Dear Sir

Your kind Letter drawings & most liberal present of books arrived all yesterday: M^r Low also favored me with an useful list of the animals of orkney: I read his M.S. with pleasure: sent him my opinion & advice; & engaged when he has taken a little more time about it to make the best bargain I can for him with a Bookseller. I sent Sibbald’s plates to be regraven so you need trouble yourself no more on that head. the copies shall be sent you as soon as printed. As a small mark of my gratitude for y^r various present [sic] pray accept M^r Grose’s views which are excellent, & a set of the prints of the great Br. Zool. the last are indeed plain for I am sorry that long before I had the pleasure of y^r acquaintance I parted with the few colored copies I had power over. do not bind nor write on them till the new edition of oct^vo Zool. comes out.

Ask Doctor Ramsay in my name for 2 copies of genera of birds one for yrself one for M^r Low. Transmit it with a syn. quad: to him if an early opportunity offers. & you will find in the parcel another copy of the syn quad to replace it, if you send yours.

M^r Cardonnels drawings are very good Pray where is Doun castle? the other side of Roslin & its chapel would be acceptable.¹ I continue here all a fortnight longer; so inclose as before.

I am Dear sir y^r obliged & faithful H. Serv^t

Tho. Pennant

London march 16^th 1773.

M^r Gough is well & sends complim^ts. I shall send the books by the carrier. & the money in the parcel.

I heartily wish if from any of the M.S. you you [sic] trace the time of building the cathedral at Y Columkil. & dates & incriptions [sic] in tombs there & at oransay.

The little book I want so much is The History of the feuds & conflicts of the clans &c from 1031. to 1619. printed by Foulis 1764.

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Editorial notes

1. Pennant's reference to 'the other side of Roslin Castle' suggests that the drawings mentioned here include one of Adam de Cardonnel's two views of Roslin Castle from the north and south, later published in his Picturesque Antiquities of Scotland (London: 1788). There is a strong resemblance between Cardonnel's earlier drawing of Roslin Castle from the south and Moses Griffith's view in Pennant's Tour in Scotland 1772 Part II (1776), Plate XXXII, p.255.