Series 4 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society

LETTERS OF ANDREW FLETCHER
of Saltoun and his family, 1715-16
edited by Irene J. Murray
introduction. It is seldom that a man gains the title of‘Patriot’ for
fighting solely in the political arena, yet that is the case with Andrew
Fletcher. Surely few stormy, tempestuous and in the end unsuccessful
political careers can have earned such enduring fame. Study of the
private life of Andrew Fletcher reveals him as a fascinating combina¬
tion of high ideals, lofty motives, quick temper and a shrewd common
sense. Yet little has survived of a personal nature about his life; for
most of his career only his political writings and speeches survive. But
that is, perhaps, as it should be, for his energies, his ambitions and his
love are all to be found in his public life. It is only after the Union of
1707 when he retires from politics that his private life as such comes
into being; yet it is these last few years of which least is known. This
adds greatly to the importance of the family correspondence of the
period and in particular to a small batch of his own letters to his
nephew and to his brother. These are printed below from the family
papers which have now been deposited in the National Library of
Scotland.1
Andrew’s only close relation was his brother Henry, who lived on
the small family estate of Saltoun in East Lothian. The brothers were
very dissimilar: Henry gives the impression of a very sober, careful
man, fully occupied with the problems of a small laird. His letters and
writings are embellished with many reflections on the Scriptures, and
on the way man should conduct his life, but are warmed by a real love
for his sons and, in a slightly reluctant way, for the elder brother whose
career had made so many problems for the family.
1 Acc. 2933.
K