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

THE MINISTER OF MOFFAT 203
over tcr Annan to arrange a tack of two farms—Closehead and Gladsmuir— to a
Mr Nelson, Edward wrote to James "it would be sinful and vain to suppose
that I shall much longer direct these matters." He had been prohibited
by Dr Rutherfurd from reading anything whatever—even the Bible—and had
engaged an assistant to preach for him. He tells his symptoms to his brother,
as to " a medical father confessor." The levy of recruits which provided " many
stalwart sons of Mars, if you in England will but find officers fit to command
them," and the administration of the oath of fealty to the young King George
III., in which, as magistrates, he and his father took their share, and other
public matters, with the improvement in the health of Lord Annandale, who
was now able to play at whist with his mother every night, the loss incurred by
his own father through a dishonest agent, and the necessity of providing another
home for his unfortunate brother, John, filled up his latest letters.
"I congratulate you," he wrote, July 5, 1760, "as I do all my countrymen
on the behaviour of the troops at Quebec, mostly Scotsmen and headed by a
young, but brave and sharp-sighted officer. Your remotences will perhaps
make you unaware that General James Murray is youngest brother, or youngest
but one to Lord Elibank consequently is a brother of Lady Johnstone of
Westerhall and I have been told by good authority has all the peculiar vivacity
of her family and a happy mixture of penetration and solidity, shown in his
masterly letter to Pitt."
On Jan. 15, 1761, less than five weeks after the news of Adam's death had
arrived, he suddenly lost his sight, followed the same night by slight delirium,
his mind running on the affairs of the Marquis and the Johnstones of Westerhall
and he expired the next day after only thirty-six hours' illness. His sister,
Agnes, was with him. It was a terrible blow to James, too far off to attend the
funeral, and he had thought his brother over fanciful about himself; but there
was a very large gathering of friends and relatives when he was laid to rest in
the old church, near the pulpit, at Moffat.
Among numerous letters of condolence on the occasion to Galabank one
came from Captain (later Sir James) Johnstone of Westerhall, dated Hillington,
near Lynn.
''Jan. 24, 1 76 1.
" My dear Sir,—Would to God I could minister the least comfort to so worthy
a Father mourning in the deepest anguish of heart, the best the most dutiful of
sons. Permit me to mingle my tears with yours. I have lost a kind and
affectionate Friend whose life and even his last moments was spent supporting
the Johnstones. How tenderly must I feel his loss. How dear to me is his
memory ; who expiring wished me success and prayed for my welfare with his
last breath. Alas my dear Sir I judge from myself what you must feel. May
God of His Infinite Goodness support you under this heavy this unexpected
stroke may you see all your other children flourish and multiply and may you
never have cause to shed a tear is the wish and prayer of dear Sir your much
obliged and most grateful humble servant, Jas. Johnstone. My best wishes to