he did not incline to use any force at this time, for fear of disgusting his people, he had taken the resolution which all the people with him approved of, of marching down himself to-morrow to Inverness, and carrying along with him those he had then assembled together, in order to offer all their services to the Government, in such manner as your Lordship and my Lord Loudon should there concert with him. As far as I could judge by my eye, the number of people with M' Grant were between four and five hundred; and I know he can, out of his own estates, & those of his friends in this country, command some hundreds more, if the Government should have use for them. He proposes, likewise, before he returns to Strathspey, to go with a party of his people to Urquhart, in order to prevent any more of the people of that country being forced out upon the other side, contrary to their inclinations & their duty to him. He desires me likewise to beg, in his name, the favour of your Lordship to communicate this resolution of his to my Lord Loudon and the Major; & to beg that you would be so good as to give such directions as you shall think proper for billeting & quartering his men in the town, when they come there to-morrow night. My Lord Findlater begs leave to offer his respects to your Lordship & my Lord Loudon. I am, with the most sincere respect, Castle Grant, Oct 25th, 1745. My Lord, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obed & most humble Ser*, No. CCCCLXXVII. The Lord President to Lord Deskfoord. ORD. DESKFOORD. Oct 26, 1745 BY ten this morning your messenger arrived at this place. I immediately dispatched your Lop's letter to E. Loudon; who came hither on the receipt of it this moment, after leaving directions in town for accomodating the men the best they can, if they all come. I wish with all my heart, & so does L. Loudon, that Mr. Grant had communicated his design to us before he set out with such numbers, which may have the effect to begin horse-play before we are sufficiently prepared; however, since he is in the way, & has given no notice of his route, I cannot tell how, even if it were necessary, to prevent it; & we must now do the best we can. It appears to me to be unaccountable folly in the people, that they deliberate on entering into the comp, since they are not to be bound further than the present service; & therfore I should hope they may be prevail'd furthwith to form it. As your messenger presses to be dispatch'd, I add no more, but my compliments to the Ladys & to my Lord Findlater. I am perfectly your Lop's, &c. No. CCCCLXXVIII. The Laird of Grant to the Lord President. My dr Lord, Inverlaiden, Oct 26th, 1745I HAD the honor of your Lordship's of the 24th, and would have writt you sooner, but the reports I had brought me from Urquhart, that the Frasers, and a large bodie from other clans, were to join some of the tribes of the Clanchattan, and were to march as last Thursday from Strathurn through this country, made me think it proper to conveen all all the men, and to keep in a bodie in the braes of the countrie, where I have been since Wednesday. This day I proposed to have marched to relieve the poor tenants of Urquhart, who have been most scandallouslie used; but just now I have ane express from that countrie, informing me that the Macdonells & Frasers have left the countrie, after carrying about fortie of the men with them. This day Rother's companie shall be compleated, and will be at Inverness Tuesday or Wednesday at farthest for the men, who have been all here since Wednesday, will require a day or two at home to gett readie. I beg my compliments to the Earl of Loudown; and I ever am, my d' Lord, most faithfullie your Lordship's while My Lord, No. CCCCLXXIX. The Lord President to the Earl of Sutherland. LUD. GRANT. 26th Oct 1745. YOUR trusty sery Anderson has been here. It is a great satisfaction to me, that your comp, notwithstanding the distance, & the difficulty of the passage, has been here earlyer than any of those that have been call'd for, except Culcairn's, which was just at hand; but zeal like your Lop's will do many things. I acquainted your Lop formerly, that if any commissions more were to be given out, your Lop should have the nomination of the officers of another comp'; and now I take the liberty to suggest to you, that this will happen. What I therefor beg of your Lop is, that you would, without loss of time, & as prudently as may be, resolve upon Capt", Lieu', & Ensign, such as you think fittest, & name them to me at once, without leaveing room for teaseing yourself or me further; & that you would give out the proper directions immediately for makeing up their comp. If I do not mistake it, you seem'd to favour a broy' of Kinminity's, who is a relation of your own, & of whom I hear a very good character. If your Lop continues in the same oppinion, let me know. The arms which your Lop sent with the men are return'd with M' Anderson. The sloop of war has carry'd no more arms than for the comp's. I