Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

CCCxiv WILLIAM, FIRST MAPvQUIS OV ANNANDALi;, 1G72-1721.
tliat Anuaudale stayed at Spa for some lime, wlicnco lie meaiiL to go to
Hauover, and from thence to Germany and Italy, "\^'llen slic wrote the
letter she had heard from Mr.'Eaillie that her husliand ^vas to bo appointed
lord clerk register. liut in the communication slie had received from the
Spa there was not a word of such an offei' from the court. Tliis, she says,
" I cannot reconcile with the treaty you know lias been on foot this c^reat
while, much less with the last accounts we had of Argyle's pleading the queen's
promise to make him register before lie went to Spain, and the treasurer and
Kinoul's yielding to it, and that I find every body writes of it as a thing done."
Annandale did not get the appointment in r|uestion. The Earl of Glasgow,
who was then lord clerk register, continued to hold the office till the accession
of George the First in 1714. Annandale received favourable consideration
from the Electress Sophia, who wrote recommendatory letters for him to the
courts of Berlin and Wolfenbiitte]. With his reception at these courts he was
well pleased. He also proceeded to A'icnna, to which place the letter of the
electress was directed.- The marquis prolonged his stay in Italy and other
parts of the Continent for about two years. He was at Eome in May 1713 ;
and at Florence in July of the same yeai'. His wife, writing in May of
the next year, 1714, observes she did not expect his return so soon as some
of his friends did. It had been reported that the family, who were with him
the previous winter, were returned alone, and she says, " you may gess by
that if his return be soon from Lyon.s, and seemed positive to go to Geneva,"
and she requests all his friends to try to bring him ovei.^ The marchioness
at t'liis time resided sometimes at Moflat and sometimes at Craigieliall, and
was ordered by the physicians to spend the winter of 1713-14 at Bath.
Annandale did not long remain abroad after this. As previously pointed
out, he intended to visit Hanover. With that in view, in the summer of
' Amiaii'lale Peerage iliuutes of Evidence, 1S70, ii. 'JIO.
2 Letter of Electress, 19th Novemtier 171-, vol. ii. of this woik, p. 24.
' Letter, Moffat, ITtli May 1714, Annandale I'eer.agc Minutes of Evidence, lS7f), p. 21.S.
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