JB, WATERROUSB. 
 
Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
Three hundred and ten copies of this book have been printed, of which 
 three hundred are for sale. 
 
 / 
 
Curiosities 
 
 of 
 
 A Scots Charta Chest 
 
 1 600- 1 800 
 
 With the Travels and Memoranda of 
 
 Sir Alexander Dick, Baronet 
 
 Of Prestonfield, Midlothian 
 
 Written by Himself 
 
 Edited and Arranged by 
 
 The Honble. Mrs Atholl Forbes 
 
 William Brown 
 26 Princes Street, Edinburgh 
 
 1897 
 
Zo tbe /Bbemors 
 
 OF 
 
 MY DEARLY LOVED BROTHER 
 
 ROBERT 
 
 WHO ENTRUSTED ME WITH HIS 
 ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS 
 THIS VOLUME IS 
 SORROWFULLY INSCRIBED. 
 
 Sir "Robert IReltb aicjanfiet ©fchsCungnsbam 
 IRintb asaronet of iprestonflelD an5 
 Seventb 3Baronet of Xambruflbton 
 30orn 2l0t December 1836 
 ©left 2n& ^ag 1807 
 
Apologia 
 
 This volume of letters and Memoranda has been compiled apart 
 from all idea of bookmaking, and solely with the view of bring- 
 ing the reader directly into contact with the writers, who 
 require but little introduction, the greater number being familiar, 
 not only to historians, but to all those who interest themselves in 
 Scottish family history. 
 
 To have done justice to the material contained in the mass of 
 correspondence collected between 1600 and 1800 would have 
 been a work of many volumes, and a labour which the researches 
 of others render unnecessary. 
 
 The earlier letters point to the scant courtesy shewn by the 
 Government to those who gave their substance for the benefit of 
 their country ; and Sir William Dick may be considered fortunate 
 in not losing his head as well as his money. 
 
 That matters were not much better at the end of the century 
 than they were at the beginning, is proved by the experience of 
 his descendant Sir James, whose country house of Prestonfield 
 was burnt by a mob while he was in Edinburgh trying to preserve 
 law and order. In a letter to a friend, he mentions his receiving 
 the first news of the fire while at his tavern or club, and that on 
 returning to his town-house, he found it crowded with friends 
 eager for the latest information ; and that at a moment when 
 he would fain have been quiet, for every word uttered had to be 
 carefully considered. 
 
 From these troublous times we pass on to brighter days, and 
 
Vlll 
 
 Apologia 
 
 see something of the life spent within the walls of Prestonfield, 
 which were promptly rebuilt, for there Sir James' only surviving 
 daughter brought up a large family, her third son Sir Alexander 
 being the collector of these letters, now published for the first 
 time. 
 
 In perusing these papers we come into contact with Allan 
 Ramsay, the " auld canty carl," whose life and works are so 
 ably described by Mr Oliphant Smeaton, in the " Famous Scots 
 Series." Next, James Boswell makes his presence on the scene 
 very distinctly felt, and his letters have an air of bustle and 
 self importance that is truly diverting. Then Allan Ramsay junr- 
 tells us something of his life while studying art in Italy ; and the 
 numerous contretemps that occurred when Sir Alexander Dick 
 and he journeyed there together are graphically described by 
 Sir Alexander in his journal, in which also we get a side view 
 of the Chevalier, and of Prince Charlie in his young days, at 
 Rome, making sport with the Pope and the Cardinals. 
 
 Finally, the penmanship is chiefly carried on by the fair sex, 
 and the cousinly letters which passed between Sir Alexander's 
 daughters and the Ladies Lindsay bring us within measurable 
 distance of the present day. 
 
 An index of the principal subjects referred to in the text is 
 appended. 
 
 A. F. 
 
Contents 
 
 Chapter I ....... . i 
 
 King James and Capt. Dick — Sir William Dick lends money to the Treasury — 
 The Arch rebel Oliver Cromwell — Sir William's death in Westminster 
 Gaol — Scotland's letters — England and Scotland's debt to Sir William — A 
 Prisoner of War — King Charles II. and the Presbytery — The King on the 
 great Fire and the War — The Fleet under H.R.H. The Duke of York — 
 Acts concerning Apparel and the importation of Brandy. [1600- 1 680] 
 
 Chapter II . . . . . . .21 
 
 The Duke of York in Edinburgh — Burning Effigies — Prestonfield burnt by the 
 Mob — Parliament open by the Duke — He goes to Newmarket — Wreck of 
 H.M.S. Gloucester — Petitions — The Countryman's Complaint and Advice 
 to the King — Letters to Sir James Dick — The Duchess of Lauderdale — Good 
 Handsome Pictures — Strange Reelings in the Kingdom — Destruction of 
 Churches. [1680-1688] 
 
 Chapter III . . . . . . .43 
 
 An extraordinary paper for History — Murder of Sir George Lockhart — The sentence 
 — Surrender of Edinburgh Castle by the Duke of Gordon — An empty 
 Treasury — Conjugal letters — A love letter — Letter of Condolence — The Lady 
 Priestfield — A trip to Bath— The poll tax — Relative value of Moneys — Fourth 
 part of a Militia man — The Embassadour of Peace. [1689-1715] 
 
 Chapter IV . . . . . . . .61 
 
 The Duke of Lauderdale opens Parliament — Travellers' passes — Sir John Cunyng- 
 ham sent for by the King — Catalogue of grievances — Fall of the Duke — News 
 of the Day — Sir John named Chancellor of Scotland — Creation of the Earl 
 of Aberdeen — Death of Sir John — Edinburgh Beaux — A Plot and Proclam- 
 ation — Sir William Dick — A journey to England — Family letters — An 
 Elopement — Earl of Eglinton's advice to his son. [1672-1729] 
 
 Chapter V ........ 83 
 
 Letters from Tongue and Dalgoos — General Wade's Bridge — A Scheme for 
 Protestant Nunneries — An Epidemic — A clandestine Marriage — A constant 
 lover — Allan Ramsay, Painter — A rival lover — The Hunters' ball. [1734-36] 
 
X 
 
 Contents 
 
 Chapter VI ........ 
 
 Journey to France — King Louis XV. — En route for Italy — The Exchange at 
 Marseilles — Voyage in a Tartane — Robbed at Genoa — Shipwrecked — Don 
 Carlos at Leghorn — Across the Campagna to Rome. July to October [1736] 
 
 Chapter VII ........ 
 
 Sight-seeing — The Pope's Lottery — Prince Charlie and the Duke of York — The 
 Prince shoots Blackbirds — Celebrated Painters — A present from the Duke of 
 York — The Chevalier St George — Becoming a Freemason — Birthday Ball to 
 Prince Charlie — The Carnival — Execution of Count Trivelli — Departure 
 from Rome — Notes by the way — The King of Sardinia and his Bride — 
 Tobaganing down Mount Cenis — Lyons to London — Dinner with Dr Mead 
 and Mr Pope. November to April [1736-1737] 
 
 Chapter VIII 
 
 An ingenious letter — Down the burn, Jessie, love — A garland — Allan Ramsay's 
 letters — Parson Smith — Study under Solimene the Painter — Rural repose — 
 Titorello's Water Colours— Tea and talk. [1737- 1740] 
 
 Chapter IX 
 
 The most Ancient Parson — The summit of Philosophy — Love's young dream — A 
 Penitent Letter — Our Brethren the old Brittons — On Pembroke's plains — A 
 family of O's — Prince Charlie at Plolyrood — My lady's cheque — The White 
 Cockade — Penalties of rebellion — Sir Archibald Primrose — Flight of Mr 
 Strange — Verses by Allan Ramsay junior. [1740-1755] 
 
 Chapter X 
 
 The old lady on the other side of the town — Her Letter — A country house Visit — 
 Haunch Hoops and Cobweb Capuchins — Sir R. gone to ye Divel — Allan 
 Ramsay pays a Visit — His son writes from Italy — Mr Ramsay's Poems — 
 Verses in Old Scots — Lady Dick's invitation. [1742-175S] 
 
 Chapter XI . 
 
 A greedy neighbour — A most valuable possession — The Countess of Abercorn's 
 letters — A visit to London — Tom of Ten Thousand — Dr Benjamin Franklin 
 — "Joys of Prestonfield Adieu" — A lover at hand — Franklin's Epitaph — 
 Mrs Strange writes — Hogarth's lady — A nice piece of Criticism — Mr Lamoli's 
 ball. [1757-60] 
 
 Chapter XII ........ 
 
 Mary Queen of Scots — Mr Campbell of Cawdor's letters — Sir Alexander's Version 
 — Dame Mary Butler — Congratulatory letters — Allan Ramsay's appointment. 
 [1760-1762] 
 
Contents 
 
 XI 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chapter XIII ....... 201 
 
 The Royal College of Physicians — Letters from Distinguished Foreigners — The 
 true Rhubarb — Award of Gold Medal — Mr Elliot's letter — Lord Pembroke's 
 elopement — What Mrs Montagu says. [1761-66] 
 
 Chapter XIV. ....... 213 
 
 Mr Brodie of Lethen and Sir A. Gilmour's letters — Wilkes and Lord Byron — 
 Mr Boswell's letters — Sir John Dick's letters — Sir John Douglas — Dr Butter 
 of Derby — A merit wouman's letter. [1764- 1767] 
 
 Chapter XV ........ 229 
 
 The Corsican troubles — Bishop of Oxford's letter — Mr Campbell of Cawdor's 
 letter — Mr Boswell and the Douglas cause — Sir John Dick receives the order 
 of St Ann of Russia — The Duke of Gloucester's illness — A Masked ball — 
 The Pope poisoned. [1768- 1774] 
 
 Chapter XVI ........ 245 
 
 Baronets of Nova Scotia — A Diamond Badge — Notes by Sir Alexander Dick — 
 A Journey to the North — Review of the Grey Dragoons — Influenza — Death 
 of David Hume — Mr Forbes Leith's letter — Sir John resigns his post. 
 [1773-1780] 
 
 Chapter XVII 265 
 
 Lord Balcarras' escape — Sir John Douglas in difficulties — Mr James Boswell's 
 letter — The Duke of Queensbury's death — Bishop of London's letter — 
 Paul Jones' Squadron — Bozzy's Jaunt — Chincough and Influenza — Admiral 
 Rodney's Victory — Lord Balcarras' Novel with Miss Hacket — The Gordon 
 Riots. [1777-1780] 
 
 Chapter XVIII 281 
 
 Letters from Mount Clare — The County Election — A Prodigious grand sight — 
 The Balcarras family — Lady Elizabeth Lindsay's Letters and Rhymes. 
 [1 780- 1 782] 
 
 Chapter XIX ....... 297 
 
 Victory over the French at Sea — Lady Elizabeth Lindsay's Letters — A Recruiting 
 Order — Death of Lord Auchinleck — Loss of the Royal George — Death of 
 Lord Karnes. [1782- 1783] 
 
Xll 
 
 Contents 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chapter XX ........ 305 
 
 Sir John Dick at the War Office — Dr Lowth's letter— "On Prestonfield long 
 ago " — Sir John Dick's letters — His portrait painted. [1782-1783] 
 
 Chapter XXI ....... 317 
 
 A remarkable Comparison — Death of Sir Alexander Dick — Lady Anne Barnard's 
 letter and Verses — Miss Elizabeth Dick's marriage — The Countess of Balcarres' 
 letter — Death of Sir William Dick — Letters from the Earl of Ancrum — Sir 
 John Dick's death. [1785-1804] 
 
Illustrations 
 
 Portrait of Sir William Dick, Bart. . . . Frontispiece 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Three Illustrations from "The Lamentable Estate of Sir 
 
 William Dick" ....... 5 
 
 Portrait of Lady Dalrymple ...... 85 
 
 View of Prestonfield House . . . . . ,180 
 
 Portrait of Sir Alexander Dick, Bart. .... 203 
 
 The Drawing-room, Prestonfield House . . . .311 
 
 Miniature of Lady Anne Barnard . . . . .321 
 
 Facsimiles 
 
 Bill of Lading, 1683 ....... 3 
 
 Letter from James Rocheid ...... 24 
 
 Memoriall for Sir James Dick (2 leaves) .... 49 
 
 Precepts for Money due to Sir James Dick (2 leaves) . . 49 
 
 Poll-Tax Receipt, 1696 ....... 55 
 
 Comparative Table showing Value of Scots Money . . 56 
 
 Letter to Sir John Cunninghame ..... 64 
 
 Act anent Travelling without Passes .... 66 
 
 6 
 
XIV 
 
 Facsimiles 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Receipt granted by the Earl of Glencairn for Feu-Duties . 69 
 
 Receipt granted by Prince Charlie's Secretary, 1745 . . 150 
 
 Verses by Allan Ramsay to Sir Alexander Dick . . .168 
 
 Letter from James Boswell . . . . . -257 
 
 Recruiting Order issued for Captain Dick's Company of the 
 
 Foot Guards ....... 302 
 
Introduction 
 
 The first historian to whom Scotland can lay claim was one 
 John Fordun, a monk or priest of Aberdeen, who, justly appre- 
 ciating the danger of the loss of all the early traditions of the 
 country, determined to commit them to paper. 
 
 To make his history more complete he travelled into England, 
 and gathering all the information that could there be obtained, he 
 inscribed the matter thus collected in five volumes of manuscript, 
 beginning with the remote ages and carrying the history down to 
 his own period, 1386. Most of the copies of this manuscript, 
 which is written in Latin, contain continuations by other writers, 
 notably by Patrick Russail, a Carthusian monk at Perth ; and at 
 the end of one of these copies, the following names are inscribed, 
 which show through whose hands it passed. 
 
 " Hen. Sinclair Episcopus de ross." 
 
 " W Santclair of rossHn knecht anno d"" 1603." 
 
 "Ex libris D"' GUIL CUNINGHAME DE CaPRINTOUN." 
 
 And on the last page : 
 
 " liber roberti Elphinstoun." 
 
 Under these names, and written by the last mentioned, is 
 a pedigree from Noah to Gaythelos, the supposed ancestor of the 
 Scottish Kings, from whom are descended the Lords Kelmars, 
 afterwards Earls of Glencairn, and founders of the family of 
 Cunyngham of Caprington, who, with the Dicks of Braid and 
 Prestonfield, form the dramatis persona of this book. 
 
 John of Fordun also gives a pedigree of the Scottish Kings, 
 which though not good enough for Mr Robert Elphinstoun, 
 
XVI 
 
 Introduction 
 
 will doubtless have a certain interest for the reader. Briefly, 
 this is the manner in which he arrives at his conclusion. 
 
 In the days of Moses a certain King Neolus, of the Country of 
 Greece, had a son beautiful in countenance but wayward in spirit 
 called Gaythelos, who leaving his native land sailed to Egypt 
 where he married Scota, Pharoah's daughter. 
 
 They set out for the West in quest of new lands, and passing 
 by Africa settled for a while in Spain. Preserving this as head- 
 quarters, Gaythelos continued cruising the seas, and in so doing 
 came to a beautiful tract of land in the ocean, so attractive that 
 on his deathbed he exhorted his sons to go thither. 
 
 Accordingly Hyber and his brother Hymee the sons of 
 Gaythelos and Scota set sail and took possession of the country, 
 which is called Hybernia after them. 
 
 There was also one Smonbret who was King over the Scots, 
 or descendants of Scotia or Scota in Spain ; he too went cruising 
 over the seas, and on one occasion anchored off the coast of 
 Ireland. On his weighing anchor, there was raised with it a 
 block of marble carved in the shape of a chair, and this was taken 
 as a presage of a future Kingdom. 
 
 Unless the fates are false the Scots will reign 
 Where'er the fatal stone they find again. ^ 
 
 Possession being taken of the islands in the vicinity, the first 
 
 1 Abercromby, in his Martial Achievements of the Scots Nation, relates the well-known story of 
 the removal of the Stone from Argyllshire to Scoone, and thence to Westminster, and adds : — 
 " Now there was a Belief rivetted in the Opinion of the Scots, and by Tradition handed down 
 from the earliest to the latest Generations, that wherever this Chair should be plac'd by Chance or 
 Design, there the Fates or rather Providence had decreed the Scots to domineer. To this purpose, 
 and to give the more credit to the Thing, King Kenneth caus'd the following uncouth Verses to be 
 engraven on the Chair from thence thought and call'd Fatal — 
 
 Ni fallat fatum, Scoti quocunque locatum 
 Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem." 
 
Introduction 
 
 xvii 
 
 of the leaders, by name Ettachus Rothay, grandson of Smonbret, 
 landed on one of them^ and thus the Island of Rothesay bears his 
 name to this day. 
 
 Professor Aytoun in his " Bongaultier Ballads" arrives at 
 much the same conclusion as to the origin of a well-known chief- 
 tain, though in a shorter and less historic manner. 
 
 According to him 
 
 " Fhairshon had a son 
 
 Who married Noah's daughter, 
 And nearly spoiled ta Flood 
 By trinking up ta water." 
 
 To return to our subject in the person of the Earl of Glencairn, 
 it is related by Bishop Spottiswood, in his " History of the Church 
 of Scotland," that when the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots was 
 taken to Loch Leven Castle, this gentleman, "taking with him his 
 domestics only, went to the Chapel of Holy rood-house and 
 demolished the Altar, breaking the pictures and defacing the 
 ornaments within the same. The preachers did commend it as a 
 work of great piety and zeal, but the other noblemen were not a 
 little displeased." 
 
 As a small memento of this occasion he seems to have carried 
 off a service book, in which, amongst other interesting items, are 
 " Legends of Holyrood," which have been described in the Banna- 
 tyne Club Miscellany. 
 
 One of these legends is the familiar one which accounts for the 
 name of Holyrood, bestowed upon the Abbey, to which the Palace 
 was at a later period attached.^ 
 
 The Holy Rood, or Cross of the said legend, a small wooden 
 
 1 Condensed from Skene's Translation of Fordoun. 
 
 * The earliest royal residence in Edinburgh was the Castle, then, when the Abbey was built, the 
 King removed there ; and lastly, as more room was required, the Palace was reared beside it. 
 
XVI 11 
 
 Introduction 
 
 one, was kept in the Abbey as the principal relic until King 
 David Bruce took it with him to England, where he was taken 
 prisoner, after which it was kept at Durham. 
 
 In early times the Abbey was burned and plundered by the 
 English, but when armies were marching the monks had time to 
 escape with their books. It was otherwise in 1557, when Queen 
 Mary left Holyrood early in June, and the Cunynghams broke 
 in, a few hours after her departure, to do what seemed best to 
 themselves. A Memorial of that day's work, in the form of a 
 Mass Book, was at one time preserved at Caprington Castle. 
 
 The Abbey Church of Holyrood became after this date the 
 Parish Church of the Canongate until the time of Charles II., 
 when it once more became the Chapel Royal. The services 
 of the Church of Rome were again celebrated within its walls dur- 
 ing the residence of the King's brother, the Duke of York (after- 
 wards James the Vllth), upon whom Sir James Dick was in 
 frequent attendance. 
 
 Without entering into endless genealogies, it is necessary here, 
 for the better understanding of the Letters and Memoranda which 
 follow, to give a short table of reference of the two families of 
 Dick and Cunyngham, so inextricably bound together. The 
 latter, like many other names, was spelt in various ways, origin- 
 ally Conyngham, then Cunyngham, Cuninghame, and again 
 Cunyngham, which was reverted to as being the spelling in the 
 patent of Baronetcy, owing to a mistake on the part of King 
 Charles who wrote Cunyngham instead of Conyngham. 
 
 Sir James Dick of Prestonfield was created a Baronet in 1676. 
 Several sons and daughters having died young, and his only surviving 
 child being Janet, wife of Sir William Cuninghame, B' of Caprington, 
 and she being his heiress in his estates of Prestonfield and Corstorphine, 
 Sir James got from Queen Anne in 1707 a new patent of title, settling 
 
Introduction 
 
 XIX 
 
 the baronetcy Dick of Prestonfield to pass at his death to the second 
 and younger sons respectively of his daughter Lady Cuningham ; these, 
 on succeeding were to drop the name of Cuninghame and take up that 
 of Dick only, and were eventually to succeed to their mother's estate. 
 This succession was carried on, till in 1829, on the death of Sir W"" 
 Cuninghame without children, the Cunyngham title passed to his first 
 cousin (then Sir Ro^' Keith Dick of Prestonfield), and from that time 
 the names and titles have been joined. 
 
 Sir John Dick was a distant cousin, direct male descendant of Capt. 
 Lewis Dick, who was the 5th and youngest son of Sir William Dick of 
 Braid (who died at Westminster 1655). 
 
 This Sir John — then Consul Dick of Leghorn — was " discovered " by 
 James Boswell in Italy. His descent and family having been traced in 
 the public records of Newcastle, where the family had resided, Consul 
 Dick, by the introduction of James Boswell, received a cordial invitation 
 to visit Sir Alex. Dick of Prestonfield, and in 1768 the proofs of his 
 descent having been officially verified. Consul Dick was served heir 
 to the Baronetcy of Braid, which had been dormant since 1733; Sir 
 John Dick was then received at Court on the occasion. He died 
 s. p. in 1804 in extreme old age, his wife having predeceased him, and 
 all his money was annexed by the Doctor and the Lawyer. 
 
 Mount Clare was for many years his country residence.^ 
 
 The centre of interest in the following papers, and the recipient 
 of nearly all the letters, is Sir Alexander Dick of Prestonfield, by 
 whom this correspondence was preserved, and who also wrote a 
 Diary of his own travels and a book of Anecdotes and Memoranda 
 of the principal events which took place between 1730 and 1785, 
 giving as well an outline of what took place in the previous 
 century. This description, combined with the documents pre- 
 served, enables us of these later days to have a vivid idea of 
 the insecurity and general temper of the times, derived directly 
 from those who lived and suffered in them. 
 
 * The above Memo, and the table of reference were added to the papers by the late Sir Robert 
 .Dick-Cunjmgham, as well as various notes throughout the Memoranda. 
 
;s° ■ 
 
 ^ m a 
 
 C , o 
 
 O 13 !n C 
 
 CA w dj 
 
 U 1) -2 
 
 O t-, cJ 
 
 o <! 
 
 go; 
 u £ 
 jj " § 
 
 >^ 3 
 
 cn 
 
 13 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 o c o 
 
 O lo 
 
 s 
 
 c! Ul 
 
 c - _ 
 
 4-) IM 
 
 O tS 
 
 in 
 
 S 
 Q 
 
 .2 
 
 0) 
 
 E . 
 
 •a c a 
 
 - 1- -a ■ 
 
 >^ t~t >\ 
 
 .s s 
 
 •2 8"^-^ >. 
 3 -cs g -a 
 
 rS 
 
 O 
 
 CP .H 
 Q I 
 
 So 
 oj — I 
 
 E^ 
 
 3 
 
 ca 
 
 13 
 B 
 
 u! w m 
 
 o 
 
 CJ) — 
 
 s 
 
 c 
 
 ^ C o 
 CO 
 
 o IS 
 Pi- 
 
 o 5 
 
 3 
 
 u 
 
 00 
 
 « T3 
 _ 0) (U 
 .S T3 
 
 II 11 
 OJ 3 
 
 3 ^ 
 
 2 1) " «J 1) 
 ° 8-° g O 
 
 " VO a, M J3 
 
 C " C ^ 
 M . 
 
 O 
 
 3-^ . 
 
 o ■ti 
 
 ui O VO O Ov 
 
 ^ tn ^ t^'O 
 ^ " g 
 
 c3 .2 
 
 3 
 
 O 
 
 to 1) 
 
 E ^ 
 is oj .is 
 
 . t= o! 3 - 
 
 S s 
 
 U - r! 2 
 
 Ei^° 
 a 
 
 go c« 
 
 >- ^ cn 
 
 Si^ c 13'-' 
 
 <HJ3 « 3 g § 
 
 jaqio qoB3 oi uoissaoons ui suos }S3pia 
 
Chapter I. 
 
 King James and Capt. Dick — Sir William Dick lends money to the 
 Treasury — The Arch rebel Oliver Cromwell — Sir William's death in 
 Westminster Gaol — Scotland's letters — England and Scotland's debt 
 to Sir William — A Prisoner of War — King Charles II, and the 
 Presbytery — The King on the great Fire and the War — The Fleet 
 under H.R.H, the Duke of York — Acts concerning Apparel and the 
 importation of Brandy. 
 
 [1600 — 1680] 
 
 A 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
Chapter I. 
 
 Our Story begins with James the VI. of Scotland, when having 
 arranged to espouse the Princess Anne of Denmark, he decided 
 to go there in person to bring his lady-love home. 
 
 " For this purpose he selected Captain John Dick to command the 
 royal vessel and so prosperous a voyage did they have both going and 
 returning, and so much was His Majesty pleased with Capt. Dick's 
 conduct in bringing him and his Bride safely to Leith, that he asked 
 the Capt. if he was married, and on receiving the reply ' Not yet an 
 please your Majestie,' says the King, ' Then Sir, I will give you a good 
 wife of my own choosing and my own name, and the ladie is the sister 
 of Sir Lewis Stewart of Kirkhill, my Lord Advocate of Scotland, to 
 whom you shall be properly introduced.^'" 
 
 This was accordingly done, and the marriage took place, the 
 lady presumably being not unwilling. In course of time, a son, 
 William, was born, and doubtless largely owing to the knowledge 
 of foreign lands obtained from his father, he became in after years 
 one of the greatest merchants of his day. He was created a 
 Baronet of Nova Scotia, and was Lord Provost of Edinburgh, 
 a post which at that period carried much power and dignity. 
 A Bill of Lading dated 1683 lies among the family papers, and, 
 as a curiosity, it is annexed in facsimile. 
 
 The first public event which brings Sir William prominently 
 before us is the struggle between Charles I. and his Parliament, 
 in which the Scottish army under General Leslie bore a part. 
 That struggle culminated in the battle of Marston Moor in 1644, 
 
 ' Sir Alexander Dick's Memoranda. 
 
4 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 but the maintenance of so large a force in the field, required the 
 aid of wealthy and patriotic citizens, and Sir William Dick 
 advanced the large sum of nearly ^65,000, which nowadays 
 would represent a great deal more.^ 
 
 " Unfortunately for him," writes old Sir Alexander in his 
 Memoranda, " the rebellion against King Charles took a new form 
 under that arch rebel Oliver Cromwell, who, not only destroyed 
 the King, but the Constitution." All Sir William's endeavours 
 later on to get repayment of his loan to the Treasury, or even 
 interest upon it, failed utterly, and he was therefore unable to carry on 
 his mercantile transactions with foreign countries for want of ready 
 money. He went to London, taking with him a recommendation 
 from the Chancellor of Scotland (the Earl of Loudon) which was 
 backed by all the Members of State, but it was of no avail, indeed 
 the representations were worse than useless, for to silence so large 
 a creditor, he was thrown into Westminster Gaol and declared 
 bankrupt, ultimately dying there in great misery. The greater 
 part of his landed estates in Midlothian and Haddingtonshire were 
 sold at three or four years purchase, instead of at twenty ; which 
 was all the patrimony left to his widow and children. A sorry 
 ending for a man of his wealth and position, whose time and 
 money had been spent in the interest of his country. 
 
 The three engravings which are here reproduced, are taken 
 from a printed book of letters stating the entire case of Sir 
 William Dick, with copies of many letters addressed to the 
 House of Commons by the Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 
 the Chancellor (or Secretary of State) for Scotland, and others ; 
 and as copies of this exceedingly curious book are very rare, 
 
 ^ Eighty thousand pounds a month were requisite for the subsistence of the Scotch and English 
 Armies. — Hunters History of England. 
 
PUBLICA SALUS NUNC mKC£S. 
 
 Stelcrea Mirchant, vhofcr'i CoUntritt gooj, 
 Znvti cfhii TraJe, to fptii iolb yvttUih and Bltti', 
 7ramflti on Trofit, to redeem the Fase, 
 
 Of htcitcirjiig Charch, Pri/icc, mi State. 
 
 Suth Tragick, fure mnt cm too highly priHt 
 Whin Cam it filf u maji a Sacrifice. 
 But Oh : W fU TT.Ufuch txamflti mivr, 
 If Left Umnie the reccmftneiu Levi. 
 
Hi Vrbmymfeetbm iy viU Sirgeanti tern, 
 Wai cnct hit Ceuntriet fntteri^, >ur» their f ■:ern ; 
 WKlji int» Trifcn irttgdy he there comflmni j 
 frki teafi ilcfervci, dtthfnntft f»^er CUains. 
 
 And who ftr P MHick.dtth his Faith ingige, 
 
 Chtuiget hu Tallact ftr an Inn Caj^e. 
 
 Thtn aJJe : To fiew hu uniectmi'i^ Fdte, 
 H( had inn frtt, hdJ ht n» (ttv'd tht StaH- 
 B Wil. D 
 
See him txfot'dio tb'eurttfle of the SkU, 
 win for his (^ountrcy Jxrfl do mire thtn He- 
 Hi* bclflifs /jfittniw (nrvtvi to teO, 
 Thtir Fathtr dtd without a paraStl. 
 Since Miferabll, Naktd, and ForUrn, 
 Went t» thi Qravc at ht VtM ttrn. 
 
 Of this brtve mtn, it oxcly may hefaii. 
 Not hire he huriei lies, hut here he's Uid. 
 SuchjhMge il-iodimg Epiupbs ttfcan. 
 Will acuada ScatC more, then a» Army f « ; 
 For who II trnfl private men, if Statej (rdurt 
 To fee htm wretched, Vght m*ic thim fe<isrt. 
 
 WL-Dmnx. 
 
Distressed Case of Sir William Dick 5 
 
 and the last one known to have changed hands fetched a very 
 high price, a few of these letters are here copied for the benefit 
 of those interested in such old world documents. 
 
 The Pamphlet, which was issued in folio size, is entitled, 
 The Lamentable Estate and Distressed Case of the 
 Deceased Sir William Dick in Scotland, and his 
 Numerous Family and Creditors for the Common- 
 wealth ; and the Preface opens thus : — 
 
 " Honorable and Courteous Reader, — That your eyes may 
 affect your heart, you have here presented to your view (the Mirror 
 of his Age amongst men of his quality) the deceased Sir William 
 Dick, Lord Major of Edinborough in Scotland ; Renowned both at 
 home and abroad as a Famous Merchant." 
 
 The author then describes the immense benefits Sir William 
 had conferred on his country by his services, and by his money 
 given on loan to the Government ; from whom he states nothing 
 was recovered save a paltry sum, while he lost all credit and 
 was thrown into prison. And, says the Chronicler : — 
 
 " Floods of Desolation and Distress have overwhelmed him and his 
 Children with their numerous Families and little ones ; Their Lands 
 and Houses being extended and possessed by the Creditors in the 
 cruel execution of the Law ; their Chattels and Goods, yea, their Gar- 
 ments, the Covering of their Nakedness, and the Coverlet, in which they 
 should sleep, being publickly distrained and seized upon for these Debts 
 and Disbursements engaged in by them to promote the Publick Service : 
 Neither is this all. One Wo is past, and behold two Woes come after this ; 
 Ah ! the Old man himself was once and again disgracefully cast into 
 prison for small Debts contracted for necessary livelihood, during his 
 attendance for Satisfaction." 
 
 Then, after describing his death, without even a decent funeral, 
 
 the sad tale continues : — 
 
 " And to compleat the third Wo and perfection of sorrowfull Afflictions, 
 
6 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 his Children are cast at this day, and lying in Prisons these twenty 
 Moneths past for Publick Debts, in great sufferings of their Persons, 
 Credit, and Calling, and weariness of life, crying for Death more than 
 for Treasure." 
 
 The following documents need no further comment : — 
 
 CopiA OF Scotland's Letter to their Commissioners at 
 London, i May 1644, Concerning Sir William Dick. 
 
 Right Honorable, — Your Lordships know, how readily and season- 
 ably Sir Will. Dick of Braid in our great troubles advanced several sums 
 to the Publick, for which we assigned him the last Forty thousand pounds 
 Sterling of the Brotherly assistance payable at Midsummer 1642, whereof 
 he has only Five thousand six hundred pounds, and so wants Thirty-four 
 thousand four hundred pounds, and is thereby disabled now in the time 
 of our great straits to give us these necessary supplies which formerly 
 we had from him : As he has found hereby great prejudice in his affairs, 
 which constrains him now to urge payment ; So the remembrance of 
 his former good offices, his present readiness in everything for the Publick, 
 and the great engagements of the States for payment of his advance- 
 ment, has moved us to write to the House of Commons in favors of 
 the said Sir William, and of the Bearer Robert Inglis, Merchant, his 
 Commissioner, whom we do also recommend to your Lordships, and 
 earnestly desire that by your best endeavours with both Houses of 
 Parliament, you would procure payment of the said Thirty-four thousand 
 four hundred pounds with interest since Midsumer 1642, to the said 
 Robert Inglis in name of the said Sir William, hilsoon possibly you can, 
 as a service most acceptable both to him and to us. — Your Lordships 
 assured Friend, LoUDON Cancellariu.S, F.P.D. 
 
 I May 1644. 
 
 CoPiA or Scotland's Letter to Sir Wil. Dick, 12 Dec 1645, 
 
 Assured Friend, — We do acknowledge your Advancements and 
 Service to your Country and us in our streights and difficulties, to have 
 been timeous comfortable and useful for our assistance, and the opposition 
 of the enemies of the Covenant and good Cause; And we do the more 
 highly value and prize the same for that cheerfulness and alacrity which 
 
Debt due by England and Scotland 7 
 
 singularly you did always manifest therein, which did make you to engage 
 not onely your own Means and Estate, but to use your best Credit with 
 others for our supply beyond all men of your condition, whereby the 
 Kingdom hath found your ready help in its greatest necessities : For 
 the which we finde ourselves bound in Honor and Conscience, to see 
 you timeously relieved and satisfied ; And albeit your frequent Suppli- 
 cations formerly presented to us and our Orders issued thereupon, have 
 not produced the intended effect of your satisfaction ; yet we have so 
 much taken to heart your deep Engagements That we are resolved to 
 take such a solid and real course for your payment, and put such a 
 mark of your merited Reward upon you to be recorded to posterity, as 
 may give you just content, and convince those of foolish rashness, who 
 have so mis-termed your Advancements, being resolved as we do hereby 
 assure, That before dissolving of this Session of Parliament, we shall use 
 all possible means for obtaining money and giving you real satisfaction ; 
 which we think is the best way to stop the mouths of your unfriends, and 
 to give your self encouragement : All which are justly deserved by you, 
 and really intended to you by — Your affectionate Friend, 
 
 Crauford-Lindsey, F.P.D., Pari. 
 To our assured Friend Sir WILLIAM DiCK of Braid, Knight. 
 
 " A Short State of the Debt due by England and Scotland to the 
 Deceased Sir WILLIAM DiCK, and of the Securities he hath 
 thereupon — 
 
 By good and seasonable services done to England by Sea and other- 
 ways, there is due to the deceased Sir William Dick at Candlemass last 
 past 2 February 1657 of Principal and Interest (all Payments being 
 deducted, and besides great charges and expenses, losses, damages, and 
 ruine in Credit and Estate, by so many disappointments these twelve years 
 past/ the sum of 36,803/., 5s. gd. 
 
 For this sum he hath security upon the friendly assistance due by 
 Ordinance of Parliament the 24 June 1642 upon the Chamber of London 
 by Receipt of the lOO.oooZ. Bill past by King and Parliament in 1641. 
 Secondly upon the Customs, and thirdly by Ordinance of Parliament upon 
 Goldsmiths' hall : By receipt of Papists and Delinquents estates, Sale or 
 Composition thereof (now turned into exchequer) and still standing 
 
8 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 charged upon that Hall, with some scores of orders following thereupon, 
 all confirming the original Ordinance for his payment ; albeit nothing as 
 yet paid thereupon but lOOoZ, 6 August 1653. 
 
 By good service done to Scotland the time of their greatest streits and 
 difficulties and in relation to their Union with England, and assistance to 
 their sufferings, there is due to the said Sir William Dick at Candlemass 
 last i65y, of Principal and Interest (all payments being deducted and 
 besides great charges and expenses, losses, damages, and ruine in Credit 
 and Estate, by so many disappointments these sixteen years past/ the sum 
 of 28,i3iZ. 
 
 For this sum he hath several Bonds conform to the Fundamental Law 
 of that Land. 
 
 Secondly, the loan money in the Shire of Southerland, Cathness, 
 Orkney and Tettland.^ 
 
 Thirdly, an Order for ii,oooZ out of all other Loans, with an Order for 
 a Loan upon those who had gotten payment of their first Loan, and the 
 payment thereof to be made to the said Sir William. 
 
 Fourthly, Two Months Sess and Excizes of that Nation, after December 
 1647, and January 1648, Scots style. 
 
 Fifthly, 2000Z Stirling monethly out of the Sess and Excizes there- 
 after, when the Army in Ireland should be supplied by England. 
 
 Sixthly. The third part of the Fine and Forfeiture, in that Nation ; 
 and of all these five last Securities, nothing performed. 
 
 Seventhly. The Excize of all Wines from i November 1649 to i 
 November 165 1, but interrupted by the Army from England. 
 
 And lastly of the Excize of all Wines and Strong-waters after i Nov. 
 165 1, till he should be compleatly paid, but interrupted also by the Army 
 from England. 
 
 Debt due by England . . 36,8o3Z, $s. gd. 
 
 Debt due by Scotland . . 28,131^, os. od. 
 
 Sum total . . 64,934/^, 5s. 9d. 
 
 After the disastrous death of Sir William, his sons scattered, 
 and for a time the Baronetcy of Dick of Braid lay dormant, and 
 
 1 Shetland. 
 
John Campbell, Prisoner of War 9 
 
 it was not known which of the family were alive. ^ Eventually, in 
 the next century, it fell to Mr James Boswell, younger of Auch- 
 inleck, while on his travels in Italy, to discover the representative 
 of Sir William's eldest surviving son, who was acting Consul at 
 Leghorne. How this meeting came about will be shown in due 
 sequence of events. 
 
 We pass on now to a letter which is a supplication from 
 one John Campbell, a prisoner of war in England,^ and must 
 have been dealt with by Sir William when Chief Magistrate. 
 
 " Pleas your Godlie Wisdomes to know that I your supplicant John 
 Campbell was taken captive at Musselborough by the English Army 
 the tyme that our Army lay att Leith, I being ane guard. . . . under 
 the command of Collonell Forbes in the said tyme and hev been still 
 keeped in prissone in England ever since (saving only) that within this 
 too months that I have gotten ane Litle Libertie upone my parroll, Yor 
 Wisdomes that I have ane wyff and five children that can noways doe 
 for themselves nayther have I anie Libertie to goe about anie Imploy- 
 ment for there help. Under God my humble request is therefor unto 
 your Wisdomes that you wold help my wyfif and children and me so 
 by yor present supplie as that wee starve not through the want of the 
 creatures, But may have y"" so farre as they may Insomeways w' to 
 serve the Lord aright. And when it sail pleas the Lord to sett me 
 altogether at Libertie, I sail under God stryve nayther to be ane burden 
 myself to y Highness nor yet anie of those above mentioned." 
 23 JanT, 1654. 
 
 An appended note gives the order for " the sume of ten pounds 
 Scotts moneys" to be conferred "for his present supplie" through 
 
 ' General Patrick Gordon in his Diary (Spalding Club), mentions travelling in Poland in 1654 
 with John Dick, who had befriended him there. This was a grandson of Sir William. 
 
 ''John Campbell must have been kept a prisoner from the year 1651, when General Monk 
 took Stirling Castle, carried Dundee by assault, and following the instructions of Cromwell, " put 
 all the inhabitants to the sword, in order to strike a general terror into the kingdom." After which, 
 Aberdeen, St Andrews, Inverness, and other towns and forts yielded of their own accord ; Argyle 
 made his submissions to the English Commonwealth ; and Scotland, which had hitherto maintained 
 its independence, was reduced to total subjection. 
 
 B 
 
lo Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 William Patersone, Elder. It is signed by David Milne, probably 
 the Clerk. 
 
 The next papers of interest take us from private individuals 
 to the affairs of State. 
 
 King Charles II., though a Papist at heart, was thoroughly 
 alive to the necessity of supporting Episcopacy in England, and 
 Presbyterianism in Scotland, and shewed his worldly wisdom in 
 immediately sending a gracious message to the Ministers of 
 Edinburgh, who had it in their power to make much mischief 
 and trouble, promising them his support, though he took the 
 opportunity at the same time of giving them a gentle hint not 
 to meddle with things "without their sphere." The letter is 
 worded in the following manner : — 
 
 His Majesties Gracious Letter directed to the Presbytery 
 OF Edinburgh, And by them to be communicated to the 
 rest of the Presbyteries of this KIRK. Received the third of 
 September 1660. 
 
 Charles R., — Trusty and well beloved. We greet you well : By the 
 Letter you sent to Us, with this bearer, Mr James Sharp,^ and by the 
 account he gave of the State of Our Church there, We have received 
 full information of your sense of Our Sufferings, and of your constant 
 Affection and Loyalty to Our Person and Authority. And therefore We 
 will detain him here no longer, (of whose good services We are very 
 sensible) nor will We delay to let you know by him Our gracious 
 acceptance of your Address, and how well We are satisfied with your 
 carriages, and with the generality of the Ministers of Scotland, in this 
 time of triall, whilst some, under specious pretences, swerved from that 
 Duty and Allegiance they owe to Us. And because such, who, by the 
 countenance of Usurpers, have disturbed the Peace of that Our Church, 
 may also labour to create Jealousies in the minds of well meaning people. 
 We have thought fit by This, to assure you, that, by the Grace of God, 
 
 ^ Afterwards Archbishop Sharp of St Andrews. 
 
His Majesties Letter to the Presbyteries 1 1 
 
 We do resolve to discountenance Profanity and all Contemners and 
 Opposers of the Ordinances of the Gospel. We do also resolve to 
 Protect and Preserve the Government of the Church of Scotland, as it 
 is settled by Law, without violation ; and to countenance in the due 
 exercise of their Functions, all such Ministers who shall behave them- 
 selves dutifully and peaceably, as becomes men of their Calling. We 
 will also take care, that the Authority and Acts of the Generall Assembly 
 at St Andrews and Dundee, in the year 165 1, be owned and stand in 
 force, until We shall call another Generall Assembly (which We purpose 
 to do assoon as Our Affairs will permit). And We do intend to send for 
 Mr Robert Dowglasse, and some other Ministers that We may speak 
 with them in what may further concern the Affairs of that Church. And 
 as We are very well satisfied with your resolution not to meddle without 
 your sphere ; So We do expect, that Church-judicatories in Scotland, and 
 Ministers there will keep within the compasse of their Station, meddling 
 only with matters Ecclesiastick, and promoting Our Authority and 
 Interest with Our Subjects against all Opposers ; And that they will 
 take speciall notice of all such, who, by preaching or private Conventicles 
 or any other way, transgresse the limits of their Calling, by endeavouring 
 to corrupt the people, or sow seeds of disaffection to Us, or Our Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 This you shall make known to the severall Presbyteries within that 
 Our Kingdom : And as We do give assurance of Our favour and 
 encouragement to you, and to all honest deserving Ministers there ; So 
 We earnestly recommend it to you all, that you be earnest in your 
 Prayers, publick and privat, to Almighty God, Who is Our Rock and 
 Our Deliverer, both for Us and for Our Government, that We may have 
 fresh and constant supplies of his Grace, and the right improvement of 
 all his Mercies and Deliverances, To the honour of his Great Name ; and 
 the peace safety and benefit of all Our Kingdoms. And so We bid 
 you heartily farewell. Given at Our Court at Whitehall the 10 of August 
 1660, and of Our Reign the Twelfth Year. — By His Majesties Command, 
 
 Lauderdail. 
 
 In the King's Speech after the great fire of London to the 
 Members of both Houses of Parliament, he lays special stress 
 on the large Sum of Money raised for the fleet the previous 
 
12 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 year, and the need of more to pay off the Ships and also to 
 carry on the War. An account of what the Fleet did then, 
 under command of H.R.H. the Duke of York, in conjunction with 
 the French against the Dutch, is given in a letter from Mr Henry 
 Saville written on board H.R.H.'s ship to the Earl of Arlington, 
 Principal Secretary of State. It was printed for publication in 
 the form of a short pamphlet, probably as a vindication for the 
 policy adopted against the Dutch, into which Charles had been 
 strongly advised by his brother the Duke of York. 
 
 Both of these being among the papers, are here reproduced. 
 
 His Majesties most Gracious SPEECH to both Houses of 
 Parliament, The One and Twentieth Day or Sep- 
 tember 1666. 
 
 "My Lords and Gentlemen, — I am very glad to meet so many 
 of you together again, and God be thanked for our meeting together in 
 this place ; ^ Httie time hath passed since we were almost in dispair of 
 having this place left Us to meet in. You see the dismal Ruines the 
 fire hath made, and nothing but a Miracle of Gods Mercy could have 
 preserved what is left from the same Destruction. I need make no 
 excuse to you for dispensing with your attendance in April. I am 
 confidant you all thanked Me for it ; the truth is, I desire to put you to 
 as little trouble as I can, and I can tell you truly, I desire to put you 
 to as little cost as possible ; I wish with all my heart that I could bear 
 the whole charge of this War myself, and that my Subjects should reap 
 the benefit of it to themselves ; but we have two very great and powerful 
 Enemies, who use all the means they can, fair and foul, to make all 
 the World to concur with them, and the War is more chargeable (by 
 that conjunction) than any body thought it would have been : I need 
 not tell you the success of this Summer, in which God hath given us 
 great Success, and no Question the Enemy hath undergone great losses, 
 and if it had pleased God to have with held his late Judgement by fire, 
 We had been in no ill condition. You have given me large supplies for 
 the carrying on the War, and yet I must tell you, if I had not by 
 ^ The great fire of London burnt for 3 days and 2 nights, Sept. 2-5. 
 
Engagement with the Dutch Fleet 13 
 
 anticipating my own Revenue raised a very Great Sum of Money, I had 
 not been able to have Set out the Fleet this last Spring, and I have 
 some hope upon the same Credit to be able to pay off the great ships 
 as they come in : You will consider what is to be done next when 
 you are well informed of the expense and I must leave it to your 
 Wisdoms to find out the best Expedients for the carrying on this War, 
 with as little burthen to the people as is possible. I shall add no more 
 than to put you in mind that Our Enemies are very insolent, and if 
 they were able this last year to perswade their miserable People whom 
 they mislead that the Contagion ^ had so wasted the nation and Im- 
 poverished Us, that We would not be able to put out any Fleet, how 
 will they be exalted with this last impoverishment of this City and 
 Contemn all reasonable Conditions of Peace; and therefore I cannot 
 doubt but you will provide accordingly." 
 
 A True Relation of the Engagement of His Majestie's 
 Fleet under the Command of His Royal Highness 
 with the dutch fleet May 28, 1672. In a 
 Letter from Hen. Saville Esquire, on Board His 
 Royal Highness, to the Earl of Arlington Principal 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 " My Lord, — The frequent commands I have received from your 
 Lordship for an Account of our late Engagement exact enough to be 
 made publick, do at last end in this following Narration, which had been 
 sent you sooner, if the Weather and many other Accidents that Seamen 
 are lyable to, had not hindred us from having such Accounts from 
 every Flag, as were necessary to make up one fit for your Lordship and 
 those you intend to impart it to, whom I will suppose to be Landmen, 
 for my own excuse ; For if I were to give such a Relation as would 
 fully Satisfie Seamen, the terms themselves concerning Tacking and 
 Wind, &c. without anything material relating to the Matter, would be 
 too voluminous to expect it should find a Reader out of Wapping or 
 Rotherith. All that I pretend to, is Brevity and Truth, for the first, I 
 must make it good as I can, for the other, I have such Witnesses as 
 are unquestionable. 
 
 Our Whole Fleet being at Anchor in Southwold Bay, taking in Water, 
 
 1 The Plague. 
 
14 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 on Tuesday the 28th of May, betwixt two and three in the Morning, the 
 Wind E. by N. a small gale, one of our Scouts came in, giving the 
 usual signal of seeing the Enemy; upon which, H.R.H. immediately 
 gave those of weighing Anchor, and getting under Sail, which was 
 performed with all the Speed possible, considering the Short warning; 
 for before Seven the whole Blew Squadron were a Head of the Red, and 
 the White a Stern ; in which order, and at which time, the Battle began, 
 the Enemy having the Wind of us. The Squadron under Bankaert 
 being the Van of their Fleet, attacked the French, which made the Rear 
 of ours, they both separated themselves from both their Fleets, and so 
 continued engaged out of our sight almost the whole day. Sailing to the 
 Southward ; At first Bankaert came briskly down upon Monsieur 
 d'Estrees, he afterwards finding it too hot, kept at a greater distance. 
 
 The Earl of Sandwich with the Blew Squadron in the Van of our 
 Fleet, was attacked by Van Ghent in the Rear of theirs, and endeavouring 
 to get the Wind of the Enemy, found so great opposition, that after having 
 sunk a Man of War which laid him on Board, having above half his men 
 killed, his ship wholly disabled, and having put off two Fireships, was no 
 longer in a condition to put off a third, which burnt her, the only ship 
 we lost the whole day : His Lordship, and all the Officers except Capt. 
 Haddock, being lost with her ; of which some few ordinary men that were 
 saved by swimming to our Ships and Boats give us no further Accounts. 
 
 The Henrie, that was one of her seconds, commanded by Capt. Digby, 
 Son to the Earl of Bristol, having put off several Fireships, most of her 
 Men, her Captain, and almost all her Inferior Officers slain, fell into the 
 hands of the Dutch, but was in a little time retaken, and sent safe into 
 Harbor by Capt. Strickland in the Pliinouth. 
 
 Sir Joseph Jordan, Vice Admiral of the Blew, pursued the design his 
 Admiral did not live to finish, and succeeded in it, getting the Wind of 
 the Enemie, which he and his Division kept the rest of the day. 
 
 The Body of their Fleet commanded by Monsieur de Ruyter, attacked 
 the Body of ours, commanded by H.R.H. ; De Ruyter was accompanied 
 by Van Esse ; another Admiral, and their Seconds, which all at a con- 
 venient distance fired upon the Prince, who being to windward of her own 
 Division, could receive little or no assistance from them ; the Captain Sir 
 John Cox killed, the Maintop-mast, Flagstaff and Standard, being shot 
 down, and the Ship entirely disabled in three hours time, H.R.H. thought 
 it convenient to change his Ship ; so that about ten a Clock being attended 
 
Engagement with the Dutch Fleet 15 
 
 by Monsieur Blancfors, myself, Mr Ashton, Monsieur du Puys and John 
 Thompson his best Pilot, he went on board the St Michael, Sir Robert 
 Holmes Commander, which because of the great smoak, could not be seen 
 well enough to be attended to by his Division. About this time, the Royal 
 Katherine newly come from the River with fresh men, and wanting many 
 of the conveniences necessary for her defence, was boarded and taken by 
 the Enemy, her Capt. Sir John Chichely being carried prisoner on Board 
 their Ships ; but the Enemy leaving no great number of men in her, they 
 were afterwards overpowered by ours, who carried the Dutch that had 
 taken her prisoners and the Ship safe into Harbour. 
 
 H.R.H. continued on his way, attended by the Phcenix ; Capt. Le Neue 
 Commander, on Head of him, and the Fairfax Capt. Ley Commander, and 
 the Victory the Earl of Offery Commander close a Stern, till afterwards 
 Capt. Berry in the Resolution and Sir Fretcheville Holies in the Cambridge, 
 came also on head of us, but were both soon disabled, the latter having 
 also lost her Commander ; the Earl of Offery took their places, the Engage- 
 ment being very hot all this time. Towards five in the Evening H.R.H. 
 observing his Ship to sail heavily, the London and many of the Vice 
 Admirals Division having overtaken the St Michael, found upon enquiry 
 that she had six foot Water in the Hold ; so that with the same Company 
 be brought thither, except his Pilot, who was killed there, he carried his 
 Standard on Board the London, Sir Edward Spragg Commander ; where 
 after fighting an hour or two with the Ships to Windward, they were 
 forced to bear down and gave opportunity to the Duke and Sir Joseph 
 Jordan to joyn ; at which de Ruyter put out a Signal, upon which all his 
 Fleet bore down to joyn the Zealaiiders, who with others, had engaged the 
 French all day, who being to Leeward, did as well as it was possible for 
 them to do with the distance, the Dutch being to windward, kept from 
 them. Thus ended the Battle, and the Day ; The Duke with about thirty 
 Sail kept to Windward of the Dutch all night, standing to the S.E. and 
 found himself still so the next morning, and so continued till about six a 
 Clock ; when seeing some Ships a Stern, upon supposition they were the 
 Remainders of our Fleet H.R.H. tacked and stood with them, and found 
 them to be as he guest, and the whole French Squadron with them ; about 
 seven he returned to his own Ship ; as well refitted as was possible by the 
 care of Capt. Narbrough. 
 
 About ten the whole Fleet were together, and about twelve we saw the 
 Dutch standing after us upon which we tacked having the Weather-gage, 
 
1 6 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 and stood to them, in hopes of engaging them presently. But when the 
 Van of our Fleet was come up to the Body of theirs, they Tacked, and 
 stood back towards their own Coasts. Notwithstanding which we had 
 certainly engaged them, had we not been prevented about three a Clock 
 by a sudden Fogg, which lasted till six, and though it then cleared up, it 
 blew so fresh, and was so late, and so near their Banks, that we did not 
 think it safe to attack them, but continued sailing by them almost within 
 a Cannon-shot till nine at night ; when being within a League of the 
 Oyster-Bank off the Coast of Zealand, we Tacked, and stood till Three in 
 the morning to the North west, at w^^ time we stood back till six, to see if 
 we could perceive the Enemy, which not discovering we Anchored till the 
 Afternoon, that we got under sail, and stood back to our own Coast, being 
 very stormy Weather." 
 
 Then follovifs a list of killed and wounded, and after that a list 
 of Volunteers of note, amongst whom we find — 
 
 "My Lord Maidstone, Mr Montague, Mr R. Nicholls, Mr 
 Roger Vaughan both of H.R.H.'s bed-chamber, Mr Naper, 
 Brother to a Scots Lord of that Name," etc., etc. 
 
 The letter continues — 
 
 " The Advantage we have over the Enemy consists in a Man of 
 War taken of 48 Guns. Another taken but afterwards sunk (being 
 Leaky) of 52 Guns. ... A third sunk by the Earl of Sandwich, A 
 fourth by Sir Edward Spragg both between 50 and 60 Guns. A Fireship 
 taken and we forced them to spend most of the rest, without doing 
 us any damage We have very good grounds to believe we have sunk 
 more, and among the rest a Flagship, but thinking it better to erre on 
 the Modest Side, I onely write Matter of Fact ; and least I should 
 break my Word in the other Article (I mean of Brevity) I Humbly kiss 
 your hand, and am. My Lord, Your Lordships most faithful and most 
 obedient Servant — H. Savile. 
 From on Board the Prince 
 
 near the Middle Ground, 
 June 6 1672 
 
 The Writer of this Letter could not think fit to mingle in his Relation, 
 any Expressions of H.R.H.'s Personal Behaviour, because it was prepared 
 for His own Sight ; But it is most certain, that never any Prince, or it may 
 
Act Concerning Apparel 17 
 
 be truly said, any private person, was in an Action of War, exposed to 
 more danger from the beginning to the end of it ; His Conduct and 
 Presence of Mind, equalling his fearless Courage, and carrying Him to 
 change His Ship three times, setting up the Royal Standard in each of 
 them, to animate his own Men, and to brave the Enemy. 
 
 Among the printed documents inserted at this point occur the 
 following curious Acts, which gave permission to the public for 
 two things. 
 
 Firstly, the right of wearing Velvets, Silks, and Satins, which 
 up to that date had been confined to the upper ten exclusively. 
 
 Each class having its own particular style of dress, a glance 
 sufficed to determine the status of the wearer. 
 
 Secondly, for the importation of French Brandy and Bremer 
 Beer. The former an innovation of considerable importance, 
 whiskey being the only pure spirit distilled in the country, 
 and, in case of illness, by no means of the same value. 
 
 ACT CONCERNING APPAREL. 
 
 At Edinburgh, the 2 of December 1673. 
 
 The Kings Majesty, considering that some difficulties have occurred, 
 concerning some expressions and qualifications mentioned in the Act made 
 in the last Session of Parliament, concerning Apparel, and that the 
 Manufactur of Whyt Lace or Pearling made of threed (whereby many 
 poor people gain'd their lively-hood) was thereby much prejudged and 
 impaired : For the clearing and remeed whereof, in time coming. His 
 Majesty hath thought fit with advice and consent of His Estates of Parlia- 
 ment, to Rescind, Discharge and Annul that part of the aforementioned 
 Act for Apparel concerning the allowance granted to the persons thereby 
 priviledged to wear Velvet, Satins and other Silk Stuffs, &c. And 
 Declares, that now and in time coming, it shall be free to all and every 
 person within this Kingdom, to wear all such Silks, Whyt-Lace, Cloaths 
 and others, in the same manner, and als freely, as be the aforesaid Act, 
 they were allowed to be worn by the priviledged persons therein men- 
 tioned : And that plain Sating Ribbons may be worn upon Apparel in 
 
 C 
 
1 8 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 the same manner as Taffietie Ribbons, anything in the said Act to the 
 contrare notwithstanding. 
 
 Like as His Majesty, with advice foresaid, doth hereby Ratifie and 
 renew the aforesaid Act, past in the last Session of Parliament, concerning 
 Apparel, in all other Heads, Clauses and Articles thereof, which are not 
 by this Act innovat or discharged. 
 
 Act Concerning the Importation and Excise of Brandy. 
 At Edinburgh, the i of December 1673. 
 
 The King's Majesty, having, upon good consideration, thought fit to 
 allow the Importation of Brandy, and Mum or Bremer-beer within this 
 Kingdom ; Doth therefore with advice and consent of His Estates of 
 Parliament, Rescind and Annul all Acts of Parliament and Privy Council, 
 Proclamations and other Warrands prohibiting the same. Like as His 
 Majesty, with advice foresaid, Appoints every tun of imported Brandy to 
 be lyable in payment of six score pounds Scots for custome, without any 
 defalcation, and ilk Scots pynt ^ of the same Brandy to be lyable in the 
 payment of six shillings Scots for excise : And every barrel of the afore- 
 said Mum, not exceeding twelve gallons, to be lyable in thretty shillings 
 Scots of custome, and als much for excise, which excise of Brandy and 
 Mum is to be raised in the several Shires and Burghs, where the same 
 shall be retailled, by tapping and selling in smals, and employed for the 
 proportional relief of the annuity of Excise payable by the said Shires and 
 Burghs, and this custome and excise to be lifted and paid conform to the 
 Laws and Acts, made concerning Custome and Excise respective. 
 
 Edinburgh, Printed by Andrew Anderson, 
 Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. Anno 1673. 
 
 Here also we have a Proclamation, issued in June 1680, declar- 
 ing Richard Cameron and several others *' Rebels and Traitors," 
 a large revi^ard being offered for them dead or alive. 
 
 Richard Cameron, as is well known, was a notable preacher 
 and leader of a large body of Covenanters who clung rigidly to 
 the tenets of John Knox, and looked upon the Stuart family as 
 
 ^ A Scots pynt is equal to 3 pints imperial measure. 
 
Richard Cameron, Covenanter 19 
 
 nearly allied to his Satanic Majesty. For months at a time he and 
 his followers led a wandering life on the hills, hunted from place 
 to place by the soldiers, but, in spite of the large sum offered 
 for his capture, always eluding them, owing to the high estimation 
 in which he was held. Countless were his escapes, but so 
 lightly did he treat his pursuers, and so secure was he, when 
 almost in the midst of his enemies, that while a sign would have 
 sufficed to point him out to them, even those who differed 
 from him in point of doctrine would have scorned to raise a 
 finger against this man of God. Knowledge as to his where- 
 abouts could only be obtained through a few low-born, thieving 
 spies, who lived on the proceeds of such information, and it was 
 by the aid of one of these that he was eventually captured, taken 
 to Edinburgh Castle, and condemned to death. From this he 
 escaped when actually on the scaffold, by means of a pardon 
 obtained by a clever ruse on the part of his daughter, with 
 whom and another he escaped to the Netherlands before the 
 trick was discovered. 
 
 The proclamation declares that 
 
 " Mr Richard Cameron (with others whose names are mentioned 
 at length) did upon the twenty two of June enter within the Burgh of 
 Sanquhar, with drawn Swords and Pistols in their hands and after a 
 solemn procession through the Town, did draw up at the Cross and 
 published and affixed upon the Cross and other publick places thereof, 
 a most Treasonable and unparralled Paper," &c. 
 
 For which conduct all Sheriffs, Stewarts, Bailiffs and Magis- 
 trates were ordered to institute a search for the above named. 
 
 "And for the better encouragement of such as shall bring in the said 
 Traitors dead or alive the Apprehender of Mr Richard Cameron shall as 
 a reward have five thousand Merks." 
 
20 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Each of the others mentioned by name have sums placed 
 on their heads according to their status, those who are con- 
 sidered least mischievous, as merely followers, being priced at One 
 Thousand Merks. This blood money was " to be instantly 
 paid by the Commissioners of Our Thesaurary." 
 
 The knowledge that the " Thesaurary " was generally empty 
 must have been a comforting one to the Rebels in question, 
 and doubtless added to the boldness of their behaviour. 
 
 / 
 
Chapter II. 
 
 The Duke of York in Edinburgh — Burning Effigies — Prestonfield burnt 
 by the Mob — Parliament opened by the Duke — He goes to New- 
 market — Wreck of H.M.S. Gloster — Petitions — The Countryman's 
 Complaint and Advice to the King — Letters to Sir James Dick — The 
 Duchess of Lauderdale — Good Hansome Pictures — Strange Reelings 
 in the Kingdom — Destruction of Churches. 
 
 [1680— 1688] 
 
/ 
 
Chapter II. 
 
 In spite of all disasters the Dick family do not seem to have 
 lost courage, but must have set bravely to work to retrieve their 
 fortunes, for we find Sir William's grandson, Sir James Dick, 
 called to London in 1680 by King Charles II. to attend his 
 brother the Duke of York to Edinburgh. 
 
 Sir James was at that time Lord Provost of Edinburgh, to 
 which office was attached that of a Privy Councillor,^ a dignity 
 which had to be supported with great magnificence and expense, 
 and we learn that the Lord Provost's coach being one of only 
 five or six in the whole city, the Peers and Members of Parlia- 
 ment "marched on horseback in great form."^ 
 
 The Duke of York's arrival in Edinburgh was the signal for 
 much mobbing and rioting among the inhabitants, the disrespect 
 being aimed at the Duke and his Catholic attendants. This, Sir 
 James, as Chief Magistrate, had great difficulty in quelling, as 
 will be seen from the following extracts from his " Copie book 
 of Letters," which was kept by his Secretary, Mr George Watson. 
 
 To Mr Patrick Ellis. 28th December 1680. 
 "As for news — upon Saturday last being Yule day the Colledginers 
 would burn the Effigees of the Pope. It was designed by the Boys to 
 burn the same at the Cross, but fearing opposition, on a sudden by ten 
 or twelve of their number, it was brought to Blackfriars wyndhead and 
 there burnt quickly and so they stole away. This act was offensively 
 
 ^ The executive authority of the State was largely in the hands of the Privy Council, which was 
 independent of the Parliament ; its members were elected by the Sovereign, and they sat in the 
 Royal Palace. 
 
 ' There were only two streets wide enough for vehicular traffic. 
 
24 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 taken seeing it was never done before here, and to be done here and at 
 this time was looked to be in contempt of his Royal Highness which in 
 general was thought ill manners. There were some of the Boys im- 
 prisoned but let out in a day or two." 
 
 Then comes a letter received by Sir James on the subject, a 
 facsimile of which is given, but as the writing, to those un- 
 accustomed to the style, is not very easy to read, the following 
 is a transcription : — 
 
 "To the Right Honorable Sir James Dick." 
 
 My Lord, — Immediately after dinner the Advocat sent his Servant 
 to y town hous and myn desiring to speak with us. Accordingly I went 
 and he told me that this forenoone the Courtts of the Senett Councill had 
 voted and caused in the affirmative that upon yesternights miscarriage 
 of the Schoallers the Colledge gates should be closed up. Also told me 
 lykewise that he went to the Ducke and spock to him sitting at Dinner 
 which he used not to doe. I sold furth some reasones to him that it 
 was verrie inconveniant to doe that ffor the scholars craved no better 
 than to be Debarred from coming to Colledge. About 4 of the Clock 
 this night the secret Councill at y Sitting sent ffor the baillies who 
 compeiring ye Chancellor told them that upon ye account of ye severall 
 disorders comitted be the scholars and oyrs that they intendit to take 
 a sevear course with them. Bot desired to know of ye baillies what 
 expedients they would propose. Bot hearing you lop (lordship) was out 
 of town at Nicolsons they desyred that your lop should be made 
 acquainted and sent for to be here tomorrow be 10 of the Clock to 
 meitt with a Committee of y' lops for ye effect. These are in obedi- 
 ence to their lops and the baillies commands to intimate to y"" lord- 
 ship to be here tomorrow. Against which tyme when your lop will be 
 attended by ye baillies and by your Lordships verrie humble Servant 
 
 JA ROCHEID. 
 
 Sir James then writes to his brother William, to inform 
 him of the burning of Prestonfield, his country house, by the 
 mob. 
 
^e^^uinj 1-0 ^^oA wii/E iu, cl'T^ui^-ei^ J went- 'oTi^-fri^l^ Mi& iir'al-^fft^ 
 
 Km.?/ 
 
 cxtn^t cntojs M mt-iiH u(kSc/ //c^^-ZtT ( ^o- (^-iSSi^ i-o ph. 
 
Burning of Prestonfield House 25 
 
 To Mr William Dick, i Feby 1681. 
 
 "Loving Brother, — As for news — my House of Prestonfield^ stand- 
 ing furnisht as it was in the summer was upon the nth of last month 
 burnt all to ashes which has been wilfully done by some malicious 
 Persons. There was upon Yule day a design by the Colledginers to 
 burn the Pope's Effigy through our streets the like was never done 
 before. 
 
 It was looked upon by our Nobility and Secret Counsellors to be 
 in contempt of their Royal Highnesses because they are Popish and 
 because they were not so assisted by the Magistrates as they expected 
 they put it through the Town that they should burn my House of 
 Prestonfield which accordingly is fallen out. The Secret Counsell have 
 emitted a Proclamation that whoever will discover the actors thereof 
 shall have 2000 merks and a remission to the discouverer providing he 
 discover his associates. The Secret Counsell makes it their work to 
 examine but as yet has come no length. The Colledge Gates are shut 
 by order of Counsell but I am endeavouring to get off the restraint 
 which I hope to get done. We live in a bad time. God help it." ^ 
 
 The same to Mr Ellis. 12 Feby 1681. 
 
 "As for news I cannot but think when I see your printed Papers 
 from London that you have Persons there whose Trade is to contrive 
 Lies. It occasions good sport here for the Duke reads them and tells 
 them at Court time with great pleasure. It is prented that the Duke 
 caused burn my House, that I have got 1 100 Pounds and that the Duke 
 had got a Barrell of Powder out of the Castle, which is all as true as 
 that I am at London at writing hereof. I am not the first that has 
 been abused that way. It is a subject not worthy of my trouble to 
 
 ^ Usually named Priestfield at this date. 
 Mr William Baird, author of the " Annals of Duddingston," has by his researches been able 
 to throw some light on the early Proprietors of Priestfield. According to him Priestfield, the 
 Grange, Spittleton, &c. belonged to the Monks of the Monastery of Harehope or Holm, near 
 Carlisle, and after the War of Independence were taken from them by Robert the II. and 
 given to his son, the Earl of Carrick, by whom Priestfield was afterwards disponed to the 
 Wardlaws of Riccarton and Warriston. Cardinal Wardlaw, Bishop of Glasgow in 1 368- 1 389, was 
 Secretary to King David II., and uncle of the Andrew Wardlaw who first obtained the property. 
 The Wardlaws seem to have held the lands until 1509, when Walter Chepman, the celebrated 
 printer, became the owner. From him it passed to the Hamiltons (Earls of Haddington), from 
 whom, again, it was purchased by the Dicks, in whose family it has remained to the present time. 
 
 D 
 
26 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 defend against. As for my being in a Tavern that night my house was 
 burnt it is true for I was in Patrick Steels with the rest of the Magistrates 
 and after eight rang a gentleman came and called me aside in the Room 
 and shewed the Condition of my House being burning with great prudence, 
 but before he had well spoke there was a number of Persons of Quality 
 both came and sent to know the truth which obliged me to stay to 
 entertain discourse with them about half an hour and then I went home 
 and found my house ( in Edin>- ) so full of Friends and neighbours with 
 my wife and children that I wished to have been in some place of retire- 
 ment for both the subject was unpleasant and a Person is obliged at such 
 times to carry prudently and discreetly. And if I had a hand in destroying 
 the same I would have been such a friend to myself as to have taken out 
 the best of my plenishing, but not one farthings worth was saved, all was 
 burnt. The Arras Hangings and Carpets with the new Peutter which 
 Mrs Rochead bought for me at London and all other furniture belonging 
 to a furnished house. As to finding out the Actors there is a Coalman 
 that lives in Niddry about 2 miles from Prestonfield who was going home 
 and depones that he did see a number of young men with unlighted 
 Torches or Dinks about a Ridge length from my house who had with 
 them a blind Bonnet^ which is now judged to have been designed to set 
 fire to their combustibles. And before the said coalman had come home 
 he looked back and did see my house all on fire and told some Persons 
 that he met with, upon which they have deponed that it was the 
 ColUdginers had done it. 
 
 But as yet the particular persons are not discovered. Yea I am so 
 much denyed as to advantage that I should be sorry to know such 
 Wretches and that any such should suffer death for my House it would 
 be no pleasure to me for their loss of a good conscience is of greater 
 moment than my loss which 1 hope shall be found no great want in my 
 Testament." 
 
 Sir James' tovv^n house at that time, appears to have been in 
 the Land Market, although later his letters were addressed to the 
 Lawn Market ; this residence was probably one and the same, as 
 this name for the Lawn Market is found in several old maps and 
 histories of the city. It was from this house that his daughter, 
 
 ^Dark lanthorn. 
 
Lady Cunyngham's Marriage 27 
 
 Lady Cunyngham of Caprington was married in 1696, when 
 as will be seen by the annexed account, precautions against light- 
 fingered gentry, were as necessary for the protection of wedding 
 gifts as they are now. This account was evidently made out by 
 the House Steward or Butler, and paid by Sir James' Secretary, 
 Mr George Watson. 
 
 Account paid out By me Johnston in the tym of my lay (lady) 
 Keprintengs wedding 
 
 lb. s. drs. 
 
 Itt paid to the sentrie that stood keping the door r 00 14 6 
 Itt paid to the muck men for making clean thes 
 
 close . . . . . V 14 6 
 
 Itt disBursed to the poor folk . . . 2 08 o 
 
 £os 17 o 
 
 Received from Geo. Watson the Above three pound seventeen shilings 
 Scots Be me Wm. Johnston. 
 
 The following is an extract from a letter in Sir James' own 
 writing, the spelling being equally original. 
 
 "Edin 6 Apryll 1680" 
 " Upon Seturday last Mr James Ruchheid of Inverleith, our towne 
 Clerck sett out from this in Coch with his Leady and on of his doughters 
 Mrs Jennitt (Janet), with Edward Cleghorn Goldsmith and Inverleiths 
 man Hendrie Kinloch all fyve in on Coch, as lyckwyse upon horse in 
 Companie with them ther is — Kinloch and — Kinloch, which is to goe to 
 Yorck and ther to tak Coch straight for London which I suppose iff ther 
 helth continow will be with you the hinder end of next weick." 
 
 By the following letter from the Bishop of Edinburgh, it 
 would appear that Sir James was inclined to exceed his authority 
 in matters concerning the Churches prerogative, which calls forth 
 a mild remonstrance from the Bishop, who begs him to leave 
 such matters in Episcopal hands, that no mistakes should occur 
 betwixt them. 
 
28 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 For My Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Edin. 2 March 1681. 
 
 Thes ar — 
 
 My Lord, — " I am surprised with what I hear concerning the intention 
 for settling your Ministers it is such that I cannot comply with I have 
 ever been tender of the Privilidges of the Citie and of your lop^ interest, 
 and I expect your lop will doe nothing to the prejudice of the rights 
 of the Bishop of Edin in my person, its the right of ye good towne 
 to present Ministers for they are patrons, but it belongs to the Bishop 
 to transplant them from one parish to anoyr, and to order them to 
 preach and to exercise their ministrie according to Ecclisiasticall rules. 
 This I doe expect to be preserved entire in my right without being 
 encroached upon by anie method — lest your lop sould proceed this 
 day at yor Towne Council to order the settlement of the Ministers I 
 have sent this lyne to prevent mistakes which I hope sail not fall in 
 betwixt yor lop and — My Lord Yor humble servant, 
 
 Jo : Edinburgen. 
 
 On the 28th July 1681 the Duke of York as high Commissioner 
 opened ParHament in Edinburgh, when the Duke declared his 
 Majesty's pleasure to Constitute Lord Hado President of the 
 Session, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, the Earl of Queensborough 
 Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Perth Lord Justice Clerk. 
 
 That Sir James' attendance on the Duke was still required is 
 shewn by the subsequent letters to Mr Ellis to whom he writes 
 
 Edinr 7th March 1682 
 The Duke of York having parted from this yesterday in one of the 
 Kings Yachts for Yarmouth in order to see his Majesty at Newmarket 
 the same has oblidged me this day to take journey by land for Newmarket 
 at which place I will stay a little time and then I resolve to come up to 
 London. In the meantime I desire you to take an Convenient Chamber 
 near you." 
 
 The next letter gives an account of his return with the Duke 
 by sea, and the sinking of the Gloster Man of War, while 
 they were on board, and their narrow escape from drowning : — 
 
Wreck of H.M.S. Gloster 
 
 Edin" 9 May 1682. 
 
 " Upon Sunday at 8 o'c at night His Royal Highness with his 
 retinue arrived safe here there being a most sad disaster upon the 
 Saturday before. At seven o'c in the morning the Man of War called 
 the 'Gloster' Sir John Berrie Captain wherein His Highness was and 
 a great Retinue of Noblemen and Gentlemen whereof I was one, the 
 said ship did strike in pieces and did wholly sink in a Bank of Sand 
 called the Lemon and are about 12 leagues from Yarmouth. 
 
 This was occasioned by the wrong Calcul and ignorance of a pilot 
 and put us all in such consternation that we knew not what to do 
 The Duke and all that were with him being in Bed when she first 
 struck. The Helm having broke the man was killed by the force 
 thereof at the first shock. 
 
 When the Duke got his Clothes on and enquired how things stood 
 she had nine feet of water in her hold and the sea fast coming in 
 at the gun ports, the seamen and passengers were not at command, 
 every man studying his own safety, this forced the Duke to go out 
 at the large window of the Cabin where his little boat was ordered 
 quietly to attend him lest the Passengers and seamen should have 
 thronged so in upon him as to overset his Boat. This was accordingly 
 so conducted as that none but Earl Windsor and the President of the 
 Session with two of the Bed Chamber men were with him. They were 
 forced to draw their Swords to hold people off. We seeing they were 
 gone did cause tackle out with great difficulty the Ships Boat wherein 
 the Earl of Perth got and then I went by jumping off the shrouds, the 
 Earl of Middleton immediately after me did jump in upon my shoulders 
 withal their came the Laird of Touch with several others besides the 
 seamen that were to row w^ was thought a sufficient number for her 
 loading considering there was going so great a sea occasioned by the 
 wind at N.E. And we seeing that at the Duke's Boat side there was 
 one overwhelmd by reason of the greatness of the sea w*^ drowned the 
 whole in her except two men whom we saw riding on her keel. This 
 made us desire to be gone. But before we were loose there leapt from 
 the shrouds about 20 or 24 seamen in upon us which made all the spectators 
 and ourselves to think that we would sink, and all having given us over 
 for lost did hinder an hundred more from leaping in upon us. With 
 those that were left were Lord Roxburgh and Laird Hopton and Mr 
 
30 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Litteldell. Roxburgh's servant Doctor Livingston and the President 
 of the Session's man and my servant, they all being at the place when 
 I jumped would not follow because it seems they concluded it more 
 safe to stay in the vessel than to expose themselves to our hazard all 
 which Persons in an instant were washed off and drowned. 
 
 There will be perished in this disaster above 200 Persons, for I reckon 
 there were 250 Seamen and I am sure there were 80 noblemen gentlemen 
 and their servants. My Computation was that there were 330 in all 
 of which I cannot learn that 1 30 are found alive. 
 
 Our difficulties and hazards that were in this Boat were wonderful. 
 If the rest had not thought us dead men I am sure many more would 
 have jumped in upon us. We were so throng we had no room to stand 
 and when we were forcing ourselves from the ship she being sinking 
 by degrees all the time and besides the surfs were so boisterous that we 
 were like to be struck in pieces upon the Wreck so sinking. 
 
 It was not but with great difficulty that we forced out the Boat from 
 the Ship and when we came to row to the nearest Yacht the Waves were 
 such we being overloaded that every moment we thought to have been 
 drowned and being about midway to the Yachts there were a great many 
 swimming for their lives who catched a dead grip of our Boat holding up 
 their heads above the water and crying out for Help which hinderance was 
 put of and their hands loosed by telling them they would both lose their 
 own lives and us Yet this would not do to make them lose their grips till 
 they were forced off by severals in our Boat except one that took hold of 
 me whom I caused catch into the Boat lest I should have been pulled out 
 by him. And when it pleased God to bring us wonderfully to one of the 
 Yachts side being not less than a quarter of a mile distant from our Ship 
 they not daring to come nearer by reason of the Sand Bank upon which 
 we were wrecked And if we had not shot off guns showing them our 
 distress the other Men of War that were immediately following would 
 have met with the same disaster but they immediately bore off. The 
 four Yachts came as near as they could and put off their Boats to help us 
 But all that could be done could not prevent the great loss of about 200 
 men. I was in my gown and slippers lying in bed when she first struck 
 and did escape in that condition and when unexpectedly and wonderfully 
 we came to the Yachtside called Cap' Sanders we were like to be crushed 
 to pieces by it which by reason of the great sea was like to run us down. 
 At last a Rope was cast which was so managed that we were brought to 
 
Wreck of H.M.S. Gloster 31 
 
 the lea side then every man climbed for his life and so did I, taking hold of 
 a rope and made shift upon the side till I came within men's reach and 
 was hauled in. I then looked back but could not see one bit of our great 
 Ship above water but about a Scots ell long of the Staff upon which the 
 Royal Standard stood for with her sticking she had come off the Sand 
 Bank w'^ was but three fathoms water upon each side when she struck and 
 so did sink in the deepest place Now if she had continued upon the three 
 fathoms and broke in pieces there all would have had time to have saved 
 themselves But such was the misfortune that she was wholly over- 
 whelmed and all washed into the sea that were upon her Decks. There 
 would have been relief by Boats if she had stood half an hour longer So 
 to conclude this melancholy account all the Above Persons our country- 
 men that were of Respect are as I have told. Of Englishmen of Respect 
 there were lost Lord Obrien and Lord Hyde's brother who was Lieutenant 
 of the Ship and a number of Noblemen and Gentlemens Servants which 
 I cannot name I can hardly speak with any that were aboard with the 
 Duke but that they have lost servants more or less. 
 
 God made me thankfuU for the wonderfuU deliverance. 
 
 I believe I shall have trouble now that both my Lord Roxburgh and 
 his man are lost to recover payment of these Bills. 
 
 All my Clothes and Papers are lost having nothing saved but the 
 twenty guineas w*' were in my little Pocket with my Watch and the little 
 Box with my Wife's ring and necklace. But for my papers I rolled them 
 up in a Handkerchief and put them off me so that both the King's letter 
 for the £l20 Stirling and the accounts I filled with you are gone. 
 
 Yesterday his Royal Highness called the King's Counsel and there the 
 King's will was declared as to his Chancellor who was President of the 
 Session my Lord Queensbury for Treasurer and Lord Perth Justice 
 General w"* Queensbury had before. Notwithstanding the disaster His 
 Highness met with in this last sea voyage yet He is within five or six days 
 with his Dutchess and the Lady Anne to take shipping for London." 
 
