Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

jan. 1693] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD
95
commission was presented by his father, the Earl of Findlater,
at Banff on the 2nd of February 1693. It would thus seem that
the earlier commission of 30th April 1692 had not been acted on.
Sir James Baird fifth of Auchmedden was appointed Sheriff-
principal of Banffshire on 4th February 1664. In October 1668
he was elected along with Sir Patrick Ogilvie of Boyne com¬
missioner to Parliament for Banffshire. In 1672 his son James,
who predeceased him, was appointed conjunct Sheriff-principal
with him. Sir James died in July 1691.
The letters of Martha Stevensone, bookseller, Edinburgh, dated
12th January and 28th March 1693, thi’ow further light on the
literary taste of the Earl of Findlater.
For THE EARLE OF FFINLADER
My Lord,—I have sent yor Lop with the bearer the
Duke of Lorrains lyfe, Norris practical discours, Sir Will
Temples essayes, which is all the new bookes I have at
this tyme, which I think fitt to send to yor Lop. I have
sent a commission for London for others viz., L’Estranges
paraphrase of Esops fables, Drydens translation of Perseus,
Burnetts pastoral care, Temple’s observations vpon the
Netherlands, Sherlock on death, idem on judgement, idem
On Haven and Hell, and some others which if yor Lop.
have a mynd for shall be sent when they come. And as
for the Mercuries, the November and December Mercuries
are not yit come out, and vntill they come furth wee doe
not bind the whole tuelvemoneth vp, bot after they come
furth the whole shall be sent. As for the order yow have
given Sir James for my payment I thank yor Lop. I
have not yit called for it at Sir James, because he is so
thronged with bussines. Besydes the three bookes above,
I have lykewayes sent with the bearer at this tyme Each-
ards description of Ireland, Christian prudence by Bishop
Santcroft, Eachards geography, which vpon second
thoughts I did lykewayes think fitt to send. These are
all at present from, My Lord, Yor Lop. most humble and
most oblieged srv*,
Martha Stevensone.
Edinbur., Jury. 12, 1693.