Transactions

OF THE

BANFFSHIRE FIELD CLUB.

THE STRATHMARTINE BanffshireTRUST Field Club

The support of The Strathmartine Trust toward this publication is gratefully acknowledged.

www.banffshirefieldclub.org.uk Thursday, November 15, 1888.

MEETING AT BANFF.

THK usual meeting of this Club was held on Thursday evening in Innes's Hall, Banff—Mr Ramsay, in the absence of the President, in the chair. The usual routine business was transacted. GORDON OF HADDO AND METHLICK. The Rev. William Temple, F.S.A. Scot., St Margaret's. Forgue, read a paper on the Family of Gordon of Haddo and Methlick, now represented by the Earl of . ' Fortuna sequatur ne nimium.' Is a spacious and elegant mansion in the Palladian style, built after designs by Baxter of Edinburgh; enlarged and a chapel added by Mr Street of London in 188 . The policies are of great extent, and of much beauty The paintings in the house are very interesting -Besides specimens of many of the continental schools, there are portraits of all the Earls, and of Sir John Gordon who suffered for his loyalty to Charles I. According to Dr Skene.Keith of Keithhall it had a deer park in his time 120 years old. The site of the old house of Kelly is not known. It is believed to have been at some distance from the pre- sent mansion, but both name and situation have been The first acquisition by the Gordon family was a portion of Haddo; after that the 'Two Methlicks;' then a portion of Kelly ; and gradually the whole emerged and consolidated into their property of Haddo and Methlick. The earliest notice of Methlick or 'Methlayk' is about the beginning of the 14th century. 13-- There is a charter by John de Barclay, Lord of Pitnacaldore to William de Camera, Lord of Auchna- ways of all the lands of Methlayk in the shire of Aber- Banffshiredeen to be held of the King in capite Field, sealed with the Club seal of William de Fotheringay, knight. In 1378 there is a charter by Robert III., King of , to his esquire, David Foulerton. for his faith- ful service, of the lands of the • Two Methlaykis.' whioh were unrighteously possessed by William de Melgedrum, 4

