56 The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 



perform what He intended in our affair finding That the debates 

 ware Long, and very warm for three or four weeks, on the subject 

 of the Act of Traison which is the Act, called the Act for improve- 

 ing of the union &c. (in which was intended to Have the clause 

 inserted) was Like to be Thrown by, for this seasson ; it was 

 Thought fitt to prepare and offer a short Act by itself to impower 

 the post masters To Transact whatever should be for the interest 

 off the Crown and the ease of Her Majestyes good subjects. 

 This was made Ready but the Heats between partyes, and par- 

 ticularly betwixt the Scoth and English on the said bill of Traison, 

 and all publick bussiness being finished, it was with deliberation 

 thought better to defferr Sr Thoma.ss bill Than offer it to the 

 house, when Her Majesty was to prorogue it As she thought fitt 

 to doe in a weeks time After. I waited on Sr Thomas nixt day 

 after the parlmt was up who told me He was as sorry as I was for 

 our disapointment, but that the Heats and angry debates in 

 parliament and his own great and dangerous illness ware unfore- 

 seen accidents ; these were indeed our misfortun, but not our 

 fault. He gave me Leave to tell you that you may be assured and 

 Rest satisfied that if it please god He Live till nixt sessione off 

 parliament He will take care to serve the Quen and ease and 

 please you in this matter And therefore nead give yourselves no 

 trouble on the subject till the begining of nixt winter when you 

 may Renew your Reqist to put Him in mind of what He said in 

 His letter to you. in the mean time He owns and allowes, that 

 He nor no man, can or will Reasonably be displeased, if you 

 your selves will think fitt, to employ your own carrier for serveing 

 your own good Town, and nighbours, for goeing to, and Returning 

 from Carleisle till such time as the post be settled, by this 

 method you may save time and charges, and by so doeing you will 

 form the best Argument can be adduced to settle the Affair ; this 

 is the summe of what I wrot before And please perswad your 

 selves That I continue Avith great Respect. 

 Gentlemen, 



Your most fathfuU Humble Srt., 



Jo. Hutton. 

 By the Act of 1711 the Post Office, all over the country, 

 was placed on a somewhat better footing, and Dumfries in com- 

 mon with other districts of Scotland shared in the benefits of the 

 new administration. 



