Ref: MS245/1/1

Tags:   Coupar Angus Perthshire Scotland farming agriculture archive historicaldocument Working Archive

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With Prince Philip, Provost John T Young and Lord Lieutenant Mungo Murray, 7th Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield
Ref: PE1/57/3/8/5

Photograph courtesy and © Perthshire Advertiser

Tags:   Perth Scotland monarchy Queen Elizabeth celebration

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Edinburgh May the 20th 1720
Madam
Anger spleen revenge Despair vexation and shame are not yet so powerfull with me, as to make me disown this great truth, that I love you above all things in the world: but I thank God I can distinguish, I can see every woman in you and from your self am convinced I have never been in the wrong in the opinion of women 'tis impossible for me to curse you, but give me leave to pity my self, which is more than ever you would do for me, you have a character and you maintain it but I am sorry you make me an example to prove it: you do well not to forgett it, and rather practise upon me, than lose the habit of being very severe, for you that chuse rather to be wise than just or good-natured, may freely dispose of all things in your power, without regard to one or the other. as I admire you, I would be glad. I could imitate you; it were but manners to Endeavour it; which, since I am not able to perform. I confess you are in the right, to tyrannise, and call that rude, which I call kind; and so keep me in the wrong for ever, which you cannot but chuse take great delight in. Since so much wit and beauty, as you have , should think of nothing less than doing miracles; and being fond where you find merit; but to pick out the wildest, and most fantastical old man alive, and to place your Kindness there, is an act so brave and daring, as will shew the greatness of your spirit and distinguish you in love, as you are all things else, from Womankind; (whether I have made a good argument for my self I leave you to judge) but I find whether young or old, wise or foolish, wit[t]y or dull, handsome or deform'd, well favour'd or ugly, brave or cuardice, good birth, or dunghill, It's no matter, if they be rich, and have opolent Estate, all Infirmities are covered, for it is not a competency, or chance of providential bounty, that can please or yeild contentment to our females of the degenerate age; mean while God forbid, for your own sake, and mine, that ever I shall have occassione to charge you of such scandal, in whose veins there must flow streams of genrous blood proceeding from your noble predecessors, that it is un-natural to think that you can be guilty of such ungratitude, as to ruine a man whose generous passione for you cannot be exprest,

How this a hundred voices I desire
to tell you what a hundred tongues would tire
yet never can be worthily exprest
how deeply thou art sealed in my breast

O charming creature, whether shall I think my self more unfortunate who cannot tell how much I love you, who can never know how much you are beloved, Dearest of all my desires, If I love any thing in the world like you, or wish it in my power to do it, may I ever be as unlucky, and as hateful as when I saw you last

Cease, cease, O, pen; for as it is impossible that words can describe your unparalleld perfections and uncomparable beauties to the world, it's likewise impossible that words can express how much I love you, May never man share of these blessings, I desire to enjoy without my curses, and if they fall on him alone, without touching you, I am happy, tho he deserves them not; but should you be concerned, they'll all fly back upon my self: for he who you are kind to, is so blest, he may safely stand the ill wishes of all the world, without repining, at lest, if like me he be sensible of nothing but what comes from you
B.M. My visit to you last week was intended, to tell and convince you, how necessary it's for my life that you should comply to my demands, but you so unmercifully used that power which you have over me, that your answers to what I had opportunity to speak were so mystical that I am still since in the damned state betwixt hope and dispair - wherefore, since my attendance of you might prove offensive and perhaps unagreeable, (especialy give more occassione of speculatione to the impertinent censorious world, whose endeavours I wish may prove as vain as my fears). I chus'd to write, for I can no longer endure this my forsaid tortoring dreadful state, so I most earnestly intreat (that you will be pleased to do me your depending slave) so much justice to resoolve and determine me either, to be the happyest of all mankind in your accepting of my proposals, or the most miserablest in rejecting them, if you be so generous and charitable, as to comply - and make me happy and your self faultless I shall wait of you sometime to morrow In spite of the devil, the world and mankind, In order to Degest, measures of effectuating and concluding, as you think in your wise conduct most convenient.

Life for delays and doubts no time does give
none ever yet made too much haste to live
to morrow I will live, the fool does say
to-day it self's too late; the wise liv'd yesterday

if you be to make your self happy, and me the most forlon of all humane race, i shall sympathise In obedience to your cruelly recommending my self within a very few dayes (as I have had invitation) to the grim god of war, Embracing with chearfullness (bearing my torment with patience) all dangers, slaughters, fears, and blood, for you only, o lovely, tho ungenerous and ungratefull nymph -

and sing o farwell [cloe] etc
I have made all protestations of my love so far as words will express it, and lastly I solemly protest, before god, without complement or any light vanity of mind, that if you propose unhappyness to your self by marrying of me, if I knew in what course of life otherwise, to do your best service I would reduce my self to that center, I have told you of my circumstance already most faithfully, so enjoying my self in hopes of your satisfactory answer, without equivicatione or lying burden on parent, or other, I rest begging you heartyly pardon for so long an [Iltal] of a letter carrying so empty and unplessant a discourse tho a trew unfeignged significstione off Dear Creative
your Most Devoted to wait your command's
Buttar
Take heed take heed you lovely maid
nor be by glittering ills betrayed
Thy self [illegible line]
The price of beauty fall'n so low
What dangers ought'st there not to dread
when love that's blind is by blind fortune led
Take sound advice, proceeding from a heart
Sincerely yours, and free from fraud full art

P:S I have sent the bearer express so that I may have your answer this night or early tomorrow, in order to wait of you to morrow's night, I have no patience till I know my doom, for I am plauged with the story by my aquaintances and yours here, and to be plain there is nothing else keeps me here, but that, so there a necesity of a determinatione, I chuse to hire this little Highland boy, because of his speedyness - and carefullness - adieu
I have ordered the boy to say that he was sent by Mrs [Walsone?]

Possibly written by Cpt Archibald Buttars, who was captured at the Battle of Preston, during the '15 and held prisoner in the Tower of London before being pardoned. Allegedly, he had become such a 'hit' with young ladies that it was thought safer for them to send him back to Scotland.

Archibald married twice, the first time in 1720 to Helen Ogilvy, daughter of Alexander Ogilvy Lord Forglen, and then again to Jean Balneavis, daughter of Henry Balneavis of Edradour, in 1727. Is Helen the Madam of the proposal, or did Archibald's broken heart quickly mend?

Ref: MS79/Bundle30

Tags:   Perthshire Scotland Valentine women poetry people localhistory letters jacobite historicaldocument heritage family edinburgh ecsochistory aristocracy 18thcentury love

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The Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie Railway Company extended the railway to St Fillans in 1901 and Lochearnhead and Balquhidder in 1904. The company later amalgamated with the Caledonian Railway Company.

Ref:GB252/MS84/Bundle3

Tags:   Scotland Strathearn Crieff Railway Station travel transport plans perthshire engineering ecsochistory design archive architecture 19thcentury

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One of a series of photographs taken by the Council's planning department, recording the clearances in Perth of the late 1950s and early 1960s

Ref: GB252/ACC08/46

Tags:   Perth Scotland 20thcentury historicaldocument

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