| Description | Letter dated 23 March 1875 to Macdonald from George Reid, R.S.A., 22 Scotland Street, Edinburgh (Robertson's), regarding lack of news and slow work, portraits of Sir Robert Christison and Auldjo Jamieson, intended visits to Haddington and to Bordlands [Peeblesshire], visit from Pettie, who is staying with McTaggart, illness of Sir George Harvey, problems with doing a portrait of Macdonald, verdict on this year's exhibition: 'dead, dull respectability … prosy and commonplace, some new life is wanted. But don't say a word of this to Cameron - he finds it all beautiful and full of hope'. |