and which came into the King's hands by the verdict of an assize, which sat at Kincardine in the Mearns on the 11th of December 1375, to be held by the said David, rendering to the King and his heirs Kings of Scotland one shilling of silver, at the chief messuage of the lands, on the feast of Pentecost yearly. Among the witnesses are the King's eldest sou( the Bishop of St Andrews, the Earl ol Carrick, Steward of Scotland, &c., &c. In 1467 there is a charter by William de Foulerton do Aberawne to James Gordon of an annual rent of ten merks ouat of the lands of Haldauch, dated at Aberdeen July 1467. This is the lirst connection of the Gordons of Haddo with land in the county of Aberdeen which is evidenced by existing records. Two years afterwards they acquired tho whole of Haddo and the shadow half of Meikle Methlic. In 1469 there is a charter by the said William de Foulerton de Aberawne to the said James Gordon of the lands of Haldauch and the shadow half Meikle Methlick, excepting one croft of the said lands called 'Le Chrysti's croft,' dated 22nd June 1469. 1471. There are letters of resignations into tho King's hand by William do Foulerton of the lands of Haw. dauch of Methlyk with half of Meikle Methlyk. This was a preliminary to the Gordons getting a charter of said lands from the crown. KELLY. In 1261 Kelly belonged to Alexander Cummin, Earl of . In that year he founded an hospital in the Newburgh "actum apud Kell.y in Buchan die veneris proxima post, Festum Sancti Matthaei, 1261' 1272. There is a charter for an hospital at also given at Kelly, 3rd Feb. 1272, by Alexander Cummin, Earl of Buchan, in presence of Alexander III. King of Scots, Reginald Cheyne, father and son • William de Melgdrum, and Walter, rector of the church of Fo- veran. 1433. Robert de Erskine is owner of Kelly, in that year be gives to ' Dilecto nostro domino Willelmo de Forbes militi totaim nostram terram de Lasgowny jacentem in baronià nostra de Kelly.' In 1436 he grants the same land de Lasgowny to Gilbert Menzies, having evidently retained the superiority. In 1489 there is a Crown charter—' Alexandro do Erskine of the lauds of the barony of Kelly.' BanffshireSeven years before the lasFieldt mentioned one, ther Clube is a charter by David Annand of Ouchterellon, to Patrick Gordon of Methlick, of his lands of Kelly, with the lands of "Owerhill" (Ordhill ?), dated at Aberdeen, 12th February 1482.' This is the first acquisition by the Gordon family of a portion of the barony of Kelly. There is afterwards a disposition of another portion—viz.. Mains of Kellie— Lord Erskine, his father, of the lands of Mains of Kellie and others, to James Gordon, of Haddoch, pay- ing £6 0s. 4d. to the Abbot and Convent of Lendors, dated at Stirling, 19th October 1553. The whole barony, as well as Haddo and Methlic, gradually became the property of this branch of the Gordon family. The Family. With regard to their descent Dr Jos. Robertson, our greatest cbartulary authority, in writing of the family of Gordon of Haddo thus remarks :—' Some genealogists have sought to engraft this branch upon the parent stem before it was transplanted to the North, towards the end of the 14th century. But no evidence has been produced in support of this claim, and modern research holds by the tradition that the house descends from one of the illegitimate brothers of Sir Adam Gordon, who was slain at Homildon in 1402. His first possession seems to have been Methlic, on the Banks of the Ythan.' There is reason to believe that these brothers were cousins German of Sir Adam Gordon, who fell at Homildon, as will be seen in our notes on the familys of Gordon of Pitlurg and Straloch. In the above quotation from Dr Robertson, Methlic is mentioned as being their first possession, but the charters already quoted show it was Haddo, situated on the south bank of the Ythan, opposite . According to Crawford, the author of a Peerage, this family is descended from Sir Wm. Gordon, who swore fealty to Edward I.. but of this there is no chartular or othor evidence, and Sheriff Riddell, one of the best authorities on Peerage law, pronounces this ' deduction to be fabulous.' ^ John Gordon of Essie, or Scourdargue, as to whose status (see article on Pitlurg), married Margaret Maitland, daughter of Robert Maitland, Laird of Gight (see article Pitrichie), by whom he had three sons. I. John Gordon of Auchleuchries. II. Wm. Gordon of Tillytarmont. III. James Gordon, ancestor of the Gordons of Haddo and Methlic. II. This James Gordon of Haddo and Methlic married Canea Harper, half portioner of Methlic, of which her father, John Harper, called in the Latin of the charters, ' Johannes de Catharista ' was the owner. In a MS. genealogy preserved at Parkhill, apparently drawn up by Robert Gordon of Straloch, Canea Harper is styled ' heretrix of Methlic.' The late John Stuart, LL.D., so long the moving spirit of the Spalding BanffshireClub, accepted the fact of the Fieldmarriage of James Club Gordon to the heiress of James Harper. The MS. of 1580, in the possession of C. E. Dalrymple, Esq., calls her 1 ane gentlewoman called Harper.' She probably had the ' sunny half of Methlic.' We see that her ' charter per John, Master of Erskine, with consent of 6

