heare he is gone to the Weft. I am told the Earl off Roxburgh goes from the Bath straight to Scottland. I think I shall stay but verrie little tyme in thifs place, for iff I cannot be usefull to the common cause and honest interest, I hate to have itt thoght I hing on and depend for a place when I have refuifed one off the best. Whatever condition or capacittie I am in, I shall be true to the Revolution intereft, the Proteftant fucceffion, and a faithful frind and fervant to yourself. And I am, without ceremonie, Your's. My humble service to the Earl off Marchmont, Hadington, Rothess, and all our good frinds. Mr. Smyth, who is my good acquaintance and frind, is chofen Speaker by above fortie. The 25th off October, [1705.] CXXIX.. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH. dblf gfsf I HAD your's of the 15th this day seven-night. 147 (Johnstone) came here ugtsrclz mbru on Thursday laft. He is to write to-night to 206 (Annandale) in generall terms, but cannot be with him this fortnight yet. I have seen a letter cklkuufc uftknu xgfsfko ugkr cbx to-day from 208 (Annandale) to Teviot, wherein he fayes he has this day dimitted, and gives his fervice to 117 (Roxburgh), being now upon the fquare with him. 148 (Johnstone) has had your's of the 21ft. He fayes 118 xkugntu ikrrkch dboonu sfutso (Roxburgh) cannot return to 74 (Scotland) without kiffing 24's (the Queen's) gbocr ugbu ku xkmm mnni mkif qfu gtlntu dnorustfc blsz hands; that it will look like pet and humour, and may be conftrued many ckeefsfou xlzr different ways. But, in fhort, I find there is a neceffity for 118 (Roxburgh) mfbru ugfrf rkw xffir xkeufs rfutso efastbsz rubz gsfs to stay here all winter, or at least these fix weeks, and to return in February. This no perfon must know this fix weeks. After all, I am fure I mend. I have had no word from 34 (the Lord Treasurer), nor do I think it our bufi dnofso ntsrfmftr xkug nefs to concern ourselves with 36 (the Lord Treasurer), 37 (the Whigs), or qsnqnrf afkoh 39 (the Tories). 40 (The Tories), it's faid, are to propofe 98 (Hanover) being asntgu ntfs brought over. October the 29th, 1705. Adieu. CXXX. FROM THE SAME. I HAD your's this day, of the 27th of September, from 147 (Johnstone) at 151 (Lord Poulett's), and am fo fenfible of what you fay that I am dgnol3en3toc15fc 17br16uf20s confounded, nor can I fee a remedy. 33 (The Lord Treasurer) is mafter: 37 d11gf9b13u29 dg2fb4ufc (the Whigs) is either cheated, or in the cheat; if the laft, there's an end; if toc19fdf5ktf3 g2k81 the firft, 101 (the New Party) alone can undeceive him. But 38 (the Whigs) What 175 (Baillie) won't trust him; nor can he truft 37 (the Whigs). fayes concerning 109 (Duke Hamilton) feems certain, and 183 (Atholl) and rf7ds12fu 105 (the Cavaliers) are, without doubt, in the fecret. If 117 (Roxburgh) goes to London, he is refolv'd to be mifanthrope; but that won't be this month, nor will his ftay be above two months. I forgot to thank you in ifm2rn15 my laft for the bufinefs of Kelfo, which I had a full account of. 118 (Roxug3ko14tr9 gkl5rfm17ef7 bcl4ksb15amf8 dgslkru2kbo burgh) thinks himself an admirable Chriftian, being 37 (Whig) in spight of 38 (the Whigs'), and 103 (Presbyterian) in spight of 104 (the Presbyterians') bad ufage. November the 7th, 1705. Adieu. MY LORD, CXXXI. TO THE MARQUIS OF ANNANDALE. November 12th, 1705. I HAVE the honour of your Lordship's of the 25th paft. I'm forrie you should have quitt at this juncture, which I could not have advised; for in my observation, few men out of place have been able to doe much [for their] countrey, which proceeds from the temper of our people, who ufually miftruft what's done by fuch to be pique and humour. I doubt not but thofe in the fadle may fix themselves for fome time, but am of opinion that too open a joynt appearance against them at prefent might contribute to it, and unite them the clofer; for, generally speaking, it's not men but things that can overturn a new establisht partie. If they defign to fettle this countrey upon a good foot, it's well: we must be partakers of the glorie and advantage, feeing they cannot fucceed without us: if otherwife, they must neceffarily fall by their own weight. I do not mean that nothing is to be done; for their measures laft Seffion would be expofed, which will either force them to better, or, by a difcoverie of their inclinations, doe their bufinefs effectually; and this can be done by none to fo good purpose, and with fuch weight, as by your Lordship, who knows all the steps of their proceedings, [and] certainly you will have the affiftance of friends. These are my thoughts upon what I know of matters, which I fubmitt to your Lordship's better judgement. By my being in the countrey, the way of conveyance is uncertaine, and makes this fo long a-fending. Now that your Lordship knows my hand, and that this may mifcarrie, I hope you'll excufe my not figning myfelf what I really am, Your's. CXXXII. