Runns of Lossie, I am also rejoysed to hear that you are clever and can voltige and waltt a litle as to your former way, in the meantime this serves to acquant you that I have two halks sent me by my Lord Seafort, to witt a ffalcone and a Terfle ffalcone of the best aire of the Lewis, and they are full and weell feathered, so if you please take them and breed them by your ffalconar, and when they are bredd I shall give you your choyse or both, tho I was oblidged to give a great deall of drink-money. I know Kilravock and others would take them, but I incline to give you the first offerr, so you will send me ane answer by this express, whither you will send for them or not. If I hade a ffalconar I would have bredd them myselfe, which is all from, Sir, your affectionate and humble servant, GEO: BRODIE."

The Laird of Newton intimates that he intends to "blode" two young dogs; that is, let them have their first taste of blood.

"To Mr. ARCHIBALD DUNBAR,

"of Thundertoun.

"NEWTOWN, 24th Sept. 1702.

"LOVING BROTHER,-I am gleade ye ar cum saife to the cuntrie, but expected ye would haive been here befor this time. I desined to haive blode two young doges this day, but shall delay sport till Satur

day expecting your cumming, I hoop ye will bring Capt. Dunbar alonge, to whom give my servise. My wife will quarall you at meeting for unkindnes, wherfor she has sent no comendations. I containou, as formarly, your most affectionat brother,

"R. DUNBAR."

"CLOAVS, 29th Janr, 1703.

"AFFECTIONAT BROTHER,-Cloavs and I shall met you the morou in the Spinle moore, betwixt eight and nine in the morning, where ye canot miss good sporte twixt that and the sea. ffaile not to bring ane bottle of brandie along, ffor I asheure you ye will lose the wadger. In the mean time we drink your health, and am your affectionat brother,

"R. DUNBAR."

Sir Harrie Innes, of Innes, evidently alludes to the Loch of Spynic, then undrained, and the rendezvous of all sorts of wild fowl.

"DEAR ARCHIE,It is good for a man to pay his debt while he has gear. I send you your swan's skin, but least you have a Highland man's appetite ffor

annual rentt ffor your loan of that I had of you, I send another, which I slew yesterday. I shall be glad to play with you att hunting or shooting any day you are att leisure. If the dayes post bring you any news, I shall be glad to know what they are. tyme, I still continue, dear Archie, your oblidged ffriend and most humble servantt,

Mean

"HARIE INNES."

"If you have but use ffor one skin, the doctor will thank you ffor the other."

The Loch of Spynie had attractions even for the Marquis of Huntly.

"To the much honored

"Mr. ARCHIBALD DUNBAR,

"off Thunderstounc-These :

"LEUCHARS, October, 1707. "Wednesday.

"MUCH HONORED,-My Lord Marquesse off Huntly has been att sporte this day att the Loch off Cottise, and to-morrow desynes to be att the Loche off Spynye, therefore we your humble supplicants order you to repair in your pinace, most honoured, by tomorow, be eleven, at the mouth off the Rindes, or the gray ston off Pittgeviny. Your personall presence is nott doubted, iff leisure allow; however, order smookes. to be putt on att Duffus, Crookmoor, &c., ffull of

Leuchar's strong ale, betwixt eleven and twelve this night. We are your humble servants,

"ALEXR. INNES :

GEO. INNES :

WILL. SUTHERLAND."

Extract from a letter, dated 16th March 1704, from Mr. Wiseman, commissary clerk of Elgin, to the same address.

"Receive Grossie, and if he play tricks whip him weel for his paines, and that is the only way for him; he has not bein in a feild, nor sett a foull since you saw it upon a Sabbath day. If I come up I will require some days for acquainting you with Grossie's hunting, which I think the kingdome will not match."

A dear dog! The animal must have been valuable and worth the price, as Sir Robert knew well how to make a good bargain.

66

Then received ffrom Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstown the quantity of five bolls bear, as the agreed price of a dog, called Spottie Boug."

VIII. QUARANTINE.

THE annexed document is docqueted "Comittee concerning the boats of Causy, 1647." The Commissioners of Supply, we presume, now represent "The Comitte of the shyre:"

"ELGIN, 7 July, 1647.

"The Comitte of the shyre having mett, and it being represented to them that certaine boats, laden with goods and passengars, war com from Aberdeen, and that a cours might be taken for saving the countree from infection, they ordained that the goods should remaine on the shore untill the merchants com hom to whom they belong, and that thereafter thos merchants should goe to Causi and receav the goods, and open them and cleanse them thoroughli by the advis of the Town or Magistrats of Elgin, or such as they appoint; and that the said merchants or any persons that cleans, handls, or receaves the goods should be separat for the space of twenti thre dayes or a month, and should be admitted to noe hous or societie within the countree untill they be tried, and