Having been favoured by the publishers of the _Courant_ and _Mercury_
with an inspection of such early volumes of their venerable journals as
they respectively possess, I have caused a few curious but comparatively
trivial paragraphs to be copied for insertion in this place. To these
are added a few notices of a characteristic nature from other sources:
[Sidenote: 1720. SEP.]
‘EDINBURGH, _September 19_.—Upon the 17th instant, the Right
Honourable the Earl of Wemyss was married to the only child of Colonel
Charteris, a fortune of five hundred thousand pounds sterling, English
money, which probably in a short time may be double that sum. But that
is nothing at all in comparison of the young lady herself, who is
truly, for goodness, wit, beauty, and fine shapes, inferior to no lady
of Great Britain; all which the very noble earl richly deserves, being
a most complete and well-accomplished gentleman, and the lineal
representative of a most noble, great, and ancient family in Scotland
of five or six hundred years’ standing,’ &c.—_Contemporary Journal._
[Sidenote: 1722. AUG. 13.]
‘Last week Sir Robert Sibbald of Kipps, M.D., Fellow of the Royal
College of Physicians, died here in the 83d year of his age. He was a
person of great piety and learning, and author of many learned and
useful books, especially in natural history.’—_C. M._
On the 11th November 1723, a number of people proceeding from
Galashiels and its neighbourhood to attend a fair at Melrose, and
crossing the Tweed in a ferry-boat at Nether Barnsford, near what
afterwards became Abbotsford, were thrown by the oversetting of the
boat into the water, then in flood, and eighteen of them drowned. A
boy named Williamson, son of a tradesman in Galashiels, was preserved
in a wonderful way. Thrown at first to the bottom of the river, he
caught a man by the hair of his head, and was thus enabled to rise to
the surface. There he was kept afloat by grasping, first by a bundle
of lint, and then a sackful of gray cloth, letting go each in
succession as it became saturated with water. Then a deal from the
‘lofting’ of the boat came near him, and he grasped it firmly below
his breast. Meanwhile he was moving rapidly down the stream. There was
a place where formerly a bridge had been, and where three piers yet
stood in the water. It was with difficulty he got through one of the
spaces, and over a cascade on the lower side of the bridge. Sometimes,
thrown on his back, he was under water for thirty or forty yards, but
he never let go the deal. At length, after going considerably more
than a mile in this manner, he was taken up by the West-house-boat,
the manager of which had been warned of his coming, and of his
possible preservation, by a ploughman mounted on a horse which,
escaping from the overset boat, had swum ashore, in time to admit of
this rapid and dexterous movement—_C. M._
[Sidenote: 1724. JUNE 2.]
There was this day buried in the Greyfriars’ Churchyard, the wife of
Captain Burd of Ford, ‘thought to be the largest woman in Scotland.’
‘Her coffin was a Scots ell and four inches wide, and two feet
deep.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: 1725. FEB. 18.]
‘We hear that a Quaker woman is encouraged by our magistrates, in her
proposal of setting up a woollen manufactory in this city, and
obliging herself to employ all the strolling beggars in work, and to
give them food and raiment.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: MAR. 13.]
‘Died William Clerk, brother to the deceased Sir John Clerk of
Pennicuik; remarkable for his frequent peregrinations through Europe,
which procured him the name of _Wandering Will_.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: 1728. FEB. 26.]
Died Marjory Scott, an inhabitant of Dunkeld, who appears to have
reached the extraordinary age of a hundred years. An epitaph was
composed for her by Alexander Pennecuik, but never inscribed, and it
has been preserved by the reverend statist of the parish, as a
whimsical statement of historical facts comprehended within the life
of an individual:
‘Stop, passenger, until my life you read,
The living may get knowledge from the dead.
Five times five years I led a virgin life,
Five times five years I was a virtuous wife;
Ten times five years I lived a widow chaste,
Now tirèd of this mortal life I rest.
Betwixt my cradle and my grave hath been
Eight mighty kings of Scotland and a queen.
