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that any institution, where any thing of the same kind is done for the same sum, or even a little more, is well managed; for as every person who has ever taken an interest in the manage ment of public charities, knows well, men of no other class surpass the Quakers in applying the funds entrusted to their care in the most advantaIt would be interestgeous manner. ing to know the annual expence of the boys in Watson's and Heriot's Hospitals, of the girls in the Merchant and Trades' Maiden Hospitals, and of the children in the Orphan Hospital, and in the Charity Work Houses of this place. I do not expect that in some of these institutions the children can be boarded, clothed, or educated for L. 20 a-year, but in others, judging by what is done for the children, the expence should be less.

Sept. 1817.

VIATOR.

Report of the State of Ulster Provincial School, for one year ending 31st of 12th month, 1813.

THE annexed statement of the accounts of the Ulster Provincial School was received at the yearly meeting, 1814, and referred to the consideration of a committee, who brought in the following report, viz.

We have examined the Report of the state of Ulster Provincial School, for the year ending 31st of 12th month, 1813; and find, from the information laid before us, that the expenditure has exceeded the income in the sum of L. 103, 13s. 10дd.; and that there was due to the treasurer on that day L. 264, 9s. 14d.; but that, since the account was made there was a subscription entered into by friends of that province, which has produced a considerable portion of said deficiency.

up,

The average expence is L. 18, 6s. 4d for each child, being nearly the same as last year.

It appears that friends of Ulster, on considering the recommendation of last yearly meeting, to advance the bills of admission and continuance from three pounds to five pounds per annum, thought that, as a considerable number of the children were paid for by parents in straitened cireumstances, it might have an effect upon such children being sent to the school, if the bills were advanced two

pounds per annum; they therefore concluded to advance them at the present only to four pounds. The grounds upon which friends of Ulster appear to have acted, are approved of by the committee; but, in order to make the income sufficient, it is desirable that suitable endeavours be used to increase the amount of the annual subscriptions, by enlarging the subscription lists, even with names of friends who could afford to give but a small sum annually.

The friends that are now likely to have the charge of the family are all young; it is therefore desirable that a man friend of more experience should be procured, to have the charge of managing the farm, providing for the family, &c.

Signed by order, and on behalf of the Committee, 27th of 4th month, 1814.

JOSEPH FISHER (REUB.)

A Report of the State of Ulster Provincial School, for one year ending the 31st of 12th month, 1813.

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that she compelled him to marry her, by threatening his life, and reminding him that she was Cheisly's daughter.

Boys. Girls. Total. dragged away.

255

10

114

141

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Admitted since to 1st of 1st month, 1814

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54

11

AN ACCOUNT OF THE MISFORTUNES
OF MRS ERSKINE OF GRANGE, COM-
MONLY KNOWN AS LADY GRANGE.

MR EDITOR,

*

THE extraordinary case of Mrs Erskine, known by the title of Lady Grange, excited great curiosity about 80 years ago, and is yet very interesting on account of the mystery which attends it, and its apparent connection with the plots of those who were concerned in the rebellions which broke out in the years 1715 and 1745. Her maiden name was Rachel Cheisly. She was a daughter of Cheisly of Dalry, who shot the Lord President Sir George Lockhart, in revenge for deciding against him a law-suit, which had been referred to his lordship and another of the judges as arbiters. She was a beautiful woman, but of a very violent temper. It was reported, that Erskine of Grange (a brother of the Earl of Marr) had seduced her, and

For this curious paper we are indebted to the same gentleman who transmitted Lord Lovat's Memorial, and other valuable communications, for the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine.➡EDIT.

