20* S. VI. 140., Sept. 4. '58.1 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



185 



to one I wrote him when I enclosed a copy of Sir Alex- 

 ander's bond, which was printed. Some gave out he 

 would be displeased with publishing it, but he gives me 

 great thanks for mv care and diligence, with which he 

 saves lie is extremely pleased, and has a very handsome 

 turn upon it ; that "if this bond be allowed, then such 

 papers are of the most signification, because they can over- 

 turn the most solemn contracts. I acquainted his lawyers 

 with this, who admire his readiness and capacity. He 

 also writes me that he finds some of his friends who pro- 

 fess the warmest aflFection and friendship, are not doing 

 him the best of offices ; and, I believe, my letter will con- 

 firm him, and make it the more acceptable. I indeed 

 write him very plainly, which will please him the better. 



Captain Dugal behaves very civilly. I acquainted 

 him of Kiltenabus' behaviour, of whom he has no good 

 opinion, and told me he hoard they were a very humour- 

 some and litigious people in Islay. That about Hugh is 

 a story ; and I doubt not but your conduct will be appro- 

 ven. Mr. John is certainly a very ill man, botli by his 

 letter, which is a manifest lye, and likewise by what he 

 sayes about Hugh, for he really was against the having a 

 tenant, and gave me very good reasons for it, — so if he 

 speak anything to that purpose, you may contradict him, 

 and I will write him what he said and propale his conduct ; 

 but I hope we may have an opportunity to let him and 

 others be known what they really are. But our business 

 at present is to look after our affairs. Ruth Pollock has 

 given in answers which are really very sill}', and are 

 rather scolding than reasoning, and in them calls Sir 

 Hugh's proceedings in the marriage articles barbarous 

 and unjust, and inveighes horribly against me; that I 

 menaced [her] and threatened to reduce her to poverty, 

 if she insisted in her process, and that she regretted Gai- 

 dar's being misled, and she believed, nay knew it to be 

 true, that he would have paid her if I had not hindered. 



Some of the Lords, I hear, are displeased with the 

 Petition. I'll send Calder a printed copy of it, which 

 will let him see how some would have him be so very 

 tender of saying anything publicly to Sir Hugh's preju- 

 dice. And yet how lavish she is! And, I believe, he 

 will not look the worse on me, when he sees how this 

 woman uses me in print. The bill and answers were 

 moved yesterday. I verily believe he would have car- 

 ried it, but it was put off till this day, and probably will 

 to November, and then the Parliament will be sitting. If 

 farther mischief be done to Calder ane appeal will soone 

 be made. 



There has been strange doings in this affair. I hope 

 all in the end will be to Calder's advantage, and will 

 fully open his eyes. He writes me, his sister, Mrs. Ann, 

 is earnest to have her share of my Lady's arrears, so, I 

 request you get up all you can by all means. I can't 

 think of your staying longer, both because of your health 

 in the winter, and 'tis absolutely necessary you and I 

 take a trip to the country and return by November, for 

 many reasons, — so I request you hasten as soon as is pos- 

 sible, and get as many cattle and money as you can. I'll 

 make no forehand bargain. Tho' you get not out as soon 

 BB Duncan, you may soon follow, and be here almost as 

 soon as he; and may order Lachlane, or any you think 

 proper, to get some cattle for Island Texa. You can soon 

 compt with the tenants, and I doubt you would got monej' 

 by your staying, and we may send back Duncan to mark 

 the cattle for tiiat year. I approve of your compting with 

 James and Balocli, and shall be sure to charge Kilbuchcn 

 as bail (or the last, but as yet I hear nothing of him. Sir 

 James has sent this week to me the money for the cows, 

 but it is miscounted in about X-l, 10s. Scots, which I'll 

 ■write him to send to tho Clerk's at luuerary, so you may 

 call for i(. 



I have got but a very few subscriptions* since the 

 advocates met. So we must double our diligence for 

 money on that account also. So, dear child, we must at 

 this juncture exert our utmost. I hope it may contribute 

 to our after quiet. You need regard no stories that are 

 mischivously spread in Islay ; you may be assured Calder 

 will prove the man of true honour and friendship. I see 

 daily more and more of it, and I believe he will now fully see 

 that I have not only faithfully and painfully acted, but 

 [have] suffered for him, and among his other good quali- 

 ties, I take him to be a gentleman of great resolution, 

 answerable to his good sence. Brodie is here and still on 

 the grasping way.f If you get not James's accounts 

 fully settled by hurry of business, we may finish what re- 

 mains when he comes here. You may tell him, and assure 

 him and Balocli that I am very earnest to have accounts 

 cleared, only expect they will bring them up as far as is 

 possible. 



You will see to bring out, if you can, some cows to 

 Innerary, which may be sold at Martinmas ; and also 

 stotes or cows to winter here. I think Octomore and his 

 wife has gott enough already by their traffiquing, and 

 Hugh might be better employed than carrying on fac- 

 tions. I believe such conduct will not please his cussine. 

 I shall send the process you desire to Innerary, but I 

 have been terribly hurried by this law process, and have 

 not got one word read — yea, scarcely' sometimes leisure for 

 diet or sleep. 



We have been here for some days, and still continue 

 in some trouble, by scarce having any silver money to 

 goe to market — there being a report that the guineas 

 are to be cried down, and almost everybody believes it 

 will be so, and therefore shun taking of them as much 

 as they can, and people believe this the more that the 

 Bank gives out no silver, but pay their notes in guineas. 

 This I thought proper to acquaint you with, that you 

 may manage matters accordingl)', and rather, when pos- 

 sibly you can, get silver than gold. 



Your mother, family, and friends are all, blessed be 

 God, in health, and long to see j-ou, and myself particu- 

 larly. I wish John Allan may amend his conduct. There 

 is nothing I suffer so much by in these parts than his 

 imprudent behaviour. If he had managed himself right, 

 he might have done good to himself and me. My bless- 

 ing to Anne, Jeanie, and her family. 



The Treaty between the Emperor and Turks is signed. 

 The Spaniards have jockied the King out of Sicily, hav- 

 ing taken possession of that kingdom. 'Tis now thought 

 Spain will hearken to terms. The King of Poland is dan- 

 gerously ill. The Czarowitz was, by a solemn trial, found 

 guilty of death, for treason against his father J, but next 

 day after begged pardon of his father in presence of the 

 nobility, and dyed ; but 'tis given out, that this has bin so 

 far from his father's gaining his ends, that his whole army- 

 has revolted — but this wants confirmation. 



Your mother entreats you, if you can gett us some good 

 butter. I know I need not entreat you to make dispatch 



* For his Diplomata Scotice, 



f The Laird of Brodie, who was creditor of the Calder 

 family to the extent of twenty thousand pounds Scots of 

 principal. Some antiquarians have maintained that the 

 " Brodie" who is so humorously, but equivocally, alluded 

 to in James the Fifth's ball.ad, was the male descendant 

 of Brudhe, the son of Bill, King of the Picts. 



J Peter the Great. The question whether Alexis died 

 in consequence of paralysis, or by the h.and of an execu- 

 tioner, is dilficult to determine. The valuable account in 

 the collection of papers, published in 1722, relative to 

 Russia [2 vols. 8vo.], positively states that he died from 

 the effect of fear. 



