Letter from Admiral Duncan to his brother-in-law, Lord Advocate Dundas, announcing his victory over the Dutch off Camperdown, October 15, 1797.

Letters from the Duke of Portland, Home Secretary, to Lord Advocate Dundas, 1794 to 1799.

Miscellaneous letters, 1719 to 1819, principally to the two Presidents and the Chief Baron Dundas, from President Forbes, Lord Justice Clerk Grange, Earl of Lauderdale, Earl of Rothes, Earl of Ilay, Lord Lovat, Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Findlater, Earl of Marchmont, Charles Townshend, Charles Yorke, Lord Mansfield, Principal Robertson, Henry Erskine, Lord Loughborough, Lord Thurlow, Mr. Canning, Princess of Wales, &c., &c. JOHN STUART.

THE MANUSCRIPTS OF LT.-COLONEL WM. ROSS KING, OF TERTOWIE; KINELLAR, CO. ABERDEEN.

Lieut. Col. King possesses some autograph MSS., by Dr. William King, Archbishop of Dublin. The principal one is a MS. (pp. 27 to 105) of what appears to be a diary kept by Dr. William King (afterwards Archbishop of Dublin) while a prisoner in Dublin Castle, in the year 1689. It is in the diarist's handwriting. Lieut.-Col. King has sent to London for inspection a transcript of pp. 27-66. (The pages 27 and 28 are erroneously numbered 31 and 32.)

On the 12th of May 1689 James II. landed in Ireland. The Irish Parliament soon afterwards attainted all Protestants who had assisted or aided against James. King, I suppose, was among them, and he was sent to prison.

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The MS. begins at p. 27 (31) with the words, "could "not in a week's time effect it" (part of some news which a visitor to the prison was telling to Mr. F. I drew up a (Fitz Simon ?). Page 28 (32) ends thus, letter to Lord Chief Justice Herbert, and a petition "to his Majesty. I ordered Mr. King to manage and "sollicit the affair for my releasement."

"I need not advise you to make these things a "secret."

(Here the MS. breaks off, followed by a blank of a and a half, and then the diary is resumed on a page new page, numbered 29, and is continued to page 105.) Aug. 13. Mr. Crow produced his discharge from

"Lord Chief Justice Riverstown to Mr. Cumberford (who seems to have been the keeper of the prison). Dr. King procured an order from the Lord Chief Justice Nugent (Lord Riverstown) for bail; but on going to him (guarded) with the proposed sureties, the Lord Chief Justice would not accept them, because he did not know them.

The diary notices the diarist's fellow-prisoners, and the news and reports they gave of Irish and English affairs, contests between the hostile troops, the doings of the French fleet, the rude behaviour of the keeper of the prison (chiefly, it seems, caused because of Dr. King's refusing to pay exorbitant fees), the oppression of Protestants, and insults to them by the Roman Catholics, disturbances in Dublin. The writer gives the texts on which he preached on Sundays. On Aug. 26th he writes, "The King went away about 11 of the clock : "his guards appeared to us to be very ill mounted." Aug. 28th. "A great court or meeting of officers was

held in the castle. D. T. (Duke of Tyrconnel) was there; it was said that D. T. must go to the camp, "for the soldiers would not fight with him. Brass "monie was 3 shillings in the pound for exchange."

Sept. 16th. "Some barrels of powder were put under "the prisoners in Lord Longford's house, and it was "told them that they should be blown up if they "stirred. The scholars were turned out of the college, "and not suffered to carry their beds or bookes with "them." Sept. 19th. "The great gun which lay in the "castle yard was taken away in order to be melted " and coined."

The

Sept. 20th. Lieutenant Doyle came up and turned the diarist out of his closet, and shut in Mr. Welsh, with whom the governor had ordered none should speak: his crime was sending a bill of exchange to England. He was not allowed a bed, therefore Dr. King lent him his quilt. Mr. Short was confined after the same manner in Mr. Ormsby's closet, and he turned out. constable of the castle allowed them no beds. Sept. 21st. A mortar was placed in the castle yard instead of a great gun. Sept. 27th. An account of Lieutenant Doyle clearing a tavern, ."The Three Tuns," and driving about 30 persons thence to the castle, where they were kept all night. In the morning the Governor Luttrell released some without fees, but some paid 21. 10s., or

thereabouts. This was the common practice of Doyle to get fees.

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In 1691 Dr. King published a volume intituled "The State of Protestants under the late King James's "Government," and it was reprinted in 1745. The edition of 1745 is in 174 pp. In this work he notices the imprisonment of Dr. King (himself), Dr. Foy (the Dr. F'. of the diary), Mr. King, Mr. Fitz Simons (perhaps the Mr. Fitz of the diary), and other persons, and notices events which are mentioned in the diary, and gives a bad character to Nugent (Lord Riverstown), who refused his bail.