husband acquired the shady half in 1469. But no charter of 'the sunny half' is now known to exist. In another MS. she is called Caney Harper. In con- nection with her name, we may refer to a note p. 324 Col. for shires of Aberdeen and Bantf, where a docu- ment is quoted referring to some intromissions with the lands of Qwiltis of Scheves by William Drumbreck, and ' Caney Gordon ' bis spouse. This was probably a daughter of Caney Gordon, married to a neighbour Drumbreck of Drumbreck, the seat of the family of that name, in the neighbourhood of Methlick. In the British Museum Library, there is a MS. with the arms of the Gordons of Haddo—'Azure three boars' heads coupè, or, differenced with a crescent for a younger brother," this would point to his being a second son, and not a third, as given in the Balbithan MS. In another MS., these are quartered with a harp in the second and third quarters, probably for Catharista —i.e., Harper of Methlick. James Gordon and Canea Harper had issue:— I. Patrick Gordon, of whom afterwards. II. Robert Gordon of Fetterletter had issue a daughter, who was 'ane heretrix,' and married Sir George Gordon of Shires, Knight, • which knight has conquested a great living to the augmentation of his house, and built a great strength thereon, with great policies, and most agreeable to such a nobleman of his estate.' III. Alexander Gordon, Bishop-elect of Aberdeen, formerly Chanter and Dean of Moray. In the Balbithan MS., it is recorded:—' Alex. Gordon had many bastard children—viz., David Gordon of Savoch, &c." Two are recorded in the following charter of lands — Alexandra Gordon et Jacobo Gordon fratribus, bas- tardis filiis naturalibus Magistri Alexandri Gordon pre- oentoris Moraviensis, June 1506.' Another charter :—• Alexandra Gordon filio carnali Alexandri Gordon precentoris Moraviensis, 1509 ' Through the influence of the Earl of , he was appointed in 1515 Bishop of Aberdeen, and died 30th June 1518. Dr Grub is of opinion that he was never consecrated, owing to bad health. IV. Geo. Gordon of Auchinbiffe (Udny) ? 1. Isobel married to Alexander Allardes of Allardes. 2. Margaret married to Fraser, Laird of Durris. 3. married to Andrew Prott, Burgess in Aber- deen. James Gordon died 14—, and was succeeded by his son. III. Patrick Gordon of Haddo and Methlick. Patrick Gordon had a charter, dated 15th September 14S0, of the Banffshirelands of Knockinblewis, Breckoh Field, Drummeis, an d GlasClub- sach from Alex. Leslie of Warderis. The charter is dated within the chapel of the B.V. Mary of the . 1482,—There is a charter previously quoted of the lands of New Park of Kelly and Overhill (Ordhill ?) 1487.—There is a confirmation of a charter of the 7

lands of Audhadlie to Patrick Gordon de Methlic from William de S. Clare of Newburgh. 1499.—Patrick Gordon witnesses a charter. He mar. lied Marion, daughter of Sir James Ogilvie of Find, later, and had issue three sons and three daughters. I. George Gordon apparent heir, of whom afterwards. II. Mr James Gordon, Parson of Lonmay, a witness to a deed 1556. III. Alexander Gordon first goodman of Bracoe. 1 . married to Barclay of Towie. 2. married to Cumming of Altyre. 3 . - married to Rose of Kilravock. Patrick Gordon died 15 and was succeeded by his grandson. V. James Gordon of Haddo and Methlio. He was son of George Gordon, apparent heir of Patrick Gordon; but died in France before his father, having married a daughter of Hay of Delgaty. He left issue the said James Gordon. 1537. James Gordon of Methlic is mentioned in a decreet anent the marches betwixt Lethnot and Troup. 1547. He is mentioned in a deed. 1553. James Gordon obtained a charter from John, Master of Erskine, with consent of Lord Erakine, his father, of the lands of Mains of Kellie and others. 1578. Licence by James Gordon of Haddoch to his son Robert Gordon of Sauchoch to annalio and wadset the town and lands of Murdoishill, alias Hallymanis' Seat, lying within the barony of Kelly. 1580. Steps are taken by the Council to put an end to the deadly feuds between the Gordons and the Forbeses —among the Gordons are John Gordon of Pitlurg, and James Gordon of Haddo. 1581, April 1. There is a discharge and receipt by James Gordon of Haddo to Alex. Chalmers of Cults for the title deeds of the lands of Little Methlic. The deeds are enumerated, and the first is a charter by Umquhile William Chalmers of Findowne. He married Marjory (?) daughter of Thomas Menzies of Pitfoddels, comptroller general of Scotland, accord- ing to Burke and Dougless' Peerages; but, according to the MS. of 1580 already quoted, she is styled ' daughter of Gilbert Menzies, Provost of Aberdeen. It is also recorded of him in this MS. that ' he has conquest cer- tain lands in Buchan in augmentation of his living, and ho bigged a house called Kelly.' They bad issue six sons. I. Patrick, his apparent heir, who predeceased his father. He is mentioned in a memorandum of his Banffshirefather. ' James Gordon explaine dField that he had ordered Club Alexander Gordon of Bracoe to give a proper charter of sale of the barony of Knockinblewis.—10 May 1533. Patricio Gordon filio et heredi apparenli.' II. Robert Gordon of Savoch mentioned with his four younger brothers in 1559. III. David, ancestor of the Gordons of Nethermuir, a family which still exists. 8