Mr Erskine's character is represented as having been by no means amiable. He was dissipated, restless, and intriguing; and was supposed to be concerned in some of the measures preparatory and subsequent to the rebellion in 1715, of which his wife was in the secret. His frequent journeys to London, and some of his amours there, gave her so much uneasiness, that she threatened to inform government of all she knew, unless he consented to give up plotting, and live quietly at home. He did not choose to comply with these terms; and he formed a plan, by which she was violently seized in her own house and It is a remarkable circunstance, that, notwithstanding the noise which this barbarous and tyrannical act occasioned, no means were taken to bring the perpetrators to justice, though some of them were well known. Grange had the address to persuade the public and his connections, that his wife was a mad woman, who had frequently attempted his life, and that confinement was absolutely necessary. He used to shew a razor, which, he said, he had taken from under her pillow. She had two sons grown to manhood at the time she was carried off, and it was suspected that either one or both consented to it. Her daughter, by Mr Erskine of Grange, was married to the Earl of Kintore. None of her relatives ever made the smallest stir about the matter. The fate of Lady Grange, after her seizure, has hitherto remained uncertain, except that it was known she had been carried to St Kilda. I have, however, obtained a manuscript, which throws much light on this transaction. The MS. is a copy of for Lady another, partly written Grange, by the minister of St Kilda, and partly by herself.

This manu

script I now send to you, with this remark, that it was found among the papers of a gentleman who flourished at the time of the transaction to which it refers, and who never would have put into his repository any thing_of the kind which was not authentic. Indeed, the internal evidence it bears, proves the authenticity of the narra

* I have understood that there are other copies in existence.

tive almost beyond question. During my inquiries in regard to this extraordinary transaction, I learned the existence of several documents which confirmed the story as narrated in the MS.; and also that some original letters of Lady Grange, which had found their way from St Kilda, had been recently in the hands of a bookseller in Edinburgh, from whom they had been purchased for the purpose of destroying them. It is not surprising that the descendants of the parties concerned should feel a desire to bury the story in oblivion, on account of the conduct which the narrative displays. But in matters of history, especially when the dispositions and manners of a people are interesting, private feelings must be disregarded. Nothing has yet appeared which exhibits in a stronger light than the following narrative, the ferocity not only of the Highland clans, but of a portion of their southern neighbours; and it is valuable, in so far as it proves the long duration of barbarism, and assists us to appreciate the astonishing rapidity with which civilization has proceeded in Scotland, and more particularly in the Highlands. Being myself a member of a numerous Highland clan, I am not ashamed to avow, while I lament, the savage state in which the Highlands were suffered to remain, till a Chatham arose to demonstrate the value of that lofty spirit of freedom, and of attachment to cach other, which, while under no regulation but the caprice of a few chieftains, naturally resolved into hatred of their southern neighbours. Many of my name were concerned in the rebellions which agitated Scotland during the first half of the 18th century; and many may have been guilty of actions equally atrocious with that of which I now give you the details; yet I have no other feeling in connection with the past, than thankfulness for having lived to see the effects of the enlightened policy of Chatham, and that policy followed up by the liberality of the government towards the most remote districts of the empire, in opening up a country hitherto inaccessible, by roads and bridges, executed under the direction of the most able engineers. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

James Erskine of Grange. That af ter I had lived near 25 years in great love and peace, he all of a sudden took a dislike to my person, and such a hatred that he could not live with me, nor so much as to stay in his house; and desired me to subscribe a separation during his pleasure, which I thought was contrary to my vows before God; and that I dearly loved my husband. Both his friends and mine own were at a great deal of pains to persuade me, but I absolutely refused to subscribe it. At last, after much threatening, he got me out of the house; and I designed at that time to go straight to London; but some of my friends thought his temper might alter, and gave me your house to stay in, it being a little without the town, I desiring to live retired. After having lived some months there, I came into Edinburgh, and I took a chamber in a private house near to my lord's lodging, that I might have the pleasure to see the house that he was in, and to see him and my children when going out and in. I made both his relations and mine own speak to him, and some ministers, and was always in hopes that God would shew him his sin of putting away his wife contrary to the laws of God and man, and this was no secret; for the president of the session, and several of the lords, the solicitor, and some of the advocates and ministers of Edinburgh, knows all this to be truth. When I lost all hopes, then I resolved to go to London and live with some of my friends, and make myself as easy as I could without him. Having paid a part of my coach hire, and taken a leave of my friends and of the ministers, two days before I should have gone away, upon the 22d 1732, after eleven o'clock at night, it being the Saturday evening, the house belonging to one Margaret Maclean, a Highland woman, she put the few she had in her house to bed, which were two Highland women, and a little servant maid, an hour and a half before ordinary. I had no servant with me in that house but a chamber-maid, and whether she was upon that plot or whether the mistress put her out of the way, I know not. There came two men to the door, saying they had a letter for my lady, and the mistress of the house brought them to my "I, the unfortunate wife of Mr room door, and then rushed in some