The diary is interesting, as giving the names of some few of the prisoners and of the visitors, and various reports of the movements and doings of the English, Irish, and French forces, and deserves to be printed in some archæological publication.

The following are descriptions furnished by Lieut.Col. King of the other MSS.

1679. Declaration, by Dr. William King, not to take up arms against the king. With the Archiepiscopal Seal of Dublin affixed.

1683. Appointment of Dr. William King as Chaplain to King Charles II.

1684. Appointment of Dr. William King as Chaplain to the Duke of Ormonde, Lieutenant-Governor of Ireland. With Seal of latter attached.

1688, February 24. Certificate of the time when Dr. William King read his assent: "subscribed by those whose names are within written."

Thirteen autograph sermons by Archbishop W. King: inscribed by himself, with the dates and churches at which they were preached.

Aberdeenshire was the native county of the Archbishop's ancestors, who were settled at Barra in 1247 (and from whom Lt.-Col. King, possessor of the above MSS., is descended). A Latin MS. diary by the Archbishop commences, "Ipse natus ex familia insigni de "Barra in Scotia." His father, James King, moving thence to Ireland, between 1639 and 1649, founded an Irish branch (represented by the Rev. Sir J. W. King, Bart., of Corrard). This migration accounts for the existence of the Archbishop's papers in Scotland as well as in Ireland. ALFRED J. HORWOOD.

THE MANUSCRIPTS OF CHARLES HOME DRUMMOND MORAY, ESQUIRE, OF ABERCAIRNY.

Among the prominent men who settled in Scotland in the reign of King David I. was Freskin, a Fleming, who was the owner of great estates within the province of Moray and in the South of Scotland.

His eldest grandson, Hugh Freskin, received from King William the Lion a large territory in Sutherland, and from him sprang the noble house of that name.

Walter de Moravia, or of Petty, who was descended from the second grandson of Freskin, had extensive possessions in Moray, and acquired (probably by marriage) the lordship of Bothwell and barony of Drumsargard on the Clyde in Lanarkshire.

From him descended the Morays of Bothwell, one of whom, Sir William de Moravia, received from King Alexander III. a grant of the office of hereditary "panetarius." Sir Andrew, the son of Sir William, took a bold and manful part in defending the liberties of Scotland, as did also the eldest son of Sir Andrew, who bore his father's name. He was Regent of the kingdom during the minority of King David II., and was conspicuous for his patriotism and bravery, having been married to Christian, the sister of King Robert Bruce.

His grandson, Thomas of Moray, Lord of Bothwell, died in 1366, leaving an only daughter, Jean, who was married to Archibald, Lord of Galloway, and carried the Bothwell estates into the family of Douglas.

The male representation of this branch then devolved on a descendant of Sir William of Moray, the second son of the first Sir Andrew, just referred to.

This Sir William got from his uncle the lands and barony of Drumsergard, and died about the year 1300, leaving a son, Sir John, who by marriage with Mary, only daughter of Malise, sixth Earl of Stratherne, acquired with other lands those of Abercairny in that earldom.

From this ancient and honourable root the Morays of Abercairny are descended.

The preceding remarks will render the notices of the earlier documents at Abercairny more intelligible. Among these are many grants by Earl Malise to his son-in-law, Sir John Moray, of the lands of Abercairny, Ogilvie, and others, dated in the beginning of the four

teenth century. Confirmations of these were granted by the next earl, who was also named Malise.

Maurice, the eldest son of Sir John, was created Earl of Strathern in 1343, but on his death the earldom reverted to the Crown.

The second son, Sir Alexander, carried on the succession of the family of Abercairny, and on the death of Thomas, Lord of Bothwell, in 1366, without male issue, he claimed the succession to his Bothwell estates, which, however, were too firmly grasped by the hands of the Douglases for any hope of success.

There is at Abercairny a curious indenture, dated in 1375, which is evidence of the attempts in which Sir Alexander was engaged for the establishment of his rights.

He was about to marry Janet of Monymusk, daughter of the Earl of Ross, and the indenture in question was entered into between the Queen of Scotland and her son David, Earl Palatine of Stratherne, on the one part, and Sir Alexander Moray on the other, providing that the latter should marry the said Janet, the Queen's sister, "Et predicta domina Regina ac Comes fideliter "promiserunt facere cum toto consilio suo et auxilio "dictum Alexandrum habere consilium jurisperitorum et aduocatorum, sumptibus suis propriis et expensis,

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pro recuperatione sue hereditatis secundum visum "fuerit quod jus habet ad prosecucionem," a provision which seems to imply the difficulty of obtaining legal help in a plea against the mighty house of Douglas, whose influence was at that time supreme. It was also conditioned that Walter of Moray, the brother of Sir Alexander, "si velit pro voluntatis sue libito seniorem "filiam predicte domine Jonete habebit in uxorem.