IV. .John Gordon of Tilliehilt. V. James Gordon. VI. Alexander Gordon. -1. Daughter, married to Cheyne of Esslemont. James Gordon died 1582. His son Patrick married Agnes, daughter of Alexander Frazer of Muchil, and had one son. VII. James Gordon of Haddo and Methlic. He obtained charters from King James VI. of the lands of Kirktown, Tarvis, Brakla, Tulielt, also the lands of Methlic, Haddo. &c., 1582. He married Jane, daughter of William Lord Keith, and sister of George Earl Marischal, and by her had issue : I. George, who died before his father, having married Margaret, daughter of Alexander Bannerman of Elsick, by whom he had a son John, of whom afterwards. II. William Gordon. He married 2nd the daughter of John Gordon of Tilly- hilt. He was his cousin. He died in the beginning of 1624, and was succeeded by his grandson John. IX. Sir John Gordon of Haddo, Bart. He was served heir to his grandfather in 1624, and to his father in 1627, ' haeres masculus Georgii Gordon feodotarii patris in terris de duabus Methlickis, &c., &c.' He was a man of great ability and loyalty. He was second in command to the Marquis of Huntly in con- ducting the forces that were raised for the King against the Covenanters in 1639. At the skirmish commonly called the Trot of Turriff he behaved with great courage, and for his good service was created a Baronet by King Charles I. in 1642. Sir John in many other instances signalized himself in behalf of His Majesty. In 1643, he defended the House of Kelly against the Covenanters, until reduced to the last extremity. At length he capitulated on honourable terms. But be was no sooner in his enemy's power (Argyle's) than he was sent to Edinburgh, and imprisoned in St Giles' Church, in a place which hath since got the name of ' Haddo's hole.' Argyle put a garrison of 36 men into the house, destroyed and plundered everything in it, carried away out of the garners 160 chalders of victual, killed or drove away all the horses and sheep that belonged to Sir John or his tenants, all of which is most graphically described by Spalding in his Troubles of Scotland. The Kirk also was not behind—she drew the spiritual Banffshiresword—and Sir John was excommunicated Field. Club In Jan. 1645 he was indicted for high treason for what he acted at Turriff and elsewhere in the King's name, and was condemned to death. On the 10th of July 1645, he was executed along with Captain John Logie, son to a learned and loyal clergyman, Mr Andrew Logie, minister of Bayne and Archdeacon of Aberdeen, Captain Logie was first beheaded. Sir John's friends had petitioned to be suffered to wait upon him on the scaffold at his death, and six of them were so allowed. ' When they mounted the scaffold they were attended by some of the town's ministers. One of them, in addressing himself to Sir John, desired him to make open and full confession of his sins to God, upon which he acknowledged that he had been a great and grievous sinner, and hoped that God would graciously pardon him, in and through the merits of his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; on which tbo minister catching hold, went to the side of the scaffold, and with an audible voice told the people that this unfortunate gentleman had confessed himself gnilty of rising in arms against the country, in opposition to the covenant; which Haddo overhearing, went to the same place, and with the like voice answered—" Not so; I confess myself to be a great sinner to God, but never transgressed against the country or any in it, and what I did in that case I thought good service, and bound to do as my duty by the laws of God and man. After which he returned to his private devotions, using among other this short prayer, " I commend myself to God, and my six children to his Majestie's care, for whose sake I die this day."' ,,. And so he passed boldly and calmly unto death. His body was buried in the Greyfriars' Churchyard, He marriedMary , daughter of William Forbes of Tolqunhon, by whom he had two sous and one daughter. I. Sir John, his successor, II. George, the first Earl of Aberdeen. 1 , daughter, married to Sir John Forbes of Waterton. _ , . .. , The children of Sir John Gordon were bereft of parents and estate, of which latter they received not one penny for their upbringing. The estates wero re- stored to Sir John's eldest son. Sir John Gordon, 2nd Bart. He married Mary, only daughter of Alexander, first Lord Pitsligo, by whom he had an only child, Jane, who married Sir James Gordon of Lesmoir, Bart. He died 1665, and was succeeded by his brother George, who became Sir George Gordon, 3rd Bart, of Haddo, and first Earl of Aberdeen. „, , ,, , Ho was educated at King's College. Old Aberdeen, of which he was a distinguished scholar and graduate. He studied under John Straohan, who enjoyed a great reputation for learning. Professor Strachan having Banffshireresigned, the College appointe dField Mr Gordon to th e Club vacant regency, and he became a professor the day after he ceased to be a student. This was in 1658. He re- mained a professor four years. After his class pro. ceeded to the Master's degree, he resigned his pro- fessorship at the close of the session 1662. He then went abroad, resolving to devote himself to the study 10

