Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok > Correspondence

1699.] STA TE AND OFFICIAL LETTERS. 117
Sir John Maxwell of Pollok to James Viscount Seafield, Secretary of
State for Scotland.
Edinburgh, 14th February 1699.
103. My Lord, I doe with all dutiefulnes acknoidedge his Majesties royal favour in
preferring me to two so important places, which I most say is a great deale
more then I deserve ; and withall I doe return my humble thanks to your lord-
ship and my other freinds, that hath so favourably represented me to the King.
I hope your lordship will forgive my mistake, for I was not allone in it. My
Lord Argyl and the Advocat, to whom yee wrott at that tynie, judgeing that seeing
the then Justice Clerk had it in his option to accept of the Treasurer Deput's
place, or not, they thought he had his choyse of the other two designed for me ;
but I now find it hath been otherwyse, and I may say more acceptable to me
then any thing was ever designed for me, if I attaine to the sufnciencie as to
discharge my trust in these places aright. I hope the Treasurie is in good
hands, and Mr. Francis will quickly come to experience in it, by observing the
Treasurer Deputs exactnes ; and he shall want noe service I can do him. I
shall not faile to continoue to wryte to your Lordship of any thing I think
worth your trouble, and shall ever continoue with all sinceritie.
James Viscount Seafield, Secretary of State for Scotland, to Sir John
Maxwell of Pollok, Lord Justice Clerk.
Whitehall, February 2 1 st, 1699.
104. My Lord, I do heartily wish you joy in those two stations in which you are
now setled. I hope they will prove agreeable to you, and you will find that
you will have maney opportunities of doing good to your Master and to your
country. I hope I need not give you any assurances of my friendship and
respect for you. I think what is now done is a testimony of it ; and were I
capable to do you better service, I wou'd do it. I hope your lordship will
continow to writ to me from time to time, and your post will now oblige you
to take a litle pains and to enquire into the intreagues and designs that may
be against the Goverment. It will be fitt that you let me know any suspition