Earls of Cromartie > [NSLBLANK]

it PREFACE.
The Ceomaetie Coeeespondence now printed occupies the largest portion
of this Book, there being in all 520 letters. Those in the first volume, 253
in number, embrace the period from 1662 to 1705 ; and those in the second,
267 in number, extend from the year 1706 to the year 1774. The greater
part of the Correspondence consists of letters addressed to the first Earl
of Cromartie, or letters written by him. It is of a very varied character,
including- letters from eminent divines, authors, statesmen, and men of
science : amongst others, from John Tillotson, archbishop of Canterbury,
Jam'es Sharp, archbishop of St. Andrews, William Carstares, principal
of the University of Edinburgh and for a long period secretary to King
William the Third, and Eobert Barclay of Ury, author of " An Apology for
the True Christian Divinity," preached by the people called "Quakers."
One of the most valuable sections of the Correspondence is that between
John Earl of Mar and the first Earl of Cromartie. The Earls were cousins,
Lord Mar's grandmother having been Lady Mary Mackenzie, daughter of
George second Earl of Seaforth, while Lord Cromartie's mother was Margaret
Erskine, daughter of Sir George Erskine of Innerteil, brother of the Earl of
Kellie. From that connection Lord Mar called Lord Cromartie an " Erskine's
bairn," and Lord Cromartie, in the same way, called Lord Mar a " Mac-
kenzie's bairn." Besides this family relation, the two Earls had an official
connection. Lord Mar succeeded Lord Cromartie as Secretary of State for
Scotland, and the outgoing and incoming Secretaries carried on a very active
correspondence on the then ruling subject of the Union between Scotland
and England. Lord Cromartie's letters in favour of the Union are of very
great interest.
Another correspondent of Lord Cromartie was Sidney Lord Godolphin,
Lord High Treasurer of England. Lord Godolphin's correspondence was
inherited by the family of Godolphin Osborne, Duke of Leeds. In the year