Transactions. 123 



and tliirdly, bocaus*^ I thouglit ye service yv by done to Hi.s 

 Majesty would be very inconsiderable in comparison of the 

 expense, and it would weaken our hands much in case of any 

 such emergency as ye present, l found, liowever, on Monday 

 last, when I was at Drfs., yt some gentlemen who were extremely 

 kean upon this project had procured a good many subscriptions, 

 and listed about half a score of men, and wrote to yr Grace con- 

 cerning it without waiting for ye meeting of ye gentlemen and 

 clergy yt was appointed to be on Monday last. 



" To explain this conduct to your Grace, I must inform you yt 

 when ye rebels passed ye Forth ye gentlemen of ye shire had 

 appointed a committee of a few of yr number nbout Dumfries to 

 procure intelligence, and call yem together l^y circular letter upon 

 any emergency. Ye clergy also appointed a committee of yr 

 number to take such measures as wis thought proper, and call 

 yni together if necessary. A very few of yese two committees 

 took it in their heads, witliout calling any meeting, to contrive 

 yt a letter should be wrote to the Lord Justice-Clerk, which 

 was accordingly done, and subscribed by a few of ye gentlemen, 

 setting forth ye zeal of ye country, and yt if orders were given 

 for yt purpose a great many men would enlist in terms of ye pro- 

 clamation allowing £4 bounty money to each man who would 

 enlist, to be discharged at ye end of six months, or when ye 

 rebellion should end. Unluckily they blundered in this by con- 

 founding two proclamations together, viz. — one offering £,i bounty 

 money to men of a certain age who would enlist in the Guard.s, 

 and anotlier offering freedom at ye end of six months, or when ye 

 rebellion should end, to any who would enlist, but ych mentions 

 no bounty. The Justice-Clerk, in his return to them, commended 

 yr zeal, but pointed out the blunder, upon ycli yt ye scheme might 

 not be altogether abortive, ych they had thus taken upon ym to 

 conti'ive, they .set ye above project on foot. 



■' As I found they had wrote yr Grace, but did not know in 

 what terms, I thought it my duty to take ye first opportunity to 

 give you ye real and true history of ye matter. 



" At the meeting on Monday when the above news came, and 

 ye project of rai.sing ye country was agreed upon, it was likewise 

 yt part of the money sul).scrihed sliould be applied to buy ammuni. 

 tion and pay such men as could not afford to come out on yr own 

 charge, as I believe we are all truly zealous to serve His Majesty 

 K. George. I thought it would be very imprudent to say or do 



