29 July Copy of a Letter from Mr. DEACON to his father.1 1746 HONOURED SIR,-Before you receive this I hope to be in Paradise. Not that I have the least right to expect it from any merits of my own, or the goodness of my past life, but merely through the intercession of my Saviour and Redeemer, a sincere and hearty repentance of all my sins, and the variety of punishments I have suffered since I saw you, and the death which I shall die to-morrow, and which I trust in God will be some small atonement for my transgressions; and to which I think I am almost confident I shall submit with all the resignation and chearfulness a truly pious Christian and a brave souldier can wish. I hope you will do my character so much justice (and, if you fol. 382. think proper, make use of this) as absolutely to contradict the false and malicious reports, spread only by your enemies, in hopes it might be of prejudice to you and your family, that I was persuaded and compelled by you to engage, contrary to my own inclinations. I send my tenderest love to all the dear children, and beg Almighty God to bless you and them in this world, and grant us all a happy meeting in that to come. I knife and cut a portion of velvet and buff leather from the hilt of his sword, which he gave to her with his usual courtesy, and which is still (1836) preserved at Whitburgh. The above piece was cut from the larger fragment, and presented to me by Miss Anderson of Whitburgh.-R. C. 3. Piece of Bettie Burk's gown, sent by Mrs. MacDonald of Kingsburgh, according to promise, f. 152. 4. Piece of apron-string, received from Miss Flora MacDonald. R. F. saw the apron on that occasion and had it on him. On the inside of the backboard of volume 3d are 5. Pieces of tartan, explained as under: The above are pieces of the outside and inside of that identical waistcoat which MacDonald of Kingsburgh gave to the Prince, when he laid aside the women's cloaths at the edge of a wood, f. 1434. The said waistcoat being too fine for a servant, the Prince exchanged it with Malcolm MacLeod, f. 239. Malcolm MacLeod, after parting with the Prince and finding himself in danger of being seized, did hide the waistcoat in a clift of a rock, where (upon his returning home in the beginning of September 1747) he found it all rotten to bits, except only as much as would serve to cover little more than one's loof, and two buttons, all which he was pleased to send to me, f. 472. The waistcoat had lain more than a full year in the clift of the rock, for Malcolm MacLeod was made prisoner some time in July 1746, ff. 251, 309.-ROBERT FORBES, A. M. 1 See f. 37. 1746] LETTER FROM MR. DEACON 221 shall leave directions with Charles to send them some trifle 29 July. whereby to remember me. Pray my excuse naming any particular friends, for there is no end. But give my hearty service and best wishes to all in general. Mr. Syddal is very well, and sends his sincere compliments, but does not chuse to write. He behaves as well as his best friends can wish. My uncle has behaved to me in such a manner as cannot be paralell'd but by yourself. I know I shall have your prayers, which I am satisfied will be of infinite service to, dear father, your dying but contented and truly affectionate son, THOMAS THEODORE DEACON. July 29th, 1746. Copy of some Paragraphs of a Letter to Mr. fol. 283. DEACON'S Father, said to be written by the nonjurant clergyman that used to visit Mr. DEACON, etc. Their behaviour at divine worship was always with great reverence, attention, and piety. But had you, sir, been present the last day I attended them, your soul would have been ravished by the fervour of their devotion. From the time of their condemnation a decent chearfulness constantly appeared in their countenances and behaviour, and I believe it may truly be said that no men ever suffered in a righteous cause with greater magnanimity and more Christian fortitude. For the appearance of a violent death, armed with the utmost terrour of pain and torments, made no impression or dread upon their minds. In a word, great is the honour they have done to the Church, the K[ing], and you, and themselves, and may their example be imitated by all that suffer in the same cause. This short but faithful account of our martyred friends will, I hope, sir, yield great consolation to you and poor Mrs. Syddal. Poor, dear Charles bears in a commendable manner his great