Agnews of Lochnaw

17 I 8.] CASTLE KENNEDY BURNT. 507
horror of the noble earl on awaking next morning at seeing
the bloody and dishevelled figure of his wife, and he anxiously
asked for an explanation.
Her simple relation of his own misconduct so appalled him,
arousing all his generous feelings, that he solemnly vowed
that henceforth he would never drink a glass of wine unless
given by herself. It is said that the earl kept that vow with
scrupulous fidelity. At his great entertainments, Lady Stair, by
his express desire, sat near him, and always filled his glass.
When custom obliged the ladies to retire, she allotted him a certain
allowance, which nothing would ever induce him to exceed.
In 1715 Castle Kennedy was accidentally burnt during the
absence of the family, and it has ever since remained a ruin ; by this
misfortune many papers of historical value are irretrievably lost.
Lord Stair was soon after appointed ambassador at the Court
of France ; and here, in addition to his military fame, he de-
veloped diplomatic talents of a very high calibre. His social
qualities were of the most brilliant order ; even the fastidious
Earl of Chesterfield turned to Galloway for an example of high
breeding : K Lord Stair," he writes to his son, " is the most
finished gentleman I ever knew."
At a grand diplomatic banquet in Paris, at which all the
great celebrities assisted, supper over, sentiments became the
order of the day, and the solar system was suggested as the arena
for an encounter of ambassadorial wit.
The French minister rose first, and pompously exclaimed,
" We shall drink to my master as the Sun, the light of the civil-
ised world, the centre of the European system !"
The goblets were drained, when the Spanish ambassador,
forcing himself next upon their attention, cried eagerly, " The
Moon ! I ask you to pledge to the King of Spain as the Moon.
True, the sun rules at noon-day, but are there not twelve hours
when the moon knows no superior !"
All eyes were now turned towards Lord Stair, as it was
naturally thought that he had been fairly jockeyed by his col-
leagues. But his presence of mind never deserted hini ; he rose