The marriage of Sir Alexander took place, but it appears to have been attended with various vicissitudes. Within three years of its date the Lady Janet seems to have left the society of her husband, and a remarkable agreement was entered into between him and Hugh Ross, apparently the lady's brother, by which the latter was to cause to be brought within the diocese of Dunblane the Lady Johanna [Janet], the wife of the said Alexander, before the ensuing feast of St. John the Baptist, and was to cause the said Alexander to be certified of her being there by a warning of seven days, for which he was to pay to the said Hugh seven marks beforehand, with other seven on such warning being made, and to be paid on the completion of the deforcement; and if the said Hugh should fail to bring the said Johanna within the said diocese, he should restore the seven marks prepaid to him; and the said Hugh promised to further by his aid and counsel, and in no way retard the deforçement.

'There is no record from which the issue of this business appears, but a subsequent discharge by Hugh Ross for a sum of money seems to be connected with it. By it he owns him to have received from Alexander of Moray 171. 68. 8d. sterling, in which the said Alexander was indebted by reason of an agreement made between him and Lady Johan of Monymusk, in the parish church of Fowlis, on 2nd June 1387.

By a like deed of earlier date Hugh Ross, of Kynfawnys, quitclaims to his beloved cousin Alexander de Moravia, of Drumsergorth, all the agreements and each of the conditions and assedations of whatever kind obtained by him or in anywise made by Lady Johan, of Monymuske up to this date, saving to the said Hugh all confirmations and agreements touching the foresaid lands of Kynfawnys. This deed is dated at Perth, 24th Nov. 1375.

About twenty years later the Lady Johan, spouse of Alexander of Moray, executed a deed, by which she constituted her husband to be her executor, and bequeathed to him and their children her whole estate, excluding her brothers, sisters, cousins, male and female, and whole kindred from the disposition of her goods. This writing she granted and confirmed before witnesses, William Franklayne, abbot of the monastery of Inchaffray; John, prior thereof; Sir William Bvny, rector of the parish church of Malvil, in the diocese of St. Andrews; and because she had no seal of her own she procured the seal of the abbot and the seal of Sir William Bvny at the said monastery on the feast of St. Matthew the Apostle, 1398.

Another document connected with Sir Alexander of Moray is of great interest as illustrating the working of "the law of Clan Macduffe;" a law which has been variously described by our chroniclers, and which undoubtedly existed from a very early period of our history. According to Fordun and Wyntown, this law consisted of a privilege granted to the Thane or Earl of Fife by Malcolm Canmore, in virtue of which there was

conferred on the Earl and his posterity the right of escaping from the consequences of any sudden and unpremeditated slaughter committed by them, on payment of a pecuniary mulct. Boece defines the privilege as a right conferred on the Clan Makduffe, by which its chief could repledge from other courts throughout the kingdom any of his own clan and territory who were put on their trial; and Sir John Skene describes the right as one of girth, of which the Cross of Clan Makduffe was the caput. "The croce of Clan Makduffe "had privilege and liberty of girth in sik sort that "when ony inanslayer being within the ninth degrie "of kin and bluid to Makduff, sometime Earl of Fyffe,

come to that croce and gave nine kie and an colpin"dach or young kow, he was free of the slaughter "committed be him."

Discrepant as these notices are, they point to a real privilege conferred on the Earls of Fife, to which we find references in early fragments of our laws, and in a statute of King Alexander II.

Of the working of this law we have only two instances on record. The earliest in date is that of Sir Alexander Moray, who on the 7th of December 1391 was accused of the slaughter of William of Spaldyne, in the court of the King's Justiciar, held by his depute at Fowlis. His answer was that he had once before been indicted for this slaughter, and had been repledged to the law of Clan Makduff by Robert Earl of Fife, and was not bound to answer therefor before any other judge, until the law to which he had thus been repledged had enjoyed its privilege. He therefore craved to be acquitted from the present indictment and from all farther pursuit thereanent. This, the justiciars declined to do, but continued the case for the judgment of the Lord of Brechin, the chief justiciar.

The other deed connected with the law of Clan Makduffe (among the papers of Lord Arbuthnot), shows that Hugh Arbuthnot and others, having been accused of the murder of John Melville, Laird of Glenbervie, laid claim to the benefit of the "law" in question. The writ to which I have referred (dated 13th September 1421) is in name of the steward of the earldom of Fife, and certifies that the accused parties had been received by him to the benefit of the law of Clan Mackduff, and also that he had received from the accused "sicker burrowise" or firm sureties that they (1) "ought "of the lawes," that is, that they should show that they were law-worthy; (2) "that they ought to have the "lawes," that is, were entitled to the special laws of Clan Mackduff; and (3) that they should “fulfil the "lawes as the law will," or would fulfil the law as it might be declared. The writ then proceeds, "firmly wee forbid on the King's halfe of Scotland, and our "Lord Mackduff, Duke of Albany, Earle of Fyfe and "Monteith, and Governor of Scotland, that the said "lawes hes in keeping," (that is, in whose hands is the administering of the said law), "that no man take in "hand to doe, molest, grieve, or wrange the foirsaid persons in their bodies or in their geire, because of "the deid of the said Johne of Malavill, and the payne "that eftir lyes and forfaulting of the laws forsaid and "this present letter."

