Series 1 > Diary of the Reverend John Mill, minister of the parishes of Dunrossness Sandwick and Cunningsburgh in Shetland, 1740-1803. With selections from local records and original documents relating to the district

54
MILL’S DIARY
[1778
In Feb. several vessels came from the south with meal
and potatoes very seasonably for supply of Lerwick and the
countrey, that were in great straits. The King’s proclama¬
tion for a General Fast to be keeped on Feb. 26 was read
from the Pulpit Sabbath preceding, for averting God’s wrath
and imploring his blessing on our arms for subduing the
American Rebells who had taken General Burgoyn and some
1000s of our men prisoners of war.1
In March, the nation was in a great fermentation and
unanimous in order to prosecute the war with vigour by
raising men and money. City and Counties vied with one
another for suppressing the rebellion. In April, we were
alarmed with war from France, and numbers were raised in
this countrey for sea and land service, who went more readily
because of the dearth, the victual being at 3s. 6d. per lispund,
and sin the cause of all.
In April my wife was suddenly seized with a violent asthma
that threatened a dissolution, which obliged me to run an
express for the doctor, and my sister to Lerwick. When my
sister came, she was suddenly seized with a stitch etc. that
threatened death. So uncertain are all things here. Life and
death depend entirely on his sovereign will and pleasure. By
the divine blessing on the use of means, they both recovered,
when Mrs. Hunter of Lunna that was younger & stronger
was suddenly cut off.
In May though ’tis said upwards of 6000 bolls of
victual were come (It took as much more to supply the
countrey, and cost 8000 Libs. Ster.) to the countrey, yet
still needed more, though it rose higher in the price.2 In
Fair Isle they had none till a boat was sent to Lerwick, and
1 The battle of Saratoga, on 17th October 1777, in which General Burgoyne
was compelled to capitulate, with the loss of his whole army, 5000 muskets, and
a large train of artillery.
2 The scarcity in the Islands, and consequent suffering, seem at this time to
have been really great. On the 6th of August ‘the lamentable state of the
poor in this year of great Dearth and Scarcity’ was taken into the ‘serious
consideration’ of the Kirk-session of Dunrossness, who did their utmost to
mitigate the distress.