Page:Letter from a gentleman in Glasgow to his friend in the country.pdf/12

 towards the said city, a considerable body of his majesty's forces, consisting of my lord Delorain's regiment of foot, six troops of the Royal Scots dragoons, as many of the earl of Stair's dragoons, and one of the independent companies of Highlanders, under the command of Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochnel, with a Train of Artillery, ammunition, &c. and when the general approached the city, he made a halt with his forces, and sent a letter to the magistrates, signifying, "That he was by their excellencies, ordered to march a body of his majesty's forces into the city of Glasgow, in order to support the civil power in restoring the peace and quiet of the city; and being informed that several of the inhabitants had armed themselves, and kept a guard in the town, he required the magistrates to disarm them, and secure their arms in some safe magazine." But the general was soon satisfied that this was calumny and misrepresentation, for as the magistrates had acquainted him in their answer to his letter, the city was in perfect peace, and he marched his troops and train into it without the least disturbance, and that night they were all lodged within the city.

Mr. Duncan Forbes his majesty's advocate attended the general in this expedition; his business was to make a strict inquiry into the disorders that had happened, and to discover the authors thereof. On Saturday being the 10th of July, a great many persons of the best character in town, were examined before him, and they all testified the truth of what I have above mentioned, in relation to the provost's conduct. On Monday early in the morning, a great many poor people were taken out of their beds, and committed prisoners to the guard, on suspicion that they had been concerned in the late riots; but upon examination the greater part was dismissed, the rest being about twenty in number were remanded to prison. That day the two companies of capt. Bushell which retired to Dumbarton, returned to Glasgow. The advocate continued his inquisition the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following, all persons that were summoned compeared, and were examined upon oath, but it could not be discovered that any person of note or character in the