A
LETTER
Giving
a
particular
ACCOUNT
OF
THE
PROCEEDINGS
OF
THE
Scots
Parliament
,
Relating
to
some
of
the
Ministers
of
State
of
that
Kingdom
.
SIR
,
I
Am
sorry
I
cannot
at
present
give
you
a
Satisfactory
Answer
to
all
your
Queries
about
our
Scotch
Parliament
and
Parties
:
But
having
informed
my self
sufciently
of
what
related
to
the
Viscount
Staire
,
I
here
send
you
what
I
know
in
that
matter
.
And
in
place
of
Answer
to
your
other
Questions
,
I
give
you
an
account
of
the
Impeachment
of
another
of
our
Peers
of
that
same
Party
.
But
first
know
,
our
two
Parties
have
got
just
now
each
of
them
a
new
Name
;
the
Mob
,
consisting
(
as
the
other
pretends
)
of
the
meaner
People
,
and
a
few
of
the
Nobility
,
but
these
very
inconsiderable
,
as
being
inferiour
to
the
rest
both
in
Parts
and
Estates
;
and
the
Nob
,
because
the
Persons
of
greatest
Quality
and
Estates
,
and
to
tell
truth
,
the
whole
Nobility
almost
are
on
that
side
.
Before
the
Parliament
sat
down
,
there
was
a
great
noise
of
mutual
Impeachments
.
Mob
was
to
be
accused
of
infamous
Bribery
,
whereof
he
was
guilty
last
Session
of
Parliament
;
and
Nob
of
having
misapplied
the
King's
Money
:
But
when
our
States-Men
came
from
London
,
we
were
informed
that
the
King
had
given
such
strict
Orders
to
shun
all
occasion
of
Heats
,
(
as
being
prejudicial
to
his
Affairs
both
at
home
and
abroad
)
that
these
Accusations
were
to
be
laid
aside
until
a
more
convenient
time
.
Truly
,
I
think
there
is
no
just
Ground
for
these
Accusations
;
for
Nob
doth
now
lay
their
Account-Books
open
to
the
view
of
all
who
who
desire
to
know
how
the
King's
Money
was
imployed
:
And
all
that
can
be
said
of
Mob
is
,
what
he
openly
owneth
,
that
he
accepted
of
a
Civil
Compliment
of
some
Thousands
of
Guineas
from
some
of
the
principal
Burghs
of
this
Kingdom
for
good
Services
he
did
them
by
his
Vote
,
and
his
Power
in
the
Parliament
.
We
were
pleasing
of
our selves
with
the
hopes
that
things
should
be
carried
on
with
some
tolerable
moderation
for
the
good
of
the
Country
,
when
June
3d
.
all
broke
out
to
open
War
;
for
one
Duncan
Robertson
,
instigated
,
I
fear
,
(
at
least
encouraged
and
supported
)
by
Mob
,
presented
a
Petition
to
the
Parliament
against
the
Viscount
Staire
,
Lord
President
of
the
Session
,
complaining
that
the
said
Viscount
had
pronounced
an
unjust
Sentence
against
him
,
whereby
he
had
preferred
Mr.
Patrick
Smith
to
the
Executry
and
moveable
Goods
of
the
deceased
Bishop
of
Galloway
;
and
Insinuating
,
that
this
was
done
upon
a
view
of
a
Transaction
with
Mr.
Patrick
of
a
Debt
due
by
the
said
Viscount
to
the
Bishop
,
and
that
accordingly
the
Viscount
got
an
ease
of
the
same
,
and
Craving
that
the
Viscount
might
be
summoned
to
compear
before
the
Parliament
to
answer
to
this
Accusation
.
It
was
urged
and
carried
for
the
Viscount
,
that
one
of
his
Character
and
Quality
could
not
be
summoned
upon
the
meer
assertion
of
so
inconsiderable
a
Person
,
until
the
Parliament
should
consider
what
Grounds
there
were
for
it
;
whereupon
it
was
proposed
by
some
,
that
the
precognition
thereof
should
be
remitted
to
a
Committee
to
be
chosen
for
that
particular
end
:
but
it
was
carried
against
the
Viscount
by
very
few
Votes
that
it
should
be
remitted
to
the
Committee
of
Safety
,
who
were
appointed
to
give
their
Report
in
open
Parliament
the
10th
.
of
the
said
Month
.
The
Committee
accordingly
having
examined
many
Witnesses
upon
the
first
and
most
material
Article
of
the
Complaint
,
viz.
the
Injustice
of
the
Sentence
;
nothing
was
proved
against
the
Viscount
.
On
the
contrary
it
was
proved
by
the
express
Depositions
of
the
Lords
of
the
Session
themselves
,
and
of
Mr.
Duncan's
own
Advocate
,
that
the
thing
was
fairly
done
,
so
that
he
thought
it
not
fit
to
insist
in
the
other
Articles
.
