depend on, or to be led by the nose by, the Man I am told he setts up for; who is a stranger to him, and will perhaps laugh att him when the Elections are over. I know you'll think I have spent too much paper on this subject; but I cannot help it, because I love my Cousine, and desyre to keep friendship with him. Pray lett me know what he inclynes to do, and use your interest with him to keep him right.

I cannot tell what to make of McIntosh. If Argyll wrote to him, I am told, it might doe weell. But doe in this as you think fitt. Your friend Tom Robertsone and his father are intyrely in Fraserdeall's interest, for all the friendship he professes to you; and does oblidge his father, who never qualified before, to take the Oathes, only to oppose me; which I take to be the best thanks you'll gett from him and his associats for patronizing them in their villainies. All friends are weell. Dispatch the writts. How soon they come, lett me know when our great folks come to Scotland, and what oy' Newes you have.

Y"

JO. FORBES.

No. CIX.

Gentlemen,

The Lord Advocate to the Magistrates of Glasgow.

Edinburgh, 25th June 1725. WE are allarmed here with an imperfect Accot of a Tumult that happened in your town, in which Mr Campbell of Shawfield's house is said to have suffered ; but how far the fury of the Mob proceeded, we have not yet heard.

I must own to you, Gentlemen, this News surprized me; the more that I have heard it for some time reported, there was such an intention; and that the populace was, by some means or other, stirred up to look upon Mr Campbell with an evil eye. That previous notice, I flattered myself, would have put the Magistrates of the town upon their Guard; and their good offices and credit with the people I hoped would have prevented extremities; especially since I knew that as last night they must have had with them two Companies of his Majestie's forces, who were commanded to assist the Magistrates, and obey their orders, in suppressing any tumults or Riots.

But as, contrary to those expectations, I now hear, that the Mobb was allowed to execute their threatning, without being informed justly how that Mob became insuperable, whether the proclamation against tumults was read to them, or whether the assistance of the troops was required, I take it to be my Duty to require of you an

account of those matters.

What is to be wished, and what I hope will appear to be the case, is, that you, Gentlemen, have in all respects done your duty; and in that belief, care is taken by the General to order sufficient Detachments of foot and Dragoons to support the Civil Magistracy in the execution of the Laws; and to convince the Rioters, of whatever station or degree they may be, that they must not hope to insult the Governm' with impunity.

What I have at present to trouble you with is, that you would be pleased, with all possible care and Diligence, to transmitt to me an account of what was transacted in the Mob, its rise, and progress.

And, that with all convenient Diligence you would make the most exact enquiry and search possible after all such persons as can be proved to have been accessary to, or active in, the said Mob & tumult; & that so soon as you discover any of them, you would be pleased to committ them to Gaol, and transmitt to me an account of their Names & Designations, together with the particullars of their accession to the Mob;

and

and the Witnesses names by whom such particullars can be proven; to the end that they may be tryed by those Laws which they have insulted.

you

When have secured such of the actors as can be discovered, proper care will be taken to assist you to keep them in safe Custody, if that shall be necessary, and to transport them hither in order to their tryall.

I am heartily sorry, Gentlemen, that a subject of this kind should be the first that occasions our correspondence; and that a town so noted as Glasgow for its loyalty to his Majestie, and its adherence to those principles upon which the present happy establishment is settled, should be the first, in the whole Kingdom, that shakes off obedience to the Government, and that gives joy to the King's Enemies, by showing a spirit of Resistance and Opposition to the Laws.

I am, Gentlemen,

No. CX.

Your most humble Serv.

Sir,

The Lord Advocate [probably to Mr. Scrope.]

Edinburgh, 26th June 1725.

IT may be for your convenience, that this Letter, which is like to draw to some length, be wrote by a borrowed hand; because you will get much easier throw it, than if it were of my writting.

In my last, which was of the 24th, but which will scarcely be with you soonner than this one, I told you that the Maltsters in this Neighbourhood had given ready access to Survey their Stock in hand; but that there was some cause to apprehend the Glasgow People would not be so tractable; for which reason, two companies of foot were sent to Glasgow, to be followed by some more forces with all Expedition.

Nor were the suspicions of the mutinous disposition of the People of Glasgow without foundation; for on the 23d (when the stock in hand ought to have been surveyed), a parcell of loose disorderly people infested the Streets, which made it unsafe for the officers to demand access, untill they could be supported; and the same tumultuary Disposition continued the 24th, but without doing any Mischief till towards the Evening, that the Mob got it in their heads, it was fit for them to demolish Daniel Campbell's house; on a suggestion, which you guess at the Authors of, that he was one of the Advisers of the Malt Tax.

