Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

114
CORRESPONDENCE OF JAMES [aug.
collr not naming the D. on the committie, occasioned a
mistake that spent time and frustrat the mater, the D.
contending that it was a mater of charges and belonged
to the Treasurie. Then the Register moved a complaint
agt Mr. Anderson for publishing the acts of Parh'at with¬
out his leave, but this was only se defendendo, for the
woman had printed nothing save on the princ11 warrants
from himself, and he had a corrector of the press, and
she gave him the first stitched copie on Tuysedayes night,
and then on the Wednesday she gave me one; but I per-
ceaved at the verie opening, that the act anent the Justice
Court not touched was printed, and the act anent the
fines and forfeitures touched was not printed, and several
other errours, and finding 12 copies abroad told D. Hamilt.
and then the Register. But E. Annandale, L. Justice Clerk,
and L. Poluort getting also copies, the Register was greatly
perplexed, and hath recalled the copies he could get, and
is printing a neu impression ; and you may easiely judge
this would make noise eneugh. I thank you for yr acc4
of the clergie. The Councel could not give a neu day.
The neues from Flanders are still better. We have lost
the point of honour, but the Frensh the strength of their
armie at lest 2 for one. Portland is well, and the Secre-
tarie well arrived and receaved. More nixt, for I am
interrupted. You knou I am, Sr, Yr most humble and
most affectionat servitr, Ja. Steuart.
The Councel adjurned till 5 Septr.
James Steuart was appointed their Majesties’ Advocate on 20th
December 1692.
The ‘ Minutes of the Privy Council,’ the f Siege of the Bass/
reprinted in Miscellanea Scotica, The Memoirs of the Rev. John
Blackadder, by Dr. Crichton, The Melville Papers, and State
Trials are authorities relied on by John Hill Burton in his
account of the siege of the Bass between June 1691 and
18th April 1694, when this, the last Jacobite stronghold in
Great Britain, was surrendered on terms to the Government
of Scotland. The following letters give some account of
the progress of the siege and the negotiations for surrender.
The three men referred to in next letter were captured ashore.