"23d Feby. 1749.-We are here in a great hubbub about settling the poors'-rates. The Merchant Company have agreed to pay seven per cent., and the Faculty of Advocates have refused to assess themselves with anything, after a long debate, when it carried, No-seventy-two against five."

"20th Aprile 1749.-You will observe a letter in this day's paper anent a ploy which was occasioned by about thirty or forty officers jumping on the stage, when in the last part of the act King Henry says, 'Hence, let rebellion be for ever quashed.' Upon this one of the officers called to the fiddlers to play Culloden Reel,' and then the gallery people hissed, and threw potatoes, &c., at them, which is to let you into the rise of that stir."

"1st June 1756.-The Edinburgh Banks have sent some of their directors with twenty-five thousand pounds of Glasgow notes to get specie for them, which may crack some of them."

"13th March 1759.-The Duke and Dutchess of

Douglass are, alas! parted, through faults on both sides, as is alledged. Two very handsome fellows were this day found guilty of a robbery, and will probably string, and the only defence their councill urged, it were better send them to Martinico or Guardulope than to the gallows."

"9th October 1759.-George Baillie, your cousine, married 29th September last, and from superabund

ance of complaisance set out next day with another lady for this place, where he presently is, and I had the pleasure of saluting him on the happy event this day."

"15th Octr. 1759.-I congratulate you upon the reduction of Quebeck, and consequently the empire of North America; but amidst our joy we are enjoined prudence and caution, for it is certain Thurot is sailed, and the Solebay Man of War says he sailed through his fleet (under French colors), consisting of six war ships and twelve transports, and Admiral Boyes with eleven ships in quest of him, steering northwards, either to the Murray (where I pray God Thurot may never come) or Pentland firths. This afternoon Boyes is anchored in Leith road, drove up by a nore-east gale, and, so soon as the wind permits, and he provided with a little provisions and pilots, is to proceed on towards the north. We have expresses from England, two or three a day, and it is rumoured the Brest fleet is out. May Hawk fly and catch him."

"2d July 1760.-By this night's news Mineer Dutchman seems to try us in that country; but, in the true sense of the word, they catched a Tartar,' for their seven ships of war are all taken, six hundred of twelve hundred are killed, the rest prisoners, and the Governor of Batavia, who sent them, acknowledges his fault, and pays, beside begging pardon, a hundred and twenty thousand pounds."

XVIII. LETTERS FROM LADIES OF RANK.

ISOBELL, Countess of Seaforth, widow of Kenneth, third Earl, was daughter of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat, and sister of George, first Earl of Cromarty. Her Ladyship's daughter, Margaret, married James, second Lord Duffus, who, having killed William Ross of Little Kindeace in the year 1688, fled to England, where he remained until influential friends purchased a remission from the Crown. The writing of the Countess is large and well formed; that of Lady Duffus is very inferior.

"MY DEAR DUFFUS,-We are mightily afrayed of your health, and has sent this expres to conjure you to be cairfull of yourself. As for what is done, Lord pardon you the sin of it; but no man thinks ye could have done less, or that ye could have born with what ye met with. I pray you have a cair of yourself, and goe on to doe your business, and let us know wher or

to whom we shal derect your leters whil ye are at Court; I think to my Keny,' when ye are at London. Ye may writ to Megg with every ocation, to give her asurance of your health, which she will still be doubting. We all think, and Siddy,2 who has better skill in such afairs, that after al the provocations ye met with, yet that it was in your own defence what ye did, for certinly ye had been killed if it had not fallen out as it did; so your busines will not cost you much trubel to get it don. Be cairfull of yourself for Megg's caws and the babys. Many a man has falen in such ane accedent warse than your circumstances was, yet has bein at peace with God and all the world, and lived very happily for all that. The Lord's peace be with you, and derect you and preserve you from all ill.—I am your affectionat mother,

"ISOBELL SEAFORT."

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CHANORI, the 13th of Apraill 1688. "DEAREST HERT,-I can slip no ocation but I most wrait you, knowing you will be earnest always to hear how I am, which, I blis the Lord for it, is very well, and so is all your childrin and all frinds heare; and now it is my greatest trubill the fear of your wronging your own helth, which I hop you will considir how much it will ofend God, and what a gref it will

1 Her son Kenneth, fourth Earl.

2 Mackenzie of Suddy.

be to me, so I expek to hear good neuse from you, and writ to me ase oft as you have ocation. No mor at the taim, but that the Lord may blis you, and direk you and protek you, is the earnest prayer of your own till death. M. DUFFUS.

"My Lady presents hir respecs to you."

Henrietta Duchess of Gordon, wife of the second Duke, was a daughter of the celebrated Earl of Peterborough. Her Grace had sufficient influence to induce the ducal family to renounce Popery and embrace the Protestant faith. The writing of the Duchess is particularly good and distinct. The lady to whom her Grace sent the following letters was then unmarried. She was daughter of the deceased Alexander Dunbar of Westfield, and she resided with her maternal uncle, Sir Thomas Calder of Muirton, Baronet :

"To Mrs. ELIZABETH DUNBAR at Muirton.

"GORDON CASTLE, August the 20th, 1722.

"MY DEARE FREIND,-It being now just ten days since I had the pleasure of hearing from you, which to me is a tedious age, I send the bearer on purpose to bring me acounts of your health, and of all I have a consern for with you; and I send you and Lady Muirton sum of the flowered painted satin which you commended in the winter, having had an occasion to