THE AFFAIR OF THE MINE IN THE MOUNTAIN IS MUCH DISCUSSED AT LONDON, BUT
WITH NO COMFORTING RESULTS
I have now to tell you of a period of great heaviness and anxiety to
all those concerned in Sir John’s affairs. Many a time in after days
have I heard my dear lady say, that these three months which followed
our return from Dysart were the longest and darkest of all that weary
year.
The danger of my kind guardian’s ruin now seemed tenfold more imminent,
for public attention having been brought to bear upon his affairs
and himself placed in a position too prominent to be secure, it
was impossible to know what would next befall. At first we at Alva
scarcely realised how much was being made of the affair at London, but
as the days went on, bringing my lady many letters from Mr. Campbell
describing the development of events, it was soon made clear that the
matter was considered a very serious one indeed. Mr. Charles Erskine
was much with us, and many a long and serious talk my lady had with
him. Sir Harry Stirling of Ardoch, who was also in her confidence,
frequently added his counsel to these discussions, and being a sensible
and energetic man, greatly in favour with Sir John, his presence gave
my lady courage, and helped a little to ease her burden.
The story of the “Silver Mine in the Mountain,” as it was called, had
excited a huge interest among the authorities, for you may be sure
that not only were the reports of its wealth exaggerated, but it was
seriously affirmed that the whole range of the Ochils was teeming with
precious metals, and it only needed a skilled engineer of mines to
discover the treasure. As, by an old Scots Act of 1592, a tenth part
of all ore found in Scotland belonged by right to the Crown, there
was some reason in the eagerness of the Government to learn the truth
of the matter, and the affair was mentioned in the House of Commons,
discussed in the Cabinet, and indeed brought before King George himself
by my Lord Townshend, the Secretary of State.
The King, who had had some knowledge of mining in his native country,
where silver was found to some extent, was monstrously interested
in the news, and demanded that my Lord Townshend should bring him
an exact report, first of the value of the ore, and secondly of the
extent and richness of the veins yet to be worked. The ore having been
submitted to Sir Isaac Newton, the Master of the Mint, he sent in a
report to my lord, which though satisfactory in its way, only served
to inflame their greedy desires, for Sir Isaac affirmed that “the ore
was exceeding rich, a pound weight avoirdupois holding 4/2 in silver;”
moreover he added that the silver was of the purest quality, holding
neither gold nor copper.
As to a knowledge of the mines themselves, my Lord Townshend informed
the King that he had no means of gaining this without sending someone
into Scotland to examine the locality, and as Sir John was not yet
attainted, and the property still in the hands of his lady, that, said
my lord, would be a doubtful proceeding. Upon this his Majesty asked if
there were no other way of getting the information, whereupon it was
proposed to send for Mr. Haldane of Gleneagles, who, being connected
with Sir John’s family, and at the same time much in favour at Court,
would be a likely person to supply them with what they needed.
The result of this combination was that one morning my lady received
an express from Mr. Haldane, which, when she had perused it, threw
her into the utmost consternation. Indeed her rage and grief were
like to make a breach between them for good, for he wrote to her in a
way which, instead of furthering his ends, helped to frustrate them
altogether. I am willing to believe that this gentleman meant nothing
but kindness to Sir John, and was indeed rather proud of his part
in the affair, thinking he was serving the family in the best manner
possible; but he and my lady did not see the thing in the same light.
He told her that the King had graciously commanded him to write to her
instead of sending down officers to ask her questions; that it was
therefore absolutely necessary she should inform him of all particulars
connected with the mine, its probable extent, what they had got out
of it, and particularly what knowledge she had of any acts connected
with its possession, with which Sir John may have acquainted her.
His Majesty, he said, was inclined to clemency, and were her reports
satisfactory he had promised to sign a pardon permitting Sir John to
return to Scotland and resume occupation of his estates, provided the
mines were worked openly, and a proper share of the precious metal
confirmed to the Crown. This Mr. Haldane considered a fair and merciful
concession, and he advised my lady to keep nothing back but to rely on
his Majesty’s generosity; for if she failed to comply with his demands
in every particular, the King would cause Sir John’s name to be put in
the next bill of attainder, and my lady and her family would be treated
with the height of rigour.
Now you can well understand that to a person of my lady’s spirit such
a letter would but act as an incentive to defiance. I can remember to
this day how proudly she drew herself up, her eyes flashing and the
ready colour rising to her cheek.
“Is it to be imagined,” she cried, “that I shall comply with such a
demand as that? If Sir John is not yet attainted he is a free man, and
an honest gentleman, with full right to do what he will with his own.
No creature on earth, be he King or Prime Minister, has any title to
call him to account for any part of his possessions; no, nor any right
to peer and pry into his affairs. Let them send their officers, vile
wretches, to make enquiries, I care not, but ’tis little they will get
out of me! Comply, indeed! As soon would I give up my house to the
first comer and beg my bread, with a child in each hand, from door to
door!”
