The second epistle in the series is chiefly preoccupied with architectural details and with the available range of illustrations.

A further particular to emerge concerning Captain Wimberley’s family background is that his mother had a (first) cousin named Hugh Irvine, an artist.

There is also clarification of the place of the Gordons of Braichley in the dynastic sequence; the first of these was an uncle of the first laird of Lesmoir.

8 Ardross Terrace                           Inverness.                       5 March 1893. Dear Sir,               Many thanks for your kind note. I thought you would be interested in my attempt to preserve the history of the Gordons Lesmoir.     Perhaps what I asked was rather abrupt : but (so say?) 40 years ago there was nothing of the ruins worth photography, & I understand there is still less now – of course if I got such a sketch as I desired, I should have printed below it something to in- timate that it was as it probably was at such a date : and I admit that it would not be worth much.     The only reliable information I could get as to its actual appearance was that it was a big house with 7 clusters of chimnies (sic). It was probably built the Castle or keep about 1500, and the Mans. Ho. about a century later – or rather the latter was probably largely ad- ded to by the 1st Bart in his younger days, about 1616-20.     Most of the mans. houses built at that time, if connected with a Tower consisted of a front or main building with two wings at right angles, either only projecting forwards (which I think was generally the case) or both forwards & to the rear : and had a cross chamber, called sometimes I believe a fornet, to connect the dwelling house to the tower.     I think the 7 clusters of chimnies con- firms this : the front probably had 2 chimnies in gables, & at least one in the middle of the house : the wings or jambs may have had either one or two in their gables, accd as they were long or short buildings, and the cross chamber one, leaving none in the tower.     As to Drum I have several views of it, in chalk, pencil & photographs. The one I like best is a pencil sketch taken by my mother’s cousin, Hugh Irvine, who was an artist, probably as a sketch for an oil painting – I shd. think probably about 1822.     The tower had then a raised front roof, which was altered before my first a- cquaintance with it in 1836, to one nearly flat.     I like this view better than one taken from the south, (far?) in front, or the west, or the north-west : This is one is (sic) from about S.E. and shows the Tower & Cross-chamber, a good part of the main front with dormer windows, and the two jambs running out to the front, clear of the gables of the main house, and one of the pepper box turrets in the angle.     This view had never been obtainable within my recollection owing to trees shutting out part of it, and possibly Mr. H. Irvine took an artist’s liberty in omitting some of the trees.     I am going to take advantage of your kind offer, and ask you instead of asking one of my nieces, to make me a sketch, in ink if you can, from Mr. Irvine’s pencil one.     I shall send his by book or parcel post, along with another of his taken from the west, which shows the west gable of the main house.     I would send you a copy of the Les- moir pedigree as stated to have been painted on the chimney, but it will be printed in one of the appendices to the Hist. I am going to send you a copy of. Another appendix will con- tain what I have collected about the Terpersie branch. I found this last week in the Birth Brieves given in the Spald. Club misc. one relating to the Gairdynes of Banchory, which contained a descent of one of those named from William Gordon of Terpersie and his wife Margt. Gordon, d. of Gordon of Achan- nachie, and also an intermarriage with a Gordon of Braichley, the first of whom was an Uncle of the first laird of Lesmoir.     I think the most interesting to me of my researches has been finding so many marriage connections of both Irvines of Drum & Gordons of Lesmoir with the same families particularly with Keiths Earls Mar- ischal & Nairn branches Keiths of Inverugie, Troup, Ravenscraig & Ludguhairn – as well as with the Huntly family & other Gordons, & various Ogilvies.     I have omitted to thank you for writing to Mr Ross of McGibbon & Ross, but I fear they are not like- ly to have any notice of Lesmoir. It is not like Dunnideer or other conspicuous places.     It is somewhat strange that Craig has been preserved. I am sorry to hear Terpersie is going to ruin. I remember seeing it on my way from Drum to Lesmoir, driving across by Alford.     Craigievar is in ‘good preservation’.     If I have time I will post this & the book packet tomorrow, but I have several meetings to attend.     I suppose you know how Terpersie was first acquired viz by Charter from Wm Forbes, Bish. Of Abdn to Wm Gordon & Margt Ogilvy his wife, in 1546 (I think) and con- firmed in 1585, I think, by James VI.: one of these mentions “to Wm Gordon, son of James Gordon of Lesmoir and Margaret Ogilvy his wife, and to Margaret Ogilvy wife of William Gordon.”     James Gordon’s mother too was apparently Lady Anne Stewart, who, I infer was dau. of John Stewart, Earl of Buchan (by mar- riage), (he was a Stewart of Lorn & Innermeath) and of Margt Ogil- vy, heiress of Ogilvy of Auchter- house.     I am writing from memory : how- ever by & by you will I hope see it in print.     The number of persons with the same Christian and Surname makes it very difficult to determine who is who : most of the lairds of Drum were Alexanders, several of the Terpersies Williams ; among the Lesmoirs 2 or 3 Jameses & 2 or 3 Williams – and I have come across Margt Ogilvies and Elizabeth Ogilvies over & over again.                           Yours very truly                           Douglas Wimberley. As to size of vignette of Drum, the letterpress of my book is 8¼ x 4¾. I should prefer to have the sketch reduced a little, so as to show the buildings only, and the length of it to run with the type, not at right angles to it. I find in looking at an old album I have a view of Drum taken from the north west in sepia by Mr Hugh Irvine, in which the house is just the size 31/8 in. wide : one side of the tower 11/16 in. but I prefer a view taken from the opp. side.

Captain Douglas Wimberley to William Leiper