A Letter from John Macdonald
Tain, 11 July 1843
My dear John,
Having been engaged here, assisting at the communion, I have been requested by Mr & Mrs John MacLeod to give their son, Mr George, a few lines of introduction to you. From all I can learn, he is an amiable, agreeable and well-considered young man. He goes to India, expecting to be employed in the indigo line. I do not know whether he will reside in Calcutta, or whether you can have much opportunity of seeing him – but it will be gratifying to me, if you have it in your reach to show him some kindness, and to be of use to him in any way. Perhaps you are aware that his mother and you are cousins – she being a cousin to Mrs Taylor, in this place.
I left the family, at home, well, last week. They now live at Ryefield. And, since the Disruption, I have pitched my tent in the Burn. We are setting about getting a church erected. Forbes of Culloden, who is out-and-out with
1This letter was written by Dr Macdonald of Ferintosh, on the Black Isle, to his son, Rev John Macdonald of Calcutta, introducing to him a George MacLeod, who was to go out to India, and asking him to help Mr MacLeod. It is an interesting letter, particularly because it refers to the first Free Church communion at Ferintosh Burn, which was used for worship by the Church of Scotland for many years prior to 1843, when congregations were too large for the church building to hold them. A facsimile copy of the letter, which has not been previously published, has come into our hands from a friend who received it from a direct descendant of Dr Macdonald. NMR
the Free Church, having kindly granted us a site in any part of his property in the parish which we might fix upon. About three weeks ago, we held the communion in the Burn – when a large crowd attended (some say 12 000). This was the first communion observed, in connection with the Free Church, in the North of Scotland – and I verily believe the Lord was present.
Love to Ann and the children.
I remain, my dear John, your affectionate father,
John Macdonald