"Wednesday, about six forenoon, ffebruary 1st, 1716.

"On Monday evening I gave you the trouble of a greatly long letter,
mostly on indifferent subjects, and sent it off yesterday to A. W.
If I was too tedious upon what concerned a woman and a Prince, it
was with a good intent, and to make matters plain. By what I hear
from R. B., and the Hole, that Argyle's forces were yesterday
forenoon at Stirling, and so was the regiments of dragoons there and
St. Ninian's, for accounts of motions there and thereabouts, on both
sydes of the river,--you may expect it best sent from R. B., the
Hole, and a grave gentleman.

"By yesternight's post I sent of M^{c}Quart's letter; and indeed, in
most or all letters I write to that quarter for ten weeks past, I
alwayes requested that whatever was to be done might be quickly
done. I lykeways sent to London between fyve or six, several honest
hands, to put off the proclamation declaration about burning, and
that paper of which I some days ago sent you two copies. And now I
begin to think I have been in the wrong to Mr. S----g, in the short
character I gave you of him, at least, if it be true that I am told,
that he is not only author of that paper I sent you the two copies
of, but has got a very great number of them printed; and tho' I may
be an insufficient judge, I must acknowledge I am very well pleased
with the paper, for I think it full of plain truths; and besydes
other dispersings, I did indeed yesterday cause putt in fiftein
copies of it in the Lords of Session's boxes.

"The litle letter to my good Lady W.[143] I caused carefully to be
delivered. I wish all women had some share of her good, sweet, easie
temper, for, as you will observe, over-busied women are most
uneasie; and I have had much experience of it within these four
months past in many instances, and with more persons than one or
two. The only inconvenience I had by Kate Bruce lodging in the same
house with me was, it brought in too many women upon me, and some
of these brought in others, and to this minute I cannot with
descretion get quit of them.

"A good time ago you were pleased to tell me you could not well
conceive how I got myself keept free, but if you now knew what a
multitude knows where I lodge, you would wonder more; and indeed it
is no litle admiration