I shall be obliged to any of your correspondents who will inform me why
the Nine of Diamonds is called the curse of Scotland. I have heard two
causes assigned. One, that the Duke of Cumberland, on the field after
the battle of Culloden, wrote upon the back of this card a very cruel
and inhuman order for the destruction of the persons and property of the
rebels. This cannot be true, for I have in my possession a print
entitled "Britons Association against the Pope's Bulls." In it the young
Pretender or prince is represented attempting to lead across the Tweed a
herd of bulls laden with curses, excommunications, indulgences, &c. &c.
&c. On the ground before them lies the Nine of Diamonds. This print is
dated Oct. 21. 1745, some months previous to the battle of Culloden.
The other cause assigned is, that the nine lozenges with which the
saltire is charged in the armorial bearings of the Earl of Stair, are so
arranged as to resemble the nine of diamonds, which was called the curse
of Scotland, from the active part taken by that Earl in promoting the
Union, which was most unpopular in Scotland. I cannot positively deny
that the card in question owes its evil name to this cause, but I am not
aware that the Earl of Stair was so conspicuously active as to occasion
his being peculiarly selected as an object of popular aversion on that
account. He was indeed a commissioner for drawing up the articles of the
union, and he was sent ambassador to the court of Louis XIV. chiefly for
the purpose of watching the proceedings of the Jacobites; these
circumstances may have added to the odium which attached to his name
from the part which was taken by his predecessor, who was Secretary for
Scotland, and was charged with having exceeded his authority in ordering
the massacre of Glencoe.