96 Echoes of the 18th Century. 



had their been any more attacks I think I could now have been 

 bold, but I think that I may now with some reason assure you 

 that neither you nor I will have any further trouble. . . On 

 the Monday I got the letter I enclosed on the 19th, and as I 

 grasped at that for a giving up of the project, and wrote my 

 letter so as she would understand it so. . . . She sent her 

 friend on the Tuesday night ... to importune me to write, 

 as of myself, witliout her knowing it ; this metliod, I suspect, her 

 elder friends had suggested to her, but which I positively refused. 

 Be it as it will, the man Gordon complained to his friend, Mrs 

 Baillie, that he could not understand their meaning that when 

 they had seen Lord Aberdeen a few days before, they now put 

 him off for a fortnight until letters should be wrote and answers 

 received from Lord Aberdeen. I am informed to-morrow is the 

 day fixed for the marriage. It is the subject of conversation to 

 the whole town. Some people who knew the man abroad speak 

 well of him, and he is by no means as ill-looking as was repre- 

 sented to me. He was pointed out to me on the street. You 

 see I have nothing to do now but sit still and be civil when she 

 calls, which I suppose she will do, for she is always rambling, she 

 has been little off the streets this fortnight past. I suppose she 

 will follow this practice elsewhere, and will be met with in all 

 the odd corners in and about London, but that's none of my 

 business now. . . I forgot to tell you that two days before 

 she went to the country this week she called, with an intention 

 to make a long visit, and have some conversation, as I was told 

 afterwards, but the Miss Prestons and some others were with me, 

 and she sat near | an hour, and went off, so have not seen her 

 since. She left orders with Mrs Baillie to make me acquainted 

 with the man, but I excused myself. — I am, dear Jamie, your 

 afiect. sister, Mary Veitch. 



Whether the marriage with Gordon of Hallhead ever really 

 came off does not appeal'. Lord Eliock certainly escaped these 

 and any other similar snares that may have been set for him, for 

 he died unmarried in 1793. But I think anyone looking at his 

 portrait by Raeburn would probably come to the conclusion it 

 was just as well for such an erratic personage as Lady Harriott 

 Gordon that her impetuous wooing was not successful. 



On the motion of Mr Jamieson, seconded by Mr Murray, Mrs 

 Brown was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. 



