John Stuart/Stewart of Allanbank (1754-1817) and Soane had met in Italy and Soane hoped for a commission to re-model and extend Allanbank but nothing came of his visit in September and October 1780. A copy of a letter from Soane, ? 8 November 1780, shows him anxious to press on with the work but an answering letter from Stuart put a stop to such hopes (correspondence between Soane and Stuart, SM, Priv.Corr. IV.S.4, 6). However, they remained friends.
SM Ledger A has a list of expenses under 'John Stuart Esq^r', dated 1780, concerning designs for Allanbank and 'the village', and for repairs to 'the Town House' amounting to £338.14.7. A note dated October 1786 states 'Bal[an]^ce to me 138.14.7.'
For a letter, dated 2 February 1819 from Stuart to Soane see (in Sketchbooks catalogue): Rough plan and sections of a semicircular dome on an octangular plan, drawn by Soane in Sicily, 1779 (SM Priv.Corr.III.B.2.14)

Jill Lever, October 2008