Boswelliana: The Commonplace Book of James Boswell, with a Memoir and AnnotationsBoswell, James
History
Boswelliana: The Commonplace Book of James Boswell, with a Memoir and Annotations
Boswell, James
Boswell, James, 1740-1795
her life with two pecks of meal weekly in case of her not liveing in
the family of Auchinleck. Lastly, as there are upon the estate of
Auchinleck several tenants whose families have possessed their farms
for many generations, I do by these presents grant leases for nineteen
years and their respective lifetimes of their present farms to John
Templeton in Hopland, James Murdoch in Blackstown commonly called the
Raw, James Peden in Old Byre, William Samson in Mill of Auchinleck,
John Hird in Hirdstown, William Murdoch in Willocks town, and to any
of the sons of the late James Caldow in Stivenstown whom the ministers
and elders of Auchinleck shall approve of, a lease of that farm in the
above terms, the rents to be fixed by two men to be mutually chosen
by the laird of Auchinleck for the time and each tenant. I also grant
a lease in the like terms to Andrew Dalrymple in Mains of Auchinleck,
my Baron officer. And I do beseech all the succeeding heirs of Entail
to be kind to the Tenants and not to turn out old possessors to get a
little more rent. And in case my nomination of Tutors and Curators to
my children being written upon unstamped paper should not be valid,
I here again constitute and appoint my dear wife, Mrs. Margaret
Montgomerie and my worthy friend Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, or
the survivor of them, to the said office with all usual powers and
with the recommendations contained in the said unstamped deed. In
witness whereof, these presents written with my own hand (of which I
consent to the registration in the books of Council and Session that
they may have full effect and thereto constitute my procurators) are
subscribed by me at London this twenty eight day of May, One thousand
Seven hundred and Eighty five, before these witnesses Mr. Edward Dilly
bookseller there, and Mr. John Normaville his clerk. (signed) James
Boswell. Chs. Dilly witness, John Normaville witness.”
The three persons nominated as literary executors did not meet, and the
entire business of the trust was administered by Sir William Forbes,
Bart., who appointed as his law agent Robert Boswell, writer to the
signet, cousin german of the deceased. By that gentleman’s advice,
Boswell’s manuscripts were left to the disposal of his family; and it
is believed that the whole were immediately destroyed. The _Commonplace
Book_ escaped, having been incidentally sold among the printed books.
The following inventory of Boswell’s moveable effects, presented for
registration in the Commissariat Register is not without interest:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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