 Amongst the Petitions of this period there is one to " His Royal 
 Highness the Duke of Albanie, His Majesties Commissioner and 
 the honorable Estates of Parliament from the tanners of Edin- 
 burgh and others," which bears no date, and another from the 
 King's tradesmen. The latter complain that since His Majesties' 
 
32 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Grandfather succeeded to the Kingdom of England, the trade that 
 formerly was theirs has passed away, but that the taxes and 
 burdens remain the same, and petition accordingly to be relieved. 
 This memorial is dated on the back 1681. Another of the same 
 date is from the Shoemakers of Edinburgh as to the importing of 
 foreign leather, which seems also to have been a sore point with 
 the Tanners. Then the " Merchant retailers. That is such as retail 
 Cloathe Stuffes and other merchandise," wish to have a Public 
 Hall for their own use, for which they give their reasons at length. 
 
 These and others shew the style of business daily transacted 
 by H.R.H. his Majesties Commissioner, the Lord Provost, and 
 Parliament of Edinburgh, besides political affairs such as dealing 
 with the turbulent Lords from the North who were brought "into 
 Ward " under the Privy Councillors. 
 
 Judging from a letter to Sir James, as Lord Provost, dated 
 Edinburgh, 7th February 1681, a complaint had been made to the 
 City captains, that the workmen of his Majesties Mint were exempt 
 from the task of watching at night. As they had separate trades 
 as well as the above occupation, the other citizens had evidently 
 taken umbrage at the favour shewn at their expense, and the City 
 Captains address him on the matter in the following manner: — 
 
 "My Lord Provost, — The list of Workemen belongeing to his 
 Majesties Mint beinge shoun to and perused by the Cittie Cap'^ they find 
 severall of them Great Traiders and partakers of Burgher traid Yea some 
 of them far beyound many other in traid that maks no scrupell In watching 
 wairding and contributing to other publick Impositions and particularly 
 this hear below-mentioned with the nature of ther Imployments who we 
 Judge that when ther Imployments is made known to the General! of 
 his Majesties Mint that he is so Just that he will not protecke them 
 from bearinge Neghbourly Dewtie so long as they are so Considerably 
 partakers of profitt by Publicke traid not bot that the Cap'^ are most 
 
The Cittie Captains' Complaint 33 
 
 willing to Excuse them at any tyme they have any afairs to doe that 
 Concerns the Mint House, and at all tyme to Excuse the ordinary 
 Labourers, for it is Judged hard to put thos who have Imployments in 
 the Ceitie (tho Listed in the Mint Roll) In A Better Condition then 
 other of his Majesties Masters of work Who tho they have patins for 
 beinge free of all publicke burthins yett are made Lyable for ther burger 
 traid and its hard to make one man Contribute or do Dewtie for Another 
 who is fare Aibeller to bear his owne Burthine, Its therfor the whoU 
 Cap'= Requeists for the satisfaction of the Nighbours that your Lo/ 
 will Represent this to the Generall of his Majesties Mint that his Lo/ 
 may know the trew state of this mens traids. And if then his Lo/ 
 desyers so considerabll traiders to be Exeamd, from that Nighbourly 
 dewtie of watchinge which Most of the Nighbours doeth Reflecke upon, 
 We will with all submission (tho Imposable to satisfie the nighbours 
 that beirs the Burthine) Give obedience to your Lo/ Commands. 
 
 Annexed are a few examples taken from the lists given by 
 the " Cittie Capts."— 
 
 "John Eadie he keeps A publick hous and his wyfe sells several! 
 Commodities and he keeps two houses at Least he proteckes A Man 
 that Dwells in one of them by ouneinge him and hinders him from 
 doeinge dewtie als weel as himself. 
 
 John Lockie is A great f'forier and keeps open Chop and servants 
 in the Cannigait head. 
 
 William Glen is A Publick tavern keeper and A Common Cook and 
 hath considerable Imployment. 
 
 James Thompson he keeps open Chop and hath A considerable traid 
 in selling and cuttinge tobaco &c. 
 
 Patrick Sponer A ffreeman taylor he hath A verey considerable 
 traid and constant traid and keeps many Jurnamen and setts out Chamers 
 at the Cross. 
 
 Thomas Strauchan is A piriwickmaker, etc. 
 
 The following two broadsides are of sufficient interest to 
 reprint here. They are marked " Reprinted in the year 1681." 
 
 E 
 
34 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 THE COUNTRYMANS COMPLAINT AND ADVICE 
 
 TO THE KING. 
 
 " We only can admire those happy times 
 Of Innocence, unskilled in Laws and Crimes 
 When Gods were known by Blessings, own'd by Prayer, 
 And 'twas no part of Worship for to swear : 
 Clearer than Fountains, and more free than those. 
 Impartial Truth they all to each disclose. 
 To hear, and to believe were strictly joyn'd, 
 And Speech thus answer'd what it first design'd. 
 But Oh unhappy state of Humane kind ! 
 Nought dreadful now our Awe, or Faith can bind. 
 Vows and Religions are but bare pretence, 
 Oaths are found out to shackle Innocence, >- 
 And Laws must serve a perjur'd Impudence. ) 
 Tumults address for Blood, Witness for Hire deceives 
 And Judge is forc'd to Sentence what he ne'er believes. 
 All Truth and Justice, blushingly withdraw, 
 Leaving us nothing but the Form of Law : 
 Whereby Rogues profligate, and hardned in their Vice 
 Proscribe all Loyal men, as factions raise their price. 
 Poor Land ! whose Folly to swift Ruine tends, 
 Despis'd by Foes, unaided by its Friends. 
 In vain does Heaven her Fiery Comets light. 
 We stifle th' Evidence, and still grope in night : 
 Baffled by Fools, betray'd by perjur'd Knaves, 
 Rather than Subjects, we'll be branded Slaves : 
 And by a vain pursuit of airy Bliss, 
 Forefeit Substantial real Happiness ; 
 Change Monarchy (from all oppression free) "v 
 Religion, and its Native Purity, >- 
 True Freedom, without Lawless Liberty : ) 
 For thousand Masters, worst of Tyranny, \ 
 For frantick Zeal, formal Hypocrisie, V 
 For Licence to rude Rabbles, Hell and Slavery, j 
 And all this wrought by old known Cheats and Rooks, 
 Gods ! to be twice Cajol'd by Cants and Looks ! 
 
Advice to the King 
 
 35 
 
 Sots, worse than Brutes to run into that Net 
 We see, and know for our destruction set ! " 
 
 TO THE KING 
 
 " Arise, O thou once Mighty Charles, arise. 
 Dispel those mists that Cloud thy piercing Eyes ; 
 Read o'er thy Martyr'd Fathers Tragick Story, 
 Learn by his Murder, different ways to glory. 
 
 How Fatal 'tis by him is understood. 
 To yield to Subjects, when they thirst for Blood, ) 
 And cloak their black designs with Publick Good. J 
 As thou art God-like by thy Pity, Show 
 That thou art God-like by thy Justice too : 
 Lest we should count thy greatest Virtue, Vice, 
 And call thy Mercy, servile Cowardise. 
 Of Old, when daring Giants skal'd the Skie, 
 The King of Gods ne're laid his Thunder by. 
 To hear Addresses for their Property. 
 But quell'd His Rebels by a stroke Divine 
 And left example how to deal with TJiiney 
 
 The next two letters are addressed to Sir James Dick, late 
 Provost of Edinburgh, and relate to the Mercantile treaties 
 which it was then sought to bring about with France. 
 
 Paris 3d february 
 1683. 
 
 Sir, — I received your letter at the same time when my Lord Preston 
 had the information concerning our nations privileges in ffrance, he 
 resolved ever since the business was first proposed to him to have an 
 opportunity to show his affection to our Kingdome for my part I shall 
 think myself very happy to be able to serve soe many honest gentilmen 
 as are most concern'd in this affaire but will be extremely satisfied and 
 proud to doe anything for the interest of my country. What Steps 
 shall be made in the business I shall give you a particular account of 
 from time to time, and labour by all means to deserve the kindness 
 that is intended me, and to persuade you that I am Sir your most 
 humble and most obedient servant, J. Deanes, 
 
36 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Whitehall 20 february 
 82 & 83 
 
 Sir, — My Lord of Preston having resolved to take all possible ways 
 to recover our nations priviledges in France and particularly those of 
 the Marchants, thought that I could in noe place be more usefull then 
 in London to press the business with the French Ambassadour (without 
 whose advice and consent noething is done in France in relation to 
 business of our nations) therefore he sent me hither that I might from 
 time to time let his R. Highness and the Ambassador know what steps 
 were made in the affaire, and accordingly thoo nights agoe My Lord 
 having written this letter inclosed to me with a coppie of a memorial 
 allready given in by him about the business I shoud them to the Duke 
 who still keeps the memorial or else I had transcribed it and sent you 
 alsoe a coppie of it the great advantage My Lord will have in this business 
 will be that Mr de Croisy (who is Secretary of State for forrein affaires 
 being brother to Mr Colbert and consequently an ennemy to our Country 
 upon the account of their genealogy which was formerly refused them 
 from thence) will be very hard to be delt with and yet there is a necessety 
 upon My Lord to negociate with this man the King himself suffering noe 
 forrein minister to speak to him about business, to obviat this difficulty I 
 know noe other way but to procure from the King and Duke besides the 
 instructions that are already given My Lord, particularly letters for the 
 King of France which he delivring out of his own hande may upon that 
 occasion take opportunity of reasoning the affaire with his Majesty who 
 I believe will be found easier to grant favours or justice than his ministers, 
 this I resolve to propose to his Highness when ever I shall see conveniency 
 and shall let you know what I can procure in it. 
 
 After you have perused the inclosed be pleased to send it me back and 
 rest assured of all my endeavours as well in this generall concern as on all 
 privat occasions that shall offer of proving myself to be Sir y"- etc., 
 
 J. Deans. 
 
 The next letter from Sir James is to his brother Mr W. Dick, 
 and is dated 
 
 Edin. 25 Sept. 1684. 
 
 " There was an order from his Majesty's Counsel for apprehending the 
 Laird of Polewarth as suspected of having accession to the late Plot 
 
My Lady Dutchess of Lauderdale 37 
 
 against his Majesty. Upon hearing thereof he fled from his own house — 
 But I hear he sent a letter to the Chancellor shewing that he had got 
 notice thereof but was resolved not to expose his Person again, having 
 been put in twice formerly his Body could not endure it longer But he 
 would find Bail to answer. 
 
 This I suppose does not please the Statesman." 
 
 To the same, 
 
 Edinburgh, 30th Jany., 1686. 
 
 " Our uncle Sir James Rochead is come home from London in one of 
 the Kings Yachts with the Dutchess of Lauderdale. 
 
 He is now in a fair way to be returned to his old place of Clerk of 
 Edin'^ having brought down His Majesty's Recommendation will bring 
 him to his own." 
 
 In reference to the Duchess of Lauderdale, there is a letter to 
 Mr Patrick Ellis, dated 9th October 1680, in which he says 
 
 " The good Town is to pay to my Lady Dutchess of Lauderdale fifteen 
 hundred pounds Stirling presently as part of what we are to give for our 
 new gift so that the same must be remitted from this to London." 
 
 For what reason the good Town was to pay her Grace this 
 sum, he does not explain, nor where the money was to come from, 
 a problem not easily solved, considering the state of the public 
 finances. Five years later he writes with his own hand and in 
 his most remarkable spelling, 
 
 25 Juny 1685 
 
 " the truth is the staitt of the affairs of this countrie has beine such for 
 this longe tyme past thatt it putt a stop to the endinge of all particular 
 affairs. 
 
 Butt blised be God I hopp itt is now att ane end, fifor the Errell of 
 Arguill with his assistance heir for Scotland is now bett, and the said 
 Arguill is now prisoner in the Castell of Edinburgh with other of his 
 prin<='« asociatts. Ther is one (Kambell?) of whom noe question you 
 have frequently hard off, would have laid waitt the leaitt King and this 
 present Kings coch coming from Newmarket to Whaithall with a desyne 
 to heave sezed on their persons I say the s^ villane is tacken with Argyll 
 
38 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 and is now prisoner heir, soe that when the Duck of Monmouth, who is 
 actually in rebellion in England, is vanquished and o'rcome which I hop 
 to heir off shortly, we shall then by a probability heave ane future quietness 
 and pease." ^ 
 
 While " the Duke of York acted as Commissioner, a test oath 
 was framed to be taken by all people in public trusts as an 
 assurance of their loyalty, but it turned out to be such a curious 
 jumble of contradictory obligations that many refused to take 
 it. The Earl of Argyle, son of the late Marquis,^ would only 
 receive it with an explanation which was held to be an act of 
 treason and he was accordingly tried and condemned to death." ^ 
 He, however, managed to make good his escape from Edin- 
 burgh Castle disguised as a page, and remained at large until 
 1685, when landing in Scotland with armed followers, he was 
 seized, tried and executed on the 30th June, in the same 
 manner as his father. It is his second imprisonment which is 
 referred to in the above letter. 
 
 It may here be mentioned that Lord Neil Campbell, second 
 son of the Marquis of Argyll, had a daughter named Susan, who 
 married John Stewart of Urrard, Perthshire ; and that the owner 
 of the documents which are here printed is connected with this 
 family by the marriage of Sir W. H. Dick Cunyngham to Susan 
 Alston Stewart of Urrard;* and further that to this early con- 
 nection with the Argylls the Stewarts of Urrard owe it, that 
 there has come down to the present generation what is known 
 
 ^ Monmouth's rebellion ended at Sedgmoor on 6th July, 1685, and he was beheaded on the 
 15th of that month. 
 
 2 Executed by the Maiden in Edinburgh in 1 661, his head being afterwards set on the Tolbooth 
 where that of the Marquis of Montrose had also been placed. 
 
 3 Domestic Annals. R. Chambers. 
 
 * Great-granddaughter and namesake of Susan Campbell. 
 
Duke Gordon, Governor of the Castle 39 
 
 as the " Argyll Bible." This book was used by the unfortunate 
 Marquis during his imprisonment and up to the hour of his 
 execution, the passages he read being marked with blood obtained 
 by pricking his finger. This interesting relic is now in the 
 possession of Miss Alston Stewart, together with some other 
 books and articles of furniture belonging to Lord Neil. 
 
 The next reference to public affairs is in a letter to Mr Stephen 
 Ernault. 
 
 Edin'' December 1686. 
 
 " Sir George Lockhart is still President but Sir George Mackenzie and 
 Lord Pitmedden were removed from their offices about the time of last 
 sitting of our Parliament, and it is not thought they will be again admitted. 
 There is none as yet put in their offices. 
 
 I perceive you intend not the Presents of Fruits to any Persons that 
 are in disgrace. 
 
 Duke Gordon was long ago installed Governor of our Castle. He is 
 also admitted one of the Lords of the Treasury and secret Counsell. Also 
 the Laird of Niddry is one of the Privy Counsell." 
 
 It may be well to remind the reader that the above appoint- 
 ments were to the Scottish Parliament, for though England and 
 Scotland were united under one king in 1603, the two Kingdoms 
 continued to have separate Governments for more than a hundred 
 years. Also, that when King Charles the IL came to the throne 
 in 1660, he summoned a Parliament in Scotland and left it to 
 them to examine the conduct of his subjects ; and that before long 
 not only was Episcopacy received in Scotland, but ministers went 
 to London and were ordained, Bishops were consecrated, the 
 Scottish Privy Council forbade all Meetings of Synods and 
 Presbyteries until authorised by the Bishops, and the Parliament, 
 rescinding the Solemn League and Covenant, declared the power 
 of the Militia to be solely in His Majesty, and condemned the 
 
40 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 act of January 1647 which related to the sale of the late 
 King's person. The disadvantage of the Scottish Parliament is 
 pointed out by Sir Alexander in his Memoir, where he says : — 
 
 " It proved rather unfortunate to Scotland that its Sovereign and the 
 considerable persons of the nobihty and others should reside in England, 
 besides the jarring interests of different forms of religion, different laws, 
 different Channels of Commerce, nay different idioms and pronounciation 
 of language and indeed inequality of fortunes and estates in money and 
 land, altogether considered, created such differences of opinions as greatly 
 distressed the lesser Kingdom and made its Parliament which generally 
 speaking was no more than a pompous parade of a few days yearly who 
 did little business and greatly fermented the long civil war which before 
 and during Oliver Cromwell's time under the pretence of the defence of 
 liberty by its barbarous licentiousness promoted the horrors of rebellion 
 and the loss of the Monarchy and the Kings life." 
 
 To return again to Sir James' letters. He writes to Mr 
 Stephen Ernault announcing his intention of rebuilding his 
 house which had been burnt,^ and giving him a Commission to 
 buy glass for windows, from which it may be presumed Scotland 
 did not then produce what was sufficiently good for his purpose. 
 Also at a later date he commissions Bailie Brand to purchase 
 pictures for his staircase, to be bought in Holland, which he 
 stipulates should be " of a lively colour and not sad " ! 
 
 To Mr Stephen Ernault Edin. 3 Feb. 1687. 
 
 " I am going this summer to build a country house for wh I shall stand 
 in need of twelve chests of glass^ — I desire you may take care to chuse the 
 same good. As for news Sir John Dalrymple is made Kings Advocate in 
 place of Sir George Mackenzie." 
 
 ^ The Court in London, as well as that of the Duke of York at Edinburgh, had taken this riot 
 and the burning of Prestonfield into serious consideration, and resolved that Sir James' loss should 
 be indemnified. But the sum received by him never exceeded ;^8oo, which was very much less 
 than the amount expended in rebuilding, under Sir William Bruce, the King's Architect. 
 
 ^ This glass was to be delivered on the shore at Leith. 
 
Sir James Dick's Commission 
 
 41 
 
 "Edin. 30 June 1691. 
 Memorandum for Bailie Allexander Brand To buy for 
 
 Sir James Dick. 
 
 Sir 
 
 I doe herewith deliver you Tenn Louidores in Gold to be 
 bestowed upon good hansom Pictures to be bought in flanders or 
 Holland, where you think fittest for hanging of my Staire-Caice of 
 my house at Prestonfield w** would be in number from Sixteen to 
 Twenty four, as you can have them. Some of them would be large 
 for such particular places of the Staire w<='' I did lett you see They 
 would be all without Mullers, for the easy transport RouU them all 
 upon Sticks, least if they be foulded, that may spoile the painting — 
 And after you have bought them, send them in the first ship for Leith, 
 allongst with your owne Goodes, and mark the Box or Case, or matt they 
 are put up in, with D directed for me Lett your choyce runn upon Lively 
 Light coloures and not sadd I remitt the fifancie of y' Pictures to your 
 owne choyce which will obliege Sir 
 
 Your most humble Servant." 
 
 The signature is torn away, but the memorandum is docketed 
 on the back "Sir Ja Diks commissione." 
 
 There is also this order for two Perriwigs, which is given in a 
 Postscript of another business letter to Mr Stephen Ernault 
 
 " I desire you send w' ye first occasion for leith Two perwiggs such 
 as you sent me before being neither too long nor too short and about 
 y* same pryse y' ye last ones but a little light of y* colour in respect 
 of my complexion, for another person two other wiggs a little sadd 
 y° y' forsaid . . Ye one sum long y' other a hansom bobb." 
 
 As a sample of the ruling prices of Corn, etc., at that period, 
 
 Sir James mentions in a letter of the 3rd April, 1688. 
 
 " Barley at 9/6 per Boll, Oats 7/ and Pease 7/6 is the very lowest at 
 which they are to be had The Boll of Oats in the West Country about 
 Glasgow is selling for 9/6 and 10/. 
 
 And in connection with the stirring political events of that 
 year, the following remarks are interesting. 
 
 F 
 
42 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Writing- on the 13th Nov., 1688, he says 
 
 " As for news we are all here in great trouble and surprise with the 
 Prince of Orange and an army being landed in England — God send us 
 Peace." 
 
 Again on Dec. 4, 1688. 
 
 " I doubt not but you have better accounts from England than we have 
 for our news from that to this is daily under caplad ^ 
 
 The Packet being almost every time robbed by the way so that we 
 cannot well understand what may be the effects of these Strange Reelings 
 in the Kingdom — the present disorders having made a stop to all pay- 
 ments and receivings." . . . 
 
 And again 
 
 " There is not any Person here pays any money the times are in such 
 disorder by reason of the Invasion which put the course of all affaires and 
 Judicatories to a stand. 
 
 It is not possible for the Provost to help you with any part of that 
 money for the good Town in its general concerns is in great disorder — 
 This week the rabble of the common People put the city and Magistrates 
 in very great disorder for they have destroyed all the Kings Chapel ^ at his 
 dwelling house at the foot of the Cannongate, likewise all private Houses 
 that belonged to Roman Catholics and they dare not appear upon the 
 Streets for fear of the fury of the Rabble — There have been some killed 
 and wounded both of the Kings forces and the Rabble, but at last the 
 Rabble got their will and accomplished their foolish work — 
 
 They have likewise gone to all that had Chapels in the Country near 
 the City such as Rosline and Niddry and have destroyed their Chapels 
 and riffled their Houses — 
 
 The disorder was such and the fury of the Rabble arrived at that 
 height that hardly any man thought himself secure." 
 
 * Cap signifies to lay hold of violently, specially to seize a vessel as a prize. 
 ^ Holyrood Chapel. 
 
Chapter III. 
 
 An extraordinary paper for History — Murder of Sir George Lockhart — 
 The sentence — Surrender of Edinburgh Castle by the Duke of Gordon 
 — An empty Treasury — Conjugal letters — A love letter — Letter of 
 Condolence — The Lady Priestfield — A trip to Bath — The poll tax 
 — Relative value of Moneys — Fourth part of a Militia man — The 
 Embassadour of Peace. 
 
 [1689-1715] 
 
Chapter III. 
 
 On account of disturbances such as those related in the last 
 chapter, the following proclamation was issued some few years 
 before the King's death. 
 
 The somewhat irreverent manner in which his Majesty is 
 described as " Charles by the Etcetera " is obviously so written to 
 save space, there being much to say and paper being a considera- 
 tion. 
 
 This manuscript of King Charles the 2nd is described on 
 the back as "An Extraordinary Paper for History." 
 
 It is on a single sheet of foolscap, written very closely and 
 in the old style. 
 
 " Charles by the etc. to all and sundry whom it offers Greeting for 
 sae meikll as our Royall Government has been of Latte much affronted 
 and the peace of this our Ancient Kingdom disquieted by Irregular 
 flocking to foul Conventicls y^ nurseries of rebelions by withdrawing 
 from publick ordinances Invading the persons and pulpits of the 
 orthodox burning of the meeting houses, the killing wounding and 
 Invading of som who were Commanded in our name to expose the 
 said Insolancies Wee have thought fitt in maintenance of our Law 
 and out of that tender cair wee have allways had of this our Ancient 
 Kingdom, to requyr and impower the Lords of our previe Councell 
 to call together not only our standing forces but likewise those of 
 our militia and wee did warand them to Comision al and impower 
 such nobellmen and others as did offer to bring anay of ther vassolls 
 tenents and adherants to the assistance of our forces. And therfor 
 wee with express advice and Consent of the lords of our privy Councell 
 doe herby impowr and requyer ... to Convocat and draw together 
 
46 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 men and hereters of ... . who are to march under his comand one horse 
 back and to convocate and raise the Highlanders in his said bounds 
 and others under his comand within his lands properties and superiorities 
 and to form them into regiments troops and companeys as he shall 
 think fitt and to doe everything nesesarie for raising and forming them 
 as gardis and if being so raised and formed wee authorize and comand 
 the gards to march with them to Stirling and to be ther upon Thursday 
 being ye 20th of Jary nixt and in his and ther march to take quarters 
 for ther money and to force quarters for ther money in caise the samyne 
 be refused and when they are arived at the toun of Stirling the day 
 forsaid wee herby comand him and them to obey such orders as sail 
 be sent from our privie Councell the commitie on such person or 
 persons as wee our said lords of privie Councell sail commisionat to 
 comand the forces and to march under ther comand wherever they 
 sail be ordered In which march wee herby outhorize them to tak free 
 quarters according as our privie Councell on ther commitie sail think 
 fitt to order and if need be to seiz upon horses to carie ther seek men 
 amonition and other provizions and for ther encouragement wee herby 
 endemnify them against all pursels civell ore criminall which may at 
 aney time herefter be intendit against them on aney thing they sail 
 doe in our service by kiling comanding aprehending or imprisoning 
 such as sail mak opositione to our authoritie or by seizing such as 
 they have reasone to suspeck the same being abbuise done by order 
 of our privie Councell ther comitie ore Superior officers, And generally 
 wee doe herby give ye all the pour and indemnitie as is usuall and 
 is necessarie for such forces as are raised by authoritie ore at any time 
 ar comanded to goe upon such militarie expeditions and lastly wee 
 herby comand aney such persons living within the bounds for said as 
 sail be pitched upon by the said .... to rise and march with him 
 under his comand and therto act and stay as sail be comanded by 
 him. And that upon ther highest possible . . . herby declared that 
 thes heritors and others upon the Gard . . . sail make use of to 
 comand the highlanders or on foot sail be exempted from atending 
 one horese back given under our signet at Edbr. the 26 of Deer, 
 byy and of our reiggne the 29 year sic subscribetur Rothes Cancellang, 
 Lauderdaill douglas Marshall Murray Winton Linlithgue Strathmore 
 Seaforth Aboyn Ross Ch. Martian Go.-Makgee" and one other which 
 is quite illegible. Monroe W. Scott. 
 
Murder of Sir George Lockhart 47 
 
 To return again to Sir James' correspondence with Mr 
 Ernault, he gives an account of the murder of Sir George 
 Lockhart in the following manner : — 
 
 2nd April 1689. 
 
 "There fell out upon Sunday last, after the forenoon's sermon, a sad 
 accident. Sir George Lockhart, President of the Court of Session, was 
 shot dead through the Body going in at his own Closehead with Lord 
 Castlehill and some other of his friends. 
 
 This murder was designedly done by one Cheisly of Dairy, who has 
 an estate lying within a mile of this place of near 500 Pounds sterling 
 a year. 
 
 The said Murderer was apprehended, and the Pistol in his hand being 
 a short pocket pistol. He came stealing behind the President's back, and 
 then shot him. The Ball went through his Body, and came out at his 
 right Pap and grased upon the wall, when he instantly died. I was 
 called to be one of his Assisers, and upon Proof led before us, we have 
 condemned him. 
 
 To-morrow at 2 o'c he is to be executed at the Cross in this manner, 
 viz., his right hand is to be cut off alive, after that he is to be hanged 
 with the Pistol about his neck, and then his body to be hung on chains 
 betwixt Leith and this Place, and his right hand to be placed at the We.st 
 Port of this town, which is the Port that leads to his estate. 
 
 The grounds that the Murderer says he went upon against the Lord 
 President were, that in a sentence of Arbitration betwixt the said Dairy 
 and his Lady, who was forced to part with him as he had offered to murder 
 her, the President had by his sentence allowed her 40 pounds Scots a week 
 {£3, 6s. 8d. sterling) out of his estate for keeping herself and eleven chil- 
 dren with their servants, which was little enough in all conscience to main- 
 tain such a family. The Lady's allowance amounts to £173, 6s. 8d. per 
 annum." 
 
 To the same : — 
 
 6 April 1689. 
 
 " You cannot expect any part of the Bond to be paid you by the town 
 for all the execution of the Law is stopped and there is nothing here but 
 changes. 
 
 There is here a new set of Magistrates chosen this last week by the 
 People. They are all Presbyterians. The new Provost is Sir John Hall." 
 
48 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Again, writing on the i8th June 1689 : — 
 
 " The Duke of Gordon did on fryday last surrender the Castle of 
 Edinburgh. The conditions were, a security for all that were with him 
 and all such as he had correspondance with or assistance from as to their 
 lives or fortunes. 
 
 And for himself and his Fortune he referred them to King William's 
 mercy." 
 
 There is no clue among the letters as to what was in the wind 
 in 1698, obliging Lord Belhaven and others to go into hiding, 
 but that they looked to Sir James to help them in their difficulty 
 is evident from their writing a letter begging his attendance at 
 " The Ship " (a tavern) to discuss important business, " one that 
 you are much concerned in, and that you will (word illegible) any 
 further trouble." The letter is signed Belhaven, John Schaw, 
 Boyle of Kelburn, Andrew " (surname illegible). 
 
 Again Lord Belhaven writes : — 
 
 " Sir, — Kelburn, Sir John Shaw, Andrew and I ar all to dine at the 
 Ship to concert matters in relation to our escape. Therefore be sure to 
 attend there this day after parliament for you shall be informed that it is 
 much our concern and we ar in no little hazard — Ser' BELHAVEN. 
 
 Monday." 
 
 The payment of all moneys due to individuals by the Treasury, 
 was more honoured in the breach than in the observance, as by 
 passing the responsibility of such acts from one to the other, the 
 Lords of the Treasury managed to escape the liabilities incurred. 
 
 Sir James never received the emolument due to him as Lord 
 Provost, viz, ^200 for each year of office, a very small sum 
 considering the heavy expenses incurred ; more especially so in his 
 case, it being his duty to attend personally on the Duke of 
 York in his coming and going to Edinburgh from the South, 
 when, as has already been related, he lost all his personal effects in 
 
i 1 J ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
o 
 
 V7 ^ ? ^ 
 
 r4 
 
Petition to Oueen Anne 
 
 49 
 
 the shipwreck, and in addition had his country house burned 
 to the ground. 
 
 That he did not give up hope of reimbursement may be 
 seen by the memorial or petition to Queen Anne for the arrears 
 of salary as Lord Provost 1 680-81 — which is here facsimiled 
 along with the Precepts for the money duly signed, but neither 
 he nor his successors ever received one penny of it. Thus for 
 the second time, this family served their king and their country 
 to be but scurvily treated in return. 
 
 To turn from public affairs to private life, these letters, one 
 from Sir James Dick to his wife Dame Anna Paterson, and one 
 from her to him, are written before he attained the rank of a 
 Baronet ; they are so delightful in their quaint wording, so 
 charming in their simplicity and sincerity, that, though they 
 contain but few words these sulfifice to show at a glance the 
 manner of persons they must have been. 
 
 Mr James Dick to his wife 
 
 Newcastell 4th May 1667. 
 
 Dear Herte 
 
 My last to you wes a fferweill kisse thes ar to informe you 
 that yesternight I cam to this pleasse, and intends forward this night. 
 I rest with my love to Father and Mother and all frinds in gennerall, 
 but in partikicular to littell A. D. 
 
 Your Dearest Dear JA DiCK. 
 
 Mrs Dick to her husband 
 
 Edinburgh 7th of May 1667. 
 
 My dearest Love, 
 
 Yours I receaved daited the 4/ of this instant from New- 
 castell w' ane letter and ane bill for Mr Chatres. 
 
 All friends hath their love remembert to you and to your Unkell 
 whom I hop ye shall sie shortly your dochter Anna Dick hath her 
 humbell service presented to you and to her Grand Unkell my dearest 
 
 G 
 
so Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 love not troubling you mor at present bot committing your soull and 
 your bodie and all your concernings onto the cair and gyding of the 
 only ways God . . . and testes 
 
 Your dearest and ondouted frend 
 
 till Daith Anna Patersone. 
 
 Another letter of a later date is addressed. 
 
 To the Much Honored SiR James Dick of Prestonfield 
 
 Att the hous of Mrs Winkle att the great braziers shop in pell mell 
 neir St James London. 
 
 Postage was a consideration in those days/ so Lady Dick 
 fills the first sheet only, writing in the old style, very close and 
 small, the characters resembling German writing, and the two 
 inside sheets are filled by the house or land steward, " Will 
 Don." He begins, "My Lord," and after giving an account of 
 business transacted by him, says : — 
 
 "Sir Thomas Moncrifif of that Ilk I hear is just going to be married 
 upon Sir John Young of Lennie his relick William Allan in Duddingstoun 
 is Deceased and was Interred this Day, I have got the money paid for the 
 hay etc." 
 
 The next is a love letter, commendable for its brevity, and 
 is addressed to Isobell Pattersone, probably either sister or 
 niece to Lady Dick, if we may judge from the letter being 
 amongst the family papers ; a curious place for a love letter 
 truly. Little could Mrs Isobell have thought when she held 
 this letter in her hand, that more than two hundred years later 
 it would be read with interest by eyes for which it was never 
 intended. The heart that was lost, "ye may guyss where," 
 has long ceased to beat, but the flimsy paper that the scorch 
 of a flame or a puff of wind would destroy remains to tell the 
 oft repeated tale. 
 
 1 A letter enclosed in an envelope was charged as two separate letters until early in 1800. 
 
A Love Letter and Condolences 51 
 
 for ISOBELL PATTERSONE 
 
 These 
 
 Westminster 25 Novembr 1668 
 
 Dear Heart 
 
 I received yos of the 23d of the last in ansr to myne 
 ffor which I kindly thank you I am glad to hear of yor owen health as also 
 of all yor relations I have been necessitat to stay at this place Longer 
 as I intended hot I intend to stay the shorter tyme abroad If I were ance 
 settled at paris I intend to writ you a lyne of my resolution anent my 
 returne ffor Scotland if ance the dead of the winter were over I mynd 
 not to make any long stay thereafter Be confident till it shall please God 
 I once see you I shall not settle much ffor it is most certaine the Shadow 
 must follow the substance albeit I believe I lost my heart ye may guyss 
 where and I hope shall evir continue thine till death, and believe that I 
 am as many tymes I proposed Mrs 
 
 Yo' devoted servant to death 
 
 Jo. Moray. 
 
 Mrs ISOBELL 
 
 If it should chance as God forbid that I doe nevir 
 returne I have ordered a speciall freind of myne to present you w' a token 
 of the respect and Love I carried to ward you when alive which I intreat 
 ye may accept bot I wish I may be the giver my selfe which is the 
 warmest desire of Mrs Yo'^ servant Jo MORAY. 
 
 The following letter of condolence from Sir James' brother 
 William, on the death of their sister, is unique in style and 
 expression : — 
 
 London the 30th January 
 College head 1692 
 
 AND 
 
 Loving Brother 
 
 I send this my dumb Messenger to you to 
 signifie : That I doe mutually simpathize with you in the losse which I 
 have ; of a deare loving sister : And I hope (in your good esteem) of a 
 vertuous wyfe, easpecially considering the value you had for her (when 
 alive) : who is now descended into the shades of death : How can wee 
 (I say) bot greife : to think of her absence : of whoss presence wee shall 
 
52 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 never participate in this world, (God grant) wee may in the nixt (Bot Sir) 
 Seeing that her Soull is alreadie lanched forth into that Immenss Ocean of 
 Eternitie of bliss (I hope) Lett us then therfor, who are alive ; hoisse 
 upp our saills and make readie for the same voyage : fifor it is decreed 
 long since, in heaven, that the Apple which our fore-father Adam Eate in 
 paradize, wee his offspring should tast of the same frutt ether sooner or 
 latter on earth: (Sir) nature and reason bearheth me, that I should have had 
 the preredemiom of her the feast for the worms : considering the severall 
 years difference betwixt her and me. Bot the all wisse Ruling providence 
 doth Order it otherwyes for reasons known to himself ; which are hidden 
 from us mortalls. Now (Sir) to concludd, Lett me begg this favour ; of 
 you, humblie to submitt to the will of God : in this way of his providence 
 which will evidentlie demonstratt you a good Cristian to those that know 
 you (when) with a full Resignation of your will to Gods and quiett Reposse 
 of Spritt (you can say) in all his dispensations to you ; after that most 
 perfect patern of prayer of our Saviour, which is (Thy will be done on 
 Earth as it is in Heaven) whilk that you may soe doe I leave you to the 
 protection of the almighty God and soe subscribe Sir 
 
 Your most afifectionat brother 
 in law and humble servant. 
 
 The signature might be anything, but it seems to be that of 
 Wm. Dick, a brother of Sir James, who lived in London, and, 
 judging by the tenor of various letters, was usually in pecuniary 
 difficulties. 
 
 It is addressed " For 
 
 The Laird of Colledgheid, 
 
 Thes." 
 
 Dame Anna Patterson, Lady Dick, seems to have been much 
 loved and reverenced, as we gather from the various allusions 
 made to her, the encomiums addressed to her by respectful 
 admirers, and the enormous sum spent on her funeral. The 
 fashion of retaining the maiden name after marriage continued in 
 vogue for long, and is still usual in France, where ladies in 
 
Respectful Admiration 
 
 53 
 
 writing friendly letters sign their maiden name, though letters 
 are addressed to them after the style and title of their husbands. 
 
 ENCOMIUM 
 
 Unto the Honoured Lady the Lady Preistfield 
 
 Right worthie Lady could I but express 
 
 The least pairt of your worth in this Addresse 
 
 I'd surely think that I more happie were 
 
 Then many who move in a higher sphere 
 
 But ah my foggie genius is below 
 
 The reach off these great things I faine would know 
 
 I mean these divine vertues which you own 
 
 Justly as yours whereby so great Renoune 
 
 You have from everyone with you acquaint, 
 
 And honour pay'd as a deserving saint, 
 
 Your good descent from worthy parrentage 
 
 Your sweet deportment in your tender age 
 
 Your so rare carrage in a marrid life 
 
 Tell all you do excell both Maid and Wife 
 
 With rarest graces you so brightly shyne 
 
 That all admire you as a thing divine. 
 
 Another, written somewhat after the same manner, is 
 addressed : — 
 
 For 
 
 The Right Honourable Lady 
 The Lady Pristfillde 
 
 The name Priestfield seems, early in 1 700, insensibly to have 
 changed to Prestonfield ; at one time Sir James Dick's letters 
 being addressed entirely to the former name, then sometimes to 
 one, sometimes to the other, and finally entirely to the latter. 
 The prefix Honourable is given in right of the Baronetcy of 
 Nova Scotia, which carries that distinction. 
 
54 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Here we have another style, dated 1681-83 : — 
 
 To 
 
 The most Virtuous 
 DAME ANNA PATERSON 
 Lady Priestfield. 
 
 D ares any Muse that haunteth honors Train, 
 
 A loft will not some unknown Rapture strain 
 
 M adam your dignitie congratulate 
 
 E ven in Particular your present state ; 
 
 A mongst the Ladies of Renowned Fame, 
 
 N on bears more praise than Lady Priestfields Name ; 
 
 N ature on whom bestous all Rareteis, that 
 
 A re Judg'd Thy Sex : for to make estimat, 
 
 P erfections Paradice, modest discreet 
 
 A Ion the Centre wher the Virtues meet, 
 
 T ruly within whose Acts all may have read 
 
 E lect by Heav'ns was mate to Knighthood's Bed, 
 
 Rich Precious Jewell Edinburgh lets see 
 
 S plendid bright tokens of Foelecitie 
 
 O f Citty Dames wee shall not find the like 
 
 N oble Brave Lady, unto Provost Dick, 
 
 M, Murray. 
 
 Some items of accounts are interesting, showing the enormous 
 cost of everything at that period. Here is a bill for " Confections 
 furnished to the Lady Priestfield" in 1693, in which six pounds of 
 common biscuits are charged £2>y ^s. The total amount comes to 
 ;;^58, i8s. ! In 1710, Sir James buys him a wig, and five 
 years later a damask nightgown, " item for plying and silk and a 
 velvet cap " — in all £2)^, 6s. These are a few of the items for 
 Lady Dick's funeral,^ the entire cost of which was ^1596, 7s. 6d. 
 (Scots) : — " The flannel dead clothes, £64,, los." " The horse and 
 velvet palls, 3 black coaches and 10 others, ^158, 18s." "Drink 
 
 1 At the funeral of Lady Lamburghtoune in 1679 some curious items of expense are given, 
 such as " For stopping the clock on the buriall day " and " For paying the souldiers who carryed 
 the torches at her transportation." 
 
'^^tlyt^xh'i^JJ^y^^'^^ 1^9^ years, From 
 
 The Summ of ^^t&€^v/t^ (5 * ' 
 
 An<i tjiat as the Pole-Money, impofcd by Ad of Pjirliamenc, of the 
 date the- X 7 day of J/w 1695, Accordiiig; > 
 ClafTed 
 As Witnefs : 
 
 jfrrf in the 0/^ f re^&i 
 iy Hand, Day and Date fore'" 
 
A Journey to Bath 
 
 55 
 
 money," supplied at the different stages of the proceedings, from 
 the closing of the morte coffin, to the lowering in the vault, comes 
 to a large sum, besides money given to the poor. " To Mr 
 Combs to ane Elogie ist, and for ane Elogie 6a, £'], los." 
 Truly, being buried was a very serious matter. 
 
 It would appear by the annexed account that, in April 1703, 
 Sir James Dick and his son-in-law, Sir William Cunyngham, had 
 taken a journey to Bath, returning via London and Scarborough, 
 each paying his share of the expenses, which are carefully noted 
 and divided in the following manner : — 
 
 1703 Charge 
 
 
 
 
 DISCHARGE 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 dr. 
 
 
 I 
 
 s. 
 
 dr. 
 
 Imp. I received the 14th Apryll from my ss. in 
 
 
 
 
 Expended on our jour- 
 
 
 
 
 law at Edinburgh in silver mony . 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 ney to Bath 
 
 9 
 
 19 
 
 5 
 
 V- ye 22nd upon ye road to ye Bath in silver money 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 Expended at ye Bath 
 
 
 
 
 I' ye 1st May from him at ye Bath, 20 guineas 
 
 
 
 
 and in our jour- 
 
 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 ney to London . 
 
 30 
 
 19 
 
 10 
 
 I ye 7th June from him at London, rS guineas 
 
 
 
 
 Expended at London 
 
 25 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 
 16 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 Expended in our jour- 
 
 
 
 
 I' ye isth from him these 30 guineas more, inde . 
 
 32 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 ney from London 
 
 
 
 
 It ye 28th, from him at York a guinea, inde 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 to Scarsburgh 
 
 S 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 78 
 
 
 
 Expended at Scars- 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 burgh . 
 
 6 
 
 19 
 
 9 
 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 4 
 
 Expended in our jour- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ney from Scars- 
 
 
 
 
 W" Donn^ Clearburn 18 Agust 1703 
 
 
 
 
 burgh homewards 
 
 4 
 
 17 
 
 0 
 
 pay to Sir Wm Cunningham the above ballance 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 being (Tour pounds sixtin shill. and four pence 
 
 
 
 
 Summa is . 
 
 83 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 Sterling without resept J" D 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £. 
 
 s 
 
 dr 
 
 The money received from my ss. in law of our Late journey being . . . 78 4 o 
 
 The summe above expended as p accompt above written being . . . . 4 16 4 
 
 The just Ballance is 73 7 8 
 
 So that my equal half of the forsd ^ expenses to be pay'd in, comes to . . . 3^ 13 
 
 The annexed receipt for money paid by Sir James Dick and 
 family in poll tax, shews the manner in which this charge was im- 
 posed. It was one of the many methods adopted with a view to 
 replenishing the Treasury, and when tried for the first time in May 
 1693, farmed out by the Government to Lord Ross, Sir 
 
 ' Sir James* land steward '- aforesaid 
 
$6 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 John Cochran of Ochiltree, and others. It proved a failure, for 
 the people either could not or would not understand the wording 
 of the Act, and when it was again applied in 1695, the greater 
 part of the tax remained for months unpaid. It was once more 
 imposed in 1698, after which it was finally abandoned. According 
 to the Act " All Heritors of one thousand pounds of valued rent 
 and above the same, and all Knights Barronets, and Knights be 
 subject and lyable to twenty-four pounds of poll money, and that 
 they pay for each of their male children in familia three pounds." 
 The tax increased with the rank of the individual, the tax for an 
 earl being sixty pounds, while it decreased for officers in the army, 
 doctors, lawyers, etc. Servants and cottars were charged six shil- 
 lings a head. 
 
 Following this we have a table which shows the relative value 
 of money at different periods between 1107 and 1756. Of this 
 table a facsimile is also given. 
 
 For twenty years Sir James had as his secretary Mr George 
 Watson, founder of the well-known Watson's Hospital in Edin- 
 burgh, which he built and named after himself ; and it was while 
 acting for Sir James that he amassed his fortune, chiefly from his 
 being allowed to negotiate foreign bills, and that to a certain 
 extent, with Sir James' money. "In after years he went every 
 Saturday to consult with his old master about the rules and forms 
 of his Hospital, directing his Trustees, instead of the ordinary 
 weathercock, to imitate Sir James' crest, a ship, which was to 
 be fully rigged to show the wind."^ He is described in Sir 
 Alexander's memorandum book as a very worthy man, particularly 
 fond of quoting this rhyme of his own making — 
 "He that has a watch this must do, 
 To pocket his watch and watch his pocket too." 
 
 * Sir Alexander's Memorandum. 
 
A Curious Wine Bin 
 
 57 
 
 This is one amongst the old receipted bills of this period — 
 
 " The thirtin day of febreryrie, 1689 years. 
 Permit To send to Edinburgh, for the use of James 
 
 Hamiltoune, one hogheid of french wyen. 
 
 For which the good Town's Impost is payed. 
 This to continue till night. 
 
 For all concerned." Signed And. CROCKET, GEO. Watson. 
 
 and there is also a curious one dated 1728, for the 
 
 " Sending of a Butt of Sweet Chiry, the largest I could lay hands upon, 
 it holds 8 galands and six pints." 
 
 Several years before his death Sir James had the curious whim 
 of ordering his lead coffin to be prepared, but the villain of a 
 plumber made it seventy stone in weight, so that when it came to 
 be drawn upstairs it broke through the fine staircase, then a 
 feature of the new house from its unusual width. This coffin he 
 kept in his bedroom filled with bottles of old wine, although, 
 according to Sir Alexander, " he was always a man of cheerfulness 
 and sobriety, and lived to his 85th year." Another receipt of 
 what no doubt went to fill the bottles in the coffin is dated — 
 
 " Customs and Excise Office, Leith. i Julie, 1694. 
 
 Permit John Marjoribanks to send to Prestonfield for the use of Milord 
 un boutt sake. For which their Majesteis duty is payd, and this to continue 
 till mornes night. 
 
 For all concerned." 
 
 The calculations made against each landowner for raising men 
 or money for militia are very remarkable, amounting in some 
 instances to the fourth part of a man. Here is the valuation of 
 the parish of Duddingston : — 
 
 " To the Right Honourable Sir James Dick of Prestonfield. 
 " May it please your Honour, — I received this morning from Baillie 
 Grierson one acct of the Valuations of Duddingston parish which I have 
 
 H 
 
58 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 sent you that you may know exactly what your quota of the Militia 
 comes to 
 
 
 lb 
 
 /8 
 
 
 The Earl of Deysert .... 
 
 2657 
 
 5 
 
 
 Prestonfield 
 
 500 
 
 0 
 
 
 Burncastle 
 
 266 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Sir Patrick Hume for Jo" Kerrs heirs . 
 
 146 
 
 
 
 Andrew Kerrs heirs .... 
 
 80 
 
 
 
 Jo" Youngs Heirs .... 
 
 23 
 
 
 
 Which in all amounts to the sum of . 
 
 £Z6%6 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 This Parish putts out 14 foot militiamen And after calculation Sir 
 James you will find that the Valuation of 263;^' 6^ 8ds answers to one 
 man and the putting out of the militia will run thus. 
 
 The Dutchess putts out and answers for 43;^" i8/3 4ds more of valua- 
 tion which comes not to the 4th part of a militia man. The valuation of 
 Prestonfield comes to two men excepting 26 — 13 — 4 for which I suppose 
 you have redresse from the Dutches 
 
 Burncastle putts out one man and answers for 3 — 6 — 8 more 
 
 Hume Kerr and Young their valuations answer to one man excepting 
 20 — 6 — 8 — for which they may have redress of the Dutchess and Burn- 
 castle. I dont believe it possible to make it exacter. Our Baillie & the 
 Tenandry are to meet tomorrow at 10 of ye Clock in order to provide the 
 Dutches's quota. The expenses of which are to be defrayed by a case to 
 be laid upon each man within her bounds. They have resolved already 
 to give each man 10 (.■') shill sterl^ of encouragement before his pay — if he 
 takes on volunteer, but if that be refused they must throw the dice & 
 whoever it falls upon getts nothing but his pay. 
 
 This is what I thought fitt to signify to you and am Honoured Sir 
 your very humble & obedient servant JOSEPH Grier. 
 
 Duddingston Oct 10 171 5 
 
 We get an idea of the dress worn by the militia from the 
 following receipted account : — " Receipt 1672 to the town of 
 Inverurie, by Maister John Forbes, sheriff depute, for 50 merks 
 for transporting Alex Forfar to Bruntyland & cloathing him with 
 
 1 Shillings sterling. 
 
The Embassadour of Peace 59 
 
 a hat and new blew coat, lined with wyt, according- to the act of 
 His Majestee's privie Counsell." ^ A " Randewow day " was 
 appointed for the men to join. 
 
 The following extracts from a curious old printed paper are 
 an example of the credulity of the age : — 
 
 The embassadour of PEACE 
 
 Being a Strange and Wonderful Relation of a White Dove Seated on a 
 Rain-Bow. That appears to several Persons, in the Parish of Peter's 
 Carlile ; particularly to Mrs Isabel Fletcher (wife to Mr Fletcher, Apothe- 
 cary). To whom it relates Strange and Wonderful Things concerning the 
 state of Affairs in this nation ; very positively asserting Universal Peace 
 and Plenty to all Christendom, the ensueing year 1697. Proving the Sub- 
 version of the French King from several Texts of Scripture ; especially 
 from the last Verse of the 31st Psalm. 
 
 To which is Added 
 Its disputes with several Ministers ; as also its pious Prayers and Exhorta- 
 tions to all the People that dayly far and near flock to see it. The truth 
 of all which is Confirmed by the Testimony of Two Letters, the one sent 
 to the Reverend Dr Simpson, and the other Writ by the Worshipful 
 Justice Patrickson. 
 
 TYDINGS OF JOY, PEACE, AND PLENTY. 
 
 The following Relation I am going to make, is a Subject of such 
 Marvellous and Supernatural Astonishment, that I dare not pretend to 
 fathom it, by the Line and Plummet of Humane Reason. The works 
 of God are unsearchable, and past man's finding out. It is beyond 
 all contradiction, that the Infinite Being has opened the Mouth of 
 Dumb Irrational Creatures, Birds and Beasts, and by them check'd 
 the incorrigibleness of wicked Man; the Example of Balaam's Ass 
 manifests one, and, to go no further, our Modern Speaking Raven (a 
 Miracle yet fresh in our Memories) confirms the other. I must confess, 
 the ensuing Narrative, infinitely creats a much greater Admiration ; First, 
 As its Appearance is in the likeness of a Dove, that once Representative 
 (if I may so say) of the Holy Ghost : And Secondly, As it was seated on 
 
 * " The Parish of Inverurie," — Davidson. 
 
6o Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 a Rainbow, That Token of the Covenant between God and Man, That the 
 Waters Should no more become a Flood to destroy all Flesh. 
 
 History informs us of the delusion of Mahomet's Pidgeon, which indeed 
 only whispered him in the ear, but the Dove I am now speaking of talks 
 frequently, Holely, Audibly, and Publickly. I cite this, not to persuade 
 any to ascribe sanctity to this Present Prodigy ; for why may not the 
 Grand Deluder of Mankind (that Prince of the Air whose Power and 
 Policy is great) impose such a pia fraus, that under the likeness of harm- 
 less Innocence, he may more securely devour. False Christs and False 
 Prophets (saith the Holy Evangelist) shall arise, and shall show Wonders 
 to seduce if it were possible even the Elect. Therefore I heartily recommend 
 to my readers, etc., etc., etc. 
 
 The Narrative. 
 
 On Friday the 23rd Oct. last, a little after sun-setting, the Wife of John 
 Fletcher, etc., a woman of good and pious disposition, being set in her 
 chamber in a melancholy thinking posture, with her child in her arms, felt 
 on a sudden an unusual Warmness about her Head and immediately 
 after discern'd the likeness of a White Dove, as it were upon a Rainbow, 
 whereupon she presently fell down into a Trance. But at last recovering 
 herself she heard the Words uttered by it in a shrill and powerful sound, 
 " Isabel ! be not afraid, for I am a Messenger sent from God, to proclaim 
 Glad Tidings to all England ; yea, even to all those that sincerely love our 
 Lord fesus Christ." And so, bidding her attend in the same place next 
 evening, it for that time disappeared. 
 
 Amongst the items of information supplied by this Wonderful 
 Bird were " the total subversion of the Ottoman Empire in a very 
 small space of time ; and a signal victory over the French in '97, 
 and that Peace and Tranquility will thereupon ensue. It also 
 speaks of the Affairs between France and the Duke of Savoy." 
 "It delivers its answers after a mysterious ambiguous manner, as 
 did the Oracles of old." The general verdict, however, was that 
 it was no less than the Finger of God. 
 
Chapter IV. 
 
 The Duke of Lauderdale opens Parliament — Travellers' passes — Sir John 
 Cunyngham sent for by the King — Catalogue of grievances — Fall of 
 the Duke — News of the Day — Sir John named Chancellor of Scotland 
 — Creation of the Earl of Aberdeen — Death of Sir John — Edinburgh 
 Beaux — A Plot and Proclamation — Sir William Dick — A journey 
 to England — Family Letters — An Elopement — Earl of Eglintoun's 
 advice to his son. 
 
 [1672 — 1729] 
 
Chapter IV. 
 
 To turn now to the Glencairn side of the family. 
 
 The Cunynghams had always been remarkable for their legal 
 capacity, and Sir John Cunyngham (or as frequently, though 
 incorrectly, spelt Cuninghame) of Lambroughton is thus eulogized 
 in the Diary. 
 
 "Very learned in civil and comon law as well as in Philosophical 
 learning, he was above all a man of eminent probity and not only learned 
 but judicious and had the most universal and deserved reputation for 
 integrity and virtue not only in his own profession but of the whole 
 nation." ^ 
 
 No doubt for this reason he was called upon to serve his 
 King and Country in a very delicate and difficult matter, as 
 the next document shows. 
 
 The Duke of Lauderdale was at that time (1672) the most 
 powerful man in the country, and the following is a description 
 of his opening Parliament, accompanied by his Duchess. 
 
 June 12 1672. 
 
 " On the Parliament sitting down to-day under the Duke of Lauderdale 
 as Commissioner his lady with 30 or moe ladies, accompanies the Duke to 
 the Parliament in Coaches and are set down in Parliament hous — 
 and sat to hear the Commissioner's speech. A practice so new 
 and extraordinary that it raised the indignation of the people 
 very much against her, they hated to find that aspired to by 
 her. It set them to inquire into her origin and faults and to rail 
 against the lowness of the one and the suspicions of the other. . . . 
 
 " The Duke at fifty-seven only six weeks a widower had married 
 the Duchess in the preceeding February in London all their friends in 
 
 ^ Sir Alexander's Memoranda. 
 
64 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Edinr. making feasts on their marriage day while the Castle shot as 
 many guns as on his Majesty's birthday."^ 
 
 She was a remarkable woman, both witty and clever, and 
 " the daughter of one who had been minister of Dysart, she 
 was Countess of Dysart in her own right and by Sir Lionel 
 Tollemache had had a large family." 
 
 There was a romance in her union with the Duke. "He 
 had owed her his life through her influence with Oliver Cromwell, 
 and in his marriage he really yielded to his gratitude." 
 
 For the next ten years they were virtually King and Queen, 
 until all Scotland was smarting under their rule, and matters 
 arrived at such a pitch that reports reached the King's ears, 
 and Sir John Cunyngham was sent for. The letter by which 
 he was called is here facsimiled, and its substance is printed 
 " that he who runs may read." 
 
 There is also appended the Catalogue of Grievances, which 
 
 formed the basis of the matter under discussion. 
 
 London, June 5th, 1679. 
 
 Sir, — His Majestie having proposed that there might be a Conference 
 in his presence concerning such things as have been the Subjects of Com- 
 plaints in Scotland. His Majestie was told that it could not be to any 
 purpose unless that Lawyers and persons knowing in the affairs of Scot- 
 land were sent for from thence, since it was not to be supposed that one 
 single Lawyer who is here could undertake to speak freelie in matters of 
 that Consequence. Nor was it like His Majestie would so much consider 
 the single opinion of one man as he might do the concurring testimonies 
 of diverse eminent men in the Law, and you having been proposed by 
 name amongst others. His Majestie's graciouslie pleased to allow that you 
 should be sent for, and hath promised that upon your coming here he will 
 lay his commands on you to speak freelie and fuoolie to let him know what 
 is Law in matters to be proposed, and for your encouragement will secure 
 you and the other Lawyers from all inconveniances. This being so great 
 
 ^ Domestic Annals. — R. Chambers. 
 
Catalogue of Grievances 
 
 6s 
 
 and gracious a condescendance which we have so much formerlie desired 
 and wished. We do intreat and obtest, you at you would not neglect an 
 opportunity never to be regained, and, as you wish well to the interests of 
 our Country and posterity, that you repair hither with all haste whereby 
 you will also oblige. Sir, your affectionat friends and humble servants. — 
 
 Hamiltoun, Atholl, Casselles, Perthe, Kincardin, 
 W. Drummond, A^^ Murray. 
 
 CATALOGUE OF GRIEVANCES. 1679. 
 Illegal proceedings against the Advocats. 
 Againes the Bishop of Dumblaine. 
 Againes the 4 ministers of E'''- 
 
 Againes Illegal Improsonments ... to Cardross. . . . 
 The Injustice doone to the towen of E'''- 
 
 Incapacitating of persons to bear publict offices by lettares from the King. 
 Unreasonable fynings. 
 Garisoning of frie subjects houses. 
 
 Assessing the countrie for providing necassaries for these garisones. 
 
 The caise of the Town of Pearth. 
 
 Abusing of our mint, silver and copper. 
 
 Selling of ye Leidges for slaves into fforraine plantations. 
 
 Bryberries in abusing the K. n' . . . ye Bass. 
 
 In selling of the title of ye E of Caithness. . . . 
 
 In deposing ye Reg : Primrose who bought his office by the King's 
 Consent. 
 
 In keeping that office void and collecting the (profittes) for privat use. 
 Giving that office by pactione. 
 
 Disposing of a fifyne by grant of ye King before it was imposed. 
 Raising ane armie of Hollanders and authorizing them to take frie quarters. 
 Pressing a bond to oblidge masters for . . . tenants, etc. 
 Chargeing the . . . w Lettares of . . . 
 Quayting the noblemen and gentlemen of ane shire. 
 Disarming of ye Kings Loyall subjects. 
 Taking away mens houses above the rait of 4 lib. 5 sh. 
 A proclamation dischargeing the gentlemen of our Shire from E''"'' 
 Another prohibiting anie gentleman to goe out of ye Kingdom w out 
 Licence. 
 
 Turneing out Councellares and officers of militia upon privat sugestiones. 
 
 I 
 
66 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Granting 
 
 The fifyning of 4 ... for a lettar. 
 Translatione of ye Bishop of E'''- 
 The Councells assuming the Legislative Power. 
 Imprisoning a Member of Parliat for no just reasone. 
 The turning out the Justice Generall and Judge Lockhart. 
 Remembering the Advocats letter to the Duke Lauderdaill. 
 Procureing gifts and signatures of recognitiones. 
 Mitchells business. 
 
 Arbitarie decisions and sentences of ye Lords. 
 Imposing of . . . upon . . . 
 
 The giveing Pensions to Papists and advancing some of them to be coun- 
 sellares and officers. 
 
 The giveing of Commissiones to officers for being Justices of Peace for 
 counties qr they have no interest. 
 
 The apointing of ye Lawes by a militaire power who warranted by Com- 
 mission to robe persones of their cloathes. 
 
 The result of the deputation and Sir John's representations was 
 the fall of the Duke for his cruelties and illegal proceedings. 
 
 The annexed facsimile is that of a somewhat interesting Act for 
 "discharging persons to travel from Edinburgh without passes." 
 
 The next letter worthy of note is remarkable for two reasons, 
 first for the news it contains, and secondly that the reverse side 
 of this private and confidential letter has been employed by a 
 servant to note down the expenses incurred in his master's 
 absence ! 
 
 It is written to 
 
 Sir John COninghame of Lambroughtonne, Scotland, 
 and bears a seal on the left hand. 
 
 Sir, — I had not been so long in giving you the trouble of a letter if I 
 had had anything worthy the writing to you, for I and so many was 
 obliged to you that it were an unpardonable neglect in me to be unmind- 
 ful of you. The great news of Shaftsburries being turned out of the 
 Council yesterday, and the parliaments being prorogued to the last of 
 January nixt, are things deserve your knowledge and cane not before this 
 be come to your knowledge. It is still talked here with confidence that 
 
V* 
 
 2 S S. 2 2 ^ ^ -a- 
 
 3 .5 g ^ j= a s Z 3:2 ^ ,• 
 
 = s-fc -e g o 
 ^ j^-s s 2 ^ "i ■§ 
 
 da 
 
 o O 
 
 8 i-i 
 
 ^ >i w -T3 tJ 
 
 ^ ti ^ - ens 2 2 
 
 r- ~ y uil cj C *f 
 
Household Accounts 67 
 
 the Duke of York will in two or three weeks take journey for Scotland. 
 Sir, as to my affair here I cane only say that I have some hops of getting 
 something done. 
 
 Sir, Your most humble servant, 
 
 Cardross. 
 
 London i6 Oct 1679. 
 Pardon the badness of the paper and writ being from my chamber and 
 in hest. 
 
 This is the reverse side of the letter : 
 1690 
 
 June 19 — Item for coler eggs, . . . 00 02 06 
 
 Mor for eggs, . . . . 00 02 00 
 
 It for a farl of Sharf brad, . . 00 04 00 
 
 It for a dusing of eggs, . . 00 01 10 
 
 20 — It for 13 pints of ale, . . 00 06 00 
 
 This being spent the day yee want away, 00 16 04 
 
 June 23 — Impremus for bere to the pot, . 00 00 16 
 
 Itt for 6 plack pigs, . . . 00 02 00 
 
 Itt for adusing of spelding, . . 00 02 10 
 
 Itt for a cheas, . . . 00 04 00 
 
 Itt for the lases brad all the week, . 00 12 00 
 
 Itt for my brad, . . . 00 03 08 
 
 Itt for sour milk to the cats, . . 00 00 16 
 
 Itt for eggs and Lamfeat, . . 00 02 04 
 
 Itt for smal drink, . . . 00 01 00 
 
 Itt for 7 pints al, . . . 02 02 00 
 
 July I — Impremus for a Lag of motten, . 00 12 00 
 
 Itt for beear to pot, . . . 00 00 08 
 
 Itt for the Lases week brad, . . 00 12 00 
 
 Itt for my brad and al, . . 00 07 00 
 
 Itt for more ale, . . . 00 14 00 
 
 Itt for smal drink, . . . 00 01 06 
 
 It for eggs, . . . . 00 04 00 
 
 02 II 02 
 
 the som of this Sid is 06 09 06 
 
68 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Such was Sir John's reputation that, a few months before his 
 death, which took place, after an illness of some duration, in his 
 fifty-ninth year, the King named him Chancellor of Scotland. 
 
 This honour, he was, however, obliged to decline, owing to 
 the state of his health ; the King then bade him name a substitute, 
 which he did in favour of his acquaintance Sir George Gordon of 
 Haddo, who became Chancellor, and immediately after was 
 created Earl of Aberdeen. 
 
 The following lines are extracts from an " Elogy on the death 
 of Sir John Cunninghame of Caprington." 
 
 " And is he gone } the fatall day is come, 
 
 " None dismaller in all the Book of Doom : 
 
 " Could every eye weep tears, and these tears blood, 
 
 " It were too small for one so highly good." 
 
 And so it continues for some 1 30 lines. 
 
 " And as he lived he died, nor would depart 
 " Till the holy Eucharist confirmed his heart, 
 " And justest Absolution eas'd its smart." 
 
 Finally ending with these words : 
 
 " We may bewail, but cannot call again 
 
 " The best of Subjects, Lawyers and of Men." 
 
 He was succeeded by his son. Sir William Cunyngham, who 
 married Sir James Dick's only surviving daughter, the heiress of 
 Prestonfield, whose marriage as Lady Kepperton has already been 
 mentioned. 
 
 Annexed is a copy of Sir William's discharge for serving with 
 horse and arms for the King's service. 
 
 Alexander Lord Montgomerie and Kilwinning, &c., Comander appointed 
 be the Lords of his Majestie's privie Councill off the gentlemen 
 and heretors within the jurisdiction of Cunynghame and Kyle (the 2 
 districts of Ayrshire). 
 
\ ^ ^: 4 ^ 
 
King James the II. 
 
 69 
 
 Thes are testifieing that S"" William Cunynghame of Capringtowne 
 Knight and baronet hath served by himself sufficiently mounted with horse 
 and armes for the King's service and hath punctuallie attended in one of 
 the troups under my comand since the nynteenth day of May last by 
 past given under my hand and seall at Londoune the twentie 
 
 ane day of July 1685 ye' and of his Majestie's reigne the ffirst yier 
 
 MONTGOMERIE. 
 
 Here we have the facsimile of a receipt for payment of feu 
 duties, by James Cunynghame of Southwick, signed by the Earl 
 of Glencairn, the son of the Chancellor of Scotland who, in 1659 
 raised the Royal Standard in the north without success, owing to 
 his lacking the qualifications necessary to lead so heterogeneous a 
 mass of followers, and was superseded by General Middleton, who 
 had been playing a double game between the Covenanters and the 
 rising sun. He was appointed Commander of the Forces by 
 Charles the H., and at the restoration was made High Chancellor 
 of Scotland for life. 
 
 The only allusion to the Duke of York after his accession to 
 the throne as James the II. is made by Sir Alexander Dick in his 
 Memoranda, where he says : — 
 
 " In his short reign of 3 years James the II. did everything to support 
 poppery and popish Councils which the Merchants, the Army and Navy, 
 and almost the whole nation, including his own children, held in the 
 utmost abhorence." 
 
 Sir James Dick, in all his long attendance upon H. R. H. 
 when Duke of York, speaks of him with the utmost respect and 
 regard, and the Duke, on his part, seems to have treated Sir 
 James with marked friendship. His real character, that of a 
 bloodthirsty tyrant, did not appear on the surface in his younger 
 days, when his love of sport and undoubted courage drew the 
 nobility and gentry towards him. Even in Edinburgh his un- 
 
70 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 popularity as a Papist was minimised to a certain extent by the 
 Protestant Princess Anne his wife, who entertained largely at 
 Holyrood, to the great advantage of the town. 
 
 On the 24th July 1692, the British Army under William 
 the III., was defeated by the French under Marshall Luxemburg, 
 at Steinkirk. Amongst those left for dead on the battlefield 
 was Sir James Dick's relative. Captain Adam Cunningham, 
 but after some days he revived sufficiently to pencil the following 
 message to his friends. 
 
 " Here lies Adam Cunningham by God 
 "With seven dead Frenchmen all on the sod." 
 
 He was promptly removed, and recovering from his wounds, 
 he afterwards married ; one of his descendants being the cele- 
 brated Adam Maxwell, the handsomest man and greatest Beau 
 in Britain, of whom this tale is related. 
 
 ^ "A young man of considerable family by name George Lockhart 
 of Carnwarth had just returned from Italy and France when Beau Maxwell 
 was the man of the day. Greatly esteemed by the ladies of Edin' for 
 his pleasant wit and humour and for his fine figure and address. While 
 Mr Lockhart valued himself much for his fine clothes and his polite accom- 
 plishments of dancing etc. 
 
 These two being often in each others company Beau Maxwell one 
 day out of fun made him a wager, that they should engage the largest 
 ball room and invite all the principal people to a supper and ball, if 
 Mr Lockhart would dress in his highest style, he would undertake to 
 excel him in a dress of the manufacture of the place. 
 
 The ladies to be the judges, the loser to pay the expenses. 
 
 To this Lockhart agreed : A very large company were invited, and 
 Lockhart was allowed to enter first, which he did in the richest clothes 
 which had been made for him in Paris, and being a gentleman of good 
 appearance and fine figure, he was so showy and magnificent that it 
 was thought impossible for Maxwell to eclipse him. 
 
 ' Sir Alex. Dick's Memo's. 
 
A Plot and a Proclamation 
 
 71 
 
 He enjoyed but a short victory, for soon after Maxwell entering at 
 the other end in complete highland dress belted plaid and broad sword, 
 cut one caper and desired permission to dance a sword dance, which 
 he did to the utmost admiration and satisfaction of the whole company, 
 who unanimously declared that he had won the wager and that there 
 was no comparison between the flimsy French fashion and the manly 
 graceful showy and handsome Highland dress, especially when worn 
 by Mr Maxwell. He was accordingly allowed to dance the whole night 
 with the principal lady in the room," 
 
 and Mr Lockhart paid the piper. 
 
 In 1694 a plot to assassinate King William, was formed by 
 the Jacobites at the instigation of the late King, James the II, 
 and an insurrection planned to take place at the same time. 
 
 The cut throats, chiefly supplied by France, were to attack the 
 King on his return from hunting in February 1696, and at the same 
 time troops and transports were being collected at Calais, to be in 
 readiness for action as soon as the contemplated deed was done. 
 
 Fortunately this plot was discovered, and the nation roused 
 to great excitement, the result of which was the following Pro- 
 clamation to Scotland for the calling out of Officers. 
 
 A PROCLAMATION 
 
 For calling out of the Heritors, and requiring the Flanders Officers, 
 and other Officers, imployed since His Majesty's accession to the Crown to 
 come to Edinburgh. 
 
 William by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain France and 
 Ireland, Defender of the Faith, To our Lyon King at Armes and his 
 Brethren, Heraulds, Macers of Our Privy Council, Pursevants Messengers 
 at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and severally, specially 
 constitute Greeting : Forasmuch as by repeated Advertisements we are 
 informed of an Invasion of Barberous and Bloody Papists, Designed 
 from France upon this our antient Kingdom, whereby it may become 
 the Seat of a Bloody War : For preventing whereof, and Defeating 
 that Design of Our Enemies, We have already, with advice of Our 
 Privy Council, Emitted and Published sundry Proclamations and Orders 
 
72 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 for putting the Country in a Posture of Defence ; and finding it further 
 necessary for the effectual Repressing any such Invasion wheresoever 
 it may happen within this our antient Kingdom, that the Heritors 
 who have qualified themselves according to Law, should be in readiness 
 with their best Horses and Arms, to attend our Host wherever they shall 
 be imployed for Our Service upon the present Exigence. Therefore, We 
 with the Advice of the Lords of our Privy Council, Require and Command 
 all the Heritors within the Shires mentioned, who have, or will qualify 
 themselves according to Law, by Swearing the Oath of Allegiance and 
 Subscribing the same with the Assurance to Us, and the qualified Tutors 
 and Curators of such as are Minors, to send for their said Pupil or Minor, 
 a sufficient man and Horse well Armed, who with the saids qualified 
 Heretors, with their best Horse and Arms, are to meet and Rendezvouz 
 for the Shires under written upon the Days, at the Places, and to be Com- 
 manded by the Officers after specified, viz." . . . 
 
 Then follows a list of the different meeting places for each 
 shire on the 12th March, after which it continues — 
 
 " And We considering that at present, there are sundry Officers and 
 others belonging to our Army in Flanders com'd over to, and dispersed 
 through this Kingdom, for the better making up the Recruits necessary to 
 the Regiments where they serve, and that they may be very useful at this 
 present Exigence if Imployed upon the Occasions and in the places where 
 the said intended Invasion may happen ; as also severals who have been 
 imployed heretofore as Officers in Our Service, who are now living in 
 several places of the Country out of Imployment, may be very steadable at 
 this Juncture, in modeling and otherways ordering such Forces as the 
 Country shall aft'oord to oppose the foresaid Invasion. Therefore We 
 with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, Require and Command 
 all the Officers, and others belonging to Our Armie in Flanders now 
 within this Kingdom etc., etc., with all possible Diligence to hasten and 
 repair to the Town of Edinburgh, and upon their Arrival there imme- 
 diately to give up their Names to our Privy Council or to Sir Thomas 
 Livingston, Commander in Chief of our Forces within this Kingdom, to 
 the effect that they may be Employed in such service and put in such 
 Commands as shall be found necessar, and expedient for the Advantage 
 and Securitie of the Government ; and supressing the Attempts of Our 
 
A Safe Permit 
 
 73 
 
 Enemies by this intended Invasion. OUR WILL IS HEREFORE, 
 and We Charge you Strictly, and Command that incontinent these Our 
 Letters Seen, ye pass to the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and to the 
 Mercat-Cross of the remnant Head-Burghs of the several Shires and 
 Stewartries within this Kingdom ; And there in Our Name and 
 Authority, make Intimation hereof, that none pretend Ignorance ; And 
 appoints our Solicitor to transmit Printed Copies hereof, to the Sheriff 
 and Stewart-Clerks of the haill Sheriffdomes and Stewartries within this 
 Kingdom, with Copies to be transmitted by the said Sheriff, and Stewart 
 Clerks, to the Ministers of the several Paroches within their Bounds, 
 and Ordains the Sheriffs and Stewart Clerks, to cause Publish this 
 present Proclamation at the respective Mercat-Crosses, upon the first 
 Mercat Day, after it shall come to their hands ; And appoints the 
 Ministers of the Several Paroches to cause Intimat this Proclamation 
 at their Paroch-Churches, upon the Forenoon after Sermon, the first 
 Lords Day immediately after the same shall come to their hands, and 
 Ordains these Presents to be Printed. 
 
 Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the sixth Day of March, 
 And of our Reign the seventh year 1696. 
 
 Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Councilii 
 GiBB Elliot Cis Sti Concili. 
 God Save the King." 
 
 The result of all this was a close hunt for the conspirators, 
 most of whom were caught and committed to the Tower, where 
 several payed the penalty with their heads. For a good many 
 years after this Jacobitism was but little heard of. 
 
 The order for all persons wishing to move from home, to 
 provide themselves with a pass, has already been shown ; here is 
 an example of the manner of drawing one out, in favour of Sir 
 William Cunyngham. 
 
 Imagine what would be the feeling in these days at having to 
 procure a permit or safe conduct to go into the next county ! 
 
 "By Adam Cockburne of Ormiston His Majesteis Justice Clerk. 
 " Permitt Sir William Cunynghame of Caprington with a servant and 
 
 K 
 
74 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Two horses To pass from this place to Polmais to see his uncle, who lyes 
 sick and dangerously ill there without any trouble or molestation whatever. 
 They behaving as becomes — 
 
 Given under my Hand and Seal At Edinburgh The ffourth day of 
 January One thousand and Seven hundred and Sixteen years. 
 
 A. COCKBURNE. 
 
 To all Concerned." 
 
 The annexed accounts, evidently kept by a domestic, of dis- 
 bursements for Sir James Dick's household, are very comical. 
 
 " Accompt depursements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 lb. 
 
 d 
 
 Imprimus the race day for dinner . 
 
 £ „ 
 
 oi „ 
 
 04 „ 
 
 
 Ittem for ane hatt to William 
 
 £ ,y 
 
 I „ 
 
 00 „ 
 
 
 Itt for mending Alex Gordons silver 
 
 
 
 
 
 buckles 
 
 £ » 
 
 00 „ 
 
 06 „ 
 
 
 Itt for a pair of brass buckles to him 
 
 £ ft 
 
 oo „ 
 
 02 „ 
 
 6 
 
 Itt for poling of their headds . 
 
 £ >} 
 
 oo „ 
 
 04 » 
 
 
 Itt to the poor 2od & to ye bairns 
 
 
 
 
 
 to give ye poor 4d .... 
 
 £ }) 
 
 oo „ 
 
 02 „ 
 
 
 Itt A Catechism to Jo. Strathorn . 
 
 £ » 
 
 00 „ 
 
 03 » 
 
 
 Summa 
 
 £ » 
 
 02 „ 
 
 19 » 
 
 
 Received 
 
 £ 
 
 02 „ 
 
 16 „ 
 
 
 Rests . 
 
 £ » 
 
 oo „ 
 
 03 „ 
 
 
 How this calculation is made out is not quite patent, the 
 account, however, is continued. 
 
 Itt to James Dicks 
 
 £ >> 
 
 00 „ 
 
 04 
 
 Itt for bringing up two globes by a 
 
 
 
 
 workman . 
 
 £ » 
 
 00 „ 
 
 03 
 
 Itt for mending Alex breeches givin 
 
 £ )» 
 
 00 „ 
 
 02 
 
 Itt for losing the buckle of ye collar to 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs Anderson 
 
 £ » 
 
 00 „ 
 
 02 
 
 Itt givin out to buy Williams hat string 
 
 
 
 
 of wh. I received 21 sh the hat string 
 
 
 
 
 being 32 sh there rests 
 
 £ t> 
 
 00 „ 
 
 1 1 
 
 Itt for Cocking up his hatt 
 
 £ » 
 
 00 „ 
 
 02 
 
 Itt for two collars 22 sh p ps . 
 
 £ » 
 
 02 „ 
 
 04 
 
The First Mayor of New York 75 
 
 Itt for two buckles to them . . . „ oo „ 06 „ — 
 Itt for Engraving My Lords name on the 
 
 two collars £ „ 00 „ 06 „ — 
 
 Itt for a brush to Alex Gordon . . „ 00 „ 02 „ — 
 
 Summa . . . . £ 04 „ 04 „ 00 
 
 Received from My Lady Prestonfield full and compleat payment 
 
 of this accompt by Mee 
 lb Sh Jo MULLIGINES. 
 
 4 4 
 
 Sir James Dick was succeeded by his grandson William in 
 the year 1728, to whom the following letter is addressed by 
 Captain Dick, who was the real heir male of old Sir William 
 Dick of Braid, and was after first Mayor of New York. He died 
 without heirs male. 
 
 " Sir William Dick of prestonfield Baronet 
 
 to be left at the old Coffee house Edinburgh. 
 
 "Dear Sir, — The favour done me by yours of the isth instant in 
 acquainting me of your grandfathers Death and how he has disposed of 
 his estate and that to as soon as you had done looking into his affairs I 
 take as a singular mark of kindness Your grandfathers memorie Shall 
 ever be honoured by me and at this instant it is with the utmost joy and 
 pleasure I wryt to a Sir William Dick Sprung from the Loyns of the first 
 Sir William who from one of the Richest men in the Kingdom was 
 plunder'd Rob'd and Cheated by the then cursed government and nobility 
 and even the Law which was open to all others deneyed to him and his 
 heirs because such large summs would have ruined some of their families 
 however as most of them are founded in iniquity Gods Judgement will 
 pursue them and as Scotland ceases to be a Kingdom may they be extin- 
 guished also while the second Sir William enjoys an estate (notwithstanding 
 the misfortunes of his great grandfather) inferior to none of the gentrie in 
 the shyre where he lives, and long may you doe so may your children's 
 children close your eyes in your old days in peace like your grandfather 
 and may you transmitt your estate as free to them as he does to you I 
 beg dear Sir make my humble dutie and service acceptable to your father 
 
76 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Sir William (Cunyngham) and my Lady long may she be a life renter on 
 the estate of prestonfield and may happiness attend all her family. If 
 your eldest brother be in Town pray give my humble service to him, and my 
 Lady Dalrymple Mr Keiths Lady and your brother the Doctor I wish a 
 happie New Year to all your father's family and that all happiness may 
 ever attend you is the prayers and wishes of Dear Sir 
 
 Your most obedient Cusson and 
 
 most humble servant Will : DiCK 
 
 London 26 December 1728 
 Cap'- M'Leod and I have drunk your health as Sir William Dick." 
 
 Sir William did not live many years, nor did he " transmitt his 
 estate as free " as he received it, for he left a considerable debt 
 behind him, M^hich his brother. Doctor Alexander Cunygham, who 
 succeeded him as Sir Alexander Dick, honorably paid off. 
 
 From this point the narrative becomes more homely, being 
 carried on chiefly by letters from and to different members of the 
 family, and by extracts from the diary of Sir Alexander Dick, and 
 his Anecdote or Memoranda Book. He, as the old account shews, 
 was educated to be a doctor, and after studying in Edinburgh, 
 went to London, whence he took ship to Holland, where he re- 
 mained for some time, studying under the celebrated physician, 
 Boerhaave, from whom he obtained a diploma. 
 
