DECEMBER 293 



'ill liver,' as the phrase goes, he dipped the estate 

 heavily, and his only title to distinction consists in 

 having become the father of three handsome girls, one 

 of whom attained distinction in the social and political 

 annals of the day as Jane, Duchess of Gordon. William's 

 shortcomings cannot have had their source in his 

 father's neglect. Manners as well as morals were well 

 looked after ; e.g. 



'Jan. 2, 1727. To my son William Ms New 

 Year's gift a quarter Carolus, for quitting 

 the bad custom of biting his nails . .050 



Oct. 26, 1 728. To my son William to encourage 



him to keep from conversing with servants 50' 



Sir Alexander had his little weaknesses also. He was 

 fond of cards, and seems to have been a shocking bad 

 player ; for, whereas there are frequent entries of 

 payment of money lost, chiefly to Brigadier Stewart 

 and 'my lady Southesque,' no note appears of his 

 winnings. Within three weeks of his death in 1730 

 he records 



'May 11. Lost to Mr. Alexr. Lockhart at 



cards to my eternall shame & follie . . -256' 



To field-sports there is provokingly little direct 

 reference in these books. Hunting-saddles are a con- 

 stant subject of expense, and transactions about dogs 

 receive mention, as when Sir Alexander bestows half 

 a crown upon ' one my Lord Eglintoune sent to enquire 

 how my wife was, & brought me a greyhound & two 

 pair of Aberdeen stockings.' In 1724 there is an 



