| Description | Letter dated c.1868 to Macdonald from George Reid, R.S.A., West United Presbyterian Manse, Haddington, with part from the Rev. Alexander Thomson and sketch of him smoking, description of him sitting with his feet on the stove reading an R.S.A. catalogue, visit to Sir Noel Paton and to Harvey, Mr. Edmond [Francis Edmond of Edmond & Macqueen, advocates] making purchases at the Edinburgh exhibition, purchases also by Fraser 'the granite man' 'he had a semi-theatrical, greasy long haired man with him whom he introduced as Mr. J.C. Wintoun, A.R.S.A.', he is investing heavily in art: 'surely the gravestones must pay handsomely', comment by Thomson 'I was in the Exhibition of paintings today and being too poor to buy and too proud to confess to poverty snarled satisfactorily at every picture I saw' he wishes to have a granite gravestone, too: 'I have been reared on granite and I wish granite to be reared on me', 'Reid should have been a minister and an Ecclesiastical leader just now especially in the Free Church for he is filling sheets and sheets' with his letter writing, 'I have been among painters and therefore I cannot be expected to be responsible until Reid is away', Reid's mention of meeting Hugh Cameron, who is offering Macdonald a picture of which a photograph has been sent to him, meeting with MacTaggart, who will also prepare something for him, Dun has sold nothing yet, criticism of Chalmers' paintings, lunch with Stuart of Laithers and introducing him to Sam Bough, 'Bough was in splendid humour and was railing in most unmeasured terms against all and sundry', praise of the Glasgow exhibition, including Pettie's 'Killing and Curing', J.C. Bell's pictures, and two Turners lent by Graham of Skelmorlie, beautiful painting of a woman by Orchardson, 'Wedensday evening'. |