Series 5 > Letters of George Lockhart of Carnwath, 1698-1732

EXILE AND RETIREMENT: \72b-\H2
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time was sure and might be depended on, the danger from being
obliged to trust people not perfectly well known was avoided and a
litle gratification woud be sufficient. Dundas therfore proposed it to
him, and with all imaginable frankness he undertook it, protesting
that ship and master were at your devotion, and that he woud have
no salary for doing what did put him to no charges (except
contriving a secret place in case of a search for letters, which woud
cost but a triffle) and on the other hand was his duty and inclination.
Two conditions he expressly required, viz: that no person, no
not yourself, shoud know of his name as being employd in this
affair, and that he shoud be charged with letters addressd only to
one and the same person, to whom he coud have easie access. I
desired him to be assured that the secret shoud be keept in the terms
he demanded, unless you possitively required otherwayes, and
that as to the other point, it was I belived regulate alreadie
according to his mind; after which wee agreed on the measure, if so
be you approved of it. It will therfore be expedient that as soon as
you receive this, you signifye to Dundas that such a project was
communicate to you, and transmitt your opinion and orders to
him upon it, that he may know whither or not to follow it out.
Since this man will not accept of a fixed pension, I submit to you
how far it woud be a satisfaction and encouragement to him, if you
directed Dundas to tell him how well you took his readiness to
serve you, and withall to make him a small present, in your name,
of a sword, a ring, or some such thing, to the value of ten guineas.
This at once woud be a reward to him for all the dayes of his life, and
engage him to serve you on perhaps more materiall occasions.
He’s to sail soon and will be back again by the time you can
signifye your pleasure to Dundas. I do verily belive this will be a
safe and certain way of carrying your dispatches to and fro, which
is however humblie submitted to you. I am with the most
profound respect, Yours.
To Catherine, Countess of Galloway LP, ii, 430-3
[1729]
[No salutation] You are descended of a family illustrious on many
more valuable accounts than either antiquity or nobility. That