 As an example of the cost of education, and general expense 
 incurred on his account, the following sum will make many parents 
 wish they had lived a hundred and fifty years ago : — 
 
 " Memorandum of Money disbursed on acc'- of my son Alexander from 
 26 May 17 18 inclvsive (this included Drawing Master, Chemistry and 
 other classes) besides all necessary charges for clothes pocket money etc. 
 to this 8"" May 1724 ^96. 11 -4-" 
 
 In the summer of that year, Alexander set off on his travels, 
 
A Journey to London 
 
 77 
 
 writing to his father from Durham, where he and his companions 
 broke their journey to London. 
 
 " Durham July 9"" 1724. 
 
 Sir 
 
 We are all of us got safe so far of our journey this night, thanks 
 
 to God. 
 
 The first day we were pretty well wett before we got to Kelso, but 
 yesterday and today we have both had fine weather and good Road and 
 so far as I have come my horse continues hearty. I find travelling this 
 road with such companions as I have got abundantly agreeable, for my 
 four Buchan Comrades have no small difficulty both in understanding 
 what is spoke and speaking so as to be tolerably understood of the English 
 People which frequently occasions a great deal of mirth from their reci- 
 procal mistakes but especially to me who am very often their Interpreter. 
 
 As we past Newcastle this Day about twelve o'clock I thought to have 
 called to see Dr Lawes but both the time of the Day and the desire of the 
 company being to be soon at Durham to see the Cathedral obliged me to 
 pass by him, but I understand both he and S"^ John are very well. I have 
 just now seen Mr Gordon who askt very kindly for you and I promist to 
 see him again before I leave this place. I shall endeavour Sir to fulfill 
 your instructions with all the assiduity I am master of which with my kind 
 Love and duty to my Mother and Grandfather (Sir James Dick) and all 
 oyr friends at Prestonfield who I am obliged to wish well to not forgetting 
 worthy Mr Livingstone Is all from S' your dutifuU and obedient Son 
 
 Alex. Cuninghame." 
 
 To this letter his father replies, giving much good advice 
 against the dangers and temptations of London, which in those 
 days was considered quite on a par with the great Babylon in all 
 that was evil. 
 
 " Alexander, — The receipt of two letters from you since parting, one 
 of the 9th and the other of the i6th current, has not afforded small com- 
 fort to your Friends here and at Cameron.^ We heartily bless Almighty 
 God for your safety, and affectionately wish you the continuance of the 
 same divine protection. 
 
 ^ A house on the property, then occupied by "worthy Mr Livingstone." 
 
78 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 I am glad your journey has been so agreeable to you, and sure you and 
 your fellow-travellers have managed your expenses to a nicety when you 
 have made it at so small a charge, though in a shorter time by a day or 
 two than it is ordinary to do so. 
 
 Now that you are at London, where you have so happily found out Mr 
 Murray's house, I doubt not your being accomodated to your mind. I 
 know you will not suffer the trifling amusements of that populous city to 
 divert you from the serious consideration of your duty upon all occasions. 
 I shall not remind you of what I most earnestly recommended to your 
 practice some few days before you left this place, nor of what your kind 
 friend, Mr Lumsden, told you of the dangers to which you might probably 
 be most exposed in order to put you upon your guard against them. No 
 news shall be more agreeable to me and to your other friends than that 
 you are by divine assistance enabl'd boldly to resist all temptation to 
 vice, and diligently to cultivate every good and virtuous disposition with 
 which it has pleased infinite goodness at any time to bless you." 
 
 After some personal messages to friends, and more good advice, he 
 concludes — 
 
 " This is from y most affec Father, WILLIAM CUNINGHAME. 
 
 In June 1725 his sister Anne married Sir Robert Dalrymple,^ 
 
 on which occasion Sir William writes, saying — 
 
 " Sir Robert Dalrymple and your sister are both well and I hope shall 
 be happy in one another. ... I advise you to write at your leisure a letter 
 upon gilt paper without a cover to your sister. Sir Robt. Dalrymple's 
 Lady." 
 
 Great notice seems to have been taken of such niceties as gilt 
 edged paper, and, amongst the mass of letters of all description, 
 those from strangers or of a formal nature are all written on gilt- 
 edged sheets. 
 
 The seals are for the most part remarkable for their beautiful 
 cutting, and they were invariably used for closing the letters. 
 
 On the 6th Nov. 1725, Sir William writes to his son Alexander 
 
 * Their daughter, described as " severely sensible Miss Dalrymple," was afterwards Countess 
 of Balcarres. 
 
A Signal Distinction 79 
 
 at Leyden, acknowledging the receipt of a Thesis which he pre- 
 sented to Dr Drummond, Senior precis of the College of Physicians, 
 
 " who was pleased to express his very great satisfaction with your perform- 
 ance . . . and he did on Tuesday last obligingly present it in your name 
 and mine to the College, then met at their Quarterly Meeting. He was so 
 good as to do this with a handsome encomium, and to move that it might 
 be minuted in their Books of Record. . . . This is such an unusual instance 
 of Kindness and particular Honour done you, as I think most justly 
 deserves your grateful acknowledgements." 
 
 Alexander was only twenty-two years of age when this signal 
 distinction was paid to him, and, his course of study in Holland 
 drawing to a close, he seems to have been anxious to extend it, 
 but his father writes — 
 
 " Your Tender Mother and I want to have the comfort I hope you can, 
 under Almighty God, afford us." 
 
 In a letter written a month previous to the above, Sir William 
 tells him — 
 
 " Your Mother is now and then made uneasy by the sinking of the 
 spirits which goes off in a short time after taking some drops of a 
 Spirituous Tincture, Nervasa Cardiaca, sold at the shop of George 
 Strachan, Bookseller, near the Royal Exchange, London. 
 
 The remedy, here mentioned for the Sinking of the Spirits, 
 being sold at a Bookseller's shop, points to its being one of the 
 quack cures of the day. Alas that so speedy a remedy for the 
 Blues should have passed into oblivion ! That such was the 
 nature of the affection and not a fluttering heart is pretty certain, 
 for her ladyship lived to a great age, and her constitution must 
 have been as strong, as her hand was firm in all matters relating 
 to money, as her son Sir William remarks in a future letter, and 
 Allan Ramsay also laughingly testifies. That she had a vulnerable 
 
8o Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 spot, however, is shewn by a tell-tale cheque when twenty-five 
 years later Prince Charlie came to Holyrood and his merry men 
 were billeted almost under her windows ; though it might well have 
 been pressure or policy which induced her to loosen the strings of 
 the purse hitherto so tightly drawn even where her own children 
 were concerned. But this is forestalling events. 
 
 The next marriage that Sir William announces, with much in- 
 dignation, is the elopement of Miss Margaret with Mr Robert 
 Keith. It was contrary to the wishes of the family, though for 
 what reason we are not told. The marriage turned out eventually 
 to be a happy and prosperous one, and of their issue two sons 
 have left their mark in the diplomatic annals of our country, as 
 will be seen in due course. 
 
 The letter is addressed to — 
 
 Monsieur Alexandre Cuninghame 
 Docteur en Medicine 
 Au Chateau d'Anvers 
 en Hollande. a Leyde. 
 
 " D. S. (dear Son) Jan'-y 1726 
 
 I must acquaint you that to the great vexa- 
 tion of your mother and me as well as of most other Friends your sister 
 Margaret contrary to our advice and what we thought had been her own 
 opinion, on the 27 ultimo made an elopement out of our Family to that of 
 
 Mr R' K h} Whom you know. Such a degree of disobedience we 
 
 justly resent and hope to be guarded against all uneasiness of that sort in 
 time to come." 
 
 A vain hope, for in spite of the warning of what the paternal 
 wrath would be at such uncalled for behaviour, Alexander, a few 
 
 1 Mr Keith came of the family of the Earl Marischal, and was nearly related to Field Marshall 
 Keith of the German army, a personal friend of Frederic the Great, and one of his most trusted 
 generals. An interesting account of him is given in a work entitled "A Fallen Star," where the 
 later days of Prince Charlie tell their own sad tale. There has also been published by the Spalding 
 Club A Fragment of a Memoir of Field Marischal James Keith, written by himself, 1714-1734. 
 
An Elopement 
 
 8i 
 
 years later, proceeded to follow his sister's example. Being then 
 thirty-three years of age, and a qualified physician, it might 
 naturally be considered that he was entitled to please himself 
 in the selection of a wife in his own rank of life, but Sir William 
 was of a different opinion. 
 
 In reply to the last letter Alexander writes to his father : — 
 
 Feb^ 1726 
 
 "This elopement which you mention came to my knowledge several 
 weeks past by my acquaintances who had Letters from Scotland. It is a 
 pity that this happening without the advice of Friends, for if I can judge 
 of things by appearances Mr Keith will make a very good Husband tho' 
 indeed the girls disobedience is not to be justified. 
 
 Please to let me know more of this matter by your next & likewise 
 how my sister Ann does." 
 
 As an instance of the strong feeling which still existed against 
 the English, the following extracts from a letter, written by the 
 Earl of Eglinton on his death-bed to his little son as a guide to 
 his future conduct, will create amusement. 
 
 On the copy of the letter is this note : — 
 
 " All the Letter in the original is wrote with his own Hand and but a 
 very short time before his Death which was 1729 his son being six years 
 of age." 
 
 Sir John Cunyngham of Caprington, Sir Alexander Dick's 
 elder brother, married Lady Betty Montgomerie, elder sister of 
 the recipient of the letter. 
 
 My dearest Child 
 
 I find such decay both in Body and Spirit that I 
 am sensible I cannot live long therefore so long as my Judgement is intire 
 I think myself bound both by the tyes of nature & affection to leave you 
 my best and last Advice for your future Conduct since your tender Age 
 will not allow you to retain them should I recommend them to you by 
 word of mouth." 
 
 After giving special injunctions as to how he should rule his 
 
 L 
 
82 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 conduct in his daily life, and towards his family generally, he 
 
 earnestly entreats him " to avoid gamesters," and also desires he 
 
 should not " keep Running horses." He then continues : — 
 
 " You come to live in a time, my chiefest care, when the right to these 
 Kingdoms comes to be a Question betwixt the House of Hanover, who 
 are in possession, and the descendants of King James. You are in my 
 poor opinion not to intermeddle with either, but live absolutely at Home, 
 manadging your own affairs to the best advantage, and living in a good 
 understanding with your friends and neighbours, for since we are under 
 the misery and slavery of being united to England, a Scotsman without 
 prostrating his Honour can obtain nothing by following a Court, but may 
 bring his Estate under debt, and consequently himself to necessity. It 
 will perhaps be proposed to you to make an English merridge as that 
 which will bring you much money but if English Ladies bring what is 
 considerable with them, they will soon spend it and some of yours, for 
 their Education and way of living differs altogether from ours, therefore 
 make choice of an Scots Lady of a discreet and honourable family, who 
 will apparently be satisfied to live as your wife, and in the end you will be 
 richer with her than with one in an English position." 
 
 This letter he desired should be kept until 
 
 " You come to twelve or fourteen years of age, and that you may 
 peruse it once every week after you come to that age, for untill you come 
 to some understanding my design will be entirely lost." 
 
 He concludes in terms of strong affection and signs "Eglintoun." 
 
 The expressions made use of regarding England and the 
 House of Hanover in this letter are a proof of the feeling that 
 prevailed throughout the country, which gradually simmered and 
 came to boiling point in the rising of 1745. The far-seeing 
 advice to stay at home and mind his own concerns probably saved 
 his young son's head, though it is doubtful if he paid much heed 
 to the injunction not to keep running horses ; driving matches 
 being one of the amusements mentioned in the Life of Old Q. 
 as having taken place between the Earl of Eglinton and the 
 eccentric Duke. 
 
Chapter V. 
 
 Letters from Tongue and Dalgoos — General Wade's Bridge — A Scheme 
 for Protestant Nunneries — An Epidemic — A clandestine Marriage — 
 A constant lover — Allan Ramsay, Painter — A rival lover — The 
 Hunters' ball. 
 
 [1734-36] 
 
Lady D 
 
 ALRYMPLE 
 
Chapter V. 
 
 The next communications worth recording, as specimens of style, 
 are from Lady Dalrymple to her mother, and from Mrs Mackay 
 to Sir William Cunyngham, in which she announces her safe 
 arrival in Sutherlandshire after she had been paying him a visit. 
 Both ladies write from the same place. 
 The first letter is addressed to 
 
 " The Hon" Lady Cuninghame att Prestfield," 
 
 and is dated "29 July 1734." 
 
 Dear Madam, — When I saw you att Prestfield I really intended to 
 go no further than Dalgoose (Dalguise) but when I came that length I 
 found myself so well that I went straight forward and we are now all 
 safely arrived att my Lord Reay's House, we was four days att my Lord 
 Sutherland's House, and during the whole journey I kept my health 
 perfectly well, and my horse never once stumbled. The Master and 
 Mistress of Reay lives twenty miles from this where we intend to be this 
 week, but because we had travelld so far my Lord and Lady Reay would 
 not let us stir till we were rested for some days at Tongue. The Mistress 
 of Reay was Brought to bed on the 17th of a fine Boy called Robert. 
 She is recovering very well. Sir Robert offers his humble Duty to your 
 Lsp and my Father as does Dear Madam 
 
 Your Dutyfull Daughter & humble ser"' 
 
 Ann Dalrymple. 
 
 Mrs Mackay addresses her letter to 
 
 "Sir William Cuninghame of Capringtown at his Lodgings att the 
 Syne of the Eagle Landmarket South Side of the Street Edinburgh." 
 
 In it she says — 
 
 "You cannot imagine Sir how much better the Rods are than I 
 expected and this place is very pretty and my Lord Reay has made the 
 
86 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 gairdens very pretty and has very fine fruit I have no more att present 
 but to tell you and my Lady Cuninghame I am Dear Sir your obedient 
 humble servant to command Marion Mackay." 
 
 Lady Dalrymple writes next to her father, and addresses it — 
 
 " Sir William Cuninghame of Capringtoun att Edinburgh. 
 
 2 1st June 1735 Dalgoos 
 
 Dear Sir, — I had a letter from you last night which gave me the good 
 news of your health and my mothers. I have reason to thank God I have 
 agreed most surprisingly with the goat whey.^ I ride every day which 
 has done me great service and has a good clever stomach and quick 
 dijestion in short I am vastly mended since I came to this country. 
 Yesterday I was att Lord Broadalbins house 12 mils ^ from this a very 
 charming place and on our way we saw Gen"^ Wades new Brige over the 
 River Tay^ really vastly pretty we returned that same day and I was no 
 ways tird so Dear Sir I think that is no Bad acct of me. Jeanie Maxwell 
 is very well and is to dine with us this day. Lady Suttie and Sir James 
 offer their compliments to you. My humble dutty to my mother and am 
 Sir y"^ obedient Daughter A. Dalrymple. 
 
 The inside sheet of this letter has been utilised by Sir William 
 
 in writing the following proposition, which was somewhat difficult 
 
 to decipher. 
 
 " Mem. Concerning the unmarried Ladies of Brittain in order to induce 
 them to enter protestant nunneries under due Regulations." 
 
 " It has been very frequently regretted by many of the most sincere 
 well wishers to the Ladies and Gentlewomen of this Island that they have 
 not the opportunity of retiring from the world at a certain age into some 
 conveniant place where they may be in comfortable Society with one 
 another Devote themselves to the more immediate service of Almighty 
 God. I doubt not but in this opinion the persons for whose accomo- 
 dation the following scheme is humbly proposed will readily agree when 
 they seriously consider how nauseous the foolishness of the play houses 
 and the Balls Masquerades and even Assembly houses become after one 
 is arrived at full maturity and . . . (illegible) Judgement, and that when 
 Youth and perhaps Beauty have declined but a Little the once very gay 
 
 1 A cure much in vogue in those days, ^12 Scots miles are about equal to 13J Imp. miles. 
 
 ^ At Aberfeldy. 
 
Scheme for a Protestant Nunnery 87 
 
 but truly virtuous Ladys become rather the objects of scorn than of esteem 
 to the deluded generality of men. 
 
 It is therefore propos'd as a proper remedy for this most evident 
 inconveniance that a project be formed of having in Great Brittain 
 protestant nunneries ordered by authority of parliament under such 
 regulations as shall seem to the R. R. the Bishops and other clergy 
 of this Island most proper for the glory of God and the solace of the 
 Ladies. 
 
 It may be modestly represented forth to the R. R. the B" of Durham 
 in a Letter directed to them that he be pleased to consult with the 
 rest of his Venerable Order about an affair of this Consequence, and 
 if it shall be found agreeable to the Interests of Religion and for the 
 benefit of Society in General as well as for the true solace of the Ladies 
 in particular it may be laid before the parliament for giving authority 
 to the erection of such protestant nunneries within the several Dioceses 
 of G''' Brittain as shall be voluntarily gone into by the Ladies under 
 such regulations always as shall be maturely conceived by the Bishops 
 and Clergy aforesaid. 
 
 The Bp of Durham might be humbly acquainted that upon the supposi- 
 tion this project for protestant nunneries were agreed to in manner above 
 written it is not doubted but some ladies from Scotland who are of 
 the Communion of the Church of England would joyfully embrace the 
 opportunity of retiring into one of such that should be erected within 
 his diocese and perhaps the place where such erection might be made were 
 most agreable at Sedgefield." 
 
 Evidently Sir William had been seeing more of his female 
 relatives than he quite appreciated, and so had become anxious 
 to find a comfortable retirement for "ladies of a certain age," 
 at a safe and convenient distance. 
 
 But the scheme so carefully conceived, did not receive en- 
 couragement from the w^orthy prelate of Durham, who, in a 
 lengthy r^sumi of two sheets of foolscap closely written, gives 
 his reasons against such a nunnery as Sir William suggests. 
 
 The document is dated " March 24th 1736-7," "I have some 
 doubts ", says Prebendary Sharp, " how far any of our sex are 
 
88 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 proper judges for them (i.e. ladies who have passed the flower 
 of their youth) in such a matter as this." He then proceeds 
 to give his reasons, point by point. Of these it is sufficient to 
 quote the concluding sentences. 
 
 " There are no religious exercises which the ladys can perform in 
 their monastery, but what they can as well perform out of it. . . . And 
 in a word, I am persuaded, that, if everybodys pretences to publick 
 usefulness were fairly sifted and examined, we should find these maids 
 and matrons whom y' scheme invites out of common life, both capable 
 of doing and actually doing as much real good in life as their neighbours ; 
 and more good than all the young things that have not passed the flower 
 of their age, put together." 
 
 So excellent a sentiment deserves to be recorded. 
 
 During the years of 1735 ^73^ there was a severe 
 
 epidemic of measles, which in some cases was followed by 
 small-pox, then a terribly common scourge, and most grievous 
 in its ravages. 
 
 The letters which follow refer to this gruesome complaint, 
 and are addressed to Lady Cunyngham by her daughter Lady 
 Douglas. 
 
 "Kinmount Dec 2. 1735 
 
 "Dear Madam, — I'm hopefuU this will find you and my Father 
 very well. 
 
 I have sent the Bearer for my Woman, the Horses should have come 
 before now, but the weather has been so very bad that ther was no such 
 thing as travelling in this country for this month past. 
 
 I proposd to have been to wait on you in town about Christmas ; but 
 shall be detaind by the Measells which is now in the Famelly and lays my 
 account with the Children taking y"" before they leave us. My sister Miss 
 Nelly has been very bad of them but is beginning now to recover. My 
 Lady Douglas is gone to Dumfrice, she desired I should make her compl- 
 ments to you and my Father, her and I both expects you in this Country 
 in Summer and we are both of the opinion y® should have been here 
 before this but will more readily forgive you if y* make no more delays. Sir 
 
Family Details 
 
 89 
 
 John joyns with me in our Humble Duty to you and my Father and 
 believe me to be on all occations Dear Madam 
 
 Your affectionate Daughter and humble 
 
 obedient Servant 
 
 Christe Douglas. 
 
 Again, writing in Feby. 1 736, she says : — 
 
 " Sir John was Desined to have gon for London next week his election 
 being to be decided on the 20* of this month but I have persuaded him 
 to give it up being asured in all events it coud be of no advantage to him 
 but on the contrayer so he has wrot to Mr Erskine of Grainge to give it 
 up in the House of Commons. 
 
 I oune I have no notion of serving great folks at the expense of person 
 and purse My children are all very well, I'm advised to keep them on a 
 slender diet the Measells being often succeeded by the Small Pox I 
 shou'd be glad to hear of Sister Peggie's ^ safe delivery to whom I offer my 
 compliments as also to sister Ann when you have occation to write." 
 
 The next letter is from Mrs Keith, shewing that her elopement 
 had been forgiven, as she says in it : — 
 
 " I find you are no better traveller than you used to be else I should 
 have had the pleasure of a visit from you . . . The bairns are extremely 
 well, I am to begin Jeny to write on her birthday. Roby ^ is doing very 
 well at his Silabing, Nancy is thickir and shorter than ever and her hair 
 every day redder, PiaziP walks as well as I do " etc., etc. 
 
 Lady Dalrymple writes to her mother : — 
 
 " I thank God Anne * is much better her fevour has left her but she 
 has a mighty bad cough, however Dr Reid says that always attends the 
 measels. I have no time to write to Peggy please tell her this to make 
 her easy . . . There is a report here that there are several thieves brought 
 
 1 Mrs Keith. 
 
 2 Afterwards Sir Robert Keith, Ambassador at the Courts of Denmark and Vienna. " Sir 
 Robert, or Ambassador Keith, as he was commonly called, the affectionate, accomplished, and witty 
 gentleman, and the rescuer, under most critical circumstances, of the unfortunate Caroline Matilda, 
 Queen of Denmark." — Lives of the Lindsays. 
 
 ' Also very distinguished, and created a K.C.B. ; later. Governor of Jamaica. 
 * Afterwards Countess of Balcarras. 
 
 M 
 
90 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 to the toUbooth and that there was a chest with Lining been found. 
 D'^ Madam send somebody to the toUbooth to enquire in case it should 
 be my stolen webs." 
 
 These letters have been given to show, not only the style of 
 the day, but also the very deferential manner of addressing a 
 parent, as well as the punctilious manner of refering to a sister as 
 Miss Nelly, and Lady Douglas. 
 
 Nothing, however, assists more vividly in realizing and sympa- 
 thizing with the thoughts and feelings of a past generation than 
 that little word of four letters LOVE. It brings the dry bones to 
 life. It makes those of bygone days instantly in touch with 
 ourselves. 
 
 When young Alexander Cunyngham returned from Holland 
 and France a full-blown doctor, he promptly fell under Cupid's 
 influence, and that, unfortunately, in a direction displeasing to his 
 parents. This, however, did not make him relinquish the fair 
 lady. Miss Dick of Clermiston, a distant cousin of his own, whom 
 he married clandestinely, taking only two friends into his con- 
 fidence. One of these was old Allan Ramsay, the poet, with 
 whom he was on very intimate terms, and with whose son he 
 formed a project of going to Italy to study art, and whatever 
 else might take his fancy. The name of his other friend remains 
 unknown. His father Sir William seems to have encouraged the 
 idea of travelling, evidently hoping it might cure him of his in- 
 fatuation ; but Alexander settled the question by marrying the 
 lady first, and trusting to luck and his friends' influence to calm 
 the paternal wrath afterwards. That his second and most sympa- 
 thetic friend, was suffering from the same malady as himself, is 
 shown by the following letters, though in this case the lady 
 showed no sign, and the gentleman's state of mind in consequence 
 
A Friendly Remonstrance 
 
 91 
 
 was far from being a happy one. The letters are unsigned, and 
 no trace of the identity of their author has as yet come to Hght. 
 They are addressed to 
 
 " Doctor Alex. Cuninghame, to be found at the Rainbow Coffee House 
 in Lancaster Court, London. 
 
 " I own myself to blame for having delay 'd answering your letter so 
 long, when both its friendship and elegance requird the speediest acknow- 
 ledgment. 
 
 Since the receipt of it I went to Clermiston and communicated to your 
 Belvidera your kind sentiments and the reluctance you had to leave her. 
 I found the getting your letters at last had easd her, but that it was impos- 
 sible to reconcile her to your travels beyond the seas. 
 
 I have spoke to your brother John and Mr Keith upon the point you 
 mention in your letter to be mov'd to your Father, but they have told me 
 he would be inexorable and told me that next to dropping your marriage 
 nothing could have pleased him better than your going abroad, because he 
 imagines Travelling may make you forget your love. I have likewise wrote 
 to Lady Dalrymple who is at the goat whey but have not time yet for an 
 answer. Upon the whole my friend, both Maitland and I are strong in 
 the opinion that you still ought to return home, that balancing accounts 
 and considering whether your dropping a scheme there was no reason for 
 following out but your own pleasure, so leaving a woman you had just 
 married, or were going to marry would sound worse in the ears of the world 
 I believe few will hesitate. I am sure too nobody that shall know your 
 situation at present, or even the supposition of y' leaving only a mistress, 
 but will absolve you of fickleness and inconstancy and on the contrary, 
 will accuse you of them if you do go. Keith seemed to blame you more 
 for travelling than for y'' intended marriage and the truth is I had less to 
 say in your defence. 
 
 I hope my Friend you'll excuse me still for insisting so much in a point 
 you appeard determined in the last time you wrote, but my anxiety for serv- 
 ing you, my collecting as you see the opinions of others, and the goodness 
 you receivd my almost indecent freedom in my last letter encourages me still 
 to harp upon a string I imagine is mistun'd to the rest of your Harmony. 
 
 As for my affairs, as you write the death of the Father can be no loss 
 she is left 12,000 M''^ I have seen her in the country, but kept in 
 generals, so far as I could Judge I was neither well or ill received but men 
 
92 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 in my condition are blind. I am ten times more in love than ever, 
 and ten times more than ever I despair, so I have been in a very poor case 
 since your departure. 
 
 I see an absurdity in pretending to propose to her friends, and to gain 
 her I believe must be more than Herculean labour. Her sense may lead 
 her to despise a Coxcomb, but the same sense I am afraid will lead her to 
 make no step in my favour who can insure her no Jointure. When you 
 write (which I expect you'll do with first post) I desire you'll say something 
 either to comfort me or to make me despair altogether, seeing I cannot 
 live in this state of uncertainty. You and Baillie have got your wish I am 
 like to prove a constant lover with a vengeance." "June 15." 
 
 At this point v^e have Allan Ramsay, junr., writing to arrange 
 
 to meet Dr Alexander in London to start on their travels. 
 
 " Ed. May 25 1736 
 Dear Doctor, — As soon as I received yours this forenoon I went out 
 to Clermiston and delivered the enclosed,^ together with the double letter to 
 Sandie, which, I said, had been detained at the post-office, which in reality has 
 been the fate of the other letters that you sent me, since that was the only 
 frank'd one which came to my hand. The affair of the furniture was only 
 a trifling hint of her Ladyships, which she is so wise as not to insist on, and 
 I assure you M. D.^ wants for nothing which is necessary to make her life 
 very comfortable. I cannot recollect anything so material about your 
 affairs here as to merit a place in writing, things are much in the same 
 state that they were before you went away. As to what concerns myself 
 I have finished my pictures, taken leave of most of my friends, and pre- 
 pared my baggage to be sent away with the carriers against Friday, with 
 a design to set out myself on the Tuesday or Wednesday thereafter. 
 Pray, dear Doctor, put an end to your Law as soon as possible, for I shall 
 be as Idle in London as I am in Edr. at present writing. Your taking my 
 friendly zeal to serve you in so just a light confirms me entirely in the 
 good opinion 1 always conceiv'd of you, as your return for it, helps me no 
 less to give me a very favourable notion of myself. Except something 
 particular occurs you'll probably not hear again from me till I shall have 
 the satisfaction of telling you from my own mouth how much I am, dear 
 Dr, your sincere friend, ALLAN RAMSAY Junr." 
 
 ^ Allan was not then aware that his friend was actually married. 
 Miss or rather Mrs Dick. 
 
A Timid Lover 
 
 93 
 
 Again in July 1736 the incognito writes : — 
 
 " I had yours, my Friend, last post, which, so far as concernd you, to 
 use your words, gave me joy in the reading and fresh assurances of your 
 Friendship. 
 
 I sent the first part of your letter to Clermiston, being unable to go 
 myself by reason of the Toothache, which at present torments me, if any 
 bodily pain in respect to what I suffer otherwise deserves such an appella- 
 tion. Besides speaking to K. and your brother John, I wrote to Lady D. 
 desiring she would deal with your Father and let me know whom I could 
 most rely on to second her, but I have had no answer from her. I am 
 sorry I did not speak to your Father myself before he set out on his 
 journey, but I shall if you please write to him, and in the meantime shall 
 deal with Mr Harper to do the same. Believe I have your interests much 
 at heart. What occurs to me at present to advise you is that you would 
 tell the whole story in a letter to your B John. He seems to me to take 
 it amiss you had so little intrusted him with your designs. I gave him 
 not the least hint of your being already married, so that I imagine your 
 showing confidence in him, by discovering the whole secret may probably 
 make him exert himself in serving you. However, you must know him 
 better than I do ; so I only pretend to give you a hint. 
 
 As for my own case, my Friend, your words of comfort, as you call 
 them, came clogg'd most damnably with despair. The heir of 500 a year 
 my rival, with a great degree of assurance and a lac'd waistcoat. 
 
 True my enchantress has sense and is no coquet, but will not her sense 
 and no coquetry lead her to prefer my rival and be constant to one who 
 first made addresses to her } Will she not take the chance of his constancy 
 
 and the Grandfather's dying in two years? Will not H n's banishment 
 
 appear meritorious in her eyes ? However, you have done well in giving 
 intelligence of my adversary and the difficulties I have to grapple with. 
 I conjure you further by our friendship that by all means you learn if there 
 be any correspondance between them. If there is, it must the sooner put 
 me out of pain, by cutting off all hopes in my unhappy Passion. How- 
 ever, you can acquire this piece of Intelligence, you can never think it any 
 breach of confidence to your fellow-traveller, since it answers a good end in 
 delivering your friend some months sooner from the Rack, and can never 
 harm the other, as I swear by fair honesty it never shall through me. The 
 family is still at the goat whey ; I shall see them as they return, and per- 
 
94 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 haps in (here the paper is torn) — certainly often next winter, since they are 
 to live in Town ; but as to behaving briskly and making my addresses 
 with boldness, believe me without exageration, I could more easily make 
 love to one of your Princesses. I have been too much in love not to have 
 already appeared a sheep in her eyes, and the consciousness of that must 
 perpetually make me look like an Idiot. 
 
 I shall write soon to Baillie if I can, for I think I begin to be as unfit 
 for all manner of busines as for making Love." 
 
 The next letter on this subject is addressed to 
 
 " Dr CuninGHAME, Chez Mons Belloni, Banqueir, in Rome. 
 
 Edin. 21 Deer. 1736 
 Dear Doctor, — I received your letter from Rome with a great deal 
 of pleasure, and the more that it was wrote after your misfortunes, for as 
 prosperity relishes better after adversity so one values their friend the more 
 that they were near losing him.^ " After scrambling ashore you might 
 have said with ye Poet — post varies casus per tot discriniene vcnini tendenues 
 ad Laihiiii. 
 
 I admired your calmness and serenity in dangers, but did not find it 
 inconsistent with the rest of your character. I saw Mrs Cuninghame 
 three weeks ago, who looks extremely well on't, but you may believe your 
 shipwreck will make her the more anxious till you return. I find I still 
 ly under the displeasure of your Parents for the message I carried them ; 
 for some days ago I accosted your good Father on the street, who return'd 
 my compliments with a bow only and walkt off without speaking a word. 
 However, Baillie Arbuthnot, whom I employed for an Intercessor, tells me 
 since he has been expostulating the matter with Sir Wm., and that he has 
 found him very obstinate at first, but that before he parted with him he 
 shewd some signs of tender heartedness and discover'd .some appearances 
 of approaching reconciliation, so that I begin to flatter myself by the time 
 you return home you shall receive a blessing from your Parents. 
 
 Your wife, by the prudence and staidness of her behaviour, does all in 
 her part, and thereby must lay a foundation of a good character for ever. 
 I have no other news to tell you. Our common friends are all well and I 
 am well myself, the worse only for having lost two valuable Parents, Lord 
 Newhall and Uncle Robert, who are universally regretted. 
 
 * Alluding to his being shipwrecked, which is described later. 
 
Fortified by Philosophy 
 
 95 
 
 I am going this evening to the Hunter's Ball, where I shall see Belvi- 
 dera for the first time after my expedition to her Castle in the Country. I 
 go armed with Philosophy and length of Absence, not however without 
 some dread of the consequence. My happy Rival is at Alicant, I think 
 in Spain, and is recovering of an Homoptoe w*^ was threatening. The 
 Expedition by-the-bye seems to have been imprudent in him & his 
 companion. 
 
 I was too long thinking to write so you'll excuse my hurry when I tell 
 you the Ball is already begun & I have not yet dress'd & I could not 
 delay lest I should have missed you at Rome. I shall only add a 
 comission from Mr Calderwood. . . . When you go to Bolognia enquire 
 for one Molinelli (a young physician there an understanding man & a 
 fellow student with me at Paris) and make him my compliments. 
 
 As for my nephew Mr Hall who is now in Italy I need not desire you 
 to seek his acquaintance or to give him y' advice." 
 
 As will be seen from the above letter Alexander Cunyngham 
 and Allan Ramsay jun"" were already in Italy. Their journey and 
 adventures en rotite are related in a diary kept by the former, 
 wherein he describes his fellow traveller as " a most ingenious 
 young man of twenty-three years of age," ten years younger than 
 himself. The journey is best told in his own words, though here 
 and there it is condensed for the sake of brevity, but to this a 
 fresh chapter must be devoted. 
 
Chapter VI. 
 
 Journey to France — King Louis XV. — En route for Italy — The Exchange 
 at Marseilles — Voyage in a Tartane — Robbed at Genoa — Shipwrecked 
 — Don Carlos at Leghorn — Across the Campagna to Rome. 
 
 July to October [1736] 
 
Chapter VI. 
 
 Sir Alexander Dick, or as he was then styled Mr Alex. 
 Cunyngham, begins as follows : 
 
 " On the 24th of July 1736 Mr Ramsay and I left London and came to 
 Dover in the Coach with a jolly English Parson, a crabbed lawyer, a 
 Frenchman, who was Lord Vane's Superintendant and a very odd looking 
 bearish hypochondriacal man going to Aix la Chapelle for his health. We 
 admired the verdure and the fine cultivated fields in Kent, the numerous 
 Hop gardens ready to blossom, and Cherry orchards ; the people and 
 cattle in good plight the Towns and villages neat and clean, and the market 
 places filled with abundance of every good eatable thing; the roads 
 pleasant and good, the Inns numerous and well served, the coachmen 
 rather rough and absolute and more attentive to their horses than the 
 Company. Our conversation brightened up as the day advanced after we 
 had ate and drank together. We took the packet boat at Dover in the 
 evening of the 25th and lay all night above deck on our passage to Calais, 
 which was very agreeable with a fair wind. Our Company were Dunkirk 
 merchants, and several French gentlemen with whom we entered into con- 
 versation in french as Mr Ramsay and I had been early accustomed to 
 speak that language at home, both from my father early initiating me in 
 it, which he himself spoke well ; but likewise from my having been three 
 years abroad as a student of medicine in Holland and three months at 
 Paris, about ten years before this period. 
 
 Mr Ramsay and I therefore made a resolution to speak no other lan- 
 guage but French while we remained in France, and upon our arrival in 
 Italy no other language but Italian, as we had been well founded in it 
 before we left Edinburgh. 
 
 On the morning of the 26th we arrived at Calais, and were less troubled 
 with Custom-house officers than at Dover, everything of that kind being 
 better regulated in France than in England. 
 
 One of our Flemish merchants was in person very like my brother. Sir 
 Will Dick, and gave us a favourable account of his travels in England, and 
 of the flourishing condition of the city of Dunkirk. 
 
loo Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 At Calais there was a very lean gentleman who dined with us at the 
 Inn, and from circumstances that we had not leisure to enquire into, 
 expressed a great reluctance for parting with us, as we were immediately 
 to set out for Paris ; it being warm weather our posting equipage happened 
 not to be suitable to the modes of France, but we followed our own way 
 for coolness, being in our white stockings without boots, to the great 
 surprise of all the frenchmen we met. . . . 
 
 A Dr Hay, who had been in the Rebellion 17 15, and a great partisan 
 of that cause, found us out immediately we arrived (at Boulogne), and gave 
 us a very kind reception, and by him we were invited to dine with Mr 
 Smith, the great Scotch wine merchant there ; who had been formerly in 
 that same cause, and entertained us with many various scenes in which 
 they both had been concerned in that disastrous business, of which he said 
 he made the most of it by following a trade very beneficial, which he 
 hoped soon afterwards would lead him to Scotland to purchase a landed 
 estate in his own country. . . . 
 
 July 30. — Went to Chantilly, where the Duke of Burbon's^ fine palace 
 is ; there we saw the most magnificent stables in Europe, which contain 
 many hundreds of the finest Horses, with every accommodation for them. 
 On every hand there were fine gardens and water-works without, and rich 
 furniture, Paintings, Tapestry, and Statues within ; particularly those of 
 Conde and Turenne, with all their Battles painted near them. Came to 
 Paris that night about four o'clock, went to lodge at Mr Robert's Bagnio, 
 where we were well bathed and served, but paid very dear for what we 
 had in that house. We met there with Mr Horn, Lord Drumore's son, 
 and Mr Oswald of Dunnikear.- Went with them to see the Palais 
 Royal, and in the evening went to the Italian comedy ; both which places 
 gave us very great entertainment. The first has the noblest collection of 
 Pictures in Europe, and belongs to the Duke of Orleans, the son of the 
 Regent, the first Prince of the blood in France. . . . 
 
 August 2. — Saw that day the Luxumberg Gallery, with all the fine 
 paintings of Reubens there. Walked afterwards in the Gardens, which are 
 well keept but not in the best taste, little of nature, all is regularity, the 
 walks are very broad, where there are often a vast resort of good company, 
 extremely well dressed, the Ladies are all painted, and the red of their 
 cheeks has a very flaming appearance ; the married Ladies' chiefly being 
 laid on without mercy, which makes a sad havoc on natural beauty, but is 
 
 1 Bourbon. '- Dunnikier in Fife. 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 
 
 lOI 
 
 of particular solace to Ladies coming into years : for by covering their 
 wrinkles it puts them upon a level with the young beauties, who would 
 soon eclipse them in every respect. . . ." 
 
 Referring to the " Invalids, a Royal Hospital for wounded 
 and old Soldiers," he writes : 
 
 " It is of great extent, great elegance and magnificence in the Architec- 
 ture, and has the best contrivance in the arrangement of the wards, and 
 good regular orders, that I have seen ; the best that are observed in any 
 hospital in Europe ; it contains some thousands of men who have bravely 
 and long served their country, or have bled in its Cause. We went from 
 thence to the Opera, but did not much admire the music, which was entirely 
 in the French taste, loud and noisy, great in the execution, but very mean 
 and little in the harmonious part, which belongs to good music. . . . 
 
 Aug. 4. — Went with Mr Diggs to the Church of St Genevieve, there 
 saw the pious Duke of Orleans and his sister, the Queen of Spain, who 
 came to assist at the solemnity (St Genevieve's day, the Patroness of 
 Paris). The music we heard there was very good, went from thence in the 
 evening to the concert Spirituelle in the King's Palace, where we heard 
 the best performers in France, and the composition of the Italian taste. 
 . . . We went with Mr Oswald to see King Stanislaus, the Queen's 
 father, at his country Palace of Meudon, where he lived in retirement and 
 elegance after the bustling disagreeable life he had while King of Poland, 
 from which he was driven to his good. 
 
 The King ^ and his daughter, the Queen, made him frequent visits, and 
 often consulted him in matters of State. 
 
 At Versailles — " The water works and Cascades were extremely showy, 
 they were erected and keept at an immense charge, they play but seldom, 
 and that on great occasions ; it was our good fortune that some Polish 
 Ladies having arrived, who were relations to the Queen, one of whom was 
 indeed exceeding handsome ; the water works was ordered to play for their 
 entertainment, and the Ladies were conducted in little hand chariots pushed 
 forward by some of the guards, to all the water-works in the Gardens, 
 which gave us the best of opportunities of seeing the whole. . . . 
 
 The King's Stables are very magnificent and all filled with the finest 
 Horses, to serve them for the diversion of Hunting, in which he is every 
 day occupied with a circle of his Courtiers and favourites ; we saw him one 
 
 1 Louis XV. 
 
I02 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 day in the Chapel attending the morning's mass, he has a good counten- 
 ance and manly, but is underlimed in his walking, yet he makes a fine 
 figure on horseback. 
 
 Everything in Versailles has the look of too great an expence and too 
 much show, consequently the taste is not universally good, though it must 
 be owned there are a great many fine things there. . . . 
 
 It was now time for us to turn our faces south towards Italy. . . . 
 
 Aug. 29. — Mr Ramsay and I set out for Italy by way of Lyons in the 
 water coach, upon the river Seine, drawn by horses against the stream. 
 We had a great variety of company, good and bad. Monks, Priests, 
 Soldiers, Sailors, Merchants, and others; in general they were very noisy, 
 eat, drank, and sung perpetually, and at night those that did not go ashore 
 lay in the Boat all heckledepickedly, which is their usual custom. There 
 was a Knight of Malta and a Flandrican with a big belly, a bragadoshio 
 Burgundian, several old gentlewomen, and a garda corps, who sang merry 
 songs in french. Mons Marbleu a Gascon, and a Swiss gentleman who 
 was always asleep, and Mons Darly an Italian, and an English Abbot. 
 We contracted more intimacy with the Knight of Malta and Mons Darly 
 the Italian, in order to improve ourselves in their language. 
 
 Sept. 2. — From Auxerre we set out in the Coach or Diligence for 
 Challon in Burgundy. 
 
 Sept. 6. — Came to Challon, and after Breakfast we set out in the 
 Cochedeau, where we were very well accomodate and were very cheerful 
 and merry ; here we had fine Prospects, delightful villages, beautiful 
 Collines planted with vines, Gardens and Country Seats, for forty miles, 
 . . . We went down the river quickly, and were surprised how well the 
 sailors that work these water coaches catched the turns of the river, and 
 how cleverly they bring the vessel off when it runs aground, and how they 
 change the horses. Here we had nothing spoke of by the military men in 
 our company, or those we happened to meet with, but the Fates of the 
 French on the Rhine ; but especially in Italy where they pretended all to 
 have been, they spoke much of the wounds they had received in the 
 different actions, the bad eating in Italy, and the Massacre of Parma at the 
 Castle which happened there lately. The rough old soldier and a young 
 one in our company differed much about facts. We observed the French 
 soldiers were in general ill-clothed, but they said it was universally 
 expected there would be a reform. 
 
 Sept. 8. — We entered Lyons this day, the view of it on approach is 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 103 
 
 extremely picturesque. . . . We stayed but one night at the Noah's 
 Ark. 
 
 The Italian gentleman, M. Darly, set out with us early in the morning 
 for Marseilles by the Cochedeau, which comes down the river very fast to 
 Avignon, in our company we had a strange mixture of riff-raff sort of 
 people, particularly a very witty comical girl of Lyons, a Provincial Priest 
 who was very entertaining, a Slattern from Marseilles without virtue or 
 modesty, a Roman with his wife and daughter, who gave good diversion. 
 As we went along we got every now and then a fresh Cargo of Cordileres 
 and Capuchin Monks. 
 
 Sept. 12. — Came to Avignon, where we saw a Synagogue and the Pope's 
 Palace, a young Hebrew in our company attacked with argument one of 
 our Priests, which gave us no small diversion, the Jews here and all over 
 the Pope's dominions are obliged to wear yellow hats. . . . Arrived 
 at Aix, a very fine agreeable Town, very well built and well watered and 
 pleasantly situated, the streets like those of Leyden in Holland, planted 
 with tall lime trees in the flower, the Parliament house lofty, magnificent, 
 and richly ornamented with guilding. We stayed two days here at the 
 Croix de Malte, where I bought me a tye-wig to put me in proper dress 
 when I should arrive in Italy to present my letters of recommendation. 
 
 Sept. 15. — Set out for Marseilles, a noble and very ancient city for- 
 merly a Greek colony . . . here we arrived for 4 livres. The chaise came 
 through a pretty rough road into a most large and spacious Amphitheatre, 
 of a Country. . . . 
 
 When we arrived at the city, the magnificent broad street and the 
 great appearance of trade were very striking ; when we entered into the 
 great Exchange where the merchants assemble we observed them all 
 extremely well dressed, looking like noblemen and gentlemen of the first 
 distinction, and a politeness seemed to reign there unknown in most of all 
 the commercial places we had ever seen. What added to the magnificence 
 of the assembly was the great number of Persian, Armenian, Turkish and 
 Egyptian merchants dressed in their Turbans and long Robes after the 
 manner of their several countries; the air of all these people having a great 
 gravity and solemnity in it, but it was melancholy to meet with now and 
 then the galley slaves, mostly Turks, two and two chained together, some 
 of them gentlemen formerly of great condition, they are allowed, however, 
 to keep cofiiehouses when they behave well, and compliment strangers with 
 the sound of a trumpet, when they arrive in town, which brings them some 
 
I04 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 little perquisites. The Port of Marseilles for the shipping is a very fine 
 one well guarded. The King of France has sixteen gallies here wrought 
 by the slaves. Great care is taken here with respect to the bills of health, 
 upon the Account of the Plague, which often rages in the Levant . . . 
 there was the greatest reason for this caution because in the year 1720 the 
 Plague was imported into that fine city which had very near depopulated 
 it totaly, had not the good Bishop of Marseilles exerted an uncommon 
 police during the rage of the Pestilence, and the precautions which the 
 French King took at the line of circumvalation, to prevail it spreading 
 farther into the Kingdom. 
 
 Sept. 16. — Having procured a bill of health, we set out from Marseilles 
 in a Tartane for Antibes, with a benedictine Friar, a French corporal who 
 pretended to be an officer, and a gentleman from the town of Nice. We 
 lay mostly on deck upon packs of wool, but in an inconvenient manner, the 
 accommodation below deck was still worse, we were at length very much 
 becalmed and very warm, the sailors, the Captain and the coast of France, 
 afforded us some diversion as we sailed along. 
 
 Sept. 19. — Wearied at length of the Tartane and the calm, we desired 
 to be set ashore at Cannes, from whence next morning we walked to 
 Antibes, through a most delightful spot of plantations of vines, Figs, 
 Almonds and Pomegranates and fragrant fields, we went from Antibes that 
 morning to Nice, where we had our first view of Italy, the women were 
 dressed differently from the French in their hair and in their cloathes. 
 From not taking due precautions in the night time by placing the nets 
 round the Beds, we were bit prodigiously by musqueto's during the night, 
 and by not a few boggs into the bargain. 
 
 Sept. 20. — It was here we saw the great fishing for Anchovas which is 
 done by a great tract of long nets pulled into the shore, where the fish are 
 pickled and barreled soon after they are taken. 
 
 Sept. 21. — We set out for Genoa in a Felouche, with two Egyptian 
 merchants and our old friend Mr Darly in our company, we came late to 
 Monaco that evening ... we were carried before the Prince's superinten- 
 dant and examined in all the forms. 
 
 Sept. 23. — Arrived at Genoa, where we observed a very noble appear- 
 ance in the entry of the port with the Palaces, Gardens, etc. , , . 
 
 We lodged at the Croce di Malta, and had occasion that evening to sup 
 with some considerable French and Spanish officers and sat with them till 
 it was pretty late ; Mr Ramsay and I were then conducted to a very noble 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 105 
 
 apartment of two beds, I chose the one next the door, the servant who 
 lighted us up to our chamber I remember was dressed in green, and a very 
 genteel fellow, of which some notice will afterwards be taken ; for during 
 the night there was stole out of my breeches, that were hung upon a chair, 
 14 luisdores, by some rogue who had got into the bed chamber, and had 
 the archness to put in place of the gold, coarse brass money called Par- 
 paioles about the value of our halfpennies, he did not touch my gold watch 
 nor some rings that I had ; I did not come to discover this till Mr Ramsay 
 and I were going to pay the bill. I made a great noise to the Landlord 
 who seemed very much concerned for the credit of his house. ... I told 
 him I suspected some of his own servants, and if he found out the truth to 
 write to me at Rome, which he accordingly did . . . the criminal happened 
 to be that very servant in the green cloaths. The landlord made the dis- 
 covery by the fellows losing luidores at play — he afterwards confessed it 
 and was sent to the gallies for life. Let no one who travels be too ready 
 to show their purses, that they have gold in them. . . . 
 
 In return for much entertainment from these foreign travels, please 
 take a copy of my advice to a friend travelling in England — 
 
 Be sure Dear Dempster when you go to bed. 
 To lay your breeches snug beneath your head ; 
 Throw them not off with a neglectful ease 
 If you regard your money or your keys : 
 For many a thief will rob them on a chair, 
 Tho to disturb your pillow would not dare. 
 Think you at Inns, that you have nought to fear, 
 Have Ostlers then antipathies at beer ? 
 Has the brisk Waiter got no Paramour ? 
 Has bootcatch taen the vow of being poor ? 
 
 They were sending daily Troops and money in their gallies to prosecute 
 the war, they then had against King Theodore in Corsica. It was our 
 fortune to meet here in Genoa with an English clergyman, one Mr Smith 
 of Posturtham, a nephew of the great Sir Isaac Newton ; he was desirous 
 to be of our company to proceed through Italy by the way of Leghorn, to 
 this we agreed and hired betwixt us a Felucca. 
 
 Sept. 25. — Set out coast ways for Leghorn and came to Sestri, where as 
 the wind was not fair we stayed 2 nights with a Spanish familly, here for 
 want of attention I lost my wig I lately purchased. 
 
 O 
 
io6 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Sept. 28. — Set out at three in the morning, dined at Porto Fino, which 
 was so full of Spaniards and Genoese that there was not the least room for 
 us to be accommodated ... as it happened there were several Spanish 
 men of war and transports that night in the Bay, who had returned from 
 the Conquest of Naples under the conduct of the Conte' de Montemar the 
 Commander-in-Chief who at that time was residing in Pisa. 
 
 At our setting out we passed six Spanish men-of-war, the sea then 
 quite calm and agreeable, but about ten o'clock at night opposite to 
 Massa, we were overtaken by a dreadful storm, the sea in a moment had a 
 most ferocious aspect, continually increasing with immense billows, the 
 wind varying often from different quarters ; in this dreadful manner we 
 were tossed till about three next morning, having our Rudder broke, our 
 Compass useless, our men dispirited, the sea and the winds rising, the moon 
 not up, and at length there appeared no hope, not the least to remain for 
 our safety ; our Genoese sailors at the oars invoked all their saints ; an 
 English sailor who happened to be in the crew, and an old man the 
 Master of the felucca who was at the rudder, were the only two who 
 showed spirit, though the moving complaints of the old man's little son in 
 the most plaintive Italian would have melted a heart of stone, particularly 
 of his remembrance of his Cara Madre and his Care Sorelle. Our Reverend 
 Clergyman Mr Smith and his man Tom, who were both stript in order to 
 swim, had many grievous moanings betwixt them fearing a sudden separa- 
 tion for ever. Mr Smith though Sir Isaac Newton's nephew happened to 
 be a very bad astronomer, insisting that he saw the lights of Leghorn and 
 contended that we should steer towards that, but we were soon undeceived 
 by observing that the light came from one of two stars. Mr Ramsay, who 
 was a good swimmer stript likewise ; but for myself who could not swim I 
 reckoned on certain death, but before I gave all up I thought best to 
 examine what wine we had yet remaining, and having got several flasks 
 full, I instantly distributed them amongst our sailors, making them a short 
 speech in Italian, repeating the word animo, animo mi fratelli (courage, 
 courage, my brethren), and particularly addressing myself to the Padroni and 
 the English sailor who I conjured not to lose heart, which he promised not to 
 do as long as he could keep hold of it, I last addressed myself to Mr Smith 
 and his man Tom desiring them not to lose hopes of meeting one another 
 in a better place, and lastly I said what occurred to me in the most moving 
 manner to my friend and dear travelling companion, Mr Allan Ramsay, 
 and took out my gold watch and rings to see if he could fasten them any 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 107 
 
 way to his arms, and if he should escape anyhow by swimming that he 
 would deliver my watch and rings to my much beloved young wife I had 
 just married before I set out, with my prayers and imprecations for his 
 safety . . . that as I could not swim I could make no efforts for my safety 
 and instantly covered myself up with an old sail as a winding sheet and 
 bidding them all farewell and calling out Animo, animo to the sailors, 
 most devoutly resigned myself over to my fate ; all this while the sea 
 mountains high over all white with froth easily discernible by the fiery 
 vapour which rises always in a storm : at last by the perseverance of our 
 men and mercy of Divine Providence, the wind chopt about to blow from 
 the sea towards the land with the greatest empetuosity and on the 29th 
 in the morning our felucca was violently cast upon shore at the bottom of 
 a large wood where there was neither rocks nor high banks, not far distant 
 from the city of Pisa, here everyone scrambled on shore ... a sailor 
 carried me out on his back almost up to his neck in the sea ; our trunks 
 and baggage though very wet we saved and got ashore, and by good for- 
 tune got into a fisher's hut where were assembled some of the Spanish 
 troops who had that night been shipwrecked on the coast, they presented 
 us with some refreshments and wine which were very comfortable . . . and 
 our clergyman Mr Smith who felt uncommon joy in recovering his man 
 Tom, he gave us all his benediction in the warmest manner. One of the 
 sailors as day approached brought us a couple of good chaises, we took 
 leave of the Spaniards with great cordiality, and hoped to meet them again 
 at Pisa, and having paid amply for our felucca and rewarded well the 
 sailors we got into our chaises ... it is inconceivable the joy of the 
 refreshing sleeps we had for many hours after our arrival. In the evening 
 we went to the Opera, where we saw the Duke de Montemar who was an 
 old venerable Spanish soldier with black whiskers, sitting dangling in his 
 box among six pretty women. 
 
 Sept. 30. — Sunday, set out in Chaises for Leghorn and came there 
 before dinner through a fine wood ; here for want of my peculiar attention, 
 while Mr Ramsay and I frequently chose to leave the Chaise to walk on 
 some miles, I then had my boots stole. 
 
 Oct. I. — We found the city of Leghorn a very thriving place for trade, 
 many English reside here. Five thousand Spanish troops were there at 
 that time, who had come after the conquest of Naples — they were in the 
 utmost good order, well cloathed in blue and well paid. We frequently 
 dined and supped with the Spanish officers, and could observe they had 
 
io8 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 no great opinion of Don Carlos, the Spanish King of Naples they had 
 been fighting for, for they told us a story of the King one morning when 
 he was feeding his cocks and hens, a diversion he was very fond of ; the 
 Duke de Montemar observing him always lowering and holding down his 
 head at this amusement, the day before the battle of Bittonto, he says to 
 him, " Haussez la tete mon Prince je vous ferai Roi tantot" And indeed 
 this battle secured the crown of Naples to him, and the English had a 
 hand in this victory by transporting most of the troops. 
 
 Mr Ramsay had wrote from Leghorn a long letter to his Father the 
 Poet at Edinburgh. . . . The letter I wrote to my dear young wife — 
 was wrote in the mildest manner I could conceive it, and she and old 
 Allan Ramsay compared notes to the joy of all our Friends. 
 
 Oct. 5. — Arrived at the city of Florence and put up at the Inn St 
 Ludivici. We stayed till the 2ist, and passed the time most agreeably, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 Oct. 21. — Set out for Rome by the Procacio, which is a collection of 
 Chaises carrying travellers, where he who directs provides you in every- 
 thing on the road for bed, board, and chaises, of which there are sometimes 
 12 in the company. 
 
 All the country has a various appearance, some delightful spots at 
 Radicofoni. The wine was more delicious here than at Florence. We 
 observed as we came along a Cardinal sitting upon the side of the road 
 superintending a large party of men employed in the repairs of the 
 highways. . . . 
 
 So soon as we came into the Pope's dominions the wine was not bad 
 but the air smelled Sulpher. The Shepherds are numerous here, each 
 having large flocks. We saw also great flocks of young horses feeding with 
 them in the Campania, the Shepherds take care during the night to light 
 up fires, around which they assemble, and which, they allege, banishes the 
 Malaria which prevails at this season of the year, and under whose influence 
 it is reckoned very dangerous to fall asleep even in the houses. It is a 
 magnificent show in the middle of the night to cast one's eye over the 
 Campania, where the innumerable fires lighted by the Shepherds give the 
 idea of vast population. 
 
 Oct. 26. — Being Friday, we came to Rome. The first sight of the City 
 of Rome is very striking at the entry we made by the Porto del Poppolo. 
 We put up at the Public Inn called the Tre Re. 
 
Chapter VII. 
 
 Sight-seeing — The Pope's Lottery — Prince Charlie and the Duke of York 
 — The Prince shoots Blackbirds — Celebrated Painters — A present 
 from the Duke of York — The Chevalier St George — Becoming a Free- 
 mason — Birthday Ball to Prince Charlie — The Carnival — Execution 
 of Count Trivelli — Departure from Rome — Notes by the Way — The 
 King of Sardinia and his Bride — Toboganing down Mont Cenis — 
 Lyons to London — Dinner with Dr Mead and Mr Pope. 
 
 November to April [1736-1737] 
 
Chapter VII. 
 
 "Nov. 15. — For near three weeks Mr Ramsay and I did little else than 
 scamper about every day all over the streets of the City of Rome, staring 
 and admiring the vast variety which occurred. 
 
 Soon after our landing we took lodgings in the Piazza d'Espagna and 
 had genteel apartments, and hired a French servant whose name was 
 Anthony, his wife was our Landress and took very good care of our Linens. 
 
 The air of Rome at first did not agree with me at night unless I had 
 fire in my room, but afterwards became very easy. We had visits from Mr 
 Hay, Dr Wright, and Dr Irvine, the Chevaliers alias the Pretenders two 
 Physicians. On the 14th we were carried to see the Jesuits Church, where 
 we happened to find the Chevalier and my Lord Nithsdale very piously 
 employed at their devotions in the time of Vespers. 
 
 The Marcus Aurelius on horseback in the Capitol exceeded my expec- 
 tations. It was said of a French General Officer that he never passed that 
 horse without saying, ^ Avanc^ ne sais tu pas que tu vis.' 
 
 Nov. 15, 1736, new style. — We observed in the morning all the city of 
 Rome were busied about their Lottery, which is done and all over in five 
 minutes, and is drawn by a young Boy dressed in white about 10 years 
 old ; this is done early in the morning and on the first day of every month, 
 excepting when it happens on a Sunday. 
 
 There are in the Constitution of this Lottery 100 numbers correspond- 
 ing to the names of a 100 Saints, for the men there are 100 female Saints, 
 and for the women 100 male Saints, they are at liberty to choose any five 
 numbers which are entered upon record with the names of the Persons they 
 correspond to, and according as i, 2, or 3, of their numbers and the Saints 
 that come up, and the sums they pay in at first, so is their proportional 
 gain to be allowed them from the Pope's Treasury, where his holiness 
 obtains a double benefit, ist. That the surplus money after paying those 
 that are the lucky persons, the return is made into his coffers which 
 amounts (one year with another) to a considerable sum, seldom less than 
 1 0,000 sterling yearly free of all charges. 2nd. It employs the minds of 
 
1 1 2 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 the whole City of Rome for several days and sometimes the agreeable sur- 
 prise of a low man rising up to keep his Coach greatly amuses the people 
 which with this and the public shows, and music in the Theatres and 
 Churches, they are thus continually amused from thinking of seditious 
 practices against the State. 
 
 Nov. 1 8. — Dr Wright dined with me and gave me many diverting 
 histories of the young Chevalier, viz., his jumping about among the Pope 
 and Cardinals as it were in play, and of his refusing to kiss his holiness's 
 toe, of his willfulness and restlessness and hardiness, his quickness of 
 capacity for all which he likewise celebrated his brother the Duke of York. 
 
 After dinner we went to the Villa Ludovici and saw there that young 
 Prince and his brother the Duke, we had an introduction and salute by 
 Lord Dunbar's means to whom I was introduced by Dr Wright. My Lord 
 happened to be my uncle Mr Cuningham's Pupil, who was Professor of the 
 Roman Law at Edinr. alongst with Mr Fletcher of Saltoun, afterwards 
 Lord Milton our Justice Clerk, who at that time had the direction of all 
 the affairs of Scotland under the Earl of Isla, who was brother to the Duke 
 of Argyle, and came afterwards to be the Duke himself. My Lord Dunbar 
 asked me many questions about his old friends and fellow students, he 
 seemed to be a very genteel man, and became well his blue Riband and 
 Star, he is brother to the present Lord Mansfield, and was very early in 
 the House of Commons before the rebellion in 171 5 and was considered a 
 very fine speaker for his age. 
 
 The Prince that afternoon went a-shooting black birds in the garden, 
 and was very dextrous at it. The little young Duke his brother was very 
 grave and behaved like a little Philosopher, I could not help thinking he 
 had some resemblance to his great g"""^ father Charles the I^'- 
 
 Walked for two hours in the garden with Lord Dunbar and afterwards 
 went to the Coffeehouse to which Lord Winton * resorted and several 
 
 * In 1 7 16 the Earl of Wintown, one of the prisoners in the Tower of London for his share in 
 the rising of 1715, was condemned to death, his sentence being "to be hanged, cut down while 
 alive and disembowelled before his face, the bowels to be burnt and the body quartered." After 
 the trial, however, a morning paper made the following statement : " As for the Earl of Wintown, 
 his Counsel having insinuated that he is not perfect in his Intellectuals 'tis said he will be confined 
 for Life." He was so, but succeeded in making good his escape in August of the same year, by 
 sawing the bars of his prison window. He passed into the street unmolested ; evidently not such 
 a fool as he looked. 
 
 He spent the remainder of his life abroad, chiefly at Rome with the Chevalier, and died there 
 in 1744. Another year and he would have seen the final futile attempt of the Stewarts to regain 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 1 1 3 
 
 others of their stamp and there fell a-singing old Scots songs and were 
 very merry. 
 
 Mr Ramsay made me acquainted with Mr Camillo Padermi, being a 
 favourite scholar, and Eleve of Signor Francisco Imperiale, who was the 
 most celebrated history Painter in Italy at that time, and under whose 
 direction Mr Ramsay prosecuted with the greatest success his business of 
 Painting. 
 
 Nov. 20. — Invited to dine with Captain Hay, formerly a sea officer in 
 the Russian service, Mr Hay, a brother of Drumelliors, and Mr Campbell, 
 who were all in the Chevalier's service and about his person, we had after- 
 wards a little concerto and supper at my chamber. 
 
 Nov. 24. — Went in the morning to hear the music at Madonna della 
 Vittoria where the best voices in Rome sang, as Domini, Couchi, Jusippini, 
 &c. Went in the afternoon to the Borghese Gardens, where we met with 
 the Duke of York entertaining himself with some of his comrades at jump- 
 ing, where he desired us to partake of his diversion, which we did. 
 
 Nov. 25. — Went to the Church of S'^ Caterina, where I heard the music 
 of the Pope's Chapel, there were 22 Cardinals present, particularly Bar- 
 berini, Albano, Camerlingo, two Altieris, Spiniola, Gentili, Colonna, 
 Olivieri, and the Pope's nephew Cardinal Corsini, who was very like old 
 John Hay of Cambo, also the Pope's Secretary, a handsome tall old man, 
 they were all gray haired and venerable, but too often look merry. 
 
 Nov. 29. — Went with Dr Wright to the Vatican Library. I saw there 
 the Ancient Manuscript of Virgil, with the old figures, every book of the 
 Enied which wants in the beginning the Ille Ego qui quondam, &c. Also 
 the famous Terrence in manuscript above 1000 years old, with the figures 
 of the masks ; with an old mass book of Henry the 8th and his letters, and 
 a great many minatures. 
 
 Nov. 30. — St Andrew's Day, when a St Andrew's Cross was sent me 
 by the Duke of York — invited to sup at Mr Hay's, laughed and drank a 
 good while, where we had the Earl of Winton and a great deal of good 
 company. 
 
 Dec. I. — Walked in the Villa Ludovici and saw the young Princes there, 
 and the Chevalier their P"ather at the Capuchins, and was surprised to see 
 him so fond of his dirty greasy Priests. 
 
 Dec. 8. — While we were walking from the Temple of Bacchus our old 
 
 the throne they had proved themselves incapable of worthily sustaining, rightful though their 
 claim to it undoubtedly was. 
 
 P 
 
114 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 friend the Parson, Mr Smith, was with us, having met the Chevalier in his 
 coach with Lord Nithsdale ^ and Mr John Stewart, Lord Bute's brother, 
 we saluted them as we passed, and had a polite bow in return from them 
 all. The English parson on this occasion made some moral reflections 
 upon the unhappy fate of the old Chevalier, who had lost three kingdoms 
 for his religion, and whose aspect had a very melancholy cast. 
 
 We had at Rome at this time Lord Barrington by himself, Mr Watson, 
 Lord Rockingham's brother, Mr Ponsaby, afterwards Lord Ponsaby of 
 Ireland,^ and Sir Robert Hilliard, who had all their Governors alongst 
 with them. 
 
 Dec. 13. — Heard solemn mass at St John de Lateran with grand music, 
 the French Ambassador, the Duke de St Aignan, who was a very pious 
 man, and it was said would soon be made a Cardinal, he and a great 
 Retinue with him assisted there. In the afternoon went with Camillo to 
 the Borghese Gardens, where we met the old Chevalier's family, the Prince 
 we observed was an admirable shooter. 
 
 Dec. 18. — Being a rainy day I wrote letters to my wife, etc., etc. 
 
 Dec. 24. — After dinner we had a visit from Lord Winton at my house, 
 where plenty of Scots tunes and Scots healths went round, it being the 
 Eve of Christmas, attended at the Pope's Chapel and heard the solemnity 
 of the music there, afterwards was present in the great hall where above 20 
 Cardinals were at supper served by Bishops and dignified Clergymen in 
 their Robes ; the Pope, who was then blind, could not be with them, which 
 I suppose is usual, but he supped privately in the next room to where they 
 were. 
 
 Dec. 27. — Dined with Mr Watson, Lord Rockingham's brother, and his 
 Governor Mr Turnbull, who carried us afterwards to the Pamphilio Palace 
 without the Gates of Rome, at night introduced to the Free Masons by 
 Lord Winton, and afterwards saw the Jocco at Camillo's. 
 
 Dec. 31. — This being that of Prince Charles' birthday. Cardinal Corsini, 
 the Protector of Britain, gave a magnificent Ball at the Palace, Duke 
 Strozzi and a Chevalier of Malta of the family directed the Ball ; a young 
 lady of the Borghese, and another of the Bernini who accompanied her, 
 both very handsome and very richly dressed in Jewels, the last being the 
 
 1 Lord Nithsdale, also implicated in the Rebellion of 1 715, was sentenced to be beheaded in 
 1 7 16, but, by the clever contrivance of Lady Nithsdale, made good his escape from the Tower by 
 donning female attire. Like Lord Wintown, he got safely abroad and joined the Chevalier at Rome. 
 
 2 Probably William, second Earl of Ponsonby, born in 1704, who succeeded to the title in 1758. 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 1 1 5 
 
 introductrix of the first, who took her leave of all the Ladies in the most 
 solemn manner, being in a few days to be made a Nun — which greatly 
 affected the whole company, especially the many English noblemen and 
 gentlemen who were present ; Signora Sudorini, Gemini, Collagola were 
 all handsome, but Bonnaventura particularly so, she danced with the 
 young Prince Charles ; we observed all the Ladies had Jewels of 
 immense value, but especially the mother of the young Borghese who 
 was to fall the sacrifice so soon after being made a Nun, they danced 
 minuets and country dances alternately, the Constable Colonna, the Duke 
 Gravin, a Prince Justiniari and Rospiniosi, and uncle of the Borgese were 
 all dressed in cloathes of richest Brocades. The two sons of the Chevalier 
 both danced very well, the eldest looked best, but none of them in dancing 
 had so much spirit as Prince Charles and the Duke of York, which last 
 danced very genteely. Most of all the English then at Rome were present, 
 also many German, Dutch, and Swiss gentlemen. Cardinals Corsini, 
 Albano, Bigi, were present in black velvet coats, scarlet stockings and red 
 heels ; the hall was very magnificent adorned with Lustre's and Statues, 
 and the best paintings in Rome in the roof by Pietro di Cortona. The 
 young Chevalier Prince Charles was received in the stair-case by the Prince 
 Corsini and his Mother and conducted into the ball-room, when the Ball 
 began with the young Patricii, who advanced mighty well, as does her 
 Mother, who is under forty, still a pretty good dancer and much admired ; 
 the company did not part till about two in the morning ; the old Chevalier 
 St George, Prince Charles' father was there, he came at 8 o'clock and 
 stayed till 12. He was dressed in an olive-coloured velvet embroidered 
 with gold, and was a tall, thin, raw-boned man with a sallow complexion 
 and a pretty high nose, with a strong likeness of all the Stuart Family, 
 though upon other occasions we observed him have a melancholy cast ; he 
 that evening appeared very gay and well pleased, and seemed to be much 
 in conversation with the French Ambassador. 
 
 Jan. 5, 1737. — The Invitations during the Christmas holidays to dine 
 with a variety of Friends were innumerable it was a very difficult matter 
 to keep one free from intoxication, it gave however many opportunities of 
 making remarks upon the contending and prevailing parties. 
 
 Jan. 9. — There were then festivals and bonfires upon the election of a 
 new grand master of Malta, Mr Campbell and I walked through the City 
 of Rome to observe the rejoicings of that night then supped with Mr 
 Barclay and had the story of King Charles the II. who said "he was a fool 
 
1 1 6 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 who was always drunk, and a knave who was always sober," also the story 
 of the reply of a Peasant to the Duke of Newcastle who threatened to shoot 
 the poor man and send him to Hell. " Take care, my Lord, if you do so, 
 for depend upon it I shall tell your uncle how you are spending his 
 Estate." 
 
 Jan. 14. — Made the tour round the walls of Rome with Mr Barclay, 
 Mr Hay of Drumellier and Mr Ramsay, we made it out in 4 hours, it is 
 said to be 16 Roman miles, which I take to be 12 Scotch miles, we had 
 concerted to meet all our friends to dine with them at the Medows near 
 the Reppetta. 
 
 Feb. 5. — There fell that day snow in good quantities in the streets of 
 Rome. 
 
 Feb. 23. — The first day of the Carnival, went to see the execution of 
 Justice (so called at Rome) upon the Abbe Count Trivilli who wrote a 
 satyr against the Pope and Camera, not near so bitter as are daily wrote in 
 our Public Papers against the King and the ministry. He had his head 
 cut off by a machine exactly like our maiden in Scotland, which has a 
 broad Ax loaded with a lead on the back, and is pulled by a rope and 
 pully up a large timber slide six or eight feet high, there is a block below 
 on which the criminal's head is fixed by his neck, then the executioner 
 when the maiden is pulled up and the rope fastened below, and the 
 criminal placed, he with a small ax cuts the rope, and in an instant his 
 head is separated from the Body. This machine was invented in Scotland 
 as it is said by the Regent the Earl of Morton in Queen Mary's time ; and 
 what was remarkable after the Regent was condemned for treason he was 
 the first that was beheaded by it. Mr Ramsay and I were so placed in a 
 window so near, that we saw the whole of this tragedy, the Priest took the 
 gentleman often backwards and forwards into a bye room to make him 
 discover his accomplices, and to renounce what he had wrote, neither of 
 which he would do. He was not allowed to speak to the People who were 
 very numerously assembled and an infinite number of ladies and gentle- 
 men in windows. We were told by some who were very near him that he 
 thought he got very hard Justice ; he died with the greatest resolution and 
 firmness and appeared to us from the windows to be a man of a tall fine 
 person and looked very like a gentleman, everybody seemed to be very 
 sorry for his fate. But as we say in Scotland, it may be said here of the 
 Pope and the Priests " Beware to attack the De'il and the Laird's bairns." 
 Mr Camillo dined with us that day and afterwards we went to see the 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 1 1 7 
 
 Procession of Masks, Ladies, Princes, Counts, &c., &c., thro' the long street 
 of the Corso ; Prince Angelloti made the best appearance ; we afterwards 
 saw the races by the horses upon whom nobody rides ; the horses were 
 eight Barbes with spurs gUttering on their backs, which when they are let 
 loose to run a mile of Stretch alongst the long straight street of the Corso 
 from the Porto del Poppolo to the Capitol, lined with coaches on every 
 side, the horses run between, galled on their backs with these spurs ; their 
 speed and their emulation is incredible ; the horse who reaches first to the 
 bottom of the Capitol wins the race, the Prize is a large web of Velvet, 
 silver or gold Brocade which is delivered to the owner of the Horse, one of 
 the Princes or chief Citizens of Rome commonly. This was won by Prince 
 Collonna which we saw. 
 
 Feb. 28. — Went to the Opera with Mr Barclay's governor who was of 
 his name, a worthy old man I knew formerly in Scotland. Here we saw 
 the Duke of Berwick with the Chevalier and his two sons the young 
 Princes. 
 
 March 4. — That evening saw the Corso, where the Chevalier was in the 
 Duke de Tiano's coach. Cardinal Corsini the Patron of Britain gave a 
 great festival this evening. 
 
 March 5. — The last Corso of the Masquerades, and the Carnival, which 
 is now at an end having lasted ten days, went lastly to the Opera which 
 ended with an Allegria and universal Huzza. 
 
 March 16. — Mr Ramsay having invited us all on Sunday the i6th to 
 dine at his Room most of the gentlemen I had lived with in habitudes of 
 friendship while at Rome were present and particularly the old Earl of 
 Winton. As I was to set out the next day the 17th being Monday, we 
 supped with Mr Ramsay and were very merry till the hour of parting 
 came, when friendly sensations arose which affected them all as well as me 
 a good deal. 
 
 It is to be remarked that I had just been five months at Rome all but 
 ten days, and my whole expence since I came to that city, including Music 
 masters, and all the things I bought (pictures, prints, seals, &c.) cost me 
 about £1^, does not in the whole exceed £\oo. I spent my time very 
 agreeably and at the same time had more instruction than in any five 
 months of my life past. 
 
 March 17. — Having engaged with a Voiturin to carry myself and Josua 
 Hay my servant and all my Baggage for 40 Crowns to Milan, furnishing 
 us one Repast per day and Lodgings with the liberty of staying three days 
 
r 1 8 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 in any place I liked best . . . We set out from Rome by the way of the 
 Appenine Hills. 
 
 The gloominess of the weather made the scenes somewhat melancholy 
 especially after parting with so many merry friends. My servant Josua 
 as well as myself was inclined to taciturnity which was not a little increased 
 by the badness of the wind, the sorry condition of the Inns and the 
 melancholy look of the women counting their Beads everywhere as we 
 passed along, served much to encrease the scene. I received, however, 
 always consolation and entertainment from the books I carried along with 
 me, and the using myself to draw the Caricatures of the people I saw with 
 my black lead pencil upon the white walled houses where we put up. 
 
 March 19. — We arrived at night at Narni; where we were well lodged, 
 it is a Romantic situation among hills and deep glens with falls of water 
 and one very considerable Cascade well known, we got excellent figs here 
 for a halfpenny a pound. 
 
 March 23. — The lodgings and eating at Tolentina in every respect 
 good, the house was built for a Cardinal for his Palace, but he soon after 
 died; and now it is made a Hosteria or Public Inn for travellers; the 
 People of this Country of the female sex all dressed in red, yellow, green, 
 or blue with a white vail which comes down their back all fringed and is 
 generally very coarse as may be seen by the drawings in my original 
 journal, where you'll find it observed that the women here may be said 
 to wear their aprons on their backsides instead of their bellies. From 
 Macerata to Recanate the next town, the road was full of Pilgrims, beggars, 
 or Priests, and old women saying their prayers and mumbling over their 
 beads. 
 
 March 24 and 25. — Arrived at Loretto, being the Feast of the Annun- 
 ciation, the Functione at the Santa Casa was very grand, the Bishops 
 performed high Mass in the Holy house itself, where they pretend our 
 Saviour was born of the Virgin Mary ; it is very homely in the inside of 
 the walls but filled at the top with silver lamps of great value, they pretend 
 it came from Bethelem over the seas to this place wafted by angels and 
 fixed to remain here for ever. The image of the Virgin with the young 
 Jesus is about the bigness of a large girl of 10 or 12 years old. The 
 Diamonds, emeralds and Rubies that adorn this image before which in- 
 numerable silver lamps filled with oil are constantly burning shew by their 
 Lustre that they are inexpressibly rich. 
 
 The Church of the Sancta Casa and Monastery of the Monks who have 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 1 1 9 
 
 the charge of it, are defended by a fortification all round them to preserve 
 them in all events ; the Pope likewise pays for the Troops or guards 
 necessary and they have also a suitable armoury. 
 
 March 27. — The landlord at Rimini told me that the people of St 
 Marino were still as jealous of their liberties as ever, and by way of sneer 
 said, there were no nobility there ; for the Doso who was the principal 
 man of the state was one that held his own plough. 
 
 About two miles from the Ancient Bridge of Rimini we passed another 
 bridge over the Rubicon where I perceived the monument and inscription 
 which relates to the history of Julius Ceesar. I asked the people of the 
 country what it was, they said it was the monument which Caesar left when 
 he passed the river with his army, and immediately after the River flowed 
 with Blood. A countryman said there was a great treasure below that 
 monument but that the Devil hindered everybody to come at it. 
 
 March 28. — Forli. This morning I walked through the town being 
 market day, and was much diverted to see how the dress of the country 
 people differs over Italy, that among the women is curious, at Loretto they 
 were all blue, red, yellow, and green, here they were all black, white, or 
 plain colour, the better sort walked the streets with plaids of black silk, 
 like the shape of the Scots plaids, and they turn them over their arms so ; 
 though not so genteely as our young Ladies do. 
 
 The cows and young heifers are made to draw all their draughts, they 
 are all white and their swine are all red, the oxen are not larger than 
 the Brechiners in Scotland. 
 
 As we came near Bologna, I made a little sketch of the dress of the 
 young girls hastily, they wear little hats on the side of their heads much in 
 the manner as Harlequin does. 
 
 April 2. — At Parma, they were just shutting the gates of the city 
 yesternight when we came in ; they shut at 24 hours, which is always in 
 Italy about half-an-hour after sunset, for they divide the day light to form 
 their hours, and midday shifts back in every 15 days a quarter of an hour 
 in the summer half year, and goes forward a quarter of an hour in the 
 winter half year. Left Parma at 1 1 o'clock yesterday and passed out at 
 the gate where three years ago the great battle was fought in which so 
 many men fell, the Germans had the ground on the left, the French that 
 on the right, the long causeway, which has a ditch on both sides, and 
 reaches five miles to the Bridge on the river, parted the two Armies ; they 
 plied on both sides of the road for the whole five miles with musket and 
 
I20 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 canon shot, it began about the middle in the morning early and lasted till 
 four hours after sunset, there fell that day twenty thousand men, counting 
 the loss on both sides ; the French continued masters of the field, but they 
 gained no ground in the engagement ; it was remarkable to see the trees 
 and bushes on every side of the road for five miles all shattered with the 
 musket shot in their branches and bark, likewise the impression of balls on 
 the farm houses are numerous and very evident. 
 
 April g. — The entrance to Turin is very magnificent, where we arrived 
 this day. The preparations for the solemnity of the King's marriage were 
 inexpressibly magnificent. She is sister to the Duke of Lorrain, soon 
 after Emperor of Germany, and highly esteemed for her beauty as well as 
 her noble qualifications. The King was married before while Duke of 
 Saxony, but this being the first married Queen of Sardinia, a suitable 
 proportion of magnificence is to be seen. 
 
 I was a good deal surprised to find the gentlemen who dined at the 
 public ordinary canvassing the story of Captain Porteous, and the bold 
 insurrection in the city of Edinburgh from a conspiracy among a few 
 undaunted persons who took the Captain out of Jail and hanged him in 
 the Public streets in opposition to the orders from Government, who pro- 
 posed to pardon him for the crime of ordering his soldiers to fire among 
 the multitude, who happened to throw some stones at him while he 
 guarded the execution of a criminal condemned by the Law for Smugling, 
 and where several persons were killed by the shots from the soldiers. 
 