of law. The death of his elder brother without male issue, in March 1667, recalled him from the Continent, when he took possession of the estates. He became a member of the Scottish bar in 1668. In the year 1669, he was elected one of the commissioners to represent the connty of Aberdeen in the following sessions of this Parliament, 1670, 1671, 1672, and 1673; also in the conventions of estates assembled at Edin- burgh, June 1678. On the 11th of Nov. 1678, he was nominated one of the King's Privy Council, and on the death of Sir William Wallace of Craigie, he was appointed in his room an ordinary Lord of Session, under the title of Lord Haddo. For many years the government of Scotland had been in the hands of the Duke of Lauderdale, and the unhappy state of the country showed the results of his administration, and Sir George Gordon from the high position in office was brought prominently into contact with the state transactions, towards the close of Lauderdale's administration. The Duke of York arrived in Edinburgh 4th Dec. 1679, and took up his residence for three months at Holyrood. and produced a favourable impression. He returned in the following year, 1680, with a sort of viceregal autho- rity, and completely superseded Lauderdale's influence in Scottish affairs. He assembled Parliament in 1681, in which Sir George Gordon took an active part. He was at its opening nominated one of the Lords of the Articles. He acted as one of the leaders of Government in conducting the business of the House, and very actively supported the Duke s administration. On the removal of Sir James Dalrymple from the presidency of the Court of Session, he was in 1681 pro- moted to the vacant office, but did not long retain it Amongst those who looked forward to bear a part in the pomp and state which distinguished the sitting down of Parliament in 1681 was John Leslie. Duke of Rothes; bat not many hours before its meeting he suddenly expired, and the Parliament had to be opened without a chancellor; and Sir George Gordon was appointed chancellor in his room. His appointment created no little disappointment and rivalry. Sir George being only a commoner, while it was considered by many that this high office of state should only be fitted by a peer. But his appointmont to the chancellorship was soon followed by his elevation to the Peerage, under the title of the Earl of Aberdeen. The Banffshirepatent, which conferred upon hiFieldm this rank, recites thClube eminent services he had rendered to the king ; but per- haps no part of the document could be more agreeable to Sir George Gordon than the part relating the manner in which his father's struggles and heroic sufferings are recorded. Lord Aberdeen was called to power at a time when 11

little but obloquy was to bo expected by those holding official dignity, when even the wisest and ablest could only look forward to the exercise of but a loveless and a thankless sway. During a period of two years and upward, the ad- ministration of public affairs was presided over by him; bnt the intrigues of the party which favoured the unhappy designs of the Duke of York against the established religion led in tho end to the Earl's resigna- tion. In 1684 he left Loudon, dismantled his house in Edinburgh, and retired to Haddo, bis house in Aber- deenshire. He did not emerge from his retirement till after the accession of Queen Anne, when, for the first time, he took the oatbs to the Government. The only prominent transaction in which Lord Aberdeen took part after this was the treaty of Union between Eng- land and Scotland. The remaining years of tho Earl's life were spent in tranquillity and seclusion of a country life in the improvement and extension of his family property. The boy, who had seen his father's house invested by fierce and warlike men, who had been driven a terrified child across its threshold preparatory to the work of destrnction, now. as an old man, after an eventful life, reposed in peace and quietness there, the scene of these wild transactions. , The Earl of Aberdeen, while Sir George Gordon, married Ann. eldest daughter of Sir George Lockhart of Torbrecks. heiress of her brother William, who died in 1672 Her mother, Ann, was a daughter of Sir William Lockhart of Carnwath. President of the Court of Session They had six children I George, Lord Haddo, died in the lifetime of his father. II. William, Second Earl of Aberdeen. 1. The Lady Anne, married to the Ninth Earl of Eglinton.

