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 CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME 
 OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT 
 FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY 
 
 HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE 
 
 SIR CHARLES CAYZER.BART. 
 
DATE DUE 
 
 
 
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 .News letters of 1715-16, 
 
 3 1924 028 049 751 
 
IDA 
 
 ,3 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028049751 
 
News Letters of 1715-16 
 
 ■ Y'' Edited by 
 
 A. Francis Steuart 
 
 Advocate 
 
 Printed from Original Papers 
 
 in the possession of 
 
 C. E. S. Chambers, Edinburgh 
 
 W. & R. CHAMBERS, LIMITED 
 
 LONDON AND EDINBURGH 
 
 1910 
 

 t 
 
 » *, 
 
 s ^1 1- 
 
 // / ^ f /^ s-^ 
 
INTEODUCTION 
 
 The letters contained in this little book 
 have been printed now, not so much for 
 their historical value — for they contain few 
 facts that are not narrated in Rae's History 
 of the Late Rebellion — as because they are 
 another contemporary account, and by a 
 Whig author, of what happened in Scotlaiid 
 during the years 1715 and 1716. We still 
 need to know so much more than we do 
 about the Jacobite rising of 1715. Of the 
 '45 we have so many sources of information 
 that there is little need for more except to 
 fill up lacunae, for the stirring story of the 
 Prince's flight across the heather and the 
 loyalty of the Highlanders has taken hold 
 of the memory of the Scottish people so 
 firmly that it has altogether eclipsed — and 
 perhaps too much — the unfortunate expedi- 
 
VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tion which crushed the aspirations of the 
 Jacobites thirty years earlier. 
 
 The news letters printed here {verbatim 
 with the exception of part of one sentence) 
 by their owner, Mr, Charles E; S. Chambers, 
 were inherited by him, with certain other 
 Coltness MSS., from his grandfather, Dr. 
 Robert Chambers, who had acquired them 
 for his well-known historical studies on the 
 Rebellions of Scotland. They had formerly 
 belonged to Sir Archibald Steuart Denham 
 of Coltness, Baronet, who had died 12th 
 June 1773. Sir Archibald Steuart — who 
 later took his mother's surname of Denham 
 — sprang from a family which held taany 
 high legal appointments and was famous 
 for strong Hanoverian sympathies, to which 
 they clung until a cadet. Sir James Steuart 
 of Goodtrees, who eventually became Sir 
 Archibald's successor, was at last involved 
 in the Jacobite rising of 1745. There is in- 
 trinsic evidence in the letters, moreover, that 
 they were written -to Sir Archibald Steuart 
 Denham himself, who in 1715 was still a 
 young man, and had hot succeeded to his 
 
INTRODUCTION. Vll 
 
 title or estate, being merely ' Mr. Archibald 
 Steuart,^ Advocat,' which is the address 
 written on the back of several of the MS. 
 pages printed in this volume. 
 
 The name of the writer, unfortunately, 
 does not transpire, although he signs ' yowr 
 afectionat comerad.' He was evidently an 
 ardent Whig, of good family and education, 
 acquainted with the landed class, and actively 
 employed in collecting information from 
 every source, good, bad, or indifferent, and 
 transmitting it immediately in colloquial, 
 though to us very difficult, Scots to his 
 correspondent in a series of despatches or 
 letters which were doubtless read aloud to a 
 circle eager for news. 
 
 It is the want of preparation in these 
 letters that gives them their- present value. 
 The writer, although on the whole well 
 informed, gave but the on dit of the country. 
 
 1 The name is often ■vreitten Stewart, but is here spelled 
 Steuart. Sir Archibald was bom at Utrecht 20th July 1683, 
 and was as ' Archibald Stuart, son of [Sir Thomas] Stuart of 
 Coltness,' admitted an advocate 23rd June 1711. By his wife 
 Jane, daughter of Sir George Warrender of Lochend, he 
 left no issue. 
 
Vlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 What he heard was at once written down, 
 and what he saw described. The news 
 letters begin with the accession of a 'con- 
 summat Prince ' — George i. — to the British 
 Throne, and the growing desire in Scotland 
 to dissolve the Union. This ' cant ' led to 
 an address to the Advocates which was 
 ' like to have been paumed upon the 
 faculty of Advocates at a faculty meeting 
 for admitting a candidate,' and of the 
 faculty meeting we are given a lively, 
 if confused, account. No one seems to 
 have made anything of it except ' D. D.' 
 [Deacon Dunbar], who managed to sell 
 some of his wares, about twenty pairs of 
 white gloves with ' Liberty ' printed on 
 them, which were bought by some advocates, 
 'all of the high flying Tory party,' which, 
 in spite of Sir Walter Pringle's pacification 
 of the meeting, was pretty strong in the 
 Faculty of Advocates. The hopes of the 
 Jacobites alarmed the Hanoverian party, 
 who founded Associations loyal to the 
 Protestant Succession to oppose them, and 
 their zeal was soon stimulated by the news 
 
INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 that the Earl of Mar had come to Scotland 
 by sea, and had gone ' for his health ' to the 
 North, where he was organising ' a hunting,' 
 an expression the Jacobites understood 
 quite well as an order to rally round the 
 Chevalier's standard which he now raised in 
 the Braes of Mar. Then comes the 'vil- 
 lanows design ' or abortive attempt of the 
 Jacobites to gain Edinburgh Castle — in the 
 command of the sleepy or crafty Colonel 
 Stewart — by surprise and treachery. The 
 Earl of Mar's forces, by this time openly 
 massed, captured Perth without a blow on 
 September 18, 1715, and were joined by 
 many of the AthoU men, so that the growing 
 'Rebellion' became more menacing, although 
 the Duke of Argyll was busy reviewing the 
 Hanoverian forces at Stirling. By 20th 
 October 1715 a portion of the Jacobite 
 army — now called by our writer 'the 
 Heighlanders ' — had passed the Forth, 
 and under Mackintosh of Borlum occu- 
 pied the citadel of Leith, and had 'look'd 
 in ' at the Nether Bow Port of Edinburgh, 
 but h£ui withdrawn on the approach of 
 
 b 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the Duke of Argyll. We notice that seven 
 militant Presbyterian ministers acted as 
 volunteers in defence of the Government, and 
 one of them, Mr. Semple of Liberton, even 
 commanded a party of his parishioners. After 
 the Highlanders had withdrawn, the hunt 
 for hidden haunts of Jacobites became more 
 zealously pursued, and Jacobite clubs and 
 ' Popish howses ' were either raided or put 
 under strict supervision. The writer of the 
 letters after this went northwards. On 9th 
 November he dates from St. Ringans and 
 gives information about both forces, and he 
 visited Argyll's camp. There he ' was glad 
 of the disappointment ' that a man in 
 Shannon's regiment was reprieved when he 
 had gone out to see him shot. He visited 
 Stirling also (he gives details of what could 
 be got at a sixpenny ' ordinar ') at the inn 
 of which he met the Hanoverian agent, 
 Strachan of Glenkindy, who was there 
 giving Argyll information of the forces of 
 the Earl of Mar, from whom he had himself 
 just escaped. Glenkindy's gossip is darkly 
 retailed, and another visit to the camp was 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 made on 'Wednesday the tent,' when 
 certain Glasgow volunteers were inter- 
 viewed, and where the writer saw, with 
 feelings of some compassion, ' on Ogilve 
 wheepd for mutiny.' He writes that the 
 troops were well disciplined and in good 
 order. 'I scarse think there is a more 
 showy regement in Europe,' and describes 
 their equipment, being particularly struck 
 by the number of fine horses. Certain 
 ' Letters from the North ' follow. These 
 are evidently copies of reports which our 
 writer obtained from others. One, of 16th 
 November, is addressed to Colonel Black- 
 adder, who commanded the garrison of 
 Stirling, and it gives an account of the 
 battle of SheriflFmuir> This is confirmed and 
 amplified by a longer account of Argyll's 
 doings from November 19 to November 22. 
 We get a slightly more personal note in the 
 letter succeeding, which embodies informa- 
 tion from ' our freind,' Sir James Steuart of 
 Goodtrees — a relative of his correspon- 
 dent — which the Laird of Goodtrees had 
 himself received from the minister of Inver- 
 
Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ness in spite of the difficulty of transmit- 
 ting news letters, which were intercepted 
 by the Jacobites even though hidden in 
 'the button, the snuffmil corke, the bonet 
 croun, etc' This letter tells the doings 
 of the Highland clans. The next letter 
 from Dunfermline, 28th December 1715, is 
 evidently the writer's own. The ' Rebels ' 
 have now evacuated Fife, and garrisons of 
 ' Sweece ' — we are forced to notice from 
 the information conveyed in these letters 
 how large a foreign element prevailed in 
 the Hanoverian army which suppressed the 
 Rising — have been put in their place. Its 
 successor again tells of the clans, and 
 embodies information from Simon, Lord 
 Lovat, about his tortuous policy. Another 
 recounts new levies of ' Duch troups ' in 
 Fife, and gives the surprising news of 
 'the Pretender's' landing at Peterhead, 
 and his brief triumph in the Jacobite north, 
 although preparations to suppress this 
 short-lived reaction go on in London and 
 at Berwick. The writer was back in 
 Edinburgh 25th January 1716, when he 
 
INTRODUCTION. Xlll 
 
 describes the seizure of Markinch by Rob 
 Roy (whose doings are detailed in later 
 letters) in spite of the 'Sweise' garrison, 
 the arrival of the train of artillery ; and 
 Argyll's difficulties with those who in- 
 trigued against him. The next letters tell 
 of the Chevalier's progress in the north, 
 the loyal addresses (one given later in full) 
 presented to him by the town and Episcopal 
 clergy of Aberdeen, the march of the 
 Ejng's forces and their order of battle, and 
 the general progress of the army. The 
 'treaty' with Lord Seaforth is narrated, 
 and on February 2, 1716, the writer is 
 enabled to state that Argyll's army is on 
 the march, notwithstanding the 'French 
 trick' which the Jacobites had adopted 
 in burning the villages of Auchterarder, 
 etc., and that it soon reoccupies Perth, 
 through the retreat northward of its politi- 
 cal opponents. On 8th February 1716 
 he can announce that the Chevalier has 
 ' ship'd of for France.' Statements of 
 captures of Jacobites alternating with tales 
 of Hanoverian spoliations now fill the 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 letters. We learn that a Dutch regiment 
 was much complained of, and that the com- 
 mander had, with his own hand, * cut out of 
 the fraime a picture of Mary Queen of 
 Scots' (where is it now?), 'and had it in 
 his baggage,' for which General Cadogan 
 threatened to get him 'brock upon the 
 spott.' Riots took place in Edinburgh, and 
 some plundering — ' and all by foreners, 
 Duch or Sweice,' and the removal from 
 Edinburgh, for recasting, of the cannon 
 called ' the seven sisters,' was ' like 
 to breck all the old women's hearts in 
 town,' and the Union was again bewailed. 
 Retribution then ..began. The Jacobite 
 prisoners were taken south to be tried 
 at Carlisle (passing — as the gentlemen 
 prisoners filed through the Grassmarket 
 — the 'Maiden' set up for an offender 
 nearer home ; an evil omen), and Ainslie, 
 the would - be betrayer of Edinburgh 
 Castle, was hanged on December 24, 1716. 
 An account of prisoners taken by the Duke 
 of Argyll ends these papers, although there 
 is also among them a copy of the 'Preamble 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 to the Impetching the Seven Rebellious 
 Peers,' which is not printed here as it is 
 already well known to history. 
 
 The editor's pleasant duty has been chiefly, 
 with the addition of a few dates or biographical 
 notes, the arrangement of the MSS. — a mass 
 of confusion — that they might be placed, if 
 not in exact chronological order, at least in 
 some kind of sequence. The character of the 
 hastily written letters has made it rather 
 difficult to know how they ought to be pre- 
 sented. The only original punctuation was 
 by a rare comma (sometimes misused) and 
 scanty periods. It has been thought best, 
 however, to break up the long irregular 
 sentences into shorter ones for the benefit 
 of the modern student. The patient indul- 
 gence of the reader is therefore asked by the 
 editor on account of the imperfect punctua- 
 tion of the letters. The quaint and baffling 
 Scots spelling is, however, wholly that of the 
 original writer. 
 
 A. Francis Steuart. 
 
 79 Great King Street, 
 Edinburgh, 28th April 1910. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 
 1715-16. 
 
 Sir, I know yow will take no exception 
 I give yow a letter of politicks now that 
 news ar so scant. I shall blend in some 
 borrowed characters and mention circum- 
 stances yow may have forgott circumstances 
 very material! which have shaken the 
 fowndations and occasiond the stagarings 
 and reeling of this day. Yow will please 
 remember in the year 1709 Brittain the 
 most gloriows and powerfiill kingdome held 
 the ballance of Europe she stood in fairer 
 tarmes of lasting pace and happyness then 
 ever since the beginning of the confedracy. 
 She enjoyd the sueets of uninterupted 
 victory her affairs under the management 
 of the ablest statesmen and the most con- 
 summat generals full of people full of riches 
 many distant states and potentats ambitiows 
 of being in her freindshipe. The Franch 
 
2 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 king had attempt all methods by force or 
 treachery in vain and so had he still done 
 had not the Prince of Denmark breathd 
 his last^ for to his steady measurs and 
 the Qween's good nature were owing the 
 glorys of the last raigne. As a good con- 
 stitution in the body and perfect health 
 depend upon ane eqwall temprament of the 
 humours so is it in the State for where the 
 ambitiows and petwlent succeed in authorety 
 but not in the virtues and worth of their 
 noble predecessors noxiows humours may 
 be said to predomin in the body politick 
 and the former good habite is turnd to 
 some desperate disease. It was the Prince 
 of Denmark had temperd the ambitiows 
 humor of statesmen. It was he qwelld the 
 jelosys of the people and he it was ballanced 
 the strife and indignation of parties. Now 
 he is gon the factiows party know too well 
 ther Magesties' feeble. They set a grave 
 religiows face on the bussenes. Dr Sarche- 
 verall a man of fyrie and impetuous spirit 
 was there tool he had in a publick sermon 
 
 1 Prince George died 28 October 1708. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 3 
 
 artefuUy endeavourd to blacken the late 
 happy Revolution and trumpt up the 
 Churches danger. The Queen was prepard 
 and the faction were sure he wowld be 
 attacked and thus commenced owr undoing. 
 The bait was designd for the Qween and 
 the unthinking mobbe and it easely took 
 with both. The Queen the faction and the 
 mobbe unite in so specious and tender a 
 point all is carryed headlong before them 
 and those who formerly acted under cover 
 and by the backstairs now appear openly at 
 the helm. 
 
 Mr Harly after Earl of Oxfoord was 
 prime minister a man tho singular in poleey 
 and maturety of judgment artefuU in 
 Councill plawsable in persweading not to be 
 matchd in attempting undergoing and 
 affecting great maters yet of most aban- 
 dond morels of no faith no religion in- 
 satiably covetows immoderatly ambitiows 
 and furiowsly inflamd with ane unbownded 
 desier to agrandeze his family and freinds. 
 He had for his second Henry St. John 
 after Lord Viscount Bulingbrook a man of 
 
4 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 qwick witt yet of most lewd and abandond 
 life insolently imperiows in his charge and 
 desperatly precipitant in his deliberations 
 upon those two with Sarcheverall there 
 tooU that third insendeary lies justly all 
 the imputation of puting Brittain in so 
 miserable circumstances. 
 
 I shall not pretend to trace the cheif 
 design of owr rowin throw all the steps of 
 ther management. They wanted only time 
 to have browght there project to matturity 
 and had they continewd a litle more 
 hermoniows in ther conserts they had 
 probably put it owt of the power of this 
 nation to resist the Pretender's having 
 been once set upon the throne. On of the 
 cuning actors in this plot was John Earl 
 of Mar ^ than Secretary of State. His 
 character I shall give yow as drawin for 
 him in Mr Lockhart's memoirs viz. He 
 devoted himself to the Cowrt measurs to 
 which he alwise stuck closse till the year 
 1704 when with so much arte and dissimula- 
 
 1 The Jacobite ' Duke of Mar,' known as ' Bobbing John,' 
 died in exile at Aix-la-Chapelle in May 1732. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 5 
 
 tion he headed a party that he gained the 
 favour of all the Torrys and was by many 
 of them esteemed ane honest man and well 
 inclined to the Royall famely. Certain it is 
 he vowed and protested so much many a 
 time, but no sooner were the Sqwadrony 
 his enemies disposest then he returnd as 
 the doge to the vomite and promoted all 
 the Cowrt of England's measurs with the 
 greatest zeal imaginable. He was not a 
 man of good corum vobis and was a very 
 bad tho freqwent speaker in Parliament 
 but his great talent lay in the cunning 
 management of his designes and projects 
 in quhich it was hard to find him owt 
 when he had a minde to be incognito and 
 thus he showd himself to be a man of good 
 sence but bad morals. 
 
 This letter parte of the character the 
 Earl of Mar all along justified and never 
 more than in managing his late office only 
 it seems then he did not much affect to be 
 incognito he went thurow stich in the 
 party he was attachd too and made himself 
 as realy significant as any, witness owr 16 
 
6 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 Torry pears peacemakers in the late Parlia- 
 ment it was not with the cat's but the lyon's 
 paw he pulled the chasnut from the fier. 
 Sweet was revange and the grait man's 
 aime was the Generall but the Secretary 
 had the whoU army and navie in vew. It is 
 certain withowt those the confedracy had 
 ne'er been so easely brock nor the glory of 
 ane expensive war lost. 
 
 But what wis our Earl's master pice in 
 the plot was his knitting the Highland 
 clans to his interest and that of the faction. 
 He procurd the cheifs larg pentions from 
 Cowrt and was sure to have them 
 punctwaly payed. But to consumat his 
 project he wanted to have Fort William 
 demolished and so his pentionary banditi 
 withowt any manner of restrent. This his 
 interest could never effectwat nor durst the 
 Cowrt for fear of qwarell make so wide a 
 step. Yet by his cunning he had it so far 
 disabled and unprovided that it was next to 
 being useless. He endeard himself to 
 the Jacobits in the Low Country by a 
 scandalows toUeration and the restitution 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 7 
 
 of patronages. Here lay his strength and he 
 knew it. 
 
 What his design can be by a letter direct 
 to the King then in Holland in his way 
 ower I know not, but I doute ever he can 
 think any offer of his service will be 
 acceptable after his late management. I 
 had a copy of this letter transmitted from 
 my freind at London and shall satisfie yowr 
 cureosety next post by sending a double ; 
 there is still a great talk of impeachments 
 but I suspend my thowghts till the Parlia- 
 ment meet. It wowld be endles to give 
 yow all the vews and reasonings of owr 
 poletitians and as I know yow ar not much 
 taken with possibiletys and probabiletys so 
 I send yow only maters of fact with native 
 conseqwences, and am, Yowrs — 
 
 Sir, I transmitt to yow a true copy of 
 my Lord Mar's letter to King George 
 quhen his Majesty was in Holland. 
 
8 news letters op 1715-16. 
 
 Lord Mar to the King. 
 
 Having the happyness to be your 
 Majesty's subject and also the honowr of 
 being on of yowr servants as on of yowr 
 Secretarys of State I begg leave by this to 
 kiss yowr Majesty's hand and congratwlat 
 yowr Majesty's happy accession to the 
 throne which I wowld have done myself 
 the honowr of doing sooner had I not hoped 
 to have had the honowr of doing it person- 
 ally ere now. 
 
 I am affrayd I may have had the mis- 
 fortune of being misrepresented to yowr 
 Majesty and my reason for thinking so 
 is becaws I was I belive the only one 
 of the late Qween's servants who yowr 
 ministers here did not visits, which I 
 mentioned to Mr Harly and the Earl of 
 Clarendon when they went from hence to 
 waite on yowr Majesty, and yowr ministers 
 carrying so to me was the oceassion of my 
 receiving such orders as deprivd me of 
 the honowr and satisfaction of waiting on 
 them and being knowen to them. I suppose 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 9 
 
 I had been misrepresented to them by 
 some here upon accownt of partys or to 
 ingratiat themselves by aspersing others 
 as owr partys here too often occasion, but I 
 hope yowr Majesty will be so just as not 
 to give credite to such misrepresentations. 
 The parte I acted in bringing abowt and 
 making of the Wnion when the succession 
 to the Crown was settled for Scotland in 
 yowr Majesty's family wher I had the 
 honowr to serve as Secretary of State for 
 that kingdome, doeth I hope put my 
 sincerity and faithfulness to yowr Majesty 
 owt of dispute. My family hath had the 
 honowr for a great tract of years to be 
 faithfuU servants to the Crown and have 
 had the care of the King's children (when 
 Eangs of Scotland) intrusted to them. A 
 predecessor of mine was honowrd with the 
 care of yowr Majesty's grandmother ^ when 
 yowng and she was pleased afterward to 
 express some concerne for owr famely in 
 letter which I have still under her own hand. 
 
 1 Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, daughter of King James vi., 
 and mother of the Electress Sophia. 
 
 B 
 
10 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 I Have had the honowr to serve her late 
 Majesty in one cappacity or other ever since 
 her accession to the Crown. I was happy in 
 a good mistres and she was pleasd to have 
 some confidence in me and regwaird for my 
 service, and since yowr Majesty's happy 
 accession to the Crown I hope yow will 
 finde I have not been wanting in my duty 
 in being instrumentall in keeping things 
 qwiet and peaceable in the cowntry to 
 which I belong and have some intrest in. 
 
 Yowr Majesty shall ever find me as 
 faithfuU and duty full a subject and servant 
 as ever any of my famely have been to the 
 Crown or as I have been to my late 
 Mistress the Qween, and I begg yowr 
 Majesty may be so good not to belive any 
 misrepresentations of me which nothing 
 but party heatred and my zeal for the 
 interest of the Crown doth occasion, and I 
 hope I may presume to lay claim to yowr 
 royall favowr or protection. 
 