Full twice five years the Commonwealth I saw,
Ten times the subjects rise against the law;
And, which is worse than any civil war,
A king arraigned before the subjects’ bar.
Swarms of sectarians, hot with hellish rage,
Cut off his royal head upon the stage.
Twice did I see old prelacy pulled down,
And twice the cloak did sink beneath the gown.
I saw the Stuart race thrust out; nay, more,
I saw our country sold for English ore;
Our numerous nobles, who have famous been,
Sunk to the lowly number of sixteen.
Such desolation in my days have been,
I have an end of all perfection seen!’[771]
[Sidenote: OCT. 29.]
‘A person, who frequents the [King’s] Park, having long noticed a man
to come from a cleft towards the north-west of Salisbury Rocks, had
the curiosity some days ago to climb the precipice, if possibly he
might discover something that could invite him there. He found a
shallow pit, which delivered him into a little snug room or vault hung
with dressed leather, lighted from the roof, the window covered with a
bladder. It is thought to have been the cave of a hermit in ancient
times, though now the hiding-place of a gang of thieves.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: NOV. 7.]
‘Yesterday, one Margaret Gibson, for the crime of theft, was drummed
through the city in a very disgraceful manner. Over her neck was fixed
a board with spring and bells, which rung as she walked. At some
inches distant from her face was fixed a false-face, over which was
hung a fox’s tail. In short, she was a very odd spectacle.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: DEC. 10.]
‘A gentleman travelling to the south was attacked on Soutra Hill by
two fellows armed with bayonets, who desired him to surrender his
purse. The gentleman putting his hand beneath his jockey-coat,
presented a pistol, and asked them whether that or [Sidenote: 1728.]
his money were fittest for them. They earnestly begged he would spare
their lives, for necessity had forced them to it, and they had never
robbed any save one countryman an hour before of 6_s._ 8_d._ The
gentleman put them to this dilemma, either to receive his bullets or
cut an ear out of each other’s heads; the last of which with sorrowful
hearts they performed.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: DEC.]
The prospectus was issued of a weekly paper under the name of _The
Echo_, to contain, besides news, literary matter for the instruction
and amusement of society. The undertakers expressed themselves
confident of assistance from ‘persons of taste, wit, and humour, with
which they know our nation abounds.’ The price to be 2_s._ 6_d._ a
quarter.—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: DEC. 24.]
‘A fire broke out in the house of William Gib in Kittlenaked, and
burnt four cows to death; but how the fire happened is not known.’—_E.
E. C._
[Sidenote: 1729. JAN. 14.]
‘We hear that the Lady Cherrytrees died some days ago in the 104th
year of her age.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: JAN. 28.]
‘Yesternight, two women were committed to the Guard for walking the
streets in men’s apparel.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: JAN. 30.]
‘Yesternight, a company of night-ramblers demolished a vast many
windows in the Cowgate and Grassmarket, broke down the seat and loosed
the railing before Scott’s Land, and played the like tricks in several
other places.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: FEB. 4.]
‘There are just now fifty recruits in the Canongate gaol, belonging to
Halket’s Regiment, ready to be transported to Holland.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: SEP.]
‘The Quakers are building a place of worship in Peebles’s Wynd. Though
it be roofed, there is as yet no window in it; but some merrily
observe these people have light within.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: 1730. APR. 27.]
‘On Thursday was interred, in the Greyfriars’ Churchyard, the corpse
of Mr Andrew Cant, one of the ministers of this city at the
Revolution, and since made a bishop of the clergy of the Episcopal
Communion. He was esteemed a learned and eloquent preacher. He died in
the 91st year of his age, and 64th of his ministry.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: 1731. MAR. 29.]
‘Last Thursday night, Mr Cockburn, son to my Lord Justice-clerk, was
married to Miss Rutherford, daughter to the Laird of Fernilie.’ [This
lady was the authoress of the song, beginning ‘I’ve seen the smiling
of Fortune beguiling,’ to the tune of the _Flowers of the
Forest_.]—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: APR. 12.]