2. The Lady Martha born February 13, 1681, married to John Udny of Udny. _ 3. The Lady Margaret born 29th March 1682, married to Alexander, 12th Lord Saltoun. 4. The Lady Margaret died unmarried. Tho first Earl died at Kelly 20th April 1720, and was succeeded by his son William, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen. He was one of the representative Peers of Scotland. He did not tako a very active port in public life. He married first Lady Mary Leslie,only daughter of the Earl of Leven, by whom he had an only daughter, tho Lady BanffshireAnn, who married William, Ear lField of Dumfries and Stair Club. He married, secondly, Susan, daughter of John, Duke of Athole, by whom he had an only son, George, his successor. 2. The Lady Catherine, who married, first, Cosmo, Duke of Gordon; secondly. General Staats Long Morris. Tbe Earl married thirdly Anne, daughter of Alexander, Duke of Gordon, and by her had issue: 12

II. William Gordon of , a general officer, who married Miss Isobel Black, and had issue, a son, William, who succeeded to Fyvie, and died there 1847. III. Cosmo, Colonel in the army. IV. Alexander, "born 1739. Appointed Lord of Session in 1788 under the title of Lord Rockville. Married, 26th July 1769, Anne, daughter of William Duff of Crombie, advocate, and widow of William Earl of Dumfries and Stair, and had issue. His discendant, Sir Maurice Duff Gordon, Bart., is the present proprietor of Fyvie. [See Art. Fyvie.] William, the second Earl of Aberdeen, increased much the family property. He purchased Tolquhon, Fyvie, and other estates. He died in 1715, and was succeeded by his son. George III. Earl of Aberdeen. He married Catherine, daughter of Oswald Hanson Esq. of Wakefield, County York, and by her, who died March 15th 1817, had issue : I. George Lord Haddo. He was accidentally killed by a fall from his horse near the Castle of Gight October 2, 1791 (in the life time of his father). He married Charlotte, daughter of William Baird, Esq. of Newbyth, by whom he had issue : I. George 4th Earl of Aberdeen. II. William, Vice-Admiral, long member of Parlia- ment for , born 1785, died February 3, 1858. III. Sir Alexander Gordon, R.C.B , Lieut.-Colonel in the army. Aide-de-Camp to his uncle. Sir David Baird, afterwards to the Duke of Wellington, and was killed at the Battle of Waterloo , June 18, 1815. IV. Sir Charles, Lieutenant-Colonel, born 5th July 1790, died 30th September 1835. V. Sir Robert, a distinguished diplomatist, b. 1791; d. 8 Oct. 1847. VI. John, Vice-Admiral R.N., b.1792. I. Alicia, who obtained from the Prince Regent in 1813 the precedency of an Earl's daughter, and died April 24,1847. II. William, who succeeded to tbe Ellon estate, and died 184—. 1. Anne, married to Edward Place, Esq. of Skelton Grange, Yorkshire, and had issue 2. Susan, d. unmarried 1795. 3. Mary, married 12 Mar. 1789, to Thomas Horton, Esq. of Honroyde Hall, Yorkshire, who died 22 Dec. 1829 ; she died Aug. 7, 1853. The Earl, who was one of the representative Peers of BanffshireScotland, died at Ellon Castle , FieldAug. 13, 1801, and waClubs succeeded by his grandson, George Gordon, IV. Earl of Aberdeen, K.G., K.T., LL.D., F.B.S., F.A.S., F.S.A. Scot,., &c., &c., &c. He was born at Edinburgh, 28 Jan. 1784. His father died when he was six years old, and he succeeded his 13

