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

THE ELECTION FOR DUMFRIES 243
A few years later Sir William wrote from Edinburgh describing his nephew,
Jock, who was with a tutor preparing for the University.
The following is from Westerhall (Sir William's brother) when he stood
for the Dumfries Burghs :
"My dear Doctor,— I well know the ardent attachment of all your family
to mine. Mr Lawson and his brother-in-law are not so sanguine in my interest
as we could wish. A line from you would make them both my friends. Do,
my dear doctor, write to them immediately, and add to the obligation already
conferred on your sincere, grateful, and affectionate James Johnstone.
"Annan, March 18, 1784."
Sir James was elected and kept the seat till 1790, when he was defeated
by Captain Miller in the famous contest of " the Border Knight and the Soldier
Laddie," sung by Burns. When the poet found that the Duke of Queensberry
was backing Captain Miller he openly took Sir James's side :
" Up and waur them a', Jamie,
Up and waur them a';
The Johnstones hae the guidin' o't,
Ye turncoat Whigs awa'."
Shortly before, Sir James replied to a letter from Worcester :
" London, May 11, 1789.
" Dear Doctor,—No man can be more sensible than I am of the attention
and kindness that you and all your family have always testified to me and
mine. ... It would give me infinite pleasure that the Bill I am bringing in
would be of the smallest service to you and give you a vote for the county.
I think, from the experience of thirty years, I have a pretty good guess who
you would choose for your representative, but the Bill I am bringing in will
make no alteration whatever either in the qualifications or in the present mode
of election. It goes no further than to take from the Sheriffs of Scotland a
discretionary power of executing the writ of election when they think proper,
either in one week or in six months, and obliging them to execute the writ
exactly in the same time that is allowed in England. I take it very kind your
having wrote me on this subject, as it gives me an opportunity of explaining
my Bill. I shall be ever happy to hear from you, and still more so if you can
suggest anything in my power by which I can prove to you the gratitude and
affection of, dear doctor, your much obliged humble servant.
"James Johnstone."
A secret memorandum 2 to the Government showed that, owing to the
1 " I am too little a man," wrote Burns to Graham of Fintry, " to have political attach-
ments ... but a man who has it in his power to be the father of his country, and is onlyknown
there by the mischiefs he does in it is a character that one cannot speak of with
patience."
2
It describes the resident landowners : "Sir Jas. Kirkpatrick, a lawyer; Sir R. Grierson,
has a brother a merchant in Glasgow ; Charles Sharpe of Hoddam, a lawyer, Keeper of the
Harriers to the Prince of Wales ; Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, made his fortune as a banker