"January 21, 1741.

GAEL.

Highland men, whom I had seen frequently attending my Lord Lovat, and, if I well remember, had his livery upon them, who threw me down upon the floor in a barbarous manner, and I cried out murther. Then they stopt my mouth, and dang out several of my teeth, and I bled; and abused my face most pitifully with their hard rude hands, till there was no skin left on my face all below my eyes; for I was always putting out the cloaths as fast as they put in, being on the floor at the time, and defended myself with my hands, and beat with my heels upon the loft, in hopes the people below would hear me. And then a near cousin of my Lord Lovat's lookt in at the door, and gave directions to cover my head, and tye down my hands with a cloath: they had wrestled so long with me, that it was all that I could breathe, and then they carried me down stairs as if they had a corps. I heard many voices about me; being blindfolded, I could not discover whom they were. They had a chair at the stair foot, which they put me in; and there was a man in the chair who took me on his knee, and I made all the struggle I could; but he held me fast in his arms, and hindered me to put my hands to my mouth, which I attempted to do, being tied down. The chair carried me off very fast, and took me without the ports; and when they opened the chair, and taken the cloth off my head to let me get air, I perceived, it being clear moon light, that I was a little way from the Multer's Hill,* and that the man on whose knee I sat was one Alexander Foster of Carssbonny, who had there six or seven horses and men with him, who said all these were his servants, though I knew some of them to be my Lord Lovat's. The names they gave them was Peter Fraser, whom I believed to be my lord's page. He came along with me and the chair, but did not ride with

me.

I believe it was he that set me on the horse behind Mr Forster, if I well remember, and they tied me fast with a cloth to Mr Forster; and there was three of my Lord Lovat's servants who rode along, one of them was called Alexander Fraser, and the

Where St James's Square is now.

other James Fraser, and his groom,
whose name I know not. These were
the names they gave them; but whe-
ther they were their proper names, I
know not. Another that rode along
was Andrew Leishman, a tenant in
West Pomeise, which belongs to Mr
Stewart, and had been tenant there
this 26 years. I heard another of the
horse was a young gentleman, my
I heard so,
Lord Lovat's cousin.
but did not see him, for he kept out
of my sight. Before they set me on
horse, I showed how all the linens
about my face was covered with blood,
and that they had torn all the clothes
upon my head, and torn out some of
my hair, and blindfolded me; but
the joggling of the horse shuffled up
the cloaths
off my eyes, so that I saw
what way they rode with me, streight
by the long way. I saw that I was
at the back of the castle. They took
me the streightest way to Lith-
gow; and it was a very frosty, cold,
bitter night. I took stitches in my
side, sitting in a constrained posture,
and I begged Mr Foster to allow me
to light a little till I was eased of my
pains.

