1st Duke of Gordon

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Duchess by Robert Bennet, Dean of 1'aculty, to
whom she sent the medal, and who in transferring
it to the Faculty, said: "Her Grace sends as
a 'present to you the medal of King James VIII.,
whom we and the English call the Pretender. 1
hope thanks are to be returned for it."
Objections were at once raised to receiving the
medal. Alexander Stevenson was in favour of
returning it to the donor, on the ground that to
retain it would be "throwing dirt upon the face
of the Government." He was seconded by Egbert
Alexander of Black House, on the ground that
receiving such a medal was owning a right con-
trary to Her Majesty's. Robert Fraser cited
Cromwell's medal. Though the Protector
deserved to be hanged, the coins of the Common-
wealth had been received. Why not this medal?
Duncan Forbes, brother to the laird of Culloden,
and Joseph Hume of Wine-holes, s»id it was
time enough for them to receive the medal when
the Pretender was hanged, and this view was
upheld by Hugh Dalrymple, son of the President,
Mr Kirkeinnel, and Sir James Stuart of Goodtrees,
His Majesty's solicitor.
At this point James Dundas of Arniston made
a strong speech in favour of retaining the gift.
He is reported in "The Scotch Medal Decipher'd"
to have said : —
Dean of Faculty, — 'Whatever these gentlemen
may say of their loyalty, I think they affront the
Queen whom tney pretend to honour in disgracing
her 'brother, who is not only a Prince of the Blood,
but the first thereof; and, if Blood give any
Right, he is our undoubted sovereign. I think,
too. they bring Her Majesty's title in question,
which is not our business to determine. Medals
are the documents of history, to which all his-
torians refer; and, therefore, tno' I should give
King William's stamp with the devil at his right
ear, I see not how it cou'd be refus'd, seeing a
hundred years hence it would prove that such a
coin had been in England. But, Dean of Faculty,
what needs further speeches? None oppose re-
ceiving the medal and returning thanks to her
Grace but a few pitiful scoundrel vermin and
mushrooms, not worthy of notice. Let ns, there-
fore, proceed to name some of our number to
return our hearty thanks to the Duchess of Gor-
don.
The Dean of Faculty put Dundas's motion to
the vote. Of the 75 advocates present, only twelve
voted for refusing the medal. It was further re-
solved that thanks should be conveved to the