118 . Lransactions. 
naturally asks what was taking place in Nithsdale at such a time. 
For an answer I turn to a letter written to the Duke of 
Queensberry by his Commissioner, Mr James Fergusson, younger 
of Craigdarroch ; and as I shall again have to refer to this 
gentleman’s letters, it may interest you to know that he was the 
eldest son of “‘ Bonnie Annie Laurie,” and the father of Alexander 
Fergusson, who carried off the Whistle at the famous meeting at 
Friars’ Carse, celebrated by Burns. The draft of these letters 
are in possession of his great-great-grandson, Captain Cutlar- 
Fergusson of Craigdarroch, to whom | am indebted for a perusal] 
of them. The first letter to which I refer is dated 2nd September, 
and is as follows :— 
“The Invasion in the north of Scotland, which has been for 
some weeks talked of as a matter of little consequence, seems now 
more serious. We have many uncertain reports every day, but 
by the best accounts it’s now past doubt that the young 
Adventurer landed near Fort-William several weeks ago, that a 
good many of the Highlanders have joined him. Their numbers 
are yet uncertain. Some say 2, others 3000, that General Cope 
with twixt 2 and 3000 regular troops is gone in quest of them, 
and was on Tuesday, the 27th August, within two days’ march 
of them, and that they are much alarmed at Edinburgh and 
Glasgow, and are putting themselves as fast as possible in a 
posture of defence. These accounts we had here on Saturday 
last, and may be depended on as true. This day we were 
informed by letters from Edinburgh that General Cope had gone 
towards Inverness, and that the Highlanders had taken a nearer 
way over the mountains and come further south, that the Marquis 
of Tullibardine had come with a part of them as far as his brother, 
the Duke of Athole’s house, and had sent orders before him to 
the Duke’s factor to prepare dinner for him and his attendants, 
upon which the Duke came off for Edinburgh, and that the 
inhabitants of Perth were greatiy alarmed, and were removing 
all their valuable effects. These accounts came by express to 
Edinburgh on Saturday. That night Hamilton’s regiment of 
Dragoons lay upon their arms in the King’s Park, and were to 
march early on Sunday morning for Stirling, where regiment 
now is.” 
“There was this day a meeting of the Justices of the Peace 
and Commissioners of Supply here, occasioned by a pressing 
letter from the General Receiver of the Land Tax at Edinburgh 
