thousand tricks, exasperate 21 (Scotland) against those that had the chief hand in't, even in the time of A (the Queen).

I am furprised with 38 (Argyll's) laft meffage to 46 (Baillie); but he's capable of any folly.

If 59 (the New Party) is laid afide, and 24 (Succeffion) not to be tryed, LLL (the New Party) will make a fad appearance in 25 (the Scottish Parliament); for to fupport 38 (Argyll), or to joyn with 39 (Duke Hamilton), are two bloudy pills.

It's infupportable that Green's Tryall is not out yet.

Floors, May the 28th, 1705. .

Farewell.

LXXXIX. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

MY LORD,

36 (SEAFIELD) tells me that the lift of places was fent off on Sunday night; faid he knew nothing of particulars, but that it was concerted by advice of Leven, Stairs, Glasgow, and Philiphaugh; that Anandale [saw] it the day after, and before it went away. It's now faid that Argile has not undertaken, onlye laid before [her] Majeftie what he defires, in order to effectuate her business, which, if not granted, the may difpofe of his poft. They are at present in a mighty jumble, efpetially about the inftructions, which are not yet concluded, as 36 (Seafield) fays; and, as Anandale tells me, Stairs has put the Commiffioner upon the Treaty, because 37's (Queenfberry's) people cannot be brought to 24 (Succeffion), for which 55 (Annandale) and 52 (Ormifton) declare openly. I doe not well understand Wedderburn's letter. I wish your Lordship would explain it to me. May 29th, 1705.

XC. FROM SECRETARY JOHNSTONE.

London, 29th May [1705.]

I HAVE both your's of the 22d, and I wrote to you the fame day, and on the 24th, that 59's (the New Party's) fate was under confideration; that a flying packett was expected on Saturday last from Edinburgh, and then all

un ionx ugf

was to be concluded; that WW (Johnstone) was bid be here to know the

sfrtmu

rfocr

refult, but no flying packett is come, and E (the Lord Treasurer) fends WW onugkoh bu qsfrfou un usntamf gkl xkug Bmm (Johnftone) word that he has nothing at prefent to trouble him with. All

k dbo ugkodi

xnsc

I can think is, that 60 (the Court) has put it home to 58 (the Old Party) to Ibuufs rrukdi bu ugf rtll

tocfsubifsr

kr un

cnxo

cfrkru

be undertakers, and that matters ftick at the fumm, or, as E (the Lord Treafurer) intimated, 55 (Annandale) would make OO (Argyll) defift. 37 (Queensberry) is to [goe] down, but declares he never did any thing fo much against his inclination. 55 (Annandale) and 65 (Stair) were equally in the representation. It certainly depends upon 58 (the Old Party) to have 59 (the New Party) out, and they only stick at the conditions. 7 (The Tories) here all say that 59 (the New Party) are out, and it was generally expected that the laft poft from Scotland would have brought the news. It muft only be differences amongst KKK (the Old Party) that keeps them from fending up a flying packet, and fo matters will be left to the Sunday's

dbakofu

rnbz ko unxo

Cabinet. I fhall stay in town.

rtocbzr

Farewell.

MY LORD,

XCI. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

BY 45's (Johnstone's) letter, I am fatiffyed as to 59's (the New Party's) affair, and thinks it of great confequence to keep 55 (Annandale) and 52 (the Juftice-Clerk) ftill violent for 24 (Succeffion), for we have no other ground to ftand upon. But whether 38 (Argyll) undertake or not, if he fet all upon 59's (the New Party's) being laid afide, it muft do, for 6 (the Whigs) muft now ftick to him. I understand not what Mr. Wedderburn means by what he fays concerning 59 (the New Party); fo have writ to him to explain himself.

Be pleased to fend the enclosed to my Lord Chancellour, or deliver it by word of mouth, as you think fitt. The other was a very troublesome letter to me; but if you think it right, feal it up, and fend it.

Floors, May the 30th, 1705.

Farewell.