 April 13. — The Marquis de Castello carried me out this afternoon, 
 being Saturday, to see the arrival of the King and his young Queen at the 
 Palace of Venesi, where she arrived that evening along with the King, who 
 had passed over the Alps to meet her at the foot of them on the side of 
 Savoy. 
 
 The looks of the Queen were very engaging, who, upon her arrival, was 
 handed in from her coach by the King into the Palace, where all the 
 Court, and I among the rest, were all ready to receive her, she seemed 
 extremely affable to everybody. Her dress was a long green flowing Robe, 
 adorned with rich flowers of gold Brocade, her train carried by little pages 
 richly dressed, and her air in general was very noble and graceful, and she 
 seemed to be possessed of more beauty than I had ever seen at any of the 
 Courts of Europe in my travels ; the Marquis Dormeo, the first Minister, 
 made his address to her very soon after the Marquis de Suza had kissed 
 her hand, being the first officer of the Court, then the young Prince of 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 121 
 
 Savoy was brought to her, and she received him very tenderly. It was a 
 charming sight to observe this Domestic love commence so warmly at the 
 first interview. I observed the old Ladies of the Bedchamber, at whose 
 back I stood with the Marquis, cry for joy upon the arrival of the Queen — 
 they had formerly served in that capacity to the King's Duchess of Savoy, 
 the mother of the young family — and being restored to their places as 
 servants to the more exalted rank of a Queen — the Marquis and I could 
 not help expressing to these old Ladies our high approbation of their 
 feelings and shewing them some few sympathetic tears which dropt from 
 our eyes on this interesting occasion. The King seemed to have all the 
 contentment of a country gentleman returned to his fields from the town 
 (for this was his country Palace), where that evening everything shone in 
 the highest lustre. Most of those who were about the King were Officers, 
 no Priests did I see. The King, upon the Queen's retiring with the Ladies 
 of her Court to dress in her apartments for supper, called aside from the 
 circle the Marquis Dormeo, his first Minister and Secretary of State, to a 
 sort of Bow window, where the Secretary seemed to present to the King 
 several papers of the State, which the King seemed to read over with great 
 care, and I saw him return them to his Secretary. 
 
 The gardens, orangeries, and stables at this Palace are noble and in 
 great good order. 
 
 There are 200 horses one-fourth whereof are English are constantly 
 kept here. 
 
 The preparations for the grand entry of the Queen into the City of 
 Turin are immense. Every night the Palace is lighted it would cost for 
 wax and oil near ;^300 sterling. 
 
 Turin is not an expensive place, for for a crown or six shillings a day 
 you will live full as well as you will do for double that sum in London or 
 Paris. 
 
 April 16. — We set out early in the morning from Novalese in order to 
 pass the snow on Mount Cenis. 
 
 We first mounted for four miles on the mules, on the south side and 
 had little or no snow, but when we came to reach the top which is about 
 half way of the summit we came to a plain which was four miles in length 
 and covered with deep snow but bore at top very well ; we observed the 
 great Mount Cenis on our right, soaring among the clouds and covered 
 with snow. At length we left the mules and were conducted down the 
 north side of the Hills among the snow by means of a machine or hurdle, 
 
 Q 
 
122 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 sliding gradually down, a peasant sitting upon the fore part of it dextru- 
 ously managing the machine by striking a pole into the snow, he conveyed 
 us at length safely to the landing place, he told me he had passed the King 
 a few days ago in that manner in his way to meet his Queen and said he 
 had given him a luisd'or ; it appears a terrible affair at first when you enter 
 into the hurdle and sees the Precipices before you that you are to pass, but 
 there is no danger in it, as they manage so well. Our chaise was taken to 
 pieces and put upon mules which from the south side went by several 
 winding roads till after a considerable time they brought the whole parts of 
 the Chaise and Horses unto the foot of the hill upon the north side where 
 they were all put in order again after the expedition of sHding was over 
 we were put upon mules again to convey us to the place where we were to 
 dine which was Lausleburg. There are many wild animals upon the Alps 
 particularly the Marmot which they say are good food at some seasons. 
 The people told us which we could scarce believe that there were lions on 
 the sides of those hills next to Geneva (!) 
 
 April 17. — From Bramont descended the whole way to where we lodged 
 at night in Chambery. The roads hereabouts are all upon the sides of the 
 Hills supported with wood or stone. General Wade has copied this method 
 in making the military roads in the Highlands of Scotland. In my written 
 notes I find there are two little drawings, the first is the invention of a 
 shovel and blowing bellows, in one piece made here at Chamberry the time 
 of the last war by the soldiers with their old gun barrels, this answers very 
 well, and has a strong power in blowing up the fire, the second is the figure 
 and dress of an inhabitant on the snowy mounts the dress is warm and 
 short waisted, admitting of their hands to be placed before their belly for 
 warmth and is very ingenious. 
 
 April 21. — Being Easter Sunday came to Lyons this morning. 
 
 April 22. — Went to St Foa to deliver a commission I had from Rome 
 to the Countess of Denbeigh. 
 
 The Earl and she lived very elegantly in the middle of a fine vineyard 
 three miles from Lyons. While I was there the Countess was consulted 
 by the Merchants of Lyons about some elegant new gold and silver stuffs 
 they were to make, of which she had given them Paterns she had made 
 with her own hand. 
 
 April 23. — Took the dilegence for Paris for which I was to pay a 
 hundred franks and six sous for baggage above 12 pounds weight, my 
 servant goes by water coach. 
 
Sir Alexander Dick's Travels 123 
 
 Upon my return to London in the month of May I waited upon Dr 
 Mead who was pleased to introduce me to Mr Pope the great Poet with 
 whom I dined at the Doctor's and had a long conversation with him. 
 
 The ancient picture I brought the Doctor which he called the " Court \ 
 of Augustus " was not forgot and which Mr Pope thought extremely ' 
 curious. I left with the Doctor my eight Latin lines I made as I came 
 along from Italy, 
 
 " Considet Augustus, prcecinctus tempora lauro, 
 Expulso reddit qui Diadema suum : 
 CcBsaris acta probat, munus tale illustre ferentis 
 Virtutis vindex imperiique decus 
 Percitus invidia stupet fixa manet 
 Ccesaris invicti laudes cut dicere fas est, 
 Carmina patrono et condere digna suo," 
 
 and which the Society of Antiquarians at Edinr. have got a copy of from 
 Camillo Padermi's work I have in my library, with my Latin lines and a 
 translation of the same." 
 
Chapter VIII. 
 
 An ingenious letter — Down the burn, Jessy, love — A garland — Allan 
 Ramsay's letters — Parson Smith — Study under Solimene the Painter 
 — Rural repose — Titorello's Water Colours — Tea and talk. 
 
 [1737— 1740.] 
 
Chapter VIII. 
 
 Although, from the description given of the life led in Rome, 
 it would not occur to the reader that Mr Alexander Cunyngham 
 was eating his heart out for the separation from " his dear young 
 wife," or for the parental displeasure at his secret marriage ; yet 
 he seems to have suffered certain qualms of conscience. For 
 disobedience, even at his age, was in those days a very serious 
 offence against a parent, as will be seen from the following 
 ingenious letter written to his father before leaving Rome : 
 
 March i8 1737 
 
 " Honoured Sir, — I wrote a long letter to my mother from Paris, in 
 which I thought I explain'd myself as a dutifull son and good Christian, 
 but a great part of a year has passed without my hearing the least word 
 from either of you. As I could attribute this to nothing else but the dis- 
 pleasure which my mother or you must have had with me for being so 
 obstinate as to marry contrary to your opinion and sincere advice, so I 
 thought it highly essential that some time should pass in which you might 
 have occasion to observe the prudent conduct and economy of my poor 
 wife in my absence, for I knew that frugality, virtue, and good sense were 
 so eminent qualities that they must necessarily recommend her to your 
 favour at length. 
 
 At the same time I heartily beg pardon of Almighty God and of both 
 my parents for all the fits of mad obstinacy I was in some days before I 
 left you, it certainly binds me down to a great deal of good behaviour in 
 times to come to atone for so much rudeness and presumption. Yet after 
 all that has happened I trust in God Almighty that it will double your joy 
 when you see your son again, to see him entirely tam'd of all his rudeness, 
 indignation, and oy' bad habits, and contrary to your fears a Daughter- 
 in-law careful, obedient, and frugal. I have thought over in my mind 
 many hundred times since I left you this subject, and have often admired 
 the love and affection you both show'd me with tears in my eyes — and am 
 
128 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 perfectly convinced that everything you said and did flow'd from your 
 paternal concern for me. Depend upon it I have now no greater joy 
 before me in this life than living peaceably and soberly the few years of 
 health and strength that remain after this present time of my age, and 
 nothing gives me any real satisfaction but what points to my being a last- 
 ing comfort to my mother and you as time draws on, which will at length 
 bring us all to a close, but I hope being so improved will happily prepare 
 us for a better state than this valley of Tears, where we shall never repent 
 our Harmony and Concord. 
 
 I have. Sir, had many Tryals of Fortune since I left you, but I admire 
 Providence in every one of them, for my mind had been long of coming to 
 a right frame had I not met with them. I need not trouble to a long 
 account of them, but two in particular went a little near my person. The 
 first was a robbery at Genoa by one of the banditts/ who would have 
 cut my throat or shot me if he had not got all the money I had, without 
 waking me in the night time.^ He is lately found and put in prison, but 
 not a sous can be recovered. 
 
 My next was in coming from Genoa to Leghorn in a felucca. 
 
 (Here follows an account of the shipwreck, with mention of 
 Parson Smith.) 
 
 This clergyman and I came on to Rome together, and have been over 
 all observing the grandeur and variety of Human glory, the particulars of 
 which would fill volumes, among other things he made very curious and 
 learn'd observations on the purity of the first centuries of the Church and 
 the places the Apostles were martyr'd and the Catacombs which we saw 
 where the Saints were buried. He made me observe the plainness and 
 decency of the Church of England and this — and gave good reasons why a 
 reform must inevitably happen soon here for the good of Christendom." 
 
 Then follows a reference to a business matter : money in the 
 
 Bank which he cannot get, owing to forms to be gone through. 
 
 And if it should please God I meet with any misfortune upon the road 
 or Dye before I see home you know that all I have is yours, but I hope I 
 shall not pay the Debt to Nature till I pay my Debts to you and my 
 Mother who I am afraid has forgot me. Depend upon it I have not forgot 
 her and have brought some things home with me that she will not be dis- 
 
 ^ The servant in ' green livery a very genteel fellow.' ^ ' Dear Dempster, when you go to bed.' 
 
A Conjugal Letter 
 
 129 
 
 pleased with. All I can say of myself since you brought me up to 
 manhood I have always endeavoured to do something for my parents 
 though it has never yet been in my power to do enough. I am very sure 
 of this that neither rioting, drunkeness, cards or dice have ever made me 
 give you any uneasiness, &c. 
 
 Farewell dear Sir, and may God Almighty preserve and bless my 
 Mother and you and tho' you should never allow me the pleasure of seeing 
 your Face any more 
 
 I shall still be y'^ ever affec'* & dutifuU Son, 
 
 Alex. Cuninghame. 
 
 I own my Heart is big just now but I hope in God it won't break till I 
 hear some news from you at Paris or at London." 
 
 It seems almost sacrilege to read what was intended for one 
 person only, and that a wife, but as we become more intimately 
 acquainted with these excellent people, into whose lives we are 
 enabled by means of their letters to look so closely, their joys 
 become our joys and their sorrows our sorrows, so that as they pass 
 along our little stage and one by one drop out, it seems as if we 
 also had lost a friend and a dearly loved acquaintance. 
 
 The following are the first letters which have been preserved 
 from Alexander to his wife. 
 
 To Mrs Cuninghame, Clermiston, near Edinburgh, 
 
 Milan, April 6, N.S., 1737. 
 
 My dearest Jessy, Love, Wife and everything else that is dear to me. 
 
 You may expect that by the time you read this I am more than half 
 way home being just now on my journey and at least four hundred miles 
 nearer you than when I was at Rome. I come over the Alps to the Tune 
 of the last time I came o'er the Moor I left my Love behind Me. I leave 
 you to sing the rest of it. No more over the Hill and far away, but down 
 the burn Jessy love and I will follow thee. 
 
 I vow to God I have not been merry since I left you till I set my face 
 homewards in hopes of seeing you.^ " I have often wished for the wings 
 
 ' He seems to have forgotten his " singing Scots Songs and being very merry ! " 
 
130 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 of a Dove to flye like lightning and perch upon your throne among the 
 Braes of Clermy where I might accidentally meet you with your Book in 
 your hand and pick round about the ground where you walk'd. 
 
 Dear Life I wrote a Letter to my Father and drew a Bill upon him 
 when I left Rome. God knows what the effect will be or if he will pay 
 my bill. I Vv'as straightend on all sides to get money to come home 
 else I would not have troubled him. I cannot yet get a farthing of Mr 
 Livingston's money ^ till the Courts meet at London but when I come there 
 God willing I will make it my first business to pay all my Debt tho' you 
 and I should have but a shilling a day to live upon it is not the first time we 
 have done so. I myself have spent but small matters in comparison of what 
 I should have done had I waited on the Law plea at London but the Law 
 I am afraid will cost me a good deal when I see the accounts, &c., &c., but 
 whatever be the consequence I resolve to have no debt and then we know 
 what we have independant of all mankind and can accomodate our manner 
 of living accordingly when I return. Keep all your little Rooms at Clermy 
 for us you know we have no other and I don't like any other company but 
 yours and Annie^ and our little Library. ... If he (Sandy Blythe) does not 
 thrive after all I have done for him I will turn farmer again for a second 
 time and hold my own plough as many an honest man does both here 
 and in England and you shall make the Cheese and the Butter as many a 
 heartsome housewife does always clean and neat and while she spins sings 
 her song and laughs at all the foolish cares of y^ World. This my Lamb 
 is what Kings and Queens covet but can never acquire. . . . 
 
 In the meantime do all you can that lys in your way to show all due 
 respect and complaisance to our Mother and Father Your prudent and 
 wise behaviour is all I now have to promote a reconciliation . . . 
 
 My dearest Life keep hearty and well for I shall never rest till I be at 
 Home and be yours for ever Sandy Cuninghame. 
 
 London June 29 1737 
 O ! what would I give my Dearest Jessy, my Sweetest Life, to be at 
 Clermy along with this Letter to thank you from the Bottom of my Soul 
 for y"" wise and prudent conduct in my Absence. By a letter which I 
 lately received I find the old people whose hearts were hard as the rocks 
 are at length melted into Friendship and real kindness for us both, but as 
 you know they have both their own peculiar way of doing things so my 
 
 ^ Payment of a sum of money over which there was litigation. 
 ^ Daughter of Allan Ramsay Sen^ 
 
Cupid's Garland 131 
 
 dearest, dont think it surprising that they dont all of a sudden declare 
 themselves publickly content with us. You shall see that come to pass 
 too whenever I return and depend upon it I will now hasten down upon 
 that very account, that you and I may concoct measures so as to live in 
 Harmony with them as much as possible. As a Testimony of what I write 
 I have by my Father and Mother's orders got £20 sterling sent me to pay 
 of any little debts I have and bring me down as soon as it is possible for 
 my Law plea to allow. 
 
 . . . Never fear my Lamb you see we are now worth at any rate fourty 
 pounds sf a year clear and when Livingston's money comes we will have 
 fourty pounds a year more w'' is fourscore so that if these good parents of 
 ours would make it up a hundred pounds neat and free we might live at 
 Edinburgh in great decency and I should delight to follow my profession 
 which would enable me to provide in all events in case you and I should 
 spread our Olive Branches round our Table which I forsee would be no 
 small Joy to the old people. . . . 
 
 I thank God every day of my Life for every step I have taken since I 
 first lov'd you since that all my Schemes Labours and toils will I hope 
 soon end in your real Joy and everlasting Delight. 
 
 Bring me O Bring me to these blisful Bowers 
 Which Jessy decks with ever blooming Flowers 
 Recall her pensive Mind from dangers past 
 Her Husband, Friend and Lover comes at Last. 
 
 The next letter is headed by an Etching of a Cupid carry- 
 ing A Garland of Flowers, and proceeds thus : — 
 
 A Garland Jessy a Garland ! dont you see one of my Boys has taken 
 wing and brought you a new years gift. . . . 
 
 Why dont you write me what advances you make in y' spinnet since 
 you know I love it I am sure you will not neglect it. 
 
 I saw yesterday a very melancholy scene pass by my windows. A 
 young woman drest in white satten in a mourning coach going to Tyburn 
 a little after followed a gentleman in Black in another mourning coach 
 going the same road. I asked what was their crimes. The young woman 
 declared before she was thrown of that her misfortunes were owing to her 
 parents who forct her to marry a gentleman she could not love which 
 oblig'd her to fly from his company and take to an abandoned Life and 
 
132 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 led her to be entic'd by the gentleman that was to be hanged with her to 
 rob another gentleman of ninety guineas which as they both were con- 
 cern'd in it they both sufifered punishment together. They say she would 
 have made a very good wife and behav'd very well if her parents would 
 have allow'd her to marry the man her affections were set on tho he may 
 not have been so rich as him she married. They were both thrown at one 
 time and they held their hands join'd together till Death seal'd their eyes 
 they held at the same time two pigeons which flew of when their hands 
 separate. Their crimes were great to be sure but it was very moving to 
 consider all the circumstances. . . . 
 
 Yours my Dearest as kind and loving and as well as you 
 
 could wish me Alex. Cuninghame. 
 
 There is now a change in the correspondence, which comes 
 from Allan Ramsay, author of " The Gentle Shepherd," and from 
 his son, the artist. The first letter is addressed to the Doctor, to 
 be left at 
 
 The Rain-bow Coffee House, 
 
 London. 
 
 It is from the pen of Allan Ramsay, senior, and dated 
 
 " Edin"^ June 28 1737 
 
 Dear Doctor 
 
 Why have you been so unkind as never to honour me 
 with a line since you came to Brittain. I would have paid my respects 
 sooner but was in hopes to have got all your Italian cracks sooner by word 
 of mouth. Deil tak a' Qurks of Law, say I that keeps you sae lang frae 
 Cross-de-orphine HilP and friends that lang to see ye, I have been in pain 
 for my poor Allan since ye left him, whae has he now to converse with but 
 un ho' saes ^ the seed of antichrist ; after he has laid by his pencill I see 
 him dandering about lonely, with a great length of under lip, among the 
 antique ruins, striving to divert his melancholy while he thinks on his 
 separation from his good ff'riend. I begin already to weary sair and wish 
 for a Quick cerculation the ensuing year O Doctor ye dinna ken what it 
 is to be a father of ane only that has merit — but ther is a good time 
 coming. 
 
 We of Ed"" have been (as many of us think) sore handled about the 
 
 1 Corstorphine Hill, near Edinburgh. ^ One who sows. 
 
The Theatres Threatened 133 
 
 Raskall Porteous which makes ane unervasall grumble, but I am particu- 
 larly attacked by a certain act against our publick Theatres having a set 
 of players under my management I should be sory to see them driven to 
 Beggary now, when I had last year got a braw new House for them 
 
 Soon as this comes to hand get the act if printed or an exact coppy of 
 it in manuscript and send it to me with a short hint of the generall opinion 
 about it if a licence from the L** Chamberlane can be had and the method 
 of procuring it, or if the act puts it out of his power to grant one ; there is 
 likewise a new Play called the Projectors please if it be not too trouble- 
 some, to get two covers from some parliament man, to case it in and send 
 it to me — Happy the man that can live independant on his ain tho small 
 income and frae the leeside of that little Bield wrapt in his virtue can look 
 smiling on the contentions of the great and litle vulgar meditating all the 
 arts of throatcutting. 
 
 For as much as our honest Provost Wilson was slighted yet at this 
 present writing 5 o'clock tusday afternoon he dines at John Steel's with 
 great numbers of his friends gone to meet and welcome him and the 
 musick Bells are Playing exterordinary for Joy of his return. 
 
 God preserve you in health and chearfullness and send you soon hame 
 my wife has her humble respects to you. Command Sir humble Ser^ 
 
 Allan Ramsay 
 
 The next correspondent is Parson Smith, who writes to his 
 former companion from 
 
 "Siena August t\ 1737 " 
 
 He says : — 
 
 I doubt not in your passage through Stamford you was better informed 
 than I am in what scurvy manner I have been treated, the worst of such 
 usage is that it serves for an example to others when once a man is on the 
 ground every Ass will be kicking. The money that I told you I expected 
 to receive when you left Rome was not paid till this very day morning. 
 That had not Belloni and another person supplied me I know not in what 
 manner I could possibly have existed." 
 
 Of this matter we shall read more anon. 
 
 " Here is not an Englishman in the place except myself and Tom, he 
 poor fellow I think resembles the Pendulum of a Clock, You know it is 
 not quite the same with me I continued my master all the time I was in 
 
134 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Rome and I have now taken into the house a young Abbe who in truth 
 reads till he stupifies me." Etc etc. Signed 
 
 " Y' obedient humble servant 
 
 Benj. Smith. 
 
 " You will direct to me Gentilhomme Anglais chez Banquer a 
 
 Paris." 
 
 Apropos of this last letter, Allan Ramsay junior writes to his 
 friend, giving him an account of the work on which he is engaged, 
 and also telling unpleasant tales of Parson Smith, the godly clergy- 
 man, upon whose improving remarks Alexander laid so much stress 
 in his penitential epistle to his father. 
 
 " Naples Aug^' 2 1737 
 
 Dear Doctor. — Next to the happiness of actually being with our 
 friends in London it gives me the greatest pleasure to hear that it has 
 fallen to y'' share since it is never lost what a friend gets, and that you are 
 such to me it is not time now to doubt. I have had a thousand instances 
 of it which I reflect upon with infinite pleasure, as I do on the many 
 diverting hours I have enjoyed in your company not without flattering 
 myself with the like whenever fortune shall order our meeting. I presume 
 you have received before this time a letter I wrote you from Naples, so I 
 need not tell you the manner of my coming hither. I live vastly agreeably 
 ' having the best opportunity of studying under Solimene and when I have 
 any spare time I am always welcome to several English houses here 
 particularly Sir John Shadwell's which with the addition of the Consul's 
 family make a very pretty society of themselves. 
 
 I have done 6 portraits finished upon blew paper for them, which have 
 gained me great fame, and the approbation of Solimene, who has desired 
 ( me to do one for him. I have over and above been writing sonnets and 
 odes and epigrams with like success, so you may believe I am not lookt 
 upon here as a useless member of Society. 
 
 I am sorry to have no virtu to tell you off", but you may expect a long 
 dissertation when I return to Rome. 
 
 Solimene is employ'd to paint a hymeneal ceiling against the King's 
 marriage which is lookt for sometime next winter tho' it is not yet known 
 who is to be the bride. . . . 
 
 You must know after the most humane treatment on my side Parson 
 
The Land of Liberty and Roast Beef 135 
 
 Smith has behaved to me h'ke a birbo futulo as he is. Four months ago 
 when he was in great necessity and none of the EngHsh would assist him 
 he came to me and desired me in the most piteous manner to lend him 
 20 crowns, promising to repay me in a month w'^ I granted believing him 
 to be an honest unfortunate man. I never once mentioned it to him till 
 the day I went to Naples and then he told me his bills were not come, but 
 that in a day or two to take up money at Belloni to carry him to Sienna 
 and then he would remit me mine. After I had determined to stay at 
 Naples I wrote a very civil letter to him telling him I supposed he had got 
 the money he talked of and desired him to give it to Camillo who had at 
 that time had to lay out 12 crowns for me at Rome. 
 
 Instead of this he writes me a most impertinent letter, which I answered 
 to the full with the help of Mr Bristow. 
 
 Next post Sir Thomas Stradling writes to Mr Bristow how Smith had 
 gone off to Sienna en tres viauvaise odetire, after having borowed 150;^ 
 of an English man there who had got it left him in a legacy and a 100 
 crowns f' Belloni for which Parker stands accountable. I have sent Parson 
 Smith's letter to Belloni who has promised to see me pay'd as soon as 
 Smith's money comes. Mr Bristow brings along with him his own portrait 
 and two others of my drawing " 
 
 The rest of the letter is torn away, save the last line — 
 
 " my dear friend with what affection I am y" 
 
 Allan Ramsay jun' 
 
 Again, writing from 
 
 Rome Ap"" 5 1738 
 
 he says : — 
 
 " I should have answered your most agreeable letter sooner had I been 
 able to bring D"" Mead's commission to a point which has been protracted 
 by the tenders having broke his leg in the country, so that I was obliged 
 at last to ride 140 miles for an eclarcissement, but that I reckon una cosa di 
 niente to oblidge so worthy a gentleman. . . . 
 
 In ten days I hope to have the book delivered and to turn my nose 
 towards the land of liberty and roast beef /<?, dulcis amice, reviset, aim straw- 
 berry s si concedes et gooseberry prima. 
 
 There is one thing in y"" letter w*' I could wish alter'd, where you speak 
 of a Rural repose. Had you not better exert y'self where you are and 
 
136 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 where people make a great figure with half your capacity ? then send for 
 your Rib as I shall for mine and make a Clermiston at Richmond. A 
 proposito, was it well done to keep your marriage so long a secret from me, 
 who have always shared so sensibly in y"" happiness. 
 
 My Spouse tells me she has been to see her and that she makes many 
 complaints against me and threatens much scolding at meeting. I have 
 enclosed a little letter which I beg you may send in your first till such time 
 as I have an opportunity to make my defence in person. 
 
 Mr Torriens who is to travel as far as Lyons with me desires to be 
 remembered to you in the kindest manner. 
 
 We design to go to Venice where I shall see the works of Titian, Paul 
 Veronese &c. thence to Bologna where the school of the Carrachis as you 
 know is in the highest perfection, thence to Modena, Parma Milan and 
 Turin and over the Alps as hard as we can drive. Pray write me a scrawl 
 chez M Alex^- As to landscapes neither Camillo nor I have done any, 
 but I have bespoke 2 in watercolours of Titorello who does them prodi- 
 geously well in that way and has promised to exert himself to please me, 
 these I shall put into D' Mead's book when I get it and beg you may 
 honor them with a place in your villa till such time as better shall be 
 found. 
 
 I have sent by sea with my other things several pieces of antique terra 
 cotta, such as lamps, masques &c. and one Tuscan vase w*^ is of a mighty 
 pretty form such as they used in the Sacrifices and quite entire. 
 
 Walking Smith alias Ben &c. is I believe at Venice and has pay'd me 
 my money. . . My humble service to Mr Mallet D"" Forbes and D"" Ross 
 and all lovers of common sense and the Virtu to whom I have the honor 
 to be known whether they be English or Scotch Jews or Gentiles 
 Tros Tyriusque mihi nulla discrimine agetur 
 Scilicet uni cequus virtuti atque ejus amicis. 
 
 My dear Doctor addio I long to embrace you and am ever most 
 afifec^'y yours ALLAN Ramsay jun"" 
 
 From Allan Ramsay Sen*" 
 
 Dear Doctor 
 
 I received yours with much pleasure which brought me acc' of 
 y' health and happiness May you and spouse never meet with a diminu- 
 tion but increase in all the good senses that the word will bear, next day 
 after I had yours I payd a visit to your sister Dick who had by the same 
 
Wars and Weather prevent Matrimony 137 
 
 post a Letter from Mrs Cuninghame we were very blyth over our tea and 
 comparing our notes. I understand she is resolved to see you against 
 beginning of June next if some suitable cast of a Help-mate between and 
 that time do not o'er bid you in the Matriamonial way, however you have a 
 great many to one on your side at present for these rumours of wars and 
 this hard frost and snow seems to keep back marriages in this place bitterly 
 and as you well observe Judgements follow the ingratitude and stupid 
 politick of our Leaders who causeth the people to err. 
 
 Well it is extremely cold and has been for a month past. I shall take 
 care to send you the Magazine desired. 
 
 Your own native goodness and knowlege of my son's Lazyness to 
 write must plead for what I cannot — that none can love and esteem you 
 more than he does that I am sure of he is in a fair and thriving way and 
 seems to have nothing against him as long as God grants him life and 
 health. — I am obliged to my two Daughters for frequent accounts of his 
 and their welfare for even to me he writes but seldom. 
 
 There is nothing has happened remarkable in this poor Town worth 
 writing about — you see the coffee houses cramd with a parcell of half 
 witted politicians grumbling for want of news and half broken Tradesmen 
 cursing the scarcity of cash, the Idle half witted Beaux confounding the 
 . . . who laid them their winter fire — none are satisfied, the chiels that 
 seem most easy are these same Demoecritans you notice who ken that ther 
 is no such thing as perfect Satisfaction and e'en quietly make the best of 
 an ill bargain and laugh at the Lave ^ that take the pet at their potage be- 
 cause they canna get AQUAVIT/E to them. I wad fain shoulder myself 
 amang this class, and follow your example and let the wretched make 
 themselves still more wretched by disregarding of what they can really 
 possess by running themselves out of breath after what they may never 
 reach. 
 
 I shall take possession of my Castle Bank retirement^ against Whit- 
 sunday next, having sett of my house at Cross, where I design to live as 
 philosophicaly as I can and engage in as few cares as possible that the 
 evening of my days may set with health and joys. 
 
 I shall hope when you have made a proper compitancy you will again 
 return to your native Braes and gives all your History by word of mouth. 
 Yes 1 hope to live to hear it. All friends are well — only my wife has had 
 a right feverish cold lately but is some better 
 
 ^ Rest. ^ His house on the Castle rock above the Princes Street Gardens. 
 
 S 
 
138 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Mess''^ Cooper and Crossman, &c., are all well, my humble respects to 
 your Lady with my wife's and Daughters praying for health and 
 welfare I am etc etc Allan Ramsay 
 
 E'''' J any 23 1740 
 
 This letter is addressed — 
 
 Mr Alex Cuninghame 
 
 Doctor of Medicine at 
 
 Pembroke South Wales 
 
 where he was then residing. 
 
 Most of Allan's letters are written upon foolscap paper of a 
 parchment make, and many have his initials "A. R." on the top 
 of the outside sheet. 
 
Chapter IX. 
 
 most Ancient Parson — The summit of Philosophy — Love's young 
 dream — A Penitent Letter — Our Brethren the old Brittons — On 
 Pembroke's plains — A family of O's — Prince Charlie at Holyrood 
 — My lady's cheque — The White Cockade — Penalties of rebellion — 
 Sir Archibald Primrose — Flight of Mr Strange — Verses by Allan 
 Ramsay junior. 
 
 [1740— 1755.] 
 
Chapter IX. 
 
 From London, "Aprile lo 1740," Allan Ramsay jun., writes: — 
 
 "Dear Doctor, — If your receipts are as efficacious as your letters 
 they are well worth the guineas that are given for them. Your last has 
 cured me of inhophobia ^ which I have long endeavoured to get the better 
 of in vain. I hope you will soon repeat the dose to prevent a relapse. 
 My dear Doctor without having further recourse to the Dispensary I am 
 extremely glad to hear of y"" health and prosperity, and above all to find 
 you preserve your gaiete de ceure in all climates. 
 
 Oninis Aristippum demit et color et status 
 Sectantem maj'ora, fere presentibus ceguum. 
 
 But it is no wonder to me to find you so at present who have known 
 you mecum tempus in ultimum deducte, this was worse than Wales Smithes 
 iudice and yet then you preserved your integrity. 
 
 Now it comes into my head to write about Job and Smith and first of 
 the first being the most Ancient Parson. You must know I have antici- 
 pated the Restoration perhaps half a century at the expense of 50 pounds 
 which I have payd Dr Wright for his fine picture, and I expect its arrival 
 in a few days. Camillo is very well and has done several copies of ancient 
 pictures for Dr Mead who with his household salutes you. We thank you 
 for your kind invitation to Annie. The greatest difficulty in the matter is my 
 wife's parting with her, which however she has got over in regard to her as 
 well as to you and Mrs Cunninghame because we are persuaded her health 
 will be the better of it. She shall set out some time next month as per 
 advice. We hope to have her place supplied by her sister C, but this 
 wants confirmation. 
 
 Be it known to you moreover that to us a son is born and we have called 
 
 * Allan Ramsay senr. speaks of his son "wandering about with great length of under lip" 
 for want of Sir Alexander's cheerful society, from which we may presume that the ailment of which 
 he was cured by this letter was something in the nature of hypochondria. 
 
142 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 his name Allan, hoping to hear the like from you. You tell me you make 
 money very fast by not being at home. I do the same but tis by never 
 being abroad. You hope that in otia tuta requires, I that I shall ride above 
 in cetera pene gemelli. I have put all your Vanlois and Soldis and Rosios 
 to flight and now play the first fiddle myself. 
 
 My wife and sister and young hopefuU join with me in their compli- 
 ments to Mrs Cunninghame and you. — I am, etc., etc., 
 
 Allan Ramsay. 
 
 From Allan Ramsay Sen'- 
 
 Edin' July 12 1740 
 
 Dear Doctor. — Yours with the enclosed came safe to hand last post 
 I received as I will ever with pleasure all accounts of y'' happiness. 
 
 Be it kend to you O Doctor that here from my quiet retirement and 
 from the sumit of Philosophy I look with pitty down on the mean spirited 
 toild hagridden God forsaken slaves to ambition, luxury and filthy lucre. 
 I assure you I will not accept of the Present of a Sceptre nor of a prime 
 minister's comission. I could not endure the flattery of these trifles that 
 the empty minds are so fond of, one that needs few things comes soonest 
 to his purpose however, some few cases must be imployed for the needful 
 and when they are imployed as yours are for the general Good of mankind 
 as well as your own private Benefite must give a double satisfaction, go 
 on and prosper, and soon as your Bark is freighted return with a fair wind 
 to your own native coast, all in good time 
 
 I thank you kindly for y"" care of my Annie make my grateful! acknow- 
 ledgements acceptable for the same to y"" Lady with my best wishes for the 
 stability of her Health and cheerfulness — neus from this place I ken little 
 worth your hearing, we are all gaping to learn the upshot of the present 
 publick hurly-burly with Spain, w'' never rob'd me of an hour's sleep. We 
 have at present as numberous a meeting of our greatest peers as has been 
 for many years past. We have had a very drouthy Summer — all kinds of 
 grain are high priced, but we have the promise of a good and early crop. 
 
 The little grass I had my cow eat up in a month's time but the good 
 natured Beast eats her winline of Bought Grass Hay and Draff with all 
 good humour imaginable gives her six pints dailie ^ three yellow pounds 
 weekly, my cocks crow and Hens lay with cheerfulness and civility. 
 
 ' One pint Scots = three pints imperial measure. 
 
Death of Sir William Cunyngham 143 
 
 I delivered the signed blank paper to your sister, who is extremely 
 well was in my house yesterday. 
 
 My rising family in London are all well and prospering as you would 
 wish. 
 
 My wife enjoys her health perfectly well in her new habitation as all 
 the rest of us do, Withall our kindest respects to you and your Lady I 
 am Dear Sir y"' most humble serv' and sicker friend 
 
 Allan Ramsay primus. 
 
 On Aug^' 14'^ 1740. Allan jun"^ again takes up his pen and 
 writes on the death of his friend's father, Sir William Cunyng- 
 ham of Prestonfield : — 
 " Dear Doctor. — 
 
 I heartily condole with you on the Death of the 
 venerable old gentleman tho' those things being the common and inevitable 
 lot of mankind cannot bring any surprise to a philosopher like you. It's 
 what we must all come to and after you have by your skill preserved the 
 insides of one half of England and I by mine the out, perhaps the best 
 side of the two Ita tamen restat quo Nuina devenit est arcus. Pulvis et 
 umbra sumus. 
 
 Where Hipocrates and Appelles S' Luke Ratclifif and Godfrey have 
 gone before us, with a numerous suite of Patients and pictures that have 
 come to an untimely end. 
 
 Now for the living, I hope Mrs Cuninghame is very well and that my 
 sister is likewise in a good way, because we have several good reasons for 
 wishing her to proceed homewards, one is the approaching bad weather, 
 another my wife is beginning to be sick again which makes her business 
 lonely and fatiguing to her without a help mate. 
 
 Therefore, with your permission we should be glad to have her set out 
 the first of next month by land to London, if a proper opportunity should 
 cast up, or if not to Bath with some careful! man either in chaise or a 
 horseback and whatever money she may have occasion for I beg you may 
 furnish her with, which shall be remitted upon the first notice. I had a 
 letter lately from Camillo, who sends his love to you, and knowing you to 
 be acquainted with Will Mossman desires you might speak to him about 
 70 crowns he is owing him, and has neither answered any letters he has 
 lately wrote to him upon the subject. If you can do anything in this to 
 
144 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 serve him it will be meritorious, for you know he is an honest young fellow, 
 and has met with several rubs in the same way, as witness Turnbull, who 
 owes him 1 5 pound, and I am afraid, poor man, will never be in a capacity 
 to pay him. I had before a very good opinion of Mossman and had deter- 
 mined to employ him to paint my mother in laws picture for my own 
 I house, but I shall wait the upshot of Camillo's 70 crowns. 1 hope to hear 
 1 from you by the first post, and am, with my best respects to Mrs Cuning- 
 hame, etc., etc., Allan Ramsay. 
 
 Love's young dream seems to have played very considerable 
 havoc in the Cunyngham family, for again a clandestine marriage 
 takes place, as will be seen from this letter, written by Mr Fer- 
 gusson of Caitlock, to Lady Cunyngham, anent his running away 
 with her daughter Janet. Possibly the proposed Protestant nun- 
 nery may have had something to do with the young ladies taking 
 the law into their own hands, although they all bear testimony to 
 the indulgence and great affection of their parents. 
 
 "Edinr. 30 August 1742. 
 Madam, — I Presume humbly by this to address myself to your Ladi- 
 ship and to own myself extreamly bleamable in inducing your Daughter 
 to make such a materiall step in her life as marriage without previously 
 obtaining your Ladiship's advice ; as you have always been one of the 
 most kind and indulgent parents to that young lady, who I must freely 
 own has been the sole object of my love and affection for a considerable 
 time. 
 
 I do most sincerely entreat your Ladiship wou'd continue that goodness 
 and gentleness which, according to my best Information, has been always 
 familiar to you, and suffer me in the way of this letter to acknowledge the 
 fault I stand guilty of, and allow me, when your Ladiship shall judge it a 
 fit and proper time to approach you, that I may there with openness and 
 candour beg your Ladiship's Pardon for my offence, great as it is, I 
 assure your Ladiship nothing could have moved me to take such an 
 undutifuU step, but that my fortune was so much unequall to your Daugh- 
 ter's merite, I was afraid lest my adresses should be frustrated, and the 
 Disappointment would have really quite defeated me and render'd my 
 
Sueing for Forgiveness 
 
 145 
 
 after Life extremely unhappy, since without her nothing in this world could 
 have given me the least comfort. 
 
 I understand that your Ladiship has been pleased to use my Dearest 
 Life, upon her marriage being discovered to you, with great tenderness and 
 mildness. Your acting such a kind and benevolent part towards her is 
 what she and I both shall ever entertain the most gratefuU sense of and 
 contribute all we can by our after conduct to deserve the countenance and 
 regard of such a worthy and waluable Lady. 
 
 And as I can take no rest in my mind while I am conscious to myself 
 I ly justly under your Ladiship's Displeasure, I took the liberty last week 
 to write a few lines humbly acknowledging my ffault, which Mr Nairn 
 intended to have waited on your Ladiship with, but as your indisposition 
 at the time he called prevented his having the pleasure of seeing you and 
 Delivering his message and also of conferring with you a little more fully 
 on the subject of it, I hope you will now Pardon my taking this way of 
 conveying my letter to your hand. If it has the smallest effect to incline 
 your Ladiship to favour me with your Countenance, which I now only 
 most ardently wish for as the greatest addition I can desire to my present 
 happy state, so great an act of Goodness must undoubtedly lay me under 
 the strongest Tyes of gratitude. 
 
 In all events permit me to assure your Ladiship from the Sincerity of 
 my Heart, that nothing earthly for the future shall be more my earnest 
 Study and Endeavour than to prove a Dutifull Husband to your Daughter 
 and make her live in the most comfortable way I can, who has Con- 
 descended to make me so happy, and in every other Respect in all time 
 coming to testify that with the Utmost Duty and Esteem 
 
 I am Madam 
 
 Your Ladiship's most obedient Humble Servant 
 
 Alex. Furgusson. 
 
 Again, old Allan, with his characteristic honesty and straight- 
 forwardness, writes in an amusing vein begging the Doctor to be 
 careful of the health of " our Brethren the old Brittons ! " Pitying 
 the poor "ffrench Body's starving among the German Hills," and 
 finally touching on the flinty-heartedness of the Dowager Lady at 
 Prestonfield, who held the purse-strings closer than he thought 
 warrantable. At the end he breaks into rhyme. 
 
 T 
 
146 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 "Ed"-, Nov^ 1 8th 1742 
 Dear Doctor, — Yours came safe to hand and glad I was to hear 
 of your Lady's Health and that you baith continue in your laudable 
 langing, Raxing and gawnting,^ for your Restoration, and ther is not 
 a wight in a' the Covenanted Land of Cakes wishes to see that day 
 more than I do, however, since your fate it is to be Exiles for while of 
 your Life make the best use ye can of your sojourning that (paper here 
 torn), be vigilant, be eydent,^ be prudent, be carefuU about the health 
 of our Brethren the old Brittons that they may all chearfuUy speak to 
 the Purpose and be fully convinced that the Nostrums Catholicmis and 
 Materia Medicas of a Learned Calledonian Physician are of more real 
 Benefit to Life than bursten Bags of filthy Lucre, however it is not 
 amiss that you should lay by a Modicum of the same Trash to Lend a 
 han to the Cape-stane ^ of your Bower of Clermiston where may ye 
 soon arrive to laugh out a lang life where I hope often to bear a Bob 
 with ye these mony gay years yet to come, for thanks to the Almighty 
 I ken naithing about eild yet,* and let me sound it in your Lug,^ 
 ther is not a cherl that wears a head Lives with more honour and 
 Independance than I do upon so litle, yet I have enough because 
 I think sae, wae be to the (following words illegible) that like the 
 Voracious Pikes worry up their harmless Betters and all to prop their 
 pride and luxery selfish, and covetous whose Dwarfish sauls the dirtyest 
 of vices leave no room for any humane or generous virtue. There must 
 
 be a Hell (Jeremiah, thou reasonest well, Tophet is prepared of old for ) 
 
 if it were only for the punishment of Princes and priests that oblige those 
 who have the ill fate to be their slaves, to ding an anithers horns out, lord 
 help the poor ff'rench Body's that are starving amang the German Hills 
 with naithing in them or on them is this a glorious way of Perishing for 
 the honour of their Grand Monarque and their Holy father of Rome. O 
 figh ! but mark their end, such shall be accurst their memory shall stink 
 and the Places they inhabit shall be happy when they ken them nae 
 mair — while the humane, Blyth and ingenious who shine a blessing to their 
 age like the first and best of men in the Golden Days, shall enjoy the true 
 sweets of Life by their virtues and after they have finished their course 
 ascend aloft like blazing stars leaving a long tract of light behind them. 
 Your Lady Mother is now bird alane, your sister Jenny is gone to the 
 
 ^ Reaching after and striving. ^ Diligent. ^ Cope-stone. 
 
 i.e. I know nothing about old age yet. ° Ear. 
 
The Reward of the Virtuous 147 
 
 country with her Galloway Jane about a fortnight ago, I went two days 
 since to see my Lady and told I had a letter from you I was kindly 
 received said she was glad to hear of your welfare, when I told her that 
 part of the contents of your letter, tuned much on your fonder and love to 
 your native countrey, she commended you for it, and we talkd much about 
 you, but not to the main purpose. I make no question but that she loves 
 you well but then I am not quite certain but she over loves to Hoard. 
 Will ye try to cox, wheedle, fleech, shoot letters at a venture tell her you 
 have two Brothers K' Baronets you are hers as well as they why should 
 ye be a wandering Jew more than them, when she can prevent it by only 
 settling a small annuity like .^^50 a year or so out of her Too much, 
 which with your own would set you above dependance — this as you please. 
 
 My family at London are all well as are my wife two Daughters and 
 grandson here who Joyn me in kindest wishes for health prosperity and all 
 thats blyth to you and your Lady. I thought to have put this under a 
 cover to Mr Campbell^ and left him to have sent it to you from London 
 but would not unless with your advice shall I do it next time to save 
 postage tell me ? I shall close with an Imitation of the sweet singer 
 which is that part of my letter which falls to your spouse's share. 
 
 " On Pembroke plains we pensive walk'd 
 
 when sighing we thought on 
 the gowanie parks and gowden Riggs 
 
 of our ain Clermiston. 
 Where now with spreading verdures crown'd 
 
 the plantings stoutly stand 
 the Thickets and the fencing Hedge 
 
 set there by our ain Hand. 
 
 When the Cauldwald'rians demand 
 
 frae us a . . . sang, 
 we find our pipes quite out of tune 
 
 and ilka note rins wrang. 
 How can we sing or laugh or Dance 
 
 sae far frae friday Height, 
 wher fforth frae Stirling to the Bass 
 
 with beautys chears the sight. 
 
 ^ Mr Campbell of Cawdor. 
 
148 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Where fleecy flocks and bearded gaits 
 
 frisk through the Whinny bloom ; 
 the Bees delight, which fills the air 
 
 with healthiest perfume. 
 Tho' fatness flows in fullest floods 
 
 'midst pork and Pudding here, 
 and pears and Peaches are as rife 
 
 as Dog-hips on the Brier." 
 
 The last verse is almost illegible, and the humour of what 
 remains is somewhat broad. He concludes : 
 
 "Again, with my Love and Service to you Both, 
 I am, Sir and Madam, 
 
 Your real friend and humble Servt, 
 
 Allan Ramsay. 
 
 P.S. — Just before I sealed up this Katie sang it twice over to the tune 
 of ' Will ye go to flanders my Mally-o,' and it does exactly. 
 
 From the same. 
 
 Edr. febr. 25 1744. 
 "After a long silence yours of febr. i ith on the 22nd came to hand and 
 gave me pleasure to hear that you were hale and well living. I wondered 
 much that I never heard of your receiving my Last with parodie on the 
 137 Psalm for that letter you mention never came to me .... I watna 
 if I be a right counsellor for you to advise with about your flitting, because 
 I am a party and prejudiced in favour of your design for the Love I 
 have to be now and then in your company and further I ever give my vote 
 for the quiet Philosphicall Life ; but the Question is if any of the sons of 
 Adam has so much of the courage and art to hit it as your humble servt. 
 I dare be Poor and can gar twenty shillings gang farrer some can twenty 
 pounds. 
 
 Well now this premised I think you are right to restore your self from 
 banishment and come back to the Bosom of your friends and countrey, 
 this I seriously think right tho' your Lady Mother should difl"er from me, 
 were I in her place your stipend should be at Least doubled and this I 
 told her with my usual laughing frankness, but poor woman she has a 
 
An Unwelcome Invasion 
 
 149 
 
 numerous family of about 18 O's, many of whom perhaps she thinks will 
 be litle better than cyphers if she do not help them to make a figure. 
 
 Make my regards for your Lady acceptable and tell her our grief can 
 neither bring again my dear wife nor her kind sister. 
 
 This world is freighted with wonders in store, 
 and we were sent to it to think and explore, 
 and when the due summons shall call us away 
 No more's to be said but contented obey. 
 My Lasses have their complements to you and Lady, we are all well 
 and merry, and I am. Sir, with all sincerity, etc., etc., 
 
 Allan Ramsay. 
 
 Old Allan Ramsay's peaceful life on the Castle Hill suffered a 
 somewhat sudden and rude invasion the year after the last letter 
 was penned. That this intrusion was peculiarly unwelcome there 
 can be no doubt, for though there is but slight reference to the 
 subject, he more than once expresses his sentiments on the 
 futility of the Stuart risings. As a rule, like others who valued 
 their peace, he lay low in matters political, said little, and wrote 
 nothing. 
 
 The following extract from the " London Evening Post of 
 Thursday, Oct. loth, 1745," describes what took place on that 
 occasion : — 
 
 " On Tuesday last about Four in the Afternoon, a small Party of the 
 Rebels under the Command of Cameron of Lochyell, possessed themselves 
 of a little House, belonging to Mr Allan Ramsay, situated near the North 
 Bank of the Castle hill, Edinburgh, and fired from thence with muskets 
 upon the Centenals at the Low Guard, where upon the Castle fired upon 
 them kill'd several and slightly wounded others, amongst whom their 
 Commander is one. At the same time several Cannon were fired upon the 
 High Town and Musket shot upon the Grass-Market, by which last One 
 Woman was wounded and no more Harm done : Thus this romantick 
 Attack upon the Castle issued to the Shame of the Rebels ; but to the 
 great disturbance of the innocent Inhabitants of the City, who were 
 thereby put into great Consternation and Confusion." 
 
150 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 The death of Sir Wm. Cunyngham occurred in 1740, two 
 years before Mr Fergusson of Caitloch took French leave and 
 married Miss Janet. Sir WilHam was succeeded by his eldest son 
 John, in the Baronetcy of Cunyngham or Cuninghame, his second 
 son William having already succeeded to the Baronetcy of Dick, 
 on the death of his grandfather, Sir James ; Sir William Dick 
 survived his father but a few years, and was succeeded by his 
 next brother, Doctor Alexander Cunyngham in 1746, who from 
 that time became Sir Alexander Dick. 
 
 Sir Alexander had been practising his profession in Pembroke- 
 shire, since his return from Italy ; but the rebellion under Prince 
 Charlie beginning in 1745, he felt it to be his duty to come and 
 live at Cameron, a house on the property of Prestonfield, where 
 his mother, then a very old lady, resided. The Highland army was 
 for a while encamped in the neighbouring village of Duddingston, 
 and he could not very well leave her alone in such disturbed times. 
 
 There is a singular silence in Sir Alexander's memoranda on 
 the events which then occurred, this in itself is curious, since, being 
 in politics a Whig, no suspicion was likely to fall upon him ; but 
 the reluctance to put down anything in writing is very evident, 
 and especially noteworthy in one personally acquainted with the 
 Prince and his immediate followers, who would naturally on that 
 account have all the more to say. 
 
 This silence marks very distinctly the insecurity that must 
 have been felt. There is, however, one little bit of evidence in 
 the accompanying receipt which is extremely significant. 
 
 The signature is that of Edward Murray, then acting Secretary 
 to the Prince. 
 
 The story has been handed down in the family that a fugitive 
 from the battle of Prestonpans, where Sir John Cope's army was 
 
•14 
 
A Secret Hiding Place 
 
 utterly routed in ten minutes by the Jacobites, found refuge in a 
 secret hiding-place behind the panel in the wall of the drawing- 
 room, where he was safely housed until able to make good his 
 escape. For, when Prince Charlie returned to Holy rood, his army, 
 as before mentioned, was encamped at Duddingston, within a few 
 fields of Prestonfield House, and all Scotland was in the hands of 
 his party. This hiding-place is still intact, the space being just 
 sufficient to allow of a man standing upright. The concealment 
 of the panel is completed by a picture hanging over the wood- 
 work, the walls elsewhere being hung with tapestry. 
 
 Annexed is a copy of the printed order which was issued by 
 Prince Charlie for the wearing of the White Cockade. 
 
 THE FOLLOWING ORDER IS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 AUTHORITY. 
 
 WHereas it is necessary for preserving the Regularity of our Army 
 that all Volunteers that have or may offer their Service to us join them- 
 selves to some Regiment of Foot or Horse, or Train of Artillery, so that 
 they may be mustered, paid, and do Duty alongst with them ; We therefore 
 hereby order all the said Volunteers already in our Service to join as afore- 
 said within forty-eight Hours after the Publication hereof, and such as shall 
 hereafter offer their service to us, are to join as aforesaid within forty-eight 
 Hours after their Arrival at our Army. 
 
 And we hereby prohibite and discharge, under our highest Displeasure, 
 any Person or Persons to wear Cockades, unless they be joined as said is, 
 or belong to the Conductors of our Baggage, Forage, Provisions, House- 
 hold, or other Branch of our service. 
 
 Given at our Palace of Holy -rood-house, the twenty-second Day of 
 October 1745. 
 
 Though the rebellion was quelled in 1746, the penalty was 
 paid by many a head, one of the number being that of Sir Alex- 
 
152 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 ander's first cousin, Sir Archibald Primrose, the eldest son of his 
 Aunt Lady Dunipace,^ a very gay young spark. He, with ten 
 others, was executed at Carlisle on the 15th November 1746, 
 leaving behind him seven daughters and one son, whose death 
 is recorded in a contemporary paper as having taken place in 
 Edinburgh on the 29th January 1747. As a rebel, his property 
 was of course confiscated, and his family were entirely dependent 
 on the bounty of their relatives. Sir Alexander, with his usual 
 generosity, appears to have taken the unfortunate children under 
 his especial charge, as will be seen by the following letter from 
 Lord Primrose, dated 
 
 " Edinr. 23 Sept. 1755. 
 The unhappy situation of Sir Arch. Primrose's children gives occasion 
 to my troubling you, that has been their best friend, to assure you that I 
 shall at all times be happy at any opportunity of joining you and your 
 brother in doing the children any good that leys in my power, and with 
 regard to them, allow me to put myself entirely under your discretion, who 
 understands their affairs so well, etc., etc. — I am, sir, your most humble 
 servant. Primrose. 
 
 Sir Alexander refers to this matter in his Diary, giving an 
 account of what was done in their behalf He says : 
 
 "My Lord Dalmeny the Earl of Roseberry's eldest son, my Brother 
 Sir John Cuninghame and I agreed to purchase the family estate of 
 Dunipace at the sale of the forfeiture before the Exchequer and had the 
 good fortune to clear betwixt 7000 and 8000 Scots Merks a-piece for the 
 behoof of the young ladies. . . . The Ladies themselves behaved exceed- 
 ingly well and merited the goodness of government who by the Earl of 
 Roseberry their cousin's application for them have obtained genteel 
 pensions for those that were most necissitous." 
 
 These, however, were not the only friends in trouble, his 
 
 ^ The only letter from Lady Dunipace that has been preserved is to her nephew Sir William 
 Cunyngham. She writes to him from Polmaise, bidding him send a horse to fetch her away. 
 " It is a padd hors I wold hav as I ryed doubell." 
 
A Novel Retreat 153 
 
 brother-in-law Sir John Douglas of Kelhead spent some time, at 
 the expense of the Country, in the Tower of London, while Sir 
 Alexander acted a Father's part to his daughters ; and Mr, after- 
 wards Sir Robert Strange, who had married his cousin Miss 
 Lumsden, had to fly the country,^ Of both of these mention is 
 made in the correspondence yet to be recorded. 
 
 Dr Doran in his book entitled " London in Jacobite Times," 
 gives Denistoun as his authority for the following descrip- 
 tion of Robert Strange's escape from his pursuers, after the 
 battle of Culloden, where he had acted as "Moneyr" to Prince 
 Charlie and was also a gentleman of his Life Guards. 
 
 But first, to explain how this young man came to be there at 
 all, it must be recorded, that in 1 744 he fell head over ears in love 
 with bonnie Miss Isabella Lumsden. A piece of presumption on 
 his part, that lady being above him in birth and position, as he 
 was then a young and comparatively unknown artist and engraver. 
 
 She however seems to have taken the young man's adoration 
 kindly, but at the same time gave him to understand that no one 
 could be a lover of hers, who was not ready to fight for her Prince. 
 This, as her slave, he was ready and willing to do. 
 
 He escaped in the following manner. 
 
 " After Culloden he had a terrible game of hide and seek for his life, 
 and at last reached Edinburgh ; when, hotly pressed. Strange dashed into 
 the room, where his lady whose zeal had enlisted him in the fatal cause, 
 sat singing at her needlework, and failing other means of concealment, 
 was indebted to her prompt invention. As she quietly raised her hooped 
 gown, the affianced lover quickly disappeared beneath its ample contour ; 
 where thanks to her cool demeanour and unfaltering notes he lay unde- 
 tected while the rude and baffled soldiery ransacked the house." 
 
 * Robert Strange continued to reside in Edinburgh for some time after his marriage in 1747, but 
 becoming uneasy, he went abroad. There, as an artist, his works were more considered than his 
 politics. He was knighted by H.M. George III., whereas most of his compatriots were beheaded. 
 
 U 
 
154 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 While all Scotland was absorbed with the affairs of Prince 
 Charlie, England seemed to take but little notice of the agitation 
 which overflowed its border, if we may judge by the small space 
 allotted to Scotch news in the London papers of the day. A 
 paragraph of ten to twelve lines sufficed to tell what was doing, 
 although occasionally a little extra space was accorded for a skit 
 on the Highlanders, to bring them into contempt. Of these the 
 two following are an example. 
 
 London Evening Post of November 2 to November 5 1745. Amongst 
 the several Rejoicings upon His Majesties Birthday the following Procession 
 was made at Deptford, viz. 
 
 1. A Highlander in his proper Dress carrying on a Pole a Pair of 
 Wooden Shoes with this Motto 
 
 The Newest Make from Paris. 
 
 2. A Jesuit, in his proper Dress carrying on the Point of a long Flaming 
 Sword, a Banner with this Description in large Capitals 
 
 Inquisition, Flames and Damnation. 
 
 3. Two Capuchin Friars properly shaved, habited and accoutred with 
 Flogging Ropes, Beads, Crucifixes, etc. One of them bore on a high Pole 
 a Bell, Mass Book and Candles to curse the British Nation with, the other 
 carried a Standard with this Inscription 
 
 Indulgences Cheap as dirt 
 Murder ....... Ninepence. 
 
 Adultery 
 
 Reading the Bible 
 
 Fornication 
 
 Perjury 
 
 Rebellion 
 
 . Ninepence halfpenny. 
 A thousand pence. 
 Fourpence halfpenny farthing. 
 
 Nothing at all. 
 A reward or Drawback of Thirteen 
 pence halfpenny Scots Money. 
 
 4. The Pretender with a green Riband Nosegay of Thistles &c. riding 
 upon an Ass, supported by a Frenchman on the Right and a Spaniard on 
 the Left each dress'd to the height of the newest modes from Paris and 
 Madrid. 
 
The Highlanders Pedigree 155 
 
 5. The Pope riding upon his Bull. 
 
 The Procession was preceded and closed by all sorts of rough musick 
 and after a March round the Town the Pope and Pretender were in the 
 Evening committed to the Flames, according to custom, but not 'till they 
 had first been confess'd, absolv'd and purg'd with Holy Water by the 
 Jesuit. The several Actors play'd their part with great Drollery, and the 
 only Token of Affection to Popery which the Spectators gave was a 
 liberal Contribution to the Money boxes of the two Begging Friars. 
 
 "The Highlanders Pedigree." 
 
 Taken from the London Evening Post, Jan. i6, 1746. 
 
 " Cain the first Murd'rer when from Eden driven 
 And doom'd to wander by Decree of Heaven 
 Retir'd as we are told, to the Land of Nod 
 A Place, besure the farthermost from God : 
 Which makes some think Northwards his Course he bent 
 As far as Scotland e're he pitch'd his Tent ; 
 Where he a City built, of ancient Fame 
 Which he from Eden Edenburgh did name, 
 But thought the Highlands the more fertile Place 
 To propagate around his Murd'rous Race ; 
 Rebellion here with Treason, grew betimes, 
 Those Sons of Murder, with thousand other Crimes 
 Hence Royal Duncan in his Bed was slain 
 By false Macbeth, the Royal Power to gain ; 
 And Bothwell, bloody Minister of State 
 Made Darnly share the same unhappy Fate 
 And Charles the Martyr 'gainst you stands enroll'd 
 Whom Judas like, your Royal Master Sold 
 From these curs'd Seeds of Traytors sprung the Birth 
 Of Glencos, Glenbuckets, Ogilvies and Perth." 
 
 In place of a letter, Allan Ramsay junr., follows his father's 
 example and puts his sentiments into verse, after the fashion of 
 
156 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 the day ; these, though not touching on any of the events alluded 
 to above, are inserted here for the sake of continuing as nearly as 
 possible the sequence of dates. 
 
 They are in manuscript of his own writing. 
 
 "A CONVENIENT PLACE TO DESERT TO." 
 By A. Ramsay Junr. 1745. 
 
 I. 
 
 Yet craves not lofty Rooms my heart 
 Where fire and froi and a desert 
 
 Await the pampering train ; 
 Nor would I waste my youthfull age 
 To loll in splendid Equipage 
 
 The envy of the vain. 
 
 2. 
 
 Be mine a House tho clean but small 
 To pay no Window Tax at all 
 
 And temperate my Board ; 
 No poysonous Draughts that fiends convey 
 To kill the night and damn the day 
 
 Its cellar should afford. 
 
 3- 
 
 But there I'd pass the careless hour 
 Now gay now serious, never soar 
 
 And Enjoy with sense and Rest ; 
 Far from the Isipid vulgar crew 
 A Book or such a friend as you 
 
 Most stoically blest. 
 
Chapter X. 
 
 The old lady on the other side of the town — Her Letter — A country 
 house Visit — Haunch Hoops and Cobweb Capuchins — Sir R. gone to 
 y* Divel — Allan Ramsay pays a Visit — His son writes from Italy — 
 Mr Ramsay's Poems — Verses in Old Scots — Lady Dick's invitation. 
 
 [1742-1755] 
 
Chapter X. 
 
 There is but one letter from Sir William Dick after he succeeded, 
 written to his brother Alexander on January 6th 1742 from Cor- 
 storphine, in which he says 
 
 " Im very glade to understand that you have got quite free of your 
 fever it is a disease that has been verie common here and has often proved 
 mortal and indeed our family has not escap'd the Dismal effects of it for 
 our poor sister Douglas was snatch'd away by it in a very few days illness. 
 You may believe her Death was as great greef to us all here as it is an 
 ireparible loss to Sir John and his young family. The rest of your 
 Friends in this County are all well for my own part I have had a visit this 
 winter from my old Acquentance the Gout w'^ has had no other bad 
 effect than to make me change the colour of my Wine. Our brother Sir 
 John has not been in this country since you left. 
 
 The Old Lady ^ on the other side of the town is as you left her taking 
 what she can and parting with nothing. Their is no news in this place 
 worth y' attention. We expect great ones upon the sitting down of the 
 Parliament whether good or bad a little time will discover. When you 
 have leisure a line now and then will be very agreeable 
 
 D^ Brother 
 Y'* most affectionately 
 
 William Dick." 
 
 " The old Lady on the other side of the town," as Sir William 
 most disrespectfully styles his mother, writes to her son, Sir 
 John, on his marriage with Lady Betty Montgomerie, giving him, 
 as she truly says, the trouble of a great many scratches, for the 
 writing is exceedingly shaky, travelling up and down the paper so 
 as to be almost illegible. What can be made out, however, is 
 worth recording both for the wording and the spelling. 
 
 1 Lady Cunyngham of Prestonfield. 
 
i6o Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 The letter is directed to 
 " Barnot 
 
 Sir John Cuninghame 
 of Capringtoun 
 To the Caer of the post master 
 
 Kilmarnock 
 prestonfield July 20 1749 
 
 My 
 
 Daer John 
 
 My Anxiety for you makes me give you the trubl 
 of a great money scratches. You may be shour I wad have given Lady 
 Bette in return for her kind axoptance of my congratlarshon and welkem 
 her into my famely by her proper name of Cuninghame. You know why 
 I did not." Then follow some remarks on money matters of no interest. 
 
 " There is no Body expacks but Ladey Batey most go often to 
 Eglonten and you and her are expackted to do so with her brother 
 (illegible) altho you do not consell (illegible) marage it may loinger 
 
 I Ever Ame Your Varey Loving Mother 
 
 WhiF Janet Dick." 
 
 The old lady signs under her maiden name, which she retained 
 as heiress of Prestonfield. In reading the above it must be 
 remembered that she was married in 1696. The date of her birth 
 is not to be traced. 
 
 The next letter of congratulation is from Lord Eglinton, the 
 young Earl who was recommended not to marry an English lady, 
 to Sir John Cunyngham, on his marriage to the writer's sister. 
 It is dated London 24th July 1749. 
 
 "Dear Sir John, — I received yours of the 25th of last month only 
 last night you may be sure it gave me great pleasure to find two people I 
 have so great a regard for in so fair a way to make one another happy. 
 I suppose you expect a letter of compliment from me on this subject, but 
 as I am desperately bad at that sort of writing you must excuse me and 
 take my really wishing you and my sister all the happiness you propose 
 
 1 Whilom. 
 
A Country House Visit i6i 
 
 instead of all the fine things one of a better genius and less friendship 
 might say, so speed the Plow and believe me to be, 
 
 Dear Sir John, y"^ most afifec' brother and humble servant, 
 
 Eglintoun. 
 
 And lastly there is another from the same, dated 27th December 
 1 749, in which he says : 
 
 " My compliments to the Great Gast with a Merry Christmass and I am 
 glad to hear she is so fond of takeing a whisk to her bed after dinner, 
 sans ceremonie, — Votre tres humble, EGLINTOUN. 
 
 The following description of a country house visit is written to 
 Lady Dick, Sir Alexander's wife, by Mrs Mary Bowen, a former 
 friend and acquaintance, when Sir Alexander and she lived near 
 Pembroke. 
 
 feb'' 3 1750 
 
 Dear Madam, — I am quite asham'd and almost afraid to write to 
 your Ladyship, but I know you and often hear dear Lady Dick calling 
 me a most ungrateful Devil for not answering her kind and most oblidging 
 letter sooner but don't condemn me quite before heard as soon as I had 
 the pleasure of yours which I read with duble Joy having almost dispair'd 
 of that favour for which I was imediately going to thank y' Ld^P but 
 recollecting that we were under an engagement to go to Williamston for 
 a week I thought it would not be disagreeable if I should tell you how we 
 past our time there. Mr and Mrs Bowen of Upton and their little Lasses 
 went with us and four gentlemen and Lady's from Haverford came there 
 which fiU*^ the house we all stay'' a fortnight and wase very merry the 
 gen''men went ashooting all morning till dinner then we play cards till 
 supper after that chatt by the fireside till bed time and so every day." 
 
 Then follow news of the various young ladies of Pembroke, 
 
 and other small items. As usual the letter has a postscript. 
 
 P. S. — I had like forgott to assure your Ladyship that the Haunch 
 Hoops and cobweb capuchins is my perfect avertion." 
 
 Sir John Douglas, at that time a Member of Parliament, writes 
 
 from London on Feb. 6th, 1751, giving the following news. 
 
 " You have by this got y« acc' that Sir R and his slaves are all 
 
 X 
 
1 62 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 gone to ye Divil there is ye odest hubbub you can imagine a clean House 
 
 is expected and not only an alteration of men but measures. Sir R 
 
 takes refuge into y^ House of Peers under the title of Earl of Orford 
 Viscount Walpoole L"^ Haughton and his adultress daughter to take place 
 as a Earl's Daughter and y* King has scheld 4000^ of pension on him 
 during life how far this will stand good God knows. Duke of Argyle is 
 certainly to be gineralisimo and to have y* first Reg"' of Guards Master 
 of y* Ordinances : D. of Malborough y^ 2 Reg""' of Guards, Cobham 
 D of M Troop of Horse Guards, L"^ Stair the Reg"" of Blue Horse and to 
 go ambassador to Holland L'^ Willmington Chancelor of Exchequer. Car- 
 taret President of y^ Council D. of Newcastle L** L' of Irland L*^ Goar 
 and Chesterfield. 
 
 Isla discarded and stript, Tweddale and Marchmont, Ministers for Scot- 
 land, Craigie, L<^ Advocate, James Grahame, Junior Solliciter. God knows 
 all the alterations that are talked of I'm apt to believe no bodie can yet 
 tell who are to succeed, but one thing I can venter to assure you is that 
 Mr Polteny has refused all Employment, he will accept of nothing but 
 being a Privie Councelor, when it was ofiford to make him Chancelor of ye 
 Exchequer he said he was independant and would continue free, and that 
 the greatest honour he could ever receive was to be in ye House of Com- 
 mons and to keep a watchfull eye upon ye Liberty's of his felow-subjects 
 and to give his prince holsome and good advice and to tell him truth. If 
 he keeps up to this character (which I'm sure he will) he may justly be 
 syld ye Tutilar Angel of Britain. I shall from time to time let you know 
 what passes here. If things wer once upon such a footing as I could goe 
 down to Scotland, I mean our majaroty a Little more strengthened, I 
 could wish to be with my Dear Motherless Infants. There is my particular 
 care fixed, but at this criticall time I must think it my Duty to give my 
 country the preferance, etc., etc. — I ever am yours, J. Douglas. 
 
 Allan Ramsay junr. writes from Covent Garden, June 4th, 
 1752, with congratulations on the birth of a son and heir. 
 
 " Dear Sir Alexander, — Everything thrives at thrice, says the pro- 
 verb ; and I know not that I ever had it verify'd more to my satisfaction 
 than when I heard of y*^ son's birth. 
 
 I should rejoice at your joy, let the motive of it be what it would, but 
 doubly on this occasion as I am an utter and profess'd enemy to whatever 
 puts the happiness of family's in a precarious state by capriciously making 
 
The Palace on the Lake 163 
 
 property jump out of one channel into another ; often snatching it suddenly 
 from one family, to which by use it is become necessary, to bestow it upon 
 another which did not expect or perhaps stand in need of it. In short, 
 tho' an absolute Whig in my politicks, I am in private affairs a great friend 
 to the hereditary and indefeasible right of succession ; all entails and salick 
 laws to the contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 My wife, who, having attired herself in the jumps, has a fellow-feeling 
 of her own sort in Lady Dick's happy delivery, joins with me in her hearty 
 congratulations, who am ever Sir Alex, and Lady Dick's most affec"* and 
 most faithfuU servant, ALLAN RAMSAY. 
 
 From Allan Ramsay senr. 
 
 " Sir, — Our whole family at pennycuik go for E'''^ the midle of next 
 week, and are to be my near neigbours in the Castle-hill, Sir James ^ hav- 
 ing bought that house that belonged to Lord Semple, two of our young 
 Ladies have been in E*^"^ for eight days past to put things in order — 
 if it be not inconvenient I would ask the favour of your chaise against 
 Tuesday or Wednesday next to transport your old philosopher to your 
 palace on the Lake.^ Let not Jenny nor any els come along with the 
 machine to accompany me. I do not want it on a short day, and bad 
 road, but mainly Lady Dick is not at present to be Left a moment. God 
 send her the happy hour, and preserve you all from Thunder, Lightning, 
 and Earthquakes, sickness, and the mulligrubs. I am, Sir, your ever 
 obliged humble servant, ALLAN RAMSAY. 
 
 Pen'' friday 12'^ X^" i7SS-" 
 
 The following is a portion of a letter, the first sheet of which 
 is missing, which seems to have been indited to Lady Dick in 
 August of 1755. 
 
 . . . "the intervening Joke and early laugh goes round and now and 
 then we settle the affairs of the sputter like to be in the western world 
 between us and the grand-cheater of France we look down on the Divil the 
 pope and all the poor priest ridden Rascalls of Europe from the idiot that 
 pretends to govern to the laigh-simpleton ^ that is obliged to be a slave. 
 
 We concluded with a concert of vocal musick led on by Miss Jackie,* 
 who has one of the best and sweetest voices in Brittain, which was folowed 
 by a Dance which for dignity we shall call a Ball. 
 
 1 Sir James Clerk, Bart, of Pennicuik. ^ Duddingston. 
 
 * Low simpleton. Miss Clerk of Pennicuik. 
 
164 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 A few days after we had a match of the same kind at which Comis' 
 Smolet and Miss M'Cleghorn bore a part, all of a pice with the former. 
 
 My service to S"" Alex, and Love to Miss Jessy health and the happy 
 hour to your Self I am 
 
 Madam 
 
 Your Ladyships 
 
 Most humble & devoted Servant 
 
 Allan Ramsay. 
 
 From the same 
 
 We lost sight of the Sun for seven days after I had your last, along 
 with Jenny's, we were wrapt in thick mist the rain pourd in Torents and 
 roard from the Mountains earring all before them. Bridges, mill-dams, 
 trees and Rocks — all this with Bad accounts from Minorca fix'd us all in 
 Dumps within Doors — however the old brave Generall and your friend 
 Major Cuninghame appear in a most honourable light, while poltroons of 
 figure are and will be held in contempt while Briton has annals. 
 
 Well what am I doing, say ye I shall tell you now the weather being 
 fair and sweet, for as great a philosopher and lover of all the calm and 
 sociall virtues as I am I cannot help going along with aiding and abateing, 
 one of the greatest Hywaymen that has apeard in our Hemisphere, who 
 mentains a gang who leave not a Stone unturnd to carry on his Mechana- 
 tions. You may talk of your Johnny Armstrong and his eight score of 
 men, he was nothing to him, he has at his command and in pay many moe 
 visible and invisible, he has more than five score of the invisibles who 
 laugh at sun moon and stars if they can get a bawbee candle, these he 
 Cantons in the Neathrlands of the Kitle-purse and stinky who pudle in 
 deep caverns for the benefit of Auld-Reeky to gar her pots play and Jacks 
 jingle. Next his gang of visibles Horse and foot might be Regimented and 
 help well to lay the pride of France. Now what is most marvellous in 
 this same Highwayman he does not allow his gangs to pick any bodj^s 
 pocket but his own which they do to the tune of from five to eight pounds 
 every day. I begin to fancy that he has found out the philosopher's stone, 
 there is one part of it I am sure he knows for I have seen him turn a 
 metal (like a black stone mixt with iron and sulphur) into good gold and 
 silver. 
 
 The family here are all in good health there are few days that I do not 
 walk three or four miles and have good spirits. God send no worse to 
 
A Second Journey to Italy 165 
 
 Lady Dick I desire to hear good and blyth acc'= of her, to whom my best 
 and kindest respects — do not let her ly in Bed with her Head too high 
 they say its an enemie to sleep. My love to Miss Jessie and Daughter 
 Jenny let her write to me soon, with my wishes for your happiness I am 
 Sir y' hearty friend, &c., &c. ALLAN RAMSAY. 
 
 Mavisbank Aug^' 2 1756. 
 
 Allan's son the painter meanwhile has returned to Rome, from 
 which place he writes a description of his journey thither, which 
 tallies in many respects with his former one when accompanied by 
 Sir Alexander : — 
 
 " Rome Nov 12 1755 
 
 Dear Sir Alexander 
 
 I proposed making a return to your most welcome 
 letter long ago, but put it off from week to week, expecting a letter from 
 my sister which came not till within these few days and gives me the 
 agreeable news of your welfare and the happy situation of Lady Dick. 
 Long may your happiness continue and may we pass together the latter 
 hours of our life as pleasantly as we have done many of the former. This 
 immediately calls to my remembrance our journey into Italy of which this 
 last was so exact a resemblance in dates and circumstances that the com- 
 parison was a constant amusement to me and will be some amusement to 
 you when at meeting you hear it recounted, as we shall be able to do 
 pretty minutely, by the help of the journal which my wife has kept ever 
 since we left Edinburgh. 
 
 I shall only tell you here that when I came to Marseilles and found no 
 vessel of any sort ready to sail eastwards except a Tartane loaded with 
 wool packs for Antibes, I began to think the likeness betwixt the two 
 journeys rather too exact and that we should proceed to be robb'd at 
 Genoa and ship wreckt upon the coast of Tuscany. However by not 
 going into this enchanted bark, the spell was disolved. For after being 
 put off from day to day by contrary winds &c. on the fourth we set out in 
 chaises in company with other two gentlemen that happen'd to lodge in 
 the same inn with us. 
 
 And indeed own were not far upon the road before we had reason 
 to be thankful for the cross winds ; for it is not to be conceived how 
 beautifuU that part of Provence is which lies betwixt Marseilles and 
 
1 66 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Antibes. The valley of Aubaine which is encompass'd with high hills like 
 an amphitheatre is like one continual garden of Vines fruit trees and 
 flowering shrubs, and from Frejus to Cannes the road which was made for 
 the troops in the last war winds insensibly over prodigious high mountains^ 
 all cover'd with variety of wood. At Cannes we supped and lay in the 
 same rooms as last journey and next morning (the 4th) came to 
 Antibes, expecting to be an hour or two before the French courier, who 
 however came not till the morning following at day break. So we then 
 went on board the feluque, and next day in the afternoon enter'd the port 
 of Genoa. 
 
 On our landing we were ply'd by several Innkeepers, out of whom I 
 chose the Croce di Malte as being nearest the port, having forgot my 
 former acquaintance with it, but learnt next day from an old valet de place 
 whom we got as usual to conduct us, that it was the house where your 
 14 Louis d'or went to pot, and that the man was returned from the galley's 
 and at that time a corporal in the Guards. Having stay'd three days we 
 went on board another feluque, and having no Jonas of a Parson in 
 Company our voyage was most prosperous with most pleasant weather 
 and bright moonshine — so that when we were not asleep we could see the 
 coast as clearly almost by night as by day. 
 
 Next day we dined at Lericci in complaisance to the crew of the 
 feluque who wanted to see their wives en passant, and at night arrived at 
 Leghorn, our whole navigation along the coast from Antibes to Leghorn 
 being performed in three days and a half and we all the while extremely 
 well diverted, in which the second journey was more fortunate than the 
 first. The rest of our journey to Pisa Florence and Rome was conducted 
 in the same manner as the first except that finding ourselves very agree- 
 ably situated at Florence we stayed there two months. We lodged for a 
 month on our coming to Rome on the Monte della Trinita, in the lodgings 
 whilom possest by Walking Ben ^ of reverend memory, afterwards we 
 took a house and furnished it where we now live, upon the ridge of the 
 Mons Viminalio, from which we have a view of the most remarkable 
 places of Ancient Rome. 
 
 Our rooms are spacious and standing high and at a distance from the 
 Tiber, the air very wholesome. But that which chiefly recommends the 
 situation to me is its distance from the Piazza di Spagna, by which I am 
 enabled to seclude myself a good deal from the English travellers without 
 
 ' The Estrelles. - Parson Smith. 
 
Horace's Farm 
 
 167 
 
 falling out with any of them, and to preserve the greater part of my time 
 for painting, drawing and reading, which were I living in their neighbour- 
 hood would be altogether spent in dinners, suppers and jaunts. For the 
 health and amusement of my family and to fulfill the desire I had of 
 drawing some of the remarkable views, we lockt up our house and went 
 for three weeks to Tivoli and having by the means of a friend here pro- 
 cured apartments in the Villa d'Este, we passed our time most pleasantly 
 riding out almost every day upon asses to see the curiositys of nature and 
 antiquity with which the neighbourhood abounds. In the midst of this 
 leaving Katie at Tivoli to look after the child, my wife another English 
 lady and I set out on an expedition that lasted two days and a half, which 
 you or any man of elegant taste would have been glad to have partaken 
 of, and which we shall remember with pleasure as long as we live. This 
 was to go in search of Horace's farm in the Sabinia. 
 
 So we set out early one morning each upon our ass with a sumpter 
 ass frought with roast meat &c. 
 
 During the first day under a poplar by the side of the Anio and the 
 second by a fountain which I took for the fons Blaudusia, but was after- 
 wards led by a country man to one that still better answered the descrip- 
 tion of Horace. But the particulars of this jaunt and my observations 
 upon the ground compared to the passages that relate to it in the Poet I 
 will defer till I can communicate to you at the same time the plan of the 
 situation and some of the principal views, without which any description 
 by words must remain obscure and defective. 
 
 All my family have preserved an uninterrupted health since we set out 
 from Edinburgh, and my Daughter Amelia is very strong and sprightly 
 never ceasing to be oft" her feet, but without any appearance of teeth. 
 Having nothing very particular to say to my sister we shall put off writing 
 to her for some weeks, please tell her that I was vastly surprised to find 
 d that Davi^ Martin was only set out from Edinburgh at the time that I had 
 appointed for his arrival at Rome. It never can happen otherwise when 
 people are so silly as to deliberate about things in which they are totally 
 ignorant, instead of resigning themselves to those that are knowing and at 
 the same time have no interest in deceiving them. They have now 
 besides losing the boy 2 months out of 12, the most valuable in his life, 
 sent him a journey that whether by land or sea must be very disagreeable 
 and perhaps dangerous instead of that which would have been pleasant 
 improving and safe. 
 
