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News Letters of 1715-16
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
INTRODUCTION
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 Scotland
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.
Kobert 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 many
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 not succeeded to his
INTRODUCTION. Vll
title or estate, being merely ' Mr. Archibald
Steuart, 1 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 written Stewart, but is here spelled
Steuart. Sir Archibald was born at Utrecht 20th July 1683,
and was as c 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 Atholl 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 had 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. Kingans 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 Sheriffmuir. 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-
INTRODUCTION.
ness in spite of the difficulty of transmit-
ting news letters, which were intercepted
by the Jacobites even though hidden in
4 the button, the snuifmil 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
Edinburgn 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
King'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. amass
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 materiall 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 powerfull 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 enjoy d 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 OF 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 1 for to his study 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
artefully 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 polecy
and maturety of judgment artefull 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 OP 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
tooll 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 l 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 OP 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 OF 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 wholl 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 tolleration 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 OF 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 visite, 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 occassion 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
faithfull servants to the Crown and have
had the care of the King's children (when
Kings of Scotland) intrusted to them. A
predecessor of mine was honowrd with the
care of yowr Majesty's grandmother l 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 OF 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
faithfull 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 duty full and most obedient subject
and servant, 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 historicall
method. I am glad to notice with yow
these bullies have lett the golden day
slipp. The Qween dead 1 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 ? 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
Ormond 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 still 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 comensed 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 l
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
1 John Dunlar, Deacon of the Skinners, Convener of the
Incorporations. 17 September 1714.
NEWS LETTERS OF 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 l
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 suffred 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
1 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 l 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
1 Eldest surviving son of Lord Eankeillor, who had died in
1706. He was admitted an advocate in 1701, was M.P. for
Fifeshire 1706-7, and afterwards became 8th Baronet of
Craighall 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 civill the
Lords showld be advertised to see if they
wowld go befor us in this matter att least
to aske our 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 still 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
o
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 OF 1715-16. 19
footing. Those are the preludes yow judge
of a greater geam and this but a beating
the bush. I like 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 litle 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
NEWS LETTERS OP 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 Parliament. It was here a gentleman Duncan
from the Clerks' table acted a very un- Forbes '
mannerly parte he with a mighty huff told
my Lord Advocat our Dean he deserved ill Mr Mmrj
to fill that chear if he tamely heard the stonnunt -
Parliament compaird to a Polish diet. He
gave Mr Dean many ane angry saucy sur.
My Lord was ready to have made his
answer in his gay maner when the gentle-
man offred 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 l in his own wining way as I observd
spake so pointedly and reasond so strong
1 Lord Newhall in the Court of Session, 6 June 1718.
22 NEWS LETTERS OP 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 LETTERS OF 1715-16. 23
medling in the Caledonia tread petitioning
to disolve the Parliament 1702, and why
showld we affront owr selves be divided and
perhaps brocken by a lawfull power. Even as
to priviledges we enjoy d 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 wer
satisfied they had lost, tho some ar never to
be satisfied so longs the sucession 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. 1
Sir, My two last gave yow ane accownt
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
1 This lette^ seems to be written after the last although
dated three days before it.
NEWS LETTERS OP 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 in 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 wholl 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-
serne it was sent to my Lord Townsend's
office when it was first laid befor the King.
He seemd absolutly pleasd and expresd
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 ungratefull 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 LETTEES 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 bullets 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 1
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 Allardyce'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. I
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
will to the garison on haveing been ane
officer 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 1 and
Holland that they showld assist them from
the wall 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 1 was apprisd of their
design by a letter the night befor quhich
he communicat to Cornell Stwart 2 deputy
governowr, and Liftenant Lindsie. Cornell
Stewart made slight of it whither out of
knavrie or that he thowght it impracticable
I can not tell 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 Qfueen'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
1 Sir Adam Cockburn of Ormistoun.
2 James Stewart, son of John Stewart of Annat.
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
salied out at the 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 c klain ane old capten under
King James the 7, and two writer's ser-
vants Boswell and Ramsie. The gentlemen
and town gwaird 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 Gentries 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 watchfull 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.]
Sept r . 9. 10. Thomson, Angly and Holland
attemp upon the Castle. Ramsy and Boswel
and Captain M c 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, 1 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
Atholl 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 magistrats
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 LETTERS 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 well
mand had taken them in hundred especily
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- Frayday,
, , n i T i , cfcr - 14.
