The sentiments which Sir George Mackenzie entertained on the public transactions of his time are well known. But it may be proper to state, that in the history he expresses himself with greater freedom and impartiality than in his Vindication of the Government in Scotland during the reign of King Charles II. He does not scruple to condemn several of the court measures, and exposes the selfish and mercenary disposition of some of the chief statesmen. Not having seen the latter part of his history, I cannot speak of the manner in which he has related transactions during the period in which he held an important situation under go vernment. I cannot say that this manuscript contains much information which can properly be called new. It does, however, state facts which I have not found elsewhere; and it certainly throws light upon the transactions which it relates. A history of that period, by a person of such intelligence and opportunities of information as Sir George Mackenzie, must deserve to be preserved and consulted. In general, the view which the author gives of the characters of the principal statesmen in Scotland after the Restoration, of their intrigues for supplanting one another, and of the causes of their elevation and their fall, agrees with that which has been given by Bishop Burnet. Considering the wide difference between the principles of the two writers, this coincidence corroborates the truth of the Bishop's statements. Sir George is more favourable to Middleton than Burnet is. He gives the same view of Lauderdale's vices; but his narrative sets the talents of that statesman in a stronger light. I shall now furnish you with a few extracts from the work, which will be more satisfactory than any description of its contents. Having shewn how th principal offices of state were filled up at the Restoration, the au thor says, "Bellenden was created Thesaurer Depute in place of Sir Daniel Carmichael, who got that employment in anno 1649, but was fallen in some disgust with his Maj. because he had refused to advance the king some inconsiderable soume in 1650. Whereas Cranstoun M'Gill was continued a Senator of the Colledge of Justice, because he assisted his Maj. in his necessities at that time. Sir John Fletcher, because of his alliance to Middleton, was employed to be his Maj. Advocat; which drew upon both of them the odium of the ablest lawyers, who, because of their senioretie and abilities, thought it their owne dew; and upon that accompt Middletoun's interest was much opposed by all that societie, whose friendship in Scotland, especiallie dureing parliament, ought to be much valued. Sir William Bruce gott the office of the Clerk of the Bills by the favour of Sir Robert Murray; and in the nomination of the Colledge of Justice, each great man was allowed a friend or two, till the list was compleat. But because the Earle of Lauderdale charges Tarbet with ingratitude, for opposing him who had prefer'd him to one of these chairs, I thought fitt to tell that he was nominated by the Earle of Rothes. The greatest number of rivalls were those who sought for the place of Clerk of Register. But Sir Archibald Prymrose, then Clerk to the Council, did openlie profess that none but himself was able to serve in that employment during parliament; and I remember he told me, that this was the surest method in competitions of that nature; and it did reallie advance much his designe at that time, for no lawyer was on the list with him, and no gentleman was sufficientlie qualified for it. But to secure his clame, he payed doun a considerable soume to Sir Wm Fleeming, who had a grant of it from his Maj. dureing his exile, and hee swore a constant dependance upon the Earle of Midletoun." Of the passing of the Act Rescissory the author gives the following account: "The Commissioner (Middleton), instigated by Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbet, who was a passionat Cavaleer, resolv'd to rescind all the parliaments since the year 1640, because they were but a series of rebellion. Albeit at first, this overture displeased the Commissioner, yet Tarbet urg'd, that without rescinding these parliaments, they would never secure his Majestie's prerogative in calling and dissolving parlia ments; and since this parliament had declar'd that to have been his Maj. prerogative, it followed necessarily, that these parliaments which state after his Maj. had sioner, were unlawfull. The force of which dissolv'd them, and without his Commis argument prevail'd with Midleton to send Mungo Murray, brother to Atholl, to consult his Maj. in this affair. But how soon Chancellor Hyde did read his letters, he dispatch'd immediatlie ane express to Midletoun, chiding him for scrupling to pass that act, and entreating him to pass it immediatlie, as most conducive for his Maj. interest. How soon it was inform'd that the Commissioner had intended to urge this act rescissorie, Mr James Wood, professor of divinitie in St Andrews, did, out of ane indiscreet zeal, go to the Commissioner, and told him, that if he offer'd at it they would let loose the people upon them. But it it; displeas'd not only the fanaticks, but even such as had gloried much in the engadgement 1648; for that parliament fell under the same condemnation. And some of the best affected, but moderate Cavaleers, did not approve for they thought it dishonourable for the memorie of that incomparable king to have that parliament, 1641, wherein he sate, rescinded, as they judg'd it a dangerous preparative to rescind all that had past in a time when the people were made to believe that these parliaments were warranted by his Maj.; but to satisfie these, it was provided by ane express salvo, that all such privat persones as had obtained privat rights or securities from any of these parliaments, or any deryving power from them, should be secure, except they were particularlie questioned before the act of indemnitie. Only the parliament 1649 was absolutlie rescinded without any such salvo, because they had no warrand even by the bill of trienniall parliaments, as is clear by the historie