grandfather at the ago of 17. He was educated at Harrow, and from that school he entered St John's College, Cambridge. At that time Pitt was First Lord of the Treasury, Melville ruled at the Admiralty, and the beautiful and accomplished Duchess of Gordon (Jane Maxwell) interested herself much in the Tory supporters. Lord Aberdeen was brought up under the especial notice of these, and was early introduced into the mysteries of official life. These were the days of Pitt and Fox. whom Lord Byron describes as ' like the two mountains Athos and Ida with a dashing sea of eloquence between them.' Lord Aberdeen listened to these two. He graduated in 1801, was in 1801 attached to the embassy sent under Lord Cornwalis to negotiate with Napoleon the peace of Amiens, a peace which did not last long. About this time ho visited Greece, and while his countryman, Lord Elgin, was despoiling that classic land of some of its finest marbles, be, with all the enthusiasm of a scholar, went over ground where every river has a Deity, and every valley a name glorified in song. On his return to England, he established the Athenian Society, of which it was an essential condition that every member should have visited Greece. And from this was given him the name of ' Athenian Aberdeen.' He entered Parliament in 1806, a year whieh saw Nelson, Pitt, and Fox consigned to the tomb. At that time there was a coalition of parties, and Lord Aber- deen as a representative peer of Scotland came in con- tact with the ministry • of all the Talents,' an honour which he continued to enjoy till 1814. In recognition of his diplomatic services, be was raised in 1814 to the dignity of the British peerage. After the disastrous defeat of Napoleon at Moscow, a hope was entertained that Austria might be induced (though the Emperor's daughter was married to Napoleon) to enter into a coalition against France. To Lord Aberdeen the English Government committed this delicate task, which he effectually accomplished. He was then only 29 years of age. Dresden was tho last of Napoleon's great victories, and Leipsic began the series of defeats ; and Lord Aberdeen was present at both these battles, and learned there the horrors of war; and his reluctance to enter upon the Crimean War caused him many reproaches. In January 1828, in the Tory Government under the Duke of Wellington, Lord Aberdeen became Secretary Banffshireof State for Foreign Affairs , anFieldd he held this offic eClub for nearly three years. On the overthrow of the Duke's Government, Lord Aberdeen retired from office, and, with the exception of a few months in 1834-5, when he filled the post of Colonial Secretary in Sir Rbert Peel's short-lived Ministry, he remained in opposition till 1841. In that year Peel became Prime Minister, and Lord Aberdeen was reinstalled in the Foreign 14

Office. His administration of foreign policy was cautions and pacific, yet firm and dignified; and in the dispute with the Government of the United States on the Oregon question, he steadily upheld the honour of f his country, while he contrived to avert the war that seemed imminent. Lord Aberdeen took a deep interest in the Established Church of Scotland, and made an unsuccessful attempt to avert the disruption by enacting certain restrictions on the right of patronage—an Act repealed in 1874, when an Act was passed entirely abolishing patronage. In 1852 a coalition was formed between the Whigs and the Peelites, and the Earl of Aberdeen was placed at the head of the administration. He had long penetrated the designs of Eussia regarding Turkey, and had in bis dispatches denounced the ambition and faithlessness of the Czar Nicholas. He had, however, an undisguised horror of war, and strove to maintain the public peace after the nation had unequivocally declared for an armed resistance to the designs of Russia. The country thus drifted into the Crimean war, for which no ade- quate preparation had been made, and disasters of no ordinary kind followed as the result, Lord John Russell seceded from the Government, which had become unpopular, and it was dissolved in 1855. From that period till his death, Lord Aberdeen did not take any part in public affairs. His lordship married first, July 28, 1805, Catherine Elizabeth, eldest surviving daughter of John James, first Marquis of Abercorn. By her, who died February 29, 1812, ne had a son, who died in infancy, and three daughters, who died unmarried. The Earl married secondly July 8, 1815, Harriet, daughter of John Douglas, relict of James Viscount Hamilton, and mother of the first Duke of Abercorn. by whom, who died August 26,1833, he had issue: I. George John James, Lord Haddo, his successor. II. Alexander, born 11th December 1817. General in the army, K.C.B., married December 9, 1852, Caroline, eldest daughter of Sir John Herschel, Bart., and had issue. III. Douglas, chaplain to the Queen, Canon of Sarum, and Rector of Great Stanhope, born 13th March 1834, married 15th July 1851, Ellen, daughter of the Earl of Morton, and has issue. IV. Arthur, born 1859, C.M.G. 1871 K.C.M.G., 1861 Lieut.-General of New Brunswick, 1866 Governor of Trinidad, 1870 Governor of Mauritius. 1874 Governor of Fiji. 1883 Governor of Ceylon. He married 1865, Rachael Emily, eldest daughter of Sir John Shaw le BanffshireFevre, and has issue. Field Club I. Francis, d. unmarried 1854. His lordship died December 14, 1860, and was succeeded by his son. George John James, Earl of Aberdeen, better known as Lord Haddo. He was born 28th September 1816 at the Priory, near Stanmore, Middlesex. He studied at Cambridge, and 15