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 1
1 LIST OF THE SCOTCH OFFICERS IN THE MACKINTOSH
BATTALION, consisting of 13 companies of 50 men each,
that were in the Rebellion 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. Laird Lachla
20th Chief.
LIEUT. -COLONEL.
John Farquharson of Invercauld. Pardoned by the Prince. Father of La
Mackintosh
of 1745.
40
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
that the town wowld make resistance and
MAJOR.
John Mackintosh, brother
to the Brigadier. Escaped.
CAPTAINS.
Lachlan Mackintosh, sen.
Farquhar M c Gillivray.
Angus M c Bean.
Kobert Shaw.
Duncan Mackintosh.
William Mackintosh.
Angus Mackintosh.
Lachlan Mackintosh, jun.
Francis Farquharson of
Whitehouse. Acquitted.
Lachlan M c Lean.
LIEUTENANTS.
William M c Gillivray.
John Farquharson of Kirk-
town. Acquitted.
John Mackintosh, Advocate,
Doer for Mackintosh.
John M c Bean.
Angus Shaw, brother to
Fordaroch.
Benjamin Mackintosh.
James Mackintosh.
LIEUTENANTS continued.
William M c Queen.
Farquhar M c 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 c Queen, Paymaster.
William Shaw, Quarter-
master.
Note. They were in the Bri-
gade commanded by Brigadier
William Mackintosh, younger of
Borlum 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.
'William Mackintosh of Borlum. 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 Kegiment in
1715, and escaped from Newgate. m . . . Magdalene
M c Kenzie in 1V08. Issue.
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 Raigmore.
8. Lydia, m. Sir Patrick Grant of Dalvey.
He died 16 Feb. 1717.'
1 William Mackintosh, his eldest son, alias " William Roy,"
although designed of 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 Revolution, 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 Rebellion of 1715, Chambers'
and commanded the Highlanders at their surrender at Preston, ^"* - Rel)el -'
on the 13th of November that year. He and his friends were Secr ' et Histor
carried prisoners to London and confined in the Tower, after- of the Rebel*
wards in Newgate, from which he and several others made in New 9ate,
their escape by stratagem. A Bill of High Treason was 1715 '
passed against him, 7th April 1716, but after his escape he
got safe to France
1 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 House of Mackintosh.'
By permission of Miss Fanny Mackintosh ofFarr.)
*
42 NEWS LETTERS OF 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 OP 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
melitie, 400 Porfars 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 readynes 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 Foster 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 OF 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 attackd 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 l 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 villanows cannalie.
These were the reasons movd his Grace
after consulting with the other generall
1 The Rev. Samuel Seinple, 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
gwarded him. He was persweded not to goe
to the Aboe next night but to lodge in the
City. The rebells made ther retrite hansom ly
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 *
1 Kae'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 Rebellion, 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 OP 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, 1 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 c 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
1 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. 1
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 till 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
litle informd myself I was not unmindefull
of my promise. I came to D. as that day I
left Edinburgh which was the 4 of Novem-
1 He was executed at Liverpool, 25 February 1716. A
Faithful 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 behav'd well at his Death, but made no Speech.'
G
50 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
ber and becaws we thowght it might be
inconvenient to goe visit the campe the
end of a week we delayd taking jurny till
Moonday the 6 of the same month. We
had tollerable good traveling till we came
to Torwoodhead and after that incessent
rain till we came to St. Ringens a short
mile from Stirling and where we were to
lodge that night. On the way as we past
throw Lithgow there we saw a strong
gward of melity in the palace and abowt 60
horse (we were told) drawn out of the east
and mid Lothians melita were lying in the
towne. At Falkerk a town 6 miles beyond
this was qwartered Evanses regement of
dragowns and parts of them in the howse
of Callander a hows of my Lord Lithgow's
neer by. This my Lord 1 being gon of with
the rebells how ever we were informd they
were not all there but parte of them at
Kilsyth. We were told the dragouns' wives
were so rude as to disput the preferance at
1 James, 4th Earl of Callender, and 5th Earl of Linlithgow,
died in exile at Rome, 25 April 1723. His wife was Lady
Margaret Hay, and his daughter Anne, wife of Lord Kilmar-
nock, who was ' out ' in the J 45 and executed.
