Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Jacobite relics of Scotland > [First series]

228 NOTES.
Cavaliers alone ; but even such of the Revolution party as were of
any other interest beside theirs, felt the heavy effects of it. From
this short abstract of the earl's life, 'tis easy to gather, that he was
false and cruel, covetous and imperious, altogether destitute of the
sacred ties of honour, loyalty, justice, and gratitude ; and, lastly,
a man of very great parts, else he could never have perpetrated so
much wickedness. He had indeed a piercing judgment, a lively
imagination, a quick apprehension, a faithful memory, a solid
reflection, and a particular talent of dissimulation and cunning in
their greatest extents ; so that he was seldom or never to be taken
unawares. He was extremely facetious and diverting company
in common conversation ; and, setting aside his politics (to which
all did yield), good-natured. To these qualifications was likewise
added that of eloquence ; being so great a master of it, that he
expressed himself on all occasions and subjects with so much life
and rhetoric, and that likewise so pointedly and copiously, that
there was none in the parliament capable to take up the cudgels
with him. Had a judgment of his inside been taken from his
outside, he might well enough have passed for that of which he
was the least. These endowments, much improved by long expe-
rience and application in business, may justly entitle him to be
ranked among the greatest, though, at the same time, likewise
among the worst men in his age : and what has been said of him
may serve for a character of his two brothers. Sir Hugh and Sir
David Dalrymples, yea, the whole name ; only with this differ-
ence, that though they were all equally willing, yet not equally
capable of doing so much evil as his lordship.
Bargeny. — The earl of Stair did suborn false evidence against
the Lord Bargeny before the Revolution, who was tried for his
life ; but the villany was discovered, and Bargeny acquitted.
Lord Annandale. — He was a man framed and cut out for busi-
ness, extremely capable and assiduous ; of a proud aspiring
temper, and, when his affairs and politics went right, haughty to a
great degree ; and, vice versa, the civilest complaisantest man
alive, and a great affecter of popularity. He had gone backwards
and forwards so often, and been guilty of such mean ungentle-
manly compliances, to procure the favour of that party with