Sir
With a heart oppressed with
merited misfortune, and a cheek glowing with shame
I presume to address you before I leave Edinburgh,
most probably my country for ever - your generous
heart will pardon the Intrusion - It will be the
last, and were I the only person interested I
should not have troubled you.
It is now needless to mention the Cause of
my misfortune - My punishment I admit to be most
fully merited - I have even yet that feeling that
I could not attend the Bar, and stand along with those
whom I once considered as my Equals, now that I am
covered with disgrace - My Professional Character
both in my own Opinion and in that of the Faculty
is at an end, and as a necessary Consequence
my office must follow - These Consequences are
unavoidable - I am thus not only covered with merited
obloquy, and cut out from a Profession in which
I may yet say, I was by nature qualified to follow
but from an Income of upwards of £600 a year
which my Profession & office yielded, I am reduced to
indigence & want.
Were I the only sufferer I again repeat all
this wd. be most just - But you know alas
too well know the whole of my Eventful History -
For seven years past, a most unfortunate Father
a Mother to whom to the disgrace of a Husband is
now superadded the disgrace of a favourite son, and
two unhappy sisters have depended upon my Exerti
ons - In relieving the purse of these, in purchasing
the place of my Nativity, I have plunged myself
into debts greater I am much afraid than my
whole Funds will pay, but wh. I ha?? wh??
soon cleared in my Profession - In the Situation
alas Sir can nothing be done for them - Could
no Annuity however inconsiderable be procured for
them to Enable them to support themselves thro life,
which I unknown and unregarded may in some
Foreign Country drag out that Existence wh.
is now a Burden to me - I cannot proceed - Be
lieve me however that the tears which now dim
my light, rise not for myself but for them.
May I entreat your Interposition for them
with the Lord Advocate. I was his Class Fellow, I was
once married to a distant Relation of his, who
thank God is now no more - Highly as I must merit
every punishment, every disgrace, in the opinion
of him, of you, of every man of Honour, yet
the Punishment in my Case reaches far beyond
myself - Save those I have named, and I
shall yet Enjoy the only Satisfaction my mind
is capable of Receiving, and you will have
the satisfaction of having twice saved an
unfortunate Family.
I understand that my unfortunate Business is
remitted to a committe till Novr - I never more
shall be in Town, but I shall remain in the Country
till then, when I shall at once agree to
whatever they propose. What will become of my
Sherriffship I know not, perhaps it may be
given to Mr Dalyell who has suffered so much thr.
his connexion with our family. But may I again
entreat that an Independant Annuity however ??
ling may be procured for my unfortunate Mother
& Sisters - For myself I desire and I ask nothing
- My Race is run, and tho I had fondly flattered
myself, with the prospect of Independance and of
succeeding to the summit of my Ambition in
my profession, yet I now must quit my
Country for ever - Wherever I am I however
shall ever retain the warmest Gratitude for your
kindness to your most obdt
Most unfortunate hble servt
Ed Armstrong
Edin. July 10th 1791
(Geo Ferguson Esq)