Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

416
CORRESPONDENCE OF JAMES [june
money to the nation, so if he had the Royall William
added (for which the Parlament should give a fund), he
could act a great deal more for the honor of the nation,
as well as the safety of its trade. I doubt not but that
your Lo. will have proposalls of this nature from much
better heads, well digested and in due forme, the good
success whereof together with your Lops, wellfare and
prosperity is heartiely wissed and prayed for by, My Lord,
Your Los. most humble and obedient servant,
Jo. Buchan.
Carnebulg, 25th June 1705.
Colonel John Buchan of Cairnbulg, Aberdeenshire, was a
brother of the Jacobite General who was defeated at Cromdale.
Captain Thomas Gordon at this time was in command of the
Royal Mary. On 7th November 1705 he was appointed captain
of the Royal William, Captain James Hamilton of Orbieston
succeeding him as commander of the Royal Mary.1 Thereafter
the east coast of Scotland was defended by two men-of-war.
The following letter shows that in the spring of 1705 the Lord
Chancellor sent his son. Lord Deskford, abroad, under his old
Scots tutor, Mr. William Blake, to finish his studies at Utrecht
University in Holland. His career there is further referred to in
the letters of 10th and 17th November 1705.
For THE EARL OF SEAFIELD
My Lord,—The tenth of this instant my Lord Deskfoord
received your Lops, first with a great deale of satisfaction ;
and as he is very sensible of your Lops, fatherly kindness
in giveing him an advice so good and so suitable to his
pnt circumstances, he is resolved to follow the same, and
to improve the time your Lop. shall be pleased to continue
him here to the best advantage. As to his passeing
through some of the towns of Holland, I found it his
inclination, and therefore did not doubt but it was your
Lops, allowance untill wee came here, and finding it had
proved chargeable, as your Lop. writes, asked him if it
was your Lops, orders to go by Amsterdam. He told me
he understood it to be left to himself, and therefor did not
1 State Papers (Scotland) Warrant Books, vol. xxi. p. 113.