NEWS LETTERS OP 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
qwarall 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 un-
aqwent with the militarie law that one of
the same partie can not take a prisoner from
his fellow but that if such a thing showld
be ofterd 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 OF 1715-16.
old fellow searchd him and fownd 30 gwenies.
Upon this the fellow he was taken from
modestly craved the half but could not be
heard. The mader [matter] came befor the
Duck and the old dragown was brocke with
disgrase and the wholl 30 gwenies given to
the other. The fellow that was broke has
since taken on in the Horse Melita and
rides trowper there [Above the rest of
the letter there is written 'This story is
said to have ben a forward fellow delivered
his prisoner to ane other to hold till he
showld catch more and so went on again
and that he promisd to divide with the
fellow was to hold the prisoner, but that
he that keept him refusd to divide and took
eighty guinie a watch &c. but that the
Duck made him return all.'] We pasd the
way with hearing storys of this kind till
we came wher I told yow we designd to
lodg all night. There were fowr of us in
company and a servant and it was difficult
to find qwarters in a place so crowded with
companie. The minister of Abercorn 1 was
1 The Rev. John Brown (1700-1743).
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 53
on and being acqwent with his brother of St
Ringans 1 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 Kev. John Logan (1695-1727).
54 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
to ly doun but when she came she fownd
that the lass had a better bedfellow a good
lusty dragoon. Our maid with the surprise
alarmd the wholl family and so the dragown
and the maid were disapointed for if yowll
take their word for it they had gott nothing
done but our lass said they were lying like
man and wife when she came in. The gwiltie
las was no more to be seen after this she
fled the house. Not to detain yow with these
tryfling incidents I come to tell yow that
evry thing I saw about the campe was in
better condition then I expected. The men
wer hearty and well and the horse lookd
cleen aneowgh about the lims they were a
litle rough and oury haird with the hervest
rains but fitt aneough to ryde doun Heigh-
landers. The dragoun we overtook with the
foragers told us a partie had gon from the
camp to Dumfermling that day we wer on
the rode which was the seventh of November.
There was full boystrows wether that night
we were very consernd to here wat was
become off them so we set owt for the
camp the eight of November about 10
NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16. 55
aclock in the morning. We walkd it on foot
and the neer way we took it was abowt
three qwarters 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
lairnd 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 wholl battalion was
drawn up and the men drawn out to shoot
him and the pins they were to stand at sett.
56 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
Ther were six they told us three for the
heart and three for the head. When all was
in readyness we see the fellow come along
with his hat under his arme and the chap-
land on one hand and his wife on the other.
He was taken in to a tent to prayr and just
a litle befor he was to be brought out there
came doune a pardon procurd him by Rox-
brough. We were all glad of the disapoint-
ment and as the forme is the surgion was
calld to lett blood of the fellow and so we
left the camp for that day. We went up the
back way into the town up the hill and the
wind blew furiowsly there was scarce walk-
ing I pided severall poor women. Adrumers
wife walking behind him prety high kelted
for fear of durteing her coats was passing
me at a litle distance and on the syd of a
rige the wind took her feet so cliverly . . .
I blusd and went by. There wer some in litle
beter circumstances. Going up the hill we
came luckely to a good qwarter in Stirling
one Mr Aird a Glasgow man brother to
the provost there of that name. 1 They have
1 John Aird, ten times Lord Provost of Glasgow. The
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 1 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, were sent to Stirling under Proyost Aird.
1 Glenkindie's petition to George u. says that ' How soon
he came south he gave a faithfull account of all his procedure
and thereafter waited of his grace the Duke of Argile at
Edinburgh and Stirling and continued till 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 Runn from Perth
and carried allong with the rest of the Prisoners to Montross
H
58 NEWS LETTERS OP 1715-16.
good forton a refugee from Mar. He told
that he knew the first motions of this
rebellion 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
where he was Incarserat for three days and obledg'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
Argile 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 Rebells they could meet with in
Mar.' [Colonel Allardyce's The Strachans of Glenkindie,
pp. 41-42.]
NEWS LETTERS OP 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 Ringans. 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 Pous his
dawghter. This gentleman is of the name
of Hollo l 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
1 Robert Rollo of Powhouse and James his son were
1 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 OF 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 wholl 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 in the armie. They all agreed that
it was very bad and that he was extremely
q war el som 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 w r as 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. After 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
wholl 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. Insted of a sword they had
a saw at there syd and a shovel in place
of there slingd carabin. They carryd 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 OP 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 OF 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 Stirling 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 comerad and humble
servant.
