DECEMBER 299 



Sterling. 

 'Dec. 11. Returned from Aix-la-Chapelle, 



which journey cost . ..,:- . . 590 7 8 

 To cash laid out for books in my travells . 22 2 2 

 Given in compliment to my wife for her extra- 

 ordinary care & good management of my 

 affairs in my absence abroad . . . 21 ' 



Too soon this happy, prosperous household was 

 wrapped in gloom. Beautiful Lady Jean had borne 

 seven children to Sir Alexander, and was expecting an 

 eighth when she fell into ill-health. They bled her on 

 6th April, on 4th and 18th May, poor thing! The 

 following touching note, in strange contrast with the 

 dry entries in the ledger, describes the result of such 

 treatment : 



'Saturday, 28 May 1726, Lady Jean Maxwell dyed be- 

 tween six & seven in the afternoon, having been delivered on 

 Sunday the 22 of a dead-born Son, being the second she had 

 born soe : took a High fever on Munday morning about three 

 o'clock, & died on the Saturday, to my unspeakable Losse & 

 greif, the only trouble she ever gave, the greatest wound to 

 my Spirit. She was but thirty-six years of age past the first 

 of December last. Wee was fourteen year & five Months 

 married. Never two lived more happily together; never 

 man had soe great a Losse of a Loving virtuous wife & 

 faithful friend and companion, endowed with the greatest 

 ornaments and qualities of bodie & Mind, capable of the 

 greatest affairs, the best counsellor I ever had, indefatigable 

 about any businesse she was employed in.' 



The funeral was on a lavish scale of expenditure. 

 One payment in connection with it, including mourn- 

 ings for sundry persons, amounted to 216, 12s. 10d., 

 and the total expenses cannot have been less than 



