I have from a good [hand] this night, the gentleman who seized the servants, this account. On Friday last, there was a footman of Linlithgow's, and two or three more servants, were seized some where in Stirlingshire, or near Perth, by a factor of C. Erskine, in Kincardine, who took them straight to the Duke of Athole, and they have declared to him, in my author's presence, that upon the 18th of this month, there came a small light vessel from France to the Isle of Uist, and took in the Marquis of Tullibardine, the Earl of Linlithgow, Earl of Southesk, and three or four more of our Scots peers, and about twenty French officers, and as many Scots gentlemen, who had been skulking. They declared that several chests and great packs were brought out of the ship, and carried to a house of Clanronald's, and that the servants of that house said they were arms. The gentlemen and officers were allowed no servants with them; the noblemen had one servant allowed them, and thir who were seized were dismissed. My Lord Haddo, who is married to Athole's daughter, was present at the examination, and he asked if General Gordon was gone off, and the prisoners said he was still in the country. By private letters from London, I find my Lord Sutherland is the most popular Scotsman at London among the English; that he is extremely caressed there; that the Lord Mayor and Council of Aldermen were once upon inviting him to a public treat and entertainment; but it was waved because they would not go in likewise to treat A—le, [Argyle.] However, he is extremely caressed by the citizens, and the Squadron see fit to fall in with him, and the other side lessen all he has done.

May 3.

This day Mr Mitchell preached from Acts ix. 31,-"The churches had rest." A most solid sermon. He spoke of rest from war, from persecution and error, and the import of walking in the fear of the Lord, and the reasons; and took care to notice Mr Carstairs' memory with honour in the entry of the application. I mind nothing further. After the ordinary steps the King's letter came, which is very general and abundantly kind. He gives all assurances of pre

servation of our privileges, and takes notice of our firmness during the Rebellion, and concludes with recommending unity to us. We have nothing now about planting vacant churches, nor the looking after the Highlands and islands, nor charity to Episcopal ministers, as was the form some years ago. The instructions, they say, are favourable enough. The committees of bill overtures, and commissions, and preachers, are named. This is all I mind. My dearest respects to all with you. The Parliament is to rise in a week or two, and the King goes to Germany on the back of it.

When Mr Simson was put into the rolls this day, Mr Webster craved leave to speak, and it was by most who spoke waived. At length he dropt his desire, and desired the Assembly might observe that one of their number was under a process for scandal and error. My L. J. C. [Lord Justice-Clerk] said to me he wished, when Mr Stirling was chosen, and he could not be here, the College of Glasgow had not sent Mr S. [Simson] in thir circumstances.

My Dearest, I have yours by Mr Cuples, and yours by post this night. Pray, fail not to let me know how your eye is, and what sort of pain, if stinging or heavy. I am not in the committee I used to be on, for pr. [preachers.] I wish I be not put on that work of preaching. This day I was invited to dine with the Commissioner, which surprised me much. I am very well, and take a special care of myself. I have not time to read over what I have written.

May 2.

My Dearest Peggy, I am very well. Pray take a particular care of yourself, and do not overwork yourself. Let me know how your eyes are; and how the children are, and how Ben continues. Keep all my letters, and let them not go too far abroad. This long letter will apologise for short ones afterward. I shall labour to write every post, but in case a throng of work intervene be not uneasy, for if any [thing] should ail me, as I hope the Lord will prevent it, I shall surely write, and nothing but throng of work will hinder me, and my not getting to the post-house. Let me know how Mr Stirling is, and how all at Doucathall is. The letter you sent was not broke up, for I compared it with the seal that was whole.

LETTER XLVIII.

WODROW'S LETTERS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 1716.

To Colonel Erskine, No. 3.

May 3, 1716.

