Dear Sir

Your favors of Jan. 7^th. 13. & 17^th are before me. The drawings of the maps perhaps are the foundation of Gordon of Stralochs in Bleau’s great Atlas now before me. Let me know & I will save you trouble by sending M^r Gough y^r list of maps.

of new surveys I have only armstrongs Lothians, & the map of Roxburghshire.¹ & Mackenzie’s survey of the orkneys. I have also adair² & some curious old maps just picked up in London. When my outline is finished I will send it to you piece meal: but it will be many months first so do not be in a hurry.

Neither about drawings for I have a vast number. only sh^d be glad of any that offer; for I beg you not to sollicit. I wish not to hurt M^r T. Philips. The appendixes I sent an order for are destined only for the four I named. Nothing through y^r hands is designed for M^r Mackenzie.

I can explain no more of the Forres pillar than M^r Gordon in his Itin has done.

James’s borrowing Letter for 1000 merks & Spoons will be welcome.³ how much is y^r merk?

Can you lend me the leaves of the description of Sterlingshire.⁴ I somehow missed getting them. They shall be returned safely.

Be so good as to forward the inclosed: which will oblige

D^r Sir y^r obed^t Serv^t

Tho. Pennant

Downing Jan. 27^th. 1775.

Who is M^r Simpson? I rejoice to hear that my friend Macgovan thinks of me at last.

By what means did L^d Dundonald’s fine house at Culros come into the family. by whom was it built?

What are lime shells when spoken of at Limekilns.

How many english Bushels in a Boll of Lime.

Dundonald got the House at Culross by being heir to Kincardine Estate

It was built by — Bruce of Carnock

Lime Shells, Lime Stone burnt but not slack’d with water these are measured by the Linlithgow oats & Bear Bole 6 Bushhells whereof go to the Bole & a Bole of them generally yield 2 Bolls of Slaked Lime. Mark is ^Sh1/1^d1/3 Sterling.

Battle of Inverlochie vide Holinshed’s History of Scotland 2^d. Edit.p.263. being the Battle where Donald Balloch of the Isles worsted the Earls of Mar^xi & Caithness under year 1427. besides there may be more skirmishes amongst the Clans, known only Tradition amongst the Inhabitants in that nighbourhood.

FreeRMostyn

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Editorial notes

1. Pennant may be referring to Matthew Stobie's A map of Roxburghshire or Tiviotdale (London: 1770).
2. John Adair produced several maps of Scotland and its regions, of which the most useful to Pennant in producing his own map would have been A true and exact Hydrographical description of the Sea coast and Isles of Scotland (1703).
3. See Pennant, Tour in Scotland and Hebrides 1772 Part II (London: 1776), p.233.
4. A reference to a series by William Nimmo on 'Antiquities in Stirlingshire', published in several parts between 1773 and 1774 in The Edinburgh Magazine and Review. The work later appeared in book form as A general history of Stirlingshire (1777). Pennant cites the magazine series in the Tour in Scotland and Hebrides 1772 Part II (London: 1776), pp.227-228.