1 68 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 " My wife joins with me in her kindest wishes etc. etc. When you see 
 Sandie Wedderburn present my kind service to him and tell him I shall 
 be extremely glad to hear from him and that he would send me at the 
 same time a copy of his friend Cox's song of the Blue bells of Ireland, 
 — I am ever etc. Allan Ramsay. 
 
 While the son was writing from Italy, old Allan, the Poet, 
 was also busy with his pen, as will be seen by the verses which 
 are here facsimiled from the original. These accompanied a gift 
 of two quarto volumes of his poetical works and verses written 
 in his own hand, which were presented to Sir Alexander Dick a 
 few years before the Poet passed to his long rest. 
 
 Sir Alexander tenders his acknowledgement in a few verses in 
 the same style. 
 
 "Verses in old Scots to Mr Allan Ramsay, senior, on his presenting 
 Sir Alexr. Dick with his two quarto volumes of his poetical works with 
 Verses wrote with his own hand to Sir Alexander a few years before his 
 death. 
 
 These three stanzas wrote by Sir Alexr. Dick to him." 
 
 I 
 
 Hail be your Heart auld Canty Cairlie, 
 Wha in your Time has rhim'd sai rairlie, 
 And with your we'll weld ^ words sai fairlie 
 
 Geen ^ Vice a Gouff ^ 
 As made the snarling Criticks hairly* 
 
 Nor dare, Yeouf yeouf.^ 
 
 1 "We'll weld" (weel waled) i.e. well chosen. 
 ^ " Geen" (gi'en) i.e. gave. 
 ^ "Gouff," a smart blow. 
 
 * " Hairly " from verb Hair, har, or hare to stir up, to frighten. 
 
 5 "Yeouf," i.e. bark. 
 
 The first verse may be translated thus — 
 
 Hail be your heart old cheery fellow. 
 Who in your time has rhymed so rarely, 
 And with your well chosen words so fairly 
 
 Gave Vice a blow 
 That made the snarling critics tremble 
 Nor dare bow wow. 
 
i^U^ ,^mA J^OJU f"^^-^ 
 
Lady Dick's Rhyme 
 
 169 
 
 2 
 
 Wha can your gentle shepherd hear, 
 where Nature's voice speaks out sai clear, 
 But feels his saul as we'lls his ear 
 
 Weel tund to pleasure, 
 when you bang up your pipes we steer 
 
 To your Scots measure. 
 
 3 
 
 Best thanks for your most kind propine ^ 
 of all your works, the sacred Nine 
 Have datit you in ilka line 
 
 which they direckit. 
 A Bony Lass said, you, lang syne, 
 
 Should be confeckit,^ 
 
 Lady Dick, not wishing to be outdone by her better-half, 
 puts her thanks into rhyme also, along with a most original 
 invitation — 
 
 " Dear Allan thanks to you and muse 
 Comes from myself and Knight my Spouse 
 For your kind canty cosh ^ Epistle 
 It warm'd my Heart and made me whistle 
 In spite of gloomy gloury weather 
 It made my soul as Light as Feather 
 Clapt Hold of Paper pen and Ink 
 To try my Hand if Rhime Cowed Clink 
 To tell you fairly my Best Reason 
 Was not that I had ought Aversion 
 For City Pastimes and Deversions 
 But that I have no mind to steal 
 And send poor trades folks to the Deil 
 Take aff Brau Cleathes Till goud in Purse 
 Can save me mony a heavy Curse 
 From Castle Hill to Nether Bou 
 Where folks most run the gauntlet now 
 
 * Gift. * Preserved in sugar. ' Homely, or kindly and familiar. 
 
 Y 
 
170 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Who Run in Debt to all they meet 
 
 And here there grumbling on the street 
 
 But ready money when it comes 
 
 Will make us all Rise from our Bums 
 
 With Haste to spread the Blessing Round 
 
 That is with Honest Plenty Ground 
 
 The winds may goul the floods may flow 
 
 But Peace of Mind they Ever know 
 
 Who from Contentment know true Blis 
 
 And envy no man what is His 
 
 Dispise the Luxury of towns 
 
 More upright Beaus than Down Right Clowns 
 
 Admire old farant Comon sense 
 
 Which Country Air and words Despence 
 
 But now I see the Blooming Spring 
 
 I see I feel it on the wing 
 
 Haste Balmie gales and April shours 
 
 And Deck my fields with all your flours 
 
 Mien time Dear Allan know a Goose 
 
 Well Feed and Roasted in the Juice 
 
 With onions Pepper time and sage 
 
 In Honour of the Last Years Stage 
 
 Is sacrifised on Thursday next 
 
 The Parson Comes the Hour is fixed 
 
 Then let us Drown all Care in Claret 
 
 My Knight expects you winna spare it." 
 
 The last communications to and from the old Poet have now 
 been recorded. No mention is made of his death in the Memor- 
 andum Book, but the life and u^orks of this quaint genius are so 
 v^ell described in an article written in The Times of 15th October 
 1 886, on the occasion of his Bicentenary that we venture to quote 
 one or two brief extracts here. 
 
 ..." The most popular poet of his time in his own country, 
 he was distinctly a poet of the people. Being his own publisher 
 he adopted the best means of securing for his productions a wide 
 
Allan Ramsay's Pedigree 
 
 171 
 
 circulation. He issued them as they were written at a cost of one 
 penny each broadsheet, and is thus entitled to the credit of having 
 inaugurated cheap Hterature. . . . 
 
 "His 'Gentle Shepherd' was reprinted in London and was 
 greatly admired by Pope and Gay, and other literary men of the 
 Metropolis. . . . 
 
 "In his later years, as in his prime, he counted among his 
 friends many of the leaders of Society in Edinburgh — such men 
 as Lord President Forbes, Lord Elibank, Sir Alexander Dick of 
 Prestonfield, Sir J. Clerk of Pennicuick and Lord Woodhouslea. 
 He died full of honour and of years in 1758." 
 
 There was, however, one sturdy ignorer of the Scottish 
 favourite. The reason of his being so is apparent from the 
 description Boswell gives of a conversation he held with Dr 
 Johnson. 
 
 " I spoke of Allan Ramsay's ' Gentle Shepherd ' in the Scottish 
 dialect, as the best pastoral that had ever been written ; not only 
 abounding with beautiful rural imagery and just pleasing sentiments, 
 but being a real picture of manners ; and I offered to teach Dr 
 Johnson to understand it. ' No, Sir,' said he, * I won't learn it. 
 You shall retain your superiority by my not knowing it.' " ^ 
 
 It is not very generally known that although Allan Ramsay 
 began life in very humble circumstances, he was by birth a 
 gentleman, his father being a younger son of Ramsay of Dal- 
 housie, and his mother Janet Douglas of Muthel. His father died 
 young, leaving his wife and infant son almost penniless. To 
 provide a home for herself and child, the widow shortly after 
 married a small bonnet laird, one David Crichton, who gave 
 Allan as good an education as he could afford, and then appren- 
 
 ' Boswell's Life of Johnson. 
 
172 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 ticed him to a wig maker in Edinburgh, which was at that time 
 a very profitable trade, and brought him into contact with men of 
 every class. He easily obtained access to books, and spent his 
 spare time in mastering the literature of the day. Thus was the 
 slumbering genius brought to life. His first volume of poems was 
 published in 1721. 
 
Chapter XI. 
 
 A greedy neighbour — The most valuable possession — The Countess of 
 Abercorn's letters — A visit to London — Tom of Ten Thousand — 
 Dr Benjamin Franklin — "Joys of Prestonfield Adieu" — A lover at 
 hand — Franklin's Epitaph — Mrs Strange writes — Hogarth's lady — 
 A nice piece of criticism — Mr Lamoli's ball. 
 
 [1757-60] 
 
Chapter XI. 
 
 The next communication is from Allan Ramsay the Painter, to Sir 
 Alexander, on the subject of some ground which has been filched 
 away from the entry of his house during his absence from 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 "London Aug=' 23 1757 
 
 Dear Sir Alexander 
 
 I am always sorry when any misfortune happens to you, but have 
 reason to be doubly so for the fit of the gout you have lately been confined 
 with ; as it has been the cause of Mr Davidson's having the opportunity of 
 stealing from me what I put great value upon, assuring you who could not 
 be upon the spot, with his having taken nothing but a trifle, or as he ven- 
 tures to tell me myself what could not be worth above a few shillings. He 
 owns he has taken 3 feet from the breadth in my entry and I have reason to 
 expect has taken more, for there is in his letter a dark confused account of 
 his being ordered by the Dean of Guild Court, as he says, contrary to law 
 to change the direction of his house and to breadthen the foot of the close 
 for Mr Bairds Coach, which as far as I can understand from words that 
 dont seem meant to be understood, has been done at my expense. I did 
 not mean that any of my friends should enter into a treaty with him (if it 
 can be called a treaty where something is given and nothing received in 
 return ubi tu pulsas ego vapulo tantum) but only to keep a watchfull eye 
 over his proceedings." Etc., etc. 
 
 Again writing from London, July 31, 1759, he says : 
 
 " It gives me great pleasure to hear that the loss of your first 
 daughter is so happily supplied. You and I are now equally rich in what 
 each of us esteem the most valuable of our possessions. May Heaven long 
 preserve them to us. I was once in hopes of coming down to Scotland 
 this summer with my wife and eldest daughter to see you and our friends 
 there, but business which cannot be put off deprives me of that pleasure. 
 
 Perhaps by next year I may get my fetters a little slackened. 
 
 In the meantime please to present with mine my wife and sisters most 
 
176 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 hearty congratulations to Lady Dick whose health and spirits are I daresay 
 much improved by this happy event. 
 
 I wish I had time for more conversation with Mr Millar/ whom I know 
 to be a man of genius and observation — to such indeed a slight hint often 
 furnish a long train of useful consequences ; and I don't wonder at all that 
 he should have profitted by those which I had the opportunity of com- 
 municating to him. 
 
 I passed a Sunday lately with Sergeant at his country house near 
 Dartford. He is become one of the most domestic men you ever saw. 
 Armstrong has been ill but is somewhat better. Of jolly James Fraser 
 you can probably give a better account than I. — With my compliments, 
 etc., etc., Allan Ramsay. 
 
 Out of several letters of this period, those from the Countess 
 of Abercorn to Lady Dick are charming specimens of a sprightly 
 old lady writing under severe bodily affliction. 
 
 Cavendish Sq' Dec"^ 30th 1758. 
 My dear Lady Dick must think me the Idlest and most ungratefull of 
 all mortals but upon the faith and honor of an honest woman your Letter 
 and pretty picture never bless'd my eyesight till yesterday, if they had I 
 think you will do me the justice to believe I should (as I now do) have 
 taken the first opportunity of making my warmest acknowledgement for 
 the pleasure you gave me ; which would have been much greater if I had 
 been so lucky as to have received it sooner, for after I had some time 
 enjoy 'd the seeing you and Sir Alex' in the Boat, good Mr Bennet walking 
 in the Garden and the good women washing their Linen ; with a thousand 
 other prettinesses which you have thrown in, and above all pleasing myself 
 with thinking that at the time you were putting them in, you had me in 
 your thoughts, and thought of me as one that sincerely lov'd you, I 
 unfortunately (for my quiet) cast my eye at the bottom of your letter 
 (which my hurry at first made me overlook) and found it dated August 
 the 30th. I was ready to drop ! Good god said I to myself what different 
 thoughts must dear Lady Dick entertain of me from those I have been 
 flattering myself w"', and those thoughts to have been taking root for 
 four long months, in this distress, I looked upon it as a piece of good 
 
 ^ A portrait painter of some renown. 
 
A Letter of Thanks 
 
 177 
 
 fortune that Capt. Dalrymple^ did us the favour to come in to dine w*** 
 us and found me tossed Hke a shuttlecock between satisfaction and 
 vexation and was so good to promise to bear testimony for me, but as he 
 is a young man and I am a very old woman, the odds are that he never 
 thinks of me more, and perhaps I may better appeal to my good Friend 
 Mr Bennet to witness for me whether or no I spoke of Lady Dick like one 
 that would be so ungrateful to her kind remembrance of me. I assure you 
 dear madam I dont want the view of Duddingston to put me in mind of 
 you and it is with great regret that I reflect, it is more than probable I 
 may never see you more. When I was in Scotland, it was a great under- 
 taking at my age ; but at that time I had the use of my Limbs as well as 
 your generality of people near 70 have, since then I am not only grown 
 nearer 70 but have so far lost the use of my Limbs as to make me 
 incapable of any undertaking. I was taken the beginning of February in 
 the bottom of my back and hip with violent pain which is call'd 
 rheumatism ; it got all down that Limb and swell'd the leg and foot to an 
 enormous size the pain continued with great violence for some months 
 which decreased by slow degrees, but has never left me one moment at 
 ease to this day and now the swelling is abated, I find that the sinews 
 or some of the ugly things in that leg and foot are shrunk, so that I 
 cannot bend it and I am continually kept in hot water, w'*^ the appre- 
 hension of its returning w'** all its violence, in the meantime I make shift 
 to crawl about the House ; and go out in a chair to sit at a card table, but 
 am very ill qualified for journeying and I learn from Capt. Dalrymple 
 that you are not in a much fitter situation for travailing, which tho' it 
 leaves me without any hope of your turning your face this way whilst I 
 am crawling upon the earth, it gives me pleasure in the thoughts it does so 
 to Sir Alexander and you. He tells me you are in expectation of a little- 
 we-we-Dick, which I heartily wish may be answer'd to your full satis- 
 faction, and am in great hopes it will give a turn to your constitution that 
 will restore you to perfect health and happiness. Lord Abercorn with his 
 compliments to Prestonfield bids me say he wishes Duddingston afforded 
 any thing that could be agreeable to you but is afraid it is very scanty in 
 its produce and now methinks I hear you say — Why does this old woman 
 trouble me w'^ such a long Stupid letter ? to w'' I answer that as to 
 the length of it I suppose I find a pleasure in pratling to you ; as to the 
 stupidity I suppose it is natural, but if it ever was otherwise, how should 
 
 ^ Sir Alexander's nephew. 
 Z 
 
178 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 it be so now ? when my head for these eleven months has been w"^ my 
 great foot in my great shoe, and I cannot yet release you till I have 
 wish'd Sir Alexander and you and Miss Dick all the happiness that the 
 approaching and many future years can furnish and assure you that I am 
 Dear Madam 
 
 Y' most sincere well wisher 
 
 and oblig'd humble ser"* 
 
 A. Abercorn. 
 
 If you would add to the many obligations I have had to you it must 
 be to telling me w* your good sincere Heart what sort of thing this part 
 of the world produces that would be agreeable to you, and you must tell 
 me soon or I shall be Dead. We drank yesterday in Punch to all that are 
 and are expected at Prestonfield. 
 
 She did not die then however, but lived to write to her friend 
 in the following year, who was herself soon after taken from this 
 world. 
 
 Oct. 29th 1759. 
 
 " How can dear Lady Dick be so good to think of such a poor miser- 
 able good for nothing creature as I am and how can I love her and thank 
 her enough for remembering me. I am sensible I have no merit, but I 
 have too much sincerity to take any to myself that does not belong to me 
 and therefore must fairly own that no thanks are due to me for Lord 
 Abercorns appearance in Duddingston, it went very near my Heart to part 
 with him and I was strongly possess'd that I should never live to see him 
 again. What could I expect almost 70 and a cripple ? Gladly would I 
 have gone with him and had the pleasure of once more seeing dear Lady 
 Dick but alas ! the Limbs that whilome carried me to Prestonfield will 
 now hardly convey me into my own garden and have not let me have 
 a moments ease since February was twelve months. I should have had 
 still more reluctance in parting with Lord Abercorn but that I knew he 
 was going where he had at least one neighbour that lov'd him and would 
 receive him kindly and God be thanked he is sent back to me safe and 
 sound. I heard from him how good a kirk woman you was grown and 
 that you was bringing up my little pretty namesake in the way that she 
 should go and how very well she behaved at kirk. I assure you I am very 
 proud of having such a name sake tho' I could not help wishing for a Bairn 
 that might require another sort of name ; but I comfort myself with a 
 
Lightening the Law of Entail 179 
 
 saying we have here that where a Girl lay a Boy may, in the mean time it 
 is very pretty to have two such fine girls, for I would not have you think 
 that I am forgetfull of Miss Dick. Lord Abercorn tells me she is much 
 improv'd and plays charmingly upon the Harpsichord and I doubt not 
 under your direction will do everything to perfection. ... I have the 
 pleasure to hear your health in general is much better than when I was at 
 Duddingston for you may believe I have made very particular enquiries 
 after you and yours. I heard you had fine folk in your neighbourhood 
 last summer and shall be very much pleased to have your opinion of them 
 but make my bargain beforehand that you shall flatter me you do not love 
 them so well as me tho' I own it is unreasonable for as I said before I can 
 pretend no merit but my sincerity, w''' w'^'^ I am 
 My dear Lady Dick's 
 
 Much oblig'd and faithfull humble ser^' 
 
 A. Abercorn. 
 
 My compliments attend Sir Alexander and both the young ladies and 
 Lord Abercorn desires you will all accept of his. My poor shaking hands 
 have not scribbl'd so much stuff time out of mind. I am sure you are 
 tired with it but I must add my desire to be remembered to Mr Bennet 
 who I know you see often. 
 
 About this time Sir Alexander paid a visit to London, to push 
 through ParHament a Bill to lighten the Law of Entail, which 
 had hitherto proved a heavy tax on Scottish landowners. In 
 this he was successful, to the great benefit of subsequent genera- 
 tions. His principal business lay with Lord Mansfield and the 
 Duke of Argyll ; and from the former he received these two lines 
 by his friend Mr Pope, " to affix as the motto to a Pamphlet to 
 be written for the Information and Instruction of all concerned." 
 
 " The Laws of God as well as of the Land, 
 Abhor a Perpetuity should stand." 
 
 Sir Alexander writes in his book of memoranda : 
 
 " Before I left London I waited upon my old Friend Earl Marchmont 
 who introduced me to old Chancellor Hardwicke. I afterwards waited on 
 
i8o Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Lord Lyttleton and was invited to his Country House near Birmingham 
 where I went. I happened to dine one day when in London with Mr 
 Home the Counsellor Lord Marchmont's Twin Brother both my acquaint- 
 ances in Holland, there were six principal Admirals at table amongst the 
 rest the celebrated Rodney who was the youngest at that day. 
 
 While I was at L"^ Lyttleton's in Warwickshire (as he was not as yet 
 come down) he had given orders to Admiral Smith a natural son of the 
 Family who had lived adjoining to and had command of his House, to 
 receive and entertain me which he did in a most hospitable and obliging 
 chearful manner, he was well known among the sailors by the name of 
 Tom of Ten thousand. I had an opportunity on that occasion to be 
 introduced to the celebrated Poet Mr Shenston at his remarkable adorned 
 Farm at the Leasones where he walked me round the whole and was most 
 obliging in showing me the good taste that prevailed everywhere." 
 
 No man of learning or of letters passed through Edinburgh 
 without visiting Sir Alexander, and shortly after his return from 
 town, he received the following letter from the celebrated 
 Benjamin Franklin.' 
 
 " Dr Franklin and his son present their respectful compliments to 
 Sir Alex. Dick and shall attend him to Prestonfield tomorrow with great 
 Pleasure. They are extremely obliged to Sir Alex, for his kind invitation 
 to spend some Days at his seat in the country, but doubt the short stay 
 they must make in these Parts will not allow them that advantage." 
 " Milne Square. Friday morning." 
 
 That he did find time to stay, however, is evident from the 
 following lines, " wrote at Coldstream on his return to England." 
 
 " Joys of Prestonfield adieu, 
 Late found soon lost, but still will view 
 The engaging scene — Oft to those eyes 
 Shall the pleasing vission rise, ' 
 Hearts to warm towards a friend, 
 Kindness on kindness without end 
 
 1 Dr Benjamin Franklin, born at Boston, 1706, was of humble origin, and began life as a 
 printer. He was a distinguished philosopher and an able writer, and rendered great service to his 
 country as a clear sighted : d incorruptible statesman. He died in I790- 
 
1 
 
Rival Writers 
 
 i8i 
 
 Easy converse Sprightly wit 
 
 These we found in Dame and Knight 
 
 Cheerful meals and balmy rest 
 
 Beds that never Bugs moUest 
 
 Neatness and sweetness all around 
 
 These at Prestonfield we found 
 
 Hear O Heaven the Stranger's Prayer 
 
 Bless the hospitable pair 
 
 Bless their sweet bairns and very soon 
 
 Grant these a Brother those a son." 
 
 But Franklin had a rival in verse-making who did not wish to 
 be outdone in Lady Dick's estimation, one Mr Robert Alexander, 
 who addresses her thus : 
 
 " What Franklin writes appears so fine 
 I wish his thoughts and words were mine, 
 Why then so cruel couldst thou be 
 As send his sprightly lines to me. 
 
 Alas I'm of such jealous mettle 
 That ever since I ne'er could settle, 
 Whate'er he feels he can express 
 I silent stand but feel no less. 
 
 Our prayers and sentiments the same, 
 I love the Knight adore the Dame, 
 Unlike alone in this our vow 
 He prays for one Son, I for two. 
 
 But see what all he pleased to say. 
 Thy beauty could not make him stay, 
 A lover gone you'll understand 
 Is not so good as one at hand." 
 
 In the same handwriting at the foot of the paper are these 
 words : 
 
 " Cultivated ground has few needs, a mind occupied by lawful business 
 has little room for useless regrets." 
 
1 82 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Dr Franklin invented an urn, the lamp of which was to burn 
 with an inverted light, upon which he wrote this Inscription : 
 
 " Like a Newton sublimely he soared 
 
 To a summit before unattained, 
 New regions of Science explored 
 
 And the palm of philosophy gained. 
 With a spark that he caught from the skies 
 
 He display'd an unparalleld wonder, 
 And we saw with delight and surprise 
 
 That his rod could protect us from thunder. 
 Oh had he been wise to pursue his talents disguis'd 
 
 What a tribute of praise had been due 
 To the teacher and friend of Mankind, 
 
 But to covet political fame 
 Was in him a degrading ambition, 
 
 A spark which from Lucifer came 
 And kindl'd the blaze of sedition. 
 
 Let candour then write on his Urn 
 Here lies the renowned Inventor, 
 
 Whose flame to the skies ought to burn 
 But inverted returns to the Center." 
 
 Lastly there is an Epitaph on Doctor Franklin by himself : 
 
 " The Body of 
 Benjamin Franklin, Printer 
 (Like the cover of an old book 
 Its contents worn out 
 And stript of its lettering and gilding) 
 Lies here, food for Worms ; 
 Yet the work itself shall not be lost 
 For it will (as he believes) appear once more 
 In a new 
 And more beautifuU edition 
 Corrected and amended 
 by 
 
 The Author." 
 
Mr Strange obtains a Free Pardon 183 
 
 Mention has been made in a former chapter of Mr Strange ^ 
 the engraver, who narrowly escaped capture after Culloden and 
 fled abroad. After residing many years in France and Italy, 
 where he practised his art with success, he obtained a free pardon 
 and returned to London. His wife kept up a constant correspond- 
 ence with Sir Alexander, to whom she writes : 
 
 " My Lord is in Naples, at present has an apartment in the King's 
 Palace and liberty to take down what pictures he pleases." 
 
 Again, 
 
 " Mr Strange was very happy in your approbation of his last perform- 
 ance. 
 
 What my dear Lady Dick said upon the Laurels, etc. was cheerful, 
 lively and smart, the Lord restore her to her health, she is a most be- 
 witching companion." 
 
 Again 
 
 "Before answering your kind favours of the 30th I'll here wish you all 
 the joy a fond Parent can wish for, and may you long enjoy that very 
 allowable and natural joy. I hope this shall find both the Good Lady in 
 the Straw and Boy in the Blanket in a fair way of getting health and 
 strength." 
 
 Another of a later date is expressed after the fashion of the 
 
 day in rather forcible language, the good lady's ire having been 
 
 raised over Mrs Hogarth's- (the eminent painter's wife) want of 
 
 appreciation of art in its true sense. 
 
 " After calling and expostulating with Mrs Hogarth's agent, she being 
 in the country. I find they have no taste for what in the like case my lord 
 would give twenty times more than I ask'd. Damn them! they do not 
 deserve to know Honour's who have no thirst for anything but money, 
 the paper was never out of my Hand. Another time it may be proper to 
 
 ^ Robert Strange, an Edinburgh engraver, born 1721, died 1772. He received the honour of 
 Knighthood, and was appointed engraver to 11. M. George III. He was particularly eminent as 
 an Historical engraver. 
 
 ^ Hogarth, the celebrated painter, married a daughter of Sir James Thornhill without his con- 
 sent, but was taken into favour on the completion of his series of pictures of the Rake's Progress, 
 which were engraved by Strange. 
 
184 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Honour Hogarth when like Canonizing a Saint all His wild low acquaint- 
 ances are dead and Burry'd. 
 
 Besides his frequent letters to his numerous acquaintances 
 and friends, Sir Alexander kept up a lively correspondence with 
 his brother Sir John Cunyngham of Caprington, the following 
 letter from Sir John on some allusions in one of these epistles is 
 marked as a " Very nice piece of Criticism." 
 
 "Dear Brother, 
 Your quotation from Celsus, ' Cavendum ne in secunda valetudine adversa 
 prcesidia consumantur' is so just a sentiment and so elegantly expressed 
 that it made me think of Dryden's description of wit, which he places in 
 the justice of the thought and purity of expression. But as Celsus's maxim 
 neither is nor was intended for wit, it shews the futility of his definition. 
 Mr Addison, who now and then debas'd a great Genius by affecting that 
 silly modern Gothic thing we call wit, censures Dryden, and adds something 
 of novelty, and surprise to the thought to make it witty; as if a Lover should 
 tell his mistress ' her bosom was white as snow ' it did not become wit, till 
 he should add that it was as cold too. What a poor sorry play of the 
 fancy is this, and how would it be relished by Menander, Terence or 
 Petronius. 
 
 All the best Period since the revival of Letters we have been far from 
 being imbibed with the simplicity and elegance of their manner in that 
 exercise of genius which we seem to think of when we speak of wit. The 
 puerilities of Ovid seem to have been more acceptable to Northern Com- 
 plexions and more relish'd than the Elegance of Athens. You have heard 
 me often say, that I thought real wit consisted in a pure naive and quaint 
 expression of Truth, such as that of Quartilla to her old Lover ; ' Languori 
 tuo gratias ago, nam in umbra voluptatis diutius haesimus! 
 
 It has been observed of our modern wit that it will not bear a Transla- 
 tion of real wit ; I think the very contrary. 
 
 Because what is just and true, is so at all times, will fall in with the 
 genius of all languages and hit all tasks. To apply this observation 
 should Quartilla say ' Non sincresiami la Debolezza dell mio Signore perche 
 attacamoci piu lungo nelle ombre della piacere! " 
 
 The words express a sentiment common to her sex eternally certain 
 and equally poignant in Italian or Latin. Let us now take Addison's 
 
A Characteristic Epistle 
 
 bosom, and make an Italian amorato say to his mistress — " Le poppe delle 
 mia Donna son nan men bianche, ma piu fredde della neve!' 
 
 Tho' the Clinch is rather better in the Translation yet is not the Senti- 
 ment despicable, flat, absurd, the very assemblage of toutes les glaces dii 
 nord. I know nobody has excelled so much in that silly way as Petrarch, 
 who has contrasted his Laura with every thing he could think of, and has 
 been much laugh'd at for his pains. 
 
 Some time ago I hop'd for the improvement in our Taste and that our 
 Hyperborean roughness might receive something of a polish, but our late 
 productions disappoint my hopes and make me despair of seeing anything 
 of real excellence in my Times. It is, however, some pleasure to think 
 that the Idea, tho' perhaps not as yet the execution of a perfect Work, is 
 at present to be found with us rather than anywhere else in Europe. I 
 like the late effect of bringing a Chorus into the Drama, the author has 
 followed the Simplicity, but could not attain the sublime of his model. In 
 all respects the Play surpasses the Ophelia and others that have of late 
 made a fracas. 
 
 All this reverie is owing to the essor from Celsus, which has made me 
 galop a plume volante, nor should I have done if good manners did not 
 recall me. All I have now to tell you is that we are still in perfect health 
 and that Lady Betty, I, and the bairns join me in kindest compliments to 
 Lady Dick, Lady Dunipace, Miss Jessy, Mr Keith, and to you. 
 
 I am ever dear brother yours, etc., etc., JOHN CUNINGHAME. 
 
 Look y' Celcus if it is not subsedia which consumantur rather calls 
 for than praesidia. 
 
 The correspondence now takes a more intimate turn, in the form 
 
 of a letter from a Httle lady of eleven years old, Sir Alexander's eldest 
 
 daughter,^ who fully appreciated the importance of being left in 
 
 charge, during his absence from home, as is evident from the 
 
 pride with which she assures her dear Papa that his house book 
 
 is in great order. And although she begs him to excuse her 
 
 "writing so horridly," the penmanship is an excellent small hand. 
 
 The ball to which she alludes was given, by Mr Lamoli who, we 
 
 may presume, was the dancing master, and the description of her 
 
 green gown and of her being somewhat incommoded by her train 
 
 * Janet, born 1749. 
 2 A 
 
1 86 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 is delicious. Her partner, Lord Balgonie, eldest son of the Earl 
 of Leven and Melville, was of her own age. 
 
 Although the letter is signed Janet Dick, she is better known 
 throughout the correspondence by her pet name, Jessie, by which 
 she was invariably called, except upon one occasion, when her 
 volatile cousin, Lady Elizabeth Lindsay, addresses her as " beau- 
 tiful Jannet." Though the recipient of many letters, this is the 
 only one preserved written by her. 
 
 " Prestonfield, March 20, 1760. 
 
 My dear Papa, 
 
 I wish I could tell you from my heart what I am sure 
 you would wish which is Mamma's good health, which is at Present very 
 bad but for Particulars I refer you to Dr Rutherford who is to write to you 
 Directly for your Advice. We all thank you for the New Play, whenever 
 mamma is able to hear me I shall read it to her, to be sure its fit I should, 
 since My Dear Parent recommended it to my Perusal. Your health which 
 at Present mamma is suspicious of makes us all anxious to hear about you. 
 Sir I do ashure you your housebook is in great order and not an article 
 escaped since you Left us, &c. I receive my anuity^ every Saturday night 
 but would rather have my dear Papa to see it and be satisfied with it than 
 to possess all the riches on earth. I am very Proud when I can do anything 
 to oblige you. My D"^ sister Anne ^ is the Loveliest Baby ever was born. 
 
 I must not forget to tell you Mamma let me go to Mr Lamoli's ball. 
 
 She was not able to go with me but gave me in charge to Lady M'Leod 
 who took all good care of me. I was not the least the worse of it, I 
 danced with Lord Balgonie and they say I danced very well. I was 
 dressed in my green gown with gold trimmings and nothing about me 
 but what you would have Liked except my train which was a little 
 troublesome and if you don't like it when you come home I shall sacrifice 
 it. Cousin Peggy writes to you otherwise mine should be longer. D"^ Papa 
 I am your affectionate and obedient Daughter 
 
 Janet Dick. 
 
 P.S. — I am hurried with the post pardon my writing so horridly." 
 
 1 An annuity of ^^^loo was paid by the Government to Sir Alexander's two eldest daughters, on 
 account of some money lent by their grandfather, on their mother's side, Sir Andrew Dick of 
 Craighouse. 
 
 2 Anne, the baby alluded to, born 1759. She was described as a very plzin old lady. She died 
 in 1847. 
 
Chapter XII. 
 
 Mary Queen of Scots — Mr Campbell of Cawdor's letters — Sir Alexander's 
 Version — Dame Mary Butler — Congratulatory letters — Allan 
 Ramsay's appointment. 
 
 [1760- 1 762.] 
 
Chapter XII. 
 
 A PROLONGED Correspondence was entered into between Sir 
 Alexander, Mr Campbell of Cawdor,^ and Mr Hume the historian, 
 on the subject of Mary Queen of Scots, and whether or no she 
 was guilty of the Earl of Darnley's death ; a question interesting 
 at all times, but particularly so now, when the solution of the matter, 
 were she to be proved innocent, would be the means of canonizing 
 this unfortunate lady. 
 
 That this solution can be found so long after the event is most 
 improbable, unless sufficient evidence lies buried in the mass of 
 letters, from the Scottish Queen and others, which are preserved 
 in the Vatican, but to which access is unobtainable. Mr Campbell 
 writes : — 
 
 Stackpole Court, Sept 26 1760 
 
 " Dear Sir 
 
 I hoped you had seen an end of my impertinent criticisms. 
 But I must set right a great mistake I find I fell into in my last Pacquet 
 having writ it in a hurry, trusting to a frail memory and a hasty look upon 
 the Inquiry. 
 
 I have since looked into Huberts second confession. I find he do's 
 speak of carrying a letter of the Queen's from Glasgow to Bothwell and 
 returning with his answer. 
 
 I had imagined that, the letter being shewn to Hubert he could, if they 
 were genuine, have proved they were the same he carried. But I now 
 
 ' John Campbell of Cawdor Castle and Stackpole Court, born 1695, '777> ^ Lord of 
 the Admiralty and Treasury, M.P. for Nairnshire, from whom the Earls of Cawdor are 
 descended. 
 
 Mr Campbell made Mr Hume's acquaintance by means of Sir Alexander Dick, through whose 
 hands the correspondence between them passed. 
 
190 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 find the letter had no address, so the covers must have been lost, or 
 destroyed, which seems odd, for if Bothwell kept these letters for his own 
 security, and one may be sure it was for no other reason, he ought to have 
 been very careful to preserve the covers address'd to him. 
 
 The Inquirer might perhaps say, that if covers had been produced, 
 they must have had some seal of the Queens, which might not be so easy 
 to procure or counterfeit. I still think that as soon as Hubert was taken, 
 he ought to have been publickly and very particularly examined as to the 
 letter or letters he carried between the Queen and Bothwell. And I 
 cannot avoid supposing that his being carried to St Andrews and kept so 
 long there, was either to procure some false evidence, or as I rather think 
 to smother some Truth that might have bore hard upon Morton and 
 Lethington, at least I think most writers have been too apt to think that 
 the Queen's guilt infer'd Moray's Innocence et vice versa. 
 
 In my opinion the Conclusion is by no means either way. It has I 
 believe often happened that different Persons, have been in the same 
 Conspiracy unknown to each other. 
 
 Morton and Lethington were at the head of those who took arms 
 against the Queen soon after her marriage with Bothwell ; in concert I 
 doubt not with Moray, though, in outward appearance, without his know- 
 ledge. It is now I think agreed that Morton and Lethington were privy 
 to the King's murder, yet wee have the planest proof of the Queens 
 protecting the Principal murderer, and the strongest presumption without 
 the letters, of her being privy to the murder. Why then should the 
 Queen's guilt infer the Innocence of Moray, more than of Morton and 
 Lethington My opinion of Moray is, that he acted according to the 
 words said in Huntly and Argyll's Declaration to have been spoken by 
 Lethington to the Queen at Craigmillar. "//^ will luik throw his fingeris 
 thairto and will behold our doings saying nothing to the samen." 
 
 I beg you to look into the 3d page of Dr Robertsons Dissertation, 
 and consider whether he has sufficiently answered the case against Moray, 
 as stated by himself Add to that state, an allowance that the Queen had 
 for some time before the king's murder, had the strongest passion for 
 Bothwell, and consequently must wish her husband out of the way. 
 Where then will be the impossibility ? 
 
 I am satisfied Dr Robertson did not intend the least partiality. If he 
 has fallen into anything a little like it. Let nobody presume to censure 
 him, but those who have enter'd into the discussion of that affair, and 
 
 / 
 
Queen Mary's Letter 191 
 
 shewn greater impartiality. The Dr will then I am sure be safe from any 
 censure, but his own — 
 
 I beg pardon for having troubled you with my Blunders. 
 
 I often think of your agreable situation, where you enjoy all the 
 pleasure of the country, and are yet within reach of the most agreable and 
 most learned conversation, and can command the use of all the Books, 
 that either good Library's or Shops can furnish. I am with best wishes 
 to yourself Lady Dick and familly Dear Sir 
 
 Y' most obedient and oblig'd humble Ser^' 
 
 J. Campbell. 
 
 Sir a--. Dick. 
 
 Apropos of this correspondence the following letter may be 
 quoted, written by Queen Mary to the Earl of Huntly after the 
 said Declaration. It is taken from the original Caligula MSS. 
 C i. folio 285 in British Museum.^ 
 
 " Richt traist cousigne and counsalo"" we greit zou weill. We haif 
 ressavit zour letter be the berar herof daitit the 3 of this last moneth, and 
 hes considerit the samen. No'w'^standing that we haif writene to zou 
 laitlie anent the estait of o'' affairis sa amplie as we war informit thairof 
 yitt this pnt is to schaw zou that my lord boyd, o"" traist cousigne and 
 counsallo"" (quha arrivit heir from the court the xxvii the said moneth) hes 
 declarit to us how o"^ rebellis hes done the most thai could to haif dis- 
 honerit us, q^'' (thankis to God) this no' in thair power, bot be thair expec- 
 tation found thameselffis disappoynted of that they lookit for. Thai 
 procuir now to seik appoyntment bot, albeit we be not of sic nato' as thais 
 that forgevis never, no' the less we sal caus thame acknawlege thair foolish- 
 ness, and the said Queue o"" gud sister and hir counsell knaw their fals 
 inventions and ofifensis, practisit agains us, to cuUo"" thair trahisouns and 
 wicket usurpation, Swa that it shall be manifest to all the warld quhat 
 men thai ar to o"" hono""' and contentment of o"^ fay'ful subjectis. For 
 (praysit be God) oure friendis incresis and thairis decresis daylie. 
 
 " Ze sal ressaif ane lettre be this beirar to be subscryvit be zow and 
 o' cousigne the erie of Argyle qlk is maid be my Lord boydis adwyse con- 
 forme to the Declaration now maid to o"^ traist counsellor the bischop of 
 Ross, hie knowing your deliberatioun and will thairintill. And albeit we 
 
 ' See /Records of Aboyne. 
 
192 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 knaw there is na neid to use ony persuasion towart zou q'^throw ze maye 
 be drevin to that q'^intill ze can haif nathing bot reputatioun and hono' and 
 seeing it is for your just defence calominat be the unfay'fulness and trahi- 
 soun of o' rebellis, yitt we thoght gud to write unto zou this pnt. Praying 
 you to schaw that the vertew qlk is in zou, and equitie of o' caus maye not 
 induce o' adversares and zo"to use sic braging (qlk be the fay'ful report of 
 o"" commissiourners and utheris that ar in the Court of Inglande) ze maye 
 understand thai mak aganes us and zow twa amangis the rest of o"" fay'ful 
 subjectis. As to o"^ pairt we are resalut not to spair thame in setting the 
 veritie to their leyis. And hoipis (w'' the grace of God) and equitie of 
 o"^ caus that all qlk thai haif allegit aganis us, shal fynd the samen to thair 
 awin schame and confusioun. We refer to zour discretioun to eik and pair 
 the said Ire as z« sail think best and extendit in sic forme as ze sail think 
 maist necessar. Praying zow to send us the samen agane subscreant and 
 seillit the soonest ye maye, to the effect it maye be producit togidder 
 w'' the rest of the accusatiouns qlk we intend ta gif in aganis o"^ trators. 
 Ze sal als ressaif ane copie of the Quene o"^ sesteris ans'' to o"^ commissioun- 
 ers proclamation qlk ze maye considder. 
 
 Mairator we haif understand that ze ar to change the provost of elgin 
 qlk we wish and press zow not to do bot reteine him quha is in the samen 
 office alreaddie sa lang as he remains faytful and constant to us, swa that 
 ther be na other putt in place as ze will do us plesou"" and report o"" thankis 
 thairanent. Referring the rest to the beirar, quha ye will credit, remittis 
 zow to the protectioun of God almichtie. Off Bowtun the 6 of Januar 
 156(9). 
 
 Your richt gud cusigne and assured friend, 
 
 JMaria R. 
 
 In another letter Mr Campbell says : 
 
 " I must make one Reflection upon this period of our History. That 
 as the Allmighty Power of God always can, his infinite Wisdom often most 
 visibly do's, bring Good out of Evil. The Reformation has been in effect 
 the greatest Blessing to every part of this Island. Yet the ruin of the 
 papal power in England was occasioned by the lawless Passions of a 
 brutal bloody Tyrant. And the Reformation was establish'd there by a 
 Lady (Queen Bess) not greatly inriched either with Christian Graces or 
 Moral Virtues. 
 
 [ 
 
Sir Alexander's Opinion 193 
 
 " In Scotland it is manifest to every impartial eye that the Leaders of 
 the Reform'd were not better men than their enemies the Papists I wish 
 they were no worse." 
 
 This is the case as Sir Alexander puts it : 
 
 "In the year 1565 commenced the crowd of misfortunes which 
 happened to our beautifuU Queen Mary of Scotland, for in that year she 
 was unfortunately marryd to her capricious wrong headed cousin Henry 
 Stewart Earl of Darn ley, who had the inhumanity, or rather barbarity in 
 the subsequent year 1566 whilst she was innocently at supper with her 
 friend the Countess of Argyle, who was her bastard sister, at her palace of 
 Holyrood house, to cause her foreign secretary Rizzio to be murdered, 
 who had fled to the Queen for protection, Henry allowing the dagger 
 which he wore by his side to be pulled out by the Murderer for that 
 purpose, the Earl of Morton and Lord Ruthven were present and had 
 come with Henry to witness this horrid action, of which it was shrewdly 
 suspected the Earl of Murray who had gone to England some days before, 
 had secretly been the contriver. But as one bloody action or assassination 
 in these times especially, are commonly but forerunners of the same kind, 
 in the subsequent year 1567 Henry the King was himself blown up with 
 gunpowder with some of his servants and thereby killed in the Kirk of 
 field where he had gone to stay for his health. Mary by a mere accident 
 during the night in which that happened was at her palace of Holyrood 
 house, witnessing the marriage of one of her servants. The perpetrators 
 of this wicked dreadful action were long concealed, but at length two 
 persons were found guilty and executed for it, but from very many 
 circumstances tryals and comparison of events, the Earl of Murray was 
 suspected to be the secret contriver. The Earl of Morton to be 
 in the foreknowledge of that murder of the King, and the Earl 
 of Bothwell to have the greatest hand in the deed. Mr Stewart 
 who has published the history of Queen Mary of Scotland has clearly 
 proved the innocence of the Queen of that crime, yet he has at the 
 same time evidently made it appear that tho' Murray and Morton and 
 their associates were at the utmost pains to wash the Earl of Bothwell clear 
 of the crime of regicide, yet knowing the very favourable opinion the 
 Queen had of Bothwell they artfully contrived to get the Parliament to 
 declare Bothwell perfectly innocent of the murder of the King, and 
 secondly that in the present situation of affairs the Earl of Bothwell was 
 
 2 B 
 
194 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 the fittest person to be her husband, which she herself considered as a 
 very imprudent step for her to take. 
 
 " She was carry'd by violence of a thousand men under Bothwell as 
 she was coming to Edinburgh and violently lodgd in the Strong Castle of 
 Dunbar, where he forced her to marry him, which when it serv'd the pur- 
 pose of her ennemy's they left her to be disgraced and to suffer all manner 
 of indignities. 
 
 " It would be too tedious to enumerate on one side the treacheries and 
 forgeries that were muster'd up against her by her subjects headed by 
 Morton, Murray and Lethington, in which George Buchannan was an 
 accomplice, and on the other hand, the cruel inhumane and severe 
 politicks and unjust false dealings of Queen Elizabeth who detained her 
 nineteen years a Prisoner, and afterwards in the year 1587 brought her to 
 a general tryal condemnation and execution, being beheaded by Eliza- 
 beth's sign manual at Fotheringay Castle in the heart of England in the 
 46th year of her age to the astonishment of all Europe and the real and 
 sincere grief of all her good subjects." 
 
 The Earl of Murray, Elizabeth's bastard brother, afterwards 
 made Prior of St Andrew's, was, he says 
 
 " not only eminent in the camp and cabinet but had the dexterity to be 
 under Elizabeth the mainspring which secretly produced several great 
 events which happened subsequently, his public appearance in these how- 
 ever he never allowed to be manifested. 
 
 "The author of Earl Murray's assassination was said to be one 
 Hamilton, who shot the Earl from a window as he was passing along the 
 streets of Linlithgow, and in this way avenged the death of his wife whom 
 the Earl while Regent had turned naked out of the house of Woodhouselee 
 in a cold snowy winter night, she being then with child. Mr Hamilton 
 made good his escape to France." 
 
 Of the reformers of the day no measured terms are used — 
 
 " particularly that boisterous rude reformer John Knox. 
 
 Knox used the beautiful young Queen and all her subjects of France, 
 when he got into the pulpit without any ceremony in the coarsest language 
 also inciting the populace to destroy the beautiful and magnificent fabrics 
 of churches, chapels, convents and monasteries which subsisted all over 
 Scotland in former times." 
 
Queen Mary taken by Force 195 
 
 Which advice, as we have already seen, was taken advantage 
 of to the full by the Earl of Glencairn. 
 
 Bothwell, as is known, had been previously married to the 
 Earl of Huntly's sister, Lady Jean Gordon, who instituted pro- 
 ceedings of divorce on account of his behaviour to her and his 
 intimacy with Janet Betoun, wife of Walter Scot of Buccleugh. 
 Bothwell on his side entered a process for divorce founded on 
 relationship within the forbidden degree. To assist matters Lady 
 Bothwell suppressed a dispensation of 17th Febr. 1566, being 
 desirous to be rid of as " naughty a man as liveth and much 
 given to the most detestable vices." ^ 
 
 Queen Mary, Huntly, Lethington, and Melville were inter- 
 cepted by Bothwell on 24th April when returning from Stirling, 
 and brought by force to Dunbar Castle. An ineffectual attempt 
 at rescue was made by the citizens of Edinburgh, and in Mary's 
 own pathetic words " She never saw any hope of being rid of 
 him, never man in Scotland making any mean to procure our 
 deliverance." ^ 
 
 That the Queen bore palpable evidence of the terrible strain 
 she had undergone is proved by the people's remark at her 
 marriage, that she was "the most changed woman of face that 
 in so little time without extremity of sickness, they had seen." ^ 
 
 In connection with Queen Mary's marriage to Bothwell, and 
 the question whether she was privy to the ravishment, it should 
 be noted that Bothwell had boasted that he would marry the 
 Queen " whether she would herself or not." There is also an 
 admission from Morton, that, " sindrie of the nobilitie and I also 
 subscryvit a band with the Earl of Bothwell " for the Queen's 
 marriage. Maitland of Lethington, who was in direct opposition 
 
 * Records of Aboyne. Ibid. ^ Ibid. 
 
196 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 to the marriage, was with the Queen when she was taken by 
 Bothwell, on " St Marks Even " at the Almond Bridge. The 
 animosity between Bothwell and Lethington is well known ; is it 
 therefore likely that Mary was taken, and Lethington her most 
 trusted adviser, of her own free will ? 
 
 Mr Campbell quotes the before-mentioned remark in his letter 
 referring to the celebrated casket letters, "He will luik throw his 
 fingers thairto " &c., but he omits to give the Queen's reply, " I 
 will do nathing whereby any spot may be laid to my honour or 
 conscience, and therefore I pray you rather let the matter be in 
 the state it is, abiding tell God in his goodness provide a remedy 
 Thinking to do me service, the end may not be conformable to your 
 desires, on the contrary, it may turn to my hurt and displeasure." ^ 
 
 To which Lethington made answer, " Madame let us guide 
 the matter among us, and your Grace shall see nothing but what 
 is good and lawful and approved by Parliament." 
 
 When Elizabeth proposed a Commission to Mary after the 
 battle of Langside, Mary's instructions to her Commissioners 
 contained the following remarks. 
 
 "In case they allege they have any writings of mine which 
 may infer presumptions against me, ye shall desire that the 
 principals be produced and that I myself have inspection thereof, 
 and make answer thereto ; for ye shall affirm in my name I never 
 wrote anything concerning that matter to any creature, and if any 
 such writings there be, they are false and feigned, forged and in- 
 vented by themselves to my dishonour and slander, and there are 
 persons in Scotland, both men and women, who can counterfeit my 
 handwriting, and write the like manner of write which I use, as well 
 as myself and principally such as are in company with themselves." 
 
 1 Keith, vol. iii. 
 
Sir Alexanders Second Marriage 197 
 
 This fascinating subject must not, however, carry us away 
 from the topic on hand. 
 
 It was about this date that Sir Alexander had the misfortune 
 to lose his charming wife and delightful companion, and after a 
 short interval, with his young family on his hands, he seems to 
 have felt the necessity of finding a lady who would become a real 
 mother to them. His choice fell on Dame Mary Butler. 
 
 As on the previous occasion, he kept his own counsel, married 
 the lady first, and told his friends afterwards. This transpires 
 in the following letter, received by him from his brother. Sir John 
 Cunyngham : — 
 
 " Dear Brother, March, 1762. 
 
 I this day was favour'd with yours bearing the 
 accounts of your marriage with Mrs Butler which I confess surprised me 
 as I had no previous intimation of your design. But as you seem to have 
 had the care of yourself and your children chiefly in your eyes your friends 
 must approve of every measure you may think tending to secure your 
 Domestick Happiness. 
 
 In general people of your experience and time of life are undoubtedly 
 best judges of what is most proper for them to look for in the married 
 state and as I have no doubt you have had that fully in view before you 
 took your Resolution it is Reasonable to fall in with the sentiments of one 
 who can think so well for Himself. Lady Betty joins me in wishing you 
 every joy on this change in your condition and in offering best Compliments 
 to you and your Spouse. 
 
 Thank God we are all well at present and send our Joint Compliments 
 to all your Family. I continue Dear Brother affectionately yours, 
 
 Capringtoun. JOHN CUNINGHAME. 
 
 Allan Ramsay writes on the same subject, offering his con- 
 gratulations : — 
 
 Dear Sir Alexander, April 226, 1762. 
 
 It is many years that I have been in the use of rejoicing at 
 everything which gives you pleasure and most heartily congratulate you 
 on the satisfaction you express, and no doubt feel in this your second 
 
198 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 embarcation. May your voyage be as prosperous as your hopes, not 
 without rational foundation, suggest. A man of sense in all enterprises 
 considers chiefly how to provide himself with the needfuU, careless of the 
 rest ; and what can one at our time of life desire more than to make out 
 the rest of his journey without trouble or vexation. For this purpose a 
 wife with sound sense, a compliant temper, and a sober education is worth 
 forty insolent Lady Carolines, fourscore capricious wits, and a hundred 
 and sixty coquettish Beauties. 
 
 Had I time I would have written you a long letter ; but being much 
 hurried I chose rather to send you this abridgement, than to defer my 
 congratulations, which I beg you may convey for me to Lady Dick and 
 Miss Jessy. 
 
 Who am ever, etc., 
 
 Allan Ramsay. 
 
 From the same to the same. 
 
 " Dear Sir Alexander, 
 
 It gives me great pleasure to hear from you, and to have the 
 tidings of your welfare conveyed to me by so fair a hand. I hope however 
 the cause of this peculiar compliment is removed and that you have 
 recovered your eyes so far at least as to read, since I am afraid there will 
 be nothing in my writing worthy a young Lady's perusal. 
 
 Whatever comes to your sight, I find your mind has not suffered any 
 change, and that you have still that hearty desire that you always had to 
 forward whatever was for the improvement of your country. And indeed 
 by the means that have been already used, the people of this end of the 
 Island are to confess the great superiority of their northern neighbours in 
 almost every art they engage. Oratory seemed one of these in which they 
 had the least chance to excell ; and yet even there, superior industry is 
 likely to compensate for the natural disadvantages of language and pro- 
 nounciation. You have sent out one Elliot ; why may you not send out a 
 score ? 
 
 The setting up an Academy for Riding is an excellent design. A few 
 more of such institutions will render Edinburgh the Athens of Britain ; 
 where instead of the awkward and monkish pedantry of the old-fashioned 
 Universities, young gentlemen will be initiated in the principles of usefuU 
 knowledge and at the same time exercised in all these liberal accomplish- 
 ments which qualify a man to appear in the distinguished spheres of Life. 
 
The Court Painter 
 
 199 
 
 The new Library proposed to be established by the College of Phy- 
 sicians must be likewise a great advantage to the learned as well as to such 
 as are desirous to become so ; and join'd to the Advocates Library, gives 
 an advantage which this opulent City of London is hardly able to exhibit. 
 Here is indeed the Museum, but the approaches to it are so encumbered 
 with forms that a scholar will be litle tempted to have recourse to it, 
 except upon very particular and urgent occasions. 
 
 I thank you for your kind congratulations upon the place ^ that has 
 been given me. 
 
 It has come to me, to use the words of a great man, altogether 
 unsolicited, and I shall do all in my power to prevent it being said to be 
 likewise unmerited. 
 
 I have lately reprinted two of my little essays, and have put the whole 
 together with the general title of Investigator. My Dulogue on Taste has 
 become remarkable by a large folio which it has given rise to by Peranese 
 at Rome, and of which some copies are already come to London by land. 
 By the first opportunity you shall have my Opera Omnia. With my kind 
 service to Miss Dick, I remain ever, etc., etc., 
 
 Allan Ramsay. 
 
 London, Jan. 31 1762. 
 
 ' Court Painter. 
 
Chapter XIII. 
 
 The Royal College of Physicians — Letters from Distinguished Foreigners 
 —The True Rhubarb— Award of Gold Medal— Mr Elliot's letter- 
 Lord Pembroke's elopement — What Mrs Montagu says. 
 
 [1761-66] 
 
 2 C 
 
Chapter XIII. 
 
 As President of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh, 
 Sir Alexander carried on an extensive correspondence with many 
 celebrities abroad, amongst whom he makes mention of Monsieur 
 de Senactt, first physician to the King of France, and Dr Moun- 
 sey,^ the Emperor of Russia's Physician. These and various 
 others, besides several of our own nobility who were curious in 
 natural history, he had caused to be elected honorary members of 
 that Society. Notable among these last were Archibald Duke of 
 Argyll, the Duke of Buccleugh, and Lord Bute. It was owing to 
 his endeavours that the Hall of the College was moved from the 
 Cowgate to the New Town, and he was instrumental in getting a 
 fine library added to the building, in which his picture hangs to 
 this day. Through Dr Mounsey he succeeded in getting the 
 seeds of the true Rhubarb from the back of the Chinese wall. 
 These he sowed in his own garden, and in course of time dis- 
 covered the right method of drying and curing it both for commerce 
 and medicine, for which he was awarded the gold medal of the 
 Society of Arts in London.^ It was reckoned at that time that 
 the introduction of this root would save 100,000 yearly to Great 
 Britain. 
 
 The following letters show how much the compliment of 
 
 * Dr Mounsey or Monsey, born 1693, died 1788, physician, son of Rev. Robert Monsey, 
 Rector of Bawdeswell, Norfolk, ultimately obtained appointment of Physician to Chelsea Hospital. 
 He was a friend of Dr Johnson, Garrick, and Mrs Montagu, and a member of the famous Blue- 
 Stocking Club. Sketch of Life and Character of the Late Dr Monsey, London, 1789. Anon. 
 
 ^ The Jacobite Sir William Stanhope, in 1757, presented the Pope with a gold box full of 
 this Rhubarb. 
 
204 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 election to the Royal College was appreciated by his foreign 
 confreres. 
 
 This first letter is from Monsieur de Senactt. 
 Monsieur, 
 
 II est sans doute flateur de voir son nom plac6 parmi des noms celebres ; 
 mais cequi me flate le plus dans mon association a votre college, c'est 
 quelle m'ouvre un commerce de connoissances avec des hommes qui ont 
 et^ si utile a I'humanit^, qui ont allie la veritable philosophie a la medicine, 
 qui ne reconnoissent d'autre bien entre les hommes que le genie le Sgavoie 
 et la vertu ; j'avois depuis long-tems cette idee de vos confreres, c'est avec 
 plaisir que je voyois la prediction de Seneque accompli ; ce grand homme 
 prevoyoit que la Source des Sciences sera un jour in ultima thule, vous etes 
 place Monsieur dans cette source pour la dinger, votre lettre rempli de 
 principes Philosophique me prouve combien vous etes digne de presider 
 dans votre illustre Societe, je vous prie bien de lui presenter les vifs senti- 
 ments que m'inspire la reconnoisance, J'ai honneur d'etre avec la plus 
 haute estinue 
 
 Monsieur Votre tres humble 
 
 Et tres obeissant Serviteur Senactt. 
 
 14 Juin 1761. 
 
 The following is from Baron Van Swieten. 
 Sir, 
 
 I received your kind letters from Mr Hay, that Physician did stay here 
 for some time, I was very glad to have the honour and pleasure of his con- 
 versation as much as my business could allow. I have the greatest opinion 
 of his skill in Physick, and I was much delighted with his fine behaviour. 
 Mr Huck did me please no less, every body did love him here, and I more 
 as any body else. 
 
 Pray, dear Sir give my compliments to the Society and all his members. 
 The reputation of Dr Mounsey is very well established here, and I doubt 
 not, but he will be a great ornement to the society, and of no less utility 
 for the publicq. Every body at Vienna did love and esteem your worthy 
 brother in Law Mr Keith, some of his friends died in the time of his 
 absence, those that live, speak every day with the greatest affection of his 
 merit and candour. 
 
The College of Physicians 
 
 205 
 
 Ciim facilius alia lingua literas enarrare mihi sit, bona mm venia tila 
 alio sermone utar. Probe memini Egregii Cuninghatne, queni nunc sub 
 nomine Dick salute Prcesidem inclytce societatis, cujus membrum esse 
 glorior. Nec exciderunt memoria Blair et Jouneau, quo explicante legi 
 festivissimum vestorum Hudibras qu'em absque illo intelligere non posftissem : 
 optimus ille vixerat helluo librorum : dolui autem acerrime, cum audiverim 
 ilium periisse inaniacum. 
 
 Samus Icetfis tranquillus, medios inter labores senesco, et tuo memor 
 vivam semper vale diu et me habe. 
 
 totum tuum Van Swieten. 
 
 Vindobona 6 Juny 1764. 
 
 M. Le Chevalier Alexandre Dick, President du college des medicins 
 d' Edinbourg. 
 
 " Le Conte Carbricie renouvelle ses respects tres humbles au Chevalier 
 Dick, lui foit savoir qu il est de retour de son voyage du Piemont septen- 
 trional, est qu'il aura I'honeur de lui en rendre compte aujourdhui a diner 
 a Prestonfield, ou il espere que toute la belle et aimable famille jouit d'une 
 santd parfaite et du Bonheur qu'elle merite. II prie Mr le Chevalier de 
 leur faire agreer ses respects. II sera a Prestonfield maison a una heure 
 et demi. 
 
 Mercredi au soir 13 Juillet 1765 
 k Edinburgh. 
 
 The well-known Dr Morgan of Philadelphia, in a letter dated 
 July 15, 1765, writes to Sir Alexander : — 
 
 " It gave me great pain to hear of your Indisposition and particular 
 pleasure to hear of your Recovery before I left England. 
 
 About that time I did myself the honour of writing to you to signify 
 my Desire of being admitted a Fellow of the College of Physicians at 
 Edin. . . . Speaking of the Patronage medicine meets with there its 
 Progress and Improvement I say it already rivals if not surpasses every 
 other School of Physic now in Europe. Your name I have taken the 
 liberty to mention amongst the first of those who are now known wherever 
 Physic is cultivated and revered as the Parents and Guardians of the 
 healing arts. 
 
 With most respectful compliments, etc., etc., 
 
 John Morgan. 
 
2o6 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 In another letter of an earlier date, he says : — 
 " Yesterday I returned from Fontainbleau where I accompanied Sir 
 William Forbes, Mr Powell and another gentleman in order to see the 
 French Court the King keeps there at this time. I was much gratified 
 with the romantic scenes of the Forest and a sight of the King with the 
 French nobility, who were out a hunting. We also saw the Royal Family 
 at the Grand Convent ; and at ~ Chappel on a day when the King and 
 Queen stood sponsors for a child at Baptism. The Court is yet in mourn- 
 ing ^ somewhat lessens the brilliant appearance of it. 
 
 I made the tour of Holland in company with Mr Boswell Lord 
 Auchinlecks son, whose spirited and agreeable conversation gave me 
 more Pleasure than any other I met with in Holland. 
 
 Since I have been in Paris I have visited all the Royal Palaces and 
 fine Gardens in the environs of the City and have been introduced to a 
 company of Literati at a Gentleman's of Distinction ^ has pleased 
 me much," 
 
 Again in another letter from Paris he says : — 
 
 " Medicine does not seem in great vogue here, nor is the Practice in 
 the Hospitals comparable to that in Edinr. The Hotel Dieu seems to be 
 rather a pest house than an Hospital. The Patients are crammed 3, 4 and 
 sometimes 5 and 6 in a bed, that it is no wonder if a kind of gaol fever is 
 for ever in that Hospital, where many more dye of the Hospital than get 
 cured of their original diseases. Surgery seems in more repute, and the 
 Academy of Surgery are at great pains to make Improvements and 
 encourage their Profession." 
 
 In a letter written from Rome he says : — 
 
 " By means of some of the members of the Royal Academy at Paris I 
 have been made acquainted with some of the most celebrated Physicians 
 in France and Italy. Amongst others Monsieur Bourgelas at Lyons, Mons. 
 Jumber, Chancellor of Medicine at Montpelleir, son-in-law to M. de Senac. 
 Dr Bassani at Rome, also the Pope's Physician. I am also from hence to 
 have a letter to my namesake the celebrated Morganini at Padua as 
 I have likewise to Mons. Voltaire. Indeed the nobility and English 
 gentlemen in Italy have treated me with great politeness, so that by their 
 means I have been presented to the Duke of York as well as to the Pope," etc 
 
Society Gossip 
 
 207 
 
 Again, writing from London, " Novr. p-ioth, 1764 : — 
 
 " My introduction to Morganini at Padua was followed by the most 
 familiar access ... he treated me with a profusion of civilities, from the 
 similarity of name called me his cousin — presented me with his publication 
 ' de Sede et Causio Morberum.' ... At Turin I was presented to His 
 Majesty and royal family of Sardinia and made an agreeable stay there of 
 some weeks. 
 
 At Paris I learnt that I had been a good while admitted correspondent 
 member of the royal academy of Surgeons at Paris and took my seat in 
 the Academy during the short time I continued there." 
 
 From Philadelphia, August 29, 1 766, he writes : — 
 
 " I expected to have been able to send over to you by this opportunity 
 some Dissertations now publishing here ' On the reciprocal advantages of 
 a perpetual Union between Great Britain and her American Colonies.' 
 
 The subject proposed by our worthy friend Mr Sargant of London who 
 gave a gold medal done by any member of the Philadelphia College 
 prize I had the Honour to Carry." 
 
 To turn to something lighter, here is a letter signed "A. Elliot," 
 full of amusing gossip and so remarkable in its spelling that it is 
 well worth recording at length. In it is given an account of the 
 State of Parliament, the Queen's Condition, and finally ^Ae event 
 of the day. Lord Pembroke's elopement with Miss Kitty Hunter. 
 There is also a letter from Mrs Scott written to her brother, 
 dated April 10, 1762, referring to the report of the Queen affording 
 promise of an heir, " but as she is no great favourite with the 
 nation it does not seem to afford much joy." 
 
 The extract from Dr Doran on Lord Pembroke, which is 
 appended, and the subsequent items give the sequel to the 
 story : — 
 
 Mr Elliot's letter to Sir Alex. Dick. 
 
 Sir, — I had the favour of your letter longer agoe than shame facedness 
 will allow me to mention ; you may supose it was the Changeable 
 
2o8 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Situation of all Political affares made me so long silent on a subject I'm 
 so perfitly acquented with, as the same unsteadiness still subsists must 
 for the presend Pass it over ; to avode showing my ignorance in these 
 matters, you must know I was highly deverted at your last, where with an 
 air of gravity you desire I may let you know whats going on in the hous 
 of Commons &c, but to tell you the truth and not to apear less in the 
 secret than others, its my oppinion, it would Pussel Wiser heads then mine 
 to tell you ; perhaps they don't know themselves, were they oblige to give 
 Catigorical answers ; however they have sometimes had the adress to set 
 us all in gog with what they were to say, but to the great mortification of 
 the beholders, there was a power in that body to adjurn the house, when 
 the Tea did not please them, one day the Ladys were obliged to walk 
 home at three, not having ordered there Coach's till nine — the expedition 
 however hath, or will sail in a few days but where its designed for, shall 
 leave you to determine, we have several acquentence, but no near Conec- 
 tions goes with it, which I'm not in the list sory for, believing it wors 
 then Germane service, and that's a bold word. 
 
 I had a letter from our friend the Doctor lately he's very well after the 
 recovery of a bad cold ; he desire if you and I hath not dropt on another, 
 that I might in my first letter, let you know he had wrot you two letters, 
 in July or August last or about that time (I have at present forgot) he 
 might have had time to come over this winter, and is the better satisfy'd 
 he declined it as he might have been apointed a wors service. You'l know 
 long ere now that your friend Ramsay is apointed Painter to the King, 
 with ;^200 a year enex'd to it, he's just now making a Drawing of both 
 King and Queen, the letter of whom now begins to be Qualmish and last 
 Sunday was obliged to leave the Chapel, at which they say the King 
 look'd pleased; not sory like othere loving housebands : Shall leave it to 
 you, to account for this change in the dispossitions of so humane a King. 
 I have nothing further to write you, but what set all the world in an 
 amazmend ; my Lord Pembrokes Elopement with Miss Hunter : its all 
 for love or the world well lost with them in good earnest — its thought they 
 are gone to Italy, he wrot a very droll letter to his Lady, after desining 
 she might dispose of the servants as she pleased, and acquainting her with 
 his resolution of never returning to this Kingdom ; he observed she had no 
 great reason to regrat his present proceeding considering the unhappy and 
 uneasy life she had lived for so many years. I saw your old friend Little 
 frazer tothere day who's very well : I must be done, has been twenty times 
 
Flying Lovers 
 
 209 
 
 call'd away from this scrall which apears by the Blots &c, but to make the 
 most of every thing, let these make an apologie for my silence and 
 seeming neglect, at the same time shew my desire and readiness to be in 
 the way of my Duty, my sister joins in compliments to you and Miss 
 Dick ; and to little Tottle Ben as you call her 
 I am Sir your most humble ser^' 
 
 A. Elliot. 
 
 London March 2d 1762. 
 
 Dr Doran in his book entitled " A Lady of Last Century," 
 quotes the following information on the elopement. 
 
 " Those who deal in the small wares of scandal will not want 
 subjects. Miss Hunter, daughter to Orby Hunter, has lately 
 furnished a copious Topic. 
 
 " She and Lord Pembroke in spite of winds, waves, and war, 
 left this kingdom for one where they imagined they may love with 
 less molestation — where they cannot see a wife weep nor hear a 
 father rage. They set off in a storm better suited to travelling 
 witches than flying lovers, but were so impeded by the weather, 
 that a captain sent out a boat and took the lady prisoner ; but 
 after he had set her on shore he found that as she was of age, it 
 was difficult to assume any lawful authority over her ; and after 
 having spent a night in tears and lamentations, she was restored 
 to Lord Pembroke. 
 
 " His Lordship resigned his Commission and his place of Lord 
 of the Bed-chamber, and wrote a letter to Lady Pembroke 
 acknowledging her charms and virtues and his own baseness (an 
 unnecessary thing since the latter she must have long known), 
 but assuring her Miss Hunter was irresistible, that he never 
 intended to return to England, and had taken care that ;^50oo 
 should be paid her yearly." 
 
 The elopement of Miss Hunter (a Maid of Honour !) from 
 
 2 D 
 
2IO Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Bath with the Earl of Pembroke formed one of the most delicious 
 bits of scandal ever discussed in the Rooms, on the Parade, or in 
 the Meadows. 
 
 The excitement attendant thereon was shared by the whole 
 country, for Kitty Hunter was a well-known, and not at all 
 suspected, beauty of the day. Her father, Orby Hunter, was at 
 the time of the elopement a Lord of the Admiralty. The vessel 
 that brought back the fugitives was a Privateer commanded by a 
 friend of Mr Hunter's. 
 
 Kitty's father declined to receive her, and she accompanied 
 Lord Pembroke abroad. 
 
 Lady Pembroke, n^e Lady Elizabeth Churchhill, was a daugh- 
 ter of the Duke of Marlborough, and to her Lord Pembroke wrote 
 from Italy politely remarking that though he had lived with her so 
 many years he regretted to say he had never been able to love her 
 so well as she deserved, so thought it best to leave her. Subse- 
 quently he had the assurance to invite Lady Pembroke to accom- 
 pany them on the Continent! And she says Walpole, "who is 
 all gentleness and tenderness, was with difficulty withheld from 
 acting as mad a part from goodness as he had from guilt and 
 folly." 
 
 A Peerage edited by the Rev. F. Barlow of Burton alludes to 
 my Lord, who was then living, in the following manner: "His 
 Lordship distinguished himself in the Annals of Gallantry with 
 
 Miss H about ten years ago, and since that time with several 
 
 other ladies of less note." 
 
 From another letter. 
 
 " Lord Pembroke after he got to Holland wrote to his lady to desire 
 her to come to them, assuring her Miss Hunter would be assiduous in her 
 endeavours to oblige her, and that they should form a very happy society 
 if she would bring over her guitar, two servants who play on the French 
 
How Mrs Garrick made her Debut 211 
 
 Horn, and his dog Rover ! This polite invitation she was exceedingly 
 ready to comply with, but the Duke of Marlboro' had too much sense to 
 permit it. His Lordship has since written that he will never be happy till 
 he lives with her again ! Absurd as all this is, it is certainly fact, and 
 some add that he has advised Miss Hunter to turn Nun. To be sure he 
 best knows how fit she is to take the Vows of Chastity." 
 
 In a fragment of a letter written in 1763 Mrs Montagu says : 
 " Miss Hunter has come back in the character of a fair penitent. 
 Her lover was soon tired of an engagement which had not the 
 sanction of virtue and honour. Shame and a fatherless Babe she 
 has brought back. I hope her miserable fate will deter adven- 
 turous Damsels from such experiments."^ 
 
 Mrs Elizabeth Montagu, wife of the Hon'^ie Edward Montagu, 
 resided in Hill Street, Berkeley Square, where as " Queen of the 
 Blues" she held her famous assemblies. There witty Mrs Thrale, 
 Dr Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Hannah More, Fanny Burney, 
 Mrs Siddons, Horace Walpole, Garrick and his wife, and a host of 
 others held animated discourse. 
 
 About twenty-five years previously, Mrs Garrick, as Eva 
 Violette, made her first appearance on the stage as a dancer, and 
 the costume in which she made her debut was doubtless laughingly 
 alluded to by the Blue Stockings.^ 
 
 The Earl of Strafford has left a record of the fact in an un- 
 published letter (March 1746) in the Cathcart collection: "She 
 
 • Kitty Hunter's fate was far from being miserable. She married Captain Clarke, who became 
 Field Marshal Sir Alured Clarke, and the once audacious maid of honour died in the odour of 
 fashion in 1810. 
 
 * The Club so called had never any substantial existence, the title was a nickname merely, and 
 arose from some courageous ladies substituting conversation for cards at their assemblies. The 
 name originated from Mr Stillingfleet (a grandson of the Bishop's), who dressed in sombre hues and 
 wore blue stockings. Of him Boswell says, " Such was the excellence of his conversation and his 
 absence was felt so great a loss, that it used to be said, ' We can do nothing without the Blue 
 Stockings,' and thus by degrees the title was established." 
 
2 12 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 surprised her audience at her first appearance on the stage ; for at 
 her beginning to caper she showed a neat pair of black velvet 
 breeches with rolled stockings ; but finding they were unusual in 
 England, she changed them the next time for a pair of white 
 drawers." 
 
Chapter XIV. 
 
 Mr Brodie of Lethan and Sir A. Gilmour's letters — Wilkes and Lord 
 Byron — Mr Boswell's letters — Sir John Dick's letters — Sir John 
 Douglas — Dr Butter of Derby — A merit wouman's letter. 
 
 [1 764- 1 767.] 
 
Chapter XIV. 
 
 To return again to the Family letters, Sir Alexander receives an 
 invitation from Mr Brodie of Lethan to pay him a visit. In it the 
 writer says : 
 
 I hope this will find Lady Dick and you and all your family in good 
 health, have you thought still of a north country trip this summer. I 
 shall be vastly glad to see you here, the roads are very good, there's 
 nothing in the journey, a few Days will do it, you'll see Fort George the 
 strongest Fort in Brittain, if you intend this trip which I wish you may, 
 pray write me a week or so before you sett out that I may be at home, or 
 perhaps meet you on the road, I assure you its very agreeable travelling 
 just now in this country, we are remarkable for fair weather, etc. 
 
 Your most obedient and most Humble Servt, 
 
 30th May 1764. Alex. Brodie, 
 
 As regards news of the day, Sir A. Gilmour writes from 
 London Jan-^y iS^^ 1764. 
 
 "The report of the day is that Wilkes is not to make his appearance^ 
 . . . the whole conversation is at present engrossed by the Hereditary 
 Prince's Marriage with Lady Augusta." 
 
 In another letter of Nov. 18'^ 1765, he says 
 
 " There is no news public or private the Conversation turning mostly 
 on the Tryal of that unfortunate Divil Lord Byron ^ which is fixed for the 
 i6th when it is generally believed that he will be acquitted." 
 
 ' John Wilkes, M.P. for Aylesbury, editor of the North Briton, made an attack on the King, 
 charging him with having uttered a lie. He was arrested and sent to the Tower, but afterwards 
 released, and eventually became Lord Mayor of London. 
 
 - The fifth Lord, born 1722, died 1798, quarrelled with his cousin Mr Chaworth (great grand- 
 son of Viscount Chaworth) at a club dinner of Nottinghamshire gentlemen, 26th July 1765, and 
 killed him after a confused scuffle in a room to which they had retired. He was convicted of man- 
 slaughter, before the House of Lords, and though exempted from punishment by his privilege as a 
 peer, became a marked man. — State Trials, xix. 1175. He lived in seclusion at Newstead Abbey, 
 ill-treated his wife, was known as the " wicked Lord," encumbered his estates and made a sale of 
 his property at Rochdale, the disputed legality of which led to a prolonged lawsuit. — Diet, of National 
 Biography. 
 
2i6 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 A new correspondent now comes upon the tapis, in the person 
 of James BoswelP of renown. When travelling in Italy he met, 
 either at Pisa or Leghorn, a certain Mr John Dick who had been 
 for many years His Majesty's Consul at the latter place ; and upon 
 instituting enquiries, found him to be the direct heir male of the 
 unfortunate Sir William Dick of Braid, who, as has already been 
 related, lent all his money to the government, and died a bankrupt 
 in Westminster Gaol in consequence. This information he im- 
 mediately communicated to his friend Sir Alexander Dick, who at 
 once took all the necessary steps to prove his cousin's right. How 
 this was brought about is explained by the following extract, taken 
 from The Edinburgh Advertiser, dated Friday March i8 to 
 Tuesday, March i8, 1768. 
 
 " On Monday se'enight John Dick Esq. his Britannick Majesty's 
 Consul at Leghorn, was served heir to Sir William Dick of Braid, Baronet 
 his great grandfather's father. It appeared that all the male descendants 
 of Sir William Dick had failed except his youngest son Captain Lewis 
 who settled in Northumberland and who was the grandfather of John Dick 
 Esq. his only male descendent now in life. Upon which a respectable jury 
 unanimously found his propinquity proved, and declared him to be now 
 Sir John Dick Baronet. It is remarkable, that Sir William Dick of Braid 
 lost his great and opulent estates in the service of the publick cause of the 
 liberties of this country ; in consideration of which, when it was supposed 
 there was no heir male of the family, a new patent was granted to the 
 second son of the heir female, which is now in the person of Sir Alexander 
 Dick of Prestonfield Bart. The Lord Provost and Magistrates of this city, 
 in consideration of Sir John Dick's services to his King and country ; and 
 that he is the representative of that illustrious citizen Sir William Dick, 
 who was himself Lord Provost in 1638 and 1639, did Sir John Dick the 
 honour of presenting him with the freedom of the city of Edinburgh, after 
 the service an elegant dinner was given at Fortune's to a numerous com- 
 
 1 James Boswell was born October 29, 1740, died May 1795. His father, a Judge, sat in the 
 Scottish Court under the title of Lord Auchinleck, a title derived from his property. His mother 
 Miss Euphemia Erskine was connected with the noble house of Mar. 
 
Sir John Dick visits Edinburgh 217 
 
 pany consisting of the Gentlemen of the Jury and a good many more 
 persons of distinction here, who all testified their sincere joy at the revival 
 of an ancient and respectable family in the person of Sir John Dick Baronet." 
 
 To bring all this about, naturally entailed much correspond- 
 ence, and as various items of general interest are alluded to in 
 many of the letters, some extracts from those of Sir John Dick 
 will assist the reader to a better understanding of the allusions 
 made by Mr James Boswell in his letters to Sir Alexander. 
 
 In pursuance of his claim, Sir John Dick had come to England, 
 and travelled on to Edinburgh, where he visited Sir Alexander at 
 Prestonfield ; but he returned to his post in Italy, and it was not 
 until a few years afterwards that he took up residence in London 
 where he was appointed Comptroller of Army accounts. 
 
 In a letter to Sir Alexander, dated 29th July 1767, he mentions 
 being greatly flattered by Sir Alexander having named his son 
 after him, and announces his intention of going to Edinburgh as 
 soon as possible 
 
 " we shall then," he says, " have an opportunity of talking matters 
 over." 
 
 From Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick. 
 
 London, April 1766, 
 
 My Dear Sir 
 
 I have been in such a fever of spirits since my arrival in 
 this great metropolis that I have not been able to write a line even to my fair 
 Hollondoise or to my best friends. And even now I can only force myself 
 to sit while I tell you that I had an admirable journey and that I found 
 your excellent cousin and his Lady perfectly well. I thought we should 
 have no difficulty or delay. But it seems my Lord Weymouth wants to 
 have the Consul's succession notified by an official letter from the Lord 
 Advocate, so I have written for it. I have just seen Mrs Strange but not 
 yet Doctor Armstrong. I shall write to you soon meantime pray re- 
 member me in the best manner to all at Prestonfield and Believe me ever 
 yours James Boswell. 
 
 2 E 
 
2i8 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 From the same to the same. 
 
 Edinburgh 
 Saturday 15 August 
 1767 
 
 My dear Sir 
 
 I had last night a letter from our worthy Consul. He 
 was to set out from Mr Anson's on Tuesday the nth, was to stay two 
 days at Durham, and as many at Newcastle. We may suppose him then 
 at Durham by this time. He will there have found my letter informing 
 him of my unlucky situation. 
 
 He is to proceed to Mr John Askew's at Palinskrine House near Berwick 
 and there He is to wait for a letter from me. He desires to know the best 
 Inn at Edinburgh. 
 
 I will recommend him Peter Ramsay's. But I will get him to 
 notify the day of his arrival that you may be ready at Ramsay's to 
 receive him, and bring him to this house that we may all embrace 
 with joy, on the commencement of so valuable a friendship, I may 
 say on the reunion of so near Relations brought together by a mutual 
 friend. My dear Sir such scenes are infinitely above interested schemes. 
 They are the best things that such men as Sir John Dick and you and I 
 find in this world. I wish much to see you here to-day before I write to 
 the Consul. But as that may not be the case, I beg you may give me any 
 instructions you think necessary. 
 
 In the mean time please return me by the Bearer what you have of 
 Corsica as I am going to send it to my Lord Hailes. 
 
 Ever yours with affection 
 
 James Boswell. 
 
 From the same to the same. 
 