‘There is one Mr David Burnet, officer of the Excise in Glasgow, died
the 8th instant, and left £50 sterling to the poor of the parishes
where he was officer in—namely, £10 to Edinburgh, £10 to Glasgow, £10
to Ayr, £10 to Hamilton, £10 to Carnwath, as an encouragement to these
several places to deal kindly with the officers residing among
them.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: JULY 1.]
‘Yesternight.... Ferrier, Esq., late Provost of Dundee, was married to
the heiress of Coldingknows, a handsome young lady of a considerable
fortune; and we hear that he was attended by persons of
distinction.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: AUG. 26.]
‘Last Tuesday, died Mrs Heriot, late the widow of Mr James Watson, his
Majesty’s Printer, by whom she had a very considerable estate, a great
part of which comes to her present husband.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: AUG. 30.]
‘They write from Glasgow that one Robert Lyon is now living there, who
was in the service of King Charles I.; aged 109 years. He has got a
new set of teeth, and recovered his sight in a wonderful manner.’—_E.
E. C._
[Sidenote: DEC. 21.]
‘By a letter from Stonhive, we have an account that one John Anderson
died there lately who could not be less than 108 years old, he having
been about 16 at the fight of the Bridge of Dee, which happened in the
1639.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: 1731. NOV.]
‘William Crawford, janitor of the High School at Edinburgh, somewhat
in years, having been thrice proclaimed in the kirk, went thither with
his friends, and stood some hours expecting his bride. At last he
received a ticket from her in these terms: “William, you must know I
am pre-engaged. I am so. I never could like a burnt cuttie. I have now
by the hand my sonsie, menseful strapper, with whom I intend to pass
my youthful days. You know, old age and youth cannot agree together. I
must then be excused if I tell you I am not your humble servant.” The
honest man, not taking it much to heart, only said: “Come, let us at
least keep the feast on a feast-day. Dinner will be ready. Let us go
drink, and drive care away. May never a greater misfortune attend an
honest man!” Back to dinner they went, and from the company convened
the bridegroom got a hundred merks, and all charges defrayed; with
which he was as well satisfied as he who got madam.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: NOV. 19.]
‘Died William Eadie, bellman of the Canongate, Edinburgh, aged 120. He
had buried the inhabitants of the Canongate thrice. He was 90 years a
freeman, and married a second wife, a lusty young woman, after he was
100 years old.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: 1732. APR. 9.]
‘Died John Gray, master of the Rope and Sail Manufactory at Edinburgh;
eminent for his unparalleled skill in cutting whalebone.’—_C. M._
In April, it was intimated from Kirkcaldy, that Margaret White of that
place, aged 87, has lately cut eight fresh teeth. ‘Her husband,’
moreover, ‘is in hopes she may bring him also a new progeny, as she
has recovered, with her new tusks, a blooming and juvenile air.’
These were encouraging facts for the aged; but what were they in
comparison with the case of Jean Johnston of Old Deer, in Buchan!
Being aged 80, and the widow of three husbands, she lately married for
her fourth a young man of eighteen, who had since bound himself
apprentice to a wheel-wright. ‘She seems exceedingly well pleased with
him, and remarks that, had it not been for the many changes of
husbands she had been blessed with, she must have long ago been dead.’
She lived, too, in hopes of a fifth husband, should this one
unfortunately not live long.
‘Thursday last,’ says the paper of June 5th, ‘a certain gray-haired
hair-merchant in the Landmarket, aged between seventy and eighty, a
very heavy and corpulent man, laid half a guinea that he should make
the round of Hope Park in twenty minutes, which is reckoned about a
Scots mile. He made it out in about _nineteen_ minutes, but was so
reduced before he reached the starting-post that he arrived there upon
_all-fours_. On taking a dram, he reverted so well, that he offered to
lay the same wager again instantly.’