Sabat, November 13, at eleven in the
fornoon they joynd battell and fowght
till night.
FIRST LETTER FROM 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 Fray day 25 he was neer
a thousand men. He merched and was joynd
by Kilraick 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 Coull
68 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
M c Kenzie. I forgot to tell yow that Sir
Donald M c Donald 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 c Kentoshes had armd
upon M c Donald's appearing, and Sutherland
hearing the main body was marchd with
Sir Donald for Perth, he resolvd to goe
and disarme the M c Kentoshes, which he
effectwat but they pretended there rysing
was in self defence becawse they were
aflrayd of the M c Donalds coming down
upon them.
SECOND LETTER FROM THE NORTH.
STIRLING, 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
off 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 cantond them hereabowts.
Dragowns in the left wing Carpenter
and Ker's dragowns and a sqwadron of
Stair's. In the reight the Grays, Evans 7 ,
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 OF 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 litle 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 ralied and returnd upon some that
had followed them and left the rebells
mam 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. Collonell
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 OP 1715-16.
had he been but a mile from the place
of engadgment upon Argyl's returne they
had compleeted the victory.
From Saturday, 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 artillery
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 OP 1715-16. 73
become passable in severall 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 proceeding 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.
74 NEWS LETTERS OF 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 OF 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
left 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 receivd a
cutt in his head, Collonell Hally of
Evans' dragoons was shot throw the body.
Collonell 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 OP 1715-16.
Stewart 1 minister there. There has been
several! 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 snuffmil 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 Colloden came
to the garison of Colloden. 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, Colloden, and his
brother as deputy liftenants of the shyre
of Inverness. The magistrats answer they
cannot. The Governowr of the rebells
at Inverness immediatly writes to Coll
1 Minister of Inverness, 1705-26, died in 1729, minister of
Kiltearn.
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 79
M c donald of Kepach who is on his merch
with 400 men and to the remains of
the M c toshes who gather abowt 500 to
strengthen the rebells. Lovet is joynd
with 120 Frazers on the 5 th , marches to
get a vew of Keppoch and gather the
loyall party of the Frasers to serve the
goverment, is followd by Kilraack, Col-
loden, and his brother on the 6 th , meet
and joyn Lovat on the 7 th , 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 offer battell
to the M'intoches. 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 Colloden on the
east syde of it. Kilraak capitulats with
the Governour Sir Johne M c Kenzie of
Coule (who is his sone-in-law) by letters
80 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
and conferences on the eight, and 9 th 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 d fiers pursues him also till he
came near the garison when he meets with
on of the liftenants whom he takes by the
breast and with a bended pistole at his
breast commands goe to the dore of the
garisson and cry Opeii. 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 OP 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 th when owr freinds
enter the town to owr joy withowt effusion
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 500tt 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
L
82 NEWS LETTERS OF 17I5-1F.
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 know en 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
cawse 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 OP 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 1 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 Rev. 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 OF 1715-16. 85
Sir, I send yow here ane other copy of
a letter abowt that baseness 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 hi 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 OF 1715-16.
quhat these gentlemen demanded was that
he showld go befor the Justice Clerk
quhich he did and cleard himself. They had
stood gward upon him all the whill. Quhen
he was aqwit he offerd the gentlemen a
glass quhich they accepted and were mery
with him. Quhat service he has done I
can not do better than give it in his oun
words, Sir, since I arived in the North
I hope I have answered yowr expectation
for the second day after my coming to
Culloden I went up to the country of
Stratherick, convoyd by Kilraak and
Culloden, with 300 men. When I joynd
my oun men I was informed Kepok of
M c donald was coming throwgh my country
to joyn Sir John M'Kenzie and reinforce
Inverness. I presently marchd against him
and chasd him from the head of Loch Ness.
I then marchd and joynd Kilraack and
Culloden and reducd the M c intoshes, and
afterward having crosd the river of Ness
I was informd that Kepok was coming to
Inverness on that syde, and that Sir John
M'Kenzie had sent a party to meet and re-
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 c 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 cawse 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 conform e 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 quhieh 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. Gamble of
Keithackand 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, 1716.
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. 1 The regular clargie
1 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 OF 1715-16.
were imprisond. We hear that Syforth 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 5 ft 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 OP 1715-16. 91
The disafected gentry to the Goverment
liquise presented one, as did one of the
Colledges in Aberdeen that has ane
Episcupall head. (Dr. Midletown), con-
tinued there since the Revolution becawse
he then qwalified and has qwalified 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 1 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.
