"Mr. Macfarlane was a man of parts, learning, and knowledge, a
most ingenious antiquary, and by far the best genealogist of his
time. He was possessed of the most valuable collection of
materials for a work of this kind of any man in the kingdom, which
he collected with great judgment, and at a considerable expense,
and to which we always had, and still have, free access. This
sufficiently appears by the many quotations from Macfarlane's
collections, both in the Peerage and Baronage of Scotland. In
short, he was a man of great benevolence, an agreeable companion,
and a sincere friend.
"He married Lady Elizabeth Erskine, daughter of Alexander, sixth
earl of Kelly, and died without issue in June, 1767."
In the year 1846 there was engraved at the expense of W. B. C. C.
Turnbull, Esq., advocate, a fine portrait of Macfarlane, from the
original painting in the Library of the Society of Scottish Antiquaries.
Of this plate it is believed that only a few "proofs upon India paper"
were thrown off for presents.