in 1837 took his degree of M.A. He was elected in 1851 M.P. tor Aberdeenshire, and in the general election of 1857 was again returned. He was long in very delicate health. Symptoms of illness began to appear in 1853, from which he never wholly recovered. The illness proved to be a wasting atrophy, and he was told by the best medical advice that a fatal issue could not be averted. Nothing could exceed the calm composure with which he was led to contemplate an early death an all but certain; and he set his house in order. He devoted himself to the good of those around him, watch- ing over his children's education, and attending to religious, philanthropic, and various other objects, up to the very week of his death. He was easily acces- sible to the humblest and poorest of the tenants, and took the liveliest interest in all their wants and difficulties. This good Earl continued in the good works which he had set himself to do, in the great work of preparation to meet his God, ere the last day of his life. His spirit gently and quietly passed away a few minutes after midnight on the morning of the 23rd March 1864. He married in 1840 Mary, daughter of George Baillie of Jervisewood, sister of the late Earl of Haddington, and had issue: X. George Hamilton, Lord Haddo, his successor. II. James Henry, born at Ranger's House, Green- wich, 11th Oct. 1815. He was a promising young man, and was suddenly killed by the accidental discharge of his rifle, 12th Feb. 1868, to the great regret of all who knew him. To him may be applied the words of Milton ' For Lycidas is dead—dead in his prime, Young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer.' III. John Campbell, the present peer. 1. Lady Mary, born 1844, married 1863 Walter Hugh, 6th Lord Polwarth, and has issue. 2. Lady Harriet, born 1849, married 1870, William Alex. Lindsay, of the Crawford and Balcarres family, and has issue. 3. Lady Catherine Eliza, born 1852, married 1878, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, and has issue. His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son. George Hamilton, VI. Earl of Aberdeen. His mournful history is quite a romance in the Peerage. He is commonly known as the Sailor Earl of Aberdeen.' He was educated under a private tutor, and at the University of St Andrews, along with his sad-fated brother James. In the winter of 1863, Lord Haddo proceeded to New Brunswick, where his uncle, Banffshirethe Hon. Arthur Gordon, was GovernorField, and was ther eClub in April 1864, when he received intelligence of his father's death, and returned to Scotland. The decision, judgment, and self-reliance which he exhibited on assuming the administration of his estates were each as to excite surprise from many, who were unacquainted with 16

his real character and capacity. After a year and a half spent at home, during which he rebuilt the Church of Methlic, he returned to his uncle in New Brunswick, and in 1866 commenced his long and arduous expedition, which at last came to BO disastrous a conclusion. Laying aside altogether for a time his name and rank, he engaged in the American merchant service, and was, with some intervals, employed as chief officer or captain until the time of his death. His last voyage or engage- ment was on the Hera, one of Messrs H. "W. Peabody & Co's line of packets, sailing from Boston to Melbourne, as chief mate, under the name of George Osborne. On that voyage, which commenced Jan. 31, 1870. he was about a week after in a severe storm washed overboard and drowned. For what purpose be undertook this hard life, whether from the love of adventure or that he might thoroughly know the status of the sailors of the mercantile marine, and be able to ameliorate their condition, was at the time of his death difficult to say. But his family, from information which they obtained, believe that the latter was his object. He wished to work in his place in Parlia- ment for the amelioration of the conditions under which merchant seamen were obliged to toil and spend their lives. He left his native land, his home and his kindred, and entirely supported himself by his own earnings, and at last perished sadly as above narrated. He was succeeded in the title and estates by his youngest and last surviving brother, John Campbell Hamilton Gordon, VII. Earl of Aberdeen. He was born 1847; in 1880 was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire; in 1881-1885, Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly: 1886, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He married in 1877 Ishbel Maria, youngest daughter of Sir Dudley Coutts Mar- joribanks, now Lord Tweedmouth, and has issue:— I. George, Lord Haddo. II. Hon. Dudley Gladstone. III. Hon. Ian Archibald, b. 1884. 1. Lady Marjory Adelina, b. 1880. 2. Lady Dorothea Mary, b. and d. 188a. The paper was listened to throughout with much interest, and was frequently applauded ; and, on the motion of the Chairman, a cordial vote of thanks was Banffshirepassed to Mr Temple. Field Club