[Alexander Williamson, Laird of Balgray.] Fourteen Autograph Letters Signed to him from his French daughter-in-law, mainly regarding the renovation of her house, Dollar Mains, Clackmannanshire; four written jointly with his grand-daughter Ann.

Totalling: 32pp., 4to; 3pp., foolscap 8vo; 3pp., 12mo. Each letter a bifolium, addressed on the reverse of the second leaf, with various postmarks, wafers and seals, and each docketted by the Williamson. The collection in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The fourteen letters addressed by 'E. Williamson' to 'Alexr. Williamson Esqr of Balgray' at the following addresses: six to 'St Leonard by Cross Castle'; three to Lauristone [Lauriestone, Loristone] Street ('back of the medow' and 'North Side of the Medow'; two to 'Lexingtone Michel Cort [sic]'; and the earliest three addressed to him at 'St Catherine'. Each of the letters addresses him as 'My Dear Father', and is signed by Mrs Williamson as his 'Daughter', but they are each also docketted by Williamson as sent by 'Mrs. Williamson', and from the context and the semi-literate style of the writing, it is clear that the writer is Williamson's daughter-in-law rather than his daughter, and of French extraction. The letters also indicate that Mrs Williamson's husband was named Charles. The correspondence reveals a foreign lady in a dependent and vulnerable position in Georgian Scotland. It is largely concerned with refurbishments at Dollar Maine, for which Williamson is paying (letters are docketted by him 'sent her five Guinea Notes', 'sent her two Twenty Shilling Notes' and 'sent her two Guinea Notes'), with Mrs Williamson making various requests, complaining of lack of funds, and justifying her expenditure against suggestions that she is being 'extravagante'. There are clearly tensions between the two parties: one letter is docketted by Williamson: 'Ansd 31st. March 1802 - That I would give no further Directions about the House, except the putting in the new Window that I had agreed to allow formerly - That Chas. when he arrives might do as he thought proper'. Williamson's patience has clearly snapped by the time of the last letter. Four of letters are jointly written by Williamson's granddaughter Ann, the niece of Mrs Williamson. Mrs Williamson's earliest letter (13 March 1799) sets the tone. In it she writes that she is 'better to have come to Town I am positively sure if I have stay at dollar in the severe wather I will not be in this world now - I was excidingly well receive by Servants People of Consequence & always engage in good Company | My Skem is to go from here in the beginning of the nix week as I can not have all I want just now - I have ordre & was myself for my Gardin Seed I have Intention to Land tomorrow some by the Carrier - the Early Seeds you was so good to offer me some suply of money, I will accept with gread pleasure what you please to give me, but I never will fix how much, as I will owe to your generosity'. A week later (30 March 1799) she explains her reasons for not returning to Dollar from Edinburgh: 'I was ready at 8 o Clock in the morning yesterday - but oblige to send an other exxpres to my Servant for he go back to Dollar as it was a terrible Day & so stormed no batots can pass the Ferry without danger [...] I hope you do not desaprove my Conduct - I do not believe it was possible to do in an other manner - no woman body can expose semself on the watre & in a Cart with such day yestreday & today specially with bad Health'. On 29 March 1802 she writes: 'I supose you will alow me to send for a masson for have the Thing of the chimney Pot properly I have done nothing yet & I have not a Room to go In as the window are to be put Tomorrow'. On 9 May 1802: 'Now my house is ready for receive you & Mr Charle now my dear Father it is Pretty I wish you come for see it - I am sure Mr Charle will be very surprize but I am very wex about my good & Pretty gates - My Dear Father the Country is full of Blargard every Day some Drink Dull mad mans come to the Door my Dear Lion is a gread Saffety it fear them all - but <...> Poor fellow is chut at night For my Roomm he can not privint to Breck the gates & no body lake to go at 12 o Clock at night out see what it is'. On 29 May 1802 she refers to the troubles in her homeland: 'I had some letter from France Saturday & I hope I shall not loss at all If the Peace continue - but it is says all have Soufer very much by the revolution the letter come from Paris In 9 days'. On 20 December 1802: 'Certainly My dear Father I will not be so extravagante to kept Horses for Town after a days reste all must come back twice - | let me know how you like my Small Chees & If you think of some things I can bring with me for you - & also If your Batty lake the Ketchen chees, If it is agreable to you I shall send more'. On 3 December 1803: 'I have ranged the house In a way to make us Comfortable but not extravagante - as you had allow me to do I shall send the Carpenter with his account to Mr Jamson - an old gate from here is to be minded for a

at law hill - it was all roted In each side but the Midle it seem can Serve at lawhill - & James shall take it & put it - | I have made also greadeal In my Jardin of my one money I hope pay peoples for work & myself I was working very hard for Six weeks - I have done also a gravel walk rong the Jardin In the Planting & make a kind of wood & what kind wether it is we can walk dry In it'. The last letter (1 January 1804) begins: I had yourr yestrenight & I can not Endestand what can have put you angre as I am sure I have always done my dutty - to my Husband to you & to my nice - it is very Inconvenient for me to go Just now but as you Insist upon her doing, I shall bring away with me & Set of Tomorrow as soon it is possible, In a Post Chaise tho' I am very Short of money In this Instant'. Mrs Williamson's niece Ann's letter of 14 November 1803 is typical: 'My dear Grand Papa | I receved with much peasure [sic] your Letter of 8 Nover, and return the most grateful thanks for you fine presant, it is very purty My Aunt thinks it purty too - It is very cold here there has been snow upon the hils here, but not much yet - I supose Papa has nearly got to America by this time for he has been more than a month away - Lyon plays with me, every day and we are grate friends'.