Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok > Correspondence

346 FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LETTERS. [1697
Sir James Steuart, Lord Advocate, to [Sir John Maxwell of Pollok.]
Edinburgh, 2d November 1697.
349. Sir, you may justly wonder at my long silence, but the truth is, the behaveour
of my poor daughter hath so confounded me that I formerly could not, and yet
knou as litle what to write. A pure and stiff aversion had bein but an ordi-
narie unhappieness, and altho' it had bein inconstantly and foolishly managed,
it had bein at worst an unluckie vexation ; but that her aversion should have
made her to engage madly with a bareman, and then goe and declare her oun
shame and foly to others, is such mine to herself and confusion to me, that
nothing, save the anger of the Lord, could have occasioned such a truble. But
He is righteous, and the world a vain thing. Sir, doe not think that my leuity
hath had any hand in this management ; for I say it to yow in sincerity, I never
suffered a greater greiff ; and, indeed, did carie the mater so far, that though it
had bein in my pouer I would have feared to prevail that way, ne infelices
haberet exitus. I wrot to Scot, and he made me a return of childish inclina-
tions, since continued, but with deference to me ; but that sieing she was like
to be forced by her freinds, he had entered in those engagements to prevent her
being violented, but if Suintoun would suit her fairely, there were no tyes on
his part should hinder her choise. To this I wrot him ansuer as such folie and
insolence deserved. I have also discharged all her mother's ill freinds and brock
with them ; yet nou there is a report that he should be come to Edinburgh ;
yet she sayes she knoues nothing of it ; and others say he is gone back again.
In the meantime Suintoun has sheued all patience and goodness, and much
more then I could have obliged him to. But the truth is, my case is precisely
that I give my daughter for lost as to my worldly comfort, and am only con-
cerned to make her sensible of her sin and foly, and that she may be saved
from it. When I have given you this sad and grievous account, you will sone
understand why I ansuered nothing about Blackball ; for in truth, I was not
in case, nor did I think it fit, in such a disorder in my house, to medle farther
in such bussiness ; specially since it might better delay till you and Kelburn
came to toun. But I have all honour for the gentleman's proposal. I sent your
letters to Secretarie Ogilvie and the Lord Chancellour. When the Lord Chan-