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State of the BAROMETER in inches and decimals, and of Farenheit's THE MOMETER in the open air, taken in the morning before fun-rife, and at noon; and the quantity of rain-water fallen, in inches and decimals, from the 29th of February 1788, to the 30th of March, near the foot of Arthur's Seat.

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CASTLE OF ELAN STALKER.

THIS Caftle, the property of Mr Campbell of Airds, ftands on a rock called in Gaelic Elan Vic-Stalcair, that is, Island Stalker, within a small bay, or inlet, from Lochlinne in Argylefhire. At a mile's distance to the Weft lies the island of Lifmore, formerly the feat of the Bishops of Argyleshire; and on the Eaft, the poft town of Portnacroifh, formerly the old town of Beregonium, as by fome has been conjectured from the great number of ruins, vaults, &c. which still remain at that place.

SIR,

STR

To the Publisher of the Edinburgh Magazine.

more to ferve his country than Lord Stair, but he could not have held a plough three or four hours, had the fecurity of the laws and liberties of Great Britain been the reward of his labour.

IR John Dalrymple, Memoirs, lefs robuft. No man would have done, vol. II. p. 31. mentions feveral anecdotes and minute circumstances concerning Marfhall Stair: but, as he fpeaks merely from report, he is not anfwerable for their accuracy, and indeed with respect to most of them, there is reafon to fuppofe that he has been exceedingly mifinformed.

It is faid, that "all Lord Stair's "offices were taken from him by Sir "Robert Walpole, for voting in Par"liament against the excife-fcheme."

That which is vulgarly called the excife-fcheme, was a money bill, loft or abandoned by the minifter in the Houfe of Commons; fo we may prefume that Lord Stair had no opportunity of voting against it in the House of Peers. That in 1734 Lord Stair was employed in paying bills for expences incurred fifteen or twenty years before, during his embaffy at Paris, is a fingular circumftance, and merits confirmation.

That between 1734 and 1742, " he was often feen holding the plough "three or four hours at a time," muft be a mistake: the people, who thought they faw this, have certainly confounded the fituation of a gentleman overfeeing his labourers, with that of a fturdy operative ploughman. Before Lord Stair retired to his eftate in the country, he had reached to his grand climacteric; and, befides, his conftitution was never healthy, and much

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So far was he from being " fond of adorning a fine perfon with grace"ful drefs," that, unless when he wore a black fuit, his cloathes were of a plain brownish duffle.

A gentleman of diftinction, who lived in his neighbourhood and who was much with him, remembers nothing of the "two French horns;" and he adds, that, being himself fond of mufic, and a performer, he thinks it impoffible that two fuch artists could have escaped his obfervation. He doubts not that Lord Stair may have had a French cook, but he never heard of the heroical difinterestednefs of that galant homme, as reported in the Memoirs.

It is in confequence of mifinformation that Sir John fays, that a meffenger brought a letter from the late king to Lord Stair, which defired him to take the command of the army: I am confident that no fuch meffenger was fent, and that no fuch letter came.

His favourite nephew, Captain John Dalrymple, died on the 22d of February 1742; juft after that event, Lord Stair received a letter from London, defuing him to come up. U 2

Who

Who wrote the letter I cannot pofitively fay; but I am fure that it was neither written nor figned by George II. the letter made no mention of the command of the army, and Lord Stair did not understand that it conveyed any fuch meaning.

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propofed that the King should make "him a prefent of a fum of money "when he arrived-another faid, Lord " Stair was fo high-spirited, that if hẹ "was offered money, he would run "back to his own country, and they "fhouid lofe their General. A third "fuggefted, that, to fave his delicacy, "the King fhould give him fix com"miffions of cornets to difpofe of, "which, at that time, fold for a thou"fand pounds a-piece. The King "liked this idea beft, and gave the "commiffions blank to Lord Stair, "faying, they were intended to pay

Having occafion for money to defray the extraordinary expences of a journey to London, and of his refidence there, he, on the 25th of February 1742, borrowed L. 100 from his brother Col. William Dalrymple, and, on the following day, the like fum from his other brother George Dalrymple, one of the Barons of Ex-" for his journey and equipage. But, chequer in Scotland.

