History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

JOHNSTONE OF ALVA 181
ninth of it in the Alva, Hangingshawe, and Denovan estates. He was little
more than thirty, with three brothers in Parliament, and they did not let the
matter rest. He had also a friend in Holwell, one of the survivors of the Black
Hole, who, in a pamphlet to refute " criticism on historical events," speaks of
" Mr Johnstone's spirited and sensible letter to the East Indian Proprietors
affording the strongest support to his reasons, for by that Gentleman's inde-
fatigable labour it appears that in the district of Burdwan only he had increased
the revenue to the annual value of ,£116,727."
Scotland was very unpopular at that time in England, partly owing to
the Rising in 1745. This was seen in the opposition to Lord Bute. In the
present difference public opinion went with Clive, and the Committee which
was appointed by the House to inquire into East Indian affairs would have
collapsed for want of a plan if it had not been supplied by Governor Johnstone,
who pointedly directed it against Clive himself. In a very long and dignified
speech Clive defended his own conduct, and said that, when he thought of the
rooms full of gold, diamonds, and other treasure which he had passed through,
and which victory had placed in his power, he could only wonder at his own
moderation. According to Sir C. Wilson in his History of India, he was
answered by " Governor Johnstone in a speech of great violence," declaring that
all the evils that had arisen were the natural result of Clive's action when
Governor of India (March 1772).
Eventually the House resolved that Clive, as Commander-in-Chief, had
received large sums of money from Meer Jaffir ; but when it was asked to
affirm that Lord Clive had abused his powers, and set a bad example, the
amendment was rejected, and Wedderburn moved that " Lord Clive did at the
same time render great and meritorious service to his country."
This was passed without opposition, but Clive, in bad health, never seems
to have recovered from the annoyance. It has been thought that it was the
cause of his unhappy end, but James Johnstone, of Worcester, who had prescribed
for him some years before, maintained that, when suffering from
acute Indian liver, he had been ignorantly advised to try the wrong Spa
for his disorder, which had consequently produced extreme depression and
temporary delirium. He had also for some time past taken opium for
sleeplessness.
John Johnstone, returning to Europe, lived quietly on his beautiful Scottish
estates till he was elected M.P. for the Kirkcaldy Burghs. This took him
occasionally to London, but country pursuits seem to have been his chief
interest. He was left sole executor to his brother, the Governor, whose affairs
were in a very complicated state. He married Elizabeth Caroline, daughter of
Colonel Keene, and niece of Sir Benjamin Keene, Minister at the Court of
Madrid, and of Dr Keene, Bishop of Ely. Their only son, James Raymond,
married, June 20, 1799, Mary Elizabeth, sister of Sir Montague Cholmeley,
Bart., and the only daughter, Elizabeth, was the wife of James Gordon of
Craig.
John Johnstone of Alva died Dec. 10, 1795, aged sixty-one. His brother,