30 MEMOIR OF 



a variety of domestic troubles, caused by the un- 

 fortunate marriage of his favourite sister, and the 

 commencement of a law-suit in behalf of his 

 nephew. Another source of great vexation, and 

 eventually of litigation, happened at the same time 

 respecting the division of his grandfather's estate, 

 which, upon his death, fell to be divided between 

 his two daughters. The eldest was Mrs Sibbald, 

 and the other was married to a gentleman of the 

 name of Carriber. Sibbald, who represented his 

 mother, claimed the house and lands of Kipps, 

 as descended from the eldest daughter, but this 

 Carriber disputed, and though the decision of the 

 inferior courts was in Sibbald's favour, he per- 

 sisted in carrying the case to the Court of Session, 

 which decreed that part of the property to Sibbald, 

 subject to the payment of one thousand one hun- 

 dred merks to his uncle. 



The possession of this estate induced the doctor 

 to retire from town, and reside there with a view 

 to country practice. He probably, also, in this 

 step, studied his mother's comfort, who resided 

 with him there for two years, previous to her 

 death, in 1672. After that event, finding his 

 situation lonely, he began to think of marriage, 

 but was three or four years before he could deter- 

 mine on the lady. At last, " by the recommenda- 

 tion of a friend" he addressed himself to Anne, 

 second sister of Mr James Lowes of Merchiston, 

 was accepted, and the consent of her friends being 