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It is pleasant to find among papers ominous of domestic discord and feudal strife, one suggestive of peace and benevolence. It is one which illustrates the relations existing between the upper and lower classes, and exhibits the condition of the latter in a more prosperous light than might have been inferred from other circumstances.

The document to which I refer is an indenture, dated at the monastery of Inchaffray, on 13th July 1370, between Alexander of Moray and a certain husbandman, Reginald Mak Kynyr, by which the foresaid Alexander agrees as his lord to afford to the said Reginald counsel and aid in all his affairs, and the said Reginald of his free will makes and constitutes the foresaid Alexander his heir and receiver of all his goods, notwithstanding any claim to the contrary, excepting his sheep and household stuff, and the foresaid Alexander obliges himself, with the previous counsel of the said Reginald, to defray all expenses reasonably incurred in his obsequies.

A notarial instrument, dated in 1455, preserves to us the judgment of the Bishop of Dunblane, in a matrimonial cause brought before him at the instance of Andrew de Moravia against Agnes Cunynghame his wife, concluding for divorce on account of a spiritual relationship between them, which arose, as the said Andrew alleged, because the of the said Agnes had held the said Andrew at confirmation under the hand of the bishop; but after deliberation, the judge

sustained the validity of the marriage, and found that it was, is, and ought from the beginning and now to be lawful, true, valid, rightly contracted and solemnized in face of the church. The instrument is dated at the cathedral church of Dunblane, before witnesses, John Cristison, chancellor of the church, Malcolm de Dromond, and Patrick Rede, canons thereof, with others.

A tack of the teinds of Donydows, near the kirk of Fowlis, by Alexander, Archbishop of Athens, postulate of the Isles, and Commendator of Icolmkill and Inchaffray, dated at Inchaffray, 10th June 1554, is subscribed by the Commendator, Prior, and other members of the

convent.

Several documents illustrate the mode of proceeding in the courts of the Earls Palatine of Stratherne, which were held by their stewards on a hillock called "the

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Stayt" or "Schat" of Crieff, near the town of that name. This seems to have been a large sepulchral mound adapted to the purpose of a meeting place. It was removed about 10 years ago, and on trenching its site two cists were discovered, in one of which human remains and an urn were discovered.

One of these is a notarial instrument dated 12th May 1475, showing that James Heryng, son and apparent heir of David Heryng of Lethendy, appeared as prolocutor for William Talzour before Sir William Murray of Tulybardyn, steward of the stewartry of Stratherne, and John Murray of Trewyne, his depute, in the court of the stewartry, declaring to be false a certain judgment given by the mouth of William Reid, dempster of the said court, as follows:

I, James Heryng, for spekar for Vilzam Talzour, says to ye Vylzam reyd, dempstar of the stewart curt of Stratherne, that the dowme that thow has gyffyn with thi mowtht sayand that the brocht that Master Thomas of Mureff fand is of vayll and the brocht that I, James Heryng, for spekare for the sayd Wylzam Talzour fand in the sergeandis hand of the said curt in the name and on the behalf of the said Vylzam is of na wayll is false, and rottyn in the self, be cause it is gyffyn expresse in the contrare of the cursse of comone law, protestand for may rasonis to schaw quhen myster is, and thar to sergeand of the said curt ane brocht in thi hand and ane brocht to folow my brocht and racontyr wyth in the term of law." Whereupon the said James Heryng, prolocutor of the said William Talzour, asked in name and on behalf of the said William from the said judges, the said judgment to be enrolled in presence of the said court, pledge and re-pledge, with the foresaid processes of the said court, and all and sundry these things to be read in open court before the said judges or the said court should rise, and asked the said judgment and the said rollment to be sealed with the seal of office of the said judge, and to be delivered to the said William, and offered the said William to procure, with instance, a seal to be affixed for closing and sealing of the said judgment, and all and sundry things which to the declaration of falsing the said doom could belong in order of law.

Another is a notarial instrument taken in the court of the stewartry of Stratherne held at the Stayt of Crieff, 12th May 1475, at the instance of the said James Heryng, and as prolocutor of William Talzour, and in presence of Sir William Murray of Tullybardine, Knight, Steward of the stewartry of Strathern, and John Murray of Trevyne, deputy steward, by which he asserted and found a broch in the hand of the scrjeant or officer of the court that Master Thomas Murray, alleged procurator for John Strang in a certain cause moved between the said John Strang and the said William, could not be lawful procurator, nor was the said William Talzour bound to answer the said Master Thomas in a law suit, nor could the said Master Thomas judicially pursue the said William, because the said Master Thomas was not lawfully constituted procurator for prosecuting or pursuing the said William, neither was security found for the said William by the said John Strang, because he was not constituted procurator but by a certain roll shown in court, and not by any procuratory written under the proper seal of the said John, nor under a seal 'procured, with other points of necessity required for procuratory.

