134 Transactions. 



that every boily would be ready to take arms in whatever shape 

 they should be desired, and hearing among other things the 

 raising of a regiment for six months, or till ye rebellion should 

 be over, of the gentlemen and people in this country had been 

 talked of, we took occasion upon the 2nd to wait on the General 

 with Mr Heron, late Member for the Stewartry, who joined with 

 us in confirming what had been said by others with regard to 

 the afl'ections of the county, but took the liberty to assure him 

 that any scheme of putting this country in arms would be abortive, 

 unless some person of authority to whose directions people of all 

 ranks would cheerfully submit, and in whom they would confide, 

 was proposed to put it in execution, and that none would be so 

 agreeable as your Grace to both these countys ; that under your 

 authority we doubted not but they would make as good a figure, 

 but that it was only deceiving the Government to raise their 

 expectations concerning these countys in any other view, as most 

 otiier persons concerned in them, upon whose affections to the 

 Government the people should depend, were so much upon a 

 level that it could not be expected any one would have authority 

 enough to direct them, so that any scheme which they might 

 attempt must necessarily run into confusion by various and 

 contradictory opinions. The General treated us very civilly, and 

 seemed to take what was said extremely well. For my own part, 

 by the few months experience I have had of the present confusion? 

 I am so sensible of the truth of the above observation that except 

 under your Grace's direction I am resolved to have no further 

 concern in raising the people in arms, unless the Militia are 

 called out in a legal manner ; and I can assure your Grace several 

 of tbe gentlemen here, in whose power it is to do most service in 

 that way, have the same intention. Many people who make a 

 bustle and noise about their good affections to the Government 

 have evidently their own private interests so much in view, and 

 are so intent upon having the merit of anything that is done for 

 its service in the country where they live, that there's no end of 

 proposals, many of which are idle, and no chance of any being 

 right executed otherwise than in the way I have mentioned. 

 Such I can venture to affirm is the present situation of this 

 county, and I think it my duty to write plainly to your Grace in 

 this and everytliing in wliich you are so much concerned. May 

 God long preserve you and give you the return of many happy 

 years, and put in your power to be the instrument of delivering 



