Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

208 The Earls of Middleton.
to you, and so will the rest ; and I will be so cau-
tious in bringing you into danger that way, that you
may all be persuaded I will only trouble you when it
is material and absolutely necessary ; and I entreat
all of you to believe me, your most faithful and
humble servant,
" Middleton.
John Anderson to Mr. Ward, i.e., The Earl of
Middleton to Colonel Sackville.
"January nth, 1696.
" Sir,
We are much divided here in Holland (France)
about the Scottish East India Company, 1 nor can we
well see how the matter can be settled, without a
dispensing power, in the case when people's pro-
perties are concerned, which was never yet pretended
to ; nor is it credible that the Scotch can be hectored
into such a servile compliance, as to sacrifice their
most undoubted right, manifest interest, and boasted
independence. I must needs tell you a story which
I had from a factor of this East India Company,
1 The Scottish East India 'Company had been established in 1695,
by an Act of the Scottish Parliament, without direct warrant from the
Crown. The English Houses afterwards petitioned against it, alleging
that it would injure the trade of England, as the Scotch, on account of
the exemption of taxes promised to their Company, could afford to
undersell the English India Company. The king was induced to disown
it, which highly incensed the Scotch. (Smollett.)