g the last duties to my
unfortunate father; you can be a judge what a loss I have suffered;
you knew him perfectly well, that he was the best of friends, the
most affectionate husband, and the tenderest parent. Poor Lady
Kilmarnock bears her loss much better than I could have imagined;
but it was entirely owing to her being prepared several days before
she got the melancholy accounts of it. I shall be here for some
time, as I have a good deal of business to do in this country; so I
shall be extremely glad to see you as soon as possible. I am, my
dear John, your most sincere friend and obedient humble servant,

BOYD."

"Kilmarnock (House) August 27th, 1746."

Yet the young nobleman did not, it appears, entirely satisfy the
expectations of those who were interested in his fate, and attached to
his father's memory, as the following extract from a letter written by
Mr. George Rosse, to Colonel Craufurd, shows.[395]

"Dear Sir,

"I am favoured with yours of the thirteenth from Scarborough, and
had the honour of one letter from Lord Boyd since his father's
execution, and sorry to tell you, it was not wrote in such terms as
I could show or make any use of. If you had seen him, I dare say it
would have been otherwise. However, I took the liberty of writing
with plainness to him, in hopes of drawing from him, what may be
shown to his honour and to his own immediate advantage.

* * * * *

"I put him in mind of writing to his cousin, Duke of Hamilton, and
Mr. Home; an omission, which, with submission, is unpardonable, as
he was apprised of their goodness to his father; and I gave him some
hints with relation to himself, by authority of the ministry, which,
if he continue in the army, may be improved upon. Those things I
think proper to mention to you, as I know your friendship for Boyd,
that you may take an opportunity of mentioning them to him, when you
are with him, which I hope will be soon. He is appointed deputy
Captain-Lieutenant; but that I look upon as a step to higher
preferment. I should like to hear from you; direct to (Crawfurdland)
Kilmarnock, and I am, dear sir, your most obedient, humble servant.

"GEO. ROSSE."

Leicesterfield,
Septemb