From the Union to 1734 the representation of Haddington Burghs was monopolized by the Dalrymples of Hailes, a branch of the family of the earls of Stair. In 1734 Sir James Dalrymple, having followed the head of his family, Lord Stair, into opposition, was defeated by James Fall, a wealthy Dunbar merchant, with the support of the Government. Dalrymple and the town councils of all the burghs, except Dunbar, petitioned unsuccessfully on the grounds that Fall had not been returned by the legal common clerk of Jedburgh, the presiding burgh. When the petition was heard on 12 Mar. 1735, the petitioners also gave evidence that

Andrew Fletcher, Lord Milton [Ilay’s deputy in Scotland], one of the judges, had imprisoned 40 burgesses of the burgh of Haddington whereof 17 were acting magistrates without any evidence laid before him, for committing them without bail, and directing his warrant to all officers, civil or military.1

In 1741 there was a double return of Fall and Sir Hew Dalrymple, an opposition candidate. Fall had the vote of the presiding burgh, Dunbar, whose common clerk was the returning officer, and Dalrymple had a majority of the votes of other delegates. On 23 Jan. 1742 the Opposition carried a motion that the merits of the election be heard at the bar with the merits of the return, whereupon Fall withdrew.2

At the general election of 1747 the seat was filled by Andrew Fletcher, the son of Lord Milton, under a compromise by which Dalrymple, who was returned for the county, was to give his interest in the Burghs to Fletcher, the two families thereafter taking it in turns to represent the county and the Burghs.3