for the successfull care you have hitherto taken, to prevent the Assint men's falling a prey to the disturbers of the Government, or incressing their army. The reports which in your's to the doctor you say you heard, were current here; six score Macdonalds with Barisdale at their head, supported by a larger body from my neighbour to the northward, were to have march'd the beginning of this week, to force not only Assint, but Balnagown's highlands to rise, & to destroy every one that presumed to resist; but that design, if ever seriously resolved, is lay'd aside: the Macdonalds are march'd southwards; all Lovat's people are at home; Barisdale, with a few sery's only, is with him; & La Macleod only is gone into Lochbroom & Coigach, with what intent I do not presume to say; so that I am hopefull the men of Assint will be able to defend themselves, at least make their retreat good, should they be press'd; & they may depend on protection should they come this length. I cannot answer for the folly in some, or lethargy in others, that gives such scope to the play of those who would disturb their peace. Were all your neighbours, who pretend to be for liberty, hearty, we should make another figure at present than we do; but rumors & distrust prevail; & it is in such times that a man is known & valuable. Should your friends in Assint be press'd beyond what they can resist (which, for the reasons I have mention'd, I hope will not be the case), if you can conduct them safely hither, they shall not only be protected, but their expence shall be borne; & it is not impossible but some further use may be made of such as are able & willing to serve; but this only as you shall approve or direct. The intelligence which you have had has reach'd Inverchasly & M' Baillie, & prevented the bringing together the M' of Ross's comp'. I hope they will fall about it when they discover the falsehood of these rumors; & I doubt not you will be as helpfull to them as you can, as I dare say they will give you all the assistance in their power to protect or favour the retreat of the Assint inen, should either be necessary. I had this day a letter from Inverchasly by the Tain's post; but as he does not return till Tuesday, I presume to send under this cover ane answer to Inverchasly, which you will be so good as to forward to him immediately, if your occasion don't lead you to see him. I am, Dr Sir, yours, &c. Dr Sir, No. CCCCXC. The Lord President to Inverchasly. 2d Nov 1745. I HAD this day. your's of the 1st by the Tain post; but as he does not return sooner than Tuesday, I have taken the liberty to return you this answer under Genzie's cover, by a servant of his, who goes from hence to-morrow morning early. You men tion the haveing mine of the 25th Oct'; but take no notice of one of the 30th to M' Baillie, which I wrote for you both, & desired him to show you. I dare say it must be oweing to the lazieness of his serv', or to his haveing been out of the way, that it did not come to your hand. In that letter I acquainted him, that the design of a body of men's marching toward Assint, & the Braes of Ross, was laid aside; that La Mac Leod only was gone into Lockbroom & Coigach, to try what he could do; that the Assint men, & those of your country that are well intention'd, could prevent any bad design; & that it appear'd to me of the last consequence, to be able to say by the first. dispatches that go from hence to London, that the Rosses are doing what was expected from them. I then hinted that the vessell might sail the end of this, or begining of 3 L next next week; & I now acquaint you, that if I may have any good news to give against next Thursday, it may go by that conveyance. I am very much surprised & concern'd at what you write concerning the disposition of some of the gentlemen in your neighbourhood. If the commons are debauch'd in the same manner, I do not know what is to be look'd for from them, even if the Master of Ross was in this country. You may be sure, however, I shall write for him; but when he comes, & when this affair blows over, as I hope it soon will, the gentlemen who are now so indifferent must make ą very indifferent figure. It would be of use to have Sir Rob' Monro here; but at present I doubt he must be with his Regt. I had this week a letter from Aldie, recommending a young man, one Donald Ross, who he says is his near relation, &c. this you will show to M' Baillie. Let me hear from you as soon as possible, & believe me to be, my d' Davie, truely yours, &c. P. S. Nine at night. By a letter I just now received from M' Baillie, dated at Inchfure the 1o, I perceive he has been out of the way; so that he could not show you mine of the 30th. He speaks of the difficulties, of which he will acquaint you, and proposes to improve Martinmas, towards bringing the comp" together; but that term you see will be evidently too late