278 ROBERTSON. 



The following letter gives a further account of 

 the historian's progress in preparing for the publica- 

 tion of his work. It is written to the same friend, 

 Dr. Jardine : 



MY DEAR JOHN, " London, 20th April, 1759. 



i( I write this in the British Coffee-House,* in the middle 

 of a company playing at cards and drinking claret. After this 

 preamble, you are not to expect either a very long or a very 

 distinct epistle. As to your letter, I postponed writing an 

 answer to it, in expectation of hearing some account of the 

 transactions of the Haddington Presbytery ; but as that has 

 not come to hand, I must proceed to write without it. I am 

 as much interested as you can possibly be in preventing the 

 intended elevation of Turnstill to the Moderator's chair. But 

 how could it possibly enter into the head of such a politician as 

 you are, and one who has seen London too, that there was any 

 method of engaging our laymen here to take part in a ques- 

 tion about which they (laymen) are totally indifferent ? At 

 the same time, I am earnest in giving opposition, and I think 

 it may be made with great probability of success ; but I 

 should be apt to imagine that neither Dick nor Hamilton are 

 the proper candidates. You know neither of them stand well 

 with Lord Milton ; j and if either you or I should give our 

 interest or solicit for them, you know what a handle might 

 be made of it. If Morrison, or some such grave, inoffensive, 

 ecclesiastical personage could be set up, I join you with all my 

 vigour. You must make the choice as well as you can. 

 Why may you not stand yourself ? At any rate, fix upon some 

 feasible man. Write a few letters, and endeavour to raise the 

 jealousy of the brethren against a perpetual moderator, and 

 I don't doubt of our defeating the Doctor. If we can dis- 

 comfit him by our own strength, this will render him incon- 

 siderable : all other methods of doing so would be ineffectual. 



* Much frequented then, as it still is, by Scotchmen. The gentle- 

 woman who at that time kept it was sister to Bishop Douglas, and a 

 person of excellent manners and abilities. 



| Then a kind of minister for Scotland, being Lord Bute's uncle. 



