134 Transactions. 
that everybody would be ready to take arms in whatever shape 
they should be desired, and hearing among other things the 
raising of a regiment for six months, or till ye rebellion should” 
be over, of the gentlemen and people in this country had been 
talked of, we took occasion upon the 2nd to wait on the General 
with Mr Heron, late Member for the Stewartry, who joined with 
us in confirming what had been said by others with regard to 
the affections of the county, but took the liberty to assure him 
that any scheme of putting this country in arms would be abortive, 
unless some person of authority to whose directions people of all 
ranks would cheerfully submit, and in whom they would confide, 
was proposed to put it in execution, and that none would be so 
agreeable as your Grace to both these countys ; that under your 
authority we doubted not but they would make as good a figure, 
but that it was only deceiving the Government to raise their 
expectations concerning these countys in any other view, as most 
other persons concerned in them, upon whose affections to the 
Government the people should depend, were so much upon a 
level that it could not be expected any one would have authority 
enough to direct them, so that any scheme which they might 
attempt must necessarily run into confusion by various and 
contradictory opinions. The General treated us very civilly, and 
seemed to take what was said extremely well. For my own part, 
by the few months experience I have had of the present confusions 
I am so sensible of the truth of the above observation that except 
under your Grace’s direction I am resolved to have no further 
concern in raising the people in arms, unless the Militia are 
called out in a legal manner ; and I can assure your Grace several 
of the gentlemen here, in whose power it is to do most service in 
that way, have the same intention. Many people who make a 
bustle and noise about their good affections to the Government 
have evidently their own private interests so much in view, and 
are so intent upon having the merit of anything that is done for 
its service in the country where they live, that there’s no end of 
proposals, many of which are idle, and no chance of any being 
right executed otherwise than in the way I have mentioned. 
Such I can venture to affirm is the present situation of this 
county, and I think it my duty to write plainly to your Grace in 
this and everything in which you are so much concerned. May 
God long preserve you and give you the return of many happy 
years, and put in your power to be the instrument of delivering 
