n a fair way of recovery, and that he expect to hear from Green the Surgeon a confirmation of his mending ; and at that time I heard it, I took it for one of his usual banters, and so did other persons of more consideration then my self there present ; but how ever having your orders not to put them in mind of their promise till I was sure of his Death I said nothing, but a Saturday Morning my Lord Forbes came to me and told me I might depend upon it my Lord Rivers was dead, notwithstanding what Lord Treasurers said, for he had a letter from London that was very perticular, and the Duke of Argile believed it. Then I thought it time to go to my Lord Treasurer but he saw no company, then I went to the Duke of Shrewsbury and he was gone out a setting [sic). I told my Business to the Dutchess of Shrewsbury who is always very gracious to me, and admitts me to her twillet, wch was very well I did, for she prepear'd his Grace to give me a favourable hearing. As soon as I saw him at the Back Stairs he ask't me if I was sure he was dead, and I affirm'd it, being assur'd of it by my Lord Forbes ; within half an hour after I had spoke to him he went into the Queen and did not stay long, but brought me word the Queen was sure he was alive.
So I thought I need not seek an accation to speak to my Lord Treasurer that day nor the next. Sunday morning I received a letter from Capt. Dilke who told me he saw a letter from Green to Major Halsey, who told him my Lord Rivers was in a fair way of recovery and that he intended to give that news to be inserted in the post Boy Saturday night. By my Lord Forbes the Duke of Argile know I was to solicite my Lord Rivers' imployments for you, so he told me Sunday morning he had once thoughts of changing his troop for that Regiment, but now he had no thoughts of it, and since you had a promise did advise me to push it now, for tho' it were possible my Lord Rivers was not yet dead he was certain he cou'd not live many days, for so Dr. Olivant had assured ; and that his pretentions might not be any obstruction to you he had declared to the Ministry he had no thoughts of changing, and he wou'd declare his thoughts freely to every
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