Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

242 The Earls of Middleton.
the parting with such as have wasted by their profuse-
ness, and destroyed by their councils, all the improve-
ments that might have been made ; that it is not
agreeable with good management to put 1 strangers
over a family that reckons they have wiser people
of their own. The oldest of the bees (city) is sup-
ported by nothing now, but the shame of acknow-
ledging a fault ; and it's he only that supports the
rest ; and instructions upon that, from these people,
would be well taken, but from no other, showing
them that persevering in bad things is the greatest
fault, and coming out of it makes the greatest amends
that can be for any fault — that, whilst they think to
cover it by their perseverance, the meanest capacities
of their servants see it, and consequently despise
them for it."
[He probably alludes in the last part of this letter,
which follows, to the notorious Simon Fraser, Lord
Lovat, 2 who at this time visited St. Germains, and
offered his services. Horror at his well-known bad
character, and suspicions of his sincerity, induced the
king to decline them. 3 ]
" Since I begun to write this letter, I have got
1 The Parliament petitioned the king to form a Council of his natural
born subjects, instead of trusting to the advice of foreigners. (Smollett.)
2 He had been outlawed for his conduct towards a sister of the
Marquis of Athol.
3 Lockhart.