On the execution, in 1437, of Walter, Earl of Athol, whom King James I. had created Earl of Stratherne for his lifetime, the earldom was annexed to the Crown. The jurisdiction of the stewards of the stewartry of Strathern was extensive and important, and on the office being granted by James III, to Drummond of Cargill, the Morays became desirous of being released from such power in the hands of a neighbour, and the Laird obtained a charter from the King in 1473, with a

fresh erection of his lands into a barony, and an exemption of them from the jurisdiction of the stewards.

Soon after Murray of Tullibardin was appointed steward, when a fresh charter of erection and exemption was procured from the Crown, in 1482, and Umfra Moray took instruments thereon in the stewart court in presence of Sir William Mureff, the steward, and withdrew his suit "levavit sectam suam de predicta "curia," which was transferred to the Court of the King's sheriff at Perth.

The claims of the stewards were not easily overcome however, for Lord Drummond having become steward, he summoned Moray again to appear in his courts, on which the latter presented a petition to James IV., calling upon him to discharge the steward from all such claims in terms of the exemptions contained in the Royal Charters.

A document connected with John Murray, who succeeded to the estates in 1513, preserves a list of heirship moveables. He was then a minor, and Robert his uncle as tutor in law granted a receipt to the Dowager Lady Abercairny for the heirship moveables in the year 1516. They are described as "A quhite horse,

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the lairds best gown, a cot of brown, a fedder bed of "the myddel kynd, a boster, a pare of dowbyll blanketts, a par of shetts, a par of kods; a curing, a great chandlere, a irne brander, twa rynnars, a "irne chimney, a cun' feet, a chere, a great gyrnal "that contains forti bolis of vittale, and new caldrown "of sextyne gallownis, a brazyn pot of three gal"lounis, all the haill stand of the Mess except the Book, a yoke of oxin, a hand bow, all the plough graith, the hermyt burd, a kyst that contenis aucht bolis of mele."

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"Nocht onlie hes our rebellis and disobedient subjectis thair assistaris taikin on armour, riddin with "convocatioun to and fra in the cuntrie, and fortifiit " and withhaldin divers houssis and strenthis aganis us, "Bot als, as weill appears be thair proceedings, myndis to draw in strangeris in our realme, and in sa far as "in thame lyis to perwert the haill stait of our com"monweill, quhilk to us is unsufferabill, &c. Praying you tharefoir effectuouslie that accumpaneit with the "haill force ye may mak, with xx dayis victuallis efter your cuming with palzeonis to ly in the fieldis, ye "faill nocht to address you to meit us at Striveling the "last day of September instant, and fra thine to pas "furthwart with us in sic places as the occasioun of our "seruice sall require," &c.

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Letter from Queen Mary, from Alway (Alloa), the penult of Julii 1566, to Robert Murray, of Aberkairnie: Traist freind, forsamekle as it is hevelie menit and pieteouslie complenit to us be this puir womane that ye have wiolentlie ejectit hir with ane company of puir bairnis furth of hir kyndlie rowme efter willing "to pay your dewtie thankfullie. Thairfoir (in respect "that gif ye be sua extreme as to depauperat the puir

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woman and her bairnis) we will desyre yow to schaw sum favour and accept thame in their steiding as ye "haue done in tymes bygane, the quhilk we doupt "nocht bot ye will do for this our requeist, and as ye "sall report our thankis and pleasour for the samyn. "MARIE, R."

Having deliberat with the nobilitie laitlie convenit at the Parliament anent the trublit estait of the north, quhair sa mony honest men hes ressavit sa grit utrage "and oppressioun as thai ar nocht able lang to indure it; and, amangis utheris the Maister of Forbes, a young gentilman, is sa straitlie detenit captive as upoun na band can he be gottin relevit. It is con"cludit that in propir persone we sall pas north and convene at Brechin the first of March next, with a "substantius force of the Kingis gude subjectis, for reducing of that disordourit cuntra to his hienes "detful obedyens; and thairfoir we desyr and pray you "affectuouslie that ye, accumpaneit with your kyn, freindis, seruandis, tenantis, and haill force that ye "mak in weirlyke maner, will addres you to meit us at Brechin the said first of Marche, providit to remane during the space of fourtie dayis according to the proclamatioun past thairupoun," &c.

carny." Announces that he would be at Errol on the 14th of April "for sic honorabill efferis as we "and our freindis hes to do, lyk as ye sall knawe at meeting," and requests him to be present.

