to you, with all submission, that if there be not one at least of our countrymen in the new commission that whole country will not feal of being angrie and very much disobleidg'd at it, especially at this time when the only tuo bills concerning the trade of that part of the kingdom have had so hard fate, and also when (to my extream concerne) there seems such an inclination both amongst Whigs and Tories to be hard upon us. And in my humble opinion nothing but your Lordship's prudent, wise and dilligent manadgment can prevent our finding the wofull effects of it nixt session of Parliament. If that affair of the peerage then go against us, I dread the consequence it will infallably have. The Union depends on it, and on the Union, with submission, depends the peace of the Queen's reigne, and that reallie gives me more concerne in it than any privat hardship it woul'd be to me, tho' I vallue that a great dale; and one of our country who had a hand in the Union and did all in his power to contrebute to it as I did cannot but lay it much to heart to see us in great danger of receiveing hardships by it. I am not yett wearie of the Union, but still think it, if rightly used, for the good of the whole island, and also that it is the only thing which can preserve Scotland, and England too, from blood and confusion; so I do not at all repent any hand I had in it, tho' I'm affraid I have fue of either side of my opinion. But shou'd that hardship of the peerage be putt upon us, so contrair to all sense, reason and fair dealing, and if our trade be no more encuradg'd than yett it has been, or indeed is like to be, how is it possible that flesh and blood can bear it? and what Scotsman will not be wearie of the Union, and do all he can to gett quit of it? I beg your Lordship may pardon me for this warmth, but it's my zeal for my Queen and country that occassions it. I know to your Lordship those considerations will be of weight, but I'm affraid it wou'd be a wrong way of arguing with maney people here. I'm not surprized to see some of the Whigs act the part they do in it, for being disapointed of their designe in makeing of the Union, and so being wearie of it they want to make us as wearie that so they may gett free of it. But for these Tories who joine with them in this, all I can say of them is, O when will they be wise! My only comfort is that it is still in your Lordship's power to prevent and disapoint all these my fears, so my mind is at ease, for I doubt nothing but your Lordship by your manadgment will effectually do it, and so confirme a happy Union to both parts of the Isle, and this will be a work worthie of yourself, who is the only man capable to do it. As to Mr. Beallie, I'll say nothing of him, your Lordship being the best judge; but if he be to be altered, I hope your Lordship will be pleased to remember what I have so often laid before you concerning the Earle of Northesk, who is reallie a deserving man. I ask your Lordship's pardon for takeing up so much of your time, and I am and ever will be by gratitud as well as duety, with all submission and respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient and most humble and faithful servant. ALEXANDER RAITT to LORD GRANGE. 1711, July 7. Whitehall.-I shall not doubt of your Lordship's hearing of the Duke of Queensberry's being ill, so shall only tell you that he died yesterday morning at five aclock. Duke of H- -ton is exceeding bussie to succeed him, and it's not at all feared but his Grace will meet with a disapointment. THE EARL OF MAR to his brother, the JUSTICE CLERK. 1711, July 10. Whitehall. I am so concerned and toucht with the loss of my friend, the Duke of Queensberry, that it gives me pain now to write upon that subject; but he died so han'somly, both like a gentelman and a Christian, that 'twere pitty you did not know it. When he found that the medicans they had given him had performd what was expected of them, and he yet not the better, he concluded himself near his death, and desired a person to be sent for, and when one was found, after hearing him say prayers, he desired the sacrament might be prepaird for him, and in the time they were adoing that, he took leave of all his friends present, and desired they might remember him kindly to those who were absent. He desired them to give his love and blissing to Mar and Loudoun, and to assure them he died with all the grateful acknowledgment one cou'd have of their faithfull friendshipe to him. He recommended his friends in generall, and some in particulare to me, and said he knew I wou'd do all in my power in showing kindness to his children and familie. He desired to tel all his friends that he hopt they wou'd join with me and serve me as faithfully as they had done him. He call'd up all his servants and took leave of them, and has left each of them a year's wages. He desired Mr. Boyll to let the Queen know he died a faithfull subject to her, and recomended his children to her protection. After this he receaved the sacrament, heard prayers and pray'd himself severall times, and never spoke after receaveing of any wordly affairs, tho' he lived above two hours after it perfectly sensible, and then died without any pain or concern, but like one going a jurnie. THE EARL OF MAR to his brother, the JUSTICE CLERK. 