The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 6/Letter 78

by Thomas Carlyle

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LETTER LXXVIII

A private Note in behalf of ‘this Bearer, Colonel Robert Montgomery,’ now hastening up to Town; with whom we shall make some farther acquaintance, in another quarter, by and by. Doubtless the request was complied with.

 

FOR THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM LENTHALL, ESQUIRE, SPEAKER OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS: THESE

Dalhousie, 8th Oct. 1648.

Sir,—Upon the desire of divers Noblemen and others of the Kingdom of Scotland, I am bold to become a suitor to you on the behalf of this Gentleman, the Bearer, Colonel Robert Montgomery; son-in-law^[1] to the Earl of Eglinton. Whose faithfulness to you in the late troubles may render him worthy of a far greater favour than I shall, at this time, desire for him: for I can assure you, that there is not a Gentleman of that Kingdom that appeared more active against the late Invaders of England than himself.

Sir, it is desired that you would please to grant him an Order for Two-thousand of the common Prisoners that were of Duke Hamilton’s Army. You will have very good security that they shall not for the future trouble you: he will ease you of the charge of keeping them, as speedily as any other way you can dispose of them; besides their being in a friend’s hands, so as there need be no fear of their being ever employed against you.

Sir, what favour you shall please to afford the Gentleman will very much oblige many of your friends of the Scottish Nation; and particularly your most humble servant,

OLIVER CROMWELL.^[2]

1. Mistake of the Lieutenant-General’s for ‘son’;—‘youngest son,’ say the Peerage Books.
2. Tanner Mss. (in Cary, ii. 32)