Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

1 86 The Earls of Middleton.
effect his restoration, although he himself had by this
time fallen into a state of indifference concerning his
own fate. His minister, the Earl of Middleton, main-
tained a constant intercourse with the principal men
in England. It seemed a very general policy at that
time to keep up a little with all parties, in order that
men might fall on their feet whichever side rose
uppermost. 1
From Earl Middleton to Mr. Appleby.
"January 13th, 1695.
" I most thankfully acknowledge the favour
of yours of the 6th and 13th of December, which
I could not do by the last post, by reason of an
indisposition caused by a great cold, of which I am
not yet quite recovered. However, I could no longer
dispense with my writing to you, in pursuance of the
directions I have received from our consul on the
occasion of a strong report we have here of the
owner of the goods No. 535 (Princess of Orange)
being dead. If it should prove false, you are
earnestly desired to say nothing of it to anybody.
But if it should prove true, then you will be convinced
that there will be enough to set all hands to work.
We cannot pretend here to enter into the particulars
of the acts which must be done by the factors on the
1 Macpherson's History of England.