 As yowr accession to the Crown hath 
 been qwiet and peaceable, may yowr 
 Majesty's reign be long and prosperows, 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16 11 
 
 and that yowr people may soon have the 
 happyness and satisfaction of yowr presence 
 amongst them is the earnest and fervent 
 wish of him who is with the humblest duty 
 and respect, Sir, Yowr Majesty's most faith- 
 full most dutyfull and most obedient subject 
 and servajit, Mar. Whitehall, Awgust 30, 
 O.S. (Old Style), 1714. 
 
 Sir, Yow well observe that now is the 
 time worth establishing a correspondance 
 the Jacobites yowr neightbours ar so bussie 
 (yow think) there must be some consider- 
 able worke upon the file. I heartely agree 
 with yow in all and only wish I may be 
 as capable as I am willing to gratifie yow 
 in what yow demand. There ar many 
 springs and inner wheels in a greet 
 mascheen evry privet eye can not take 
 in and that where matters are more 
 publickly transacted the work of the gods 
 will dazle and astonish. But who can 
 penetrat into the hiden works of darkness ? 
 Any scrape I can give by correspondence 
 
12 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 will be most parte irregular. I propose 
 reither to let yow know things as they 
 come to light than be debard that pleasowr 
 of writing to yow tho in this way first 
 may come last as to a trow historical! 
 method. I am glad to notice with yow 
 these bullies have lett the golden day 
 slipp. The Qween dead I Louis the Great 
 declining ! a consummat prince in the 
 Brittish throne ! and yet more likely to 
 be swported by ane unanimous whigg 
 parliament. Pray Sir tell yowr neightbures 
 they run upon a wall of fier. Make 'em give 
 over buying horses and armes. Will they 
 be at expence to eqwipe them selves to 
 certain ruine 1 Why did they not move in 
 the end of the late reigne ? Why were they 
 not two months on horsback befor the 
 King came over? But the late ministray 
 were not then impeached. Mar had still 
 some hopes upon his whimsicall comple- 
 ment that submissive letter he sent to 
 make his pace by at Hannover. Pray open 
 their eyes let them see they ar the tools 
 of a disapointed party ar raskels devoted 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 13 
 
 and must they perish for company. I 
 conclud with telling in generall the con- 
 spiracy is strong it had time to grow it 
 has been and is still supported under all 
 speciows pretences in England. The church 
 is in danger there, the mobb is not qwite 
 out of hearte, the cry of high churgh and 
 Orraond is heard in dispight of the justice 
 of the nation. Here dissolving the Union 
 is the cant. I shall write yow next how 
 they manage that popular argument here. 
 I add no more but we have reason to 
 bliss God the fatall blow was not aimed 
 sooner now we ar on the rising grownd 
 and may we stiU be above the levell of 
 bloody men. I am, Sir, Yowrs — 
 
 Sir, There is a mighty fervowr about 
 having the Union dissolvd. It is talked 
 as fresh of now and with resentment as 
 it had eomensed but last year and been 
 browght abowt in King George's reign. 
 We see what a party drive to The Union 
 Act is the fowndation of the Hannover 
 
14 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 Settlement. Our torys if this fundation can 
 not be gott removd are certain to give 
 our King early disturbence. They know 
 that such a demand (ill timed as it is) if 
 it be refusd it will create aboundance of 
 enemies to the new settlement. Here the 
 active men of ther party live and it is 
 fitt the fier be blowen here that they can 
 not have ther desier they ar sure nor I 
 hope shall they carry ther design which 
 wowld inflame us and inflwence the elec- 
 tions in there favowrs to the now ensuing 
 parliament. It is needles to give yow 
 conjecturs from what arth addresses come 
 there ar addresses for having the Union 
 dissolvd drawen up and the towns people of 
 Edinburgh ar pressd to joyn. D. D . . . r ^ 
 the glover was conveener and win over to 
 be of the addressing party. The best can 
 be said for him they win upon his weak- 
 ness and once win him he is wilfull and 
 active enowgh, he is the iron sinnow, but 
 his being nonjuror and partying such a 
 
 ' John Dunbar, Deacon of the Skinners, Convener of the 
 Incorporations. 17 September 1714. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 15 
 
 sqwad cawsd those who have less chirety 
 judge there was more then a Presbeterian 
 fanatick scruple at bottome. Some of the 
 old magistrats such as Thresowrer D . . . s ^ 
 joynd him, he is that brow of brass, quhich 
 made the proposall still more popular and 
 wher can it be more so then in a place 
 [which] hes suflfred more then all by the 
 Union. A stope was soon put to the con- 
 veener's carreer for not being qwalified the 
 Justice Clerk had him dismissd from his 
 office. A nonsensecal letter was writ to the 
 Secretary signd by some of the bailies to 
 have them continued in these circumstances 
 but the letter was traited with scorne and 
 they did not mend the matter. 
 
 Now the faction cowld not carry the 
 cheif city the next attempt was to bring 
 the address in vougwe by having the 
 lawers on there syde. The address was 
 trumpt up and like to have been paumed 
 upon the faculty of Advocats at a faculty 
 meeting for admitting a candidate. It was 
 proposed and their the adressing party 
 
 ' William Dundas, Treasurer, 1710-11. 
 
16 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 was most numerows but it was then waved 
 till owr solemn anneversary meeting which, 
 becaws of the Christenmas vacation we had 
 was owr till January 21 this year. The affair 
 came in before a full meeting of the faculty 
 each party had mustered up their forces. 
 Most parte knew the qwestion was Jacobit 
 or Whigg. Mr Hope of Renkeilor ^ it was 
 he opned the cawse for the addressers. He 
 was supported by Mr Carnagie of Boisack, 
 the two Mr Murrys and Mr Ogelvie. On 
 the other syde was Sir James Stewart, 
 Sir Walter Pringle, Mr Robert Dundas, 
 and Mr Duncan Forbes. The matter was 
 handled with much edge and keenness by 
 the addressers. Sir David Dalrimple Lord 
 Advocat owr Dean of Faculty was un- 
 manurly insulted by Mr Murray, my Lord 
 Stormont's sone. Mr Hope had a fair copie 
 of the address in his hands clean cutt and 
 drie for signing. He insisted to have it read 
 but cowld not be heard. It was objected 
 
 ' Eldest surviving son of Lord Eankeillor, who had died in 
 1706. He was admitted an advocate in 1701, was M.P. for 
 Pifeshire 1706-7, and afterwards became 8th Baronet of 
 Oraighall in 1766. He died 1771. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 17 
 
 what need to hear ane address read untill 
 the faculty judge if it is proper to address 
 at all. Others thowght it was but oivill the 
 Lords showld be advertised to see if they 
 wowld go befor us in this matter att least 
 to aske oui" master's advice. Sir Walter 
 Pringle a man of distingwised character 
 reasond so strongly not only against this 
 address of Mr Hope's but against all 
 addressing that any but biggots wowld 
 have given up the cause. I will delay 
 giving any hints of the reasonings least 
 I weary yow. I need not exhowst this 
 subject when the news ar so barren. Tho 
 the addressers were stiff to the last we 
 carry'd it. The best argwment in such 
 party maters is a vote, but the gentlemen 
 insisted stUl to have Mr Hope read their 
 darling address so that a preliminary vote 
 as to the state of the vote was demanded, 
 which was wither showld be state of the 
 vote Read Mr Hope's adress or not, or 
 Adress at all or not, and the last carried to 
 be the state of the vote 63 to 43. The 
 Whiggs having carryd their state the vote 
 
18 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 was SO stated and there were 57 no's and 
 but 42 yeas. Thus we have declared our- 
 selves uncapable to address or dipp in 
 politicks and happy ar we. Yow will 
 excuse my being so tediows on this story 
 I can say 
 
 Et qworum pars — fui — 
 It is natural for things transacted where on 
 is present and a member to make deeper 
 impressions. I am sensible I have dwelt to 
 long upon some trifling circumstances tho 
 it may not be so intertaining to yow 
 Excuse it from, Sir, Yowrs — Edinburgh, 
 January 26, 1715. 
 
 P.S. All the advantage the Convener 
 made was that he sold of a parcel of white 
 gloves with Liberty imprest in capitall 
 letters upon the head. There were abowt 
 20 in the faculty or more were thus pro- 
 vided by him for their money all of the high 
 flying Tory party. 
 
 Sir, the hints I gave yow in the close of 
 my last yow put them I think on a right 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 19 
 
 footing. Those are the preludes yow judge 
 of a greater geam and this but a beating 
 the bush. I Hke the hunting terme it minds 
 me of our last hearvest's devertion. But 
 to give yow proverbe for proverbe there 
 efforts in owr faculty meeting were reither 
 a beating the air. Yow provock me to give 
 yow some hints of the triell of skill that 
 was there. I know ther were some are yowr 
 freinds who managed this learned debeate 
 whose practice yow do not approve and 
 there principels now out of date. 
 
 I now can be tediows withowt appologie 
 since yow lay yowr commands upon me. 
 So nice a poynt as this of adressing against 
 the Union evrybody was gaping to hear 
 how it wowld be toss'd in a faculty of 
 Advocats. But here as in all learnd bodys 
 midle sise witts ar scarce ever heard or in 
 our comical freinds words of a more vener- 
 able assemblie most parte old men or fools 
 speak and it was probable non wowld have 
 opned upon this occasion but such. The 
 first was Mr Hope of Rankelowr. He stood 
 up from the bench and proposed ane address 
 
20 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 should be sent up to Court from the 
 Advocats, that this had been judged the 
 proper time to conseart of such, that he was 
 ready to offer in a drawght of ane address 
 to be under the faculties consideration it 
 was now in his hands ready and creaved a 
 hearing. He was seconded by Mr Carnagie 
 of Boisack and thirded &c. by the two 
 Mr Murrys. It was answered from the 
 other side that the gentlemen seemd to goe 
 to far in a faculty meeting it was not proper 
 for any to arrogat so much unless demanded, 
 that the faculty were in use to draw up 
 their publick papers by there commetee 
 who were instructed as to heads and there 
 busines was Htle more than to licke it into 
 a shape but here on say it were two or 
 three it did not much mend the mater had 
 composd and adjusted the heads and forme 
 of ane address to be crambddown our throats. 
 At this two three gentlemen members of the 
 late Torry Parliament hissd. Mr Carnagie 
 next spake. The thing he insisted most on 
 was the last words Crambd, &c. the hissers 
 baulded out now 'hear 'im hear 'im.' When 
 
NBWS LETTERS OE 1715-16. 21 
 
 it was over a gentlemen from the end of the 
 Clerks' table said he did not understand 
 that masterly way was used. Some (as he 
 thowght) were for introducing the formes 
 of other Courts here with there hiss 'um 
 and hear 'urns but ther was no more argwing 
 from the formes of a Parliament to that 
 they used than from that of a Polish diet to 
 a ParUament. It was here a gentleman Duncan 
 from the Clerks' table acted a very un- ^°^ ^^' 
 mannerly parte he with a mighty huff told 
 my Lord Advocat our Dean he deserved ill Mr Murry 
 to fiU that chear if he tamely heard the S*"™'^'^*- 
 Parliament compaird to a Polish diet. He 
 gave Mr Dean many ane angry saucy stu. 
 My Lord was ready to have made his 
 answer in his gay maner when the gentle- 
 man oflfred to take of the pretend ofence 
 had been taken he repeted just over what 
 he had said and all was settled again. The 
 cry was renewed to heare Mr Hope's 
 drawght as they termd it but Sir Walter 
 Pringle ' in his own wining way as I observd 
 spake so pointedly and reasond so strong 
 
 ' Lord Newhall in the Court of Session, 6 June 1718. 
 
22 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 that they might have been ashamed after- 
 wards to have put the qwestion. He pro- 
 posd first to consider what kinde of meeting 
 we were what powers we had by law and next 
 what owr busenes and interest led us to doe. 
 He did not denie but we are a society (it 
 it might be so properly called) the most 
 learned and polite in Europe taking the 
 gentlemen in all there capacitys and it 
 wowld reflect on us to show otherways in 
 owr management. It was well known we had 
 no charter from the Prince we were noways 
 erected or incorporat by awthorety and so 
 were not nomen juris. As to owr busenes it 
 led us to be of different oppinions at the bar 
 and therefor owr interest led us to be as 
 much at one as possible among ourselves. 
 That spliting on politicks wowld sow seeds 
 of contest and division and occasion a harsh 
 using on ane uther wher such things had 
 never been known. He infered it by example 
 of some difference had happened in Lawther- 
 dale's time he observed where we medled 
 with edged tools we had sometimes gott 
 over the fingers as in ane undew inter- 
 
NEWS LETTEKS OF 1715-16. 23 
 
 medling in the Caledonia tread petitioning 
 to disolve the Parliament 1702, and why 
 showld we afiront owr selves be divided and 
 perhaps brocken by a lawfull power. Even as 
 to priviledges we enjoyd by connivence lay 
 owr selves at best open to be the tools of 
 evry disafected party. He concluded it were 
 far better for us if we minded pace among 
 owr selves and did owr privet busines as 
 usewall on such occasions and wher any had 
 a desier to addres he might have occasion if 
 the humor succeded to do it in the cowntry 
 under som laufull denomination. I cannot 
 give yow the beawties but this is the 
 summary of the arguments then used as in 
 my last I told yow ther was no convincing 
 the addressers withowt a vote so yow have 
 ther the disparety. Sir Walter's reasoning 
 inclined many for peace and a great many 
 who voted address said next day they war 
 satisfied they had lost, tho some ar never to 
 be satisfied so longs the sueession stands 
 thus settled. That they nor their party may 
 never have power to disturbe it is the 
 
24 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 hearty prayr and wish of Sir, yowrs — 
 Edinburgh, January 23, 1715.^ 
 
 Sir, My two last gave yow ane aceownt 
 of the danger we ar threatned with. Yow 
 shall now see our preparations we ar 
 making to meet it. Some of yowr good 
 acqwentance the gentlemen that yow well 
 know wer doing all underhand in the end 
 of the last reign mett at ther ordinar 
 place of randivowse. As they were now 
 under no apprehentions from the gover- 
 ment and that the ringleaders in the then 
 conspiracie were all at this time either 
 securd or chased away, they were the 
 more encuragd by the preperations they 
 had formerly made, but still they knew 
 not there full strength. They cowld make 
 a true estimat of the faction they were 
 to oppose. The last 4 years had sufficiently 
 exposed that party to vew, yet many who 
 had lain unactive quhen they were counter 
 ploting in the late times wanted to be 
 now animat to ther dutie and your freinds 
 
 ' This letter seems to be written after the last although 
 dated three days before it. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 25 
 
 were persweaded those wowld joyn the 
 
 goverment being on our side. Mr 
 
 proposd ane association to be entred into, 
 this certainly was the best expedient to 
 unite and ascertain the partie had it been 
 right laid, and I am persweaded this 
 gentleman designd no furder then that 
 the loyall partie showd all under ther 
 hand declare ther inclination to support 
 the Protestant Succession. But some more 
 forward were for having two associations 
 one ia the termes mentioned, the other a 
 contributing of money, the third parte to 
 be instantly levied and payd in at signing. 
 Yow se plainly that this last was a going 
 to far. It was assuming a power the King 
 and Parliament only showld have, and 
 what they cowld not but meet with 
 opposition in. However the apprehentions 
 we are now under made a plurality go 
 into it next meating, two drawghts were 
 made of the assosiations the first had few 
 or no difficulties, but the other being a 
 money mater proper officers were to be 
 thowght off: Mr was to be treaswrer, 
 
 D 
 
26 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 but ther still remaind on difficulty and 
 this was to gett awthority on the sayed. 
 They were all hearty themselves to signe 
 and contribute but it was thowght fitt to 
 lay the scame befor the Lords of Session 
 the powr next at hand and to have ther 
 concurance that so it might have the 
 more weight to induce others. The next 
 was to have the magistrats of the city 
 patroniz it by puting ther hand to it. The 
 Lords with some smal amendments did 
 concur and signd ther qwotia and then 
 the magistrats came in to it and many 
 other well disposd people joynd so that 
 for the time it went hertely on. Ther 
 freinds and correspondents in the country 
 promoted the parochiall associations with 
 success. How ever there being nothing but 
 appearance of danger as yet, some out of 
 emulation tho I am persweaded other- 
 ways well inclind underhand discuraged 
 the project and cryd out upon it as utterly 
 illegall. It will alwise be so in all privat 
 men's projects in publick concerns and the 
 rays of this being from a sett who ar 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 27 
 
 now called yowng headstrong zelots it 
 was flowted at, and at a stop yow may 
 perswead yourself the Jacobits had a 
 hand to divide the loyall partie. How to 
 remove the dust had been raisd was next 
 under consideration, and it was thowght 
 fitt to make it go smuth the awthority 
 of King and Cowncill showld be procurd, 
 and this was put upon the Solicitor. To 
 obtain the whoU scheme [he ?] was sent up 
 with a pressing letter to my Lord Montrose 
 Secretary of State and what lenth it was 
 come and evry stepe in it was fairly to 
 be laid befor his Majesty. The inconveni- 
 encies it met with were sett out with 
 regreat and bad effects of such a project 
 miscarrying at this time were represented, 
 but my Lord Montross had then demitted 
 his office so that being a Secritarie's con- 
 seme it was sent to my Lord Townsend's 
 office when it was first laid befor the King. 
 He seemd absolutly pleasd and exprqsd 
 himself so. His Majesty was pleasd to say 
 in French that it seemd he had yet a 
 considerable honest party for him in Scot- 
 
28 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 land. This air of satisfaction went throw 
 the Cowrt for a day or two but no sooner 
 the Cowncill satt upon it then the reason- 
 ing there accusd owr freinds of too much 
 forwardness. The dark hints I had of was 
 that this was ane arming of Scotland by 
 privat hands quhich they douted the 
 conseqwence off. The other was a Scotch 
 covenant that they know not where it 
 might stop but the time this was befor 
 the Cowncill gave occasion to make them 
 more cawtiows for it was not belivd at 
 Cowrt the imminent hazard we were in 
 nor did England take the alarme hott till 
 some time after the intended invasion 
 seemd to be defeated, and the French were 
 smoothing us with fair pretences of freind- 
 ship. However a fair aneough return was 
 sent down from Cowrt but little encurag- 
 ment to go furder. I belive it had not 
 been ungratefuU to the Cowrt they had 
 proceeded, but the Cowncill as circum- 
 stances stood, thowght it not safe to 
 encurage the leaving money in the termes 
 of this assosiation, but it was plain it cowld 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 29 
 
 not go on without a full approbation and 
 declaring it to be the King's minde all 
 showld go into it. Our projectors intended 
 not to mak publick the Cowrt's answer 
 but since it was no prohibition to give 
 out that the Court was pleasd with it. 
 But there enimies were befor hand with 
 them and reased storys that were not in 
 the answer from Cowrt which made honest 
 people at a stand unless they wowld fairly 
 publish the Secretary's letter, and so the 
 assossiations ar come to a closse. Yow will 
 know the wholl of thes projected assosia- 
 tions from the copys of them I send 
 inclosed. 
 
 There ar severall printed copys of both. 
 The associat volunteers to the number of 
 some hundreds have subscribed one copy of 
 the first that for money. There ar distinct 
 copys, one signed by the magistrats to 
 extent a very hansom sum, ane other by 
 the Lords of Session a good rownd sum, 
 and so for others till the blanck paper in 
 the sheet is full. 
 
30 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 August 28, 1715. 
 Sir, We hear my Lord Mar is come 
 doun by sea, he has severall gentlemen in 
 company particularly Generall Hamilton. 
 They landed at Elie on the 19 instant. He 
 has writen to his b[rother] my Lord 
 Grange that he loves not confynment and 
 that it is not with any design furder then 
 for his helth that he is gon north. One of 
 the best things William ever said is that 
 his Lordship had he gon north for his 
 health had better chosen a physitian than 
 a generall to goe along with him. We 
 hear there is a generall randivous in order 
 to a hunting in the Brae of Mar and have 
 grownd to suspect such meetings. We know 
 that the magistrats of Dundee that were 
 pannals here and imprisond for speaking 
 disrespectfull of our G. S. King George, 
 since they had their inlargement and ar 
 gon home, have been providing all warlike 
 stores they can as buUets for shott, &c., 
 these treasonable convocations and practises 
 under a specious pretence ought to be 
 taken notice of for here they can consert 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 31 
 
 all their measurs and have them ready 
 to put in execution upon the smalest 
 advertsement. Generall William I spak 
 of befor talks wery deminutivly of the 
 apprehentions we ar under and when it 
 was proposd to send a regement to secure 
 Perth and the country about to the gover- 
 ment he flouted at it and told he wowld 
 pay all their loss they showld sustain by 
 Higlanders for halfe a crown. I am sure 
 he is to secure for we have very good 
 advice from Mr Strawhan of Glenkindie^ 
 that all is in motion toward ane open 
 revolt in the North, and certenly Perth 
 will be a station they will affect to surprise 
 as soon as any it comands and can lay 
 under contribution three or 4 shires the 
 best in the Lowlands. I am, Your huml 
 servant. 
 
 1 Patrick Strachan of Glenkindie, knighted 1716-17. 
 He was imprisoned during the '15, and after his release was 
 very active in disarming the country. He died at Aberdeen 
 2 January 1726. He died 'not regretted by any person. If 
 he had lived longer the gentry in the country was to pursue 
 [him] for taking of soums of [money] from them for pro- 
 tections.' [Colonel AUardyce's The Strachans of Glenkindie, 
 pp. 27-8.] 
 
