The Irvings of Hoddom. 193 



1746 — " Dear Sir, I am informed that you have done all that 

 lay in your power to assist me in my present situation, but 

 according to the advice of my lawyer I pled guilty, hoping to be 

 recommended to mercy, but I am afraid that little will be shewn 

 to any but such as can make interest at Court either for pardon 

 or transportation. May God Almighty prosper you in all your 

 undertakings for shewing as much humanity as you have doue to 

 him who did not deserve it at your hand." 



In a subsequent letter, after he had got a transportation 

 pardon, he wrote again in the following terms : — 



"I am daily expecting- to leave this place for Liverpool in 

 order to embark for transportation, and God knows I am ill pro- 

 vided for it." He then goes on to mention having applied to 

 numerous friends in vain, and makes a request of WhitehiJl to 

 make an advance to him, with which he very readily complied. 



John Irving subsequently entered into possession of the 

 lands of Knockhill, but commiserating the unfortunate position of 

 James Johnstone and his son Andrew, he allowed the tenants to 

 make payments to them from time to time, and soon himself 

 assisted them with money, as appears from their letters, whilst 

 Johnstone's daughters and a younger son James continued to live 

 at the Mains of Hoddom. 



John Irving was also in sympathy with the Jacobite rising 

 of 1745, but no doubt his age, sixty-three, kept him at home. 

 The following names of " rebels " are included in the list returned 

 by the supervisors of Excise on May 7th, 1746 : — "John Irving 

 of "Whitehill was active in pressing horses for the service of the 

 rebels, and threatening the constables who would not assist." 



James Leslie Johnstone of Knockhill and Andrew Johnstone, 

 his son, carried arms with the rebels from the time they left 

 Edinburgh till they dispersed. William Johnstone of Lockerbie, 

 Edward Irving of Wyseby, William Irving of Gribton, and James 

 Irving, his son, were also implicated. After the Act of Indem- 

 nity passed in 1749, James Johnstone again entered on the 

 management of Knockhill. 



In the Session Records appear the following entry : — " June 

 24th, 175.3, John Brown the Frenchman (otherwise John Brutlie) 

 and Margaret Johnstone, daughter to James Johnstone of Knock- 

 hill, compeared before the congregation and was rebukt for their 

 irregular marriage, and absolved from the scandel yrefe." 