1711, December 27. Whitehall.-We are just now here in a very malancholie way in relation to this misfortoun which has happned to us, and with you I apprehend people will be more angrie than sorie for what has been done. Even those who were against us are sensible that it cannot stand as it now does, but whatever expedient they may think of offering, I judge will not please those of our country who are here, or at home either. The English, as most of the Scots are, seem to be wearie of the Union, but when they first come to think of it seriously, I doubt of their quitting with it. What seems to be the oppinion or resolution of our countrymen here for relive ing us of this hardshipe is one of two, either to dissolve the Union or else an Act of Parliament reversing what is done by the House of Lordes, and putting us in the same place and condition we were before, and as we understood it. As to dissolveing the Union in a Parliamentary way, I despair of it, or if it were possible in doing of it, they wou'd fix the succession, and in that case Scotland wou'd loose any aw it could have over England. As to the other, of putting us in the same condition we were by Act of Parliament, I can scarce think it practicable, let the Court be ever so sincear for it, for what made most of the Lordes against D[uke] H[amilton] was (as they own themselves) their being wearie of our elections, or any way except the sitting peerage being fixt in families; and they do not yet seem to repent of this, and it will not be an easic matter to make those people turn about and alter their oppinions so soon. By what I can learn the expedient they think of is to offer us a considerable number of our families to be chose and made by the Queen peers, with all the priviledges of sitting, etc., as they are here to the number of perhaps thertie or some more; that the incapacity should be taken off all the rest of us; that our titles and precedencies should continue, and that we should be capable of being elected in the House of Comons. Whatever one may think of this, being in itself perhaps as good for the intrest of the peers of Scotland in generall as the foot we are put on by the Union, even as we understood it, I shall not determine; but whatever be in that, or if there be anything in it all, I apprehend no proposall of that kind will relish with our countrymen in generall, and no Scotsman will at this time venture differing from the rest of them. There is one thing certain that if any expedient can be found this is the time, when the injury or hardshipe is fresh, but I doubt much if any expedient they will offer us will be acceptable to our countrymen, and if we be all against it here it will never cairie amongst the peers in Scotland (where it must go), tho' the Parliament shou'd pass it against the Scots members of both Houses, as they did the Treason Bill. Thus are we situat, and I belive never were people in harder circumstances. Pray let me know what are people's thoughts with you on this affair, and what is said of us all here. I write this only to yourself, and 'tis not fitt this should come from me, and perhaps not from you either. The Scots peers here meet to-morow, and then it is probable we will come to some resolution. I apprehend the first stape we will make will be & representation to the Queen, but before she can do anything effectually for us, she must put herself and her servants in a capacity of acting, for as things stand now they are not. This week and the begining of the nixt will show what is done in this, and you will hear of it, so I'll say no more of it now. I suppose the reasons of our dissent were sent you; pray let me know how they are likt. We could not adventure makeing them stronger, and as they are I belive they are strong enough for the other partie to score them out. 1711.-Papers in a process regarding King's College, Aber deen. Several letters relating to the prevalence and increase of Popery in the Highlands and some of the parishes of Aberdeenshire. Several letters about a dispute among the heritors and the allocation of seats in the Kirk of Towie. Account of an assault on Castle Grant and Lady Grant there by the young Laird of Grant, who is at variance with his father, 1st July, 1711. THE EARL OF MAR to his brother, the JUSTICE CLERK. 1711-12, January 1. London.-This morning we presented our representation to the Queen. The Duke of Hamilton has sent a copie of it to John Hamilton, with the Queen's answer to it, so you will get it from him, and certainly it will be no secret. This is all I can now say, and I need not tel you of our changes here for you'll hear of them otherwayes. THE EARL OF MAR to his brother, the JUSTICE CLERK. 