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Letter from John, Earl of Mar, to his traist freind the Laird of Abircarny, from Stirling Castle, 20th October 1575. "I neid nocht to mak repetitioune of "the lang trubill my freind and defender the laird of Lekky hes sustinet be the persewt of the Erll of "Menteithe, knawin ye understand of it alredye; and "last of all the Erll has sumoned him to underlie the "law, the penult of this monethe of October, quha at na tyme offerit ony kynd of misbehaviour except als "is weill knawin in his own just defence at the day of "law approachand; thairfoir I man chairge you my

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speciall freindis and weill willaris be ther concurrens "and assistens to accompany me the said day, and will 'desyr you effectuouslie that accumpancit with your "honest freindis ye address you to be heir at Striveling "the 28th of this instant October to accumpanye me to "Edinburghe, quhair, God willing, I intend to be, to "the effect this mater may be defendit, and "the honour of me and my house, quhairby ye sall do "me acceptabill plesour," &c.

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Letter from John, Earl of Mar, dated at Stirling Castle, 9th Jan. 1577, "to his traist cusing the Laird of "Abirkernie." He again writes on the subject of the Laird of Lekkie and his troubles with the Earl of Menteith, by whom he was "callit to underly the law in Edinburghe, the xxv. day of this monethe; and albeit "it be knawin how far aganes his will that trubill hapinit, yet I have causit mak all offeris lyand in his possibilitie for satisfactioune of my lord of Menteithe, in honour and otherwayis; and sen I am uncertane of "the acceptance of the same, or gif he sall consent to "the continewacyoune of the day of law, I man prepair me to keip the same to assist my servand and dependar in his defens, as the custom is; and seeing it "is neidfull that I be thair accumpaneit with my "freindis, in caice my lord of Mentethe agrie nocht to "the continewacyoune of the day of law," he desires the Laird to come to Stirling on the 13th, prepared to accompany him to Edinburgh.

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England ve suld mak advertisement in dew tyme afor "his cuming, quhairof I have thocht guid to mak yow participant that ye may stay your cuming heir with "Wiolet Mar, quhill I adverteis you, and heirupoun "thinkis gude ye schaw my lord Drummound. Praying you in the meintyme to caus try put the personis "that suld accuse hir quhom scho hes abusit, as I wrett "to you afoir, to be in reddines to cum heir with thair "accusatiounes in write agane the tyme ye appointit, 66 as alsua to caus hir renew the speiking scho deponit "afoir, befoir the ministeris was present of befoir, and "that tua notaris be present to pen thir depositioune "under ther forme of instrument, as my sister and I "ressonit with you at being heir. Gif James, my "brother, be thair, ye will mak him participant heirof,

The Earl of Crawfurd writes from Kernye, 21st Sept. 1579, that after many delays he is to be tried at Edinburgh on the 3rd of November, for the slaughter of Lord Glammis, the Chancellor, whereof he is most innocent; "and seing this is the maist vechtie mater "that ewir I haid or is able to haiff ado, standing upone my honour, lyff, and heritage, I man craiff and requyre the awyse and presens of my honourabill "freindis at that day," therefore requesting him "that "substanciuslie accumpaneit with your honest kin,

21st instant is to be the day of marriage between George, Earl of Huntly, and Henrietta Stewart, sister to the Duke of Lennox," and that our intention is and [to] haif "it anserabill in all solemnities baith to our honour and "the pairties awin estates, quhairunto the want of sindrie thingis quhilk can not weill be had in ony common "marcat salbe sum hinder except the same be utherwyis suppleit. We haif thairof ane occasioun to desyre yow richt affectuouslie to help us with sic venysoun, wyld foulis, fed caponis, and sic utheris as ye eather "haiff or may recover betwix and then."

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Letter from James VI., dated Dunfermline, 26th July 1590, showing that it had been complained to him by John Gibson in Easter Drumcarne, "that ye have "maisterfullie and by all ordour of lawe mellit and intromettit with twa meris, twa oxin, a naig worth 18 merkis, ane kow, with sum scheip and lambis perteining "to him, and has disponit thairupoun at your plesour, he being your own tenent and a puir man that dar nocht "seik redres of this wrang be the ordinar course of "iustice. We have thocht meit effectuouslie to request "and desyre you that the said Johne may ather be "restoirit againe to his awne gudis wranguslie mellit "with be you as said is, or satisfeit of the availl and prices therof, sa as we heir na farder occasioun of complaint in this mater."

Missive from Ann, Queen of James VI., to the Laird of Abercarny, 21st November 1603. "Anna R.

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"William Murray of Abircarny, we have taken occa"sioun hereby to will and command you that you faill not to tak our littare, with the furnitour belonging "thairunto, and caus the same to be brint at the marcat place of Salisburie, for so is oure expres will and pleassur. Whereanent this present shalbe your warraunt. Gevin at our Court in Wiltoune, the twentyone day of November 1603."