32 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 The schen begins to open and the 
 villanows design appear. I dowt not but 
 yow have had a generall rumor of the 
 desing to surpris the Castle here. 1 
 persuade my self this will convince the 
 goverment that there was more then 
 hunting designd in the Brae of Mar and 
 that they will take cowrse with these 
 Nimrods. It was September 8th at night 
 and nynth in the morning that the atempt 
 was designd at the postern gait. Our Ensign 
 Arthur quho had a comand formerly as 
 ensign in the Castle and was in reput for 
 a whigg carryd it on and was principaly 
 in the plott and a brother of his a doctor 
 of medecin. These brothers had acces at 
 wiU to the garison on haveing been ane 
 oflBcer and the other by that means gott 
 ane intimacy with all the officers there 
 this they improvd and corrupted three 
 common sentinals viz. Thomson, Angly ^ and 
 Holland that they showld assist them from 
 the waU at quhat tyme they showld 
 appoynt. There had at severall times a 
 
 1 William Ainsley, or Ainesly. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 33 
 
 party of my Lord Drummond's men come 
 over and I am persueded not under 100 
 were hid in and about the town by the 
 Jacobit party besyds quhat Jacobits were 
 prive to it here. They had prepared their 
 scalding lethers with horells to kep them 
 of the wall the syds of ropes and timber 
 steps they ar to be seen in the laich parte 
 of the Parliament howse and on the nynth 
 of September all was in readyness, but my 
 Lord Justice Clerk ^ was apprisd of their 
 design by a letter the night befor quhich 
 he communicat to Cornell Stwart* deputy 
 govemowr, and Liftenant Lindsie. Cornell 
 Stewart made slight of it whither out of 
 knavrie or that he thowght it impracticable 
 I can not teU but he has been judged and 
 outed of his post as gwiltie of the former 
 and certainly he was to officiows with the 
 Jacobite partie in the end of the Q[ueen's] 
 reign, and had it not been for Lindsie, quho 
 contrair to the Colonel's advise was very 
 vigilant, the Castle had that night ben 
 
 ' Sir Adam Cockbum of Ormistoun. 
 * James Stewart, son of John Stewart of Annat. 
 E 
 
34 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 surprisd. He went about industriowsly 
 all that night vewing carefully all the 
 centry posts. He observed that there was a 
 sentry wanting at that post next but one 
 to the postern gate and when he examind 
 the fellow neer the postern gate he fownd 
 him in confusion quhich mad him examin 
 more neerly and under his feet he fownd 
 the rops and cleeks of the scalding lethers 
 and so he gave the alarme. The Com[p]onys 
 that now ar cald the associat Volunteers 
 were then a forming and the most active 
 parte of them had been togither from the 
 beginning of the King's reigne but especialy 
 the first constitution was in the end of 
 Queen Ann's reing but I shall afford yow 
 ther story altogither and hope yowl pardon 
 this degretion Some of these gentlemen 
 with Major Aikeman their leader and a 
 party of the town gwaird were in readyness 
 upon the Justice Clerk's advertisment and 
 sailed out at tiie West Port upon the 
 alarme from the Castle but quhat loss it 
 was the garison and they were not in 
 consorte, for they before the sentries wowld 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 35 
 
 lett them pass without discuvring what 
 they were, were discoverd by the party 
 upon the Castle brae neer the gate so that 
 the conspirators most parte escaped excep 
 one Captain M^klain ane old capten under 
 King James the 7, and two writer's ser- 
 vants Boswell and Ramsie. The gentlemen 
 and town gwarrd soldiers got the lethers 
 and severall very good carrabins with slings 
 of lether. Their fyrlocks were all slingd 
 becaws they had the wall to scale. There 
 was a voyd place behind the wall there 
 they cowld have all drawn up in withowt 
 being seen quhen they were sure of the 
 thre next centries and so they haa their 
 plot laid that it is a winderfull providence 
 we ar escapd. Had this gon on and they 
 carryd such a strength so well furnished 
 their party was to have gathered from all 
 places and surprisd this town and no 
 honest man durst have looked out but 
 with haserd of lossing their lives by the 
 enemie from the Castle. God in this has 
 wrowght winderfull for us and shows us at 
 lite expence how watchful! we owght to 
 
36 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 be in time coming against so closs cuning 
 and we need not dout but a crewell 
 enemie. 
 
 [The letters are fragmentary here.J 
 
 Sept'. 9. 10. Thomson, Angly and Holland 
 attemp upon the Castle. Ramsy and Boswel 
 and Captain M^Clain taken in the attempt 
 upon the Castle. 
 
 [Part of a letter.] 
 
 When Argyll made his first revew of 
 the forces at Stirling the Monday » after 
 Perth was surprisd by the rebells,^ there 
 were abowt 1100 hors and foot. If then 
 two or three hundred had marched up 
 they had been able to have reduced the 
 town and by advancing upon Mar who 
 had not then a numerows following the 
 rebellion had been niped in the bud. The 
 Duke of Atholl seemd heartely inclined to 
 have headed his men against Mar at that 
 time and had abowt 1500 in armes, but 
 
 1 September 18, 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 37 
 
 non coming up of the King's forces to 
 encourage them and the report of a great 
 powr of the rebells being at hand the 
 apparant heir of the family the Marqwise 
 appearing on the rebell syd encuraged the 
 AthoU men to desert and some hundreds 
 of them with the Marqwise and went over 
 in the rebellion. The Ducke was in suche 
 passion at the desertion that he fyred both 
 his pistols after some that ran off in his 
 vew and wownded one of the deserters. 
 It is certain Mar and he wer in no con- 
 sert nor was it possible for his temper had 
 never allowed him to serve under the 
 Earle who had the cheef command by the 
 Pretender's Commission. The raagistrats 
 sent over one Gardner to General William 
 to intimat quhat danger they were in but 
 he redeculd the message and said for half 
 a crown he wowld secure ther city. It 
 was the misfortun of owr cowntry that 
 we had had such ane commander-in-cheif 
 under Argyll but Williham and Wightman 
 and Deburge and others under the Duke 
 of Argyll had been his creturs in Spain 
 
38 NEWS I/ETTEKS OF 1715-16. 
 
 and so wer his favowrites here, tho had 
 Wightman had the command I am ready 
 to think he had prevented much of the 
 mischief for he was very acceptable to all 
 and hearty in the King's service but William 
 knew nothing of his buseness. [Addressed 
 to ' Mr Archibald Steuart, advocat.'] 
 
 October 20, 1715. 
 
 Sir, When yow left the town yow know 
 the Heighlanders had passd the Firth to 
 the number of 1500. I shall reflect on no 
 particular person but this certenly had 
 been effectuall prevented if on Wedensday 
 the 12 past the time they were making 
 there descent some boats had been mand 
 out against them. Yow know what on 
 Hamelton in Leith did with 7 or 8 armd 
 men how he browght in 48 prisoners. He 
 was of the mind that as they were crowded 
 in there small transports a few boats weU 
 mand had taken them in hundred espeeily 
 if ther had been hand granads to have 
 affrighted them. Besyd most of them at 
 that time were disabled by sea sickness. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 39 
 
 But the goverment thowght it impractic- 
 able that they should come over they usd 
 no precawtion and Providence had orderd 
 it for tryel of the peple in this place. The 
 rebells took there merch streight for Edin- Prayday, 
 burgh and we were all alarmd by 6 at 
 neight that they were at Jock's Lodge. 
 Whither it fell so by chance or they had 
 made choise on this day to surprise the 
 town I know not but it was the birthday 
 of the late King James. They made a halt 
 at Jock's Lodge and had some of ther 
 frends about this city came and gave them 
 intellegence particularly on Maloch. What 
 ever the motive was it is certain that here 
 they chaingd ther designd rowt and merchd 
 streight for Leith. Some say that the gentle- 
 man that met with them informd Borlum ^ 
 
 ' List of the Scotch Officers in the Mackintosh 
 Battalion, consisting of 13 companies of 50 men each, 
 that were in the Kebellion of 1715. Paton's Hist, 
 p. 154. With marginal remarks by S. F. M. [S. F. 
 Mackintosh, W.S., 1833]. 
 
 COLONEL. 
 
 Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh. Laiid Lachian, 
 
 20th Chief. 
 LIEUT. -COLONEL. 
 
 John Farquharson of Invercauld. Pardoned by the Prmce. Father of Lady 
 
 Mackintoah 
 of 1746. 
 
40 
 
 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 that the town wowld make resistance and 
 
 Brother tothe 
 
 Brigadier, 
 
 Dunmaglass, 
 
 Kinohyle, 
 
 Pordaroch, 
 
 younger. 
 
 Brother to the 
 
 Brigadier. 
 
 Aberarder. 
 
 Killachy. 
 Strone. 
 
 Son to 
 Dunmaglass. 
 
 LIEUTENANTS — contmued. 
 
 William McQueen. 
 
 FarqultarM^Gillivray, Dun- 
 maglass, yr. 
 
 John Mackintosh. 
 
 Duncan Mackintosh, Elrig. 
 
 David Stewart. 
 
 William Mackintosh. 
 
 John Abercromby, Lieut, 
 and aide-de-camp. 
 
 Skene, Lieut, and aide- 
 de-camp. 
 
 Daniel Grant, Adjut. 
 
 David M°Queen, Paymaster. 
 
 William Shaw, Quarter- 
 master. 
 
 Note. — They were in the Bri- 
 gade commanded by Brigadier 
 William Mackintosh, younger of 
 Borlnm — crossed the Forth with 
 him, and marched on to Preston 
 in England, where the Brigadier 
 and the Highlanders surrendered, 
 13th November 1715, and the 
 above gentlemen, with few excep- 
 tions, were carried prisoners to 
 London, and confined in the 
 Tower and afterwards in New- 
 gate. 
 
 Borlmn. Infeft 1666. Married 
 Mary, d. of Baillie of Dunain, seven sons and a daughter. 
 
 1. William, his heir. 
 
 2. Lachlan. 
 
 3. Duncan. See Darochgarroch branch. 
 
 4. John. He was major of the Mackintosh Begiment in 
 1715, and escaped from Newgate. m . . . Magdalene 
 M'^Kenzie in 1708. Issue. 
 
 MAJOR. 
 
 John Mackintosh, brother 
 to the Brigadier. Escaped. 
 
 CAPTAINS. 
 
 Lachlan Mackintosh, sen. 
 Farquhar M^Gillivray. 
 Angus M"=Bean. 
 Robert Shaw. 
 Duncan Mackintosh. 
 William Mackintosh. 
 Angus Mackintosh. 
 Lachlan Mackintosh, jun. 
 Francis Farquharson of 
 Whitehouse. Acquitted. 
 Lachlan M°Lean. 
 
 LIEUTENANTS. 
 
 William M"Gillivray. 
 
 John Farquharson of Kirk- 
 town. Acquitted. 
 
 John Mackintosh, Advocate, 
 Doer for Mackintosh. 
 
 John M'Bean. 
 
 Angus Shaw, brother to 
 Fordaroch. 
 
 Benjamin Mackintosh. 
 
 James Mackintosh. 
 
 'William Mackintosh of 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 41 
 
 that the streets were full of armed men, 
 
 5. Alexander d. unm. 
 
 6. Benjamin, Tacksman of Borlum, out in 1715, m. in 1711 
 Catherine, daughter of Angus Mackintosh, third laird of 
 Holm. 
 
 7. Joseph of Kaigmore. 
 
 8. Lydia, m. Sir Patrick Grant of Dalvey. 
 He died 16 Feb. 1717.' 
 
 ' WiUiam Mackintosh, his eldest son, alias " William Eoy," 
 although designed o/ Borlum, does not appear to have ever 
 been in possession of the estate after his father's death, 
 yet he resided at Borlum prior to that period, at any rate for 
 some time before 1715. He was a captain in King James the 
 Seventh's army before the Kevolution, and followed the fate 
 of that unfortunate Prince several years after. He was one of Paton's and 
 the Earl of Mar's Brigade Generals in the Kebellion of 1715, Ohamliers' 
 and commanded the Highlanders at their surrender at Preston, ^"'' ^^'^■< 
 on the 13th of November that year. He and his friends were gj^^Jj mstor 
 carried prisoners to London and confined in the Tower, after- of the Eibeli 
 wards in Newgate, from which he and several others made '" Newgate, 
 their escape by stratagem. A Bill of High Treason was 
 passed against him, 7th April 1716, but after his escape he 
 got safe to France 
 
 ' Several years afterwards he was re-taken in Ross-shire, and 
 confined in Edinburgh Castle, where he died 7th of January 
 1742, after being confined there fifteen years, for fighting 
 against the Government in 1715. At the time of his death he 
 was eighty-five years of age. During his imprisonment he 
 wrote in 1729 a treatise for "Inclosing, fallowing, and plant- 
 ing Scotland." 
 
 ' He married Anne Price, one of the maids of Honour of 
 Queen Anne, by whom it is said he got her own weight in gold. 
 They built the splendid castle of Borlum, which was several 
 years afterwards burnt by accident.' 
 
 (From ' Notes of the Genealogy of the Souse of Mackintosh.' 
 By permission of Miss Fa/rmy Ma,cMntosh ofFwrr.) 
 
 V 
 
42 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 The last part was true but as for the other 
 I am afrayd at this time of generall con- 
 sternation the resistance had been but 
 small. One of the most defensles ports 
 about this city had a gwaird interly 
 Jacobits and I ame persweded Bristow 
 port had been cast open cheirfuly by them 
 had the enemie come that way, Yow can 
 not imagine how miserably things were 
 disposd within and about this city. Our 
 associat voluntire companies had the night 
 befor this taken up their station within 
 the Nether Bow port and had any attack 
 been there we had certainly made a 
 vigurouse resistance but what else could 
 we have done but falne a sacrefise to the 
 enymy from without and the mobbe from 
 within for the good town is still crowded 
 with Jacobites. Evry body wowld have 
 thowght one such occasion they showld 
 have been all seasd. I cowld weiry yow 
 with accounts of mismanagments at this 
 time and speculations about them but 
 Providence orderd it far other ways to our 
 advantage for we had ane .accownt that 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 43 
 
 the Duck of Argle was within a few 
 howrs' march for our relief, as't took off 
 the first consternation so this deubled the 
 number of armd men upon the streits for 
 now evry honest men took curage on 
 hearing relief was no neer and that the 
 enemie had changed ther rout. The rebells 
 commited great disorders. At Leith they 
 brock up the custume howse and seasd 
 upon wines and what else made for them. 
 They brock in upon my Lord Hoptown's 
 leed, it wowld be tediows to tell yow all 
 smaler disorders. They endevowrd to man 
 some barks and boats and send over for 
 correspondance and did rely send one off: 
 befor we heard of Argl's being so neer 
 many of the honest inhabitants and some 
 of whom it wowld not have been expected 
 were for setting open the ports and some 
 had the impudence to propose it to and 
 importune my Lord Justice Clerk and the 
 Lord Provost, but the Duck's coming so 
 seasonably prevented all inconveniance. He 
 browght with him from Stirling a sqwadron 
 of the gray dragowns and a sqwadron 
 
44 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 of the black horse. These with the Merse 
 mehtie, 400 Forfars foot 2 companies, the 
 volentiers, 250 the new levies of Edinburgh 
 300, the town gwaird of Edinburg 59, was 
 all the litle armie that marchd down to 
 Leith this day. I am, Sir, Yowr afectionat 
 comerad, and humble servant. 
 Edinburgh, October 15, 1715. 
 
 [Evidently inserted later.] 
 Mar's plott upon the town was thus. He 
 promisd to send over 2000 foot. Winton and 
 Kenmore were to have surprisd Dumfreece 
 and been in ready nes to have joynd his 
 foot with 1000 cavelrie after having garisond 
 Dumfrece and thus to have marchd streight 
 to Edinburgh quhich could scarce have 
 misd. Here they were by plunder to have 
 provided ther men and incuragd them for 
 going south quher Mr Poster was to have 
 joynd them with 1000 horse more and so 
 streight to surprise Newcastle. 
 
 Sir, In my last I told yow that we 
 marchd all to Leith with his Grace the 
 Generall. The Heighlanders had gott into 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 45 
 
 the citydall and strengthnd themselves as 
 much as possible. It was ane old fortifica- 
 tion and is not so rowinows yet as to be 
 easily attaekd withowt bombs or cannon 
 neither of which owr armie browght along. 
 We were formd to make the attack after 
 Forfar's foot. We had 6 or seven ministers 
 under armes and Mr Semple ^ from Liber- 
 ton commanded a party of his peritioners 
 he brought with him. We drink now the 
 helth of these gentlemen under the name 
 of the Church militant. My Lord Argyle 
 certenly acted here a very wise parte. They 
 in the citydale were a pack of raskaly 
 Highlenders that cowld not be atacked 
 but at the disadvantage two to one. His 
 men were the flowre of the nation and 
 besyds it cowld be no decisive strock 
 had he carryd it and evry man he lost 
 was worth ten of that viUanows cannalie. 
 These were the reasons movd his Grace 
 after consulting with the other generall 
 
 ' The Rev. Samuel Semple, Minister of Liberton (1697- 
 1742), died 24 January 1742 aged 76. His wife was Elizabeth, 
 daughter of Sir Archibald Murray of Blackbarony, and his 
 daughter Mary married John Swinton of that ilk. 
 
46 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 officers. I cannot say but we were sowndly 
 well and hertely weiried for we were long 
 under armes and it was a tempestwows 
 day. The Duck had come in to town about 
 two in the Saturday morning and lay at the 
 Aboe [Abbey] the rest of that morning and 
 a strong party of the voluntiers went and 
 g warded him. He was persweded not to goe 
 to the Aboe next night but to lodge in the 
 City. The rebells made ther retrite hansomly 
 anowgh that night and on Sabath morning 
 it was low water and they pasd at the head 
 of the peer. It was scarce known in Leith 
 that they had qwit the Citydalle till they 
 were the lenth neer Jock's Lodge for they 
 left there out sentries to cover there retriet. 
 How ever Borlum in this expedition lost 
 abowt 150 of his men that deserted in the 
 night. There was one accident happned in 
 there retriet I can not miss to write yow 
 In my last I told yow that Long Maloch ^ 
 
 ' Eae's account of this is that the Highlanders, having 
 been fired upon, suspected all horsemen as enemies and 
 challenged Alexander Maloch of Mutree-Shields in Gaelic. 
 He, not understanding, could not answer the question and was 
 shot dead. [Kae's History of the late Rebdlion, p. 264.] 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 47 
 
 went out to give intelligence and as was 
 thowght his intelligence made them chainge 
 ther rowt. He went to Leith along with 
 them and was with them in there retrite 
 but being a litle off from them abowt 
 Genties or Geddeses and not answering 
 readely wen chalingd there were 7 or eight 
 of the rebells fyrd on him and shot him 
 dead. I forgott to tell yow that the night 
 they came to Leith Brigadeer Borlum 
 came up to the Nether Bow port and 
 look'd in. He saw owr volunteer associat 
 companies drawn up there and was sur- 
 prisd. His words were ' faith the dogs look 
 as if they wowld feight' it was indeed a 
 dissapointment for he had been made belive 
 that the city wowld have surendered with- 
 owt strock. So may all Gods and King 
 George's enemies be disapointed. Amen 
 and Amen says, Sir, yowr most humble 
 servant. 
 Edinburgh, October 16. 
 
 Sir, After the intended surprise upon 
 our Castle the voluntires associat and there 
 
48 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 numbers still incresd till they were neer 
 400. There first buseness was to have 
 gwairds at two or three different places in 
 town in the night time and upon informa- 
 tion they were ready at all times to search 
 susspect howses any place for 5 or six miles 
 abowt the town. They went to Logan hows, 
 Roslen,^ and any other susspect Popish 
 howses and to all places quher there were 
 Jacobite clubs keept and a litle befor the 
 Heighlanders came over they misd very 
 neer caching some ringleaders had been at 
 the principall Chainge Howse at Wrights- 
 howses. There had been there that night 
 Brigadeer Borlum M^tosh quho after com- 
 manded the Highlanders that gave us the 
 allarme heer and were imprisond at Preston 
 and severall other notted Jacobits. But the 
 volunteers coming a litle too late made 
 them miss of them and there were only 
 Archibald Burnet of Carlops and yowng 
 Dean catchd. My Lord Isla liftenent of 
 
 • The Sinclairs of Eoslin were a noted Catholic family. 
 Logan House and other lands had been sold by them to the 
 Gibsons of Pentland previous to the '15. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 49 
 
 this shyre was with the volunteer party 
 and took thes gentlemens parole of honowr 
 they showld not medle directly or indirectly 
 in the rebellion but how well Carlops has 
 keept yow will see by his present conduct.^ 
 They searchd at Powburn, at Libertown 
 Church, and many other places and however 
 litle success it had it alwise gave such 
 alarme to the Jacobit clubs that they durst 
 not randivuse nor hawnt so openly and it 
 hinderd there keeping any qwantity of 
 armes togither so that on surprise they 
 cowld not arme tUl gathred from many 
 places abowt. I am, Sir, yowrs, Adew. 
 
 St. Ringans, November 9, 1715. 
 Sir, you desird me to write to yow and 
 as soon as I came to Stirling and had a 
 Utle informd myself I was not unmindefdll 
 of my promise. I came to D. as that day I 
 left Edinburgh which was the 4 of Novem- 
 
 ' He was executed at Liverpool, 25 February 1716. A 
 FaUhful Register of the late Rebellion says that he ' had an 
 Estate of 200 I. a year near Edinburgh. He was Standard- 
 Bearer to the Pretender, a Man of fine Presence and Person, 
 and behaVd well at his Death, but made no Speech.' 
 
