory and Rob[inso]n's [?] Index for Sir H 

Dryden. 


S.W. Very hot; calm. 

I late last night got letters from Donald (that my plate will be sent on Saturday) and 

[from] John. To day I have another letter from John, both dated Milton, and it seems my 

poor father is in a very precarious state. How very unhappy I feel! 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh acknowledging his letter, about plate; Drysdales; leaving [?] 

of Dean; House in St Bernard's Crescent &c. 

339 David Bryce 1803-1876 was an architect in business in Edinburgh from 1844 to 1876. He was the 

architect of Fettes College, revived the 'Scottish Baronial' style, and was responsible for Balfour Castle on 

Shapinsay. 

JBL 11/1/06 153


Called on Mrs John Baikie. 

Walked by Scapa and home by Holm road. J Kinnear overtook me in Gig. 

Hair cut. 

Gas off. 



S.W. Beautiful clear warm day. 

Wrote to Mary [at] Tober[mory]; [about] my father; Orkney news &c. 

Walked by Wallaway, Moor, Quanterness and home by shore. 

No letters. 

Read Crabbe. 


E. Hot beautiful day 

Read Crabbe. 

Walked to Severack Burn. 

Dined at Mr Logies with Mr Pillans Scarth WS and his wife, Mr and Mrs Robert Scarth, 

Mr James Spence, Mr John Baikie, Mrs and Miss [blank] Bain and the Logies. A good 

house; neat, well ordered. Party very well. Walked with them to Quoy, and went with Mr 

John Baikie to his house where I met the Balfours Berstane. 

Letter from Emily. 

My father died this day. 340 


S. Beautiful clear and hot day. 

Mrs William Balfour drove to door to urge me to dine with them at 6 to meet Mr Dundas. 

Read Crabbe. 

Wrote to Emily at Milton about my father; Sheriff Bruce; my own motions; business; 

Neaves; Servants &c. 

Wrote to Jane Banchor about my father; my own motions; her brother Dr Stewart; 

House Crosses &c. 

Dined at Berstane and met James Kinnear and Mr Dundas. 

Saturday 1 August 1846 

S.E. Very warm clear day. 

Drew £5 at Bank. Called on Mr Fotheringhame. 

William Balfour in the house sorting his father's books. He and James Kinnear dined 

with me and about 9 o'clock I received a letter from Emily announcing that my dearest 

father died on the Morning of Thursday last at 2 o'clock. 

Gracious God, he is gone; the kind, the affectionate, the modest, the manly, the just the 

honest and the true, and I shall never look upon his face again, or hear his voice, or 

receive his blessing. Thy will be done Oh God. 

340 Written in pencil in the margin. 

JBL 11/1/06 154


I sat up till 3 o'clock waiting for Mr Neaves, and passed a heavy night thinking of former 

times, and of him I shall never never more see; the throng of thoughts and recollections; 

the feeling of oppression on the heart; the tightening of the breast and the bitter anguish 

that it is all in vain. 

Mr Neaves came a little before 3. 

Sunday 2 August 1846 

Clear sultry day. 

Still the same pressure on the heart and spirits. 

Rose at half past 7. 

Opened box of plate. 

Mr Neaves' clerk Mr Cowper breakfasted with us and left; and then Mr MacBrair from 

Edinburgh called and afterwards Sir Henry Dryden. They are all gone to Church. 

When alone with Neaves I told him of my father's death, and we arranged that I shall go 

South by Tuesday's Steamer. He is very obliging. We are to dine alone. 341 

Monday 3 August 1846 

S.E. Very sultry sunny day; the hottest of Summer. 

Mr Neaves dined alone with me; and we walked out both before and after dinner. 

To day I had a letter from Donald dated 30th. He has bought a house in St Bernard 

Crescent at £910. I think it is cheap. 

Went with Neaves through Jail. He is taking a proof in the Division of Commonty of St 

Ola. 

I took Declaration of Ann Hourston and committed her; also precognition in Thomas 

Sinclair for assault on his daughter. 

Call from the Balfours and Tankerness; arranging house. No letters. 

Tuesday 4 August 1846 

S.E. Extremely sultry; clear; but foggy last night and fogbanks resting on the sea to the 

East. 

Last night Neaves and I dined alone and went out in the Evening by the Ayre and back 

throw the town. To bed at 12. 

Rose this morning at 6 and waited all day until now (half past 7 Evening) and no 

appearance of the Steamer. The general opinion is that it is detained by the fog. The 

day has certainly been the hottest of the season, and to me it has been an 

uncomfortable and unhappy one. I must return next week and every hour is precious. I 

cannot read or settle down to anything; the post has not come in. Neaves is dining at 

Berstane. 

I went twice to the Court House and heard part of Evidence in Division of St Ola. 

Charles Spence from Edinburgh and Mitchell attended for the Town, and MacBrair and 

Ranken for the Crown. 

341 JR did not in fact go South until the Tuesday following. The ink of this day's entry, which is prefaced 

by an 'X', and of that for the previous day, which is prefaced by an 'O', together with the wording of this 

entry, shows that they were both written up at the same time and that this was before dinner on 2 August. 

JBL 11/1/06 155


Walked with Jas Kinnear and then with Tankerness. 

Adjourned meeting in Division of Firth Commonty to the 17th. 

Will the Steamer be here to night? I don't think it will. 

Neaves dined at Berstane. 

Wednesday 5 August 1846 

S.E. Foggy and warm. 

Trial of Isabella Bruce for theft by Housebreaking before Neaves and a Jury. She pled 

guilty, and received sentence of 12 Months imprisonment. 

Steamer came in when Trial was proceeding, and left for the South in the Evening. 

James Kinnear went by her, but I preferred remaining until next week, because I cd not 

be present at my father's funeral, and by going to day I would lose two out of the ten 

days I can be absent. 342 

Manson began leading his proof in Heddle v Baikie of Tankerness. 

Neaves dined at home. 

Wrote to My Mother. 

Thursday 6 August 1846 

E. Foggy. 

Proof in Heddle v Baikie; begun by Neaves, continued by me. 

Did not go out at all. Neaves dined at home. 

Friday 7 August 1846 

E. Foggy day. 

Took Ex[aminatio]n of Havers in Heddle. Neaves engaged for the last 3 days with 

Division of Commonty of St Ola. 

Went out to Berstane and sat some time with Mrs Balfour, which is a relief to me. 

Neaves extremely agreeable. 

Wrote to My Mother. 


E. Foggy. 

Finished proof Heddle v Baikie. Made out and certified Excerpts and Inventories &c. It 

has been a troublesome job, and Mr Manson sent us a fee of 2 G[uinea]s!!! 

Walked by Berstane Road and home by Tankerness road. 

Sat in Court for some time when proof was proceeding in Division of St Ola. 

We dined alone, and in the Evening Mr Baikie of Tankerness came in and sat, walked 

and took tea with us. He remained till half past 11. From then till 12 consulted with 

Neaves and parties in Division of St Ola about Conjunct probation. 

342 This presumably means that, as Sheriff Substitute, JR was entitled to no more than ten days paid 

leave of absence from Orkney in a year. 

JBL 11/1/06 156


I have received no letters this week. My friends expect me in Atholl, and do not write. 343 


S. by W. Warm foggy day. 

Went to Church with Neaves; sat with Balfours. Sir Henry Dryden came down and 

walked with us to Severack. He is to dine with us at half past 5. 

Sir Henry and Mr Cowper dined with us and at 9 Mr Neaves and I went up, saw 

Dryden's drawings, and sat with him and Fotheringham till 11. 344 


S.W. Fine morning; rain in afternoon. 

Mr Neaves left before breakfast for Stromness and I wrote to Mrs Neaves, Binns House, 

Linlithgow, that he was in excellent health. 

Wrote to My Mother Milton that I was going South by Steamer to morrow. 

Held Small Debts Court. At 1 held presbytery Meeting and pronounced Order in 

Commission to Divide Commonty of Firth. Paid Accounts and came in for the day. 

The Balfours Berstane came in at half past 4 wet and cold from the Sale of the Whales. 

No Letters since 1st. 


S. Rainy. 

I am now waiting the Steamer from Zetland, and ready to start. 

Please God I shall in 2 days more see my dear dear Mother. 

The Steamer came in about 12 and I sailed away with it at 2. 

James Crawford Advocate called with Tankerness when I was out, but I was afterwards 

introduced to him on the Quay. Mr Bosewell of Balmuto 345 and Mrs Boswell and her 

Niece on board; also Collector of Excise, Minister of Rousay, Mr G W Traill, 346 Mr and 

Mrs Hutton; and at Wick D Manson S S C 347 came in. 

Fine day. 500 or 600 Herring fishing boats in the mouth of the Pentland Firth and 

stretching across to Wick. 

Detained 2 hours at Wick. Went to bed and slept tolerably well. 

343 This phrase suggests that, at least in some contexts, JR and his contemporaries used the word 

'friends' as a blanket term covering not only friends in the current 20th century usage but also both distant 

relatives and close kin. See entry 421221. 

344 This sentence was obviously added later. 

345 In entry 460711 JR refers to this man incorrectly as 'Boswell of Kincaussie'. In later entries he spells 

the name 'Bosewell' which has not been corrected.. 

346 Mr G W Traill cannot yet be identified. There were many branches of the Traills of Orkney, all 

originating from the Traills of Blebo, and including Traills of Hobbister, Holland, North Ronaldshay, Sabay, 

Westness, Westover and Woodwick. George and William were very common Traill names. George Traill 

1789-1871 of Hobbister and of Rattar, Caithness, was Member of Parliament for Orkney 1830-1835 and 

for Caithness 1841-1869; but if this were he it seems most unlikely and uncharacteristic of JR not to say 

so. 

347 S S C is Solicitor before the Supreme Court [Scotland]. 

JBL 11/1/06 157



S.W. Beautiful warm day. 

Rose at half past 7 and went on deck when the Steamer was off Peterhead. A low 

cultivated coast, and bare of trees. Breakfasted and had a good deal of talk with the 

Bosewells. Passed Slains the seat of the Earl of Errol, a large pile of Gothic building 

situated on a rock overlooking the Sea and in a Country completely bare of trees. The 

Castle is partly ancient and partly modern. A little to the north of it are the Bullers of 

Buchan; they were pointed out to me, but I could not distinguish what they were like. 

We reached Aberdeen at half past 12, and I went ashore with the Bosewells and 

accompanied Mr G W Traill to the Royal Hotel. Left at 3 by the Dundee & Perth Mail. 

The harvest commencing; the Potato crop completely spoilt and the beans nearly as 

bad. 

George Munro Advocate came into the Coach 3 or 4 miles beyond Stonehaven, and left 

at that place. I went on the top of the Coach there and passed Benholm a curious old 

place below the road; Bervie, a little town. Montrose a considerable place situated on 

the Ayre or isthmus of land that separates the Salt Water Loch to the West of it from the 

Sea. It is a low lying town, well built and apparently thriving. The Country between it and 

Arbroath looked fertile, wooded and well cultivated. Arbroath is a smaller place, with 

some striking old ruins which I glanced at in passing through. Here I went inside the 

Coach, and supped at Dundee. I travelled from Dundee to Perth with Mr and Mrs 

Cruickshank of Langley Park, a foolish couple. 348 

Reached Perth at 12 when it began to rain. 


S.E. Rainy. 

I rose at half past 4 and travelled inside with a Fife fellow going to Inverness who picked 

offensively at his nose all the way to Blair Atholl. 

The Country looked and felt chocky with wood; the veg[et]ation was very luxuriant and 

the rain incessant. 

At Moulinearn we breakfasted, and old slow Sandy the waiter is still there. A great 

number of passengers came in to the Coach at Bridge of Tilt and Blair. Came off at the 

Boats house, where I met William Dalchalloch. The river Garry was so high that I could 

scarcely get across. 

I came unexpectedly on them at Milton, and saw my mother first in the West room. She 

was much affected, and so was I. Little George my nephew came in next. Then Emily, 

and lastly Margaret. 

Donald was at Kilhorachan for his young horse. My mother and Emily looked thin, but 

Maggy looked really well and in better health than I had seen her since her marriage. 

348 This young couple were James Alexander Cruickshank, aged 23, and his wife Charlotte, youngest 

daughter of Major-General Alexander McGregor; they married in 1844 and he died without issue in 1849. 

He was the eldest of the seven sons [there were also three daughters] of James Cruickshank 1798-1842 

of Langley Park, Montrose, and his wife Lady Anne Laetitia Carnegie, second daughter of William, 7th 

Earl of Northesk. 

JBL 11/1/06 158


Donald came home after dinner, very well; thin in appearance, but healthy. They were 

all in tolerable spirits. 

The potato crop was not spoilt above the Pass; but it was gone every where else. 


Fine day. 

Talk with Donald &c about taking Milton for my mother. 

Mrs Robertson Kindrochet and little Elizabeth Irvine came to call. George in love with 

Elizabeth and very amusing. 

Examined the Potatoes and discovered a few decayed Shaws or tops on Dalinline. The 

lower part of the farm, and the Steadings and Garden devast[at]ed and almost carried 

away by the late Floods, and presenting the appearance of the Course of a Mountain 

torrent at the foot of a steep hill, torn up, large loose bolders lying about, and the 

neighbouring grounds overlaid with Sand, gravel and stones. 

Wrote to John Banchor. 


Rainy. 

Wrote about the farm, and offering terms, to James Condie Perth, and requesting an 

answer by Tuesday. 

D Macdonald called about letting the farm. I had a long talk with him, and he thought our 

proposal reasonable. I stipulated that he must give a final answer by Thursday the 20th, 

otherwise we would take another place. 

Crossed the river with him and called at the Manse. Misses Evershed, Elgin and 

Mitchelson Strathgarry there. 

I returned, dined at Milton, visited my dear father's grave alone, and took tea with my 

Aunts. They look well. I returned home at 10. 


Warm day; light showers. 

Went to Church with Emily, George and Donald. The Glenlyons, 349 McInroys, Hays, 

Mitchelsons &c there. Saw Lady Glenlyon for the first time. She is a charming looking 

person. 

Donald went to Cluny Cottage with Irvine. 350 

349 George Augustus Frederick John Stewart-Murray 1814-1864, Lord Glenlyon, was the elder of the two 

sons of James Stewart-Murray 1782-1837, second son of John, 4th Duke of Atholl. In 1821 Lord James 

Stewart-Murray had been created a peer of the United Kingdon as Baron Glenlyon. When the 4th Duke 

died in 1830 he was succeeded as 5th Duke by his elder son John, born in 1778. George Augustus 

Frederick John Stewart-Murray succeeded his father as 2nd Lord Glenlyon on 12 October 1837 and 

married on 29 October 1839 Anne, daughter of Henry Home Drummond of Blair Drummond, described by 

JR in this entry as 'a charming looking person'. George Augustus Frederick John Stewart-Murray, 2nd 

Lord Glenlyon, was heir presumptive of his uncle John, 5th Duke of Atholl. On 14 September 1846, one 

month later than JR wrote this entry, the 5th Duke died unmarried and was succeeded as 6th Duke by his 

nephew Lord Glenlyon. 

350 In 1846 Cluny Cottage was the home of Jessie Stewart or Irvine 1776-1865, the mother of Alexander 

Robertson Irvine, Minister of Blair Atholl. She lived there with her younger surviving unmarried son Dr 

JBL 11/1/06 159


Spent the Evening at home. 


Fine day. 

Strathtummel woman calling about the succession of her bastard son in Texas. 

Donald, Emily and I dined at the Manse with Capt McDuff, Mr Portlock S.S.C. and 

William Irvine. Saw Sophy the 3rd, 351 a very plain child and like the Garths. 352 Home at 

10. 

Received a very friendly letter from Condie, and one from John Banchor. 


Rainy. 

Went to Kindrochit Cottage. Donald came after me and we came home with Aunt Anne 

to dinner. Irvine and Mrs George Robertson, Calvine, came to tea with us. 

This was my last Evening at home. Only conversation generally since my arrival was 

about my father; the letting of Milton; my mother going to Glasgow failing her getting the 

farm; 353 sales of Crops; little George &c &c. 

And on the whole this was a melancholy visit. 


Fine day - sultry. 

Rose at 4. Took a cup of Chocolate. Saw them all in their beds, except Emily who was 

up poor thing. Went down to Blair with Donald; parted with him there. 

Visited Condie at Rohallion; spent an hour with him at his very beautiful place and went 

to Perth by the Queen of Beauly coach when he went to the Hill. Took an early dinner at 

Perth. Went by the Fife defiance at 3; reached Edinburgh at 7. 354 

Met Ducat. Called at McCraigs &c. 355 

I think I met Possil and passed him in Hanover St! - when it was nearly dark. 356 

Chirsty not at home. 357 I supped with Mr Gray the Ironmonger! Got in at 12. 

William Stewart Irvine, who by this time was well established as the only medical practitioner in Pitlochry. 

The house, or its successor, is now known as Cluniemore; it is on the western side of what is now the 

artificial Loch Faskally but in 1846 it would have been on or near the west bank of the River Tummel and 

across the river from Pitlochry. 

351 Sophia Stewart Robertson Irvine, eldest child of the marriage between Alexander Robertson Irvine, 

the Minister at Blair Atholl, and Sophia Robertson, Kindrochit, was not quite a year old, having been born 

at Blair Atholl in September 1845. She married John Robertson in 1867, had four sons and died at 

Kindrochit on 18 March 1910. 

352 The implication that the Stewarts of Garth were not regarded as good looking is of some interest to 

their descendants. 

353 This is clear evidence that Duncan Robertson had been the tenant, and not the owner, of Milton of 

Invervack. 

354 The 'Fife defiance' is a minor puzzle; it must have been a kind of coach. 

355 Ducat and McCraig are not yet identified. 

356 It is not clear whether JR's failure to speak to Possil in Hanover Street was deliberate or accidental. 

357 Chirsty was Donald Robertson's housekeeper. 

JBL 11/1/06 160



Rainy. 

Breakfasted with Ducat; Drummond the Land Surveyor of Perth there. 

Called on Skene at Register Office and spent the day in shopping. I met John Glasgow 

358 in Maclachlan's shop and dined with him at Peters. 359 

Skene took tea with me, and we sat up till 12. He was very pleasant and instructive. 


Fine day. 

Rose at 4. Breakfasted. John Fergusson took my luggage to Warriston Bridge. 

Sailed from Granton by the Sovereign at 6. James Robertson WS. Mr and Mrs Bell, 

Zetland. Detention at Aberdeen. Not sick. 


Fine day. 

Rose at half past 7. Breakfasted when going in to Wick. 

Worsaae came on board at Wick but I did not know who he was. 360 

Reached Kirkwall at 4. 

James Robertson and Worsaae dined with me. Heddle of Melsetter and his factor Mr 

Banks joined us afterwards. 

To bed at half past 12. 

Letter waiting me from Skene enclosing one to Dryden. 


Fine warm day. 

Worsaae breakfasted with me. Took him to Church. Mrs W Balfour, Jas and Edward 

Balfour, 361 Mrs Steele and Miss McIntyre in Pew. Called with Worsaae on 

Fotheringhame and took him with us to Quanterness. Both he and Worsaae dined with 

me, went away at a quarter to 10, and I wrote up this. 

Heigh ho. I feel low and heavy. 


W. Fine dry day. 

Wrote to Emily Milton [and to] John Banchor of my journey; arrival here; Milton &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Ditto Ditto and enclosing Letter of Credit for £6.15. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Ditto Ditto. 

Settled about Coals &c. 

Walked past Grainbank. 

358 'John Glasgow' was John Robertson, J R's brother-in-law and husband of his sister Margaret. 

359 It is not yet known if 'Peters' was the name of a public eating place, as seems very likely, or the name 

of a friend or acquaintance. See entry for 460215. 

360 Apart from the fact that he is described as a Dane, Worsaae has not yet been identified. 

361 James and Edward Balfour were the two half-brothers of William Balfour of Berstane. 

JBL 11/1/06 161


Dined with Fotheringhame; there were present Sir H Dryden, Mr Worsaae, Jas 

Robertson WS, Heddle and myself. The Dane is a fine fellow, and gave us a specimen 

of his Native dance before dinner without appearing in the least awkward or absurd. 

How different from an English or Scotsman! They smoked and I came away at half past 

10. Letter from Donald. 


W. Another fine dry day. 

Mr Neaves arrived this morning from Shetland between 6 and 7 o'Clock. 

Worsaae breakfasted with us, and afterwards they and Fotheringhame set out for 

Stromness. 

Read Newspapers. 

Walked with Jas Robertson and then with Mrs John Baikie. In the Evening walked to 

March burn of Severack. 


S.W. Fine dry warm and clear day. 

Mr Neaves came from Stromness at 2 this morning. Worsaae breakfasted with us. 

St Ola agents &c came in to Drawing Room and were a bore. 

Captain Loch R N and Honble Mr West son of the Earl of Delaware brought me a letter 

from Mr H Lumsden the Sheriff of Sutherland. 362 

I shewed them the Cathedral, Castle, &c &c and walked with them to Quanterness. 

They dined with me, and Neaves dined at Heddles. 

Loch is a conversable and agreeable person and full of anecdote; West a quiet good 

humoured youth. 


S. by E. Fine clear dry day. 

Neaves, Cowper and Jas Robertson all breakfasted with me. 

Neaves engaged half an hour with St Ola Commonty, and then in the Registration 

Court, where I went for some time and heard Crawford and Mitchell plead the Case of 

Young Lang of Papdale. Then walked round Berstane Moor. 

Worsaae, West and Loch called on their way to Stromness. Loch last night told 

innumerable stories of Lords and Ladies, of Commodore Napier, Bentinck Russell Peel, 

Lord Dunfermline's opinion of the stability of the present Government, and the course 

that will probably be followed by Peel &c &c &c. 

I met Fortescue to day. Neaves and I are to dine at John Baikie's. 

o Dined at Mr Baikie's on the occasion of his son's coming of age. Balfours, Bremners 

&c &c present. I came off at 9, Neaves at half past 11. 

S.E. Fine clear hot day. 


362 Captain Loch was probably Granville Gower Loch 1813-1853; see Index. The youthful West was 

probably one of the six sons of the 5th Earl de la Warr, though which one it is difficult to determine. 

JBL 11/1/06 162


Breakfasted as yesterday. 

Court. Small Debt Case. Neaves still going on with Registrations, and Divisions of 

Commonties of Walls Holm &c. 

We dined at Mr Ranken's with a party of 16; no ladies but Mrs Ranken. Fortescue, 

Balfours, J Robertson WS, James Crawford Advocate, McBrair and Mr Edmonstone, Mr 

Fisher of Aberdeen, William Balfour, Heddle, Bremner and Baikies. 363 I came away at 8 

leaving the Gentlemen in the Drawing Room and Neaves came in at 11 and sat up with 

me till 1 telling stories of Walker Baird, Forsyth, Robert Jameson, Andrew Skene, 

Graham Spiers, Douglas Cheape, Professor Wilson &c. He has an unbounded 

admiration for the Professor whom he reckons the first man of the day. So do not I. 364 

Loch, West and Worsaae gone. 


Cloudy calm and beautiful morning. 

Breakfast as yesterday with the addition of Crawford. They are just gone off for 

Stromness to finish off the Registrations there, excepting Robertson who goes to 

Melsetter to day. 

Wrote Note to David Balfour of Trenaby that Neaves and I are going across to Cliffdale 

to day. 

Took the evidence of 4 Witnesses in the Holm Commonty case, 36 pages. 365 

Mr Cowper dined with me. Neaves and Crawford came home about 8, and the former 

and I went to Cliffdale where we were kindly received by Mr and Mrs Balfour who were 

playing backgammon when we arrived. 



S.E. Dull cloudy morning. Rain at and after 4. 

To church with Mr and Mrs Balfour and Neaves and heard Mr Scott preach a good 

sermon for the first time. Queen of She[?]. 

363 To make a party of 16, including J R, Neaves and the Rankens themselves, and two Balfours 

[presumably David and William] and two Baikies [presumably father and son; see the previous day's 

entry], JR must have forgotten that he had already mentioned Balfours in the plural when he came to write 

William Balfour's name separately. 

364 Walker Baird has not yet been identified. Forsyth was probably Robert Forsyth 1766-1846, 

miscellaneous writer, whose 'Remarks on the Church of Scotland' published in 1843 caused a 

controversial stir. Robert Jameson 1774-1854 was a mineralogist who from 1804 until his death was 

Regius Professor of Natural History and Keeper of the Museum at Edinburgh. Andrew Skene was 

possibly a brother of William Forbes Skene 1809-1892 with whom JR was well acquainted. Graham 

Speirs was almost certainly of the family of Speirs of Elderslie. Douglas Cheape 1797-1861 was an 

advocate, Professor of Civil Law at Edinburgh 1827-1842 and the author of legal squibs. Professor 

Wilson was almost certainly John Wilson 1783-1854, advocate and author, contributor to, and, from 1817, 

a member of the editorial staff of, 'Blackwoods' and, with J G Lockhart, its main support; educated at 

Glasgow University and Magdalen College Oxford, and called to the Scottish bar in 1815, on the strength 

of his Tory principles he was elected Professor of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University in 1820, a 

professorship he resigned in 1851. 

365 See entry for 460930. 

JBL 11/1/06 163


Caught in rain when walking. Came home at half past 10. 

The Balfours were as usual very kind, and I promised to return to them on Thursday. 


W. Rainy morning. Cleared up at quarter past 2. 

Mr Neaves left after breakfast for Walls along with Macksear[?], Mr Edmonstone with 

the long hair and Crown Chamberlain. 

I accompanied them to Scapa from whence they took boat for Long Hope. Neaves goes 

south from Melsetter direct, and is to travel by land from Thurso to Edinburgh. 

I like him upon the whole very much. He has good abilities, his mind is well cultivated, 

and he applies himself [to] his work in good earnest. I consider him an amiable man, but 

his manners are not very aristocratic; his personal habits are careless and slovenly, for 

he cannot keep his clothes, books or papers together, and he used my drawing room for 

all possible purposes. I think too that when he talks familarly and lets himself out there 

is a degree of weakness about him (very slight) and he gets somewhat prolix and 

diffuse. But though he wants the tone of high society he has kind, amiable and delicate 

feelings, and he is in every respect honest, honourable and respectable. 

Wrote 6 [pp] to Donald Edinburgh about Milton; Neaves; Commonty Com[missio]ns; 

Strangers[?]. 

Wrote 8 [pp] to William Tobermory about Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto. 

I am to have Jas Crawford Advocate and William Baikie to dinner here to day. 366 

Crawford and young Baikie dined with me and we had a pleasant party of it, talking of 

religion (i e Churches) law and antiquities. Crawford is a whig and Free Churchman, the 

male representative of the Crawfords of Bedeland and Ardmillan who were Cavaliers 

Jacobites and persecutors, and Baikie is a high Tory and Churchman of the Romanist 

School, a believer in Paul Baikie's existence[?], and in Pinkerton's historical fallacies. 

We had a sort of argument about the Picts and Ossian. 

Tuesday 1 September 1846 

S.W. Bright morning; cloudy afternoon. 

Wrote 4 [pp] to Emily Milton about Milton; strangers 367 leaving Orkney. 

Left for Stromness at half past 8, held a Court and was back by 4. Johnny Sebister [?] 

the Driver's conversation; Stromness fair. 

Walked after dinner to Severack. 

Letter from William Morison, Cupar Fife. 368 

Wednesday 2 September 1846 

W. Soft morning; misty and rainy Evening. 

366 The remainder of this entry was written later. 

367 The 'strangers' were Loch, West, Worsaae and Neaves, who would now perhaps be described as 

'visitors'. 

368 JR wrote to William Morison, Writer, Cupar Fife on 14 July sending One Guinea as a contibution to a 

Memorial of the late Sheriff Jameson of Fife. 

JBL 11/1/06 164


Looked over William Balfour's books along with Ed[war]d [Balfour] and took Crabb and 

Hades. 369 Walked to the March of Severack and from there to the top of Wideford Hill; 

followed by stray dog. Came on to rain when on the hill. No letters. 

Thursday 3 September 1846 

W. by N W. Gloomy day; breeze, but almost dry. 

Wrote to Duncan Robertson of Strowan Dunallister a letter of acknowledgments for his 

kind attention on the occasion of my father's funeral. 

Wrote to L Macpherson Bialled Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto. 

Wrote to David Balfour Cliffdale that I am prevented going over to day. 

Edward Balfour called; search among William Balfour's books. Walked to farther March 

of Severack and home by Huttston 370 &c. 

Letter from Donald about Milton, and furnished house &c. 

Read Peter Simple and Newspapers. Parliament up. 

Friday 4 September 1846 

S. Sultry gray day. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh that were it not for my mother's health I would advise that 

the farm of Milton should be thrown up; and recommending him to go to Blackwood, see 

Annie, and if necessary take furnished lodgings till Whitsunday. 

Wrote to Miss Macleod Tobermory a letter of compliments and enquiries. 

Went out to Berstane, passed the day and dined there with Miss Watts and Miss 

Moffat. 371 Returned at 12. 

Saturday 5 September 1846 

S. Wartm day; fog. 

Looked again at Captain Balfour's books along with Edward [Balfour] and William 

Fotheringham; selected a few. 

A crick in my neck which is very disagreeable. 

Walked past Severack and came home by Grain Bank &c. 

Letter from Neaves dated Wick 4th announcing his safe arrival "in Scotland". 

Sunday 6 September 1846 

S.W. Fine dry day. 

Balfours came in at 1. I went to church and dined with them and came home at 12. 

Monday 7 September 1846 

S. Fine warm Morning; foggy Evening and breeze. 


369 Crabb may have been George Crabb 1778-1851, barrister and miscellaneous writer, and not George 

Crabbe 1754-1832, the poet, whose works JR had recently been reading. Hades has not yet been 

identified. 

370 Hatston. 

371 These were probably Miss Watt of Skaill and her sister Mrs Moffat. 

JBL 11/1/06 165


Wrote to Emily Milton about Donald's furnished house; Milton; dinner party at Mr 

Fotheringham's; Worsaae's dance; Dundas and funeral. 372 

Mr Dundas called; went up with him to funeral and called on Tankerness. Afterwards 

called on Rankens and walked with them. Dundas plans for the poor and Roads in 

Orkney. Tankerness' jury Trial. Murrain among William Balfour's cattle. 373 


S.E. Foggy morning and breeze. 

Rose at 6. Breakfasted and set out in Magnus Heddle's Gig at half past 7 for South 

Ronaldshay. Left Holm in boat for St Margaret's Hope a quarter before 9 and arrived 

there at 10. Sent for Forbes the Schoolmaster, and afterwards walked up to his house 

and came back with him. He is a Sutherland man. 

15 Cases in the Roll. Called them at 11 and put off those that did not appear till 12 when 

I got them called again and finished soon after 12. Sailed at 20 minutes after 12 from St 

Margaret's, and reached Holm 5 minutes after 1. The Boatmen said that they never 

made a quicker passage. We went through the Rough and inside of Hunda going and 

returning; and the men said that they rarely sailed on the East side of Burray to or from 

St Margaret's. The potatoes are every where black on the tops. Reached Kirkwall at 

half past 2! 

Dined at Mrs Stewart of Brugh's; the Balfours, Baikies, Rankens and Bremners were 

present. We had cards and supper, and left between 1 and 2. 

I received a letter from William mentioning that Possil was seized with apoplexy on 

Sunday Evening the 30th August while reading prayers; that he has been insensible 

ever since, and that there is no hope whatever of his recovery. I am grieved and 

shocked at this. 

I have also an intimation of the death of Mr Stewart Belleville on Friday the 4th inst. 


S.W. Fine clear day. 

Wrote to Mrs C[ampbell of] Possil enquiring about her husband. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Milton; Mull news; Possil; Circuit S[mall] D[ebts] 

C[ourt] in Argyll and Orkney; &c &c. 

The Balfours Berstane breakfasted with me, 5 in number, and we crossed over with 

William Baikie to Cliffdale. David Balfour says that he is not to take up the Baronetcy, at 

least not at present; and that John Riddell 374 does not consider the Memoria 

Balfouriana as sufficient legal evidence. My own idea. 

Walked in the garden, and in park to see deer; then with David Balfour and Miss 

McIntyre to see Views. Dined and returned with Berstanes at 9. 

Letter from Jane; all well. 

372 Whose funeral is not yet known. 

373 The murrain among Balfour's cattle was probably foot-and-mouth disease. 

374 John Riddell 1785-1862, peerage lawyer, made a study of Scottish peerage law and published 

treatises on genealogical questions. 

JBL 11/1/06 166



W. Fine harvest day. 

2nd Box day, and Court. Whale Case. Child murder case or charge. 

Walked to Severack and saw Pict's house there for the first time. Alone to day. No 

letters. 

Saw Mrs Balfour and Miss McIntyre with James Balfour. 


W. Dry; breeze. 

No post. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh about his safe arrival in Scotland; 375 harvest; murrain 

in cattle; business &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about his house arrangements; Sketch of Orkney news. 

Wrote to Jane Banchor about their own affairs. 

William and Edward Balfour among books. 

Went to funeral of William Logie Spence, a young man of 21 who died on board the 

Steamer last week on its way from Edinburgh. 376 Walked to Church yard with 

Tankerness. It was interesting and yet piteous to watch the workings of the old father's 

features as the grave closed over his son. Oh vain fleeting perishable world! 

Walked with William and Edward Balfour to Berstane gate after the funeral. Took up 

Decisions and other books from the Library to dry and rub off the Mould. Ed Balfour 

came in to Tea. Measured him; also myself. 

I am an inch more in Girth round the waist than when I left Edinburgh in 1841. I was 

then 30 1 / 2 in[ches] and am now 31 1 / 2 in[ches]. I am 39 round the chest. 


N. Beautiful warm clear day. 

Berstanes called going to Cliffdale. 

I saw Bruce about Books and then went with Fotheringham to the top of Wideford Hill; 

took him in to lunch here. 

Walked to Cairness; dined at 6. 


Dry day. Foggy in Evening. 

To Mr Paterson's Chapel with Tankerness in the forenoon, and to St Magnus in the 

afternoon with Balfours. Dined at Berstane. Home at half past 11. 

Mrs Steele hurt her leg on Saturday and is at Mr John Baikie's. 


Foggy day. 

Wrote to James Condie Perth urging immediate settlement about Milton. 

375 See entry 460905 for J R's amusement at Neaves writing of his return "to Scotland" about which JR 

seems now to have dared to tease him. 

376 William Logie Spence was the son of James Spence, banker. 

JBL 11/1/06 167


Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Ditto; marriage day and my Circuit on 13th October 

&c &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about Ditto; voyage to South Ronaldshay; dinner at Mrs Stewart's; 

visit to Cliffdale; life in Orkney &c &c. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Milton; about Erray and advising him not to take it. 377 


S W. Foggy. Rain at 6. 

Letter from Miss Macleod. 

Walked to top of Wideford Hill and home by South side and across Moss. 

Walked again before dinner to Cairness and home by Eastbank. 

Edward Balfour took tea with me; and Wm Baikie came at 9 to arrange a Meeting of 

Masons. He remained till 11. 


Calm dull morning; dry. 

Wrote to Wm Simmons 46 Judd St Brunswick Square London with P O order for 2 

qu[arte]rs [?] of Times. 

Went and returned to and from top of Wideford Hill by the South. 



N E. Fine day. 

Walked to Birstane with Jas Balfour. 

Mrs Wm Balfour and Miss McIntyre took Tea with me and remained till 11. Waiting Jas 

and Ed Balfour from Dr Bremner's in the Dog Cart and chatting cheerfully and 

agreeably. 


S. Fine day. Dry. 

Went to the top of Wideford Hill and there being neither cloud not haze I saw land in the 

distance over the north of Stronsay which I took to be the Fair Isle. Fortunately Corporal 

[blank and] another man came up when I was on the top of the hill and corroborated my 

conjecture. They had a powerful glass. 

Walked afterwards by Cromwell's Fort and home by East bank. 

At 9 o'Clock David, Wm and Jas Balfour, Mr John Baikie and his son Wm, and Dr 

Bremner, assembled in the dining room and we held a meeting of the Kirkwall 

Kilwinning [?] Lodge of Masons, and admitted Messrs Bain, Ranken and Calder; and 

Andrew Ritchie and Wm Wards to the Sublime degree of Master Masons. Bremner and 

Ranken went away, and the rest took Toddy with me till 2 o'Clock. 

E. Coldish fine dry day. 


377 William later built a house at Erray, just outside Tobermory; see entry 500925. 

JBL 11/1/06 168


Mrs William Balfour, Miss McIntyre and Edward Balfour came here at 12 and I 

accompanied them to the top of Wideford hill from whence we again saw the Fair Isle. I 

afterwards dined at Birstane brae this being the Anniversary of the marriage day of 

William Balfour who was turned off 378 on the 19th Sept 1840. Messrs John Baikie and 

Bain, Jas and Edward Balfour, Mrs Steele, Miss McIntyre and myself constituted the 

party. We came home at 12. 

Letters from: William; Donald; and Anne Drysdale, the two latter 'announcing that 

Donald and Anne are to be married on the 14th October! May their union prove a happy 

one. 


E. Fine cool day. 

Wm Balfour came at 12 and he and I went to Church at 2 and found Mrs Balfour and 

Miss McIntyre in the pew. James Pollexfen WS in Church; spoke to him for a moment. 

Walked before dinner to the March of Severack. 


E. Fine cool day. 

Attended meetings of Income Tax Commissioners, Road Trustees, and Commissioners 

of Supply. 

David Balfour dined with me. 

Bain, Urquhart, Craig &c called in Evening. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh and Ann Drysdale, Blackwood, that I wd attend their 

marriage. 

Wrote to Jane Banchor about Ditto; going by Badenoch, meeting Wm there &c. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory about Ditto Ditto Ditto; Mull news; Quinish, Glenforsa &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about Ditto Ditto Ditto; Mrs Stewart of Brough; Mrs Steele &c. 


E. Fine breezy clear and cool day. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about his marriage contracts. 

Walked on Orphir Road and home across the Moors. 

Called on Miss Moncrieff for the first time. 

Walked with Tankerness, and returned home with Mr Paterson. 

Letter from Mary. 

There is fever in the Town, and Tankerness and Mr Paterson are moving about 379 

keeping the Streets and Sewers clean. 

378 To 'turn off' is an archaism for giving in marriage which became slang for getting married. 

379 'Moving about' is written 'moving @' and does not of course suggest the unlikely picture of Tankerness 

and Mr Paterson themselves going round Kirkwall 'keeping the Streets and Sewers clean'. It simply 

means that they were taking the initiative in 'proposing' or 'instigating' action. The first interpretation is 

ruled out by J R's use of the symbol '@' for 'about', in the sense of 'concerning', which is almost invariable 

throughout the Journal. The significance of the distinction between 'about' and '@' is lost by having 

decided not to use the symbol anywhere in this transcription. 

JBL 11/1/06 169



E. Breeze. Equinox. A little rain in the Evening. 

Wrote Chas Neaves Edinburgh about going south to Donald's marriage; about 

Business; Country news. 

Walked by Tankerness road to Berstane Gate and back again with Mrs Balfour and 

Miss McIntyre. Walked out with them again through Valley of Papdale and home to 

dinner. 

No Letters. 

Alan Stevenson gone with his wife and Light House Yacht. He lived at Ranken's. 380 


E. Foggy but dry. 

Walked by Severack and home through Hatston fields. 

In the Evening attended the marriage of Barbara Mowatt and Jas Flett, Blacksmith, at 

Wm Balfour's. The ceremony was performed by Mr Paterson, and there was nothing 

remarkable in it, except that Mr John Baikie (who took charge of the whole proceedings) 

held the marriage Cake over the head of the Bride before it was distributed among the 

spectators. Formerly it was the custom to break the cake over her head, allow it to drop 

on the floor, and then to be picked up by the company in a general scramble. 381 

I left at half past 9. 


E. Fine calm morning; dry. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh with the receipt for my Quarter's salary &c. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory about her approaching confinem[en]t; my journey south; &c. 

I am going to dine at Tankerness to day. 

Drove out to Tankerness in Magnus Heddle's Dog Cart. Bell, and Jamie Sinclair. 382 

No person there but Mr Dundas and myself. 


E. Breeze. Foggy and cool. 

After breakfast Dundas rode in to Town. I walked about the grounds with Mr Baikie and 

his Grey hounds for hares and found none. Drove in with them at 3. 

Letters from William, Jane, Wm Simmons, J Banks V Adml Sub St Mary's Hope, 383 and 

a long and amusing and very characteristic one from Nairne. 

380 JR does not seem to have had any social contact with Stevenson after the first encounter noted in 

entry 460722.; nor is there any previous mention of his wife being with him. 

381 This seems to have been a Free Church marriage of two members of what would now, in terms of the 

groom's occupation, be classified as the skilled working class. The participation of members of the upper 

class suggests, for example, that the bride may formerly have been a servant in one of their houses or 

that the Mowatt or Flett family were very well known and respected in the locality. 

382 These were probably the names of the horse and the driver, respectively. The dog cart returned to 

Kirkwall when JR had been taken out to Hall of Tankerness; he came home on the following day with 

Tankerness and his wife. 

JBL 11/1/06 170


The Steamer not come in yet. 

Wm and Jas Balfour called at half past 4. 


E. Fine day. Calm beautiful Evening. 

Walked to Severack March. 

Wm and Jas Balfour lunched with me. I went to church with them. Dined at Berstane 

and returned home at half past 10. 


S. Beautiful calm clear and mild day. 

Wrote to David Nairne of Aros, Dundee about sending Orkney fishermen to Tobermory; 

they won't do. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh [about] arrangements to go South, and enclosing N[airne]'s 

letter. 


N E. Blowy and rainy day. 

I have not been out to day. 

Pollexfen called and entertained me with a queer crack about his own peculiar affairs. 

He is an oddity. He seems a fidget and a careful if not a miserly creature with some 

talent, and rather good looking were it not that he is bald, long faced, and that he 

squints. 

No Letters. 

Mrs Balfour of Trenaby, Jas and Ed Balfour and Miss McIntyre left to day. 


S. Fine clear day. 

Went out at 9 a.m. to St Andrews and examined three Witnesses in Holm case under 

Commission of the Court of Session Sederunt. 384 Messrs Urquhart, Bain, Baikie, 

Ranken and Spence, and Mr Petrie present. Came back at half past 5. 

No Letters. 

Read law. 

Thursday 1 October 1846 

S E. Fine day. 

Second Box day. 7 Cases; advisings &c. 

Went to Birstane at 2 and remained till 5; passed an agreeable day. 

383 Banks was the name of Heddle of Melsetter's factor. This may be the same man; but it is not clear 

from the punctuation whether he was 'V Adml Sub St Mary's Hope' or not. 

384 'Sederunt' in Scots law is the sitting of a Court; in this case the word refers to an ordinance of the 

Court of Session under which JR was acting. 

JBL 11/1/06 171


Attended a Masonic meeting in Town Hall. Present were Messrs Dundas, John Baikie, 

Gilbert Traill, Wm Baikie, Scarth, Ranken, Bain, Pollexfen and myself. We initiated Dr 

Logie, Mr David Petrie and John Bruce, and sat till 2 o’clock passing a very joyous night. 

No Letters. 

Friday 2 October 1846 

S E. Fine breezy gray day. 

Started before 9 with Bain and Urquhart. Met Mr Baikie of Tankerness at Swarsquoy 

and Messrs Ranken, Spence and Petrie joined us. Took evidence of Fleet [?] an old 

lousy man. Went to Port [blank] all except Mr Baikie and took evidence of a fine old man 

(like Major Maclaren). From thence to [blank] and took evidence of Mrs Garreach, a 

strong old woman of 87, deaf as a post. Home by Eight. 

Balfour, Wood and Fraser called. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory before starting , about my arrangements to go south; masonic 

meeting; &c. 

Saturday 3 October 1846 

S. Fine breezy cool day. 

Went out at 8 in Magnus Heddle’s phaeton with Mr Scarth to School House of Firth, took 

proof in Division of Commonity; perambulated the Com...on, and returned home at 10 at 

night; beautiful moonlight. 


Sunday 4 October 1846 

Breeze. S W. Dry. 

To Church; Mrs Balfour not there; Wm Balfour and Mrs Steele lunched with me. Messrs 

Dundas, John Baikie, Pollexfen and Ranken to dine with me. 

Wm Balfour says that Mr Baikie of Tankerness is very ill, having had a sudden attack 

yesterday. I am very sorry for it. 

Monday 5 October 1846 

S E. Gale. Dry. 

Last night Messrs Dundas, John Baikie, Ranken and Pollexfen dined with me, and we 

had a very tolerable party; only my servant Jean Heddle was ill and we had only the 

Cook to attend on us. 

I went to Holm to day with the usual sederunt. 385 Left at 9 and got home by Sea. Mr 

Petrie was with us. 

In the Evening I took the declaration of Andrew Tommison, an old Ruffian from South 

Ronaldshay, for assaulting his wife, but no evidence can be got against him. Rev[ise]d 

proof. Wrote Interlocutor in Process of Runrig. 386 

In morning wrote to Emily Milton that I am going by Steamer to morrow direct to 

Edinburgh. 

Wrote to Jane Banchor Ditto Ditto Ditto. 

385 See entry for 460930 and footnote thereto. 

386 There a number of uncertainties in this sentence; runrig is a form of land tenure in Scotland. 

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Tuesday 6 October 1846 

S. Gale; a dark stormy looking day. Dry. 

The Steamer has not yet (half past 9 a.m.) arrived. I am all ready for start. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh that the Steamer had not arrived &c. 

Called on Tankerness who sent my letter to the P.O. with his own. When I was with him 

the Steamer arrived. Went on board. They were not going off till late. 

Had a conversation with Mr Mitchell about his resignation as one of Stewart’s Trustees; 

also with Tankerness on the same subject. What a deal of little gum 387 and bad will 

exists even in this quiet little community! 

Wm Balfour called at 5. 

Dined at home and went on board the Sovereign at half past 9 in the Evening. 

Mr Bruce of Sunbister from Shetland and seven or eight more in the Cabin. 

Mr Dundas came on board at 10. 

I went to roost at 11. 

Wednesday 7 October 1846 

S. This morning at day break the Steamer sailed; put right round about at the Moule 

head 388 and back to Kirkwall where we arrived at 10. She could not make head against 

the strong gale that prevailed. How very provoking. 

Dressed and breakfasted at home and wrote to Donald Edinburgh describing the 

attempt, the company on board, sea sickness, return of Steamer; that go when it will I 

will go with it. 

Attended a meeting of Assessed Tax Appeal Court with Messrs John Baikie and 

Pollexfen. 

Dined and am now waiting for fair weather and the unlucky Steamer. 

Went on board about 9 at night. 


E. by S. 

We sailed this morning by six. There was a considerable sea and most of the 

Passengers were sick, especially an elderly man with a crick in the neck of the name of 

Campbell who roared aloud and vomited fearfully all round the Cabin. There were 

several people who went ashore with this person at Wick; one a dark skinned man with 

light brown hair and black whiskers. 

One foolish looking fellow who suffered much from sickness, came down and looked at 

himself complacently in the Mirror, and thinking there was no one in the Cabin danced 

and capered before it in a ludicrous manner until he saw me lying on a sofa, when he 

ran up stairs. 

I was ill all the way, and vomited after dinner as we entered the Moray Firth; the first 

time for years. 

387 ‘Little gum’ is an old slang term for ‘petty insolence’. 

388 ‘Moule head’ is presumably the same as ‘Mull head’ on the 1976 Ordnance Survey. 

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S.E. 

Got to Aberdeen about 8. Had we been there half an hour earlier we would have got to 

the Quay at once. As it was we were obliged to wait until 1 [o’clock] when the Steamer 

went in and landed its cargo and a drove of cattle. I went ashore in the morning and 

breakfasted at the Aberdeen Hotel, rather a poor house where I wrote to Emily Milton 

announcing my arrival. 

In going to the Steamer again I met Mr Bosewell of Kincaussie driving some ladies 

along the Street and spoke to him for some time. Passengers came on board both at 

Wick and Aberdeen. A Mr Burn came in at the latter place, a pompous sort of man who 

soon got very sick and was nearly as bad as Mr Campbell of Wick. A young squinting 

fellow also came in there. 

