118 Transactions. 



naturally asks what was taking place in Nithsdale at such a time. 

 For an answer I turn to a letter written to the Duke of 

 Queensberry by his Commissioner, Mr James Fergusson, younger 

 of Ci-aigdarroch ; and as I shall again have to refer to this 

 gentleman's letters, it may interest you to know that he was the 

 eldest son of " Bonnie Annie Laurie," and the father of Alexander 

 Fergusson, who carried off the Whistle at the famous meeting at 

 Friars' Carse, celebrated by Burns. The draft of these letters 

 are in possession of his great-great-grandson, Captain Cutlar- 

 Fergusson of Craigdarroch, to whom I am indebted for a perusal 

 of them. The first letter to which I refer is dated 2nd September, 

 and is as follows : — 



" The Invasion in the north of Scotland, which has been for 

 some weeks talked of as a matter of little consequence, seems now 

 more serious. We have many uncertain reports every day, but 

 by the best accounts it's now past doubt that the young 

 Adventurer landed near Fort- William several weeks ago, that a 

 good many of the Highlanders have joined him. Their numbers 

 are yet uncertain. Some say 2, others 3000, that General Cope 

 with twixt 2 and 3000 regular troops is gone in quest of them, 

 and was on Tuesday, the 27th August, within two days' march 

 of them, and that they are much alarmed at Edinburgh and 

 Glasgow, and are putting themselves as fa.st as possible in a 

 posture of defence. These accounts we had here on Saturday 

 last, and may be depended on as true. This day we werg 

 informed by letters from Edinburgh that General Cope had gone 

 towards Inverness, and that the Highlanders had taken a nearer 

 way over the mountains and come further south, that the Marquis 

 of Tullibardine had come with a part of them as far as his brother, 

 the Duke of Athole's house, and had sent orders before him to 

 the Duke's factor to prepare dinner for him and his attendants, 

 upon which the Duke came oft for Edinburgh, and that the 

 inhabitants of Perth were greatly alarmed, and were removing 

 all their valuable effects. These accounts came by express to 

 Edinburgh on Saturday. That night Hamilton's regiment of 

 Dragoons lay upon their arms in the King's Park, and were to 

 march early on Sunday morning for Stirling, where regiment '' 

 now is." 



"There was this day a meeting of the Justices of the Peace 

 and Commissioners of Supply here, occasioned by a pressing] 

 letter from the General Receiver of the Land Tax at Edinburgh 



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