Echoes of the IStii Century. 89 



Saturday, and take journey for Scotland upon my own horses, so 

 that J shall soon be in Edinburgh to support what you have done 

 as well as I can. I hope God and a good Providence will assist 

 me to extricate my poor family out of my great difficulties ; but 

 such is the situation of my affairs here just now as that I can 

 neither command money nor credit to help any transaction 

 forward, so that I am obliged to draw a bill upon you, three 

 weeks after date (which is this day), which I was unavoidably 

 forced to take here for defraying chorges, &c., at Bath, and to 

 carry me down to Scotland. But this I dare venture to say 

 that now three months will make a turn in Colonel Urquhart's 

 affairs, which will make you and me both easy as to all this. I 

 am to be witii Mr Walpole to-morrow morning, where I hope to 

 be able to receive- some satisfaction upon this subject, so shall 

 say no more till we meet. — I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate 

 liuiuble servant, , 



Carnwath. 



Lady Kenmure, after the death of her husband on Tower Hill, 

 in February, 1716, returned to Scotland. With the aid of 

 friends she succeeded in buying back his estates, and set herself 

 unflinchingly to the task of paying otf the debts. In this under, 

 taking she so tliorouglily succeeded that when her eldest son 

 came of age she was able to hand them over to him unencumbered. 

 But it must have been a weary struggle, for the following letter 

 to Mr Veitch is only one of many, written in a very clear and 

 beautiful hand, telling the same sad story of perpetual difficulty 

 and anxiety : — 



Kenmure, Jany. 9, 1734. 



Sir, — I have yours informing me of the balance due to Mr 

 Jolly, which does very far exceed my reckoning, but no doubt it 

 is all as you write, and my mistake must proceed from the 

 arrears, which it was impossible for me to calculate. Demands 

 come so thick upon me that I cannot for my heart tell you when 

 I shall be able to clear the balance, but for his present relief 

 shall do my best to pay him the odd money, being £398 13s 4d, 

 a week or two hence, so till then beg you'll make him easy. As 

 to Risco, I all wise told you that I am entirely to be directed 

 by you in that atfair, and I'm persuaded your motive must be 

 good for allowing him to push it a little, likewise I know you'll 

 prudently take it up before you see me too far defeat by him, for 



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