The same to Viscount Seafield. [Extract.] Holyrood House, Tuesday, As I told you in my latest, the Committee of Council were a good time together upon Saturday in the evening, to prepare a proclamation about the address; and, after much reasoning upon it, appointed my Lord Advocate to present to them a form upon Monday morning. When I got account next day of the reasonings in the Committee, and understood, that the Committee was of opinion, that the Council could not in law emit such a proclamation, as in my opinion would have strength enough to prevent subscriptions, I was in a great puzzle what I should do; yet in the first place I sent for some of the Lords of the Committee, and discoursed with them; but when I discerned plainly, that they were positive of opinion, that the Council could not in law prescribe the ways and methods of the subjects' petitioning; and that the methods, so far as they were known to them, are not such as the law doth reprobate, and so could not legally be prohibited, I became very clear in my own opinion, that such a proclamation, as they thought of, was not fit to be published, and that it might do more hurt than good; and I began to wish in myself, that the counsellors would resolve, each of them, to dissipate the notice of his Majesty's dissatisfaction, as broad as they could, by their private pains, than to publish from the board a proclamation, which to many might seem weak and dubious Upon the question stated, ' emit a proclamation,' or represent to the King,' it carried, ' emit a proclamation,' thirteen to ten. It was moved, that the Council might adjourn, and meet again within two or three hours, and both think and discourse yet more upon the form of the proclamation; but some others did press so earnestly, that the question should be put, Approve of the draught brought in by the Committee, or not; so that the rest condescended; and upon the question, the vote carried, 'Approve of the ' proclamation.' Your Lordship has here a printed copy of it. The same to Viscount Seafield. [Extract.] Holyrood House, Tuesday, Even in this case and business, which has created us so much trouble and vexation, I am somewhat confident, that we should be so able to order things, as his Majesty's service should not meet with much stop. This is still supposed, that a competent time may be given for humors to cool a little in. Now, I must tell you, and take it from me to keep with yourself, I see evidently, and by clear tokens, that both you and I need to stand back to back, if we will be upon our guard; and I need not tell you, what we may expect from some of the addressing party, if they had power enough; but on the other hand, I am persuaded, there is greater danger; for the Earl of Annandale, and the Treasurer Depute are aiming with much earnestness to be upon our saddles. I know it so well, and upon so good ground, that I tell you not to doubt of it. The first has by several things of late run himself quite out of esteem; and, I am persuaded, will have less influence in a parliament, than any man of his parts that I know, but perhaps thinks that some things, which have mightily lessened him here, will recommend him, and augment his esteem there. As for the other, he is indeed very wary, and studies much to keep up his interest with the parliament men. They are not quite at one betwixt themselves; but they are much closer drawn up than formerly. Consider what I say; and if you are as concerned for me there, as I am for you here, (of which you will find the effects in due time) then we have nothing to fear.-Adieu. Notes [Extract.] upon the Letter' to the Viscount of Seafield, of Tuesday, the 19th December, 1699. The Lord Chancellor in the beginning told the rest, that they had a very nice affair in hand; that the carrying on of the address was such, as had given dissatisfaction to all their Lordships; and that the King had signified his dissatisfaction with the manner, and had appointed them to notify it, so as is consistent with law, to the lieges. Therefore, in conformity to his Majesty's letter, their Lordships were to take good notice, that what they did in this matter should well consist with the law, and with the subjects' right of petitioning the King, asserted in the Claim of Right, and which his Majesty had told them in his letter, he would never discourage, if done in an orderly and decent manner. 1 The first of the two letters of that date addressed to Lord Seafield. The subscribing of the address goes on, and I cannot find that any are scared from it by the proclamation, but upon the contrary; for I am certainly informed, that some, who before were opposite to it, because of some jealousy they had of the motives and designs of those, who carry it on, have since subscribed to it. I must tell your Lordship, the subject of thinking, as doth evidently appear by what is all the matter of discourse here, is quite changed from that of the company and the colony, to that of the subjects' privilege and freedom of addressing to, and petitioning the King; and people express themselves jealously, (and you may easily guess who will promote this), as if there were a design to retrench that privilege; and because the emitting of the proclamation (which doth not relish well here) was carried by the votes of the Lord Polwarth, and the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, many, who have kindness for me, have much ado to persuade people, that I am not in that design. I am sure, there was never man more difficultly circumstanced, than I am. I am making all the inquiry, I |