shall be approved by you, to enquire and find, by the Oaths of Good & Lawful Men, the reall and personall estate which became forfeited to the Crown as aforesaid, and to make the said Commissions returnable sine Dilatione. Dr Sir, The Lord Advocate to Mr. Scrope. YOUR kind Letter of the 28th of July was a great Cordial to me; it came just in time to relieve me from some suspicions which your silence for a month or two began to create. I do assure you, in my present situation there is occasion for some encouragement to keep up my spirits; since the scene, whatever corner I look to, is so disagreeable; and since, in place of finding anybody ready to co-operate to mend it, I meet with rubbs and obstacles from those whose concurrence I ought to expect. The imminent distress, from the condition of our Revenue, has now for some time possest my attention; the Customs, from the defects of the Law, from the corruption of Officers, and from the perverseness of jury's, are fallen to nothing; and never can by any art be raised, till those complaints are removed, which must be the work of some time, tho' our disease seems to demand a more speedy remedy. The Excise, tho' not under so correct management as formerly, seems to be the only revenue from which we can look for any immediate relief; but unless it is put on a better foot, we cannot depend upon it's answering any immediate purpose. It is an obvious reflexion, to any one that knows what immense quantitys of Brandy are drunk in this country, and that it is commonly sold at 2 shillings a gallon, that the Excise must be greatly affected by the excessive use of that liquor; at the same time, that the price of grain, is beat down to nothing by it, which is a very sensible loss to the men of estates, whose rents are almost universally paid in grain; as well as to the farmers. This observation led me to think, that if the people generally could be made sensible of their interest, as they are not a little national, it might be possible to work them up to some popular resolutions against the use of run Brandy; and if that could be brought about, at the same time that it must improve the excise, it might help to give our jurys in general a different turn of thinking from what hitherto they have had touching the running trade in general. Possest of this opinion, I became Author, and published, against the meeting of the last Convention of Royal Burrows, the Paper which is enclosed, and seconded that conceit so well, as to procure from that Assembly the Act and Resolution which is printed at the end of the Paper. The resolution was unanimous, tho' my Friend Rob. Dundass opposed it with his usual Zeal; but, finding the tide too strong, he submitted, without a division. The Design was, after a publication in this manner of the sense of the representatives of all the Burrows, to bring in each Brugh in particular, and the Gentlemen in the several Countys, to Resolutions, after a day certain (Christmas for example), not to use any foreign Spirits; nor to use any Inn or Tavern while any such are sold; but to give all assistance in their power, in their several stations, to the seizing and destroying it, and I still entertain very strong hopes that this may be accomplished; which tio must must necessarily raise the excise on Beer and Ale, and Spirits, some thousand pounds. One would have thought that a project of this kind must have been very palatable to the great Man that governs us here; what he says of it you must know better than I; but his agents here seem rather to fling cold water upon it: whether that proceeds from its being disliked by their Chiefs, or from it's being a Child of mine, I cannot tell; only give me leave to tell you that it mortifys me not a little, to see power (at least in the opinion of the people) in the hands that do not employ it for the Publick service, when it calls so loudly for assistance. I have set on foot and carryed throw to the purpose above mentioned, a Resolution in the County of Midlothian; the like is a carrying forward in the neighbouring Countys; and I am now in my Journey northwards in order to propagate the same spirite over that part of the Kingdom if I can. What effect it may have I cannot tell, because I find myself almost alone in the attempt; but I hope the design will meet with your approbation; and that Sir R. will think that, though distant from him, I am not unmindful of his interest, which I take to be more concerned in the fate of our revenues than he is aware of. You will be so good as to explain this matter to him, as far as you think proper; since, in the enclosed Letter, I do but just refer him to you for information touching this.project. The intent of the letter which I beg you may deliver to Sir Robert is (pursuant to leave which he gave me at parting), to put him in mind of 2 Articles of the Memorial I left with you; vizt those about the family of Gordon, and the E. of Seafort : it is shame that what was promised by the Queen, as well as by Sir Robert, above a Year ago to the Dutchess of Gordon, is not yet done; and as I must see that Lady very soon, unless I have something to say to her about it, I shall lose all the credite by which I could do any thing good for the publick service in that Neighbourhood : therefor I am very earnest, that, without loss of time, Sir Robert should settle that article, and let me know what is done. As to the request for Seafort, which was a Pension, Sir Robert had some doubts about his success with the King; and whether he has made any step in it since, I know not; but there is a circumstance cast up of late, which claims the execution