Friday, waited on Sir James Harris at ten in the morning,--introduced to Brooks,--treated with great affability, and received a letter from Sir James, which he had already wrote, directed to Mr Rich, the consul, Sir James having first informed me that Brodie was safe in the Stadthouse,--consulted Sir James on the mode of obtaining him,--informed that, if the magistrates of Amsterdam required an official application to the States General, to come back immediately to him, and he would obviate all difficulties; but he did not think it would be necessary:--it was Sir James’s opinion the magistrates would give him up without, if not, was certain they would detain him till an answer to Sir James’s application to the States could be obtained;--set off for Amsterdam, and arrived there the same evening; waited on Mr Rich,--politely received; and we consulted on measures,--Mr Rich to wait on one of the magistrates that evening, and to send to me early next morning.--Waited on Mr Duncan, a Scots gentleman, and father-in-law to Mr Gerard, a minister at Amsterdam, with Mr Langlands’s letter;--Mr Duncan seemed willing to identify Brodie; but on being called out into another room by Mr Gerard and his wife, on his return, Mr D. said as far as his word of honour as a gentleman would go, and his belief, he would say he was the man; but, if an oath was required he would not,--Saw then a manifest reluctance in Mr D. and had no doubt his daughter and the parson would endeavour to persuade him to decline troubling himself in the matter; but judged he could not go back from what he had said to Mr Rich. _N.B._ No mischief but a woman or a priest in it,--here both. Saturday morning, received a message from Mr Rich,--most of the magistrates gone to their country-houses,--nothing could be done till Monday;--Mr Rich entertained no doubt, but said a magistrate had informed him, that a formal requisition must be made by him, in writing, to the magistrates;--he produced the copy of one, requiring the person of William Brodie to be delivered up; I corrected it, by inserting “otherwise John Dixon,” as the magistrates of Amsterdam knew of no William Brodie; Mr Rich agreed it was proper;--informed him of my suspicions respecting Mr Duncan, and the steps that would be taken by his family to make him, if possible, recant;--my fears further increased, as Mr Duncan lodged in the same tavern with me, I had frequent opportunities of conversation with him, and could plainly see a sorrow for what he had said, and a wish to retract. Monday, waited on Mr Rich,--found, by a mistake in not inserting “otherwise John Dixon “ in the requisition, that the business must be delayed till the next day ten o’clock, when a general meeting of the magistrates, with the grand schout, (high sheriff), to consider on the application;--mistake corrected, and requisition presented.