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Augustus have acquainted me, that in 2 or 3 weeks they must be in the same condition; the consequence whereof, should the thing happen, is too obvious. To prevent which, I have subsisted, out of my own pocket, such of La Loudon's reg' whose officers could not upon their private credite find money; & I have acquainted all of them, as well as the officers of the troops in garrison, that I shall make shift to supply them in like manner for some weeks more; but unless what is wanted & expected, I mean the arm'd vessell, come, that relief cannot be long usefull. By Sir John Gordon, of Inver Gordon, who proposes to take his passage on board a Dutch ship from Cromerty, & to be laid on land somewhere on the coast of England, I have written to your Lop to the same purpose. If either that, or this come to your Lop's hands, I hope for a speedy answer. I am, with perfect respect,

P. S. My Lord,

My L.

Y. L. m. o. & m. h. s.

Since writeing the above, the arrivall of the E. of Loudon, in His Majesty's ship the Glasgow, makes the dispatching the Ins ship (whose dammage & expence I shall make good) unnecessary; as the King's ship will convey the dispatches quicker, & with greater certainty. He has brought down some cash with him; & I have been scrapeing as well as I could some together to prevent the distress, which might have been fatall had no relief come. As we now are possess'd of some coin, we shall as soon as possible begin to draw the Independant Companys together, so far as we have arms for them; & we shall trust to it, that arms will be sent to us from the Tower without loss of time, & that we shall have the sloop of war, so often mentioned by me, with some more money. I have not projected at present to dispose of more than 10 or 11 of the Independant Comp", according to exigencies; &, as experience shall direct, I shall dispose of the remainder, or of some of them. I may err; but I shall be able to give a reason satisfying to myself at the time, for what I may happen to do; & I hope it will be so to His Majesty. I have writt a note to M' Pelham, referring to what I have said to your Lop.

My Lord,

No. CCCCLXIII.

The Lord President to Lord Fortrose.

Culloden, 11th Oct 1745, 9 in the morning. THE E. of Loudon came the day befor yesterday to Cromertie, & has brought some credit, which will enable us to put the Independant Comp together for the service of the Gov', & for our mutuall protection. What I therfor wish is, that your Lop would give immediate orders, to pick out the men which at first are to compose the comp' to which your Lop has named, to be brought together as soon as Fairburn arrives, in order to receive commissions & arms. Here is a report, that Barisdale is gone into Assint, to raise the men of that country, to be join'd to those of Cogeash, &c. who are said to have had orders to be in readyness & to join him; & with those to proceed throw your Lop's land, & to try how many of your Lop's people he can perswade to join him by fair means or foul. I hope this is not true; if it is, it is of the greatest consequence to prevent it. I wish Fairburn were at home: your Lop will let me know when he arrives. As my Lord Cromertie has refused the comp3 I intended for his son, your Lop will deliberate, & let me know to whom you would have it given.

given. Lord Loudon brings no news besides the arrivall of the 6000 Dutch, & the Io bat. Brittish, except that 8 batt. & 9 squad. more Brittish were embark'd at WTM Stat before he left Newcastle for the north of England, where be believes they are already landed; that 2000 men are landed at Chester from Ireland; that a great body of troops is marching northwards, under the command of Mar. Wade; that many Dukes & Peers are raiseing troops & reg" at their own expence for the service of the Gov'; & that all the north of England is arming against the Highlanders. I beg to know the truth of the report first mentioned. My compl's to Lady Seafort.

I am, most faithfully,

No. CCCCLXIV.

Your Lop's, &c.

Sir,

The Lord President to Mr Baillie.

Oct 11, 1745.

I AM at present in such a hurry, that I can only refer to mine to Inverchasly, who will deliver you this. What I would hint to you is shortly this: that zeal & diligence appear now to be more needfull than ever; as so much zeal and diligence is employ'd on the other side to drag men into inevitable destruction; even when men, if they are not blind, must see their game is lost. By the Highlanders loitering at Ed', they have given time to the Dutch 6000, & the Brittish 10 batt"s to land; & 8 batt" more Britt. & 9 squad. lay ship'd at William Stat ten days ago for the north of England. 2000 men are landed at Chester from Ireland; & a great body of the troops, horse & foot, that were formerly in England, are in full march northward to be commanded by Gen" Wade. By this sketch, which is the case, you will see what a hard wall these fools are rapping their heads ag": and yet their diligence, you see, is great in proportion. Therefor, d' Will, let us be busey, & never doubt of success. I am sincerely yours, &c.