1 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 Qenerall
Echlin 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 1 &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 there be two regements there, my
Lord Lome's regement, yet they ar not
1 A Jacobite agent. The Marquis de Ruvigny does not
include this title in his Jacobite Peerage.
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 offered 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
Sheriffmuir, and so the party browght in
the provision unmolested and it is belivd
that now the clans will stay at horn 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 published 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 accownt that she with
the rest were for a long time wind 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 furnishd 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 litle 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 OF 1715-16.
more and then we may hear a good accownt
of the rebells at Perth, for owr generals
at Stirling 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.
<v
Sir, I write yow word that Fyfe was
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 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 Hoi M c 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 barn 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 cairtes 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 Stirling 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.
Evry 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 th January 1716.
[25 January 1716.] We had owr presbetry
fast yesterday. 1 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 Rev. 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, humiliation,
and prayer,' on account of 'the unnatural Rebellion of a
Popish and Jacobite Party/
102 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
sented as having a numerows Heighland clan
and yet was not able to keep the clans at
home, but by a traty l 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 2 was gratiowsly received
being introdusd by his Grace the Duck
of Mar and the Earle Marshall of Scotland,
presented by the two Doctor Gairneses 3 in
Aberdeen college; Mr Blair 4 and some other
of the Episcopall clargie particularly on
1 October 1715.
2 29 December 1715.
3 James Garden, Professor of Theology of King's College,
Aberdeen, died in 1725 ; and his brother, George Garden, died
31 January 1733.
4 William Blair died February 1716.
NEWS LETTERS OF 1716-16. 103
Maitland, 1 quho has received new orders
since he has been deposd by the General!
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 scholl 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
religion 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 eon-
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
1 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 OF 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 OF 171516. 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 Stirling 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 Ern 8 or nyn miles furder
to vew the grownd and road towards
o
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 for cess :
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
107
ORDER OF BATTELL of his Majesty's forces
under the Command of his Grace the
Duck of Argyll :
FIRST LYNE.
sqwafoons
Brigadeer f 2 Portmor's
g tr 1 H
JT "** cr
Stenwix \ 2 Evans
c o' Q 2
*^ CD ^j
A 9 M
battalions
^ 13 to-
P P ^
1 Forfar's l
CD t3 o
H| ^
H
Brigadeer
1 fudzilliers
^ H
Morison
1 Edgerton
^ ^
1 Clayton
i
battalions
? c?
K *** 8
1 Kipenbach 2
O O CD
5- ^ S
Brigadeer
1 Palant
Chambrier
1 Chambrier
P
1 Sturler
sqwadrons
6
Collonell ( 2 Ker
i
Newton \ 2 Carpenter
Wills (Rae).
1 Slippenbeck (Rae).
3 Montese (Rae).
Wetham (Rae).
108
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
SECOND LYNE.
sqwadrons
r 2 Newtons
batalions
1 Morison
!_,
Brigadeer
Grant
1 Montagwe
1 Shanon
1 Grant
s
Q p
c 1 Wightman
battalions
if
H- CD
Brigadeer
Croustroom
f 1 Croustroom
1 1 Mey
I 1 Mey
[ 1 Rantzaw
f P
sqwadrons
2 Stenhope
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
Stirling. 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
like 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 c Gregory 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 OF 1715-16. Ill
By this time Roy was up with them and
fired a pistoll quhich mist Hay very near.
Upon which he run away and cryed back
' fight Doges/ All the Volunteers followd
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 OF 1715-16.
shortime affairs 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 d 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 OF 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 Hy landers 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.
p
114 NEWS LETTERS 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,
Colloden, 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 LETTERS OP 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 Liftenant Generall and the pre-
cedentship of the pollice 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 Cowncill 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 William viz. a detachment of 50 men
out of each battallion, took possession of the
place about two in the afternoon. The
same day his Grace 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 OF 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.
Collnell [Hay 1 ] 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-
1 John Hay, brother of the Earl of Kinnoull, 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.
February 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 1
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
1 The sixth Lord Balmerino. 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 offring 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 invagle-
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
Q
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 OF 1715-16.
he had not been 3 howrse in bed neither
till he was forsd to his shifts. Many ar of
oppinion he might 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 1 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
1 Seaton.
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 125
into Sowth Brittain so it made them offer
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 Liftenant M c 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
liftenants 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 c 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 c 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 c neill has but acted a bad parte.
