Douglas book > Angus memoirs

454 JAMES DOUGLAS, SECOND MARQUIS OF DOUGLAS.
with power to hold courts, civil and criminal, uplift certain customs and dues,
and govern the citizens with immediate responsibility to the Crown. 1
In the year 1692 the Marquis had the misfortune to lose his only son and
heir, James, Lord Angus, who was killed at Steinkirk and whose life will he
afterwards noticed. This event was followed by the second marriage of the
Marquis to Lady Mary Ker, eldest surviving daughter of Eobert, Earl,
afterwards first Marquis of Lothian. 2 This marriage, which took place
at Newbattle Abbey, appears to have been much more felicitous than the
former union. A letter by the Countess of Lothian, written shortly after the
birth of her daughter's first son, expresses the mutual satisfaction of both
parties, 3 and during the eight years of their married life affairs seem to
have gone harmoniously. This union Blackwood, who was still at the head
of the affairs of the Marquis, did not succeed in marring, although about
three- years after the marriage he wrote to the Marquis that the household
expenses would require to be retrenched. His letter was seen by the
Marchioness, who replied, indicating her willingness to comply if Blackwood
would point out any needless expenditure on her part, and show reason from
the state of the Marquis's affairs that his counsel was necessary. She more
than hinted, however, that there must be gross mismanagement of her
lord's affairs on his part, as she, though unlearned in accounts, could not
understand why, notwithstanding the sale of lands and casualties, accounts
and interests should continue to swell to principal sums, and the state of
matters be increasingly worse now than it was twenty-five years before. 4
From this time the Marchioness seems to have exerted herself to save the
Douglas estates from utter ruin.
1 Blank Commission of Bailiary by James
Marquis of Douglas, referring to charter under
the great seal by King William and Queen
Mary, dated 29th March 1694.
2 Original contract of marriage, dated 13th
December 1692, in Douglas Charter-chest.
3 Letter by Jean, Countess of Lothian, to
the Marquis of Douglas, dated 5th December
1693. Ibid.
4 Vol. iv. of this work, pp. 285, 286.