The paper for 4th May related that, lately, ‘a young man, a merchant
in Edinburgh, came to Leith to see a female friend take boat in order
to cross the water. The boat being put off and near the pier-end
before he came down, and he observing a rival in the boat with madame,
was so exasperate, that in order to get at ’em, he jumped off the
pier-end into the flood, and had actually perished by this passionate
frolic, had not two of Montague’s regiment stepped down, and with both
difficulty and danger, haled him out.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: FEB. 6.]
‘Died the Duchess of Buccleuch and Monmouth, Countess of Dalkeith,
&c., aged about 90. She was relict of James Duke of Monmouth, natural
son of Charles II., beheaded on Tower Hill, July 15, 1685. She had
issue by the Duke, James, late Earl of Dalkeith, and Henry, late Earl
of Deloraine. In 1688, she was again married to Charles Lord
Cornwallis, and had issue a son and two daughters. By her death, an
estate of £15,000 per annum, and the title of Duke of Buccleuch,
descend to Francis, Earl of Dalkeith, her grandson.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: OCT. 18.]
Thomas Ruddiman gave in his paper an account of an incident at
Musselburgh, such as a subsequent native, the late David M. Moir
(Delta), would have delighted to paint in even [Sidenote: 1732.]
greater breadth. The magistrates, according to ancient annual custom,
had to perform the ceremony of riding round the marches of their
burghal property. On this occasion, they were attended by their
vassals and the burgesses, to the number of 700, all of them of course
mounted and in their best array. ‘The trumpets and hautboys marched in
front; then the magistrates and town council, followed by the
gentlemen vassals, with the town standard; after them the several
incorporations, distinguished by their respective shining new
standards, and headed by the masters of the crafts. In this good order
they marched out to the Links, making a gay appearance. But, alas!
while they were marshalling, an unlucky difference arose between the
weavers and the tailors, which should have the _pas_ or precedency. In
order to prevent effusion of the blood of his majesty’s good subjects,
they agreed to submit the merits of the cause to the magistrates. The
tailors argued that, as the precedency had previously fallen to them
by lot, no opposition could now be offered in that respect. It was
alleged, on the other hand, that they—the weavers—were _Men_, and as
such preferable at all events to _Tailors_. This signal affront could
not be digested. Accordingly, to work they went, without waiting the
decision of authority; and while the weaver squadron were filing off
to take the post of honour, with Captain Scott at their head, Adjutant
Fairley, who acted in that capacity to the tailor squadron, directed a
blow at the captain’s snout, which brought him to the ground. Thus
were the two corps fiercely engaged, and nought was to be seen but
heavy blows, hats off, broken heads, bloody noses, and empty saddles;
till at last the plea of manhood seemed to go in favour of the
needlemen, who took Scott, hero of the weavers, prisoner, disarmed
him, and beat his company quite out of the field, though far more
numerous. It was with the utmost difficulty that the weavers got their
standard carried off, which they lodged in their captain’s quarters
under the discharge of three huzzas: ’tis true the conquering tailors
were then off the field, and at a mile’s distance. The weavers allege,
in excuse of their retreat, that the butcher squadron had been ordered
up to assist the tailors, and that they did not incline to engage with
these men of blood.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: 1733. OCT. 30.]
A circumstance somewhat like the Tain entertainment, in honour of
Governor Macrae, took place in Edinburgh, on this king’s birthday,
which was observed with unusual rejoicings, on account of the recent
stimulus to loyalty from the marriage of the Princess Royal to the
Prince of Orange. ‘David Campbell, his Majesty’s Tailor for Scotland,
came to this kingdom from Jamaica, purely on design to solemnise the
day. He accordingly entertained at his lodgings in the Abbey his
Majesty’s Blue Gowns [a set of licensed beggars, corresponding in
number to the king’s years, which were now fifty], and at night he
kept open table, where several gentlemen were entertained, all the
royal healths were drunk, and those of every remarkable person of the
illustrious name of Campbell, with the sound of trumpet and other
music.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: OCT.]
