Page images
PDF
EPUB

hope at last to settle the ancient history of my native country, upon the solid footing of facts and authorities which nothing can shake, and which shall, as the Spanish proverb runs, leave nothing in the ink-horn.

Such being the case, I hope that your health will permit you, some time before next summer, to send me the extracts and poem you promise. I assure you, Sir, no service can be more acceptable to me; and I shall be most grateful for it.

What is the reason that the Irish do not publish extracts at least from the Psalter of Cashell and other old monuments, with literal translations? A general reference to old chronicles, which is the common plan of your antiquaries, is very unsatisfactory, and is never allowed in the history of other countries. When manuscripts are referred to, the passage itself ought always to be produced, the page and age of the manuscript, and the place where it is. But a single pamphlet, containing extracts from the manuscripts themselves, with translations, would give more satisfaction to the literati of Europe, than all the works which have been published on your antiquities, your own excepted, which are by far the most sensible and valuable. Where is a hymn to St. Patrick, published by Colgan as of the fifth century? Is not that hymn modern Irish, and legible by any one who can read Irish of the fourteenth century?

Has the language continued the same, or how are we to account for this?

MR. JOHNSON TO MR. MORISON.*

Kenmore, Aug. 13th, 1786.

With this catalogue I send you an exact copy from one of the originals in Taymouth House, which you will be so kind as to forward to Mr. Pinkerton. I am sorry I could not send it sooner; but I spent some time in procuring the list, and find myself rather at a loss which to begin

Mr. Morison, bookseller at Perth, who is occasionally noticed in this Correspondence, and whose letter will be found subsequently, giving an account of the sad death of Mr. Johnson.

+ I have preserved this letter, as the first intimation of Mr. Pinkerton's having turned his thoughts to the Iconographia Scotica, and as containing, what I do not know was ever published, a full Catalogue of the Portraits in Lord Breadalbane's seat at Taymouth. "These portraits," Mr. Pennant observes, in his Tour in Scotland, Vol. III. p. 30, "constitute the most remarkable part of the furniture of the house;" and he has enumerated several of them, and described some. It were greatly to be desired that similar lists were kept of the portraits in all the residences of our ancient families in Britain. For want of a little care in this respect, many, within the narrow circle of my own knowledge, are no longer to be identified, though known to be intended to represent individuals of note; and I could enumerate some instances where I have heard the former possessor dwell with pleasure upon the description of family-pictures, while the present proprietor is utterly ignorant whom they are intended to portray. The late Sir William Musgrave felt strongly the importance of this: in the British Museum are preserved two volumes of original letters addressed to him, containing answers to queries regarding the portraits in different houses; and it is plain from these, that he had intended to seek for similar information on a very extensive scale.

with, as I am at present uncertain which of the noble personages Mr. Pinkerton wishes to have, and which in colors, &c. ; particularly with regard to Robert II., which I cannot find; and Robert III., which is a very wretched performance, as I have marked in the catalogue. I cannot find

Eliz More, nor Mary of Guelder, which Mr. Pinkerton mentions particularly in his letter. This I have sent is undoubtedly the Annabella he wishes for: the date, &c. correspond with the date on Robert III. As I have something to do, I will wait till I hear from Mr. Pinkerton, which I hope will not be long; and will thank you to send me, by the carrier, a few sheets of the best drawing-paper in a stiff case of pasteboard, to keep it from crumpling, in the manner I spoke of.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Vandyke.

IN THE DRAWING-ROOM.

13 Charles Rich, Earl of Warwick, whole length
14 Henry Rich, Earl of Holland, brother to Charles,
Earl of Warwick, and father to Mary, Countess of
Breadalbane.

For these two vide Pennant.

IN THE LOBBY.

15 Sir Dun. Campbell, of Lochaw

16 Lady Margaret Stewart, his wife, daughter of Robert, Earl of Fife and Menteith

17 Sir Colin Campbell, of Glenurchie, died 1480, aged 80

18 Lady Janet Stewart, his wife, daughter of William, Lord Lorn

19 Sir Dun. Campbell, of Glenurchie, killed at the battle of Flodden, 1513, aged 70 .

20 Lady Margaret Douglas, his wife, daughter of George, Earl of Angus

21 Sir Colin Campbell, of Glenurchie, died 1523, aged 55

[ocr errors]

22 Lady Mary or Margaret Stewart, his wife, daughter of John, Earl of Atholl

23 Sir Dun. Campbell, died 1536, aged 50

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

24 Margaret, his wife, daughter of Sir John Colquhoun,

of Luss

25 Sir John Campbell, of Glenurchie, died 1550, aged 54

26 Margaret, his wife, daughter of Sir Archibald Edmonstone, of Duntreath

27 Sir Colin Campbell, of Glenurchie, died 1583, aged 84

21 Lady Katharine Ruthven, his wife, daughter of William, Lord Ruthven

29 Sir Duncan Campbell, of Glenurchie, died 1631

30 Lady Jane Stewart, his first wife, daughter of the Earl of Atholl, died 1593, aged 35

[blocks in formation]

31 Sir Colin Campbell, of Glenurchie, aged 50

32 Lady Juliana Campbell, his wife, daughter of Hugh, Earl of Loudoun, aged 52

33 Sir Robert Campbell, of Glenurchie, succeeded his brother, Sir Colin, 1633. (Same as No. 7.)

34 Sir John Campbell, his son, father to the first Earl of Breadalbane

IN THE DINING-ROOM.

1641

1633

35 John, Earl of Breadalbane, ann. 1696, married first, in 1658, Lady Mary Rich, daughter of Henry, Earl of Holland; secondly, 1681, Lady Mary Campbell, daughter of Archibald, Marquis of Argyle, Countess Dowager of Caithness.

36 Portraits of these two Ladies.

38 John, Earl of Breadalbane, (ann. 1740,) married first, in 1685, Lady Frances Cavendish, daughter of Henry, Duke of Newcastle; secondly, in 1695. Henrietta, daughter of Sir Edward Villiers, sister to Edward, Earl of Jersey: both married when he was Lord Glenurchie.

39 Portraits of the two foregoing Ladies.

41 John, Lord Glenurchie, (anno 1744,) afterwards third Earl of Breadalbane; married first, in 1718, Lady Annabella Gray, eldest daughter of Henry, Duke of Kent; secondly, in 1730, Annabella Pershall, grand-daughter and heiress to Sir T. Pershall, Bart. By Ramsay.

[blocks in formation]

44 John Lord Glenurchie, (anno 1762,) married, in 1761,

Willielma Maxwell, daughter and co-heiress of William Maxwell, of Preston, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, Esq.

45 Portrait of the said Lady.

46 George and John Campbell, eldest and second sons of John Lord Glenurchie, afterwards third Earl of Breadalbane, (anno 1742). N. B. This John is the same with No. 44.

« PreviousContinue »