sequence, and so well lik'd in this Country, that if the Pretender's Son had done no other hurt to it but the ruining this single Man, it could not but render him odicus to their posterity. This is, my Lord, what occasions giving you this trouble. I'm very sensible of my own insufficiency, and what a bad cause I have to plead for; but when I reflect what esteem your Lop has for worthy Men, and how much of your Life has been employed to serve them in distress, I must upon these Considerations, and the regard your Lordship has always shewn to Sir Alex' and his family, without ceremony beg your Lordship to contribute your good Offices in behalf of this Man, whose crime. I won't venture to extenuate; but yet I am certain it was accidental, and proceeded rather from an Excess of Good-nature, and Compassion upon a miserable person, who threw himself into his Mercy, then from any disloyalty or rebellious principles. I am not mistress of Eloquence enough to flatter myself with being able to persuade your Lop to do any thing in favours of this unfortunate Gentleman, who indeed I have much at heart to serve, both on account of his own personal Merit, and the use he is of in Sir Alex''s Affairs. I must once more beg your Lordship will undertake his Cause, and I shall not be afraid of any Enemies he may have drawn upon himself, as it is much in your power to give this affair quite a different turn from the Light it has been represented in to the Duke. His Majesty's Clemency and Mercy will certainly extend to many of the unhappy Transgressors; and as several of the worst of the people may chance to escape punishment, it would be great Pity one of the best should suffer, for a Crime he never intended against the State. Your Lordship will do me the Justice to believe I'm not ungrateful for the least of your favours; and if I am at this time so happy as to procure your friendship to Kingsborrow, I shall reckon it among the luckiest Articles of my Life, and the greatest obligation you can put upon, My Lord, Your Lordship's Most obd humble Serv Sky, July 24th, 1746. Note-Lady M. Macdonald was a Daughter of the Earl of Eglinton, and a Lady of great worth and accomplishments. No. CCCXXXVI. Sir Alex' Macdonald to the Lord President. My Lord, Fort Augustus, 29th July 1746. AS my campaigning is now at an end, and begun under your inspection, you might reasonably expect from me some Account of that part of it which has passed since we parted; but your Lordship will forgive me, as I am no good Historian, and take it in scraps as I have the pleasure to chat with you sometimes when we meet. One thing I will venture to give you a minute detail of; the misfortune of Kingsborrow, now sent a prisoner to Edin'. When the young Pretender made his unhappy visit to Skye, from South Uist, in a small boat, he landed near my house, in woman's clothes, by way of being maid-servant to one Florence Macdonald, a Girl of Clanranald's family, now a prisoner with General Campbell. Miss Macdonald went and made a visit to Lady Margaret, dined with her, and put her into the utmost distress by telling her of the Cargo that she had brought from Uist. She called on Kingsborrow, who was at Mugstot accidentally, and they had a very confused consultation together; and it was agreed to hurry him off the Country as fast as possible. The method Kingsborrow PP 2 took put took was, to meet him about two miles from my house, in the way to his own. He (the Pretender) accosted him with telling him that his life was now in his hands, which he might dispose of; that he was in the utmost distress, having had no meat or sleep for two days and two nights, sitting on a Rock beat upon by the rains; and when they ceased, ate up by flys; conjured him to shew compassion but for one night, and he should be gone. This moving speech prevailed, and the visible distress, for he was maigre, ill coloured, and overrun with the scab ; so they went to Kingsborrow's house, where he lay that night; and he furnished him a horse to carry him seven miles next day to Portree. There he found, accidentally, a small Rasay boat, into which he foot and disappeared all at once. A few days after, Gen' Campbell came to my house, which Captain Ferguson had already searched. Kingsborrow was called upon to assist in tracting the Pretender, which he undertook to do as far as he could, and told the General, that he had seen him, but in such misery that he could not lay hands on him; and the General promised not to discover what he had done. Kingsborrow was active to the General's satisfaction; but the Bird was flown, and had got to the main land. The Women about Kingsborrow's house, being examined, discovered the Pretender had been there. When I went to wait of General Campbell, he told me he could not be answerable not to secure him, on the evidence of the women; but that he should have his choice either to remain a prisoner with him, or go with me to the Duke, and that he would write to His Royal Highness in his favours. Kingsborrow chose to come to this place, and got the General's letter, which he read to us and sealed. On arriving here, the Duke ordered Sir Everard Fawkener to examine him; and since, he has been confined, and now sent to Edin'. I used my little Rhetoric with the Duke; but he stopt my mouth, by saying, that this man had neglected the greatest piece of Service that could have been done; and if he was to be pardoned, you have too much good sense to think this the