Upon
the
10th
.
of
June
,
the
Day
appointed
for
Reporting
,
it
was
desired
that
the
Parliament
would
call
for
the
Report
of
the
Committee
,
and
either
declare
the
Lord
President
Guilty
,
or
,
if
nothing
should
be
proved
against
him
,
that
they
would
acquit
him
,
and
appoint
a
suitable
Punishment
for
the
Libeller
for
so
impudent
a
Calumny
;
nothing
of
that
could
be
heard
that
Day
,
there
was
a
greater
Business
then
in
hands
which
put
a
stop
to
all
others
,
I
mean
the
Impeachment
of
the
Earl
of
Breadalbane
,
which
was
carried
on
thus
.
There
was
exhibited
a
Deposition
of
—
Mac
Donald
Glengary
,
wherein
he
deponed
,
that
in
the
year
1692.
the
Earl
of
Breadalbane
being
imployed
to
treat
with
the
Highland
Army
,
did
by
Articles
agreed
upon
betwixt
him
and
them
,
engage
that
several
Conditions
there
particularised
falling
out
,
he
,
the
said
Earl
of
Breadalbane
should
with
all
his
Friends
and
Followers
,
join
the
said
Highland-Army
against
King
William
;
this
Deposition
being
read
,
it
was
urged
that
the
King's
Advocate
should
be
ordered
to
commence
and
insist
in
a
Process
of
High
Treason
against
his
Lordship
,
and
that
he
in
the
mean
time
should
be
committed
to
the
Castle
of
Edinburgh
.
It
was
pleaded
for
the
Earl
that
this
Accusation
being
an
absolute
Surprise
,
it
could
not
be
imagined
he
could
satisfy
this
House
so
well
immediately
,
as
after
a
little
deliberation
he
might
be
able
to
do
,
wherefore
he
intreated
the
Impeachment
might
be
forborn
until
the
next
meeting
,
at
which
time
he
doubted
not
but
that
he
should
make
it
clearly
appear
that
there
was
no
ground
for
it
.
This
not
being
granted
,
it
was
further
pleaded
for
him
,
that
this
Deposition
of
Glengary's
being
Ultroneous
,
he
never
being
summoned
for
that
effect
by
the
Authority
of
any
Judge
,
cannot
be
sustained
in
Law
,
and
consequently
cannot
be
a
Foundation
of
a
Process
of
High
Treason
;
especially
,
considering
that
the
said
Glengary
,
being
a
Roman
Catholick
,
continued
in
Rebellion
against
his
present
Majesty
,
never
having
submitted
to
the
Government
,
unless
he
had
privately
done
it
at
this
time
,
and
that
he
carried
an
inveterate
enmity
to
the
said
Earl
and
his
Family
;
neither
did
this
prevail
.
It
was
further
pleaded
for
the
Earl
that
he
had
an
ample
Commission
from
the
King
to
do
in
that
Affair
all
that
he
should
judge
fit
for
effectuating
it
;
That
his
Majesty
and
all
the
World
know
that
in
such
Negotiations
,
there
must
be
allowances
for
men
to
go
,
or
at
least
to
pretend
to
go
some
lengths
,
and
to
use
such
condescendencies
as
in
prudence
they
shall
find
most
taking
and
fitted
for
accomplishing
the
design
;
That
the
Effect
had
justified
the
Methods
he
had
used
;
That
not
only
they
there
Sitting
,
and
their
Constituents
at
home
,
who
suffered
most
in
that
unnatural
War
;
but
also
the
Kingdom
of
England
,
who
for
its
own
safety
was
obliged
to
maintain
some
Regiments
here
for
several
years
with
little
or
no
success
,
yea
,
and
all
the
Confederacy
had
reaped
advantage
by
his
Conduct
in
that
Treaty
:
many
Troops
and
much
money
being
now
imployed
against
the
Common
Enemy
abroad
,
which
that
troublesome
War
had
for
several
years
exhausted
here
at
home
.
That
,
seeing
the
thing
it self
was
beyond
all
question
good
and
advantagious
for
the
Nation
,
it
was
thought
strange
that
these
persons
who
were
most
Advantaged
by
it
should
take
exceptions
against
the
particular
Methods
which
his
Prudence
obliged
him
to
take
in
carrying
it
on
;
however
,
his
Lordship
had
made
known
to
their
Majesties
whatever
he
had
said
or
done
in
that
Affair
,
and
had
their
approbation
.
Upon
some
one's
pretending
that
the
things
now
libelled
were
not
then
known
,
it
was
answered
,
that
upon
a
Complaint
given
against
the
Earl
for
these
very
things
he
is
now
accused
of
,
his
Majesty
recommended
to
the
Privy
Council
to
make
enquiry
into
the
Matter
,
which
accordingly
was
done
and
transmitted
to
the
King
:
That
the
Minutes
of
the
Council
did
clearly
show
all
this
;
therefore
it
was
begged
these
Minutes
might
be
called
for
.