 Augt 21 1767 
 
 My dear Friend 
 
 I this afternoon received a letter " Consul Venit, 
 telling me He would be here to-morrow at noon. I was to have sent to 
 you early to-morrow morning ; but Behold the Consul is arrived. Being 
 pressed for time, He has pushed on, and is now at Ramsay's. Being a 
 good deal fatigued, He goes to bed immediately. I have wellcomed him 
 by a few cordial lines and told him as soon after nine o'clock to-morrow 
 morning as He pleases I shall be ready to receive him here, where He will 
 
The Image of the God of Physic 219 
 
 find the worthy Baronet. Therefore my most Excellent Knight let me 
 beg of you to be here before nine. I insist that you come here first. My 
 servant will go for the Consul, and I shall have the joy of bringing you 
 together. We will drink chocolate which I have got from my charming 
 Miss Blair, and feel ourselves friends as if we had been together for years. 
 Then in the warmth of the noonday sun we will repair to your villa. In 
 the meantime pray be kind enough to keep a constant fire in a snug room 
 for the friend of Paoli ^ and prepare your good family to see a man slowly 
 recovering from a fever. Let me have a line in answer. Adieu till we 
 meet. Ever yours James Boswell. 
 
 From the same to the same. 
 
 Edin : 2 Sept. 1767. 
 
 My dear Knight and Friend, 
 
 I have received all your papers which I have allready looked over in a 
 cursory manner. What I desiderate, as we lawyers say, is some authentic 
 documents either written or traditional, as to the period that either of the 
 two Lewis's (Dick) went to England. You will please search your Hogs- 
 head^ and if you find there what will make our friend a Baronet we will 
 fill it to the brim with generous wine to drink his health. I shall peruse 
 your papers at more leisure and we shall talk everything over fully to- 
 gether. In the meantime avoid saying anything as to the Consul's Preten- 
 tions. I send you a letter from him to me, with a card to you which will 
 please you much as I am charged by the Consul to obtain your acceptance 
 of his most elegant present. I insist on your doing so with the frankness 
 of a friend who is perfectly sure that He is made heartily welcome to it. 
 The image of the God of Physic will be a suitable Signet for the President 
 of the Royal College. What is become of the Genealogy of Dick which I 
 took the liberty to correct ? Is this a copy of it ? When we meet, I will 
 talk to you of the manner in which the Consul must be mentioned. I 
 congratulate you on the nuptials in view. Dr Walker's letter is substantial 
 like the fences of which He writes, but like them to want neatness. What 
 think you of his " Congeries of Trumpery " Adieu, dear Sir Alexander 
 
 Ever yours, James BOSWELL. 
 
 I have this morning received a Corsican Proof. The Press Sudat 
 Bravo. 
 
 ^ A Corsican General. 
 
 Sir Alexander preserved his large correspondence in a barrel, or Hogshead, in his library, 
 into which everything of interest was dropped. 
 
2 20 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 From Consul John Dick to Sir Alexander. 
 
 Park Lane, Piccadilly, 
 
 26 January 1768. 
 
 A thousand thanks wait on you my dear Sir Alexander for the very 
 kind and obliging Letter which you did me the Honour to write to me 
 the 6 past, which should not have lain so long unanswered had I not been 
 under the greatest anxiety and concern on account of Mrs Dick's illness, 
 she was seized with a very bad fever (owing to her having drunk the Bath 
 waters, while in perfect health) which confined her to her bed for a 
 month. . . . 
 
 I hope the Business which you mentioned will call both you and our 
 friend Mr Boswell up to London, altho' I shall lament the situation which 
 I am in here, which will not enable me to make you suitable returns for 
 your Hospitality but if I resolve to remain in England, I shall then hope 
 to have it more in my power to show you how sensible I am of your kind 
 reception at Prestonfield. 
 
 You are very good in taking so much pains about my affair, and I 
 heartily thank you for it. Our friend Mr Boswell has not failed to give me 
 an account of how very obliging you have been. 
 
 25th March 1768. 
 
 . . . Mr Boswell has delivered me all the Papers — as also the Copy of 
 good Sir Wm. Dick's Picture which you was so good as to send me, on 
 which I sett the highestvalue consequently many thanks are due to you like- 
 wise on this account. . . . Our friend Mr Boswell sets out to-morrow morning 
 for Oxford to meet his friend Mr Johnson ; but will be back in a few days. 
 
 All the World is mad hereabouts on account of Elections. I hope you 
 have no such doings in your part. 
 
 Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick. 
 
 London, i8th April 1768. 
 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 Here have I been for above three weeks in supine 
 negligence with regard to you and that without any apprehension of blame. 
 I have trusted to your uncommon goodness, and to your perfect knowledge 
 of my character, so that I have quieted myself by considering that you 
 would make all allowance for me, as I am sure you have done. 
 
 Notwithstanding of all my wise resolutions, I must confess that since I 
 
La Signora Consolessa 
 
 221 
 
 last came to London, I have been if possible more extravagantly fond of 
 the Ladies than ever. . . . 
 
 On my arrival in London, I put up at the Star and Garter in Bond 
 Street and who do you think happened to be in that very house at a club, 
 but our excellent friend the Consul. I went to him. He immediately came 
 to me. We embraced, and I told him in a hurry all the principal circum- 
 stances of what had been done in Scotland. In the evening I waited 
 upon him to supper and was rejoiced at seeing again La Signora Con- 
 solessa of whom you have heard so much, and have formed a very just 
 idea. 
 
 I was a great man, for I came laden with valuable things. I produced 
 the Retour which I read in English with an audible voice. I then dis- 
 played the magnificent Burgess Tickets which was very much admired, 
 and I give you my word that my heart beat with real gladness as I read 
 it also aloud. 
 
 I next displayed the portrait of the venerable Sir William, and then 
 the worthy Baronet's letter made the Bonne Bouche. You may figure me 
 quite at home, and in high spirits investing your cousins with their titles ! 
 Sir John Dick my service to you, Lady Dick I have the honour to drink 
 your Ladyships good health. 
 
 So it went and I know not when I was happier. . . . 
 
 What do you think of My Lady Dick's bounty to me ? She has this 
 morning made me a present of the most elegant sword I ever saw. Steel 
 richly carved and embossed and gilt ; in short quite the princely sword for 
 the Laird of Auchinleck. It will delight you to see it when we meet. I 
 will come and strut at Prestonfield while Miss Dick plays Carrickfergus. 
 
 Pray tell her that when I heard the song Quel die d'Amore, &c., at the 
 opera, it made me think myself quite at home again. Let me know what 
 musick she wants that I may bring it down. I insist upon this ; as it is 
 laying up entertainment for myself on those Saturdays which I relish so 
 much after a weeks drudgery at the law. She has La Buona Figliola 
 But has she La Buona Figliola Mantata ? I am sure she has not La 
 Moglia Fredele. I beg she may tell me freely what she wants, 
 
 I have been twice at Mrs Strange's and most kindly received. By 
 strange inattention I neglected to deliver your letter to Dr Armstrong. I 
 sent it to him yesterday and told him the truth. He was with me this 
 forenoon. I expected this. Sir, said I, you may figure how He and I your 
 common friends at once loved each other. 
 
22 2 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 We talked much of you. He has his best compHments to you all. He 
 has been very ill, so has not yet answered your letters ; but will write to 
 you very soon. In ten days or a fortnight, he and I will go and visit 
 Mr Spence. 
 
 And now my worthy friend I have made up for my long silence. I 
 shall be anxious to hear how Frachafields ^ Budget turns out. Poh ! non 
 ce niente. It will be (bite your nail like the Roman Principes Scoppatore) 
 God bless you all. 
 
 Ever yours most affectionately 
 
 James Boswell. 
 
 There is no doubt that Mr Boswell aspired to the hand of 
 the handsome and fascinating Miss Jessie, but his attentions 
 were not encouraged ; her suitors indeed were many, but if they 
 loved her, she loved herself still better. 
 
 Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick. 
 
 London, 26 April 1768. 
 
 " As it is not long since I wrote you a very large letter I take up my 
 pen this morning only to tell you that I approve of the History of Sir 
 Wm. Dick's Family which you have drawn up for Sir Wm. Douglas' 
 book. ... I think now our worthy friend will be completely fixed in 
 his dignity. He was presented to the King as Knight by that ancient 
 Baron Lord Botecourt and both He and Lady Dick have kist hands and 
 are universally acknowledged. I never rested until I had the brass plate 
 on his door changed and ornamented with Sir John Dick. I must add 
 that the letters from the Secretary of State's office the Consul at Leghorn 
 are addressed to Sir John, etc. 
 
 I have not again seen the faces of Charles the Pretender or of his Irish 
 Counsel (claimant for the Baronetcy). His propinquity must remain an 
 occult Science. Your packet which came will founder him. A spurious 
 production of people is admirable. Honest Charles must e'en remain as he 
 is. We may say what is said of his predecessor Demetrius the Silversmith 
 in the Acts of the Apostles chap 19, " Wherefore if Demetrius and the 
 Craftsmen which are with him have a matter against any man, the law is 
 open and there are deputies, let them implead one another." You may de- 
 
 1 Frachafield was one of the claimants for the Dick of Braid baronetcy. 
 
A Very Universal Man 223 
 
 pend upon it we shall have no more trouble. ... I am very ill but my 
 spirits never forsake me. I have great hopes of being able to get something 
 done for the brave Islanders,^ etc., etc. 
 
 I give you my word I am sincerely yours, J. B. 
 
 Over some parts of Bozzy's effusions a veil must be draM^n, 
 sad dog that he was : but putting aside his peccadillos, and looking 
 at the letters for what they are worth in themselves, there is a 
 breezy freshness and a lightness of heart that carry the reader 
 along with him. 
 
 In spite of his swagger and bombast, there lay under all, such 
 sincerity and goodness of heart, that he really was as he actually 
 described himself " a very universal man." This is a more accurate 
 view of his character, we venture to think, than that he was, as 
 has been asserted, merely a servile hanger-on of great men. He 
 possessed that enviable faculty of putting people at their ease, 
 and never spared himself trouble to do any one a service, whether 
 rich or poor. 
 
 One letter is facsimiled to show the style of his writing, which 
 was bold and distinct, and his habit of underlining, which was 
 very characteristic. 
 
 The nuptials alluded to in Boswell's letter to Sir Alexander of 
 Sept. 2nd 1767, as having taken place at Prestonfield, were those 
 of Sir Alexander's niece, Miss Douglas, to Dr Butter of Derby. 
 This young lady was a daughter of Sir John Douglas of Kelhead, 
 who married Sir Alexander's sister Christe, but she had died some 
 years previously. To quote from Sir Alexander's memoranda. 
 
 " Sir John was the chief director of his friend the Duke of Queens- 
 bury's country affairs and parliamentary interest in the county of 
 Dumfries, and with the Duke's approbation kept house at Drumlanrig, it 
 was in that house that Sir John kept up the family interest of Queensbury. 
 
 * Corsicans. 
 
2 24 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Sir John offered himself to represent the County in Parliament and 
 was elected and returned accordingly ^ if I am not mistaken much about 
 the time of the Civil War in 1745. Sir John had several brothers 
 and sisters the accomodating and providing for whom till marriage or 
 fixing in Business was attended with considerable expense insomuch that 
 Sir John who was no economist and apt to take too much of his estate 
 into his own hand in spite of my Sister's Best advice who had a good turn 
 for Decent economy — he run aground and as he likewise had been 
 nibbling to serve the Jacobite party by keeping several fleet horses and 
 other unavoidable expenses, this added to the Distraction and Confusion 
 of his affairs and being deemed by Government more culpable than he 
 really was he was thrown into the Tower and examined before the privy 
 Council at which examination he behaved like a hero — and disgraced none 
 of his friends, however, two years in the tower and his family and country 
 affairs being in disorder his friend the worthy Duke of Queensbury had 
 great sympathy with him and got his estate put under trustees and he 
 himself lent money upon the lands of Kilhead and had his creditors who 
 were numberous and urgent thereby pacified." 
 
 Meanwhile, his daughters found a refuge with their warm- 
 hearted uncle, who acted even more than a father's part towards 
 them. 
 
 Dr Butter,^ it appears, had set his affections on Miss Dick, but 
 that young lady not reciprocating his feelings, Sir Alexander sug- 
 gested he should transfer his attentions to his niece ! 
 
 To this proposal Dr Butter replies in the same letter in 
 which he dolefully acquiesces in Miss Dick's decision, saying : 
 ^ ^741. 
 
 2 " Dr Butter was at this time a practising physician at Derby. He afterwards removed to 
 London, where he died in his 79th year, March 22, 1805. He was the author of several medical 
 tracts. — Malone. 
 
 " Having left Ashbourne in the evening, we stopped to change horses at Derby, and availed 
 ourselves of a moment to enjoy the conversation of my countryman Dr Butter, then physician there. 
 He was in great indignation because Lord Mountstuart's bill for a Scotch Militia had been lost. 
 Dr Johnson was as violent against it. " I am glad," said he, "that Parliament has had the spirit 
 to throw it out. You wanted to take advantage of the timidity of our scoundrels " (meaning, I 
 suppose the ministry). 
 
 "We" (Dr Johnson and Mr Boswell), "dined with Dr Butter, whose lady is daughter of my 
 cousin Sir John Douglas, whose grandson is now heir presumptive of the noble family of Queens- 
 berry. " — BoswelVs Life of fohnson. 
 
Practical Philosophy 
 
 225 
 
 " I beg you will accept of my best acknowledgements for making so 
 good a choice for me and I depend on that assistance which you so 
 generously offer me for obtaining the young Lady's consent. Allow me 
 Sir to mention one thing that I could not help observing, that that Lady 
 never seemed inclined to exchange so much as a word with me when at 
 Prestonfield, But from what you have said that could not be any 
 intentional neglect." 
 
 In Sept. 1767, matters had been happily arranged, as Dr 
 Butter writes : 
 
 " Yesterday I was honored with your letter of the 3rd inst. with the 
 most acceptable news that Sir John Douglas of Kelhead has given His 
 consent to my having his Daughter Miss Katty in marriage." 
 
 Although from the tone of his first letter, Miss Dick's refusal 
 
 seems to have gone very near his heart, the manner in which he 
 
 accepts Sir Alexander's suggestion is eminently philosophic. Not 
 
 being able to have the Rose he takes the nearest thing to it, and 
 
 forthwith sets about preparing a house for the young lady, his 
 
 next letter being full of his purchases. 
 
 " Mahogany Chairs to the Parlor with hair cloath buttons and those to 
 the dining room to have slip cloth covers of Saxon blew and white with 
 half inch bars, as being reckoned both fashionable and neat ! " 
 
 The curtains he leaves for Miss Katty to select — 
 
 " for as my mind is intirely set on gratifying Her in Everything, whatever 
 pleases her will be most acceptable to me." 
 
 A most praiseworthy sentiment, but the frugal lover took care 
 to purchase his horsehair chairs first. 
 
 Miss Katty's letter to her Aunt Lady Dick after the event had 
 
 taken place, to whom she writes as her " Dearest Mother," gives 
 
 such a graphic description of the manners and customs of the day, 
 
 that it is well worth recording. In it she says : 
 
 " The Doctor and I meakes a very good appearance in our hous he sits 
 in on Earm Chear ; and I in a nouther, conversion most agriblie in sens- 
 
 2 F 
 
226 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 cible conversation ; he is a most agrieble companion, and wee dou under- 
 stand wan a nouther as well, as if wee had been aquent for years ; he has 
 every good quality that will meak a wouman hapy, I am affread for 
 nothing but that he will be too indulgent, he shoes the greatest tendernis 
 and attention to me, I cant help seing to you that I relie think from my 
 heart, that I am the happiest settled of the tow sisters, but this youl kep to 
 your self ; the Doctor seems to be vastly esteemed in this pleas ; we heav 
 had the whol town visitin ous, on Sunday Last I had no less than six and 
 Twinty Leadys and gentilmen, this you see was tou moutch for me to 
 incounter with, but thank God it is all over ; I have been in Steat that is 
 to see full Dress for this ten deays and have received all my visitors ; 
 which I dar see has been above Eghty of Leadys and gentilmen in Town 
 and Country, Leady Scarsdal and his lordship Ceam to see me ; thee seem 
 to bee very agrible ; I am to go and see her nixt week ; that is to see if my 
 clous coumes, which I am surprised is not arived yet ; I have been clously 
 confined at horn yet and cant go abrod till the Baggage arrive, &c. &c. 
 
 Pray what is my friend Jess ^ doing I rely think that she might find 
 as mutch time as writ, tell her as I am now a merit wouman I dou expect 
 great attention from such young wemon as her. 
 
 I am ever, etc. 
 
 Catherine Butter. 
 
 Thackeray's remark " that people as soon thought of doing 
 their own washing as their own spelling in those days " comes 
 very near the truth, judging by the above specimen, and it would 
 not be amiss to add grammar to the category. 
 
 The next letter is from Mr Alexander Boswell, an uncle of the 
 Misses Douglas, and alludes to the family of Irving, into which 
 the other sister married whom Miss Katty mentions as being less 
 to be envied than herself. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I am greatly obliged to you for your kind Letter acquaint- 
 ing me of our two Neices the Miss Douglas's having so near a prospect of 
 being happily married, Mr Irving of Bonshaw I have the good fortune to 
 be acquainted with and know him to be a very deserving man, and I never 
 
 ^ Miss Dick. 
 
A Noted Clan on the Borders 227 
 
 heard any reflection against him but one which was difficult to excuse. It 
 was that he who represents a very good old and respectable family, the 
 head of a noted Clan on the Borders which in old times made a great noise 
 should have been so long of entering into the Marriage State and am glad 
 he has at length fallen upon the proper method of putting an end to 
 censure I dare say he and Miss Douglas will be very happy and have the 
 same flattering expectations of the other pair from y* good character you 
 give of the Doctor. It shall not be in my power to attend the Solemnity 
 of the Marriage however agreeable it would be were it in my power 
 meantime I think it is a good omen that they are to be married at your 
 House which I look upon as Templum Concordia and I hope you and my 
 Lady Dick will communicate the secret of bringing lovely children tho 
 they should be boys. . . . 
 
 Your most obed' humble servant 
 Glasgow 9 Sept. 1767. Alexr. Boswell. 
 
Chapter XV. 
 
 The Corsican troubles — Bishop of Oxford's letter — Mr Campbell of 
 Cawdor's letter — Mr Boswell and the Douglas cause — Sir John 
 Dick receives the order of St Anne of Russia — The Duke of 
 Gloucester's illness — A Masked ball — The Pope poisoned. 
 
 [1768— 1774] 
 
Chapter XV. 
 
 As constant allusions are made in letters of this period to Corsica 
 and the French, these remarks of Mr Campbell of Cawdor will be 
 found interesting. Writing from Stackpole Court, Nov. i8th 1768, 
 he says : 
 
 " I shall be proud to find any of my notions in regard to Corsica, or 
 Douglas cause approved of by Mr Boswell.^ I should think every im- 
 partial man must look upon the proceedings of the ffrench in regard to 
 that Nation, as unjust, ungenerous, mean, and cruel. I have no doubt that 
 it would be very justifiable for any other Nation to assist the Corsicans 
 but as it is the first Duty of every Government, to take care for the safety 
 of their own People, I fear the late War in which there was such an 
 extravagant profusion of the Blood and Treasure of Britain has not left us 
 in a condition to enter into any War that is not necessary for our own 
 preservation." 
 
 The following from Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander refers to 
 this subject : 
 
 " Friday 30 June. 
 
 My Dear Sir, 
 
 Mr Copper of the Carron Company, who was in Corsica this 
 summer, has a letter from Sir John Dick dated 26 May, from which I am 
 so far comforted that although the french have taken Corte things are by 
 no means so desperate as the papers have represented them ; And I flatter 
 myself that the General will yet be able to stand it out for some time. 
 God grant some favourable interposition, etc., etc. J. B. 
 
 The celebrated Douglas Cause, alluded to in the following 
 
 letter from Dr Lowth,^ Bishop of Oxford, caused an immense 
 
 excitement throughout Scotland. 
 
 ^ In the edition of Boswell's Life of Johnson issued by the Office of the National Illustrated 
 Library there is a capital portrait of Boswell in the costume of a Corsican Chief. He published an 
 Account of Corsica in 1 768. 
 
 ^ Dr Lowth, born 1710, died 1787, was Bishop of Oxford and afterwards of London. He was 
 an eminent Hebrew scholar, theologian, and poet, and was Professor of Poetry at Oxford. 
 
232 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 The point under consideration was the authenticity of Lady 
 Jane Douglas' marriage on the Continent to Sir John Stewart. 
 The case was carried to the House of Lords, and decided in favour 
 of the son by the marriage upon which doubts had been thrown. 
 
 Boswell took a great interest in the matter and displayed much 
 activity in connection with it. 
 
 "Argyle Street, Feb. 16 1769. 
 
 Sir, — As I did not come to Town for the Winter Season till about a 
 month ago, I had not till very lately the pleasure of seeing Mr Tucker 
 and of receiving the favour of your Letter from his hands. The great 
 Douglas cause was then depending and somewhat advanced ; and I 
 thought that by waiting a few days I might be able to send you the earli- 
 est acc' of the decision of it with my thanks for your Letter. But that has 
 met with so many unexpected interruptions y' I dare not any longer sub- 
 ject myself to the imputation of neglecting to acknowledge your favour. 
 I must therefore content myself with informing you of the present state of 
 that important business : the Council for the Respondents finished their 
 pleading on Tuesday last ; the Council for the Appellant are to reply next 
 Monday ; this part lies upon S"" Fletcher Norton ; it is supposed that he 
 will take up two days and that another day will be appointed for the 
 decision. The cause has been very well attended by a very respectable 
 number of Lords with great assiduity. 
 
 As there was something particular in the manner of the death of our 
 dear friend Mr Spence,^ I will give you as exact an acc' of it as I can. In 
 the summer of the year 1766 Mr Spence was seized with a Paralytic stroke, 
 w"^** however by immediate assistance he so well recovered that soon after 
 there was hardly any visible remains of his disorder, except a degree of 
 weakness w*^*^ it must at best be supposed w'^ be the necessary consequence 
 of it ; and that rather general than affecting any particular part. As the 
 winter came on, this weakness increased ; and his spirits began to be greatly 
 affected. He was unhappy in being unable to bear the least application 
 and was forced to give up all his Literary Amusements. He consulted in 
 succession two or three Physicians ; the last, to whom he applied, a'" this 
 time twelvemonth, put him into a more strengthening regimen ; and Mr 
 
 ^ Mr Spence, mentioned in the Bishop of Oxford's letter, held the chair of modern history at 
 Oxford, and was a literary man of some repute. He was also Prebendary of Durham in 1768. 
 
Death of Prebendary Spence 233 
 
 Spence himself thought he received much benefit f' it. He spent some 
 weeks with me in the country about two months before he died, and I 
 thought him considerably better than he was the year before. The day 
 that he died he was as well and as chearful as he had been of late at any 
 time. He was at his own house in Surry. 
 
 Mr Shepard, a neighbouring Clergyman, who used to be much with 
 him, was there ; and another neighbour, a Lady. After dinner Mr Shepard 
 read for some time an amusing book to him, as usual ; and upon his going 
 out to take a little walk, Mr Spence played a game of Picquet and a game 
 at Backgammon with the Lady. He then said he would step to his next 
 neighbour, Mrs Moore's, whom he often visited through his own garden by 
 a back door, which opened over against her house. About half-an-hour 
 after this his servant came in and inquired for his master ; and as it began 
 to rain, sent his coat to Mrs Moore's : when word was brought back that 
 he had not been there, he immediately ran with it into the garden, suppos- 
 ing his master was walking ; but he soon found him lying flat on his face 
 in the Canal just at the edge, where the water was not a foot deep, quite 
 dead. All measures were used to recover him, but to no purpose. He 
 commonly walked round his little grove by this part of the Canal ; at the 
 place where he fell in, the bank is more sloping than at any other part ; 
 here he was probably taken with a fit of giddyness or fainting, or his foot 
 slipped, and he had no strength to recover himself 
 
 I give you this minute detail because I have heard of late, that it has 
 been surmised and said (though I do not know, that it has been anything 
 like a common report) that Mr Spence destroyed himself I am fully 
 persuaded that this notion has arisen merely from an addition of 
 imaginary circumstances to the simple fact, that he was found in the 
 water. I believe I knew as well as anyone the state of Mr Spence's 
 mind, through his illness, and at the latter part of it ; I have made y® most 
 exact inquiries y' I could into the circumstances of this unhappy event ; I 
 am perfectly well acquainted with the situation of things and the whole 
 scene of it w'='' suggests arguments to me w'^*' I cannot clearly explain to 
 you ; and I assure you I am fully convinced, that his death was purely 
 accidental, 
 
 I need not inform you, that our good Friend was no hoarder of wealth; 
 whatever he could spare from his ordinary expenses he constantly 
 bestowed in Charity ; in pensions to poor people, in assisting occasionally 
 persons in distress, in apprenticing children, &c., agreeably to this, and 
 
 2 G 
 
234 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 according to his design, he has left very little besides his goods, and the 
 arrears of his Preferments ; w'^'' will be found about sufficient to discharge 
 a few debts and a few legacies, according to a calculation, w'^ he com- 
 municated to me, when he made his will, soon after his first disorder. I 
 am very much obliged to you for your kind attention to my family 
 concerns — the loss of our youngest and eldest daughter within five weeks 
 of one another, was a very severe affliction to us ; w'=^ my wife is far from 
 having yet recovered. In these cases strength of constitution is of great 
 use in seconding the efforts of reason and religion ; she wants that 
 advantage having been for some time in no good state of health, and at 
 no time enjoying very good spirits. 
 
 I purpose being in the north every other year and accordingly was 
 there last summer : if we ever accomplish our design of seeing Scotland, 
 w=^ we do not absolutely despair of, we shall with great pleasure embrace 
 the opportunity of paying our respects at Prestonfield. 
 
 I am very glad to hear a good account of the very worthy and 
 ingenious Dr Blacklock. Dr Robertson's History ^ is on y^ eve of publica- 
 tion : the expectation of the public are great ; but I daresay it will fully 
 answer them. 
 
 Mr Tucker is at a great distance from me, and I have been so much 
 engaged, that I have not yet been able to wait on him. I shall take the 
 first opportunity of doing it. Mrs Lowth joins with me in most respectful 
 comp'^ to yourself Lady Dick and Miss Dick. I beg you to present my 
 best respects to Mr Keith. — I am etc., etc. 
 
 R. Oxford, 
 
 Mr Campbell of Cawdor also makes mention of the Douglas 
 Cause. He writes from 
 
 Stackpole Court March 31 1769 
 
 Dear Sir 
 
 • •••••••• 
 
 I was truly glad to hear of Mr Douglas's success. It 
 reflects great Honor upon the House of Lords that they did justice to an 
 Orphan, notwithstanding such great and powerful! interest. I have not 
 
 ' History of Scotland under Mary and James VI. 
 
Overthrow of Law and Order 235 
 
 seen the Protest, I was surprised to hear of it ; but indeed one can scarce 
 think of any affair that may not be seen in a different light by some. The 
 Duchess Dowager of Douglas has indeed acted a Noble Part. I hope the 
 young gentleman will all his life show himself, in every respect, deserving 
 of his great Fortune and a worthy Representative of that Illustrious 
 family. 
 
 I am at the same time much concerned to find that the most dangerous 
 spirit of Riot and contempt of all legal Authority which has prevailed so 
 much among the Dregs of the People at London has infected Edinburgh. 
 At London designing and abandon'd wicked men have inflamed the 
 unthinking Populace, and made them trample upon Law, and just 
 Authority under pretence of securing the Constitution and destroy all 
 Liberty under color of a zeal for it. And they have the Independence 
 in the newspapers to speak of the whole Legislature, and all who are 
 desireous to obey and be protected by the Laws of their country, as a 
 Faction, and the Mob inflamed by a profligate Bankrupt, and encouraged 
 by a few ill designing and some foolish ignorant or misinformed men. 
 As the Nation, the uncorrupt, wise and Honest part of the People. The 
 absurdity would be truly ridiculous if the bad Consequences did not make 
 it a matter of very melancholy consideration. 
 
 I truly pity the Corsicans and detest the injustice, and indeed mean 
 conduct of those who bought a pretence for a commonwealth of Tyrants 
 to enslave that brave People. But wee should take care not to carry our 
 zeal too far. That Charity should begin at home's a true and just saying ; 
 though it has been disgraced by such as under pretence of it, would 
 absolutely confine Charity always to begin and end there. The first duty 
 of every government is to protect and preserve the People they govern, 
 and not to hazard their destruction under pretence of affording a generous 
 Protection to other distressed Nations. The late bloody expensive and 
 romantic German War has not left us in a condition for Knight errantry 
 though in a just cause. I do not conceive we are much interested in the 
 Case and that the ffrench will have so great advantage over us by the 
 possession of that Island, nor have I seen that wee are much the better for 
 what wee possess in the Mediterranean, though wee maintaine those 
 Possessions at a vast expence. 
 
 Our common People are indeed always delighted with war and conquest, 
 but I have long been convinced that the way to be very popular, is to act 
 
236 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 directly contrary to the true Interest of the People both at home and 
 abroad." . . . 
 
 Your most oblidged and obedient 
 
 Humble Servant 
 
 J. Campbell. 
 
 P.S. — My daughter Fortescue set out for London on the 28 ult., my 
 Lord ^ having sent his Chaise for her, and a servant out of Livery (who 
 always respected her) to conduct her. 
 
 Continuing the correspondence as much as possible in 
 the order of dates, the next letters are from Consul Sir John 
 Dick. In one of these he notices the part taken by Mr Boswell 
 in the Douglas Cause, and also makes mention of his intended 
 marriage, vi^hich meets with Sir John's approval, in the hope that 
 it may make him a more sedate and useful member of society. 
 
 Mr Boswell writes himself to Sir Alexander from Lainshaw, 
 and speaks of the lady. Miss Montgomerie, to whom he was 
 affianced, as sitting by his side. If we may judge from the " Life 
 of James Boswell," written by Mr Percy Fitzgerald, this marriage 
 was not altogether a success. 
 
 In a letter dated March 15th 1772, Dr Johnson asks him this 
 question — 
 
 " How comes it you tell me nothing of your lady ? I hope to 
 see her some time, and till then shall be glad to hear of her." 
 
 Sir John writes : 
 
 Park Lane 27 August 1768. 
 
 My dear Sir Alexander 
 
 I beg leave to convey to you my best and very sincere 
 thanks for the two kind letters, etc., etc. The first came with the Diploma 
 from the Heralds Office which you had been so good as to send me, and 
 the latter by Sir John Pringle. . . . Since you are so good as to get a seal 
 
 1 Mathew Fortescue, second Baron Fortescue, married in 1752 Anne, second daughter of John 
 Campbell, Esq., of Cawdor Castle, County Nairn, and Stackpoole Court, County Pembroke. She 
 died in 1812, Her eldest son, Hugh, was first Earl Fortescue. 
 
The Arch Duke at Florence 237 
 
 made for me I shall be obliged to you if you will send it to Capt Timothy 
 Mangles in Heydon Square near the Minories who will have other things 
 to send me, the ships lay near his house and there is one sails for Leghorne 
 the first of every month. 
 
 I should have been sett out ere this had I not receiv'd the Kings 
 Commands to carry out the Ensigns of the Bath order for our friend Sir 
 Horace ^ so that I am detained until they can be expedited. I am to 
 deliver them to the Arch Duke to Invest him." 
 
 Leghorne 17 December 1768. 
 
 We had rather a disagreeable Journey as it rained almost all the way. 
 At Turin I saw your friend Count Carberry, who talked much of the great 
 civilities he had received from you.^ At Milan we only stayed one day to 
 dine with Count Permian and then proceeded to Florence where I was 
 expected with impatience, as my friend Sir Horace longed for his red 
 ribbon which the King charged me with for him. 
 
 The great Duke invested him with every possible mark of Eclat. There 
 were above forty English Noblemen and Gentlemen there who attended 
 the new Knight. This ceremony gave rise to many great dinners Balls 
 &c. which lasted a fortnight and seemed more fatiguing than our journey 
 — we then returned Home where I immediately had a return of my old 
 complaints the Head and Stomach Achs this obliged me to remove to 
 Pisa, where they immediately left me. Thus I am convinced that my 
 complaints arise from the vapors of the Salt Marshes about this place. I 
 am now returned again here and am tollerably well oweing to the cold 
 Tramontana wind which purifies the air. Our Court has been at Pisa 
 some time and is to come here at Christmass to pass most part of the 
 Carnival here so that we shall be very gay. I doubt much that is the 
 thing for a commercial place. 
 
 We are sometime without any news from Corsica, but as we know that 
 much snow has fallen there we hope to hear that the brave Islanders will 
 have drove the French into the Garrison Towns, if the poor General has 
 but Money and Ammunition he has nothing to fear from all the force of 
 France. What is our friend Mr Boswell about ? I long to have the 
 pleasure of hearing from him on this head. I wish some of these rich 
 Nabobs would send him a lack of Rupees." 
 
 ^ Sir Horace Mann. * At Prestonfield. 
 
238 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 "Leghorn, Oct. 20th 1769. 
 
 I cannot avoid (altho' late) sending you my congratulations on the 
 Issue of the Douglass cause, altho' I wish our friend Mr Boswell had been 
 more moderate, he tells me that he is now going to be married, I am glad 
 of it, he will now become more . . and I am sure that he will 
 make a usefull Member of Society. I make no doubt but that he 
 is now much taken up with his Illustrious tho' unfortunate Friend, alas, 
 poor man, he deserved better fate, but perhaps better days are yet reserved 
 for him, by this time he will have disappointed many who may have 
 flattered themselves with the hopes of making a Tool of him, and I hope 
 that he has convinced those I wished him to convince that He is too great 
 and too good for any dirty work . . . 
 
 Within the last few days I have had the pleasure to hear from my 
 worthy friend Colonel Keith,^ he was so good as to send me agreeable 
 news of his good Father^ to whom pray present my respects, and also 
 of you, who he says continues to find your happiness in contributing to 
 that of others. I am rejoiced to think that he likes his situation. 
 
 I had forgot to say your letter and the very excellent Seal came to 
 hand forwarded by my Friend. I have never yet seen anything of the 
 kind so well cut . . . 
 
 We are likely to have more busy scenes in these parts. You must 
 have heard of the Revolt at Montenegro where the Inhabitants have taken 
 the oaths to the Empress of Russia, and all the Greeks in the Levant are 
 ripe for a revolt, they only wait the appearance of the Russian Fleet, if 
 they meet with no obstruction from the French, the whole Turkish Empire 
 will be in danger, is not this a bold undertaking for fresh water seamen. 
 
 Mr James Bosvirell to Sir Alexander. 
 
 Lainshaw, 
 
 1 8th March 1769. 
 
 Dear Sir, — Carrickfergus is delayed for some little time. My father 
 who is here with me begs you will be so kind as to let him have some 
 spawn of Perch. It seems your George is a man of great skill (I should 
 
 * Colonel, afterwards General Sir Robert Murray Keith, K.B., G. C.B., was Envoy Extra- 
 ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Courts of Dresden, Copenhagen and Vienna, from 
 1769 to 1792. 
 
 * Who ran away with Miss Dick, Sir Alexander's sister. 
 
The Empress of Russia's Decoration 239 
 
 say profound skill as it is an aquatick science) in that matter, so I give you 
 the trouble of this to ask your interest with him, to get some to be sent 
 out by our carrier on Wednesday. Mr John Stobie my father's clerk is 
 charged with these presents. 
 
 Miss Montgomerie^ who is sitting by me, joins in best compliments to 
 you all. By and by you shall hear from me at greater length. 
 
 I ever am, etc. etc. James Boswell. 
 
 The Consul to Sir Alexander. 
 
 Pisa, 28th February 1771. 
 
 I ought to have thanked you my dear Sir Alexander long before this for 
 your kind and obliging letter of the 3rd Sept. last, for some time I 
 differ'd it, in hopes of hearing that the Picture which I took the liberty to 
 send to you had reach'd your hands, and in the mean while a Torrent 
 of business flow'd in upon me which has not left me a moment to myself 
 for some time Past. 
 
 You no doubt will wonder how comes all this Business in Peaceable 
 times. I therefore in confidence acquaint you ; that when the Empress of 
 Russia resolved to send a Fleet into these Seas, she wished that I would 
 take upon me the management of all the Money Concerns, and providing it 
 &c. &c. The King thought that it would be improper for me to accept of a 
 publick character, not to give Jealousy to the Port, but had no objection to my 
 acting in a private capacity. I therefore had the superintendency of all their 
 affairs, and gott my worthy Friend Mr Rutherford (a gent well known to 
 our Friend Boswell) appointed the acting agent. And I have the satis- 
 faction to acquaint you, that both Her Imperial Majesty and all Her 
 Ministers greatly overrate my endeavours to be of use to Her, last summer 
 the Empress sent me a gold medallion sett round on both sides with 
 Diamonds.^ The letter which accompanied it from Count Panin, was 
 still more value, and indeed all the letters which I continue to receive 
 from thence are very flattering, but the occupation which this undertaking 
 occasions is immense for besides providing their Fleets with Stores &c. 
 Ammunition, Provision, Careening and repairing the Ships Providing the 
 
 November 25, 1769. At Lainshaw, in the County of Ayr, James Boswell, Esq., of 
 Auchinleck, advocate to Miss Peggy Montgomerie, daughter of the late David Montgomerie of 
 Lainshaw, Esq." Mr Percy Fitzgerald in his "Life of James Boswell," mentions the above 
 marriage as taking place at " Lanislaw," and spells Montgomerie with a final y. The above letter 
 points to a slight misnomer, and the final y in Montgomery was not commonly used at that date. 
 ^The Order of St Anne of Russia. 
 
240 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 necessary Funds &c. the Correspondence with the different departments, 
 and with all Her Imperial Majesty's Ministers at Foreign Courts, makes 
 no inconsiderable object. I mention these particulars as an apology for 
 my silence but it would be improper to have it known publickly, least our 
 enemies should insinuate, that the King's Servants are employ'd in render- 
 ing services to the Enemies of the Port. 
 
 Count Orlow has been with us again about two months, and as he 
 lodged at my House, you may easily conclude that this circumstance 
 added to my occupations, he is now on a land expedition, and will be back 
 about the middle of April, when the opperations will be carried on with 
 Vigor, and I doubt not but the Turks will find their error, in not having 
 made a Peace this winter. 
 
 We have lately had several very severe Earthquakes at Leghorn, they 
 continued for about 12 days three and four in a day, above three-fourths of 
 the Inhabitants left the Town, many houses were severely damaged but 
 none fell, the Carnival amusements were suspended, and Processions took 
 the place of Masquerades. 
 
 The Court has been here near three months, and stays here untill the 
 Holy week — it is impossible to conceive how amiable and gracious the 
 Arch Duke is, indeed the great Duchess has also great Merit, as she has 
 many excellent qualities. . . . 
 
 Pray be so good as to acquaint our friend Mr Boswell that I shall write 
 to him very soon." 
 
 Writing again on the 25th October 1771, he says : 
 " I make no doubt that you will have been alarmed on the advices of 
 His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester's Illness ; it has been Violent, 
 Painfull, and dangerous, as the Flux continued for nine days, and it is 
 amazing with what resolution and Patience His Royal Highness has born 
 it. I cannot describe to you how unhappy we have been for several days 
 continually fluctuating between hopes and fears, neither can I paint the 
 Excessive Joy which we now feel on hearing the Physicians pronounce 
 Him out of danger. In the midst of all our distress we had the Consola- 
 tion to reflect that His Royal Highness had every Assistance and Con- 
 venience that could be wished for, and He has frequently Condescended to 
 mention how happy he was in being in my House. I hope that H.R.H. 
 will continue here some time, as here are no temptations of Amusements 
 
Factions and Intrigues 241 
 
 that can endanger his Health, this letter goes by one of the Duke's ser- 
 vants, who is dispatched to carry the agreeable news to the King, and I 
 could not lett slip the opportunity to acquaint you with it that you might 
 as soon as possible participate of our Joy. 
 
 Our friends the Russians are I hope doing well, our last letters from 
 them are dated the 5th August from Paros, but we hear since that they 
 have landed on the Island of Negroponte, and that they were besieging the 
 Castle — nay some Masters of Ships that have arrived from the Levant say 
 that they have taken it, but as Ship news is not always the most authentic 
 we wait for more certain advices. . . . The Court of Vienna begins to be 
 extremely Jealous at the Success of the Russians, and if matters cannot be 
 settled this winter I fear that the flames of War will spread ; but I hope in 
 spite of the French Intrigues that the Temple of Janus will once more be 
 shut, and that soon. In this part of the World the Factions and Intrigues 
 at the Court of Parma seems to furnish great matter of Conversation, but 
 as I do not care to spoil my eyes with looking and examining into them 
 thro' a Microscope, I hope you will excuse my silence on that head, save 
 that where ever there is any disturbances, you may take it for granted that 
 the French are at the bottom of it. I wish that our friend Colonel Keith 
 may find his situation at Copenhagen agreable, I am sure that he deserves 
 it. I had the satisfaction the other day to hear that he was well. 
 
 Pray say a thousand kind things for me to our friend Mr Boswell. 
 . . . And I hope that you will always allow me the Honor of being with 
 the most RespectfuU and Affectionate Attachment, My Dear Sir Alex- 
 ander, etc., etc. 
 
 Again writing from 
 
 Leghorn, 6th Nov. 1772 
 
 he says : 
 
 " I was always in hopes that I should soon be more at leisure to attend 
 to my friends by the appearance of the Peace between the Russians and 
 Turks, but in this I have been disappointed, however by the advices which 
 I have again received from the Danube my hopes are again revived that 
 the Temple of Janus will soon be shut — it will realy grieve me if the 
 second attempt to conclude this salutary work should miscarry, not only 
 for the sake of Humanity but for my Friend Mr Rutherford and myself. 
 . . . The violent hott weather which we have had this summer together 
 
 2 H 
 
242 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 with too much occupation has greatly affected my Nerves and brought on 
 the Convulsions, but as the air now begins to cool I am in hopes that I 
 shall grow better. 
 
 I cannot express to you the pleasure that I had on hearing the repeated 
 good news of my worthy friend Col. Keith, who I was always sure would 
 make his way as soon as he had his foot once in the stirrup. ... I was at 
 Rome with the Duke of Gloucester, when the advices came, and it was an 
 additional pleasure to me to hear that Amiable and Virtuouse Prince, 
 express himself so strongly in favor of the worthy Colonel. I long to hear 
 that he is settled at Vienna, as am in hopes, that I shall have frequently the 
 pleasure of hearing from him, he will arrive at Vienna at a very Interesting 
 Epoch and I look upon it as fortunate for the Nation that we shall 
 have such an able Minister there. I think that by the Observations which 
 I made here on the Emperor that the Colonel cannot fail of being a 
 favourite with him, in short the prospect is flattering, on which I beg the 
 favour of you to present his worthy Father my very sincere Congratula- 
 tions and most Respectful! Compliments likewise to Sir Basil.^ . . . 
 
 I can say nothing yet about my return to Britain, as it depends upon 
 many circumstances, I however hope, that in a few months hence I shall 
 be able to see my way a little clearer. I however own I begin to long 
 for retirement. ... I have the Honour to be always, etc., etc. 
 
 John Dick. 
 
 The next information is derived from an " extract of a letter 
 from a gentleman in the suite of his Royal Highness the Duke of 
 Gloucester, dated Pisa, Dec. 5," and published in a London paper 
 Jan. 2nd 1772. 
 
 " His Royal Highness returned to Pisa from Florence the 30th of 
 November and arrived at Leghorn the next day. On the ist of this month 
 he dined on board the Trident, Admiral Sir Peter Denis accompanied by 
 the Grand Duke and Duchess, Prince Corsini, Duke Salviatti and several 
 
 ^ " His Majesty conferred the honor of G.C. B. on Sir Basil Keith, younger brother of General 
 Sir Robert Keith. He was made Governor of Jamaica, but died about four years later ; being 
 universally adored by the people of the Island, their regret for his loss was expressed in a monu- 
 ment to his memory." " He was early bred to the sea," says Sir Ale.x. Dick in his diary, " and at 
 eleven years of age was in the great action when Captain Grenville fought in a 90-gun ship under 
 Admiral Hawke, who was killed by a cannon ball, holding Basil in his hand." 
 
Balls and Receptions 
 
 243 
 
 English noblemen, particularly Lord Cowper, Lord Cholmondeley, Lord 
 Lincoln, etc. 
 
 The ship was splendidly and elegantly fitted up for the reception of 
 those illustrious guests ; the lower deck guns were fired upon the occasion, 
 and the evening concluded with a magnificent masked ball and supper 
 given by Sir John Dick the English Consul, who lives in all the splendour 
 of a Minister and is highly worthy of such a character. 
 
 On the 4th his Royal Highness dined with Prince Corsini, when the 
 English nobility before named were invited, and in the evening the Grand 
 Duke gave a ball and a supper. We are hourly in the expectation of the 
 arrival of Mr Adair and Dr J ebb, and as soon as they come shall proceed 
 to Rome. 
 
 Writing on the 21st Oct. 1774 Sir John says : 
 
 " Thank God the Peace is concluded, an event I much wished for, but 
 the winding up such immense concerns is a thing of no small consequence, 
 however this, as well as everything else, must have an end. 
 
 I am sorry to inform you of the death of Lord Morton at Faormina 
 thought to be occasioned by his visit to Mount Etna which brought on a 
 malignant fever. 
 
 There does not remain a doubt but that the late Pope ^ was poisoned, 
 they even pretend to say that this horrid act was perpetrated the last Holy 
 week. The Pope felt it in a few days afterwards, but all the Art of 
 Medicine could not save his life, one of his Confectioners was taken ill at 
 the same time, with the same symptoms and died a few days after him, in 
 the same manner, his Intestines were all ulcerated, and when the Surgeon 
 took his head into his hands when he was going to embalm him, all his 
 Hair fell off and his Teeth fell out : poor man he always apprehended that 
 he was to dye in this manner. 
 
 The Strangers will have a great Loss of him, and he is regretted by 
 everyone save the Jesuits and their Partisans. 
 
 » Clement XIV. 
 
Chapter XVI. 
 
 Baronets of Nova Scotia — A Diamond Badge — Notes by Sir Alexander 
 Dick — A Journey to the North — Review of the Grey Dragoons — 
 Influenza — Death of David Hume — Mr Forbes Leith's letter — Sir 
 John resigns his post. 
 
 [1 773- 1 780.] 
 
Chapter XVI. 
 
 The order of Baronets of Nova Scotia^ was instituted by King 
 James I. on the i8th October 1624, for the purpose of aiding and 
 promoting the colonization of that country. His idea was carried 
 into effect by his son Charles I. by conferring the title of Baronet 
 upon the Honourable Sir Robert Gordon ; the Charter of the 
 premier Baronet being made the regulating Charter for the whole 
 order. 
 
 By a royal warrant dated Whitehall 17th November 1629, 
 King Charles authorized the Baronets to wear, with an orange 
 ribbon, a personal badge of distinction charged with the royal 
 Arms of the province of New Scotland, viz.: "In a scutcheon 
 argent a saltoire azure, thereon ane inscutcheon of the Arms of 
 Scotland, with ane imperiall crowne above the escutcheon and 
 encircled with this motto — ' Fax Mentis Honestce Gloria! " 
 
 The first one hundred and eleven Baronets had grants of 
 16,000 acres each with their titles, 
 
 " the same to be held by themselves their Heirs and Assigns, of the Crown 
 of Scotland as Free Baronies and Regalities, with hereditary seat and voice 
 in the Legislative Diets of the Province." 
 
 In connection with this, it may have been noticed amongst the 
 old letters quoted in this collection, that some are addressed to T/ie 
 Right Honourable Sir James Dick, and others to his wife as The 
 
 1 "In 1763 the treaty of Paris was concluded, when Nova Scotia, in its original limits, was 
 restored to the British Crown, and when, according to the law of nations, and the usages of the 
 British Government in all times past, the rights of the Baronets to their baronies and regalities of 
 16,000 acres each, revived." 
 
248 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Honourable Lady Dick, and there are also several besides those 
 mentioned in which the prefix The Honourable is given. At a 
 Meeting of the Order in 1848 all the Baronets were addressed in 
 that manner. There is a single instance of the dignity of a 
 Baronetess of Nova Scotia being conferred, in the person of Dame 
 Mary Bolles with succession to her Heirs Male. 
 
 It was doubtless owing to the troubled times in the latter part 
 of King Charles' reign, and in the Cromwellian Era which ensued, 
 when it was the object of every liege subject who valued his head 
 to keep as much out of evidence as possible, that all these distinc- 
 tions of Royal favour were put aside, and that many for the time 
 lay dormant. 
 
 In the year 1734 Meetings of the Baronets took place in London 
 relative to their privileges, but it was not until 1775 that the matter 
 was actually taken up, and the following circular issued from the 
 Lyon Office, Edinburgh.^ 
 
 Lyon-Office 28th March 1775. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 By a Royal Warrant from King Charles the First dated 17th November 
 1629, the Baronets of Nova Scotia are entitled to wear, hanging upon the 
 breast, suspended by an Orange Silk Ribbon, round the neck, the Arms of 
 Nova Scotia, enamelled in proper colours on an oval gold medal. 
 
 It is a matter of regret to many gentlemen of that order, that the use 
 of the above honourable badge of distinction, conferred by the Sovereign, 
 has been totally neglected ; and as, by the nature of my office, I am called 
 upon to attend to the observance of regularity, and propriety in all matters 
 of honour, I think it proper to remind you, as a Baronet of Scotland, of 
 this privilege of your order. 
 
 As the number of Scottish Baronets has very much decreased since the 
 Union, whereby the importance in point of respect, of those who remain is 
 increased, the exercise of the above privilege becomes the more deserving 
 of attention ; and I flatter myself, that, by recommending a revival thereof, 
 
 ^ See Nova Scotia Question, List of Charters, etc., printed and published by W. Brettell, 
 36 New Bond Street, 1848. 
 
Meeting of the Baronets of Nova Scotia 249 
 
 I shall, while I am doing a thing not foreign to the duty of my office, 
 render, at the same time, an acceptable service to the Honourable Body 
 whom it more particularly concerns. 
 
 I submit to you, and to your brethren (to all of whom I have written 
 to the same purpose) what measures may be most proper to be followed 
 for answering the end of the above recommendation ; but should presume, 
 that it will be necessary, in the first place, to call one General Meeting of 
 the Order at London, and another at Edinburgh, for their opinion on the 
 subject. If a meeting of this kind would be agreeable to you, you will 
 please to signify to me any time before the first of May next, when, if I 
 find myself properly authorised for that purpose, I shall advertise one such 
 meeting at London, and another at Edinburgh, without delay. 
 I am respectfully, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient Servant, 
 (Signed) Ro. Boswell, Lyon Dep. 
 
 In reply to this Sir Alexander Dick writes : 
 
 " Prestonfield, 15 April 1775. 
 
 Sir, — I was favour'd with your very obliging and pointed Letter of the 
 28th of last March relative to the Baronets of Nova Scotia and their 
 Interest in wearing a Ribbon and Badge conferred on them, so far back as 
 1629 by the Royal warrant of King Charles the First, but disus'd as I have 
 heard, by the interruption of the long and disastrous civil war, during the 
 usurpation of Oliver Cromwell. 
 
 If the rest of my Brethren of the order of Baronets shall seem inclined 
 to meet to consider of this matter so obligingly recommended to them 
 from Lord Lyon and your office, you may depend upon my readiness to 
 concurr in every measure that shall appear proper and fit on such an 
 occasion ; more especially if his Majesty, who is the Fountain of Honour, 
 is in the due form, made acquainted with the intention of such Revival. 
 
 I have the Honour to be to Lord Lyon and to you as his Depute with 
 all Respect, etc., etc. 
 
 Alexander Dick. 
 
 Sir John Dick writes : 
 
 " My situation here deprives me of the Pleasure of being present. I 
 
 2 I 
 
250 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 shall however desire my worthy Friend Sir A. Dick to concur for me in 
 any measures that may be agreed on at the meeting." 
 
 Leghorn, the 27th April 1775. 
 
 Sir John Cunyngham, writing from Capringtoun Castle 5th 
 August 1775, to his brother Sir Alexander Dick, says : 
 
 " I was allways jealous that the revival of the Nova Scotia Badge would 
 meet with obstruction. Lord Suffolk's Letter is indeed a courtly one, but 
 sure its the Question to a very tedious and expensive Issue. The short 
 and the long of the matter is the bestowing Ribbons and such ornamental 
 distinctions is become an engine of power, by the use of which it has other 
 and great ends and will not therefor by rendering it too common lose its 
 utility." 
 
 Again in Nov. 1775 he writes : 
 
 " In obedience to an Advertisement in the Papers requiring concurrence 
 to the address proposed to be presented to His Majesty by the Baronets in 
 their Badges. By a Letter of this date I have signified to the Committee 
 my Approbation of that measure. But I must whisper into your ear, and 
 leave it to your judgement to determine, if it were not proper to signify to 
 one of the Secretarys of State the maner in which this Address is to be 
 Presented and not as Commodore Trunnion says Rux Bump on His 
 Majesty before He is previously inform'd of the mark of distinction which 
 the Baronets propose to assume." 
 
 Writing from Leghorn on the 15th January 1776 to Sir Alex- 
 ander, Sir John Dick says : 
 
 " I beg your acceptance of my very sincere thanks for your goodness in 
 communicating the particular steps taken by the Baronets of Scotland 
 relative to their Resolution of reassuming the use of the Ribbon and Badge 
 of their order. I perceive by the papers that this resolution was carried 
 into Execution on St Andrew's Day." 
 
 That Sir John was not going to be content with the ordinary 
 badge is evident from reference he makes to an order he had 
 given his Jeweller, who had already received instructions from 
 
Birth of a Prince at Rome 
 
 him to make a plain badge for himself and Lord Cowper. He 
 writes anent : 
 
 " Mr Dingwall, Jeweller, in St James Street, who was making my 
 Diamont Badge, but to this moment I am without further advices from 
 him about it, and fear his Letters and Badges have been intercepted." 
 
 Having brought this matter to a satisfactory conclusion. Sir 
 John continues his correspondence with this information : 
 
 "To-morrow we are to have the great Duke, his sister the Arch 
 Dutchess Christina, with her Husband Prince Albert of Saxony. You will 
 have heard that the Dutchess of Gloucester has brought forth a Prince at 
 Rome, the Duke and Dutchess of Saxgotha, and the Margrave of Anspach 
 Bareith, were Sponsors, the Prince's name is William Frederic. Their 
 Royal Highness have been so gracious as to Invite us to Rome, but 
 Business has prevented our being able to pay our Duty to them there." 
 
 From the letters we turn next to some jottings from Sir 
 Alexander Dick's Occasional Memoranda of every-day events 
 at home, as well as of what was taking place in the outside world. 
 These are entertaining in themselves, besides being curious from 
 the mixture of information recorded in them. 
 
 He begins on March 23d 1773. 
 
 "Dalkeith District meets at D. about the High Roads of which I am 
 Convener, and have been these 22 years past since 1751, the year the 
 Turnpike Act commenced for Midlothian. 
 
 April 2. — Mr Thomson brot me a new wig to-day, and I got 6 tickets 
 for shaving from him. 
 
 July I. — Sir Adol ^ and Lady Oughton, Mr Keith and Sir Basil (Keith), 
 my B' Sir John and his son, and Dr Hope dined here. Sir Basil sets out 
 in a few days and is to be married to Miss Warren before he sets out for 
 his government in Jamaica. 
 
 Aug. — Mr Andrew Lumsdain^ my good and worthy cousin came here 
 after 25 years absence in Italy and France in good health and spirits and 
 
 ' Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Scotland. 
 
 Had been a prominent Jacobite. 
 
252 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 caressed by all his friends and considerable persons in Scotland, he having 
 obtained the King's liberty of coming home. 
 
 Nov. 8. — For 6 weeks past had 5 or 6 pair each week of coots or Wild 
 Duck shot for my house from ye loch ^ and several fine hares. My eldest 
 daughter still at Balcarres with Lady Anne Lindsay ,2 who is to stay here 
 some little time after she comes. 
 
 Nov. 18. — Dr Johnson and Mr James Boswell dine here to-morrow^ — 
 which they did, and I gave Mr Johnson Rhubarb seeds and some melon. 
 
 May 22. — Dined yesterday with Lady Dalrymple my sister and Lady 
 Balcarres my niece, with all my family. The news of the King of France's 
 death of the smallpox the lOth at 3 afternoon confirmed by the London 
 Gazette." 
 
 The following extract from Tytler and Watson's " Songstresses 
 of Scotland " tells how Lady Balcarres' marriage came about. 
 
 " Earl James (Balcarres), who died at seventy-seven when his eldest 
 Daughter was seventeen years of age, had seen service both by sea and 
 land; but his own and his father's share in the Rebellion of 17 15 spoiled 
 his promotion. He was grey and gaunt, somewhat of a Baron Brad war- 
 dine, though more accomplished than learned. 
 
 In his brigadier wig and gouty shoe he lost his heart at Moffat to fat, 
 fair, and severely sensible Miss Dalrymple, who in her twenty-third year 
 was nearly young enough to have been his grand-daughter. The Earl 
 proposed. Miss Dalrymple said Nay. The Earl more or less of an 
 invalid all his life, fell sicker than usual under his disappointment, and 
 made his will. Having no near relations, with great dignity and magna- 
 nimity he left his obdurate mistress half his slender fortune. But the Earl 
 did not die then ; and Miss Dalrymple, hearing of the deed, was smitten 
 to the heart, and became the energetic Countess, the over-anxious, irriperi- 
 ous mother of eleven spirited children." 
 
 May — "The new King of France, Louis 16, and his 2 brothers, 
 and ye Countess d'Artois, were innoculated for ye small pox on ye 17 
 of last month. 
 
 1 Duddingston. 
 
 2 Afterwards Lady Anne Barnard, authoress of " Auld Robin Grey." 
 
 ^ Boswell : "Sir Alex Dick tells me that he remembers having a thousand people in a year to 
 dine at his house ; that is reckoning each person as one each time he dined there." 
 Johnson : " That, Sir, is about three a day." — BoswelVs Life of Johnson. 
 
A Journey by Road 
 
 253 
 
 " I dined at Cameron House with ye Duke of Argyle and his brother, 
 Lord Frederic, with Capt. Gunning, my tenant, there." 
 
 After various entries of the same description, we come to an 
 
 account of his journey to the north, which his friends had for some 
 
 time past been urging him to undertake. 
 
 August I, 1774. — "I set out for the north with Mr George Fraser, 
 Dep. Auditor of Excise, and did not return till y^ 27. Went by Queens- 
 ferry, by Kinross, to Perth. Coupar of Angus, Lord Privy Seal's, where 
 we dined, Forfar, Brechin, first looking on to Glamis and y^ Loch of 
 Forfar. Went on to Dun and found Mr Erskine at home, and my 
 niece. Miss Ann Keith there, visited Montrose, proceeded to Stonehive,^ 
 saw Dunottar Castle and dined with Mr Barclay of Urie. Went to 
 Aberdeen, admired much the place and y*' people, and ye industry in 
 y® stocking way to ye extent of 100,000 per annum. Saw Lady Di 
 Middleton, went by Ellon to Strichen and stay'd with my Lord and his 
 son and family 8 days. Went afterwards to Banff, visited Elgin and all 
 Murray and Forres, having first passed the Spey at Gordon Castle. 
 Returned down Findhorn water to the old Castle of Calder, admired its 
 agreeable aspect. Mr Campbell, the proprietor, my old friend in Pem- 
 brokeshire, passed on to Fort George, dined at ye officers of ye Fort and 
 Major Brewster of ye artillery. Passed that afternoon over the 2 Ferry's 
 to Sir John Gordon's, where we stayed 3 days. My cough, not then 
 favourable from some easterly foggs, made my excuse to Balnagown 
 (Ross), Collonell Monro, and a letter to y* Earl of Caithness that I was 
 obliged to postpone my visit. 
 
 "Sett out for Dingwall, saw Mr Henry Davison and pay'd him ye_^5 
 left with me for him, went on to the Ford of Beaulieu and Lord Lovat's coun- 
 try and place and dined with Doctor Fraser, the good Landlord of Auchna- 
 garry. Lay at Inverness, saw the field of Culloden at a distance. Took 
 up to the Highland Road by Corrievaugh, Aviemore . . . and here we saw 
 Maclean's excellent husbandry, having passed the Laird of Grant's large 
 natural woods of Fir, a waste of many miles, no houses, persons, or beasts. 
 Saw Lady Mackintosh's sweet place, past Dalnacardoch and Dalwhinnie, 
 and lay at Blair, a good Inn, and breakfasted with the Duke of Athol, and 
 showed him my true Rhubarb ; saw the Duke's fine Kitchen garden and 
 the great Rhubarb plantation. Passed the august and noble road by the 
 
 ^ Stonehaven, 
 
2 54 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Pass of Killiecrankie 24 miles till we reacht Dunkeld. A very wet day. 
 Next day past a most agreeable day seeing Mr Sandeman's great 50 acre 
 bleachfield and all the machinery. Repassed by Perth and went up 
 Strathern, called at Lord Kinoul. Lay at Invermay, and returned next 
 home — viz., y^ 27 by Queensferry. Found all my Family well and the 
 house new papered in ye Parlour. 
 
 Oct. II, 1774. — "The writ came last week for the election of the 
 members to the new Parliament, which the Sheriff has fixed for ye 20th. 
 To prepare for it I got the List of the Electors, which are 104.^ 
 
 Oct. 20. — " This day our County of Midlothian Election came on, and 
 Mr Solicitor Dundas carried against Sir Alex. Gilmour — 57 for ye 
 solicitor, 21 for Sir Alex., and the solicitor one of them ! They behaved 
 like friends and gentlemen to one another, tho' they dined in separate 
 houses. This last was, I hear, owing to Sir John Dalrymple, who likes 
 to fish in troubled waters. 
 
 Oct. 23. — "My birthday, being 71 years out; my sister, Dalrymple, 
 born this day a year after me, came out to see me and stay here some 
 days. Provost Archibald Stewart, the old gentleman and father of the 
 city, dined here that day, and his brother-in-law Mr Haliburton. 
 
 On the occasion of Mr Keith's death I got an excellent letter from 
 the Duke of Queensberry, and another from Potsdam from the Earl of 
 Marshall.2 
 
 Dec. 3. — " I got a letter from Dr Fordyce, London, acquainting me 
 from the Committee of Arts and Agriculture that my 4J lb. of true 
 Rhubarb was judged preferable to all and therefore awarded me their 
 Gold Medal. 
 
 April 21, 1773. — "Adjusted with Lord President and Magistrates the 
 great work on the Leith Road from the Bridge to Broughton 60 ft. broad 
 free of Toll. 
 
 May 20. — " By yesterday's post a letter dated 27 April last from Sir 
 John Dick Consul at Leghorn with the agreeable news that the Grand 
 Duke and Empress of Russia had conferred the Order of St Ann upon him 
 for his great services to the Marine of Russia in the Archipelago during 
 the late War with the Ottoman Port, till the happy conclusion of the 
 Peace, and he sends the King of Brittain his Majesty's approbation in the 
 copy and the Grand Duke of Russia's letter and his answer to the Duke. 
 
 May 30. — " We went into mourning for y^ Queen of Denmark. 
 
 1 In the County of Midlothian. ^ Keith, Earl Marischal. 
 
The Duchess of Kingston 255 
 
 June 5. — " The Review of the Grey Dragoons at Mussleburgh, a favorite 
 Scots Corps of old standing. 20,000 people said to be present, a very fine 
 warm day and a noble sight. 
 
 June 14. — "Meeting of the Knights-Baronets at Fortune's^ was pretty 
 numerous about 20 present and many proxies and letters sent about 50. 
 Agreed to wear the Badge of Charles the I. granted by the Royal Warrant 
 of Nova Scotia. The family of the Wyvils 4 dined here that day Sir 
 Marmaduke's heirs and Mr Boswell and Mons le Clerc. 
 
 June 21. — " Mons le Clerc and Mr Bruce of Kinnaird the great traveller 
 and others dined here. Flowers very fine and numerous Rosebuds pulled 
 for Conserve. 
 
 July 8. — " Sir R, Keith arrived this evening 
 
 Mr Boswell &c. dined here. Curran wine found excellent." ^ 
 
 Apropos of Sir Robert Keith, who seems to have been a con- 
 firmed bachelor, it is said that the celebrated Duchess of Kingston, 
 who was tried and convicted for bigamy, set her cap at him. On 
 being recommended to appropriate this lady and her enormous 
 jointure, he replied : — 
 
 " Faugh, the very idea is revolting. Let her carry her Duchess- 
 ship and her dowry to some other market." ^ 
 
 August 9. — " Many human skulls found in the marie (in dredging Dud- 
 dingston Loch) and Roman brass spears and sword and what appears 
 melted brass metal of lamps.* 
 
 August 28. — " I went to the Playhouse to see Macbeth by Diggs and 
 Lady M'^B. by Miss Young and Love a la mode — both well performed. 
 
 Nov. 17. — " I am getting a new tooth, utmost behind where none was 
 ever before (age 73). 
 
 Nov. 22. — " The Influenza from a closeness of the atmosphere with 
 streaks of the clouds like rays from a centre in South observed several 
 
 ^ A coffee-house and sort of club. 
 
 ^ This wine he describes as being made by Lady Dick and his daughter Elizabeth. 
 ^ " Memoirs and Correspondence of Sir R. Keith." 
 
 ^ A description of these will be found in " Pre-Historic Annals of Scotland," by Sir Daniel 
 Wilson, LL.D. The specimens presented by Sir Alexander to the Museum of the Society of 
 Antiquaries in Edinburgh are the only ones remaining, the weapon presented to H.M. George 
 the III., and the specimens retained by the family having all disappeared. 
 
256 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 weeks agoe while the stormy weather prevailed. It affected first the 
 horses about London with cold in the head, then every Family young and 
 old rich and poor they complained of headaches sore throat and cough, 
 now is going north and prevails over Edinburgh and its vicinity first 
 among the servants next in the family. My family this day all down with 
 it. The horses are yet free. Ordered them some garlic among their 
 carrots and corn. 
 
 Woodcocks appeared and wild geese in large flocks." 
 
 Attention must be drawn to the next paragraph, both on 
 account of the curious topic selected for conversation and the 
 matter-of-fact manner in which it is related. 
 
 January 22, 1776. — " My sister Lady Dalrymple in appearance better. 
 
 In the evening she invited her old friends Lady Sinclair and Mrs with 
 
 her daughter Lady Balcarres to play at cards and sup with her. She 
 seemed cheerful and merry, but between hands spoke to them of her 
 Burial and how and where she was to be interred viz. in the Church 
 of Duddingston in my vault there. . ." 
 
 She died the following day suddenly, while walking upstairs. 
 
 January 23. — " About this time a letter from Jamie Norris at his 
 Mother's in London having been 7 weeks Jrom Leith to London by the 
 storms ice etc. not easily accounted for. 
 
 August 31. — "The celebrated David Hume the historian died this 
 week and buried very privately. He was my 45 years' old acquaintance 
 He bought a burial place in Calton Hill Churchyard at £^ ster. and lys 
 there. A monument is to be inscribed to him. He left about ^12,000 to 
 his brothers and friends mostly got by his writings. 
 
 Nov. 24. — " By Friday's post a letter from Sir Basil at Jamaica. Report 
 at Glasgow of the 4 transports come to Cork with the great news of a 
 victory compleat got by Gen"^ Howe over the Rebels at Kingsbridge near 
 N. York and 5000 taken or slain of y* Rebels and few lost on the King's 
 Army who are marching to Philadelphia. 
 
 Nov. 27. — " By last night's post the London Gazette with the great 
 good news of the victory over the Rebels on Lake Champlain near Crown 
 Point and the taking or destroying all around Rebels and Crown Point 
 left abandoned and houses burnt. Capt. Douglas' letter bears that Lieut. 
 
/t^^^'^e-r^ ^^^^ 
 
An Ample Repast 257 
 
 Butler and Jamie Norris were all safe and well after the action, in which 
 they were with Lieut. Sparkie in the Inflexible. 
 
 January 7 1777. — "Willy's^ Birthday, Mr Jas Boswell and the India 
 Mr Boswell Mrs Young etc etc. all dined here and Mr Mercer and danced. 
 We had a fine piece of boiled beef and greens, a large Turkey, some fine 
 Chickens 250 fine Asparagus from my hot bed and a fine pig, all from the 
 Farm — and wine from the Farm {i.e. curran and gooseberry) and Greek 
 from the Consul of Leghorn and Claret and Port and Punch and a fine 
 Parmesan Cheese also f'^ Leghorn. 
 
 Jan 12. — " Last week Mr James Boswell my friend expressed a desire to 
 make a Biographical account of my life to my 74'*^ year. ... I looked over 
 many jottings and ... of past times and we had some droll interviews 
 and it becomes he says very interesting — (it may perhaps some, my 
 son)." 
 
 As a specimen of the handwriting of Mr James Boswell, a 
 facsimile of one of his briefer letters, containing an allusion to 
 the above-mentioned Biography, is here displayed.^ 
 
 In connection with the friendship of Boswell and Sir Alexander 
 it may be well to give the following extracts from the former's 
 Life of fohnson. 
 
 Sir Alex. Dick to Dr Samuel Johnson. 
 
 Prestonfield, Feb 17, 1777 
 
 "Sir 
 
 I had yesterday the honour of receiving your book of your 
 * Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland ' which you were so good as 
 to send me by the hands of our mutual friend Mr Boswell of Auchinleck ; 
 and after carefully reading it over again, shall deposit it in my little 
 collection of choice books next our worthy friend's ' Journey to Corsica,' " 
 etc. etc. 
 
 ' Sir Alexander's eldest son. 
 
 ^ With reference to the Hypochondriac k mentioned in his letter, Mr Boswell writes : "I told 
 him " (Johnson) " I should send some Essays which I had written which I hoped he would be so 
 good as to read, and pick out the good ones." They appeared under the title of Hypochondriack 
 in the London Magazine 1775 ^'^ 
 
 2 K 
 
258 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 And again, referring to a remark in the above letter, we have 
 
 Dr Johnson writing to Mr Boswell. 
 
 " Sir Alexander Dick is the only Scotsman liberal enough not to be 
 angry that I could not find trees where trees were not. I was much 
 delighted by his kind letter." 
 
 In a letter received by Sir Alexander from Mr A. Frazer, 
 written from " L'hooque, near Ipris, 17th Oct. 1775," this account 
 is given 
 
 " Of a most disagreeable accident w^ happened to the Prince d'Aremberg, 
 eldest son of the Due d'Aremberg on the 9'*^ of last month while a hunting 
 with his father and Sir William Gordon our minister at Brussels. 
 
 Sir W'" fired as he thought at some partridges, but lodged the whole 
 fire in the Princes face — At first he only complained of want of sight in his 
 left eye, but now for these 10 days past he is totally blind. 
 
 Mr Adair is with him, and has been for about that time and gives some 
 hopes but faint ones of the possibility of recovering the sight of one. This 
 young man was exceedingly promising and adored by the people of this 
 country, but now all their hopes from his abilities are blasted and Sir Wm. 
 Gordon inconsolable. 
 
 He has it is said asked to be recalled from that Court." 
 
 Another extract from a letter to Sir Alexander, written by Mr 
 John Forbes, Leith, dated Whitehaugh, May 31st, 1775, is in- 
 teresting from the account it gives of the state of agriculture in 
 Aberdeenshire, and the great want of bridges over the rivers Dee, 
 Don, and Spey. These rivers being wide, stony, rapid, and subject 
 to constant heavy floods, fording is both dangerous and difficult in 
 many parts, and often impossible. 
 
 " Your situation, and that of the Country where your first Ideas have 
 been form'd, in the near neighbourhood of a Great City, of the Sea, of 
 Coal, of every aid to be drawn from thence, dift'ers so much from mine 
 here, that it may be hard to conceive the infinity of Obstructions attending 
 every attempt to Industry, but the Dispositions of people habituated in, 
 and tenaciously fond of Idleness and its Progeny, multiply the difficulties 
 almost into impossibilities, which nought but the Labor improbus of 
 
The Dee and the Don 259 
 
 Obstinacy can conquer, with the satisfaction of persevering in a perceived 
 Duty to smooth and support the mind of the Adventurer. 
 
 Our Island is happily secur'd by the Sea from inroading Rivals, and 
 opened to Commerce. That part of it where I live is indeed excluded 
 from y^ rest of y* Island, in some degree on the South by y* Chain of 
 y* Grampian Mountains, passable in several places except during some 
 winter months ; but the Dee a large, rapid, strong River (till we shall be 
 bless'd with a Bridge long wished for and for which Nature has laid and 
 pointed out a Noble Foundation of Rocks you'd think spread for y^ Pur- 
 pose) is a grievous obstruction, which the governing Sense and Power of 
 the Nation ought to have removed Centuries ago, but still remains a Dis- 
 grace. The Don, my more pleasant neighbouring River in front, and the 
 Spy, which runs great and rapid about 24 Scots miles north of me, claim a 
 like Publick Care to render them passable and secure at all seasons. 
 
 Yet in this encumber'd and hamper'd state, we have many endow- 
 ments, which Industry, at length dawning, will open into Blessings. 
 
 We have the sea and its benefits on the East, on the West indeed 
 continual mountains render Commerce and Communication rare. 
 
 The North is open and the Moray Firth introduces the sea to advan- 
 tage far, and Towns and Ports are many along the Coast, insomuch that 
 a carrier from hence can reach Aberdeen, Banff, Portsoy, or CuUen in a 
 short day. 
 
 The Banks of the Dee, which runs along the north side of our Grampians 
 are by Nature destin'd for Woods and Industry finds much ado to pick out 
 places where Men and the Cattle which must attend them, may subsist, 
 nor could that suffice without the aid of the Cornlands of the Don, which 
 are more inviting than has been observ'd by y^ inhabitants hitherto, tho' 
 one would think a Law well observ'd till within 60 or less years had forbid 
 the rearing timber for any use beyond the Dee, as effectually as Nature 
 has excluded Agriculture from Deeside. This created a connection indeed 
 but a laborious, a pitiful! one, nay a dependence, but now the case is 
 altering, and there are men of Spirit forcing Husbandry on Dee side, and 
 as we have Hills and Heaths, Your Tenant at Cameron's worthy father 
 led the way, and even I shall soon have above 400 Acres of Wood growing 
 for Fewel and other necessary Uses, and Sheltering my fields and my 
 Tenant's fields from the rough blasts which have ever pinched our men, 
 our Cattle our Corns and our grass. The Spirit Spreads, and the Conse- 
 
26o Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 quences will be good and great. Industry will employ the Bodies of Men 
 whom it will support, and withdraw their minds from those aims to benefit 
 themselves by the Losses of others which are destructive to Individuals, 
 their neighbours and their Country, which yet have occupy'd and rack'd 
 the wits of a sharp set of men capable of better things, had not the 
 Countenance and Influence of a few to whom their Idleness and their 
 Poverty render'd them ready Tools, even made them take a pride in the 
 prostitution. Habit and Company naturaliz'd them to that Poverty which 
 constituted their slavish attachment. Hence Clanship in the Highlands, 
 and Lordship in the Lowlands ; which made a sensible man, above a 
 Century ago (Gordon of Fechill) say, that ' Noblemen and Muck-fail were 
 the ruin of Scotland.' 
 
 Agriculture could never have dawn'd in Scotland, had its Privy 
 Council subsisted, nor would England have ever been improv'd had not 
 Henry y* 7'*^ pav'd the way, by admitting the transference of Property, as 
 y* Fruits of Industry encouraged and secured. 
 
 We have also been bless'd with Men of Rank and Fortune who have 
 labour'd to introduce Agriculture and Arts usefuU to Society, with a 
 merited success suited to their liberal minds, not cramp'd by Pride, not 
 enervated by Dissipation. 
 
 I'm very happy in the hope that you will find inducement to visit both 
 y^ Dee and the Don, and that your goodness of Heart, and chearfuU 
 disposition will tend and co-operate to detain you agreeably among us 
 when you have the courage to pass y* Grampians ; be it so. Yet let me 
 tell you Your Rhubarb is not yet sprung tho' in the best soil and best 
 season, tho' some former Plants are vigorous. Nous attendons." &c., &c. 
 " Your Sincere Friend and 
 
 affectionate humble servant 
 
 John Forbes Leith." 
 
 Letters from all parts came to Sir Alexander asking for his 
 advice on the method of growing Rhubarb, shewing the interest 
 taken in this new and now important branch of commerce. The 
 Duke of Atholl had grown it for some years, but of an inferior 
 quality, until he received some of Sir Alexander's seeds. A few 
 examples of these appeals are given. 
 
The Cultivation of Rhubarb 261 
 
 " My Dear Sir Alexander 
 
 You are always doing good. Amongst other 
 things I observe you have introduced into this country and brought to 
 perfection Indian Rhubarb. I have half-a-dozen plants of it, indeed very 
 ill placed, that are about five or six years old. 
 
 As they are too thick together, I intend taking up two or three of 
 them this season. They have already seeded this year — May I beg the 
 favour to know at what time I should take them up, and when I have 
 taken them up if I may not cut them in pieces, and put holes through the 
 pieces and dry them at the Fire or in a Barn. 
 
 I beg pardon for giving you this trouble and have the honour to be, 
 with the greatest esteem and truth, Y" &c. Lauderdale." 
 
 "Hatton 7th July 1777 
 
 The Bishop of Oxford, Dr Lowth, writes 
 
 " I am extremely obliged to you for the curious present of the true 
 Rhubarb seeds. To give them the better chance of succeeding, I divided 
 them into 3 parts, one of w*^ I gave to a gentleman residing near London 
 whose care I can depend upon, the 2"** I sent to the Professor of Botany 
 at Oxford to be raised in the Botany Garden belonging to the University ; 
 the 3'^ to my Gardiner, to be raised in my own Garden at Cuddesdon." 
 
 "Edin' 4''' August 1778 
 
 Lord Karnes ^ longs to know how Sir Alex. Dick his Lady and family 
 are. In his late excursion he met a gentleman who is cultivating Rhubarb ; 
 but in a measure groping in the dark, being uncertain about the time of 
 raising the roots and still more about the method of drying. Lord Karnes 
 trusting to Sir Alex'^ good nature and his zeal for improvements, promised 
 his English acquaintance satisfaction on these points, and he is sure his 
 friend Sir Alexander will not leave him in the lurch. Breakfast is always 
 on the board a little after 9." 
 
 The following characteristic letter, which was written in the 
 Spring of the same year, may be suitably introduced here. 
 
 ^ Lord Karnes, born 1696, died 1782, was a distioguished judge, metaphysician and agriculturist, 
 and a voluminous writer. 
 
262 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 To Sir Alexander Dick, Baronet at Prestonfield. 
 
 "London 30 April 1778 
 
 My Dear Sir Alexander 
 
 With most unexpected pleasure was 1 favoured, when 
 your kind and pleasant letter arrived, I owed you many thanks ; and you 
 confer more benefits. Your friend the Bishop of Oxford received me very 
 courteously. Mrs Strange is well, and rattles away with as much vivacity 
 as ever. I have only met Dr Armstrong in the street ; but I intend to call 
 on him very soon. He was happy to hear of you en passatit. I am much 
 entertained with your rural triumph over us men of London. I know not 
 but to the pure natural mind the pleasures and beauties of the country are 
 superior to those of a City. But I have habits far different from those of 
 pure nature. Besides, may it not be maintained that a mind in the state 
 that mine is, is more civilized ? 
 
 A thousand thanks to you and Lady Dick, and Miss Dick, for your care 
 of my valuable spouse. She writes me a full account of your goodness to 
 her. Pray do not let her go from you. I am quite happy to think she is 
 at Prestonfield. 
 
 It is somewhat uncertain how soon I may be home. My wife will 
 explain to you how. But to own the truth to you, my Dear Sir, I am 
 really unhappy in being separated from my Minerva as you used to say. 
 
 You will excuse the shortness of my Epistle. It shall be amply made 
 up to you by a Recital, when we meet. 
 
 My kindest compliments to all at Prestonfield. I wish to find my wife 
 there ; but I fancy she will be gone to town, and we shall come out together 
 to rusticate, soon after my arrival. 
 
 I am ever Your much obliged and affectionate friend 
 
 James Boswell. 
 
