| Description | Letter dated 30 January 1882 to Macdonald from George Reid, R.S.A., 38 North Castle Street, Edinburgh, with account of election at the Royal Scottish Academy: proposal of Noel Paton, who turned it down; proposal of Fettes Douglas, but he had declared privately that he could not accept the knighthood that automatically went with the position, so trouble ensued; he was finally elected, Reid has written to him asking him to consider his position seriously for the sake of the Academy, Duncan McLaren's portrait is to be presented tomorrow, dinner at Irvine Smith's with the Bishop of Peterborough (McGee), Dr. John Smith, Cameron Lees of St. Giles', Fettes Douglas, and Dr. Walter Smith, amongst others, large formal dinner at Newington House with city dignitaries, with comments on the speech including a reference to women's suffrage, negotiations with Macdonald over prices of portraits. |