DECEMBER 295 



Sir Alexander kept a good cellar, and had some 

 thirsty neighbours. If tea was scarce and dear, wine 

 was plentiful and cheap, and a laird who lived on 

 Solway shore need never want for French brandy in 

 the days of Dirk Hatteraick and his kind. 



'May 9, 1723. Payed for fraught of two 

 trunks, 4 caises of wine burgundy & 

 champagne & a box of books to Win. 

 Tompson Master of the ship Potomack 

 of Irvine 220' 



The two last entries in the expense book read 

 thus : 



' 12 Januar 1730. Spent of old wine three bottles, Mirrie's 

 wine four bottles ; 2 bottles of french white wine, two bottles 

 of Lisbon, 3 bottles of Malaga wine. Of Arack [rack rum 

 for punch] three bottles. Mrs. Vance [housekeeper] has two 

 bottles of Arack of what was given out in the cellar. Of 

 Rhenish wine, two bottles spent in kitchin: all this 

 when Garthland & his brother were here three nights 

 onlie. 



'17th Januar. Spent when Brigadeer Stewart was here, 

 ten bottles of white wine, 4 bottles of french white wine, 5 

 more of Lisbon, 4 bottles of Malaga wine, one bottle and a 

 half of Rhenish wine.' 



Generous living entailed its corollary penalty. Spring 

 blood-letting was one of the works of obligation in 

 the eighteenth century. ' Mr. Craufurd, chirurgeon,' 

 appeared regularly at that season, and on 5th June 

 1717 received a guinea 'for blooding my wife, Peggie 

 and me, and giving Peggie a vomit.' Poor little Peggie 