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THE pen was at the paper yesterday to have writt you, when my L' Deskford's arrivall made me conclude it was unnecessary to send you ane express. What I then would have said is, that as my L" Loudon is come to this country, to command the troops, with means to subsist them, it is necessary that Rothemarchus's comp be forthwith brought together, in order to be ready to march to have arms given to the men, & their commissions to the officers, on the first warning; that you take care to have a hundred clever fellows for this service. I do not doubt, neither have I any apprehension, that they will be backward, when they are told that they are not to be obliged to serve longer than the present exigence continues; when, if they think fit, they may be dispens❜d with, & the comp' made up in the ordinary way by listing & attesting. So soon as the men are brought together, upon notice to La Loudon, or me, they shall have directions where to come to, to receive their arms, &c. and to be put on the regular establishment for pay; & any expence that may be incurred in the mean time for subsisting them, after they are brought together, shall be made good. As folly occasions great fluctuation in this neighbourhood, tho' it is my present sentiment that the thing

for

will blow over without much harm, it is my opinion, that you should have your eye
upon as many of your people as you can arm, to be ready on any emergence. If they
are call'd out, ways & means shall be faln on for their subsistence. I am sorry
the behaviour which is reported of your Urquhart people, so unlike the hearty com-
mands you gave them. I doubt they must be corrected. I should give you the trouble
to read our news, but that L Deskford will entertain you with them better. My com-
pliments to Lady Marg', & to all your good company. The paper will allow me
room only to say, that I am

12 Oct 1745, 9 m.

Yours, &c.

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My Lord,

No. CCCCLXVI.

Lord Fortrose to the Lord President.

THE surmise of some young fellows of my name haveing the assurance to attempt raising men for the Highlanders at Edin' prevented my answering your Lordsp's letter sooner. Upon my factor's return I sent expresses to the suspected parts, with orders to the tenants not to stir, under pain of death, without my leave, tho' their respective masters should be imprudent enough to desire them; and they are returned this moment with the people's blessings for my protecting them, and assurances they would doe nothing without my orders: so that henceforward your Lordship need not be concern'd about any idle report from benorth Kesseck.

Lord Macleod's refusall, and some other accidents, will occasion a change in some of the officers of the two companys. I shall send their names to-morrow, with some of themselves; and hope one of the companys will be ready toward twenty hours after the commission is filled.

Blaan Castle,
Oct' the 13th, 1745.

Sir,

S

I am, with great esteem, my dear Lord,
Your Lordship's faithfull he serv',

No. CCCCLXVII.

K. MACKENZIE.

The Lord President to Mr Morison, late Provost of Aberdeen.

19th Oct', 1745.

The

THIS morning yours of the 10th inst. was sent to me from Cromertie. useless, insolent usage you met with at your Cross, & your resolute behaviour, I had formerly heard, & was sufficiently approved of; nor need you doubt that it shall be properly represented in due time. The discontinuance of your election is what you could not help, under the then circumstances; & tho' it is a misfortune to the town, it must be endured, as well as they can, untill a legall remedy can be apply'd; which is no otherwise to be done, but by a warrant from the Crown, either to continue the former Magistrates & Councellors in office, or for a new election. But the remedy, in either of the ways, appears at present unseasonable. The good people must therefor at pres live in the most neighbourly way they can; as no one, I believe, would choose (tho' the community should by one consent think fit to authorise him) to act. I cannot blame you for keeping yourself as private as you can untill this storm blow over; which I pray may soon happen, with as little loss to this poor country as possible. I am, Sir, sincerely,

Your most ob & most humble serv', &c.

My Lord,

No. CCCCLXVIII.

Lord Fortrose to the Lord President.

