 In 1791 he apparently made a joke at the expense of Jane, Duchess of Gordon, wife of Alexander Gordon.A ship called the "Duchess of Gordon" had been recently built with copper sheathing on the hull to deter rot.The Earl of Findlater was overheard to remark “I aye kent the Duchess had a brass neck and a brazen face, but I niver kent she had a copper arse.” The Duchess of Gordon was not amused, pursuing the matter in the courts.