they think that 25 (the Court) is changed, and be really friends with 60 (the Union), or 63 (the Succeffion); for it's certain they were very lately enemies. The mannagement with 273 (Johnstone) makes a noise, for he has made no fecret of it, and the rather that to break his credit here, 17 (the Lord Treasurer) and others have given to understand, as in great confidence, that he had a confiderable penfion from them, which poffibly is his own fault that he has not, for he never afked it. However, thefe are mean, pitifull arts, and fhall not be without a return. If matters linger in 40 (the Scottish Parliament), he shall again feel the pulfe of 32 (the Whig Lords). Farewell.

CLXIV. TO SECRETARY JOHNSTONE.

THE Doctor got not your last. The Old Partie have it that Marlborough had wrote to Johnstone for the Union, and that Johnstone had fo advised the New Partie. Whether they have got this by your's intercepted, or fome way elfe, you can beft judge. The New Partie cannot rule themselves by the Court or countrey's inclinations, for they cannot be certainlie known, and the latter fo unstable, that no ftate can be made upon it, and yet it's probable the majority may be for the Union; but should both be against it, the New Partie would leffen themselves more by oppofing than by going into it; for by the former they would divide, and Roxburgh, and one or two more, be left to themselves. With Duke Hamilton they cannot joyn, and the part he acts at prefent is not to be understood. In fhort, the New Partie must keep together, tho' in things that would not be their choice; but the Union is what they reckon can onlie fettle Scotland, and can never be concluded but now, when the Old Partie muft appear for it, outwardlie at least. From this, and Malborough's letter, Johnstone has a fair occafion of making himself be thought the inftrument of bringing over the New Partie, for their actings will be without concert with the present Ministrie. Belhaven is none of us, and yet I am apt to believe that the Union may carrie, for the Tories are not at one among themselves, nor have they, fo far as I can learn, concerted measures for defeating it. Annandale is uneafie, but perhaps may be got managed.

October 8th, 1706.

CLXV. TO THE SAME.

ROXBURGH got your's of the 4th. Your laft was of the 5th-mine of the 8th. Since, the Parliament has been employed in difcuffing of grounds that were offered to poftpone the confideration of the Treaty, as that of a National Faft for direction, with fome others of lefs moment, which, after debate, came to be moved, for that both fides were fhy to venture a vote; but this day a motion having been made by Belhaven, and feconded by Duke Hamilton and others, for a week's delay, after a long debate the question was put, Delay, or Proceed? Delay 52; Proceed 116. This majority was by the New Partie's joyning, who on this occafion declared themselves, and wanted none of their number, but Belhaven. Had the New Partie gone the other way, the Treaty had been defeat; but now I verily believe, if things take not an odd turn, that it will be concluded, even tho' it be certaine that many of the Old Partie give just ground to believe that they are not for it, for they are at little or no paines to perfuade others to it. Johnstone would make use of the New Partie's appearing with the Whigs and others, as he fees moft for his and our interest. There is now a vacancie in the Seffion. The New Partie have agreed to use their intereft for a delay till the Parliament is over, and that it be not filled by the prefent Ministrie. Roxburgh has wrote about it to the Treasurer, and in favour of Mr. Wedderburn, for whom I doubt not you'l ufe your interest; and the Whigs would be made understand that the Old Partie's having the difpofall of it will put the juftice of the nation in the hands of one fet, which must both difguft the New Partie and the whole nation.

October 15th, 1706.

CLXVI. FROM SECRETARY JOHNSTONE.

London, October 19th, [1706].

I WROTE a line to you laft poft, and cannot yet write what I have to say. I have had none fince your's of the 8th. 129 (Sunderland) says, that 221 (Duke Hamilton) has broke to them, but that now they hope to have 228

(Atholl): they would have any body rather than 47 (the New Party): the

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reafon is obvious. However, goe on but flowly; and 272 (Johnstone) is so doubtfull of confequences, that he cannot venture upon them but with clean hands; for if they fhould prove bad, and that he could accufe himself that he had been selfish in the matter, 273 (Johnstone) would never forgive him. However he is refolved to give 31 (the Whig Lords) fair opportunities.

Farewell.

CLXVII. FROM THE SAME.

London, October 22d, [1706], Morning.

I HAVE your's and 241's (Tweeddale's) of the 15th. I perceive they have

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your friend's to the Doctor of the 7th, which he fays was full. Therefore

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ekcpig change the alphabet, and put the fecond letter in the fecond row in the

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place of the first in that row, and the third in place of the fecond, and fo

on, as I will do now, and fill your words with figures, all which, whatever dgclplpi

they be, fhall be nulls, unless in the beginning of a word; and give more

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addreffes, for they open all frequent letters, and stop them if they have

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cyphers. Direct to me fometimes as laft year, particularly to the addrefs

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near St. James's Square.