of these tymes." After giving an account of the manner in which the excise of £40,000 sterling annually, granted by Parliament to the King during life, was carried, and showing how burdensome this impost was to the nation, Sir George adds: "Nor did these provisos in the act any way lessen the burden; for it was in vain to think that his Majestie's successores wold not pretend, that because their expenses were equal to his Maj., that therefor the same subsidie should not be deny'd; and subsidies are in this like to the devill, that both are more easily raised than laid. And when the subsequent impositions were craved, and this promise, never to exact any more cess, objected, it was ansuered, that his Majestie did not exact or impose any new cess, but that there were voluntary offers. Pardon me, reader, to intreat thee, that if ever thou become a member of parliament, then consider what curses are day lie pour'd out by many poor, hungrie, and opprest creatures, upon such as are in accession to the imposing of taxes; for they not only torment poor people for the present, bot they mak way for new ones, and new taxes are the only means of making old ones seeme easie." The fact of the Duke of Albemarle (Monk) having transmitted, during the trial of the Marquis of Argyle, letters written to him by the Marquis, which led to his condemnation, has been repeatedly called in question, and confidently denied. Sir George Mackenzie was one of Argyle's counsel, and his testimony will, it is presum ed, be sufficient to set this controversy at rest. The relevancie of the articles (says he in the MS.) being discussed, probatione was ledd for proving the late complyance after the year 1651, and his accession to the king's murther, which was excepted out of the letter; and though verie many witnesses were adduced, yet some thought the probation not full. But after the debate and probation was all closed, and the Parliament ready to consider the whole matter, one who came post from London knockit most rudelie at the parliament door; and upon his entrie with a packet, which he presented to the Commissioner, mad him conclude that he had brought a remission, or some other warrand, in favours of the Marques, and the rather because the beerer was a Campbell. But the packet being opened, it was found to have in it a great many letters, which had been directed by the Marques to the Duke of Albemarle, when he was General in Scotland, and which he reserv'd to see if they were absolutlie necessary; and being by these diligent envoys (Glencairn and Rothes) advertised of the scantnes of the probation, he had sent them post by M Naughton's servant. No sooner were these produced, but the Parlia ment was fullie satisfied as to the proof of forfaulted," &c. * the compliance, and the next day he was the proceedings respecting (what was The MS. gives a minute account of called) the billeting act, anno 1662: by which the Parliament declared twelve persons, selected by ballot, incapable of serving his Majesty in any place of trust. At that time we are told 1669, great opposition being made in parliament to an act, which he wished to carry, for laying a duty upon salt used in curing fish ;"at last the Commissioner rose in a passion, and told, that though the Parliament stopt the act, yet they should gain nothing by it; for he wold, by virtue of his Majestie's prerogative, pepper the fishing (as he termed it) with impositions.' After 66 a long and deep silence," the debate was resumed, and the act was finally carried by the casting vote of the Chancellor, as president. The following account is given of the reasons of the act, making parishes liable for the insolencies committed against ministers. "Ministers, to the great contempt of religion, had their houses robbed, and were mightlie persew'd for their lives, in all the western shires; so that they were forced to keep guards, which exhausted their sti pends, and abstracted themselves from their employments: And albeit these shyres pretended that this was done by highwaymen, who sheltered their insolencies under the pretext of religion, calling themselves presbyterians, and inveighing against the poor ministers, whom they robb'd, in the language of that sort yet it was concluded, that these insolencies were committed by those of that persuasion who were known to think that all injuries done to Episcopall ministers were so many acceptable services done to God; and it was most probable, that the same zeall which carried them on to plunder, imprisone, and execute, all such as differed from them in the last rebellion, and to shoot at the Bishop of St Andrewes upon the street, might incite them to great outrages, when they were countenanced, as they thought, by authoritie, and under the silence of night, when they might hope for impunitie: Nor was ever the west countrie known to be infected with robbers at other occasions; so that they were connivers at least in these crimes, and therefor deserv'd to be fyn'd upon such occasions. These motives induc'd the parliament to agree unanimouslie to this act, and how soon both acts were past his Grace toucht them immediatlie with the sceptre." "Yet (adds Sir George) all this outward zeal for Episcopacie could never prevaill with the bishops to believe Lauderdale their friend; nor were the leading Presbyterians terrified at these as marks of his disesteem; because fanaticks were advanc'd to all places of trust, and the friends and servands of the grandees (who could not dissemble so well as their masters) laugh'd at Episcopacie and the malignant party; nor is there any surer mark to know the master's inclinations, than by considering whom he employs, and what these speak." The Duchess of Hamilton, and Lady Margaret Kennedy, warmly patronised the Presbyterians for a considerable time. The following anecdote, concerning the last of these ladies, is related in the MS. "Lauderdale had of a long time enter. tained with Ladie Margaret Kennedie, daughter to the Earle of Cassilis, ane intibecome suspitious in a persone who lov'd macie which had growne great enough to not, as some