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fix weeks bygone; and now I am fure a fortnight, or three weeks, shall determine that point. Believe me I am, with all the fincerittie that man can tell itt you, Faithfullie Your's.

All the affaires off Scotland are now at a ftand untill Duke Queensberrie come heare, as I am told. I am told alfoe, and from a verie good hand, that [the] Duke off Argyll goes foon for Holland; medles no more in Scots bufinefs. When I kno annie thing worthe while, you shall have itt.

The 15th of January, [1706].

CLXVI. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

YOUR laft was of the 10th; mine of the fame date. Laft post I had a kind letter from Annandale, but by fome things in it, could guess that he defigns to be in againe, and is not without hopes of fucceeding. This muft be done by Queensberry's affistance, for he had wrote to Annandale to stay at London till he came there. It will be now feasonable to mind what I wrote fome time agoe on this fubject. Paines is taken against the Union, and for that end a book is come amongst us, that was wrote fome yeares ago, of Ireland's treatment by England, expreffly contrare to treaties and conventions between the two nations. Adieu.

January 24th, 1706.

CXLVII. TO THE SAME.

I HAVE your's of the 12th, and should have been verie uneafie about Roxburgh, had I not known a month agoe it was no feaver that ail'd him, which was no fecret here. I agree that, as matters are, it's best not to meddle, for there is no ground to expect the Union will fucceed, many being against it; and it will doe better to prevent the nomination of the New Partie, by infinuating their averfion to it, than to refufe when named. The latter would expose them both to Court and countrey; especially if it fhall come from the Queen herself. And I take this, together with eftablishing themselves, to be the chief thing defigned by the motion; and

to us.

therefore doe conclude it will not be got eafilie prevented, without some lofe But if things fhould fo far alter, as to make it neceffary for the New Partie to be Treaters, which you on the place can onlie judge of, it will not be adviseable to venture on it, unless Montrofe and fome of his friends be likewife named; for it would create fuch jealoufies as would render us infignificant. I have spoke to Montrofe upon the fuppofition that he and the New Partie were to be named. He feems confident it will not be, and is altogether averse from it. Many here, not verie clear-fighted, begin to understand matters, and ftick not to fay, that all is amusement onlie; which makes me of opinion, that if ever the Succeffion fettle, it will be done without any termes whatfomever, by the Prefbeterians, from fear of the Prince of Wales; and perhaps the Cavaliers may concurr, from a prerogative principle, and to hinder the Union, which, as they imagine, would cut him off for ever.

I just now have your's of the 14th. Revenge might make the Whigs being fouticé, acceptable; yet I cannot but be confounded at it, for I look upon their fall as the ruin of the Succeffion. They have brought this upon themselves, by treating us fo ill, and by other falfe fteps, and none more foolish than fetting up of Annandale for the chief man. "Tis true he may be more for the Succeffion than Queensberry, &c.; but without them, he cannot [get] through it, unless it be by chance. What our pairt should be in fo criticall a juncture, I know not; for to dip with him at the verie first may prove dangerous; to keep too abftract may force him over to the other partie, and perhaps may rifque the Succeffion. Befides, you know fome of the New Partie will joyn him without us. A middle course will be the best, till matters clear furder. Rothes, to whom I have read pairt of your's, has feen this, and is of the fame opinion.

February 19th, 1706.

CXLVIII. TO THE SAME.

AFTER having fully confidered your three laft, I encline to Johnstone's opinion, that Annandale should be Commiffioner; for if the Court is against the Succeffion, and the Old Partie, who are known to be enclined that way, fhould continue in the Miniftrie, the Succeffion and Union will be much

more impracticable than by Annandale. I own that Annandale will be able to effectuat little or nothing; but certainlie he is more for a fettlement than the Old Partie, and fome of them, perhaps, may joyn him on that account; and who knows what chance may do. However, I reckon that nothing can be done in Scotland, to purpose, till a new set be made of all fides, which can never be, unless the Old Partie be first broke, and there is none fitter for it than Annandale. If the Court were in earnest, this reasoning would fall to the ground; for doubtless the Old Partie are ableft to doe business. By following Annandale, I do not mean that the New Partie should come under engagements to him, or that they should share with him in places; onlie to give him fuch encouragement as he may not defpair of their affiftance in Parliament, when right things are propofed and certainlie we will do foe, and why not fay it? A little of this will goe a great way with him. Thus we fhall be at libertie to act as we fee caufe, and have it in our power to joyn whom we please. But if we should flight him, it will force him over to the other partie, whose measures he must then follow entirely, to our ruin for ever, and perhaps of the Succeffion likewife. That Annandale is hated, we shall the eafier get rid of him in due time. I wish Roxburgh had not faid to Seafield he knew none fo fit as Annandale to fpoil the Treaty; for if it be fo intended, it may turn to Roxburgh's prejudice. I look upon the ftorie of Annandale's having brag'd that the New Partie would support him, as a trick of Seafield's to discover inclinations, that he might make a merit of it at Court, and with Annandale, to make up with him.