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH. I HAVE your's of the 20th and 29th. My laft was of the 22d. I write seldom, having nothing to say. I begin now to despaire of seeing you here till the Parliament meets. I should be forrie your legg were the occafion of it: I wish rather it were matrimony. I own it is but reasonable you see the Queen, for the neglect of it may be liable to mifconftruction, and perhaps may fix too deep a refentment. Befides, who knows what opportunity may offer of doing good for Scotland: and yet I'm affrayed you may be fo inveigled with bufinefs, as not to get yourself eafily extricat without lofe one way or other. Perhaps it may be defigned to put you upon the Treaty, which would be inconvenient without fome others of the New Partie were joyned with you; and I doubt if they were named, that their circumstances, and the condition of this countrey, through want of money, would allow them to attend. The Old Partie may; for now that all is in their hands, they'll expect to have their expences defrayed, which the New can have no profpect of. Besides, I should not think it adviseable to be of the Treaty, unless England be enclined to yield what's reasonable, for it might lead us off our former measures; and if it faile, it's beft they bear the burden who were the occafion of it; but if good were like to be done by it, it will be neceffary that interest be made that the New Partie be of it, that the Old may not have the fole praife, and thereby fix themselves in the affections of the people: but you who are there, and know the ftate of affaires, can best ballance the conveniences and inconveniences of all fides, and chufe what's moft proper. I'm apprehenfive it may be endeavoured to take off Montrofe by Annandale's place; how it can be prevented I know not. Annandale has entered into a correfpondence with me, which I doe not much like. I'm loth to lose him, and were I with him, could cox him, but writing is the devill, and I know not how it may be taken, or what use he may make of it; neither do I know how far we may goe against Argile, &c., and when to ftop. I therefore fend you a copy of my laft to Annandale, that I may have your advice to manage that matter; for my firft was nothing but compliment. November 13th, 1705. CXXXIII. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH. It's a great while fince I either heard from you, or wrote to you, having had nothing to fay fince my laft. I have not heard from 147 (Johnstone) fince he was at London, nor do I in the leaft guess what is defign'd with 74 (Scotland). For my own part, I find it will be neceffary to stay here till Christmass; and then indeed I believe I fhall move towards the great city, i10ff13q unollh19t2f afuxkwt lz u4f56fug where I fhall in all probability keep my tongue betwixt my teeth; or if it fo happen that 117 (Roxburgh) muft open, 175 (Baillie) may refolve on a journey; but it's foon enough to fpeak of this when the occafion happens. 159 (Tweedale), I am fure, will be much fupprifed with his friend's marriage; it may be a good one, and it may be a bad one. 118 (Roxburgh) is much Adieu. mended. November the 19th, 1705. nfgo CXXXIV. FROM THE SAME. I HAVE had your's of the 13th, and thank you heartily for your compliments. I wish I were able, and that, I hope, will be in good time too, for at prefent it were not convenient to be well. As for 117 (Roxburgh's) r89f14fkoh22 sfutso feeing 22 (the Queen), I think it reasonable, nay fitt, before he return; but gbyb56sc qf2sr3nobmm qnmkukdbmm n15tflls qnru I think all hazard, perfonall and politicall, fhould firft be over. As for a poft afkoh neefsfc cfrksfe bctkrf being offered, or being defired to advise, there's no difficulty; but 85 cftkm (the Treaty) is the devil, fo that I can fay nothing about it; only 118 (Rox burgh) tells me he will stay where he is till Treaters be nominated, and then Intf tqno betkdf move upon advice from 101 (the New Party). In all appearance, 37 (the Whigs) will now make their last effort for 76 (an Union), and they have xbr uszfc dbsszfc mbru lkrdbssz reafon, for if 77 (an Union) be tryed and mifcarry, 81 (Limitations) will be found a cold fent (fcent); but, upon the whole, 102 (the New Party) will certainly be able to do moft good by neither being in 60 (the Court) nor 85 (the Treaty). Whether 76 (Union) or 82 (Limitations) be beft, which, to dnorkcfskoh nts qfnqmf tell you freely, I begin to be in doubt about, confidering our people, and how 81 (Limitations) was carryed laft 87 (Scottish Parliament); but it's time enough to think on this. As for 161 (Montrose), I can say nothing, for 33 (the Lord Treasurer), I fuppofe, is refolved to know all that is in 72 (England) and 75 (Scotland), that he may accordingly know how to make use of them. I think you do perfectly well with 208 (Annandale). Adieu. I have had but one trifling letter from 147 (Johnstone). November the 26th, 1705. CXXXV. FROM THE SAME. 117 (ROXBURGH) was never in fo great anxiety as now; his thoughts have been intirely taken up thefe eight-and-forty hours about 76 (an Union), and a torment to him, which he has a mind you fhou'd have a part of. In short, he's of opinion that 77 (Union) will not now ftand at 51 (the English Parliament); and 37 (the Whigs) do wifely; for a few years, if this takes effect, ruines 39 (the Tories), and feems to be the furest bullwark against 95 (the Prince of Wales). Befides, 38 (the Whigs) put the thorn in 74's (Scotland's) foot, and fo make themfelves blameless, nay make it evident to the whole world, that if 75 (Scotland) will neither be fatiffied with 77 (Union), nor 80 (Succeffion) and 82 (Limitations), it can have nothing in its view but 96 (the Prince of Wales); after which 72 (England) can never be blamed, let it go to never fo great hights against 74 (Scotland). On the other hand, if 77 (Union) does, as I am fatiffyed it will, adieu to |