DECEMBEK 283 



' N.B. Not to take any More herrings from Mr Lawrie 

 who made me pay 2 shill. a penny for 1200. John Semple 

 offered his for 22 pence.' 



The labour of keeping accounts so minutely as did 

 Sir Alexander was complicated by notation in different 

 currencies. Although sterling money was established 

 by the Union in 1707, when the Scots currency was 

 called in, local transactions, such as rents, teinds, and 

 tradesmen's bills, continued to be reckoned in Scots 

 money long after that date, and that again was often 

 rendered into merks. 



Now let us turn to the cash-book, and gather what 

 light it throws upon the daily life of a Scottish laird of 

 moderate estate. Sir Alexander's expenses during the 

 first year after his succession suggest no shortness of 

 ready money. Thus having occasion to consult Sir 

 John Fergusson of Kilkerran, an advocate of high 

 repute, upon his being served heir, he met him at 

 House o' the Hill, a lonely tavern, still the resort of 

 anglers and shepherds, on the march of Ayrshire, and 

 paid him a fee of 51, 12s. Scots say four guineas 

 sterling and tipped John Binny, his servant, half a 

 guinea and a crown = 9, 9s. Scots. 



So much for the laird's life as a bachelor. On 29th 

 December 1711 Sir Alexander married Lady Jean 

 Montgomerie, youngest daughter of the ninth Earl of 

 Eglinton, and for the following fifteen years this lady's 

 name occurs constantly in the accounts, often with 

 terms of great affection. That she was beautiful her 

 portrait remains to testify. It cost the bridegroom 

 6, 12s. Od. sterling moderate enough for a charming 