 G 
 
50 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 ber and becaws we thowght it migh.1 
 inconvenient to goe visit the campe 
 end of a week we delayd taking jurny 
 Moonday the 6 of the same month, 
 had toUerable good travehng till we ci 
 to Torwoodhead and after that incess 
 rain till we came to St. Ringens a si 
 mile from Stirling and where we were 
 lodge that night. On the way as we j 
 throw Lithgow there we saw a stri 
 gward of melity in the palace and abowt 
 horse (we were told) drawn out of the e 
 and mid Lothians melita were lying in 
 towne. At Falkerk a town 6 miles bey( 
 this was qwartered Evanses regement 
 dragowns and parts of them in the ho' 
 of Callander a hows of my Lord Lithgo 
 neer by. This my Lord ^ being gon of -n 
 the rebells how ever we were informd t] 
 were not all there but parte of them 
 Kilsyth. We were told the dragouns' wi 
 were so rude as to disput the preferanet 
 
 * James, 4th Earl of Callender, and 5th Earl of Linlitb 
 died in exile at Rome, 25 April 1723. His wife was ] 
 Margaret Hay, and his daughter Anne, wife of Lord Kil 
 nock, who was ' out ' in the '45 and executed. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 51 
 
 the kitchen fier about readeing there meat 
 with the ladys my Lord had left behind 
 him at Calander house. When we came 
 neerer the campe we saw the forage for the 
 armie coming from all qwarters. The rode 
 we came they were taking it from Dalas of 
 St. Martins. His sone was gone with the 
 rebells but I belive there was some other 
 qwaraU with him made this forage be taken 
 so abruptly. We fell in with the dragoun 
 who was going along with the forage and 
 he told us the Laird was in a great passion. 
 We askd him about that litle skirmish had 
 been at Dumfermling. He said he was of 
 that partie that had been there and informd 
 us of a pice of justice the Duke of Argyle 
 had done a soldier. The soldier was im- 
 aqwent with the mihtarie law that one of 
 the same partie can not take a prisoner from 
 his fellow but that if such a thing showld 
 be oflferd he that is atacqued has liberty to 
 pistole his neightbowr. Upon this ignorance 
 and the impudence of ane older soldger of 
 the Gray Horses the yownger fellow lost 
 his prisoner befor he had searchd him. The 
 
52 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 old fellow searchd him and fownd 30 gweni( 
 Upon this the fellow he was taken frc 
 modestly craved the half but could not 
 heard. The mader [matter] came befor t 
 Duck and the old dragown was brocke wi 
 disgrase and the whoU 30 gwenies given 
 the other. The fellow that was broke h 
 since taken on in the Horse Melita ai 
 rides trowper there [Above the rest 
 the letter there is written 'This story- 
 said to have ben a forward fellow deliver^ 
 his prisoner to ana other to hold till ] 
 showld catch more and so went on aga 
 and that he promisd to divide with t] 
 fellow was to hold the prisoner, but th 
 he that keept him refusd to divide and to( 
 eighty guinie a watch &e. but that tl 
 Duck made him return all.'] We pasd t] 
 way with hearing storys of this kind t 
 we came wher I told yow we designd 
 lodg all night. There were fowr of us 
 company and a servant and it was diffici 
 to find qwarters in a place so crowded wi 
 companie. The minister of Abercorn^ w 
 
 • The Rev. John Brown (1700-1743). 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 53 
 
 on and being acqwent with his brother of St 
 Ringans ^ promisd to get a bed for himself 
 and one of us but how to lodge our horses 
 and the other two was the deficulty. Mr 
 . . . and I walkd about in the darke in- 
 qwiring for qwarters and fell luckely in 
 upon that stable Generall Weightman had 
 left that morning wher we got accomodation 
 aneough for owr horses and single bed 
 withowt curtens (for yow most not be nyce 
 at campe) quhich was all we wanted. We 
 were very well accomodat in this discreet 
 hows. Owr landlord is on Archibald by sur- 
 name his wife her name is Sqwaw and a 
 hansome sqwaw too. We were told that 
 night that the soldiers deboch the women 
 very much quhich is nothing extraordinare 
 and that severall that were reackond chast 
 among the maried women had falln under 
 scandell. Our servant could not be accomodat 
 without setting the maid of the house to 
 her shifts for lodging and she proposd to 
 ly by her neightbour servant lass above and 
 so went up with all assurance and freedome 
 
 1 Rev. John Logan (1695-1727). 
 
54 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 to ly doun but when she came she fow 
 that the lass had a better bedfellow a gc 
 lusty dragoon. Our maid with the surpi 
 alarmd the wholl family and so the drago 
 and the maid were disapointed for if yo 
 take their word for it they had gott nothi 
 done but our lass said they were lying 1: 
 man and wife when she came in. The gwil 
 las was no more to be seen after this s 
 fled the house. Not to detain yow with thi 
 try fling incidents I come to tell yow tl 
 evry thing I saw about the campe was 
 better condition then I expected. The n 
 wer hearty and well and the horse loo 
 cleen aneowgh about the lims they wer^ 
 litle rough and oury haird with the herv 
 rains but fitt aneough to ryde doun Hei^ 
 landers. The dragoun we overtook with i 
 foragers told us a partie had gon from 1 
 camp to Dumfermling that day we wer 
 the rode which was the seventh of Novemb 
 There was full boystrows wether that ni^ 
 we were very consernd to here wat \ 
 become ofi" them so we set owt for i 
 camp the eight of November about 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 55 
 
 aclock in the morning. We walkd it on foot 
 and the neer way we took it was abowt 
 three qw^arters of a myle. We had the vew 
 of it from a rysing grownd a prospect of 
 which on a plan as well as I can take it I 
 have sent yow inclosd. The great repair and 
 the rains had mad the avenows of the 
 campe very marishe the other ways Stirling 
 Parke be a very dry place. We walkd throw 
 evry place to satisefie our curiosity till we 
 were driven in to a hutt by stress of wether. 
 There was ane officer sitting there burning 
 a dram of brand[y] for himself we proposd 
 to take the same and put in tuo gills more 
 with sugar and drunk rownd and payd 
 penny about. It at last raind in upon us 
 but then the showr was over and we came 
 abroad we saw a great many thronging in 
 to the camp and when we came neerer we 
 laimd that it was on of Shannon's regement 
 to be shoot for mutiny quhen at the City- 
 dale of Leith Fryday October 14 or Satur- 
 day Oct. 15. Now the whoU battalion was 
 drawn up and the men drawn out to shoot 
 him and the pins they were to stand at sett. 
 
56 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 Ther were six they told us three for 
 heart and three for the head. "When all 
 in readyness we see the fellow come a 
 with his hat under his arme and the c 
 land on one hand and his wife on the o1 
 He was taken in to a tent to prayr and 
 a litle befor he was to be brought out t 
 came doune a pardon procurd him by ] 
 brough. We were all glad of the disap( 
 ment and as the forme is the surgion 
 calld to lett blood of the fellow and s( 
 left the camp for that day. We went up 
 back way into the town up the hill and 
 wind blew furiowsly there was scarce w 
 ing I pided severall poor women. Adrui 
 wife walking behind him prety high ke 
 for fear of durteing her coats was pas 
 me at a litle distance and on the syd 
 rige the wind took her feet so cliverly . 
 I blusd and went by. There wer some in 
 beter circumstances. Going up the hil] 
 came luckely to a good qwarter in Stir 
 one Mr Aird a Glasgow man brothe] 
 the provost there of that name.^ They t 
 ' John Aird, ten times Lord Provost of Glasgow. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 57 
 
 taken up ane eating howse a sixpence 
 ordinar. The Duck cannot eat better and 
 non need complean for want of cheap eating 
 that have any shift. We had hear broath the 
 best yow ever eat, good boyld beef and 
 boyld mutton with mustard sawse, aple 
 pudings as good as any and roste beef and 
 fowles rosted and aples and peers and chees 
 all for sixpence, and there wer but nyne in 
 companie we drunk a pynt of wine. I write 
 thus particular becaws yow and I have 
 heard among many things said to the dis- 
 advantage of the campe that there was no 
 meat there. We had very good company at 
 diner on Glenkindy ^ his name is Strachan 
 was lodgd in the roume. He was a man of a 
 
 500 men raised for sixty days during 1715 by the City of 
 Glasgow, -vrere sent to Stirling under Provost Aird. 
 
 1 Glenkindie's petition to George ii. says that ' How soon 
 he came south he gave a Mthfull account of all his procedure 
 and thereafter waited of his grace the Duke of Argile at 
 Edinburgh and Stirling and continued tUl the battle of 
 Dunblain where he had the misfortune to fall into the enemies' 
 hands and by them was thrown into a Dungeon within the 
 prison of Dundee where common malefactors are ordenarly 
 keepit. In which place he lay for three moneths and one half 
 and thereafter when the Pretender made his Eunn from Perth 
 and carried allong with the rest of the Prisoners to Montross 
 
 H 
 
58 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 good forton a refugee from Mar. He told 
 that he knew the first motions of this 
 rebeUion and comunicat it to the Gover- 
 ment quhen it might have been prevented. 
 He had the offer of a Cornell's commission 
 from Mar but still excusd himself from 
 being at any conference with the rebelliows 
 Earle but when he cowld not withowt 
 danger absent longer he came off. He is 
 blyth and franck lives in good hope and 
 takes a glass of wine on luck's head. We had 
 there ane other one Mr Cambell that com- 
 plend of hardships. That Argyl wowld not 
 heare reasonable proposalls that he had 
 been ane officer in Irland and brock by the 
 wicked ministry tryd for life one accownt 
 
 wh«re he was Incarserat for three days and ohledg'd to begg 
 his bread over the windows, from which place he was carried 
 northward to Stonehive being still obleged to travell on foot. 
 And then he along with two others broke jayle being afraid to 
 be carried to the Isles where they proposed to have taken 
 him. Howsoon he gote rid of them he came to the Duke of 
 ArgUe at Stonehive and waited off him to Aberdeen at which 
 place he was pleased to Imploy him to go to the Highlands 
 along with General Monteeis in order to settle some Garisons 
 their and to disarm all the Bebells they could meet with in 
 Mar.' [Colonel Allardyce's The Strachans of Glenkindie, 
 pp. 41-42.] 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 59 
 
 of Heigens the Irish Dr Sarcheverall 
 documented all ane emptie ratle I'm shure 
 he was full of Irish impudence. He was to 
 bring of 60 horse if he had a warrand to 
 heve them dutie free he wowld remownt 
 so many cavelrie with twentie nods and all. 
 A barberows crowell storme we were almost 
 drowned this night between Stirling and 
 Sant RiQgans. I widd the water with my 
 shoos on. My comerad lawght but I was 
 a qwarter of ane howre sooner at the fyre 
 and my kind landlady had a good fier on. 
 She gave me her dry stockings and her 
 husbans shoes so all was very well. I forgot 
 to tell yow a very good story of Pons his 
 dawghter. This gentleman is of the name 
 of Hollo ^ and lives neer by. He and his only 
 sone ar gon off and with my Lord Mar. 
 The eldest dawghter had taken on voluntire 
 in Generall Weightman's regement, says 
 Glenkinde who told the story. We were at 
 
 ^ Robert Rollo of Powhouse and James his son were 
 'out' in the '15. They were tried, and both pleaded guilty. 
 The elder was sentenced to death, but was not executed. 
 His wife was Janet, daughter of John Murray of Touch- 
 adam. 
 
60 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 a loss to understand how they admitted 
 such a recrut but he prevented our asking 
 
 qwestions. Now says he Sargent 
 
 behave lick a man to Generall Weightman. 
 The faither and only sone ar in rebellion 
 faith it shall be fairly represented yow 
 have the eldest dawghter and so a fair pull 
 for the estat and by chance the sergent 
 the yowng lady's choise may [be] beter 
 then if her father had made choise for her 
 of his own gang. She was marrid some years 
 befor quhen that regement lay there. On 
 Wedensday the tent we got up as early 
 as we cowld see and were in the camp 
 against sone rysing. We fownd out a much 
 cleener way for our selves than we had 
 gon the day befor and went qwite rownd 
 the Park and vewed all the bownds. We 
 fell in upon the campe at last. There we 
 heard the party wer returnd withowt doing 
 any thing for the rebells had gott in to 
 the Abby of Dumfermling. The rebells 
 having gott a ruffle there befor were now 
 more cawtiows for tho they wer dowble 
 number they wowld not answer any chalange 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 61 
 
 given to come to the open field and there 
 was no doing with them in there strength 
 withowt cannon or morters. The soldier we 
 talkd with was one of them. He said that 
 the whoU country people joynd and en- 
 curagd them and many went with swords 
 and forks &c. and such wapons as they 
 cowld take readiest. Our landlord where we 
 dined the day befor had sett up a large 
 tent of dales nailed togither quhich was 
 the best sutlery in the campe. There we 
 drank som six pence alle and eat some 
 beacks and had a dram. There were some 
 of Glasgow voluntires there and we were 
 curiows to inqwire quhat character that 
 Glasgow man had that was kild by a 
 sergent ui the armie. They aU agreed that 
 it was very bad and that he was extremely 
 qwarelsom they told us to look at him 
 yow wold have judgd him but a boy but 
 that he was old aneough and very mis- 
 chevows. He happnd to be making great 
 disturbence in his qwarters quhen this 
 sergent and two other soldiers came in. 
 They desird him to be sober he swore it 
 
62 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 was non of there busenes and gave bad 
 langwage. The sergent said he wowld mak 
 it his buseness upon this the Glasgow man 
 drew a brodsword and fell in surprise so 
 that they retird till the sergent drew his 
 sword upon him and run him throw the 
 loer parte of the belly throw the blether 
 and in to the oposit thigh. He was wownded 
 abowt eleven at night and died eleven next 
 fornoon when his mother heard it she 
 honest woman (said our informant) thankd 
 God he was not the murderer for she 
 alwise expected to hear such ane accownt 
 of him. This, morning [we] went out and 
 see on Ogelve wheepd for mutiny lickwise 
 at Leith this was the last time he was to 
 run. He had run two mornings before thrise 
 evry morning throw the piqwet and qwarter 
 gwairds drawn up in two roes there were 
 abowt 240 of them. The fellow cam out all 
 shaking in a blew gown nothing but his 
 shirt on below it was cold frost for what 
 had falln on Moonday and Tewsday's storme 
 in rain with us was all snow on the hills. 
 Captain Dickson drew up the Guard and 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 63 
 
 the officers stood in the midle and sowldiers 
 by word of command closd up their ranks 
 and drew in a ringe so that it was concidere 
 duces and vulgi stante corona. The Captain 
 awdably read his crime they opend all 
 order and the lains were made for his 
 pasage so the north cowntry gentleman as 
 the soldiers cald him took his morning walk 
 thryse. Poor fellow, his back was almost 
 peelld with the former two wheepings. He 
 was put after owt of the camp with beat 
 of drum. I heard that parte of his crime 
 that he had cald his officer a worthless 
 fellow and offerd to club his musket and 
 beat him. Afber seeing this pice of disipline 
 we came to our qwarters and instantly 
 took horse to return. We left the town a 
 fyer at St. Ringans some melitia drying 
 powther had fyrd the thatch. Abowt two 
 mile off St. Ringans we saw Evans his 
 whoU regement drawn up upon a fyn 
 plain at . . . and the Ducke of Argle 
 with his cowrt of voluntiers comeing after 
 us to revew the regement. This was a 
 show we cowld not pass by withowt look- 
 
64 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 ing at and to say truth I scarse think 
 there is a more showy regement in Europe. 
 They drew up in two sqadrons thre lyns 
 in each sqwadron quhich made six com- 
 panies in all each company had a feryer 
 or hatched man with a very high black 
 furd cap one and a pock hanging behind 
 tipd with fur. Insled of a sword they had 
 a saw at there syd and a shovel in place 
 of there slingd carabin. They earryd axes 
 in there hands and a hatchet under there 
 belt insteed of pistols. There were fixd tuo 
 large things likest to mofe caices quher 
 there horse shoes and nails were they have 
 cleen white aprons and white gloves and 
 rode upon good gray horses. The six 
 drumers were mores with bres drums and 
 the hobys and they roade upon gray 
 horses. The six trowpes ride by the Ducke 
 troupe by troupe with a hatchet man 
 and other proper officers. Befor evry com- 
 pany there stood ane officer quher they 
 were to wheel when they came up 5 in 
 a ranke and to evry file he says look the 
 Duck full in the face. I went about to 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 65 
 
 where the Duck stood and they obayd 
 that word of command exacly. The two 
 sqwadrons quhen they had pasd thus took 
 up again there severall grounds. The next 
 thing they did was dismounting and fixing 
 all there horses so that evry 10 man held 
 the nyne horse and then they drew out 
 to that emptie space betwext the two 
 sqwadrons and there performd there exer- 
 sise one foot. Then they marchd on foot 
 by the Duck who had dismownted with 
 them. They took up there ground again 
 quhen they were past retird in order to 
 there horses and remounted and ridd again 
 in tropes by his Grase but as they pasd 
 him this time evry horse singly from the 
 right to the left fyld off and ridd by. Yow 
 might see the vanyty of some to mak 
 hansom capreoll tuch there horses to the 
 qwick with the spur. I never in my life 
 saw so many fine black horses. The officers 
 ledd horses were extraordinary fyne with 
 fine decks of diferent scins to cover them 
 there was somthing very shog and nyet 
 in the apanages of the regement as foot- 
 
66 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 men and the servants that ledd the deck 
 horses &c. We came on our way and 
 
 wer at D n abowt 5 at night there 
 
 was no word of the Duck's decamping. 
 When we left StirUng it was given out 
 that the Glasgow melita were to march 
 back and the camp to go to winter 
 qwarters, but that has been but a blind, 
 for we now here that on Saturday the 
 12 of November they decamped and went 
 to the other syd of the bridge upon hear- 
 ing that Mar was moving toward them. 
 I belive it is a force both upon the 
 
 D and the E the Duck's enimies 
 
 make a noyse about the Leith expedition 
 and it is said the King is displesd they 
 showld have been alowd to escape, and 
 now if Mare should pass it will be ane 
 other handle. The Earle is presed by 
 Marqwis of Huntly and the westran clans 
 quho tell him they will leave him if he 
 does not speedely go to action, for his 
 numbers say they ar as great as he can 
 expect, and Argyle will still incloss and 
 perhaps the Duck may come up. I hope 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 67 
 
 God will protect the Duck and his 4000. 
 They ar for the good cawse. I have done 
 as yow desired that is omited no trifle 
 that I remember fell under my ken. 
 I am, Sir, yowr oomerad and humble 
 servant. 
 
 Sabat, November 13, at eleven in the 
 fornoon they joynd battell and fowght 
 tiU night. 
 
 First Letter prom the North. 
 
 My Lord Sutherland went North in a 
 man of war and caried some hundred stand 
 of armes along. 3 hundred more were to 
 have followed him but by the bad conduct of 
 the sciper they were put aboord with fell in 
 the rebells' hands at Bruntizland. My Lord 
 landed at Dinrobin upon September 23 
 Wedensday and on Frayday 25 he was neer 
 a thousand men. He merched and was joynd 
 by KUraick and the Rosses and then by the 
 Forbeses. They went streight for Inverness 
 which had been surprised and garisond 
 by the rebells under the Laird of CouU 
 
68 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 M^Kenzie. I forgot to tell yow that Sir 
 Donald McDonald was not then marchd 
 up to Perth and had almost surprisd 
 Sutherland. However he got timely notise 
 and sent to vew their numbers and finding 
 them computed 2000 strong he set on good 
 fiers in his campe and merchd of in the 
 smoke. He was 8 or 10 miles off befor they 
 knew he had movd so they did not follow 
 but merchd up to Perth. However there 
 were a party of the M^Kentoshes had armd 
 upon McDonald's appearing, and Sutherland 
 Rearing the main body was marchd with 
 Sir Donald for Perth, he resolvd to goe 
 and disarme the M^Kentoshes, which he 
 effectwat but they pretended there rysing 
 was in self defence becawse they were 
 afirayd of the McDonalds coming down 
 upon them. 
 
 Second Letter from the North. 
 
 Stikling, November 16, 1715. 
 Collonel Blackater. 
 
 Providence has so orderd that no flesh 
 showld boast. On the field neer Dumblain 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 69 
 
 our right wing beat their left and there right 
 wing beat our left. There was a vast oads 
 in the numbers. There army was reakond 9 
 or 10000 men. Ours was not above 3400. 
 Fiften hundred of our right wing chased 
 5000 of there left two or three miles. We 
 have the marks of victory. We have taken 
 14 collowrs and standards 4 of there 
 cannon and about 100 prisoners. We have 
 320 killd and 114 wownded (amonge the 
 killd the Cornell putts all that were 
 amissing viz. prisoners and desertors). The 
 names of the regements in this action are 
 (there were 8 of foot) Forfar's, Shannon's, 
 Morison's, Cleiton's, Egerton's, Montague's, 
 Wightman's Arary dragows 5, the Grays, 
 Evans', Carpanter, Ker's, Stair's. It was a 
 melancholay day to us all that Sabath after 
 noon for we saw all the fields covered 
 with those shatterd troupes that were 
 broken upon the left and they all gave 
 out that all was gon as the first flyers 
 alwise do. The Duck who was upon the 
 right and saw not what pasd upon the 
 left wing thowght he had got ane intire 
 
70 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 victory till coming back from the pursute 
 insteed of finding the left of his oun 
 armie fownd the remender of the Highland 
 armie standing on the hill. He sent to see 
 for the regements of his left with designe 
 to have atackd the rebells but the left 
 of owr armie had retired to far to come 
 up in time and night coming on he marchd 
 oif in good order towards Dumblain. He 
 wowld have attacked them next morning 
 but they merchd off in the night and he 
 came in on Moonday with the armie and 
 has eantond them hereabowts. 
 
 Dragowns in the left wing Carpenter 
 and Ker's dragowns and a sqwadron of 
 Stair's. In the reight the Grays, Evans', 
 and a sqwadron of Stair's. The Heigh- 
 landers fired by rancks each rank reteering 
 and not in plattoons. They were 15 man 
 deep. My Lord Argyle seeing this dis- 
 position and that they did not endevowr 
 to outwing him tho so numerous concerted 
 with Major Cathcart who comanded the 
 Grays that he should march to the right 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 71 
 
 leving about 100 paces open and so and so 
 flank them as they stood 15 man deep. 
 The sign he was to give was a wave 
 with his hat. This stratagem gald the 
 rebells so it put them soon in confusion. 
 
 Our left wing was atackd befor it was 
 formd and the foot were put in disorder 
 befor the horse came up. What savd them 
 a htle was that a partie of horse under 
 my Lord Tarfichan marching up throw a 
 defile cald the foot to stop and threatnet 
 to fier or ryde them doun upon which 
 they rahed and returnd upon some that 
 had followed them and left the rebells 
 main body ; and here it was the Captain 
 of Clanronald fell. This brush gave them 
 time to retire in good order having stopt 
 the enemies carrer and my Lord coverd 
 there retreet with the horse. CoUonell 
 Care was for renewing the fight but 
 Generall Williams by his fear and bad 
 conduct lost the compleeting the glory 
 of that day for what need was there to 
 retier 5 miles quhen they were not 
 purswed above a qwarter of a mile and 
 
72 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 had he been but a mile from the place 
 of engadgment upon Argyl's returne they 
 had compleeted the victory. 
 
