This waistcoat is exquisitely embroidered by hand in coloured silks; posies of honeysuckle, roses, and forget-me-nots which symbolise love and romance.

It may have been a gift to Patrick Home around the time of his marriage to Jane Graham in 1771.

Jane’s brother, John Graham of Antigua, owned the Douglaston estate in Grenada from 1768, located next to Ninian Home’s Waltham plantation, and also owned plots on Tobago. John Graham became Lieutenant-Governor of Tobago (1779-81) thanks to Patrick’s support. Jane probably grew up in Grenada. Patrick and Jane travelled in Italy for eight years but separated in 1779 following Jane’s liaison with Scottish artist Jacob Moore. Jane spent the rest of her days in a Belgian convent. However, Patrick remained friends with her family.

Patrick managed the Douglaston estate on behalf of John, who stayed at Wedderburn Castle in 1782, dying there that year. Patrick was an executor of the estate. This meant that Patrick, along with his fellow trustees, was responsible for selling the land (in 1790) and the enslaved people that his brother-in-law had owned.

An advert in the London Gazette proclaimed the sale by auction of the estate would take place on 1^st September 1790:

‘A Sugar Plantation called Douglaston, in the Parish of St. John’s, in the Island of Grenada, containing about 239 Acres of Land, with the Buildings thereon, consisting of a Dwelling-house, Sugar Works, Stills, Coppers and other necessary Utensils for a Sugar Estate, with all the Negro Slaves, supposed to be about 140, with 17 Mules and about 32 Head of Horned Cattle.’