As to

MY DEAREST COLONEL,-I could not but write this short line, though I am in such a hurry, that I can scarce write sense. our grievances, I am of opinion they should be pressed this Assembly, though I have no hopes of any thing being done this way, and they will be moved, though it be but to keep the thing agoing. I find the most of our leading men are not really in the thoughts you are, and I very much question if they really take them to be grievances, otherwise they would never stave them off as they do; and I am plainly in the mind, that whatever be said, we differ among ourselves in somewhat more than the expediency and season of application, for, at bottom, many are against all application. It's now urged that the Parliament is about to rise, that the King is going to Germany, and that it will strengthen the enemies of the Government to make any noise about them; but, in plain terms, laxness in principle is at the bottom. However, I think all this ought not to hinder us to be essaying all we can, though I don't think any thing will be got done this Assembly. I wish you may inform all you have access to speak with where these things will land, and what a hidden fire may come to at length, and how much it is the King's interest the Church of Scotland should be unfettered; and if you have access to drop any thing to the King, I wish hints were given to this purpose.

Meanwhile, let me know how people take the Septennial Bill, which, at first view, appeared to me an infringement; but I am sorry to hear there is so much necessity for it. We are at a poor pass. Let me likewise know what is to be done anent the sacramental test, and in favour of the Dissenters. This is a very me

lancholy Assembly, and my fears are not over as to the Lord's controversy. Our state parties are evidently got in to our judicatories, besides our own differences, and the business betwixt Messrs Webster and Simson is like to inflame us. Great grace be with you! I am yours,

R. W.

LETTER XLIX.

WODROW'S LETTERS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 1716.

To Mrs Wodrow, No. 4.

May 4, 1716.

MY DEAREST,-I send you a copy of the King's Letter. Two remarks are made upon it, that none we have had is so kind, and it's not ordinary for Kings to return thanks as he does here. The other is, that he names only the Government, without either naming Presbyterian or legal, and without touching the doctrine, worship, or discipline, and that he says all his subjects have reason to be easy as to all their concerns, religious and civil, which is the reason given in the bill for toleration, and the words of it; and it is thought to favour the toleration; but, for my share, I see not this consequence. This day, the forenoon was spent in prayer. The Moderator, Mr Mulligen, Mr Boyse, Mr Cameron, Mr John Hamilton, Mr James Grierson, Mr Blackwell, prayed. I have been better at Assembly prayers. Then, the preachers were named for two days, which, I think, is indeed a good change, and to the advantage both of Assembly and preachers. Mr Chalmers of Kilw[inning] and Professor Anderson next day; and Mr Macmurdo and Mr Willison of Brechin for the second day. Their nomination was unanimously approven, because every body is willing to be free, at least some are.

In the afternoon, the Committee of Overtures met, and the draught of the Answer to the King's Letter was read, where, upon first reading, I missed Mr Carstairs. There were no amendments made, except of some few words not material. When we thank the King for his assurances, we take notice of the memorial given in from the last Assembly. There was a debate whether it was from the Assembly or Commission, because the last Assembly had left it to be transmitted by the Commission, but we got over that. And Townshend's letter was read to Mr Mitchell in answer to the letter we wrote from the last Commission, when the memorial was transmitted a second time. It's very kind, and he acquaints us that he had laid it before the King, and that the Rebellion had hindered him from considering it; but he assures the Church of Scotland of his protection and countenance, but speaks nothing of the removing the grievances. The committee, who brought in the answer, after they had gone through all the articles of the King's letter, added a short kind of address before the prayers, congratulatory to the King after the Rebellion upon the success of his arms, without mentioning the Duke of Argyle. The design of this was smelled to be the shouldering out of a congratulatory address, and so it was moved that clause should be left out, and an address agreed upon to be drawn up afterwards. This the Squadron opposed, and at length it was pressed to have a vote, Address the King or Not, and it carried unanimously in the committee, Address, among the ministers; a few of the elders did not vote. Then it was voted, Transmit the answer, with or without the clause. Here the Squadron' were violent to have the clause continued in the answer, and that was carried. It's thought they will improve this to curtail the address as much as may be; but I am mistaken if this way they get their design throughed; and by the souch of members I imagine

'The violence of party spirit had, at this time, risen to a great height between the Squadron and Argyle.—(Letters to Wodrow, vol. xi. No. 125.) This explains the factious spirit displayed in the Assembly by the Squadron. The party was much gratified shortly after this, by the removal of Argyle from his post, as Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's Forces in North Britain; and by the Duke of Montrose's appointment to be Lord Register of Scotland, in the room of Argyle's brother, the Earl of Islay.