 The Correspondence is again taken up by Consul Sir John 
 Dick, who writes from Florence on the 6th August 1776 to 
 announce that the King ^ has consented to his resigning his 
 post at Leghorn. He says 
 
 " We shall stay here some weeks yet until Lady Cowper is brought to 
 Bed. Sir Horace ^ is to represent Lady Cowper My Lords Mother- 
 in-law and in case the Child is a Boy I am to represent Lord Spencer, 
 1 George IIL ^ Mann. 
 
The Duke of Gloucester's Invitation 263 
 
 When this ceremony is over we shall return to Leghorn in order to settle 
 our matters there which I fear will employ us for some months. We then 
 mean to pass the winter at Rome as the Duke of Gloucester has been so 
 good as to press our going there to him." 
 
 For a time Sir John seems to have adhered to his decision of 
 taking a complete rest from public life, as in a letter dated from 
 Harley Street 5th May 1780, he says 
 
 " I cannot conceal from you that about a month ago when Lord North 
 had in contemplation his Bill for the Commission of Accounts, his Lordship 
 made me the offer of being the head of the Commission ... I declined 
 it. His Lordship was pleased to say that he was sorry for it, that he did 
 not mean it as conferring a Favor on me, but that if 1 had accepted it I 
 should have conferred a Favor on Him. Future Honors were held out to 
 me but nothing could tempt me to relinquish my present tranquil situation 
 — which I hope you will approve of" 
 
Chapter XVII. 
 
 Lord Balcarras' escape — Sir John Douglas in difficulties — Mr James 
 Boswell's letter — the Duke of Queensbury's death — Bishop of 
 London's letter — Paul Jones' Squadron — Bozzy's Jaunt — Chincough 
 and Influenza — Admiral Rodney's Victory — Lord Balcarras' Novel 
 with Miss Hacket — The Gordon Riots. 
 
 [1777— 1780] 
 
Chapter XVII. 
 
 For news of the day we must again have recourse to Sir 
 Alexander's Notes, with which are interspersed a few letters 
 from Mr James Boswell, and Dr Lowth, Bishop of London, 
 bearing upon matters alluded to in the Memoranda. 
 
 March 27, 1777. — "Good news last post from Gen'' Howe dated 12 
 Feb"^ from N. York. Sir Wm. Erskine having w' the 42 reg' old High- 
 landers defeated a large body of Rebels in Jerseys and killed 3 or 400. 
 and Gov"^ Tryon getting 800 of the people to enlist of y* county he com- 
 mands to take arms, and 5000 to swear allegiance. Washington is declared 
 Dictator for 6 months about 200 vessels taken since last advices by our 
 Fleet from the Rebels by a Stratagem. 
 
 " March ended Ruff and cold, mild at last. 
 
 July 18. — "Last week brought the very bad news of dear Sir Basil 
 Keith's death y* 15 June. We and his sisters and his Aunt Stirling here 
 are grievously affected waiting for letters daily. 
 
 Sept. I. — " Last week on Friday Baron Rutherford Admiral Greig^ and 
 his Lady dined here. 
 
 " A letter from Lady Balcarras at London with an account of Lord 
 Balcarras'2 wonderful escape at the victory of General Burgoine at 
 Ticonderago. He had ten balls pass thro' his cloathes, three past other- 
 wise, two on his Fusee, and one broke a flint in his pocket, and afterwards 
 gave my Lord a flesh wound, not deep, in his left thigh. A most wonder- 
 ful escape. 
 
 " The great Victory over the Rebels confirmed by y' Gazette and the 
 Kirk bells rang. 
 
 Oct. 2. — Dined with Admiral Greig on Invitation at Fortune's (the 
 
 1 Admiral Greig had a high position in the Russian Navy. 
 
 ^ Alexander sixth Earl of Balcarras, born in 1752, became a general in the army, and com- 
 manded at Jamaica in the Maroon Rebellion. 
 
268 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 leading Tavern) on the Empress of Russia's birthday. 30 covers. The 
 Magistrates and many noblemen and gentlemen present. 
 
 October . — "Dined w' Lord and Lady Hopeton at Dr Hope's and 
 entered into an Association about the curing and sale of the true Rhubarb 
 of our gardens. 
 
 Nov. 4. — " By express from Caprington Castle my dear Brother Sir John 
 Cuninghame of Caprington died at 10.30 P.M. after supper suddenly, sitting 
 in his chair, before that chearfuU with his family his wife Lady Betty and 
 her sister Lady Francis^ and his eldest son William. His father and mine 
 Sir William and his brother and mine Sir Wm. Dick and our sister Lady 
 Dalrymple all went off suddenly in the same manner. A kind of death 
 the most to be wished for. 
 
 Deer. I. — "Got guineas for lbs. of my true rhubarb which grew 
 in my garden from Mr Moncrieff, Druggist in Edr. it is excellent of its 
 kind and of great repute. 
 
 Deer. 31. — " Ended this year agreably and merrily with some friends. On 
 the 24th being Xmas Eve Lord Advocate called and informed us all sitting 
 by a warm fireside that His Majesty by the Lords of the Treasury had 
 ordered an annuity of ^100 to my 2 eldest daughters Janet and Ann for 
 their lives. The grant taking its rise from the old original claim on the 
 Orkneys of 100,000 merks Scots lent to the Earl of Morton 100 years agoe 
 and for which ;^^I32 was paid the heirs of Sir Andrew Dick — of whom my 
 two daughters, by their mother my first wife, are the only direct heirs 
 in life. 
 
 Jan. 16, 1778. — Sir J. Douglas in the Cannongate jail for debt.^ 
 March . — " The Ministry all in the Dumps in London a French war 
 threatened but by our letters lately from Paris no word of it." 
 
 Referring to the constant scares of war with France, Mr Thomas 
 Andrew Strange^ writing from Paris in July 1779, says 
 
 " As this is to pass to you by a private hand, you will perhaps expect 
 that it shall teem with political news ; that it shall make you acquainted 
 with the designs of ministers and the destruction of fleets and armies, and 
 that by it, you may be able to estimate the danger of Britain, and anti- 
 cipate its fate. 
 
 But he must have lived few days in Paris at a time like this, with little 
 observation, who has not discovered in that period that the policy of this 
 
 ^ Montgomerie. * Ruined in the Stuart Cause 1745. ^ Son of Sir R. Strange. 
 
Mutiny of the Seaforth Highlanders 269 
 
 country is secret as it is base ; and I often wonder to see the British flying 
 away, day by day, for fear of an edict of their expulsion from a place 
 where as there is nothing to hear, there is nothing to tell, and where 
 therefore, their tranquility should be defended rather than disturbed, 
 because their absence from their own country is always some abstraction 
 from its force, while their residence in that of their ennemies affords them 
 no opportunity of assisting their friends. That something serious, how- 
 ever and important is intended, may be easily collected ; it is no very 
 pleasing sight to a Briton passing at this time along the road to Paris to 
 behold the inundation of armed men that are now pouring down to Dun- 
 kirk and the expedition with which they are building transports and 
 fitting out a variety of other vessels in order to scour the seas, and 
 intercept all succour between America and England." 
 
 March 22. — " My Georgic about 240 lines finished, several here have 
 read and approved. 
 
 July 4. — "James Boswell and the doctor his uncle and Dr Rutherford 
 dined here. 
 
 August 23. — "From the 19 July to this 23d August had a good deal 
 of uneasiness from my cattarh and asthma and phlegm continue the Pitch 
 Plasters with benefit but from nothing more than great temperance and 
 riding out airing in the chaise every forenoon. 
 
 Sept. 27. — " Last week was very remarkable here by the mutiny of 
 500 of Seaforth's Highland Regiment, mostly the Macraws who would 
 not embark as required for Guernsey, and next to the E. Indies. On 
 Tuesday evening last they went in an armed body from Leith to the top 
 of Arthur's Seat and remained there armed, and placed guards till Friday, 
 night and day patrolling till by the lenity and wisdom of Sir Adolphus 
 Oughton the Commander in Chief and the assistance of the Duke of 
 Buccleuch and Lord Dunmore they were pacified on terms and pay'd their 
 arrears etc. but by no means to go to the E. Indies. Their officers were 
 much complained of and a Court of Enquiry on Saturday taken to see 
 to the Cause of the Complaints against them. 
 
 " James Boswell here twice this week. 
 
 Oct. 4. — " The Highland 500 men of Seaforths Regiment who mutined 
 and went up to the Top of Arthur's Seat are amicably brot down and this 
 last week are shipt aboard the transports for the south to Island of 
 Guernsey they say, but some of the transports being hurt by the last gale, 
 they are not yet sailed till repaired. 
 
270 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Oct. 18. — " Lord Advocate's Lady bad behaviour come abroad, and the 
 Divorce is going on in form.^ 
 
 Oct. 23. — " My birthday being now in my 76th year. 
 
 Oct. 25. — " A swan killed by a fox the day before the storm on my 
 Loch. 
 
 " Count Carberri has sent a folio with curious account of the vast stone 
 of the granite kind being moved from a morass to Petersburgh it weighed 
 3000 tons, to be the Pedestal to the Statue of Peter the Great there, by 
 the present Empress's orders and Count Carberri's skill. 
 
 Nov. I. — " Lord Howe came home from N. York in 28 days and a long 
 Gazette before him of the P'rench Fleet leaving Rhode Island and the 
 Rebels also doing the same. They lost 70 vessels, Admiral Kepel returned 
 to Spithead. 
 
 " The Duke of Queensbury died some days agoe at London of an 
 inflamation and after gangrene in his leg, said to have been owing to an 
 accident of a hurt on his shin going into his coach. The King had pay'd 
 him a visit at Amesbury in the neighbourhood of the Camp at Salisbury 
 a few days before. Lord March succeeds to the title of Duke. Their 
 relation is that of cousin by the male side. How he has left his great 
 personal estate after Lord March is not certain for if Lord March don't 
 marry and have sons then Sir John Douglas of Kilhead and his male 
 issue are heirs to the title of Marquis or Earl Queensbury only, being 
 come off where that title prevailed." 
 
 This eventually happened. William, Lord March, who suc- 
 ceeded as fourth and last Duke of Queensbury, was a leader of 
 fashion, and well known on the turf as " Old O. ; " he was " at that 
 time an oldish quite worn-out man, not given the least disposition 
 to matrimony." 
 
 As his memoirs have recently been published, the following 
 extract from Sir Alexander's Memoranda is apropos. 
 
 " The Duke, a little before his death, having a warm attachment to my 
 nephew Sir William (Sir John Douglas' son), whom he sincerely loved 
 
 ^ Lord Advocate Dundas, afterwards Lord Melville, married in July 1765 Elizabeth daughter 
 and heiress of David Rennie of Melville Castle. That marriage having been dissolved in 1778, he 
 married in April 1793, Lady Jane Hope, daughter of John, second Earl of Hopetoun — Omond's 
 Lord Advocates of Scotland. 
 
A Contested Will 
 
 271 
 
 from his proper behaviour to him while in Parliament, and considering 
 that he had five Boys to his sons and three Daughters to provide for, 
 he left him ;£^i6,ooo in money for their behalf; doubting it is presumed 
 the Generosity of the Earl of March, who was the first to succeed to him- 
 self, which was very well judged, for upon the worthy Duke's death, which 
 happened five or six years ago, this new unkindly and ungenerous Duke 
 of Queensberry refusing to pay the money pretending that the late Duke 
 had not lived a sufficient time to complete in all the forms the gift of so 
 large a sum, whereupon my nephew considering maturely and informing 
 me that one of his sons was called after me ; he had my approbation to 
 prosecute the Duke before the Court of Session for the payment of the 
 £16,000 — and the interest from the late Duke's death, which the Court of 
 Session sustain'd unanimously, whereupon this Duke appealed it to the 
 House of Peers, and to his great astonishment that Court likewise approved 
 of the Decision of the Court of Session and required him to make payment 
 in terms of the same, which with the interest came to about ;^20,ooo ster- 
 ling, of which my nephew Sir William gave me immediate notice ; the 
 overflowings of joy upon that occasion (Sir William being then under a fit 
 of gout) in a few days after he got the news he died most suddenly without 
 a groan of an appoplexy, I suppose from the bursting of some vessel while 
 he was diverting himself with his children, whom he loved most affection- 
 ately. He was not much past fifty when he died, to the great grief of his 
 excellent wife, his numerous fine family and no less numerous relations, 
 and particularly those of myself and my family here, who had the greatest 
 affection and esteem for him. 
 
 Nov. 15. — "I finished my first Book British Georgick after a year's 
 work fully, it being of 500 and upward lines, which is the extent of Virgil's 
 First Georgick. This after much blotting read yesterday to the approba- 
 tion of Mr James Boswell and some other friends." 
 
 Nov. 22. — " News came from my nephew, now Sir William Douglas, of 
 his father Sir John's death at Drumlanrig by a fall after the Duke of 
 Queensburry's Burial." 
 
 Nov. 29. — " Lord Advocate divorced last week from his criminal wife, 
 and she married soon after to the man who caused it, a vile scandalous 
 affair on her part and his, who is now saddled with her and will probably 
 soon suffer by her," 
 
 Dec. 6. — " Mr James Boswall, Mr Christian, and Dr Gregory, &c.. Sec, 
 dined here yesterday. King's Speech all for War Still. Lent J. Boswall 
 
272 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Arthur's Seat, a Poem. Got back my journey to Italy from him. My 
 first book Brittish Georgia was finished, gave J. Boswell the last few lines 
 on the plantations at Auchenleck, and some rhymes dedicated to himself, 
 with which he was much pleased." 
 
 This letter from Mr Boswell is addressed to Sir Alex, Dick, 
 Bart., "with Arthur's Seat and a newspaper," and bears no date. 
 
 " My Dear Sir, — I most sincerely wish you joy of the happy con- 
 currence of circumstances in favour of William.^ The Duke of Gloucester 
 to whom Sir John Dick presented me is I really think, a man above 
 common, and I hope William shall have the praise principibus. 
 
 I was very sorry that indisposition kept me from you last Saturday. I 
 make your Archy an Atlas ; for I make him carry you out Arthurs Seat 
 which you kindly lent me. Your alteration of Gillierauray is good and 
 shall be marked Ever yours, J. B. 
 
 Feb 2 1779. — "On Tuesday last at night a violent and unruly mob 
 burnt the Roman Catholic Chapel w'' stood by itself on the west side of 
 Leith Wynd to the ground, several rioters about 15 or 20 put up in the 
 Castel as they were intending more mischief and attack the Principal 
 Dr Robertson and Roman Catholic persons and houses, but when the 
 Dragoons came in for the relief of the town they dispersed. 
 
 " Glasgow Riot burning &c Catholic houses. 
 
 14 March. — The transports and Convoys arrived in Leith Road and 
 the troops for America are to embark and sail w' first fair wind. 
 
 Mr Boswell set out for London. He got a letter from me to the 
 Bishop of London my old acquaintance Dr Lowth." 
 
 The Bishop writes : — 
 
 London House 
 
 May 19 1779 
 
 " Dear Sir 
 
 I had the favour of both your letters by Mr Robertson ^ and 
 by Mr Boswell. 
 
 I had the honour of seeing Mr Boswell who put into my hands your 
 papers. 
 
 1 Sir Alexander's eldest son. ^ The Historian. 
 
A Visit to the Duke of Buccleuch 273 
 
 I told Mr Boswell that I had at that time very little leisure to look 
 into them, but I understood that he would make a considerable stay in 
 town. Mr Boswell did me the honour lately to call upon me again. I 
 soon after endeavoured to wait upon him with your papers in my hand, 
 but he was gone out of town. ... I have read with much pleasure your 
 Georgia ; in which there is a great deal of good matter and much agree- 
 able description and digression. I consider it as what you designed it for, 
 a Domestic Poem ; in which your Muse chuses to appear, as she may 
 properly do rather in dishabille. . . . 
 
 I am much obliged to you for your kind expressions in regard to my 
 Family. My last loss ^ is inexpressible. Few Fathers have had such a 
 son to lose. He was one of the most amiable and most valuable young 
 men of his age ... he was my constant companion and my bosom friend, 
 willing and able to assist me in everything. I feel myself every day more 
 in want of his assistance. . . . Mrs Lowth and my daughters join with me 
 in Comp'^ and best wishes to Lady Dick etc etc. 
 
 R. London. 
 
 April 4. — "This day Easter Sunday visited w' my eldest son Willie 
 the Duke of Buccleuch and breakfasted with him and the Dutchess, intro- 
 duced Willie and he is invited to be of his party at hunting in the season. 
 Met in the Park French officers Prisoners and spoke French with them. 
 
 " They are Normans from Havre de Grace. 
 
 July 10. — "Attended the Meeting called by the Lord Advocate and 
 Sheriff, of the Heritors of our County of Midlothian on the alarming crisis 
 of the fleets of the Bourbon Family joined, and ours to meet their Shipps 
 w' inferior number, and proposing subscriptions. I payd in lo guineas. 
 
 July 18. — " Got 3 excellent letters of good fortune to my eldest son 
 Willie f"^ L'* Balcarres Sir John Dick and Allan Ramsay relating to His 
 Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester offering my son on a purchase 5 
 steps as an ensign in his First Reg' of Foot Guards and a years absence 
 for his education. And that Sir John Dick will as a Father look after his 
 morals in London, in that most luxurious debaucht city. 
 
 August 8. — "Remitted .1^900 ster. by Sir John Dick's order on my 
 eldest son Williams accompt to pay for his commission in y^ i'' Reg""' of 
 Foot Guards commanded by the Duke of Gloucester. 
 
 " My son Willie wore his cockade and went to see the tryal of the 
 
 ^ A previous letter mentions the loss of a daughter. 
 2 M 
 
2 74 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Carronaders and Canon w' Sir Adol Oughton and Cap' Fraser Chief 
 Engineer. 
 
 September 5. — "Great scarcity of ready money all over England, 
 especially at London. The government giving 8% for money for the 
 supplies. One great cause the war, another cattle no price. Sheep very 
 low, wool dog cheap, cloth trade little demand." 
 
 The astrological knowledge of the period is shewn by the 
 following note taken by Sir Alexander from " Dr Stewart's late 
 Work, 1763." 
 
 " The sunn's distance from our earth is about 1 2 millions of English 
 measured miles, but some less. The moon's distance from our earth only 
 about y^ 48 part of the sun's distance from us, or about 250 thousand 
 miles, but some less. The diameter of the sun is about a million of the 
 same English miles, but some more. The diameter of the moon only 
 about one thousand English miles and but 87 more. 
 
 " In gross computation for memory in round numbers." ^ 
 
 September \<^. — "A little squadron of French ships appeared on our 
 Frith of Forth and came opposite to Leith Northside of Inch Keith, but 
 as yet have committed no hostilities of any kind, except capture of Ships 
 at the Mouth of the Frith, but not yet known who they are. 
 
 " Went with Mr Campbell our guest to see the noble view from Cler- 
 miston Hill North side and I discovered the French Ships off Dunbar. 
 
 " Expresses are sent to Government &c. &c. and 3 battaries of guns 
 are erected for the safety of Leith and the Shipping. 
 
 September 26. — " The French Ships of force all went off from the Firth 
 without doing any damage. 
 
 " Peace much spoken of and the giving up America. 
 
 Oct. 3. — "•Paul Jones'^ little Squadron w'' had been in the Frith of 
 Forth and alarmed us lately tho' doing no harm here went out to meet 
 the Baltick Fleet, which he did and was attacked by a 40 gun ship of war 
 the Serapis, and a 20 gun Frigate which being the convoy keept the 
 Bonne Homme of 40 guns in play till all the Fleet escapt w'' they did, but 
 
 1 Results of American observations of the Transit of Venus 1882, published in the Times of 5th 
 Nov. 1888. 
 
 Tlie mean distance of Earth from Sun is about 92,385,000 statute miles. 
 (Probable error not more than 130,000 miles). 
 
 ^ The notorious Paul Jones began life as a Serving Man to a Scottish Nobleman. 
 
Ships to Defend the Forth 275 
 
 Jones after hard work took the 2 ships of war the Convoy, and has 
 indeavoured tho' much disabled to get off — but near twenty vessels of 
 war of different sizes were gone after Jones and hope to take him and his 
 Prizes. 
 
 " The Prudent a 64 Ship of War Cap' Burnet arrived last and some 
 Frigates to defend the Forth and its Coasts, 
 
 Oct. 10. — " The disagreeable mutiny of the West Fencibles happened 
 on the 8, at the Castle and several whipt severely at Leith. 
 
 Oct. 23. — " Being my birthday had some friends to dine with me — My 
 76''* year is now out. 
 
 " Though we have had no apples in my garden this year, yet to-day we 
 had for the last time at table excellent melons, and from the wall of the 
 Collonade without art many bunches of ripe white water grapes and many 
 Bushels full of half ripe for tarts for some weeks past." 
 
 It is v^rorthy of note that nectarines, peaches, figs, grapes 
 and melons all ripened in the outer air then without glass, while 
 none of them come to maturity in the same garden now without 
 forcing. 
 
 Nov. 15. — " Mr Boswell and Dr Young and their ladies and Mr Daniel 
 f"^ Somersetshire all dined here. There is the best information of a General 
 distemper or like it prevailing in the Combined Fleets at Brest. 
 
 " Eight thousand, Thos. Butter says were buried there lately and still 
 prevails infectious. Began on the dirty Spanish Ships w*' were crowded 
 with men. 
 
 Nov. 20. — "An Influenza w' feverish cold, cough and sore throats 
 prevails in Edin"" more than in the country all here at Prestonfield 
 affected." 
 
 Bozzy's marriage, and his closer application to legal work kept 
 him busy in Edinburgh for some time ; but that he had again 
 contrived an excuse for one of his much loved jaunts to the 
 Metropolis is shewn in the following letter, written a month 
 before the dinner mentioned in the note of Nov. 15th, when 
 doubtless they were all made merry by " the inundation of enter- 
 tainment " promised therein. 
 
276 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 "London 15th Oct 1779 
 
 My dear and Excellent Friend 
 
 I have had an admirable jaunt. But such is the 
 hurry in which this great metropolis unavoidably engages me, that I really 
 cannot write to you as I could wish. As I am soon to be home again, 
 you shall have an inundation of entertainment when I have the happiness 
 to meet you at Prestonfield. But in the meantime I cannot but indulge 
 the pleasure of telling you with great truth that I am exceedingly pleased 
 with my young friend Wilham.^ 
 
 The very morning after my arrival I surprised him with a visit ; and I 
 have seen him a great deal. He has been so good as to accompany me 
 in my long morning walks more than once. 
 
 I have presented him to General Paoli^ Lord Mountstuart and Dr 
 Johnson. 
 
 Yesterday he dined at the General's in company with Dr Johnson. 
 
 He looks vastly well in his regimentals, and seems to have such a 
 prudent rational way of thinking, that I trust he will not be corrupted in 
 this town of temptations. I have not failed from time to time to throw 
 into his mind some good counsels ; and I rejoice to observe that he has an 
 affectionate regard for me. 
 
 Adieu my dear Sir till we meet. Pray give my best compliments to 
 Lady Dick and all your amiable young family. — I ever am etc. 
 
 James Boswall. 
 
 The advice referred to as given to his young friend Willie 
 Dick was no doubt excellent, but it does not seem to have]occurred 
 to Mr Boswell that example would have been better than precept. 
 So completely did he believe in himself, and such was his earnest- 
 ness for the moment, that he was doubtless fully convinced that 
 he had scattered much good seed. 
 
 That Sir Alexander appreciated his good intentions is evident 
 from his again being invited to dine. 
 
 ^ Ensign Dick, 1st Batt. Foot Guards. 
 
 ^ General Paoli was a Corsican General who came to Scotland with the Polish Ambassador 
 Count Bevinski, Bozzy paid them assiduous attention, conducting them about personally. His 
 work on Corsica is supplemented by an account of the General. 
 
A Miser of Small Merit 277 
 
 Nov. 27. — " Chincough and Influenza still severe here. Mr James and 
 Mrs Boswell dined here. 
 
 Nov. 19. — "I lent Professor Fergusson my Georgick to peruse and to 
 Mr J. Boswell my Biography to animadvert upon. 
 
 1780 January 2. — "The news of peace with Ireland restored. The 
 Earl of Caithness my cousin buried at Roslin Chapel some days agoe I 
 attended my place the 2nd on the right of the Bearers. 
 
 January 9. — " All last week fine clear frost and the finest ice on my 
 Loch has been seen for many years and great numbers skating. 
 
 January 16. — " Last Thursday night the Therm at Dr Hope's Physic 
 Gardens at 6° the lowest known these many years past, perhaps only in 
 1740 the great winter. 
 
 " Lady Di Middleton died last week. The Duke of Montagu and Lord 
 Dalkeith the child his grandson set out for London. 
 
 January 23. — " A French Prize with Tobacco 250 Hds came into Leith 
 Road the men escapt. 
 
 " Thomas Rigg of Morton my cousin died, said to be worth 70,000^ 
 Ster. A sordid miser, of small merit besides, my health did not permit 
 me to attend his Burial nor Lady Di Middleton who were both buried in 
 Enterkins Tomb Grey Friars Churchyard. They hated each other while 
 alive and are buried next each other when dead ioo,ooq£ Ster goes to 
 their heirs. 
 
 Feb. 5. — " On Saturday last Mr James Boswell and Mr Johnson dined 
 here. 
 
 Feb. 20. — " The great and good news arrived confirmed of the several 
 naval advantages over the Spaniards by Admiral Rodney. Illuminations, 
 bell ringing and guns in Castle firing middle last week. 
 
 March 5. — "Complete thaw after the long severe frost and ice but little 
 snow, in the 1740 the snow was deep and lay longer. All the thick ice of 
 my Loch melted in a few days. 
 
 " The confirmation of the great news of Rodney's victory over the 
 Spanish Fleet arrived from himself, and that he has the Admiral Don 
 Langare Prisoner and 5 fine ships of the line captured and transports 
 and stores &c. &c. 
 
 March 12. — " Other pieces of great news last week from Admiral Digby 
 of a French 64 Ship of War and 3 transports taken at sea w' 60 odd 
 thousand pounds value in cash. 
 
 March 26. — " A French 40 gun Ship of War taken in the Channel. Too 
 
278 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 much altercation in both Houses of ParP' Lord North however always 
 comes off tho' with a small majority and none yet with much honour. 
 
 April 23. — "Mr Wilson's Ball and my little son Roby^ 7 years old 
 began it w' a Daughter of the Duke of Buccleugh of same age. 
 
 April 30. — " The great embarrassing affair of Lord Balcarras and Miss 
 Racket happened then and great relief from Miss Ann Keith's prudent 
 behaviour. 
 
 " Lady Balcarras and Lady Eliz came in 3 days from London. 
 
 May J. — " Lord Balcarras' novel w' Miss Racket ended well. Too long 
 to narrate now. Re set out for London last week and is to marry his 
 cousin Miss Betty Dalrymple my grand niece, my nephew Charles 
 Dalrymple's child, heiress to Sir Roger Bradshaw's fine estate in 
 Lancashire.^ She is worth in land and money near ;£^8o,ooo and is of 
 age next July, tho' Lady Bradshaw liferents the land aged 76 years old. 
 This will put Lord Balcarras that excellent young man into fine circum- 
 stances which the oyr party would have totally ruin'd. Row great and 
 wise a part my niece Miss Anny Keith had in all this transaction to bring 
 it out well ! Lady Balcarras and Lady Eliz her daughter and Cap' Butler 
 and Jamie Norris (now both of the Inflexible 64 gun Man of War) all 
 here in Family now at Prestonfield. 
 
 June 18. — "All last week and before a day or two a most dreadfull 
 riot ^ at London and Westminster as in the papers and not quelled as by 
 Willie's letter dated from the Sardinian Ambassadors House he was 
 particularly ordered to protect w' 62 of the Footguards, and by General 
 Amherst's order to fire as his discretion would direct him. Martial Law he 
 says made them all quiet." * 
 
 June 25.— "King's speech to His Parliament on the Outrages very 
 proper last week. Damadges said to be a million sterling to be paid 
 by the Public to the Foreign Ministers and the other sufferers of private 
 and public sort. A Riot at Bath and anoy"^ at Hull and damadge 
 done. 
 
 July 10. — " This day Monday Mrs Sterling and the 2 Miss Keiths came 
 to stay here for some months. 
 
 ^ Afterwards Sir Robert Keith Dick Cunyngham, Bart. 
 ^ Haigh Hall, now in possession of the Earl of Crawford. 
 2 The Gordon Riots. 
 
 * Ensign Dick's age was seventeen and a half. He had been nine months in the service. 
 
Miss Anne Keith's Tales 279 
 
 Miss Anne Keith seem to have been the most sprightly of the 
 sisters and went most out into the world. It was from this lady, 
 Miss Anne, that Sir Walter Scott got many of his tales.^ 
 
 July 23. — " Got my dear son Willie's excellent letter of his offered pro- 
 motion to be Adjutant in one of the 3 Battalions 1=' Reg. Foot Guards. 
 His age only 17 J ^ but thot fit by the whole officers and the General. 
 
 September 10. — " Electioneering over all counties and Burrows. 
 
 September 17. — "The trick played Gen"" Skeene by Lady Wallace was 
 truly laughable — to detain him lockt up from Dumbartonshire Election to 
 serve Lord Fred Campbell who however broke Prison and Lord Fred was 
 elected. 
 
 1 Many an ancient Scottish legend did Sir Walter Scott glean from Annie Keith — " D'ye think 
 I dinna ken my ain groats amang ither folks kail?" was a phrase she often playfully used in 
 vindication of the certainty she always expressed of his identity with the unknown Author of 
 Waverley. — Lives of the Lindsays. 
 
 - With 10 months' service. 
 
Chapter XVIII. 
 
 Letters from Mount Clare — The County Election — A Prodigious grand 
 sight — The Balcarras family — Lady Elizabeth Lindsay's Letters and 
 Rhymes. 
 
 [1780-1782.] 
 
 2 N 
 
Chapter XVIII. 
 
 During these latter years a steady correspondence had been 
 maintained between Sir John and Sir Alexander Dick, chiefly on 
 matters of family interest, and therefore not suitable for introduc- 
 tion into this volume. Sir John had purchased a house in the 
 vicinity of Roehampton, where all his leisure time was spent. 
 Here Lady Dick had her first taste of country life in England, 
 and admits that feeding the " fowlis " was her only accom- 
 plishment. 
 
 Sir John, on his part, immediately proceeded to lay out and 
 beautify the grounds, planting trees, shrubs, etc., and he frequently 
 mentions his regret at being so closely tied to the War Office, 
 where the pressure of work was for a time so great as to preclude 
 even an hour's visit to " Mount Clare his Villa in the Country," to 
 superintend the improvements. These were so extensive as to 
 employ twenty men at a time. 
 
 Mount Clare had previously belonged to, and was built by Mrs 
 Clive, a cousin to the Lord Clive who built Clairmount near Esher,^ 
 and she named it Mount Clare out of compliment to him. It was 
 then much more in the Country than now, and from remarks made 
 from time to time in the letters, the road to London appears to 
 have been most indifferent, so much so that it was not convenient 
 as a residence after the summer was over. 
 
 The following letter from Lady Dick to her cousin and name- 
 
 ^ Now the residence of H.R.II. the Duchess of Albany. 
 
284 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 sake at Prestonfield, gives her first impressions of the place, and 
 conveys news of the young Adjutant to his Mother. 
 
 After this, Sir Alexander's notes continue to supply the current 
 events, interspersed with letters and verses from Lady Elizabeth 
 Lindsay, afterwards Countess of Hard wick, to her cousin and 
 confidant Miss Dick. 
 
 Mount Clare 30 October 1780 
 
 My Dear Madam 
 
 Your Ladyships kind Letter gave us a most sensible 
 pleasure, as it brought with it, the very agriable news of yours and good 
 Sir Alexanders and the rest of your good Familys Health, which we shall 
 allways be rejoiced to hear, as to your young soldier, I hope your Ladyship 
 will make your self quite at ease about him, for we dont doubt but he will be 
 a comfort to you, and an Honor to your Family, I do not believe that any 
 young man can behave bitter than he does, his Colonel gives him a great 
 Character, we have but one fault to find, which we endeavour to rectify, 
 that is, bashfulness, or rather shyness for company, for that properly taken 
 is no bad school, but we do not despair of correcting him in it, it is a fault 
 of the right side, in short, you may depend on every friendly attention etc 
 etc. How good your Ladyship is in wishing us nearer to compare notes, 
 I sincerely wish it for my own sake, but not for yours, for I should be a 
 very troublesome neighbour in asking to many Impertinent Questions, as 
 no one is more ignorant than my self in every thing that regards the 
 country, for I only know how to feed the fowlis, and that I doo some 
 times, so you see we should be good neighbours in the maine point for we 
 should never quarrel about who conducted their Farm best. 
 
 Now dear Madam give me leave to return my sincere thanks for the 
 very kind present you have been so good as to send us of your most 
 excellent Home made sweetmeats which are the best I ever tasted. We 
 are still in the Country, Sir John is very Busy making great alterations in 
 the little place he has bought. Planting shrubs fruit treess &c. &c. but I 
 am afraid the bad weather will send us to town. Sir John Joyns with me 
 in most affec'* comp'^ etc etc. 
 
 Your Ladyships Most obliged and affec'^ servant 
 
 Ann Dick. 
 
Lord George Gordon's Acquittal 285 
 
 We now glean from Sir Alexander's Diary. 
 
 Oct I. — "On the 22 last month our County Election held and I was 
 unanimously chosen Preces, Mr Newbiggin Clerk, Lord Advocate was 
 unanimously chosen Member of Parliament for our County and I moved 
 thanks to him for his former conduct. I dined w' above 100 at table that 
 day and sat by Lord President his brother, all was harmony and good 
 humour and mirth : not so the City of Edinburgh. 
 
 Nov 5. — "Gunpowder Treason day Canons fire at 12. 
 
 Nov 27. — " The great protuberance of Arthurs Seat Hill on the West 
 Side like the Giants Causeway came tumbling down several hundred 
 cartloads in evening, the effect of the storms and wet after frost. 
 
 1 78 1 II Feb. — " By post a letter of Sir John Dick confirming the bad 
 news of his Lady's death. 
 
 " His grief is extreme. 35 years together in Love and Harmony etc." 
 
 A reference to May 27th of this Diary will indicate the depth 
 of his grief. 
 
 " By last nights post a confirmation of Lord George Gordon's acquital. 
 Foolish but great Illuminations at Ed"^ on Tuesday evening. 
 
 Feb 25. — "A man 8 feet high arrived in Edin'' and we all went to see 
 him, he is but 21 years old, mother Scots, father Irish, and born near 
 Carrickfergus. 
 
 March 4. — "Crocus appear very gay and full, next the Hypatica 
 purplish Flowers in very warm spots of the garden. It is an observation 
 I mentioned to Dr Hope that after the long darkness of Winter and the 
 short visit of the sun throw the day, then the snowdrop and white flowers 
 arrive first from the earth, then succeed the yellow flowers as the Crocus, 
 flowers of higher tincture next, purpulish as the Hypatica, next the violets, 
 afterwards come the richer red flowers and variegated as the Tulips with- 
 out smell, succeeded by the rich smelling roses white first in June, next 
 the scarlet and red of all sorts. This succession deserves farther notice, 
 from the flowers white arriving in darkness, as light and rays of the sun 
 increase all colours richer and flowers of fine smells come on. 
 
 " All the Diversions of Ed' numerous and well attended, the place 
 being full. 
 
 May 27. — " News came from Willie that Sir John Dick is to be married 
 to Miss Clavering next October. 
 
286 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Jmie 12. — "The East Coast of Scotland and ye Frith much alarmed 
 w* a Dutch Fleet. Admiral Parker w' several ships of the Line to come 
 to our Relief as fast as the wind will allow them. 
 
 June 24. — "The great convoy and the Jamaica Fleet having come 
 north arrived a few days agoe 50 sail w' war ships, 10 sail and a war ship 
 a few days after, in the Road now near 450 sail in all." 
 
 " A prodigious grand sight. 
 
 June 27. — " On Wednesday 27 early in the morning the wind changed 
 from E. to S.W. and Adm Parker gave signal for the whole Fleet sailing 
 for the Baltic. The gale was full and in the afternoon w' the tide they 
 sailed down by the north side of Inch Keith, 400 sail a very noble and 
 uncommon sight in this or any part of the Globe. I saw them well at 
 5 o'c afternoon from the Castle Hill. The Jamaica Fleet 60 and odd sail 
 remain till they are victualled and watered and many sick refreshed. 
 
 July 15. — "J. Boswell and family dined here, several reviews lent him 
 also I vol Paris descriptions also i vol Chansons francois to Miss Peg 
 Trotter Charles Lindsay arrived and stays here^ 
 
 July 29. — " Races last week ^ very fine weather and good sport. 
 
 Aug. 5. — " Made 10 days agoe a Hogshead and a half of white curran 
 wine in 6 hours of a morning. 
 
 August 12. — "Received a most material letter from Sir John Dick, 
 informing us of the marriage of his w' Miss Clavering being for many 
 cogent and substantial reasons not to take place. I wrote immediately 
 by post to express my perfect satisfaction and his friends with his just 
 reasons for his conduct which on his part was most honorable and he has 
 no reflections on the young lady. 
 
 Aug. 19. — "News came of a very bloody action at sea with Adm 
 Parker and the Dutch Fleet off ye Dogerbank north seas. 
 
 Aug. 26. — "By last post, the King came w' the Prince of Wales and 
 visited Adm Parker and had him to dine w' him at the Nore. 
 
 " Sir John Dick's letter in answer to my invitation to his coming here to 
 stay, that it was his firm intention, but got notice from the Treasury that 
 the King had appointed him a Comptroller of Army Accounts which gave 
 him so much occupation as prevented him from making us a visit now. 
 
 * The Hon. Chas. Lindsay, 6th son of James Earl of Balcarres, born 1 760, became Bishop of 
 Kildare. He married, in 1790, the daughter of Thos. Fydell, Esq. of Boston, and died in 1846. 
 His eldest son Charles was Archdeacon of Kildare. He was born in 179O) and died in 1855. 
 
 - At Musselburgh. 
 
Seventy- Eight Black Pyes 287 
 
 " I continue well and dined abroad at Mr Boswell's and Lord Balcarras's 
 w' Sir Hugh Dalrymple &c &c. 
 
 Sept. I. — " 12 a clock forenoon the happy news of Lady Balcarras's 
 daughter and the young lady ^ well and safe. 
 
 Oct. 28. — " Last 23d my birthday 78 black pyes were produced for the 
 number of my years and Ripe Grapes 12 or more bunches from the walls 
 of my house open air." 
 
 It was on the 23d Oct. 1781 his seventy-seventh birthday that 
 
 the following lines, "a happy adaptation from Martial Epigr. x. 23, 
 
 were presented to Sir Alexander by his grand niece Lady Elizabeth 
 
 Lindsay, Countess of Hardwick " : ^ 
 
 " This day we hail as subject of our lays 
 Antonius happy in a length of days. 
 Thrice five Olympiads hath the good man seen ; 
 His youth was joyous and his age serene. 
 No deed that recollection shuns to name 
 Can tinge his forehead with the blush of shame ; 
 No day of painful memory unblest 
 He wishes banish'd from his tranquil breast ; 
 Nor Lethe's certain stream his bosom fears — 
 'Tis but the closing of his peaceful years, 
 Happy old man ! long may these blessings last 
 He twice has lived who can enjoy the past." 
 
 Nov. II. — " Lady Elizabeth Lindsay my grandniece finished the face of 
 her copy of a large picture of Mary Magdalene by Guido " ^ 
 
 Of the Balcarras family Sir Alexander writes in his book of 
 Anecdotes, 1781. 
 
 "My sister Anne* had only one Daughter Ann that lived. She 
 was afterwards marryd to the old Earl of Balcarras, then near his grand 
 
 ' Lady Eliz. Keith Lindsay, Sir Alexander's great grandniece, married in 1815, Mr Heathcote 
 of Lougton Hall. She died in 1825. 
 Lives of the Lindsays. 
 ^ A full length, life size figure 
 
 * Lady Dalrymple. In the Appendix No. XLVI. of T/ie Lives of the Lindsays, anent their 
 descent from the Dalrymples, is given the family version of the legend which Mrs Keith first 
 told to Sir Walter Scott, and which he afterwards made famous under the title of "The Bride of 
 Lammermuir." 
 
288 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 climateric and made a most excellent wife to him, which he always 
 expressed in the warmest manner. She bore him eight sons and three 
 Daughters viz. The present Earl of Balcarres (at present little more than 
 thirty) was early in the army and greatly distinguished himself in the late 
 war with the Americans in Canada has already the rank of Colonel and 
 is one of the i6 Peers for Scotland, at last election and speaks well in the 
 House. 
 
 Her second son Robert, now in India and has honourably made a 
 handsome fortune there. 
 
 Her third son Colin who tho young bears the rank of L' Colonel and 
 was present at the most remarkable siege of Giberalter under Gen". Elliot. 
 
 Her fourth son William a sailor was accidentally drowned. 
 
 Her fifth son Charles bred to the Church at Oxford, is a young clergy- 
 man of great merit, and will probably rise high in that line from his 
 learning, prudence and discretion. 
 
 Her sixth son James, a most valuable young man, of great merit 
 behaved admirably as a soldier, was Aid-du-Camp to Sir E, Coote in 
 India. In fighting boldly at the head of his company of Grenadiers, was 
 mortally wounded of w*^ he died soon after, universally regretted. 
 
 Her seventh son John went to India with his brother James as a 
 soldier (now about twenty-two) was taken prisoner by Hyder Ali, that 
 brutal tyrant who kept him fettered and cruelly used in every shape for 
 some years. He is now happily releiv'd by the peace and gone to his 
 Brother Robert in Bengal. (Their Uncle Stair Dalrymple " had the misfor- 
 tune to die in that dreadfull place called the Black Hole in Culcutta.) 
 
 Her eight and youngest son Hugh is a Lieutenant on board a man 
 of War." 
 
 The ladies of the family were fully as distinguished as their 
 brothers. Of them he writes : — 
 
 " Lady Anne the eldest, whose residence is in London and it is said 
 she has been fortunate in the stocks. At present at Paris on a jaunt of 
 curiosity, and it is hoped has wrote a journal of her journey through 
 Holland and Flanders which will be very entertaining as she has a great 
 deal of good sense and wit." 
 
 This lady has left an ineffaceable mark behind her in the 
 
Lady Elizabeth's Painting 289 
 
 touching and well-known Ballad of Auld Robin Grey." She 
 
 married Mr Barnard, and died in 1825. 
 
 " Her sister Lady Margaret is gone to accompany her to Paris, having 
 been unfortunately marryd to a man of low birth then very rich but now 
 a Bankrupt. 
 
 Her tliird daughter Lady EHzabeth marryd to Philip Yorke Esq. of 
 Hammels." 
 
 Mr Yorke became 3rd Earl of Hardwicke on the death of his uncle 
 in 1796. 
 
 " Lady Elizabeth has bore to Mr Yorke two children a son and a 
 daughter." ^ 
 
 Of Lady Elizabeth's painting, while staying with her grand- 
 uncle at Prestonfield, Sir Alexander says 
 
 " She wrought with enthusiasm and could scarce be torn from her work 
 to take the air in the garden or to go to dinner. The Spirit of Guido and 
 the excellency of the picture are so well copied that it has mett with the 
 admiration of the best judges." 
 
 The picture was afterwards removed to Balcarras, as will be 
 
 seen from her letter to her cousin Miss Dick, and with it Sir 
 
 Alexander sent the following lines 
 
 " Long may your works Balcarras Castle grace 
 " And from all Magdelenes guard that place, 
 " For though to Heaven repentance joy may bring 
 " Unsullied Virtue is on Earth ye Thing." 
 
 Lady Elizabeth's letter runs as follows : — 
 
 "Balcarres 18* 
 " Thanks fair Jesica for your two last letters which shew me plainly 
 that the pomps and vanitys of this wicked world have taken compleat 
 possession of your mind — I could preach you a sermon on Dissapation 
 
 ^ This son, Viscount Roystoun was drowned in 1808, aged 24. Their daughter Anne married 
 in 1807 John third Earl of Mexborough. She died in 1870. Of this marriage there were two sons 
 and three daughters, Countess Caledon, Lady Stuart de Rothesay and Countess Somers. 
 
 Lady Stuart de Rothesay had two daughters, Countess Canning, and Louisa Marchioness of 
 Waterford, both of whom inherited the artistic talent of their grandmother, and are now well 
 known to the public through Mr Augustus Hare's Memoirs of them published under the title of 
 *' Tvo Noble Lives." 
 
 Z Q 
 
290 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 at this minute but perhaps you would say the ' Grapes are sour.' I have 
 been speaking with Cap' Hyd on the subject of my Magdelen — and he 
 has promised to take the lady into his charge — so if you will be so good 
 as to tell Lady Dick that I think the best way will be to send her down to 
 Mr Rannies at Leith and Cap' Hyd will take her into his Cutter the first 
 time he comes up — which will probably be in a week — tell Lady Dick 
 that I am her most obedient Humble Serv' Eliz. Scott Lindsay as I am 
 sure she must have had some trouble about it, but I am very grateful for 
 it — and when she sends her two performances over the frith of forth, I 
 shall take care that they shall be safe packed up and returned in due time. 
 
 Our little Minniken grows divinely, and is a charming elf. At this very 
 moment that I am writing I think I see you in all the Pride of dress 
 sallying forth to set the world on fire. Veni, Vidi, Vici ! ! ! ! ! Alas 
 Alas — Giddy Girl that I am how can I assume the appearance of Happiness 
 when the Dear cause of all my Joys has left these desart shores. Oh Willy 
 
 Cunninghame, Willie Cunninghame, Oh ! by the bye, we had a letter 
 
 from Colin yesterday he is perfectly well — it was after the sally that the 
 troops made that he wrote but he was not in the expedition. 
 
 Tell your friend Mrs Young that Miss Tumours (?) married to Martin 
 Lindsay a son of Harry Lindsay's. I think that Mrs Young mentioned 
 her one evening with great aff"ection which makes me think that she will 
 be interested in this piece of news — Say also — to the same Lady the 
 prettiest things you can invent she is indeed a most pleasing woman. 
 
 Balcarres kisses the tip of your loveliness — the sense I don't comprehend, 
 Jessy I would not write you another word for the Universe — Hum — less 
 would serve — yours in all stupidity, Eliz. Lindsay. 
 
 two porters will carry the picture to Leith Lady Bal is going to write 
 to you immediately if you refuse her request you shall be married to 
 G— "W— My best love to all the World." 
 
 That this young lady was almost as nimble with her pen as 
 
 with her brush is shown in the following effusion to her cousin 
 
 and friend : — 
 
 " Sunday 
 
 " Once more I'll bend at Dan Apollos shrine 
 " And greet my Jessy once again in rhyme 
 "To her I'll now devote my first essay 
 " Since first I stop'd the progress of my Lay 
 
Bending at Dan Appolos Shrine 
 
 291 
 
 "Shall I the cause disclose — it is in vain 
 " To hide the Latent weakness of my brain 
 " Hear then my friend I tremble when I tell 
 " My genius mouldered as my brown locks fell 
 " Nor was it strange when almost dare my skull 
 " That your poor friend should be so very dull 
 " When every time the cruel comb Laid waste 
 "Some Little remainder of VERSE or TASTE 
 
 " In Ancient Legends ye have oft times read 
 
 " How Samsons force the Stoutest Warriors dared 
 
 "Till overcome by beauty's matchless power 
 
 " His Truant prudence let him sleep an hour 
 
 " The Cruel Dame then grasped the fatal knife 
 
 " And SHAVED THE HERO that had caused the strife. 
 
 " But know my friend my head has not been shavd 
 " Altho' that boon with many sighs I cravd 
 "An oracle in peruquier enclosed 
 "The mystic secrets of his trade disclosed 
 " That soon young hair would raise its youthful head 
 
 " Move the confines of its scaly bed 
 " And soon experience showd the tale was true 
 " I've now some hairs nor are those hairs a few 
 " But as their short prithee dont expect 
 " That in my Verses yet you'll find the effect 
 " But Live in hopes of what you'll see some time 
 " Of flowing tresses — and resounding rhyme 
 " Amongst the Damsels that have tyed their hands 
 " In holy Wedlocks unremitting bands 
 " Ah wherefore in the list can I not see 
 " The name of her that is beloved by me 
 " Yet much I trust to Crimson Habbits' graces 
 " When 'tis displayed at the approaching races 
 " Like Venus when from Neptune's Courts she rose 
 "(If Venus e'er had crimson riding cloaths) 
 " And then This hat with Feathers so adornd 
 " As if its former simple State it scornd 
 
292 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 " Bold is the Man or more than Stone his heart 
 
 " Who is not struck with this your featherd dart. 
 
 " Ah me my friend there's not the smallest chance 
 
 " That in that peridix soon with you I'll dance 
 
 " Meantime present my kindest love to all 
 
 " From the gay parlour to the humble hall 
 
 " Farewell my friend — now Rhyme to prose must yield 
 
 " And leave to him a while the Conquerd field. 
 
 " A rival sister my dear Jessy claims the little remainder of paper that 
 I have Left — so forgive me for making so abrupt an ending to my POETRY 
 and my LETTER. Adieu thou fairest lady your Eliz." 
 
 The sister takes up the pen 
 
 " Ah Jessy Jessy — vain were my vows — my promises but air — I said 
 I would write soon, but I never do anything now that is right but gallop 
 and start out of the even path and have my sides so galled with the spurs 
 of conscience for my misdemeanors that if you was to strip me you would 
 see what a poor wounded Jade I am. 
 
 My harpischord is a very happy instrument to have its visit prolonged 
 in your parlour. I wish its former mistress could change places with it for 
 a day nay even for this day as I would with pleasure sacrifice the musical 
 party at the keeper of the Queen's Duds ^ to hear such a concert as I once 
 heard at your house — or if you please I'll give up Manclaugh to-morrow — 
 tell us in your next when the races are I have a reason for asking — I fancy 
 they will be very brilliant this year. I had constant inquiries after you all 
 last winter from Caulder, was he not such a Chick I should think you had 
 a better chance than Lady P: B — e." 
 
 The races alluded to in the verses took place on the Sands 
 at Leith " where," says Sir Alexander, " sometimes above three 
 hundred carriages and an immensity of riders and spectators 
 appear." On this occasion Miss Jessie went with her Guardsman 
 brother in a Gig dressed in a scarlet habit ! 
 
 To return again to Sir Alexander's notes, he says 
 November 11 1781. — "Had a letter to An Keith from James Lindsay 
 1 The Mistress of the Robes. 
 
Surrender of Lord Cornwallis 293 
 
 at Madras, supposed no news of his brother John the Prisoner with 
 Hyder Ali. 
 
 November 23. — " Mr Campbell of Calder dined here and his brother the 
 Captain and one Mr Bateman an Englishman a frivlish sort of man. 
 
 December 2. — "The fatal news came of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis 
 to the French and American Armies at York in Virginia and thus 6000 
 fine Troops are rendered useless there and indeed the war in N. America 
 for the sake of G' Britain has got probably its death blow. The King's 
 Speech arrived last night owning the loss of Forces there but still insists 
 for the Continuation of Hostile Measures. 
 
 December 9. — " Mr James Boswell dined yesterday and this day Lord 
 Balcarras and his lady Mrs Maud and her daughter and Baron Rutherford 
 and Mr Haliburton. 
 
 Lord Balcarras offered to raise a Regiment in a letter to Lord North 
 if his brother Major at Gibralter was made L' Coll of it. 
 
 December 30. — " Parliament up. 
 
 A great victory over Hyder Ali confirmed. 
 
 Ireland takes a proper resolution of addressing the King on the loss of 
 Cornwallis not to despair of the State and to join all as one man against 
 France — this much admired, and is a stain on the English minority men. 
 
 December 31. — "Wrote to Mr Allan Ramsay etc. etc. 
 
 February 3 1782. — "Lord Braidalbin died last week. 
 
 This day Baron Rutherford and Mr Balderston his Doer ^ dined with me. 
 
 February 11. — "The post master general called last week from Lord 
 Privy Seal about Rhubarb culture and I prepared for him and gave him 
 seeds also. 
 
 February 17. — "Lord G. Germaine made a Peer. Good sketching ^ on 
 my Loch all last week. 
 
 March 24. — " Last week news of the certain change of the Ministry 
 came tho Lord North has still nine majority in the House of Commons." 
 
 Miss Jessie is again the recipient of a letter of this date from 
 
 her lively cousin Lady Elizabeth. 
 
 Duke Street Manchester Square 
 
 24 of March 1782 
 
 " If the Fair Jessica will graciously bend her blue beaming eye to the 
 words wrote by a Delinquent. If she will in pity to the pains of a dis- 
 ^ "Doer" was the old term for Legal Agent or Factor. Old patois for skating. 
 
294 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 tressed conscience grant a pardon to a weeping maiden, if she will 
 remember that Mercy is better than Sacrifice. May she when she has 
 glanced over this Epistle, may she I say let it fall at her feet, from whence 
 it shall be lifted, by a sweetly smiling swain — who may lay himself there 
 instead of my Letter and may he in his turn be lifted up by you the blue 
 eyed maid — if you forgive me this once all these fine things shall happen 
 to you and your petitioner shall ever pray &c &c 
 
 Now Cara Carina you must needs be surprized that I contrary to your 
 express orders have addressed you in the Vulgar stile of prose, true it is 
 that flowing numbers would have expressed the elegance of my sentiments 
 much better, but then if the numbers above mentioned should by no 
 means flow with that smoothness necessary to do justice to my expressions, 
 it would lessen what it meant to raise, as it has always been observed 
 that it is better to walk afoot than on a lame steed, so prose at this time 
 suits me better than the stumbling pegasus who has been rode so hard to 
 bring imortal fame to Mr Garrick and to perpetuate the GLORIOUS 
 Victory of Keppel that he now stands as lame as Mr Bowdler and as I 
 ever am of a compassionate nature it would go to my heart to mount him 
 in this situation 
 
 Now I have run myself to a full stop — for Helas ! not one ball play 
 or opera can be found to ornament my unfortunate letter — to become a 
 Parrot and only repeat what I hear would be a great mortification to me 
 I would rather set about inventing some thing out of my own pericranium 
 than be so humbled — apropos I heard that your Squire Christian had 
 turned apostate and instead of being devoted to the Priests had turned 
 his eyes the other way and abjuring the devotion of that Shrine had turned 
 a professed Votary of the Godess of Hope — this is a cruel cruel blow but 
 I see I think a reason for it . . You anxious to show your powers over a 
 Conquered Slave made him draw your Car in State over the Dudistonian 
 lake ^ so although so near the heat of your Charms your rigour together with 
 the coldness of Ice had totaly frozen up every pretty sensation till the return 
 of the sun in conjunction with the rays of the bright eyes of Lady Sophia 
 Hope — thawed all those feelings which were stiffened with your coldness 
 and those Speeches which were frost bound and which he meant to adress 
 to you on this sudden return of warmth — flowed at her feet instead of 
 yours — The matter is now cleared up and unless we meet with some more 
 frost I don't believe it will be easy to regain the Bird that has left his 
 ^ Willie Dick had invented a chair on skates with sails. 
 
A Flirting Cousin to be Sold Cheap 295 
 
 Cage — How does all folks in the World of Scotland — and tell, tell me 
 instantly what sort of a being the Illustrious Willy appears to be — to own 
 the truth, under the rose I mean to claim him as my property when we 
 are in Scotland and to practise the noble science of flirting on the said 
 William Dick of the parish of Dudiston. This like every other Missish 
 Confidence is a Great Secret and must by no means be told to above 6 
 or seven dear friends — if he knows of so villanous a plot he will take 
 fright and be terrified at the sight of me — but a Cousin is one's personal 
 property and as much belongs to one as their fortune I wonder one does 
 not see them advertised in the Newspapers — "A flirting Cousin to be sold 
 Cheap properly bred and very fit for the service of any Lady in Town 
 or Country — can speak all sorts of small talk perfectly — and is as well 
 taught to pick up a fan or call up your Coach as any that has ever before 
 appeared in this Metropolis to be viewed any day between the hours of 
 ten and twelve at night where it will display amazing faculty in that way 
 he will be sold by Auction at Almack's great Room St. James Street" — 
 I think it would sell very well and am only much amazed that Mr Christie 
 the famous Auctioneer should never have thought of it. I would if I was 
 you, put Willy to an apprenticeship that he may be properly qualified. 
 I am not old enough or I should be very happy to take him under my 
 protection but alas I am not knowing enough in the practice though 
 perfect mistress of the Theory — But I promise and vow three things — first, 
 to instruct him as far as I can in the pomp and vanitys of this world, 
 secondly to make him as much the fashion as possible, and thirdly to 
 make him walk in the paths of flirtation all the days of his Life — the offer 
 is too good a one to be rejected — and I shall expect no other premium 
 for it than six years of attention to be paid to me and me only except he 
 asks and obtains permission to practice with any other Fair one for a little 
 while. 
 
 I only wish any body of the Male Creation would make me so good 
 an offer I should accept with pleasure — 
 
 The Peer desires me to tell you that he longs to throw himself at 
 your feet and not \.o " let you Just entirely alone" The Lady Anne sends 
 Comp'^- and Love which always preceeding the close of a Letter will serve 
 as a happy omen to shew you that it is here exemplified by my signing 
 myself yours affectionately Elizabeth Lindsay 
 
 Pray how does Peggy's petites affectations do I hope she don't leave 
 
296 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 them off — I hear that franking is to be abolished, oh cruel fate we misses 
 must either part with our sixpences or our dear friendships, as it has long 
 been said that female attachments were but of short standing, we will now 
 see if they are worth that sixpence which is talked of ... I hear Sir 
 Alex has composed some Georgicks, I long to see them . . . good-bye. 
 
 Bon Dieu I have just found out that the Squire made his addresses to 
 Lady Eleonara Hume which sends all the Wit in the foregoing page to 
 the Deuce, forgive but not forget me." 
 
 The threatened abolition of franking upon letters, which caused 
 such blank dismay in the minds of the " Misses," did not take 
 place then, nor indeed until many years later, when a new 
 century had given due consideration to and weighed the matter 
 well. For it was not until 1839 that the Government brought 
 in a bill to introduce Mr Hill's scheme of all-over rates at a 
 diminished cost, and to abolish the franking system, except in 
 cases of official letters. The letters which have been quoted are 
 addressed to Prestonfield, but to the care of "John's Coffee 
 House, Edinburgh,"^ — where, doubtless, they were sent for, as we 
 are informed that there were but twenty-three persons employed 
 in the City Post Office in 1781, including letter carriers. 
 
 1 John's Coffee-house stood at the N.E. corner of Parliament Close. "It was the resort of 
 the judges and lawyers of the eighteenth century for consultations, and for their ' meridian ' or 
 twelve o'clock dram." — Grant's Old and New Edinburgh. 
 
Chapter XIX. 
 
 Victory over the French at Sea — Lady Elizabeth Lindsay's Letters — A 
 Recruiting Order — Death of Lord Auchinleck — Loss of the Royal 
 George — Death of Lord Karnes. 
 
 [1782-1783] 
 
 2 p 
 
Chapter XIX. 
 
 To revert again to Sir Alexander's diary. On April first he 
 writes — 
 
 April I 1782. — "Lady Balcarras Dowager and Lady Elizabeth came 
 here. The King has graciously given at Lord North's desire going out 
 150;^ Ster. of Pension to Lady Anne and also Lady Eliz. Lindsay her 
 daughters my grand-nieces.^ 
 
 Began my Georgic work again. 
 
 Last week snowy cold and wet weather owing I presume to the 
 former Eclipse of the Moon and the visible Eclipse of the Sun last 
 Friday even. 
 
 April 14. — "Razors ground last Friday (reads as though the Eclipse 
 had affected their edge !) 
 
 Hay rose to sixpence a stone. 
 Potatoes rose to eightpence a peck. 
 
 Last night bro't the agreable news of the official proposals of Peace 
 and Amity with Holland and with Ireland by Mr Fox's assiduity and 
 address during vacation. 
 
 April 21. — "New ministry active in forwarding Peace and ceconomy 
 seconded by y^ Kings messages to both Houses. 
 
 May 26. — " Two posts agoe the great and glorious Victory over the 
 French at Sea April 12 by Adm. Rodney and Sir Charles Douglass who 
 took the French Admiral Count de Grass Prisoner and captured his Ship 
 the Ville de Paris of 1 10 guns and 4 more of the Line and sank the CiEsar 
 of 64 Guns and shattered the whole Fleet intended against Jamaica. 
 Also very great news of victory last Nov. 1781, and sundry 1782 by Sir 
 Edward Hughs in East Indies and save Jamaica and promote safe and 
 honorable peace. 
 
 June 9. — " Hay up to gd. stone very ripe Peaches a duzen from 
 my greenhouse. Rodneys victory and Ad™ Hughs E Indies astonisht all 
 
 1 The Dowager Lady Balcarras was left with a large family and a very small income, and lived 
 at Balcarras on the produce of the Estate. 
 
300 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Europe and inspirit Brittain and Ireland now settled and gives 200,000;^ 
 to raise 20,000 sailors for Brittain a Thundering stroke to her Enemies. 
 
 June 16. — "There has prevailed all over Europe for some time past an 
 Influenza or slight Feverish Disorder attended with loss of appetite 
 headache and pain in the back and limbs, sometimes a giddiness, hitherto 
 without danger or bad symptoms, w*" after a vomit and moderate 
 sweating goes ofif. It came chiefly from Russia attended with long and 
 very cold E. wind and frosty Disposition of the air then continued rains 
 floods and foggs. It began in Brittain 10 days agoe and goes north and 
 now here about, is now beginning in this Family. 
 
 June 23. — "The Court of Session by it adjourned. The Influenza the 
 most universal ever known but not mortal." 
 
 Lady Balcarras and her daughter had evidently returned 
 home, as Lady Elizabeth again has her pen in hand ; this time she 
 addresses Miss Dick as "Beautiful J annet" instead of "Fair Jesica"; 
 the letter is unsigned but the writing is the same and bears her 
 seal with initials. 
 
 " Balcarras Sunday 
 "Are you all alive? You will probably answer Yes — but are you all 
 alive and merry} for I fear much Beautiful Jannet that the Adjy's^ departure 
 would vex you all a good deal. Cousin Will has I see no great opinion 
 of the secrecy of the Fair Sex — at Scotts he first found out whether 
 I returned again to Prestonfield and seeing that there was no chance of 
 repeating it — he made a merit of it and told me that he was to steal away 
 in two or three days — we are all desirous to hear how my Uncle is after 
 his play and if he is not Blank without his Soldier. We had a charming 
 day to cross. Cap' Duncan came over with us — and we eat up a great 
 piece of Cold Beef — Cheese Butter &c. and drunk Porter in Proportion. 
 
 Cap' Duncan went on to Cupar where there was a Ball — altho I was not 
 there — Fureis Death H — 1 fire, and — and thats all — did you go to Archers- 
 hall 81 who was the happy man that did you the honor to dance with you 
 — what are they doing in Edin"" now, whose there — and if they pretend to 
 be merry when I am not there ? The Countess Bess is grown immense but 
 vastly well — my mother has had a cold but is better — Bal comes down to 
 Edin"^ on Tuesday and will cross without stopping — I suppose Mrs PhiHp 
 
 1 Adjutant Wm. Dick, ist Foot Guards, i.e. Grenadiers. 
 
Flowing Numbers or Honest Prose 301 
 
 Anstruther will call on you some of these days, she is going to England 
 for a little while. 
 
 I am Lazy so give best love to all at Prestonfield — may they all soon 
 attain their different pursuits particularly Anny — but she must not drink 
 shrub it is quite out of Character — I am with greatest respect for black 
 eyes and profound veneration for white teeth, 
 
 Yours ever once, twice, thrice off and away." 
 
 Another letter, bearing no date, but virritten evidently late in 
 the previous year, is addressed to Miss Dick. 
 
 " I know not how long it is since the faithless Eliza adressed her fair 
 Cousin either in flowing Numbers or in more honest Prose — but I am afraid 
 that it is a long very long time — but as I am pretty well assured that you 
 are not of a vindictive Spirit nor of an unforgiving mind perchance I may 
 be again admitted into the Private Closet of your affections. 
 
 We look very dismal here and very ugly as the Cold takes hold of us 
 in a very familliar manner and what is rather dismal here we are to stay 
 for all this winter. I daresay you have (heard that Bal — dont come 
 home a cruel disapointment — and made still more so we are to stay here 
 this winter with no other Companions but a few Ducks in a Dub before 
 the Door. How entertaining it will be to Quack Quack in their assembly 
 they will be my only friends. . . . You have been going on like the D — 1 
 and all in Scotland la Povera Melvina^ alias Mrs Dundas alias Miss Reney 
 has played her cards very ill and showed but a loseing game . . . her spose 
 is piqued but she is entirely Capot. ... I am afraid that she'll continue her 
 game when she comes to London — as she has lost all she had to lose — she 
 must play upon tic but certainly not upon honor. . . . Bath too has been 
 fertile — there has been two duels there the one between two french Gentle- 
 men the other by Col*' Ackland and a Mr Loyd the former was killed. I 
 am sorry for him as he was a friend of Balcarres's. . . . 
 
 You cant think how happy I am at the thought of seeing you this 
 Spring. ... I dont know how often sleep transports me to Prestonfield 
 but I hope in some months to realize the Phantom and danse once more 
 in the Apendix. 
 
 Your list of your swain's good and bad qualitys is delightful we all give 
 it for the oldest. . . . Hook him and then Mrs Butter may flirt with him 
 all day long. I have no doubt but he will ingratiate himself into the 
 
 • Alluding to the divorce between the Lord Advocate and Mrs Dundas already mentioned in the 
 Diary. 
 
302 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 family by the account you give of his nimble heels. ... A Scater on 
 Dudistoun. Look on ye Deitys — Miss Jessy never can resist him — no 
 more than I can a piece of smoking Beef that entreats safe passage to my 
 stomach when called by so amiable an object — Friendship must give way. 
 ... so adio adio — 
 
 Your ever affec'^ and very stupid ELIZA LINDSAY." 
 
 It would have been amusing to have read this young lady's 
 sentiments on the next and great event of her life, but it is only 
 from the comprehensive Notes that our information comes. 
 
 June 30 1782. — "News from Lady Balcarras Dowager of a Marriadge 
 proposed and agreed to between Lady Elizabeth her daughter of 19 and 
 Mr York of 24 an accomplisht and valuable young man of a considerable 
 independant fortune and the Heir apparant to Earl Hardwick and his 
 nephew, as also nephew to Sir Joseph York and the Bishop of Ely and 
 Member of Parliament just arrived from Vienna and his Travels much 
 w' Sir Robert M. Keith my nephew and esteemed by him. 
 
 July 14. — " Last Sunday forenoon after I had wrote, my son Willie in 
 the Guards arrived in perfect health with a recruiting order and yesterday 
 went to Glasgow on that business and return shortly." 
 
 A facsimile of the recruiting order is annexed which will 
 doubtless tickle the fancy of the Guardsman of the day. 
 
 July 28. — "All the week excellent weather for the Races Lord . . . 
 and Sir Grey Cooper and Lady . . . and much Company at Races 
 Assembly and Concert and all my family and Willie and Campbell of 
 Calder when Mr York was married to Lady Eiiz. — his uncle the Bishop of 
 Ely married them Sir Joseph his other uncle present and they went to 
 y* country next day to his seat 20 miles from London. 
 
 Aug. 18. — " An excellent letter from Lady Balcarras Dow to Balcarras 
 from Hamel Mr Yorks fine place in Hartfordshire all in good health 
 happiness and content. 
 
 Yesterday at 3 morning to 7 my wife and daughter Bess^ made 2 hogs- 
 heads of a white curran wine of 320 Scots pints of berries and 15 pound 
 sterling worth of raw sugar. This work near a month later than usual — 
 
 ^ Afterwards Hon. Mrs Robert Lindsay. 
 
His MAJESTY'S First Royal Regiment 
 
 O F 
 
 FOOT GUARDS. 
 
 The greateJiOPPORTUNITTever known for TOUNG 
 SCOTCHMEISf fo ratfe themfehes and FamiRes. 
 
 YOUR Duty is a conftant Pleafure, being only to attend and 
 Guard his Majesty's Perfon at the Palace, and to the Theatres^ 
 Opera-Houfes, Mafquerades, and Reviews of different Regiments. 
 
 When off Duty, you are under no Reftraint; there is no Roll- 
 calling ; you may drefs as you pleafe, go where you pleafe any 
 where within to miles round London, and follow any Profeflion you 
 pleafe; which being conftantly in London, is of great confequence 
 to you, the Wages there being about three times more than any 
 ^here elfe. 
 
 TouTTay IS lO ' d. pn day; and OubfiflLiiLL 4s. pit weCl, and 13 s > - 
 a-year ofQUEEN's Bounty, with excellent Quarters, a good Room 
 to yourfelf, with a Lock and Key, with the full Ufe of the Houfe, 
 Coal and Candle, and 5' Pints of choice Beer or good Cyder every 
 l)ay, which the Landlord muft furniih you by A(5l of Parliament. 
 
 It is well known you cannot be draughted to any other Regiment. 
 
 So great an Oppc/rLV.'nity as this cannot be fuppofed to laft long ; 
 therefore^ before it is too late, let all handfome young Men, whofe 
 Hearts beat at the Sound of the Drum, aud. are above mean Em- 
 ployments, inquire after the Party commanded by Captain^DICK, 
 where you fhajl have the Honour of being made one of His Ma- 
 jesty's own Firft Regiment of FOOT GUARDS. 
 
 The DOUNTr is THREE GUINEAS oud a CROWN. 
 
 T.nif-- jrooni J/^ to iQ.aic takeiij^Feet 5 inches and an Half; from 
 tliat to 25 years of Age, at 5 feet 6 Inches and an Half. 
 
 N. B. The Bringer of a good Recruit /hall receive ONE GUINEA^ 
 by applying to Serjeant SMITH^ at the Sign of the Marquis of 
 Granbfs Head, Lady Milton's Dike, Canongate^ Edinburgh, 
 
Peace on the Carpet 303 
 
 Made by me i8 lines in Verse on Mr Yorks marriage. I shall probably 
 send to Lady Eliz'** mother soon. 
 
 1st Sept. — " Last Thursday Lord Auchinleck ^ died of an easy Death 
 . . . fell in a Dose insensible. 
 
 2,th Sept. — " The Fatal news of the loss of the Royal George and the 
 immense loss of Adm. Kempenfelt happened by the trifling accident of the 
 keeling the ship for some repairs in the time of severe gale of wind. The 
 ship tho' sunk is said will be brot up again. 
 
 22 Sept. — "Yesterday Colonell Glyn of y' i^' Foot Guards dined here 
 and in y* afternoon the Ladies &c of the Musselburgh Ball danc'd and were 
 merry. Chas Lindsay here. 
 
 Oct. 20. — " Next Wednesday is my Birthday and go then my 80''' year. 
 
 Oct. 27. — " Lord Advocate called up to London the business of Peace 
 being undoubtedly on the Carpet. Lady Balcarras Dowg"" landed here to 
 stay some days. 
 
 Nov. 25. — "Gave this day a missive to my worthy friend Mr James 
 Boswell of Auchinleck that he may after my Decease have the perusal of 
 my great collection of Letters from my friends for many years past — for 
 the purpose of his making out a Memory of my Life, he is desirous to 
 collect together — and he promises to consult my son and friends when he 
 has finisht them." 
 
 Amongst these were two volumes of manuscript state papers 
 of which all trace has been lost.^ Mr Boswell never completed, 
 if indeed he ever began the biography, his health having already 
 begun to suffer from his excesses. 
 
 December i. — " N.B. No flies have been observed all this year and it is 
 thought all vermin are destroyed. 
 
 December 29. — " Lord Karnes my worthy 60 years acquaintance died 
 last Thursday in the 87'** year of his age. I put together an Epitaph in 
 Latin and English to be kept here to his memory. 
 
 2 January 1883. — "Here closes this book of Memorandums. The 
 weather very soft and mild and pleasant and good wheat seed time and 
 ploughing." 
 
 ^ Mr James Boswell's father. 
 
 ^ These probably came into the family's possession from the Earl of Glencairn, High Chancellor 
 for Scotland in the reign of Charles II. 
 
304 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 We now come to the following Epitaph : — 
 
 Some Thoughts sacred to the Memory of Henry Home 
 Lord Kames deceas'd which Sir Alexander Dick wrote in Latin and 
 EngHsh to be deposited among his papers at Prestonfield from the warm 
 regard he retains for his worthy Friend and Acquaintance of sixty years 
 standing. 
 
 Sacred to the Memory of Henry Home of Kames Esq"" who when alive 
 was the pillar, the ornament, and prop of the Family of the Drummonds 
 of Blair Drummond ; whose daughter and Heiress he married full forty 
 years ago 
 
 He adorn'd the Family-seat by art, seconding the great amenity of 
 Nature ; and by the best means of cultivation, and population, greatly 
 improved the Estate. 
 
 To do justice to the conspicuous figure in which he shone, by the 
 goodness of his head, and the warmness of his heart, as a Friend to his 
 Country and to Mankind : We must own that he was an Excellent Judge, 
 with an unremitting attention to his Duty, being one of the number of 
 Senators who sat in Judgement in Civil as well as Criminal Causes in 
 Scotland, for many years, and one of the most active Trustees of its 
 Fisheries and Manufactures. 
 
 His Writings which he has from time to time published and have 
 undergone various editions, having already obtained the most general and 
 public applause, will speak for themselves It is but just and decent that 
 I here own to posterity, that with respect to jurisprudence, equity, and the 
 moral duties, the Art of Criticism and what relates to the improvement of 
 Ground and Agriculture it is allowed there does not exist better principles, 
 nor counsels than are wisely and elegantly set forth in these numerous 
 volumes, for the benefit of his Country, the utility, as well as the agreeable 
 entertainment of mankind. 
 
 His Country may be proud to have produc'd so excellent a Genius, and 
 at the same time so long liv'd and Patriotic a Citizen. 
 
Chapter XX. 
 
 Sir John Dick at the War Office — Dr Lowth's letter — " On Prestonfield 
 long ago" — Sir John Dick's letters — His portrait painted. 
 
 [1782-1783] 
 
 2 Q 
 
Chapter XX. 
 
 After the death of his wife, Sir John Dick seems to have been 
 glad of his new occupation as Comptroller of Accounts in the War 
 Office, which kept him closely at work, and therefore with less 
 time to realize the great blank in his life, which the loss of one 
 who had been his dear companion for so many years would other- 
 wise have made. He speaks in his letters of the enormous 
 pressure of work, owing to the wars on land and at sea, all the 
 accounts for which passed through his hands, and were personally 
 examined by him before going to the Treasury for liquidation. 
 So much labour did this entail that he says he was constantly 
 employed until after midnight. 
 
 He writes to Sir Alexander : 
 
 " Thank God, the Treasury is now shut and I have got through the 
 greatest part, but I can safely say I never worked so hard in my life — as I 
 did not care to sign anything that I could not answer for. I have not had 
 it in my power to go to my villa ^ altho' three hours would suffice, for these 
 three weeks past, and yet I have above Twenty People at Work constantly 
 but I hope to gett a peep at them some day during the Holydays." 
 
 Again writing from " Mount Clare, 5th Nov. 1782," he says 
 
 " I have the pleasure to assure you that I hear from all Quarters that 
 Lady Elizabeth has gained the hearts of all the York Family indeed I 
 foretold the event. We are anxious for news from Lord Howe as much 
 will depend on the event of that expedition I fear that the Peace is not 
 so near as we wish, and that the French have too good hopes of the next 
 campaign in the East Indies which will naturally induce them to wait the 
 Issue of it." 
 
 1 Mount Clare. 
 
3o8 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Writing from Harley Street, 19th January 1783, he alludes to 
 the length of time between his letters. 
 
 " Owing to the multiplicity of the Business in my Office which daily 
 increases, and the weakness of my nerves obliges me to make use of an 
 Amanuensis. 
 
 The Success which your worthy son meets with gives me great 
 pleasure, the more so as I find it gives great satisfaction to his superiors. 
 . . . I am happy to hear that our friend Mr Boswell goes on so well and 
 I heartily wish him success, pray be so good as to present my kindest 
 compliments to him. You will doubtless have heard that Lady Elizabeth 
 York has been very much indisposed, but thank God, she is now recover- 
 ing fast, she is a most amiable young woman and deservedly esteemed by 
 all the Hardwick Family. I perceive that you have had the satisfaction 
 of completeing the Lord Advocate's re-election.^ 
 
 I shall always rejoice at every piece of good fortune that attends him, 
 his singular merit cannot fail to raise him to the highest honors. We now 
 begin to think Peace very near at hand, it is generally thought we shall 
 hear something decisive in a few days. 
 
 I have only to add that I am vastly flattered at your obliging wishes 
 to honour my Portrate with a Place in your house. Mr Naesmith when 
 here had not time to do it as he had engaged in Painting a whole Family 
 in the City. 
 
 If you will be so obliging as to send me the size you wish it to be I 
 will have it done by one of our Artists here. I furnished Mr Naesmith 
 with letters to my Friends in Italy who I hope will be of use to him. 
 
 I beg good Lady Dick and y"" worthy Son and Daughter and the Miss 
 Keiths to accept of my most Respectfull Compliments and I most sincerely 
 wish that you and they may see many happy returns of this season and I 
 hope you will always allow me the honour to be with the most affectionate 
 attachment 
 
 my dear Sir Alex. etc. etc. 
 
 John Dick. 
 
 The next letter to Sir Alexander is from Dr Lowth, Bishop of 
 London. 
 
 ^ Mr Henry Dundas was Lord Advocate in the beginning of 1783. He was succeeded by the 
 Hon. H. Erskine and Mr Hay Campbell of Succoth. 
 
The Bishop of London 309 
 
 " London House Feb'^ 22 1783. 
 
 Dear S"' 
 
 I am greatly obliged to you for your kind Letter and have 
 taken a particular pleasure in reading many times your agreeable account 
 of your viridis and jucunda senectus, w'^^ gives no interruption to your busi- 
 ness or amusements, but permits or rather prompts you to pursue your 
 former occupations as Physician/ Citizen, and Poet with your usual vigour 
 and spirit I ought not to say anything of my self for my account would 
 be a contrast to yours. I must however offer it as an excuse for my not 
 thanking you sooner for your kind letter. Indeed my ill health has made 
 me almost incapable of this kind of intercourse with my friends and hardly 
 able to answer the necessary demands of my public business I am almost 
 confined to my house I am forced to be obliged to the kindness of my 
 Brethren, who are so good as to perform for me the offices of Ordination, 
 Confirmation &c. I never go to the House of Lords or any public meet- 
 ings on business. My case is the Stones, and the only medicine y' relieves 
 me, indeed the only y' I take y' is Laudanum at the same time y' it gives 
 me ease is attended with great inconvenience for it throws such a cloud 
 over me y' it makes me incapable of all application and almost of 
 amusement. 
 
 I am glad to hear so good an account of Dr Robertson, who seem'd to 
 me to be a very promising young gentleman, and am much obliged to you 
 for the Emperor's Letter w'^'' I find our newspapers have got but not so 
 correct as your copy. I have been very unlucky in not having the pleasure 
 of seeing your Son, by not being in Town when he was here. I hope I 
 may be more fortunate another time if I live to another opportunity. 
 
 With my heartiest wishes for a long continuance of your health and all 
 
 ^ Sir Alexander, from the time that he succeeded, prescribed for all who asked his advice, but 
 never accepted a fee from rich or poor. Amongst the latter especially he did much good work, 
 particularly in treating affections of the eyes, and this caused him to be looked up to and reverenced 
 by all on his estate. 
 
 Boswell writes as follows regarding him : — " In consequence of Johnson's request that I should 
 ask our physicians about his case, and desire Sir Alex. Dick to send his opinion, I transmitted him 
 a letter from that very amiable baronet, then in his eighty-first year, with his faculties as entire as 
 ever; and mentioned his expressions to me in the note accompanying it, — 'With my most affec- 
 tionate wishes for Dr Johnson's recovery, in which his friends, his country, and all mankind have 
 so deep a stake.' 
 
 The Doctor's reply ran : — 
 
 " ' To James Boswell Esq.' 
 