to answer the purpose I have in view; & I should hope every one who dreams of joining the highland host will be gone from this country before that period; as a very strong army, marching northwards, is now not far from them; & it is our business to keep them at home. This M' Baillie will look upon as ane answer to his. My d' Lord, No. CCCCXCI. The Laird of Grant to the Lord President. C. Grant, Novbr 3, 1745. ROTHEMURCHUS, who marched from this yesterday, will inform your Lop of the difficultie I had to prevaill with the men to march from this countrie to Invernes; which was occasioned by manie idle stories that were spread among them from different quarters. I have been obliged to promise to relieve them, at least such as should incline, at the end of a month, and shall endeavour to have them supplied with full as good men. Lord Lewis Gordon is busie recruiting, and, I am informed, will have a considerable number of men together this week: he brought north 600 ftand of arms. I am informed from different quarters, that I and my friend are to be attacked, in which event, I will hope for assistance from Lord Loudoun. All here join in offering your Lordship our sincere compliments, and will be glade to hear anie news you have. I ever am, my d' Lord, most faithfullie No. CCCCXCII. yours, while LUD. GRANT. Sir, The Lord President to young Pitcalnie. Nov 4, 1745. I HAVE your's of the 3rd, expressing your distrust of the messages sent to you by Don. Ross; together with your apprehensions, that if you came to see me you, would be detain'd, unless you had assurances to the contrary under my hand. The messages messages he deliver'd you were from me; as I was exceedingly affected with severall reports that were current about you; nor need you wonder, that what concern'd you so nearly, &, if you will but reflect, me also, should give me abundance of uneasiness. It was, however, never in my thoughts to entrap you, or to make you in the least forfeit your honour. I wish you may have the same regard for it that I have; and as I doubt not you have pledged your honour to return to those gentlemen whose prisoner you was, I should be the last man in the world, either to advise you not to make that engagement good, or by any indirect means to hinder it.; & to make your mind easy in that particular, I hereby promise, if you come hither to see me, that you shall be permitted to return whenever you shall think fit, and shall have a safe conduct, to go to the place from whence you came, or to any other to which my authority reaches. This letter, shew'd in your way hither, if any questions are ask'd, will be to you a sufficient passport. I need not tell you that I wish you well, & that I shall be extremely grieved if any thing in your conduct shall make me be less than I have been, Your affte Uncle, &c. D' Sir, No. CCCCXCIII. The Lord President to the Laird of Grant. 5th Nov, 1745. LAST Sunday night Rothie's comp came in to Ins, & a very fine one it is, as Loudon assures me. I know you can well afford another of the same kind; & you remember I promised, that if any more Independant Comp" were to be raised, you should have the nomination of the officers of one of them. It is now, in my Lord Loudon's opinion & mine, necessary to add some to those already raised. You will, therefore, think of proper officers to command another comp of your people, to be raised in the same way as the last, & look out for the men to be employed on the same conditions. This will enable you to gratify some deserving young gentlemen of your kindred; at the same time that it will do the Gov' that service which you intend. I have no apprehension from L Lewis Gordon's recruiting, which I am told goes but heavily on. If I am rightly inform'd, he was to have been at Aberdeen as last Fryday, to influence the gathering the publick money. I have no notion that such men as he can collect in the shire of Banf or Aberdeenshire durst look Strathspey in the face, tho' half it's men were march'd out of it; but should any attempt, contrary to expectation, be made, you may depend on speedy assistance from hence. We must make the defence of each other's cause common. My compliments to Lady Marg & all your good company.. I am, Sir, with great respect, Your most ob' & most humble serv', &c. P.S. Rothie assures me, that you are willing the Comm" intended for him be given to his son: the moment you signify to me your consent, it shall be done, My dr Lord, 6th Nov 1745. I WROTE, as I told you in my last, to Fairburn, & had his answer on Monday; but had thereby no other satisfaction, than to be convinc'd that his affection to your Lop continues the same as ever, & will be such to the end; tho' a sort of nicety prevents his doing at present what your Lop & I so much wish; & since that is the case, I presume your Lop has resolved how his place is to be supply'd. I supposed that your