2nd Duke of Gordon and the part he played at the battle of Sheriffmuir

your lo[rdsbi]p'3 merit, knoun by what I !hav
tould hint and 1 by ipubldck fame. He is a man of
so much knowladg and woorth that I aneuar to
yow his acquaintance wil bee agreable to yow,
the more so the better and 'longer he has the
honour to bee known to yow. He knous our
countray perfectly, and I hope wil by his per-
sonal, when knoun, merit make himselfe [at?l
ease befor yow I therefore need say
no more or aither to gain him the happines of
protection and favor he so much wishes for ; I
hope not the less that Tit! is intreated by your
lotrdsihilp'.s most faithful and most obedient
humble servant,
Gordon.
The last letter, which he signs Huntly, is as
follows (Add. MSS. 22,221, f. 480): —
Gordon Castle, 28th July 1722.
My dear© Lord, — Did not the fear of being
trubilsom to yr. lo[rdshi]p (now imployed in
matters of so igreat consequence) hinder roee, I
would frequently importune yr. lo[rdshi]p with
the often repeated ashurances of my constant re-
memberances and gratitude for 60 many favors
yr. lofrdshilp has been stil from time to time
honoring mee with. All I can write shows but a
emal part of that unexpressable desire I have of
being in a capacity on day or other of doing yr.
lofrdshiln service, to which I would contribut
the basard of my life or fortune. I was in
mighty hops yr. lofrdishilp's wise and good man-
adgment of Her Mafjestly's coniands and inde-
vors would have made all bar~- by a good and
lasiting peace. . . I flattred my selfe with the
hops of waiting on yr. lofrdshiln at yr. own onn-
tray hows vary soone, but since the pace, not be-
ing as yett general, may hinder mee some time of
that honour, I will wait, though with much im-
patience, till yr. lofrdshilp is so kind to lett mee
know of yr. return and inimed>iatly, full of thank-
fullness come to wsh yr. lofrdshiln all jove and
happines, and the lady who is happy by having
so rood a friend in so good and deserving a hows-
band. Yr. lofrdshilp. I hope, will pardon so long
a scrol, but I dare seldom, for fear of trubling
yr. lo|rds'hiln when in such hurry of bnssiness,
ex-nres, thows?lh imperfecftlv, the real sentiments
<>f a. faithful! and graitfiiM nast. The last letter
T had the honor of was the kind offer of sending
the Spanish hors over to mee, the Duke of Flor«
ance had Tieen pleas'd to send mee, and was then
in Holland. I answered that oblidging remem-
brance, which I hone came to yr. lofrdshiln's
hand as I owght, and, thowgh I wowld not accept
it, have the same reson (as I doe) to acnowladg
and give harty thanks for that and so many in-
stances of generositv yr. lofrdshiln has shown to.
— My lord. yr. lof rdshilp's ever oblidgM and most
affectionate humble servant,