issueing such a Proclamation, without seeing the Examinations &
proofs of his Guilt, & of the probability of his having fled for it.
But, if there is proper Evidence of his Guilt, & a probable one
of his Flight, I think it is a just foundation to issue such a
proclamation in so flagrant a Case. I submit to My Lord Duke whether
he will not think it proper to refer the Papers to Mr. Attorney
General....

I am, etc.,

HARDWICKE.

VI. EARL OF MARCHMONT TO DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.

(B.M. Add. MS. 32,725, f. 291.)

Redbraes Castle, 15th Oct., 1751.

My Lord,--In obedience to your Grace's commands to the Lord Justice
Clerk, informing him it was His Majesty's pleasure, he should
enquire upon oath into the conduct of Mr. Carre of Nisbet advocate,
our Sheriff, in relation to the apprehending of Mr. Cranstoun; I
yesterday waited on his Lordship at Duns; & gave him an account of
what I knew of that matter upon oath. I heard some other examinations
taken at the same time, & have the pleasure to see that your Grace
will receive entire satisfaction from this Inquiry.

I cannot omitt My Lord, upon this occasion expressing to your Grace
the grateful sense all his Majesty's faithful subjects here have of
your goodness in ordering this enquiry to be made, without which the
misrepresentations contained in Lowe's affidavit, with the Justice
of peace's Commentary, might have lurkt & crept about unobserved in
the South of England, & his Majesty's subjects here could have had
no opportunity of removing the injurious imputations cast upon them.

My Lord Justice Clerk has spared no pains to make the account
compleat, and it gives me particular pleasure My Lord that your
Grace will thereby be enabled to form a character of Mr. Carre from
vouchers free from all suspicion of that partiality which perhaps
might be thought to attend my recommendations of a friend &
relation. Your Grace will see that Mr. Carre came from his own house
with the Lord Justice Clerk, in his Lordship's post-chaise, to dine,
by a previous appointment, at my house, which is only distant from
his own half an hours driving; & this in order to have the advice &
assistance of the Lord Justice Clerk. I am persuaded your Grace will
think, you could not have wished him to choose a more judicious
adviser, or a more sagacious Inspector into his conduct. Upon
examination your Grace will find, that the