 Frmi Satwday, November 19 to Tewesday 
 November 22, 1715. 
 
 Colonell Hareson being sent express to 
 his Majesty by his Grace the Duke of 
 Argyll has given the following accownt of 
 the victory obtained over the rebells on the 
 13 of November 1715. 
 
 The Duke of Argil being informd on 
 the 12 instant that the rebells had come to 
 Auchterardur with there baggage artiUery 
 and a sufficient qwantity of bread for a 
 march of many days fownd he was obliged 
 either to engage them on the fields neer 
 Dumblain or to decamp and wait their 
 coming to the head of Forth. He choose 
 the first on many accownts and amongst 
 others that the grownds neer Dumblain were 
 much more adventagious for his horse then 
 those at the head of the river and besyds 
 this by frost begining the Forth might 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 73 
 
 become passable in several! places which 
 the small number of his troupes did not 
 enable him to gwaird sufficiently. He licke- 
 wise received advice that the 12 at night 
 the rebels designd to encamp at Dumblain 
 upon which, judging it of importance to 
 prevent them by possessing that place, he 
 marched the 12 in the forenoon and en- 
 camped with his left at Dumblain and his 
 right toward the Sheriffmore. The enemy 
 that night stoped within two miles of Dum- 
 blain. Next morning his Grace being 
 informed by his advancd gward that the 
 rebells were forming he rode to a rising 
 ground where he viewd the enemy distinctly 
 and found as they pointed their march they 
 designd streight upon our flanck. The 
 moor to our right was the preceeding night 
 unpassable and so gwarded us from being 
 flanked on that syde, but by the frost was 
 become passable. His Grace therefor 
 ordered his troupes to stretch to the right 
 in the following order 3 sqwadrons of 
 dragoons upon right and left of the front 
 line, and 6 battalions of foot in the center. 
 
 K 
 
74 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 The second line was composed of two 
 sqwadrons of dragoons in the center, one 
 sqwadron in the right and ane other on 
 there left, and one sqwadron of dragoons 
 behind each wing of horse in the first lyne. 
 As the right of owr armie came over 
 against the left of the rebels which they 
 had put to a morasse, his Grace finding 
 they were not qwite formed, gave orders 
 immediatly to fall on, and charged both 
 there horse and foot. They received us 
 very briskly but after some resistance 
 they wer brok throwgh and were pursued 
 above 2 miles by 5 sqwadrons of dragoons, 
 the sqwadron of voluntires, and 5 battallions 
 of foot. When we come neer the River 
 Allan, by the vast number of rebells we 
 drove befor us we concluded it ane intire 
 route, and resolved to purswe as long as 
 we had day light. The pursuing to the 
 River Allan had taken up a long time by 
 reason of the freqwent attempts they had 
 made to forme in different places quhich 
 obliged us as often to attacke and breck 
 them when they were in parte passed and 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 75 
 
 others passing the Allan. Major Generall 
 Wightman who commanded the 5 bat- 
 talions of foot sent to acqwaint the Duke 
 of Argyll that he cowld not descover quhat 
 had become of owr troupes on the left and 
 that a considerable body of the rebells horse 
 and foot stood behind us, upon that his 
 Grace halted formed his troupes in order 
 and marched towards the hill on quhich 
 the rebells had posted themselves. There- 
 after his Grace extended his right towards 
 Dumblain, to give his left ane opportunity 
 of joyning him. There we continued 
 untill it was late, and not finding our 
 left come up, his Grace marchd slowly 
 towards the ground on which he had 
 formed in the morning. So soon as it was 
 dark the rebells who continued undispersd 
 on the tope of the hill moovd to Ardoch 
 abowt ane howre after our troupes quhich 
 had been seperat from the Duke of Argyll 
 joyn'd his Grace. Our dragouns on the left 
 in the begining of the action charged some 
 of there horse on the right and carried off 
 a standard ; but at the same time the rebels 
 
76 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 pressd so hard on our battalions on the 
 kft that they were disordered and obliged 
 to fall in among the horse the rebells by 
 this means cut of the communication betwex 
 owr left and the other body; and they 
 being informd a body of the rebells were 
 indeavoring to get to Stirling, the troupes 
 of our left retired beyond Dumblain to pos- 
 sess themselves of the pass leading there. 
 This victory was not obtaind without the 
 loss of some brave men on our syde, the 
 Earl of Forfar's wownds ar so many that 
 his lyfe is dispaird of, the Earl of Isla 
 who came half ane houre befor the action 
 received two wownds the one in his arme 
 other in his syde but the bullet is cut out 
 of his syde. Generall Evans reeeivd a 
 cutt in his head, CoUonell Hally of 
 Evans' dragoons was shot throw the body. 
 CoUonell Hammers and Captain Arme- 
 strong aid camp to the Duke of Argyll ar 
 killed. The curage of the British troupes 
 was never keener then on this occasion, who 
 tho the rebells were 3 times there number 
 they yet attacked and pursud them with all 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 77. 
 
 resolution immaginable. The conduct and 
 bravery of the generalls and inferior officers 
 contributed much to this success but aboov 
 all the great example of his Grace the 
 Duck of Argyll whose presence not only 
 gave spirit to the action but gaind success 
 as often as he led on the troupes of horse 
 volunteers, quho consisted of noblemen and 
 gentlemen of distinction, shoed great bravry 
 in particular maner, the Duke of Roxburgh, 
 the Lords Rothes, Hadington, Latherdale, 
 Lowdon, Belhaven, and Sir John Shaw. 
 Taken collowrs and standards 14 pices of 
 cannon 4 tombrells with amonition, and all 
 there bread waggons. 
 
 Sir, I take all occasions to transmit yow 
 what accownts I can have. Yow will be glad 
 to hear how matters goe in the north with 
 the Earl of Sutherland. I had from our 
 freind Sir Ja .... St ... .^ a letter he gott 
 by Inverness post from Mr William 
 
 1 Sir James Steuart of Goodtrees, M.P. for Edinburgh 
 City, 1713-15, died 1727. 
 
78 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 Stewart^ minister there. There has been 
 severall methods of convaying laters pri- 
 vatly from thence overland and the enimy 
 has almost as freqwently intercepted the 
 letters by information or strict search, as 
 the button, the snufl&nil corke, the bonet 
 crown &c. this letter came in the post's 
 hand within his glove and was so folded as 
 to answer the hollow parte. It seems a 
 pretty distinct jurnell and is very laconick 
 as to the style the letter bears date 
 November 18, 1715. 
 
 November 3. Lovet and CoUoden came 
 to the garison of CoUoden. Kilraak with 
 between 2 and 300 chosen men of his 
 followers on the 4 write to the magistrats 
 of Inverness to evacuat the garrison of 
 rebells there; with certification this letter 
 is subscrivd Kilraak, CoUoden, and his 
 brother as deputy liftenants of the shyre 
 of Inverness. The magistrats answer they 
 cannot. The Governowr of the rebells 
 at Inverness imraediatly writes to Coll 
 
 1 Minister of Inverness, 1705-26, died in 1729, minister of 
 Kjltearn. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 79 
 
 Mcdonald of Kepach who is on his merch 
 with 400 men and to the remains of 
 the M"'toshes who gather abowt 500 to 
 strengthen the rebells. Lovet is joynd 
 with 120 Prazers on the 5*\ marches to 
 get a vew of Keppoch and gather the 
 loyall party of the Frasers to serve the 
 goverment, is foUowd by Kilraack, Col- 
 loden, and his brother on the 6^^, meet 
 and joyn Lovat on the 7^\ and make 
 between 400 and 500 men and 30 horse. 
 Keepoch flies to the mountains from them 
 upon which they immediatly turn some 
 4 or 5 miles to the east and ofier battell 
 to the M'lntoches. They make appology 
 swear they mett to defend their land of 
 Keppoch and that they will not assist the 
 rebellion upon which they promise to 
 disperse. Lovet crosses the water with a 
 hunder and twentie men of Frazers 4 miles 
 abov the town and lies at the west syde of 
 the towne, Kilraack and CoUoden on the 
 east syde of it. Kilraak capitulats with 
 the Governour Sir Johne M^Kenzie of 
 Coule (who is his sone-in-law) by letters 
 
80 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 and conferences on the eight, and 9*'' Sir 
 John is inflexable and will not evacuat, on 
 the 10 a party of 100 men at 5 in the 
 morning from garrison of Colloden, and 
 Kilraack's men come to owr shore to secure 
 the boats and thereby a comunication with 
 Lovat who was in hasarde between the 
 rebells and Keppoch. If he had returnd the 
 boates ar securd but a lamentable accedent 
 fell out when a sentinell of the rebells fyrd 
 to warn his party. A brave yowth a brother 
 of Kilraak's pursues the sentenell up to the 
 town a 2* fiers pursues him also till he 
 came near the garison when he meets with 
 on of the liffcenants whom he takes by the 
 breast and with a bended pistole at his 
 breast commands goe to the dore of the 
 garisson and cry opCIl. It's done and the 
 brave yowth in a flaming zeall for owr 
 graciows sovereign King George bonds in 
 at the door, when the fellow that cryd 
 'open' seeing him enter with a dozen at 
 his back cryd 'the enimie, the enemie' 
 enters. The door is shutt when his head 
 and sowlders ar in, yet he fyers both 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 81 
 
 his pistols amongst them and wrowght 
 with both his hands being strong as well 
 as bold, till he receives a pair of leeds in 
 his body, and some think if he had gott 
 in he wowld have survivd with glory. 
 A motion is made for burning the town at 
 all ends but God directed there cownsils. 
 Kilraack prevails with Sir John to evacuat, 
 which he did on the 11"' when owr freinds 
 enter the town to owr joy withowt effiision 
 of blood or prejudice to the towne. Imme- 
 deatly they fall to the fortifying of the 
 place but money is exceedingly wanting. 
 The rebellion hinders all circulation of it as 
 it does of evry good thing. The deputys 
 had much adoe to get SOOH sterling on there 
 own security from the magistrats and com- 
 munity they proceed to there manadgment 
 with wisdom and expedition. N.B. the 
 Grants under the command of Brigadeer 
 Grant's brother and Collonell William Grant 
 came down among us on the 8 or 9 to the 
 number of 700 good men as we have in 
 the North, which advances very much the 
 design of the freind above mentiond. The 
 
82 NEWS LETTERS OF 17151^ 
 
 Monros came in with yowng Fowls on there 
 head. The 12 the Earl of Sutherland came 
 here last night his men ar to be here to 
 morrow to the number of a 1000 men. 
 Lovet is now 500 strong of the name of 
 Frazer so that we expect a randevous to- 
 morrow about 3000 men for to defend us 
 against the rebells. How long they will stay 
 with us is not knowen but if there is not 
 a strong garison left in this place we ar in 
 hazard whill there is a spark of life in the 
 eawse of the rebells for this town lys in 
 the mouth of the Highlands. We have a 
 rumor here that Argle has gon out to vew 
 the rebells as they were marching within 
 some miles of him and drawn a litle blood of 
 them and put them to a retreet and if there 
 is no more done it is probable they'll take 
 up there winter qwarters and that a party 
 of them will give us a visite ; but 'tis 
 hopd the goverment will prescribe a 
 remedy for prevention to that parte of the 
 body quher the mallady first began and 
 quher it may breck out yet and that is with 
 us a good strong garison at Inverness 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 83 
 
 might have prevented much of this malady 
 and can doe it still. I am — 
 
 The rebells evacuated Fyfe upon 
 Generall Cadugen's coming down it was not 
 known upon quhat motife. Som say it was 
 Argl's taking Cadogen to see the feild of 
 Shirifmure neer Dumblain quher the batell 
 was fowght with a gwaird of the Gray 
 Horse gave them the allarme, and that 
 Mar sent orders to them to come in to 
 Perth. Others say that it was some words 
 publickly spoke by Cadugen upon first 
 coming to Edinburgh viz. that he would in 
 48 howres dryve all the rebels out of Fyfe. 
 They have there spys and intelegence and 
 this was handed over the water. Certein 
 it is they left it precipetantly and there is 
 now a strong garison in Bruntiland of the 
 Sweece and new levies of Edinburgh under 
 the command of Sir Robert Montgomery 
 who went over December 22. They fownd 
 some stores there as meal and a lite gun 
 pouder left the rebells forsaid what money 
 they cowld befor they left Fyfe. There 
 
84 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 were several parties from Perth again entred 
 Fyfe particularly one came toward Falk- 
 land. Mr Anderson^ the minister there had 
 been a refugie in Edinburgh but was re- 
 turned to his charge and had intimat to 
 his people he was to preach but on Satwr- 
 day late was very neer taken making his 
 escape in his shirt. There came ane other 
 party to Dysert to press horse to bring 
 coals to there garison at Perth. They were 
 pressing horses and had the beddal for ther 
 gwide but the garison at Bruntiland having 
 notice, sent owt a party and surprisd 9 of 
 them in ane howse. They refusd to surender 
 upon quhich the Sweice fyrd and kild two 
 of them one was there gwide, and browght 
 off the rest prisoners. On December 27, 
 1715, they were browght over prisoners to 
 Edinburgh December 28. There is now a 
 garison of 3 or 4 hundred men put in 
 Dumfermling December 28, 1715. 
 
 1 Eev. Alexander Anderson, 1702-1725, translated to St. 
 Andrews, died 1737. Rae (p. 340) gives an account of Mr. 
 Anderson's escape : " but indeed he escap'd them so narrowly, 
 that as he got out of one door, they enter'd by the other ; 
 and missing him, searched all his office-houses for him.'' 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 85 
 
 Sir, I send yow here ane other copy of 
 a letter abowt that buseness of Inverness 
 quhich yow may compair with Mr 
 Stewart's I sent befor. It is writen by 
 Simion Frazer of Bawfort heir male of the 
 Lord Lovet's family. He is in it designd 
 Lord Lovet. I need not trowble yow with 
 the character of the man and quhat incon- 
 veniencies he was under about comitting 
 a rap as was aledgd upon the weddow Lady 
 Lovet a sister of this Duck of Athol's, yow 
 have not yet forgot that story. He has had 
 his pardon procurd from King George and 
 was sent down at my Lord Sutherland's 
 desier becawse the Frazers many of them 
 lay newtrall for want of a head except some 
 few Frazerdall M'Kenzie quho is married 
 to the heires of Lovet seducd upon his 
 coming here with orders from the Gover- 
 ment. He was suspected befor thes docu- 
 ments were producd and as the Associat 
 Volunteers have been alwise active so upon 
 a hint of his being in town they went and 
 surprisd him in his bedchamber. He was 
 willing to give them all satisfaction but 
 
86 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 quhat these gentlemen demanded was 
 he showld go befor the Justice C 
 quhich he did and cleard himself. Thej 
 stood gward upon him all the whill. Qi 
 he was aqwit he offerd the gentlem 
 glass quhich they accepted and were i 
 with him. Quhat service he has do 
 can not do better than give it in his 
 words, Sir, since I arived in the N 
 I hope I have answered yowr expects 
 for the second day after my coming 
 CuUoden I went up to the eountr; 
 Stratherick, convoyd by Kilraak 
 CuUoden, with 300 men. When I j< 
 my oun men I was informed Kepo] 
 Mcdonald was coming throwgh my cou 
 to joyn Sir John M'Kenzie and reini 
 Inverness. I presently marchd against 
 and chasd him from the head of Loch J 
 I then marchd and joynd Kilraack 
 Culloden and reducd the Macintoshes, 
 afterward having crosd the river of ] 
 I was informd that Kepok was comin 
 Inverness on that syde, and that Sir J 
 M'Kenzie had sent a party to meet am 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 87 
 
 ceive him into the toune. I immediatly put 
 myself between Kepok and Sir John's men 
 and chased Kepoch back to Glengary and 
 cam in closs to Inverness, took Sir John's 
 centinals and cowes at the gate of the town 
 and confind him in and fowr and twenty 
 howres after by taking the suburbes. He 
 abandond the towne. I then went and joynd 
 the Earl of Sutherland my Lord Strath- 
 naver and Lord Rea, contributed very much 
 with them to reduce the low country 
 M^intoshes to the King's obedience, and I 
 am now on my march with my men to 
 reduce Elgin and the rebells of Murry. 
 The Earl of Sutherland his son and Lord 
 Rea, Brigadeer Grant's men Kilraak's men 
 and Culloden's, ar gon with us in this 
 expedition. We have abowt 2500 men but 
 want horse. This is the real and true mater 
 of fact quhich yow may eawse to be put 
 in print if yow think fit. Sir, the 400 of 
 my men that Fraserdal forcd to go with 
 him to Lord Mar's camp deserted all to 
 a man quhen they heard of my coming 
 home, quhich occasioned a much greater 
 
88 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 desertion in that campe and Frazerdale 
 being ashamd that his battalion deserted 
 him he himself also left Mar's campe. 
 
 Sir, I told yow that Sir Robert Mon- 
 gomrie commanded that partie of Edin- 
 burgh new levies and the Duch troups at 
 Bruntiland. He has now intercepted some 
 letters sent over with one Finlason who 
 had the provost of Edinburgh's pass. He 
 pretended to go over to burry his mother 
 but it seems his main erand was to keep 
 up correspondance. He came to Sir Robert 
 and demanded alowance conforme to his 
 pass to returne. Sir Robert seemd to taike 
 no notise of him or sarch him but orderd 
 his passage. This fellow had been so cuning 
 as to dispose of his letters some where in 
 Bruntisland for fear of being searchd and 
 quhen he thowght he was not suspect had 
 his letters and was ready to goe off, but 
 Sir Robert just as he was taking boate 
 cawsd search him, and, having got the 
 letters, sent him over and he is now prisoner. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 89 
 
 The letters insinuat a design to sett the 
 prisoners in Edinburgh Castle at liberty 
 by surprising the garison quhich has made 
 the prisoners be more nearly lookd after and 
 there ar fewer ladys and visitors alowed 
 access for fear of corrupting the garison. 
 This was done on the 23 of December. 
 There ar 6 or seven prisoners from this 
 Castle shipd off for London. Camble of 
 Keithack and Drummond of Drummowhanie 
 ar of the number. They have since bene 
 returnd to the Castle the ship being put 
 back by contrair winds January 7, 1/16. 
 
 The Pretender landed at Peterhead 
 December 30 Fryday 1715, came to Fetter- 
 esso a hows of my Lord Marshal's, from 
 that to my Lord Panmur's hows at Brechin, 
 left 25 L. de ores of drink mony in both. 
 He came to Scoon Saturday January 8 1716. 
 As he past Aberden there came many out 
 to kis his hands and here he knighted the 
 provost Bennerman.^ The regular clargie 
 
 '■ He was sent to Carlisle, tried for high treason, and 
 narrowly escaped hanging. He died 4 June 1733. He was 
 fourth son of Sir Alexander Bannerman of Elsick. 
 
 M 
 
90 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 were imprisond. We hear that Sy forth has 
 consented to a sessation of armes till 
 Sutherland have a returne from the King 
 if he will accept of his submission and 
 Huntly is trating upon the same head. 
 There came in a French ship and was 
 stranded upon Sant Androse Sands. All the 
 men were savd and the cargoe. There war 
 on bord my Lord Tinmowth the Duck of 
 Bervick's sone and a sone-in-law of his and 
 Sir John Areskin of Ava and others. This 
 was January 10, 1716. Quhen the Pretender 
 came to Dundee there was a gwarde of 
 100 Hylanders set upon him and sentries 
 more strictly set on all the prisoners. He 
 gave 5tt sterling to his gward that night 
 and all the regular clargie were imprisoned 
 and the Presbeterian inhabitants as the 
 clargy ar all whers quher there power can 
 reach becawse they will not cease praying 
 for King George. 
 
 When the Pretender came to Fetteresso 
 there was ane adress from the Jacobit 
 burgeses of Aberdeen presented him by 
 Provost Bennerman there new provost. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 91 
 
 The disafected gentry to the Goverment 
 liquise presented one, as did one of the 
 CoUedges in Aberdeen that has ane 
 Episeupall head. (Dr. Midletown), con- 
 tinued there since the Revolution becawse 
 he then qwaUfied and has qwahfied to all 
 goverments since and has no minde to 
 bawlk the upstart one. Whill the Pretender 
 was here he wowld not conforme so far 
 as to allow a Protestant chaplan having 
 Father Innise along to direct his con- 
 science. He came forward and was kindly 
 intertend at my Lord Penmuir's neer 
 Brichen. My Lady^ kisd his hand upon her 
 knee, but he raisd her up and saluted her, 
 but she told his pretended Majesty that 
 that was not quhat wowd satisfy her unless 
 the old Scots way and so she imbresd 
 and huggd him and said many extrava- 
 gant kind things. He generall treats all 
 the ladys as he did this zelows lady tho 
 they do not returne the same fredomes. 
 
 ^ Lady Margaret Hamilton, married James, fourth Earl of 
 Panmure, who died in exile without issue at Paris in 1723. 
 She died in 1731. 
 
