CXL. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

I HAD yours of the 3d laft poft, which indeed I was much longing for, not having heard from you of a long time before. I am mightily pleased with what you propofe concerning 206 (Annandale) and 115 (Seafield); nor shall my wake endeavours be wanting, as foon as I can, and that will be fooner, too, than I thought of fome dayes ago, for I was not able to get thorow this week's work here, but was forced to leave it off, being quite dispirited with it, and on Monday next shall leave this place, being refolv'd to spend the dayes of my next intermiffion elsewhere, but muft, I find, return hither. Before this comes to your hands, you'l know my mind fully as to 76 (an Union), but we feem to differ as to 85 (a Treaty), and indeed it's full time we were at a point as to that; but I ftill think it's 101's (the New Party's)

koufsfru sbugfs 35en13mmnx u67g19bo 14m16f bc u11gkr 910be8ebks xgkdg19 b13mm 2sf17br16no tru intereft rather to follow than lead in this affair, which in all reafon must 115nsf bddfqubamf ugnrf ug34bu bsf ens ku b16boc mf15rr neeforktf ugnrf ug34bu

be more acceptable to thofe that are for it, and lefs offenfive to those that are against it. Befides it's to be confidered who of 102 (the New Party)

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wou'd come, and what might be the confequence of fome's coming; for

171's (Ormifton's) influence may chance to be something troublesome, as well as 58 (the Court). In fhort, I cannot but think 102 (the New Party) will mfrr rtrqfdufe az mzkoh ntu rfuukoh tq

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be more fignificant and lefs fufpected, by lying out. As for setting up

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99 (the Old Party), it's as likely we'l enjoy the fruit of their labour.

Pray let me hear from you particularly as to this.

December the 22d, 1705.

Adieu.

CXLI. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

YOUR laft was of the 15th; mine of the fame date. Jervifwood has ever fince been fo ill of the spleen that he can write but little. People here are fo much upon the reserve, that's impoffible to guefs how the Union may take. It would not be my choice, and what sticks most with me is, that it

will render the Seffion difpofers of our eftates at pleasure, when there shall be no appeal from their fentence, but to the House of Peers. For the appeal that now lies to the Scots Parliament is the onlie thing that keeps them within bounds; and yet we cannot want the Seffion without ane entire fubverfion of our laws about private rights, which must be a work of time, and may perhaps be attended with as many inconveniences as the other. Nevertheless, the Union is certainlie preferable to our prefent condition, and of two evills the leaft is to be chofen. Therefore it ought to be tried; for it will either fucceed, or force them that are against it to be for the Succeffion with Limitations. The Cavaliers must be for the latter, if they understand their intereft being the other will cut off their hopes for ever, which is the best thing in it. The Cavaliers, together with others who will be againft the Union, may make a ftrong partie. I know not which would be beft, that both a federall and incorporating Union be treated of, and different fchemes of each prepared for the Scots Parliament, or that of ane incorporating Union onlie. If the former, there may be too much ground for the Parliament to goe upon for to poftpone their determination, and perhaps to throw out both, together with the Succeffion. If the latter, they'll probablie reckon it a prefcribing by England of termes, and of the way and manner of uniting, which will be a popular handle to break it off. However matters may goe, the conclufion will not be fo eafie as fome may imagine, especially if the Treaters be all of a partie; and therefore it will be wife in the New Partie to keep their minds to themselves till there be a neceffity of declaring, which cannot well happen till the Parliament meets, especially if they be not of the Treaty. Queensberry has been a-going from this every day this three weeks; is not yet gone; and, as I hear, defigns to make no great haft upon the road. the road. What can be the reafon of this I cannot learn, but by some supposed to be a new bargaine-a ftriking up at Court-but not yet finished, and which he would have done before he comes there; by others, that there is no good understanding betwixt Argile and him, and that he (Queensberry) would have all done and concluded before his arrivall, that there may be room for ane after game.

Edinburgh, December 29th, 1705.

Adieu.

CXLII. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH. ·

QUEENSBERRY went from this on Munday. Some believe there is no understanding at bottom betwixt Argile and him, because of the paines Queensberry has taken to perfuade Annandale's friends that he had no hand in turning him out; which having come to Seafield's ear, puts him upon the rack, knowing that Queensberry owes him no kindness, and is affrayed that Annandale and Queensberry may make up, to his lofe. To prevent which, meffages have been fent by Seafield to my Lady Annandale, declaring his innocencie in that matter; that it was Queenfberry chieflie who did it; that without him, it could not have been done. Carftaires has been employed by Queensberry to Annandale's friends, to perfuade him to be foft, and to accept what had been in his offer, till he fhould be better provided. Good ufe may be made of this, for if the Old Partie can be broke among themselves, the New will be more at liberty to choose what's beft, and even then not to meddle, unleffe invited by greater encouragements then they have yet met with.