“What will you tell him?” I asked.
“I shall tell him, Barbara, nothing but the truth, you may be sure of
that. But it will not be all the truth,” she added, with a laugh that
betrayed her bitterness. “Do they deserve open dealings from me? Is
it not a fine thing to write to a woman behind her husband’s back,
ordering her to betray his interests without a word to or from himself?
Oh, I shall never forgive Gleneagles for this! I could not have
believed him capable of such treachery. I am certain his good wife, my
sister Nell, can know nothing of it; but how can I ever be friendly
again with her spouse?”
“Will you consult Mr. Erskine,” I said, “before you write?”
My lady remained for some time gazing thoughtfully on the ground.
“I think,” she said at length, “it will be wiser to write at once
having consulted no one. Who knows what dangers lurk for those who
befriend us as well as for ourselves? If Charles were here, or Harry
Stirling, I would talk the matter over with them, but I cannot conceive
that anything they might say would alter my mind, and if the King is
angry it were better not to involve my friends.”
“Oh, dear madam,” cried I, in childish fear. “You will not say aught to
anger the King?”
“Why, Barbara, as to that we must take our chance, but I fear my reply
will scarce appear conciliatory to him and his friends. I shall say
that ’tis true Sir John has found silver on his estate (that fact can
no longer be concealed), but to no great amount; indeed the vein he
was working hath already given out, and I am in doubt whether any more
will be found. I shall say that I can give him no information of any
kind, that I know nothing of acts or treaties, but that I should esteem
it a truly unfriendly action if any were sent down here to investigate
matters in the absence of Sir John. I will remind him that my husband
is not yet attainted, and in the meantime I have full control of all
his property and estates, so that no steps can be taken without my
consent.”
Some such reply as this was forthwith written and despatched that
day, my lady still burning with indignation and full of wrath. But I
think she repented her haste and heat--though not her decision--when,
a few days later, she heard from Mr. Campbell. Her letter, he told
her, had greatly enraged the others, and Mr. Haldane, acting always in
the King’s interest, agreed with my Lord Townshend that nothing now
remained but to make out the order of inquiry and send a Commission
from the Government to Scotland without delay. To ease my lady’s
mind on this score, Mr. Campbell assured her that he had in his mind
something which would delay this scheme, hoping, indeed, to prevent it
altogether.
Sick at heart as my lady was, and torn with fears of all kinds, she yet
believed so strongly in Mr. Campbell’s good sense and kindness that his
promises comforted her not a little, and enabled her to bear with some
semblance of patience the uncertainty and delay of the next few weeks.
Mr. Erskine, as I said, came frequently from Edinburgh to see her, and
nothing could exceed his kindness and diligence on her behalf.
She was now busily employed in removing from their hiding-place near
the house the barrels and casks of ore, and bestowing them safely in a
spot, of which none but herself, and Mr. Erskine, and the men employed
had any knowledge. As the strictest secrecy was to be preserved, the
work was done during the night, and great ingenuity must have been
used, for not a creature ever discovered nor attempted to divulge the
matter.
On our asking what means Mr. Campbell was employing to delay the
sending of the Commission, Mr. Erskine told us that by the advice
of Sir David Dalrymple, the Lord Advocate, he had brought to their
notice the old Scots law which enacted that minerals found on any
man’s estate were not to be included in confiscated property; so that,
even supposing Sir John were attainted, the Government would have no
more interest in his mines than a small share in the profits. This
consideration made them pause, for they were determined to get the
most out of it that they could, and yet were reluctant about ignoring
the law in a way that would probably enrage all Scotland. However,
the delay was precious to our interests, and when one day Mr. Erskine
informed my lady that he had decided to go to Holland next month to
meet with his brother, Dr. Erskine, and learn what could be done for
Sir John by the influence of the Czar, her heart was greatly lightened
and hope again asserted itself.
Mr. Erskine was to go first to his country house, Tinwald, in
Dumfriesshire, and from there to London, that he might consult with Mr.
Campbell before setting out for the Hague. As it turned out, this step
was the best he could have taken, for, as you will see later, he also
was instrumental in delaying the Commission, although, owing to the
zealousness of Mr. Haldane, and some others, to serve the King, it was
found impossible to dispose of it altogether.
Not having had any word of Sir John for nigh two months, my lady was
getting very downcast as to what had become of him, and her fears were
not lessened by reading in the papers that my Lord Duffus had been
arrested at Hamburg, and was now in prison. Thoughts of her husband’s
danger haunted her night and day, and we were all greatly relieved when
one evening towards the end of July two letters reached her from Sir
John, which set her immediate fears to rest. More than anything else
was she thankful to hear that her husband was no longer in the company
of the exiled King, though if she could have known the business he was
then employed in, I warrant she would have thought she had room enough
for fears.