 " ' Dear Sir . . . Return Sir Alex. Dick my sincere thanks for his kind letter : and bring 
 with you the rhubarb he so tenderly offers me ... I am etc. Sam Johnson.' " 
 
3IO Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 possible happiness to your good Lady and Family in which Mrs Lowth 
 and my Daughters beg leave to join 
 
 Dear S' your most etc. etc, 
 
 R. London 
 
 A rumour seems to have been spread shortly after this, that 
 the Bishop of London was to be made Archbishop of Canterbury ; 
 his next letter states the real facts of the case. 
 
 "London House May 12 1783 
 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I am very much obliged to you for your kind Letter, 
 your good wishes, and your good advice. You see y' I do not make use 
 of one part of it ; namely y' of relieving myself by using an Amanuensis : 
 the reason is, because not having been used to that practice, I do not know 
 how to set about it ; and I should find it much more troublesome to dic- 
 tate than to write. I must set you right in regard to a report, which you 
 say you had only from the Papers, which as it happened, was tolerably 
 authentic, for it was but half false. His Majesty ^ did indeed do 
 me the great honour of offering me the Archbishoprick of Canterbury, 
 by a letter under his own hand, the day after the vacancy. I immediately 
 returned His Majesty my most humble Thanks for y^ very great honour 
 he designed me, and begd him in consideration of my age and ill health, 
 to excuse my declining on Office w'^'' I found myself incapable of pro- 
 puarly discharging. The next morning I received a second Letter from 
 H. M. ordering me to wait on him at y^ Queens Palace. My being with 
 the King in consequence of this command, gave rise to the other report 
 that I had recommended the B? of Bangor. The King was pleased to 
 communicate to me his design in regard to the subsequent removes, but I 
 assure you, the B? of Bangor was the King's own choice ; and all y* world 
 agrees that he could not have chosen better. I am sure no one whatever 
 recommended him. The King told me with great seriousness and earnest- 
 ness that he had laid before him the whole List of Bishops and had made 
 his choice with great attention. 
 
 The King I hear is greatly afflicted with y^ loss of Prince Octavius. 
 All y^ world agrees y' he was a most amiable child and y* King was 
 particularly fond of him. 
 
 When your Son comes this way I shall be very glad of the honour of 
 
 1 George III. 
 
The Muse of Friendship 3 1 1 
 
 seeing him and his Company. I shall be at Fulham all y« Summer. I 
 shall there be able to bear a little exercise and have a little air ; w'^'' I 
 cannot do here, I can bear the roads about London, but not the pavement 
 in Town. I have more ease than last year and with that I must be 
 satisfied 
 
 I have the honour to be with great Respect 
 
 Dear Sir your most obedient humble Serv' 
 
 R. London. 
 
 " P.S. — I am much obliged to you for your elegant Inscription on your 
 late Friend Lord Kames." 
 
 Sir John Dick, in his last letter, mentions Lady Elizabeth's 
 illness and happy recovery. This charming lady, though " Woo'd 
 and Married and a','' has by no means forgotten the joys of her 
 youth, and the pleasant days spent at Prestonfield. For once 
 again, at the call of her cousin, she " resumes her lay," and the 
 recollections of the old happy days afford her an appropriate 
 theme, which she treats with lingering affection in the lines that 
 fall so naturally from her pen. 
 
 " ON PRESTONFIELD LONG AGO. 
 
 " Since 'tis your will that I resume my lay 
 " Upon what theme my gentle Anna say 
 " My love I hope no longer you can doubt 
 " Still 'tis the same but all my Rhymes wore out 
 " The Muse of Friendship is at present busy 
 " Nor will she lend her pen to pauvre Lizzy 
 " Methinks I'll sing of Prestonfielders Bowrs 
 " Where I have spent so many happy hours 
 " When in the Swing as to and fro I went 
 " At every pull a friendly hand you lent. 
 " Or when to rob the Mother of her young 
 " With barberous intent we paced along 
 " You safely bore the little Flutterers home 
 " And kindly placed them in your happy dome 
 
312 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 " You rose betimes my little Birds to feed 
 
 " To make fresh Croudie or to mix some seed 
 
 " When at the burn we all for Minnows sought 
 
 " And for a crooked pin with Bess I fought 
 
 " Each one but I, of crooked pin posesst 
 
 " To thee I then my poverty confest 
 
 " From your own Gown the pin with haste you drew 
 
 " And the straight line was furnished by you 
 
 " Happy the time when in the appendix dancing 
 
 " I viewed the gracefull Mr Wilson prancing 
 
 " And when by him was asked to dance Shantrews 
 
 " What heart but marble could the youth refuse 
 
 " Ye Gods how charming t'would have been to see 
 
 " The handsome Bowdler skipping it with me 
 
 " Up from his chair the good Sir Ally bounded 
 
 " And bravo cryed till all the room resounded 
 
 " Delightfull strains the sweet Miss Jessy strummed 
 
 " While blinking Jamie on the fiddle thrummed 
 
 " So sweet a concert I never heard before 
 
 " Unless when mixed with little Bobfs'^ roar 
 
 " Yet dear Variety I own is sweet 
 
 " But this had none, for oft did Boby greet 
 
 " Some times the tragic Muse our Bosoms fired 
 
 " And all the Theatre our minds inspired 
 
 " With hasty steps to Jessy's room we ran 
 
 " And there the play of Douglass we began 
 
 " The Character which Jessy played 
 
 " Was Randolph and his Wife and Maid 
 
 " Glenalvan, Douglass, and the Shepherds part 
 
 " Elizee played with action and with art 
 
 " But what due words can speak my grief and shame 
 
 " O be it blotted from the Book of fame 
 
 " When I should come supported by my sword 
 
 " Wounded by Randolph that perfideous Lord 
 
 " No sword had I my trembling steps to aid 
 
 " A Besom then my faultering footsteps staid 
 
 * Afterwards Sir Robert Keith Dick-Cunyngham. 
 
High Prices for Exchange 313 
 
 " In sports like these, our time flew fast away 
 " A month at Prestonfield seemed to me a day 
 " No time nor absence from this mind shall move 
 " The ever strong impressions of my Love." ^ 
 
 In a previous letter reference has been made to the advance- 
 ment of Sir Alexander's son, William, in his regiment, and the letter 
 from Sir John, vi^hich is now introduced, bears upon the subject, 
 and shows the state of the army at that time in the matter of ex- 
 changing regiments, and getting a good price by so doing. 
 
 "Mount Clare 13th July 1783. 
 
 "My dear Sir Alexander, — Your worthy son delivered me the 
 other day, the very kind Letter which you did me the honour to write last 
 month, which I find came by sea with his Baggage, and was the reason I 
 had not the satisfaction of receiving it sooner. I was very glad to perceive 
 by it, that you began to feel the good effects of the fine weather and I 
 hope your health is ere this perfectly established. 
 
 With respect to your plan of our young Captain ^ exchanging 
 from the Guards into another Regiment, I entirely approve of it, and 
 even meant to propose it to him before I received your letter as it will 
 answer every good end whatsoever. I not only told him this, but advised 
 him to lose no time in concluding it before the Regulation was enforced, 
 with regard to the regulating Prices, he told me that he had Two Offers, 
 one of which was a Captain of a marching Regiment on half pay and the 
 other a Captain Lieutenancy of Dragoons on full pay ; as I have not had 
 the pleasure of seeing him since, I do not know which he has preferred, 
 but I desired him that as Colonel Pleydell was a much better Judge of 
 those matters than myself to consult him and follow his advice therein. I 
 therefore conclude ere this the Business is done, and that I shall have the 
 pleasure of seeing him in a day or Two about it. It will be very lucky if he 
 can conclude this arrangement now, when such high Prices are given for 
 exchanges of this sort, and hereafter being able to purchase a Majority at the 
 Regulated Price ; in the meantime he will have time to travel, and persue 
 the Plan of Education which both you and I have thought most proper 
 for him 
 
 1 "The whole kindred, as was usual in Scotland, lived in the closest friendship and unity, and 
 Prestonfield was ever remembered by them as a paradise of early happiness." — Lives of the Litidsays. 
 
 2 W. Dick. 
 
 2 R 
 
314 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 We have had for some time past excessive hot weather, the Hay 
 harvest has proved very plentiful! and I hope the corn will not be less so. 
 
 Since I have been in the country Captain Butler^ was so kind to call 
 upon me in Town, but as he did not leave his directions I have never been 
 able to find him out, however by means of our young captain I hope I 
 shall succeed now. I have only to add," etc. etc. 
 
 From the subsequent remarks in Sir John's letters, it may be 
 presumed that England, then pretty well at peace, had not 
 sufficient occupation for many of her naval officers, hitherto fully 
 employed. Also that Russia was glad to avail herself of any who 
 could be persuaded to take service in that country, that she might 
 profit by their superior skill, her own navy being of a very differ- 
 ent calibre from that of Great Britain. 
 
 Sir John, however, seems to have succeeded in obtaining 
 employment for Sir Alexander's relative, Captain Butler, and his 
 young friend, Lieut. Norris, as he writes to that effect, having 
 returned to his work at the War Office, where he is again under 
 pressure of much business. 
 
 In spite of hurry and stress from want of time, he never omits, 
 at the end of each letter, punctilious messages to all the family 
 separately by name, with the lengthy assurance of being " ever of 
 the most Respectfull and affectionate attachment, my dear Sir 
 Alexander's much obliged and most FaithfuU Friend." We, of a 
 hundred years later, under similar circumstances, curtly condense 
 our salutation into "yours ever." 
 
 Sir John writes from Mount Clare on the 19th July : 
 
 " I had the honour to write you last week, since which I have been 
 daily in expectation either of seeing or hearing from our young Captain, 
 about his Plan of Exchange which I am very anxious should be soon con- 
 cluded, least a stop should be put to those negotiations as is intended. I 
 this day wrote him a few lines on the subject. 
 
 ^ Sir Alexander's nephew by his second marriage, with Miss Butler. 
 
The Russian Service 
 
 315 
 
 I have now to thank you for the honour of y' obliging Letter of the 
 8th inst. which was delivered me by Lieut. Norris who I presented to 
 Mr Simolin the Russian Minister ; I find he is not authorized to engage 
 officers for their service ; Proposals have been made from Russia to 
 Captain Knowles, to enter into that service as a Rear Admiral, and the 
 choice of a certain number of officers is left to him, but it seems doubt- 
 full whether he will go or not, as his health is not good and the Physician 
 advise him against it. If Lieutenant Norris continues his wish to try the 
 Russia Service, which I very much doubt whether he will like or not, my 
 advice is that he should go to Petersbourg, where I will recommend him in 
 the strongest manner to our Friend Admiral Greig, there he will see the 
 nature of the service, and determine according to his opinion of it. This 
 Plan cannot be attended with any great expense as he will naturally go 
 by Sea and I trust upon mature Reflection that you will also be of the 
 same opinion." 
 
 From Sir John Dick, 
 
 " Harley St. 20 November 1783. 
 
 " My DEAR Sir Alexander, — 
 
 I have now to thank you for your obliging Letters of the 
 12 and 13th of this month, those inclosed were immediately sent to our 
 Young Soldier. I am happy in finding that you so much approve of his 
 getting out of the Guards, this is a circumstance which I have had much 
 at heart, from the moment he got the Rank of Captain, not from the least 
 suspicion of his being any ways Tainted, with the Vices of this wicked 
 Town, but from the natural Vivacity attending Youth and his own good 
 Nature I feared might lead him imperciptably into unesesary expences in 
 the company of his Young Military acquaintances. I have therefore for 
 some time past earnestly urged to him to endeavour to get excused from 
 going to Ireland and to return to Prestonfield, for which purpose he went 
 down to Portsmouth to waite on his new Commanding Officer, at his return 
 he assured me that he was absolutely under the necessity of joining the 
 Regiment in Ireland for about a month when he hoped to obtain leave to 
 return home especially as he had wrote to Sir Robert Keith to that effect, 
 he means to set out from hence in a few days ; he Captain Butler and 
 Lieutenant Norris do me the favour to dine with me Tomorrow, when we 
 shall talk all our little matters over. Captain Butler I find has a promise 
 of being employed. As soon as I knew this circumstance, I took the Liberty 
 of writing to Lord Keppel earnestly requesting the favour of his Lordship 
 
3i6 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 to employ Lieutenant Norris, enclosed you will find His Lordship's answer, 
 by which I make not the smallest doubt that he will soon be in commission ; 
 my next attention will be to contrive if Possible to get him in Captain 
 Butlers Ship as I know it will be agreeable to all Parties. 
 
 I almost envy you the happiness you had in the Company of that 
 worthy Friend Baron Rutherford, I have a great Loss in being deprived 
 of his Conversation after having been for so many years indulged with it, 
 I was to have had the pleasure of spending this evening with our Friends 
 Lady Balcarres, Lady Margaret, Lady Elizabeth York Sc'^ at Lady Ann's,^ 
 but the increase of business at my office, now keeps me so much employed 
 during the Day that I am under the neccessity of Devoting many of my 
 evenings to the neccessary attention of my Friends at a distance. 
 
 I have not heard that your worthy Friend Mr Dundas of Melvil is yet 
 come to Town. You will see by the Papers what passed in the House of 
 Commons on Tuesday last. This day se'night will be a very Interesting 
 day." 
 
 Again, on the 14th December 1783, he writes : 
 
 " I am glad to hear that the Picture has reached you, you are very 
 good in honouring it with a Place in your Great Room, amongst the rest 
 of the fine Collection you have of the Family Pictures ; the Painter's Name 
 is Charles Stuart an American, was some time at Edinburgh, where he did 
 several Pictures, since that he has studied under M"^ West and is I think 
 one of the best Portrait Painters here. 
 
 I hope ere this you have seen Lieutenant Norris You may depend that 
 I shall be watchfull, to embrace every favourable opportunity to remind 
 Lord Keppel of his Promise to employ him. 
 
 I congratulate you on the appearance there is of the forfeited Estates 
 being soon restored to the Respective Family's, and on the proper use, 
 that the money charged on them is to be applied to such good Purposes 
 Whoever has contributed towards this good work, will be entitled to the 
 gratefuU thanks of their country. 
 
 Altho' the Business of the Comptrollers office is now become of great 
 magnitude and is daily increasing, I have the pleasure to acquaint you, 
 that my health is better than I ever expected it to be. I have only to add 
 my most affectionate compliments," etc. etc. 
 
 John Dick. 
 
 ' Lady Anne Barnard. 
 
Chapter XXI. 
 
 remarkable Comparison — Death of Sir Alexander Dick — Lady Anne 
 Barnard's letter and Verses — Miss Elizabeth Dicks marriage — The 
 Countess of Balcarres' Letter — Death of Sir William Dick — Letters 
 from the Earl of Ancram — Sir John Dick's Death. 
 
 [1785-1804.] 
 
Chapter XXI. 
 
 The remaining letters to Sir Alexander are of no particular in- 
 terest, and we have to turn to his Memoranda book for the last 
 information which he gives. It takes the form of a resume of the 
 events of the century, which he compares very favourably with 
 those amidst which his grand-parents lived and suffered. 
 
 "A curious and remarkable comparison arises, whether we of this i8th 
 century or our fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers who Hved in 
 the 17th century, such as Sir James Dick my grandfather (by my mother) 
 and Sir William of Braid his grandfather etc. etc. enjoyd more tranquil- 
 ity and felicity than we, from the government which subsisted in each of 
 their times, and ours, and I must own to my family, my friends and my 
 children, as to myself who have lived near 83 years in this century, I look 
 back with horror, upon the miserys and distresses which attended the lives 
 of my grandfathers of the former age, who were witness's to the injustice, 
 the cruelty's, the absurd fanatisim, and indeed shocking and barbarous 
 conduct which at length prevaild of the rebells when Cromwell appeared 
 at their head, and destroyd that liberty totally, which at first setting out 
 he and they pretended to defend. 
 
 There was not a landed gentleman in Scotland but what suffered more 
 or less by the consequences of the long civil war during the reign of Charles 
 the First, and in the ill-conducted cruel administration of the Duke of 
 Lauderdale, during the disipated and debauchd reign of Charles the Second, 
 and even during the reign of King William, as we had a different Parlia- 
 ment from that of England, discouragements and even material injuries 
 were done to the trade of Scotland, as in the affair of Darien in America, 
 where there was very foul play comitted to discourage that trade, which 
 was loudly and justly complaind of 
 
 Upon the whole, to conclude my comparison, I must own that we who 
 have lived and do live in this 18th century, have by much the advantage 
 of our predecessors, arising from the union of the Kingdoms in the begin- 
 
320 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 ning of the century when one parliament governd both, and the family of 
 Hanover was by that union declared to have the only right to sway the 
 sceptre of Great Britain, and where the successive reigns of George the 
 first, the second and the third governd with wisdom, perseverance and 
 justice, and in whose reigns the ablest and best Ministers have lived and 
 do live to execute that great office, such as Mr Pelham, the great William 
 Pitt (afterwards Lord Chatham), and at present the wonderfull young man 
 William Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer and first Lord of the Treasury, 
 who astonishes the world with his virtues, his activity in business and 
 perseverance with fortitude and uncommon magnanimity supporting the 
 character and credit of Great Britain against all its foes at home and 
 abroad, while he himself to the astonishment of mankind, is under the 
 thirtieth year of his age, and if he lives as minister to the end of this 
 century (for which he will have the wishes of all good men with him) he 
 will compleat the great superiority in felicity, tranquility, and prosperity, 
 of Great Britain and Ireland in the i8th century above the 17th, and here 
 I end this essay, to give my family and children my full view of these 
 great affairs — 
 
 Deus nobis haec otia fecit." 
 
 As was the century, so too were the days of this fine old Scots- 
 man fast wearing away ; already most of his Hfe-long acquaintances 
 had gone before him, and now it was his turn to depart. 
 
 About a month after he penned the above essay, the summons, 
 for which he had long been prepared, came. No man was ever 
 more sincerely regretted or more generally mourned. 
 
 The following are the concluding words of a sermon preached 
 at Duddingston on the 20th Nov. 1785, the first Sunday after his 
 funeral. 
 
 "Without being liable to a charge of Adulation I may at this time 
 point out to you such a character " (referring to previous remarks) " lately 
 one of the most respected and honoured of this congregation now gathered 
 
Lady Anne Barnard, 
 
An Irish Bishop 
 
 321 
 
 to his Fathers. He enjoyed a long life and by the blessing of God was 
 prosperous and happy in earnest of a Higher reward. In his early days 
 he was at pains to qualify himself not merely by elegant accomplishments 
 but he was ardent in the pursuit of usefull knowledge. When he was called 
 to act in public Life he did not hide the talents given him but was for 
 many years distinguishedly active and usefull. And he was distinguished 
 not by bustling in party politics, not by scrambling for power of lucrative 
 offices, but by doing real service to his Country, preserving the dignity of 
 Independance. In the opposition which every man must expect to meet 
 with in the public service, he was not easily discouraged, he was active 
 and persevering and by the equanimity of his temper was able to subdue 
 the passions and caprices of others. He was successful in his endeavours, 
 and the public Improvements carried on chiefly by his Activity and Judge- 
 ment will long remain monuments in honour to his name." ^ 
 
 Sir Alexander was succeeded by his eldest son. Captain 
 William Dick, of the Grenadier Guards, who shortly after 
 married Miss Douglas of Garwaldfoot. His mother, now 
 Dowager Lady Dick, went to reside at Salisbury Green with 
 her second son, John, and her daughters, and it was to that 
 address that Lady Anne Lindsay wrote to Miss Dick, very 
 shortly after her marriage with Mr Barnard, giving her reasons 
 for marrying a man of about her own age, after having protested 
 it was the last thing she ever intended doing — in which respect, 
 perhaps, she is not altogether peculiar ! 
 
 Her account of the Irish bishop who got drunk every day from 
 drinking healths, is given in such a matter of fact way, that it was 
 evidently no uncommon occurrence among the dignitaries of the 
 Church, nor was it looked upon as being particularly out of place. 
 
 The verses, also written by Lady Anne, seem to bear upon 
 her marriage with one whom she considers a very young man, 
 
 1 "Sir Alexander's was no common character : to an intellect highly cultivated he united strict 
 honour, warmth in friendship, universal benevolence, and a serene and cheerful temper — qualities 
 which rendered him beloved through life, and lamented when he departed." — Lives of the Lindsays. 
 
 2 S 
 
322 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 although she gives his age as thirty-two, so that he must have 
 been, at anyrate, not her junior. It certainly was a very different 
 match in point of years to that made by her mother, whom she 
 doubtless took as her model. 
 
 " St Nolstans Dec"^ 20"^ 
 Dearest of all possible Jessys— A long — long friendship may- 
 excuse one on certain occasions for taking a long sheet — I seize the 
 longest I can lay my hands on to save you double postage and at the 
 same time to give you such an account of my life and conversation as 
 I think you and those of my dear friends who compose the fireside of 
 Salisbury Green may like to have. 
 
 I well know the kindness of their hearts and have in mine a warm 
 corner for them in return from which place I date this letter tho' it is wrote 
 at St Nolstans the bishop's country House, or rather Villa, being scarcely 
 large enough in extent to be calld a seat — the H. is also too large to be 
 reckond the other. 
 
 I arrived here as my mother woud tell you about a month or five 
 weeks ago, having travelld by slow stages on account of my Invalid's 
 health which was very poor. I had compromised the matter with him by 
 consenting to marry him when I thought it full as well for me to delay it, 
 on consideration of my acting as nurse till we shoud arrive in Ireland and 
 to be sure I did right in nursing him, as a Yellower Bluer more bilious 
 mortal never was seen than he was for some weeks but now what with 
 hunting and shooting in the forenoon good chear — peace of mind and the 
 charms of my company his face is become round again, all his long features 
 are got into their places, his white teeth are sparkling and his black eyes 
 rolling and he is quite a different man. — he tells me that he is very very 
 Happy — and that if he knows himself or me he will be equaly so twenty 
 years hence as he loves best in me the things which are of the least 
 perishable nature, and as I find the most perishable articles are very 
 highly held up along with this, I have every reason to be satisfied 
 with this Long 20 Years Compliment ; the more so as I realy be- 
 lieve it will be the case as he is a very domestic mortal, grave in his 
 tastes and arranged in his notions tho' without fidget or prudery. Hugh 
 calls him sometimes old Barnard and I say not unjustly — I tell you all 
 these particulars dearest Jess to encourage you to go and do likewise as to 
 waiting till a perfect monster appears I found out just in time and no 
 
A Fine Cantering River 
 
 323 
 
 more that it was in vain to look for one, every man has some vile antidote 
 to take away from the point of good, too poor, too giddy too cold, too old, 
 too young — mine is the last and could I have made him 42 instead of 32, 
 I should have been glad, but as my father used to say to my mother ' In 
 spite of this, odsfish madam are we not of the same age ? You are an old 
 young woman, and I am an young old man 
 
 Jesting apart, such has ever been my dislike of marrying a man even a 
 day younger than myself that I certainly never intended to have accepted 
 of my present Lord, a variety of persuaders however and a variety of 
 considerations united to make me give up that system (rigidly as I had 
 laid it down) and I believe I shall have no cause to regret it, as he seems 
 to me of a temper particularly fitted to the choice he has made, which is of 
 more consequence in marriage than all the cardinal virtues are, on the 
 woman's side, if a love of change and caprice of taste is on the other. 
 
 This of St Nolstans is a very beautifull place. A fine cantering river 
 runs within a hundred yards of the windows and saves me the trouble of 
 going out to look for it which is a great delight in a country view — this I 
 enjoy at the fire side where I am now sitting and where I should be very 
 happy if you would meet the Duke and Duchess of Leinster and half a 
 dozzen of the neighbours who dine here — it is only stepping into your carr 
 drawn by doves and descending — if any thing the neighbourhood here is 
 too crowded, as it produces a quantity of dinners and suppers w*^*" wear 
 me out, in the country I like to muddle on with my work, my writing, my 
 harpsichord in a quiet way instead of being dressed out, and being agree- 
 able all day long, However as this is a sort of visit not likely to Happen 
 again soon I must not object, the sea is a terrible Inconvenience and what 
 with sickness and fright I do not think I shall return .... at least for some 
 time here, nor shall I be wished for, as both the Bishop and his wife are so 
 very partial to London, that they will like better to come to us I dare say 
 than for us to come to them — I am much afraid however that the new 
 house in Berkeley Square comes on too slowly for me to expect it to be 
 finished even by the spring— it is quite vexatious — and another thing is 
 vexatious, that I hear Robert ^ is in town and I cant see him — at 
 least I am glad that Bessie is not, as that I trust will induce both to come 
 up the beginning of summer when I shall certainly be there — Anny 
 being I think much improved in looks. I saw her sometimes at L''^ 
 Anstruthers — the dear Mary Pringle^ is going to jilt us I believe for the 
 
 ^ Hon, R. Lindsay. ^ Sir Alexander's daughter by his second marriage. 
 
324 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 rest of her life. They should make a party with Bob and Bessy and come 
 up together .... but then the Jessy too must come or it would be incom- 
 pleat. I wish you would take possession of Sir John Dicks Castles at 
 once you woud be of great advantage to each other, he gave me a break- 
 fast a few days before I was married and when I saw all his fine 
 conveniancy's — his beautious china — his fruit — and his agate tea chest with 
 gold boxes, I thought of you — I reproached him with keeping all these 
 good things to himself, he shook his head and said, ' Ah woes me I'm our 
 Auld to think of changes now,' but he looked beautifull at the moment — I 
 rejoice to hear of my mother's being so well — she and my Bishop^ have 
 commenced a flirtation which may end anyhow as Mrs Barnard is in a 
 very poor state of Health — the B(ishop)^ is in love with her and gets tipsy 
 drinking her (health) every day. I have told him that I will no(t allow) 
 her health above three times a week, he (says) I may let it alone, he'll 
 drink it himself: — the very day after he received her letter he drove to 
 Dublin — bought a bottle of snuff, containing over a pound and half of 
 choice snuff which he sent over to England directed to Margarets care, so 
 perhaps by this time (if Margt. is speedy in her part of the business by 
 sending it off to Scotland) you are all sneezing by scores round her, for 
 that villainous blackguard snuff is so very subtile that there is no sitting 
 within a mile of it in safety — I daresay her Husband^ Anne Keith will 
 often be greatly annoyd by it, but my mother will pinsh on, and she is 
 right in moderation — dear Jessy read her part or all of this letter, and tell 
 her that Barnard was delighted with hers, as I was, on my getting so good 
 a character from my last place .... my next letter shall be to Sister Bal. in 
 whose debt I am for a kind one, I let the answer of it stand as I was then 
 giving my Mother all my anecdotes and this bundle of yours will do for a 
 few days to come — Adieu dearest Jess my kindest love to Aunt — to Mrs 
 Butter — to John Mr Barnard sends his cordialy and says if he can con- 
 trive to go round by Scotland he will hope to be better acquainted 
 believe me ever D" Jess 
 
 Your most affectionate A. B. 
 
 1 Bishop Barnard, born 1728, died 1806. Son of Dr William Barnard, Bishop of Derry. Was 
 consecrated Bishop of Killaloe in 1780, and translated to Limerick in 1794. Was a member of 
 most of the literary societies of the United Kingdom, and friendly with Burke, Johnson, Garrick, 
 Goldsmith, etc. — Edm. Croker. 
 
 ^ Where the words are completed in brackets, there is a small hole in the paper. 
 
 ^Dow. Lady Balcarras and Miss Anne Keith lived together after all her daughters were 
 married, and Lady Balcarras always called Miss Anne her husband. 
 
A Cold and Heedless Maid 325 
 
 I 
 
 " When late a cold and heedless maid 
 
 " Had raised a flame I still deplore 
 " The Hoodwink'd Boy I calld in aid 
 
 " Tho' fatal to my suit before, 
 
 2 
 
 " At length propitious to my prayer 
 
 " The little clever urchin came 
 " And soon remov'd with dextrous care 
 
 " The bitter cause of this sad flame. 
 
 3 
 
 " I saw him spurn the humble ground 
 " And wave aloft his Conquering Arms 
 
 " Till high in air I heard him sound 
 " His conquest o'er my vain alarms. 
 
 4 
 
 " Say by what title, or what name 
 
 " Shall I this youthful Boy address ? 
 " Cupid and he are not the same 
 
 " I'll kiss you Lady if you guess." 
 
 On the reverse side of the sheet, Lady Anne gives the follow- 
 ing conundrums, which the reader may possibly be able to solve. 
 
 " Why is the National Convention at France like a Leech ? 
 Why is the British Convention at Edinburgh like a Jaded Horse } 
 Why are united Irishmen like a Pope ? 
 
 Why is Lord Lauderdale like an unsuccessful Methodist Preacher ? 
 Why is Lady Buckinghamshire like a Victorious Army 
 Why is Mr Dundas like an expectant Lottery Ticket holder ^ 
 Why is Col. Macleod like a sour apple .■' " 
 
 The affectionate intercourse between the two families had 
 become even more closely cemented by the marriage of Sir 
 Alexander's daughter Elizabeth with the Honourable Robert 
 
326 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 Lindsay second son of the late, and next brother of the then, Earl 
 of Balcarres, The announcement of this event to Sir John Dick 
 is acknowledged by him in the following letter to Dowager Lady 
 Dick ; and again, in another, dated a month later, he offers his 
 congratulations on her second daughter Mary's engagement to 
 Mr Pringle of Yair and Whitehill. 
 
 " Harley Street 22nd November 1788. 
 
 My dear Lady Dick, — I beg your acceptance of my very sincere 
 thanks, for the very kind and obliging letter which you did me the honor 
 to write me the loth of this month, and particularly of the agreeable news 
 which you send me of the Union which is soon to take place between your 
 Amiable Daughter Elizabeth^ and Lord Balcarres second Brother, I most 
 sincerely congratulate your Ladyship and them thereon, and heartily wish 
 that they may long enjoy uninterrupted happyness. 
 
 I am sorry that the marriage is delayed by the dreadfull disaster which 
 has happened to Lord Balcarres, who I hope will soon recover, as his 
 healthfuU constitution and good Temper, must greatly contribute thereto. 
 
 I only heard yesterday that Sir Robert Keith was arrived, I shall 
 endeavour to pay my Respects to him this day." 
 
 The next letter is dated 
 
 "London the 1st December 1789. 
 
 I have this day the pleasure to receive the very obliging Letter which 
 your Ladyship did me the Honor to write me the 28th of last month, with 
 the agreeable notice that your second Daughter is soon to be married to 
 Mr Pringle, nephew to our worthy Friend Baron Rutherfurd on which I 
 beg leave to congratulate you all, and hope that their union will be 
 attended with every degree of happiness. 
 
 ^ " I am transported with my new daughter," writes her mother-in-law Lady Balcarras, " she 
 is everything the heart of man or woman can desire." 
 
 Miss Elizabeth Dick, daughter of Sir Alexander Dick, Bart, of Prestonfield, married on the 
 25th November 1788 to Hon. Robert Lindsay, " he had marked her for his own when she was yet 
 a child, before he went to India." — Lives of the Lindsays. 
 
 After the death of "her husband," as Miss Anne Keith was playfully called, Mr and Mrs 
 Robert Lindsay watched over the remaining days of the Dowager Lady Balcarras with all the ten- 
 derness of a loving son and daughter. Her memory had been gone for some years before her 
 death, but sparks of her original brightness remained until the last. 
 
The Happiest of her Sex 327 
 
 I shall be very happy with the pleasure of seeing them here, and of 
 shewing them every friendly attention in my power. My humble Respects 
 wait on your ghests, and likewise on our Friends at Prestonfield, and I 
 ever am etc. etc. John Dick. 
 
 The young Countess of Balcarres writes to Lady Dick on the 
 same subject. 
 
 " St Fort Nov"^ 25"^ 1789 
 
 Dear Lady Dick 
 
 I must make you pay 3 pence for my congratulations and 
 joy on this happy event taking place, long may you enjoy the happiness 
 you so well deserve in two such sons in law as Rob' Lindsay and Mr 
 Pringle and may Peg be as fortunate when she starts, according to her 
 phrase. We were all drinking Bess's health after dinner on this auspicious 
 day when your letter came in, and added extremely to the felicity of the 
 day. We had also a letter from Mary in which there was one sentence 
 which was worth more to me than all the rest which was that she is 
 the happiest of her sex, there seems to be every appearance of her continu- 
 ing so. I must certainly be at her Wedding and that I hope will be soon. 
 I hate delays. My kind love to all with you and tell Lady Bal. I will 
 write in a day or two. 
 
 I am happy you have allow'd Bob Dick to stay and enjoy the company 
 of Mary a little. He is a fine fellow. 
 
 I am Dear Lady Dick 
 
 Your very affec** niece 
 
 E. B. Balcarres, 
 
 P.S. 
 
 tell Miss Keith I got her letter to day and will write very soon. 
 I have had several Letters from Lord Bal — still extremely busy and not 
 able to (give i*) us any exact accounts of things yet. he does not like to 
 flatter us or himself too much yet that things may do well — but he says he 
 thinks the Iron Works ^ may do nobly yet — that is more agreeable than 
 having doubts of it tho' he does not say it with certainty." 
 
 And now, from marriage and giving in marriage, we come to 
 the exit from this life of " Our Young Soldier," so often and 
 affectionately mentioned in the various letters. The announce- 
 
 ' Haigh Hall, Lancashire. 
 
328 Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 ment of young Sir William's sudden death in a ball-room, while 
 quartered at Durham with his regiment (the exchange from the 
 Guards having been effected), is made to his brother John, by the 
 Earl of Ancram, in the following letter : — 
 
 " Durham Nov. 19th 96 
 
 Sir 
 
 This letter, I am grieved to say, will be a message of most 
 melancholy tidings ; you must prepare yourself for a shock which is the 
 more dreadful from being unexpected. Sir William Dick was taken 
 suddenly ill last night, when dancing at a Ball, he dropt down and never 
 recovered. Your fortitude will enable you to break the matter to his 
 family in the most cautious manner possible. His Papers here have 
 been sealed up. I conclude the interment will take place at Prestonfield, 
 but of this circumstance and every other wish you may have relating to 
 him, you will please inform me as soon as possible. I am Sir with much 
 regard yours very sincerely 
 
 Ancram. 
 
 I have despatched a servant with a duplicate of this." 
 
 A second letter gives an account of the funeral arrangements 
 for travelling by road from Durham to Edinburgh, and of the 
 sincere regret evinced by all his friends and brother officers. 
 
 " Durham 24 Nov^ — 96 
 
 Sir 
 
 The funeral left Durham this day at two o'clock, and will barring 
 accidents arrive at Haddington on Sunday night, there to wait orders, as 
 to the time you wish it to reach Prestonfield. 
 
 I have written to Mr Hamilton on this subject, and also to desire the 
 proper person to attend for inserting the figures ^ which I mentioned to you 
 in my last. 
 
 I have sent down an Officer of the Reg' in the mourning coach ; and 
 Sir James Foulis who offered to accompany it, has I am happy to say 
 obtained leave of absence for a week for that purpose. 
 
 ' His age on the plate, of which they were uncertain 
 
A Funeral Service 
 
 329 
 
 It may not be improper to inform you that Cap' Dewar is at Vogrie, 
 and Cap' Inglis in South Castle Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 The Funeral expenses will be transmitted in a day or two, and will I 
 hope be found reasonable. 
 
 My extreme regard and friendship for your brother, will naturally lead 
 you to conjecture, that no military honour which it was in my power to 
 shew him was omitted. 
 
 It will I am sure be highly gratifying to you and the rest of his family 
 to have the attention even of those who were unconnected with him. 
 
 The General commanding here. Sir Geo Bhorne, has ordered the whole 
 Garrison to attend next Sunday at Church, where an Anthem suitable to 
 the occasion will be performed by desire of the Dean and Chapter. 
 
 The whole of the Mid-Lothian Reg' both officers and men will appear 
 there in deep mourning. 
 
 I sincerely hope that you and the Rest of your family, are beginning to 
 reconcile yourselves to the Event. 
 
 I remain Sir 
 
 Yours very faithfully 
 
 ANCRAM. 
 
 The correspondence between Sir John Dick and Dowager 
 Lady Dick at Salisbury Green continued at intervals until the 
 former's health entirely broke down, a paralytic stroke in 1804 
 depriving him of his bodily, and gradually also of his mental 
 faculties. 
 
 Finally, in a letter written from Mount Clare, 2nd December 
 
 1804, by Mr Cleathing, who seems to have taken charge at this 
 
 time, his death is announced in the following manner. 
 
 " For some months he continued without any very material alteration, 
 but on Friday last a sudden change took place, from that time the 
 functions of nature ceased. Thus he continued till after one o'clock this 
 morning when he was released from a long confinement and melancholy 
 state in which it was impossible for friendship and affection to wish him 
 longer to continue." 
 
 It was indeed unfortunate that Miss Jessy Dick had not taken 
 
 Lady Anne Barnard's excellent worldly advice " to take possession 
 
 2 T 
 
33^ Curiosities of a Scots Charta Chest 
 
 of Sir John Dick's Castles at once," for all his money and valuable 
 possessions were appropriated by his lawyer and doctor, there 
 being no near relative on the spot to dispute their claims. 
 
 The contrast between the past and the present century is 
 perhaps nowhere more strongly depicted than in this final episode. 
 
 THE END. 
 
Index 
 
 A. 
 
 Abercorn, Countess of, 176. 
 Aberdeen, Earl of, 68, 
 
 Act, concerning apparel, 1673, 17; to travel 
 without Passes, 66 ; concerning excise of 
 brandy, 1673, 18. 
 
 Albanie, Duke of, 31. 
 
 Alexander, Mr Robert, 181. 
 
 Almond Bridge, 196. 
 
 Ancram, Earl of, 328. 
 
 Anne, Queen, 49. 
 
 Anne, Princess, 70. 
 
 Anne, Princess of Denmark, 3. 
 
 Argyle, Earl of, 38. 
 
 Argyle, Marquis of, 38. 
 
 Argyll, Duke of, 179, 203. 
 
 Atholl, Duke of, on rhubarb, 260. 
 
 Antibes, 103. 
 
 Auchenleck, Lord, death of, 303. 
 Auxerre, 102. 
 Avignon, 103. 
 
 B. 
 
 Balcarres, Countess of, 327. 
 
 Balcarres, Countess of, her marriage, 252 ; her 
 
 family, 287 ; returns home, 300. 
 Balcarres, Earl of, 326. 
 
 Balcarres, Earl of, marriage with Miss Dal- 
 rymple, heiress of Haigh Hall, 278 ; offers to 
 raise a regiment, 293. 
 
 Balgonie, Lord, 186. 
 
 Barnard, Mr, 321. 
 
 Barnard, Lady Anne, her advice, 329. 
 
 Barnard, Bishop, 324. 
 
 Belhaven, Lord, 48. 
 
 Berwick, Duke of, 117, 
 
 Betoun, Janet, 195. 
 
 Bills, household, 67, 74, 75. 
 
 Bolles, Dame Mary, first Baronetess, 248. 
 
 Bologna, 119. 
 
 Boswell, James, of Auchinleck, 9 ; his conver- 
 sation with Dr Johnson, 171 ; travels in 
 Italy, 216 ; aspires to the hand of Miss Dick, 
 222 ; his marriage, 236 ; goes to London, 
 275 ; gives advice, 276 ; loses his health, 303. 
 
 Boswell, Mr Alexander, 226. 
 Both well. Earl of, 195. 
 Bowen, Mrs Mary, 161. 
 Boyle of Kelburn, 48. 
 Bramont, 122. 
 Brand, Baillie, 40. 
 
 Brandy, Act concerning importation of, 1673, 
 18. 
 
 Brodie, Mr. of Lethan, 215. 
 Buccleugh, Duke of, 203. 
 Burney, Miss Fanny, 211. 
 Bute, Lord, 203. 
 Butler, Capt., 314. 
 Butler, Dame Mary, 197. 
 Butter, Dr, of Derby's marriage, 223 ; previous 
 affections, 224. 
 
 C. 
 
 Calais, Sir Alexander arrives at, 99. 
 Cameron, Richard, 18, 19. 
 Campbell, John, prisoner of war, 9, 
 Campbell Mr, of Cawdor, 189; his letters, 
 
 231. 
 Cannes, 104. 
 
 Carlisle, executions at, 152. 
 Carlos, Don, King of Naples, 108. 
 Cenis, Mont, 121. 
 Challon, 102. 
 
 Chantilly, Duke of Bourbon's palace at, 100. 
 
 Charles the I. , 3 ; institutes Order of Barts. of 
 Nova Scotia, 247. 
 
 Charles, King, II., 10, 23, 39, 45, 69; his 
 Majestie's gracious letter directed to the 
 Presbytery of Edinburgh, 1660, 10, 11; 
 H.M.'s most gracious speech to both Houses 
 of Parliament, 21st Sept. 1666, on the losses 
 and cost of the war ; he anticipates the 
 Revenue to raise money to set out the Fleet, 
 but looks to Parliament to provide for the 
 future, 12 ; the Countryman's complaint and 
 advice to H.M., 34, 35 ; stories of, 116. 
 
 Charlie, Prince, 80; at Holyrood, 151 ; at the 
 Villa Ludovici at Rome, introduction of Mr 
 Alexander Cunyngham, 112; shoots black- 
 birds, 112; birthday of, 114; ball given in 
 his honour by Cardinal Corsini, 1 14. 
 
332 
 
 Index 
 
 Chevalier (St George), The, at the Villa Ludo- 
 vici in Rome, 113; at the Cardinal Corsini's 
 ball, 114; at the opera with his sons and the 
 Duke of Berwick, 117; at the Corso, 117. 
 
 Cheisly of Dairy murders Sir George Lockhart, 47. 
 
 Clare Mount, Sir John Dick's villa, 283. 
 
 Cleathing, Mr., 329. 
 
 Clerk, Sir John of Pennicuik, 171. 
 
 Clive, Lord, 283. 
 
 Cochran, Sir John of Ochiltree, 56. 
 Cockade, The White, 151. 
 Cope, Sir John, 150. 
 
 Corsini, The Cardinal, entertains the Chevalier, 
 Prince Charlie, and the Duke of York at a 
 ball, 115; gives a festival as Patron of 
 Britain, 117. 
 
 Countryman's complaint and advice to the 
 King, 34. 
 
 Crauford, Lindsay, F.P.D. Pari., 7. 
 
 Crichton, David, 171. 
 
 Cromwell, Oliver, 4, 64. 
 
 Culloden, battle of, 153. 
 
 Cuninghame, Capt. Adam, 70. 
 
 Cunyngham or Cuninghame, Sir John, 63 ; 
 sent for by the King, 64 ; named Chancellor of 
 Scotland, 68. 
 
 Cunyngham, Sir John, succeeds to his father, 
 150; his marriage, 159; his criticism, 184. 
 
 Cunynghame, James of Southwick, 69. 
 
 Cunyngham, Lady of Caprington, 27, 88. 
 
 Cunyngham, Miss Janet, 144. 
 
 Cunyngham, Sir W. H. Dick, 38. 
 
 Cunyngham, Sir William, journey to Bath, 55 ; 
 his marriage, 68 ; a safe conduct for, 73 ; 
 his proposition, 86, 87 ; encourages his son 
 to travel, 90; death of, 143. 
 
 Cunyngham or Cuninghame, Doctor Alexander, 
 76 ; returns from Holland, 90 ; and marries, 
 90; journey to Italy, 95 ; has qualms of con- 
 science, 127 ; letters to his wife, 129. 
 
 Customs and Excise Office, Leith, Bill for 
 duty, 1694, 57. 
 
 D. 
 
 Dalrymple, Lady, 85, 86, 89. 
 Dalrymple, Sir Robert, 78. 
 Darnley, Earl of, 189. 
 
 Denbigh, Earl and Countess of, at their chateau 
 
 near Lyons, 122. 
 Dick, Miss Elizabeth, marriage with Honble. 
 
 Robert Lindsay, 326. 
 Dick, Miss Mary, marriage to Mr Pringle of 
 
 Whytebank, 326. 
 Dick, Sir William, of Braid, Lord Provost of 
 
 Edinburgh, 3 ; he advances money, 4 ; death 
 
 in Westminster gaol, 4 ; statement of his 
 
 distressed state, and copies of Scotland's 
 letter to their commissioners at London, 5, 
 6, 7> 8. 
 
 Dick, Capt., heir male of Sir William Dick of 
 Braid, 75. 
 
 Dick, Capt, John, commands the royal vessel, 
 
 3 ; marriage of, 3. 
 Dick, Lady, life in England, 283. 
 Dick, Lady (Dame Anna Paterson), 50, 52, 54. 
 Dick, Lady, gives an invitation, 169 ; receives 
 
 letters, 176. 
 
 Dick, Lady, Sir Alexander's second wife, 225 ; 
 residence at Salisbury Green, 321. 
 
 Dick, Miss, of Clermiston, 90. 
 
 Dick, Miss Janet or Jessie, 186 ; letters to, 289, 
 301 ; goes to the races, 292. 
 
 Dick, Mr William, 24, 51. 
 
 Dick, Sir Alexander, his education, 76 ; travels 
 to London, 77 ; his travels, 99 ; succeeds to 
 his brother, 150; goes to live at Cameron, 
 150 ; takes charge of the Primrose family, 
 152; writes verses, 168; of Prestonfield, 
 171 ; visits London, 179; his notes, 179; 
 receives men of letters, 180 ; his eldest 
 daughter, 185; president of R.C.P., 203; 
 proves Sir John's title, 216 ; his verses at the 
 Edinburgh Antiquarian Society, 123; his lines 
 to Lady E. Lindsay, 289 ; his resume, 319. 
 
 Dick, Sir James, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, 
 and Privy Councellor, 23 ; on the burning of 
 Prestonfield, 24 ; his town house, 26 ; atten- 
 dance on the Duke of York, 28 ; rebuilds 
 his house, 40 ; his commission, 41 ; sum 
 due to, 48 ; writes to his wife, 49 ; addressed 
 as Honourable, 53 ; buys a wig, 54 ; journey 
 to Bath, 55 ; his Poll lax, 55 ; his crest, 56 ; 
 his lead coffin, 57 ; friendship with the Duke 
 of York, 69 ; household expenses, 74 ; his 
 successor, 75. 
 
 Dick, Sir John, meets Mr Boswell, 216 ; on 
 Boswell and the Douglas cause, 236 ; orders 
 his baronet's badge, 250 ; resigns his post at 
 Leghorn, 262 ; buys Mount Clare, 283 ; at 
 the War Office, 307, 314 ; congratulates 
 Dow, Lady Dick, 326 ; his death, 329. 
 Dick, Sir William, 159. 
 
 Dick, Sir William, of Prestonfield, 75 ; his 
 debts, 76. 
 
 Dick, William, Sir Alexander's eldest son, 276 ; 
 his promotion, 313 ; succeeds to his father, 
 321 ; his marriage, 321 ; his sudden death, 328. 
 
 Don, Will, 50. 
 
 Douglas, Lady, 88, 90. 
 
 Douglas, Janet, of Muthel, 171. 
 
 Douglas cause, the, 231. 
 
 Douglas, Miss, of Garwaldfoot, 321. 
 
 Douglas, Miss, her marriage, 223. 
 
Index 
 
 333 
 
 Dover, 99. 
 
 Douglas, Sir John of Kelhead, 153 ; writes 
 
 from London, 161. 
 Doran, Dr, extracts from, 209. 
 Drummond, Dr., 79. 
 
 Duddingston, parish of, 57 ; Highland army 
 encamped at, 150; funeral sermon at, 320; 
 Duddingston Loch, 277. 
 
 Dunbar Castle, 195. 
 
 Dunbar, Lord, introduces Mr Alexander Cun- 
 yngham to Prince Charlie and the Duke of 
 York, 112. 
 
 Dunipace, Lady, 152. 
 
 Durham, Prelate of, 87. 
 
 Dutch Fleet, engagement with his Majestie's 
 fleet under H.R.H. the Duke of York, 13, 
 14, 15, 16, 17. 
 
 Dysart, Countess of, 64. 
 
 E. 
 
 Edinburgh, Bishop of, 27, 28. 
 Edinburgh, 172. 
 
 Edinburgh, John's Coffee House, 296. 
 
 Edinburgh, Bishop of, his letter to Sir James 
 Dick as Lord Provost of Edinburgh, 28. 
 
 Eglinton, Earl of, 81, 82 ; letter of congratula- 
 tion, 160. 
 
 Elibank, Lord, 171. 
 
 Elizabeth, Queen, 196. 
 
 Elliot, Mr A., 207. 
 
 Ellis, Mr Patrick, 37. 
 
 Ellis, Mr Patrick, letter to, from Sir James 
 Dick, 1680, describing the Colledginers' mis- 
 deeds, 23. 
 
 Entail, The Law of, 179. 
 
 Ernault, Mr Stephen, 39, 40, 41. 
 
 F. 
 
 Fergusson of Caitlock, 144, 150. 
 Fletcher, Mr, of Saltoun, at Rome, 112. 
 Forbes, Lord President, 171. 
 Forbes, Master John, 58. 
 Forfar, Alex., 58. 
 Forli, 119. 
 
 Franklin, Dr Benjamin, 180 ; his rival, 181 ; 
 
 his urn, 182 ; his epitaph, 182. 
 Frazer, Mr A., 258. 
 
 Freemason, Sir Alexander becomes a, 114. 
 French Fleet in the Firth of Forth, 274. 
 
 G. 
 
 Garrick, Mrs, 211. 
 Gay, Mr, 171. 
 Genoa, 104. 
 
 George, King, the HL, 262. 
 
 Gilmour, Sir A., news from London, 215. 
 
 Glencairn, Earl of, 69, 159. 
 
 Glo'ster, man of war, 28, 29. 
 
 Gloucester, H.R.H. the Duke of, abroad, 242. 
 
 Gordon, Lady Jean, 195. 
 
 Gordon, Sir George, of Haddo, Chancellor, 68. 
 Grievances, Catalogue of, 64, 65, 
 
 H. 
 
 Hado, Lord, 28. 
 Hanover, House of, 82. 
 
 Hay, Dr, a partisan in the Rebellion, 1745, 100. 
 Hay, Mr, at Rome, ill ; gives a supper, 113. 
 Hill, Mr, his scheme for postage rates, 296. 
 Hill, The Castle, 149. 
 Hogarth, Mrs, 183. 
 
 Holyrood Palace, 80 ; Prince Charlie goes to, 
 151. 
 
 Hume, Mr, 189. 
 
 Hunter, Miss Kitty, 207, 209, 210. 
 Huntly, Earl of, 191, 195. 
 
 I. 
 
 Ice on Duddingston Loch, 277. 
 Inglis, Robert, merchant, 6. 
 Invalids, the hospital, loi. 
 Irvine, Dr, the Chevalier's doctor, ill. 
 
 J- 
 
 James the II., 69 ; investigates a plot, 71. 
 
 James the VI. of Scotland, 3. 
 
 John's Coffee House, 296. 
 
 Johnson, Dr, 211 : writes to Mr Boswell, 257. 
 
 Jones', Paul, squadron, 275. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kames, Lord, death of, 303. 
 Keith, Miss Anne, 279. 
 Keith, Mr Robert, 80. 
 Keith, Mrs, 89. 
 Keith, Sir Robert, 255. 
 Kepperton, Lady, 68. 
 Kingston, Duchess of, 255. 
 Knox, John, 18. 
 
 L. 
 
 Lamoli's, Mr, ball, 185. 
 Langside, Battle of, 196. 
 I Lauderdale, Dnchess of, 37, 64. 
 
334 
 
 Index 
 
 Lauderdail, Duke of, ii ; opens Parliament, 63. 
 
 Leghorne, 107. 
 
 Leith, Mr Forbes, 258, 
 
 Leslie, General, 3. 
 
 Lethington, IMaitland of, 195. 
 
 Letter from the Duke of Lauderdail. He 
 
 writes by the command of H.M. Charles II. 
 
 to the Presbytery of Edinburgh, 1660, 10, 11. 
 Letters from Sir James Dick to Mr P. Ellis, 
 
 1680, on the burning of the Pope in effigy, 
 
 James Rocheid to Sir James Dick, calling 
 
 a meeting of the Secret Council to decide on 
 the course to be pursued in that matter, 24. 
 
 Sir James Dick to his brother, Mr William 
 
 Dick, on the burning of his House of Preston- 
 field, 25 ; to Mr Ellis on the same subject, 
 25 ; on the setting out of Mr James Rocheid 
 and his family by coach to London, 27. 
 
 The Bishop of Edinburgh to Sir James 
 
 Dick, on interfering with his privileges, 28 ; 
 to Mr Ellis, 1682, on the Duke of York's 
 going by sea to Newmarket ; Sir James fol- 
 lows by land, 28. 
 
 The Cittie Captains to the Lord Provost 
 
 with complaints, 33. 
 
 Mr J. Deanes to Sir James Dick on the 
 
 mercantile treaties ; the Government wish to 
 negotiate with France, 1683, 35, 36. 
 
 Sir James Dick to Mr W. Dick, informing 
 
 him of the order to apprehend the Laird of 
 Polewarth on suspicion of his being concerned 
 in a plot against His Majesty, 36 ; to the 
 same, announcing the return of Sir James 
 Rocheid with the Duchess of Lauderdale in 
 the king's yacht, 37 ; to Mr P. Ellis, that the 
 town is to pay 500 sterling to the Duchess, 
 1680, 37 ; in 1685, on the Earl of Argyle 
 being imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, 37 ; 
 to Mr Stephen Ernault, 1686, on the 
 removal of people from their offices and 
 the installation of Duke of Gordon as 
 Governor of the Castle, 39 ; to Mr S. 
 Ernault on rebuilding his country house, 40 ; 
 to Bailie Brand to buy pictures for him in 
 Holland, 1691, 41 ; to Mr S. Ernault to buy 
 wigs, 41 ; on the landing of the Prince of 
 Orange with an army, 1 688, on the robbing 
 of the mail packets and the disorder caused 
 by the Invasion, burning of houses and 
 chapels belonging to the Roman Catholics, 
 42 ; to Mr S. Ernault, 1689, describes the 
 murder of Sir George Lockhart, President of 
 the Court of Session, and the sentence pro- 
 nounced on the murderer, 47 ; stoppage of 
 the execution of the Law, 47 ; the surrender 
 of the Duke of Gordon, 48. 
 
 Letters, Lord Belhaven to Sir James Dick, call- 
 ing for his assistance, 48. 
 
 Mr James Dick to his wife, 1667, 49. 
 
 Mrs Dick to Mr James Dick, 49. 
 
 Lady Dick to Sir James, 50. 
 
 Mr J. Murray to Isobell Paterson, 51. 
 
 Mr William Dick to the Laird of Colledg- 
 
 heid, with condolences, 51, 52. 
 
 Joseph Grier to Sir James Dick on raising 
 
 men or money for militia, 57, 58. 
 
 Lord Cardross to Sir John Cuninghame on 
 
 Lord Shaftesbury being turned out of the 
 Council, 66. 
 
 William Dick, first mayor of New York, 
 
 to Sir William Dick of Prestonfield, congratu- 
 lating him on his succession, 75. 
 
 Alexander Cuninghame to his Father, 
 
 1724, describing his journey to Durham, 77. 
 
 Sir William Cuninghame to Alexander 
 
 with good advice, 78 ; announces the mar- 
 riage of his daughter Anne to Sir Robert 
 Dalr}rmple, 78 ; on the Thesis presented to 
 the College of Physicians, which they acknow- 
 ledge with a handsome encomium, 79 ; on the 
 health of his mother, 79 ; on the elopement 
 of his daughter Margaret with Mr Keith, 80. 
 
 Alexander Cuninghame to Sir William 
 
 Cuninghame. Expresses his opinion on that 
 subject, 81. 
 
 Earl of Eglinton. Writes on his death- 
 bed with advice to his son, 81. 
 
 Lady Dalrymple to Lady Cuninghame, 
 
 describing her journey to Sutherlandshire, 85. 
 
 Mrs Mackay to Sir William Cuninghame. 
 
 Describes Lord Reay's property, 86. 
 
 Lady Dalrymple to Sir William Cuning- 
 hame on the goat whey cure at Dalgoos, 86. 
 
 Lady Douglas to Lady Cuninghame on 
 
 the outbreak of measles, 88, and on Sir John 
 going to London, 89. 
 
 Mrs Keith to Lady Cuninghame, with 
 
 news of her children, 89. 
 
 Lady Dalrymple to Lady Cuninghame on 
 
 her stolen webs, 89. 
 
 An unknown writer to Dr Alexander Cun- 
 inghame on his matrimonial affairs, 91. 
 
 Allan Ramsay, jun., to Dr Alexander 
 
 Cuninghame, arranging to start on his travels 
 with the latter, 92. 
 
 The incognito to Dr Alexander Cuning- 
 hame on his own love matters, 1736, 93; 
 intercedes for Alexander with his parents, 49. 
 
 Mr Alexander Cunyngham to Sir William 
 
 imploring for pardon for his secret marriage, 
 128; to his wife, 129; announcing his 
 parents' forgiveness, and describing the 
 execution of a young man and woman, 131. 
 
Index 
 
 335 
 
 Letters, Allan Ramsay, sen., to Dr Alexander 
 Cuninghame. Longs for his return, 132, 
 
 Parson Smith to Dr Cuninghame, 133. 
 
 Allan Ramsay, junr., to Dr Cuninghame 
 
 on Parson Smith's misdeeds, 134; speaks of 
 his return home, and other items of news, 
 135- 
 
 Allan Ramsay, senr., to Dr Cuninghame. 
 
 Speaks of his new house on the Castle Bank, 
 136. 
 
 Allan Ramsay, junr., to Dr Cuninghame 
 
 on the efficacy of his prescriptions, 141. 
 Allan Ramsay, senr., to Dr Cuninghame. 
 
 Takes a philosophic view of life, 142. 
 Allan Ramsay, junr., to Dr Cuninghame. 
 
 Condoles with him on the death of his father, 
 
 143- 
 
 Mr Fergusson of Caitlock to Lady Cunyng- 
 
 ham. Asks pardon for eloping with her 
 daughter Janet, 144. 
 
 Allan Ramsay, senr., to Dr Cuninghame, 
 
 with advice and some verses, 146 ; regretting 
 his want of money, 149. 
 
 Lord Primrose to Sir Alexander Dick 
 
 anent Sir Arch. Primrose's family, 152. 
 
 Sir William Dick to his brother Alex- 
 ander, telling of his sister Lady Douglas' 
 death, 159. 
 
 Lady Cunyngham (or Dick) to Sir John, 
 
 her son, on his marriage, 160. 
 
 Lord Eglinton to Sir John Cunyngham on 
 
 his marriage, 160. 
 
 Mrs Mary Bowen to Lady Dick. De- 
 scribes a country house visit, 161. 
 
 Sir John Douglas to Sir Alexander Dick. 
 
 Mentions various people named for appoint- 
 ments, 161. 
 
 Allan Ramsay, junr., to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick. Congratulations on the birth of a son, 
 162. 
 
 Allan Ramsay, senr., to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick. Leaves Pennicuik for Edinburgh, 
 163 ; to Lady Dick. Speaks of a concert 
 and a ball at Pennicuik, 163 ; to Sir Alex- 
 ander Dick. Possibly a reference to theatrical 
 troubles, 164. 
 
 Allan Ramsay, junr., to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick. Describes his journey to Rome, 165 ; 
 complaint of Mr Davidson taking land from 
 the entry to his house, 175 ; his hints to Mr 
 Millar, the portrait painter, 176. 
 
 The Countess of Abercorn to Lady Dick, 
 
 acknowledging receipt of a picture, 176 ; on 
 Lady Dick naming her daughter Anne after 
 the Countess, 178. 
 
 Dr Benjamin Franklin to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick, 180. 
 
 Letters, Mrs Strange to Sir Alexander Dick. 
 Extracts from various letters, 183. 
 
 Sir John Cuninghame to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick. A criticism upon wit, 184. 
 
 Miss Janet Dick to Sir Alexander Dick. 
 
 Describes her dancing at a ball, 186. 
 
 Mr Campbell of Cawdor to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick upon Mary Queen of Scots, 189. 
 
 Mary Queen of Scots to the Earl of 
 
 Huntly, 191. 
 
 Mr Campbell of Cawdor to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick. Reflections upon history, 192. 
 
 Sir John Cuninghame to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick on Sir Alexander's second marriage, 197. 
 
 Allan Ramsay, junr., to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick on the same subject, 197 ; on the im- 
 provements in the city of Edinburgh, 198. 
 
 Monsieur de Senactt to Sir Alexander Dick 
 
 on being made a Fellow of the R.C. of 
 Physicians, 204. 
 
 Baron Van Swieten to Sir Alexander Dick 
 
 on the same, 204. 
 
 Dr Morgan to Sir Alexander Dick. Wish- 
 ing to become a Fellow of the R.C. of 
 Physicians, 205 ; on his visit to Fontainbleau, 
 206 ; compares Paris and Edinburgh hospitals, 
 206 ; from Rome, 206 ; from London, 207 ; 
 from Philadelphia, 207. 
 
 Mr Elliot to Sir Alexander Dick. Society 
 
 gossip, 207. 
 
 Mr Brodie of Lethan to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick. Invites him to pay him a visit, 215. 
 
 ■ Sir A. Gilmour to Sir Alexander Dick on 
 
 events of the day, 215. 
 
 Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick. Meets 
 
 the Consul in London, 217; on the Consul 
 going to Edinburgh, 218 ; the Consul arrives, 
 218 ; to assist in finding papers for the Consul 
 to claim his title, 219. 
 
 Consul Dick to Sir Alexander Dick upon 
 
 his affairs, 220. 
 
 Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick. His 
 
 visit to London, 221 ; describes Sir John 
 Dick being received at Court, 222. 
 
 Dr Butter to Sir Alexander Dick on Miss 
 
 Dick's refusal and Miss K. Douglas' accept- 
 ance, 225. 
 
 Mrs Butter to Lady Dick after her mar- 
 riage, 225. 
 
 Mr Alexander Boswell to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick on his niece's marriage, 227. 
 Mr Campbell to Sir Alexander Dick upon 
 
 affairs in Corsica, 231. 
 Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick upon 
 
 Corsica, 231. 
 Bishop of Oxford to Sir Alexander Dick 
 
 on the death of Prebendary Spence, 232. 
 
336 
 
 Index 
 
 Letters, Mr Campbell of Cawdor to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick on general subjects, 234. 
 Consul Sir John Dick to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick. Acknowledges receipt of diploma, 236 ; 
 
 the Court at Florence, 237 ; on the Douglas 
 
 Cause, 238. 
 
 Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick. Begs 
 
 for the spawn of perch, 238. 
 
 Sir John Dick to Sir Alexander Dick. 
 
 Mentions receiving the Order of St Anne of 
 Russia, 239 ; on the Duke of Gloucester's 
 illness, 240 ; on the success of the Russians, 
 and subsequent peace between Russia and 
 Turkey, 241 ; on the conclusion of peace, 
 ^43- . 
 
 Sir Robert Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick 
 
 on the warrant for wearing Badge of Baron- 
 etcy, 248. 
 
 Sir Alexander Dick to Sir R. Boswell. 
 
 Concurs with him in wearing ribbon and 
 
 badge of Nova Scotia, 249. 
 Sir John Dick to Sir R. Boswell on 
 
 Baronet's badge, 249 and 250. 
 Sir John Cuninghame to Sir A. Dick on 
 
 Nova Scotia badge, 250. 
 Sir John Dick to Sir A. Dick on the birth 
 
 of a son to the Duke of Gloucester, 251. 
 Sir Alexander Dick to Dr Johnson. Thanks 
 
 him for his book, 257. 
 Mr A. Frazer to Sir Alexander Dick. 
 
 Relates accident to the Prince d'Aremberg, 
 
 258. 
 
 Mr Forbes Leith to Sir A. Dick. De- 
 scription of his country surroundings, 258. 
 
 Earl of Lauderdale to Sir A. Dick on 
 
 rhubarb, 261. 
 
 Bishop of Oxford to Sir A, Dick on 
 
 rhubarb seeds, 261. 
 
 Lord Kames to Sir Alexander Dick on 
 
 cultivating rhubarb, 261. 
 
 Mr Boswell to Sir A. Dick, from London, 
 
 262. 
 
 Sir John Dick to Sir A. Dick on resigning 
 
 his post, 262-263. 
 
 Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick, 
 
 with Arthur's Seat and a newspaper, 272. 
 Bishop of London to Sir Alexander Dick, 
 
 acknowledging receipt of his Georgic, 272. 
 Mr Boswell to Sir Alexander Dick, 
 
 has an admirable jaunt to London, 276. 
 Lady Dick of Mount Clare to Lady Dick 
 
 of Prestonfield, 284. 
 Lady Elizabeth Lindsay to Miss Jessie 
 
 Dick, 289 ; her verses to the same, 291, 292 ; 
 
 a girlish effusion, 293. 
 Lady Elizabeth Lindsay to Miss Jessie 
 
 Dick, 300, 301. 
 
 Letters, Sir John Dick to Sir Alexander Dick 
 on his work at his villa, &c., 307 ; on 
 his portrait, 308. 
 
 "The Bishop of London to Sir Alexander 
 
 Dick. Acknowledges receipt of the Em- 
 peror's letter, 309 ; on being offered the post 
 of Archbishop of Canterbury, 310. 
 
 Sir John Dick to Sir Alexander on his son 
 
 Willie exchanging out of the Guards, 313 ; on 
 officers entering the Russian service, 315, 316. 
 
 Lady Anne Barnard to Miss Jessie Dick. 
 
 Describes her life at St Nolstans, 322 ; her 
 verses and conundrums, 325. 
 
 Sir John Dick to Dowager Lady Dick on 
 
 her daughter Elizabeth's marriage with the 
 Hon. Robert Lindsay, and also on her second 
 daughter's marriage to Mr Pringle, 326. 
 
 Countess of Balcarres to Dowager Lady 
 
 Dick, with congratulations on her daughters' 
 marriages, 327. 
 
 The Earl of Ancram to Mr John Dick, 
 
 breaking the news of Sir William Dick's 
 sudden death in a ball-room, and making the 
 funeral arrangements, 328. 
 
 Mr Cleathing to Dowager Lady Dick ; an- 
 nounces the death of Sir John Dick at Mount 
 Clare, 329. 
 
 Lindsay, Lady Elizabeth, 186, 284 ; her paint- 
 ing, 289 ; writes to Beautiful Jannet, 300 ; on 
 Prestonfield, 31 1. 
 
 Lindsay, Lady Elizabeth. Marriage with Mr 
 Philip York, 302. 
 
 Lindsay, Lady Anne, her marriage, 321. 
 
 Lindsay, Hon. Robert, 325. 
 
 Lockhart, Sir George, murder of, 47. 
 
 London, Fire of, 11 ; riots in, 278. 
 
 London, dines with Dr Mead at, 123. 
 
 Loudon, Earl of, 4, 6. 
 
 Lowth, Dr, Bishop of Oxford, 231 ; Bishop of 
 
 London, 308. 
 Ludovici Villa at Rome, 112. 
 Lumsden, Miss Isabella, 153. 
 Luxemburg, Marshal, 70. 
 Lyons, 102 ; returns there, 122. 
 
 M. 
 
 Mackay, Mrs, 85. 
 
 Maidstone, Lord, 16. 
 
 Maitland of Lethington, 195. 
 
 Mansfield, Lord, 179. 
 
 March, Lord, succeeds his cousin, 270. 
 
 Marcus Aurelius, his Statue in the Capitol at 
 
 Rome, III. 
 Marlborough, Duke of, 210. 
 Marseilles, arrival at, 103. 
 Marston Moor, Battle of, 3. 
 
Index 
 
 337 
 
 Mary Queen of Scots, 189; her letter, 191 ; 
 
 her capture, 195. 
 Maxwell, Adam, 70. 
 Melville, Earl of, 195. 
 
 Memoranda of Sir Alexander Dick on the un- 
 fortunate effect to Scotland caused by the 
 chief of the nobility residing in England, the 
 horrors of the rebellion, and the loss of the 
 King's life, 40; on the reign of James II., 
 69 ; of money spent on the education of Sir 
 Alexander Dick, 76 ; on the steps taken by 
 him on behalf of Sir Archibald Primrose's 
 family, 152 ; on his visit to Lord Lyttleton's 
 country seat, 180; on the misfortunes of 
 Mary Queen of Scots, 193 ; upon Sir John 
 Douglas and the Duke of Queensbury, 223 ; 
 General Memoranda, 251, 252; journeys to 
 the North, 253 ; general news, 254, 255 ; 
 death of Lady Dalrymple, 256 ; death of 
 David Hume, 256 ; James Boswell expresses 
 a desire to write his Biography, 257 ; account 
 of Lord Balcarras' wonderful escape, 267 ; 
 death of his brother. Sir John Cunyngham, 
 268 ; the mutiny of the Seaforth High- 
 landers, 269 ; death of the Duke of Queens- 
 bury, 270 ; disputing his will, death of Sir 
 William Douglas, 271 ; burning of Roman 
 Catholic chapels and houses by the mob, 272 ; 
 breakfasts with the Duke of Buccleugh, and 
 his son Willie gets his commission in the 
 Guards, 273 ; French fleet in the Frith of 
 Forth, 274 ; Paul Jones' squadron dispersed, 
 275 ; influenza appears, 275 ; death of Lady 
 Dick of Mount Clare, Lord George Gordon's 
 acquittal, 285 ; fleet of 450 ships of line sail 
 for the Baltic, action with the Dutch fleet, 
 . 286 ; he dines with Mr Boswell and Lord 
 Balcarras, birth of Lady Balcarras' daughter. 
 Lady Elizabeth Lindsay's painting, 287 ; 
 history of his grand-nephews of the Balcarras 
 family, 288 ; of his grand-nieces, 289 ; Lord 
 Cornwallis surrenders to the French and 
 American armies, Lord Balcarras offers to 
 raise a regiment, victory over Hyder Ali, 293 ; 
 victory over the French at sea, 299 ; return 
 of influenza, 300 ; marriage of his grand- 
 niece. Lady Elizabeth Lindsay to Mr Philip 
 Yorke, 302 ; Death of Lord Auchenleck and 
 death of Lord Kames, 303 ; epitaph to Lord 
 Kames, 304 ; a comparison between the 
 seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, 319. 
 
 Middleton, General, 69. 
 
 Middleton, Lady Di, her death, 277. 
 
 Montague, Mr, 16, 
 
 Montagu, Mrs, 211. 
 
 Montgomerie, Lady Betty, 81, 159. 
 
 Montgomerie, Miss, her marriage, 236. 
 
 Montemar, Duke de, 100. 
 More, Miss Hannah, 21 1. 
 Morgan, Dr, 205. 
 Mounsey, Dr, 203. 
 Murray, Edward, 150. 
 Murray, Earl of, 194. 
 
 N. 
 
 Naper, Mr, 16. 
 Narni, 118. 
 Nice, 103. 
 
 Nicholls, Mr R., 16. 
 Norris, Lieut., 314. 
 Novalese, 121. 
 
 P. 
 
 Papers, The London, 154. 
 
 Paris, Sir Alexander Dick's arrival at, 100 ; 
 
 returns there, 122. 
 Parma, 1 19. 
 
 Paterson, Dame Anna, 49. 
 Paterson, Isobell, 50. 
 Pedigree, The Highlanders, 155. 
 Pembroke, 161. 
 Pembroke, Lady, 210. 
 Pembroke, Lord, 207 ; his elopement, 209. 
 Perth, Earl of, 28. 
 Petitions, Citie Captains, 32. 
 Physicians, Royal College of, 203. 
 Pope, Mr, 171 ; his motto, 179. 
 Prestonpans, Battle of, 150. 
 Prestonfield, 150, 160; Pleasant days at, 
 311- 
 
 Primrose, Sir Archibald, 152. 
 
 Pringle, Mr, of Yair and Whitehill, 326. 
 
 Procession at Deptford described in the London 
 
 Evening Post, 154. 
 Proclamation, A, for calling out officers, 71. 
 
 Q- 
 
 QUEENSBOROUGH, Earl of, 28. 
 
 Q., Old (Duke of Queensborough), 82. 
 
 Queensbury, Duke of, 270. 
 
 R. 
 
 Ramsay, Allan, junior, Painter, Travels to 
 Italy, 92, 95 ; his letters, 134, 141 ; his 
 verses, 156; writes from London, 162; his 
 house, 176. 
 
 U 
 
338 
 
 Index 
 
 Ramsay, Allan, Poet, 79, 90 ; his letters, 132 ; 
 style of paper, 138; expresses his opinions, 
 145 ; his house invaded, 149 ; goes to Penni- 
 cuik, 163 ; writes verses, 168 ; his parentage, 
 171. 
 
 Reynolds, Sir Joshua, 211. 
 
 Rhubarb, The true, 203. 
 
 Rimini, ancient bridge of, 1 19. 
 
 Rome, arrival at, 108; sightseeing at, III; 
 
 leaves, 118. 
 Rome, 165. 
 Ross, Lord, 55. 
 
 Sardinia, King and Queen of, their marriage 
 and arrival at Turin, 120. 
 
 Saville, Mr Henry, 12, 13. 
 
 Saville, Henry, Esq. , vi'rites a letter to the Earl 
 of Arlington, Principal Secretary of State, 
 giving an account of H.M. Fleet under 
 H. R. H. The Duke of York against the Dutch 
 Fleet, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. 
 
 Savoy, Duke of, 60. 
 
 Schaw, Sir John, 48. 
 
 Scot, Walter, of Buccleugh, 195. 
 
 Scotia, Baronets of Nova, 247. 
 
 Scott, Mrs. Her news, 207. 
 
 Senactt, Monsieur de, 203. 
 
 Sestri, 105. 
 
 Sharp, Prebendary, 87. 
 Shepherd, The Gentle, 171. 
 Siddons, Mrs, 211. 
 
 Smith, Mr, Wine Merchant, concerned in the 
 
 Rebellion, 174S, 100. 
 Smith, Parson, writes, 133 ; unpleasant tales 
 
 of, 134. 
 
 Songstresses of Scotland, extract from, 252. 
 
 Steinkirk, Battle of, 70. 
 
 Stewart, Dr. His book, 274. 
 
 Stewart, John, of Urrard, 38. 
 
 Stewart, Miss Alston, 39. 
 
 Stewart's, Sir John, marriage to Lady Jane 
 
 Douglas, 232. 
 Stewart, Sir Lewis, of Kirkhill, 3. 
 Stirling, 195. 
 Stratford, Earl of, 211. 
 Strange, Mr T. A., 268. 
 Strange, Lady, her correspondence, 183. 
 Strange, Sir Robert, 153 ; returns to London, 
 
 183. 
 
 Swieten, Baron Van, 204. 
 
 T. 
 
 Thrale, Mrs, 211. 
 
 Times, The, Extracts from, 170. 
 
 Tolentina, 118. 
 
 Tollemache, Sir Lionel, 64. 
 
 Travels of Mr Alexander Cunyngham and Mr 
 Allan Ramsay, junior — On the coach from 
 London to Dover, and arrival at Calais, 99 ; 
 start for Paris in their posting equipage, are 
 entertained at Boulogne by Mr Smith, the 
 Scotch wine merchant ; inspect the Duke 
 de Bourbon's Palace at Chantilly and the 
 Luxembourg Gallery, 100 ; describes the 
 Invalid's Hospital, the service at the Church 
 of St Genevieve, King Stanislaus at his 
 Palace of Meudon, the Waterworks at Ver- 
 sailles and the King's stables, 101 ; they 
 start for Italy by water coach, the company 
 on board, by Diligence to Challon, by water 
 to Lyons, 102 ; the company from Lyons, 
 description of Avignon and Aix, arrival at 
 Marseilles, describes the Exchange, 103 ; 
 leave in a Tartane for Antibes, walk there 
 from Cannes, set out in a Felouche for Genoa 
 and arrive, verses to Mr Dempster, 104 ; 
 Mr Alexander Cunyngham is robbed in the 
 hotel; setting out for Leghorne by Sestri, 105; 
 they are shipwrecked, 106 ; but come safely 
 to shore, and reach Leghorne in chaises, 107 ; 
 Anecdote of Don Carlos, King of Naples, and 
 the Duke de Montemar, arrive at Florence, 
 start for Rome by the Procacio, description 
 of country, arrival at Rome, enter by the 
 Porto di Poppolo, 108 ; Mr Alexander 
 Cunyngham takes an apartment, sight-see- 
 ing, the lottery, ill ; Dr Wright's histories 
 of the Young Chevalier and the Duke of 
 York, is presented to them at the Villa Ludo- 
 vici, meets Lord Dunbar and other Scotch 
 gentlemen. Prince Charlie shoots blackbirds, 
 112; makes acquaintance with artists, dines 
 with friends, hears music, visits the Vatican 
 Library, is presented with a St Andrew's 
 Cross on that saint's day by the Duke of 
 York, meets the Chevalier and the Princes 
 at the Villa Ludovici, 113; mentions the 
 visitors residing in Rome, hears mass, meets 
 the Chevalier and family, goes with Lord 
 Winton to the Pope's Chapel, is introduced 
 to the Freemasons, attends the ball given by 
 the Cardinal Corsini to Prince Charlie, 114 ; 
 dresses of the guests ; invitations during 
 Christmas holidays, I15 ; hears stories of 
 King Charles the II., makes the tour round 
 the walls of Rome, the Carnival, and 
 execution of Count Trivilli, 116; goes to 
 the opera, dines with Mr Ramsay, says fare- 
 well to his friends, accounts for his expendi- 
 ture during his stay at Rome, engages a voi- 
 turin, 117; leaves Rome by the Apennine 
 Hills, passes by Narni, Tolentina, and Loretto, 
 
Index 
 
 339 
 
 describes the Church of the Sancta Casa, 1 18 ; 
 from Rimini, Forli, and Bologna to Parma, 
 119 ; describes Turin, goes with the Marquis 
 de Castello to the King of Sardinia's palace 
 of Venesi, arrival of the King and Queen, 
 120 ; the palace gardens and stables, crosses 
 Mont Cenis, 121 ; passes from Chamberry to 
 Lyons, visits the Earl and Countess of Den- 
 bigh, takes the diligence to Paris, 122 ; dines 
 with Dr Mead in London, is introduced to 
 Mr Pope, presents Dr Mead with a picture 
 and eight lines of Latin verse, 123. 
 Turin, visits, 120. 
 
 V. 
 
 Vaughan, Mr Roger, 16. 
 Versailles, description of, lOl. 
 
 W. 
 
 Walpole, Horace, 211. 
 Watson, George, founder of Watson's Hospital, 
 56. 
 
 Watson, Mr, Lord Rockingham's brother, 114. 
 
 Westminster Gaol, 4. 
 
 William III., 70; Plot to assassinate, 71. 
 
 Winton, Earl of, at Rome, 112 ; supper at Mr 
 Hay's, 113; visits Mr Alexander Cunyng- 
 ham, introduces him at night to the Free- 
 masons at the Pamphilio Palace, 114. 
 
 Woodhouslea, Lord, 171. 
 
 Wright, Dr, the Chevalier's doctor, ill; dines 
 with Mr Alexander Cunyngham, 1 12; goes 
 with him to the Vatican library, 113. 
 
 Y. 
 
 York, Duke of, Commands the Fleet, 12 ; 
 Arrives in Edinburgh, 23 ; Opens Parlia- 
 ment in Edinburgh, 28 ; As Commissioner 
 38 ; His character, 69. 
 
 York, Duke of, a true relation of the engage- 
 ment of His Majestie's fleet under the com- 
 mand of H.R.H., with the Dutch fleet, May 
 28, 1672, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. 
 
 York, Duke of, the Chevalier's son, introduction 
 of Mr Alexander Cunyngham, 112; presents 
 him with a St Andrew's Cross, 113. 
 
 TURNBULL AND SPEAKS, PRINTKRS, EDINBURGH. 
 
Frc/U^ ('{"'^ iZa^v^ ^^j-w-v^ 'i i 
 McjcfiwW ,1-^ rUv~u f-^a-y 
 
 CU^ JwTaJo L'^JAUa J .} Ir-v^- ^-J - I •) ^ i> • ? i 
 
 /i 
 
 ^6 
 
 GETTY RESEARCH INSTITUTE 
 
 3 3125 01277 0307