any man: I hope you believe that I am neither fool nor knave enough to attempt it. No, my Lord, my intentions are honest and upright towards all mankind; and it is my misfortune, and not my fault, if theirs are not so with regard to me; so that I beg your Lop may not give ear to those wicked insinuations against me. The report brought me by the Gentleman of my name that waited of your Lordship Sunday last, of a conversation 'twixt your Lop and him,' gave me great concern, because I observe, that the malicious accounts brought your Lop by my enemies gain too much ground with you. It has been my misfortune to be traduced and calumniated thro' all the stages of my life; but my dear Earl of Loudon I thought was among the last men on earth would listen to these calumnies; and I still hope your Lop will not. My instructions to this Gentleman were, to communicate to your Lop the situation of this country, and the conduct of my son and myself; and as he knew every particular of that matter, I am sure he would have given you ane honest account of it, had your Lop listened to him but I am sorry that the informations of others seem to gain more credit with your Lop than mine do. However, I have ordered ane other Gentleman, who is equally well known in the situation of the country, and the integrity of my conduct, to wait of your Lop, and give you a faithful account of both; and I beg your Lop may rely upon what he shall tell you: his name is Mr. Fraser, of Gortulegg, who has the honor to be very well known to my Lord President. Whether in Adversity or Prosperity, I shall allways subscribe myself, with a most sincere zeal and respect, my D' Earl of Loudon, your Lordship's most obedient, most obliged, and most affectionate faithfull humble Serv' and Cousin, LOVAT. Beaufort, 4th Dec 1745. My dear Lord, No. CCCV. Sir Andrew Mitchell to the Lord President. ; Whitehall, 7th Dec 1745. AS I send this by post to convey our monthly intelligence, I shall not venture to give any answer to your's of the 13th of Nov', which I received last Saturday, till I have a safer way of conveying it to you. On the 30th Nov', the Provost was taken into custody. I hear, Ch. Smith is likewise in custody. The Rebels were last Wednesday, the 4th, at Derby; the advanced Guard of his R.H. was to return to Northampton in order to get before them as last night. M. Wade is at Doncaster. All your friends are well, and wishing to hear of & from you. As soon as the present hurry & alarm is over (which is indeed too great), a Sloop will be sent to with every thing, I hope, that you desire. I ever am, most truely, Your's, &c. A. M. We have been alarmed w' reports of Invasions from France; but I think there is now reason to believe, that the preparations were not made as was said: our own apprehension & fears are our most powerful enemy. Who could have believed what has happened? My Lord, No. CCCVI. Professor Maclaurin to the Lord President.. I TAKE the opportunity of saluting you by Mr Grant, who goes to offer his service to your Lordship. He has been employed in a Military way these ten years; and I hope hope and intreat that his being Son to your cousin german may be no prejudice to him at this time. I believe you may depend on his fidelity, and that he will be found to deserve your consideration. If you have curiosity to know my history these last three months, take it briefly as follows. As soon as the Danger from the Rebells seem'd imminent, I left the Country & continued in Town, endeavouring to promote the spirit that began to appear amongst the Gentlemen, in hopes it would have been raised likewise amongst the burghers & trades. I was amongst the first Volunteers, & signed for a Dozen of the Town's RegiThe Care of the Walls was recommended to me, in which I laboured night & day, under infinite discouragements from superior powers. When I was promised hundreds of Workmen, I could hardly get as many dozens; this was daily complained of; redress was promised; but till the last two days no redress was made; and then it was late. However, the Town was in a Condition to have stood out two or three days against Men unprovided with Artillery, unskilful, & then ill armed; and there was a double expectation of relief; viz. from the Dutch, & Sir John Cope. On the fatal Monday I was loading the Cannon at the west port, & pressing the finishing of some works there, when, in a pack'd Meeting (400 Volunteers, mostly substantial burghers, being under Arms elsewhere), it carried to capitulate. When I heard of this, I called for the P-t for orders what I should do with the Cannon. The answer was, he had not time to speak to me. The case [which] had been often put to the Pr-t actually happened; for, Cope was off Dunbar, and could have been up on the Wednesday. The Monday Night, neither were the Towns' Arms carried to the Castle, nor did the Town stand on its defence till terms were granted; and therefore they had none, tho' by ***** 's Message it had been offered, that no Highlander should enter the Town; but there was a plain collusion. After the Rebells were masters of the Town, I lived retired till they issued a Proclamation, offering an indemnity to such Volunteers as should make Submissions in 20 days. Resolved to make no submissions, I crossed the English border before the Days expired. At Newcastle, I had a pressing invitation from the Archbp of York to go & live with him till I should return to Edinburgh. I went there, & lived for some time as happy as was possible for a Man who had left his Country in such a Situation, and his family in it, behind him. I