LETTER XV
(Dysart.)
I had the pleasure of hearing from my Dearest Life some days agoe, but it had been long by the way, which gave me some pain about you; and tho’ it was but three days writ after what I got last, it was three weeks longer a coming to my hand. I must own you are most kind and obliging in writing so frequently, and it is the only real satisfaction I have at present, for tho’ I endeavor all I can to make the best of my misfortune, yet at some times I am perfectly like to sink under it; and the probability of so long and continued afflictions, and which is most uneasy to me to be absent from you without having any prospect of having it in my power to come to you, together with the concern I have for my friends in the Fleet, and many good people who are suffering; and I find the greatest favour that’s expected is banishment.
As to your own particular you are not yet attainted, so I hop will scape this session of Parlyment, but if ever you are attainted all you could once call your own is irrecoverably lost. There is such acts of Parlyment passing as people cannot expect to save anything; nay, even old tailys are in danger, and yours the more (as) it is not registrate. The King can give no gift to any without any act of Parlyment, and all goes for the public Debts. And these persons that are on the Commission have ample power to doe what they please, and make such narrow inspection in the forfeit estates that they can call any person they please before them, and take their oaths about the particulars of every family, and if they doe not appear they can fine them of a considerable sum.
I once expected your Brother R. and his master was to be at the Hague, but now it’s believed they are to be att Isla Chapel (Aix la Chapelle) but this act puts me out of any hop of a gift to him of your Liberent, and to (have) had a little clause put in favour of Mr. Nabit (the mine.) You see, my dear Soul, the present state of affairs, and that all our projects that way is gone. I am told by some you very narrowly missed being putt in the last Bill of Attainder, and it’s affirm’d that your not being put in was owing to P.(atrick) H.(aldane).
If you still remain where you are att present it’s impossible you can scape being attainted as soon as the Parlyment sits down, whereas if you were in another place, some of your friends might prevent your being put in with a better countenance, and if you do not, I am convinced they will never attempt it. You see by all this that no other person can be interpos’d; that if Mr. Amond (Sir John) does not incline to comply to any conditions that would be propos’d, let him stay abroad and get his money remitted to him; and if either his Brother R. by his master’s friendship, or any other way, can be fal’n on to prevent his being attainted be done, until the term of years mentioned by the Parlyment be expired, which is from this present time till the year 1719.... I have not any hope now but by preventing your being attainted if possible, which can never doe if you persist in your resolution of staying where you are. It’s my duty to let you know this and desire you may consider seriously what sad state you will bring your family to, and to beg you may not do what you may for ever repent. Some regard I think should be had to me and your children, tho’ for my own particular I had rather suffer hardships than desire you to do what is against your inclination; but as a mother I must have regard to them so far as to let you know my opinion, and if ye doe not follow it, I cannot help it, but shall endeavour to submit with patience.
I am not a little sensible how far it’s uneasy to break off from so agreeable a society, and when perhaps duty and inclination both bind you; but in their present state I see not what any one man can doe, and the fewer sufferers the better. And every body will not have that hope or expectation you may have, but if your Brother Robin doe come to Isla Chapel, it would be a good pretext to visit him. This is sufficient on this head, and I shall be glad to have your opinion as frankly and resolutely as I have given my advice.... I came to my father’s some days agoe about a marriage which will not be disagreeable to you. Bess is to be C——ess of W——ms, which is a satisfaction to all her friends. The terms is this day agreed on, and tho’ they are not what I either could a wisht or expected, yet my father and other friends after making proposals of altering found it would not doe, and has gone into what his tutors for the time advised. She has not far to goe, and in case you should not understand she has a great many easy chairs in which she may loll. I goe home to-morrow and return here in a fortnight. You was very kindly remembered by your new friend and he regrates he has you not here at this time. You may be sure I am glad of the thing, but I am in such a continu’d Dump I did not incline to be at the wedding, but I cannot shun it. C. A. was here to be the Lady’s Lawyer.... Countess Bess salutes you kindly and wishes you were here, tho’ she shou’d bear all you could say now as to D. P. I see not what can become of him.... God help me, for I labour under many difficultys and many fears. I did not intend to let you know so much, but at some time it will come out.
As to sending you money it’s agreed ... it’s cheapest from London, and I hope soon to have effects there to answer your demands. Write to P. C., who is there and will doe it. He writ to me he should remit the 50 pound I mentioned in my last, and pray write to him for what you have occasion, for he will answer you whether the effects be come to his hands or not, but he cannot miss to have them soon.
I see so many difficultys in sending A. S(hor)t that it cannot doe. I think I have answered all your questions in yours of the 22 of Ap. Wishing my Dearest all manner of happyness I am ever,
Yours.
Your mother and sons are well. We drank Mr. Kid’s health yesterday and all his friends. God preserve you.
June 11.
Back at Alva we were forced to wait with what patience we possessed to see what would next befal, but a week later my lady wrote again to Sir John in much the same strain as her former letter, so that you can see nothing new had occurred so far. Having received one from him, dated 29th of May, she was now to be deprived of the comfort of hearing anything of her husband for several weeks, which as you can imagine did not lessen her fears nor lighten her burden.