2110-7-10-7

Government House. Ottawa.

23rd May, 1936.

Stair A. Gillon, Esq., Bankhead, Balerno, Midlothian, Scotland.

My dear Stair,

Your letter was a great delight, but I am shocked to hear that you have been having gout. This will never do, for you and I are almost the only ones of our contemporaries who retain a decent activity. I do hope you are quite fit again and can look forward to an active summer. I also hope your family are safely over the measles, and that Nina and the daughters flourish as they deserve.

Since I last wrote to you I have been touring extensively through the country; partly in French Canada, where I had often to try and extemporise in French, and partly in the rich farming districts of Western Ontario, with stalwart little cities full of' memories of the 1812 war. It has all been great fun, though now and then rather arduous. On one occasion I made thirty-two speeches in English and seventeen in French in five days - all pretty short, of course. The most amazing things were the French convents. You know, as representing the King of France, I have the right to enter a nunnery at any hour of the day or night. The convents received me with the most wonderful ceremonies. My coat-of-arms and crest blazoned everywhere, and I received elaborate addresses of

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Government House. Ottawa.

welcome, full of historical allusions to Scotland. Almost everywhere we had kilted pipe-bands; the underlying Scottishness of Canada requires to be seen to be believed. I wish to goodness I knew some Gaelic, for constantly a man will finish up his address of welcome in that ancient tongue, and I can only look sheepish! The worst of it is I have got a bogus reputation, for at first, when I received letters of welcome in Gaelic, with the help of Ian Mackenzie, my Minister of Defence, I answered in Gaelic. "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!"

John came out a month ago, looking very much pulled by his dysentery, but now, I am thankful to say, he has completely recovered and is quite in his old form, though he cannot walk me off my feet as he used to be able to do. I am beginning to feel that he ought not to go back to Uganda, for the doctors say he is one of these people who are especially susceptible to tropical affections. So I must begin to plan another career for him.

Alastair has had a wonderful time here, and has acquired an immense amount of information about the country. He goes up to the House in October. My mother and sister arrived three weeks ago, after a good voyage, and I think they are really enjoying themselves. My mother, who is in her eightieth year, is a marvel. There is nothing of her, but her spirit is unflagging. Walter is coming out to take them back early next month.

I have just had my first holiday - three days in a fishing club up in the Laurentian hills. It was very comfortable, and

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the chain of lakes among the woods in all their spring greenery was as lovely a sight as I have ever witnessed. The first day was blistering heat, and I was pretty well eaten by black flies. I still look like a damaged prize-fighter, and I have to address the Royal Society to-night! The second day was torrential rain, and the third was a snowstorm. John and I made terrific catches of fish. Being brought up to difficult Scottish and English waters we are altogether in a different class, as anglers, from the Canadian sportsmen, who are accustomed to multitudes of easy trout.

Next week I have a long tour among the cities of Western Ontario, full of memories of the war of 1812, and shall have to make a great number of speeches. One pleasant function will be a dinner with the mess of the Canadian Royal Scots Fusiliers.

The President of the United States is by way of coming here on June 8th, but I do not think he will get Congress up in time. He is so anxious to come that I have said I would wait here until the 15th June. I have suggested that if he cannot manage it in June then he might come in November after the election. He is pretty certain to be returned, and apparently there are a great many things he wants to talk over with me. We go to the Citadel in Quebec for the better part of June, and then shall be on tour in the Maritimes, where they still have Gaelic sermons every second Sunday. In August we go West.

Really, my dear Stair, you and Nina must make a visit to us some time. They have made a new big-game preserve in the wild

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[wild]est part of British Columbia, of about 5000 square miles, and called it after me. Next year I must make my first journey through it. There are about a hundred snow peaks over ten thousand feet, every known variety of big game, and hundreds of lakes and rivers over which no man has ever cast a fly. Could you not join me in my first inspection of it?

We all send our love to you all, and to all my friends in Scotland.

Yours ever, John

Michael Kirkly [identified?] with the [? ?] - St Nicholas, N. on T. Michael [Kirklay?] [?] 31 July 1620

Ed^d Blackett of Hoppyland = at Hamsterley July 1582 * Jane Kirkhouse

He was [first son?] of Nicholas B. of Woodcrofte [?] Durham by Alice [d. of?] Sir Rowland Tempest of which N. was [7th dcd?] from Rich'd Blackheved [? ?] in 1349 He was [forester?] of Stanhope under Bishop Hatfield.

*William B. = Isabella Crook before 16 [May?] 1612 3 sons She died a widow in 166[5]? bur Hamsterley

Sir W, was 3rd son Bart 12 Dec 1673