126 Scottish Parliament and Sanquhar Representation. 



and not giving satisfaction was ordered to withdraw, and the ques- 

 tion being put expell him out of Parliament or not it carried in 

 the affirmative " nemine contradicente " and a warrant was 

 ordered to the Burgh of Sanquhar to elect a new commissioner in 

 his place in manner following : — 



" Her Majesties High Commissioner and the Estates of 

 Parliament in respect of that Sir Alexander Bruce Comr to this 

 Parliament from the Burgh of Sanquhar is expelled the Parlia- 

 ment by a sentence of this date grants order and warrant to the 

 Magistrates and Town Council of the said Burgh to elect a com- 

 missioner to represent the said Burgh in this parliament in vice of 

 the said Sir Alexander Bruce at Sanquhar, 18th June instant and 

 ordaines intimation to be made hereof in the usual manner." 



This rather bald account of the expulsion of our Burgh 

 Member is fortunately supplemented by an account preserved in 

 the " Diary of Sir David Hume," one of the Senators of the 

 College of Justice. From Lord Hume's account we learn that 

 when " the Act for ratifying the Protestant Religion and Presby- 

 terian Church Government " was being read " Sir Alexander Bruce 

 of Broomhall said there was a distinction to be made betwixt the 

 Protestant Religion and the Presbyterian Church Government 

 which, as it is noAV settled, is inconsistent with the essence of 

 monarchy as might easily be demonstrated. Upon which there 

 was a cry of very many 'To the Bar, to the Bar.' The earl of 

 Seafield and the Marquis of Annandale said, ' What he had said 

 deserved censure, but he might be allowed to crave pardon of the 

 House or to explain himself.' He said, ' He did only express his 

 own sentiments,' whereupon the cry was, 'To the Bar, to the 

 Bar.' So he was sent to the Bar, and said he only did say he 

 conceived so. The advocate and others craved he might be 

 removed, the treasurer depute moved that it be put to the vote 

 Expell him or not. Carried nemine contradicente Expell. So 

 he was called in and the sentence intimate. He said he was 

 sorry he was deprived of the opportunity of showing his readiness 

 to do Her Majesty service, and so removed and order signed for 

 Burgh of Sanquhar to Chose a new Commissioner. Argyle said 

 before Sir Alexander went to the bar that the gentleman had 

 taken the wrong cue, he had spoken too hastily. The Act again 

 read voted and approven." From this account it will be seen that 

 Bruce's offence, if an offence at all, was a very venial one. He 



