of her life here at Twickenham, I have had many and many long conversations on those subjects, and yet I never heard a word of the supposed event you mention.  I myself never heard Sir W. William speak but once in the House of Commons, but have always been told that his style and behaviour were most liberal and like a gentleman and my brother says, there never passed any bitterness or acrimony between him and our father.(417)

I will answer you as fairly and candidly, Sir, about Archibald Duke of Argyll, of whom I saw at least a great deal.  I do believe Sir Robert had a full opinion of his abilities as a most useful man.  In fact, it is plain he had; for he depended on the Duke, when Lord Islay, for the management of your part of the island, and, as I have heard at the time, disobliged the most firm of the Scottish Whigs by that preference.  Sir Robert supported Lord Islay against the Queen herself, who hated him for his attachment to Lady Suffolk, and he was the only man of any consequence whom her Majesty did not make feel how injudicious it was (however novel) to prefer the interest of the mistress to that of the wife.  On my father’s defeat his warm friends loudly complained of Lord Islay as having betrayed the Scottish boroughs, at the election of Sir Robert’s last Parliament, to his brother, Duke John.  It is true too, that Sir Robert always replied, “I do not accuse him.”  I Must own, knowing my father’s manner, and that when he said but little, it was not a favourable symptom, I did think, that if he would not accuse, at least he did not acquit.  Duke Archibald was undoubtedly a dark shrewd man.  I recollect an instance for which I should not choose to be quoted just at this moment, though it reflects on nobody living.  I forget the precise period, and even some of the persons concerned; but it was in the minority of the present Duke of Gordon, and you, Sir, can probably adjust the dates.  A regiment had been raised of Gordons.  Duke Archibald desired the command of it to a favourite of his own.  The Duchess-dowager insisted on it for her second husband.  Duke A. said, “Oh! to be sure her grace must be obeyed;” but instantly got the regiment ordered to the East Indies, which had not been the reckoning of a widow remarried to a young fellow.(418)

At the time of the rebellion, I remember that Duke Archibald was exceedingly censured in London for coming thither, and pleading that he was not empowered to take up arms.  But I believe that I have more than satisfied your curiosity, Sir, and that you will not think it very prudent to set an old man on talking of the days of his Youth.