I saw Symbister's daughters, blooming girls, but lumpish. 

To bed at 8. 


Reached Granton this morning at 2 and David Nairne's Card was handed in my berth. 

Went up to the Omnibus, which I took from Prince Street to King St where I got at 4. 389 

Shook hands with Donald and went to bed in my old room. I got up again this morning at 

8; went to Donald's room whom I found dressing - I asked "first of all I hope all goes on 

smoothly and satisfactorily at Blackwood." "Very far from it" was his answer. "What is 

the matter" I demanded. "There is a decided hitch, but I will tell you all about it when we 

go down stairs." Accordingly he told me at breakfast that there was a serious 

disagreement about settlements. He had a meeting some time since with Copland and 

A[ndre]w Clason the agent for the Drysdales, at which the terms of the settlements were 

agreed upon. 

Donald in case of his surviving Anne was to liferent her fortune (about £5000) and the 

fee was to go to the children of the marriage. On the other hand, in the event of her 

surviving, she liferents her own fortune and Donald gave her £100 per annum and the 

liferent of the furniture of which he should die possessed. This arrangement was 

satisfactory to all parties, and after it was agreed upon Copland dined with Donald and 

met Archy McNeill. Clason was to send down the Draft of the Contract in the Evening for 

their revisal but it did not come. Nor did Donald receive it for 7 or 8 days thereafter. 

At last it was sent to him by Copland from Blackwood with a note stating that it seemed 

to be drawn exactly in terms of the agreement with the exception of an additional Clause 

stipulating that Donald was to give £250 for Mournings, and the liferent of his house in 

St Bernard's Crescent worth about £70 per annum. 

Donald agreed to give £200 for Mournings; but he rejected the alteration about the 

house on the ground that in the event of his leaving a family, and his widow marrying 

again, she would carry the liferent of all her own fortune and of all Donald's furniture with 

389 Prince Street must surely be Prince Regent Street in Leith, not Princes Street in Edinburgh. Although 

at this time JR often wrote 'King Street' for 'Great King Street' and invariably wrote 'Prince Street' for 

'Princes Street', Great King Street is within easy walking distance of Princes Street. 

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£170 per annum of his money to her second husband, and leave the children nearly 

destitute. 

They replaced the condition about the house by others of a similar nature, [such] as 

giving £3000 of Donald's money in place of £2000 to the Marriage Trustees for the 

widow and children, or alternatively depriving Donald of the liferent of her fortune or 

lastly giving her the liferent of the whole, but giving the children of the Marriage only 

£3000 in place of the whole £5000 in fee. 390 All these alterations upon the original 

agreement Donald firmly rejected, acting all the time under the advice first of the Lord 

Advocate, and next of Archy McNeill and Charles Neaves after the Dean (Lord 

A[dvocate]) left town. 

A Correspondence passed between him and Andrew Clason on the subject which he 

placed in my hands. I consulted with Archy and Neaves; called upon Clason, who told 

me that the Lady's friends agreed to give Donald the liferent of the whole of her fortune, 

pointed out an alteration on the Draft to that effect; and shewed a marginal note giving 

only £3000 to the children of the marriage. He slurred over this part of the Deed, and 

asked me if I thought it was reasonable. In return I enquired if the Marginal Clause was 

part of the original Deed and was approved of by Donald to which he distinctly 

answered that it was. I then said that the rest of the Deed was reasonable as finally 

altered; and took the Draft with me to let Donald see it. 

Donald told me that the clause was not part of the original Deed, that he had never seen 

or heard of it before, and that he would not agree to it. I immediately went back to 

Clasons, found him out, but in a little time Copland came in, and for a moment we did 

not recognize each other. We talked of the Contract and Clason soon joined us, but they 

would not abate in their demands and I would not concede them. I left them to Consult 

together when I went down to Consult with Donald; and after an hour or two's anxious 

communing with them, and with Donald, who was waiting me on the Street, we could 

not agree and the negotiation was finally broken off. 

It was necessary instantly to have the names given in for the proclamation of banns 

next day if the marriage was to come off on Wednesday, and of course it was not done. 

I was much vexed, and felt cruelly disappointed; but I do not think that Donald ought to 

give in to such serious demands and I farther think that it was neither fair nor 

gentlemanlike on the part of Clason and Copland to depart from their own agreement 

and ask terms beyond it. 

Copland got warm several times, but upon my reminding him that this was a matter of 

business and expressing my hope that it would be conducted as between gentlemen, he 

handsomely said that he was wrong and asked my pardon. We parted on friendly terms. 

When the matter was first broached between us he wished to lay aside all 

considerations regarding the original agreement, and view the matter on its merits only. 

I agreed, and upon their asking me to state my terms, I said that mine were contained in 

the Contract as originally proposed, with the single exception of the Clause about the 

house. I asked them then to propose their terms, and they, as formerly stated, made a 

number of proposals all of which Donald and I rejected. 

Archy and I dined with Neaves. 

390 This passage is deleted in the original MS. 

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This morning Donald wrote a very proper and kind letter to Anne mentioning what had 

taken place and that he had never proposed any of the alterations that had led to the 

present unlooked for result but all along had adhered, and still adhered, to the 

agreement come to by him and Messrs Copland and Clason. 

I wrote to Emily Milton briefly detailing what had occurred, and Donald made a copy of 

the letter and sent it to Margaret. 

Wrote to John Banchor also informing him of what took place. 

Wrote to Wm Balfour, Birstane Brae, Kirkwall [telling him] Marriage interrupted &c. 

Dr Stewart called; then Donald McDiarmid. Donald, the Doctor and I went to St Pauls in 

the afternoon and heard Bishop Terrot. 

We dined with Dr Stewart and met Dr Crerar and Capt Gordon of Revalk [?]. 


Rainy Day. 

Served as Juryman on Lochnell's Service before the Sheriff of Edinburgh. His descent 

[sic] was clearly made out in the General Service, and afterwards he was served in 

special. 

Went to 66 and poor Margaret came in from Glasgow in great alarm about Donald's 

marriage being broken off. She remained with us till 4 when we saw her off by the 

Railway to Glasgow. It was most kindly meant on her part to come in to Edinburgh, and 

she so weak and delicate. 

We dined with Archy; Neaves, Aytoun and Skene were there. An agreeable party. 

William arrived. 


Went shopping with William. 

Old Beattie and Dr Stewart dined with us. 

Letters from Emily and John. 


Still shopping. Lunched with the Kinnears. 

Donald received a foolish illiterate letter from Dr Drysdale saying that he would make his 

sister happy. Draughted an answer for Donald shewing that he never swerved from the 

original agreement, and forbearing to notice his observations. 

Archy and I dined with Neaves, with Skene, George Moir and his wife. 


Called nowhere. I am not sure but it was to day Donald wrote to Dr Drysdale. Dined at 

home and Archy with us. George Stewart Innervach breakfasted with us. 


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Called on Mrs Balfour 391 and saw her, Jas and Edward B. Drafted note from Donald to 

Anne returning her letters &c. Also wrote a letter to Donald Edinburgh 392 detailing what 

took place at my meeting with Copland and Clason. 

Archy with us in the Evening. Fotheringham. 


Rose at 7. Went to Sovereign office - it came in last night. Breakfasted and went by 

Omnibus from Prince St to Granton accompanied by Donald and William from whom I 

parted at 11 when the Steamer sailed. 

This was a sad and provoking visit to Edinburgh and I am seriously vexed about the 

result of Donald's proposed marriage. I think that the Drysdales are certainly in fault; 

but if I saw that Donald was deeply in love with the girl I would have him give in. As it is 

he has acted for the best. He likes her, but he does not love. That might, like Audrey's 

sluttishness, come hereafter. If I loved a woman and she consented, I would marry her, 

come of it what would. If I did not, why I suppose I would stand upon terms - but I think I 

would marry for and from affection alone. Heigh ho. 

Archy McNeill has stuck to Donald like a very brother. There is no friend like Archy. 

Neaves too has acted a kind part. Poor Skene stands in an anomalous position, having 

curious interests of his own to serve, though I must not talk of that even in my journal. 

I felt a touch of nausea as soon as I set my foot on board the Steamer. We had a good 

passage to Aberdeen and Wick. 


S.E. 

We reached Wick at 1 this afternoon. We had as passengers: Mr Dalziel the Minister of 

Thurso's son; Donald Horne's Clerk; Mr Cross and other Bagmen; Sinclair Stronsay &c. 

I went ashore at Wick; dined with the Commercial Gents at Leith's Inn. Landlord 

enormously fat. 

Swell in mouth of harbour. Went on board at 8 and sailed at 9. 

Wrote from Wick to Donald and Emily. 


S.E. 

The Steamer lay to this morning at 2 o'clock off the Pentland Skerries, and rolled and 

pitched fearfully till 6 when she started again and reached Kirkwall between 8 and 9. I 

came ashore and breakfasted; then went on board the Sanday packet at 11. Took 

Sinclair of Stronsay with me; landed him at Hyp, which detained us upwards of half an 

hour, and reached Kettletoft at 3, a capital Passage. Went to the Inn where I passed 

the evening and night alone. The Landlord Yorstoun is to be married to a respectable 

farmer's daughter of the name of Thomson whom he has got with child. The girls about 

391 This was most probably the widow of Captain Balfour and the sister of John Baikie. 

392 JR made this formal record of having written to his brother Donald in Edinburgh as an aide memoire 

about having made record of the conversations with the Drysdales' legal advisers. 

JBL 11/1/06 177


the house kept singing the Barrin o' the door and other songs, especially Hogg's ditty of 

"When the Kye come hame". 


In the morning a drunken old Parson of the name of Grant called and invited me to his 

house. I declined the invitation. He then canvassed me about a case of his that was 

coming up in Court. The senseless wretch! He was Defendant and the pursuers did not 

appear. There were besides 1 case with-drawn, and four others called. One went in 

absence, and of the remaining 3 one was for 25/-, one for 6/- and one for 4/-. Surely 

this is a useless Court. Mr Scarth called. I went on board at 11. The wind was ahead, 

and we took exactly 15 hours coming to Kirkwall!! The tide swept us through the Firth of 

Stronsay east of Shapinsay, and we came home by the String. I thought we were to be 

swamped at the Gios. 


S.E. 

We got in this morning at 3 when I went to bed. I employed myself bringing up my 

accounts, arranging my books which with the Book case were taken up to the Drawing 

room when I was in the South. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh in answer to one received from him about Drysdales &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton of my safe arrival at home. 

Wrote to P Forbes & Co, Wine Merchants, Edinburgh with letter of credit for £9.2 being 

in payment of wine sent me per last steamer. 

I attended a Meeting of the Prison Board with Tankerness and Mr Baikie and Mr Goold. 


S.E. Heavy Showers. 

I finally arranged my books. Held a Court. Called at Birstane and spent an hour 

agreeably with the kind Balfours. Home to dinner and brought up this book. No easy 

job. 


S. Heavy Showers. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves, Edinburgh, long account of journey north and to Sanday; Wick 

&c &c &c. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Ditto Ditto Ditto; swept through Firth of Stronsay. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Donald's affairs; Bialled and Dr Stewart &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about Comforts in Kirkwall. Putting up books &c. 

People were calling all day on business. I am going out to dine at Birstane Brae. 


E. Cold Showers. Disagreeable day. 

I yesterday dined with Wm Balfour. No other guest was there but Bain. We dined below 

stairs in the little Library, a most inconvenient room. They should occupy their best 

JBL 11/1/06 178


apartments. My brother Donald lives in his little Parlour in the same way. I confess that 

my own taste is different, and that I am happiest in the best apartments of my house 

even when alone. I therefore eschew the Library and Parlour and live in the Dining room 

and Drawing room. 393 

This has been a blank day - reading up newspapers - granting warrants - seeing 

appellants from Road assessment - &c. At half past 1 Mr Baikie of Tankerness called 

and remained with me until near 5. An agreeable man, though somewhat superficial and 

a leetle prosy. 

Cheering letters from Donald to night. The Dean has arrived in Town and highly 

approves of his conduct throughout - and the general feeling is most decided in his 

favour. This is most gratifying. 


E. Fine calm day. 

The Steamer came in at 2 a.m. I went to the Secession Church in the morning and to St 

Magnus' in the afternoon. After Church I walked to the march of Severack and home by 

Huttstown. 394 Passed the evening alone. 


Calm beautiful day. 

Attended Road meeting. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Drysdales, Miss Crowe, Clason, Archy, the Dean &c. 

Enquiries about House. Domestic arrangements. Rec[eive]d [indecipherable] &c. 

Wrote to Revd J Gerard So[uth] Ronaldshay, that Sillocks are res nullius [?] and may be 

fished at pleasure by any person or in any way. 395 

Walked by Berstane and home by Holm Road. 

I have this evening received the following Note from Anne Drysdale: "Blackwood Oct 

22d. My dear friend, for I must always regard you as such. Copland informed me of the 

kind consideration you expressed for me, and allow me in a few words to return you my 

unfeigned thanks. Circumstanced as we are I do not expect to hear again from you, but 

I shall ever feel interested in your future happiness. I shall value and keep your gift for 

your sake, and for the kind feelings that prompted you to give it me, and believe me I 

shall ever remain with esteem most truly yours, Anne Drysdale" 

I enclosed it immediately in a letter to Donald Edinburgh, per Steamer, and saying that I 

would not answer it without hearing from him, as I might be interfering with what he and 

his friends were doing. Also about Possils. 

393 It is clear that J R's Dining room, Library and Parlour were downstairs and his Drawing room and 

Bedrooms upstairs. His bookcase and books had been moved upstairs, presumably to the Drawing room; 

see entry for 461021. He seems to have moved his bedroom downstairs to the Dining room on 1st 

December and to have converted his Library into a Dressing room on the following day. 

394 Hatston. 

395 Sillock is an Orkney and Shetland dialect word for young coalfish [saithe] at a certain stage; of their 

first year; 'res nullius' is presumably a legal term meaning that no fishing laws applied as to when, how or 

by whom they might be taken. 

JBL 11/1/06 179


I received a letter at the same time from Donald advising [?] me to marry and pointing 

out a certain party. I answered that "it cannot be". 



S. Fine calm day. 

Wrote to Emily Milton, fully about Donald's affairs, and sending copy of Anne Drysdale's 

Note to me. 

While I was finishing my letter the Government Commissioner Sir Edward Coffin came 

in. Introduced the following parties to him about the state of the poor &c. Messrs 

Pollexfen, Watt, 396 Watts, Flett, Tait, 397 Wood, Bain &c. Called on Mr Goold but he was 

from home. Sir Edward dined with me, and I saw him on board the [indecipherable] 

Steamer at Scapa. 

Letters from William and Mrs C. Possil. 


S. Fine day; cloudy but mild. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil about her husband's illness &c. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory about William's letter; Donald's affairs, with a copy of Annie 

Drysdale's Note; Sir Edward Coffin's visit and Lunching with me &c. 

Wrote to Revd John Anderson of Lady Parish Sanday about marriage case declining to 

give opinion, but referring to 9 Geo IV Ca31 22 which I quoted so far as applicable. 

Looked over forms of Criminal Jury Trials and Minutes of proceedings in former cases. 

Also Teind Case Scott v Clouston. 

Walked to March of Severack and home by Huttstown. 398 

Arranged letters and papers. 

Thursday 29 October 1846 Fast Day 

S.W. Wet day. 

Walked to Severack march by Huttston and home by shore, followed the first time by Mr 

Bain's dog. 

Letter from Angus Cameron Tobermory with Arbiter's Notes in Submission Sellar and 

Nisbet. Read over the case and wrote out additional Notes adhering to the former ones. 


S.W. Showers. Breeze at night. 

No letters. 

Court day; occupied till half past 3. The longest Small Debt Roll I ever had in Kirkwall, 

and after that an Excise Case. 

I then walked by the Shore towards Severack and home by Huttston, meeting Mr 

Pollexfen by the way. 

396 William Watt of Breckness and Skaill. 

397 James Watts and John Tait were shopkeepers in Kirkwall. William Flett was a farmer at Hatston.. 

398 Hatston. 

JBL 11/1/06 180


Bought Grammont's Memoirs. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh that I have not written to Anne Drysdale and describing the 

sort of letter I would have sent had I written. Mrs Crowe. 399 Sir Edward Coffin not ebrius 

but ebriolus 400 &c. 

Wrote to National Advertiser Publisher Glasgow to stop second paper sent to me and 

recommending to send it instead to John Banchor. 


S.W. High wind and rain at intervals. 

I went to the Dining Room in the morning, and mean to locate myself there for several 

days to give the apartment the benefit of a fire. 

I re-wrote additional Notes for Submission Sellar, and draughted my award or Findings; 

a fashious job. 401 

Not a soul called. 

Sunday 1 November 1846 

S. Breezy and dry. 

The Steamer came in last night. 

About half past 9 o'clock last night the Fiscal came in and sat with me for an hour and a 

half consulting about criminal business, especially sending prisoners to Perth. 

This was the Sacramental Sunday and I did not go to Church. 

Walked to Moor below Quanterness and home by Quanterness &c. 

Monday 2 November 1846 

S. by W. Dry. Gale. 

Wrote to William [at[ Tobermory about Sir Ed Coffin, Tob[ermor]y, Springbank, Drimfin, 

Stornoway and Kirkwall. Criminal business &c. 

I got important letters from Donald about Drysdales and wrote per Steamer to Donald 

Edinburgh about what took place at meeting with Clason and Copland; and that I never 

approved of their conduct or disapproved of Donald's. 402 

Attended meeting of Stewarts Trustees and walked with Melsetter. 

399 Mrs Crowe may be identical with the Miss Crowe who was mentioned in J R's previous letter to 

Donald: see entry 461026. It is possible that Mrs Crowe was Catherine Crowe, born Stevens, 1800-1876, 

the novelist and writer on the supernatural. 

400 "Sir Edward Coffin not drunk but tipsy". 

401 'Fashious' is Scots for troublesome or vexatious. 

402 It is surely a safe guess that Donald's 'important letters' indicated that he himself had lingering 

suspicions that there might have been some truth in what was being said by Clason and the Drysdales 

about JR not having been unambiguously on Donald's side in the discussions which took place on 10th 

October: see entry 461010. J R's reverie on marriage in entry 461017 suggests that he may 

subconsciously have blamed Donald for his part in the affair; and it is possible that the other side divined 

this from his demeanour in the discussions of 10th October. There is some suggestion that their brother 

William and his wife Mary may have been critical of Donald's behaviour: see, for example, entry 461109. 

Perhaps also JR made a mistake in sending Donald a copy of Anne Drysdale's letter; see entry 461026. It 

is important to note that this letter to Donald was sent 'per steamer', in other words, by special express 

delivery, not through the ordinary post. 

JBL 11/1/06 181


The Drysdales and Clason are behaving very ill [towards] Donald in every way and in 

none more than in giving out that I approved their conduct. Clason's only excuse is that 

his mind is gone from constant intoxication. 

Wrote to Angus Cameron Sheriff's Clerk Depute Tobermory with Processes of 

Submission Sellar and Sinclair v Nisbet finally advised. I adhered to the opinion 

expressed in my first Notes. The sum in dispute with Sinclair latterly and on account of 

which he reclaimed is just 11 shillings 11 pence and one farthing!!! 

Tuesday 3 November 1846 

S. Dry fine day - high wind. 

Post late. No letters. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh with extract from this Journal under date 10th ult about 

negociations with Drysdales. 403 

This day I held my first Jury Court. The case was that of Anne Hourston for 

Housebreaking. The Court met at 11 and we sat till 4, when the Jury returned a Verdict 

of Not Proven by a plurality of Voices. The Evidence was entirely circumstantial, and 

strong on most points, though not complete on all. Ranken charged the Jury very well, 

better than I expected, and Paton with greater fluency and less argument. Paton made a 

Capital defence though. 

When I commenced my summing up of the evidence I felt very nervous, but I think it 

was not observable to the public. I had not spoken one minute when the feeling wore 

off. It is an uncomfortable sensation, and I wish with all my heart I could overcome it, 

though I fear I never shall. I reasoned the matter with myself thus: "This Jury are poor 

ignorant illiterate Creatures, so are most of the audience. I despise them individually, is 

it not very absurd and foolish to quail before them collectively? To be sure it is. I despise 

them. I am angry with myself. I will encourage any feeling to get the better of this one". 

But no. I could neither do the one nor the other until I began to speak. The feeling was 

purely physical, and my mind was perfectly collected. 

Supped with Ranken. Messrs Heddleston, Scott and Pollexfen present. 

Wednesday 4 November 1846 

S. by E. Gale. 

No post and no letters. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh about Sir Edward Coffin's visit, State of the poor, 

proposals to employ them on Bridge of Waith and Peeree Sea Rod [sic]. 

Trial of Hourston. 

Drever's death. Attended funeral of David Drever, aged 26. He was killed by a fall from 

his horse; a batchelor. 

S. Breeze. Dry. 

Thursday 5 November 1846 

403 This further action taken to reassure Donald about his loyalty may be seen as a slight over-reaction on 

J R's part, supporting the suggestion in the Note to entry 461102. 

JBL 11/1/06 182


No post and no letters. Court day. A few Small Debt cases. Granted Warrants of 

pound[in]g [?] against South Ronaldshay people. 

Then walked out to Berstane Brae and remained with Balfours till 4. 

Removed upstairs. 

Friday 6 November 1846 

S. Gale; cloudy but dry. 

No post, no letters. 

Wrote 8 [pp] to Donald Edinburgh that if nec[essar]y I would go up and confront Clason. 

C[lason] [?] drunk. Slanted [?] against Annie. Jury trial. 

Wrote 3 [pp] to Mary Tobermory; Annie's ruse &c; Drysdales behaving ill to Donald. 

Wrote 3 [pp] to Emily Milton Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto. 

Wrote 3 [pp] to John Banchor about his sales; Sir R Peel's wise measures &c. 404 

Wrote to Wm H Fotheringham 12 Clarence St Edinburgh. Orkney news. His clerks 

carrying on the business satisfactorily and he should remain in Edinburgh himself until a 

complete cure is affected. 

Decree of Removing Balfours v Garrioch. More pounding Warrants. Bottled a Gallon 

of Whiskey. 

I dined at Mr John Baikie's and met Mr Wemyss and Mr Duff, nephews of Sir George 

Dunbar. 405 Duff and I recognized each other as old acquaintances towards the end of 

the evening. I remember 12 years ago an apprentice to James Hope WS along with 

George Leith and Sam Fergusson, a plump good humoured boy. Now is thin, old and 

delicate. It is both jarring and startling to meet an old and changed acquaintance after 

the lapse of many years. Duff must have seen me as changed as I saw him, perhaps 

more. He said he knew my face but my want of hair puzzled him. 

Saturday 7 November 1846 

S. by E. A fine day. 

No post, no letters. Walked out with Heddle and Dr Duguid to Berstane common with 

Grayhounds. Left them and called at Berstane Brae, where I met Mr Wemyss and Mr 

Duff. Walked in with them, and Duff, Ranken, Heddle and Dr Duguid dined with me. Mr 

Wemyss dined with Mr Scarth. 


S. by E. Fine clear day. 

Post came in. Letters from Emily and Sir Henry Dryden. 

The Balfours lunched with me and I dined with them. Did not go to Church. 

404 J R's brother John Banchor does not seem to have been told anything about Donald's affair with Anne 

Drysdale or J R's involvements. 

405 Duff and Wemyss were the sons of the eldest and the youngest of the three daughters of Sir Benjamin 

Dunbar 3rd Bart. Duff was almost certainly Garden William Duff, third son of Gordon Duff of Hatton, 

Aberdeenshire and his wife Louisa Dunbar. In 1846 he was aged 32, so his thin, old and delicate 

appearance clearly gave the impression of premature old age; but he may have been a sick man already, 

for he died in 1866 aged 52. His first cousin Wemyss was a son of William Sinclair Wemyss of Southdun 

and his wife Henrietta Dunbar. He was about the same age as his cousin Duff. 

JBL 11/1/06 183



S. Fine day again. 

Wrote to Sir Henry Dryden, Canon's Ashby, Daventry. Read his letter with Balfours. 

Balfours of Balfour. Mr B[aikie] of T[ankerness] argillaceous and siliceous. 406 

Mr Logie, Pope and Sultan. Strangers; our own Bart. Sir Ed Coffin. Miss Rendall [?]. 

Invitation to him &c &c. 407 

Went out to walk, by Severack and home above Huttston. 408 Met Bain on road. 

Received letters from Donald and William. 

Wrote 5 [pp] to William Tobermory about his bad passage across the ferries, warning 

him and Mary to take the right side in Donald's affairs &c. 

Wrote 5 [pp] to Donald Edinburgh congratulating him on being right; not to bear hard on 

William and Mary. 


N.E. Fine calm day. 

Took precognition in assault case from Stromness. 

Walked by Suluquoy and home by Moor and Grainbank. Letter from Mary. 


Perfectly calm. Fine dry dark day. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory, not to mind Drysdales, and joking her about her soft heart, 

and to write to Donald as usual &c. 

Wrote to James Condie Perth, urging him to answer my mother's offer for Milton. 

Wrote to Emily Milton that I have written Condie &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh sending Mary's letter of 5th and to write her; William's new 

hat; Milton &c. 

Ordered provisions from Dr Hamilton of Stromness along with Messrs John Baikie and 

Ranken. 

Walked with Messrs Pollexfen and David Petrie to Carness Point. 

Paid Servants' wages. 

Advised Removing Cases. 


406 The literal meaning of 'argillaceous and siliceous' is clayey and full of silica; what the metaphorical 

meaning may have been I cannot tell. The words may possibly apply to Mr Balfour of Trenabie, since 

there is no certain way of determining the identity in this context of what appears in the Journal as 'Mr B of 

T'. 

407 The first part of this entry, as far as the words 'Invitation to him &c &c', is cryptic because it is 

crammed into the bottom half-inch of a page. I assume that the abbreviations 'Bs of B. Mr B of T' refer to 

the Balfours of Balfour and to Baikie of Tankerness; but I do not understand why Tankerness is described 

as being both 'clayey' and 'containing silica'. The words 'Pope and Sultan' may refer to the character of Mr 

Logie, the Minister of Kirkwall whose daughter JR eventually married in 1859. I do not at present 

understand the phrase 'Strangers; our own Bart'. Miss Rendall has yet to be identified. 

408 Hatston. 

JBL 11/1/06 184


Perfectly calm. Fine dry dark day. 

Letter from D Cameron, Strontian, soliciting my interest to procure him an appointment 

in the Coast Guard. 

Court day. 

Walked with Heddle to Holland, Bay of Meil &c with gray hounds but saw no hares. The 

grass is springing, and the clover and other wild herbs are in flower, the same as in 

May. I picked up a sprig of heath on the bare Common which was in blossom! (Froach 

frangach). 


Calm. Fine dry dark day. 

Wrote to Donald Cameron, Strontian, that I have no interest to get him into the Coast 

Guard. 

Wrote to William Tobermory, sending his copy of the Spectator mis: sent to me. 

Advised and ordered proof in Case Harvey v Hamilton and had long acc[illegible]g with 

agents in Ditto and Kirk Session of Sanday Removing Case. Ordered 

Con[indecipherable] and Ans[indecipherable] in latter case. Paid my subscription of £5 

for Poor. 


W. Calm; dark fine dry day. 

Went out at 3 o'clock and walked with Tankerness past Quoy dandy. 

George Petrie called about the Eternal Road business. 

B Henison [?] [called] about Processes. 

No Letters by post, but a letter from Thomas Duncan, Fiscal, Perth by Wilson who took 

the girl Bruce to Gen[era]l Prison. 


Calm and dark. Breeze in Evening 

Went to Church in the afternoon. The Heddles there and the Balfours absent. Walked 

with Heddle to Hullston and talked of South Ronaldshay Road money; Dunbars &c. 


E. by S. Gale; dry 

No post. 

Wrote to David O Hill Edinburgh vindicating Donald and myself from the aspersions of 

Copland, Clason and the Drysdales. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh with a copy of letter to Hill. 409 

Wrote to Emily Milton with description of Balfours, Baikies and Heddles, Fotheringham 

&c; their quiet quarrels &c. 

409 The entry about writing to D O Hill is scored through twice with the words 'Not sent'; nor is there any 

indication of whether JR sent Donald a copy of the letter or whether he thought better of it since he 

thought better of sending the original to Hill. Why, in any event, did JR think it necessary to write a letter of 

vindication to Hill? 

JBL 11/1/06 185


Wrote to Revd James Brotchie of Westray that Droits of Admiralty do not fall to the 

Salvors if not sold within year and day. 410 

Walked to Birstane and home by Tankerness Road. I find that the Balfours went to 

Cliffdale on Thursday and have not returned yet. William Tait 411 shewed me with much 

pride a number of large Elm trees transplanted from Mrs Drever's garden in Kirkwall to 

the grounds at Birstane on Friday and Saturday. I hope they will thrive; but I fear more 

than I hope. 


S.E. Gale. Slight rain 

No post. 

Tried Barbara Traill for Malicious Mischief; 60 days imprisonment &c. 

Walked past Grainbank at 4 and driven back by rain. 


S.E. Gale subsided last night. Breeze after 12 to day. 

No post. 

William Balfour called in on his return from Cliffdale. He and Mr Calder went to attend a 

sale at Stennies [sic]. 

I called at Bank, then at Birstane brae. The Balfours, Mrs Steele and Mr Calder dined 

with me. 


S. by W. Breeze. Fine cold day. Fast 

Post came in at night. Letters from Donald with Pamphlet in favour of Peel, and [from] 

William [about] Miss Macleod's rent. 412 

This was the Potato fast day. 413 Went to Church, and walked with Mrs Balfour to near 

Birstane when she told me history of D.B. and S.N. 414 The Squire overtook us. Read 

and advised Division of Evie Commonty. 


S. Gale and rain. Thunder and heavy showers at night. 

No post. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; Peel Pamphlet; William and Miss Macleod &c. 

Wrote to William Tobermory; not to bother D. about Drysdales; Miss Macleod &c. 

Wrote to Wm Simmons 46 Judd St Brunswick Sq. London; not to send Spectator. 

410 This ruling applied to legal claims of salvors to goods salvaged by them. 

411 See 460430. 

412 It seems likely that William Robertson was complaining about Miss Macleod's rent for Springbank, the 

house at Tobermory taken over from JR by William and Mary when they went there. 

413 The Potato fast day presumably had relevance for the potato famine then at its height and seems to 

have involved a church service. 

414 The gossip with Mrs William Balfour about 'D.B. and S.N.' may have concerned her brother-in-law 

David Balfour but the identity of S.N. is not known. 

JBL 11/1/06 186


Wrote to Alex Bain, Writer, Kirkwall; offer for this house at £30 for 5 years, with break on 

my leaving Orkney. 415 

Court day. The Court was adjourned from the 19th, being the Fast day. Precognition 

and Trial for woman Connor for assault on deaf woman in Stromness; pled guilty; 2 

days in Jail. 

I was detained during the greater part of the day at Mr John Baikie waiting to get honey 

&c divided and sent home, 416 but could not get the old Gentleman [to] do what I wanted. 

He took several hours in shewing me his house from the Cellar to the Garret, and a 

capital one it is; but I have no taste for such inspections. He asked me to dinner and I 

declined. 


S. Gale last night and heavy showers. Showers to day. 

No Post. 

Advised and prepared Interim report in Division of Firth Commonty, and Meeting about 

Ditto with Mr Bain. 417 

Wrote Note to Wm Balfour Berstane Brae declining to dine with him to morrow. 

Tankerness called and sat with me for an hour or two. 

The Onions, Flour and honey ordered from Dr Hamilton of Stromness arrived. 418 The 

honey is execrable, and I must try and dispose of it at half price. A Cask of Oatmeal 

which was not ordered came to me, but having the fear of a similar disappointment in 

regard to it as to the honey I returned the Cask without opening it. 

No walk. 

Read up my Newspapers. 


Fine calm day. Showers in the morning. 

No Post. 

Walked at 1 past Grainbank; went to Church, and walked to Birstane Gate with Mrs 

Steele, who talked confidentially against the purchase of Holland by Wm Balfour. 

Every Corner of the world is full of trouble. 

Fine calm day. 


415 In spite of the prudent proviso about a break if he left Orkney, JR seems to have decided that he was 

likely to remain in Kirkwall for some time. 

416 See tomorrow's entry. 

417 The word 'Firth' is written in the margin with a heavy hand to act as a marker or reminder. The Firth 

Case [see Index] rumbled on for some years. No attempt is made in this transcription to reproduce JR's 

invariable emphasis other than by underlining it. 

418 JR had joined forces with John Baikie and Ranken in ordering provisions on 461111 from Dr Hamilton, 

whom he first met on his visit to Stromness on 460602. 

JBL 11/1/06 187


Post: letters from Donald, Emily, and Sophy H. Helen Ross. 419 

Wrote first to Wm Tobermory, washing my hands, tongue and pen of Drysdales, who 

have used Donald ill. Drainage Act. Miss Macleod. Eldership &c. 

Wrote to Jane Banchor about Donald and Drysdales. Crops, prices, Bialled and 

Balfours. Honey &c. 

Paid my rent from 20 March last to Martinmas £19.12.2. 

Wm Balfour lunched with me and I walked out with him to Bay of Meil and Holland. Talk 

about Drysdales and Newalls &c. 

Campbell the Grocer came in the Evening about honey. I told him to get a Pass book 420 

for me. 


Calm rainy day. Weather still mild. 

Wrote to Andrew Gold, Grain Bank, deprecating half measures about road money in So 

Ronaldshay; meetings with Fraser and Petrie about Ditto. 

Wrote to C G Robertson Sheriff Substitute Stonehaven; that I have written out a final 

Report in the Division of Evie; and that I shall direct the agents to [send] 421 the whole 

fee to him. 

Poor people calling. 

Walked out by Stromness Road and home across Moor and by Grain bank. 


N. Rain. 

Post this morning; letters from Mrs C.Possil, William, WHF. 

Wrote to William Tobermory in answer to his gratifying letter about the Drysdales; Miss 

Macleod; Nisbet an honest fellow; Angus Cameron &c &c. 

Wrote to Thomas Pender, 422 Stamps and Taxes, Edinburgh, explaining the withdrawing 

of Sheriff's Officers here from his Collector for 6 days. Letter booked by Mr R 

Fotheringham. 

Walked towards Berstane, met Mrs Steele, returned with her, and walked by Sea Side 

up Severack March and home by Huttston. 

Took Declaration of Ed Connor 423 at half past 7 at night. 

N E. Gale and showers. 

No Post. 


419 The punctuation makes it difficult to tell if there were two letters, one from Sophia Helen Montreal and 

one from an unknown correspondent named Helen Ross, or one letter from Sophia Hhelen Motreal 

indicating that he married name was Ross. 

420 A Pass book was probably a book in which a record was kept of what JR bought at Campbell's shop. . 

es 

421 The word 'send' or a synonym of it is missing. 

422 His wife was Eleanor, eldest daughter of Joseph Stewart of Foss and sister to the first wife of 

Alexander Robertson Irvine, Blair Atholl. 

423 See 461120. 

JBL 11/1/06 188


Tried Ed Connor at 10. Held Court at 12. Presided at Excise Court at 1 and went out to 

ploughing match at Berstane brae at 2. Saw Balfours, Miss Bosewell, Fortescue, 

Tankerness, Scarth, Gold, Petrie, Ranken &c &c on the ground. 

Declined dining at Berstane. Lent them half a dozen of Marsala. 

Read Thirlage 424 Case Watt v Twatt [?] and wrote letters. 


N E. Cold high wind. 

A Post but no letters. 

Read Thirlage law. Meeting with A Bain about Case. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell Possil; Possil's health; going thro' old place and even to 

Minister's; Minister and Schoolmaster. Mrs Campbell her daughter coming home; her 

son Donald. My brother Donald's affairs. What is the matter with Lochbuys. Mrs 

McQuarie and them; Mary and Mrs McQuarie. Young Coll; Colls management; Geo 

McDonalds; Mr Nairne and Miss Macleod as correspondents; Miss Macleod about 

Possil and Mrs Campbell; Wm Balfour, his wife and Mrs Steele. Tankerness; his 

absence of mind. Ploughing match. Miss Bosewell &c. Gayety of Orkney &c. 

Wrote to My Mother Milton; about Milton; encouraging her; that we'll take it for another 

year, and meet and consult with each other. Emily going to Edinburgh. The very 

handsome conduct of McNeill's to Donald. William getting on well. Ploughing match and 

weather. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; his frisky letter of 17th; Wm acting a manful part now in 

Drysdale affair; Mrs C. Possil's opinion of Drysdale family; Emily; stormy weather &c. 

I am just going out to dine at Birstane. 425 

Dined at Birstane. Mrs Balfour confined to bed by a cold. Mr and Mrs B[aikie] of 

Tankerness, Miss Boswell and Dr Bremner present. Walked home at 10 with Dr 

Bremner; his son's appointment to Marines; &c. 


N E. Snow. Gale. Cold disagreeable day. 

No post. 

Read Lord Zetland v Irvine (Johnston's Trustee) and sent process to Mr Urquhart to 

amend his cond[itions] [?]. 

Attended Road meeting about So Ronaldshay Collection, but did not act. 

Bain called about Stamp for Convey[anc]es or Dup[licatio]n 426 where the 

Consid[eratio]n is an Annuity. 

Tankerness dined with me and left at half past 10. 


N.E. Stormy; snow, sleet and hail. 

424 Thirlage was a form of servitude by which the grain produced on certain lands had to be ground, or at 

least paid for, at a certain mill. 

425 Remainder of this entry added on the following day. 

426 Uncertain abbreviations. 

JBL 11/1/06 189


No post. To Church in the morning. Nobody in the Balfour's pew but Miss Patterson 

and I. No walk. No nothing. 


S W. A cold sleaty stormy day. Snow. 

No post. I did not go out to day. People calling on business. Scarth called about Harbour 

Commission and Drainage Act. Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh for advice about 

Jurisdiction in Abstracted Multure Case, and liability for feu duties in poor Rates. No 

meeting [?] for poor; but there is plenty of employment. Road Collection. Case of boat 

lost in Stronsay Firth. Ploughing Match and Dinner Parties. Fotheringhame. Dryden. &c. 

Wrote to Mrs R O Ross, Banagher Glebe, Dungiven, Co [blank] Ireland; welcoming her 

home; her Child; Balfours; her husband's family; &c. 427 

Wrote to David Nairne of Aros, Aros. Excuse for not writing sooner (Lord Breadalbane). 

His kind in going to Edinburgh to meet me. Appointing him to come here next summer. 

Our new Steamers. Travelling in them from isle to isle. Our open Morality all on the 

surface; I will introduce him as Dunsinane. The Country. Drainage Act. His succeeding 

to Kincaldrum's fortune. Walking in imagination with him thro' Aros &c. 

Wrote to Maclachlan Stewart & Co, Edinburgh. To send my account; not Connell on 

Tithes. 

I am preparing to start for Stromness at half past 7 to morrow. 

Post came in after I had written the above and I wrote to Donald Edinburgh in answer to 

his letters of 25th and 26th; we must uphold William; Archy's letter a capital one &c; they 

were right in not sending mine to D O Hill. 

Wrote to Andrew Jameson S.S. Edinburgh with Schedule of Small Debt Courts; average 

number of cases; miles travelled; account of expenses. 

N B The four last letters despatched on 1st December. 

Tuesday 1 December 1846 

S W Morning. N W by N Afternoon. Stormy. Showers of snow and hail. 

My birth day. No post. 428 

Rose at 6, breakfasted and left for Stromness in Magnus Heddle's Gig with Geordy 

Cormack and Meg. 

Held a S[mall] D[ebt] Court; 3 cases and a continued one in the Roll. One continued; 2 

in ab[sentia] and one, a hay Case of Count and Reckoning, in foro. Lunched on Salt 

Goose and Ale. I got home before 8 and dined on Goose again. 429 


Removed to Dining Room. 430 

Wednesday 2 December 1846 

427 This letter was in reply to one received from Helen Ross on 23rd November. 

428 In the manuscript these words were written beside and to the right of the date. JR was aged 47 on this 

day. 

429 One of the very rare occasions when JR mentions what food he ate. 

430 See entry 461024 for details of J R's living arrangements and rooms. 

JBL 11/1/06 190


W. Fine morning. Snow and Gale after 3. 

Post. No letters. 

Called at Birstane brae. The Balfours were out, and I walked towards the Sea Shore. 

Saw Drains; a poacher who hid himself among the banks. A shower came on and I took 

shelter at the [blank] 431 of Berstane. Came home in the snow across the Moor. 

Removed Chest of Drawers, basin stand &c into the Library and converted it into a 

Dressing room. 

Wrote to William Tobermory a letter of grave advice about keeping on good terms with 

Miss Macleod and all his neighbours. 

Thursday 3 December 1846 

W. Stormy, and almost dry. Snow gone on low ground. 

Seceder Fast. 432 No post. 

Court day; little business. 

Walked by Holm road to Wideford Valley. 

Reading poor law. Orkneyinga [?] Saga. Mat Lewis. 433 Prior 434 and Craig Phadric a 

stupid poem on Ross Shire by D Carey. 435 

Friday 4 December 1846 

W. Fine day at last; moderate and dry, but still cold. 

Post: letters from William, Jane, C G Robertson. 

Wrote to Emily Milton regretting she cd not go for a change of air to Edinburgh; Donald 

in high spirits and will never marry unless to Archy; 436 wise woman gone to Tobermory; 

William's pardonable elation; Sheriff Householder; Elder and Papa; 437 weather irregular 

and storms without rhyme or reason; dinner at Birstane brae with Tankerness and Miss 

Boswell; Tankerness dines with me; St Magnus gloomy and sad thoughts in [it] changed 

to gayety, good humour and thankfulness by Mrs Steele; this letter a fling of folly; 438 

public business; not writing to Manse 439 &c. 

431 There is a large blank space here; JR forgot to fill it in; perhaps the word should have been 'Taring'. 

432 These two words were written beside and to the right of the date. 

433 Probably Matthew Gregory Lewis 1775-1818, whose writings had some influence on Walter Scott's 

early poetical works. 

434 Possibly James Prior 1790?-1869, miscellaneous writer. 

435 David Carey 1782-1824, whig journalist who was in Inverness in 1807 and published verses, novels 

and notes of travel. 

436 This phrase is incomprehensible unless it is a joking reference to Archy's loyal and affectionate 

support for Donald as described in entry 461017. 

437 The wise woman who went to Tobermory may refer to William's wife Mary. William's 'pardonable 

elation' was on account of being a Sheriff, a householder, an elder of the Kirk and a father. 

438 This phrase suggests that he aims to reassure Emily that his remarks about Mrs Steele, and much 

else in the letter, are in joke. 

439 The remark about not writing to the Manse may refer to the fact that he did not apparently reply toa 

letter from his cousin Sophy which he received on 23rd November. 

JBL 11/1/06 191


I walked by Wallewall behind Grain bank across the moor to Quanterness, down to the 

sea, home by the shore and observed the farmers everywhere leading or carting up Sea 

ware. 440 

Met Mr Ranken hunting and went through Grain Parks with him. The day was beautiful 

and I was out from 12 to 4. In the Evening I got letters from Oliver Drever and Mr Scarth 

about Sloop cast ashore in Sanday; and wrote to Mr Oliver Drever, V A S 441 Sanday, 

with instructions about Ditto. 

At ten the post came in with letters from William and Jane. 

Saturday 5 December 1846 

W by N. Stormy; rain and sleet. 

No post; no walk. 

Wrote to Jane Banchor; the good prices they are getting for grain &c, and 

recommending prudence; 442 that Milton must be taken for another year; Emily going to 

Edinburgh; McIntyres enquiries about them; &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; Milton must be taken for 12 months; Emily going over; he 

and Archy right about D O Hill as own letter excellent; William right, and would burke 

Drysdales to shew his loyalty; Miss Roy and Mary; my letter of advice to William; 443 &c. 

I had no walk to day and employed myself in reading, tumbling about old papers, and 

oiling gas keys or cocks. 

Sunday 6 December 1846 

W. Stormy. Showers of sleet and rain. Hills white. 

No post. 

To Church in the afternoon and heard Mr Brotchie of Westray for the first time. He is 

evidently clever, but very flowery and enthusiastic. I was struck with his appearance 

when he rose to pray. His back and profile resembled William Murray 444 as William of 

the Forest in As you like it, perhaps the most ludicrous presentation on the stage; and 

his voice resembled that of my old friend Wolfe Macneale of Ballymascanlan. It seemed 

as if William of the Forest was giving a high flown harangue of Professor Wilson's 445 in 

the exact same voice that Wolfe used to pronounce "the glorious pious and immortal 

memory of the great and good King William"! The concatenation nearly upset my 

gravity. 

No walk and no visitors. 

440 'Sea ware' is kelp or seaweed, used by farmers in many parts of coastal Scotland as a fertiliser. 

441 V A S was Vice Admiral Substitute. 

442 J R's brothers and sisters and sisters-in-law must sometimes have found his uninvited advice 

insufferably overbearing, and at other times, one hopes, a source of innocent merriment. 

443 Reading between the lines would suggest that William.s wife Mary and Miss Roy, who was Miss 

Macleod's niece and companion, had crossed swords. 

444 William Henry Murray 1790-1852, actor, and manager of the Theatre Royal in Edinburgh from 1815, 

when his brother-in-law Henry Siddons died, until 1848, when he retired. 

445 John Wilson 1785-1854, author and professor of moral philosophy at Edinburgh; main support, with J 

G Lockhart, of 'Blackwood's Magazine', for which he wrote as 'Christopher North'. 

JBL 11/1/06 192


Monday 7 December 1846 

W. Moderate, and very rainy. Snow not off the hills yet. 

No post. 

Attended meeting of Road Trustees about Bridge of Waith. 446 Note from Tankerness 

inviting me out to morrow. Meetings with Mr Fraser and Petrie about Roads; with Mr 

Craig about Division of Evie. 

No walk. 

Reading Session Cases and Waverley; and marked Table Napkins. 


N W. Misty soft day. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Milton and Cottage. 

Walked to Tankerness to dinner. Mrs Wm Balfour was the only other guest. We passed 

a cheerful and even a lively evening, and the Laird entertained us with a number of 

good stories and imitations of the Old Orkney Clergy. 

I subscribed £1 to the Old Women's Clothing Society. 

Tankerness received 2 new Summonses of Red[uctio]n [?] at the inst[an]ce of Jas 

Heddle by the post. This is truly provoking. 


N W. Misty again; colder than yesterday. 

After breakfast T[ankerness] and I went to the Stables, kennels, Carpenter's work shop. 

Killed rabbit in Garden. And then we came in to Kirkwall. I walked; the rest drove. 

T[ankerness] came in to send his agent information to prepare defence against Heddle's 

new cases. 

I found letters from V[ice] A[dmiral] Sub[stitu]te Sanday; and intimation of my old 

acquaintance Robert MacKintosh S S C's death. Poor Bob! I have known him for 27 

years. 447 He was a good honest fellow, an original, and an old fashioned Scotsman. He 

lived latterly at Kensington near London; was married, wealthy and had no family. 


N W. Snow; very Stormy. 

No post. 

Court day; no cases. Inspected Jail, and ordered Baby Traill to another room with a fire 

in it. 448 

No walk. 

The dining room smoked notwithstanding the vent was swept yesterday and I was 

obliged to remove upstairs. 

Jean Heddle 449 went to a wedding in Holm. 

446 Bridge of Waithe, Stenness, of rubble with three segmental arches, was eventually built in 1859. 

447 Twenty seven years means that JR first got to know Robert Macintosh when he [J R] started working 

in Edinburgh in 1819. 

448 On 17 November JR sentenced Barbara Traill to 60 days imprisonment for malicious damage. It 

seems she was either delivered of a child in the jail or brought a baby into the jail with her. 

JBL 11/1/06 193


No visitors. 


N. A very stormy snowy cold day. 

No post. 

Wrote to My Mother about building a Cottage on Auchleeks ground &c; visit to 

Tankerness &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Ditto; storm &c. 

