2110-5-1-16

[J. Macleod]

Telephone Central 2587

149 West George Street, Glasgow, G.2.

7th July, 1927.

Dear Mr Buchan:

I have not had the pleasure of meeting you; but I think you knew my uncle - Dr Donald Macleod.

I read with no little interest your speech in the House of Commons, and it struck me you might be interested in the volume I send you. The occasion was the election and inauguration of Sir Robert Peel as Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow, in January 1837 - ninety years ago. In these times Lord Rectors took the opportunity of delivering political speeches. Sir Robert Peel attended a banquet in a marquee which was specially erected for the occasion on the ground now occupied by the Arcade in Buchanan Street - details are given in the book. The object was to rally the Conservative Party of that day, and it is interesting to note the subjects most discussed in the speeches were the question of the House of Lords, the Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church, and the Irish question. The/

2.

The last question was specially referred to by the speaker who replied for the Conservative constitutencies in England, viz:- Mr William Ewart Gladstone. Sir Robert Peel's references to the House of Lords at that time are very interesting, and still important.

May I also draw your attention to the speech of my grandfather - Dr Norman Macleod of St Columba, who was then Moderator of the Church of Scotland; and again to the speech of my father - Dr Norman Macleod of the Barony, who at that date was President of teh Conservative Club at the University, and was then twenty-five years of age.

If it is of any interest to you I shall be very glad if you will retain the volume.

To connect it with the two speakers I referred to I have taken the liberty of signing my name.

I trust you enjoyed delivering your maiden speech more than I did in 1915.

I beg to remain Yours Faithfully John M Macleod

John Buchan, Esq., M.P.