Yours with Mr Farquharson’s inclosedenclosed,
came late to hand, which was accord-
ingly Forwarded as directed; &and I am
much obliged to you, dear Sir, for the
Perusal of it; for indeed it is very
curious &and must have cost you a good
deal of pains in compiling, &and no
doubt will be acceptable to the Par-
ties, for whom it was originally in-
tended. I perceive, till I read your
Account, that I have been under a
Mistake, in believing Charles yethe 1st
to have been born at Dumfries in-
stead of DumfermlinDunfermline.

You ask, Sir, from whom came the
Scribble about the charitable Fund?
I answer, from Mr Harper, when he
returned Mrs Lyon the late Mr Thom-
son’s Benefaction. The Writer speaks
in that Scribble of Collections made
in England for the Clergy. In An-
swer to which, I never heard of Such
Collections. I have good reason to
believe, that, after the Revolution,
there were very liberal Dona-
tions bestowed upon the Nonjuring
Clergy by particular people, besides
Legacies, which fell in afterwards;
but no Collections; the malevolent

2149 (30492149)
Government would not suffer it. So
far were they from doing any Thing
themselves for the poor distress'ddistressed Cler-
gy by way of provision for their neces-
sities. The poor distressed persecuted
Clergy of the Church of Scotland re-
ceived at Times Benefactions from
England, both from Chapters &and particular
Colleges in Oxford &and Cambridge, be-
sides the Gifts of well dispersed Per-
sons of the Laity; all which, except
some few particulars, have, alas! now
for a long time been at an End.
The weather still continuting fine &and
inviting, probably the worthy Countess
has not yet cast up amongst you. Her
Ladyship levesleaves travelling, I believe.

Indeed, Sir, I am of your Opini-
on, that the American Affair, as things
appear at present, looks formidable
enough to shake the Empire of Bri-
tain. tho'though it be purposed as I am
well assured, to have an Army of
40,000 effective Men, besides even
my other Requisite, in America in the
Spring.