Wrote to C G Robertson Sheriff Substitute Kincardine about his account in Division of 

Evie; general charges for time; s [?] 450 of Minister of Evie; transcription of processes. 

Scarth and Gold called. Walked to P O and home by King St. 

Read Wandering Jew through. 


N by E. Stormy; snow and frost. 

No post. 

Read Court of Session Cases. Inspected Jail. Talked with Mr Patterson, H Wood and Dr 

Bremner about Baby Traill. 

Walked to Cross Road to Berstane by Tankerness Road when I was driven back by drift 

and snow. 

My servant came from Holm. 

Wrote to John Henderson, Queen's Remembrancer, 451 Exchequer Chambers, 

Edinburgh, enquiring as to Expences of Proceedings under Summons under Pipe v 

Smith. Letter booked in Sheriff Clerk's office. 


N. Snow. Stormy. Frost. 

No post. 

Went to Church in afternoon, and walked with Heddle to the Harbour. He came and sat 

with me from 4 to 5. 


N E. Snow a foot deep; drifted in some places; hard frost. Gale. 

No post. 

Heddle breakfasted with me, and we attended Meeting of Road Trustees to receive 

proposal from Messrs Heddle and Gold regarding South Ronaldshay people. 

Inspected Jail, and talked with H Gold and Wm Balfour at John Baikie's where we had a 

dram of Gin!! 

Came home and read Female Blue beard by Eugene Sue. 

Walked with W Balfour and Mr Calder a short way towards Birstane. 

In the Evening read law. 

449 Jean Heddle was one of J R's servants. She was away for two nights. 

450 Indecipherable. 

451 Queen's Remembrancer, an officer of exchequer responsible for collecting debts due to the Crown. 

JBL 11/1/06 194



N E. Sun cold high wind. 

Post. Letters from Hopkirk and Forsyth WS with Decree of Exoneration in my favour and 

in favour of the late Kindrochit as Tutors Dative for John and Elizabeth Robertson, 

Riemore's children. 452 A begging letter from Catherine Fergusson; poor Kate! 

Maclachlan and Stewart's account. Banks 453 So Ronaldshay about Admiralty Droits. 454 

Lumbago; no walk. Read law, and Newspapers. 

A man of the name of Tulloch came for charity, and I gave him 2/-. 

Enquire about him. 


N E. Frosty day. Slight showers of snow. 

Post; letters from E A Cameron, William. 

Wrote to William Tobermory; addition to letter of 6th de omnibus rebus; not despatched 

sooner by mistake; poor; storm; Revd J Brotchie; Shaws Digest &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh with Maclachlan & Co; P Forbes; Farmer & Hopkertus [?] 

account [?] and with blank receipt for quarters salary; observing on accounts; Kate 

Fergusson; recommending E A Cameron for a situation &c. 

Wrote to Jas Kinnear WS Edinburgh recommending E A Cameron; Orkney news; state 

of Poor; Drainage Act; storm &c. 

Wrote to Ewan A Cameron at Mrs Cruickshanks, Archerfield, Newhaven near Edinburgh 

that I have recommended him to two friends in Edinburgh and to call on Mr Kinnear. 

Wrote to John Maclachlan, Bookseller, 64 So Bridge Edinburgh about my accounts for 

1846. 

Wrote to Jas Banks, Smiddy green, with War[ran]t to sell Mahogany log. 

Attended funeral of Mrs George Petrie. 


N E. Calm beautiful day. 

No post. 

I dispatched all the letters written by me last night. 

Held Court. Case of Poor Woman in Walls. Read Friendly Society case Spence v 

Marwick for the first time. Sanday case of removing. 

Walked past Quoydandy. The Snow is drifted 4 feet and upwards in many places, and is 

everywhere a foot deep. 

Inspected Jail. 

S W. A Thaw. 


452 Tutors dative in Scots law meant 'appointed guardians of the person and estate of a boy under the 

age of 12 and of a girl under the age of 14'. 

453 Banks was the name of Heddle of Melsetter's factor. 

454 Admiralty Droits were rights over the disposal of salvage from shipwrecks. 

JBL 11/1/06 195


Post came in in morning but no letters. 

Lumbago and did not go out at all. Read law, and commenced a Synopsis of 

proceedings in Sheriff courts &c as regards time, which when finished will I think be 

useful to me. 


S W. Calm morning; fair. Breeze and rain Evening. Mild. 

Post. No letters. Did not go out. Read law all day for Synopsis &c. 

Lumbago better. 

Note from Berstane inviting me to dine there on 25th. 


A fine mild calm day. Snow gone except where it drifted, but the wind having blown 

strong during the storm there is a good deal of drift, and the ground is every where 

dotted or streaked with snow, and especially the high ground. 455 

To Church in the afternoon, and went with Mrs Balfour and Mrs Steele to Birstane gate. 

The Heddles in the pew. 


N E. Breeze and constant rain. 

No post. 

I did not go out to day. 

At 12 I had a meeting of the agents in the case of Spence v Marwick [Friendly 

Insurance] when they shewed little ingenuity in discussing the questions raised. 

I got a Part 456 of S. Cases. I suppose Fotheringhame sent them by Mr Traill of Holland. 

Read Cases of "Sea Shore". Time Table. 


N E. Breeze; frosty; a little snow and hail. Shortest day. 

No post. 

Heddle and Fortescue lunched with me. 

Walked on Holm road. Met Mr Urquhart and Bain. 

Left my card on Mr and Mrs Traill of Holland. 

Wrote Notes on Sea Shore. Time Table. 


N E. Gale; frosty. Light snow showers and drift. 

No post. 

Young Watt of Scales 457 called about Road Assessments and Admiralty Droits. 

455 Transcribing passages about the weather and its effects, of which this is an unusually fatuous and 

prosy example, makes one wonder if JR thought they would be of any use or interest to anyone in the 

future, even to himself. Perhaps the regularity with which he wrote them was soothingly therapeutic. 

456 It is remotely possible that the word transcribed as 'Part' is an abbreviation for 'Parcel' 

JBL 11/1/06 196


Attended Meeting of Assessed tax Commissioners to hear Miss Rendall's 2nd Appeal; 

Mitchell the other Commissioner. 

Tankerness called. 

Time Table. 

Alexander's Bankrupt law from Mitchell. 

Walk on Holm road. 


N E. Breeze; light showers of snow; frosty. 

No post. 

Court day. Inspected Jail with Mitchell and Ranken. 

Trial of Gilbert Skea; I found the Charge not proven. 458 

Walked on Holm road; Mr Urquhart walked a short way with me. 


N W. Light Showers. 

Xmas day. No post. Sat in the house and passed a dull morning 

Dined at Birstane and passed a lively agreeable Evening. There were present Mr and 

Mrs Traill of Holland, Mr and Mrs Scarth, Mr Baikie, Mr Bain and myself, and Mr 

Calder. 459 

Came home at 12. 


W. Fine day. 

Mrs Steele came in and sat a long time with me. 460 

Subscribed to Irish Charity. 

Tankerness dined with me alone and we passed a quiet cheerful Evening. 

The Post came in at last and brought letters from Donald, William, Mary, John, Neaves 

[and from] Exchequer suspending orders to execute Sum[mon]s of the Pipe against 

[blank] and Proclaim that Parl[iamen]t is prorogued to [blank] Jan[uar]y when it is to 

meet for the transacting of business. 

Walked to Severack Dyke. 


S W. Cold dry, half frosty day. 

To Church in the morning. Then walked along the sea shore to Severack burn. 

Met John Tait on my return. 

Read all the Evening. 

457 The mis-spelling of Skaill suggests that JR had not previously been aware of that distinguished house 

and its owners. This is surprising. 

458 JR took a declaration from Gilbert Skea on 460709; there is nowhere any indication of the nature of 

the charge. 

459 It is interesting, but may mean nothing, that Calder the Balfours' factor is mentioned as an 

afterthought. 

460 This statement gives the unmistakeable impression that Mrs Steele had a major problem to discuss. 

JBL 11/1/06 197



S W. Fine mild day. Snow almost gone. 

No letters; post come. 

Wrote 8 [pp] to My Mother about taking Milton; Tankerness; Mrs Steele; great storm. 

Wrote 8 [pp] to Donald Edinburgh; to take Milton, and not to have Kindrochit; John, 

William &c &c. 

Wrote 8 [pp] to William Tobermory; that he and Mary have behaved admirably to Miss 

Macleod and in regard to Poor; Sir J Orde &c; Time Table &c. 

Drew £10 from Bank; pd Baker &c. 

Walked on Holm road as far as Sir Hugh's seat about 4 miles from Kirkwall in company 

with John Shearer tenant in Breckan a fine specimen of an Orkney small farmer; a good 

looking sensible man 6 foot high; he gave me a great deal of information about the state 

of the poor and of the people generally; and recommended Widow Mary Spence or 

Kirkness in Breckan for Stewart's Trust. 

I am just going out to a Masonic Meeting, this being St John's day. 


S W. Mild day. 

Wrote 7 [pp] to Chas Neaves Edinburgh about state of So Ronaldshay poor, and about 

Lord Zetland's Pet[itio]n for the sanction of the Sheriff to his granting Free Church sites 

at Firth. 

Walked with Bain to Severack March. 

Mr Trail of Birsay spent the Evening with me. 


S W. Fine day. 

Walked to Fatal Garden and home by Hullston. 

David Petrie Graemes hall 461 dined with me and sat till half past 12 in the morning 

talking of "the beast". 


Another mild foggy day. 

John Baikie, J G Heddle, Ranken, Bain and Dr Logie dined with me and remained till 2 

in the morning, talking liberally and singing. A very jolly night. Old John Baikie was in his 

glory and gave us his very best Sea stories. 

Took Examination of Havers Lord Zetland v Irvine; and Declaration of Ann Bruce, theft. 

1847 

Friday 1 January 1847 462 

461 Graemeshall is 1.3 km east of St Mary's on Mainland. 

462 January 1847 is the last month written up in Volume II of James Robertson's Journal; see entry 

470201 + note. 

JBL 11/1/06 198


S W. A misty mild day. 

Remained in the house all day. 

Dined with the Balfours, Mrs Ranken and Dr Bremner at John Baikie's. Mrs Balfour sang 

delightfully. Home before 12. 

Took a precognition of 18 pages in Birsay rape case. 


S W. 

No post. Engaged the whole of this day in making up Annual returns for orkney year 

1846; a very fashious job, and especially so as it is new to me, and Mr Fotheringhame 

is absent, and his Clerks young and unused to the business. I have drafted the returns 

however, and have worked pretty close from 12 to 12, except during meal time and 

when I took a run to Severack March. 

I have received no letters since Monday, except one from Mr Fotheringhame on 

Thursday. 


E by S. Cold day; breeze. Showers at 6 [in the] Evening. 

To Church in the morning. Walked to Severack March. Copied out Annual returns. 

Spend Evening alone. 


E. A blustering rainy day. 

No post. Finished the Criminal Returns and wrote to John Lindsay WS Crown agent 

Edinburgh transmitting them. 

Attended Meeting of Stewarts Trustees; Tankerness, Heddle and Riddoch. There is 

much sectarian feeling among them; but Riddoch was milder than I had anticipated. 

Wrote to Revd Wm Logie Kirkwall about persons admitted [?] to Stewart's Fund on his 

certificates &c. 

Made up a book for the Trust Funds. 


E by S. A soft dirty day; rainy and dark. 

No post. Engaged in morning in paying poor on List of Stewart's Trustees and during the 

day on Titue [?] Tables (Sequestrations). 

Walked before dinner to Quoydandy, and met Tankernesses driving home. 


S E. Mild day; rather moderate. 

No post. Remained in the house all day. 

Mr Patterson called and sat several hours talking about the state of the poor. 

Dined at Rankens with John Baikie, Heddle and the three Doctors. 463 I turned the 

conversation on the subject of the poor, and was infinitely disappointed with Heddle who 

463 The three doctors in Kirkwall at this time were Bremner, Duguid and Logie. 

JBL 11/1/06 199


is either indifferent or unpracticable. The sectarian feeling displayed by all is miserable, 

especially Heddle, Baikie and Dr Logie. 


E by S. Dark misty day; a gale; almost dry. 

No post. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh; Lord Zetland's Petition [?]; Chas Spence on the Sea 

Shore; Jas Heddle v Tankerness; the Laird's dreamy absence of mind &c; poor 

business; Criminal business falling off; &c. 

Held a Court. 

Called at Birstane and had a very satisfactory Conversation with Wm Balfour about the 

poor. He is a good kind-hearted fellow, and with all the feelings of a gentleman. How 

very different from Heddle; and how superior! It was a relief for me to converse with him 

after my talk with Heddle and John Baikie last night. 


S E. Dry breezy but dark day. 

No post. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about Dinners here at John Baikie's and at Ranken's. Robust 

health &c. 

Wrote to W H Fotheringhame, 12 Danube Street, 464 Edinburgh, that the business of the 

Court &c proceeds smoothly and satisfactorily, and not to come until [?] his cure is 

complete; Sir H Drysdale, 465 Woorsaae; poor in Orkney; Mrs Geo Balfour enceinte; 466 

Mrs Traill of Holland; &c. 

Walked by Dulisquoy [?] across the moor and home by Huttston. Met Mr Logie and had 

a long and satisfactory talk with him about the poor &c. 

Read law in the Evening. 


S E. Dry day; strong breeze. 

No post. 

Poor people called with Marwick the new Inspector, 467 and I got their differences settled, 

and had a long Crack with Marwick who seems a clever correct ill-tempered little 

shrimp; but very civil to me. 

Heddle also called about poor, and about Roads. He was much more reasonable and 

amiable to day than on Wednesday. 

A Birsay man came with a Road Pet[itio]n, a very primitive Clown who called me "my 

lord" at every second word. 

464 Danube Street is on the Raeburn Estate, Stockbridge and was built in the 1820s. It is described by 

Gifford, McWilliam and Walker [1984] as "the most attractive of Edinburgh's neo-Greek streets". This 

address may tell us something about Fotheringhame and his connections. 

465 This must be a slip of the pen for Dryden; see 460824 when Dryden, JR, Worsaee and others dined 

with Fotheringhame. 

466 See 470306. 

467 Inspector of the Poor. 

JBL 11/1/06 200


Walked by sea shore up Severack March and home by Huttstown. 

Tankerness came in at half past 7 and sat till half past 10 conversing very pleasantly de 

omnibus rebus. 

The night seems quiet at present. 

I wonder and admire 468 if we are ever to have another post. I begin to take the want of 

communication with the outward world very coolly; and it leaves me time to mind my 

business and my law reading. Aweel! 


S E. Fine dry day; breeze moderate. 

Wm Balfour came in at 1 and lunched with me. 

I went to Church in the afternoon and saw Mrs Steele to Birstane gate. 

The roads are as dry as in April. 


S. Very fine day. 

Post came in. Letters from Donald with my D Accounts; Emily in Glasgow; Neaves; 

Destitution Committee Circular; William; &c &c. 

A Xmas box came from poor Maggy. 

Calls from Heddle, Patterson, Fraser &c. 

Drew £10 from Bank. 

Called at Birstane. 

In the Evening Received and read my letters. 

Call from Mr Craig about his accounts as Surveyor in Division of Commonty of Evie. 


S E. Beautiful day. Sunshine and calm. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh acknowledging accounts, and about Emily, Maggy, Wm, 

Milton, Skene and Neaves. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh about Free Sale at Firth; poor and writing to Skene; 

South Ronaldshay Road people agree to work; Lord Zetland's Subscription for poor; that 

I do not act as Road Trustee. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene 21 Dublin Street Edinburgh; answers to enquiries of Destitution 

Committee about Poor and about Mr Craig's acc[oun]t &c. 

I have been reading the Newspapers, and am now going out to dine at Birstane. 


S E. Another fine dry day, but not clear. 

I dine at Birstane brae last night, and the party consisted of the family, Mr Bain, Mr 

Calder and myself; all very happy. 

At 7 we went to the Laundry, and attended upon the Servants and work people at 

Dinner. There were upwards of 30 of them, all very bashful, and would scarcely eat in 

the presence of their Superiors. Towards the end of the feast they tucked in pretty 

468 'Admire' formerly had the additional meaning of 'wonder'. 

JBL 11/1/06 201


powerfully, especially the men, but I am persuaded 469 that they would have played a 

different part if left to themselves. 

After the dinner was over and before the dancing commenced Mrs Steele took me to the 

men's room where there was a comfortable fire, and gave me her own history ab initio. 

We were sorely interrupted by Mrs Bayley the Grieve's wife, Mr and Mrs Balfour and 

others; but the old Lady was determined to make a clean breast of it, and she did. 

Her father was a respectable tenant in Badenoch, her mother a cadet of the family of 

Macpherson of Banchor, and a woman of family. 470 She had three brothers. One a 

Surgeon on Sir George Prevost's Staff died in Canada in 1813 or 1814. 471 Another a 

Surgeon in the R.N. and now settled in London. Her oldest sister was married to a Mr 

Purcel of the Commissariat, And she has two unmarried sisters now in life; one living in 

Lancashire who I suspect was a Governess and made money, and another in Badenoch 

supported by Mrs S[teele] and Miss Jane McIntyre. Mrs Steele was a Governess in the 

family of the Hon & Revd Mr Cathcart for 10 years, and married from his house. She 

had a third brother whose history I forget. 

The dancing commenced about 9. Calder sitting aloft over the Boiler and playing the 

fiddle like Neil Gow; and the company below bobbing upon the stone floor to admiration; 

Mrs Steele stood up to dance in almost every reel, and sat down in the middle of it for 

want of breath. She had the will but not the power. The Orkney people danced as they 

do every thing also in a slow and phlegmatic manner that was melancholy to look upon; 

but there was a sprinkling of Caithness men who jumped and flung about fiercely and 

furiously after the north highland fashion. These pass for great dancers in Orkney while 

in Perthshire they would not be tolerated. 

James Bayley the Overseer, William Tait the Gardner, and a man called Tom Innes 472 

were the chief performers. The last in particular stood erect, pushed out his chest, and 

with a stern and menacing aspect kicked and leaped and flung, and flourished his arms 

in the air in a truly savage fashion. It was very ludicrous, and yet the fellow had life and 

mettle in him too, and I preferred him to the slow Orkney men, who looked on him with 

half sneering faces (for they all dislike the Ferry Loupers 473 ) and yet with a sort of 

sheepish admiration. 

Little Tom Innes alias Corney 474 sang several comic songs a merveille, and the evening 

was apparently a very happy one. My servants were the only strangers; 475 all the others 

are in one capacity or other employed by William Balfour. 

469 'Persuaded' is used here in the sense of 'convinced'. 

470 A cadet is a member of the younger branch of a family. 

471 Sir George Prevost, first baronet, 1767-1816, soldier and Governor-General of Canada. 

472 The 1851 Census shows a Thomas Innes, a ditcher and drainer from Caithness, who was probably 

this man; see Index. 

473 Ferry Loupers was the term used by ordinary people to refer disparagingly to those who came over on 

the ferry from the mainland of Scotland as immigrants to Orkney. 

474 There may have been two men named Tom Innes at the party. If so, it was this one who JR engaged 

as a servant on 460322 and paid off on 460519. He is mentioned as a singer on 460522. A man named 

Tom Innes brought a message to JR from Berstane on 460624 and was presumably then a Balfour 

servant. 

JBL 11/1/06 202


This morning I wrote to Margaret 5 Bath Street [Glasgow] acknowledging Xmas box; 

about Annie; to keep 30 lb honey for me till March; &c. 

I am now preparing to go out to Tankerness. 


S E. Another very fine day. 

No post.* 

I walked out yesterday between 2 and 3. Talked by the way with John Linay [?] who was 

carrying out to Tankerness a cart load of Sillocks or a Cran, 476 which he bought for 1/-!! I 

then had a long talk with John Shearer, another Tankerness man, about farming and 

fishing. 477 

Mrs Balfour and Mrs Steele arrived soon after me, and we had a very cheerful party. 

This morning I came off at 5 minutes to 10 o'clock and walked to Kirkwall in an hour and 

a quarter to breakfast. 

Held a Court. 


Saw poor. 

And Dr Logie called for the first time and examined my left eye; there is a small tumour 

on the inside of the under lid, and the Doctor has sent me some Nitrate of Silver to apply 

to it. 478 

Tankerness came in at 3; dined with me at 5; and left at 7 to attend a Meeting of the 

Destitute Sick Society. 

*Post came in very late; letters delivered Friday Morning; none for me. 


S by E. Clear day; sdry. Gale. 

No post. 

At 12 went out, met Tankerness who took me through his house in Kirkwall, and shewed 

me his old Charters and papers. The house is a curious old place, very roomy, full of 

queer corners and more commodious than I had supposed. 479 The oldest paper in his 

possession is a Copy of a Sasine to Mane or Magnus Baikie of some lands in Birsay 

dated 1534, and apparently written (the Copy) in the seventeenth century. He shewed 

475 'Strangers' in this context means 'outsiders'. It is interesting that JR's servants were either invited at 

the Balfour's suggestion, or allowed to attend at JR's suggestion. 

476 Sillock is the North of Scotland name for young coalfish; a cran is a measure of capacity for herrings 

just landed in port, 37 1 / 2 gallons. 

477 JR had an earlier encounter and conversation with John Shearer, a tenant farmer, on 461228. 

478 This was possibly a Meibomian cyst with associated conjunctivitis. 

479 JR seems to have met Tankerness by chance, probably in the street. Apparently this was the first time 

JR had seen over Tankerness House and may in fact have been the first time he ever went inside it other, 

perhaps, than when paying a formal call on Lady Tankerness. The house is in Broad Street and Gifford 

[1992] gives a very full and interesting description of it; the earliest part dates from 1574 and substantial 

remodellings were carried out in the early 18th century and again in or about 1820. The 1820 work must 

have been initiated by Tankerness himself; he inherited the family properties at the age of 31 when his 

father died in 1817. 

JBL 11/1/06 203


several Titles to his family as "Baikie of Tankerness" in 1660-1699; and a curious letter 

from the Countess of Sutherland (the Dowager) dated 1706 and addressed to the "Lady 

Tankerness" her Cousin. 

We drove out to [Hall of] Tankerness before Dinner. Mrs Steele and Mrs Wm Balfour 

were still there. We had an agreeable evening, and the Laird was very amusing. His 

imitation of an old fat Wick Bailie dancing a reel was most laughable. 


S E. Very slight showers in the Morning. 

No post. 

The Tankerness party came in at 1 to Kirkwall. I walked. 

Got my hair cut, and read all the Evening. 


S E. Fine dry dark day. A good breeze; cold. 

I went to Church in the Morning and saw Mrs Steele and Mrs Balfour; then walked to 

near his gate with Mr Logie, and afterwards walked to Severack march. 

Alone reading all the Evening. 


S E. Fine dry day. Breezy. 

Post. Letters [from] William, Mary, Miss Macleod, 480 Mr Patterson, 481 Mrs Balfour, 

Heddle; and people on business calling. 

Walked with Heddle to Huttston. 

Poor Possil is worse again, and Mull in a dreadful state of destitution. My letters from 

that quarter always make me sad. 


S E. Fine dry day. Light breeze. 

Post come in; no letters. 

Oliver Drever V A S 482 Sanday called about his allowance. 

Mrs Steele to shew letters about the attempt to set fire to her sister's house in 

Badenoch. 

Walked to Severack March and wrote. 


Beautiful sunny morning. Shower at half past 12. 

Wrote to John Banchor for Lease; Mrs Steele, McIntyre; fire raising &c. 

480 It will be recalled that Miss Macleod had been JR's neighbour and landlady in Tobermory, and was 

now the same to William and Mary, though one suspects that their relationship with her was less happy. 

There was trouble over their rent but all was well by the end of 1846; see entries 461202 and 461228. 

481 It will be recalled that Patterson, otherwise Paterson, was the Minister of the United Presbyterians in 

Kirkwall. JR first encountered him on 460412. JR later found him disagreeable and did his best to avoid 

him; see entries 480925, 480928, 481002. 

482 V A S is presumably Vice Admiral Substitute. 

JBL 11/1/06 204


Wrote to Donald Edinburgh enclosing Miss Millar's letter to Mary; Milton &c. 

Wrote to Mary Tobermory; her Mull news; Miss M[illar]'s letter. 

Wrote to Miss Millar 11 Ainslie Place Edinburgh; state of our poor; of Orkney; Kirkwall; 

&c &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton [about] dining with Balfours and Baikies; Laird's dancing days &c. 

Wrote to Robt Mungle, Surgeon, Stromness about Betsy Barnet 483 a Pauper. 


S E. Breezy day. Light showers. 

Post. Letter from Margaret intimating that on Sunday last the 17th Cur[ren]t John's 

warehouse was burnt down to the ground, and almost every thing destroyed. The Books 

and a very few articles were with difficulty saved. She says the premises were insured, 

but she does not say for what sum. I observe from a Copy of the Glasgow Herald of the 

18th which she sent me that the [fire] 484 was very extensive and a very destructive one, 

and consumed all the houses in Queen Street from 74 to No 84 inclusive. It is thought 

that it broke out in some of the Warehouses on the second floor. It is gratifying that it did 

not begin in John's premises. The Newspaper mentioned that he was insured in £2500, 

while some of the others were insured as high as £20,000 and upwards. I am afraid that 

independent of the serious loss that suspension of his business must necessarily 

occasion, the insurance will not nearly cover the immediate loss caused by the fire. It is 

a bad business; and I feel deeply and anxiously for them. 

Yesterday I walked by Holm Road past distillery. 

Dined with Heddle and met Fortescue, John Baikie, Ranken, Dr Bremner, Scarth, Gold 

and David Petrie. Left them at 11. Heddle and Scarth got into a disagreeable discussion 

about Stromness, and the former as usual displayed a very unamiable disposition. 485 

To day I held a Court. Case of Hammereness. 

Meeting with Inspector of Poor 486 about Baby Traill. 

Took Declaration of Jas Leask for assaulting his wife; he is a strong man, and 

suspected to be of unsound mind. 

In the Evening read long case about Teind duties Lord Zetland v Louttit's Trustees. 


S E. Breeze; dry fine but cold day. 

No post. 

Wrote to Margaret 5 Bath Street [Glasgow] enquiries about the fire &c. 

Took Declarations in two Cases of Assault from South Ronaldshay, viz that of Wm 

Robertson who is half an idiot. 

Walked to Quoy Dandy and home by Birstane road. Met Mrs Steele behind Papdale and 

saw her home. 

483 See entry 470316 for the same woman, there named Barnetson. 

484 By a slip of the pen JR wrote 'very' instead of what should obviously have been 'fire'. 

485 This was clearly unsuitable behaviour in a host; the words "as usual" are pregnant with JR's 

disapproval, of which there are other examples. 

486 Marwick; see entry 470109. 

JBL 11/1/06 205


In the Evening read two Articles in the Quarterly; the one on Mark Napier's Montrose, a 

paper which does justice neither to the subject nor to the work; 487 the other on the 

Stuarts in Italy, an article that literally set my blood on fire with Jacobite recollections. 

Charles Edward was a noble creature and it is no wonder that the Highlanders were so 

enthusiastically devoted to him. My grandfather was out in the Forty five. I remember 

him an old man between 80 and 90, a fine specimen of the old Gentleman Tacksman; in 

person he was a strong and athletic man and he possessed great force and manliness 

of Character, and a clear and sound judgement. I never heard him mention the name of 

"Prince Charles" that his voice did not falter and choke, and his eyes fill with tears. Upon 

one occasion long after his death, the conversation at my father's house happened to 

turn, as it frequently did, upon the fortunes of Charles Edward. My father kept silent for a 

long time, and then said apruptly "is it not wonderful that no man ever looked upon his 

face without a wish to follow him". The look, the tone and manner with which he 

repeated these words I can never forget. William Ross, the Rossshire Bard, composed 

a Lament upon the death of Charles, and I never knew of an old Highlander that could 

repeat it without tears. There is one stanza that had peculiar charms for me as a boy, 

and which I cannot yet hear unmoved. It may be literally rendered thus from the Gaelic 

"Even the young race that never cast their eyes upon thee 

"Held thee in honor in loyalty and in love 

"But now their hearts are fallen dead within their breasts 

"Since thu shall never never more return". 


S E. Breeze; very cold. heavy rain at night. 

No post. 

Attended Meeting of Commissioners of Supply along with Tankerness who called here 

at half past 12. Walked with him and Heddle to Ayre. 488 

The Balfours and Baikies Tankerness dined with me, and we had a very gay and 

pleasant party. They left me at half past 10 amid a storm of wind and rain. 


S E. A Stormy day. 

To Church in the afternoon and met one of the young Traills Woodwick and a brother of 

Heddle. The Balfours not there, and I did not go out to dine at Birstane as I had 

promised on account of the weather. 


S E. Morning moderate. Gale at night. 

487 Mark Napier 1798-1879, advocate and Scottish historical biographer, was appointed Sheriff Substitute 

of Dumfriesshire in 1844. In addition to his study of Montrose, he published other historical works and 

also a standard text 'The Law of Presciptions in Scotland', 1839. JR lent his own copy of 'Montrose' to A L 

Macdonald on 430714 and must have known him since he shows surprise when he notes the news of his 

marriage 430102. 

488 Heddle and Tankerness walked together with JR in spite of Heddle having recently brought another 

action against Tankerness which JR thought 'provoking'. See entry 461208. 

JBL 11/1/06 206


Post. Letter from Emily mentioning that my mother has determined on leaving Milton 

and going to Glasgow! That is a change. May God grant that it proves a happy one. 489 

Attended Meetings of Commissioners of Supply and [of] Prison Board. 

Called on the Lady Tankerness and met Mr Patterson there who proposed a surrender 

of the management of the Parochial board to the established Church party. I will 

endeavour to mediate between the parties, and get them to act in concert. 


S E. Fine breezy day. 

No post. 

Meeting with Bain about Poinding account. 490 

Called at Birstane brae and on the Minister (Mr Logie), to whom I stated Mr Patterson's 

proposal. He received it very well. 

I dined at Dr Duguid's and met Fortescue, Scarth, Bain, Ranken and young Watt of 

Skale. 491 Home at half past 10. Moderate Evening. 


S E. Fine bright day. 

Wrote to Emily about Milton &c; Donald and I will do whatever is most agreeable to our 

Mother. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Ditto and the Fire at Glasgow. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh two letters: 1st about poor, 6 pages; 2nd with Account of 

Admiralty Droits and Letter of Credit for £20.4.0, 1 page. 

I accompanied the Inspector of Weights and Measures to Copland's Shop, and found 

C[opland]'s deficient. 

Walked to Severack March and home by Huttston. 

Met two fine Children, Thos Graham and his sister, and gave 6d to Tommy. 

Wrote to Dr Hamilton Stromness about poor application of Jean Barrochy [?] 


Calm and beautiful day, bright and mild. 

Post and no letters. 

Court day. Meeting with Mr John Baikie and G W Traill about Weights and Measures. 

Called on Mrs J Baikie and met Mrs Steele with her. 

Called on Rankens. Talk with Messrs Baikie and Patterson about the poor; also with Mr 

John Baikie, Ranken, &c.. 

I fear that the Established Church and Secession parties will not act cordially together. 

They are exceeding bitter upon either side. Sometimes I could laugh at them, and at 

489 After a great deal of uncertainty and family debate, JR's mother finally left Milton on 17 May 1847 and 

went to live with her sisters at Kindrochet Cottage. In September 1847 she moved into Kindrochet House 

with Emily. For the anxieties and difficulties of the earlier period see entries 470127, 470201, 470204, 

470301, 470308, 470315, 470419, 470507 and 470526. 

490 A Poinding account was presumably a record of the value of goods distrained or impounded. 

491 See entry and footnote for 461223. 

JBL 11/1/06 207


other times be vexed and angry. Each party regards itself as being shockingly ill used 

by the other, and glory in being martyrs. 


N. Fine day. 

Letter from Dr Hamilton Stromness about poor. 

Took precognition, declaration, and tried Jas Muir, Sanday, for Theft from wreck of 

Norwegian Vessel. Then walked out to Tankerness and dined and remained there all 

night. The Laird gave a most curious account of Traill of Woodwick, Miss Stirling &c &c. 

A fallen Star! 


N. Cold day. Showers of hail after 3. 

Letter from Mary. 

I came in after breakfast with the Baikies, and at half past 2 walked out with the Laird. 

In the Evening read Connell on Tithes 492 &c &c.. 


N E. Cold boisterous day. Snow Showers. 

I went to St Magnus in the afternoon and heard Mr Spark preach a very good sermon. In 

coming out Mr Bain introduced me to his mother in law Mrs Drever. 

I had no walk, and read at home and alone the whole Evening. 

Monday 1 February 1847 493 

N.E. An inch of snow on the ground. Cold clear day. 

Wrote to Donald Robertson 66 Great King Street Edinburgh 494 of the irregularity of the 

post; my anxiety to hear further about the loss of John Robertson Glasgow's premises 

by fire; 495 our mother's proposal to leave Milton etc. 

The post came in and brought a letter from John Banchor stating that our mother does 

not wish to leave Milton; about his lease of Banchor; sales of grain; proposition to Shaw 

Company &c. 


492 'Connell' was 'Connell on Tythes and Parishes'. Sir John Connell 1765-1831 was an eminent lawyer 

who became legal adviser of the Church of Scotland and wrote on Scottish ecclesiastical law. 

493 The third volume of James Robertson's Journal opens with the entry for 1st February 1847. It is 

accordingly inscribed with elaborate care as follows; but when he reached the end of it he failed to 

remember to complete the last line, which has therefore been inserted in square brackets. 

Journal or Book of Memoranda and Jottings kept by James Robertson Sheriff Substitute. Commenced at 

Stornoway Wednesday the 21st July 1841. Continued at Tobermory Sunday the 27th March 1842 and at 

Kirkwall Saturday 14th March 1846. Vol III is commenced at Kirkwall Monday 1 Feby 1847 & ended at 

[Kirkwall Monday 31 January 1853]. 

494 Letters to Donald were usually recorded as to 'Don d Ed r ' or the like. Writing his name and address out 

in full was presumably because this was the top of the first page of a new volume of the Journal. 

495 See 470121 entry for a full account of this fire. 

JBL 11/1/06 208


N E. Fine day. 

Wrote to Miss Macleod Tobermory in answer to her letter of [blank] January about the 

state of the poor here and in Mull; about old friends in Mull &c. 

Wrote to John Robertson Banchor Kingussie about Milton &c. 

Walked to Heatherquoy. Met Baikies going to Tankerness. 

Letters from Donald, long about my mother &c. &c; from John R Glasgow &c; from 

William dated 28th January announcing the birth of his first child, a son, that day! 496 


N E. Fine day; misty evening; thaw. 

Wrote to William Tobermory, congratulating him on the birth of his son etc. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh in answer to his letters of 29th & 30th about Milton etc. 

Wrote to Jo:Maclachlan Edinburgh with Connell. 497 

I had no walk. Mrs Steele called at half past 3. 

I dined with Mr John Baikie and met Mr, Dr and Miss Logie, Mr and Mrs Spark, The 

Revd Mr McLean, Mrs Pollexfen, Mr Ranken &c. Home at half past 1. 


S W. Misty day. 

Sat in the house all the morning. Heddle called. 

I am just going out to dine at Berstane. Held a Court. 

Dined at Berstane brae and met John Baikie, Mr and Mrs Ranken, Dr Logie. Ranken 

and Calder played the Violincello and Violin. John Baike, Dr Logie, Mrs Steele and I 

played a rubber of Whist. Home at half past 12. 

Letter from Emily; my mother is going to Glasgow. 


N W. A gale. The snow entirely gone. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh about state of poor and enclosing letter from Heddle 

regarding Walls 498 &c. 

Advised Poor law case Barrister. 

Sat in the house all day and read, Mansie Waugh &c. 

Rain. No post. 


N W. Stormy day; showers of sleet. 

I remained in the house all day reading Hume 499 on Crimes, and granting Warrants &c. 

No post. 

496 The child was named Duncan; see entry 470302. 

497 See entry 470130. 

498 Walls is the name of a parish on Hoy. 

499 'Hume on Crimes' was probably the commentaries on Scottish criminal law published by David Hume 

1757-1838 who became a judge after being Professor of Scots Law at Edinburgh. He was a nephew of 

David Hume the philosopher and historian. 

JBL 11/1/06 209



N. Snow and severe frost. Stormy. 

I went to Church in the forenoon. Mr Scarth came in with me between Sermons. 

No post. 


N E. Severe frost. Slight showers of snow. Breeze. 

Read Hume and Bell 500 on Crimes. 

Called on Ranken about Weights and Measures case, and sat some time with him and 

his wife. Then called and sat some hours with Mrs Baikie of Tankerness talking both of 

us wisely and well on the state of the poor; Parochial Board; Religion; Morality; and the 

general question. She gave me 4 French Newspapers containing Lacordaires Lectures 

on Religion, and the Laird came in and gave 5 old documents of the 16th and 17th 

century to chew the cud upon. 

No post. 


N E. Snow and hard frost. 

Read Hume and Bell all day. 

Inspected Jail and admonished Barbara Traill. 501 

Talk with Mr Patterson and John Tait about the poor. 

Gave old clothes to old John Morison and 2/6. 

No post. 


N E. More moderate and mild. 

Walked past Grainbank. Heddle called at half past 4 about county business. 

Post came in and Newspapers delivered, but no letters as yet. 


N. Fine day. Frosty. Much snow on the ground. One shower to day. 

Court day. Troublesome Case of Warren and Morrell. 

Wrote to A R Irvine, Blair Manse; that Decree of Exoneration of Riemore Tutors is 

extracted; 502 poor in Orkney; clergy; Parochial Board; negociations between Messrs 

Logie and Patterson etc etc. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh asking him to send £20; etc. 

500 George Joseph Bell 1770-1843 succeeded David Hume as Professor of Scots Law at Edinburgh in 

1822. His textbook, widely known as Bell's "Principles", was a standard work. 

501 On 461117 JR had sentenced Barbara Traill to 60 days imprisonment for malicious damage. On 

470617 he tried her for malicious mischief; a plea of insanity was entered and sustained. So much for 

admonishment, whatever that actually involved. 

502 See entry 461215. 

JBL 11/1/06 210


Heddle and I went out with Weights and Measures to the Shops of Flett, Scott, Jas 

Watts, Drever, Harney, G Robertson. We did not find them correct anywhere except at 

Drevers. But almost all the small weights &c were fair, and several of the larger. I hardly 

think that fraud was intended. 

No Post. 


W. Fine clear calm day. Breeze at night. I think there is a thaw. 

Tried Norquoy and Leask for assaults. Case of Copland for deficient weights and 

measures; fined 5/6 and expenses. 

Walked with Heddle to Loch of Cairston; no skating. Walked then to Grainbank. 

Yesterdays mail came in to night. No letters. 


S E. Thaws. Breeze in afternoon. 

Attended meeting of Prison Board with Wm Balfour, Tankerness and Heddle. Balfour 

lunched with me, and Tankerness and I went out to Birstane with him to see Mrs Balfour 

who has been ill with a sore throat. 

On coming in I found letters from William about the poor, journey to Oban etc etc, and 

from Mrs Campbell of Possil that her husband is worse and that they are going to 

Edinburgh. 


S. Rainy day. Breeze. The snow is gone from the low grounds. 

I remained in the House all day, and called on Ranken for a few minutes at 4 about the 

case of stealing meal from Mr Gordon of Evie. 

Alone. 


S. Breeze. Showers of rain. 

Wrote to William about his son; their destitution in Mull; his correspondence about Ditto; 

Time Tables; cases of bastardy; Mrs Donald McPherson, McIntyre &c. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about their removing to Glasgow; Jane, William, Donald and John 

Glasgow &c. 

Attended Meeting of Meal Committee with Tankerness &c; sat as Chairman and 

prepared their Minutes. 

Called on the Lady Tankerness. Walked with the Laird on Ayre. 

Received parcel from Maclachlan Stewart & Co with last edition of Connell 503 on Tithes 

and Decisions (3 Nos). 

Interlocutors. 504 

Appeal in Kirk Session of Cross and Burness repelled on merits, suspended on form. 

No post. 

503 See entry 470203 + note. 

504 This means that he made a number of judicial decrees; see Select Glossary. 

JBL 11/1/06 211



S W. Gale. Almost dry. Mild. 

Read Decisions, Connell and Guy Mannering. 

Walked with Heddle to Bay of Inganess. Ranken overtook and accompanied us on 

horseback. In the Evening Heddle came in and sat till a quarter past 2!! 

No post. 


W. Breeze. Dry. 

Read law all day and Evening. 

Walked out at 4 as far as Heatheryquoy and the Roads were quite dry and pleasant. 

No post. 


W. Gale. The Roads and house dry. 

Court day. Read Connell. Walked past Quoy Dandy and home by Birstane. The 

Balfours are in Shapinsay. Geo Robertson called about Weights and Measures case. 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil, Achnacroish, about Possil's health; state of their poor; 

leaving the country; state of our poor; Ministers sitting down the Wolf with the lamb &c. 

Comfortable here. 

No post. 


W. Strong breeze. Showers last night and this morning. Dry afternoon. 

Walked by Stromness road, across moor to Huttston, and home by Mill. 

Talk with Flett the Miller about road. 

Read Connell all day; deuced dry. 

No post. 


S E. Calm morning. Rain and breeze at night. 

Read Tankerness old papers. 

Walked with the Laird past Grain bank. 

Old John Baikie came in and we had a crack about Orkney genealogies. He said the 

post came across the Pentland, but still 

No post! 


W. A fine breezy clear day. 

To Church in the morning; afterwards walked past Quoydandy. 

Got my letters at 2. The post came in last night late. Letter from John Maclachlan 

Bookseller about Atlas; from Donald with Letter of credit for £20 etc; from William with 

amusing letter from Findynate. Drainage Act from Fredk Dundas MP. 

JBL 11/1/06 212



Calm beautiful day. 

Wrote to Fredk Dundas MP 24 Hanover Square London about state of Orkney. Wrote to 

Chas Neaves Edinburgh about Ditto; Meal Committee; Whitehall and Fair Isle men. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh acknowledging receipt of £20, Condie, Wm and Mary, my 

good health &c. 

Wrote to William Tobermory; his son's looks; Tobermory poor; Orkney a splendid 

country, &c. 

Wrote to John Maclachlan bookseller Edinburgh that I will not take an Atlas until I go to 

Town. 

Poor William Fotheringham returned from Edinburgh on Saturday night or Sunday 

morning by the Paragon, and called on me to day. He looks ill and thin, but is recovering 

his hearing. I was really glad to see him. 

Went to Bank, drew money and pd Bruce 505 &c. 

Tankerness came in with me for an hour. At half past 4 I walked out past Marwick's 

Distillery. 

In the evening the post came in and I had a long friendly dullish letter from A R Irvine on 

Parish business. 


S E. Dry cool dry gray day. 

Read up arrears of newspapers &c, especially the very able speech of Sir 506 on Lord 

George Bentinck's Irish railway bill. 

Walked out with Scarth to Birstane, and inspected drains. 

The post came in and brought me no letters. 



Called on W Fotheringham and then walked on Holm road, home by Scapa, and dined 

at John Baikies with Mr Keiller the new Minister or Presentee to North Ronaldshay, 

Heddle, Scarth, Ranken. I came away with Scarth at 11. 

Letter from Mr Dundas. 


S E, Fine dry day. 

Held a Court. 

Wrote to Fred Dundas MP London about Poor; Crown lands in Orkney; litigations of 

Crown here &c. 

Walked out to Tankerness to dinner, and met Wm and Mrs Balfour and Mrs Steele. 

505 Bruce was the name of the Jailer at Kirkwall; see Index. The only previous reference which may have 

been to him is when JR says he 'saw Bruce about Books' on 460912. 

506 Presumably JR accidentally left out a name after the word 'Sir'. 

JBL 11/1/06 213




Coursing with gray hounds in the morning and caught a hare. We had a very pleasant 

Evening, telling stories, and tankerness giving imitations of Major Macleay, and of 

Aberdeen men, Dr Browne &c. 


S E. Beautiful day. Frosty morning. 

After breakfast Wm Balfour and I walked in; the rest drove. 

Letters from Neaves and Skene about destitution &c. 

Bain and Tankerness calling about business. 

Paid Gardener Lindsay. 

Got P 507 Pro[cesse]s [?] from Tankerness. 


S E. Calm mild gray day. 

I sat in the house all the morning. Wm and Mrs Balfour called at half past 1. Mrs Balfour 

went to church and we sat till half past 3 and then walked out to Birstane and round the 

farm. I returned at 6. 


N W. Fine calm gray day; dry. 

Took Examination of Havers in Lord Zetland v Irvine, and Spence v Spence. 

Heddle and Tankerness called about poor &c. 

Walked to Heatheryquoy and met Tankernesses going home. 


Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh about poor; Crown a bad neighbour. 

Wrote to Wm Skene, Secretary Destitution Committee, about Ditto; Stromness I fear 

destitute; Stronsay exaggerated. 

Wrote to Adam J Wylie, Stromness; to get Stromness authorities to meet me at Flett's 

Inn at half past 10 to morrow about the poor. 

Wrote to Revd Sam Trail, Bersay; are there 2 Kirk Sessions in a united Parish and can a 

Minister without being deposed voluntarily demit his office. 

Wrote to Revd Joseph Caskey, Stronsay; enquiries about state of poor, grain &c in 

Stronsay. 

Wrote to A Bain, Writer, Kirkwall enclosing Mr Caskey's to get copied and forwarded. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; my mother should take her own way in removing without regard 

to John or any other person; busy to day; visit to Tankerness, pleasant party; our 

several Characters. 

Advised Poinding 508 case Leask. Kirk Session of Burness; and Lord Zetland v Irvine. 

507 Indecipherable. 

508 To poind in Scots law is to distrain or to impound. It is not clear whether the Leask involved in this 

case is identical with the Leask tried by JR for assault on 470212. 

JBL 11/1/06 214



W. Fine mild dry day. 

I left for Stromness at half past 7; reached at half past 10. Met 18 of the principal 

inhabitants at Fletts, and held a long consultation with them about the state of the poor. 

Held a Court. 

Walked to Stenniss, Mr Ross and Mr Wylie, Writers, riding in my Gig. There was a horse 

and cattle market at Stennis, and prices were high. 

Johnny Sebister drove me, the horse (old Gordon) was miserable and I did not get 

home till near 6. 

I found a letter from William announcing that his son is christened and named Duncan. 

This is my father's first name-son in his own family, and his first male grandson 509 or 

son's son. 


S. Light Showers. 

Wrote letters to Frederick Dundas, London, about Stromness. 

Wrote to A Anderson, 41 St Mary Axe, City, London about Poor of Orkney. 

Wrote to C Neaves, Edinburgh, report of condition of Stromness. 

Wrote to Dr Hamilton, Stromness, with Minutes of Meal Committee &c. 

Mr Gold [called] to say that Mr F Dundas and Lord Zetland had placed each £20 at my 

disposal for the establishment of Soup Kitchens in Kirkwall and Stromness. 

Tankerness called about preparing Memorial to Treasury to get a Government surveyor 

down. 

And Mr Calder called to report on state of Whitehall. 

I walked to the P O and past Grainbank. 

Soldier and gay recruit. 


W. Gray mild day. 

Wrote to The Editor of the Times, London, about the state of the Orkney isles. 

Held a Court. 

Walked by Soilisquoy [?] and up Wideford Hill; on my return I met Ranken and Gould 

coursing, and saw a very good run with them to the south of the parks of Grainbank. 

Took Declaration of John [blank] 510 Stromness for assault aged 17; committed him; 

bailed. 

The post came in yesterday between 10 and 11 in the morning and to day between 11 

and 12, in place of coming in the afternoon as usual. I suppose this is owing to the 

change of running of the mails from Edinburgh to the North. No letters to day. 

W by N. Gray mild day; dry. 