MY LORD,

XCII. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

THO the reasoning in your's of the 28th be weighty, I cannot agree to the conclufion that 59 (the New Party) are not to think of 64* (Succeffion) if 49 (Montrofe) come not into it; for upon what other foot can they fet up upon, unleffe they'l joyn as the tail of fome other party, which would render them defpicable, and must be theire laft refort; for they had better ftick together in a thing indifferent, than joyne with any in that which is good, in fuch a manner as they behoved to doe it, which would neceffarilly establish them with whom they joyned. And in this no regard ought to be had to the humors of people, for what displeases and exafperates at first, may have another effect very foon thereafter; and fo, on the contrarie, as we might have learn'd but too well in our fhort experience. And, after all, I cannot but take 24 (Succeffion) with 31 (Limitations) to be our only game at prefent, as well as the intereft of 21 (Scotland). For if it prove the Court measure, 59's (the New Party's) going along cannot be ill taken; if not, we cannot oppose by any thing more agreeable to last year's measures. Befides, it must neceffarily convince 6 (the Whigs) that 58 (the Old Party) are not fo much for 24 (Succeffion) as they pretend. But this would require a longer reasoning than a letter will admitt of, and I do not fee it poffible to determine ourselves till meeting of Parliament; for things may alter mightylie betwixt and then, which is the reafon that I dare not interpofe fo frankly with 55 (Annandale) and 52 (the Justice-Clerk) as I'm inclined to doe. However, your Lordship will fee by the inclof'd I had from 51 (Rothes) that there is no ground to despaire, if they stick to their point, which they still doe, fo far as I can learn. 57 (Belhaven) tells me that 39 (Duke Hamilton) says 60 (the Court) are but tricking; never had, nor have, any defign to fettle 24 (the Succeffion), for that they had been in termes with him, but broke off without any reafon on his pairt, and tho he had made confiderable advances to them, and, if I mistake not, 57 (Belhaven) and 39 (Duke Hamilton) might have been gained to 24 (the Succeffion) had he been fairly dealt with. But the Duke faid, not only 5 (the Lord Trea

* See note, p. 97.

furer), but his best friend 44 (Harley), had impof'd upon him; for that while they were manadging a treaty with him, by 57 (Belhaven), he, the Duke, was at the fame time defired not to correfpond with any in Scotland, for that his buffinefs fhould be done, and all put into his hands without it, and that it was once defigned to have fent down one to conclude the bargane with him. 57 (Belhaven) fays, if we'll follow his advice, he knows a fecret will break up 25 (the Scottish Parliament) the first day of it's meeting; but will not discover it as yet; only affures me it is agreeable to our principles and former measures. He fwears he knows nothing of 39 (Duke Hamilton), and believes he has not as yet fixed upon any thing, but waites to know what 60 (the Court) intends.

May 31ft, 1705.

What's above, with the enclofed from Mr. Wedderburn by Thursday's packet, fhould have been fent fooner, but your fervant did not call; fince which I have learnt nothing materiall. The inftructions are not concluded, as the Chancellor and Advocat affured me this morning; for that Annandale and Justice-Clerk ftill ftand out for the Succeffion. Which of the fides will yield I know not. The Chancellor will goe into any measure the Court is for. The Advocat I understand lefs them ever, for after two hours conversation with him yesterday, I could not conclude what he enclined to, he having argued ftronglie for the Succeffion, and with the fame breath, as ftronglie for the Treaty, which makes me think he is for no fettlement whatfomever. If both fides stick to their tackling, there will be a neceffity to lay the whole matter before the Queen, for her to chufe, which will occafion a new adjournment. I begin to guess at the meaning of Mr. Wedderburn's letter, by the reports that are fpread here; as, firft, that the New Partie are for the Succeffion without Limitations; that I had taken the Commiffioner's meffage under confideration; and all this with a defign to weaken and divide us; and no doubt the fame methods has been ufed at London. The lift I thought myself oblidged to enquire after, left my answer might have been misreprefented, either by mistake or of defign; and Sir Gilbert Eliot declared, that he had given the answer as it was delivered by me, and that the Commiffioner had reported it in the fame termes to his Cabinet; but we are at a lofe for want of Stairs and Dumfries.

June 2d, 1705.

XCIII. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

MY LORD,

I HAVE juft now received your's of the 2d of June; and indeed, after reading 51 (Rothes') letter, I reckon it 59 (the New Party's) happiness that he is to be laid afide. What you fay, too, of 57 (Belhaven) pleases me extreamly; and am glad that 39 (Duke Hamilton) thinks 44 (Harley) has cheated him, for by that it wou'd feem he is not yet got into 60's (the Court's) fecret, and does but fufpect they are not for 24 (the Succeffion); for if he knew their defigns, he wou'd foon know the meaning of 44 (Harley's) cheating him; but fince he does not, if it's true what 57 (Belhaven) says, I am sure he can never have such an oppertunity to be for 24 (the Succeffion) as now; for he may be for it on fuch terms as will certainly either fave 21 (Scotland), or break 21 (Scotland), from 22 (England) for ever,-I mean in cafe of 31 (Limitations) being refused; and in that cafe he has a fairer chance than ever; but as for the breaking up of 25 (the Scottish Parliament), that is a tale indeed of twa drinks.

It's certainly of the greatest confequence that 55 (Annandale) and 52 (the Juftice-Clerk) ftick to their tackling; but if it's referred to the Queen, it's beft of all.

I fancy you have mistaken Mr. Wedderburn's letter, and that he meant 51 (Rothes) and 56 (Haddington), by 52's (Ormifton's) influence; but it's no matter.

I fhall be glad to fee you here; and I pray God fend an adjournment. Farewell.

I wonder you fay nothing of my letter to 42 (Carstairs); nor do I ever hear from 50 (Tweeddale).

Floors, June the 3d, 1705.

XCIV. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

MY LORD,

I HAVE no letters by this poft. The gentleman that Mr. Wedderburn