Athole had been appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Argyleshire, and held Inverary with a large force of his Highlanders.  The Gordons, under their new-made Duke, were guarding the sea-board of Invernessshire.  Glasgow was occupied by a strong body of militia.  Ships of war watched the Firth of Clyde.  To keep the Western Lowlands and the Border quiet was Claverhouse’s charge.  It is unnecessary to remind my readers what followed.  Within little more than a month from his landing in Scotland Argyle stood upon the scaffold in Edinburgh; and a fortnight later Monmouth closed his short unhappy life on Tower Hill.

In this same despatch Claverhouse was told that the King had raised him to be a brigadier of both horse and foot, that James Douglas had received the same promotion, and that the latter’s commission bore priority of date.  He wisely took no notice of this slight,—­for, comparing the weight of his services to the Government with the services of Douglas, a slight it undoubtedly was, and was meant to be.  He knew that it did not come from the King, and he was much too prudent and too proud to let the others see that he was annoyed by a stupid insult he was powerless to resent.  But there exists a letter from Secretary Murray to Queensberry which makes the business very clear.  It is worth quoting as significant of the petty intrigues in which men of rank and position were not then ashamed to indulge.

“The King ordered two commissions to be drawn, for your brother and Claverhouse to be brigadiers.  We were ordered to see how such commissions had been [drawn?] here, and in Earl Middleton’s office we found the extract of one granted to Lord Churchill, another to Colonel Worden, the one for horse, the other for foot.  So Lord Melfort told me the King had ordered him to draw one for your brother for the foot and Claverhouse for the horse.  I told him that could not be; for by that means Claverhouse would command your brother.  To be short, we were very hot on the matter.  He said he knew no reason why Colonel Douglas should have the precedency, unless that he was your brother.  I told him that was enough, but that there was a greater, and that was, that he was an officer of more experience and conduct, and that was the King’s design of appointing brigadiers at this time.  He said Claverhouse had served the King longer in Scotland.  I told him that was yet wider from the purpose, for there were in the army that had served many years longer than Claverhouse, and of higher quality, and without disparagement to any, gallant in their personal courage.  By this time I flung from him, and went straight to the King and represented the case.  He followed, and came to us.  But the King changed his mind and ordered him to draw the commissions both for horse and foot, and your brother’s two days’ date before the other; by which his command is clear before the other.  I saw the commissions signed this afternoon, and they are sent herewith by Lord Charles Murray.  Now,