"My Lord," commenced John, in his purest Doric, at the same time pushing up his spectacles to his brow and hitching his gown over his shoulders, "I wad hae thocht naething o't (the action), had hooses been a new invention, and my clients been caught ouvertly impingin' on the patent richts o' the inventors!" Of Lord Gardenstone (Francis Garden) I have many early _personal_ reminiscences, as his property of Johnstone was in the Howe of the Mearns, not far from my early home.

He was a man of energy, and promoted improvements in the county with skill and practical sagacity.

His favourite scheme was to establish a flourishing town upon his property, and he spared no pains or expense in promoting the importance of his village of Laurencekirk.

He built an excellent inn, to render it a stage for posting.

He built and endowed an Episcopal chapel for the benefit of his English immigrants, in the vestry of which he placed a most respectable library; and he encouraged manufacturers of all kinds to settle in the place.