State, Papers and Letters, Addressed to W. Carstares

State, Papers And Letters, Addressed To W. Carstares by Joseph Maccormick is a curated collection of diplomatic, political, and ecclesiastical correspondence from late Stuart Scotland and the early union era. The volume tracks how ministers, secretaries, and courtiers in Edinburgh, Holyroodhouse, and London navigated a destabilized realm, a paralyzed Parliament, and the competing claims of Caledonia, with attention to intergovernmental communications, finances, and governance without the King’s direct presence. Through letters, memorials, proclamations, and addressees, the work illuminates central figures such as the Duke of Queensberry, the Earl of Seafield, the Earl of Argyle, Murray of Philiphaugh, and Carmichael, alongside Privy Council voices and overseas correspondents. Core themes include legitimacy and executive authority, patronage and office rewards, fiscal strain and army subsidies, and the diplomacy surrounding Darien and succession. The collection also documents a significant Edinburgh riot in 1700, debates over the King’s return, and the handling of money, officers, and governance. As a primary-source compilation, it offers insight into governance practices, intergovernmental relations, and the social impact of political turmoil in early 18th?century Scotland.