Genealogical memoirs of the Duffs

Genealogical Memoirs of the Duffs. 99
the present State of the World ; from the best
accounts, he was really a friendly, honest, worthy
man ; he used to recommend reading the Bible to
all his young friends, which he said was the best
of History. When Chieff Magistrate, he stood
firm to the interest of the Town of Elgin.
He married his Cousine, Margaret Gordon,
daughter to William Gordon of Forskine, by whom
he had three sons who survived him, and one
daughter, married to James Leslie of Bennegeith
in Rothes ; he died himself in 1749, and did not
leave his Family in so opulent Circumstances as
his Brothers did theirs ; but I believe he spent a
good deal of money upon his Children's Educa-
tion and putting them into business.
His Eldest son, Peter, was bred to the Law
at Edinr., and entered Writer to the Signet He
would have been well employed, but he fell into a
life of dissipation and pleasure, and at last into an
itch of Gaming, and kept Company with some of
the great folks at Edinr., and, after losing his own
money, played away other people's entrusted to
him, and was obliged to retire to North America.