AS all travelling seems now to be at a stop in this country, I can't have the pleasure of waiting on you as I proposed. This is therefore chiefly to enquire how you doe, and to assure your Lordship that you will always find in me a faithfull friend. The attempt upon your house surprized me extremely (the particulars whereof I got from John Rory's son this morning), and is as dirty a trick as ever I heard of, and did not think any gentleman wou'd be capable of doing. As I understand your cattle are taken away, I beg you'l order Tom Sterat to write to Colin, or any body else here, for provisions, as I can be supplied from the Highlands. I am preparing to act upon the defensive, and I suppose will soon be provoked to act upon the offensive. I have sent for a strong party of men to defend my house and overawe the country. None of my Kintail men will be down before Tuesday; but as the river is high, and that I have parties at all the boats, nothing can be attempted. Besides, I shall get reinforcements every day: I have order'd my servant to get at Inverness twelve or twenty pd of powder, with a proportionable quantity of shot. If that cannot be bought at Inverness, I must beg you'll write a line to Governor Grant, to give my serv' the powder, as I can doe without the shot. Sanders Campbell, my factor, mett an express of Lovat's going to Macleod; who told Campbell's servant, his business was, to put Macleod in mind of his engagements with his master. However, I do not believe one man will stir from Sky; tho' I am convinced, that some people that are quiet were concerned, and authors of these troubles. Barrisdale is come down from Assint, and was collar'd by one of the Machlauchlans there for offering to force people to rise, and has met with no success there. I had a message from the Mackenzies in Argyleshire, to know what they should doe. Thirty are gone from Lochiel; the rest, being about sixty, are at home. I advized them to stay at home and mind their own business. The Argyleshire man says, there are four men of war on the west coaft, who threaten the Macleans and neighbourhood with fire and sword if they stir. I am, with great sincerity and regard, My dear Lord,

Blaan Castle, Oct 19, 1745.

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Your Lordship's most affectionately humble servant,
K. MACKENZIE.

My Lord,

No. CCCCLXIX.

Lord Reay to the Lord President.

I HAVE been in so bad a state of health since I had the honour of your Lordship's of the 11th, that I could not attempt to conveen my people, as I was not in case to act the needful on that occasion; but as I am some better, and have now George to assist me, I have ordered them to be here next Friday, when the company will be made up, and they ordered to march forward with all possible dispatch. Your Lordship's compliance as to the subalterns, is very obliging, and some arms for the rest of my people will be acceptable. I'm persuaded we'll all be happy under Earl

Loudon's command.

I know not what to say of the barbarous villanous attempt on your Lordship's house and person, save to rejoice that they miss'd their aim. It seems some must appear at last in their own colours. I shall still endeavour to convince your Lordship, that I am with the greatest truth and sincerity,

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My Lord,

Your Lordship's most obliged, most humble servant,

REAY.

My Lord,

No. CCCCLXX.

The Lord President to the Earl of Sutherland.

20th Oct 1745.

LAST night I had the letter your Lop did me the honour to write me, together with one from Mr Trigge, who extolls your Lop's goodness to him, &, I will say for him, deserves it. I am glad to hear that Barisdale has not met with the success he expected in recruiting in your Lop's neighbourhood. I am informed he has left that country, & come down to the low country without the numbers he look'd for. With us there has been the beginning of some commotions; but how far they will be carry'd I will not take upon me to say: only, whether those that are assembling shall think fit to march southward, or remain where they are, it is necessary that the Comp be without loss of time at Inverness, where arms will be deliver'd to them. Culcairn has orders to march his company as soon as possible, which at farthest will be Tuesday; & that raised for the Master of Ross has the same orders. As your Lop was to review Cap" Gun's comp yesterday at Dornoch, I presume they are ready; & if that is the case, your Lop will be so good as to order them streightway to Tain; & from thence, if they come up with the Rosse's, alongst with them to Iñs; & if the Rosse's shall have gone before, to follow them. I apprehend no danger by the way, as Lord Fortrose has assembled some men about Brahan; but should there be any, the compy passing at Inverbrecky, may come to Kessock or Avoch, & from thence by boats to Inverness. But when they are upon their march, if E. of Loudon or I are acquainted by express, they shall have particular directions, according as circumstances at the time may require. I mentioned to your Lop formerly, that they ought to be provided with swords & pistols for the present service, as well as may be; &, if they can, borrow guns, to make them the safer in their march: these shall be return'd when they come to Ins. I shall long to hear from your Lop that the men are upon their march; the messenger that carrys your Lop this will, I hope, bring back accounts that they are. We know nothing from the South, further than your Lop has heard, except that the 8 additional Brittish Batts that were sent for from Flanders are arrived at Newcastle. My duty to my Lady.

I am, with very great respect,

My Lord,

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