Stirling peerage

28 INTRODUCTION.
that his absence was influenced by other reasons than
those stated in the epistle.
"To THE Right Honourable the Peers of Scotland.
" My Lords, — When the dissolution of Parliament took
place, I had at first contemplated attending personally to give
my vote at the ensuing election ; but having since reflected on
the invidious treatment I experienced from a few hostile parties
on the last occasion of exercising my peerage right, I have
changed my mind. Those among your Lordships who were
present, will remember how my opponents acted, and how I
defended myself. I have the satisfaction of knowing that my
conduct at the time, and my public address to your Lordships
afterwards, were approved by my friends in the peerage ; and
I cannot doubt that my determination now, not to expose
myself unnecessarily to a repetition of such attacks, will be
applauded when my motives are known.
" Be assured, my Lords, that I am not deterred from voting
at this election by any fear of consequences, for, as right is
on my side, I pursue my course without timidity. My reasons
for standing aloof are, —
" 1st, Because I think it incompatible with my principles,
and with the proper dignity of a Peer of Scotland, to submit
to treatment which I consider is derogatory to both.
" 2d, Because when I look to the motion made by the Earl
of Rosebery in the last Session of Parliament, on the subject
of the Peerage of Scotland, and recall to mind that not one
of the sixteen Peers chosen to represent the high and ancient
body of the nobility of that once renowned kingdom, rose in
defence of their privileges, of the usage by which their descents
have hitherto been governed, and of their rights of blood, (which
by the Act of Union were, nevertheless, preserved to them
independent of English control,) I am reluctantly brought to
consider, that if such be the estimation in which the dignity