Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

440
CORRESPONDENCE OF JAMES [jan.
MY LD ADVOCATS LETTER about Contributions for
Charitable uses and the Commissaryes
Ednr., 20th Jan. 1708.
May it please Yor Lp.—I am loath to give yor Lp.
any unnecessary trouble or diversion, but there are two
things at present occurs. Yor Lop. hath been acquainted
with a design of a contribution for charity schools, and
for propagating Christian knowledge particularly in our
Highlands and Isles, and the project of it, which yor Lop.
both approved and encouraged, is generally well liked, only
the countenance of her Mats authority is thought wanting,
for which the draught of the proclamation inclosed is put
in my hand to be transmitted to yor Lp. The draught tho
not so formal yet is sutable enough to the matter, and yor
Lp. upon revising may help what is amiss, but being told
that you would willingly give your best concurrence I
adventured to transmit it. The other particular is con¬
cerning the commissaries for the pay and provision of the
fforces. Their contract is now ended, and John Campbel,
who was the most active and serviceable among them, tells
me of a proposal made for a commissary to serve for a
sellary and to provid forrage at a certain rate but without
the poundage, which because of the uncertainty of prices
cannot be accepted. But, my Lord, some course must be
taken in this affair before the first of ffebruary, otherways
the troups in the country may fall in some disorder.
And yor Lp. knows that John Campbel hath had the greatest
experience in this matter, and is most capable to provid
with the countrys ease and to the satisfaction of the
officers ; and therfore he suggests to me that, if he be
ordered, he will continue to forrage the troups and refer
the sailary for his pains to be considered; but must also
be entrusted with the setting of the prices, which he doubts
not but the officers will be content with, and if he exceed
he may be also controuled by the fiers, but this trust may,
and it seems must be given for a year at least, untill some
other course be setled. This he desired me to write to yor
Lp., and with all that an answer is necessary again the