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In another volume are arranged a good many papers connected with the risings of 1715 and 1745.

The first is a protection to the Lady of Abercarny by the Duke of Athol, dated 15th February 1716, with other orders of a like character, one prohibiting the tenants of Jacobites from paying their rents to their landlords.

"Ane account of the ingagement at Glensheal, 10 "June 1719." 2 pp.

Protection to James Moray of Abercarny, by the Duke of Cumberland, at Perth, 8th February 1715-16.

Letter from Lord George Murray, written on the day he left Tullibardine to go to Perth to join Charles, Prince Regent, 1745.

Notification by Charles, Prince Regent, dated Kinlochsheil, 22nd August 1745, that he had set up his standard, and requesting aid and money.

Letter from Sir Alex. Macdonald, dated Mugstot in the Isle of Sky, 11th August 1745.

Copy of a letter, dated 15th May 1746, containing a general account of Charles, Prince Regent's armies proceedings in the years 1745 and 1746, by one engaged in them.

Copy of a letter, dated 10th May 1746, containing an account of the battle of Culloden.

Account of the retreat from Falkirk. The last three seem to be contemporary accounts of the events related. A folio volume MS. entitled "Memoirs of the ancient "Moravii, collected from original charters, chartularies, "public records, histories, and manuscripts, &c., from "the first accounts of them to the year 1731."

This is a full and careful history of the Morays of Abercairny. The writer states that he has given vouchers for all that he has alleged from records, and with regard to the late Sir Robert Moray, and his son who succeeded him, his statements consist with his own knowledge. They were faithful adherents of the House of Stuart, and submitted to hardships and losses in its

J. WEBSTER, THE MANUSCRIPTS OF JOHN WEBSTER, ESQUIRE, ADVOCATE
Esq.
IN ABERDEEN.

These documents have been acquired by Mr. Webster from the Lauderdale, Southwell, Leeds, and other collections. They are very numerous, and are arranged chronologically in volumes. I note those of the chief importance.

The first, in date, is one from King Henry VII. of England to the Sub-dean of Lincoln, 1st Dec. (1497 ?), requiring 201. to be borrowed towards carrying on a war against the King of Scots.

There is a letter from Cardinal Beaton, "To my lord "Secretair," dated Mascon, 13th Sept. 1538, in which he refers to "ye cummyne of ye Papis servand in "Scotland," and his negociations with the King of France, who is "at the last rycht diligent in the fortifying of the strengthis and tours on his borders." In one from James V., in French, to Monsieur le Connestable, Sainctandre, 3rd June 1540, he says he is desirous of hearing good news of his father-in-law, Claude, Duke of Guise.

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There are two letters from James Stewart, afterwards Regent Murray. The first, to Lord Robert Dudley, dated Holyrood house, 12th Feb. 1561, after referring to previous written communications between them, trusts that "it myght be your L. good pleasour to contineu in promoting the meanes that may increase, confirme, and establishe that natural and recoproque beleif that hayth begoun to manifest the "self betwix our Souranis, quhairof amangis utheris "infinit commoditeis, it is good liklyhoode that this "benefit we sall resave evin ane constant and ane "assured favour amangis the subiectis of boytht "realmes, ane benefit inestimable, rather wished nor

hoippit for of our progenitouris, and yet appeareth "now it can not weall be stayit, but only be the princesses, quhilk God forbid it suld."

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The second, to the Earl of Leicester, is dated, The Holme of Dalquharne, 13th June 1568, and after thanking the Earl for his past services, he adds "I haue na "doubt your foirsicht, ingyne, and vtheris graces quairwith God hes endeuit you sall alwayes travell "nixt Goddis glorie how the godlie amytie betwix our "nationis may continew. That being, I am not curious "how the warld gang."

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Letter from W. Maitland, of Lethington, from Let, 27th Feb. 1561, to Lord Robert Dudley, sent by the Lord of St. Colmes who was going to England, expressing his hopes for the continuance of the amity and increass of the intelligence begun betwix thair Maiesties, which I hope shall no less tend to the common"wealth off both the realmes then to the estimation "and honour in particular of soche ministers as shall most ernestly travell thairin."

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A letter from John, Earl of Mar, Regent of Scotland, to Patrick Lord Gray, dated 7th Dec. 1571, in which he requires his good services and assistance of the cause on which depends "the suretie of the Kingis Majestie "and all his fauoraris," and promises to reward his services "as ye sall think not to deill with that man "that salbe forgetfull of a guide turne."

Letter, Elizabeth, Queen of England, to the Regent Mar, 4th July 1572, chiding him for standing to " "hard tearmes with your adversaryes."

Letter, Lady Arabella Stewart, to the Countess of Shrewsbury, whom she calls Good Lady Grandmother, dated 8th Feb. 1587. "I have sent your Ladyship the "endes of my heare, which were cut the sixt day of "the moone on Saturday last, and with them a pott of gelly which my servante made." Signed "Arbella Steward."