The _Caledonian Mercury_ gives a droll, chirping account of an
association which, it is easy to see, had in view the prevention of an
over-severe excise system for Scotland. Yesternight, says the
paragraph, ‘there came on, at the Parrot’s Nest in this city, the
annual election of office-bearers in the ancient and venerable
_Assembly of Birds_; when the _Game-cock_ was elected preses; the
_Blackbird_, treasurer; the _Gled_, principal clerk; the _Crow_, his
depute; and the _Duck_, officer; all birds duly qualified to our happy
establishment, and no less enemies to the excise scheme. After which
an elegant entertainment was served up; all the royal and loyal
healths were plentifully drunk in the richest wines; _the glorious
205_; _all the bonny birds_, &c. On this joyful occasion nothing was
heard but harmonious music, each bird striving to excel in chanting
and warbling their respective melodious notes.’ The glorious 205, it
may be remarked, were those members of the House of Commons who had
recently thrown out a bill for increasing the tax on tobacco.
[Sidenote: 1734. MAR. 6.]
‘John Park, some time dempster to the Court of Justiciary, and who
lately stood a trial there for horse-stealing, was whipped through the
city, pursuant to his sentence; [Sidenote: 1734.] by which also he
stands condemned to transport himself, never again to return to
Scotland, on pain of being whipped quarterly till he is again
transported. He is a very old man, with a graceless gray head, gray
beard, and but one hand, having left the other in some scrape.’—_C.
M._
[Sidenote: APR. 19.]
‘When Mr Adam Fergusson, minister of Killin, came to Perth to intimate
the sentence of the commission (which looses Mr William Wilson’s
pastoral relation in that burgh), Mr Fergusson was met in the suburbs
by several of the inhabitants, who fell upon the gentleman, though
vested with supreme authority, and attended by several armed men; yet
they were all severely cudgelled, and obliged to retire, _re
infectâ_.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: JULY 12.]
‘Died here, the Rev. Mr John Maclaren, one of the ministers of the
city; esteemed a well-meaning man, and void of hypocrisy.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: 1735. JAN. 9.]
‘On Saturday was se’nnight [Dec. 28, 1734], died at Balquhidder, in
Perthshire, the famous Highland partisan, _Rob Roy_.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: JAN. 24.]
‘Died, in the 12th year of her age, the Lady Jane Campbell, fourth
daughter to his Grace the Duke of Argyle.... His Grace has no male
issue, but several daughters living, and it is the peculiar right of
this family, that when they marry any daughters, their vassals are
obliged to pay their portions, and are taxed in order to it, according
to the number of their cattle.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: AUG. 18.]
We find at this time a beginning to that system of emigration to
America by which the Highlands were so much depopulated during the
eighteenth century. ‘The trustees for the colony of Georgia have
projected a settlement of Highlanders from this country, and have
actually sent round for Inverness and Cromarty a ship commanded by
Captain Dunbar, to take in 160 men, women, and children, who are to be
settled on the far boundary of the river Alatamaha, who will be a
gallant barrier in case of a war with France and Spain. And Mr
Oglethorpe, with the other trustees, are applying to the society in
Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge to send a minister along
with them who speaks Irish, with proper encouragement; and we are
assured the society are so well satisfied with the project, that they
have amply instructed their committee of directors to close in with
it.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: 1736. JAN. 19.]
‘The annual friendly meeting of the gentlemen of the name of Wilson,
was held at the house of Jean Wilson, spouse to Arthur Cumming,
periwig-maker, opposite to the City Guard; the Right Hon. Alexander
Wilson, Lord Provost of the city, preses. There were present about
forty gentlemen and others of that clan, who were served at supper by
persons of the name. The entertainment was sumptuous, and choice wines
went merrily round.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: JAN. 21.]
‘A very uncommon chain of events happened here [Lanark] t’other week.
Elizabeth Fairy was proclaimed in order to marriage on Sunday, was
accordingly married on Monday, bore a child on Tuesday; her husband
went and stole a horse on Wednesday, for which he was banished on
Thursday; the heir of this marriage died on Friday, and was decently
interred on Saturday; all in one week.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: FEB. 9.]