left York, with a view to overtake Mareschal Wade near Edinburgh; but on the Road, I found the Rebells had moved Westward, and had left the Way to Edinburgh clear. I travelled from Morpeth to Waller on the bad Thursday the 14th of November; and this Day, & the next two days, got the most dangerous Cold I ever had, from which I am not yet recovered *. I have said enough of my own history. The Archbishop, secure of your fidelity and Zeal, was & is always anxious about you & your Success; and this Day I had a letter from his Grace, asking chiefly about you. I know you will have better accounts of Public matters than I can give you. Wishing you success, health, & all prosperity, I am with the utmost zeal & attachment, College of Edinburgh, Dec 9th 1745. My Lord, 'Your Lordship's most obedient *Professor Maclaurin never did recover from the effects of this cold. His Son, Lord Dreghorn, erected a Monument to this eminent Man, upon the South Wall of the Greyfriers Church in Edinburgh, the Inscription on which has been much admired. No. CCCVII. No. CCCVII. Mr Rob' Dundas, Solicitor General, to the Lord President. My Lord, their faith. The Letter to her friend is sealed within: if your Lordship incline to read the printed papers, & then send them forward, they may be opened. As a Boat is to sail tomorrow with an Express to my Lord Findlater from the Admiralty, ordering an Embargo to be laid on all Ships laden with provisions, I would not omit this opportunity of writing from this Country, especially as I do not know if your Lordship is any how acquainted with what is passing here. The Duke of Cumberland having advanced to Newcastle under Line, the Rebels turned off to the left, & got the length of Derby; upon which, His R. Highness, by a forced march, got to Loughborrough, to prevent their going Southwards, which it was given out they intended. They then began to retreat with astonishing rapidity, & the D. pursued them with his Horse & Dragoons, & 1,000 foot mounted on Country Horses. The particulars of this Retreat are not worth mentioning, further than that the D. came near them at Lancaster, & drew up his small Army in expectation that they would have attacked him; but in the night time they went off. Between Kendal & Penrith, near to a small Village called Clifton, an advanced party of 60 Dragoons came up with them. The main body of the Rebels marched forward, leaving about 1,000 Macphersons, Camerons, & Macdonalds, who under the Command of L. G.. Murray posted themselves along the sides of the Enclosures. Soon after, the D. himself came forward with about 400 of Bland & L. M. Ker's Dragoons, & part of Ligonier's Horse, &, dismounting some of his Dragoons, attacked them, & put them fairly to flight. A good number of them was killed, wounded, & taken. The D. lost 9 Dragoons, and about 20 or 30 wounded. The Highlanders got forward to Carlisle, where they left most of their Baggage, all their Cannon except three, & about 4 or 500 men, in Garrison. On Friday the 20th they passed the River Esk very deep, the Foot being to the neck in water, & several of them were drowned. They then marched in two Divisions; the one under Command of L. G. Murray, by Moffat, Lesmahago, Douglas, &c. to Hamilton, & thence to Glasgow. The other under Command of their P. & the D. of Perth, by Dumfries, Drumlanrig, Douglas, &c. being one day's march behind the others: The last of them entered Glasgow on Friday Afternoon, & continued there last night when our latest accounts came away. They have done a great deal more mischief in their retreat, than when they marched up to England. At Dumfries, they demanded £ st. 2,000., of which they got 1,100., & carried off Hostages for the remainder; which is since sent to them. They likewise demanded 1,000 pair of Shoes; but, as there was not such a number in the town, they provided themselves by taking. them off the feet of the Inhabitants in the Streets. They burnt and pillaged some houses at Lesmahago and Douglas, because the Country people had been active in laying hold of some of them going towards England, & particularly at Kenlochmoydart. We are here in great uncertainty, whether or not they intend us another visit. We have with us the two Battalions which came from Stirling on the Highlanders passing the Esk, with about 800 Militia from Glasgow & Paisley, above 500 raised in Edenburgh; & our Commanders have declared, that they are to defend the town, & ordered every family to take in some days' provision. The number of the Highlanders is greatly diminished; & by the best accounts they are far from being 4,000 strong. As to our Troops in England, Marechal Wade returns to London, & L' Gen. Hawley is to command here; & we are assured, that one division, consisting of two old Regiments, will be at Berwick tomorrow, & will directly proceed for this place; & two other Divisions of the like number of Foot follow the first Class, & some Horse after them. I had one came in this day from the D.'s Army who left it on Friday evening blockading Carlisle, that none might escape. The Garrison offered to capitulate, if they were allowed to march out Drums beating, &c.; which was refused. But the D. having got up some Cannon from Whitehaven, the Batteries were near finished, & it was thought that the Cannon would begin to play upon the Castle yesterday or this day. This is a short account of our situation here; which will, I hope, daily turn better, once a few more troops come into this Country; & the news we have this day, of the Peace being concluded between the K. of Prussia & Empress with the K, of