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Letter, James VI. to the Constable of Dundee, dated Falkland, 8th Oct. 1588, and to those who may have in keeping the house of Bruchty, requiring them to redeliver to Patrick Lord Gray the said house, to whom it appertains. A postscript is added in the King's handwriting, "do this, for I hope this man sall satisfie me "in all thingis."

Letter, Henry IV. of France to James VI. of Scotland (De la Rochelle, x. davryl), introducing his am

bassador, Du Bartas, and on the subject of the reformed J. WEBSTER' churches. EsQ

Letter from Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, 14/24 May (1640), to a correspondent (apparently in Germany), as to the dissolution of Parliament, the state of feeling in Great Britain, the Scotch intrigues with France, and the imprisonment of Lord Loudon.

Letter (hol.), Charles I. to Earl of Kingston, Nottingham, 9th Sept. 1642.-"I most earnestly desire you to "lend me 5,000%. . without anie noise. "I shall as justly repay it, as if you had all my "Crowne land engaged for it."

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Letter, Charles I., hol.-Superscribed and subscribed, to Henry, Marquis of Worcester, Oxford, 2nd Dec. 1642, assuring him on the word of a King and a "Christian that the King will performe these ensuing "favours, six in number, among them being the "Bristol customes, any disengaged lands to the value "of 60,000l., as the Honour of Grafton and others; "all the lands the Earl of Pembroke hath in Mon"mouthshire; lastly, and further, there is hardly any“thing wch you y' selfe thinke fit to aske, and in our power to graunt, that we shall not finde in our hart a willingnesse and readinesse to voutsafe it."

Letter from Harrison, the Regicide, in favour of Nathaniel Rockwell, wishing his employment in the sea service as a man fearing God and a good soldier.

Warrant, dated 17th Dec. 1642, by the Earl of Essex, Lord General, to Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Treasurer of Army, desiring to be "paid unto Captaine Oliver "Cromwell, Captaine of a troope of 80 harquebuziers, 2047. 138." Holograph letter of Cromwell's, of same date, to Capt. Vernon, desiring the money to be paid to George Barton, his servant.

It is believed that this is the only known evidence of Cromwell having been a captain of foot.

Autograph opinion of Judge Hale, 5th Nov. 1653, as to the legality of a grant by King Charles I. to the Earl of Ancrum.

Letter from General Monk, dated Edinburgh, 10th Sept. 1658, to the Lords of the Council, on the death of Oliver Lord Protector, and stating that his son Richard had been proclaimed in Edinburgh as his successor; also promising to use the utmost diligence in all faithfulness to prevent any disturbance that may arise upon this change.

Directions by King Charles II. to Sir Wm. Temple (holograph), Dec. 1676, as to the then pending treaty for peace.

The two original drafts or copies, in the autograph of Lord High Treasurer Danby, of his letters to Mr. Montagu, ambassador at Paris, dated 17th Jan. 1677/8 and 25th March 1678, each bearing the holograph docquet of King Charles II. "I aprove of this letter. C. R."

It was for writing these two letters that Lord Danby was impeached, and he had taken the precaution to get the King's written approval to the duplicates. They are not fully or accurately copied in the State Trials.

Three autograph letters from Mr. Montagu to Lord Danby, 11th Jan., 12th Jan., and 11th April 1678, as to the negociations for peace, with his Lordship's autograph duplicates of his replies, and with the principal proposals for the peace sent to Montagu, 25th March 1678, having marginal alterations docqueted by Danby.

Letter, Sir William Temple, ambassador at the Hague, Jan. 18th, 1675-6, to Lord Danby, as to the negotiations and intrigues depending.

Letter, (Robert Spencer, the well known) Earl of Sunderland, then ambassador at Paris, to Lord Danby, Aug. 2/12 (1678), detailing his interview with Louis XIV. Letter, William III., then Prince of Orange, to Lord Danby, Malines, 5 Mars 1678. "Il n'est plus dans le pouvoir du Roy de faire la Paix n'y remettre les "affaires, que vont se perdre."

Letter, Lord Somers to the King, 5th July 1697, as to the validity of Duke of St. Alban's right to a certain office.

Letter from Bishop Gilbert Burnet to Secretary Southwell, Salisbury, 20th Sept. 1690, as to filling up the vacancies in the Irish Church, and other two to him on the same subject from John Vesey, Archbishop of Tuam, 4th and 13th Sept. 1690. Also a letter to him on the same subject from Henry Compton, Bishop of London, 2nd June 1690, with list of men recommended or found fault with.

Three autograph letters from Queen Anne to Lord Godolphin, with his autograph copy reply to one of them, in eight folio pages, 13th Sept. 1706.

Letter from the Scotch Privy Council, 6th Aug. 1666, in which they suggest that his Majesty may be pleased to consider "wither it be not expedient by act of