Inscription comical on a Grave Stone at Cumbernauld

Transcription

Show Deletions Show Regularizations Diplomatic Transcription

Copy of the Above sent to B.Bishop G.Gordon with what
follows.
“Mar^ch 2. 1773.
The Original of the Above,
having been transmitted by a private Bear-
er, was long in coming to hand.

Your favour of Feb.February 9 reached me in due
Course. The worthy Family of Gask are ever
mindful of you and good Mrs. GGordon.
On
X See pag.page 1981 hujus.
1989 (1989)
On Ash-Wednesday I received the Par-
cel safe &and sound, containing Pennant’s Tour,
the Assembly Piece, &and the Italian Account of
1746. The Assembly-Piece is a very rare
&and curious Piece; for which many thanks to
friendly N.Nicholas BBrett. May he &and his Fireside live &and
be happy. I know not the Italian Tongue;
but, from it’sits Connection with the Latin, I fear,
I fear, the Pamphlet, as you suggest, is a sorry
piece. However, I am acquainted wtwith One,
who knows Italian thoroughly; &and I may
chance to have an Interview with him
upon the Performance. Mean timeMeantime, you
have my hearty Thanks for it, &and thanks to
the Gentleman, your Friend, who kindly put
it in your Power to give it to me. Refresh
me, I beseech you, with agreeable accounts
of Cousin Peggie when you have them.

N.B. Particular thanks for News-Pa-
per wraptwrapped about the Books; as it contains a
smart Letter by Junius upon poor G——, who
would do better at his own Fireside of H—n-
—en. I would give him the parting
Bottle with all my Heart.

Inscription upon a Grave-Stone in the
Kirkyard of Cumbernauld, published
in the Caledonian Mercury of Edr.Edinburgh

O hold me not! my Mother Earth;

But raise me with the Duke of Perth,

With many another loyal Lad,

Once more to wear the white Cockade.

May not these four Lines be transmitted to
Somebody, as a Token of Remembrance?

Perhaps, you have heard, that some
honest Caledonian Bodies met in the Scots
College at Paris on the last Day of the
Year, as they could not have another
Day that Year, to solemnize it. When they 1990 (1990)
they were chapterly covenedconvened, &and making inno-
cently merry, behold, in pops, most opportunely
to heighten the Solemnity, an highly finish-
ed Picture of a certain amiable Lady, repre-
senting one of the most beautiful Faces, &and
one of the finest Persons in the World. With
what Joy this so seasonable &and well-timed
a Present to your Namesake, was received
by the whole Company, is more easily to be
imagined, than described. I hope, Prints will
soon be cast off, which are much longed for.

Have you seen Mr Andrew Stewart’s
Letters in 4toquarto to Lord Mansfield? a daring
&and dear Publication! If you have read it,
I would be glad to be favoured with your
Opinion of it. I cannot say, I will pur-
chase it; but I have taken a cursory
View of it in a Bookseller’s Shop.

We have a most fanciful &and chimerical
Performance by Burnet of Monboddo,
one of the Senators of the College of
Justice, viz, The Origin &and Progress of
Language, 8vooctavo; as if Language were
the Invention of Man, &and not the Gift
of God to our common Parents! Never
did I look upon a more ridiculous Con-
ceit &and speculating Maggot! The World is
gone a madding. We are plagued with
a sad GipsieGypsy from your Metropolis, Mrs
Yates, who acts many out of their Sen-
ses, if they have any. We have had
a masquerade in Edina, the first that
has ever yet been in Scotland; &and may
we never have another, say I. The poor
are starving, &and the rich, &and some who can-
not1991(1991)
not well spare ExpenceExpense, are, I may
truly say, diabolizing; for, gigantic Tempt-
ers &and Seducers they are!”

Person	Robert Forbes
Date	02 Mar 1773
Place
Place

Person	Bishop Gordon
Place	London