Yow will think it very strange news I
write that efter 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 OF 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 untill he came to the gwaird quher
he fownd not Coming 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 OF 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 rebells. 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 wholl stick escaps. So
the broken sticks were instantly led out to
execution after the chaplan had exorted
them and they had prayd.
February 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
130 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
Hne 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 d
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 OP 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 fullfill 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 severall 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 l
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, 2 Mr Dunbreck, 3 Mr Blair, 4 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
1 Printed (in English) in Rae's History of the Late Rebellion,
pp. 352-354.
2 Dr. Andrew Burnett, minister of Aberdeen, was deposed
as a Jacobite in 1716, and died 24 October 1718.
3 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.'
4 Rev. William Blair, died in 1716.
NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16. 133
Majesty s most faithfull 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 liberty s
and property quhich by the overturning
of these rights have been heighly incrochd
upon, and we ar perswaded that yowr
134 NEWS LETTERS OF 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
liberty s and property as to leave no just
NEWS LETTERS OP 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
hellish contrivances formd against yow for
encuraging assassins to murder yowr royall
person a practice abhord by the very
heathen. May the same mercyfull 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 faithfull most dutefull and most
136 NEWS LETTERS OF 1715-16.
humble subjects and servants. A_IlSW6r.
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 stoll 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 ia auoh ane other oargoe loot in
Pentland firth. betwen Caitnesa ae4 Orkny.
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.
Cornall Balfowr ane old Jacobit Cornall
quho was made governowr of Perth after
8
138 NEWS LETTERS OF 171546.
Cornall Hay quho first surprise! the place
for the rebells was gon off for France,
surrenderd himself to Sir John Cuningham
of Eobertlan, 1 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 bar ells of
powder, and 20 baralls of lead. Sinclar of
Stemster 2 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 yowll
know the gentleman better by the name
of Dunbeth he has used thes years past,
1 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 Robert-
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 deliver 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 rebells. 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.
Cornall Balfower 1 when he surenderd
tolld he had aneough of there yowng King
and that he was not for the hills and
wowld ingadge to be a dewtyfull 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
1 John Balfour of Fernie, 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 OP 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 OF 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 rne 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 1715-16. 143
Cornell Neutton ane English Cornell of
dragowns had in his baggage a fine sowd
bed lind 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
aifrayd 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 OF 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 howse 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 OP 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 march 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 and 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 naills 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 OP 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 OF 1715-16.
ther that day. He run in among the lads and
tolld 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 OP 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 like 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 OF 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 Colledg, viz. the Marshall Colledge,
but that colledg by appointment of the
goverment has been visited and there
practices inqwired into by a comitie
authorisd for that effect in August 1716,
and most of the masters laid aside. My
Lord Justise Clerke 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 OF 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 inconveniencie
like to happen in the West Bow as they
from the Castle were carryd down in coach.
On the 5 th 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 Carlile 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 1 a corporell in the
1 'At his execution he said nothing.' [Faithful Regis-
ter of the Late Rebellion, 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 publick
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. 1 He
was to have a 100 more and comission if
it succeded. Arthour used arte besyd to
seduce those miserable wretches. He tolld
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 will make it more so quhen we gett
this fort so peacebly into our hand. Yow
1 ' The two soldiers were excused,' and not executed with
their principal. [Faithful Register oftheLate Kebellion t p.348.]
U
154 NEWS LETTERS OF 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 Collonell 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 under
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 OF 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 OP PRISONERS TAKEN BY
THE DUKE OF ARGTLLE, 1715.
Viscownt of Strathallan, Collonel ;
Logie- Almond, Collonel ;
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 c cenzie ;
Lieutenant Patrick Stewart servant to
Mr. M c cleod Advocate ;
Lieutenant James Stewart ;
Lieutenant William Adamson ;
Lieutenant John Robertson ;
Ensign George Taylor ;
Ensign Nicol Donaldson ;
Adjutan John M c clean ;
Lowis Cramond ;
Major Charles Chalmers ;
Captain William Chrichton ;
23.
THE END.
Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty
at the Edinburgh University Press
DA
8H
3
S8
Steuart, Archibald Francis
(ed.)
News letters of 1715-16
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