92 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 Quhat pitie is it his pretended Majesty 
 had not come sooner but my lady is past 
 date and perhaps as circumstances stand 
 now the goverment may be my Lord's 
 heir. The Pretender entred Dundee my 
 Lord Mar on his right hand and Generall 
 Bchlin on his left he made severall low 
 bows shapo ba [with his hatt off] to the 
 people as he passd along. My Lord Mar 
 had gon with a trowpe of horse to meet 
 him there with eight colowrs of foot that 
 went owt of Dundee. When he cam neer 
 that place was the gwairds that attended 
 him he did not offer his hand to be kissd 
 by the mobble all the way as they ex- 
 pected. He has created some peers as 
 Ogilvie of Powre^ &c. Mr Lessly a bishop 
 and some others — 
 
 Sir Robert Polock has been obliged to 
 keep closs at Inverlochy. A strong garison 
 in that place might have done good service 
 for tho thfere be two regements there, my 
 Lord Lome's regement, yet they ar not 
 
 1 A Jacobite agent. The Marquis de Ruvigny ddes not 
 include this title in his Jacobite Feerage. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 93 
 
 compleet. Sir Robert gives infalible proof 
 that Mar's numbers can not be so many 
 now for a litle befor the batell neer Dum- 
 blain any partys he had sent to forrage 
 wowld have gon many miles and not seen 
 one man fit to fight, but wanting pro- 
 vision he sent latle out 100 of his men 
 to gather some catell and dryve in and 
 to call and see if in there way they cowld 
 surprize any of the chiefs of the clans. 
 Thes were there instructions but it was to 
 ther surprize to see neer 200 Hyghlanders 
 armd against them on a night's advertis- 
 ment. However they having gathered 
 the booty had no mind to parte with it 
 so easily. The rebells ofiered to lett them 
 picebly in the garison so they wowld leave 
 the catell quhich the garison's party wowld 
 not yeeld to and so prepared for the 
 attack but the Highlanders thowght fit 
 to retire perhaps surfet with fighting at 
 Sheriffinuir, and so the party browght in 
 the provision unmolested and it is belivd 
 that now the clans will stay at hom to 
 defend there cattell for they can drive 
 
94 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 them no quher so far off but this garison 
 may spoyl them and burn there howses. 
 
 The Pretender has pubUshed a generall 
 indemnitie and declaration for all past 
 befor his landing. They had the impudence 
 to send a copy to the provost of Edinburgh 
 and drop them evry quhere. Here it is 
 supersignd and cowntersignd J. R. so it 
 semes he had gott no secretary on the end 
 of December 1715 at least non on this 
 syde the water. 
 
 Sir, Al things ar in a forwardness for 
 marching in to the enimie. That hansom 
 trayn I told yow was shiped of from London, 
 There is but one of the nyne ships come 
 in and she gives aecownt that she with 
 the rest were for a long time wiad bownd 
 at the boue anore and that the other ships 
 came of with her, but by stress of wether 
 and contrair winds were blown in to Har- 
 wich. However Generall Cadugen is here 
 and makin all shifts and dispach imagin- 
 able and the artilery will be fumishd from 
 Bervick and this place. There were fowr 
 great guns pasd this place on Frayday 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 95 
 
 last and some morters and field pices the 
 20 instant. The ponton that he had made 
 at Leith and they ar gon after and all 
 things neccessary on Sunday and Satwrday. 
 Yow will see nothing here but tents chevl 
 de frise with picks 8 foot long hatchets 
 pickaxes and all tools for pyoneers carriages 
 for cannon &c. bagwes for sand or earth 
 and htle bass baskets for to fill against 
 smalshot on top of the trenches. There ar 
 burdins of pie coats and bigg coats for 
 soldiers carying. All the horse from the 
 cowntry ar cald in to dispatch off all this 
 for the camp. The man and horse is liberaly 
 and duely payd a shilling the horse and 
 eight pence the man, and it being now so 
 violent frost all come readely in so that 
 some times yow wowld mistake our cross 
 for an horse market. There was no less then 
 upwards of three hundred horse gatherd 
 there last day the 21 instant. As this frost 
 encurages them to come in so the pathd 
 sno with the frost helps on there way and 
 I wish as this frost has continowed 7 weeks 
 so it may pleas God to give a fowrtnight 
 
96 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 more and then we may hear a good aecownt 
 of the rebells at Perth, for owr generals 
 at StirHng agree very well with M : 
 Vanderbeck the Duch generall and will 
 shortly march in. There is certainly great 
 want of fewell at Perth and Dundee and 
 tho they la vied 30000 pairs of blankets it 
 will scarce keep them warme from Falkland 
 quher they have as I told yow taken 
 possession of the King's howse there. They 
 ar very industrious to press all the cowntry 
 abowt to bring in fewell to Perth. We 
 here from London that Mar, Lithgow, 
 Drumond, and Tulibarden, ar attented &c. 
 I am. Sir, Yowr humble servant. 
 
 There ar some of Brigadeer Grant's 
 granadeers have deserted and taken some 
 out of other regements about 20 in all. 
 A gentleman was over told he saw some 
 with the King's livry there but it might be 
 some they stript after the last batell. 
 
 Sir, I write yow word that Pyfe was 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1713-16. 97 
 
 evacuat by the rebells upon Generall 
 Cadugen and parte of the Duch coming 
 here, but now alas that consternation is 
 over and the rebells have returnd. I know 
 not by whoes fawlt it is overrun. It might 
 have been prevented Cadugen advisd the 
 cantoning our trupes throw it, but all he 
 cowld gain was to put a garison at Brunte- 
 land and at Lessly ; and Dumfermling is so 
 neer Stirling it cowld not be refusd. The 
 rebells have seven garisons and abowt 
 1800 men. In it the most considerable ar 
 Couper, St. Andreus, Falkland, Samford, 
 Bambrech. There were a party of our gari- 
 son of Lessly went out upon missinformation 
 and were surprised by Rob Roi M^Gregowrs 
 party. Yow must understand this captain 
 for the Pretender is a Highland rober and 
 works much by stratagems. His father was 
 hangd for the thiefing tread. Roi came 
 doun with a party in the dark of the 
 morning to the town of Merkins [Markinch]. 
 Abowt a mile off from our garison he disposd 
 of his men so as not to let the people 
 well know of his numbers when it came 
 
 N 
 
98 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 day and had a fellow to decoi up a parte 
 of the garison as if there had but been 
 20 Heighlanders come down and that they 
 were plundering the place. The garison sent 
 owt a party of 12 Sweise and 18 Kircaldie 
 melity. The gwide lett hem to an incloser 
 or bam yeard where he said the rebels 
 were. Owr men came up and fyrd briskly 
 2 and kild two of the rebells but when 
 they saw themselves surrounded by 160 
 armed men they all asked qwarters but 
 two of the Swise quho were at lenthe 
 desperatly wownded and taken and ane 
 of them is since dead. Captain Innes quho 
 commands the garisson at Lessly was not 
 in the garison and there has been some 
 more forward then wise that have lett 
 this bait take. 
 
 The train of artilery is hasting up to 
 the camp. I write yow that the Bervick 
 cannon went by and now there ar two 18 
 pownders gone from this castle with some 
 smal field pices and some morters this was 
 the 23- of January they went out to Car- 
 sterphin. The hevy cannon took 23 horses 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 99 
 
 a pice to draw them but the horse being 
 very insufficient they went on but hevely 
 tho the rode was never better it being well 
 pavd [by] the snow. They cowld scarce get 
 up the asscent at Castle Collops and there 
 ar 100 worse rubs in the way befor they 
 make Stirling but the fault is in the 
 commisars that receive such horse off the 
 cowntry's hand. When this busenes of 
 forwarding the train was first set on foot 
 there were 1600 horse to be taken out 
 of the counties of Bervick, Tiviotdel, and 
 Forest Twedell, the 3 Lotheans, Stirling, 
 Clydsdale, Renthrew and Air, of quhich 
 there wer to be 163 carrtes with three 
 horses a peice. The Lotheans and Glasgow 
 took burden for the cartes and the rest 
 were to provid the horses and all were to 
 be sufficiently payd, but the comissars for 
 this effect received in such insufficient 
 horse that some of them were not valued 
 above 30 or 40 shilings ; for all the horses 
 were valowd quhatever might befall, and 
 I am persweded by this management the 
 train cannot be timowsly up, for the armie 
 
100 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 proposes to march and the bridge is to 
 be opened at StirUng on Fry day 27 of 
 January when it is abowt full moon. 
 
 On Sabath the twenty second there 
 was a strong detachment of horse sent 
 owt to reconoiter. They were to goe owt 
 the lenth of 10 miles toward Awchter- 
 arder and to cover the generalls in vewing 
 the grownd there, so on Monday the 23 
 Argle and Cadugen went owt and vewd 
 all the fields near Dumblain and Auchter- 
 arder and returnd the same night to 
 Stirling. 
 
 Bvry one here think Argyle is disgusted 
 that he sees the Sqwadrony party is like 
 to have the ascendant and that all the 
 orders he has from Court ar as soon 
 transmited to their hand by means of 
 
 M h and the D of Monross and 
 
 that things ar misrepresented to his dis- 
 advantage ; as the Heighlanders eschape 
 from Leith, the batell of Shiriffmuir, this 
 second incurtions into Fyfe ; but the first 
 two I have spoken of, and as to the third 
 however this has been laid befor the 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 101 
 
 Cowrt by some that have intrest there. 
 It is certain that Perth is the key of all 
 Fyfe and it had been exposing the trowpes 
 to canton them quher they lay so open 
 to the enimie. How ever the orders ar so 
 peremptor to march up to the enimie that 
 yow will soon hear of action if this chainge 
 of wether this day do not hinder. I am, 
 Yowr humble servant. 
 Edinburgh, 25«* Jaimxry 1716. 
 
 [25 January 1716.J We had owr presbetry 
 fast yesterday.* It has been throw all the 
 presbetries on this syd the water at different 
 times. It was in Glasgow quhen Argyl was 
 there to revew the trowpes. I hear upon 
 this proposd march of owr army Mar is 
 calling in all his garisons. That tratie Isla 
 made with the clans is made a handle at 
 Cowrt as dishonowrable. Argyle was repre- 
 
 1 The Kev. James Christie, D.D., kindly informs me that 
 Tuesday, 24 January, was the day appointed by the Presbytery 
 to be ' religiously observed as a day of fasting, himiiliation, 
 and prayer,' on account of 'the unnatural Rebellion of a 
 Popish and Jacobite Party.' 
 
102 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 rented as having a numerows Heighland clan 
 and yet was not able to keep the clans at 
 home, but by a traty ^ Isla alowed them to 
 goe to the rebell camp for fear of having 
 his men swallowd up and his cowntry 
 destroyed, and in that traty pactiond in 
 their absence not to spoyll the clans of 
 their goods. 
 
 Sir, I gave yow the Pretender's progress 
 since his landing Yow heard from me of 
 the addresses he had from the clargie and 
 ane other from the town of Aberdeen. The 
 clargies adres^ was gratiowsly received 
 being introdusd by his Grace the Duck 
 of Mar and the Earle Marshall of Scotland, 
 presented by the two Doctor Gairneses' in 
 Aberdeen college; Mr Blair* and some other 
 of the Episcopall clargie particularly on 
 
 > October 1715. 
 
 2 29 December 1715. 
 
 ' Jamea Garden, Professor of Theology of King's College, 
 Aberdeen, died in 1725 ; and his brother, George Garden, died 
 31 January 1733. 
 
 * William Blair died February 1716. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 103 
 
 Maitlsmd/ quho has received new orders 
 since he has been deposd by the Generall 
 Assemblie. There were two brothers of 
 them. I saw them deposd Assembly was a 
 year. The adress congratwlats him upon his 
 arivell in his own kingdoms, takes notise of 
 his being traind up in the schoU of the 
 cross or affliction, subsumes that that school 
 has produced many worthies as Joseph 
 Moses and David, and dowts not but he 
 has had good instructions and hope there 
 rehgion will be secured under his wise 
 administration and end with a herty prayr. 
 The Aberdeen adress is but short. It takes 
 notice after the first compliments of con- 
 gratwlation that they had the hapiness 
 among the first considerable places to have 
 his Majesty among them and tho they were 
 not sencible then yet now they reackon 
 it there honour ; and that as they have had 
 this first honowr so they will endevowr to be 
 
 ' John Maitland, minister of Forgue, and deposed for ' not 
 keeping the Thanksgiving for H.M.'s succession.' He was 
 received into the Episcopal Communion and died 16 April 
 1740. His brother the minister of Inverkeithny was also 
 deposed as a Jacobite. 
 
104 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 the first in there loyalty and affection to 
 his Majesties goverment. If the adresses 
 come to hand I shall transmitt them at 
 lenth. I am, Sir, Yowr humble servant. 
 
 Sutherland is got the honowr of Liftenant- 
 generall and Precedent of the Police in 
 roume of the Marqwise of Tweddell quhich 
 showse how well pleasd the Cowrt ar with 
 his service, and certenly this of Huntly and 
 Seaforth will raise his reputation for the 
 diverting such considerable, persons quho 
 had the command of Mar's best horse at 
 Shirifmuir is meretoriows service. These 
 two Lords make hy demands considering 
 there circupstanc having been not only in 
 armes but in action. No less then there 
 lives fortuns and honowrs and estate and 
 honowrs for there vassals so that this is 
 a generall pardon which the King may 
 not inclin to give. But the cessation con- 
 tinows and they have noways coresponded 
 with the Pretender since his landing. 
 They begin to declare such as do not com 
 in fugitive from the King's standart. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 105 
 
 Edinburgh, January 26. 
 
 The King's forces ar to begin ther march 
 on Saturday 28. The advance gwards 
 ar actwaly in motion. In a Cowncill of 
 war held at StirUng the operations of 
 the war ar agreed to and conserted. 
 Lieutenant General Cadogan marchd on 
 Sabath morning with 500 dragoons and 
 fyften hundred foot to Dumblain fowr 
 myls from Stirling on the other syde 
 the Forth quher he took post on the 
 way towards Perth. The same day two 
 battalians more marched from Stirling to 
 Down a litle plase two miles beyond 
 Dumblain upon the same way and posted 
 themselves there. Generall Cadogan lay 
 that night at Dumblain quher the Duck 
 of Argyl aryved Monday morning 23, 
 with two hundred dragowns, and taking 
 a hundred mor his Grace, attended by 
 Mr Cadogen and some other generall 
 officers, advanced towards Awchterardur 
 and the river Em 8 or nyn miles furder 
 to vew the grownd and road towards 
 
106 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 Perth and returnd in the evening to 
 Dumblain and from thence to Stirling. 
 His Grace designd to march the next 
 morning being Tewsday the 24 with the 
 rest of the armie to joyn the advance 
 gwards at Down and Dumblain and the 
 neccessary orders were given accordingly, 
 but a sudden thaw hapend that morning 
 retarded ther motion for that time, but 
 the trowpes have orders to hold them- 
 selves in readyness to march on ane howr's 
 warning. They cary so much amonition 
 bread as may serve for 5 days march 
 and ther is in the bread waggons 
 eleven days bread for the whol armie 
 besyd. 
 
 Take the following accownt of the order 
 of battell of his Majesty's forcess : 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 107 
 
 Ordee of Battell of his Majesty's forces 
 under the Command of his Grace the 
 Duck of Argyll : 
 
 riEST LYNE. 
 
 Brigadeer 
 Stenwix 
 
 Brigadeer 
 Morison 
 
 Brigadeer 
 Chambrier 
 
 CoUoneU 
 Newton 
 
 sqwad/rons * 
 
 2 Portmor's 
 2 Evans 
 
 battcdiona 
 
 1 Forfar's > 
 1 fudzilliers 
 1 Edgerton 
 1 Clayton 
 
 battalions 
 
 1 Kipenbach* 
 1 Paiant 
 1 Chambrier 
 
 1 Sturler 
 
 sqwad/rons 
 
 2Ker 
 
 2 Carpenter 
 
 g 
 
 
 CD H< ", 
 
 5 2- 
 1=1 p- 
 
 CD 
 
 B 
 
 P CD 
 
 P 
 CD 
 >t 
 SO 
 
 » Wills (Km). 
 ' Slippenbeck (Bae). 
 '_Montese (Kae). 
 * Wetham (Rae). 
 
108 
 
 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 SECOND LYNE. 
 
 sqwadrons 
 2 Newtons 
 
 Brigadeer 
 Grant 
 
 Brigadeer 
 Croustroom 
 
 hatalions 
 
 1 Morison 
 1 Montagwe 
 1 Shanon 
 1 Grant 
 1 Wightman 
 
 hattalions 
 
 1 Croustroom 
 1 May 
 1 Mey 
 
 1 Rantzaw 
 
 sqwadrons 
 
 2 Stenhope 
 
 o 2 
 
 CD c- 
 
 g Q 
 
 SL P 
 
 i-TJ ►— 
 
 CD 
 O 
 
 BODY OF RESERVE. 
 
 Brigadeer 
 Labadie 
 
 1 Stair sqwadron 
 1 Wilderen bat: 
 1 Smitch bat : 
 1 Zutland bat : 
 1 Stair's sqwad : 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 109 
 
 January 27, 1716. 
 
 Sir, Owr train of artilery from London 
 came up Thursday January 26, but the 
 armie as I told yow dispairing of there 
 being here in time is provided from 
 Bervick and the Castle here. There came 
 up one of the train shipes abowt 10 days 
 agon with bomb shells and ball quhich 
 have been forwarded by land cariage to 
 StirUng. There were some of the shells to 
 the nomber of 20 stolen the first night. 
 The cairts stoped at Carsterfin but Cadugan 
 threatned the vilage with military exe- 
 cution and they have been since restord. 
 All the use these covetows people proposd 
 I supose was to break there coals with 
 them. The shipes last come up ar abowt 
 eight. They were by stres contrary winds 
 sometime detained at the Boi a nore, after- 
 ward at Harwich, and then by stress of 
 wether put into Hull. Our armie has taken 
 possession by there advance gwairds of 
 Dumblain. 
 
 The supplys for Sutherland were orderd 
 off before the artilery shipes, aboard of 
 
110 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 Captain Gordon. But he was detaind by 
 contrary winds, as he pretended, so that the 
 artilere ships got him at Harwich. He was 
 Uke to be browght upon triel for remissness 
 but is now gon north. 
 
 Hay, Rothes his servant, came with a 
 party from the garison under Sir Robert 
 Montgomerie at Bruntisland. His orders 
 were to posses that party of Bagowny 
 howse. There were with him 12 Sweece 
 soldiers and 20 volenteers. The rebells tho 
 they had most parte evacuat Perth hearing 
 of the motion of the King's forces toward 
 them yet did send a flying party with Rob 
 Roy M^Grregory to be befor this party of 
 the Bruntesland garison. Hay the gwide 
 to that party from Bruntesland gott drunk 
 and led the way to Merkins. The rebell 
 partie had wandred in the snow and knew 
 not where they were till they heard the 
 5 howre bell of Merkins in the morning. 
 Upon this they came into the vilage and 
 Hay came soon after. At a howse quher he 
 cald the woman told the Highlanders were 
 in the place upon which he cursed her. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1716-16. Ill 
 
 By this time Roy was up with them and 
 fired a pistol! quhich mist Hay very near. 
 Upon which he run away and cryed back 
 * fight Doges.' All the Volunteers folio wd 
 Hay in the flight and the poor fatigwed 
 strangers were left a pray to these worse 
 then hussare party of Roy's men. 
 
 His Majesty King George has accepted 
 of Syforth's submition and grants him a 
 generall pardon. Admerall Jennings is 
 come down here by land and is to command 
 a sqwadron that will soon be fitted owt 
 to saill for owr firth and cruse here. I 
 am, Yowr humble servant. 
 
 Edinburgh, January 28, 1716. Yester- 
 day was solemniesd a thanksgiving to 
 God for the Pretender's safe landing 
 in his kingdoms. My Lord Mar has 
 write a circular letter giving ane accownt 
 of his pretended Majesty's landing 
 and his going to meet him. He insists 
 much upon his royall induements and in 
 the end tells them that he hops in a 
 
112 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 shortime afiairs will take such a turne 
 abrode in favours of the King's intrest as 
 will, throw God's blissing, give them grownd 
 of undowted success but he dars not comitt 
 more to writ. 
 
 There are three royall proclamations 
 issued : on summoning all to armes betwext 
 16 and sexty, the other for his corronation, 
 and the 3^ calling a Parliament, all given 
 at his Court at Scoon. But perhaps our 
 armie that is marchd this day may fill 
 there hands and heads with other things 
 then pagentry and solemnitys. The rebells 
 ar taking all immaginable precawtion they 
 have send to destroy all the forrage neer 
 Perth, and have burnt and demolishd the 
 vilages of Aughterarder, Tulebarden, and 
 Blackfoord, and all the houses neer that 
 might be any way servisable to the King's 
 forces so that they will be oblidged to 
 carry all there provision along. The King 
 alows so much brandy a man per diem 
 becaws of this extraordinary season, and 
 there is in the march such a number of 
 cartes of coals to each battalion and 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 113 
 
 sqwadron carryd along. The rebells have 
 been bussy fortefying Perth and have 
 browght the watter qwite rownd the 
 town. 
 
 January 28. Yesterday ane express from 
 Cowrt went throw Edinburgh with orders 
 for the Earle of Sutherland to accept of 
 the submission of the Earle of Seaforth 
 and his folowers, quho have obtaind ther 
 pardon and so ther lives and fortunes ar 
 preservd providing they leav peacably. The 
 rebells have sent 3000 Hylanders quho 
 have plunderd and brunt the cowntry 
 between Perth and Dumblain and namely 
 the litle towns and vilages of Awchter- 
 ardowr, Creif, Blackfoord, and Dinning, 
 that his Majesty's trowpes may find no 
 sustinance therin. The Duck of Argyle pasd 
 the Bridge with a parte of his armie this 
 day and marched to Dumblain. Upon the 29 
 ther ar 7 hunder of his Grase's heighlanders 
 march befor the armie under the command 
 of Cambell of Fenabb to clear the way 
 for the armie. 
 