In her reply to those letters you will see that her method of
expressing herself is more cautious than usual, for she takes the name
of _Mrs. Amond_ for herself and _Mr. Ashton_ for Sir John, while Mr.
Campbell is _Duncan_, Mr. Erskine, _Key_, and Mr. Haldane, _Humphray_.
LETTER XVIII
July 29.
Dearest Creature,
It’s impossible to express the trouble and
uneasyness Mrs. Amond has been in since the last misfortune, which
you know of long ere now both from Duncan and her; and to add to
her trouble she had not heard from Mr. Ashton for two months, for
yours of the 3 and another of the 12 of July only came to her hand
last night. I can assure you, both were most acceptable and gave her
that quiet of mind which she had not felt of a long time. Duncan told
me in his last letter he was to writ to you, and he will inform you
better of that unlucky affair and how it now stands than I can doe.
But he has acted a winderful part, and has been so far successful to
delay it till Mr. Ashton be on a surer footing.... Who knows but it
may turn to Mr. Ashton’s advantage, and in the meantime I hop you
will soon get a good account of all ... which, if rightly managed,
will be of use. Key and Mrs. Amond has both been in pain how to
manage everything that could occasion the appearing of what they
were earnest to hide as long as Humphray had anything to do in the
country. At such a time it’s impossible to think all will succeed as
we wold have it; but with Duncan’s diligence we got more time for all
than could have been expected, and if it had not been for Duncan, Mr.
Ashton wold a been undone by one who has the same relation to Mr.
Ashton that Duncan has, but he acted the contrary part and pusht Mr.
Ashton’s ruin, and said it was to serve him and his family. How will
Mrs. Amond live with that man that has used her best friend so ill?
To be just to his wife, she thought it really was as he said; but his
actings in that particular has made him odious, and yet I intend to
be in good friendship with him, more for his ill than his good.
Key goes to his Country-house this week and intends to go from
thence to the Carse (Holland) by way of Airth (London) that he may
talk with Duncan, and then go and find Peter (Dr. Erskine) by whose
help only we are to expect something done. Mr. Ashton is doubtful if
it will doe. No body can say it will or it will not, but as things
now are, it seems absolutely necessare to try; and had Mr. Ashton
been attainted and the misfortun to follow, there could a been no
retrieving; and if Peter doe not secure it before Humphray return, we
will be in a very hard state. But there has been so many different
turns of providence in that affair, Mrs. Amond has hopes yet, tho’
when she reflects how many difficulties (there are) and perhaps that
of Mr. Ashton’s not being willing to agree to terms that may be askt,
she fears the worst. But her greatest concern is for Mr. Ashton, and
she begs if you do come to the Carse to meet Key or Peter that you
may take care not to come where you may be in danger, because the
Prints bears that Lord D.(uffus) was taken at Hamburg, and she had
rather all want to Pot before Mr. Ashton’s person were in the least
danger. It certainly was a right measure for Key to go and see Peter,
and the more that a near friend was sent to Peter’s master with a
view to prepossess Peter with an ill opinion of Ashton, Key, Duncan
and all the rest, that so they might play their own game; and when
they hear of Key’s going it will put that family (the Haldanes) mad.
Certain it is Humphray has made Peter great offers if he will get his
master to agree to what he desires.
I doubt not Duncan will supply you with money, for he is the only
person that can do it just now, and he has the effect, so write to
him freely.
Mrs. Amond was afraid you had been displeased with her for asking you
to leave your society. It was a hardship on her to ask you; but when
she thought how much was at stake, and the opportunity lost could
never be recalled except Kid had better success, she thought it right
to lay it before you; and your being content to yield to your friends
and her, makes her both wish and hop it may be done in the manner you
wold have it, and she will never wish you to doe anything that may
reflect on you or occasion you uneasyness.
If you saw what different affairs Mrs. Amond has every day you wold
see it’s impossible for her to leave this place, and indeed, as
things now are, she cannot leave it a day; so she has not the least
thought of coming tho’ she inclines it very much, but she could not
doe it without partly blaming herself, and all the world wold do the
same. And as she has always preferr’d Mr. Ashton’s interest to her
own satisfaction, she intends to continue in her duty till providence
sends her a happy opportunity of seeing that person who is so much
the object of her thoughts, and for whom she thinks she can never doe
enough; and it’s her satisfaction that, barring the vilainy of that
creature (Hamilton) which was no way her fault, all her matters had
been as well as could have been expected at such a time. Mr. Ashton’s
boys are well.
Dearest Life, Adieu.
I writ to Duncan last week to send you money that you might not be
obligt to wait for it in case you intended to leave the place. May
God preserve you and direct you in every particular, and for God’s
sake beware of coming where you may be in danger.