shall have them; and to-morrow I'll mind your commission, and any
other you shall give with respect to your nursery, &c., which I hope
you're still carrying on, and that your garden-wall is now
completed. If you had some pieces of cannon to place in it, would it
not keep out against an army not provided with battering-pieces,
seeing it's at a sufficient distance from the thundering of any
castle? Were it not for fear of your horses, I should wish you came
in here and saw the fortifications made on our city-wall, and the
army against which they were intended; the last is worth your while.
No Court in Europe is filled with such a set of well-look'd brave
fellows.

"I hope my dykers are going on, and beg you'll acquaint the tenants
to have the rents ready, in regard I'm to be soon in the country,
and won't make any stay above a day or two; this to you, but to
yourself I can yet fix no time for coming out as I can't think of
leaving Edinburgh till I see how matters turn, and it's also
necessary to stay and take care of my house, furniture, papers, &c.
I believe I shall eat my Christmas goose with you, if I don't go
into England, which I would incline for sake of a jaunt, if I
thought it safe and had a right set with me. I ever am, dear Sir,

"Your's &c."

Another letter from a kinsman of Lord Nithisdale's shews that he was not
alone in his inclination to join in the Insurrection of 1745.

LETTER FROM MR. MAXWELL OF CARRUCHAN.

"October 13th.

"Dr. Willie,

"By accounts this day from Edinburgh, allmost everybody is going
along with the stream, so that a short delay wou'd lose all the
merit. This has determined me to do the thing so suddenly, that I
have not time to send for you, unless it were to see me go off,
which is impossible. I depend upon your protection for those I leave
behind. What gives me the greatest concern is least some such
creditors as have still my father's security, should molest him in
my absence. I recommend particularly to you, that if you can hear of
any, you'll endeavour to make them sensible that they are as safe as
before, and tell the comissary that I expect the same piece of
friendship from him, who lyes more in the way of hearing what
passes of that