114 NEWS LETTEES OF 1715-16. 
 
 Sir, We have now a full acownt from 
 the North of that traty with my Lord 
 Syforth. It was indeed sword in hand, and 
 had it not been for the prudence of the 
 Cowntess Douger and the irresolution of 
 my Lord, to give it no worse word. I 
 dout not but I write yow formerly that 
 North cowntry Marqwis and this Earl 
 were the first off the fields of Shirifmuir 
 and perhaps the fright ther too contribut 
 with the other two to his submitting. The 
 story is thus. My Lord Sutherland hear- 
 ing that Syforth was geting togither his 
 clan at the Watter Bawly sent 200 of 
 his sone's men with my Lord Lovet, a 
 150 of Coloden's, 150 of my Lord Rea's 
 men 60 of the Rosses and 300 of Grants 
 men; ther went along Collnall Grant, 
 CoUoden, and his brother, these 860 in 
 ther march were joynd by 700 of the 
 Frazers quho marchd all streight up to 
 my Lord Syforth, but as I hinted befor 
 the Countes Doveger was for ane accomo- 
 dation and so it was commund of and my 
 Lord was to send his submission to King 
 
NEWS LETTBES OF 1715-16. 115 
 
 George to be forwarded by my Lord 
 Sutherland to Cowrt. But when the day 
 the submision was to be delivered was 
 come ther was no appearance from the 
 rebell camp in the termes agreed, so that 
 my Lord Lovett resolvd to attack them 
 and crossd the river upon the ice. The 
 men were all resolut and hearty but now 
 Syforth saw it was in earnest sent down 
 his submission they had not so treated so 
 with him but for the badness of the season 
 and that he might have retird to the hills 
 and woods and have escapd them. The 
 King has accepted of his subbmission and 
 sent down a remission. My Lord Suther- 
 land for his eminent service has been 
 made Lifbenant Generall and the pre- 
 cedentship of the poUice has been be- 
 stowed on him and he has just now got 
 the Liftenancy of Orkny and Zetland in 
 place of my Lord Morton deceasd. The 
 ship with suplys for his Lordship is now 
 arrived with him and when he is qwit of 
 so formidable ane enimy as the Mac- 
 kenzies he may be able to doe great 
 
116 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 matters. We have it in the prints that 
 his Majesty is to write him thanks under 
 his own hand. 
 
 Edinburgh, February 2, 1716. 
 
 Sir, I write yow owr armie begun thair 
 march on Saturday the twentie eight. They 
 continwed and the last of them marchd 
 out on to the thertie, and notwith- 
 standing the French trick of burning the 
 willages and destroying the forrage they 
 had pretty good accomodation. They carryd 
 about eleven days provision along. They 
 marched about 5 a brest quhich made a 
 long line. The rebells did not expect this 
 visite so soon. Cadugen had used the 
 stratagem to make them securer when he 
 with Argyle was vewing the rodes. He 
 alues in publick seemd to declare it 
 impracticable the armie showld march. 
 This he knew wowld be carryd to the 
 King of Perth and his CownciU and it 
 had the desired effect for they left Perth 
 in the outmost confusion one Thewsday 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 117 
 
 the 31 January at two a'clock in the 
 morning. Ther were abowt 5000 in all. 
 They took two different routs parte to 
 Dundee the rest to Cowper in Anguse and 
 we hear the generall randivouse is to be at 
 Brichan. Our advance gwarde under Gene- 
 rall WiUiam viz. a detachment of 50 men 
 out of each battallion, took possession of the 
 place about two in the afternoon. The 
 same day his Qrace the Duke of Argyl 
 with the rest of the armie came in upon the 
 1 of February. At twelve at night Major 
 Stewart of Torrance aid camp to his 
 Grace is gon express to London with the 
 good news. The rebells left the head 
 qwarters in prety good condition. Ther 
 were both provisions and armes in abownd- 
 ance. The garisons in Fyfe were soon 
 evacuat. Those at Falkland on hearing 
 the King's armie were possessd of Perth 
 marchd doun to Dundee cross Tay January 
 31. They gave it out quhen they left 
 Perth that they declind fighting becawse in 
 a fourtnight they expect forreign aid. I 
 dowt not but they most wait for this at 
 
118 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 Aberdeen for I am perswaded our armies 
 will be capable of investing all the sea 
 cost betwext and that even in this 
 rigorows season, and it will be hard if 
 owr flett letts no freinds slipp by to joyn 
 the rebells at Bon Accord. This proceed- 
 ings will spoyll the pretended King's 
 matching with the Duck Regent of France 
 his dowghter and his underhand dealings 
 will be too late to doe service to his 
 sone in law in Fieri. I am, Sir, Yowr 
 humble servant. 
 
 CoUnell [Hay^] has took possession of 
 Perth by surprise for the rebells abowt the 
 17 of September 1715; so they have had 
 more then 4 months peacable possession 
 of that place. The prisoners they took 
 at Dumblain were taken north befor this 
 to Killemuir. The Pretender continued to 
 hear mess all the time he was at Scoon. 
 This disoblidg'd many quho flaterd them- 
 
 ' John Hay, brother of the Earl of KinnouU, took posses- 
 sion of Perth on 18 September 1715, with 2000 men. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 119 
 
 selves and others that he was protestant 
 but he insists upon his father's dieing 
 advice. He has made a speech in his 
 Cowncill licke a valedictary oration and I 
 fancy the schens will very soon be shut 
 for few have joynd since his landing. He 
 took notice of his former expedition that 
 he was hindred from landing in Scotland 
 and now that he was come he apprehended 
 himself to be in greater danger then ever : 
 upon quhich he weepd. 
 
 Febrvary 3, 1716. 
 Sir, the rebells have left behind them 
 ther cannon abowt 18 iron and 3 brass 
 pices. They sunk thes bress guns in the 
 river and have left all ther carriages and 
 heavy bagage so that they took litle more 
 with them then quhat they carryd on ther 
 backs. Ther was a small garison on the 
 way to Perth offerd resistance. It was that 
 in Tulebairne howse commanded by C*. 
 Cambell brother to Glenlyon. 10 granna- 
 deers with ane officer were sent up to 
 
120 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 attack it. They fyrd from all the windows 
 of the place but killd non of our men 
 and when they saw twow field pices 
 planted against them they yealded prisoners 
 at discretion, this was on the 30- instant. 
 This same day Mr Arthur Elphingston^ 
 sone to Balmirano a captain deserted from 
 Dumfermling. This gentleman had been 
 suspended and was repond upon Argyl's 
 coming doun. It seems he loves to play a 
 desperat game. The Duke and General 
 Caduggen marchd yesterday from Perth 
 and lodgd last night at Errol howse. They 
 ar this day at Dundee. The armie is to 
 march by division parte from Perth and 
 parte from Dundee to randevows at 
 Monross. The rebells ar marching streight 
 for Aberdeen. Ther were a party of the 
 rebells carrying of some brandy from a 
 marchant, he persweaded them they wowld 
 carry it the better thy took a dram befor 
 hand and so gott them detaind till a party 
 
 > The sixth Lord Bahnerino. He escaped to the Continent, 
 returned later to Scotland, went 'out' in 1745, and was 
 executed 18 August 1746. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 121 
 
 of the King's troups were come up. Upon 
 his warning, the Heilanders and the 
 brandy were both securd without strock 
 of sword. I am, Sir, Yowr humble 
 servant. 
 
 Sir, I now send yow a letter of politicks. 
 This bloodless victory will not redownd I 
 am afrayd to owr general's reputation ther 
 ar a party I told yow had ther horns in his 
 syd and they begin to improve this. The 
 Duke was certainly to blame in oflfring two 
 capitulations to the Cowrt, on ridgid, the 
 other milde, they were both negotiat with 
 his ant the Cowntess Murry at Stirling. 
 It was plain the rebells had both ways been 
 in his power the ridgid had put them so 
 and the other had obligd him to be of his 
 intres by helping them out of ther inyagle- 
 ments but both were rejected ; and it was 
 at this time the articles of his brother's 
 tratie with the rebells was laid befor the 
 Court. Ther he promisd not to destroy ther 
 country in ther absence so they wowld 
 
122 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 leave him and not pillage his brother's 
 highlands. Upon these emergents Generall 
 Cadugen came down he pressd the Duck 
 to march forward now all the troupes were 
 come up. The Duck seemd not to go in 
 with his instances but a councill of war 
 was called in the quhich the Duck told 
 them he had calld them to deliberat of 
 mesours most convenient, and that he 
 wishd it was not impracticable at least of 
 dangerows conseqwence to march in with 
 ane armie of fatigwd men, some with a long 
 sea voage, others with as long a land march, 
 and besid the other inconveniences of want- 
 ing a train switable for such ane armie. Here 
 his Grace was again to blame, for in a 
 Cowncill of war the preces is not to pre- 
 occupuy the generalls but, begining from 
 the yowngest, he is 'to aske the advice 
 rownd of all and in the last to reason on 
 it himself How ever he past this pice of 
 forme and it had the end he proposd for 
 all seemd to go in with his wish till it came 
 at last to Generall Cadugen and he was 
 openly for pushing forward. He took of the 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 123 
 
 Duck's reasons that now the men had been 
 acustomed and hardned by fatigw it wowld 
 do better to march forward, for showld they 
 go in to winter qwarters the spring coming 
 on they might fall in seikness and so de- 
 minish quher as now ther was no odds. In 
 ten days more marching that he cowld 
 dispose so that ther might be a switable 
 train. However the result of the Cowncill 
 was it is not fitt to attack in this season 
 but the powers above thowght not so, for 
 down came a thundering letter to march 
 with all dispach and a sting in the taill 
 of it this galld his Grace, but ther was no 
 debeating such orders and now it has 
 proven but a bugbear quhat he musterd 
 up and the Cowrt has been put to charge 
 the cowntry and Cadugen to trowble of a 
 needless train of artellere. It certenly will 
 be usd to lessen the Duck's character for 
 he alwise persweded them ther numbers 
 were more and that they wowld stand by it. 
 They have indeed very tamely qwite ther 
 head qwarters and that the only night ther 
 King had ever lodged ther with them and 
 
124 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 he had not been 3 howrse in bed neither 
 till he was forsd to his shifts. Many ar of 
 oppinion he mi^ht have marchd with the 
 same success after the battell of Shiriff- 
 muir, and then the thing had not made 
 such noise in Europe by a pretender's land- 
 ing and the pope his making publick 
 prayers in the English church at Rome 
 on St. Thomas day. 
 
 February 4. Sir, To let yow a litle 
 furder into owr politicks they will aske 
 yow why did not the Duck set gwaird upon 
 the rebells at Leith to intercept and cutt 
 them off in ther retreit ? Why when they 
 had reteerd to Ceaton^ howse not atack 
 them ther and beat doun the hows abowt 
 ther years or fight them since they were not 
 discusd in the Citydall ? But Mar wanted 
 of the sent. He made to pas forth and so 
 coverd ther retrite. But this say thay was 
 impossible and gave the rebells new curage 
 nay impudence and as it throw in the fier 
 
 ' Seaton. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 125 
 
 into Sowth Brittain so it made them oflfer 
 the tratys afterward. But February 2 came 
 up the Portmachon, she saluted the flag 
 that is here hoisted in our firth aborde 
 the Oxford for Admerall Jennings. Ther 
 came in her one Liffcenant M'^Neill of 
 Captain Monroe's Independant Company. 
 This gentleman was immediatly closeted by 
 the Lord Provost quher he deliverd in my 
 Lord Lovet's leters and others. His news 
 he gave out are Sutherland was gon home 
 and had been so for some time. That all 
 was done by Lovet and that the deputy 
 liffcenants impeded the King's busines in 
 thes partes, particularly Mr Duncan 
 Forbess, and spoke some good of his oun 
 Captain but not a word to my Lord 
 Sutherland's advantage. The Justice Clerk 
 sent for him and he denyd to give up 
 letters write by Sutherland to my Lady 
 Maitland his sister. My Lord told he douted 
 not ther were letters of importance under 
 her cover and for himself However M'^Neill 
 said he was orderd to deliver them himself 
 quhich was not done till after the ordinary 
 
126 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 post was gon, and then it appeard the 
 Justice Clerk had not been mistaken, but 
 however it cost his lordship the trouble 
 to send of ane express to be up with the 
 common post. This was but a poor shift and 
 M'^Neil is certenly a raskale for the letters 
 from my Lord Sutherland wer dated from 
 aboord the man of war where he had been 
 waiting on the livering the stores at Inver- 
 ness, but the spite is at Sutherland becaws 
 he is supported by the Sqwadrony. How 
 high these devisions may rise I know not 
 but yow see owr generall wants not his 
 creatwrs heere to practise for him and 
 this M^neill has but acted a bad parte. 
 Yow will think it very strange news I 
 write that effcer the Jacobite party have 
 been so often disapointed, inteerly defete in 
 England, and now so bafled in the North, 
 yet they showld have the impudence to 
 attempt surprising Edinburgh Castle. I 
 can scarce myself give it credit but the 
 story is so. Ther was on Thursday the 2 
 instant a leter sent to Brigadeer Preston 
 deput governowr signd J: Grant wherein 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 127 
 
 he is warnd to look well to the garison 
 and prisoners for ther was certenly a design 
 to surprise him and the honest party in 
 the Castle and set the prisoners at liberty. 
 That night and Fryday morning ther ar 
 two companies of Grant's men in the 
 garrison and one Liftenant Gumming, a 
 sone of Gumming of Altar's, had command 
 of the gwaird. The Brigadier having this 
 alarming letter went the rownd that night 
 and fownd some things out of order that 
 (yet) nothing to give any umbrage of a 
 design untUl he came to the gwaird quher 
 he fownd not Goming who commanded it. 
 He askd quher he was and was told he was 
 in with the prisoners. This happned to be 
 after the prisoners showld have been all 
 shutt in abowt 12 at night. The Brigedeer 
 cawsd call him and he was fownd with 
 the Lord Lyon. This concuring with 
 Brigadeer Preston's information, procurd 
 Gumming be put in arrest. Mr Gumming 
 has his father and his brother in the rebells 
 camp and was in the North himself till the 
 rebellion brock openly owt. This is all that 
 
128 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 I can write yow of this story. My opinion 
 is had this letter not been dropd ther had 
 been some stir for some letters of my Lord 
 Mar's taken off ane old woman near Burly 
 howse had some mystical things about a 
 design on Edinburgh, but he feard the 
 signall wowld be to late given, and the 
 last two companys of Grant's men that 
 were in the Castle have proven but raskells 
 for so wer they corrupted here that they 
 were no sooner relievd and gott up to 
 Stirling but a sergent and 12 men deserted. 
 Ther ar some of the Duch that had been 
 seducd to go over to the rebeUs. They had 
 two gwinies in hand and a promise of 
 more pay but were catchd on the Fyfe syde 
 and taken in prisoners to the Castell here 
 December 31. This I forgot to write yow 
 last. I hear ther gwid on the Fyfe syde 
 trapand them and led them in to be catchd 
 falere falantem non est fraws. 
 
 Ther have been two of the Sweis shot 
 at Lithgow for mutiny. The ceremony was 
 very formall. The Cowncill of war sat in 
 the fields quher the Horsmarket uses to be 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 129 
 
 had a table covered with black befor them. 
 They were fownd gwiltie and condemd, two 
 of three to die by lotte. The lotts wer not 
 as with us throwing dize but each fellow 
 gave in a white stick and these were 
 browght before the preces of the Cowrte 
 and he not knowing quhich is quhich 
 breaks two and the whoU stick escaps. So 
 the broken sticks were instantly led out to 
 execution after the chaplan had exorted 
 them and they had prayd. 
 
 Febmwry 8, 1716. 
 The Pretender is now shipd of for 
 France. Mar his freind is along and my 
 Lord Penmuir with the atendants and 
 French officers came over with him. He 
 went of on from Montrose Saturday 9 at 
 night February 5 (4) he gave his armie 
 the slipe and his freinds ar left to shift 
 for themselves. Our armie I can not give 
 the trow disposition of it. They marched 
 in two lines with a body of reserves 
 behind. It consisted in all of fowrten 
 sqwadrons and 20 battalions. On the first 
 
 B 
 
130 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 line Commander in chief Argyle, in the 
 right wing Cadogen, in the center Sabin, 
 and in the left General Evans. The 
 brigadeers in ther order. In the 2^ 
 line Stenex, Vanderbeck, and Wightman. 
 William commanded the advance gwaird. 
 The armie consisted of abowt 11000 effec- 
 tive men. The magazen of meall and wheat 
 at Perth was some hundred bolls quhich 
 the Duck has cawsd distribute to severall 
 distresd familys. They ar marching streight 
 up to Aberdeen and will be at Stonhyve 
 about 14 miles from that place this night. 
 Major Cathcart is gon this day up with 
 the news of the Pretender's being ship'd 
 off for France. The Pretender will be 
 oblidgd now quhen he lands to take up 
 his old seaman disgwises. It was in that 
 he passd at Dunkerk when he came over 
 and had come along from Brittanie thro' 
 Picardy and Normandy in the same dress. 
 The ship he came in was loded with 
 brandy had her clirence for Nora way and 
 set owt that way but landed him at 
 Peterhead with liqwor &c. he had need 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 131 
 
 of spirits artificial to support him as 
 I hear. 
 
 Ther has abowt 90,000 thowsand pownd 
 in specie been sent down at 3 diferent 
 times for paying the armie. Ther came 
 in abowt 30,000 gwinies on Monday last 
 and was taken up in coach to the Castle 
 the 6 of February. 
 
 Sir, I can now fullfiU my promise to 
 send yow the Episcopall clargies adress 
 the King at large but shal first give yow 
 a copy of the King's letter to my Lord 
 Sutherland — George R. 
 
 My Lord Earl of Sutherland — I having 
 been informed from severaU partes of the 
 good service yow do me, and of the wise 
 disposition yow have made to mentain that 
 important post of Inverness I wowld not 
 lett slipe the occasion that offers itself to 
 assure yow that I am very sensible of so 
 usefull service and quhich yow may depend 
 I will not forget. I hope yow will continue 
 them with more attention then ever now 
 
132 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 that my armie is upon the poynt of 
 marching against the rebells. I do not 
 dout but the shipe quhich carrys to yow 
 armes and money has reached yow by this 
 time so I pray God my Lord Earl of 
 Sutherland to have yow in his safe and 
 holy keeping — 
 
 To the King's most exelent Majesty ^ — 
 The humble Address of the Episcopall 
 Clergy of the Diocese of Aberdeen pre- 
 sented to his Majesty by the reverend 
 Doctors James and George Gardens, Dr 
 Burnet/ Mr Dunbreck,^ Mr Blair,* and Mr 
 Maitland at Fetterosse. December 29, 
 1715, introducd by his Grace the Duke 
 of Mar and the Right Honorable the 
 Earl Marishall of Scotland — Sir, We yowr 
 
 ^ Printed (in English) in Kae's History of the Late BebelKon, 
 pp. 352-354. 
 
 2 Dr. Andrew Burnett, minister of Aberdeen, was deposed 
 as .a Jacobite in 1716, and died 24 October 1718. 
 
 ^ Formerly chaplain to the Earl Marischal. He did not 
 return to Aberdeen until 1717, when he found the Episcopal 
 Church in a state ' similar to that of the Jews in Babylon.' 
 
 * Rev. William Blair, died in 1716. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 133 
 
 Majestys most faithful! and dutefull sub- 
 jects the Episcopall clergy of the diocese 
 of Aberdeen do from our hearts render 
 thanks to Almighty God for yowr Majestys 
 safe and happy arrivall into this yowr 
 antient kingdom of Scotland quher yowr 
 royall presence was so much longd for 
 and so necessary to animat yowr loyall 
 subjects, our noble and generous patreots, 
 to go on with that invincible curage and 
 resolution quhich they have hitherto so 
 successfully exerted for the recovery of 
 the rights of their King and country, 
 and to excite many other of yowr good 
 subjects to joyn them who only wanted 
 this great encuragement. 
 
 We hope and pray that God may open 
 the eyes of such of yowr subjects as 
 malitiows and self designing men have in- 
 dustriowsly blinded with prejudices against 
 yowr Majesty, as if the recovery of yowr 
 just right wowld rowin owr religion libertys 
 and property quhich by the overturning 
 of these rights have been heighly incrochd 
 upon, and we ar perswaded that yowr 
 
134 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 Majesty's justice and goodness will setle 
 and secure these just priveledges to the 
 conviction of yowr most malitiows enemies. 
 Almighty God has been pleasd to train 
 up yowr Majesty from your infancy in 
 the school of the Cross in quhich the 
 Divin grace inspires the mind with true 
 wisdome and virtue and gwairds it against 
 these false blandishments by which pros- 
 perety corrupts the heart, and as this school 
 has sent forth the most ilustriows princes 
 as Moses, Joseph, and David, so we hope 
 the same infinitly wise and good God 
 designs to make yowr Majesty not only 
 a blissing to yowr own kingdoms and the 
 true father of them but also a great 
 instrument of the generall peace and good 
 of mankind. Yowr princly virtues ar such 
 that in the esteem of the best judges 
 yow ar worthy to wear a croun tho yow 
 had not been born to it quhich makes us 
 confident that it will be yowr Majesty's 
 cair to make yowr subjects a hapy people 
 and so to secure them in ther religion 
 libertys and property as to leave no just 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 135 
 
 grownd of distrust, and to unit us all in 
 true Christianity according to the gospell 
 of Jesus Christ and the practice of the 
 primitive christians. We adore the good- 
 ness of God in preserving yowr Majesty 
 amidst the many dangers to quhich yow 
 have been exposd and notwithstanding the 
 heUish contrivances formd against yow for 
 encuraging assassins to murder yowr royall 
 person a practice abhord by the very 
 heathen. May the same mercyfuU provi- 
 dence continue still to protect yowr 
 Majesty to prosper yowr armes to turne 
 the hearts of all the people toward yow, 
 to subdue these quho resist yowr just 
 pretentions, to establish yow on the throne 
 of yowr ancestors, to grant yow a long 
 and happy reign to bliss yow with a royall 
 progeny, and at last with ane immortall 
 crown of glory and as it has been still is 
 and shall be owr cair to instill into the 
 mindes of the people true loyalty to yowr 
 Majesty, so that is the earnest prayer of. 
 May it pleas yowr Majesty, Yowr Majesty's 
 most faithfuU most dutefull and most 
 
136 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 humble subjects and servants. AnSWer. 
 I am very sensible of the zeal and loyalty 
 yow have expresd for me and shall be 
 glad to have opportunitys of giving yow 
 marks of my favowr and protection. 
 
 This Adress is the true spirite of the 
 nurslings of the late wicked ministry and 
 the rubrick of our toleration act answers 
 not well with the character of a set of 
 men that in ther first addresses to a prince 
 they have grownd to suspect, mentions 
 not on sillable of the protestant religion, 
 judge if this indulgence latly given be to 
 persons of scrupulows concencess if we juge 
 the flocks by the pastors. 
 
