Genealogical memoirs of the Duffs

Geneaìogical Memoirs of the Duffs. 1 1 3
truth, and not say that " They are a new family,
meer upstarts from the Dunghill ;" because there
is not the least foundation for saying so.
The family of Drumuir has possest the very
same Estate for a great many Generations.
And it would be very bad logic to tell Lord
Fife, or any of the Gentlemen lately descended
of his family, that they are meer upstarts ; because,
tho' their Progenitors had good Estates 4 or 500
years ago, it's near 150 since they were stript
of them all, and the great Landed interest which
they now possess has been all acquired within
that period. Every body would be sensible of the
Fallacy of this reasoning.
Old Hatton used to tell me, that those of his name
in this Country owed their Success in their private
affairs merely to their bestowing more attention
upon the management of them than many others did.
And I have heard Mr. Hay of Delgaty, who
was an exceeding good Judge of men and things,
say, that he thought the Duffs were rather well-
managers of their own money than covetous of
other people's.