It's thought here, that 20 (the Lord Treasurer), tho the fame in his heart, for 180 (Harley), who knows it, is the fame, or 101 (against the Union), is dsurthqwrnyh mnsyxhg

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fo apprehenfive of a miscarriage being imputed to him, that he is 99 (for

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(the Union); but you know this is to be, and not to be. I can affure you he has done his best to make 275 (Johnstone) 100 (againft the Union),

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which falls pretty hard upon him; but your friend wrote to you to make your obfervations where you are on that subject, and fend him them up.

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197 (Argyll) will be 98 (for the Union), in appearance, but that is all. 270 (The Lord Advocate) is ftill 100 (against the Union), and diffembles it not to his friends here. 41 (The Jacobites) fay, that 50 (the Dutch) have trufted him with 102 (a fum of money), and 42 (the Jacobites) have ftill frph iurn ehbrqg whd good hopes. A friend of 243's (Roxburgh's), come from beyond fea, owns

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50's (the Dutch's) medling to me.

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274 (Johnstone) retracts: he fees difpatch is neceffary, for there is a new working fince 48's (the New Party's)

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112 (difcovery). 227 (The Duke of Queenfberry) had written for a great

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many things to be done as neceffary to 60 (the Union), but now writes that

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there is no occafion for them; fo fure he pretends to be.

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At Night.

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20 (The Lord Treasurer) has written to you all three, by 236 (Seafield), thanks from 3 (the Queen); and about 276 (Wedderburn), that 225 (the Duke of Queensberry) had got a blank, but he had written to him not to geoo 8mx ys fill it up. "It's hard, (fayd your friend) that justice should be a property, as it is; and which is worse, (added he), it's like to be more fo." Is not this plain 101 (against the Union)? As to 32 (the Whig Lords), nothing is to be done juft now. 130 (Sunderland) complains that the whole Treaty was not voted at firft dafh.

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Farewell.

Let me know that you have got this, and other two in one, this poft.

CLXVIII. TO SECRETARY JOHNSTONE.

THE Chancelor, at firft federunt after the mobb, acquainted the House that the Councill had brought troops into the town for fecuring the peace; whereupon the Advocate offered a motion in write, that the Committee should have thanks, and that the Parliament fhould recommend to them the continuance of their care. This occafioned a long and hot debate, upon the foot of it's being a force on the Parliament; and before voting, Erroll gave in a proteft for faving his own and the Parliament's privileges, which was adhered to by Duke Hamilton and about fifty more; but the motion was carried by a majority of fifty-three. It's faid that those against it did manage the debate in fuch a manner as gave umbrage to not a few. The Duke appeares now above-board; has againe fet up Steel's meeting. There is paines taken by the Tories to procure addreffes from all places against the Union. At bottom it's setting the Succeffion in fuch a manner as cuts off

their hopes. That troubles them; and it's given out the Succeffion, fimply, or with Limitations, in exclufion of the Union, will be their last effort; and if neither of these fucceed, that a bold ftroak will be ventured. Many of the Prefbyterian minifters are against the Union, and acting fuch a pairt as they did in the late troubles; attempting to advise and interpofe by the Commiffion of the Kirk in matters that belong not to them, and to raise objections against the Union from the Covenant, &c. Wyllie leads this fquadron. The Old Partie gave out at firft that not one iota of the Articles were to be altered, which did hurt; now they have changed their note, for what reafon I know not. He is thought to be in earneft, but fome complain that bufinefs is forefhowed, and that all those whom they formerlie manadged are not for the Union. The Treasurer's letters are bare and lame, which makes what I formerlie preffed the more neceffary to the New Partie; and if he is not for the Union, the lefs he be meddled with the better, for we can expect nothing by him, and it may give umbrage to others. The Scots Miniftrie, I hear, have refolved that the Parliament fhall meet dailie. Annandale is quite off us, and is manadged by Kincardine. Thomas Bruce acts a pairt here against the Union, by whofe direction I know not.

October 29th, 1706.

CLXIX. TO THE SAME.

My laft was of the 29th; your's of the 22d October. On Wednesday laft it was moved, That fince the Houfe had gone through the Articles, for information, that they should return to reconfider them, in order to voting. This was debated all that day, [and] Friday and Saturday thereafter, till towards evening it was carried that the firft Article fhould be first confidered, but with this provifo, that it should take no effect unless the other Articles were found fatiffactorie, and that the fecurity of the Church fhould come next under confideration, before anything else. There were severall motions made in oppofition to this,-as confulting of conftituents, and fuch like; at laft, that the Church fhould be firft under confideration was fixed on as ane oppofite ftate of a vote, and was indeed the most plaufible they could have pitcht on; for which fhould be the ftate of the queftion carried by