CHAPTER VI. Accession of George I. to the throne of Britain-Rebellion, 1715, and proceedings in Aberdeen-Fire in the Gallowgate-Rigour of the season, 1740, with scarcity and dearth-Great Fire in the Broadgate-Traffick of Kidnapping-Rebellion, 1745-Rebels in possession of the Town, &c.—Military riots-Scarcity, 1782—Borough politics, in 1752, 1783, and 1817—and various other occurrences. FROM A.D. 1710 тo A.D. 1818. GEORGE, the eldest son of Ernest Augustus, Duke of Hanover, A.D. 1714. by the Princess Sophia, the only child of the King of Bohemia,* succeeded to the crown of Great Britain, on the death of Queen Anne; and was proclaimed, with the usual ceremonies, sovereign of the British dominions. Although he ascended the throne without opposition, or any indications of popular discontent, yet the dissensions in Scotland, produced by the union of the kingdoms, which was deemed by many a national grievance, had never been entirely done away; and conspiracies had been forming, both in England and Scotland, against his succession. The house of Stuart had, in those kingdoms, many adherents, who were known by the name of Jacobites, and still entertained sanguine expectations of being able to restore that family to the throne. These had neglected no opportunity to form designs against the king, and to concert measures for open rebellion, which speedily broke out in Scotland. The Earl of Mar, who was, at this time, a powerful chieftain in the north, had continued his attachment to the exiled family of Stuart; and his influence among his vassals and dependents enabled him 002 The Princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter of James VI. was married to the Elector Palatine, afterwards King of Bohemia; and the Princess Sophia was the only surviving child of that marriage. By the treaty of union, the succession was settled on her and her heirs, after the death of Queen Anne, whose father, James VII. died at St. Germains, 6th Sept. 1701. A.D. 1715. him to raise a small body of men, whom he assembled at Braemar, in the highland district of the county of Aberdeen. He there proclaimed the Chevalier de St. George, the only son of the late King James, sovereign of Britain, by the title of King James VIII. and, flattering himself with the hope of being joined by a numerous body of nobles and barons who were inimical to the established government, determined to try his fortune in the field. Many of the Jacobites flocked to his standard, and his army was soon augmented to 10,000 men. Meanwhile, the adherents of the prince pretender, under the delusive expectation that his presence might produce an immediate revolution, pressed him to come to Britain, without delay. Mar assumed the title of Lieutenant-General of his forces, and made every preparation for the commencement of hostilities. While these things were transacting, the magistrates of Aberdeen, who were zealous supporters of the established government, having early intelligence of the designs of the Earl of Mar, adopted measures of precaution for the safety of the town, lest an attack upon it should be attempted by the insurgents. The citizens were armed, the ports secured, and cannon planted where it was most exposed. But these exertions do not seem to have met with any support from government; for an order was transmitted, by the Lord Justice Clerk, requiring them to deliver up, for the use of his Majesty's troops, the whole gunpowder in the town, for which the merchants were to be paid at the rate of L.3 6s. 8d. sterling, each hundred weight.* The town being thus in a manner deprived of the means of defence, was exposed, not only to the insurgents, but to the disaffected part of the community. The Earl of Mar having advanced, with his clans, southward, formed a camp at Perth, where he was joined by many barons, and others, who adhered to the interest of the prince pretender; and the greatest part of the north was under the influence of the Jacobites. Their partisans having now acquired the ascendency in the town, assumed its civil government, under pretence of authority from the Earl Marischal, The quantity delivered up was 3681 pounds weight.-Council Register, vol. lviii. p. 415.] 285 Marischal, who arrived upon the 28th September, with a squadron of A.D. 1715. horse, and proclaimed, with the usual ceremonies, the pretender, king of the British dominions. This being the ordinary day of the annual election, the magistrates and council thought proper to absent themselves, without choosing the new counsellors for the ensuing year; but such of the burgesses as were inimical to the established government, soon supplied this defect. They assembled, on the subsequent day, in the East church, in consequence of an order from Earl Marischal; and, by a poll of those qualified to vote, formed an administration* suited to their own views. Among the first acts of the administrators, so elected, was an imposition, under the sanction of a head court, of a contribution of L.200 10s. 9d. sterling, upon the inhabitants, towards the charge of supplies for the pretender's army, pursuant to an order of the Earl of Mar. In a few days after, a similar contribution of L.2000 sterling, under the denomination of a loan, was imposed for the same purpose, of which L.500 were ordered to be immediately levied. About the same time, a requisition was made to supply Mar's army with 300 Lochaber axes, and to furnish him with a printing press, types, and apparatus, which were immediately transmitted to Perth. The army of the pretender being joined by the northern clans, under the Earl of Seaforth, and others, their partisans, the Earl of Mar broke up his camp at Perth, and resolved to pass the Frith, to form a junction with the Jacobites in the south, and to march into England. He had proceeded as far as Auchterarder upon the 11th November, when, having received intelligence that the Duke of Argyle, with the royal army under his command, had taken the field, and was advancing from Lothian to Stirling, he reviewed his army, and took up his position at that place. The Duke determined to give him battle in the neighbourhood of Dumblane, passed the Forth, at Stirling, on the 12th, and encamped, with his left at that village, and his right towards Sheriffmoor. The Earl having advanced * The magistrates elected, on this occasion, were, Patrick Bannerman, provost; John Leslie, John Burnett, William Simpson, and James Fyfe, baillies.-Council Register, vol. lviii. p. 419.] + Council Register, vol. lviii. p. 413, et seq. 423, 428. A.D. 1715. advanced within two miles of his position, remained there until the next morning, in order of battle. The armies met, and a severe conflict ensued, in which there was great loss on both sides; but the battle being indecisive, the rebels retreated to the Roman camp, at Ardoch, a few miles distant, and the Duke's army drew off towards Dumblane; both generals having claimed the victory. Such was the situation of affairs, when the pretender arrived at Peterhead, from France, on 22d December, accompanied by a retinue of six gentlemen. He passed through Aberdeen, incognito, to Fetteresso, where he was received with the highest marks of respect, by the Earl of Mar, the Earl Marischal, and about thirty other noblemen and gentlemen, who had zealously embraced his cause, and now testified to himself their sincerity. He afterwards published several proclamations and manifestos, on various topics; and transmitted orders to the ministers of Aberdeen to pray for him, by the title of King James; but these orders do not seem to have been regarded.* The professors of King's and Marischal Colleges, however, under the common delusive impressions of the time, thought proper to attend him at Fetteresso, and to present a loyal address, which they had soon cause to regret; for, after the suppression of the rebellion, they were, for this officious and inconsiderate display of their zeal, dismissed from their offices. The administration of the town being now in the hands of those who were attached to the pretender, the magistrates, with a view to convince him of their devotion to his person, and zeal for his service, resolved to raise a troop of horse, in number thirty, to be well provided with arms and accoutrements, and to be attached to the Earl Marischal's squadron. The estimated charge of this undertaking, being L.333 6s. 8d. sterling, was ordered, under the authority of a head court, to be assessed upon the inhabitants. In order to entice young men to engage in this service, they were promised the freedom of the town on their return. The troop, however, was never raised, although the usual complement of officers was appointed. About the same * Council Register, vol. lviii. p. 428. + Ibid. vol. lviii. p. 446. 449. |