509 This ignores Margaret Robertson's son George in Glasgow, who was JR's parents' first grandchild. 

510 JR forgot the surname and left it out. 

JBL 11/1/06 215


Wrote to Frederick Dundas 24 Hanover Sq: London acknowledging money placed with 

Mr Gold at my disposal for Soup Kitchen; Soup Kitchens; Meeting of Commissioners of 

Supply. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves about Ditto Ditto and about Whitehall people. 

Wrote to A J Wylie, W[rite]r, Stromness; that the Stromness people must exert 

themselves. 

Called on Wm Fotheringhame and walked with him to Wideford Bridge. 

Conversation with Garrioch, Postmaster, about Mails. 

Letter from Donald about Menzieses &c &c. 


N W. Gray day; light showers. 

I sat in he house all day reading law and the pro[ceeding]s Lord Zetland v Louttit's 

Trustees. 

The Laird and Lady Tankerness, Wm Balfour, Mrs Steele, and Mr and Mrs Ranken 

dined with me. Mrs Balfour was unwell and could not come. Wm Balfour informed me 

that his brother George has a son at present the heir presumptive to the estate of 

Trenoby [sic]. 511 We had a cheerful party. Tankerness was particularly happy and 

agreeable. They left me soon after 10. No letters. 


N W. Fine dry breezy gray day. 

Capt Fisher of the Stromboli Government Steamer came in and delivered letters of 

Introduction from William and Sir Edward Coffin of 512 Capt Baynton R.N. assistant 

Commissary. Capt Fisher and one of his officers lunched with me, and I went on board 

to see Capt Baynton who is unwell. I reported to him on the Condition of Orkney and 

wrote a letter recapitulating the outlines of my information to Sir Edward P Coffin Bart, 513 

Oban. 

I dined on board. Came away at 7 and found my door open and servants out. 514 

N W. Breezy gray day. 


511 George Craigie Balfour 1818-1860 was the youngest brother of David Balfour of Trenabie and of 

William Balfour, both of whom died without issue. The Balfour genealogy does not show that George 

married or had issue. The Trenabie estate was inherited by their half-brother James William Balfour who 

was born in 1827, the elder of the two sons of their father's second marriage to Mary Margaret Baikie, 

daughter of Andrew Baikie and thus a sister of John Baikie the banker in Kirkwall. 

512 "Of' is in the sense of 'on behalf of'. 

513 Sir Edward Pine Coffin 1784-1862 was the 5th son of the Revd John Pine-Coffin of East Down, 

Devon. He had been commissary-general since 1840, that is, head of the department responsible for 

supplying provisions, etc. to an army or, exceptionally, in a civil emergency. JR was mistaken in thinking 

that he was a Baronet; he had been knighted in 1846 for his services during the Irish famine. 

514 This was clearly an unusual happening but JR does not record doing anything about it. He may well 

have come home earlier than they had been led to suspect. 

JBL 11/1/06 216


Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about my mother's removal; dinner on board Stromboli; 

Bobby Thomson; &c. 

Wrote to William Tobermory [about] Mary and Duncan; party work and to call Meal 

Committee of Tobermory; &c. 

Wrote to John Banchor [about] my mother's removal; our duty to make her comfortable; 

Jane's Cond[itio]n; 515 etc. 

Tankerness called. Attended meeting of Commissioners of Supply &c when they 

adopted a Memorial to [the] Treasury about roads and bridges drawn up by me. 

The Stromboli left at 7 this morning. 

Calder dine with [sic]. Fortescue lunched with me. 

Letter from F W Dundas MP. 


N by E. Gale. Snow. 

I was going to So Ronaldshay to hold a Court to day and was prevented by the storm. 

Heddle and Gold were going with me. 

Gold came here at half past 7, and thought I could not cross and recross the ferries to 

day and his opinion confirmed my own and I did not attempt. I hope to get off to morrow. 

Walked to Heatheryquoy. 

Charity to Johnny Marwick. 

No post. 


N E. A clear calm very beautiful day. Snow. 

Mr Heddle amd Mr Gold breakfasted with me, and Gold and I set out for South 

Ronaldshay in Magnus Heddle's Gig, Johnny Sibister. The frost was quite intense and 

the ground covered by a thin coating of snow. Heddle 516 was to have come on on 

horseback, but though we went (against our will) very slowly we reached Holm ferry 

before him. 

Crossed over to Burray, walked to the Bow 517 which was the old residence of the 

Stewarts of Burray, and afterwards of Capt Sutherland to whom the Duffus [?] Peerage 

was restored. The house of the Stewarts has entirely disappeared, and the present 

house is a well sized, three storied building. There is a large garden in front, but I did not 

go in to it, and I suppose it is now used as a Corn field, for the place is occupied by a 

farmer, a plain unpretending 518 man, quiet, sensible and well informed for his station. 

He accompanied us to the ferry, where we crossed to South Ronaldshay. There was 

more snow in Burray than either on the Mainland or in South Ronaldshay. 

515 John's wife Jane was about five months pregnant. She had still-born twin sons in July 1847 [see entry 

470706] and as far as is known had not had any other pregnancies. 

516 Heddle of Melsetter and not of course Magnus Heddle. 

517 Gifford [1992] describes this house, known as Bu of Burray, as a 'substantial farmhouse, now 

drydashed, built c1790 by the island's principal tenant, Captain Balfour, to replace a C17 laird's house. 

Three stories and three bays, with small second floor windows.' 

518 'Unpretending' means modest and unpretentious. 

JBL 11/1/06 217


Held a Court, and just as I was to begin Heddle walked in; he had taken a boat from 

Scapa. 

I made a long address to the people on the subject of the Roads; Heddle followed, and 

a farmer of the name of Allan replied. In the end we won over Allan the ringleader of the 

discontented, and he told us that the people declared themselves satisfied. I trust there 

will be no further differences with these poor people. 519 

We all lunched on Cheese and porter at the Inn with Allan, Sutherland and James 

Banks; 520 came away in a St Margaret Hope boat; passed Fortescue at a distance; 

came to Holm and drove and rode home where we arrived at 6. 

Letters from F Dundas and William. 


N W. Boisterous day. Sleet and rain. 

Held a Court. Then attended a J.P. weights and measures Court. Then a Meeting of 

Road Trustees; then had a meeting with the Minister of Birsay; and finally a long hearing 

in the case of Lord Zetland v Louttit's Trustees. 

Read in the Evening. 

No post. 


N W. Fine morning. Rain at night. 

Wrote to Fredk Dundas 24 Hanover Square about Memorial to Lord Advocate about 

Woods and Forests &c. 

Registration of Marriages births and deaths Act. 521 

Went out to Birstane; dined and passed the day there, and came in at 11 in a pour of 

rain. 


N W. Wet dirty day. 

Tankerness called and I walked out with him. 

Oil cloth for bath in bedroom. 522 

Dined at Rankens with the two Heddles, 523 John Baikie and Dr Bremner. 



S W. A fine mild spring morning. Cold afternoon. 

519 The problem was that of the charges levied by Road Assessment. See precis of letter to Charles 

Neaves in entry 470315. 

520 Sutherland may have been James Sutherland who may in turn have been the Captain Sutherland 

mentioned earlier in the entry or a member of that family. Banks was Heddle's factor. 

521 Statutory civil registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths in Scotland started on 1st January 1855, 

eighteen years later than in England and Wales where it became obligatory in 1837. 

522 This a clear reminder that JR, as might be expected, had a hip bath in his bedroom but no separate 

bathroom, something which at this date was only to be found in the grandest houses. 

523 The two Heddles were almost certainly John Heddle and his brother Robert. 

JBL 11/1/06 218


Walked out at 1 to Heathery quoy, and the Balfours called in my absence. 

To church in the afternoon. William Balfour sat from 4 to 5 with me. 

Read. 


S. Breezy gray dry day. 

Wrote to Emily Milton with copy of letter to Capt Macduff from my mother [about] Milton. 

Wrote to John Banchor with Ditto and urging him not to interfere with his mother's 

arrangements. 524 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh with Ditto and about John. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh; Crown Chamberlain gives £10 to Stromness; no 

destitution in Stronsay; visit to So Ronaldshay and settlement of Road Assessment 

question; Mr Allan &c; proposed submission to him by Crown &c and detestation of 

Edinburgh lawyers; exertions of Mr Dundas and Mr Anderson on our behalf. Roads and 

Bridges to be made ad libitum; Mr Mitchell 525 of Inverness to rove over the County. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene Edinburgh (10 Hanover St) about Stromness destitution; none in 

Stronsay; referring to Sheriff for details. 

Mr Urquhart called about Free Kirk Site in Firth, Dr Garson of Stromness about [the] 

poor. 

I wrote to Dr Hamilton Stromness that Mr Spence Crown Chamberlain is to give 

Stromness £10; &c. 

Walked to Quoydandy, and in the evening finished reading "The White Slave", a foolish 

Russian novel. 

No post. 


S.E. Strong breeze; fine dry day. 

Wrote to Wm Ross and Wm Harvey, Stromness, declining reference and suggesting 

that their case to be put to Small Debt Roll. 

Met Heddle, William Balfour and Tankerness at my door, and spent the day with Wm B. 

Mrs Steele and Mrs Balfour called at half past 4. 

Walked to Grainbank. 

Interlocutors in Firth Case accepting new Commissioner &c and in Betsey Barnetson 

case refusing her application. 526 

Engrossed Pauper Lunatic Trust Accounts in Book and finished reading "The 

Antiquary"; how unmeasurably superior to "The White Slave"! Sir Walter is second only 

to Shakespeare, if second even to him. 527 

524 It is not clear how JR got hold of his mother's letter nor why Margaret Robertson should have written 

to Captain Macduff about her affairs; but it is very clear that JR and Donald found their eldest brother 

John's interventions in family matters less than helpful. See entry 470322 for John's reply. 

525 Joseph Mitchell, author of 'Reminiscences of my life in the Highlands", was the road engineer in 

question. 

526 This entry records that JR made decrees on these two matters. Nothing is yet known of the Betsey 

Barnetson case but see 470120. The name 'Firth' is, as usual, written emphatically in the margin at this 

point as a reminder. 

JBL 11/1/06 219


No post. 


S. Fine dry breezy day. 

Read Tankerness papers and wrote out Memorandum: advised Free Site case. 

Called on WHF. 

Dr Traill and Mr Gold called and sat a long time; also Mr Fraser about Road lists. 

Walked to Quoy dandy. 

Post came in. Letters from A Anderson, London, he does not send a sous 528 for our 

destitute; from John Banchor, getting very high prices; from Destitution Committee, 

Edinburgh, to draw for £60 for Stromness. 


S. Fine dry breezy day. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene WS 10 Hanover St Edinburgh, acknowledging letter; that I wd 

draw on Mr Forbes for £60; no soup kitchen; there is no destitution on So Ronaldshay. 

Wrote to Geo Forbes, Treasurer Destitution Board Edinburgh drawing line on him for 

£60. 

Wrote to Dr Hamilton Stromness with Skene's Circular and papers; to call meeting and 

be zealous and active; &c. 

Held Court. 

Call from Ranken about breaking into Mills. 

Called on Fotheringham and walked by sea shore past Scapa. 

No letters to day. 


S E. Warm calm sunny morning; breezy afternoon. 

Transferred Lunatic Trust fund money into Trust account; adjusted account at Bank. 

Meeting of Trustees; wrote out Minute. Tankerness and Drs Duguid and Bremner 

attended. 

Walked with Tankerness towards Birstane. Met Mrs Baikie and Mrs Balfour and walked 

with them. 

Letter from Mr Caskey, Stronsay. No letters to day by south post. 529 


S E. Clear day; high wind. 

Walked with Mr Fotheringhame to Heathery quoy and home across moor. 

527 This says something about Scott's reputation so relatively soon after his death but it also says 

something about JR's tastes and judgment, no doubt influenced by his personal knowledge of Scott who 

was writing in Edinburgh when JR was a young and admiring lawyer there. Was his estimation of Scott 

representative of his generation and of that period? 

528 A sou [or sous] was a French five centime piece; in 1997 JR would probably have written the word 

'ha'penny' with similar scorn and contempt, in spite of the halfpenny's abolition by decimal coinage. 

529 "South post', meaning letters from Edinburgh and the mainland of Scotland, is mentioned because of 

Mr Caskey's letter, which probably came by Packet Boat from Stronsay, which is to the north. 

JBL 11/1/06 220


Called at Birstane and remained till half past 3. Mr Calder came in with me. 530 

We met Heddle and Fortescue. 

Mr Miller of St Margaret's Hope (Secession Minister) met me going to Secession 

Church. 

Calder dined with me and left at 6 to meet Jas Kinnear, Craigie Halket 531 and Mr Bryce 

532 who came by the Steamer and are going to Balfour. 

Read Sibbald 533 old Scottish Poets. 

No post. 


S.E. Strong breeze; clear day. 

The Balfours lunched with me and I accompanied them to Church in the afternoon and 

walked to Birstane gate after[wards]. William Logie, now of Firth, who I heard preach the 

day after my arrival in Kirkwall, preached; a clever lad, but cold and unimpressive. 534 

Secession sacrament. 


N. Warm sunny and beautifully calm day. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh sending Receipt for Quarter's salary; [about] my mother; 

[about] John and William. 

Wrote to William Tobermory; Law reading; Bills; Principles &c; Duncan 535 and Mary; 

Orcadians fat and fucarach 536 etc. 

Wrote to Arthur Anderson 41 St Mary Axe City London; we don't want grain depots in 

Orkney etc. 

Walked to Severack March; met Wm Fotheringhame; Bain. 

Letter from John vindicating himself about Milton etc. 537 


E by S. Moderate day; dry. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about John [and about] Baikies, Balfours &c. 

Wrote to John Banchor encouraging him to assist his mother in removing etc. 

Bain called about poor lunatic cases from Stromness etc. 

Walked out by Tankerness Road and home by that of Birstane; met Calder going to 

Berstane. Craigie Halket is there. 

530 If Fotheringhame had accompanied JR when he called at Birstane, which is not what one would have 

expected, he would have written: 'Mr Calder came in with us'. 

531 Craigie Halkett was the landscape architect who laid out the terraced garden at Balfour Castle on 

Shapinsay; see JR's description of him in entries 470324, 470325 and 470327. 

532 David Bryce was the architect responsible for the design of Balfour Castle which was built between 

1846 and 1850. See entry for 460725. 

533 James Sibbald 1745-1803, Edinburgh bookseller and author of 'Chronicle of Scottish Poetry'. 

534 This is an interesting comment on a man whose sister Harriet JR was to marry in 1859. 

535 It will be recalled that Duncan was William's infant son, now two months old. 

536 This word is hard to read and for the moment is assumed to be Gaelic. 


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Examined Cellar to day; it contains 9 doz & 3 bottles wine or 47 bottles of Sherry and 64 

Port. 538 


E. Gray misty day. 

Fast day. 539 

Went to St Magnus in the forenoon and sat in the Magistrate's Pew for the first time. In 

the afternoon went to the Secession Chapel and heard an excellent discourse from Mr 

Paterson. 

Walked down with the Tankernesses and met the Balfours 540 and Mr Craigie Halket. I 

knew the face at once as one I had formerly been accustomed to see on the streets of 

Edinburgh. He is a desperately rakish looking fellow, but like a gentleman. His age is 45. 


E. Gray day - cold and dry. 

Held a Court and then had a Meeting of Agents (Ranken and Urquhart) in Lord Zetland 

v Irvine from half past 12 to half past 2. 

Mrs Steele called. 

I lunched and walked out to Tankerness. Mr and Mrs Balfour, Fortescue, Miss Rosewell 

and Mr Craigie Halket were there. Mrs Baikie dislikes Halket and treated him with 

marked neglect. He is dissipated, drinks hard; is rather clever; a man of the world; a 

Roué and without a particle of feeling. I would not like him for a companion. 

Fortescue and [I] slept in the Barrack Room over the Library. The Laird as usual was 

agreeable and jolly, but he gave Halket very little Wine. 


E. Gray dry day. Cold. 

After breakfast we went out with the Gray hounds. W Balfour and I returned, took leave 

of the ladies and came off in his Dog Cart. 

Heddle and Ranken were expected, and the rest of the company of yesterday 

remained. 

There were no letters yesterday or to day. 


N.E. Fine calm dry day; gray. 

Went out and met Fortescue who lunched with me. 

I dined at Birstane. Wm Balfour was unwell, and the ladies, Craigie Halket and I dined 

alone. 

Calder came in at 5 and left at 7 or 8. 

538 As the total number of bottles is the same, this presumably means that he had 111 bottles in his 

cellar, of which 64 were port and 47 were sherry. 

539 These two words are written heavily and large for emphasis. 

540 As they had Halket with them these were probably the David Balfours; the same possibly applies to 

the following day's reference to 'Mr and Mrs Balfour'. 

JBL 11/1/06 222


I like Halket much better than at first. He is a bit of a Roué I do believe; but he is a 

clever fellow, a Gentleman and has a manly tone about him that is agreeable. 

We played cards in the Evening and I came away at half past 12. 

No letters. 


N. Gale. Showers of Snow and hail, and glimpses of sunshine. 

I expect Halket, Heddle and Calder to dine with me, but I doubt whether Calder can get 

across from Shapinshay to day. 

The people employed there in draining and planting are striking work for higher wages 

and easier labour! This was the case with David Nairne's people in Mull and always is 

the case with new hands unused to regular work. 

C Halket &c to dine with me. 


N. Cold day; breeze. 

Yesterday afternoon Halket called with Mrs Balfour and Mrs Steele and I went to Church 

with them but sat in the Magistrate's seat. 

H[alket] and I then called on the Tankernesses; and afterwards he, John Baikie and 

Heddle dined with me. They left before 11. 

On Monday I remained in the House all day, studying and reading Irvine of Bea's case. 

Halket called to bid me good bye; Mrs Balfour and Calder with him. 

No post. 


N. Boisterous day. Snow and sleet. 

I again remained in the house all day. 

Heddle called, and no other person excepting people on business. 

I advised and wrote out my decision in the case of Lord Zetland v Irvine, finding that the 

latter has produced no right to his Teinds 541 and explained my views in a note of 17 or 

18 pages. 

The post came in and brought a handsome letter from Mr Dundas. None else; but I have 

newspapers mentioning that William and Dr Macleod of Morven are in Edinburgh as a 

Deputation from North Argyll to the Destitution Committee. Their speeches are reported 

in the Evening Post of Wednesday the 24th. 


N. Stormy day. Snow; ground white. 

I ordered £40 allowed by the Destitution Board to be placed to credit of Local Committee 

of Stromness and wrote Dr Hamilton Stromness Convenor of Local Committee to that 

effect, of Mr Dundas' handsome letter, and that I have not yet heard from Edinburgh 

Board about soup Kitchen. 

Went to Bank. 

541 Tithes; see Select Glossary. 

JBL 11/1/06 223


Balfours lunched with me. 

I got 1st Annual Report of Board of Supervisors and Correspondence of Government 

and Commissary General &c about Destitution; two curious 542 and valuable Blue 

Books. The first was sent by the Board of Supervisors; the second by Mr John C 

Dundas MP Lord Lieutenant of Orkney. 

Read them from 4 to 11. 


N. Stormy day. Snow. 

Post came in in the morning; letter from John. 

Court day. 

Dined at Inn with Orkney Hunt. Present were Fortescue Chairman, Heddle Croupier, 543 

John Baikie, Scarth, Dr Logie, Traill of Holland and Mitchell, Bain, Gold, Tom 

Mackenzie, Ranken and myself. The talk was about the Hunt; subscribing for Hounds; 

all agreed to give 3 Guineas. I left at 10. 

Wrote to Wm Simmons 46 Judd St Bruswick Square London with P O order for £1.6.6 

being half year for Times. 


N. Another boisterous day; snow showers. 

Letter from Skene in Morning; wrote to Wm F Skene WS 10 Hanover St Edinburgh; no 

famine here; for £10 or £20 to be placed at my disposal &c. 

Wrote to Dr Hamilton Stromness to call Meeting of local committee about application of 

£20 from Edinburgh Committee and send me a copy of minute; acknowledging letter 

from Messrs Ross and Garson; &c. 

Called on WHF. Walked past Widewell Bridge. Read Orkney Processes about Peterkin; 

Stewarts Trust &c. 

Ned Baxter WS 544 marriage Cards came to me by post to night! 


N W. Moderate day. 

Held Court for Removings; 545 a great many at the instance of Trenaby. 

Called on Tankerness and could not see him on account of his illness. Then called on 

Mrs John Baikie. 

Walked to Severack March and home by moor road above Huttston. Met Heddle and 

went down to the Quay where I ascertained that my Porter has arrived by the Paragon. 

No letters to night. 

542 An obsolete meaning of 'curious' is used here; it signifies showing great care in preparation. 

543 Croupier describes the person who sits at the lower end of the table as assistant chairman at a public 

dinner and may otherwise be known as the vice-chairman or vice-president. 

544 JR last saw his one time partner Edward Baxter at the Caledonian, Oban on 460129. 

545 Could these have been the evictions of tenants by Balfour of Trenaby? If so they may have been 

brought about by the building of Balfour Castle on Shapinsay. 

JBL 11/1/06 224



W by S. Moderate gray day. Calm night. 

To Church in the morning, and walked to Severack March and home by moor road by 

Huttston. Mr Gold accompanied me. 

In the House all the Evening. 


N W. Showers and Sunshine. 

Wrote to Emily Milton; enquiries about sale &c; Craigie Halket; &c &c. 

Wrote to John Banchor; his last satisfactory; Palinode. 546 

Attended Meeting of Stewarts Trustees; present Tankerness, Mr Riddoch and I. 

Then paid Porter account; called at Bank, and on Mrs Baikie of Tankerness. Tankerness 

walked with me afterwards to Heathery quoy. 

Post before dinner. Letter from Dr Hamilton Stromness. 

Westness of Sanday Packet 547 called and I gave him directions about coming for me on 

Monday 12th and wrote to Mr Oliver Drever, Sheriff's Clerk Depute, Sanday to inform 

Westness if any cases are taken out so that he may come for me or not as required. 


S W. Showers. Breeze. 

This morning there was a letter from Donald with letter of Credit for Quarter's salary, and 

Copy of Correspondence with Condie about valuing Milton. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh acknowledging Lr of Credit and about Milton. My expenses, 

window tax; Wine; Porter &c. Skene and Frees. Kirkwall parties &c. 

I went to the P O and Bank. Paid Stewarts Trust money. 

Called on the Traills of Holland where I met Mrs Scarth, and was introduced to the two 

Misses Menzies, sisters of Mrs T[raill] with whom I went to St Magnus &c. 

The Evening post brought a letter from William about his visit to Edinburgh. 548 

I was invited to accompany the Balfours and Tankernesses to Fortescue's to day, and 

declined. 


W by N. Boisterous showery day. 

Wrote to Wm Tobermory about his visit to Edinburgh Destitution Committee; Blue Book; 

Skene; mode of living here; Porter &c. 

Wm and Mrs Balfour called and I promised to dine out with them to morrow. 

Ranken called and I paid him Subscription to Orkney Hunt like a fool. 549 

546 Let us assume that the palinode was, figuratively speaking, a poem of retraction and apology to John; 

but there is a suspiciously patronising tone about JR's words 'his last satisfactory'. We are not told the 

contents of that letter, received by JR on 470401. For earlier relevant letters see 470315 and 470322. See 

also JR to Emily 470415. 

547 A packet was a ship or vessel employed in carrying packets of letters, passengers, etc and usually 

plying regularly between one port and another. 

548 See entry 470330 

JBL 11/1/06 225


Finished reading life of Sir Isaac Newton by Brewster, 550 a very agreeable book. 

Walked out after dinner for the first time this season; went past Huttston and home by 

Sea Shore. 

Read Decisions in Evening. 

No post. 


W. A tempestuous day; long black showers and fierce gales. 

I was to have dined at Birstane, but did not go, and did not leave the house all day. 

I read Capt Loch's China, an agreeably written slight work, leaving no lasting 

impression; it reads like a fashionable novel. 551 

I then read the greatest part of young Samuel Laing 552 of Papdale's Prize Essay on 

National distress, a clear and able work which reads like a leader in the Times. It was 

written in 1842 and is already antiquated. For instance it contains a long dissertation on 

the Corn laws. The principal question of which he treats however is enduring, and he 

writes well upon the subject; it is the condition of the labouring classes. Upon the whole 

I concur very much in his opinions. 

No post. 


N W. Showery morning. 

It has now (3 o'clock) cleared up and I am going out to walk and to dine at Heddle's. 

I have been reading Laing's "National Distress", which I have finished, and looking into 

Nicolas' Chronology of history, a curious 553 and useful Volume. 554 

Dined at Heddles with Wm and Mrs Balfour, Mr and Mrs Ranken, Scarth, Dr Logie and 

Miss Logie. Came home at 12. 

549 It must have been fairly unuusal for JR to be coerced into doing something he didn't want to do and to 

confess to feeling ashamed and cross with himself afterwards. Apart from the waste of money which he 

could ill afford, for JR's salary was small and he was unlikely ever to follow hounds, the shame was 

probably as much as anything because he recognized that he might not be able to maintain his position in 

the small social world of upper class Orkney society if he didn't pay up. The fact that it was Ranken, of all 

people, who got the money out of him made matters worse. 

550 Probably Sir David Brewster 1781-1868. 

551 Captain Loch has not been identified. Henry Brougham Loch, first Baron Loch of Drylaw 1827-1900 

would be an obvious candidate were it not for his age in 1847 and for the fact that he does not seem to 

have been to China until 1857 and did not publish his 'Personal Narrative of Lord Elgin's second Embassy 

to China' until 1869. 

552 Samuel Laing 1812-1897, barrister,politician and author, was deeply involved in the development of 

the railways and was liberal M P for Wick 1852-57, 1859, and 1865-68, and then M P for Orkney and 

Shetland 1872-85. He published 'Modern Science and Modern Thought' and anthropological works. His 

father Samuel Laing 1780-1868 wrote on the economic and social conditions of Scandinavia. His uncle 

Malcolm Laing 1762-1818 was a distinguished Scottish historian who published a 'History of Scotland' in 

1802 and 'Poems of Ossian' in 1805, and was M P for Orkney and Shetland 1807-1812 

553 In 1847 'curious' meant 'showing great care and skill in preparation'. 

554 Sir Nicolas Harry Nicolas 1799-1848, antiquary, published his 'Chronology of History' in 1833, together 

with a wide variety of other works. His attacks on the record commission, the Society of Antiquaries and 

the British Museum brought about many desirable reforms. 

JBL 11/1/06 226


In the forenoon walked to Heathery Quoy. 


N W. Fine cool breezy day. Light showers in the morning. 

I walked to Heathery quoy and home by sea shore below Birston and across moor. 

The Steamer came in at half past 3. 

Tankerness called about Firth Division of Commonty. 

Post came in early. 

No letters. 


S W. Dry morning; rained at night. 

Went to Church; then called at Papdale with Scarth; and remained in house rest of day. 


N. Fine breezy day. 

Gardener planted and sowed out my garden. 

Scarth breakfasted with me previous to going to meeting of Heritors of Firth at 

Tankerness's. 

Walked to March of Severack. On my return Westness of the Sanday Packet called with 

a letter from Oliver Drever, Sheriff's Clerk Depute Sanday informing that no Summonses 

were issued for Small Debts Court at Sanday for 13th. The Sanday Circuit may be 

dropped. 

Received 2 letters from Mr Banks Vice Admiral Substitute of Walls intimating that a 

Vessel was wrecked on West Coast of Hoy. Wrote him in answer 

Mr Banks Vice Adm[ira]l Depute Walls that the Clerk of Court will communicate with 

Lloyds and with the presumed Owners of the Wreck Wemsley South Shields; and in the 

meantime that no Sale must take place until enquiry is made. 

Heddle called about this wreck and he and I went to W H Fotheringhame about it. 555 

Bought Night Caps. 

Post. No letters. 

Took a spell at my Time Tables. 


N. Breezy and very cold day. 

Analyzed and noted down contents of Orkney Road act in Time Table. 

Walked to Huttston and home by shore. 

Post came in and No letters. 


N. Moderate, cool day. Gray. 

Bottled barrel of porter; 17 dozen 3 bottles. 

555 James Banks was Heddle of Melsetter's factor as well as holding office as Vice Admiral Depute [or 

Substitute] of Walls, on Hoy. 

JBL 11/1/06 227


Write Order in diet book altering and arranging Circuit Small Debts Courts. 

Walked with Fotheringhame past Widewell Bridge. 

Tennyson's Poems. 556 

Ranken borrowed 3 Vols of Decisions. 

Letters from Emily and William; my mother ill with a cold; Possils leaving Mull on 22nd. 


W. Milder. Gray day. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about arrangements for leaving Milton; John means everything for 

the best; William's cheerful and happy disposition; Margaret, George; Donald; &c; my 

mother's illness; going south in August. 557 

Wrote to William Tobermory; Mull enquiries and remarks; jolly life in Orkney; 

Tankerness a mimic &c. 

Finished and put up Time Table, excepting Criminal part of it. 558 

Walked out to bottom of Whiteford hill. 

Post; No letters. 

Mrs Balfour called. 

Heddle's daughter christened. 


S W. Very fine sunny day; breezy. 

Walked before breakfast by Sea Shore to Severack March and home by Huttston. Wrote 

to Charles Neaves Edinburgh about destitution; none; business slow; no crime; jail 

empty; drains; new jail; new Churches; truce between Clergy; Free Kirk Mr Sinclair 

isolates himself; Mr Riddoch and Sub[stitu]te [?]; &c &c &c. 

Wrote to Dr Hamilton Stromness Convenor of Local Committee acknowledging answer 

to my letter of 2d and to send Minute of Meeting containing their resolution about £20 

&c. 

Two of the young Traills of Woodwick called. 

I walked before dinner by Holm Road and home by Scapa. 

Letter from Donald, and from W Simmons acknowledging P O order. 559 

Donald going to Collonsay with Archy McNeill. 560 


N. Breezy day; dark. rain in Morning. 

Read Hume 561 and Alleson [?]; also Straightening of Marches cases. 562 

556 Tennyson's volume entitled 'Poems' was published in 1842. 

557 In view of the 16 year age gap between them it is interesting that JR wrote so freely to Emily on 

confidential family matters and about the behaviour and characters of their brothers and sister. 

558 In 1847 'put up' meant 'put aside'. 

559 See entry 470401. 

560 See Index. 

561 See entry 470208. 

562 Straightening of Marches means adjustment of boundaries between pieces of land. 

JBL 11/1/06 228


Tankerness called and I went out with him to Birstane. Mrs Baikie was there. Mrs 

Balfour told me that a man whom I knew in Edinburgh some fourteeen or fifteen years 

ago, a Mr Weir of Kames, has committed suicide by cutting his throat. When I knew him 

he had just come out at the bar, and was almost crazy about politics; a fierce Tory. Poor 

fellow. 

No letters. 

The Steamer not arrived. 


N E. Fine clear breezy but cold day. 

Walked before breakfast to Quanterness. 

Wm Balfour and Calder called at half past 12. At 1 Mrs Balfour and afterwards Mrs 

Steele. They all lunched with me, and I went to Church and sat in their pew. 

Then I walked before to Dinner by Sea Shore and home by Huttston. 


E. Moderate gray day. 

Made up and sent to Alexander Mitchell, Exchequer, Edinburgh, Return of my property 

and Income Tax Schedule E, viz: 

"Salary £355. Fees £2.2. Deductions Expence of D Circuits, Stromness at £1 each = £4; 

South Ronaldshay 3 at 30/- each = £4.10; Sanday 3 at £2.15 each = £8.15. Total 

Amount of Deductions £16.15. 

Note: The South Ronaldshay Circuit is partly, and the Sanday wholly, by sea, and the 

expence varies; that to Sanday may be as low as £1.15 or as high as £8 or £10 

according as the wind is favorable or contrary". 

Wrote to Margaret 5 Bath St Glasgow about their own affairs; my mother should take 

Lodgings at first; 563 life in Orkney. 

Tankerness called and sat a couple of hours with me talking pleasantly de omnibus 

rebus. He has just received a letter from the Duke of Sutherland intimating that the 

Grant for St Magnus is allowed. 

Walked out to Distillery; slight showers. 

Dined at Mr John Baikie's with the Balfours, Rankens, Mrs Pollexfen and Dr Logie. 

Home at 1. 


N. Fine day. One or two cold showers. 

Walked to Heatheryquoy and home by Birstane. Walked over the farm with Wm Balfour. 

No letters. 


N. Fine day, and finer night. 

563 It will be recalled that the plan at that time was that JR's mother should leave the farm at Milton of 

Invervack and go to live in Glasgow to be near her daughter Margaret. This plan was in fact soon 

abandoned and she moved to Kindrochet, at first to the cottage to be with her three unmarried sisters and 

then, in September 1847, she moved to Kindrochet House, accompanied by Emily. 

JBL 11/1/06 229


Read Reclaiming Petition of George Irvine. 

Dine alone with the Balfours. In the Evening the Traills Woodwick, Gilbert Traills and 

Mrs John Baikie joined. Cards. 

I saw the Gilbert Traills home. A beautiful night; to bed at half past 1. 


To Church in forenoon. Synod Sermon by Mr Anderson of Walls. 


N W. Fine day. 

Court day; 2d Box day. 564 

Went out with Ranken and took Deposition of Sutherland Sinclair son of Jas Sinclair 

Tenant of Braehead [?] who was hurt by David Spence throwing a stone at him. Both 

boys of about 13. 

In the Evening the Balfours and Dr Traill of Birsay and Mr Brotchie of Westray 565 dined 

with me. The Town is full of Parsons attending the Meeting of Synod. They have a great 

work with the case of Mr Smith of Holm. 

The Ministers left early; the Balfours at 11. 


N W. Fine mild day. 

Mr Brotchie breakfasted here and sat with me till 1 o'clock. I like him very much; he is a 

sensible, modest and clever man, and very good natured. 

I went out with Ranken to Orquill to see the "Park" 566 where the boy Sinclair was hurt. 

Took the Declaration of David Spence, committed him and admitted him to bail. 567 

Took a precognition; Wm Jas Gunn and [blank]. 

Wrote to Dr Hamilton Stromness; Destitution Committee's £20 not to go to Ordinary 

poor; some of Lord Zetland and Mr Dundas' £20 to be given to them and all the Crown's 

£10. 

Saturday 24 April 1847 568 

S E. 

Rose at 7. The Balfours breakfasted with me, and at 9 we set out for Flaws. 

It was a gray day, the wind moderate, and almost dry. We made Flaws without tacking. 

Jas Croy was the boatman, and we had Baillie and Harriet the English cook. Passed the 

Hall of Rendall the last possession of the once powerful family of Halcro. The present 

man is a bachelor of 60 and upwards and as I am told a fine looking man and the last of 

564 See Glossary. 

565 Traill and Brotchie were Ministers. 

566 A Park was a paddock or enclosed field of grass. 

567 It seems strange to find the Sheriff Substitute and the Procurator Fiscal going out in person to take a 

Declaration of a 13 year old boy said to have injured another 13 year old boy by throwing a stone. There 

do not seem to have been any policemen in Kirkwall at this time. 

568 On this and the next two days the Journal MS has the dates recorded incorrectly; JR wrote Friday 

23rd, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th, Monday 27th and Tuesday 27th without seeming to have noticed that 

he had got them wrong. For him this is most unusual. 

JBL 11/1/06 230


his race. He is not a direct descendant of the last Hugh Halcro of Halcro who died 

tempore Caroli Secundi. That Baron had no sons and his Estates were divided among 

his two daughters who carried them into other families. The Halcros of Rendall must be 

cadets of the main house of Halcro and their property is worth only about £20 per 

annum. There is a good house above the Hall belonging to the family of Mr Sinclair late 

Sheriff Clerk of Orkney which is occupied by a young girl one of the daughters. The rest 

of the family are deranged. Sailed well off the point beyond the hall, there being a long 

reef or shoal running out into the sea; then up along Gairsay and past the old mansion 

house of the Craigies of Gairsay now occupied by a tenant, and looking delapidated and 

ruinous. It is a very large building like other old Castles in Orkney more so than the 

modern houses of the Gentry. Gairsay is a fertile island containing about 500 acres, and 

belonging in property to William Balfour. Beyond it lies the small island of Wire or Veira, 

the property of Mr George Wm Traill, and close to Veira is the island of Rousay, one of 

the most considerable of the Orkneys in point of size, but rough, uncultivated and hilly. 

Mr G W Traill has bought the greater part of it from Traill of Woodwick. He has built a 

dozen of little white Cottages scattered along the shore of the Firth or Sound of Rowsay 

[sic], the last of which he calls Veira House. A little beyond Veira House stands 

Westness, the residence of Mr Traill of Woodwick. The house is rather larger than a 

Manse and is situated in the Middle of the Garden and surrounded by Houthouses 569 

and Conservatories with a staring square white wall built round all. The island of 

Rowsay is divided from Evie and Rendall on the Mainland by a narrow Channel or 

Sound about 2 miles broad, called the Firth of Rowsay. In the mouth of it lies the island 

of Enhallow and the Channel between the island and Evie is called the Sound of 

Enhallow. The part of the Mainland facing the Firth of Rowsay is Rendall and Evie. This 

united Parish is a fine rich and apparently a fertile soil, and as far as I could see it is 

either cultivated or capable of cultivation. The Balfours have property both in Rendall 

and Evie, and the farm of Flaws belonging to Wm Balfour is a very valuable one. It is 

much neglected but the former tenant is removing and Wm Balfour is to keep the place 

in his own hands until it is drained. 

We landed at Flaws at 1. Went round the place. Wm, Mrs Balfour and I went to the 

Manse and lunched with the Minister Mr Beattie, a commonplace respectable man; his 

wife is a red haired clever active woman with three children, and about to be confined 

again. We had cheese and whisky from the Grieve's wife Mrs Seatter, a superior young 

woman, red haired also, and with a club foot. Mrs Steele and Harriet called at Aikerness 

on the Farmer Mr Folsetter. We arrived at 1. Left at 4, and reached Kirkwall at 8. From 

Flaws to the Hall of Rendall we tacked; thereafter we made one board of it; I rowed a 

great part of the way home. The Balfours came up and took tea and chops with me; 

then a glass of Toddy and Negus 570 and home at 11. We had a jolly laughing party, and 

planned another for next week. 

I found letters from Emily (my mother better) and Mr Neaves about destitution. 

569 This word is presumably a slip of the pen for either 'hothouse' or 'outhouse'. 

570 Toddy was a mixture of spirits, hot water and sugar. Negus was port or sherry with hot water, 

sweetend and spiced. 

JBL 11/1/06 231



S by E. Moderate day. Now a strong breeze and occasional showers. 571 

To church in morning. Mrs Steele there, and Miss Traill of Woodwick. saw the latter 

home. 

Mr John Pollexfen came yesterday by the Steamer and was in church. He is a thin, tall 

and gentlemanlike man, a clergyman of the English Church and about 30. 


S E. Showers in morning and breeze. Moderate Evening. 

I went out and perambulated the marches of Orquil &c between Grahames Hall and Mr 

Jas Pollexfen with a view to straighten them. Mr Pollexfen and Mr David Petrie, Factor 

for Grahameshall, and Ranken were with me and we were all unanimous as to the right 

line. 

I was introduced to Jas Pollexfen 572 and we plunged at once into the Scottish 

Episcopalian Controversy; he leans to Drummond and I to the Bishop but we were 

tolerably moderate. He is a clergyman of the English Church. 

Wrote 10 [pages] to Charles Neaves Edinburgh about Destitution; we have little or none; 

acknowledging £20 for occasional poor. 

Wrote 8 [pages] to Donald Edinburgh about The Duke 573 and his people; damages; my 

mother's removal; trip to Flaws &c. 


S W. Breezy; showers. 

Wrote to William Tobermory a purely Orcadian letter; politics; public, Ecclesiastical and 

domestic 574 

Wrote to Dr Hamilton Stromness; that I yesterday paid £20 into the account of their 

Chairman Mr Thomas Clouston or bearer at National Bank; to send me a statement of 

their proceedings regarding the £40; enquiries about Sack of Beans. 

Called on WHF and walked to head of Clayloan. Came home by upper town. 

Dined at John Baikies with John Pollexfen, Ranken, Dr Bremner. 


No post. 


W. Showery; breeze. 

Walked half way up Wideford Hill. Sore eye. 575 

No post. 

571 The 'now' is undoubtedly the Evening when this day's entry was written up. 

572 This is presumably a slip of the pen and should read 'John Pollexfen'; see 470425 and 470427. 

573 The Duke of Atholl and impending dispute over lease of Milton of Invervack. 

574 This perception of 'public, ecclesiastical and domestic politics' is impressive and predates 20th century 

sociological thinking as far as the 'domestic' being a political arena is concerned. 

575 This may have been a recurrence of the trouble JR had with his left eye which may have been a 

Meibomian cyst accompanied by conjunctivitis treated by Dr Logie with silver nitrate; see 470114. 

JBL 11/1/06 232



W. Breeze. Showers and rain. 

Did not go out. Eye better. 

John Pollexfen, John Baikie, John Heddle, John Traill Woodwick and Ranken dined with 

me. They left at 11 before supper. 

No post. 


S W. Moderate, mild and fine morning. 

G Traill Jr called with Sanday man to ascertain if it was legal to stamp a 3 Bushel 

Measure. 

County Meeting. Wm Balfour lunched. 

Post; no letters. 


S E. Cold dry day. 

Gave Seed Packets from Destitution Committee to Dr Hamilton of Stromness, Mrs John 

Baikie and the Lady Tankerness. Called on the two latter. 

Walked with Tankerness and John Pollexfen to Huttston debating about poor law &c. 

Declined dining with Ranken yesterday and at Birstane to day on account of my eye; it 

is now well. 


Conveyancing Bills through WHF. Books from Tankerness; also Parliamentary papers. 


N E. Cold gray day. Occasional light showers. 

To church in the forenoon. Walked to Huttston and home by moor between sermons 

and remained in the house during the rest of the day. Mrs Steele only in the Balfour's 

Pew. At 10 o'clock at night Ranken called for warrant against Thomas Guthrie and 

another boy for breaking into Iverach the Apothecary's Shop. 


E. Cold gray day; breeze. 

Attended adjourned Meeting of Commissioners of Supply, and engaged all day 

thereafter taking precognition against Wm Guthrie 576 for theft and Housebreaking. 

No walk; no post. 


E. Cold day; gray. 

Going out to Tankerness. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about living [?]; serv[an]ts; Mull; Skene, Bruce, McRae, 

George Fools [?]; Duncan's hair; George Irvine's case; my letter to Sir Ed Coffin &c. 

576 Either William Guthrie was the other boy for whom Ranken got a warrant on the night before or 

Thomas Guthrie's christian name was really William. 

JBL 11/1/06 233


Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh; birth of his daughter; no distress; work every where; 

crime in Town and Country; politics, gayeties of; Mitchell and Tom Mackenzie. 577 


S E. Clear breezy day. 

After breakfast Tankerness and I walked out to the end of the Peninsula of 

Tankerness. 578 There is a remarkable hole or perforation in the smooth grass near the 

sea which, in approaching it, I took for an old Quarry. On reaching the place however I 

discovered that it was a natural pit or abyss about 80 feet 579 deep to which there is an 

opening through the rocks into the Sea. The water flows through this communication 

and dashes against the rocks that form the sides of the pit. The shape of the hole is an 

irregular oblong and being 30 or 40 feet wide across the top and the rocks not 

overhanging, it is quite clear and light to the bottom. The name of it is the Gloup of 

Tankerness. "Gloup" is a generic term applied in Orkney to Caverns, and is probably 

derived from the Icelandic "gloppa" the crater of a Volcano. 

Tankerness told me that Sir Edward Sinclair of Linksness committed suicide by throwing 

himself into the Gloup. His bonnet, coat and sword were found near the opening of the 

Cavern, but his body was never found, and the country people believe that he placed 

them there himself with a view to induce a belief of his death, and to facilitate his escape 

from the vengeance of James V whose displeasure he had incurred by attempting to 

obtain a grant of the islands of Sanday and Eday under fraudulent pretences; see 

Statistical Account of Orkney page 170. 

We walked round the head of the peninsula where this is some fine shore scenery, 

something similar to that of the Coast of Buchan near Slaines Castle. 580 

There is a good flag 581 quarry near the point of Rereswick; and on the north side there 

is a great deal of fine arable land, and still more that is capable of being easily brought 

under the plough. We visited Linksness, the supposed residence of the unfortunate Sir 

Edward Sinclair. The tenant and Mr Baikie 582 pointed out some of the old walls of his 

house, but though anxious to believe in their authenticity I could not observe a trace or 

vestige of them. 

We dined alone, and passed the Evening very agreeably. 


E. Breeze. Rain in Evening. 

Tankerness drove me in after breakfast and I held my 2nd box day Court. 

I found a letter from John Banchor about my mother's removal, and a printed bill of the 

sale at Milton which is to take place on Wednesday the 19th. I feel a sinking of the heart 

577 This phrase should perhaps read: "politics; gayeties of Mitchell and Tom Mackenzie." 

578 As JR says in yesterday's entry, he was spending a couple of nights at Hall of Tankerness. 

579 '80 feet' may be '60 feet'; the figure is hard to read. 

580 This bit of the coast of Buchan near Port Errol and Slains Castle made an impression on JR during his 

journey south by sea in August 1846. 

581 Flag is stone that separates in slabs which are used as flat paving stones or flagstones. 

582 It is unusual to find JR referring to Tankerness as Mr Baikie. 

JBL 11/1/06 234


when I think that our connection with the old place is so soon to terminate. What 

thousand thousand recollections and associations and feelings bind me to it. 

There was a note from Lt Col Hope on my table requesting information about the 

destitution at Stromness. He is assistant to Sir Edward Coffin the Commissary 

General. 583 Tankerness and I went on board the Scourge a very fine Steamer, and saw 

Col Hope who informed us that finding me from home he had gone over the Stromness, 

and gave the Committee there £53! 

They don't need it, and don't deserve it. 

Sir Edward Coffin sent my letter of the 7th March to the Treasury, and Stromness being 

reported as in a state of destitution by me at that time an order, which Col Hope read, 

was issued to relieve it, without waiting to enquire whether my application to the 

Edinburgh Committee was successful. 

Tankerness and John Baikie dined with me, and I supped with old John. 


E. Dark and almost dry day; breeze. 

Appointed Proof 584 in Firth Div[isio]n to proceed on 10th. 

Wrote to Emily Milton about removal; that my mother sh[oul]d go to Banchor; 585 about 

taking house in Glasgow &c. 

Walked half way to top of Wideford Hill. Scourge Steamer still in the Bay. 

No letters. 


E. Misty drizzling day. 

Heddle and I docquetted 586 Ranken's account taxed by us 2nd May 1846. 

Tried case of Mark Storey, Master of [blank] for deficient lime measure (half boll); 

convicted and fined him in 1/- and 34 of Expences. 587 

Letter from Donald; his visit to Collonsay; the Duke of Argyll's death and the Dean to be 

re-elected for the County. That is good news and in these dark times I feel my heart the 

lighter for it. Condie's letter 588 &c. 


S E. Mostly drizzling day. 

The Steamer came in this morning at 6, having been detained between this 589 and Wick 

for a long time by fogs. No letters by her. 


584 'Appointing Proof' in Scots law means setting the date for a trial before a judge without a jury. 

585 This seems to have been the only time this obvious refuge for JR's mother was suggested. 

586 Summarized or entered in a book; the same as docketted. 

587 The meaning of '34 of Expences' is obscure. 

588 This will have been to do with the valuation of Milton of Invervack; see entry 470406. 

589 In 1847 the word 'this' on its own and in appropriate contexts had the meaning of 'here' or 'this place', 

that being 'the place where the speaker is'. It was then comparable to 'this' as used in 1997 to refer to 

time, as in 'the present moment' or 'up to and including the present moment'. 

JBL 11/1/06 235


Went to church in the forenoon 590 and found Mrs Balfour and Mr Calder here waiting 

me at 1. Their party arrived from Westray yesterday, and Mrs B gave a detailed account 

of their adventures and of the kindness and hospitality of the Westrayans. They lived at 

Mr Brotchie's, Mr Stewart of Brough's and Holland's. 

I had no walk to day. 