 Siforth has refuised to surrender and 
 is gon to the hills, however ther ar great 
 numbers of the rebells daylay surender 
 themselvs since the Pretender and Mar 
 have stoU off at Montross, for he left a 
 letter behind him to Generall Gordon 
 who commanded his armie and this was 
 opened at Aberdeen. It bore orders for 
 them to shift for themselves and they 
 were oblidgd to leave that place with 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 137 
 
 great precipitation. Admiral Jennings has 
 
 sent abowt to bring off all barks and 
 
 boats or to disable them. Ther was a 
 
 vessel at Aberdeen belongd to Cornell 
 
 Midleton's brother, Argyl at the Cornall's 
 
 intratie granted her a protection and 
 
 that shipe is since gon off with a number 
 
 of the rebells for France. They had been 
 
 lurcking about Aberdeen. Ther was a boate- 
 
 full of the rebells cast away neer Inver- 
 
 lochy that were essaying to gett over 
 
 to some of the Western Islands and we {sic, deleted) 
 
 here ther io auch. ane — other — cargo e — leet — m 
 
 Pentland — Ss& — betwen Caitneoo — aad — Orlmy . 
 
 Ther ar severall persons of destinction left 
 
 in very sorry condition and ar marchd 
 
 up to the Highlands with Generall Gordon 
 
 and the clans. Argyl is gon off for London 
 
 February 28 and how the armie is 
 
 qwarterd yow have it in the Currant I 
 
 send enclosd. 
 
 ComaU Balfowr ane old Jacobit Comall 
 quho was made govemowr of Perth after 
 
138 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 Cornall Hay quho first surprisd the place 
 for the rebells was gon off for France, 
 surrenderd himself to Sir John Cuningham 
 of Robertlan,^ February 15, 1716, at Din- 
 robin Castle. This Cuningham belongs to 
 (sic, deleted) the Kings gwairds at London and came 
 down in the Larck from London the 
 shipe that browght my Lord Sutherland 
 supplys. Ther was abord 1000 gwenies, 
 1000 stand of armes, and 20 barells of 
 powder, and 20 baralls of lead. Sinclar of 
 Stemster * plaid ane ill aftergame in Caitness 
 they ar there far from inteligence. This 
 gentleman had occasion to be with some 
 of Mar's emisaries and was so far seducd 
 as to be present and active in proclaming 
 the Pretender in Thurso, perhaps yowU 
 know the gentleman better by the name 
 of Dunbeth he has used thes years past, 
 
 ' This is interesting, as in most of the Baronetages John 
 Cuningham of Wattiestoun is stated not to have assumed the 
 title, although his kinsman Sir David Cuningham of Eobert- 
 land died shortly after August 1705. 
 
 2 Sir James Sinclair of Dunbeth, a pronounced Jacobite and 
 Episcopalian, and 'a very violent man.' He long survived 
 the '15. [Information supplied by the Rev. A. Mackay, 
 Westerdale Manse, Halkirk.] 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 139 
 
 but he write to my Lord Sutherland that 
 it was a calumny raisd by Sir Robert 
 Gordon of Gordonston, quho becaws having 
 been gwilty wowld have others in the same 
 condition. Sir Robert came off after the 
 battell of Shirifmuir and seems to act 
 vigurowsly to regain his reputation. He 
 says that Dunbeth had garisond his house, 
 but quhen Sutherland sent there there 
 were neither men nor armes in it. Sir 
 Robertt is a member of the present Howse 
 of Commons and was standard bearer in 
 my Lord Huntly's sqwadron of horse at 
 Shirifmuir. My Lord Huntly has now 
 surrenderd and writ to all his clan to back 
 my Lord Sutherland's order viz. that they 
 surrender there persons and deUver up 
 there armes and horses to the Goverment 
 against such a day. This order is by my 
 Lord Sutherland publishd throw all that 
 districk of 6 Northren shirs including 
 Orkny all under his liftenancy. It was read 
 in evry paroch church from the pulped 
 that it might be the more certainly intimat 
 to the rebeUs, My Lord is come up in a 
 
140 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 man of war that is ordered to attend him 
 and is to go shortly from this place for 
 London in the same ship becawse of his 
 being so much troubled with the gowte. 
 Generall Cadugan and Generall Evens ar 
 come to this place. I am, Sir, Yowrs — 
 
 Edinburgh, March 11, 1716. 
 Comall Balfower' when he surenderd 
 toUd he had aneough of there yowng King 
 and that he was not for the hills and 
 wowld ingadge to be a dewtyfuU subject to 
 King George if he pardond him, and if he 
 was hangd it was no great mater, being so 
 old he had not long to leave, but after such 
 a trick he showld never serve that King that 
 he belived divell on drop royall blood had in 
 his vains. My Lord Sutherland took it 
 amiss that some body too officiows showld 
 have cawsd incert a copy of the King's 
 
 ' John Balfour of Femie, son of the third Lord Balfour of 
 Burleigh. His estates were forfeited and he was sentenced to 
 death, but the sentence was not carried out. He died 8 Sep- 
 tember 1725. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 141 
 
 letter to him in the publick prints from 
 London. Dalfolys' brother was blamd. 
 
 Sir, Yow write me to know if the storys 
 ar trow of the King's armie having plundred 
 the North. The Jacobits agrandize evry 
 litle circumstance to there oun advantage as 
 they think when they blecken the servants 
 to the goverment : the rebells retrite was 
 so precipitant from Perth yow cannot dowt 
 but the march of the King's armie was 
 as qwick as possible to prevent in that 
 consternation the rebells fortifying any pass, 
 and ther was but a short time in ther 
 march from Perth to Aberdeen, and all that 
 way for the time they had yow need not 
 doubt but ther was marroding, ther being no 
 provoes nor gwaird to prevent it in such ane 
 unexpected succes. But after the armies 
 coming to Aberdeen all were under good 
 discipline and ther was litel or no plunder- 
 ing, or irregularities were severly punishd 
 this I can assure yow off from good infor- 
 mation. The gentleman was on the place 
 
142 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 that told me and had both of Argyl's high- 
 landers and some of the Duch trowpes 
 qwarterd on his tennants. He told me lick- 
 wise a pice of justice Generall Vanderbeck did 
 the cowntry at Monross. All ther bagage 
 was searchd and evrything that appeard to 
 belong to the cowntry was taken out and 
 browght to the publick marcket place on 
 the market day and ane intimation made 
 that evry one that cowld instruct any 
 thing was his had it returnd him. Count 
 Vanso's regement of Duch were much com- 
 plend of and Generall Cadigen repremanded 
 him for not keeping disciplin which he 
 refuisd with some warmth, but was told 
 that he had incuriged such practices and 
 that with his oun hand had cut out of the 
 fraime a picture of Mary Qween of Scots and 
 had it in his baggage. The Count stormd at 
 this but Generall Cardigen was plainer then 
 plesant and said if he talkd more so he 
 wowld call a Councill of war and have 
 him brock upon the spott and that his 
 behaviowr showld be represented to the 
 States. 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1716-16. 143 
 
 Cornell Neutton ane English Cornell of 
 dragowns had in his baggage a fine sowd 
 bed hnd with welwet valowd at ane hundred 
 and 50 pownd sterling taken out of Garen- 
 tilly howse. It had belonged to the family of 
 Newwarke. It was put aboard the artillery 
 ships with the Cornell's other baggage and 
 by ane order of Generall Cardigen was 
 browght from abord and delivered to the 
 ouners. These ar the two worst storys I 
 heard that I can depend upon, but yow 
 see we have all justice done quhen it is 
 demanded however some lying reports ar 
 spread to stir up the mob here, and they 
 have to much success, for now that the 
 forrein trowps ar going for England they 
 meet with horrid unjustice. On the twenty 
 sixt of March 1716 the Jacobit partie stird 
 up the mob to that insolence that I am 
 affiayd it may coast the good towne some 
 thowsand pounds. There gwairds missman- 
 aging this affair besides what prejudice it 
 may do them at Cowrt. Evry body belived 
 for some days ther was a child killd at Leith, 
 Evrybody belived my Lord Anandal's howse 
 
144 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 at Cragiehall was rifled, and all by foreners 
 Duch or Sweice. Ther are inumberable 
 lies of plunders in the North. It is trow 
 David Symington was almost killd. He is 
 a substantiall tennant in Litle France but 
 that story was represented as the greatest 
 barbarity. But as all the former were lies 
 industriowsly spread to stir up the mindes 
 of the mobb so the circustances of this story 
 were so favowrable that he deservd what 
 happned. He had two Duch that were going 
 with ther bagage to Dalkeith taking a 
 drink at his bowse and they had hyrd a 
 fellow to cary there things for them. The 
 fellow begun to grudge and this landlord 
 wowld party his cowntryman so far as to 
 throw off the strangers baggage and so gott 
 himself wownded. Yow see we ar imposd 
 upon even in storys that happen at owr 
 doors and how much more may that lying 
 spirit assert of things on the other side Tay. 
 I designd to introduce the story of owr 
 mob here by thes litle storys that I hope 
 yow will think diverting and they were 
 truly that occasiond this insult. Yow must 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 145 
 
 know that the forreing officers when they 
 went to Stirling lodgd ther bagage in the 
 Castle here and, now that they were gon of 
 for Dekeith in order to inarch in to England, 
 there things were all browght from the 
 Castle to the back of the Cowrt of Gwaird 
 to be pact up and follow. Some boys were 
 hunded out to begin and throw stones at 
 the officers' servants %iid the cry was raisd 
 that that was the plunder from the North 
 going up to England. What made this seem 
 more speciows was that one of the servants, 
 had ane hansom targe with bress naiUs in 
 his hand that his master had in compliment 
 from the Duck of Atholl, and the Duck's 
 name on it. He was insulted and the targe 
 taken from him the mobb incressd and 
 begun to attempt other things of more 
 vallow and the servants endevowrd to 
 defend themselves. One struck abowt him 
 with his sword in the scabart and was 
 taken in by a party of the Gwaird. This still 
 encuragd the mobe and tho now ther was a 
 party of the gwaird sett to keep them off, 
 and the magistrats some of them present, it 
 
146 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 did not restrain them but that they run 
 away with some things and forcd of the 
 gwaird. But the mobb was repulsd and gott 
 not all the herme done and the baggage was 
 mownted and sent off under cover of a party 
 who were to see them out of the town. The 
 mobb did not disperse but went down the 
 lains to the Cowgate with a hussa and herea. 
 Notwithstanding they were not dispersd the 
 party of the town gwaird went no furder 
 then the Nether Bow and the mobe made 
 ane easie pray of the baggage at the port 
 to the Pleasants. There were things of great 
 wallow both money and plate and fine 
 cloaths and spair armes and the horses were 
 taken away that were hyrd to carry it. I 
 live yow to judge how far the conduct of 
 the town and gwaird ar blamable in this, 
 but for rifling baggage not the 100 of this 
 vallow Generall Dalzell made the good 
 town pay 50,000 merks. This is all defended 
 by many and cald a taking from robers. So 
 we trate owr freinds and this is the most 
 disafected place now in the nation. The 
 rebell's freinds here ar irritat and desperat 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 147 
 
 and great numbers of rebells ar lurking in 
 this place. The magistracy is in the hands of 
 self concetted self sufficient men that mal- 
 trate and despise ther freinds, and the town 
 must suffer for the insults of enimies and 
 villans. Yow will see how thowghtless the 
 magistrats ar when I tell yow that 
 P[rovost] Campbell, baylies Neilson, 
 Weightman, Dundas, and Telfer, put ther 
 hand at the solicitation of Jacobit freinds to 
 testificats or certificats for one Ramsie that 
 joynd the rebells at Leith and ane other 
 Chalmers that joynd at Ceton hows; the 
 certificat signd by those magistrats and 
 town cowncill bears that the persons behavd 
 themselves honestly and loyally to King 
 George, that they wer burges of ther burgh 
 and tread to England, and were ther sur- 
 prisd and forcd into the rebellion. This spirit 
 of mobbing is lick to prevaill at Leith. Mr 
 Shirife told me he was a good instrument 
 to prevent it that some boys had gott ther 
 pockets full of stons and that they were 
 gethering more numerows to attack no less 
 then a regement of Duch that had landed 
 
148 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 ther that day. He run in among the lads and 
 toUd the bigest that he knew them and 
 they showld be punishd, and some he catchd 
 and beat. He examind some of the yownger 
 and they told that they were put upon it 
 by a fellow that told them ther was a 
 Duchman had on a Scots blew bonnet he 
 had taken in the North when he killd a 
 man and robd him and they were to 
 revange it and take the bonet from 
 him. Yow see how the busenes might 
 have ended. The children insult first. If the 
 sogers had offred to beat the childring the 
 parants wowld have partied the children 
 and so it was hard to tell quher it might 
 have ended with strangers especialy that 
 have not owr langwage. Generall Cadigan 
 is gon to the hills with two thowsand 
 foot and 400 hors to reduce the Highlands. 
 In his way from Edinburgh he dined with 
 my Lord Rosbery and lay at Hopton's 
 howse all night. Ther were eight prisoners 
 taken in yesterday to the Castle ther ar 
 of the train that came from London lodgd 
 ther and the seven great bress guns as 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 149 
 
 insufficient ar caryed of to be new cast 
 at London. The taking away the 7 sisters, 
 so we cald the 7 great bres guns, on the 
 half moon was Uke to breck all the old 
 womens' hearts in town : the reasoning was 
 that was the effects of the Union and 
 that ther were no such cannons in England 
 and that the castle was plunderd and unless 
 yow cowld supposd ther wrongside turnd 
 out at the Cros like a stocking for evry 
 body's conviction ther was no perswead- 
 ing they were useless. But I had my hand 
 in them and fownd they were all huny- 
 combed within such hols as to put in a 
 musket bullet and they were the farder 
 in the worse. Ther ar guns fitter for the 
 purpose mownted in ther place bress guns 
 of 14 12 10 pownders. All the ball for the 
 great cannon ar removd and all the useles 
 bomb shels &c. and ther is as much of 
 evry kind and more in ther place but 
 this does not satisfie the minds of ill 
 temperd people and they impose upon 
 well meaning wake folks, and this perhaps 
 was inducement to mobing, for next to the 
 
150 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 Crown the 7 sisters were a dear thing and 
 they had indeed been good guns in ther 
 time. They were of 40 pownders and up- 
 ward. They went away March 23. 24. 26. 
 27. 1716. I am, Sir, Yowrs. 
 
 Edinburgh, March 29, 1716. The 
 College of Aberdeen's adress was pre- 
 sented by on Mr Smith a regent of 
 that CoUedg, viz. the Marshall CoUedge, 
 but that colledg by appointment of the 
 goverment has been visited and there 
 practices inq wired into by a comitie 
 authorisd for that eiFect in August 1716, 
 and most of the masters laid aside. My 
 Lord Justise Gierke was preces of that 
 comitie. One of the old professors to be a 
 litle wite confessd his gwilt in a figure 
 he compaird this rebellion to a great mire 
 into quhich some went willingly and some 
 were forced, in quhich some went deeper 
 then others and for his parte he cowld 
 not say either his feet or hands were 
 clean, for tho he was not over head and 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 151 
 
 ears he might be seen knee deep. I belive 
 the fyling his hands was signing that adress 
 presented by Mr Smith. 
 
 The rebell prisoners that were in the 
 Castle here ar to be tried at Carelyll as 
 ar all the gentlemen prisoners in the other 
 forts and prisons. They went of for their 
 triell September 4, 5, & 6, 1716 under a 
 strong guaird. Ther was ane ineonveniencie 
 like to happen in the "West Bow as they 
 from the Castle were carryd down in coach. 
 On the 5^ of September 1716 some 
 forward lad of aprentice I shall not say 
 was sett upon it but he came up and 
 triped the centry at the coach syde and 
 threw up the dore of the coach and made 
 off in a haste. The centry soon recoverd 
 and run after him and fierd in at the 
 door he went into and wownded a woman 
 in the legg. There was some other accident 
 undesind happned at the porte by a 
 soldier firing inadvertintly. One of the 
 officers was very neer shot. The prisoners 
 names that went off ar in a printed list 
 I here send yow inclosd. Nott : Evry 
 
152 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 
 
 body was advertised to be off the streets 
 quhen the prisoners were to pass that 
 ther might be no mobb nor occasion of 
 disturbance. It lookd ominous that that day 
 the gentlemen prisoners passd the Grass- 
 market for to go to Cariile to be tried 
 the instrument of execution called the 
 maiden was set up for owr poor unhappy 
 unfortunat acqwentance yowng green 
 Hamilton. They wer melancholy at this 
 sight, as some thowght, but I judge it 
 might proceed from there leaving ther 
 native country to be tried among strangers. 
 I wish it had been so ordred ther triels 
 had been here, but now we will be ride 
 of a great dale of disturbance and it will 
 goe no worse I belive with them, for the 
 goverment is not bloodthirsty and non 
 can say wo will be taken out for examples ; 
 but I dout not examples may be made 
 of one or two. 
 
 Edinburgh, December 24, 1716. 
 This day Angely^ a corporell in the 
 
 1 'At his execution he said nothing.' — [Faithful Regis- 
 ter of the Late Behdlim, p. 348.] 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 153 
 
 Castle that was seduced by Liftenent 
 Thomas Arthowr to betray that fort 
 September was a year, is made a pubhck 
 example of. The Cowncil of war sat upon 
 that affair and he was apointed to be 
 henged over the Castle wall this Monday. 
 He seemd to be very penitant and calld 
 for assistance of ministers. He confesd all 
 his temptation was nyn gwinies in hand 
 quherof he gave one to Thomson and ane 
 other to Holland his two accomplices.^ He 
 was to have a 100 more and comission if 
 it succeded. Arthour used arte besyd to 
 seduce those miserable wretches. He toUd 
 them that the minds of all were bent of 
 have over ther native prince. That it wowld 
 be without any blood shed, and quhen the 
 fellows said they knew not how to betray 
 ther officers that were so kind to them, 
 Arthowr added ' I told yow it was to be 
 without blood shede and now yow do this 
 it wiU make it more so quhen we gett 
 this fort so peacebly into our hand. Yow 
 
 ' ' The two soldiers were excused,' and not executed with 
 their principal. — [Faithful Register of theLate Mebdlion, p. 348.] 
 
 ir 
 
154 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16, 
 
 know I have been ane officer in that fort 
 quhen owr contrivence takes effect as I will 
 be of the first that enter I will go first 
 to CoUonell Stewart's chamber, and as for 
 Frances Lindsy he is my dear comerad.' 
 Thus they were wrowght over. It is not 
 yet determined what will be done with 
 Thomson and Holland, but Angely now 
 hangs by the neck in a reid coat over 
 the Castle wall neer the posterne gate. 
 To the west syd of that rownd in the 
 wall ther was a gallows erected there 
 on the top of the wall at the place they 
 were to scald. Over one parte of that 
 gallows projects over that the malefactor 
 may hang qwit withowt the wall. He is to 
 hang there for a fowrtnight. He is the only 
 man we have seen suffer here for that 
 unnaturall rebellion and non can be said to 
 have deserved better. 
 
 [An additional paragraph inserted.] 
 
 Stewart Abercromy was a favowrit at 
 
 the Pretender's Cowrt at Perth and showd 
 
 a great dale of zeall in his service. He 
 
 came over the water after the Swees 
 
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 155 
 
 and Duch sowldiers came down and by- 
 promises and bribes induced neer 12 of 
 them to desert over to the rebells and 
 had them carryed cross the water mider 
 night from New haven. They scatred by 
 his order when they came to the Fyfe 
 syde and went in 3 and fowrs that they 
 might not be suspected. Two of them were 
 taken at Shirif Brige neer Lesly by a 
 smith and his sone. The smith's name was 
 David Deuer who chalenged them, and 
 upon there not giving ane accownt of 
 themselves carryed them to the garison 
 att Lessly. Abercromy himself with other 
 three were going by a village neer Streurie 
 and some country people seing them came 
 up with them a litle from the village, 
 and chalanged them as deserters, and 
 desired them to returne. The Swees had 
 no fyre armes but drue ther swords. The 
 cowntry fellows who had ther flails and 
 forks defended, and so they mentaind a 
 flying skirmish. The Laird of Streurie 
 seing at a distance the sport sent some 
 of his servants to assist, who, coming in. 
 
156 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 
 
 they togither masterd the deserters and 
 Abercrombie ther gwid. They browght the 
 deserters along but Abercrome threw him- 
 self down on the snow and wowld not 
 goe but bid them reither kill him then 
 carry him to certain death, and when they 
 saw there was no forsing him to rise, they 
 took off his hat and weige and after that 
 all his other cloaths not so much as leaving 
 his shirt, but they having no will to carry 
 his person on there back left him to shift 
 for himself in the snow. After they were 
 gon they delivered in ther prisoners and 
 he run naked in the snow to Falckland 
 which is abowt two good miles from the 
 plase. Ther wer 2 of thes Swees shot dead 
 after for ther deserting. This story is 
 attested by the Laird of Streury who 
 saw the whole sqwable. 
 
 ACCOUNT OF PRISONERS taken by 
 THE Duke op Argtlle, 1715. 
 
 Viscownt of Strathallan, CoUonel ; 
 Logie-Almond, CoUonel ; 
 
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 157 
 
 Barrowfield, Lieutenant-Colonel ; 
 
 Murray of Auchtertire ; 
 
 John Ross, Major ; 
 
 Captain Thomas Drummond ; 
 
 Captain James Drummond ; 
 
 Captain Nairn of Baldiven ; 
 
 Captain William Hay ; 
 
 Captain John Rattrey ; 
 
 Captain Auchterlony ; 
 
 Captain Da : Gardne ; 
 
 Lieutenant Colin M^cenzie ; 
 
 Lieutenant Patrick Stewart servant to 
 
 Mr. M'^cleod Advocate ; 
 Lieutenant James Stewart ; 
 Lieutenant William Adamson ; 
 Lieutenant John Robertson ; 
 Ensign George Taylor ; 
 Ensign Nicol Donaldson ; 
 Adjutan John M'^clean ; 
 Lowis Cramond ; 
 Major Charles Chalmers ; 
 Captain William Chrichton ; 
 23. 
 
 THE END. 
 
Printed by T. and A. ConstablEj Printers to His Majesty 
 at the Edinburgh. University Press