But
that
being
refused
,
the
Earl
of
Melvil
Lord
Privy
Seal
,
and
then
Secretary
of
State
,
avouched
the
truth
of
what
had
been
said
,
and
positively
asserted
that
the
Precognition
taken
by
the
Council
was
upon
a
Complaint
,
if
not
in
the
same
words
,
at
least
to
the
same
purpose
with
what
was
contained
in
Glengary's
Deposition
:
That
it
was
sent
by
the
Council
to
him
:
That
he
shewed
it
to
the
Queen
,
(
the
King
being
then
in
Flanders
)
who
kept
it
a
whole
night
.
That
the
next
day
he
transmitted
it
to
the
King
,
who
(
he
knew
by
the
returns
he
got
from
Flanders
)
received
,
and
perused
it
.
And
all
this
upon
his
Honour
.
The
Duke
of
Queensbury
declared
likewise
upon
Honour
that
it
consisted
with
his
knowledge
that
his
Majesty
received
the
same
,
he
being
then
in
Flanders
with
the
King
,
and
having
heard
him
discourse
of
the
Matter
very
often
.
Whereupon
it
was
urged
,
seeing
his
Majesty
had
taken
to
his
own
consideration
the
Earl's
behaviour
in
that
Affair
;
seeing
that
he
had
been
informed
of
all
the
Methods
of
his
procedure
in
it
,
and
seeing
he
had
shown
his
Satisfaction
with
the
Earl's
Conduct
,
by
prefering
him
at
that
time
to
several
Places
of
Honour
and
Trust
,
as
that
of
Privy
Councellour
,
Commissioner
of
the
Treasury
,
&c.
That
the
Parliament
would
not
proceed
in
a
Matter
of
such
importance
against
one
of
his
Majesty's
Ministers
of
State
,
until
he
were
first
acquainted
with
it
;
but
this
was
refused
also
:
Whereupon
it
was
desired
again
in
behalf
of
the
Earl
that
they
would
delay
their
proceeding
at
least
until
the
next
meeting
.
Upon
this
the
House
divided
as
to
the
State
of
the
Vote
;
Some
would
have
it
to
be
Proceed
or
Delay
,
and
others
,
Insist
or
Not
.
This
was
put
to
the
Vote
,
and
it
was
carried
by
eleven
that
the
latter
should
be
the
Vote
.
And
afterwards
by
another
Vote
,
it
was
carried
that
the
King's
Advocate
should
insist
immediately
;
whereupon
there
was
an
order
of
Parliament
signed
for
committing
the
Earl
to
the
Castle
,
whither
accordingly
his
Lordship
was
carried
Prisoner
,
at
the
rising
of
the
Parliament
,
the
same
day
.
There
happened
one
thing
I
must
not
forget
:
The
Peers
seeing
every
point
carried
against
them
,
in
the
heat
of
their
Debate
rose
up
all
at
once
,
seeming
to
be
in
great
rage
.
His
Grace
the
Commissioner
,
something
surprised
,
told
them
this
looked
tumultuous-like
,
(
and
truely
it
did
discover
that
they
were
highly
provoked
)
they
answered
they
meant
no
such
thing
,
but
to
show
their
common
and
unanimous
dissenting
from
such
precipitate
practices
.
I
never
did
see
the
Nobility
so
unanimous
as
in
this
Affair
,
there
being
but
five
or
six
of
the
most
inconsiderable
who
join'd
with
the
other
Party
.
I
must
be
so
just
to
the
Earl
,
as
to
tell
you
likewise
that
all
this
was
done
on
a
Monday
,
when
the
House
is
not
so
frequent
as
at
other
times
;
for
many
going
to
the
Country
on
the
Saturdays
,
these
who
are
not
so
intrigueing
as
the
others
,
not
knowing
that
there
is
any
business
of
importance
to
be
done
,
do
generally
not
return
until
Monday's
Evening
.
Its
probable
we
may
have
abundance
of
such
News
as
this
for
some
time
;
it
being
confidently
talked
that
the
Earl
of
Argile
is
likewise
to
be
Impeached
.
I
am
told
he
is
threatned
with
it
,
unless
he
join
to
the
other
side
;
and
not
inclining
to
do
that
,
it
's
surmised
his
Lordship
is
to
withdraw
some
time
,
until
the
heat
be
over
.
The
disaffected
persons
hope
to
make
some
advantage
of
these
differences
,
and
to
work
up
the
irritated
humors
to
something
for
their
purpose
.
I
pray
God
send
Peace
in
our
days
.
One
thing
more
I
must
say
of
my
Lord
Breadalban's
Affair
.
I
know
not
whether
it
be
of
design
,
or
by
chance
,
that
in
the
Minutes
of
Parliament
relating
to
it
,
there
is
still
mention
made
of
the
Massacre
of
the
Glencomen
,
which
makes
the
less
considerate
sort
of
people
believe
,
That
that
is
a
part
of
the
Crime
his
Lorship
is
now
impeached
of
.
Doubtless
your
Prints
will
run
in
the
same
strain
.
But
,
after
the
most
diligent
search
into
that
matter
,
nothing
is
sound
that
can
be
charged
on
him
.
June
14.
1695.