I juft now have your's of November 28th and 22d paft. You have my thoughts of the Union already. I own that the Union will fecure us against the Prince of Wales, but doe not fee that rejecting of it by the Scots Parliament can make him mafter, unless that at the fame time the Succeffion be either delayed, or thrown out, which indeed may probablie follow upon the other. But if the Succeffion, with Limitations, were ftated in one A&, in oppofition to the Union, and carried, it would fecure us for a while. I cannot affert the fecurity will be fo firm and lafting as the other; and were we as certaine of riches by the Union, as of fecurity from foreign and domestick oppreffion, all other difficulties might be either adjusted, or eafily paft from. But many are of opinion it will rather impoverish us, especially if the Seffion fhall be removed, and I have already given my reasons against it's continuance. After all, confidering the temper of this people, how unfit to govern ourselves, how likely to weary of Limitations, were they got, and for other reafons mentioned in your's, I must be convinced that the Union is our onlie game. But it will not be fo eafie as you imagine; for all you reckon upon will not be of that opinion in Parliament. Stairs his

T

people begin already to talk of a federall Union onlie. How this comes about, you may guess. Therefore, to make fure work, both Unions should be treated of. I was doubtfull of it in my laft, but this difcoverie makes me think it abfolutelie neceffary. Befides the benefite of not being accountable for events, and that men commonlie enjoy the fruit of others labour, what you mention of the influence the Juftice-Clerk and Court might have on fuch [of] the New Partie as would goe up, fatiffies me entirely, that it's best to lie off, and not to be of the Treaty, unless fomething occurrs not yet in view. Tweedale and Rothes, to whom I have read as much of your's as was neceffary, are pofitive of this opinion. Tweedale feems to be likewife for the Union; Rothes is not yet fo clear, but fayes he'll be determined by the New Partie.

January 3d, 1706.

Adieu.

MY LORD,

CXLIII. TO THE MARQUIS OF ANNANDALE.

Edinburgh, January 8th, 1706.

I HAVE been fo ill fince I came to towne, that I could not write fooner; befides, I was still in hopes of hearing from your Lordship, my Lady Marquis having told me she had fent me a letter which by fome mifchance has never come to my hand. I was vexed at firft that your Lordship should have quitt, because poffiblie it might have narrowed your power of doing good for the countrey; but now that I understand how your Lordship was treated by pretended friends, I cannot but be of opinion with all whom I have difcourfed on that subject, that your Lordship could doe no lefs. Certainlie it was a hardship to be oblidged to it, but it must bring you in againe, with greater advantage both to your countrey and friends; and if it should not, your Lordship muft notwithstanding be a gainer in the esteem of honeft men. Matters are quiet here, and people fo much upon the reserve, that it's impoffible yet to guefs how the Union may take in our Parliament. I wish a fettlement may not prove more impracticable than formerlie. Honeft men muft doe their pairts, and, if what's best cannot be carried, wife men must chufe the next beft; and for what I know, people

may be more divided about this than ever. When any thing occurs of moment, your Lordship fhall hear from

Your's.

CXLIV. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

YOUR laft was of the 1ft; mine of the 3d. Tell Roxburgh I wish him joy of being Secretarie; which, together with Tweedale being to be Prefident of the Councill, Marr to have the Guards, and Argile to be Generall, are the newse of the place. A conqueft will certainlie end in the Prince of Wales, if the Court is for him. If the Court be not in earneft for the Union, Duke Hamilton, or the Cavaliers, being of the Treaty would be deftruction; otherwise it might doe good, for I doe not think it impoffible to gaine them; but venturing of this would be a great risque. However, the New Partie ought not to meddle.

I send you by this poft a letter from Marchmont-upon what subject I know not. As I guess, it may be about the Treaty. When I saw him laft, he was for a mixture, and am affrayed he has wrote of it to severall others, which probablie might have been prevented, had I known it in time, even tho' I could not have ventured to give him the true reasons against it. January 10th, 1706.

CXLV. FROM THE MARQUIS OF ANNANDALE.

Adieu.

SIR,

I HAVE your's by laft poft. I cannott be better satisfied with annie bodie's aprobation off what I doe than with your's. When you heare all from me, and kno what I kno fince I came heare, you will be more and more fatiffied. Thiss you fhall, I affure you, with a greatt dale off freedom and fincere frindship att meetting, and you fhall then finde me, whatever may be my circumftances, whether publick or privatt, frankly the fame, bothe as to the intereft off the Proteftant Succeffion, and the true intereft off my cuntrey; and I am fure unless I can think itt fhall be for the advantage bothe off my cuntrey and my frinds, I fhall have no satisfaction ever to be employed again. To tell you the truthe, itt is with unexpreffible uneafiness that I have stayed heare these