‘The 4th inst., several young gentlemen of this place [Montrose] acted
Mr Allan Ramsay’s celebrated _Pastoral Comedy_, for the diversion of
the gentlemen and ladies of and about this town, with all the dresses
suitable, and performed it with so much spirit and humour, as
agreeably surprised the whole audience; to oblige whom they re-enacted
it and the farce of the _Mock Doctor_ two succeeding nights. The money
taken, after deducting the necessary charges, being very considerable,
was distributed among the poor.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: MAR. 13.]
‘This week, several gentlemen laid a wager that a horse, twenty-six
years old, belonging to Mr. Pillans, brewer, should not draw 101
stone-weight up the West Bow to the Weigh-house; and yesterday it was
surprisingly performed, one of the wagerers riding on the top of
all.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: JULY 9.]
Nine unfortunate young women—‘very naked and meagre beings’—‘made an
_amende_ [Sidenote: 1736.] _honorable_ through the several streets of
the city [of Edinburgh], the hangman attending them, and drums beating
to the tune of _Cuckolds-come-dig_.’—_C. M._
While Allan Ramsay was preparing his playhouse, an Italian female
rope-dancer, named Signora Violante, performed in Edinburgh and some
other Scottish towns. It was announced that she danced a minuet on the
rope, as well as it could be done on the floor—danced on a board
placed loosely on the rope—danced on the rope with two boys fastened
to her feet—danced with two swords at her feet—the rope being no
thicker than penny whip-cord. In Edinburgh, the scene of her
performances was the ‘Old Assembly Hall.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: 1738. MAR. 22.]
‘A grand convention was held of the adherents to the seceding
ministers of the Church of Scotland, in a square plain on Braid Hills,
two miles south of this city. About 10 before noon, Mr Thomas Mair,
minister of Orwel, in Kinross-shire, opened the service of the day
(standing in a pulpit reared up within a tent), with a sermon from
Jeremiah i. 5. At noon, Mr William Wilson, one of the ministers of
Perth, preached from Ezekiel xxii. 24, and afterwards baptized ten
children, brought thither some 20, some 30 miles off. At four
afternoon, Mr Ralph Erskine, one of the ministers of Dunfermline,
preached from Hosea xxiii. 9, &c. The apparent tendency of these
sermons was to excite devotion and fervour, a renewal of solemn
engagements, to deprecate sin in general, and those of this corrupt
age in particular: and it was observed that it was no proper expedient
either to wash away sin, or indemnify the sinner, to purchase
indulgences at the hand of the kirk-treasurer, and some other tenets
that savoured of a popish tincture were soundly lashed. There were
about 5000 hearers at each sermon (I mean of the household of faith),
some of whom from South Britain and Ireland, besides the ungodly
audience, consisting of many thousands, some of whom set fire to
furze; others hunted the hare around ’em to create disturbance, a
certain huntsman having laid a plot to carry off the collection. The
convention dispersed at 7 at night.’—_C. M._
[Sidenote: APR. 7.]
In consequence of a butcher’s dog going mad, and biting some others of
her species, the magistrates of Edinburgh ordered the slaughter of all
the butchers’ dogs in the city, and, commanding the seclusion of all
other dogs whatsoever, put a shilling on the head of every one which
should be found abroad. There then took place a crusade against the
canine species, which seems to have been nearly the sole Scottish
incident reported in London for the year. ‘The street cadies went very
early into obedience to this edict; for the drum had scarce gone round
to intimate the same, when they fell a-knocking on the head all
suspicious or ill-affected curs, some of which they hanged on
sign-posts, &c.; and with difficulty could they be restrained from
killing the dogs that lead the blind about the streets, or attacking
the ladies with their lap-dogs. A detachment of the City Guard was
ordered down to the butcher-market, when they made very clean havoc of
all the dogs there. Saturday, at noon, the town-officers being
provided with large oaken clubs, went a dog-hunting, and killed every
cur they could see or hear of; so that nothing was to be seen but
chasing, hacking, and slashing, or heard other than the lamentation of
butchers’ wives, &c., for the loss of _Credit_, _Honesty_, _Turk_,
_Twopenny_, _Cæsar_, &c.’