proper time; as it would encourage others to follow his example. I need not tell your Lordship how much I am concerned for the man's misfortune nor need I beg your assistance in a thing I have so much at heart as the Safety of this man, because I have always found you friendly in every thing that concerned me. I am with the usual attachment, My Dear Lord, Yours, Along with this is a scrawl from my Wife, who does not know that her name has been mentioned. My Lord, No. CCCXXXVII. Mr. Donald Macdonald, of Castletown, to the Lord President. I BELIEVE ere this leter shall come to your hands, you shall hear of the death of S' Alexander Macdonald, who died at Bernera, in Glenelg, on Sunday the 23d of last month. He arrived at that place on Wednesday the 19th, was that night taken ill of a pleuresy,, which carried him off in four days. Your Lordship's intimacy with this Gentleman for many years made you thoroughly acquaint his character; and therefore I shall not venture to speak much of it in this leter. Only allow me to say, that he was a downright honest Man, true to his friend, & firm to his word. By his death we of his Clan lost a father, and the King a good subject. Lady Margaret bears her affliction with that patience and resignation which become a Christian and a Woman of of prudence; and there is nothing wherein his friends can show a greater regard for his Memory, than by doing all the good offices in their power to his Lady & Infant Children. There is, my Lord, one particular in which she has ordered me to solicite your interest, at a time she is not in a condition to write to you; and that is, in behalf of Mr. McDonald, of Kingsborrow, now a Prisoner in the Castle of Edinborough. That Gentleman has been a principal manager of the affairs of the family of Macdonald for twenty-eight years, and did always discharge his trust with faithfullness and diligence. And, as by his long management, he is best acquainted with the affairs of the family, so there cannot be no greater service at present done her and her Children, than that he should be sett at liberty, and reinstated in his former Office. Your Lordship also knows how serviceable Sir Alex' Macdonald also was in suppressing the late Rebellion: and, tho' he has not lived to receive any favors suitable to his services, yet it is hoped they are not so forgott, but that they shall be remembered to his Lady and Children; and they would take the liberation of the Gentleman in the Castle as an earnest of the regard of the Government for them; but how or in what manner this favour can be procured Lady Margaret leaves entirely to your Lordship's Judge, ment. I am, as I ought to be, with the greatest esteem, My Lord, Your most obedient, and most Armidale, Dec' 5th, 1746. } No. CCCXXXVIII, DONALD MACDONALD. My dear Lord, Mr. Mac Leod to the Lord President. London, Dec 18th, 1746. THE enclos'd came here last night from Scotland. I waited on the Duke of Gordon, & recommended M' Neil McLeod to him, to be Minister of Laggan. You may remember he was of the Church Militant, & attended me in my Expedition eastward, & stayed w' the Men constantlie till they were sent home; & preached sound Doctrine, & really was both zealous & serviceable. The Duke agrees, that anie one you recommend have his interest; & as M' Clark is gone to Hornwa, I hope you will recommend Mr Neil; & writeing to M' Gordon, the Curator, will be sufficient, & what the Duke desires. The Curator likewise told me, he would be very willing to serve him on my Acc'. I saw unhappy Lovat to-day. Except for the feebleness of his Limbs, his looks are good. He asked me several general questions, & particularlie about you; said he was resigned & ready to meet his fate, since it was God's will; asked after his Children, &c. I did not stay till he was dismissed from the Bar of the house of Peers; so I know not what they have done wh the Petition he was to present; nor if a day is apointed for his Tryal. We continue to gape for news, as no Mail or Express is yet come over. Yours, NORMAND MAC LEOD. No. CCCXXXIX. My dear Lord, No. CCCXXXIX. The same to the same. I WAS very glad to find you safe att Stonyhill the 13th. I dare say, all your philosophy was required on the loss of our friend. The first thing occurs to me, w respect to utility to his children and family, is Kingsborrow's liberation. He is the only Man of his family fitt or able to manadge the affairs of his Estate, & the only one of that Country known to them. Wh regard to anie thing else, you will be so good as allow John McKenzie Delvin talk to you; as he was his doer, & pritty much trusted. Probablie, he will know if he has made anie Settlements, & what they are; & you can then judge what is fitt to be done. I only observe to you w' regard to K—, I have made no application till I hear from you, & that you act & direct me as you see cause. Lovatt behaved well at the Barr of the House of Peers, & they say wh spirit. Granville & Bath spoke very strongly wh regard to the seizure of his Estate & Effects; & that matter is ordered to be rectified, except in as far as private Creditors come in the way. Some say, the Austrians & Piedmontese are moving towards Toulon, & others towards Aix & Marseils. It's certain, Bellille retires before them, & that the Spaniards had not joined him. We had ane odd Story from Court to-day, that the 18,000 Dutch Prisoners in France had made their escape; some say to Holland; & others say, have joined the Austrians