shall write immediately for more; when they come, your people shall be provided. I desired Major Mackay to tell your Lop, that any dispatches you have for London, if they come within 3 days, shall be transmitted. My duty to my Lady. I am with perfect respect, my very good Lord, Lord Sutherland to the Lord President. THE bearer is in his way to London. I have sent him thither with letters to the Dukes of Argyle and Newcastle, and others of the Ministry of State, wherein I apply for a certain commission. Your Lop will know what it is, from the memorials which M' Gillchrist will show you. Shall I hope your Lop will be so good to second my application, by writing to some of your friends who have most interest at Court? Í will hope this, my Lord, since what I propose is so manifestly expedient for the service of our King and Country in the present conjuncture, and will be an effectuall measure for keeping the North Highlands in better order for the future. The bearer, M' James Gilchrist, Minister of Thurso, has made some discoveries relating to this rebellion, both before and after it broke out. Your Lop may entirely rely on his veracity in answering any questions he is ask'd, either on that or any other subject. It would be absolutely unsafe for him to return any more to Caithness. I shall hope your Lop will interpose your good offices, that something may be got done for him; since it were extream hard he should meet with nothing but ruin to himself and numerous family, for doing his duty to his King & Country. Will your Lop recommend him to the Captain of the Saltash sloop, by which I want he should take his passage? Dunrobin, 26th Octr 1745. } I am, with great regard, Your Lop's much oblig'd & most obedient Servant, No. CCCCLXXXI. D' Sir, The Lord President to the Laird of Grant. Oct 27, 1745. UPON Ld Deskfoord's letter of the 25th, quarters were prepared last night at Iñs. for the 500 men he spoke of; and E. Loudon waited there to receive them, untill I sent him your letter of the 26th (which came to his hands before eight o'clock), acquainting him that you had altered your resolution. I am not sorry that the whole number did not then come, as no plan had been concerted for the disposition of them; but I am under some concern that so many of them as were proper for composeing Rothie's comp did not come, because those were expected some time ago, & the comp from Sutherland arrived the night before the last. What I therefore send you back this messenger for, is, to beg that Rothie's comp may march without loseing a moment; because we have rely'd upon them; & the example to others will be bad, if they, who were rely'd on, should prove dilatory. The oppression of your Urquhart people, I am affraid continues still; & there may, for ought I know, be occasion to march a considerable body to relieve them from it; but that in due time may be concerted properly & executed, tho' it ought not to hinder the immediate march of the comp', who, in all events, will be so far in their way. I offer my compliments to Ly Marg & the rest of your good company; & am with great respect, Dr Sir, Your most obt & most humble Serv', &c. No. CCCCLXXXII. My Lord, Lord Fortrose to the Lord President. I HAVE obey'd your directions about the Sky post; he will be safely conveyed to the sea side. If I had heard any thing worth notice, your Lordship would have heard from me sooner. I return thanks for what you wrot to Farrintosh; however, as the 3 K men men I have just now here are arm'd, I fancy none will offer to attack my house, tho prudence requires one to be on the guard. Lord Cromertie, his son, Macculloch of Glestulich, and Ardloch's B', came here Fryday. It was as unexpected a visitt as I have receiv'd for some time. As I did not like to turn him out of my house, he stay'd here, but seem'd very pensive and dull. However, if I had known then what I doe now, I would have been uncivill to some of the company by makeing them prisoners; for La Macleod went yesterday to Lochbroom to endeavour to get men, and I suppose will go to Assint. Inclos'd your Lordship has a list of the officers' names belonging to the two companies. I offered them to Coul and Redcastle, but neither of them could be prevailed on to accept; so I gave it to one I will answer for. It was from Coul's house Lord Macleod went to Lochbroom, which vexed me. However, I shall remember all these things when the troubles are over. If I had been Sheriff of the county, I fancy it would have authorized me to doe several things which I have not a pretence to doe at present. Braan Castle, Oct. ye 28th, 1745. I am, with great regard, Your Lordship's most affectionate humble Servant, P. S. My intelligence is very bad, as few come here. My Lord, No. CCCCLXXXIII. Mr. Baillie to the Lord President. K. MACKENZIE. I WAS Wth Pitcalny on Saturday, & brought wth me Mr. Ross of Calrossie, a gentleman who is a near relation of Pitcalnie's, & has a good dale to say wth him; and we both expostulat wh him on the subject of your Lop's letter, which