60 THE LIFE AND WORK OF GEORGE DON. 
He afterwards settled at Forfar, and with the small sum of 
money he and his wife had saved leased in 1797 for a term of 99 
years at a low rent, from Mr. Charles Gray of Carse, two acres of 
land on the condition that he should build a cottage of certain 
dimensions within a limited period.!_ This piece of ground, which 
' By the courtesy of Mr. A. P. Stevenson of Dundee I am permitted to 
quote the following from a letter to him, dated 5th May, 1904, of Mr. A. 
M‘Hardy, Town Clerk of Forfar :— 
“On making a search in the Town’s Repositories I have been fortunate 
in finding the titles of Don’s Gardens, called the Dovehillock. ‘These 
consist of : 
“1. A Tack or Lease granted by Charles Gray, Esq. of Carse, to George 
Don, Merchant and Botanist in Forfar, of one acre of land lying on the east 
end of the Dovehillock, part of the Farm of Turfbeg on the entailed Estate 
of Carse Gray in the Parish of Forfar, dated and subscribed by both parties 
at Carse the 5th October 1797. The Lease is for a period of ninety-nine 
years from Whitsunday 1797 at the yearly rent of 5/- and on the condition 
in terms of the Act of Parliament that the tenant should build two dwelling- 
houses thereon. 
“2. Assignation and Conveyance by George Don, residing at the Botanic 
.Garden, near Forfar, oldest son and heir of the deceased George Don, 
Botanist at said Botanic Garden, with consent of William Roberts, Writer 
in Forfar, Curator nominated and appointed to him by the Sheriff in favour 
of James Webster, Bank Accountant, and Charles Rodger, Writer in Forfar, 
as Trustees for behoof of the Grantor’s father’s Creditors, of the Lease of 
ground dated 15th June 1815. This Deed was granted in respect that the 
said George Don (the Botanist), who died 15th January 1814, left his affairs 
in an embarrassed state and was unable to pay his debts and on condition of 
the heir and his brother, David Don, and his mother, Carolina Stewart, 
Relict of George Don the Botanist, being freed and relieved of all claims 
connected with the Deceased’s affairs. It also conveys the acre of ground 
and dwelling-houses built thereon for the remainder of the Lease. 
“3. Articles of Roup of the said Lease and Minute of Purchase thereof in 
1818. This minute bears that George Webster, Merchant in Forfar, 
chased the Lease at £100 sterling and passed it over to the said William 
oo seems a questionable transaction. 
"4. Translation by Charles Rodger, only surviving Trustee for the Creditors 
of George Don, Botanist, in favour of William Roberts, Writer, Forfar, dated 
2nd November 1819 
“5. Assignation (following on a Roup) by the Trustees of the said William 
Roberts in favour of Alexander Whyte, Blackburn, near Downie Park, of the 
said acre of ground with the houses built thereon at £182 dated 21st 
September 1827. (Mo¢e.—I may mention that I personally remember of this 
Alexander Whyte, who resided latterly and died at Careston, but who never 
occupied Dovehillock.) 