S W. Very beautiful clear day. 

At 11 attended Meeting of Commissioners of Supply to hear appeal of Jas Heddle 591 

Fotheringham; John Baikie and I dismissed appeal. 

Called on WHF who is confined to bed. 

Proof of purgation in Division of Firth from 1 to 4. Charles Spence, Robert Urquhart, 

Bain, Scarth and Tankerness present. Wrote long deliverance defining limits of 

Common in Evening. 

Wrote to my mother Milton; not to leave the country against her instructions; an earnest 

letter. 

Wrote to John Banchor on same subject. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Ditto; sale; building cottage; John and Emily; Argyll 

Politics; &c. 


S E. Beautiful clear mild day. 

Walked thro' Garden for first time since it was planted. 

Called on WHF with Heddle; the poor fellow was lying on a sofa and distressingly deaf. 

Then walked round by Walliwall, the Moor, Huttston and Grainbank. At 5 it came most 

unexpectedly to rain. 

Meeting with Bain and Urquhart in Sanday case Flett and Thomson. 


S E. Rainy and mild. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh with Certificate of Residence, and list of Stromness 

Subscriptions. 

In house all day. Letter from F Dundas M P with £7 from humane Lady for poor of 

Orkney. 

Dined at Scarth's with Mr, Dr and Mr Wm Logie, Revd Mr Myres of Benholm, the Bains, 

Spences and Sparks. A very good party. I had a long talk with Spark on literary subjects 

on which he is better informed than I had supposed and with Mr Myres about Teinds 

and Seal duties &c; he is a pompous small man. 

Home at 11. 

Took additional Declaration and precognition against Wm Guthrie. 592 

590 Forenoon in Scotland referred particularly to that part of the day before midday, as opposed to early 

morning. Note that the Steamer arrived in the morning but JR went to church in the forenoon. 

591 The name 'Heddle' has been deleted and replaced by 'Fotheringham'. 

592 See 470503. 

JBL 11/1/06 236



S E and E. Calm mild dark day. 

Wrote to Frederick Dundas M P 24 Hanover Square London acknowledging receipt of 

£7; about poor; little destitution in Orkney; gave list of Contributors to Stromness. 

Wrote to Revd Jas Brotchie, Westray, enclosing £1 for poor family in his parish. 


E. Dark gloomy day. Much rain last night and this morning. 

Tom Traill, Heddle and Ranken dined with me yesterday. We had a quiet and 

satisfactory party, and separated at 11. 

Traill and Heddle are both sensible fellows, but Traill is a much more liberal and 

enterprising man, and less intensely selfish. 

In the forenoon Heddle argued with me about getting assistance from the Edinburgh 

Destitution Committee for his people in Walls, and though his Factor a few days since 

told me that there is no destitution among them, he stated gravely that they had no meal 

and he could find none to buy. I told him there was plenty to be got in the County at 

lower rates than in the south, but he would not believe. 

In the evening I led the conversation to the subject, and Traill said bluntly that there was 

plenty of meal and grain in the County. Heddle looked odd and confused, but still 

maintained there was none to be had. "I'll sell you some myself" said Traill. "How much 

and at what price?" "60 Bolls at 24/-" was the ready answer. 593 Heddle dropped the 

subject, and I made no allusion to our forenoon's conversation. 

To day I read works on Orkney. Walked out at 3 to Birstane. Wm Balfour had just left for 

Tankerness where there is a party to day. Should have sent an excuse for not going 

myself. Went round the garden &c with Tait. 594 

Distributed part of Dundas' £7. Saw Messrs Logie and Craig about Ditto. 

No letters. 


N E. Rain in morning. Cold dark day. 

Read Orkney papers. 

Paid Servants' wages. 

Poor calling about Dundas charity; Heddle about Stable; Geo Petrie with Draft letter 

about Crown land Tax. 

Walked to foot of Wideford Hill. 

Letter from William that he is appointed a member of the General Assembly for the Mull 

Presbytery and is to be up about 21st or 22nd. 

[Letter] from Emily that my dear Mother has had a bad attack and is still seriously 

unwell. I feel grieved to the very heart at her illness, and have evil forebodings of the 

result; God grant that they prove not true. It is most distressing to think that she should 

593 Boll; see Glossary. 

594 William Tait was William Balfour's gardener at Berstane. 

JBL 11/1/06 237


suffer from ill health at this particular time. My heart sinks when I think of her leaving 

Milton under such circumstances; alas, alas! 

Daniel O'Connell died this day 15th at Genoa. 595 


E. Very cold dry gray day. 

To church in afternoon. French officers there with Mrs Ranken. 

Balfours unwell. Saw Mrs Steele home. 


E by N. Cold breezy day. Beautiful calm Evening. 

French Officers called. Dined with Mr Heddlestone at Rankens. Home at 9. 

Distributed money among poor. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene 10 Hanover Street; List of Contributions to Stromness; Dr 

Omond's letter; no use for farther Grants for Stromness; no general destitution; 

individual cases of distress; suggestion to appoint Tankerness, Dr Bremner and Scarth 

on Orkney Committee with £40 or £50; Dundas's contribution. 

Gave paragraph to Reid for John of Groats about donations to poor from F Dundas. 


E. Cold dry day. 

Went out to Birstane to see Wm Balfour who has a smart attack of influenza or fever. 

Did not see himself. John Baikie and Calder called when I was there. 

At 5 Captain or Commodore MountCroix, Commander of the French corvette La 

Prevoyante 596 dined with me along with the Marquis de Boulancourt, one of his officers, 

Dr Logie, his brother Mr William Logie of Firth, and Ranken. The French Captain is a 

most agreeable man, well-bred, intelligent and pleasing in his manners. The Marquis 

also is equally agreeable and very unassuming. They left before 10. 


E. Cold rainy day. 

Engaged from 11 to 3 with Jury striking Fiar's prices. Fotheringhame was unable to 

attend, and I took the evidence which he is in the habit of doing on these occasions; 26 

Witnesses examined. 

Dined at home and at 8 went to Scarth's to meet the French officers. There were seven 

or eight present, but Bulancourt was not of the number. The Senior Lieutenant is the 

smartest of the lot; full of fun, and as lively as a kitten; a little bearded Breton, and a 

man of quality, Count de Temple by name. He sang Auber's song of La Philtre, a buffo 

595 These words are written In the margin of this day's entry; JR did not hear the news until 470529. 

Daniel O'Connell 1775-1847, called the 'Liberator', was probably the most important Irish politician of the 

19th century. The enormous entry about him in the Concise Edition of the D N B ends with these words; 

"The system of constitutional agitation by mass meetings, in his hands, reached a perfection never before 

attained, and he recreated national feeling in Ireland." 

596 The French corvette, in those days a flush-decked vessel with one tier of guns, was on its way to 

Iceland on fishery protection duties. The last visit by the French was in May 1846; see 460518/19. 

JBL 11/1/06 238


piece, with great humour, and gave several other songs. Mrs Steele, the Rankens, 

Baines, Logies and Miss Craig were there. Alexander Bain and his wife were not. Home 

between 12 and 1. 

Post in before breakfast to day. 


N W. Calm mild morning; breezy cool afternoon. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh approving of his accepting Eldership to General Assembly; 

about Milton; my mother's illness; enquiries about Ditto and about Donald's motions, 

Boyle, E Cameron, C Robertson, &c. 

Held the first Court of the Summer Session. 

Heddle lunched with me, and we weighed at Tait's. He is 5 feet 7 and a half inches in 

height and weighs 12 and a half stone. I am 5 feet 9 and a half, and weigh 11 and a half 

stone. 

Weight 11 and a half stone; see 22d January 1849. 597 

At 5 went on board the Corvette with Ranken and Scarth and dined with 

Capt.Mountcroix and his officers, viz Count Temple the Surgeon and a dark young man 

whose name I do not know. The Count as usual most amusing and the Captain very 

agreeable. They got down a Breton sailor to talk Gaelic to me, but we could not 

understand each other in the very least. They are going to Iceland to guard their 

Fisheries the same as last year. 

In the Evening 8 or 9 of them came ashore to a party at Ranken's. There were the three 

Doctors, the John Baikies, Mrs Pollexfen, Mr and Mrs Watt, Wm Logie, the Scarths and 

Mrs Balfour. The Count and Mrs Balfour sang. No dancing. Supper at 11 when I slipped 

away, came home and wrote this. 

Janet Wishart in Orphir to night. 598 


This morning at half past 10 I put a blister on my leg and took it off at half past 10 

o'clock at night. The ordinary period is 12 hours, but it is often applied for a shorter 

period. In my case 10 hours would suffice. 

Let me note down here the treatment advisable. In 2 or three hours after a blister is 

applied to the leg the patient should be in a horizontal position either on a sofa or on a 

bed. When it is removed the old skin is preserved excepting where it is punctured to 

allow the Water to escape; and it need not be washed unless that becomes necessary 

by the blister not coming wholly off, or adhering in considerable quantities to the skin. 

The sore should be covered by a linen cloth slightly covered by a mild healing salve and 

wrapped up so as to prevent the friction of the clothes. If there is a tendency to 

inflammation the patient should still continue to lie in a horizontal position, and as soon 

as the skin is sufficently whole to admit of it, a sheet of raw cotton should be applied to 

the sore until the heat and inflammation disappears. 

597 This sentence is in the margin of the entry and was obviously inserted 18 months later. 

598 Janet Wishart entered JR 's service as housekeeper on 460515. Her brother lived at Kirbister in 

Orphir, to the west of Kirkwall. Janet did not have long to live; she died in JR's house on 480721. 

JBL 11/1/06 239


In about 3 hours after the blister was applied it began to be painful; for the last three 

hours that it remained on my leg the pain was burning and intense, and encreased as I 

am now satisfied by my walking about with a large bag of Water hanging within the skin. 

It rose remarkably well and at the first puncturing I should think that near two Wine 

glassfuls of water was spontaneously discharged; and the discharge continued for 48 

hours thereafter, tho' not in such considerable quantities. The pain was more or less felt 

during all that time, and I could not put my leg under me, but was obliged to hop across 

the room on one leg. 

On Sunday night I applied Cotton, and it gave great and almost immediate relief. On 

Monday I was able to walk about the house a little; and to day I feel but little pain and 

could walk out, and would, were it not that I do not feel otherwise well or comfortable. 

It may be well to remember hereafter that I found a blister a much more severe 

application than I had anticipated, and that it should not be had recourse to excepting in 

serious cases. 599 

Wrote to H C Baildon, Druggist, 73 Prince 600 St, Edinburgh, for box of Cheddons. 


Remained in the house all day lying on a bed or a sofa. 


Better to day, but still kept the house and sofa. Allowed servants to go to church. Read 

Hooks three Reformations, Lutheran, Roman and Anglican, a very able pamphlet 

containing a plain and convincing exposition of the principles of the reformation of the 

English Church. 601 The general scope of the work is to shew that the Roman 

reformation of the Council of Trent was based upon the Bible and mediaeval tradition, 

the Lutheran reformation on the Bible and the opinions of learned Protestants, and the 

Anglican on the Bible and the authority of the Primitive Church and Fathers. 


S. Beautiful and very warm day. Chilly in the Evening. 

Tankerness called and sat and chatted for several hours with me. On Friday, and again 

yesterday, Capt Mancroix and Compte St Croix called. I could not see them. They left 

this morning. 

In the Evening I took 2 Declarations of Barbara Traill. Ranken sat a short time with me. 

599 The application of a blister seems to have been JR's own idea. No doctor was involved and there is no 

indication why he subjected himself to what appears to have been pointless torture; he does not mention 

having felt ill beforehand and does not declare his intention of trying the effect of putting a blister on his 

leg. That he was a hypochondriac is indicated by his immediate request for a box of his favourite 

'Cheddons', a patent medicine the contents of which have not yet been established. 

600 At this time JR invariably wrote 'Prince Street' for 'Princes Street'. 

601 Walter Farquhar Hook 1798-1875, dean of Chichester, published many works, including a 'Dictionary 

of Ecclesiastical Biography' 1845-52; the pamphlet which JR was reading probably derived from the 

sermon 'Hear the Church' which Hook preached at Chapel Royal in 1838 affirming the apostolical 

succession of English bishops. His grandfather James Hook 1746-1827 was organist at Vauxhall 

Gardens 1774-1820 and the composer of over two thousand songs, including 'The Lass of Richmond Hill'. 

JBL 11/1/06 240



S W. High breeze and dry day. 

I am much better to day, but did not think it prudent to walk out. 

Interlocutor in Division of Commonty of Firth, and 

Wrote to Revd Wm Malcolm, Free Manse of Firth, Phinstown, that his claim is allowed 

to be withdrawn. 

Interlocutor in Runrig of Redland and Flaws. 

No person called to day, but Clerks about processes. 


S W. Breezy fine warm day. Rain at 5. 

Last night I had letters from Donald and Emily giving an account of the sale of Cattle &c. 

at Milton; the proceeds were £263; and they reckon the crop worth about the same sum. 

My mother removed from Milton on Monday the 17th and after having spent fifty years 

there she said that she left the place without regret. This I doubt; she is unwell and 

cannot at present either analyse or estimate her own feelings. I hope in God that she 

may soon recover her health. They took her from her bed to which she had been 

confined for three weeks and from Milton to her sisters' house at Kindrochet Cottage, 

where she now is. Emily wrote on Saturday and her mother had not then suffered from 

her removal. 

Donald attended the sale from Edinburgh, though only for a few hours, having to return 

that same day; and Strowan came down from Dunallister and as usual was most kind 

and friendly; but the burden of the business fell on John, who came from Badenoch. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Sale; my mother's health; Dr Mackay's exam[inatio]n 

&c. 

Wrote to Emily Kind[roche]t Cottage about Ditto. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Ditto Ditto and Emily's praise of his management. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about 14 Vol of S & D; McGlashan's 602 new work. 

Wrote to John Mclachlan Bookseller about 14 Vol of S & D. 

Tankerness and Ranken called about American Vessel driven ashore with Dutch and 

German Emigrants. 

In the afternoon I had a letter, a most satisfactory one, from John about the Sale. 

Did not go out to day tho' well. 

Mrs Balfour called; her husband is better. 


S W. Fine warm day; almost sultry at one time. 

Wrote to John Banchor in answer to his letter of 24th; a kind letter. 603 

602 John McGlashan, who emigrated to New Zealand where he died in 1866, was a solicitor in Edinburgh 

who published many legal works between 1831 and 1844. 

603 There is no way of guessing whether the 'kind letter' was this one written by JR or the one received 

from his brother the day before. 

JBL 11/1/06 241


Wrote to Dr Omond 53 Charlotte Sq Edinburgh that all are agreed on the principle of 

restricting public Charity to the poor not on the roll, and that I think it practicable to do so 

in Stromness 1st because there is no Soup Kitchen and 2ndly and principally [because] 

ample funds are otherwise provided for the ordinary poor; I remain of the same opinion 

and propose to act accordingly; I go to Stromness next week; requesting his attention to 

the state of the poor in other parts of Orkney as a more important question. 

Court day. From half past 12 to near 6 engaged in hearing appeals against the Road 

Assessment from parishes of St Olla, Orphir, Holm and St Andrews. Mitchell sat with 

me; a heavy business. 

No letters. 


S. Warm dry day. 

Post came in before breakfast. Letter from William. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh in answer, congratulating him on his visit to Atholl; about 

Assembly &c &c. 604 

Attended Appeal Court with Mitchell, Gold and young Watt of Skeall from 11 to half past 

3. 

Walked by Sea Side. 

Brotchie of Westray dined with me. Talked of Churches; Reid Secession Minister of 

Westray and Buchan of Keltoe &c. 


W. Heavy rain. Thunder from 2 to 11 a.m. 

Yesterday I received a box of Cheddons from Edinburgh and to day 

Wrote to H C Baildon Druggist 73 Prince St Edinburgh acknowledging Ditto and with 

2/11 in P O Stamps and for a larger box. 605 

I then paid Bain my Whitsunday rent, and went to the Appeal Court. Heard the cases 

from Bersay, Evie, Rendall and Firth, and several supplementary and odd ones at the 

end. I think that the whole appeals this year came to about 400 or perhaps more. 

Mitchell and Gold sat with me to day. They are now finished thank heavens, and I 

warned the crowd every morning that I would not hear a single case after the Appeal 

Court was over. An immense number are struck off in consequence of the new mode of 

asssessment rendered necessary by Mitchell's reading of the act. I fear that the 

business of the roads cannot now be conducted under the present act. 

Calder called at 4 about his Leases; and Bain with reference of laborers' account for 

putting up March Stones between Harray and Firth; I taxed it from £2.10. to £2. 

O'Connell dead. 606 

604 It will be recalled that William was in Edinburgh attending the General Assembly of the Church of 

Scotland as a representative of the Mull Presbytery. It seems that while there he went up to Atholl, 

perhaps attending the sale at Milton with Donald. 

605 JR ordered Cheddons from Baildon fairly frequently; they have not yet been identified but on one 

occasion he refers to them as 'Cheddon pills'. 

606 These two words are written in the margin; see 470515 + note. 

JBL 11/1/06 242



S. A very beautiful sunny and sultry summer day. 

I did not go to Church and called at Birstane on William Balfour whom I found alone. He 

is very weak poor fellow but recovering fast, and in tolerably good spirits. He walked out 

with me to the Garden, and on our coming out Mrs Balfour came from Church. Mrs 

Steele and Calder went to Shapinshay to hear Brotchie preach at the Sacrament there. 

The Balfours and I lunched in the Garden on Curds and Cream, and afterwards I walked 

with Mrs B to the sea Shore. 

Came home to dinner at 6. 

After the heavy warm rain of yesterday the Country looks beautiful, and vegetation is 

most luxuriant. This appears to me to be the first real summer day of the Season. 


W. Very fine sultry day. Cooler and gray in Evening. 

Called at Bank. 

Took precognition and Declaration of Captain Potts of John & Isabella of Newcastle and 

his Mate Robert Enins [?] about South Ronaldshay and Flotta people carrying off coals. 

Walked to foot of Wideford hill. 

No letters. 


S. Fine warm day. Light breeze. 

Breakfasted at seven and left for Stromness exactly at half past 7 in Magnus Heddle's 

Gig, Robert Muir driver, and with a new and good pony called 'Jolly'. Rob watered the 

pony at Phinstown and I walked on to Stennis. 

Arrived at Stromness soon after 10. Held a Meeting of the Local Destitution Committee 

which was attended by the Revd Mr Stobbs, Drs Hamilton and Garson, Messrs Ross, 

Wyllie, John Robertson, Clouston, Brown and two or three more whose names I do not 

know. Their report was satisfactory. 

Held Court; 8 cases in Roll. 

Interlude of Harvey v Ross. 

Took precognition in Theft of Coals Flotta case. 

Lunched and came away soon after 2. Arrived at home a quarter before 5. 


W. Another fine warm sunny day. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh; reporting state of Stromness; shipwreck of Herald; 

Flotta case &c. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochit Cottage; Orkney news; politics; marriages; strangers 

expected; shipwreck of Herald; Tankerness; Balfours leaving 607 &c &c; Frenchmen; 

dinners. 

Wrote to William Edinburgh about Stromness; Ross v Harvey. 

607 William Balfour and his wife left Orkney for four months and seem to have spent most of that time in 

Edinburgh. 

JBL 11/1/06 243


Wrote to Mr Forbes Sheriff Clerk Depute St Margaret's Hope, to send Numbers of 

Cases at Small Debts Court of 8th. 

Called on Williamson and Mr Spence about meal for Stromness. There is none to be 

had. The price of black oat meal is now 24 shillings per boll. 608 

Went out to Birstane after dinner and returned at quarter to 12. I could then read The 

Times at the window of my bed room. 

Fred Dundas MP married on 2d June 1847. 609 


W. Breezy dry warm day. 

No fire, for the first morning. Off Flannels, on Cottons. 

Wrote in answer to his letter of 1st to Dr Garson, Stromness. "Dear Sir, I regret to hear 

you can get no meal for Stromness in the North isles, and to inform you that Williamson 

the Miller and Corn dealer here cannot promise to give you any. I saw Mr Wm Balfour 

last night, and he says he will give you ten bolls next week, and ten the week following. 

Possibly too he may be able to give you another ten, but he will give you 20 bolls 

certain; black oat meal and at the market prices of Orkney." 

"In terms of the formation of your local Committee I reported to Sheriff Neaves that you 

do not intend and never intended to give any part of the £20 allowed by the Edinburgh 

board for gratuitous distribution to the ordinary poor receiving parochial relief; and that 

you do not require or ask for any additional Grant for the purchase of worsted; but I 

strongly recommended that you should be allowed the whole proceeds of the sales of 

the manufactured articles either sent or to be sent up to Edinburgh. I will communicate 

with your Committee when I receive an answer." 

"P.S. I asked Mr Neaves for the good offices of the Edinburgh Board in providing Indian 

corn meal for Stromness at the market prices of the day; but I recommend to you not to 

depend upon their assistance and to continue your own exertions exactly as if no such 

application had been made. When your meal agent comes here I will send him to Mr 

Balfour, I am dear Sir" &c. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh, reporting case of Ship Herald of Baltimore run ashore 

by Randolph Pullen, the Master, at the Ness of Tankerness with 112 Emigrants from 

Amsterdam to New York and 15 of a Crew; requesting his good offices with the Dutch 

Consul at Leith and with the Home authorities to get the emigrants who are an 

intolerable burden to us removed; also about criminal part of question; no danger to life; 

the Vessel is the Capt's property; offence of defrauding insurers not completed till 

insurance demanded, and cannot be completed in Scotland, all the parties, Insurers, 

Criminal & all, being foreigners; asking advice. 

Post came in at half past 9 a.m. Letter from Donald. 

608 Boll; measure of capacity for grain etc used in Scotland and the north of England. In Scotland it was 

usually the equivalent of 6 imperial bushels; a bushel was formerly a dry measure of 8 gallons for grain, 

fruit etc, but an imperial bushel is 2219.36 cubic inches. A Boll was also a measure of weight, containing, 

for flour, 140 lbs; this seems the most likely usage for oat meal in 1847. 

609 This sentence is written vertically in the margin of this day's entry. JR met Mrs Dundas for the first 

time on 470706. 

JBL 11/1/06 244


Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Milton sale; Duke's people; 610 going south to see my 

mother. 

Engaged from 1 to half past 4 taking precognition about Ship Herald. 

Dined alone with Wm Balfour. 

Mrs Steele, Mrs Balfour and Calder at Tankerness. 

Home at 12. 


W. Breezy day. Not as sultry as for last 4 days. 

Took Declaration of Randolph Pullen aged 55 Master of Herald of Baltimore. Stromness 

meal agent called, and I sent him to Wm Balfour. 

Letter from Dr Garson about meal. 

Called on W Fotheringhame. 

Met Mrs Stewart of Burness 611 and then Mrs John Baikie. 


N W by W. Cold breezy day. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh that there is no Criminal case against Captain Pullen; 

there was a fog when the vessel struck; 6 feet water in the hold when long boat was 

offered by Delday to take her into deep water; and Insurances are to half the value, and 

in foreign Countries; requesting his assistance to get Emigrants removed from Orkney. 

Heard Enlistment case of Hugh Marwick and discharged him upon his paying 20/- and 

returning Enlistment money under and in terms of Mutiny Act. Tankerness came in at 

the time. The Recruiting soldiers complained of Ranken sending a threatening letter as 

procurator Fiscal. 

There was a letter or Report of the affairs of the Advocate's Widow's Fund mis-sent to 

me. Their Capital funds are about £37,400. Their yearly Income from Interest, 

subscriptions &c about £3000; their yearly expenditure including about £1000 to 11 

Widows comes to £1150 to £1200. Last year they saved £2000. 612 

Walked about with Tankerness in his garden, 613 seeing the Secession Church that is 

building &c. 614 

The Architect of the Woods and Forests is coming down by this day's Steamer to 

inspect St Magnus' Cathedral and set agoing the repairs ordered to be made upon it by 

the Government. 

N. Breezy cold day. 



611 Mrs Stewart of Burness was about 80. On 530121 JR went to a party at which he records that she 

danced in her 86th year. 

612 Perhaps there is a mistake in these figures. 

613 This must have been the garden of Tankerness House in Kirkwall. 

614 The Secession Church may have been the present East Church in School Place which was built for 

the United Presbyterians in 1847-49. 

JBL 11/1/06 245


To Church in morning; Mrs Steele there, the B[alfours] not. 

The Steamer came in at 4 this morning and I got a letter by it from Emily dated 1st; my 

mother is better, but still weak and confined to bed. 

Tankerness called and shewed me letter to Sir Jas Thuring, British Consul Rotterdam, 

about Emigrants of Ship Herald. 


N W. Cold showers. 

Got box of Cheddons in morning and wrote to H C Baildon 73 Prince Street Edr 

acknowledging receipt and enclosing the price 4/10 in postage stamps. 615 

Post came in and brought no letters; did not go out all day. 

Read Decisions, arranged letters and wrote Genealogy of the Campbells of Mull in Old 

Journal; I had jotted it down in pencil from Miss Macleod of Tobermory. 616 


N. Rain last night. Cool dry breeze to day. 

Got up before 6, breakfasted, and walked by Holm Road towards So Ronaldshay. 

The Steamer came in at 7 as I was going away. Robert Muir with M[agnus] Heddle's Gig 

did not overtake me until I was a good way beyond Sir Hugh's Seat. Crossed over with a 

fair wind from Holm to St Margaret's Hope which I reached at half past 9. One of the 

Boatmen (Laughton) had been in South America and told stories of Bahia &c. 

At 10 I went up to the School House and commenced the hearing of the appeal cases. 

Gold came in with Wm Cromarty and others, and the place was very crowded. I got 

through the Cases by 12, and then addressed the people, and advised them to pay their 

rates &c. Went through the S[mall] D[ebt] Cases, 10 or 12 in number. 

Gave Ale to Cromarty, Bankes &c. Called at Cromarty's. 

Sailed between 2 and 3, and the wind being contrary we did not get to Holm till 5. Gold 

accompanied me and we reached Kirkwall soon after 6. 

No letters. 


N W. Rain after 4; cloudy all day; rather mild. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh that there is no general destitution in South Ronaldshay. 

There may be partial distress, and a scarcity of meal, but there is full employment for 

able bodied men, and Gold is sending meal at fair prices. 

Captain Elliott. 617 

Gold breakfasted with me and thereafter we went over the South Ronaldshay 

assessment lists and I altered it in conformity with last year's assessments. 

615 See 470521 and 470529. 

616 The "Old Journal" to which JR refers is the first of the surviving volumes, covering the period from 

421115 to 470131. The end papers of that volume contain, with other notes, the genealogies of the 

Campbells of Knock, Aros, Freckadale, Tresnish, Killundin and Barr in Morven, and Suniple in Mull. 

617 Captain Elliott has not been identified. 

JBL 11/1/06 246


The post came in at half past 8 a.m. Letter from William with Edinburgh news and an 

account of his arrival at Tobermory. 

Walked out towards Berstane, met Mrs Steele and Mrs Balfour and returned with them. 

We called on old Mrs Stewart, and then at Grainbank. At Mrs Stewart's we drank wine 

and ate buns &c, and at Grainbank we went through the House and Garden. The 

Balfours lunched with me at half past 3, and I walked to their gate with them at 5. 


N. Cool, dry, breezy. 

In the morning wrote to Emily Kindrochit Cottage about my mother, aunts and herself; 

journey to So Ronaldshay; road assessments; character of people &c. 

Court day; little or no business. Inspected Jail. 

Dined at Birstane with the Tankernesses and Calder. No fires and very cold. 

T[ankernesse]s left at half past 9 and then we had a jolly dance and lots of singing. 

Willie himself sang like a Corncraik. 618 

Home at 12 and found letters from Donald and Neaves. 


[No record of weather] 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh adopting his views as to Casting away vessels with intent 

to defraud foreign Underwriters; to help us with Emigrants; Wambersie & Croossvydrs 

619 Rotterdam's address &c. 

Wrote to John Maclachlan Bookseller Edinburgh to get me Public Statutes and 

Fountainhall at Fergusson's advertising prices. 620 

Bain and Craig called about division of Runrig lands of Flaws, oath to Surveyor's 

Report. 621 

Dined at Scarth's; nobody but the Balfours. They got letters from the French Captain de 

la Tackenay. Home at half past 11. 

Letter from Skene giving £50 from Destitution Committee. 


S E. Breeze. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene 10 Hanover Street Edinburgh acknowledging £50 and about 

administering it with Tanks, Scarth and Dr Bremner. Wrote him also Private letter with 

Craig's Mandate to obtain his accounts in Division of Evie taxed &c. 

Wrote to William Tobermory a light letter de omnibus rebus; Balfour, Scarth, Calder &c. 

Saw Barbara Traill in Jail and called on Ranken about her case. 

618 This is the first time JR refers to William Balfour in his journal as 'Willie'; his spelling of 'corncrake' is 

as shown. 

619 The name of this firm of ship brokers in Rotterdam was spelt by JR in a number of different ways over 

the next two weeks; the correct spelling was probably Wambersie & Crooswijck. 

620 The Diary of John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall 1646-1722 was first published in full by the Bannatyne 

Club in 1840, some portions having been published by Sir Walter Scott in 1822. Fountainhall was an 

advocate, a lord of session and a member of the Scottish parliament who opposed the union of 1707. 

621 See entries 470424 & 470525. 

JBL 11/1/06 247


Walked to foot of Wideford Hill. Knight of Gwynn. 

Letters by Steamer from Emily about Settlement with F Scott; 622 my mother and John; 

Maggy &c &c. 

[Letter from] Miss Roy. 623 

[Letter from] Neaves about Emigrants. N B Sent it with a Note to Tankerness. 


S E. Gloomy day. Rained at 4. 

To Church in Afternoon. Mr Lochore preached on Solomon's Temple. 

Mrs Balfour and Mr Calder there. 

No walk. 


S E. Gloomy day. Rainy Evening. 

Wrote to Miss Roy Tobermory, returning school papers; that I have mislaid Subscription 

list, but that I will subscribe £5 myself. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; note about Milton affairs. 

Scarth called, and we made out Subscription list for conveying the Dutch Emigrants to 

Leith. I got Mr Jas Spence and John Tait to subscribe. 

Drew on Geo Forbes Esq Treasurer Destitution Committee for £50 as per W Skene's 

letter. 

Called at Rankens and walked with him on Ayre. 

The Balfours dined with me and left at 11. None but ourselves. No letters. 

Wrote to Tankerness about Emigrants. 


Calm, very rainy day. 

Read Criminal law and insanity. Called on W H Fotheringhame. 

The Steamer is only come in this Evening from Shetland owing to the fogs. 

Daily letters from Tankerness about Emigrants. 

Mrs McDiarmid of Bohally died this day. 624 


S E. Partial rain. 


Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about Settlement with Finlay Scott; John Banchor; my 

mother; Politics; Strowans not to come to Orkney this season &c 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochit Cottage about Settlement with F Scott; I agree with and will 

support my mother in every thing; enclosing Tankerness's letter &c. 


622 Finlay Scott was the agent handling the sale at Milton of Invervack. 

623 It will be recalled that Miss Roy was the niece and companion of Miss Macleod, who had been JR's 

landlady and close neighbour in Tobermory. 

624 These words are written vertically in the margin of the entry. 

JBL 11/1/06 248


S E. Calm mild gray day. 

Held Court. 

Tried Barbara Traill for Malicious mischief. 625 Plea of insanity stated by Bain in bar of 

Trial, and sustained. She was very mad and furious at the bar. Examined [by] Drs Logie 

& Bremner and J Bruce, Jailer. 

Wrote to Tankerness about Emigrants; amount of Collection &c. 

Coals came from Scarth per Favorite [?]. 

Dined at Birstane with Bain; the Ladies in Kirkwall. Home at half past 10. 

Intimation of death of old Miss Menzies Farlygirr. 626 


E. Gray calm and mild day. 

10 tons of finest Newcastle coals were put in to my cellar this morning and last night, 

being equal to 100 Barrels. Each cart takes 10 Barrels or half a ton; and the old women 

employed to put them in the cellar get a halfpenny per barrel and a couple of bottles of 

Porter. 

Made arrangements with Scarth for shipping off the Dutch Emigrants per first Steamer. 

Meeting with Flett the Steamer agent on the same subject. 

Bought books at Reids and paid for them. 

In Evening walked to Heatheryquoy to meet Tankerness, but he did not come in. 


N. Fine sunny day. 

Walked to Brandyquoy, met Tankerness, and came in to Town with him. 

Letters from William, Strontian Court abolished; Mr Dundas, herring differential duties in 

Russia abolished. 

Went on board Steamer with Tankerness at 4 and tried to negociate a passage for the 

Emigrants to Leith, but the Master Captain Campbell having no authority from the 

Directors of the Company would not take them for less than the full freight. We offered 

£25 raised by subscription but he would not accept unless we gave a personal 

guarantee for the full fares if the Directors should insist upon them, which we declined. 

We shall therefore send them by a sailing Vessel. I must hold the conduct of the Steam 

Company to be unaccomodating and disobliging to say the least of it. 

Dined at Rankens with the Balfours and Dr Logie. Home at 12. 

Tankerness introduced me on board the Queen to Mr Gifford of Busta in Shetland, a 

gentlemanlike person between 55 and 60 years of age. He had his niece a Miss Scott 

along with him. 

John Baikie and his daughter arrived by the Steamer. 

20 June 1847 

625 Barbara Traill had already been imprisoned for malicious damage; see 461117. 

626 JR seems to have written the Strath Tay placename Farleyer phonetically as Farlyyirr and then for 

some reason changed the second 'y' into a 'g' to make it read Farlygirr. This is not inconsistent with local 

pronunciation today. Farleyer was formerly the dower house of Castle Menzies. 

JBL 11/1/06 249


W. Dark breezy day. Rain at night. 

Went to Church with the Balfours and Calder, who afterwards dined with me. We took 

tea at Miss Pollexfen's with Mrs Steele who dined there. Old Mrs Stewart of Brough 627 

and Ranken were there also. Home at 10. 

Between Churches I called with W Balfour and Calder on Mr George Wm Traill of Veira 

who came by the Steamer yesterday and is at the Inn. Conversation about Engaging or 

hiring the new Orkney Steamer the Northman to Mr Arthur Anderson. 

I was glad to hear from Mr Traill that the Crops are looking very fine in the south; and Mr 

Calder says that in Shapinsay they are as early as last year and very heavy. 


S W. Much rain last night. Fine clear breezy sunny day. 

Wrote to H C Baildon 73 Prince Street Edinburgh with 5 dozen of P O Stamps for a 4/6 

of Cheddons to be sent by return of post. 628 

Negociating with Tankerness for Eliza and Mary Balfour 629 to take south Emigrants. 

Took Declaration of Mary Connor for Stealing Margaret Fotheringham's watch; a 

Stromness case; did not commit her. 

Letter from J Maclachlan & Company about Statutes at large. 

Schedules of Poor Law Cases in Sheriff Court to be filled in and returned. 

I am to dine with old Mrs Stewart of Brugh. 

Dined there with the Rankens, Balfours, John Baikie and Calder, and came home in a 

lovely night at 12 o'clock. 


S W. Beautiful clear day. Light breeze. 

I rose at 6, went out and saw the Balfours on board the Steamer for the South, and 

returned here with Calder at 9 to breakfast. 

A covey of Seceder Parsons in the Boat. 

The Balfours are now gone for 4 months, and I shall miss them very much. 

Wrote to Wm Balfour 21 Moray Place Edinburgh with introduction to Donald. 

Wrote to Donald enclosing Receipt for Quarter's Salary, and that W Balfour wd call with 

letter of introduction. 

Walked across the Ayre and found workmen engaged in taking down the old Bridge at 

the Mill. 

Robert Marwick, Tankerness' servant came running after me with letter from his master. 

Came back and wrote Tankerness in answer, sending £8.9 of subscriptions, and about 

arrangements for Embarcation. Sent my travelling bag out by Robert. 

Called on H Wood Gardener Watchmaker and Scarth about Emigrants. Fashious job. 

Saw Melsetter in town; he is to dine with me on Friday. Also saw Fortescue with Scarth 

and Calder. 

627 Brough, which JR also spells 'Brugh', is on Westray; see 470509 and 470621. 

628 Earlier consignments of Cheddons arrived on 470529 and 470607. 

629 Eliza and Mary Balfour were ships. 

JBL 11/1/06 250



S E. Light varying winds. 

Walked out after breakfast to Tankerness. Jas Patterson nephew to the Secession 

Minister was there; a genteel pretty boy of 14. 

Assisted the Laird in superintending the embarkation of the German Emigrants on board 

the Mary Balfour. Pieper was the leader among the Germans, a large homely fair 

German. There were but few Dutch families and their leaders were Messirs, Ship 

Carpenters father and son. The son is an intelligent little fellow and speaks several 

languages. There were also two Jews, Moses and Levi, with their families; sharp and 

selfish rogues. The Germans are fair and not unlike the Orkney men but somewhat 

more sallow; the women are not so good looking as the men, and are very dirty, more's 

the pity. We went down after dinner and found to our delight that the Vessel contained 

them all with all their luggage. 

In the Evening I had a letter from John B[anchor] mentioning that Finlay Scott had paid 

my mother £211.15.6. 


S E. Light varying winds. Fine day. 

Thos Drever the Master of the Mary Balfour came out to Tankerness after breakfast and 

I gave him letter to J G Thomson, Prussian Consul Leith, sending manifest or list of 

Emigrants, Copy of Contracts between them and Wambersie & Crooswick, and stating 

reasons for sending them South per Mary Balfour. Tankerness gave his papers to 

Pieper and Messir, and after some delay they started between 2 and 3 o'clock p m. 

We went down in Tankerness's boat to Deerness. Called on Mr A Smellie, Free 

Minister. Went to top of Wart hill; fine view. 

Dined at 5. Walked home at 9 and found letter from Emily, and from Neaves and Skene 

with copy [of] correspondence with Lord Palmerston and the Treasury about Emigrants. 


Calm, very beautiful day. Thunder, but no rain or lighteneing. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh with Copy Manifest and List of Emigrants and of Contract 

between them and Wambersie & Crooswyck; date of sailing from Amsterdam 7th May 

and proceeded to sea from New Deep on 16th May. Applications made by us in their 

behalf were unsuccessful and we therefore determined in justice to them and to 

ourselves to send them south. We applied to Steamer people in vain; Mary Balfour took 

them at once. Paid £30 for fares and prov[isio]n. Liberal and humane conduct of 

Tankerness shd be noticed in proper quarter and his Tenants rewarded; £100 to them 

pour encourager les autres. Letters I have written to day. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene, 10 Hanover St; same terms but brief; Tankerness conduct 

beyond praise; Pullen and Steamer people cannot be blamed too much. 

Wrote to J G Thomson, Prussian Consul, Leith; that Dest[itutio]n Committee have taken 

up Emigrants at desire of Government, and to send them and all their papers to Skene 

and with whom he shd instantly communicate. 

JBL 11/1/06 251


Wrote to Wambersie & Crooswick, Ship brokers, Rotterdam; that their letter to Scarth 

was unsatisfactory and therefore the Emigrants were sent to Leith; British Government 

have taken up their cause; W & C liable for £30 of fares and provision, and £100 for 

mainteneance while they were here; investigation into Pullen's conduct, but no legal 

evidence that the vessel was cast away. 

Wrote to - Dishingtoun Timber Bush Leith; to direct Emigrants to Thomson and to 

Skene. 

Yesterday was the Sacramental Fast day and I held a Court day. 

Walked with Wm Fotheringham past Severack and home by Huttston. "Blister in my ---" 

and my neck sore. 630 

Instructed Williamson to Store provisions to be sent by Destitution Committee to 

Emigrants to morrow. 

Heddle wrote to me from Fortescue's that he cannot dine with me to day. 


Calm. Dry in Kirkwall. Deluge of rain at Birston. 

Wrote to Tankerness of letters received by me on Thursday night about Emigrants, and 

of those written by me yesterday. 

Walked to Birston, went over farm, garden &c and held long conversations with Wm 

Tait. 631 

In Evening saw 100 Casks or Barrels of American Flour landed from Steamer. Spoke to 

American Captain. 

Mr and Mrs Boswellarrived; also Mr Patterson and D Petrie. 

Letter from Mr Neaves about Elections. Called on W Fotheringham about Ditto. 


S W. Dry dark day. 

Sacrament S. in Kirkwall. Did not go out all day. Tankerness called. 


W. Breezy fine day; dry. 

Wrote to Mrs W Balfour, 84 Harley Street, Cavendish Square, London about Heddle 

wanting meal &c; Mrs Scarth; emigrants at Tankerness, embarkation &c; Smellies; Wart 

hill of Deerness; dinner party; Mr Logie's letter; new Dining room; correspondence with 

Government about Emigrants; Fido and Fidele; visit to Berstane; rain, Jenny Sclater, 

Tait, crops, garden; &c &c &c 632 

Wrote to C Neaves about Programme of Elections; abolition of Sanday Court; arrival of 

100 Barrels of flour, price ?; his judicious letter to Lord Advocate about Emigrants. 

Wrote to John Banchor; enquiries about amount of F Scott's charges. 

630 It is hard to imagine where JR got his blister on a gentle walk and why the phrase referring to the 

unmentionable bit of his anatomy had to be put in quotes. 


632 See entry for 470818 and note. 

JBL 11/1/06 252


Wrote to William Tobermory; sober letter about Circuit courts; compensation; elections; 

Mull news. 

Left for Sanday by packet at half past 10. Took Dinnison, Free Schoolmaster with me as 

a passenger. Reached Castlehill soon after 3. Dined. Walked by Fresh Water Loch 

down to the sea. Oliver Drever called; there were three cases! 

Read an old No of Blackwood. 


W. Very fine warm day. 

After breakfast walked down to Mill. Oliver Drever came to inform me that the litigants 

had arrived, and I went in and despatched my business in a few minutes. 

Gave O Drever 10/- from Edinburgh Destitution Committee for Wm Deerness Quoyliddy. 

Yorstoun the Landlord is a little taitorly 633 looking fellow; his wife a fine well grown 

country girl. 634 

Thomsons and Anderson called about Palm oil salved. 

Sanday Court; 3 Cases. 635 

Walked to shore at 12; sailed at quarter past 12. Had three Sanday Ministers on board, 

viz Mr Anderson of Lady Parish, a good natured fool; Mr Paul, United Church, a very 

fine fellow; and Mr Macleod who is about being placed in charge of the Free Church, a 

little round about Aberdonian that insisted upon calling me "My Lord' - a droll elf. There 

were besides a respectable old man connected with the Light House, with several 

young men of the same service or belonging to the Goverment Vessels now engaged in 

surveying our Coasts. 

We had a good sail to Stronsay, a calm from thence to the Firth, a fine rattling breeze 

across the Firth, and light airs and calms from thence to Kirkwall where we arrived a 

little after 7. We were becalmed in the Bay and I came ashore in a Punt. 

In my absence the drawing room had been cleaned, the carpet beat, walls washed and 

vent swept. The passages below received a partial coat of paint, and were laid with Oil 

Cloth, and the Kitchen cleaned. House much improved. 

Letter from Neaves with correspondence with Dutch Consul about Emigrants. 

Cheddons arrived. 

Attck upon Canton. Capt Macdougall engaged. 


W by N. Warm breezy day; foggy at night. 

Wrote to John Henderson, Pultneytown, Wick acknowledging 100 Barrels of flour from 

Destitution Committiee Edinburgh. 

Wrote to Ar[cher] Fortescue, Swanbister; cannot go out to morrow, being Court day. 

633 Taitorly is presumably based or derived, perhaps by JR himself, from the Scots word 'tait', meaning a 

pinch or tuft. 

634 On JR's first visit to Sanday 460413 he found the inn at Castlehill uncomfortable. On his next visit he 

records that 'the landlord Yorstoun is to be married to a respectable farmer's daughter of the name of 

Thomson whom he has got with child'. She seems to have become a fine well grown country girl. 

635 These words are written vertically in the margin at this point and in large script. 

JBL 11/1/06 253


Called on Fotheringham; he was out. 

Walked by Tankerness road and home by Birstane. Long talk with Tait, and then with 

Baillie. 

Post, but no letters. 


N W. Breezy cloudy day. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene 10 Hanover Street Edinburgh enquiring price of American flour 

sent here. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochet Cottage about settlement with F Scott; my mother's health; 

Emigrants and handsome and kind conduct of Tankerness; Sanday trip, parsons &c. 

Court day. Settlement between Sinclair and Laughton Sheriff Officers. 

Walked with Ranken to Crantit. Fine crops. Well, Fortescue's mare and foal. 

Inspected flour with John Baikie. 

Letter from Donald enclosing letters from John and Lady Strowan. 


W. Fine warm day, beautiful evening. 

Wrote to John Baikie Kirkwall enclosing Mr McKer's letter to him, and with long account 

or history of Shipwreck of Emigrants; their treatment; negociations &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about John's defence; approving of lodging money for 

Emily's behoof &c. 

Walked with Fotheringham by Tankerness Road and home by Birstane; his new dogs 

Carlo and Fidele. 636 Tait &c. 

In the Evening walked with Ranken by sea shore and home by Huttston. Ranken and Dr 

Duguid supped with me and remained till half past 1 talking and arguing about 

Peterkin. 637 

Letters from Emily and J S Johnston S.S.C. 


N W. Fine day, foggy. 

Wrote to J S Johnston SSC, 5 SW Circus Place Edinburgh in answer that A wont do for 

T. 638 

Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh; arrangements with agents about Elections; Sanday 

Court; price of flour. 

Tankerness called with letter about Emigrants from Sir J Turing. 639 Walked with him on 

pier. Met Capt Mackinnon R N who invited Tankerness, John Baikie, Ranken, Dr Duguid 

636 It will be recalled that Fotheringham was described as having been an Italian scholar; see 460316. 

637 Peterkin may have been Alexander Peterkin 1780-1846, miscellaneous writer, a WS and an 

Edinburgh journalist, or his son Alexander Peterkin 1814-1889, also an Edinburgh journalist. One of them 

wrote Notes on Orkney & Zetland. 

638 Who A and T were, and why A would not do for T, remain obscure. 

639 Sir James Turing or Thuring was the British Consul in Rotterdam; see 470606. 

JBL 11/1/06 254


and I on board his Yacht. They went; I returned home and found a letter from Neaves 

about Elections. Called on Fotheringham about Ditto. 

Painting of lobby finished to night. 


E. Cool misty day; dark. 

In the morning received a note from Sir Ed Pine Coffin. 

Wrote to Sir Ed Pine Coffin, Steamer Firefly, Scapa Bay that I will see him at my house 

to day. 

I remained in the house for him till hal past 2 when he called and remained with me till 

4. 640 I accompanied him to Scapa, and introduced Scarth and Gold to him. 

Wrote to Tankerness that Sir Edward is here and is anxious to see him at 11 to morrow. 


E. Cool windy misty day. 

No letters. 

Wrote to Sir Edward Pine Coffin Bart 641 about Emigrants and recommending that £100 

be given to the tenants of Tankerness. 

Sir Edward and his nephew Mr Coffin called at half past 10. The nephew is the son of 

his elder brother, a clergyman in bad health and very unamiable looking. Mr B[aikie] of 

Tankerness called and had a talk about the condition of Orkney, then Scarth and finally 

Gold. All of them concurred in giving a cheering account of our present state and future 

prospects. 

After Gold left I took the Coffins to the Cathedral, Palace and Papdale where we met 

Scarth again on our return. I took them in here to lunch, left them, and attended meeting 

of Stewart's Trustees. I then saw them to Scapa and returned to dinner. I like Sir 

Edward and dislike the nephew; he is an elderly man and a Parson. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh fully and articulately about Election arrangements as to 

time. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh that my Salary letter has not come; the Coffins; prosperity of 

Orkney; returning lady Strowan's Note. 

No Times. 


E. Breezy misty day. 

Received letter from Donald with £65 of Salary. 

Stewart's Poor calling. 