He

Mr Foster cried to Sandy Fraser to stop my mouth again, for it was he that stopt my mouth when I was in my own room, and called me a damned bitch, that he would break my neck if I did not hold my peace, was he venturing his life for me. took me a little beyond Lithgow. When he saw that day was approaching, he took me into a house which belongs to John Macleod, who is an advocate, whose servant had known of my coming, and met me with candles in their hands at the far end of the entry, and brought me into a very good room and fire on, so that they knew of my coming. I saw no servants in the house but two men and a woman, and told them whose wife I was, and that I was stolen; and he presently took me up stairs to a very good bed-room, which had a fire, and good linnings in the bed, which I looked to, and found Mr Macleod's name on them. They kept me there all day, and would not allow a woman to come up into the room, but set Sandy Fraser with me all the day; for which reason I would not throw off my cloaths for as wearied and cold as I was, Fraser was so barbarous and cruel. When it was night, about seven, he told me I had some more

miles to ride; and he took me down stairs by force, and tied me on the horse as I was the night before. He rode streight to Falkirk, and we met none on the way, it being the Sabbath night, which I thought very misfortunat, or else I would have cried out for help. He rode away by the south side of Falkirk, and through the Tore Wood, which way I knew all, having travelled it before. Some little after we left the Tore Wood, he rode a way which I knew not; and I was very weary, it being a bitter night. He said he was taking me to his own house, but did not tell me its name, and thought all along I did not know whom he was, a cloth being tied to his face, that I might not perceive it; and he brought me streight to Wester Pomeise, where he was factor for Mr Stewart, who is married to Brisbane of Bishopstoun's sister. He took me in through a laigh vault, and then into a room of the vault, the windows of the room being nailed with thick boards, and no light in the room; but in a little closet, a little slitt where a man could scarcely put in his hand, less than the thieves' hole in Edinburgh, and a very old ugly bed without a roof, a timber chair, with the half of the bottom in it; and there I was keept a closs prisoner for thirteen or fourteen weeks, not having liberty as much as go without doors; and two doors lockt on me, cross bars on the outside. The servant that waited on me there was an old gardener and his wife that he had provided, who had a meall garden in Stirling. His name is George Ross, and his wife's name Agnes Watt. He lived in Stirling many years, and had two sons and a daughter, who was frequently with their father, and saw me. Andrew Leishman, mentioned before, brought what meat and drink I needed, and all other provisions, such as coal and candle. He went always to Mr Foster, got directions about it. His wife served me in what things she could do about me. They have three daughters which his wife has born, and his eldest son, William Leishman. They keept me so long closs prisoner, that it endangered my health, and I grew sick, and Andrew told Mr Foster that he would allow me go out, and that he would not have a hand in my death; and then I was allowed to go to the high

rooms, and to go to the court to get the air much against Mr Foster's will. The gardener was kept there for a scoury to dress the garden and the trees. Sandy Fraser was left with me the first three or four days, and then James Fraser was sent out to wait of me, for he would not trust me to the gardener; and he kept the key in his own custody day and night. My Lord Lovat came frequently through Stirling to Mr Foster, his house being within a mile of it; and Mr Foster went out and met him, to concert matters about me, and James Fraser, who waited of me, went with him. I was keept prisoner there till the 12th August, and then Peter Fraser, my lord's page, came and staid till the 15th. Mr Fraser came up then, and three Highlandmen with him, and took me out of the room by force; James and Peter Frasers carried me out, and set me on a horse be hind the captain. It was about ten o'clock at night, and carried me away by Stirling; and when I offered to cry, they came with a big roll made for the use, to stop my mouth, and a cloth to tie about it to keep it in; and they carried me along by Stirling bridge, and after that I knew no more of the way. It was moonlight, and they rode till it was near day, and then took me into

house.

The captain, Mr Foster, went to the room with me, and sat a little with me, and never came near me after that. He gave the charge of me to one who called himself Alexander Grant, but I believe he feigned his name; he rode with me out of Pomeise that night's journey; Andrew Leishman and Peter and James Frasers were the rest of the company that rode, and a man who was our guide, called himself Macdonald, and told me he was born at Glengary's. Always when they took me out of any place, they did by force, and I bad them consider what they were doing in taking me away against my will. Whenever it was night, they set me on a horse behind Grant, who was nothing but a silly fellow, and he could ride before me; and then they set my Lord Lovat's footman, James Fraser, before me, and tied me to him, that I might not leap off; and rode all night with me, and brought me into General Wade's new way, I knew not how far in the Highlands. Whenever it

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