OF EDINBURGH (OCTOBER).

+Source.+--_Memoirs of the Life of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik,
Bart.: extracted by himself from his own Journals, 1676-1755_, p.
89. Edited by John M. Gray. (Edinburgh: Scottish Historical Society,
1892.)

In the mean time it must be confessed that their courage and conduct in
Scotland far exceeded what was expected, for the Earl of Mar had so much
address as to bring to the town of Perth, the center of all the
enterprise, at least 10,000 men, some have carried the number to 12,000,
which _I_ am inclined to believe, provided the 1600 men be included that
past the Frith of Forth near the Island of May, of which hereafter.

During these convulsions in my native country, I was obliged to change
my course of living and turn a military man, for being appointed one of
the Lieutenants of the Shire of Edin., I was obliged to act my part in
bringing the militia together. These consisted of a few men, horse and
foot, who never continued 3 days together, and signified nothing in the
military way, the lowland men being a great deal more unfit for warlike
expeditions than the Highlanders who had joined the Earl of Mar.
However, with these militia troops we sometimes made a show, and perhaps
they served to intimidate those who knew nothing about them. They were
particularly useful and active when the Highlanders above mentioned past
the Forth and were marching to take possession of Edin., for being drawn
up on the high way a mile east of Edin., where these Highlanders were to
march in order to take possession of the town, they found themselves
obliged to turn to the right and take possession of the citadel of
Lieth, the ----[52] of October, 1715.

That same night, to the joy of the inhabitants of Edin., who expected to
be plundered by the Highlanders, the Duke of Argyll arrived from
Stirling with 200 chosen foot and 300 dragoons, the foot mounted on
country horses for more expedition. Next morning the Deputy Lieutenants
and all the well affected to the Government of K. George waited on him,
and immediately he ordered all his troops to march down with him to the
attaque of the Citadel of Lieth.

I waited on his Grace, and we never halted till we were within 300 paces
of that place. Here all our men were drawn up in 2 lines for the
attaque. The foot in the center, and the horse on the wings, our number
was as follows. 300 Dragoons, 200 Regular foot, about 200 of the Town
Guards of Edin.,