Poland, will likewise contribute to prevent foreign Invasions. any re As I wrote in my last letter to your Lordship, that I only writ facts without marks, I shall trouble you no more on publick matters. With regard to my private concerns, nothing has for some time given me greater pleasure, than hearing from a Gentleman that dined with you on the 22°, that you was in good health. I sincerely wish, my dear Lord, that it may continue amidst all the fatigues you are enduring for the Service of your Country; which, God knows, is a motive has little impression on some of us R-ls. I am, with the greatest esteem, Your Lop's most obedient humble Servant, P. S. Just as I was sealing this Letter, there is a person come in from Kirkintedsal, 6 Miles from Glasgow, with intelligence, that last night at 12 the D. of Perth passed Calder Bridge with 100 horse & 100 foot, which is the Road towards the heads of Forth. A Highlander (he says) having lost his way came into Kirkintulloch this morning, & said the whole were to leave Glasgow to-day the same Route. My Lord, No. CCCVIII. The Duke of Newcastle to the Lord President. Whitehall, 11th Janrỹ 1745-6. THE Marquess of Tweeddale having resigned the Office of one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State; and his Majesty having been pleased to direct, that the Correspondence with Scotland should be carried on by My Lord Harrington and me; I could not but take the first opportunity of assuring you, that I shall have a particular pleasure in renewing a correspondence with your Lordship, with whom I have had so long an Acquaintance, and for whom I have always had so sincere a regard. My Lord Tweeddale having laid before the King your Lordship's and the Earl of Loudoun's late letters to him; I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, that his Majesty was pleased to order, That 1,000 Stand of Arms should be immediately sent, as desired by you, with a Sum of Money for the Payment of the Troops. And the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were ordered forthwith to provide a Sloop for conveying them with the utmost Expedition to Inverness. Your Lordship will have heard, that his Majesty has been pleased to appoint Lieut General Hawley, an Officer of great Ability and Experience, to be Commander in Chief of of the Forces in Scotland. And I have this day an Account from M' Hawley, that he was arrived at Edinburgh, and was making a disposition of his Forces. He will soon have fourteen old Battalions of Foot, and three Regiments of Dragoons, besides the Troops that have been raised at Edinburgh and Glasgow; and will also be joined by 4,800 Hessians that are ordered to land at Leith; which, with the Troops raised in the Highlands, will make such a Strength, as there is the greatest Reason to hope may, by the blessing of God, put an effectual and speedy End to the Rebellion. His Majesty is persuaded your Lordship will correspond with Lieu' General Hawley, and from Time to Time send him such Intelligence, and give him such Lights, as you shall think may be useful to him in carrying on his Majesty's Service; and that your Lordship will continue that Zeal, Activity, and Vigilance, which you have so eminently exerted on Occasion of the present Rebellion, and of which his Majesty has the truest Sense. I shall be always glad to receive your Lordship's Commands, and to shew myself, with the greatest Truth and Regard, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble Serv*, My Lord, No. CCCIX. Gen' Hawley to the Lord President. Ed 12th Jan" 1745-6. I HAVE the favour of your Letter from Inverness; the others were forwarded by Express. I am a stranger to all occurrences with you, as well as to those parts. Were I not, I should not, nor don't now, pretend to give any Advice. I can only inform how matters are here. I have been here five days; have you I have been here five days; have brought up ten weak Battalions; I found two as weak, & much worse, here; two more will be up in two days, & a Reg' of Drag' (Cobham's) who can hardly crawle. There is no Cannon yet come from Newcastle: the Train at Berwick, & that here, can neither of them move for want of ev'ry thing. Coll" Campbell is at Dunbarton with 700 Men, I am going to push a post forward to Lithgow of 4,000 Men, & have order'd Coll. Campbell to come from Glasgow nearer towards Kilsyth. This will at least give us ane oppurtunity to drive Lord Kilmarnock from Falkirk; & then see what countenance they will have at Stirline; where they are, as I guess you'll have heard, ever since last Tuesday, preparing to attack the Castle, the Condition of which I can no ways as yet learn for certain; & all depends upon that. They are drawing all their People from the North, there, to make as large a body as they can. If we were in a Condition but to march, we should not mind their numbers *. Whether this motion of theirs will give you more Liberty, I am no Judge; but I know that Montrose is the most easy purchase that can be imagined, could you get there; but that I am no Judge of. 'Tis a favorite scheme of mine; but Stirline has deferr'd all that from hence. The six Battalions of the Hessians are to come without the Horse to Leith; but are not yet come, nor no news of them. *Gen1 Hawley had reason very soon to be convinced of his mistake in thus appreciating the Highlanders; as his Army (and the Dragoons at the very first onfet) was thrown into complete confusion and retreat by them at Falkirk; tho' he had often boasted, that 2 Regiments of Dragoons were sufficient to ride over the whole Highland Army. |