| Description | Letter to Alexander Macdonald of Kepplestone from Dr. John Brown, 23, Rutland Street, Edinburgh, asking if George Reid showed Mrs. Macdonald his 'Mrs. Birse' for Johnny Gibb, hoping that his portrait of Macdonald will turn out as well, description of Macdonald, mention of a marriage not coming off, admiration of Robertson Smith, mention of clematis [which might refer to George Reid's portrait of Mrs. Macdonald], delight at their visit, good wishes for Monty, encouraging Jamieson's visits to Kepplestone which do him good, good wishes to the 'matron and girl' at Linnwood, wishing he could do something for Macdonald, good wishes for his uncle, aunt and sisters, and to the Hooks, are they connected with Burton, the London solicitor, someone has sent him some wonderful drawings by Turner and another, including one of a spaniel, and one of the Calais lighthouse, 'The bank business darkens everything - nothing but ruin to the 1,200', Irvine Smith's Zurich is a better Turner than White's, 'I met Susan Jamieson - she is much given to idolatry', 2 November 1878 |