Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

204 The Earls of Middlcton.
in order to acquire applause, and to contribute to the
election of his creatures. They say that eight millions
sterling will be demanded of the Parliament, and that
the settlement of the crown will be changed, by
preferring the children that he may have to the
Princess Anne of Denmark ; and that Lord Danby l
will be disgraced, ' sed de futuris contingentibus non
datur determinata Veritas.'
" I am, Sir,
" With great respect," etc.,
" MlDDLETON."
Earl of Middleton to Sir William Bruce, concerning
the affairs of Scotland.
" 23rd December, 1695.
" Sir,
" I have received yours of the 26th August
and the 23rd September, which came to my hands
about ten days after the other, and both of them
within these three weeks. I am sorry for the good
reason you give me of not hearing oftener from you
and the worthy persons you name, and I am very
sensible both of the difficulty and danger you are in
when you do send ; and it is for that reason you
do not hear oftener from me, because of the hazard of
intercepting my letters, which to you might prove
1 Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby, afterwards Marquis of Carmar-
then and Duke of Leeds, one of the lords who invited William to
England. He was Lord High Treasurer.