CXIII. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

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Weatherby, September the 12th, 1705.

I was in hopes to have heard from you att Newcastle, but perhaps you have directed for me at Duncafter, in which cafe I fhall have it to-morrow night. Before this comes to your hands, I fuppofe the Parliament will be up, and as for after-game, if he has nothing to fay to us, I think we have nothing to fay to him. My leg, I think, mends, but I am every day more and more poffitive not to go to London. 148 (Johnstone) fayes 32 (the Lord Treasurer), he believes, will write to 115 (Seafield), to keep him from joyning too much with 111 (Queensberry), and to keep in with 101 (the New Party). All is of a piece; but I find 118 (Roxburgh) is rather for setting up 112 (Queensberry) over 57 (the Court) till 78 (the Succeffion) be concluded. Adieu. I gave my Lord Chancellour Mr. Cuningham's paper before I came away. Pray put him in mind on't, and tell him he's able to do him fervice with his enemies. If 159 (Tweeddale) and 163 (Rothes) fend not addreffes, I cannot write to them.

CXIV. FROM SECRETARY JOHNSTONE.

18th September [1]705.

YOUR two laft were on the 1ft and 4th inftant, and my laft on the 9th or 10th. I have one from my Lord Roxburgh, who is at Bath this night; but I am just come from that countrey, and cannot return at prefent, for my Lord Powlett and my Lady will have his aunt down, and I must wait till she can travell, to carry her thither, and then I will goe and stay with him as long as he pleases. I have seen noebody at Court this forthnight, but I am told they are farre from being pleased with Scotch matters. I will endeavour to fee them, but this making a fecret of trifles, (I mean the tyme of his coming,) disorders every thing. I long to hear hou you end; whether the Triennial Act, or any other of your publick Acts, paffe or not. Your Minifters write triumphantly. They are mafters, they themselves fay, and will fettle every thing next fummer; but either they diffemble, or they will find themselves in groffe miftakes.

Farewell.

CXV. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

HAVING had no letters fince I came from Ferryhill, you may easily think I have little to write. I got here fafe last night, having made a very good journey on't, my leg alwayes mending. My brother came here laft night, too, and brought me a letter from 148 (Johnftone), who, I find, is much of our mind now. He fayes he'll be here very foon. I long to hear how 87 (the Scottish Parliament) is ended.

Bath, September the 19th, 1705.

Adieu.

CXVI. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

I HAD your's of the 12th, and strange you had not then got mine of the 8th, in which I gave you ane account that the Parliament had let fall the A& prohibiting trade with England; that they had given seven moneths less for the armie and frigots, the laft moyety payable at Martimaffe 1706. Since which the House have been moftlie taken up with private business, and onlie past one publick A&, appointing that in all treaties hereafter, wherein this nation might be concerned, the Soveraigne fhould name a minifter, one or more, different from thofe for England, to reprefent them as Soveraigne of Scotland; and for that end, granted a moneth's fupply to be called for by her Majeftie, in cafe there fhould be a treaty of peace before next Seffion. The A&t was prefented by Marifhall, and was carried by a great majority. The Parliament was this day adjourned to December in a verie thin House, for most of the members were gone; before which the Cefs, Treaty, and Trade Acts were toucht; but it feemes there were not orders to touch the Trienniall and Embaffay Acts. This, together with the frequent and long adjournments at the end of fo long a Seffion, (for in a fortnight there were five federunts onlie), displeases many who expected more than they have got, and will make bufinefs uneafie next Seffion; and I'm affrayed will tend to the increase of animofities, and make more to be demanded from England than would have satisfied, if these A&ts had been paft; fo that your going to London may be now less expedient than at your going from this, for as matters are, lying by seemes to be the wifeft course, but in this you

must be determined by your friends there, who can best advise you of matters and circumftances which cannot be fo well known at this distance. I have wrote to Johnstone of your refolution, and reafons for it.

There is ane order come, difcharging any's going to London without leave, except the Commiffioner and Secretaries, who are forbid to ftir till the Commiffioner pairts.

September 21ft, 1705.

CXVII. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

HAVING had no letters this poft, it's plain that if any have been writ to me fince Saturday was a fortnight, they are intercepted; fo I find I muft neither write, nor need I expect any more letters from 75 (Scotland), but shall write this night to 147 (Johnstone), to see if he knows any thing. I had a letter from him to-day, wherein he tells me the Queen is to stay at

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Windfor these three weeks, and 32 (the Lord Treasurer) at Newmarket. I was in the bath to-day for the first time, and I believe I fhall mend. Last poft I wrote to 159 (Tweeddale), 163,* and 175 (Baillie).