February 22d, 1706.

CXLIX. TO THE SAME.

I HAVE not heard from Jervifwood fince he went to Sir John Hume's buriall about a month ago. I'm told he's been bufie about a member for that fhire, which may have kept him from writing. There is a competition betwixt Ceffnock and Wedderburn, which is to be decided this week,-in whofe favour I know not. I have your's of the 18th. The copie was fo incorrect, I cannot say that I understand it fully; but, as I take it, it can doe no hurt if warily managed, and will expofe the Whigs and Old Partie, efpeci

ally if it be made evident that they defign not the Succeffion. Such a difcoverie will make the Old Party more zealous in the Succeffion, to prevent the other's being laid at their door, upon a new turn of affaires; or harden them in their way. Either of them that happens muft one day be of use to the New Partie; but if it is not done quickly, it will not answer the end; for if the Union fucceeds, or great things be offered, tho' not accepted, it can fignifie nothing. Matters are at such a pass, that a fettlement is not to be expected without fome kind of Union, which makes our cafe hard, for we must either oppofe the only remaining way of fettlement, or contribute to the establishment of the Old Partie. Therefore I cannot but wifh, notwithstanding of the weighty reafons in the contrarie, that the New Partie had been of the Treaty; but that's over. The nomination is not acceptable to Scotland, and may hinder the Union. Certainly what Marchmont propofed was the most probable way of bringing it to a good iffue; for many of those who are neglected will oppofe, and together with fuch as are against the Union and Succeffion make a confiderable partie. I have seen none of the New Partie fince Montrose was Prefident. Queenfberry did it: he would not accept upon terms, so that he is at liberty. I have not Johnftone's address, so cannot write to him. If neceffary, you may send him this. I write feldom, for that this place affords nothing of moment.

Adieu.

April 1ft, 1706.

CL. FROM SECRETARY JOHNSTONE.

April 6th, [1]706.

147 (JOHNSTONE) has not heard from you fince he wrote to yourself by the post: he has had nothing to write fince. 147 (Johnstone) is to be quickly

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at Bath. 117 (Roxburgh) and others are of opinion that fomthing be done

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now to open people's eyes. Write what you think fit of materialls to 135

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(Ridpath) by name, under cover to Mr. George Serle, accountant, at the Ugnl7rno8

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poft office, or Mr. Thomfon, at Mr. Boyd's, near Scotch-hall, Blakfriers, London. Write by an unknown hand: your wife's is as well known as your own. What is wanting cheiffly is fhort charracters or histories

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of the Commiffioners for 86 (the Treaty). It will be done by letters; fo there will always be time and room for what is to the purpose.

136 (Ridpath) need not know who writes to him.

Farewell.

CLI. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

I HAVE your's of the lft, and hope you have mine of the fame date. The election for the Merfe is now over, but controverted for no reafon but that they would have it fo; for Ceffnock will have a dozen of good votes more than Wedderburn. No other Whig whom we could have fet up would have carried it; and he certainlie will be of the New Partie.

How to write to Marchmont may have difficulties; yet I think it neceffary you fay fomething to him, but in fuch manner as to be at libertie to act in the Union according to circumftances. Such of the New Partie whom I have difcourfed feem to be for the Union. Having of late waited on my Lady, fhe was pleafed to acquaint me she had advised your coming by London. I could not but differ from her, and she seemed satisfied it might not be proper at this time, unless it were for matrimonie, which I apprehend may take more time than were fit for you to be at Court, now that the Treaters are there, and that you have been neglected in the nomination. Befides, you know how apt people are to misconstruct things and to be impofed upon, which makes it neceffary no handle be given; for we have nothing to trust to, but keeping the Partie as close together as poffible. April 13th, 1706.

CLII. TO THE SAME.

MINE of the 13th, wrote without the leaft fufpicion of a defign to break the New Partie, will in pairt answer your last without date. I cannot believe Ormiftone will attempt it; it being more his intereft to keep up the New Partie, and to pretend he can manage them. Befides, he cannot, by dividing us, fet up a partie that will fignifie any thing without Queensberry, who will never pairt with Staires, whom the Juftice-Clerk hates; and I'm prettie confident Rothes and Haddington will not joyn him in fuch com

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