loss and other afflictions, and behaves like a man and fol. 284. a Christian in all his actions. Nov". Copy of a Letter from SIR ARCHIBALD PRIMROSE of MY DEAR SISTER,—I have endeavoured to take some small time, from a much more immediate concern, to offer you a few lines, and to let you know that this day I am to suffer, I think, for my religion, my prince, and my country. For each of these I wish I had a thousand lives to spend. The shortness of the intimation will not allow me much time to write to you so fully in my vindication for what I did that I know concerns you. But I heartily repent of the bad advice I got even from men of judgment and sense. And what I did by their advice in my own opinion was no more than acknowledging I bore arms against the present government, for my lawful, undoubted prince, my religion, and country; and I thought by my plea to procure some time longer life only to do service to my poor fol. 385. family, not doubting but yet in a short time that glorious cause will succeed, which God of His infinite mercy grant. I repent most heartily for what I did, and I merit this death as my punishment, and I trust in the Almighty for mercy to my poor soul. As I am very soon to leave this world, I pray God to forgive all my enemies, particularly Mr. Gray, who did me all the injury he could by suborning witnesses, and threatening some which was my terror. Particularly there is one poor man3 to suffer with me that had an offer of his life to be an evidence against me, which he rejected. Much more I could say, but as my time is short, I now bid my last adieu to my dear mother and you, my dear sister, and I intreat you'll be kind to my dear wife and children; and 1 He was son of George Foulis of the Ravelston family, who, on inheriting the estate of Dunipace from his grandfather, assumed the name of Primrose in terms of the entail. Taken in the north of Scotland he was first imprisoned in Aberdeen, thence sent to Carlisle, where he was tried, and pleading guilty, was sentenced to death, and executed there on 15th November 1746. 2 William Gray, commonly called Duntie Gray, foremanto Lord Shualton.—(F.) 3 Patrick Kier, late wright at Moultrie Hill, near Edinburgh,-(F.) 1746] SIR ARCHIBALD PRIMROSE 223 may all the blessings of Heaven attend you all. Live together Nov. comfortably and you may expect God's favour. My grateful acknowledgments for all your favours done and designed. Remember me kindly to my Lady Caithness,1 Sauchie, and his sisters, and all my friends and acquaintances. May the fol. 386. Almighty grant you all happiness here, and eternal bliss hereafter, to which bliss, I trust, in His mercy soon to retire; and am for ever, dear sister, your affectionate brother, P.S.-My blessing to your dear boy, my son. A. P. Copy of a Letter to the same Lady, which served as a cover to the above, from Mr. JAMES WRIGHT, Writer in Edinburgh. 1746 MADAM,-Your brother, who is no more, delivered me this 15 Nov. immediately before he suffered. His behaviour was becoming a humble Christian. I waited on him to the last, and with some other friends witnessed his interment in St. Cuthbert's Churchyard. He lies on the north side of the Church, within four yards of the second window from the steeple. Mr. Gordon of Tersperse,2 and Patrick Murray,3 goldsmith, lie just by him. God Almghty support his disconsolate widow and all his relations. I trust in His mercy He will provide for the fol. 387. fatherless and the widow. I am just now going to wait upon poor Lady Mary. I am, Madam, yours, etc., Carlisle, 15th November 1746. 4 o'clock afternoon. SONG to the tune of A Cobler there was, etc. 1. As the devil was walking o'er Britain's fair isle, George spied in his phiz a particular smile, J. W. And said, My old friend, if you have leisure to tarry, Derry, etc. 1 Lady Margaret Primrose, second daughter of Archibald, first Earl of Rose 2 See f. 425. bery. fol. 388 2. Old Beelzebub turn'd at a voice he well knew, I always find time on my friends for to wait. Derry, etc. 3. This morning at 7 I set out of Rome, Most fully intending ere this to've been home. Pray stay, stay (says George), and took hold of his hand, Derry, etc. 4. And what says the Pope? our monarch began, Derry, etc. 5. But soon from the north arriv'd an express I thought, on my soul, I should 've leapt over the moon. Derry, etc. 6. Of Charles's descendants I'm only afraid |