Bath, September the 24th, 1705.

Adieu.

CXVIII. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

My laft was of the 21ft. You cannot conceive how much all forts of people grumble at refuseing the A&ts, and what odd reasonings they have upon it. Some fay it is now evident nothing is to be expected from England, and that Scotland cannot be happy till a fepperation; others that the Court is not in earnest, and have done this of defign to promote ends which you may guefs at. I beggin now allmoft to wish that the Scotch Parliament had been brock up. The prevention of what is now fallen out would have been good fervice to the Queen and Scotland, for then matters had been intire, and at leaft no worse than they were; whereas now greater conceffions will be neceffary, in order to the Succeffion, than would have satisfied before this flipp:

* In the Cypher No. II. 163 stands for Rothes, but in the original letter Baillie has written "Hadintoun" above these figures.

befides, there is nothing wanting to make the majority of Scotland Cavaliers, but the belief that the Court is inclined that way.

The Old Party is fo fenfible of the lofs they are at, that they take a deal of pains to perfuade people, especially the Murray men, and others who left us, and are not now pleased that they did use their intereft for an allowance to have the A& paft, but could not prevaile. Thus they ftick not to throw all on the Queen, when it may serve their turn; and how much foever they may boast at the Court of their fuccefs, the fruit of their conduct will appear next Scots Parliament, if fomewhat confiderable be not previously done to sweetten what is past. There is a great noife made for giving fupplies without tacking. I wish it may not be practised hereafter. As matters are, the New Party being turned out, was the happiest thing could have befallen them, for had they been oblidged to have acted in their pofts, as their fucceffors have done, they had wholly loft their intereft, which is now intire, and may be of ufe hereafter, and I cannot but judg it their wisdom to lie off till the Court will allow Scotland to mannage their own affairs. Duke Hamilton's more than ordinary modefty on this occafion, faying little upon refuseing the A&ts, makes men fancie he expects to be imployed. If he comes in by, and joins, the Old Party, the New will be undone. I had rather he came in with the Cavaliers, for in that cafe the New and Old Parties would be able to defeat him; but the best would be to keep him out till he can be brought in with, and by, the New Party. Some people were alarmed at your going from this, and could not be perfwaded but you were gone for London, to overturn them. To humour the jeft, I was once inclined to have followed you, and would certainly have done it, could I have frightned them at another's expence. I am now in the country, [and] fhall have little occafion to writ, but you may expect to hear when any thing occurs. I have writt fully to Mr. Johnfton, to which I reffer you. September 27th, 1705.

CXIX. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

It is in the publick news to-day, that the Parliament of Scotland is up, but for letters, I have had none fince your firft; I mean none have come to my correfpondent's hands at London; fo it's certain they are taken, as they are

given in. I had a letter to-day from 147 (Johnstone). He fays 148 (he, Johnstone,) had been with 33 (the Lord Treasurer), and that 33 (the Lord Treasurer) faid, he hoped 117 (Roxburgh) wou'd quickly be there; but 148 (Johnstone) faid, he believ'd not; upon which the to'ther said, he wou'd write to him. I have writ a long letter to 147 (Johnftone) to-night, wherein I defir'd he might fhun feeing 35 (the Lord Treasurer) whilft 118 (Roxburgh) was in 73 (England); and I believe I fhall fee him very foon. Adieu.

If you venture to write to me any more, addrefs as follows, To Mr. Samuel Hancock, Peuterer, at the Hand and Cock in Pall Mall.

Bath, September the 29th, 1705.

CXX. FROM THE SAME.

THIS is only to let you know that this day I have had your's of the 21st, which indeed I have much long'd for, and am glad I have got it before 148 (Johnstone) and 117 (Roxburgh) meet, for I wrote to him last post in return to what he had told me paff'd betwixt 34 (the Lord Treasurer) and him, allmoft fwbrqfsbukoh

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in your own words. As to what you fay concerning exafperating, 37 (the Whigs) must be in the fecret, or abfolutely blind; and, in both cases, 113

(Argyll), in 193's (Stair's) hands, is a proper man. The news are here, that Duke Hamilton and the Duke of Queensberry are in very good understanding together. I have never yet heard from 205 (Balcarras). So foon as I either fee or hear from 147 (Johnstone), I shall write to you again. Adieu.

October the 1ft, 1705.

CXXI. FROM SECRETARY JOHNSTONE.

2d October [1]705.

YOUR laft to me that I have got was on the 11th September; and my last of any moment was of the 18th. I think 101 (the New Party) are in the right to abstain till they see further, and nou more than ever, fince the

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Trienniall A&, &c., are refused, which is but too too plain.

Houever, 147