About the time that this Mob began thus to be turbulent, the two companies of foot that had been sent from hence entered the Town : The Provost had sent them Billets, and had prepared the Guard Room for them. But as they were drawn up upon the Parade ready to enter it, the Mob got hold of the Keys of the Guard Room, Locked the Doors, and ran away with the Keys; so that, without breaking up the Doors, the Troops could not get in, who stood for some time in the Streets, insulted and abused by the Mob.

The Remedy in this case was easy, to have broke upon the Doors; and the Officer who commanded the Detachment proposed it to the Provost, from whom he had directions to receive his orders; but the Provost pretended to be affraid that such violence would irritate the Mob; and therefore advised the Officers to order his Men into their quarters, as the only expedient that remained for their safety; which the Officer readily agreed to, the Men having been very much wet & fatigued with a long rainy march.

After the Troops were in their Quarters, the Mob became still more boisterous, and directed their fury against Daniel Campbell's House, which they gutted and destroyed,

stroyed, pulling down every thing that their power could reach to. His Gardens they defaced, and broke down every thing except the Walls, which, it seems, they had not leisure to demolish in form.

But, what is of worse consequence to poor Daniel than the loss of all his furni ture, the defacing his House and Gardens, the Carrying off his Wife's Jewells, and his own ready money & notes, they, as we are informed, got hold of his Writtings, and have left him neither Bond, Bill, Book, nor Accompt. If this should prove true, his sufferings must be very considerable.

About Eleven o'clock at Night, when the Mob was a Carrying on this Work, the Officer who commanded the Detachment of the Forces sent to the Provost to tell him, that he was at his service, and ready to obey his Commands, if He thought fit to employ the Troops in quelling that Mob. But the Provost returned him in Answer, That the two Companies were too small a force for that service; and it was therefore his opinion, that the Officer had nothing to do but to keep within his Quarters.

It is true, indeed, this Provost went in amongst the Mob, begging and praying of them that they would desist, tho' in vain; but it is equally true, that he did not attempt to read the Proclamation, or to make use of the assistance that the troops might have afforded him.

The next morning, that is, the 25th, after Daniel Campbell's house was Demolished, the Mob appeared less violent; tho' still some disorderly persons, who had got themselves Drunk over night in Mr. Campbell's cellar, continued running riotously up and down the Streets. However, the Provost, about ten a Clock of the Day, adventured to break open the Guard Room Doors, and to give admittance to the Troops; and he pretended further to act so far in his Duty, as to seize some of the Rioters, and to Committ them to Gaol. But that Act of his alarmed the Mob afresh, who got together in great numbers to Rescue the Prisoners, and endeavour to insult the Troops who had possession of the Guard Room.

To this end, a Woman, or a Man in Woman's Clothing, got hold of a Drum, beat it round all the Streets of the Town; and, having collected a great body of Mob, marched straight to the guard, where they attacked the Troops with Stones and Brick Bates so violently, that they had no choise left, but either to deliver up their Arms, or to use them.

Upon this, the Officer who Commanded the two Companies ordered the Men to fire; first powder only, in hopes of Terryfying the Rioters; but when that rather added fresh violence to their former courage, he was obliged to fire sharp; whereby several people were knocked down, and diverse more were wounded, which had the effect to beat off the Mob.

This Accident, however, provoked them still the more; insomuch that they at last rung the allarm Bell of the City, Broke up the Town's Magazines, and possessed themselves with fire Arms wherever they could find them; intending, as they said, to attack the troops in form, and to destroy them.

Upon this, the Provost sent a Message to the Officer, telling him what was threatened, and adviseing him, for his own Safety, and for the tranquility of the Town, to leave it as soon as he could, and to march out of it, where he might be safe. The Officer, whose directions were to Receive Orders from the Provost, immediately marched his Men out of Town, in his Way to Dunbarton Castle. But, as he was followed for about Six Miles by the Mob, he was forced frequently to wheel about, and fire, to make his retreat good; which at last he effectuated, and arrived safe at Dunbarton last night.

This Demelle with the Troops begun about three a Clock in the Afternoon. In it some of the Mob are said to have been killed, and many wounded. The numbers of

M

the

the Slain are variously reported; some making them to amount to ten or twelve, an other to no more than five or six. Two of the Soldiers, who could not keep pace with the Detachment, fell into the Rioters hands; and one of these is said to have been so inhumanely used, that his life is despaired of.

This is, Sir, the best account I can give you of that transaction ; a consequence whereof it probably will be, that the People in the Neighbourhood will refuse to pay the Tax until the punishment of these who have already offended shall convince them, that the course is imprudent; for the Commissioners of Excise have Advice from their Officers at Hamilton, Paisley, Ayr, &c. that they have been refused access, and Maletreated; and that the people of these places give out, that they will follow the Example of Glasgow, and not that of Edinburgh.

For this Reason it is, that it is thought necessary, that before the Officers be exposed to fresh insults in those places, or the people be directly involved in Crimes, a Sufficient force should be brought together, to support the execution of the Law at Glasgow, and to bring the Actors in this Riot to Condign Punishment.