1711-2, January 17.-You may be sure it is a great pleasure to any here who has any concern in publick bussines to find that what they do is agreeable to their country at home. Since my last we have been as bussie as was possible for us, trying how to get relife in this matter. Some of our countrymen here, particularly 25, thought fitt to say to every body that it was in our power who are of the House to get ourselves sett right, but they were not pleased to mention the way that this was to be done, which indeed was cruell to us; but that they have little reguard to and likes it the better for it. We have mett every day, I mean all of the sixteen who were here, and we were so luckie to be alwayes unanimous in our oppinions til now that 28 is come, who differs (by himself) from all the rest, and I'm apt to belive will continue to do so. Yesterday at our meeting 33 said whatever was his own oppinion in any parts of this affair he wou'd think himself oblidgd to lay it before them, and if they did not agree with him he would submitt himself to the majority of them, and act as they agreed as cordially as if he was of that oppinion himself, for he thought our unanimity was our only strenth in this affair, and he hopt we wou'd all be of this oppinion. We have been alwayes of oppinion that the Court was the most likely to give us relife in this matter, but we toke cair to let them know that if they wou'd not, we would all join with the other partie. We were likewise of oppinion that whatever partie we joined with for relife, we must necessarly support them in other bussiness which should chance to come on in the time our business was adoing, unless we saw that the party we was with should postpone or give unnecessare delayes in our bussines. 28 I thought agreed to this on Munday last a. going to the House, but before he got there altred his oppinion. However, that day the adjurment prevented any occation of our differing. This day he declaird plainly that he wou'd submitt his oppinion to no man, and wou'd not say he wou'd act in anything until he saw distinctly what was proposed for our relife. Some of us were desired on Sunday last to meett with some Lordes of the Council at the Cockpitt, where we were told of that parte of the Q[ueen]'s spetch concerning our affair. I now send it to you inclosed. It was agreed there that the Queen shou'd be addrest to lay proposalls on this affair before the House, and that in other things we shou'd support the ministry, as I said before. This seemd to please our meeting on Munday last, and this was our oppinion to-day also, only 28 differd from us all. To-morrow is appointed for takeing the Queen]'s message under consideration, and then that address to her Majesty for lay proposalls, etc., is to be pusht, which I hope will cairie, and if it does, the ministry is to concert these proposalls with us. All this time we have not had the least offer from the other partie, and if they should give us fair promises, as they did at the Treatie, and even, contrair to their custom, mean them sincearlie, it is not in their power to give us relife, for that must be by Act of Parliament; and tho' they and we joind could cairie it in the House of Lordes, they could not in the House of Comons. The Court professes to be sincear to us, and 'tis so much their intrest to be so, that it can scarce be doubted; but they will have no small difficultie to bring up their people to what will please us, if it be in their power to do it at all. So you see what a wreched way we are in; but so it is, and we must do our best. And when we have done so, it is very probable that we will be blaimd at home, but that cannot be helpt, and we must have a good conscience to justify us. We are in a harder state than you imagin. Tho' both parties be wearie of the Union, they will upon no tearmes that I can yet see quitt with the Union in a legall way. They are so wearie and abominate the elections of our peers so much that they (I apprehend) will never restore the Queen] to her hability and us to our capacity without we quitt with them. If we shou'd agree to this, I'm affraid they wou'd not come near that number of our peers to be made heritablie (which is the only way they will hear of) as wou'd satisfie us, so what we can do God knows, and I wish He may direct us. To go peacablie home and rebell, as the Irishman said, is but a bad remidie, and yet it is impossible for us to lay under this hardshipe. If we saw a possibility of getting free of the Union without a civil warr we wou'd have some comfort, but that I'm affraid is impossible. They all (I mean the English) agree that the elections cannot be altred without the consent of the Scots peers (I do not mean of the sixteen only), and how that can ever be gott is more than I can tel. Here you have the desease, and I wish you could find the remidie, but that is not so easilie found as the desease is. However, 'tis impossible |