Ayrshire > Volume 2

284 HISTORY OF AYRSHIRE
Army and was promoted to Captain. He succeeded to
the title of Stair, July, 1768, on the death of his first
cousin, the fourth Earl, and was chosen one of the
Representative Peers of Scotland, 1771. Lord Stair was
opposed to hostilities with America, and when inimical
measures were framing against the Colonies, he gave
them an early opposition in the House of Lords, and
presented the petition of William Boll an, Agent for
Massachussets, against these proceedings, and never
failed to show his disapprobation of every measure which
appeared likely to provoke hostilities with America. He
took a rather gloomy view of the national credit and
resources, and was the author of various pamphlets on
our national finance of much merit, though he was called
the Cassandra of the State for his gloomy predictions.
He is given a place in " Lord Orford's Royal and Noble
Authors," by Thomas Park, vol. v., p. 166. Lord Stair
sold the estate of Newliston, in West Lothian, which had
been left to him by his uncle, to Roger Hog, Esq. He
married in May, 1748, Margaret, daughter of George
Middleton, of Erroll, banker in London, and by her had
issue. Lord Stair died at Culhorn, near Stranraer,
October 13, 1789, and was succeeded by his only son.
John Dalrymple, sixth Earl of Stair, was born at
Edinburgh, September 24, 1749, and was educated at
Eton and Edinburgh University. Later he entered the
Army, and in October, 1779, became a Captain in the
87th Regiment of Foot. He served in the American War,
and was present at the successful attack on New London
and Fort Griswold, made in September, 1781, by General
Arnold, who sent Lord Dalnmiple, as he then was, with
his despatches to Sir Henry Clinton. In these he says :
" Lord Dalrymple will have the honour to deliver my
despatches. I feel myself under great obligations to him
for his exertions upon the occasion." Sir Henry Clinton
sent home Lord Dalrymple with his despatches, and in a
letter which he wrote to Lord George Germain occurs
the following : " My despatches will be delivered to your
lordship by Lord Dalrymple ; and I cannot part with