said, his own ladie. This ladie had never married, and was alwayes reputit a wit, and the great patron of the Presbyterians, in which profession she was very bigot; and the suspition encreased much upon her living in the Abbey in which no woman els lodged. Nor did the Commissioner blush to goe openlie to her chamber in his night-goune. Whereupon her friends having challenged her for that unusual commerce, and having represented to her the open reprehensions and railiries of the people, received no other answer than that her vertue was above suspition: as indeed it was; she being a persone whose religion exceeded as far her wit, as her parts exceed. ed others of her sex." Bishop Burnet afterwards married this noblewoman, and detached her from her former religious connexions. From the manner in which some of the presbyterian writers have adverted to this alliance, it would seem that they were as much displeased with Dr Burnet, for depriving them of their accom plished patroness, as on account of the controversial writings which he published against them.-Burnet is no favourite with Sir George Mackenzie, who has treated his character with severity in the course of the history. I shall only add another fact mentioned in the MS. and which I do not recollect to have seen elsewhere. Previous to 1677, it was customary for the Lord Advocate to give his vote, along with the Judges, on causes in which he was the prosecutor. The passage which states this can afterwards be sent to you, if any of your readers have a desire to see it. I am not altogether without hopes, that the publication of this letter may lead to the discovery of that part of Sir George Mackenzie's history which I do not possess. And I cannot conclude, without expressing my earnest desire, that individuals who may have in their possession manuscripts relating to our national history, would, through the channel of your miscellany, impart a knowledge of them to the public. I am, &c. THO. M'CRIE. Edinburgh, 12th June 1817. ORIGINAL POETRY. I SOUGHT the garden's gay parterre And, first, of peerless form and hue, I turned and saw a tempting row Bewildered 'mid a thousand hues There, too, stood that fair-weather Flower Which, faithful still in sunshine hour, With fervent adoration turns Its breast where golden Phoebus burns→→ Tired of the search I bent my way And, now, my Mary's brow to braid SONG. Maid of my heart-a long farewell! I hate Ambition's haughty name, Can pain or peril bring relief Thy artless grace, thy open truth, Thy dimpling cheek and deep-blue eye, Each witchery of soul and sense, We buried him darkly at dead of night, No useless coffin enclosed his breast, Few and short were the prayers we said, And we bitterly thought of the morrow. We thought, as we hallowed his narrow bed, And smoothed down his lonely pillow, That the foe and the stranger would tread o'er his head, And we far away on the billow. Lightly they'll talk of the spirit that's gone, And o'er his cold ashes upbraid him, But nothing he'll reck, if they let him sleep on In the grave where a Briton has laid him. But half of our heavy task was done, When the clock tolled the hour for retiring; Yet, Lina! hadst thou marked, when there The lowly weed enrobed the Fair, What nameless charms-what graces new Its chastened lustre round her threw,While, all around, the Flowers were seen Do homage to the Rose's Queen: O! thou'dst have doff'd that robe of pride, Those sparkling gems have cast aside, And simply decked as Nature bade, Scorned Fashion's-worse than useless-aid! The following is a literal translation of the prose original, of which the above lines are a paraphrastical imitation. The reader of taste will readily feel how very superior its admirable simplicity is to the comparatively ornate style of the translation, THE Angel who watches over Flowers, and in the still night waters them with dew, one day of Spring was sleeping in the shade of a Rose-bush. he said: "Loveliest of my children! I And when he awoke, with friendly look thank thee for thy refreshing fragrance and thy cooling shade. Wouldst thou now aught for thyself request, how willingly would I grant it!" "Then, adorn me with a new grace" And we heard by the distant and random gun, thereupon entreated the Spirit of the RoseThat the foe was suddenly firing. Slowly and sadly we laid him down, From the field of his fame fresh and gory: We carved not a line, we raised not a stone, But we left him alone with his glory. bush. And the Flower-Angel attired the fairest of Flowers in simple Moss. Lovely stood she then in modest weeds-the Moss Rose-the fairest of her kind. Fair Lina! leave the gaudy attire and the glittering jewels, and follow the monitions of maternal nature. Krummacher's "Parabeln." J. F. THE MOSS ROSE. (From the German of Krummacher.) EREWHILE, in Orient's sunny clime, When earth-born things were yet in prime, Nor guilt the golden bands had riven That linked in peace the earth to heaven,The Angel-Sprite, whose bounded powers Are given to tend the tribes of Flowers,Each leaf at eve with balm bedewing, At morn each faded charm renewing,One noon, on Spring's first petals laid, Had couched him in the Rose-tree's shade. Refreshed anon he raised his head, And smiling to the Rose-tree said: 66 My loveliest child, my darling Rose ! Accept the thanks thy father owes :--Thanks for thy fragrance freely shed From ruby cup around my head,Thanks for thy cool-reviving shade, While slumbering in thy shelter laid! O ask!-whate'er the boon-'tis thine; The joy to grant the boon be mine." "Then o'ermy form new beauties shed". At once the Rose-tree's spirit said. And lo! ere scarce the words have birth, From fragrant wreaths slow-struggling forth, The loveliest Flower with Moss is braided The humblest weed her branches shaded ! THE TWO GRAVES. (From the German of Klopstock.) I go I gather the breathing flowers, I go I plant the bending willow "But soon as thou canst weep, That yet thou canst not weep,) "Turn thee then-turn back to our lonely graves, And weep! But thy tears be tears of blood! For we died in vain for the land of our fathers." B. |