Went to Bank. Long talk with Mrs John Baikie; introduced to Mrs Graham. 642 

640 This was not JR's first meeting with Coffin; see 461027 and especially 461030 when Coffin became 

'not ebrius but ebriolus'; since then they had corresponded; see 470307 and 470506. 

641 JR persisted in thinking that Coffin was a baronet, which he was not. 

642 Mrs Graham may possibly have been Eliza Graham, shown in the 1851 Census as a widowed 

annuitant aged 33, born in the East Indies, living in Broad Street, Kirkwall, with an 11 year old daughter 

Marianne born in Kirkwall, and one unmarried female house servant, Robina Chalmers aged 24. 

JBL 11/1/06 255


Met Mr and Mrs Dundas on the Street. Introduced to Mrs D[undas], a little black thin 

visaged withered woman of 40 or thereby. 643 

Dr Trail of Bersay called at half past 9 and sat with me till 12. 

Letter from poor John intimating that his wife had been delivered of twin sons still 

born. 644 

Wrote a declaration to Wm Cromarty, St Mary's Hope. 645 

No Times. 


E. Breezy misty day. 

Dundas called; a very Gentlemanlike man certainly. 646 

Walked out by Tankerness Road and home by Birstane road. 

Wrote to John Banchor expressing my sorrow for the loss of his children. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh acknowledging £65; bankers; John's loss; my mother better, 

approving of his letter to Condie; pamphlet on Commercial Policy of Pitt and Peel; 

former opinion of Young England party on Free Trade; no cohesion among protectionist 

party; Elections may interfere with my travelling plans; F Dundas' lady; Skene and 

Destitution Committee's kind and liberal conduct to Orkney. 

Heavy rain at night. 


S E. Very sultry and beautiful day. 

Sir Ed Coffin called at 11. I suppose he went off to Shetland to day. 

Post of yester to day [sic]. Letter from William. 

Wrote im[mediatel]y [?] to Mary Tobermory; Miss Nisbets mar[ria]ge; visit to Glenforsa; 

Duncan, commending her conduct except as to red hair; Jane's loss; Sir Ed Coffin; Sea 

Captains and their wives; &c &c. 647 

Court day. Visited Jail. B[arbara] Traill very wild. 648 

Walked through Birstane farm and met and came back with Bain. 


Calm. Very beautiful day. Distant thunder. 

Wrote to W F Skene Edinburgh; no destitution in So Ronaldshay; Sir E Coffin's visit; 

Emigrants &c. Distribution of fund of 350. 

Wrote to Dr Garson Stromness; enquiries about destitution; Sir E Coffin &c. 

Wrote to Editor of Times London about Emigrants. 

Walked by sea shore and home through parks of Grain; thunder. 

643 They had married on 2 June 1847; the marriage was childless. See their entries in the Index. 

644 This was probably Jane's only pregnancy. 

645 See 470608. 

646 JR had met Dundas on a number of occasions in July, September and October 1846. 

647 Miss Nisbet was the daughter of Tobermory's most prominent solicitor; Glenforsa was the home of the 

Macquaries but Lachlan Macquaried died in 1845 so perhaps Mary had visited his widow; JR was 

blaming Mary in jest for her baby Duncan's red hair. 

648 Barbara Traill seems to have been in the Jail more or less continuously since November 1846. 

JBL 11/1/06 256


After dinner walked to Huttston and met Mr Cheetham of Manchester listening to a Bag 

piper. We walked in together, introduced ourselves and he came in and supped with 

me. 

He is the elder brother of Mr Cheetham of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway who is 

now contesting the Burgh of Huddersfield, and has lived and travelled a great deal on 

the continent, especially in Germany, Poland, Hungary, Bohemia, Sweden &c &c. He 

says that the Hungarians are a fine haughty chivalrous race jealous of the honour of 

their country, proud and conservative to destructiveness. They have abolished the use 

of the Latin language in their Diets, as also of the German, and speak only in their 

native Slavonic tongue which Mr C. says is reckoned to have the most perfect grammar 

of any of the European languages. Their music too is very fine. They are averse to 

improvement and progress, and sell their crops while yet green to the Jews at one third 

their value because their ancestors have been time out of mind in the habit of doing so, 

and will not dispose of them to a new Native liberal sort of company that has lately been 

formed among them. 

The Bohemians are a smaller and poorer nation, look upon themselves as a conquered 

race, are disaffected and admire O'Connell! 

The Poles are very degraded. 

Mr C[heetham] delighted in an especial manner to expatiate on the wonders of the isle 

of Rugen in the Baltic, which partly belongs to Prussia, and is partly under the sway of a 

sovereign Prince under the protection of Prussia. This Prince is lineally descended from 

the ancient Saxon and Gothic Kings, the Conquerors of Southern Europe in the Middle 

ages. 

Cheetham himself is a nice little man, a free-trader, but fond of literature and antiquities, 

and I fear a Unitarian. He left his wife and family behind him at Inverness, and goes to 

Shetland by the Steamer. I feasted him on Mutton ham which he never tasted before, 

and porter and holleinds and he left me at 12 more than half tosticated [sic]. Barring his 

religious opinions I have no great fault to find with him. 


S W. Calm, very hot and beautiful day. 

In the Morning I got a letter from the Minister of Walls about destitution in that island. 

Wrote to Revd Wm Anderson, Manse of Walls, Long Hope, that he must give details; 

mentioning my suggestions as to Walls to the Edinburgh Committee; my conversations 

with Mr Heddle and that Williamson has a considerable quantity (specified) of grain and 

meal on sale for which they should send; to send a list of poor made up by Mr Heddle 

and himself, who cannot work, and are not legally entitled to relief &c. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene Edinburgh to the same purpose; plenty meal here; enclosing 

satisfactory Report of So Ronaldshay by Mr Wm Cromarty &c. 

Attended meeting of Road Trustees with Tankerness when offers of Road Contractors 

were considered; 2 or 3 hours engaged. Afterwards walked with Tankerness to shore. 

Steamer came, and George Balfour his wife and child arrived by her, and went with Bain 

to Brotchie's. I have not seen them. 

JBL 11/1/06 257


Mr Cheetham breakfasted with me; a repetition of last night's discourse, only that I 

treated him to an Essay on Ossian's Poems. Positively I must give up and abjure 

Ossian. 

At half past 9 p.m. walked to Huttston. No post by Steamer. 


W. Varying; sultry beautiful day; a little soft rain at 9 p.m. 

To Church in the Morning; Miss Moncrieff and her sister in Pew. 649 George Balfour and 

his wife not there. 

From 3 to 5 walked to Bay of Meal and home by Clett. 650 

The weather is truly magnificent, and the Crops are looking remarkably well. The 

potatoes are every where healthy; the Oats almost in ear, just shooting; the turnip fields 

almost green; the hay cut or being cut and the largest crop ever known in Orkney. 


S. The hottest day of this summer as yet. At present the Mornings and Evenings are 

calm, and a light breeze springs up between half past 2 and 5 o'clock. 

The oats are nearly in ear; barley not showing the ear. 

Wrote to my mother Kindrochit Cottage; Jane's loss; my going south; Elections and how 

they may interfere with my plans; Orkney politics. 

Mr Nixon the Architect is gone down and is now engaged on St Magnus. 651 

Meeting with Tankerness about Road business and Stewart's Trust &c. 

Walked by Grainbank and home throw parks and by shore. 


S. Very sultry. 

Letters from Donald enclosing one from Aunt Helen; Handyside Teinds; [from] John, 

that Jane is better; Skene to draw for £30 for Stromness. 

Mr Watt of Skaill called about Roads. 

Dined with John Baikie, and met George Balfour, a melancholy spectacle. 652 


S. Calm dark sultry day; light rain from 4 a.m. to 11. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene 10 Hanover St that I have drawn for £30 on Mrs Forbes 

Dest[itutio]n Trea[sure]r and paid the sum to the Stromness Committee; that I must sell 

the flour below 34/-, say from 30 t0 34/-; &c. 

Wrote to Dr Garson Stromness that I have paid £30 to their account; to send for meal 

here &c. 

649 The only previous reference to Miss Moncrieff is when JR calls on her 'for the first time' 460922. 

650 An unusual walk for JR; Meal and Clett are now Meil and Cleat. 

651 William Nixon c1810-1848 was the architect employed by the Woods and Forests department of the 

Government on the extensive 1847-1850 restoration of St Magnus Cathedral in the mistaken belief that 

the cathedral was Government property. He died in March the following year. 

652 This seems to have been JR's first encounter with George Balfour. 

JBL 11/1/06 258


Met Mr Nixon the Woods and Forests Architect and walked round cathedral with him. 

He explained his object to be to dry the church first. The ornamenting and sealing and 

fitting it up will be an after consideration. He appears to be a sensible man; I took him in 

here and gave him lunch. 

Afterwards walked with WHF in his garden. 

Called at Brotchie's and saw barrel of the Edinburgh Committee's flour opened and 

damaged. Ordered Williamson to send one here. 

Dr Rendall of Westray called about fever cases, a doubtful representation from a keen 

party man. I shamed him into a somewhat better spirit; and at last he talked liberally. 


S. Fine hot day. 

Court day. Cognosced Barbara Traill who is very mad. 653 

Went with Scarth to Storehouse and examined Flour. Sent Bellman round the town with 

an advertisement that it was on sale at Williamsons at 30/- per barrel, ready money, to 

be taken at the risk of the purchasers, and at 9 my servant came to announce that she 

had been at the Storehouse, and that the whole was sold excepting two barrels! I am 

very glad that the tradesmen and labourers were almost exclusively the purchasers. 


Had Mr Nixon the architect dining with me alone; a quiet good Englishman. 

Mr Scarth called at 8 with his answers to Queries left by Sir Ed Coffin. 

They left me before half past 9. 

Letter from Donald with pamphlet 'Pitt and Peel". 


Calm. N. varying and warm. Rain. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; pamphlet of Pitt and Peel; disheartened about politics; 

John, Wm, Emily, John Glasgow &c; soil of Orkney good; investment in purchasing land 

here; Wood Company; Sheriff Stirling; Geo Balfour &c. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene Edinburgh; flour sold to 2 barrels and at 30/-; how much to 

Tankerness Tenants; fever in Westray; £5 to people there. 

Mr Brotchie of Westray called. 

Remained in house all day; read "Consuelo" a fantastic and foolish German story. N.B. 

Don't read it again. 

In the afternoon (8 o'clock) Williamson paid price of Flour. 


N W. Fine warm day; looks like rain. 

Deposited £45 of destitution money in Bank. 

Quarterly Review. 

653 Cognosced [Scots law] is to examine or to declare to be an idiot. In this case it meant in effect that 

Barbara Traill was legally certified as insane. Arrangements to send her south were made by the Lunatic 

Trust Fund on 470726. Her destination is not known, but the chances are that it was Edinburgh as was 

the case with another lunatic, David Tulloch, on 470806. 

JBL 11/1/06 259


Walked with Ranken to Wieland. Then with Tankerness through the Town and towards 

Quoydandy, talking of Westray quarrels. 

Steamer came in at half past 9 p.m. 

Mr Traill of Veira called. 


S. Rainy and mild. 

To Church in Morning and met Geo Balfour and his wife. She is a tall good looking 

woman and not by any means old looking. I went with them to their lodgings and had a 

glass of wine; Geo took one and then another in hot water. Their child is lively and 

healthy looking, though little, and I think he is like the Balfours. 

Walked to Birstane and through grounds and garden with Tait. Home at 5. 


N. Cool dark day. Warm Evening and night; almost dry. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh that if writs are sent on 23 the nomination will be on 13th 

or 14th August; is special substitution necessary; Dundas; Anderson; Geo Balfour; his 

room ready 654 &c. 

Wrote 1 p Quarto to Sir Ed Coffin Bart Oban enclosing Mr Scarth's answer to printed 

Queries left by Sir Ed; that I'll send mine when season more advanced; fine appearance 

of crops; minerals sent to Sir J McNeill. 

Wrote to Sir J McNeill GCB Queen St Edinburgh with Sir Edward's minerals; state of 

country and crops. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene; Private; Craig's Evie Account; Sir H Dryden and Ossian; Mr 

Cheetham. 

Attended Meeting of Road Trustees about Sandwick surplus. 

Calder lunched with me. 

Drew £10 from destitution account and gave £6 to Mr Brotchie for fever in Westray. 

Walked after tea past Huttston. 

Mr Brotchie supped with me, and we talked first about Westray politics, seceders, fever, 

&c and then on literary subjects; he is a well informed man; left at 12. 


W. Beautiful warm sunny day. 

Calder breakfasted with me and gave sad accounts of Geo Balfour who it seems is mad 

in his cups. 

Engaged with Trial of Wm Guthrie from 11 to quarter past 5. Jury case. Patton defended 

the prisoner. Scarth Chancellor of the Jury. Verdict [finding] 1st and 3[rd] Charges not 

proven by a majority, and on 2d Charge unanimously found Guilty. Sentence 12 months 

imprisonment. 

Walked after tea past Quoydandy and met Mr Urquhart. 

N E. Warm grey day; dry. 


654 This refers to a room for Neaves at JR's house which he was to occupy during the election. 

JBL 11/1/06 260


Letter or Marriage Cards of Mary Milen Nisbet daughter of Henry Nisbet my old Fiscal at 

Tobermory. The Bridegroom is Mr Francis B Pritchard, surgeon R.N. I do not suppose 

the bride is above 15 years of age. 

Walked by Tankerness Road to Heathery dyke and home by lower farm of Berstane. 


E. Rainy day. 

Court. Excise Court. Case of Mrs Harvey, malt found in an outhouse. Mitchell and 

Patton sat as J Ps. 

Wrote to Emily, or Jane Banchor about Jane's loss; Elections; Orkney news. 


W. Breeze, dry. Heavy rain through the night. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh; is tenant of a farm liable for smuggled malt found in 

outhouse? 

Went round Cathedral with Superintendent of Works. 

Walked thro Grainbank farm. 

Read Sir R Peel's admirable address to the Electors of Tamworth. 


W. Breezy day; beautiful calm Evening and night; clear. 

Letters from Mary [about] Miss Nisbet's marriage &c [and from] Neaves [about] Election. 

Walked beyond Papdale. 

Mr Dundas called, and I dined with him at Grainbank; present the Golds,Dr Logie and 

myself. 

Mr Urquhart called in the Evening about business. 

Mrs Dundas is no great beauty and has no great attractions in any way. She is an 

acquaintance of Mrs Macneil of Barra, and a cousin of the Closes. She and her spouse 

both delight in enumerating the connexions of the nobility. Mr Dundas himself is an 

agreeable good natured Gentleman and I like him, and wonder how he came to marry 

his wife, who is said not to have even the vulgar recommendation of riches. 655 


N E. A very warm and beautiful day. 

To Church, the Pew crowded; John Traill Woodwick and his sister, Mr Simson 

Tankerness's niece and her son [sic], 656 George Balfour and his wife, Mrs Sinclair and 

Miss Paterson. 

The Dundases and Golds lunched with me. 

John Traill taken ill in the Secession Meeting House. 

655 Obviously JR did not know that Mrs Dundas was the daughter of an obscure baronet and the granddaughter 

of an impoverished Irish peer; otherwise he might have understood why Dundas and his wife 

'delighted in enumerating the connexions of the nobility'. 

656 It is not clear whether this should read 'Mrs Simson' and the punctuation does not help; but she is 

probably the Mrs Simson referred to in a letter to Mary Robertson dated 470729 [qv]. . 

JBL 11/1/06 261


Met Tankerness and Mrs B[aikie]. 

Walked in the afternoon to Birstane, and round the farm with Baillie. 

Appearances of the Potato disease at G Robertson's farm? 657 

Letter from Wm Balfour dated Homburg 13th; they arrived there on 12th. 


S & W in Evening. Clear morning. Gray day; very warm. 

Wrote to my Mother Kind[rochi]t Cottage about going south; Dundas, Anderson, 

Strangers in Orkney; good servants; living &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh asking him to attend Milton sale; directions about Auctioneer 

&c; Geo Balfour; member of bar calling drunk (Johnston) &c. 658 

Prison Board Meeting; Tankerness, Scarth and I; Ranken in Holm. Meeting of Lunatic 

Trust Fund, and arrangements to send Barbara Traill south to morrow. 

James Kinnear, his 2 boys, John Baikie, Calder, Scarth, Veira and Tankerness all called 

at same time; then George Balfour. 

In Evening Mr Anderson of Walls, and White of Harray, severally called. 

Walked out to Huttston with Bain. 


S W. Rain. 

This day at 10 o'clock a.m. I received the Election writ from the Postmaster to whom I 

gave a receipt for it mentioning the place day and hour of receiving it. The receipt was 

printed on the Postmaster's own letter. I indorsed the place date and hour of receiving it 

on the back of the writ, and 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh "This morning at 10 o'clock I received the writ and have 

given directions for writing out the Precept to the Substitute at Lerwick to publish notices 

of the day of nomination which I have fixed for Thursday the 12th August being the 16th 

day after the writ coming to hand, and the latest that the Act admits of." 

"I will write Mr Bell to order notices to be put up on the Parish Church doors of the 

Mainland of Shetland in terms of the 4th § of the Reform Act, and to return certificates of 

the notices having been duly published by the Steamer that leaves Lerwick on Monday 

the 11th August. The precept must be sent by a special Vessel under charge of a Sheriff 

officer and I have ordered one to be ready to start to morrow morning." 

"The Orkney notices are being written out, and the Poll Books are in the Printer's 

hands. Nothing more occurs to me at present except to say that I will see to the erection 

of the Hustings and Polling booths. I am &c." 

"P.S. The freight of a vessel from Shetland is about £20. The wind is fair to day, and I 

have detrmined to send off the officer within 3 hours. It is now 12 o'clock." 

Mr Mitchell called, and I intimated to him the nomination day. I then called at the Sheriff 

Clerk's office, and saw that the Precept, Notices &c were in progress, and I saw 

657 George Robertson's farm seems to have been Loretto; see entry 470802. 

658 Perhaps this refers to Johnston, possibly a member of the bar known to Donald, calling George 

Balfour a drunk or saying on some occasion that he was drunk; it has the air of an anecdote that JR had 

heard about George Balfour but had not previously recorded in his Journal. 

JBL 11/1/06 262


Thomas Ward the Sheriff officer and appointed him to go to Zetland with the Precept, 

and Hewison and Louttit and arranged that the Sloop Margaret is to go for £20, subject 

to the approval of the Exchequer. 

I then wrote to Robert Bell Sheriff Substitute of Zetland, Lerwick: 

'My dear Sir 

"I this morning received the Election Writ for Orkney and Zetland, and I now beg 

leave to send you a Precept in terms of §31 of the Reform Act, fixing the day of 

Nomination of Candidates on Thursday the 12th August. You will observe that the same 

§ requires you to announce the day of Election by notices on the Church doors 

immediately on receipt of the Precept and that §43 limits this intimation to the Churches 

on the Mainland of Shetland only. I send a form of the notices used in this division of the 

County; they are made out in duplicate, one copy being left on the Church door, and the 

other returned with the Officer's Certificate of Execution. The latter copies you will have 

the goodness to send me by the Steamer that leaves Lerwick on Monday the 2d or 

Monday the 9th August." 

"I take the opportunity of forwarding the Poll books of Shetland, and I also send one of 

those of the last contested Election to serve as a form for your clerks. I beg you will 

return it by the bearer." 

"Under the act the polling days must commence on one or other of the 23d, 24th or 

25th August. If they are fixed for the 23d or 24th the Registrations in Shetland will then 

be finished, and those in orkney not commenced. How is it supposed that the 

Registrations will affect the prospects of the candidates in Shetland? In Orkney the 

opinion is that they will leave the balance of the parties much the same as at present." I 

am &c. 

The Margaret sailed from Kirkwall harbour for Lerwick with a strong and favourable 

breeze at a quarter to 6 o'clock this Evening. 

At 7 o'clock I signed the Orkney notices and they are to be despatched to the several 

parishes early to morrow morning. I spoke to John Bruce about the Hustings; 659 and 

now I do not think I can do more for the present in this Election business, or that any 

thing has been omitted. 

Walked about the Old Palace, Bishops Castle, and Gardens with Mr John Baikie from 3 

to 5, and visited the Infirmary. 

In the Evening saw Widow Cromarty of Walls and wrote an order on the Inspector of the 

poor to afford her int[eri]m relief. Gave her 5/-. 

Walked after tea as far as Huttston. 


W. Breeze; light showers. 

Wrote to Wm Balfour, Homburg, Frankfort sur Maine, post restante; Orkney news; long 

letter, one large sheet. 

Dr Logie called and informed me of case of Girl, Leask in Rendall, who died in childbed, 

having concealed her pregnancy. We went to Rankens and the Doctor brought a letter 

659 John Bruce was not only the Jailer but was also a Cabinet Maker and Carpenter with a thriving 

business and a number of employees. 

JBL 11/1/06 263


to him from the mother intimating that a dead infant was found concealed in the Girl's 

trunk after her death. 

Walked with Ranken to Miss Pollexfen's park. 

George Balfour and his wife and Mr and Mrs John Baikie and Bain dined with me. A 

good party, well got up and satisfactory; left me at quarter to 10. 


W. Breeze; dry. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh with copy letter to Mr Bell and about Election 

arrangements. 

Wrote to Wm Banks, Melsetter, Long Hope; to send List of poor and that I will give £5 

from Edinburgh Committee, and £5 from Crown Chamberlain; Widow Cromarty. 

Wrote to Mary, Tobermory; Nisbet wedding; Elections; drunken Electors sick sorry and 

sulky; Mrs Dundas; Mrs Simson, a Robertson and pretty. 

Last Court day of Session. 

Walked with WHF to the top of Wideford Hill, and when we were came down Mr 

Anderson's Steamer came in, and he was received with firing of Canon, ringing of bells 

&c. Dundas is busy also. Now comes the tug of war. 


W. Breezy; dry. 

Precognition in case of Ann Macdonald stealing from Wm Bremner Watchmaker. 

Letter from C Neaves about Malt found in Outhouse. 660 

Did not go out to day. Read Wood Leighton, a good novel. 

Anderson addressed the Electors in the Town Hall; saw him pass along the Street with 

Mitchell. 


S W. Breeze. Rain. 

Excise Case decided that finding Malt in Outhouse is not prima facie evidence against 

Tenant on Neaves' authority. 

Completed Precognition against Ann Macdonald and committed her. 


Invited to go with the G Balfours and a Pic nic party to Quanterness and prevented by 

rain and business. 

Steamer came in at half past 11. Northman arrived for the first time at Kirkwall. 


Northman arrived to day. 661 


S W. Light showers in morning. Beautiful dry and sultry afternoon. 

660 See entries 470722 and 470723. 

661 These words are written in large letters in the margin and the name 'Northman' is given great 

emphasis in both instances. Obviously to JR's mind this ship's first arrival was a great event. 

JBL 11/1/06 264


Went to the Secession Church in the morning, and sat with the Baikies Tankerness 

between 1 and 2. 

Walked to Berstane alone from half past 2 to 5. Met Stornoway Seamen and the 

Commander of the Tender Mary Jane on my return; also the Scarths. 

Read Lord Nugent's Lands Classical and Sacred. 


W. Breezy sunny day; sultry. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochet Cottage about sale; Elections. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Ditto Ditto and to look on sale as his mother's business 

not his. 662 

Sent for Messrs Urquhart and Mitchell about keeping order among the people. Mitchell 

was from home. Urquhart called. 

With a view to ensure the co-operation of the Ministers of all denominations in 

preserving the peace of the town in the absence of any Civil force, I called first on Mr 

Logie who was from home in Kincardine Shire at his son William's marriage, and saw 

his wife and the Doctor. I then called on Mr Paterson who fully entered into my views, 

and we arranged to visit the whole of the Kirkwall Schools on Thursday or Friday along 

with the other Clergymen. I gave him £5 of the money allowed by Lord Zetland and Mr 

Dundas on 4 March for the poor of Kirkwall. Afterwards I walked out with W H 

Fotheringhame to Mr Sparke's who took the same view of visiting the schools &c that Mr 

Paterson did. I left £5 of Lord Zetland and Mr Dundas's money with Mr Sparke for 

distribution among the poor. This money I asked and got from Mr Urquhart to day to 

give among the poor in August, one of the most trying seasons for them. 

Home across moor of Widewell. 

Wrote to John Robertson 5 Bath St Glasgow in answer to his letter of 13th July received 

to day about his business. 

Went to Mr Scarth's in the Evening and met a young man of the name of Somerville a 

Free Kirk Corn Merchant of Leith, the partner of Mr Ditchington. 

Scarth and I examined the Potatoes at Loretto thought to be diseased, but upon his 

shewing I am satisfied that this is a mistake, and that the partial blight at one particular 

spot is owing to Electricity or some other cause than the old disease. 663 


W. Breezy day. Warm. Light showers. 

Thomas Ward Sheriff Officer came from Shetland this morning and delivered the 

Executions of the intimations of the Nomination day &c &c all in due form with a letter 

from Mr Bell Sheriff Substitute Lerwick. 

662 This reproof cannot surely have gone down very well with his elder brother who was living much 

nearer than JR was to Kindrochet and Milton, and may therefore have been more closely involved in 

problems arising from the sale. 

663 Potato blight had on 470725 been feared as having affected G Robertson's farm, which was 

presumably Loretto. The fears were justified; see 470820, when JR reports widespread potato disease. A 

picture of some of JR's varied duties is provided by this day's activities, which included the maintenance 

of civil order during an election, getting and distributing money for the poor, and identifying potato blight. 

JBL 11/1/06 265


Called at John Baikie's and met young Craig, or Mr Somerville, Jas Kinnear, Tom Traill 

&c. 

Meetings with Mr Paterson and Tankerness about poor. 

Called on WHF. 

Bain called in Evening about processes. 


S. Fine morning; rainy afternoon. 

Breakfasted at half past 7. Went on board the Northman at 8 on a trip to the North Isles. 

There were John Baikie; Scarth, his wife and son; Mr and Miss Bain; Miss Spence; Mr 

Rose, Wood Merchant of Aberdeen; John Scott and his wife, who left us at Sanday; 

McIntyre the Comptroller of Taxes; two offensive young Bagmen; Miss Fraser a dark 

English woman; Hugh Wood and his sister in law, Miss Ramsay (straw plait Ramsay); 

Jas Watts; John Tait, who left at Stronsay; Mrs Smith (Miss Fraser's sister); and a few 

more nondescripts. 

We sailed first to Stronsay, and landed at the Station (herring Station) of Whitehall. The 

place is more alive and looks more important than I had anticipated. There were several 

hundred herring boats in the harbour besides a number of cod fishing smacks from the 

south. The herringboats principally belong to Orkney. Hitherto the fishing was not 

successful. The country around Whitehall is low and fertile; the harbour good, though 

only fitted for vessels of small draught. It is formed by the island of Papay Stronsay 

belonging in property to Heddle of Melsetter. We met Jas Kinnear and his son George 

and Calder at Whitehall. George came with us. We also met Tom Traill of Holland who 

is a herring curer at Stronsay and elsewhere. 

From Stronsay we went to Kettletoft in Sanday where we dined. It began to rain here, 

and continued wet during the whole day. I omitted the name of Dr Mainzer the German 

Musician, celebrated as the founder of the system of teaching "Music to the Millions". 

He is a fair thin discontented looking man of 35 or 40, intelligent enough but not 

agreeable; I don't like foreigners. 

From Sanday we sailed to Calf Sound 664 where the Steamer anchored for the night. 

Tom Traill boarded us here again, and Mr Somerville the Cornmerchant of Leith (whom I 

met at Scarth's the other night, and whose name I formerly omitted) together with Bain 

and Mainzer, went along with him to Holland. This Calf Sound is one of the most 

picturesque localities in Orkney, quiet, sequestered and pleasing. There is a safe 

harbourage formed by the Calf holm and the island of Eday; and the ridge terminating in 

the Red head of Eday has a pastoral south hieland 665 look altogether different from the 

ordinary character of Orkney Scenery. 

Close to where the Steamer anchored is situated the House of Carrick. Apparently it 

was built about 150 years ago, and it has no pretensions to Architectural ornament of 

any description either Gothic or classical. It is a plain building with two Gable ends and 

Chimneys like the ears of an old horse, with a range of offices running across t the 

North end. The Pirate Gow was captured in a small house adjoining to it, the ruins of 

664 Calf Sound is between the islands of Eday and Calf of Eday. 

665 Hieland is a Scots form of Highland. 

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which were pointed out to me. This place gave the Title of Earl to John Stewart, second 

son of Robert, and brother of Patrick, Earls of Orkney; John was married but left no 

legitimate male issue an the Earldom fell by his death (see Woods Peerage Voce 

Carrick). 

We went ashore and had tea in John Heddle's Inn, a good house all things considered. 

We saw some caves close to the Inn, the principal beauty of which consisted in the fine 

white sand which formed the flooring of them. 

Mrs Scarth and her ladies and Collector McIntyre and I slept ashore. To bed at 12; up at 

4; on board at 5 a.m. of [Thursday 5th August]. 


S E. Rained from 5 till half past 10 a.m. Dry afternoon. 

We left Calf Sound at 6 a.m. and proceeded N W between the Red Head and Calf 

Head, two bluff headlands on either side of the Sound rising precipitously from the sea 

to the height of 150 or 200 feet. They resemble the Soutars 666 of Cromarty, but they are 

more precipitous, are not so high, and of course are not wooded. I am told that they still 

more closely resemble the Entrance to Sydney in Australia. 

We sailed alongside Papay Westray to the Bay of Pierowall in Westray, breakfasted and 

went ashore. A short distance from the beach is situated the old castle of Noltland, an 

extensive and very Noble ruin. 667 The greater part of the Walls are standing. The 

building consists of a Keep or square tower which is almost entire, with a range of 

apartments stretching towards the South of the same date with the Tower; and a more 

modern erection to the S E containing the offices, kitchen &c. The walls of this letter 

building are slighter and more ruinous than the old Castle, and the Masonry is inferior. I 

paced the Hall (which is in the ancient part of the Castle) and made it 60 feet long and 

20 feet broad, not including the immence {sic] Compartment of the Chimney in the 

length. The Grand Staircase is on a scale of equal magnificence with the Hall. I could 

gather little or no information from Sinclair the tenant of Noltland regarding the Castle. 

He did not know who was the founder of it, or when it was built, or who possessed it 

before it became the property of the Balfours of Pharay and Trenaby. All he could say 

was that there was a tradition that the Architect was buried in the old Wall under a large 

flag which was let in or inserted into the Masonry, that the place was some way 

connected with Queen Mary, and that one of the Lairds of Trenaby and Pharay built the 

more modern part of the Edifice. I have heard it surmised that Balfour of Monquhany 668 

built the Castle for Queen Mary and Bothwell who was created Duke of Orkney, and that 

he (Monquhany) was Castellane or Keeper, acquired lands in orkney whence his family 

eventually removed, and sold their estates in Fife. I think however that the Architecture 

is of an older date than the time of Queen Mary; but it is not impossible that Monquhany 

erected the more modern portion for the accommodation of the Queen and Bothwell, 

666 The Sutors of Cromarty are on either side of the entrance to Cromarty Firth. 

667 There is a long and full account of Noltland in Gifford [1992], who describes it as 'the ruin of one of 

Scotland's strangest C16 creations, a smart house sitting on top of two floors of purposeful artillery 

fortification'. 

668 Also spelt Munqhannay and Mountquhanie. 

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and hence may arise the tradition that it was built by a Balfour of Trenaby and Pharay, 

one of his descendants. 

From Noltland we sailed or rather steamed South East along the coast of Westray 

towards Eday, past the "Gentlemen's Cave" where the Jacobite Lairds were under 

hiding in 1746, the holm of Phary [sic], Pharay isle itself through the Sound of Howa 

between Rowsay and Egilshay and the Sound of Wire, and along the shores of Rowsay 

up to Westness. Mr Baikie, Scarth and I went ashore at Westness, and Somerville and 

the impudent white-haired Bagman accompanied us unasked. 

Woodwick and Veira were on the shore to meet us. I never saw Woodwick before. He is 

a fresh looking man of fifty, ruddy complexioned, large, handsome and altogether a fine 

specimen of an Orcadian Laird; so far as externals go, the best I ever saw. The 

expression of his countenance indicates extreme good nature, amounting almost to 

facility and weakness of character. His wife is a sister of Heddle of Melsetter and a soft 

youthful looking girl of two or three and twenty. He has 3 or 4 childen by her, and his 

first wife left a large family. The Eldest son is married and lives at Singapore; he is a 

Medical man and in the E[ast] I[ndian] Co[mpan]ys Service. The second daughter is 

married to Heddle of Melsetter who is thus the son in law and brother in law of 

Woodwick. His shrubberies and gardens are extensive and expensive, and he has not 

an inch of ground remaining in Rowsay excepting about 8 acres of land surrounding his 

house and enclosed within a high Wall. The whole of the island of North Ronaldshay 

belongs to him, as also the Estate of Woodwick in the Parish of Evie and some lands 

near Kirkwall. 

The ladies went ashore in a second boat, and after spending some time in the Gardens 

we returned on board. 

Mr Anderson the Parliamentary candidate came up the Sound in his own Steamer the 

Marchioness of Breadalbane, and boarded us. It was quite a scene. No steamer was 

ever seen in the bay before and now two met there by accident. Anderson had a great 

number of Electors and non-Electors with him and his agent John Mitchell was running 

about among them in a state of great excitement. Anderson himself looks a cool used 

up Radical. 

Woodwick and 2 of his sons went on board with us; and when we left he went to 

Anderson's. We had cheering, waving of hats, firing of Guns and so forth to the great 

admiration of the natives. 

Woodwick went ashore immediately, and Anderson sailed away after us. He called at 

Evie, and we came in to Kirkwall where we arrived at quarter to 8 p.m. 

No letters but circulars. 

The trip was well enough but "I did not enjoy myself to an excess of enjoyment". 

There is a calm about the potato disease, but I heard no authentic account of its having 

really appeared. The crops are every where luxuriant, and the bere in particular is rather 

too heavy, and a great part of it is laid by the late rains. 

The people every where crowded round us in their boats to see the Steamer which to 

most of them was a novel sight, it being the first that was ever seen among the North 

West isles of Orkney. It was the first screw propeller I ever saw myself. 

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W. A fine bright sultry day. 

Calls from Mr Scott of Edinburgh, a portrait painter, 669 David Marwick, and Scarth with 

whom I went out to see David Tulloch, a lunatic from North Ronaldsay. I granted a 

warrant for his removal to Edinburgh. 

At 3 o'clock I went with Messrs Spark, Patterson and Sinclair to the Grammar School, 

Scott's, Copland's and Wicks Schools, in each of which four places we severally 

addressed the Scholars admonishing them to be quiet, orderly and peaceable during 

the Elections, and not to insult the Gentlemen on eiher side. 

I hope the move will have a good effect. 


S E. Dry afternoon. 

Letter from Donald, that he is going to the Milton Sale &c. 

The Steamer came in at 2 o'clock, and Mr Neaves arrived by it. I met him at the pier. 

Heddle, S Laing jr, 670 Jas Crawford, C Sherraff jr, Fisher of Aberdeen and others came 

by it. Among the others Fortescue, who came up and lunched with us. 

Neaves looks stronger than on his arrival last year. He did not bring his Clerk with him. 

We remained in the house all the Evening talking de omnibus rebus. 


S E. Gray morning. Rainy afternoon. 

To Church in the morning; Mr Lochore preached. 

John Baikie told us that his son has a fever. 671 

The Dundases and Golds lunched with us and then went to Paterson's Chapel. 

We went out to walk, but the day becoming bad we called on WHF who shewed all the 

Registers, Acts &c connected with the Election. 

Dined alone talking as before of the general question, and especially of the Orkney 

Election. 


S E. Gray dry day. 

Had a Meeting of Agents &c to day at half past 10 a.m. attended by Mitchell, Urquhart, 

Gold and S Laing jr when all arrangements regarding Polling days, Clerks, Hustings, 

booths &c were fixed. Bain called previously and is to act as polling Sheriff. 

We sent an apology to the Dundases for not attending their pic nic party to day on board 

the Merlin, and afterwards at Grainbank. 

Wrote to Donald Kindrochit Cottage about Milton Sale, Election &c. 

669 This may have been David Scott 1806-1849; see Index. 

670 Samuel Laing 1812-1897, politician and author, son of Samuel Laing 1780-1868, author and traveller, 

and nephew of Malcolm Laing 1762-1818, Scottish historian. See Index. 

671 It seems possible that the son in question was abroad or may just have been away from home. See 

470815. 

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Tankerness called about preserving peace. He is more afraid than there is any occasion 

for. 

Dundas called a Meeting at the County buildings, when he addressed the Electors. We 

did not go in but Ranken afterwards told us of the proceedings. Dundas spoke first; then 

Laing; then Jas Crawford and finally Mitchell. All was peace and good humour 

throughout, and there is no apprehension of disorder. We spoke to Mr J Spence, J Tait 

and J Shearer, Bailies, about preserving the peace, and also to Scarth, and all promise 

to maintain order 

Laing is a tall thin long faced young man; mild, very pleasing and gentlemanlike in his 

manner, and evidently a man of sense and intelligence. He is to dine with us on 

Wednesday if he is in Town. 


S W. Gray dry day. Rainy after 4 p.m. 

Went to Stromness in Magnus Heddle's Gig with Mr Neaves after breakfast, and we had 

a meeting with the Meal Committee and Elders &c about destitution and keeping order 

in the Town at the time of the Elections. 

We then drove to Swanbister and dined at Fortescue's with Mr and Mrs Ranken and Mr 

Still. I never was in Orphir before; it is a fine fertile Parish, and much improvment is now 

in progress. Fortescue's new house is building, and at present he lives in the farm 

house, which seems to be very uncomfortable. We left at 8 and it rained very heavily 

until we reached home. 


S. fine warm day. 

Examination of Grammar School; Neaves and Mr Spark, Mr Spence, Mrs Dundas and 

Bain &c present. 

John Baikie, Scarth, Ranken and Mr Fisher of Aberdeen dined with us. 

Letter from Donald; Milton sale; £204. 


S. Fine day. Light showers. 

Nomination of Mr Fredk Dundas and Mr Arthur Anderson as Candidates for the County 

at 12 o'clock. The order of proceeding is this. 

1 The Sheriff reads the Election Writ and the Bribery Act. 

2 Asks if any Elector has acandidate to put in nomination. 

3 The Mover and Seconder of the first candidate speak. 

4 Sheriff asks if any Elector has a 2d Candidate to put in nomination. 

5 The Mover and Seconder of 2d Candidate speak. 

6 Sheriff asks if any Elector has any other candidate &c. 

7 Candidates address the Electors. 

8 Sheriff asks a Shew of hands in favour of 1st Candidate. 

9 A Shew of hands by people accordingly. 

10 Sheriff asks a Shew of hands in favour of other Candidates. 

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11 Shew of hands. 

12 Sheriff declares Shew of hands. 

13 Poll demanded, and proceedings adjourned to ----- . 

14 Candidates generally propose and second a vote of thanks to Sheriff. 

15 Sheriff acknowledges the compliment, and may address a few words to the Crowd 

exhorting them to preserve order. 

Tankerness proposed Dundas in a short speech; Woodwick seconded him without 

adding a single word. 

Young Laing of Papdale proposed Anderson in a long and able speech of a tory-radical 

Complexion and more complimentary to Peel than to Russell. Dr Jas Scott of Zetland 

seconded Anderson's nomination in a short speech. 

Dundas then addressed the Electors; he is no orator, and his address was not very well 

received. Anderson spoke for an hour. He is a sensible man of business, but not a very 

accomplished scholar, or very like a Gentleman. 

The mob on the whole were orderly and well conducted. George Petrie the Auctioneer 

was at first excited and riotous, but he soon became calm. John Scott, Wyllie of 

Stromness, and Jas Crawford Advocate, friends of Dundas, were unruly in the hustings. 

The popular feeling and the shew of hands were very decidedly in favour of Anderson. 

He was accompanied by Laing and Dr Scott, John Baikie, Scarth and Mitchell, with a 

crowd of nameless supporters. Dundas had Tankerness, Woodwick, Watt of Skaill, 

Revd Mr Spark, Mr James Spence Banker, Dr Logie, David Petrie, John Scott, Gold, 

Crawford, Wylie, Ross, Robert Heddle, Chas Sherraff junr &c &c. 

The Crowd was very considerable, and dispersed quietly. We walked out to Birstane 

before Dinner. The proceedings occupied about an hour. We dined alone. 


W. Fine dry breezy day. 

Meeting of Agents etc when Peter Heddle and Benjamin Hewison were appointed 

Polling Clerks. 

We called on Mrs Dundas at Grainbank and on Anderson at the Inn. 

Called at WHF where Neaves signed the Commissions to the Polling Sheriffs (Bain and 

myself) and sent copies of the adjournment to Dundas, and to Anderson to take to Bell 

Sheriff Substitute Zetland. He and Fotheringhame and I then went to the post office and 

despatched a certified copy of the Minute of Adjournment to Bell, taking a receipt for it. 

He is to take another copy himself to morrow. An officer was not sent under the 

Circumstances. 

We called at John Baikies and on George Balfour, and afterwards walked to Huttston 

and home by Sea shore; dined at home. 

Letter from John Banchor 672 about Sale at Milton, and from Skene. 

Wrote to Donald Kindrochit Cottage about sale; Election; going south on 27th Sept; 673 

Neaves; &c. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Ditto Ditto. 

672 By a strange slip of the pen at this point JR writes 'Banker' in place of 'Banchor'. 

673 In spite of this JR in fact went south on 4th September. 

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W. Fine sunny breezy day. 

Post at 9. Steamer at 11. 674 Northman came in last night. 


Neaves went by Steamer to Zetland. H Dickson WS came from Edinburgh, and the 

Laird and Lady Trenaby. 

Letter from Dr Garson Stromness for Meal. 

Wrote to Dr Garson Stromness that 10 bolls are sent from our Stores, of which oat meal 

at the price it is sold at here. 


E. A very beautiful calm sunny day. 

To St Magnus in the Morn. Mrs Sinclair and Miss Moncrieff there. To John Baikie's; Mrs 

Pollexfen there; he had letters that the crisis of his son's fever is over, and that he is 

recovering. 675 I am glad of this. 

Walked from half past 3 to 5 along sea shore to Severack. In the Evening walked by 

Birstane road and home by Tankerness road. 

Yesterday Neaves introduced me on board the Queen to his Zetland Fiscal Gregg, a 

snuffy elderly man apparently of no great intellectual calibre. 

We have grouse from Messrs Fisher, Still, Ranken and Heddle, the greater part of which 

I sent to Zetland "where no grouse grow". 


S E. Very beautiful sunny day. 

Letter from and 

Wrote to Strowan, Dun Alister, Pitlochry about Lord Grantley's claim for Dull &c. 

Wrote to Donald Kindrochit Cottage Blair Atholl about Recal of Sequestration 676 if such 

a proceedings is attempted at Milton; my Mother going to Banchor. 

Took Precognition in case of assault Jean Leask of Stromness. 

Walked to Birstane and round farm. 

Refused application of Robert Smith Holm against Inspector of poor; prepared by Chas 

Spence SSC. 677 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Marriages in Tobermory; Sir Ed Coffin and 

Zetlanders Free Kirk Bell; 678 Stewart Robertson's marriage; 679 my Mother; Strowan; 

Politics. 

674 This Steamer was the Queen. 

675 See 470808. 

676 Revocation. 

677 S S C is Solicitor before the Supreme Court [Scotland]. 

678 This is presumably a reference to JR's opposite number Bell, Sheriff Substitute in Lerwick. 

679 Stewart Robertson may have been the man of that name who lived at Derculich and may have been 

Derculich's factor or secretary. It is emphatically not a reference to James Stewart Robertson of 

Edradynate did not marry until 1852 and was never referred to by JR as 'Stewart Robertson'. . . 

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N E. Dry cloudy day; occasional sunshine. 

Letter from Mr Bankes Melsetter about poor of Walls and with List. 

Wrote to Mr Spence Crown Chamberlain Crantitt to give £5 promised and that I would 

give £5 from Desititution Committee. 

Walked with WHF to Crantitt, saw Spence, and gave him the letter. Walked to Scapa. 

and home by Moor and Tankerness Road. Met Geo Balfour and Bains going to a pic nic 

at the Gills of Scapa. 

Book Case. 680 Got the doors taken off my book case. 

Mr O'Brien the Inspector of prisons called. I went out with him and was introduced to his 

wife and asked them to dinner to morrow. 


W. Beautiful hot day. 

Cattle market. 

Letter from and 

wrote to Mrs Balfour of Gairsay care of Dr McIntyre 84 Harley St Cavendish Square 

London with Orkney news. 681 

Walked to market on Stromness Road with Mr O'Brien; met Mr Laing and Tankerness. 

Mr and Mrs O'Brien, Ranken and Dr Traill of Birsay dined with me. Jas Kinnear, Tom 

Traill and Mr Balfour Ogilvie of Tannadyce 682 came in at 9. 


S. Fine gray day. 

Wrote to Mr Wm Banks, Melsetter, Long Hope enclosing Five pounds from Edinburgh 

Destitution Committee for distribution among poor people of Walls, and to keep list of 

parties to whom relief is given. Money sent through Commercial Bank. 

Called with £5 at Commercial Bank. 

Walked to Severack and had a talk with Sinclair the Tenant. The potato disease has 

appeared there; it is only partial as yet, and affects certain spots of hollow ground 

leaving the rest comparatively sound. The late potatoes are not touched yet, but I fear 

that in the course of a few days the disease will be general. The other crops are very 

fine throughout the country and beginning to change colour; the hay is every where 

secured. 

Dined at Ranken's with Mr and Mrs O'Brien, Jas Crawford, John Baikie and Mrs 

Pollexfen. Captain Demas commanding a French Sloop of War from Iceland came in at 

9. He is a dark man, stout, strong, about 5 feet 9 inches in height, and with more 

decision and energetic bluffness of character than any Frenchman I ever met before. He 

spoke English very well; had been long in India where he acquired the language. Was 

680 These two underlined words are written in the margin; the importance to JR of his books and book 

case can be understood but this emphasis on removing the doors of the book case is puzzling. 

681 Dr McIntyre was possibly Mrs Balfour's uncle; see Index. 

682 See Ogilvy of Inshewan in Burke LG 1906; one of them married an Ogilvy of Tannadice and had a son 

whose second name was Balfour. 

JBL 11/1/06 273


anxious for French news. Spoke of the war in Algiers as very destructive to their Armies, 

and gave a fearful account of the Military Executions of the Arabs, of whose bravery and 

fine martial appearance he spoke in the highest terms. He described the Province of 

Algeria as beautiful, well wooded and very fertile. Spoke with much severity of the 

Yankees whom he said are regarded in France as Englishmen deprived of all their good 

qualities. He says that the Bretons are the best sailors and soldiers of France. 

O'Brien is a cousin or second cousin of Sir Lucius O'Brien, who he says is the Chief of 

his name tho' the Marquis of Thomond disputes the point with him. Sir Lucius is a 

Protestant and Conservative and has Estates worth £20,000 per annum. His brother 

Smith O'Brien is a Radical repealer, and succeeded to his mother or Grandmother's 

Estates worth £3000 or £4000 a year. Stafford O'Brien of Northamptonshire is a Cadet 

of their family, but he is of a remote and illegitimate branch. O'Brien himself was on the 

Staff, served in India and elsewhere for 15 or 20 years; was private secretary to Sir Jas 

Graham, is nephew of Lady Graham. Held a secretaryship along with Samuel Laing at 

the Board of Trade, and must have been the same person about whom the Radicals 

made a row in Parliament a few years since as being in the Railway Department of the 

Board of Trade while his brother was a great Railway Speculator. 

Mrs O'Brien is a Larne woman and daughter of the late General Macleverty. She is 

clever, Irish and Emphatic, quotes Latin, is intimate with Mrs Malolm McNeill of Larne of 

whom she speaks with great admiration for her beauty and amiable disposition; but I 

have heard many Irish people do so. 

Our party broke up at 11. 


