sheriffs and stewards of shires or counties, and others of the king's courts respectively. The heritable sheriffships were resumed, and annexed to the crown. All judges were by this act required to qualify, by taking the oaths to government; with

525

all procurators, writers, agents, or solicitors, taking upon them to manage any business in any of the Scotish courts.

Of the same nature and tendency as the jurisdiction act, and in the same session of parliament, was passed, "An act for

gality,

Rejected.

L.600 0 0

gality,
Rejected.

...

L.500 0 0

L.300 0 0

Woolmet, &c. part of Musselburgh

93.-Carmichael, Balmedie.

107.-Goldie, Alexander, writer to the signet.

Baillie of the regality of Abernethy, L500 0 0 Privilege of regality over his lands of

Reduced to

L.187 11 11

94-Charteris, Amisfield.

Privilege of regality over his lands of

Airdries, &c. in Kirkcudbright

1.31 1 0

108.-Gordon, Ellon.

regality, Rejected.

L.1,000 0 C

Baillie of the regality of Eilon,
Constable of Aberdeen,
Justiciar upon the water of Ythan,

taking away the tenure of wardholdings in Scotland, and for converting the same into blanch and feuholdings, and for regulating the casualty of non-entry in certain cases, and for taking away the casualties of single and life-rent escheats, in

curred there by horning and denunciation for civil cases, and for giving to heirs and successors there a summary process against superiors, and for discharging the attendance of vassals at head courts there, and for ascertaining the services of ten

The sum claimed was, L.587,090 sterling, and the sum granted was, L.152,037; 12: 2d.

ABSTRACT OF THE PARTICULAR OFFICES THAT WERE IN THIS MANNER BOUGHT UP.

The sum of one hundred and fifty-two thousand, thirty-seven pounds, twelve shillings, and twopence, sterling, was accordingly voted to his majesty for discharging the above claims, on the twenty-fifth day of April, 1748.

The reader, in going over the table, will observe, that there were a number of claims entered that were not sustained. This arose principally

ants there, and for allowing heirs of tailzie there to sell lands to the crown, for erecting buildings, and making settlements in the Highlands." For these pieces of enlightened and judicious policy, Scotland stands entirely indebted to the sister kingdom, and particularly to the strenuous exertions of Philip lord Hardwicke, at that time chancellor of England. They embraced a field far too wide, and their consequences were too remote to be apprehended generally by Scotish politicians, in whose narrow conceptions, the laird clothed with unlimited authority was the only effective instrument that could be depended upon for preserving due order and subordination among the people. Even the excellent president Forbes seems to have had no prospect of tranquillizing the country, otherwise than by laying it asleep in the bosom of the old feudal slavery. "I am not satisfied," says his lordship," that what I have heard spoken of, relating to the wardholdings and jurisdictions, could be of any great service. The most important medicine for the evil under which the nation has so long suffered, and from which it has lately been in so great danger, is the disarming bill, which, I am told, is ordered to be brought in. If this bill is properly framed, and the due execution of it judiciously provided for, it may be of infinite service, as it must in time make the inhabitants of the mountains as inoffensive, and as little dangerous to the state as their neighbours in the Low Country; and I hope the undertakers of this bill know the condition, the temper, and the manners of the Highlanders, together with the defects of the former provisions, and the ways of supplying them well enough to enable them to make the scheme now projected complete."* There was an unfortunate necessity for disarming the Highlands; but there was a still stronger necessity for ameliorating generally the institutions of the Scotish people, and thus disarming them of their ignorant hostility and self

from an interlocutor passed by the court, finding that lords of regalities had not power to split them, as had frequently been done by selling part of their lands, and the privilege of regality along with, and over the part thus sold. All claims founded upon such shares of regalities were set aside; yet baillieries granted by churchmen, over the whole, or any part of their regalities, were sustained.

* Culloden Papers, pp. 288, 289.