Three days later, the magistrates of Leith ordered all the dogs of
their town to be put to death. Accordingly, the curs were driven into
the harbour, and drowned, or else knocked on the head. ‘Several
gentlemen and others,’ it is reported, ‘have sent off their dogs to
the country, and a certain writer has despatched his favourite _Tipsy_
to Haddington in a cloak-bag. Patrick Kier in Multries-hill having
tied up his dog, the beast gnawed the rope, and getting loose, rushed
into the room on his master, and bit him severely. The dog was
immediately killed, and Mr Kier carried to the sea and dipped.’—_C.
M._
[Sidenote: 1740. JULY 30.]
Lord Lovat having occasion at this time to travel from his house of
Beaufort, in Inverness-shire, to Edinburgh, with his two daughters,
made an effort to get his coach [Sidenote: 1740.] ready, and, after
two or three days spent in its repair, set out on his journey. Passing
through Inverness without stopping, he came the first night to
Corriebrough. To pursue his own narrative, as given in a letter to a
friend:[772] ‘I brought my wheel-wright with me the length of
Aviemore, in case of accidents, and there I parted with him, because
he declared that my chariot would go safe enough to London; but I was
not eight miles from the place, when on the plain road, the axle-tree
of the hind-wheels broke in two, so that my girls were forced to go on
bare horses behind footmen, and I was obliged to ride myself, though I
was very tender, and the day very cold. I came with that equipage to
Ruthven late at night, and my chariot was pulled there by force of
men, where I got an English wheel-wright and a smith, who wrought two
days mending my chariot; and after paying very dear for their work,
and for my quarters two nights, I was not gone four miles from
Ruthven, when it broke again, so that I was in a miserable condition
till I came to Dalnakeardach, where my honest landlord, Charles
M‘Glassian, told me that the Duke of Athole had two as good workmen at
Blaire as were in the kingdom, and that I would get my chariot as well
mended there as at London. Accordingly, I went there and stayed a
night, and got my chariot very well mended by a good wright and a good
smith. I thought then that I was pretty secure till I came to this
place. I was storm-stayed two days at Castle Drummond by the most
tempestuous weather of wind and rain that I ever remember to see. The
Dutches of Perth and Lady Mary Drummond were excessively kind and
civil to my daughters and to me, and sent their chamberlain to conduct
me to Dumblain, who happened to be very useful to us that day; for I
was not three miles gone from Castle Drummond, when the axle-tree of
my fore-wheels broke in two, in the midst of the hill, betwixt
Drummond and the bridge of Erdoch, and we were forced to sit in the
hill, with a boisterous day, till Chamberlain Drummond was so kind as
to go down to Strath, and bring wrights, and carts, and smiths to our
assistance, who dragged us to the plain, where we were forced to stay
five or six hours till there was a new axle-tree made, be that it was
dark night before we came to Dumblain, which is but eight miles from
Castle Drummond, and we were all much fatigued. The next day, we came
to Lithgow, and the day after that we arrived here, so that we were
twelve days on our journey by our misfortunes, which was seven days
more than ordinary.’
[Sidenote: 1743. JAN. 10.]
‘Friday [Jan. 7], died William Mackintosh of Borlum, Esq., aged
upwards of 80 years of age. He has been prisoner in the Castle these
15 years for his accession to the Rebellion 1715.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: JAN. 17.]
‘On Thursday last [Jan. 13], died the Honourable Colonel John Erskine
of Carnock. He was a True Old Whig.’—_E. E. C._
[Sidenote: JAN. 17.]
‘Friday, the place of one of the Principal Clerks of this city was
conferred on Mr William Forbes, writer, he paying, as a consideration
for the same, in room of Mr Home deceased, £1410 sterling.’—_E. E. C._