W. Breeze. Cloudy but dry. 

Mr Anderson tenant of [blank] called and represented that there were only two or three 

people in Sanday requiring assistance. I gave him a pound to be distributed among 

them from the Edinburgh Committee. He says that the potato disease is general 

Sanday, where the crops are earlier than on the Mainland; that it appears between the 

period of flowering and of the formation of the apple; and that the other crops are good, 

though the bere is partially injured by being laid with the late Rains. 

Wrote to Mr Oliver Drever Sheriff Clerk Depute Sanday about next Circuit Court. 

Went out to Tankerness with the Laird, Jas Crawford and Mr O'Brien to dinner. Ranken 

rode out after us. Dined for the first time in the new Iron dining room a very handsome 

apartment. O'Brien and Ranken left at 9. Crawford and I remained all night. 


S. Gloomy day. Rain after 4 o'clock. 

At 12 Mr Baikie, Crawford and I drove in to town. I left them at Heathery quoy and went 

to Birstane. Met Scarth and promised to dine with him to morrow. 

Dr Traill of Edinburgh came by Steamer, and also Bain and his wife, who had been at 

Strathpeffer. 

A field of Beere at Wideford is quite ready for the sickle, and part of it was cut to day; 

those were the first stooks I saw this season, and I believe the only ones in Orkney. 

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I am grieved to observe that the potato disease has undoubtedly appeared again this 

year. Not a field is now free of it, excepting such as are late. The poor people in and 

around Kirkwall are in great distress about it. 

Dined at 5, and at half past 5 James Crawford came to dine with me! I had forgot all 

about it, but we got a second dinner done up, and passed the Evening very agreeably 

talking on points of law, and of Edinburgh news. He is an unguarded talker; among 

other things he expatiated much on his claims to the Solicitor Generalship in opposition 

to Moncrieff of whom he is very jealous. He left at 11. 


N. Gale, or rather stormy. 

Went to church in morning with O'Briens. Dr Traill M.D. came in to the pew. 

Met Alexander Cunynghame WS 683 who is here with the Northern Lights Steamer. He 

introduced me to old Mr Stephenson. 684 The Commissioners are not here. 


N W. Cool, but fine breezy day. 

Letter from Margaret about my Mother, and desiring me to write advising her to go to 

Glasgow. 

I yesterday dined with Laing at Scarth's. There were no other strangers there, but 

Mitchell came in after dinner. 

Laing is a very able, and an agreeable man; a liberal Peelite in politics, and a literary 

man. He considers Peel as the first Statesman of the age, and Carlyle as the first 

author. Carlyle is his personal friend, a native of Dumfries shire and the son of a farmer 

in that County. He was intended for a Writer, but became a literary character by the 

force or necessity of his genius. He is about 40 years of age, very original in his writings, 

and a man of wonderful conversational powers. Laing says that Jeffrey 685 comes next 

to him in that respect, though he falls far short of him as a Writer. He placed Graham 

next to Peel in point of power and force of character as a Statesman, and said that Lord 

Dalhousie of the young men of our day is the most promising by many degrees, and 

must eventually become Premier. Fitzroy Kelly 686 he says is the greatest of the English 

Lawyers now that Follett is gone. In the Railway department, Austin is making £40,000 a 

year, and some of the Solicitors still more!! O'Brien (Donatus) confirms Laing's opinions 

generally. 

Alex Cunningham called after breakfast. I went with him to Grainbank; to O'Brien's. 

Met Jas Pollexfen who arrived from the South on Saturday. Also David and Mrs Balfour 

for the first time this season; Kinnear and D B Ogilvie was with them. 

Attended meeting of Prison Board; Tankerness, J[ohn] Baikie and [David] Balfour 

present with O'Brien who submitted his views to us, and said he would recommend the 

present Jail to be enlarged and altered. 

683 Cunningham; see 470823. 

684 Stevenson. See 460722 and note. 

685 Francis, Lord Jeffrey 1773-1850 

686 Sir Fitzroy Kelly 1796-1880 

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Cunningham, H Dickson WS, Hailton and Gold lunched with me, and afterwards I took 

Cunningham round the Cathedral and saw him off at 5. The Pharos is going with them 

to Shetland to night. 


S W. Dark day; light showers. 

Neaves came from Zetland at 5 o'clock a.m. and went to bed. 

Wrote to Margaret 5 Bath Street Glasgow declining to advise my Mother to leave the 

Country, and thanking her for offering Dumbuck Cottage. 

Neaves held an ordinary Court. 

We walked to Hattstown. Jas Crawford called and lunched with us. 

Mr Brotchie of Westray dined here and left at 8. 


Calm dull morning. 

5 o'clock up and preparing to start for Stromness. 

Peter Heddle accompanied [me] to Stromness as Poll Clerk. We arrived there at half 

past 8. Went to the Inn; returned to the Polling Booth which was erected on the 

Common to the North of the Town near the junction of the Kirkwall and Harray roads. 

The Polling commenced at 9 and proceeded very rapidly and without any interruption 

until 12. 

At first starting Dundas was a head, but before 12 o'clock Anderson took the lead and 

kept it until the final close of the poll. 

The course of proceeding is first for the Sheriff to ask the voter his name and parish of 

qualification; 2ndly to find the name on the Certified Copy Register and read it aloud 

with the additions. At this stage the oaths Schedules I and K of the act are administered 

if required. 3dly the Sheriff enquires for whom the Elector Votes, and lastly his name 

and residence is inserted in the Poll Book by the Clerk. The poll books are not made up 

on the new principle generally followed in the South, where the Voters are distinguished 

by the Numbers on the Register without any other addition to their names. 

We must get a set of the new books for the next Election. 

Messrs Wyllie and Ross of Stromness, Mr Morrison Snody of Wick and Mr Andrew 

Snody of Edinburgh all attended as legal Agents for Mr Dundas, and the Watts of Skaill 

Senr and Junr and others as anxious friends and partizans. Mr Mitchell was the sole 

agent present for Anderson. 

Anderson himself came in a Steamer about 2 o'clock, and Mr Dundas between 3 and 4 

after Anderson had left. 

Stainger the Shipbuilder's men to the number of 16 or 17 paraded the Streets neatly 

dressed in blue Jackets and Yellow Sashes, but the mob were all keenly Andersonian, 

and the women and children made a great noise and shouted out "Anderson forever, 

Dundas never" to every one that passed along the Street in the shape of a Gentleman. 

They were disposed to offer violence to Stainger's men, but Mitchell kept them back, 

and every thing went on smoothly. 

JBL 11/1/06 276


Wyllie the Writer was unpopular and generally followed by a tail of boys and girls calling 

out "the old man of Hoy" in allusion to a pamphlet on the Dundas side which he 

acknowledged at a public meeting at Stromness when Laing denounced it as a 

scandalous and "blackguard" production (Laing and Crawford had some sparring about 

this pamphlet). The poll closed at 4 and thePoll book was sealed up as directed by the 

Act 70 to 60. 

I dined alone with P. Heddle. Dundas looked in as he was starting for Kirkwall and 

appeared in good spirits. I wrote a Note by him to Neaves giving a State of the poll. 

After dinner we walked to the Sound of Hoy (Heddle and I) and home by the old Church 

yard and Manse. To bed early. 

Noises in the house all night by the Dundasites who used it as their Committee Rooms. 

Lieutenant Gilbert Trail was particularly loud and denounced Mitchell in no measured 

terms for having put the Oath of possession to him. 


S by W. Dull but dry day. 

Breakfasted with Peter Heddle at quarter past 7. Went to the booth at quarter before 8. 

Broke open the sealed packet containing the poll book at 8 and commenced the 

proceedings of the day. From 8 o'clock a.m. to 4 p.m. only 8 Voters polled for Dundas 

and 4 for Anderson. Pollexfen and Ranken voted for Dundas. George Monro Advocate 

along with Scarth attended for Anderson to day in place of Mitchell who had gone to 

Kirkwall. At the final close of the poll the numbers were 

Dundas Anderson 

Kirkwall 77 66 

Stromness 68 74 

------------------------------ 

145 140 

It was alleged by the Andersonians and acknowledged by their opponents that the 

Anderson Majority in Zetland would much more than counterbalance that for Dundas in 

Orkney. Anderson then may be considered as the Member for the County, and he is no 

Ornament to it certainly. He looks used up, blaze and mean, with a leer in his eye, and a 

curious and not agreeable grin and hanging of the upper lip at the sides, lik some Ross 

shire men of the lower orders that I have met with. It seems that he is a man of low 

origin. He attended in the booth to day from about 2 to a quarter before 4. 

Pollexfen dined with me, and I took him into Kirkwall in my Gig. 

Neaves was dining with the Logies, and came in at half past 9. 

I reached home at 8. No letters. 

The Shetland poll books are not expected till Saturday night or later. 

Anderson was to go to Lerwick to night in his Steamer. 


S W. Rainy morning; clearing up now at half past 10 a.m. 687 

687 Note that he was writing up his diary this morning after the election proceedings at Stromness. 

JBL 11/1/06 277


Wrote to Oliver Drever Sandwick that I am disappointed he has not answered my letter 

of the 20th, and enquiring number of cases taken only for 7th Sept at Sanday. 

At 6 o'clock Neaves and I went to Papdale to dine with the Scarths. There were present 

besides Laing, J Kinnear, Anderson, the Bains, Fisher, Dr Duguid, Ranken, Pollexfen, 

Miss Duguid and an English lawyer who is down 688 here shooting. It was a heavy party. 

Neaves and I stole off between 10 and 11, and left them at their wine. 

Wrote to my Mother Kindrochit Cottage and John Banchor that I hope to get south next 

week. 


W. 

Meeting in the morning with Anderson, Mitchell and Urquhart about the Poll books from 

Zetland. Anderson went to Zetland by the Queen Steamer, and is to return on Tuesday 

Morning; consequently if the Declaration takes place on Monday he will not be present. 

Crawford called yesterday and stated that Dundas does not intend to attend. From his 

tone it is probable that the Dundases will for a time abandon the County in disgust. 

We went towards Grainbank with a view to call on them, and met them and the 

Tankernesses, Crawford, Dickson and Sherraff on the Ayre. 

Walked about the Town to see the Great Annual fair of Kirkwall; the Streets were 

crowded with Young men from 3 to 9 o'clock. 

George Monro dined with us, and left early. 


W. Breeze; dry. 

Monro breakfasted with us; and we went to St Peter's Chapel, this being the first day on 

which the Established Church had service in it since the Free Church Secession in May 

1843. It is a good roomy building, without galleries. 

Alex Cunningham WS and Mr Jardine son of Sir Wm Jardine of Applegarth 689 and Mr 

Ferrier son of Mr Walter Ferrier WS lunched with us. Cunningham, Jardine and I walked 

to Birstane. 

At 5 Neaves, Monro, Ranken and I went on board the Pharos Steamer and dined with 

Cunningham and the Stevensons &c. Home at 8 and passed the Evening talking of 

Byron, Alison 690 &c. 

Last night we had a long conversation on the subject of the atonement, Purgatory, the 

Church of Rome &c &c after Monro left. Neaves is an enlightened and pious Christian, 

and his views of religion are devout and extremely satisfactory. 


W. Rainy morning. 

Registration Court held by Neaves. Urquhart attended for the Dundases, and Geo 

Monro and Mitchell for Anderson. Sat in Court for some time. 

688 Would anyone in 1997 say 'down here shooting' rather than 'up here shooting'? 

689 Sir William Jardine 7th bart 1800-1874, naturalist. 

690 Sir Archibald Alison 1792-1867, historian 

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Neaves came down and lunched. Walked out to near Sir Hugh's seat; called on the 

George Balfours. Met Tankerness at the gate and he came in and sat half an hour 

talking. 

We dined alone and in the evening I wrote to Wm Balfour of Gairsay, Lower Mill 

Cottage, Littlebury by Manchester; Election and Orkney news. 

Mr Nixon called about Cathedral; he came on Saturday and leaves to morrow taking 

Hunter the Superintendent of Works with him, and leaving Ker his Clerk. He is 

disappointed that the Congregation left the Cathedral without communicating with the 

Woods and Forests. 



W. Breezy day; sunshine and showers. 

Wrote to Donald K[indrochit] Cottage Blair Atholl; to settle with Condie; Election news; 

going south in end of September. 

Neaves at Registration Court. This morning an officer from Shetland by Steamer with 

the Poll Books. 

Called on Mr Logie about sending a Memorial to the Woods and Forests accounting for 

leaving St Magnus on the suggestion of Mr Nixon. He declined. 

We dined alone to day. 


N W. Stormy and rainy. 

This was the Declaration day. 

At half past 11 and in the Court house the Sheriff in the presence of Mr Anderson and 

others publicly broke open the seals of the poll books in succession, commencing with 

that for the District of Kirkwall and ending with that of Durrance. He first went over the 

Numbers for Dundas one by one, and jotted them down; then in like manner over those 

for Anderson; thereafter took a new book, broke open the seals and went over the 

Numbers as before, until the whole were gone through. At the conclusion of all he 

summed up the numbers for each candidate, and struck a balance shewing the majority 

for Anderson. 

The whole party went thereafter to the hustings and the Sheriff publicly stated the 

Numbers that polled for each candidate and the Majority for Anderson whom he 

declared to be duly eleted MP for the County. Mr Anderson then addressed the Electors 

ina temperate speech, and proposed a vote of thanks to the Sheriff, which was 

seconded nd carried. The Sheriff briefly returned thanks, congratulated the Electors on 

their orderly conduct, and adjourned the proceedings to the Court House where he on 

the one part and Scarth, John Tait and Mitchell for behalf of the Electors on the other 

part signed and sealed the Indenture of the return of the MP. The Sheriff indorsed a 

docquet on the back of the writ that a Return was made as per the Indenture annexed,* 

and enclosed both the Writ and Indenture in a packet which he sealed and addressed 

on the back ** to the Clerk of the Crown, Chancery Office, Westminster, London, and 

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dated and signed the address. The packet was posted and a recipt for it taken from the 

post master which closed the Election proceedings. 

See 8th April 1857. 

* Date "The Execution of the within writ is contained in an Indenture hereto annexed; 

JR Sheriff Substitute of Orkney" 

** "Return of the writ for the Election of a member for the County of Orkney & Zetland. 

To the Clerk &c" 691 

Mr Logie called to repeat what he had mentioned yesterday. Mr Paterson called about 

Schools, and Mr John Baikie out of courtesy. 

Neaves and I (the proceedings being now over) 692 dined with the Andersonians at 

Macdonald's Inn. The party was mediocre enough; Scarth spoke sensibly about the 

capability of Orkney and the improvements in its agriculture within his own recollection. 

Geo Munro was present. John Baikie was not. We left at half past 8 and the party 

separated two or three hours thereafter. 

During the fornoon there was a procession; a crowd of people from Deerness, and a 

great deal of dirty weather, but every thing went off quietly. 

I arranged with Mr Anderson to take a passage in his Steamer to Inverness. 


N. Showery and cold. 

Neaves and I left for Stromness at half past 7. The storm continued and Mr Anderson's 

boat could not go there. He himself arrived in Stromness at 4 and I came home, having 

ascertained from him that he is not to sail till Saturday. 

Neaves is still at Stromness holding his Reg[istratio]n Courts. I had a useless and a 

disagreeable joury 693 to day; but n'importe, better luck next time. 


N. Breezy; showers. 

Wrote to William Tobermory; my trip to Stromness and proposed journey to the south; 

election &c. 

Wrote out Table of business of Sanday Court. 

Dundas called; poor fellow, I felt for him. He talked as if he would wish to have Ranken 

for agent. 


N W. Cold day; dry. Snow on high hills of Ross, Sutherland and Inverness. 

Last night I went on board of Mr Anderson's Steamer the Marchioness of Breadalbane 

along with him and Dr Scott, and the Doctor entertained us over a Glass of cold Whisky 

691 The first line of this 1857 Memorandum is added to the body of the entry's text and the remaining four 

lines have been written in the margin of the entry; they are obviously a reminder about some of the 

procedures to be followed at a later Election. 

692 There no longer being a need to show impartiality. 

693 'Joury' is more likely to be a slip of the pen for 'journey' than for 'jury'. 

JBL 11/1/06 280


and water with a prosing 694 account of the Trial of Bellingham the murderer of Mr 

Percival, who he said was insane, or as he expressed himself, "lost the faculty of 

comparison", while he retained all his other mental powers in perfection. He then 

digressed at great length into the subject of insanity in general and detailed his own 

experiences while acting as one of the surgeons at Haslar Hospital. 

We went to bed at 11, or rather Anderson and I lay down on the floor and covered 

ourseves with canvass &c as we best could; Scott got a bed in some corner. 

About 4 in the morning I went on deck. We were then running past Deerness. I confess 

that I felt a little nervous in that slight river boat in such seas as the Pentland, and the 

day looked threatening; but the wind was fair, we crossed the Firth at high water and lay 

under the lee of the land from Duncansby head to Inverness except alone for an hour or 

two when crossing the Firth of Tain and Dornoch. 

I resumed my bed, and did not dress, so to speak, until we were opposite the Ord of 

Caithness. 

At that locality the coast of Caithness was knolly, rocky and barren, and the small 

patches of arable land dropped here and there along the moor only served to shew off 

the surrounding barrenness more clearly. The headlands of the Ord are not so high or 

so grand as I had anticipated. The valley of Berriedale lying close to them contains 

some wood. Sutherland is bolder and more highland than Ross; but it did not present 

any grand or picturesque features until we neared Dunrobin. The old Castle is in the 

course of being repaired, and immense additions are now buidling by the Duke at a 

great expense. I hear that the designs are his own. 695 The place is situated at the 

bottom of the long bay of Dornoch, and as we cut across the Tarbet ness by the String 

in place of going round by the bow we could not obtain a near view of the grounds and 

surrounding country. I observed however that there was a great extent of building 

ancient and modern; large plantations skirting and surrounding hanging parks and 

cultivated land, and that to the South W[est] of the Castle there was a round hill crowned 

with a tower or column erected to the memory of the late Duke of Sutherland. 

Tarbet ness is a curious long low headland forming the S.E. boundary of the bay of 

Tain. There is an old ruined castle, a few fishing villages lying close to the shore, and 

the land is low level and unprotected by trees. The shore soon began to bend to the 

South W. by W. forming the Northern boundary of the Moray Firth from Tarbet ness to 

Inverness. The Southern shore stretched to an immense distance towards the S.E. 

forming the counties of Aberdeen, Elgin, Banff &c or what was anciently termed "the 

Province of Moray". It was the first time I ever saw it. 

We soon passed the Souters of Cromarty, a curious piece of scenery, but less 

picturesque than my recollection of 1841 preserved them, or than the Red Head and 

Calf sound of Eday. 696 The headlands are not so high as I had supposed them. I was 

694 'Prosing' meant dull and tedious. 

695 Work began in 1845 on this huge extension and dramtic transformation of what was once a mediaeval 

castle and was carried out by the second Duke of Sutherland, to his own designs aided by William Leslie 

and others. It was completed in 1851. 

696 The same comparison was made on 470805. 

JBL 11/1/06 281


struck with the softness and the fertility of the shores of the Black Isle. I did not see 

much of Fort George. 

At 3 o'clock p.m. we reached the mouth of the Caledonian Canal at Inverness, having 

taken exactly 12 hours from Kirkwall Roads to Inverness; a fine run. Anderson and I 

went in a Cab to the Caledonian and got [?] accommodations. We went out to see the 

town and met Charles Stewart the Solicitor who invited us to dine with him; we declined, 

having taken early dinner on board, but promised to take our wine with his party at 6. In 

the meantime we went about to see the lions, and especially the Castle. It contains the 

Court House, Sheriff Clerk and other public offices, Judges' Rooms, County Hall &c &c 

and a fine prison is now building. Altogether [it] is an excelent, commodious and 

handsome Erection very creditable to the County, and the site is one of the most 

splendid that can be conceived. At its base runs the Noble stream of the Ness, which 

next the Tay I consider to be the largest river in Scotland. The Valleys of the Ness and 

Beauly open up towards the West and Northwest flanked by towering hills androcky 

pinnacles crowned and garlanded with trees; and the Noble shores of the Moray Firth 

stretch towards the East as far as the eye can reach. 

The town of Inverness lies at the foot of the eminence on which the Castle is built, and 

though it has no pretensions to grandeur, still it is clean, well paved and well built with 

stone, and coming as we did from Orkney, we did not demur in its claim to being the 

Metropolis of the North. 

We went to Stewarts at 6 and found Mr Anderson, Mr Falconer and a young cousin of 

his own with him. We remained till 9; found Dr Scott at the Hotel on our return. He left us 

at half past 11 when we retired. 


W. Rainy. 

Wrote to John Baikie, Banker, Kirkwall [about] our voyage [and] for Mrs B[aikie]'s 

address in Edinburgh &c. 

Breakfasted at 8 and started by the Mail at quarter to 9 , both inside and saw little of the 

country. Moy Hall at N E end of Loch and not on the island and old site. Conversations 

with Mr Anderson about Schools of Orkney &c. 

I left the Coach at Newton Moor and parted with my companion. 

A Captain Somebody at the Moor took in my luggage from the Rain. 

Found Jane, Bialled, Dr John Stewart 697 and his young bride at Banchor. 

John himself was at Church with a Mr Rintoul, 698 son of the Spectator Rintoul, but 

returned soon after 4. He looks little altered since I saw him in January 1846, only that 

his whiskers are getting sprinkled with gray, so he cuts them off closer even than before. 

Jane looks wonderfully well considering that she lately endured so much. 699 She has 

lost a small tooth near the front which gives her a queer look for the first half day one is 

697 Dr John Stewart was Jane's brother. 

698 'Mr Rintoul' was a son of Robert Stephen Rintoul 1767-1858, a journalist from Dundee who went to 

London and in 1828 founded 'The Spectator'. 

699 Two months earlier Jane had been delivered of still born twin sons. 

JBL 11/1/06 282


with her. Bialled 700 is somewhat thinner than in 1846, but undoubtedly stronger and 

healthier looking; he is now in his 79th year and a wonderful man for that age. John 

Stewart is fat and his wife tall, dark, gaunt and thin, but a sensible looking woman 

withal. She is a Cockney 701 and so also is Rintoul, who is a dark roundabout little fellow 

of 24 or 25 wearing a moustache, enjoying a good office in the Mint, and having little 

pretension or assumption of manner. We all dined at Bialled. 


W. Dry. 

The mail full but I did not intend going by it. Called with Bialled on Miss McIntyre, a quiet 

ladylike thin old Badenoch woman; she teaches. 702 Her niece Miss [blank] and Bialled 

dined with us. 

Walked about the farm with John. The crops are all good excepting a field of oats in the 

new S E park which is spoilt by the grub, a material loss to poor John. I never saw finer 

turnips than he has got in the field next the Spey Bridge. 

John Stewart and his wife went off in John's Phaeton. 


W. 

Prepared to go off but the Coach full. There is only the mail on the road. Very provoking. 

Sauntered about with John and Bialled all day. Bialled at the Court. He came down after 

dinner and we had a great deal of conversation about old Badenoch Catherans [?] and 

heroes of the Clan Chattan line, especially the Macphersons of Etterish. The McIntyres 

of Badenoch were their retainers, and both masters and men were bloody minded and 

bloody handed, though occasionally shewing [signs] of chivalrous and even good 

feeling. 

Thomas of Etterish and his son killed the MacColls of Appin on the side of Schiehallion 

in revenge of the death of a Macpherson hunted by the MacColls out of a shieling and 

slain with an arrow in a mistake for Etterish. 

Old Thomas was at Glenfruin and arrived in time to join the Victory but not to share in 

the struggle of the Macgregors. His stratagem in shooting Inverawe the Chief of the 

Campbells with an arrow in the thigh when pursued by a party on his return home. 

Wednesday 8th September 1847 

W. Dry. 

John sent me over in his Phaeton to day, and Jane and Mr Rintoul accompanied me. 

This is the first time I have seen his new house. It is built exactly on the site of the old, 

but there is a good porch, the staircase is good and the kitchen is differently situated. 

700 'Bialled' was Captain Macpherson of Biallaid; John Robertson was possibly his tenant at Banchor. The 

farmhouse, which was being rebuilt at this time, is very close to the old house of Biallaid. 

701 The word 'Cockney' seems to have been in general use among the gentry in Atholl to describe anyone 

from London, irrespective of social status. 

702 Miss McIntyre was the sister of Mrs Steele, whose daughter Jessy Alexina Steele was the wife of 

William Balfour of Gairsay. See 470113. 

JBL 11/1/06 283


The accommodations are good and more than enough for two persons; and the Dairy, 

Hall, pantry, storerooms, Kitchen &c. &c. are really excellent. Jane sells 40 lb butter 

every week to the Queen at present, besides supplying the house and the Sportsmen at 

Newton Moor. 

We fed the horse at Dalwhinnie and Dalnacardoch and arrived at the Cottage 703 at 6. 

Mr Rintoul took tea with my aunts and drove down to Blair. 

My mother, notwithstanding her long and severe illness from which it was not supposed 

she would ever recover, looked remarkably well, though thin and weak. Emily also was 

healthy and great good looks. Aunts Helen and Betsey looked ill; and Aunt Anne much 

as usual, only that her hair is getting very white and that she wears glasses. We sat 

chatting about various things till about 12 or 1. 

I slept in the West bed room for the first time. 

Thursday 9th September 1847 

W. Rather a good day. Light showers. 

Jane went off at 1. I drove her across to Calvine and her boy Gordon drove her across 

the hill. 704 Remained at the Cottage all day, talking of things in general. 

Walked in the afternoon with Aunt Betsey to see the new house building at Strowan for 

Rob Mor in lieu of the old one which was lately burnt. The new building is to be a two 

storey slated house, the first of the kind ever seen in the village of Strowan. 

Talked with Aunt Betsey about my mother's future residence and was sorry to observe 

that she did not offer one of taking Kindrochit House for her. Neither did Aunt Helen. 


W. Fine sunny day. 

Went down to the Manse and saw Mrs Robertson of Kindrochit looking old and gray. 

Old Mrs Irvine looking well. Irvine somewhat gray and faded. Sophy thin, her two 

children strong, healthy and plain, and Elizabeth Irvine forward and precocious. Dined 

with them; Alastair Foss George Stewart and William Irvine there. 705 Rode home on the 

Minister's pony at 9. 

W. Wet and stormy day. 

Saturday 11th September 1847 

703 The Cottage was of course Kindrochet Cottage, where JR's mother was living with her sisters. 

704 Calvine is a hamlet about half a mile from Kindrochet on the main road from Perth to Inverness and on 

the opposite side of the River Garry from Struan, which is itself on the opposite side of Errochty Water 

from Kindrochet. When Jane's boy Gordon is said to have driven her 'across the hill' this means that he 

drove her home to Banchor up the main road. 

705 This tells us which members of the family were living at the Manse at Blair Atholl at this date: 

Alexander Robertson Irvine, aged 41; his wife Sophy Robertson aged 26; their two children Sophia Irvine, 

aged 2, and Alexander Irvine, aged one month; Elizabeth Irvine aged 13, his daughter by his first 

marriage; his mother, 'old Mrs Irvine', formerly Jessie Stewart of Garth, aged 71; his mother-in-law Mrs 

Robertson of Kindrochet, formerly Sophia Stewart of Shierglass, aged 68. Of those who joined them for 

dinner, only William Stewart Irvine can so far be identified with certainty; aged 35, he was the doctor in 

Pitlochry and the Minister's only surviving brother. JBL is his great-grandson. 

JBL 11/1/06 284


After breakfast rode up the Glen and called at Auchleeks where I was most kindly 

received by the old Gentleman and Lady in the Library. After a good deal of talk Mrs 

Robertson brought in her son Robert and daughter Bridget and we conversed very 

agreeably de omnibus rebus for half an hour when I took my departure, receiving many 

pressing invitations from the old Gentleman to renew my visit for a week or ten days. 

I called at Dalchalloch next and only saw Misses Jane and Betsey looking dreadfully old 

and withered. 

I then rode across to Dun Alister which I reached just as Strowan and his lady were 

about to drive off to Farlieyire. 706 They went in with me and Strowan himself shewed the 

house from "Garret to foundation stone". He has done wonders in cleaning, furnishing 

and beautifying it. I have never seen a place in more complete order. The Drawing is 

divided into two parts, one part of which is a store room and the other a laundry. The 

Dining Room is converted into a Drawing Room 32 feet long and proportionally broad. A 

Parlour is used as a Dining Room. Certainly the Dun is one of the noblest and grandest 

highlands places I ever saw. The features of it are superb. Mountain and river, wood 

and rock, all a magnificent scale and all close at hand. I wish I had more time to go over 

the ground. 

Lunched; called on James Menzies and Capt.Donald and came away. 

Called again at Dalchalloch just as they were finishing dinner, and saw the old Lady and 

William. The latter is unchanged in appearance and manner, only a little more rough 

and dry than formerly, but I rejoice to hear that he is much reformed in his habits. His 

mother is 87 years of age, thin and complaining; but though lying on the sofa she made 

a good dinner, and when spoken to was cheerful. She told me some anecdotes of her 

father and mother, and also of her maternal grandmother the Lady Kinloch who was a 

daughter of Ballechin. Her father was at Culloden, but having joined suddenly, and 

returned home quietly and suddenly, he was not forfeited. A young lad of the name of 

MacNaughton from Perth was with them. 

I returned to the Cottage about 6 in a tempest of wind and rain. 


W. Showers. 

My aunts and Emily went to hear old William Tulloch preach at Strowan. I remained at 

home with Aunt Helen and my mother, and talked to the latter about taking Kindrochit, 

having first informed her that William Irvine, like Findynate, is decidedly of opinion she 

cannot go to Glasgow. She agreed to what I proposed provided my aunts and Mrs 

Robertson approved. 

William Tulloch came up in the Evening. 


W. Fine day. 

I finally settled with my mother, aunts and Emily that I was to offer for Kindrochit. Wrote 

to John Banchor and Margaret of this. 

At 1 o'clock I came away. My Aunt Anne and Emily came with me to near Shenval. 

706 Farleyer, the old dower house of Castle Menzies in Strath Tay. 

JBL 11/1/06 285


I called at the Manse, offered for Kindrochit, and Mrs Robertson in the kindest and 

handsomest way accepted, and named the rent at £50. 

I immediately wrote my mother a note informing her of this, which before sealing I 

shewed to Sophy. 

I then added a P.S. to the same effect to my letter to John. 

We dined at 4. 

I got off at 6 by the mail and remained that night at the George Inn, Perth. 

The country looks beautiful and very highland; the crops were more than half cut. In 

Badenoch they had only begun reaping. 


W. Beautiful day. 

Came off at 8. Came through Fife by 3 horse coach; bleeding horse at Abernethy. The 

country looked enchanting to day; how different from the bare islands of Orkney. The 

ground was every where cut up for Railways. 

Took a coach at Bellevue Crescent. Donald was at 73 on my arrival, but he soon came 

over; he is in excellent health and stouter and in better looks than I have seen him for 

ten years. Not a gray hair in his head. 

We went out to Farmer, Maclachlan & Co. &c., Hill shoemaker &c. 707 Met Archy and 

Skene at the door of 73. They both dined with us and we were very happy. I however 

felt ill and feverish, with an incipient inflammation of the kidneys. To bed at 1. 


W. Dry. 

This morning I was ill. Donald sent Dr Syme 708 who told me to keep the house, keep 

myself warm, take nothing stronger than water and left a prescription. He ordered no 

particular diet. 

I remained in the house all day and felt cold and had a shivering. 

John Quarrier called. 709 

Archy passed the evening with us and gave the history of the Collonsay question. 710 

Edward Balfour called. 711 


W. Stormy last night. Showers. 

707 Farmer was JR's tailor in Edinburgh; see 470916. Maclachlan & Co were booksellers. He seems to 

have had his shoes made by Hill. 

708 James Syme 1799-1870 was the most distinguished surgeon of his day in Edinburgh. JR copied out 

what he thought was the wording of his prescription in the margin of this entry but it is mostly 

incomprehensible. 

709 John Quarrier has not been identified but may have been what would now be called a travel agent; JR 

ytavelled in 'one of the Quarrier's coaches' on 470917. 

710 One aspect of the Collonsay question may have been to do with the sale of Archy's yacht; see entry 

470920, where JR writes to him about it. 

711 Edward Balfour was the younger of the two half-brothers of David Balfour of Trenaby and his siblings. 

He seems to have been living in Edinburgh with his mother at this time. 

JBL 11/1/06 286


John Quarrier called again. 

Remained in house all day. Packed. Farmer called in morning to fit clothes. Concocted 

letter to Condie with Donald, giving up claim on Duke as his Grace has resiled 712 from 

his agreement. 

Wrote to Mrs Robertson of Kindrochet Blair Manse enclosing formal offer by Donald and 

I for Kindrochet on a lease of 4 years with power to sublet. Rent £50. Entry immediately. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochet Cottage about Ditto and my illness. 

Wrote to William Tobermory and Margaret Glasgow to the same effect. 

Archy came up and passed the evening with us. 


W by N. 

Got up at 4, finished packing, took a little breakfast and came off in one of the Quarrier's 

coaches at 5 along with Donald who accompanied me on board, saw all my things put 

up safe, and then took leave, the dear kind fellow. 

For the last three days I ate little or nothing, and to day I lay constantly on the Sopha in 

my state room sometimes alone and sometimes with William Baikie and Mr Sparke, the 

latter of whom had the berth under mine. 

I was not in the least sea sick; poor Mr Sparke was very ill at going to bed. 


N.W. Gale. 

Last night it blew very strong and almost everyone on board was sea sick. 

I escaped entirely, and lay in bed all day until we passed the Moul Head 713 when I got 

up and dressed. 

William Balfour came on board and his servant Bailey took charge of my luggage. 

Donald sent 22 large pots of preserves and all arrived safe. Wm B came home with me, 

and certainly I never saw my own house look so comfortable as to night. 


W. 

Remained in house with Wm Balfour all day. He left at 10 at night. 

Monday 20th September 1847 

W. 

Unpacked and wrote to Donald, Emily, William, John Banchor, Margaret and Sophy R. 

Irvine about my health and journey home &c. 

Wrote to Alex[ande]r McNeill 714 of Collonsay, Portaskaig, Argyllshire about Sale of his 

Yacht. 

Wrote to Mrs William Balfour 2 Moray Place Edinburgh to bring home my watch. 715 

712 To resile is Scots for 'to back out'. 

713 Mull Head is the eastern tip of Deerness. 

714 Perhaps Alexander McNeill, Archy's eldest brother, was experiencing financial problems. 

715 JR got his watch back on 4th October. 

JBL 11/1/06 287



N W. Fine moderate day. 

Put brandy on Preserves, opened tea &c. Invoice received from Glasgow. 

Ranken called. 

Also Wm Balfour who dined and remained till 10. Dispute about Peel &c. 

Getting better. 


W. Dark mild day. 

Went out to trial of Wm Johnstone Deerness for Election assault on Patton's son. Pled 

guilty. Fined 20/- or 14 d[ay]s. He paid the fine. 

Wrote to Revd Wm Anderson, Manse of Walls, St Marg[are]t's Hope that I this day paid 

£10 into the National Bank for the poor of Walls being £5 from Destitution Committee 

and £5 from the Crown Chamberlain in the names of himself, Mr Bankes and Mr Hugh 

Ross, Walls. Paid the money into Bank accordingly. 

Saw Mr Clouston of Sandwick. 

Examined premises broken into by Anne Macdonald. 

Brought up account books and this book. 

Remained in house for remainder of day reading Newspapers. 


W. Gale. 

Trial of Ann Macdonald with a Jury for Theft by Housebreaking into Wm Bremner 

Watchmaker's house, and Summary Trials for assault James Forbes and James 

Tobister. Convictions in all. Done before 3. 

Wilson Collector of Taxes called in Evening. 


W. Breeze. Showers. 

Taking medicine. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh with receipt for salary, and to retain for John Robertson 

Glasgow's account £6.7.2 and £23 12.10 for my mother's use, in all £30; to order 

groceries, fuel &c for my mother; Trials; my illness &c. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochit Cottage; to remove; order fuel, meal &c; groceries; upwards 

of £20 with Donald. 

Wm Baikie called and sat for an hour or two; an intelligent and agreeable young man. 


N E. Cold; misty morning; dry day. 

David Petrie [of] Holm called; then Tankerness who returned from Edinburgh by the 

Northman last night. 

Sent for Dr Duguid; he put two leeches on the slight inflammatory swelling under my left 

arm; this at half past 6; poulticed the part till 10 o'clock. 

JBL 11/1/06 288


In house all day. 

Read Joan of Arc. 

Letters from Donald and Neaves. 


N by E. Fine dry cold breezy day. 

Still in house. Dr Duguid called but gave nothing, not even advice. 

Wm Baikie called from 4 to 5. 

Read Hooker, and a little of Southey. 716 


S W. Beautiful dry day. 

Gold called and paid £30 being remainder of Lord Zetland and Mr Dundas subscription 

for poor of Stromness and Kirkwall. I lodged the money in the Bank. Wrote to Dr Garson 

Stromness "I will upon Wednesday send you £10 being the remainder of Lord Zetland 

and Mr Dundas' subscription for Stromness". 

Wrote to Wm Simmons, 46 Judd Street, Brunswick Square, London with £1.6.6 being 

for Times from 18th ult to 18th February 1848. 

Met Mrs Balfour of Trenaby and Mr Featherston to whom I was introduced by her. 


Wrote to Mrs Robertson of Kind[rochi]t; Kind[rochi]t taken and transaction closed; would 

prefer one rent as usual to rent and taxes; weather; harvest; Irish Gentleman (Mr 

Featherston) &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh, enclosing Mrs R[obertson]'s letter; we must submit to her 

terms about taxes, but should sublet; 717 to give £25 out of my salary for our mother; 

Rosse's failure &c. 


S by E. Very beautiful sunny day. Gentle and constant breeze. 

Breakfasted between 7 and 8 with David Petrie Grahamshall and set out at 8 for South 

Ronaldshay, giving him a seat in my Gig (Georgy Cormack driver) to Holm. Crossed 

over to St Margarets which I reached between 10 and 11 o'clock. 

There were five cases only in the Roll, two were disputed; one old man owned a debt 

and said expenses were unnecessarily incurred; another was the case of Young 

Stewart against old Mrs Kennedy for fisherman's Wages; Wylie's tricks thereanent. 

Sailed from St Margaret's at 1 and was in Kirkwall at half past 3. 

It was altogether a very easy trip, and I don't apprehend that my complaint will be 

aggravated by it. 

716 Hooker may have been William Dawson Hooker 1816-1840 who published his privately printed 'Notes 

on Norway' in 1837, or his father Sir William Jackson Hooker 1785-1865, a distinguished Director of Kew 

Gardens who visited Iceland and published 'Recollections' in 1811 as well as a number of formidable 

scientific books on botany, or Richard Hooker 1554-1600, whose 'Laws of Ecclesiasticall Politie' was 

published in eight volumes between 1594 and 1662. The first of these three seems the most likely. The 

Southey work was almost certainly 'Madoc' published in 1805; see entry 471007. 

717 This means that JR wanted to have the right to sublet Kindrochet. 

JBL 11/1/06 289



S, Fine dry day. Breezy. 

Remained in house. 

Wrote to Chas Neaves Edinburgh; Tankerness' arrival from the South; his pleasant 

news; Stewart's Trust; Heddle's grievances &c. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochet Cottage; my mother's arrangements; approval of what they 

are doing; christening party at Manse; 718 Henry Stewart; So Ronaldshay; my health; &c. 

Last night Heddle called on me and sat from 9 to 12 talking of politics, Mr Niven of Hoy, 

poor of Walls, Crown Chamberlain &c &c. 

I find this morning that my complaint was a little aggravated by my journey to So 

Ronaldshay yesterday. 

Tankerness called and I gave him £50 from the Destitution fund for his tenants. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene Sec[retar]y Destitution Committee 10 Hanover Street Edinburgh; 

"I beg to inform you that I have now paid Fifty pounds out of the money belonging to 

your Committee in my hands to the tenants of Tankerness on account of the outlay 

expense and trouble incurred by them for the German Emigrants wrecked on their coast 

in the months of May and June last. The compensation thus made to them is moderate 

but the people are not only satisfied but grateful and proud of the notice that has been 

taken of them and of the manner in which their good offices have been remunerated. I 

have distributed the money under the advice of Mr Baikie, and will preserve the 

acknowledgements of the tenants". 

Wrote to Dr Garson Stromness that I have placed £10 to the credit of Mr Thos Clouston 

Chairman of their local Committee as intimated in my letter of the 27th. 

Sent the Draft made payable to Mr Thos Clouston to the Bank by Tankerness. 

Dr Duguid called, and gave no advice or medicine. 


A fine dry day. 

Sick and ill with complaint. Sent for Dr Duguid. 

Poor Tom Mackenzie died this morning. He was the last male descendant of Bishop 

Mackenzie of Orkney. Came young from London on his succeeding to the family 

property in this county; got dissipated; spent his means, sold his estate, lived in 

wretchedness for several years and died a beggar. He was middle sized, thin, 

gentlemanlike, unmarried and aged 40 & upwards. 


Another fine dry day. 

Very sick and weak. Dr D[uguid] attending. 


718 The christening party at the Manse was probably in celebration of the baptism of Alexander Robertson 

Irvine [later Alexander Robertson Irvine Robertson], who was born 15 August 1847, the eldest son of 

Alexander Robertson Irvine 1806-1867, Minister of Blair Atholl. 

JBL 11/1/06 290


Still fine weather. 

Rather better. Dr D[uguid] attending. 

Letters from Margaret, William and John. 


Much better, Another fine day. Dr D[uguid] did not call. 

Tea; commenced using the 24 lbs received from Glasgow this Evening. 


N E. Fine dry day; cold and cloudy. 

Robert Smith Holm called but I could not see him, so I sent a message to send his 

application in writing. 

Stewart's Trustees met in my parlour. 

Wrote to Revd W Malcolm Free Church Manse of Firth Phinstown enclosing £1 to 

purchase Books etc for Robert Wilson, Firth, from Stewarts Trust. 

Wrote to Wm Tobermory; account of my journey to the South &c &c. 

Wrote to Margaret Glasgow about Kindrochit; my mother; change of John's premises to 

84 Queen Street &c. 

Wrote to John Banchor about Crops, Cattle, Sanday farms &c. 

Miss Baikie called from Mrs Wm Balfour and brought me my watch. 719 

In the Evening I got a Letter of 1st from Donald with account of my salary and sending 

Letter of credit for £70. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh acknowledging receipt and that I wished him to retain £25 

for my mother in place of £9 odds; about Morag; 720 my relapse. 

Dr D[uguid] did not call. 


N E. Rain. Breeze. Rain commenced last night, but the morning was dry, and the 

country people were leading their corn. 721 After 2 o'clock p.m. there were frequent 

showers. 

Young Watt of Skaill called. 

Poor Tom Mackenzie buried to day. 

Wm Baikie called at 7 with letter of credit for £70 for me to put my name upon, and 

remained to tea. 

Letters from Emily about their removal to Kindrochet on Friday last the 1st Current; 

John's imprudent revelations to Irvine &c &c 722 and from Wm Skene about North 

Ronaldshay boats. 

719 JR wrote to Mrs Balfour on 20 September asking her to "bring home my watch" which he had left 

behind in Edinburgh. 

720 See entry for 15 October. 

721 'Leading' is a dialect word for carting crops to the farmyard. 

722 It would be interesting to know what the 'imprudent revelations' were but it is difficult to guess what 

John Banchor told the Minister of Blair Atholl. Something about money seems most likely. 

JBL 11/1/06 291



N. Almost dry in morning; dry day. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochit Blair Atholl about taking of house of Kindrochit; Mrs 

Robertson; John and Irvine; a letter of advice; I will send £5 on Thursday. 

Scarth called on my request and I gave him the North Ronaldshay papers and intimated 

that Secretary would recommend the Destitution Committee to double the local 

subscription for the boats. 

Still confined to the house. 


N. Stormy day. Slight showers. 

Court day; second box day. Case of defamation Hunter v Johnston, two girls from 

Stromness. Case of Cow/Matrix. 

My health continues to improve. 

I have finished reading Madoc to day; a very good Poem. 


S E. Breeze. Rain after 5 o'clock night. Gloomy to day but dry. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochit enclosing £5 Note "A 454/150 15th May 1846"; Orkney news. 

Peter Omond married yesterday. 


S E. It was calm last Evening, and early this morning. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene 10 Hanover Street Edinburgh enclosing application of North 

Ronaldshay Fisherman with Subscription paper containing £70.3.0 etc. Wrote him on 

Thursday 7th L[ette]r of recommendation of James Craig. 

Hair cut. 

Jean Heddle's brothers came home; Jenny Wishart's toothache. 

Went at 1 o'clock to a Meeting of Income Tax Commissioners; present Tankerness, 

Trenaby, Wm Balfour, Jo Baikie, Scarth, Gold, with Wilson and Ranken. 

Left them at 3. 

Tankerness came in in the Evening. 


S E. Breezy; dark but dry. 

Alone all day. 

David Balfour called when I was at dinner but did not come in. 

No post since Tuesday 5th. 


E. Mild foggy dry day. 

Went out; called on Mrs Baikie of Tankerness; went with Tankerness round and round 

St Magnus and was glad to observe that the improvements are rapidly progressing. 

Then walked to the Shore and thro' the town. 

JBL 11/1/06 292


David Balfour called and remained an hour with me. He pressed me to go to Shapinsay 

with Mrs Balfour and him to morrow, but I cannot, I feel as weak as water. 

Post came in. L[ette]r from Emily. 


S E. Foggy dry day. 

Remained in house alone all day, reading law and barry's Orkney. 

No post. 


E. Beautiful day. 

Walked out to Birstane; my first walk for a month. I feel my strength restored and my 

complaint nearly gone. 

Mrs Balfour was confined to bed and I did not see her, but I walked about the farm, saw 

the new Thrashing Mill and offices; the new window opened in the dining room which is 

a great improvement; and the potatoes which were being lifted and are but slightly 

injured. Wm Balfour came in to town with me at 3 and remained till 5 o'clock. 

David Balfour called to urge my going to Balfour to morrow, but I missed him. 

Post, and letters from Neaves, and Donald of 9th. 


S E. Dry cloudy day; cool. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about my health which is restored; enquiries about Justice 

Clerk &c &c. 

Met Ranken and Patton at Court House to adjust Record Petrie &c v Dickson. Revised 

Magnus Heddle's accounts, and Draft of Fiscal's fees under Lunatic Act. Letters from 

Mrs Robertson of Kindrochet and Maggy. 


S.E. A very beautiful day. It is remarked in Orkney that in the month of October there is 

a fortnight of fine weather; and this is called "the peerie summer". We certainly have it 

this month. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh enclosing letter to Scotsman; about investing money &c. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochit [about] letters from Mrs R[obertson] and Marg[are]t; their life 

at Kindrochit; enclosing private note about the agreement with Morag 723 in taking house 

&c; J R on envelopes &c. 

Draughted Petition from Neaves to Commissioners of Excise craving authority to effect 

sales of Admiralty Droits by his own officers, and without the intervention of licensed 

Auctioneers. 

Advisings. 

Walked out by Tankerness road and went to Birstane; Mrs Balfour still invisible. Short 

walk with Wm B. 

The day was sunny and most beautiful; much the same weather as on 28th ult. 724 

723 Morag has not yet been identified. See 460421, 460608, 460611, 471004. 

JBL 11/1/06 293



S E. Fine dry day; mild and cloudy. 

Steamer not come, and it did not come last week at all. 

Northman arrived. 

Wrote to John G Heddle of Melsetter with advice about Admiralty Droits, booked in 

Adm[iralt]y Book. 

Called at Custom House about Droits. 

Walked with Wm Fotheringhame past Huttston and home by Severack and Sea Shore. 

Wm Balfour lunched with me; and Wm Baikie dined here. Argument about Peel. 

I must give up remonstrating with the Orcadian Protectionists on this subject. 

L[ette]r from Wm. 


S E. Rain. 

Remained in house all day; saw no one. 


S. Rain all day; mild. 

In house all day. 

Read Cooper's "Feu Follet" [?]; not a bad novel. 