in Provence. A good many Austrian Officers have been kill'd in the Insurrection att Genoa. It was reported, the K- said yesterday, att his Levee, that they had brought that misfortune on themselves. Many of your friends & acquaintances here enquire after you. S' Arthur is at Bath, wh I believe I told you before. London, Dec 20th, 1746. Pray remember my Militant Churchman, Neil Mac Leod. Yours, N. M. L. No. CCCXL. Sir Andrew Mitchell to the Lord President. My Dear Lord, London, 26th December 1746. * THIS will be delivered to you by our friend M' Drummond, who will give you an account of his own transactions, & of what he has seen and observed here. The part he has engaged to act appears to me extremely difficult; and, as his friend, Í have charged him to have often recourse to your Lordship's judgment and opinion. I had the honour of your's of the 16th, which gave me sincere pleasure; as I cou'd not avoid having a great anxiety about you, for attempting so long a journey in an untryed machine, and at so rude a Season of the Year: but I thank heaven, that you are got safe home, and have had spirits to bear the severe shock which the loss of so valuable a friend as Sir A. Macdonald must justly occasion. Believe me, my Lord, and I am enthusiast on this point, that, from what I have observed of your manner of bearing the cruellest losses and disappointments, I am persuaded, that providence intends you shou'd once more save your Country: and as an earnest of it, I consider your decree in the case of Capt. Hamilton; the honour of which is ascribed to you, tho' tho' the Bench were unanimous ; for, to speak in the language of the Mathematicians, Lord- iso, and I find he is so considered here. One circumstance gives me pleasure, that the decree was made before the order of the House of Lords for putting Lord Lovat into possession. Your Lop will have heard an account of Lord Lovat's behaviour; and therefore I shall not trouble you with the particulars; only I must observe, there was neither dignity nor gravity in it: he appeared quite unconcerned; and what he said was ludicrous and buffoonish; but his petition was bold and well worded; which, however, would have been passed over without notice, had not L Granville bounced, and Lord Bath vapoured, and procured an order to be entered in the Journal; and have by that acquired to themselves a sort of popularity which you know they very much wanted. No Scots Nobleman spoke on this occasion; they are prudent and cautious. God bless them! As to the affairs of Scotland, I am convinced that no Man in the Administration has had one serious thought about them since you left this place; one only excepted, whose labours for the good of his Country are incessant; but as he chuses to work in the dark, I can give no account of his progress, only that I fear he will be successfull. ; I will not trouble you with the foreign news, as that will reach you by the Gazettes before this can. The Duke is expected over soon; and it is given out, that the Dutch have agreed to every thing. However, some people talk of secret stipulations as to certain articles of expence. One thing I must mention to you, as it is still in your power to retrieve it. You have done an injury to Hercules, without intending it. Your motives of action are, to Ministers of State, incomprehensible. Take this for an Example, and be convinced: A Gentleman that I can trust, but who is unknown to your Lop, told me, he happened to be by when your Son was spoke of to M' Pelham and somebody said, he deserved a mark of the King's favour. M' P. said, if you had a Son, sure you must know him best; and, had he been fit for any thing, wou'd certainly have mentioned him, as he (M' P.) and you were upon so good a footing. This is hard & unjust to poor Hercules, who will never be a discredit to any family; and it is a pity that the father's virtue should be imputed to the Son for folly. I, therefore, take the liberty to propose, that you should write a letter to M' Pelham, to be delivered by Hercules, & to serve as an Introduction. I will go along with him, or any other of your friends that you please to name; and I need not add, that you will take no notice of the fact above mentioned. Another thing is likewise fit that you shou'd know, because the Parties concerned imagine you have done them ill offices. My neighbour Sir J. Gordon, soon after you was gone, hinted to me, as if some expressions of yours concerning the E. of Cromarty had retarded the favours he expected from the Crown. I said, that was impossible, because I knew your opinion was that the mercy shou'd be compleat; and that I was well assured, that you had signified so much to the Ministers. He told me, I was mistaken; that his Authority was too good to be doubted, and alluded to something that had passed between the P. of Wales and your Lordship. As he spoke with an air of mystery, I seemed not to understand him, but insisted that he was the dupe of his own jealousy and anxiety, &c. I find likewise, that all the nonsense and stuff that G. R. has talked is very unjustly imputed to your Lordship; and I make no doubt, a certain Brother of yours has had hints of this; which at the same time will serve (if he succeeds) to magnify the talents, interest, and industry of my neighbour. Amidst your greater occupations, I should not have troubled [you] with these little matters; but that I cannot bear that you, or yours, should suffer unjustly. M' Stanhope |