I had the honor of delivering. Hee seems to me to be in the deepest sorrow & concern on acco' of his son's behaviour; & engaged in the strongest manner to use all endeavours to get him back to his duty, & accept of that pardon & forgiveness which your Lordp promises in case he repent immediatlie. He wrote him a letter at my sight, and sent a friend with it to find his son, & bring him back wherever he found him; but if the young Peer in your nybourhood do not also repent and stay at home, I am afraid they will both go together; and that, I think, is the only chance against Mr. Ross his returning to his duty. I do not find that any of our people follow'd him, except two or three sillie fellows; & that must bring down the poor boy's spirits as to chiftanry, & make the other people see they made no great gaine by this proselite, & consequently that they will put little value upon him; which consideration will, I hope, occurr to the young man himself, & help to open his tender eyes & understanding. I thought to bring the people together againe this week, but cannot attempt it at this time; because they have now a further pretence than formerly; being informed, & not without foundation, that a great number of men from Inverness-shire are on their road, first to Assint, & then to this country, in order to raise men, & distress us every other way; and all up and down here are in a terrible consternation, & know not what to do. I have intelligence that 400 is design'd for this expedition; and if there is no more, I hope wee shall be able to give some account of them, even tho' wee are but ill-appointed for arms & amunition. But as wee are better acquaint in the countrie, we may have the benefit of some passes throu❜ wch they must go, & distress them that way. They are greatly alarmed in Sutherland; but I have pretty sure accotts they are not to go that way; and if they shou'd attempt it, I really believe there is no man of them will ever return to tell his friends the fate of the rest. Whenever I have certain accotts of their arriveing, will give your Lop the trouble of ane other leter; and if it was possible in the mean time to give us some guns, they wou'd do great service in case those people come upon us. The M' of Rosse is come to London, & no doubt will soon be in Scotland. I have the honor of being, with the greatest respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obed' and most faithful serv Ardmore, 1745. } WILL. BAILLIE. My dear Lord, No. CCCCLXXXIV. The Lord President to Lord Fortrose. 28 Oct 1745. I HAVE the honour of your Lop's of this day's date. If I sent you, by the way of Ferintosh yesterday, a groundless message, you will impute it to that care, which is at least as much concern'd about you as it is about myself. The notice I had was the effect of a deliberation which was said for half a day to have been concluded on; tho' I have since heard, upon better adviseing, it was given up. As you are prepared, nothing probably will disturb you. What you write of the young Lord's march to the northward surprises me, considering what I can show you when I have the honour to see you; but we live in a strange world. I hope, however, your Lop will give the proper directions, that no man, who may be forced from the northward, will find their passage to the southward to affront you & encourage your foes: in a very little time, we shall be able to speak to the unhappy people who would disturb us, in another stile; but I hope we shall do it gently. I am obliged to your Lop for the escort you was so good as to give to the Sky post at my request; & I hope you will give such another to him who is to go off to-morrow or next day; for I depend upon it, that the two lairds of that country will conform to our views in ev'ry particular, which will make us very easy. I have the note you sent me for the officers of the 2 Independant Comp, which shall be fill'd up in the commissions accordingly, without any further consideration but that you judge it right. The sooner they can be sent hither to be arm'd, & to receive their commissions, it is so much the better. I am perswaded it would terribly stagger the resolutions of some of your neighbours. As it is not fit for me, as things now are, to go to Brahan, nor for your Lop to come hither, I very much wish you would send me over Sandy of Fairburn for ane hour to-morrow, if it may be, or next day, or in short as soon as possible; because by him a plan may be proposed to your Lop for approbation of our operation, better than can be concerted in this pen & ink way. The advance of the troops towards Edr discourages some of our neighbours; & now is the time to do that service that will be attended with the least mischief, because it may prevent it. They were a little while ago cock-a-hoop with the news of the landing of much treasure & of E. Marishall at Montrose; but now that they are told the cash was but a trifle, & that the other story was a flat lye, as indeed there never was any reason 3 K 2 your to |