The above letter reads as follows:

Dear George
I wrote you the week before last and intended to have mentioned an event that was likely to happen but Mrs Gilchrist's heart failed her.  However well knowing your sincere friendship for us and ours and as the day is now fixt to fulfil as brother Willie tells me Mrs Marsh's prophesy.  She is set down with tears in her eyes to tell you we are in one sense to lose one of our dear girls in a few days and I really don't know what I shall do without her as she is truly a fine sweet girl yet can have no objection as I hope its for her good to be joined for life to so good and worthie a young man as Lord Cochrane who I look upon as an none such in this deprived age being certainly possessed of ever amiable quality and I flatter myself she is possessed of every disposition capable of making a man happy.  Its my youngest daughter Annie who way of addition to her goodness everybody reakons hansome his Lordship's to all works is turning out to good account.  They are to be married here Monday next week Culross Abbey which is his house near 40 miles from this.  She is not to leave us for

some weeks, the Parliament being disolved has given a great turn to the mad work that was going on here as I suppose it has done with you.  Mrs Gilchrist and the girls goes to Edinburgh tomorrow to get some things for Annie is very . . . with one thing and other and begs youll forgive her for this odd scrall and that you will believe both her and me Mrs Marshes and
My dear Commissioner
Yours most faithfully
Gilchrist
Annsfield, October 10, 1774.

[The letter is addressed on the outside as follows:]

George Marsh Esq
Navy Office
London

10 October 1774.  Capt Gilchrist.  His daughter's marriage to Lord Cochrane, father to the famous Lord McDonald.

[Captain James Gilchrist RN was married to Ann Roberton, (daughter of Major John Roberton 16th Laird of Earnock ).  Their daughter Ann married Archibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of Dundonald.  Ann and Archibald had a number of sons one being Rear Admiral Thomas Alexander Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, Marquês do Maranhão GCB RN (1775 – 1860)]

Captain Gilchrist has a mention in the diary of George Marsh.  The relevant extract reads as follows:

3 April 1759

I [George Marsh] was this day appointed one of the Agents to the Danae prize taken by Captain Gilchrist in sight of other of our Ships, in which the brave Captain was terribly wounded, but in reward for his great services, he having behaved most nobly in many other engagements, King George the second settled a pension of £300 a year upon him in addition to his whole or half pay, and directed that all his expenses for the cure of his wounds should be paid and that he should be allowed a year's wages also which altogether amounted to upwards of £800, as he lay many months at Yarmouth and was attended by surgeon etc from London by the King's express order.

 
If you can give me any information on these people please contact me on jj@jjhc.info

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