Series 1 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (First volume)

542 REBELLION PAPERS [OCT. i
6 and 7 oclock at night a protest was then taken against me,
as Cashier of the Royal Bank, by John Murray of Broughton
Esq. as Secretary to the Prince, for payment of £851 Royal
Bank Notes (which he exhibited), in the current coin of the
kingdom, and on failyure therof within 48 hours, that the
estates and effects of the directors and managers should be
distress’d for the same. I answer’d that by reason of the com¬
motion in the countrey, the effects of the Bank were lately
carried up to the Castle, for the security of all concern’d, for
as the directors acted, in a manner, as factors for their con¬
stituents, the proprietors, it was judg’d reasonable, and what
every body in their circumstances had done, to secure the
effects of the Company, that none might be sufferers in the
issue : and matters were in that situation at present that there
was no access to the Castle at any rate, for that Mr. Jo.
Hamilton and Mr. John Philp, two of the directors, had
essayed to get in on Saturday last with the accomptant and
tellers and myself in order to do business, but that access was
refused, tho’ they continued at the gate for about an hour.
Duply’d by Mr. Murray that he would in name of the Prince
grant a pass and protection for going to the gate, and that he
hoped the Governor would give admittance. But whether he
did or not, if the payment was not made, the order should be
put in execution, after elapse of the time limited ; and there¬
upon took instruments in the hands of William M‘Kewan,
notary publick, in presence of Mr. Peter Smith, brother to
deceast David Smith of Methven, and Purves, Writer
to the Signet; and thereafter a schedule of the protest was
sent to me by Mr. M‘Kewan the notar, but not sign’d. Im¬
mediately on Mr. Murray’s taking the above protest I waited
upon Mr. Jo. Hamilton and Mr. Philp, the only two directors
in town, at Mrs. Clerks, vintner, there shewed them the
schedule, and what I have before here marked down, and after
reasoning theron agreed to try to get into the Castle to morrow,
and orderd Mr. Shairp, the only other director about tbe town,
to be summond for that purpose, to meet with them at my
house by 9 in the morning, that this affair might be further
concerted, and if possible money might be got out for answer¬
ing the demand. And to prepare the way to the gate, a pass