I don’t know if ever you was in the south of France: for antiquities there is nothing remaining tolerably entire Except at Nismes.86 The new part of this town is very beautifull. And Aix is the finest town I ever saw. But what is all this to the purpose Fareweel my Dear Sir and believe me with the sincerest respect & affection
your most humble servant
George Turnbull.
[print edition page 28]
11. To CHARLES MACKIE
Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of history at Edinburgh
MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.
London, 13 May 1732
Dear Sir
I had your’s of the 23 of March Last night. I arrived here thursday evening <and> thought indeed to have been here two months agoe; but it is not easy to leave Paris. Your Long Long silence made me not a litle uneasy; But I could never call the sincerity of your friendship in question. Your concern in looking about for me in my absence is a new proof of it I will never forget; and no doubt you must wonder I have not wrote to you sooner about that proposal. But this is first post after my receiving your’s & after giving you a great many thanks for your kindly concern about me allow me to ask the favour of you to make my most humble compliments to that young Gentleman’s curators & to thank them for the honour they do me in offering me that charge which I can’t accept off being engaged already.
That is all that it is necessary to say to them but I must trouble you with more of my story; nor do I believe you will think it any trouble to know any thing that concerns me. I have had the good Luck to be very agreable to several English I met with abroad. My Lord Cornbury87 whom I believe I have named in former letters to you is much my friend: has often assured me that there is no man he would sooner choose to oblidge than me (These are his own words) has begged me again and again to let him know if he could serve me. I have at last named something to him and I am sure of his readiness to do for me to the outmost He knows very weel my situation & that I don’t incline to travel with any charge if I could do better & diswades me from it. But if nothing casts up for me soon I design to accept
[print edition page 29]
of a very generous offer made me by one whom I like with all my heart to make the tour of Italy with him not as a governour for he is of age but as a comrade: He has no great fortune so I can Expect nothing by him but the pleasure of making that tour with him with litle or no Expence to my self. a twelvemoneth hence I am engaged If I can possibly to make the same tour with another English Gentleman of a very great fortune whose bounty & generosity & regard for me I have already had several proofs of & who proposed the thing to me in the most handsome manner & is able to reward me very Liberaly. Thus I am sure in a manner of passing two or three years more very agreably; and am not without hopes that before that time what I have in eye as my grand restor<a>nce for Life may suceed by my Good Lord Cornbury’s means. As for travelling with a young man & being answerable for his conduct the <trifle> of what I had from Mr Wauchope would not engage me to do it unless I was under an absolute necessity of doing it. I have been very happy with Mr Wauchope I have told him & do acquaint his friends this post that I cannot have the pleasure of going to Scotland with him. I told Colonel Stclair88 of it today & I hope they will go to Scotland together. Mr Wauchope has behaved very weel abroad & I am glad to see that those who knew him formerly think I have done my duty to him not without sucess tho’ entre nous to have made the improvement as I could have wished, he ought to have been at least a year longer abroad and never to have seen the Gentleman who from a generous principle he brings home with him. This entre nous it was a delicate point to me to medle with. My kind service to Mr Maclauran if he yet remembers me. I am sure I will always love & esteem him. my humble service to your Lady & all friends & pray henceforth give me not the pain of fearing I have forfeited your friendship<.> I thank you for naming me to Dr Mitchel.89 I will endeavour soon to have the pleasure of waiting upon him.
I am Dear Sir
with the sincerest respect
your most obliged humble servant
George Turnbull.
[print edition page 30]
12. To CHARLES MACKIE
Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of History in the university
of Edinburgh
MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.
London, 27 May 1732
My Dear Sir
Excuse this trouble for last time I wrote to you nay a few post<s> agoe when I wrote to Mr Maclauran I did not know that what I now desire would be of any use to me. Mr Hamilton90 to whom I refer you will tell you what I propose. My service to all my Friends & acquaintances in your society.91 I make no doubt of their giving me a very favourable testimonial<.>92 you’l please to speak to them all in my name & assure them of my most humble respects from a sence of many obligations I lie under to almost all of them<.> And believe me my Dear Sir
Your’s affectionately
George Turnbull
I am to dine with Sir Richard Ellis93 some day next week when I will have the pleasure to see your Friend.
[print edition page 31]
13. To CHARLES MACKIE
Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of History Edinburgh
MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.
London, 15 September 1733
Dear Sir
I Long prodigiously to hear from you and beg that favour soon: I know I had the last from you: But you’l Excuse me I have been in a very great hurry for some time. For Mr Maclauran I have wrote to him several times & asked very sensible favour’s such as I thought I might ask from so old an acquaintance But it seems I have offended him I know not how I heartily wish him weel but must it seems reckon no longer upon his assistance in any project, not so much as a favourable recommendation.
Dear Charles I trust in your friendship thoroughly and hope you will not forsake me.
You know my scheme; But tho’ I have friends it is difficult very difficult to succeed. And yet it was by Every bodie’s advice whom I could trust here I took the resolution: And indeed, that way of life would be very agreable to me. I would fain have a pupil in the mean time who was to be in England for some time & have been looking about: two have been proposed but nothing is yet done tho’ I would not be nice about the terms
This moment I was interrupted by a visit from Doctor Stewart94 who came to make me proposals from the Marquis of Annandale’s95 friends but that is to go abroad<.> they offer good terms And it gives me courage afresh to think I am sought after. If I go abroad I am resolved to go into orders first. And I am to go to Oxford soon to have the degree in Law ad eundem.96
[print edition page 32]
This is by Mr Talbot’s advice who has wrote to Oxford about it long agoe.97 This they think necessary in England. Some of my Lord Eglinton’s98 friends here have spoke to me about him but they had no commission: they say he is to be Educated in England & that they would give good terms. I would rather stay in England as I have already said. Dear Sir I have wrote you a long letter about my self but it is a pleasure to give vent to a sincere friend. Was I with you I have a great deal to say But will write no more
My kind Compliments to Mrs Macky<.> As for what I have wrote in the beginning of my letter about Mr Maclauran I know you’l soften it: it would give me pleasure to know I had yet any share in his friendship. I heartily wish him joy & all of you a good session. I am my Dear Sir
Your’s most affectionately
George Turnbull.
I am just come to town have been in the country for six weeks.