of a promise he made some time agoe, in which I hope there will be less difficulty: the estate of Seafort owed for several Years few-dutys to the Crown; which now rise to a considerable sum, and will be payable out of the price of the Estate which is sold. A Grant of these to the poor Man, or to any trustee for him, would be a vast relief to him and his Children in their present Circumstances; and as this takes no Money out of the Treasury, I should flatter myself it may without great difficulty be obtained. Your assisting to help forward this charitable purpose will be extreamly obliging to me. I spoke to you, before I left London, of the appointments of the Clerks of Delegates, whose business is now almost at an end, They have served hitherto without any sallary, and the Court who employed them begin to be uneasy. I am the person they dayly worry and teaze about them; and therfor I must insist with Sir Robert, to make them some reasonable allowance. I am frequently entertained with the strongest Pannegiricks immaginable of you, by my worthy friend Co" Charteris: he swears nothing less than a divinity can forgive Injurys so readily, and delight so much in doing good. He flatters me with imputing some part of your good nature to him, to my intercession; and insists I should return you thanks. My Brother is here with me, and commands me to tell you that fow and fasting he is equally yours. Q 2 I return I return you thanks for your care of Poor Niven, and of every other thing that concerns me. The only further request I have to make is, that you will be so good as pardon the length and ill writing of this Epistle; and if you can find leisure enough to tell me that you have forgiven me, and how you like the Work that I am about, it will greatly add to my spirites. Perth, 11th August 1730. To John Scrope Esq'. I am most faithfully yours. No. CLI. Sir, The Lord Advocate to Sir Rob' Walpole. Perth, 11th August 1730. I PROFITE of the allowance you gave me, to write to you from this Country touching certain Articles of the Memorandum I left with you when I took my leave. I hoped to have heard before this time of the £1000 pension intended for the Dutchess of Gordon, and in effect promised last year by the Queen. As I go now into that Country, I shall look very simple, not being able to say any thing certain about it; and shall be incapable of making that use of his Majesty's Bounty in that part of the Country, which, were the pension granted, might be made of it. If the thing succeed, as I hope it will, My Lord Peterborrow is to be acquainted with it, and M' Scroop will let me know of it. The next thing I am to trouble you with is, the request in behalf of the late Earl of Seafort: A Pension, you know, was prayed for; but now, I am to put you in mind of a thing that you was so good as to promise, some time agoe, and that will perhaps be more easily obtained. The estate is sold by the Barons of Excheq' and the few-dutys (that is, Crown Rents) due out of it have been in arrear for many Years: these now amount to a Sum, and will become payable out of the price of the estate. If the poor Man could have a grant of these from his Majesty, it would be a great relief to him and his family: the favour asked is what the King dayly grants in other Cases to his subjects; and as it takes from you no money that hitherto you have in possession, I should hope it may be easily obtained. This was your Opinion when I had the honour last to speak to you on the subject; and what I humbly beg is, that you may take a fit opportunity to move it, that the thing may be done. I have given M' Scroope a long account of a project I am actually at work on, for improving the Revenue here; and he will open it to you, whenever you have leisure to hear it. I do not flatter myself with hopes that you are to give yourself the trouble of letting me have your opinion of my project, or an Answer to the particulars I now write of; but if you will be so good as to say a word or two about them to M' Scrope, he will let me know your sentiments, and that will satisfy me. Since I left Edin' I visited M' Wade and his Works in the Highlands. He goes on with his usual diligence and discretion, and cannot fail of doing immense Service to the King and to this Country. My Brother, who is now with me, and who Drinks & Swears as much as ever for you, insists that I assure you of his service. I beg pardon for the length of this Letter, and take leave of you, with assuring you, that you wrong me greatly if you do not believe me to be, very warmly, Your most faithfull and most humble Serv. To Sir Robert Walpole. No. CLII. My Dear Lord, No. CLII. Mr Scrope to the Lord Advocate. Whitehall, 17 Sep 1730. I HAVE the honour of yours of the 29th of last month, with one by the same Post from yo' Bro' wh I shew'd to S' R. Walpole; at wch he laugh'd, & said he would remember w his old friend wrote, & take care nothing should be done y' would be disagreeable to him. He had heard nothing of the Inquiry you hint at; and treated it in a manner y' you would have been pleased with, had you been present. The Day before I went to Bristol I had another Lre from you, with one inclosed to S Rob' & he promised to take care of yo' Commands; but he living for the most part at Windsor, I have not had an Opportunity of talking so fully with him as I could wish. I can't find any thing in the memms you was pleased to leave with me relating to the Family of Gordon, or the E. of Seaforth. If you please to send me a Draft of a signature for granting what you propose for the É. S Rob' has promised to get it dispatched, & to do what he can for