As General Wade happens to be still here, he acted with great Judgment & vigilance in this matter. He has ordered Colonel Campbell's and My Lord Stair's Regiments of Dragoons to be furthwith taken up from Grass, and to march to the proper places in the Neighbourhood of Glasgow. He has ordered five Companies of Colonel Clayton's to march hither from Berwick; which, with so many Companies as can be spared from hence of my Lord Delorain's Regiment, will form a sufficient body to strick terror into the Mutineers in the West, and to support the Civil Magistrate in taking up the Offenders; and at the same time, he has ordered some of the Troops intended for the northern expedition, to halt where they are till further Orders, that they may be at hand in case there is any occasion for them.

So soon as the Troops intended for Glasgow are got together, which I believe may be in Six or Seven Days, proper directions shall be given for taking up so many of the Rioters as can be come at; and in the mean time, the necessary informations and evidences shall be preparing, that their Tryall may be speedy; and so soon as we have got hold of as many of the Offenders as we can come at, their Characters and the particular circumstances of their Guilt shall be made known to you, for your directions how to proceed.

By the Circumstances which, in this Naration, I have marked concerning the Provost, you will easily perceive, that his conduct seems to have as much the Air of Guilt as any one's who is not directly active can have; and yet I am told, even by Daniel Campbell himself, that he suspects him of no Guilt, but only of plain stupidity; however, Sir, should even that appear to be the case, I submit it to you whether his conduct is not such as deserves a very smart reproof. Upon an information of Malversation in respect of his Office, and accession to the Riot, he may be taken up and Committed; that single Act would certainly strick terrour in all the Neighbouring Magistrates, who may have a Disposition to be remiss in their Duty; and tho' his Malversation should appear at last to be more the effect of Folly than of Design, I cannot help thinking that he deserves to meet with a little Severity, if that Severity may be usefull to the publick.

If it shall be your Opinion, that I should give Directions for Committing this Man, alongst with the other Rioters, your Orders in answer to this will come time enough, and I shall obey them. I am,

Sir,

Most faithfully Yours, &c.

This goes by a flying paquet that General Wade dispatches to the Duke of New

castle.

No. CXI.

My Lord,

No. CXI.

M' Scrope to the Lord Advocate.

July y 1" 1725.

YOURS of y 26th ult. came to my hands yesterday morning; upon receipt whereof (S' Ro Walpole being out of Town) I imediately waited on ye Duke of Newcastle, who was pleased to shew me the letter he had from M' Wade, and he thought what you write was of y consequence, that it was necessary to sumon y Lords of y Regency; wch could not be done till this morning, because my Lord Chancellor was engaged. By this conveyance you will have their sentimes, and directions to you and Mr. Wade to carry on things wth ye utmost vigour; wch I hope will put a stop to any insolence of the like nature in other places. For ptilars I refer you to Mr. Delafay.The Duke desired to have your Letter to lay before the Regency, and intends to send a Copy of it to Hanover, wch I easily parted wth because it was writ wth great judgm' & prudence.

I am very sorry to hear of Mr. Campbel's Misfortune. Ye Duke of Newcastle promised to write to him, and to assure him y' he should not be a sufferer by it. I can't think ye Provost behaved as he ought. Ye forces might at least have protected Mr. Campbel's house; and had they been sent thither at first, 'tis probable ther had been no occasion for their retreating to Dunbarton.

I have only time to add, y' I am very faithfully,
My Lord,

Yo' Lordships most Obedient humble Serv1,

No. CXII.

J. S[crope.]

M' Delafaye to the Lord Advocate and Sollicitor of Scotland.

My Lord, and Sir, Whitehall, July 1 1725. THE Lords Justices having received Information by several Letters, which were this Day laid before them, particularly two from yourselves to Mr. Scroop, of the Tumult which happened at Glascow upon the occasion of the Commencement of the Malt Duty in Scotland, which Riot was accompanied with the highest instances of insolence, Cruelty, Rapine and Violence, and too much countenanced and encouraged by the connivance or at least (if it can possibly bear so favourable a construction) by the neglect and the want of Resolution, Vigour, and Activity, of the Chief Magistrate, and by the willfull absence of the rest, at a time when the Seditious and tumultuous disposition of the inhabitants did more particularly call upon them to attend the Duty of their Offices; Their Excellencys judging it of the highest importance to the Service of His Maj, the honour of his Administration, the Peace of his Kingdom, and the Safety of his Subjects, that so audacious an attempt, in defiance of all Laws and Government, should not remain unpunished, have commanded me to signify to you their directions, that you employ your utmost care and endeavours in bringing the Offenders to Justice, and in causing such of them to be seized as you shall judge convenient, against whom you can have any evidence; particularly the principal Actors in that Riot; those that were guilty of murder, and those concerned in demolishing of M' Campbell's House.