On the 25th of February 1742

Lord Stair borrowed L. 1oo from Sir John Dalrymple, grandfather of the Hiftorian, and, on the following day, L.400 from a profeffed money-lender, in all L.700; of which, the fum of L.200 was furnished by his brothers, and L. 100 by his coufin.

This little detail feems hardly confiftent with what Sir J. D. has heard, that "Lord Stair fent expreffes for the gentlemen of his family, fhewed "the King's letter, and defired them "to find money to carry him to London that they asked how much he "wanted, and when they should bring "it? that his anfwer was, the more "the better, and the fooner the better, and that they brought him three thoufand guineas."

In 1742 credits in banks, and the discounting of bills were things hardly known, fo that it would have been more difficult to collect 3000 guineas, between terms, at that time, than it would be to collect 30,000 guineas in 1788.

Befides, if Lord Stair had received 3000 guineas from the gentlemen of his family, what occafion had he to refort to a money-lender for L.400?

It is added, that "the circumftance "came to the late King's ears, who "expreffed to his minifters the unea "finefs that he felt at Lord Stair's "difficulties in money-matters-one

"in going from court to his own "houfe, he gave all the fix away."

This narrative, fo far as it is connected with that of the 3000 guineas, may be thought dubious; the liberal mifapplication which Lord Stair made of the royal liberality will be beft confirmed by an account of the names of the gentlemen on whom he bestowed the commiffions: it muft, however, bę obferved, that the confultation of minifters, and the refult of it, are fuppofed to have happened before Lord Stair arrived in London. Lord Stair was not appointed General till a confiderable time after.

He left Scotland, fo far as I can difcover, about the end of February 1742.

In March 1742 he was appointed Ambaffador to the States General. Mr Robert Keith, by his recommendation, was appointed fecretary to the embally.

It was not till April 1742, that Lord Stair was appointed Commander in Chief of the British forces in Flanders.

Egregioufly mistaken, indeed, was that perfon who informed Sir John Dalrymple that Lord Stair carried in his coach to London Mr Keith and Sir John Pringle.

Mr Keith left Scotland on the 26th of March 1742; he rode poft, but, fatigued with that mode of travelling, he got into a ftage-coach about Hunt

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in a difpute with the Prince of Conti, and fome other princes of the blood, about a point of ceremony and place, a difpute interefting at the moment. While mens minds were agitated by this controversy of place, Mr Parsons, a page, with arch fimplicity, put the question which Sir John has taken the trouble of repeating; and that Lord Stair," ftepping out of the "coach, paid refpect to the religion

Dr Pringle, Profeffor of Ethics in the University of Edinburgh, was appointed to examine candidates for the degree of Mafter of Arts, 23d February and 30th March 1742; this appears from the records of the Univerfity, and is inconfiftent with the journey to London-it is probable that he continued to read lectures until Summer: he was appointed Physician Ge" of the country in which he was, and neral to the hofpitals abroad on the "kneeled in a very dirty ftreet," is what 24th of August 1742. would not have been expected from a British Ambaffador, and especially from fuch an Ambaffador as Lord Stair!

Sir L. Dundas, refided at London when Lord Stair arrived there in 1742. With respect to the coffee-houfe anecdote, which is introduced with an apology, it may be remarked, that Lord Mark Ker addreffed his companion by the name of Stair. This brings down the anecdote to 1707, when that title defcended to Lord Stair. He was then not a thoughtlefs high-fpirited boy, but a man of thirtyfour, and a General Officer. Lord Mark Ker, or Lord Stair, might have defired the inquisitive ftranger to be filent, or to leave the room; but it feems hardly confiftent with their known character for courtefy and courage, to fuppofe that they fhould have agreed to throw the dice for the honour of fighting a stranger who never meant to infult them.

The next anecdote is well known, tho', as is the fate of moft anecdotes, it has been told different ways. My account of it is this: Lord Stair, as British Ambaffador, became engaged

I have only to add, that the conteft about place happened in the year 1716; that Colonel Young was born on the 25th of February 1703, and that he could hardly have been Master of Horfe to Lord Stair at the age of thirteen. It follows, that Sir John must have heard that well-known anecdote from fome other perfon than Col. Young.