the Dutchess. Being just return'd from Bristol, & a fortnight's absence from my Business putting me into a little disorder, I hope you will pardon my enlarging at this time; & yt you will make my excuse to the Laird of Coloden for my not answering of his till my spirits are a little more composed. Lord Advocate. I am with perfect Esteem, My Dear Lord, Yo' most Obedient humble Serv, No. CLIII. Lord Lovat to M' John Forbes. J. SCROPE. My Dear Laird of Culodin, I RECEIVED this day wh great pleasure ye honour of your letter of y 19th Inst. and I am exceedingly rejoiced y' you are in perfect health: May you be many a merry Christmas and New year so! I give you, dear Culodin, ten thousand thanks for your concern and good wishes towards me; it is what I ever did and will expect from such a stedfast friend as you, who put your life in hasard for me when I was in my greatest distress; and ever since did appear my best friend, whenever any essential occasion presented itself. I do assure you, y I have as gratful a sense of those frdships as I had the minute I received them, and I shall publish while I live y gratitude I owe to the Laird of Culodin. It was full of those sentiments yt I wrot a long letter to you this day se'night and sent it north by Castle Ladder's, and bid him give it in your own hands; the essential contents of it were to assur you of my constant gratitude and respect, and to give you an Account of my present situation, and to ask your kind assistance as I always use to do, y' you would be so good as to endeavour to know, by ye Laird of M'Leod, whether the infatuat family of Fraserdale are resolved, or not, to agree really and finally; for y' B', my L' Advocat, who takes full burden on himself for me, says, y' they are such mad fools y' he can make nothing of them; however, he will put ye thorn in their side, and leave them excuseless befor God and Man. If you can bring this about by ye Laird of McLeod's means, who only can press them to it, you secure y Estate of Lovat to Simon's Bearns, and to Brig. Grant's nevews. I need fay no more; I am convinced convinced you will do what you can to fave a family and Kindred yt is yours more than any I know on earth. As to those Strahglass Rogues, if you knew y° malicious and insolent affronts they put upon me, you would not ask any favour for them. My Ld Advocate knows it, and was very warm for transporting them if they did not voluntarily list for your Cusin Arthur; and if it had cost me £500 I had got them transported; but if they have voluntarly inlisted themselves for M' Forbes, I am very well pleased: I shall send them to him whout any expence in keeping of them; for I will send immediately orders to carry them south w' a guard. There is a Captain here of Arthur's Regt who will receave them and deliver them to Arthur; and I'll send him other two Camerons y' are in your prison, tall fellows; and five such good men will do him more service now y' the Dutch expect a war, than thirty men next season. I have written to my fd Mr Baillie y' Town Clerk about this, who will månadge y' affair for me, and for y Service of your Cusin. I truly rather give a Crown a day out of my pocket to mantain them a twelve month at Inverness, than to admit them to bail. It is but a new trick of my enemies to insult me; for if they were once at liberty, no bail would ever get them back; but they would offer you for y' Cusin's use some little nasty thieves y' they would be rid of, and would be of no service to Arthur; but those are handsome fellows, and they are too happy if they come off for going to Holland. I therfore beg you may order them to be well secured till I send for them; and be so just as to believe y' I am, while there is blood in my body, w' great affection & Respect, My Dear Laird of Culodin, Your most faithful Slave, Edin' 25th Dec 1730. No. CLIV. Lord Lovat to Mr John Forbes. LOVAT. My Dear Laird of Culodin, I BEGAN the New Year w' my L' Advocat, and was truly fudled drinking your health, and ye healths of our frds in the north. Your brother, who has been working all he could for me this Winter, has at last come to a final resolution; he offers Fraserdale's family £6000. sterl. from me, and £2000. more from himself, if they come into his measures; upon condition, y' if they accept y' offer in a month's tyme, he will oblidge me to adhere to it; and if they do not accept, he has declared to them y they never will have it again; but y' he will do all y' in him lays to overturn all ye rights y ever they had to the Estate of Lovat from ye foundation; and my La Advocat Ld will find no great difficulty in y'; for I have consulted it fully, and am going on w' all vigour to put it in full execution. I am very much surprised to hear from several of my frds, y' their is a design to affront me, and hurt my reputation and interest, by letting those Straglass villans at liberty who did insult me in the most attrocious maner; but I will not belive an Angel from Heaven, y' my Worthy and Constant friend John Forbes of Culodin would, for any consideration, directly or indirectly, assist any Chisolm on earth to insult or affront me in y persons of those Villans; especially since ye only thing y' keep'd me from sending them to America was my eagerness to serve your cusin-german Arthur Forbes; so I beg of you, Dear Culodin, to give strick orders y' those fellows do not make their escapes till I order a party to bring them up here at my own expence, yt they may be sent to Arthur, wt other two Camerons, y are in your Tolbooth, by a Cap' of his Regiment who is in this Town.My L Marq' of Lothian is to be ye Peer in my La t Deloraine's |