Wrote to Wm Tobermory de omnibus rebus. 

Ralph Fotheringham called about Tom Mackenzie's assessed Taxes. 

Letters from Emily, Neaves, John, and Mrs Aynsworth. 


S. Wet day. 

Engaged in taking Judicial Declarations in Mowatt v Robertson (bastardy case) and 

Precognition in Theft of £28 from Sinclair Budge St Margaret's Hope. 

Wrote to Mrs Aynsworth Inverighty House Forfar acknowledging her letter; will answer it 

in a few days. 

Wrote to John Banchor, disapproving of his plan of taking a park 725 at Kindrochet for 

my mother. 

Wrote to Margeret 5 Bath St about John's taking his old premises in Queen St &c. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh that we paid £25 for taking German Emigrants to Leith; 

£50 given to Tankerness tenants; sent Petition to Commissioners of Excise to permit 

sale of Admiralty Droits by our own officers, and enclosing Magnus Heddle's account 

&c. 

Wrote to Donald about Wigton; also about John's plan of the park. 

Dined at John Baikies with W Balfour, Drs Bremner and Duguid, Ranken, Robert 

Spence, Jas Pollexfen and Calder. Came away at 11. Did not drink wine. 

724 What purpose was served by this comparison? 

725 It will be recalled that in Scots a park is a paddock or enclosed grass field. 

JBL 11/1/06 294



S W. Showers and sunshine. 

Called at Birstane and saw Mrs Balfour for the first time since June. She looks delicate 

but I hope with all my heart there is nothing serious the matter with her. She is an 

excellent and most agreeable woman. Dr Bremner visited her when I was there. 

W Baikie passed the Evening with me. 


N W. Cold clear day. 

Court; the first of the Session. 

Audited Ranken's Prison account with John Baikie. 

Wrote to J G Heddle of Melsetter in answer to a Note about Admiralty Droits; booked. 

Heddle himself afterwards called with Banks. 

Refused Second Petition of Smith of Holm. 

Confirmation Mrs McBeath &c. 


S. Dull rainy day. gale at night. 

Wrote to H C Baildon 73 Prince Street Edinburgh for a Cheddon pill box at 11/-. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochit; John's Park plan won't do; 726 Mrs W Balfour's account of 

travels &c &c; 

1st X 727 Studying all day, and did not go out. 

L[ette]r from D O'Brien. 728 


S. Cold heavy showers. 

Took precognition in theft of lead case against Wm Craigie aged 35 writes well. 729 

Called on Mrs John Baikie about Widow Clerk, and Miss McKay. 730 

Wm Baikie taking Notes from my decisions of Court of Session about Orkney cases to 

insert in list of Publications relating to the County which he is publishing. 

No post. 


S W. Showery boisterous day. 

Remained in the house all day and no one called. 

Tankernesses not in town. 


726 See entry 471019. 

727 This is incomprehensible. 

728 See entry 471025. 

729 This presumably means that JR was surprised to find him as literate as he turned out to be. 

730 Ann McKay was an applicant for the post of Governess in the household of Mrs Aynsworth; see 

entries 471019, 471025 and 471115. 

JBL 11/1/06 295


N W. Beautiful clear day and night. 

Walked in the direction of Birstane and met Dr Bremner who mentioned that Mrs Balfour 

is in town for the first time. Crossed to Tankerness road. 

Visited the Cathedral and saw Bisset the present Superintendent who pointed out the 

progress of the works. 

Wm Baikie dined with me and David Balfour came in at half past 8 and remained till 11 

talking of Orkney antiquities, which he knows better I believe than any man alive. He 

almost acknowledged that he is the author of the Clever Jeu d'Esprit that came out in 

September on the subject of dancing. 

No post. 

Wrote to Mrs Aynsworth Inverigh House Forfar, that Miss Ann Mackay will do. 

Wrote to Donald O'Brien 16 Gloucester Road Hyde Park Gardens London enclosing 

John Bruces Report as to plans of New Prison. 


S. Gloomy day. 

The post letters were at half past 9. One from Donald; Wigton won't do; Wm, his journey 

to Oban &c; J Lamont Glasgow about the Macquaries. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh to drop Wigton; 731 Emily has nothing to do with John's new 

plan; McQuaries. 

Wrote to William Tobermory; summary application by Landlord for rent consigned 

competent; enquiries about Macquaries; David Balfour; William Balfour and wife; &c. 

Took Examination of WHF as a Haver in Case Stevens v Hall of Arbroath, J Mitchell 

agent; 5 ps; 1 hour. 

D Balfour called when I was engaged and I did not see him. 


S W. A fine day; almost dry. 

Appeals from assessed Taxes heard in my parlour; Com[missione]rs Jas Shearer and 

myself; appellants Flett the Miller &c. 

D Balfour called, and before him Wm Baikie, about going to Balfour, but I declined. 

Walked to Hattston. No post. 

Wrote to Revd Peter Learmonth Stromness refusing to allow assist[an]ce from 

Edinburgh Committee to fever patients in Stromness because they have got a special 

Grant for their town which is not yet exhausted. 


S. Fine day; almost dry. 

This is a fast and thanksgiving day by the Dissenters for the bountiful harvest. 

Court day; few cases. 

Walked out to Birstane; Mrs Balfour looking much better. 

731 See entry 471019, where JR writes to Donald about Wigton. May it have been that he was suggesting 

that Donald should take a job, such as Sheriff Substitute, at Wigton? 

JBL 11/1/06 296



S. Good day. Showers in afternoon. 

Engaged in the morning in taking precognition against Eliza Smith for stealing a gay 732 

Bible. 

James Pollexfen and Wm Baikie called. Wm Baikie was over at Balfour House at the 

Kirn 733 when 200 people dined and danced in spite of the row of last year. I am glad 

that the people are coming to their senses. 

No post. 


S W. Very heavy rain all day. 

Tankerness called and sat several hours. 

Dined at Birstane; Calder present. Home at quarter past 11. 

No post. 


S W. Beautiful calm day. 

Birstanes to dine with me. 

Walked to Wideford Bridge; a most lovely day. 

Wm Baikie called with Wm Balfour. The latter and Mrs Balfour dined with me and left at 

10. 


S W. Fine breezy day. 

Letters from W F Skene and H Tod WS 

Wrote to Henry Tod WS 39 York Place Edinburgh "Sir, I have just received your letter of 

the 27th demanding payment of an account alleged to be due by Skene & Robertson to 

Messrs Anderson & Kemble of Jamaica since 1843 amounting with interest and 

expenses to £9.3. There must surely be some mistake about this. The firm of Skene & 

Robertson was regularly dissolved in June 1841, and I have no recollection whatever of 

having incurred the debt in question either as a partner or as an individual. If you mean 

to insist upon the Claim I must request that you will explain the nature of it, and state the 

grounds upon which you charge it against me. I am" &c. 734 

Wrote to W F Skene WS Edinburgh with copy of the foregoing letter; &c. 

Wrote to W F Skene Sec[retar]y Dest[itutio]n Committee that I have drawn for £70 in 

terms of his letter of the 26th, and sending accurate account of losses from gale of 22d 

Augt to the Fishermen of Orkney amounting (besides North Ronaldshay) to £469.4. 

732 Gay, more often gey, is Scots for great. Presumably the stolen Bible was very large. 

733 Kirn is Scots for harvest home. 

734 On 471124 JR had another letter from Tod repeating the demand for payment, to which he sent a 

reply adding the information that in June 1841 he had been "appointed Sheriff Substitute of Ross Shire" 

and that he had not "since resided in Edinburgh or conducted business as an agent". 

JBL 11/1/06 297


Wrote to Donald Edinburgh about purchase of Bank and Railway shares; John's Plan; to 

do nothing more in Wigton business; 735 and sending my last account for Edinburgh 

Advertiser to 22 June 1846. 

Wrote to Claud Muirhead 13 South Hanover Street Edinburgh "Sir I desire that the Copy 

of the Edinburgh Advertiser which is now sent to Mrs Fraser of Nelson Street Edinburgh 

and myself shall not be forwarded to me after the receipt of this letter; and beg that you 

will send the receipt for my share to Mr D Robertson 66 Gt King St who will immediately 

pay it. I have intimated to Mrs Fraser that I have stopped the paper so far as I am 

concerned. I am Sir" &c &c. 736 

Wrote to Mrs Fraser Nelson St Edinburgh to the same effect. 

Went to the Bank. 

Called on Mrs John Baikie with whom was Mrs Balfour. 

Found and burnt certain papers which I had supposed had been mislaid. I read them 

with a shiver, and would rather have a tooth pulled than over haul them again. I wish I 

could forget them, and the occasion of them. 737 

Walked past Grainbank. 

In the Evening Mitchell called and collated papers in Stevens' Case. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Tod's demand &c &c. 

Wm Baikie called in to bid me Good by'e. 


W S W. Dry sunny day; a gale. 

Called at Bank. Went round the Cathedral. 

Bottled the last of the Whiskey of March 1846. 

Walked near to Quoy Dandy and on my return met with Mr Paterson who returned with 

me and talked of their new arrangement of amalgamating the Grammar School and 

Scott's Seceder School. The Free Church people refuse to join. 

I begged him to prevent the indecent habit among the Orkney people of courting in bed, 

but he did not seem to be inclined to own the soft impeachment. He questioned the 

premises and maintained that his own people are as pure and innocent as lambs; 

whereas I consider them to be no better than black sheep, so far as this mode of 

735 See entry 471026 and note. 

736 Why JR shared the cost of the Edinburgh Advertiser with Mrs Fraser, and who Mrs Fraser was, 

remain minor mysteries. 

737 In the original manuscript Journal the handwriting of this paragraph stands out from that of the 

passages before and after it, as if he had deliberately left a space and inserted the paragraph there 

afterwards. The writing used is exceptionally deliberate and legible, and the ink noticeably darker. 

Perhaps the papers came to light in an old box in which he was searching for evidence to support what he 

wrote in his letter to Tod, and he decided to put them aside and look at them later and consider what to 

do. 

It is surely of great interest that JR not only felt forced to mention the evidently painful finding of the 

papers but also felt the need to make a careful record in his Journal of the fact that he burnt them and 

wished he could forget about them and the circumstances in which they came to be written. See Latham's 

discussion of the motives which lay behind the self-revelations made by Pepys, including what may be 

termed a kind of clinical alter-egotism: The Diary of Samuel Pepys, ed.Robert Latham and William 

Matthews; Volume 1 page cix. 

JBL 11/1/06 298


courtship goes. 738 I hinted to him of the cases of suspected child murder, and he left me 

malcontent and dolorous. 

No post. 


W. A fine, sunny and moderate day. Rain last night. 

Walked to Birstane. The Balfours were in Kirkwall and I walked over the farm with 

Baillie. 

A poor law meeting of which I had no notice. 

David Balfour over. Walked about the Town with [him] and met Tankerness and Mr 

Paterson. David Balfour cut Paterson direct and spoke for some time to Tankerness 

without noticing him. 739 Saw David Balfour off in his boat, and afterwards met Mr 

Paterson who mentioned a new plan for the satisfaction of the inhabitants in regard to 

the Contributions for the poor. They are to give the names and numbers of all the 

paupers in the Parish, the sums given to them, and the Rent of each householder from 

the Police or other books and to compare the Sum he pays with what he would have to 

pay under an assessment. Of course they must also give the entire Rental of the Parish. 

I think the plan a good one. 740 

Post came in. Letter from young Riemore. 



Wrote to Donald Edinburgh enclosing Riemore's letter, and recommending him for a 

situation. 

Wrote to John Robertson care of John Leslie Banker Dunkeld that I had written to 

Donald. 

Court day. Met Heddle, Scarth and Ranken on Street. 

Meeting with Ranken and Gilbert Traill on Submission [?] Traill [?] and Jas Spence 

Crown Chamberlain. 

A long visit from Mr Logie. 

Discovered from this Journal that £10 of Dundas fund was paid for Kirkwall on 2 August 

and wrote to Dr Garson Stromness to that effect, and that I would pay £10 to Stromness 

to morrow. No letters. 

738 Was JR justified in suggesting that in Orkney this mode of courtship, familarly known in Wales, New 

England and parts of Scotland as bundling, was confined to members of the Free Churches? 

739 Explication. David Balfour was over in Kirkwall from Balfour Castle on Shapinsay. While he and JR 

were walking about the town they met James Baikie of Tankerness and Paterson the Free Church 

Minister walking together. David Balfour had a conversation in the street with Tankerness but ignored 

Paterson completely. JR thought this incident worth reporting in a letter to Charles Neaves written two 

days later, in which he also gave an account of the conversation with Paterson about bundling. 

It is noteworthy that a year later, in September 1848, Paterson lost his temper with JR in the street which 

led JR to decide that he would avoid Paterson because he was a 'disagreeable fellow'. 

740 Perhaps JR's evident courtesy to Paterson was partly a reaction to their sharp disagreement about 

bundling on the previous day and partly because he disapproved of David Balfour's bad manners. 

JBL 11/1/06 299



S W. Gloomy rainy day. 

Not out. 

Wrote to H C Baildon 73 Prince Street with 12/- worth of P O Stamps for Cheddon's 

pills. 

Wrote to Sir Henry Dryden, Canons Ashby, Daventry with copy report of Superintendent 

of Works of St Magnus; Sir T Phillips' MSS; Neaves; Skene; Warsaee; David Balfour; 

&c. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh; pauper lunatic assessments; Sanday Court; Orkney 

Fishermen's application to Edinburgh Destitution Committee; Schools, amalgamation of; 

David Balfour and Mr Paterson; Orkney courting and Mr P[aterson]; Jail and O'Brien; 

Buildings here. 



Last night got letters from Donald and Emily. 

Wrote to Donald in Edinburgh ; my reasons for thinking Macquarie of Glenforsa capable 

of executing valid Settlements of his affairs. 741 

Wrote to John Lamont, Writer, Glasgow referring him to A McNeill about Ditto. 

Paid £10 into the account of Thomas Clouston Treasurer of the Local Destitution 

Committee of Stromness with National Bank, being in full the balance due Stromness of 

the Earl of Zetland and Mr Dundas" donation. 

Walked by Tankerness road, across the moor to the sea shore at Birstane. Met Wm 

Balfour and walked about the farm for an hour or two. 


S. Rained after 3 o'clock p.m. 

Mrs W Balfour came at 11 and remained here until Wm arrived from Church; they 

lunched with me, and left at half past 4. 

Alone in the Evening. 


S E. A dirty day; rain and wind. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochit full of Orkney news. Engaged from 12 to 4 with adjusting 

Records in Cases Graeme &c v Dickson, 742 and in taking Declarations of Connors &c 

for breaking into John Fraser Flesher's Shop at Stromness. 

Letter from Donald; the Dean's business falling off (this gives me a pang); enclosing 

letter to him from Barra; C Forsyth's appointment to Caithness; and Henry F as 

Procurator Fiscal to Forfar. 


741 The Macquarie case was to give JR a great deal of trouble and anxiety; see for example Journal 

entries 500531 and 501007. 

742 This may be the same case as Petrie &c v Dickson mentioned on 471014. 

JBL 11/1/06 300


N W. Fine dry sunny day. 

Ranken called about Sequestration Dickson. 743 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; in answer to his letter about investments; to get relieved of 

our obligations for William and Skene; 744 my savings this year; &c. 

Walked with W Fotheringhame past Widewell Bridge. 

Went to Reid's and paid for 2 first Vols of Berlin's [?] Antiquarian Library. 

No post. 


S. Breezy and almost dry morning; dark. 

Went to Birstane to dinner, and to the Kirn or Harvest home feast. The John Baikies, 

Scarth and I dined there, and most of the gentlemen about Kirkwall went out to the 

dance. 

I should think that upwards of 100 people dined or supped in the Granary, and 

thereafter the Tables were cleared away and the dancing commenced vigorously, blind 

Robie Flett and Mr David Petrie playing the fiddle and Ranken the Violincello. The 

country people do not dance well; in that respect they are infinitely inferior to the 

highlanders. They were extremely happy however and that is much better than being 

good dancers. Seceders and Churchmen capered promiscuously and without 

distinction. I came away at half past 10 and left them in full fling. They continued to 

enjoy themselves till 12 when the party separated and the Gentry went in to supper. 

No post. 


W. Breezy and showery with glimpses of sunshine. 

Term day. 

Court day. Paid Servant's wages. Inspected Jail. 

Walked to Quoy Dandy with Wm Baine whom I met at the Clayloan. 

In Evening took Declaration of Jas Peace, Eday, for assault on Mrs Irvine; a trifling 

case; James is a decent looking man of 56 with a very queer manner. 


S, A clear sunny and very beautiful day. 

Walked out to Sir Hugh's Seat in Holm, and met a great number of country people 

coming in to town with carts, as if marketing. They appeared uncommonly cheerful. 

Went thro' St Magnus, and to the Mill. 

Met Mrs W Balfour and called with her at John Baikie's; afterwards accompanied her to 

Birstane; met William Balfour there; came home and dined at 6. 

Post come in. 

Letter from C Spence SSC. 

Wrote to Chas Spence SSC, 21 St David Street, Edinburgh. "Dear Sir, I have this night 

recd yr letter of the 8th, and altho' it is unusual for Judges to communicate with 

743 In Scots law sequestration is bankruptcy. 

744 The details of these obligations are not known but they may be interesting and important. 

JBL 11/1/06 301


professional Gentlemen regarding cases in their Courts, yet knowing the interest you 

take in whatever concerns the welfare of the poor I do not scruple to inform you that 

Robt Smith of Holm made two applications to me, and that they were both instantly 

refused. 

The first was presented on the 16th August last, and a deliverance was that same day 

written upon it to which was added a note containing the rationes decidendi. 

Thereafter he again called upon me in the end of September at a time when I was 

confined to my room and unable to see him; but I sent him a Message to call again, or 

to give in a few lines of a written application. 

Accordingly he presented a second petition on the 21st October craving the Sheriff to 

ordain a house to be provided for him. I immediately wrote out a deliverance refusing 

the desire of this application also, upon the ground that the Act 1579 provides an 

"abyding place for the saidis pure peopel" only; whereas I had found by my Interlocutor 

on the former petition that Smith was not a pauper. 

It is true that I gave Smith some money, and I also spoke in his behalf to Mr David 

Petrie, who is at present preparing a house for him as a matter of favour and not of 

right; but at the same time I feel bound to say that the more I know of his past history 

and present circumstances I am the better satisfied that he is not entitled to parochial 

relief. 

Should you hereafter require information in similar cases the Sheriff Clerk can at once 

furnish it to you from the Records of Court, where every application to me whether 

written or verbal is duly entered. 

I thank you for the report of the proceedings of yr Association, which I shall carefully 

peruse. 

I am sorry to hear bad accounts of the potato crops from all parts of this country. I 

remain Dear Sir faithfully yrs JR". 

Wrote to Wm Forbes Advocate Shandwick Place Edinburgh about the settlement of an 

Episcopal Clergyman in Orkney. 

Letter from Mrs Aynsworth. 


S W. Rain last night, but dry to day. 

Dispatched my letters to W Forbes and C Spence; walked with W Fotheringham more 

than a mile beyond Widewell Bridge. 

Called on Mrs John Baikie and met the Lady Tankerness there. 

Afterwards walked on Ayr with Tankerness. 

Met Calder [and] Heddle who called and left books when I was out. 

No post. Yes it has come this moment (quarter to 11). 

No letters. 

S W. Rained till 1. 

Remained in house all day. 


JBL 11/1/06 302



W. Very rainy. 

Wrote to Mrs Aynsworth Inverighty House Forfar; that Mrs Baikie's impression is that 

Miss Mackay will suit as a finishing Governess; but she will give no decided opinion. 

Heddle called and we audited W Fotheringham's account with the County for 1846 

amounting to £16.12. The amount in 1845 was £20.19.6. 

Tankerness called and we all three went to St Magnus to witness the opening of the 

tomb in the wall of the South Aisle which had been opened by Sir Henry Dryden in 1846 

without finding any thing. It was dug to day about 5 feet deeper, or 5 feet 3 inches below 

the base of the pillars and walls and with the like success. A few bones were found in 

the upper part of the earth, more than the bones of one or even two human beings, but 

there was nothing else excepting mere clay; there was no stone Coffin, no pieces of 

wood, and no vaulted passage to the outside. 

The men dug at last into the natural clay below the foundations of the Cathedral, which 

apparently had never been disturbed before. 

Ker the Assistant Architect was present, and said that from the style of the Arch of the 

tomb, which was built into the wall, he believed that it must have been built in the 

thirteenth century. 

They have some childish traditions about in Kirkwall, such as that a husband whose 

wife had threatened to dance on his grave built this low arched tomb in the wall in order 

to render it impossible for her to do so; and that a passage led from it to the outside and 

was the same through which Norma of the Fitful head entered the Cathedral, and 

conducted out the Pirate. 

A letter from William intimating that the claim by Henry Tod WS is against him, and that 

it is unfounded even against him. 


W. A gale. 

This morning at breakfast time the wind and hale broke three or four panes of glass in 

my bedroom window. There was thunder and lightening at the time, and it still blows and 

rains hard. 

Wrote to W F Skene 10 Hanover St. Private; that I am not and never was due the debt 

claimed by Mr Henry Tod, and to deny my liability distinctly. &c. 

Wrote to William Tobermory about Ditto; Farm of Ballyscait; Macquaries case; James 

Graham's intended marriage, and Mutters [?] in general. 

Granted warrant to sell Tom Mackenzie's bestial 745 to prevent their starving; and had a 

petition presented for Service, being the first under the Act of last Session. It seems 

doubtful under the act whether the Sheriff should write upon the petition at this stage of 

the proceedings, but under the Circumstances I did. 

Wrote to John Baikie Banker to return Mr Tod's receipt. 

No post. 


745 Bestial [Scots]; collective name for cattle. 

JBL 11/1/06 303


W by N W. Stormy and cold day. 

Removed to Dining Room. 746 

Went to St Magnus and examined several old Tomb Stones with Ranken and Mr Kerr. 

We made out one in the South transept to be that of Wm Halcro and his wife 1617. This 

stone is recumbent. There is one near it standing erect against the wall belonging to a 

family of the name of Graham. 

Mr Kerr passed the Evening with me, and gave a great deal of curious information about 

Masonry. He says that the first degree or that of Prentice is older than the time of 

Solomon, and that Solomon was the inventor or founder of those of Fellow Craft, and 

Master, and endeavoured to prove plausibly enough that the whole is a system of 

science and art based on Astronomy, the truth of which he had tested by the 

experiments of Mr Wallace of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh who is not a Mason. 

Every operative Mason has his own peculiar mark which he engraves on his tools and 

on most of the stones he cuts as a Printer engraves his Cipher on his books. These 

Marks are found on the Stones of our St Magnus, and on the stones of Pompeii and 

Herculaneum! 

They have (if genuine) on odd end as three, five, seven &c &c thus 747 

Wrote to Mr Nixon Architect Edinburgh; a Complimentary Note; his people behaved 

well. 

No post. 


W. A stormy dark dirty day. 

Parl[iamen]t sits to day. 

The weather is abominable and I did not go out all day. I employed myself in reading 

works on Orkney. No one called. Fast day. No post. 


W by S. A mild day; breeze. 

No post. 

Court day, there being none on Thursday the Fast day. Trial of Wm Craigie for stealing 

lead; pled guilty; 3 weeks imprisonment. 

Wm Balfour and his wife dined with me. Calder came in but could not wait. 

Heddle called from 3 to 4. Returned his copies of the valuations of Orkney. 


S E. A beautiful sunny day. 

Walked past Sir Hugh's seat. Talk with a man and two women from South Ronaldshay 

along the road. 

746 The words 'To Dining room' are also written in the margin at this point. This must mean that he had 

started using his Dining Room as a living room because he records that he started using it as his 

bedroom on 22 December. In 1846 he started sleeping in the Dining Room on 1st December. See entry 

461024 for details of his living arrangements and rooms. 

747 Three marks are then illustrated which it is not possible to transcribe; one is a 'V', one an 'M' and one 

a kind of bench mark. 

JBL 11/1/06 304


Saw Kerr still at St Magnus. 

Letter from Donald this morning about investing money. Another post in the Evening but 

no letters. 

James Heddle came to town. 


S E. Breeze. Rain in morning. Gloomy and stormy afternoon, but dry. 

Sacrament Sunday. 748 

Walked at 3 o'clock to Heatheryquoy. Saw no one to day. 

The Secession Church held their sacrament to day also. 


S. Moderate dark day. Threatens rain. 

Called on WHF about forms of Services. Then at Fraser's about Meeting of Stewart's 

Trustees which adjourned to Saturday 

Attended Meeting of Income tax Commissioners with Tankerness and Wm Balfour; 

cases of Mr R Urquhart, Stainger Ship builder, and Voluntary Contribution to Minister. 

I make the gas of this date 59601. 

Wrote to Donald about investing money; different securities; H Tod; Cash Credits. 

It has now come to a boisterous night. No post. 


S. Breeze. Cool. Showers in morning. 

Walked past Wideford Bridge. 

Precognition against Mackenzie and Escott, Firemen of Queen Steamer, for assault on 

O'Kean. Collins an Irish witness from Derry spoke Gaelic and I understood him well. 

Letters from Henry Tod, J Murray WS, John and Emily. 


S. Fine day. 

Wrote to Henry Tod WS 39 York Place Edinburgh: "Sir, I last night recd yrs of the 17th 

and cannot help thinking that if you had paid more attention to the terms of my letter of 

the 1st you wd have saved yourself the trouble of applying to me again. 

I now beg to repeat that the firm of Skene and Robertson was dissolved in June 1841, 

and I have to inform you farther that I was then appointed Sheriff Substitute of Ross 

Shire and that I have not since resided in Edinburgh or conducted business as an 

Agent. I could not bind Mr Skene in any transactions that took place after he ceased to 

be my partner, and his admissions (which evidently proceed on a misapprhension) 

cannot properly affect me. 

When I recd yr first letter I wrote you that I had no recollection of having incurred the 

debt in question and demanding an explanation. I have since looked up my books and 

can state distinctly and positively that I never did incur it, that I never employed Messrs 

Anderson and Kemble in it, and that no account was rendered to me by them or on their 

748 In the MS the word 'Sacrament' is written in front of the 'Sunday' in the date-heading. 

JBL 11/1/06 305


behalf until I received yr letter of the 27th ult. In yr second letter you give no explanation 

of he claim, but merely say that it had reference to a divorce, and that you presume the 

date of itis the date of rendering the account. This is no explanation. When was the 

account rendered and to whom? And why was it not sent to me in place of a long and 

irrelevant correspondence with their parties. The only date upon the very general 

document you sent me is 22d April 1843, a time when I was nearly two years out of 

business. 

I must still suppose that in applying to me you are acting under some strange mistake; 

but if you chuse to bring an action against meI will certainly resistyr most unfortunate 

demand. 

I have sent Mr Skene a Copy of this letter; and am Sir" &c. 

Wrote to J Murray WS 19 Pitt Street Edinburgh: "I last night recd yr letter of the 18th 

which I presume was sent to me by mistake. I had no correspondence with you in May 

1846, and remember nothing of the transactions to which you refer. I am Sir" &c. 

Wrote to Wm Tobermory about both the above letters. 

Wrote to W F Skene with copy of letter to H Tod. 

Wrote to David Petrie Graemes Hall about Robert Smith Holm's house. 749 

Mrs Smith called and I gave her letter to Mr Petrie. 750 

Walked with WHF past Free Manse of St Andrews. 

Took Declaration of and Committed John Maclean for theft in Evening. 

No post. 


S W. Moderate dark day; some rain. 

Court day. 

No walk. 

No people calling. 

Note from D Petrie about Smiths and with Vegetables. 


S. Dull cold showery day. 

D Spence came and measured the Gas to day. It stands at 6009 - 57898 = 2193 feet 

used last quarter. 751 

Paid Police and Prison assessment amounting £1. 

I am raited at a rait of £32 and pay only £30; get this rectified. 

Walked with Mr Paterson to Quoydandy talking of assessment for Poor. 

S W. Moderate day. 

No long walk. 

Letter from Wm Baikie. 


749 See JR"s letter of 12th November to Charles Spence. 

750 This probably means that he gave his letter to David Petrie to Mrs Smith to deliver to him. 

751 The single word 'Gas' appears in the margin at this point in large and heavy handwriting. 

JBL 11/1/06 306


Dined at Rankens with Heddle and D Petrie. 

Meeting of Stewarts Trustees; Wm Balfour elected Trustee. 



Called at John Baikies; went to church with the ladies. Went back to Mr Baikie's and 

saw Wm Balfour who had returned from Shapinsay and Evie last night. Informed him 

that he was to be nominated one of Stewart's Trustees by Mitchell upon the unanimous 

recommendation of the other Trustees. 

To the East Church for the first time since the 29th August. 


S W. A good moderate day. 

Wm Balfour and Calder breakfasted with me. I initiated the former into the Mysteries of 

Stewart's Trust, 752 and paid him a guinea for my share of the Edinburgh Advertiser from 

the 5th, being the price in advance for a twelvemonth from that date. Attended a Prison 

board Meeting. Inspected Jail, also went thro' St Magnus with Ranken and Gold. Heard 

the two Tailors Bews [?] and Scarth on their accounts. 

Wrote to C Neaves Edinburgh with Orkney news; Veira's death; Frotoft's accident; Miss 

Gorries [?] state of country; Poor Law; Sanday S D Circuit &c. 

Wrote to Emily Kindrochit; Orkney news; Kirn at Berstane. 

Wrote to Wm Baikie M.D. 14 Pitt Street Edinburgh thanking him for Books; with Sir H 

Dryden's address. 


W. A gale; slight showers. 

Read Mysteries of London. 

Walked to Wideford Bridge, and took shelter from a shower with Mr Urquhart in a barn. 


W. A gale; cold showers. 

Proof in Aliment case Mowatt v Robertson. Lawburrows [?] Miller Assistant Minister So 

Ronaldshay v McGregor Schoolmaster. 

Wm Balfour and Calder lunched with me. I declined dining at Birstane both yesterday 

and to day. 

Scarth called and I gave him £70 for North Ronaldshay Boatmen. 

No post. Not out. 

My birth day. 

Wrote to John Maclachlan Bookseller South Bridge, Edinburgh to send my account for 

the year. 

Wrote to Wm Ross writer Stromness for a list of S D cases at Stromness on 7th. 


752 The wording of this phrase is surely jocular, at least partly so. 

JBL 11/1/06 307


S E. Dark rainy day. 

Court. 

Walked out to near Beelster [?] with WHF. 

No post. Yes, it came in at night. 


S W. Breeze; showers. 

Walked to Quoydandy. 

Mr Brotchie of Westray dined alone with me. He told that Ranken is to be appointed 

agent for Lord Zetland in room of Urquhart whose inefficiency mainly contributed to the 

loss of the last election by Frederick Dundas. I thought from some expressions that 

dropped from Dundas in August that this was in contemplation, and I am glad that my 

anticipations were correct; glad for poor Ranken's sake. Brotchie talked much in favour 

of F Dundas and against Scarth, and rather unfavourably of the Balfours and Calder for 

their conduct in the matter of the Election. He left at 11. 

No post. 

Possil died at 5 o'clock this morning. See 11th. 753 


S E. Breeze; almost dry. 

This day Mrs Mackenzie, the mother of the late Tom Mackenzie, was buried. 754 She was 

the last of that family in Orkney. I was hied to the funeral, but did not attend. 

Walked to Scapa; purchased Pope, Cowper and K White from Reid. 

Tankerness called and chatted for an hour very agreeably. 

No post. 


W. 

Spent the day at the Balfours Birstane. Wm Balfour confined to bed with a bad cold. 

Home in a shower of rain at 4. 


E. Cold dry day. 

Ranken called and informed me that the agency of Lord Zetland has been offered to him 

and that the business will be transferred soon from Urquhart. 

Called on the Tankernesses. 

Saw poor girl from Stronsay who is to undergo an Examination as a lunatic on 

Thursday. She seems to be quite sane. 

David Balfour called and left an old Roman Lamp; saw him in the Bank. 

Letters from Skene and William about Tod. 755 

753 These words are inserted vertically in the margin of the entry. 

754 Her son Tom Mackenzie died unmarried and a beggar on 470930 [qv]. 

755 See 471101. 

JBL 11/1/06 308


Wrote to William Tobermory to look up in Letter Book carefully. J Bentley 15 Giltspur 

Street City London. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh to same effect. 


N.E. Cold dry day. 

Small Debt Court Stromness. Rose a quarter before 7, left at 8 in the Phaeton, the gig of 

Magnus Heddle being engaged. Took Mr Barwick the Distiller with me and back 

again. 756 He is a very modest man, especially considering that he spent 9 years of his 

life in London where he was Collector of house rents for an old Lady whose revenue 

from houses was about £14000 per ann. and who did not spend above £500. 

I had a meeting of the Local Committee of Stromness at which Dr Garson read a very 

good report of the proceedings of all the Committees of Stromness, very well drawn up 

and showing a balance in hand of £[blank], besides £56 odds worth of goods sent to the 

Edinburgh Committee which they hope to get back. There were only three or 4 cases, 

and all were either settled extrajudicially, or continued as not being prepared excepting 

that of Burdon the present and Garson the retired schoolmaster, which I decided. 

John Robertson [of] Ness and Mr Beaton Banker came to the Inn with me, and referred 

this point. The poor assessment of Stromness is laid half on rent and half on means and 

substance; the Landlord pays on rent, the tenant on means and substance. Qu[estion]; 

is the tenant bound to pay the half of the assessment besides? No. 757 

John Robertson of Ness told me that the ancestor of all the Robertsons in Orkney came 

here along with the Bellendenes of Stennis, and that he was a Perthshire man. He 

called him the henchman (I suppose he meant retainer) of Bellendene. He and Beaton 

agreed that the Robertsons of Orkney are jolly ruddy highland looking fellows, and live 

to an extreme old age. 

I came off at half past 1 and reached home between 3 and 4 o'clock. In the Evening a 

little man of the name of James Sinclair, from Stronsay, the father of the lunatic girl I 

visited yesterday, called and gave a heart breaking account of his poverty, the 

distresses of his family, and the grinding oppression of Scott his middleman Landlord, 

all the more distressing that the poor creature detailed them with the utmost simplicity 

and as matters of course. 

I do fear that the poor are ill treated and mercilessly cleared out in Orkney as well as in 

the Highlands. 


N. Stormy frosty day; first Snow this season in Orkney. 

I shan't go out to day. David Balfour is to dine with me. 

756 It is slightly strange that there is no further mention of Mr Barwick; they must have spent at least 4 

hours together in the Phaeton and Barwick may have been a silent member of the small group at the Inn. 

In any event he must have kept in touch with JR during the day so that he was ready for the return 

journey. 

757 From the handwriting it is clear that the word "No" was added later, perhaps on further consideration 

or after consulting the authorities. 

JBL 11/1/06 309



S.E. Dark rainy day. Snow gone. 

David Balfour dined alone with me yesterday and remained till 12 conversing most 

agreeably. I wish he lived nearer. He called again to day on his way to Birstane. 

Court Day. Little business. 

W H Fotheringhame called at my request about Consignations. 758 


S W. Rainy morning; cleared up at 12. Calm; frost at night. 

Wrote to John Banchor [about] his Badenoch news; D Balfour &c. 

Wrote to John Maclachlan Bookseller Edinburgh for Connell on Parishes, 759 Hill, and 

Decisions. 


Left Mr Kerr's book on the Ecclesiastical antiquites of Edinburgh with Bisset the 

Superintendent of Works. Bisset told me of Mr Logie's demand for Old Materials of the 

Church and I spoke to Mr L on the subject as I met him on my way to Balfour Birstane 

where I called. David Balfour confined there by influenza which is now in every house in 

town. Wm and his wife and Mrs John Baikie laugh at David and say that his complaint is 

imaginary. 

Gas burning dimly. Spence to look at the meter; he says that there is water in the pipes 

outside of the house. 


S W. Dark calm rainy. 

Letters this morning from Donald returning mine of 6th Nov. 760 

Intimation of Possil's death. 761 

Wrote to Mrs Campbell of Possil, Craigiehall, near Cramond, Edinburgh: 

"My dear Mrs C. I have this morning received an intimation of Possil's death. 

I will not at such a moment intrude upon you with any observations of mine farther than 

to assure you of my heartfelt sympathy for the loss of one whose memory I shall ever 

regard with feelings of the most grateful respect and kindness. 

May God strengthen and support you under this affliction. I remain" &c. 

Wrote to John Beatton Banker Stromness returning Copy Charter by Magnus to John of 

Rendall (Halcros) dated 1503. 

And Possil is dead! The kind, hospitable, excellent old man. It gives me a pang to think 

of it. 

Remained in the house all day reading Newspapers. 

Tankerness called and sat for a couple of hours with me. 

758 Acting as a co-signatory; uniting with others in signing a document. 

759 See 470130 and note. 

760 That letter had been concerned with whether Lachlan Macquarie had been capable of making valid 

settlements of his affairs. 

761 JR records his first impressions of Colonel Alexander Campbell of Possil and Achnacroish on 421123. 

He did not meet Mrs Campbell of Possil until his first visit to Achnacroish on 430102. 

JBL 11/1/06 310


Post came in again in the Evening. No letters. 


S W. Fine sunny day. 

Not to Church. Walked to Sir Hugh's seat. D Petrie. 


S W. Another fine day. 

Walked to Heathery quoy. Dirty roads. Letters from William &c. 


S W. Dry; breeze. 

No post. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh with receipt for salary; explanations about Macquarie; 

Collonsay &c. 

Wrote to Wm Tobermory about Daniel Maclachlan, Tod &c 

Wrote to John Maclachlan Bookseller about omission in his account of Connell on 

Tiends. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene with report of Stromness Committee. 

Wrote to Wm F Skene private with Dryden's letter of 11th June 762 and Tod &c. 

David Balfour called. Walked with him to Birstane, and came in with Heddle who was 

there. 


S E. Breeze. Rain after. 

No post. 

George Petrie called with MSS meant to be inserted by him in the Scottish Journal. 

Went through the Cathedral with Overseer. 

Read Hawkstone. 


S E. Breeze; dry till 6 p.m. 

No post. 

Court day; little business. 

Walked to Birstane. Thrashing mill in operation. David Balfour left for B[alfou]r to day. 

Bisset the Superintendent of Works on St Magnus called in the Evening and left the 

keys of the Plumber's Shop, South Transept, and Office, North Transept, with me until 

the works shall be resumed in Spring. Keep the keys in paper press at the top of the 

bedroom stairs. 


S E. Breeze; dry till 3. Rain in Evening. 

No post. 

762 There is no previous reference to any such letter in the Journal. 

JBL 11/1/06 311


Wrote to Adam Wylie, Writer, Stromness: "Dear Sir. I have consulted the poor law 

question referred to me by Messrs Beaton and Robertson and I am very clearly of 

opinion that no part of the assessment laid upon the owners of lands and heritages in 

your parish can be demanded from the tenants". 

"There are three modes of assessment competent under the act: the first to be laid one 

half on the owner and one half upon the occupant of lands &c; the 2nd to be imposed 

one half upon the owners of lands &c. and half upon the inhabitants at large; and the 

third to be laid upon the means and substance of all the inhabitants (including tenants)". 

"You have assessed under the 2nd mode and there is no authority whatever for 

burdening the other inhabitants with any portion of the assessment laid upon the owners 

of lands &c by express enactment". 

"Mr Beaton says that a proportion may be assessed twice, first as an owner of lands &c, 

and 2nd upon his means and substance; but a tenant also may be assessed twice; say 

that he derives a profit of £40 from his farm, and an income of £40 from other means, he 

is assessed upon both. It may be urged that there are no such tenants in your parish; 

but that does not alter the law. You selected your mode of assessment in the full 

knowledge of the provisions of the statute, and must stand by the consequences". 

"Mr Beaton expresses a doubt whether owners of land may not be assessed twice, first 

in one half of the whole burden, and again upon their rent as part of their means & 

substance. I do not think that this is competent". 

"Have the goodness to communicate this letter to Messrs Beaton & Robertson". 

Called at John Baikie's. 

Read law. Case of Master & Servant; servant not deserting, but refusing to enter 

Service. See McG.1819. 

Sophia Stewart Shierglass Mrs Henry Glasford Bell died this day. 763 


S. Calm, dark and incessant rain all day. 

Deliverance in case of Sinclair v Geo Hercus. In respect the respondent never entered 

upon his service I appointed the Petition to be served upon him and answer to be 

lodged in 48 hours in place of apprehending him for Examination as in a case of 

desertion of service. Bain called about it. 

Dined at John Baikies with Heddle Scarth and Ranken. Discussion on Road Acts, 

Commissioners of Supply; billeting soldiers and deforcement of C G Robertson in South 

Ronaldsay. 764 Mrs Baikie's account of diligence and attention of Popish Priests and 

Revd John Alexander of Edinburgh. Home at 1. 

19 December 1847 

S E. Breeze. Rain; a very dark dismal and dirty day. 

Remained in the house all day reading. 

763 This line is written vertically in the margin of the entry and was presumably added on 471225 when JR 

had news of her death. Mrs Bell was the niece of Mrs Robertson of Kindrochet. 

764 Deforcement is a legal term meaning being kept out of possession by force. In Scots law it is resisting 

an officer of the law in the execution of his duty. 

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Wm Tait came from Birstane to intimate that the Balfours cannot dine with me to day. 


S E. Dry moderate day. 

Long hearing and closing Record in Cross v Watts. 

Tankerness and Jas Shearer called about Meal Committee of last year. There is a 

deficiency of £8 odds to make up. 

Called on Mrs B. of T. 765 and met Mrs Wm Balfour there; accompanied her to Birstane. 

Barwick sent a cask of Whiskey containing 10 and three quarter gallons. 

See 9th November 1850. Bottled. 766 


S. Dry moderate day. 

No post. 

Wrote to C Neaves, Edinburgh; can there be two Kirk Sessions in one united Parish? 

Chloroform. 767 

Wrote to John Banchor; enquiries about his Lease &c. 

I am now going out to Tankerness to pass a day with the Baikies and expect the Laird 

here for me in the course of the day. 

The post has not come in yet. 


S. Showery; cold breezy day. 

Yesterday I went out with Tankerness at half past 3, a cold wind blowing in our faces. 

Dined at half past 5 and sat till half past 1 chatting de omnibus rebus. 

This was a very cold day, but we went out at 1, killed a hare, went to the mill, home by 

the shore, and walked round the Turnip field &c towards the Ness. Returned at 4. Dined 

at 5 and sat till 1 o'clock talking of the dancing question, 768 and various other matters. 

No stranger there but myself. 

765 'Mrs B. of T.' may have been Mrs Balfour of Trenaby or Mrs Baikie of Tankerness, but the former 

seems more likely. If it had been the latter JR would almost certainly have used the words Lady 

Tankerness, as he usually did. Furthermore it should be noted that JR was invited to go out to Hall of 

Tankerness on the following day and spent two nights there with the Baikies, suggesting that Lady 

Tankerness may already have been there rather than in their town house. 

766 Berwick's identity remains unknown. The word "Whiskey" in this entry is written heavily in the margin 

in heavy dark ink. The words "See 9th November 1850. Bottled" were clearly added later. As expected, 

the entry for that date includes the marginal note "Bottled whiskey; see 20 Dec 1847". 

767 Chloroform was first used in a surgical operation on 15th November 1847. James Young Simpson 

administered it to "a Highland boy who spoke only Gaelic" while Professor James Miller removed part of 

the radius with osteomyelitis. In the week before, on 10th November 1847, Simpson described the 

discovery of chloroform as an anaesthetic in a communication entitled 'Account of a New Anaesthetic 

Agent' presented at a meeting of the Edinburgh Medico-Chirurgical Society. 

768 The Tankernesses, especially Lady Tankerness, who was a strong supporter of the Free Church, may 

have had religious objections to dancing. This is suggested by the wording of the entry for 10 June 1847, 

when JR dined at Birstane with the Tankernesses and Calder, and records that the "Tankernesses left at 

half past 9 and then we had a jolly dance and lots of singing". 

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I slept for the first time in the old dining room which is now converted into a comfortable 

bed room. 


S.E. Cold breezy day. Slight showers. 

Rose before day light, shaved in the dark. 

Left Tankerness at half past 8, and arrived here 10 minutes before 10 o'clock, a smart 

walk. 

Breakfasted and went to Court. 

Thomas Brown from Westray brought a letter from Mr Brotchie, and I remitted him to 

Bain who prepared a petition for him craving to be admitted as a Sheriff Officer. 

Heddle and Mitchell called about Quartering of soldiers. 


S W. Beautiful sunny day. 

Meeting with Bain and Urquhart. Admitted Thos Brown as Sheriff Officer. 

Called on Mrs John Baikie; met Mr Scott of Shapinsay. 769 

Walked past Quoydandy. 

Wrote to my Mother at Kindrochit; visit to Tankerness; Xmas festivities; health &c. 

Saturday 25 December 1847 Christmas day. 

S.E. Beautiful sunny day. 

Post came in. Letters from Donald, William, J Maclachlan. 

Intimation of death of poor Sophy Stewart Shierglass Mrs Bell. What a host of old 

recollections her name calls forth! All kind, and now all sad. 770 

Attended Meeting of Meal Committee with Tankerness, and paid my share of the loss 

(£1). 

Called on the Lady Tankerness. Walked with the Laird. 

Dined at Birston with John Baikie and his daughter, Dr Bremner, Scarth, and Mr and 

Mrs Bain. 

Letter from Mrs Steele. 


S E. Calm fine day. 

Wm and Mrs Balfour to dine with me. 

Wrote to Wm Tobermory returning letter to Dr Boyler about poor of Tobermory; about 

poor law &c. 

Wrote to Donald Edinburgh; to retain £10 of my salary of £20 he sent to John &c. Wrote 

to John Banchor about his poor assessments and to pay it under protest; law. 

Remained in the house all day. 

769 This may have been a first meeting with this Mr Scott. Others mentioned in the Journal include John 

Scott, Sanday 470812; Scott, Stronsay 471207. 

770 See entry 471217. 

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The Balfours dined with me and left at a quarter to 11. We passed a very cozy evening 

talking innocent scandal, and discussing the general question. 


S E. Another fine dry day; light cool breeze, but very dry. 

Two mails. 

Walked to hill on this side of Sir Hew's Seat. 

In the Evening wrote Interlocutor (final on my part) in Lord Zetland v Irvine, adhering. 771 

No letters. 


S. Breeze; dry. Walked to Wideford Bridge. 

Called on WHF about Returns of criminal cases &c &c. Frotoft there. 

Met Mr Paterson on my return from walking and held a palaver about Poor. 


S E. Breeze and rain, a very dark and dirty day. 

No post. 

Did not go out. 

Meeting of Agents in Examination of Havers Earl of Zetland v Louttit's Trustees. Mitchell 

appeared but declined to give up the Documents or Title deeds as he had a right of 

hypothec 772 over them. He paid me 2 guineas as Commissioner in Examination of 

Havers in Arbroath case. 

Read Criminal law. 


S W. A beautiful sunny day. 

No post. 

Excise Court. 

Examination of Havers in Court of Session Case Brunton & Company v Isbister of 

Stromness. Defender 773 Examined; produced no documents. 

Afterwards walked with WHF to Beelster [?] 774 Met Tankerness on our return. 

Read Criminal law. 


S.W. Fine day. 

Jury Trial of Mary Conner from 11 to quarter past 2. Convicted of theft by 

Housebreaking and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. Fortescue Chancellor of 

Jury. 

771 Adhering in Scots law means affirming a judgment. 

772 In Scots law, a lien or security over goods in respect of a debt due by the owner of the goods. 

773 In Scots law, a defender is a person sued or accused. 

774 This name is difficult to decipher. Compare with entry 471202, when JR also walked there with 

Fotheringhame. The name has not yet been found elsewhere in the Journal. 

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The Laird and Lady Tankerness, the Birston Balfours, and Dr Bremner dined with me. A 

very pleasant party. The Dr left at 8 and the rest at 11. 

Letters from John, Mrs C Possil, Trenabie &c. 

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