The other anecdote, as to Lewis XIV. is alfo well-known, but it would run better thus: In the reign of Charles II. the Duke of Buckingham went Ambaffador to France. Lewis the XIV. on a certain occafion, defired the Duke to go into his coach; the Duke hefitated, and stood back; the King ftept in, fhut the door, and, with elegant ambiguity, faid, “ Entre "vous et moi M. le Duc, il n'y a "point de façon." He made a like experiment on Lord Stair, but he found him a better bred man than the courtly Buckingham.

Account of the Hunting Excurfions of Afoph Ul Doulah, Vizier of the Mogul Empire, and Nabob of Oude. By W. Blane Efq; who attended thefe Excurs frons in 1785 and 1786.

HE Vizier, Afoph ul Doulah,

al hunting-party as foon as the cold feafon is well fet in; that is, about the beginning of December; and he ftays out till the heats, about the beginning of March, force him back again. During this time, he generally

makes a circuit of country from four

his courfe towards the fkirts of the northern mountains, where the coun try, being wild and uncultivated, is the moft proper for game.

When he marches, he takes with him, not only his household and Zena

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The animals he carries for sport are dogs, principally greyhounds, of which he has about three hundred-hawks, of various kinds, at least two hundred

a few trained leopards, called Cheetads, for catching deer-and to this lift I may add a great many markf men, whofe profeffion is to fhoot deer

and fowlers who provide game; for there are none of the natives of India who have any idea of fhooting game with fmall fhot, or of hunting with flow hounds. He is alfo furnished with nets of various kinds, fome for quail, and others very large, for fifhing, which are carried along with him upon elephants, attended by fishermen,

but all his Court, and a great part of the inhabitants of his capital. Befides the immediate attendance about his perfon, in the various capacities of Rhidmit gars, Frafhes, Chobdars, Harcaras, Mewatics, &c. which may amount to about two thoufand, he is attended in camp by five or fix hundred horfe, and feveral battalions of regular fepoys, with their field-pieces. He takes with him about four or five hundred elephants; of thefe fome are broke in for riding, fome for fighting, fome carry baggage, and the reft are referved for clearing the jungles and forefts of the game of the first kind, there are always twenty or thirty ready caparifoned, with Howdahs and 4-fo as to be always ready to be thrown marys, that attend close behind the one into any river or lake he may meet he rides upon himfelf, that he may with on the march. change occafionally to any of them he likes; or he fometimes permits fome of his attendants to ride upon them. He has with him about five or fix hundred fumpter horfes, a great many of which are always led ready faddled near him; many of them are beautiful Perfian horfes, and fome of them of the Arabian breed; but he feldom rides any of them. Of wheel-carriages, there are a great many of the country fafhion drawn by bullocks, principally for the accommodation of the women; befides which, he has with him a couple of English chaifes, a buggy or two, and fometimes a chariot; but all thefe, like the horses, are merely for fhow, and never ufed; indeed, he feldom ufes any other conveyance but an elephant, or fometimes, when fatigued or indifpofed, a palanquin, of which feveral attend him.

The arms he carries with him are a vaft number of matchlocks-a great many English pieces of various kinds piftols (of which he is very fond,) a great number, perhaps forty or fifty pairs -bows and arrows-befides fwords, fabres, and daggers innumerable. One or more of all thefe different kinds of arms he generally has upon the elephant with him, and a great many more are carried in readinefs by his attendants.

Befides this catalogue for the fport, he carries with him every article of luxury or pleafure; even ice is tranfported along with him to cool his water, and make ices; and a great many carts are loaded with the Ganges water, which is esteemed the beft and lightest in India, for his drink. The fruits of the feafon, and fresh vegetables, are fent to him daily from his gardens to whatever distance he may go, by laid bearers, stationed upon the road at the distance of every ten miles, and in this manner convey whatever is fent by them at the rate of four miles an hour, night and day. Befides the fighting elephants, which I have mentioned, he has with him fighting antelopes, fighting buffaloes, and fighting rams, in great numbers: and, laftly, of the feathered kind (befides hawks), he carries with him feveral hundred pigeons, fome fighting cocks, and an endless variety of nightingales, parrots, minos, &c. all of which are carried along with his tents,

What I have hitherto enumerated are the appendages of the Nabob perfonally; befides which, there is a large public Bazar, or, in other words, a moving town, attends his camp, confifting of fhopkeepers and artificers of all kinds, money-changers, dancing

women,

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