Lop was to have march'd Hilton's comp into town Monday or Tuesday; but I dare say there is a good reason why it has not been done. I only wish that you make the dispositions so, as they may be with us soon, because that may determine our neighbours to think before they leap. If, however, your Lop have occasion for them where they are, to prevent follys in your neighbourhood of the like nature, it may be necessary to let them hover a little. I wish, however, to be inform'd what is doing in relation to this; & it is for that end I send your Lop this Mess', When the Isle of Sky post calls at Brahan, your Lop will give him a small guard as usuall. Mac Leod I expect soon from Sky, with the men that are look'd for from thence: they, probably, for security, will make Carnchirm their road; & I doubt not your Lop will give all the necessary orders for their accomodation. We have now got into Inverness the Grants & Mackays, as we had the Munros & L Sutherland's people before. These, with what we expect, will enable us soon to shew a good countenance. We have nothing certain by the last Ins post; only that the runner assures us, the Highland army march'd away from Ed & Leith Thursday & Friday last. It is no evidence that the news are good for them, when they suffer none of the Gazettes to come through. My humble duty to Lady Seafort. I am, sans façon, Yours, &c. No. CCCCXCV. From Lord Reay to the Lord President. My Lord, Tongue, 6th Nov 1745I RECKON your Lordship has seen George's company e'rr now. If it pleases you, and that you think another of my clan will be of service to the Government, my son Bighouse, who was an officer abroad, is willing to raise one, in which I'le assist him; since I am keen to exert myself on this occasion, which I hope will be the last of the kind. I mention this, as I learn some others your Lop designed companys for did not accept. I'm glad to hear that some arms are given to the Earl of Sutherland; I expect what can be spared; I really want them & some ammunition very much; as neither can be got to buy. It's hard that the true friends of the Government should want, when it's enemies over all are so well provided. We are heartily threatened, for sending men to Inverness; but that don't move me. I refer your Lordship to what George will tell you about myself. You know the great trouble and expence I was at in 1715; for which I had not as much as thanks, owing to the reasons your Lordship knowes; yet as long as I have my present judgment, I shall risk my all most chearfully for our happy establishment. I'm perswaded your Lordship will represent my case, as a friend I fully trust. I have the honour to be, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient, most faithful humble servant, No. CCCCXCVI.. REAY. Gentlemen, The Lord President to the Gentlemen of the Name of Ross. Culloden, 7th Nov. 1745. IT is, I confess, a piece of presumption in me to adress so many gentlemen, who each well deserve a separate application, by one letter; but the hurry I am keept in is so great, & the occasion is so pressing, that I hope you will forgive me. Upon the unexpected heighth to which the Rebellion now on foot blazed, His. Majestie was pleased to trust me with the disposition of Comissions for raiseing some Independant Comp amongst those kindreds in the north whose disposition it was to support the Gov'; & it did not cost me one minute to resolve, that no kindred could be better trusted than yours; wherefore, without loss of time, I acquainted M' Baillie, who has the charge of the Master of Rosse's affairs, that the Master was to have one of the Comps; & that I hoped that zeal in the kindred for Revolution principles, & for the support of our religion & libertys, which had appear❜d on every proper occasion, would now show itself, & compleat that Comp" as quickly as any other could be shewn; but, to my great mortification, I have been inform'd, that the men who were assembled for that purpose were prevail'd upon to disperse, upon the interposition of ane unhappy youth, a near relation of mine, whose conduct you may be sure gives me infinite pain; & this is not the single thing that disturbs me; for you may believe me, I am concern'd for the slur that this unhappy accident will, unless it is speedily repair'd, bring upon the character of zeal & loyalty which the kindred has so long possest; & for the inconvenience it may be attended with to the publick, as well as to the individualls by whose fault it may be supposed to have happen'd. What I therefore most earnestly entreat of you, whose affection to the Gov', as well as concern for the honour of the kindred, I am fully satisfy'd of, is, that you would, without looseing time, concert the proper measures for haveing this Comp instantly made up of men, who shall not be under stood to serve any longer than till these troubles are over; which I am hopefull will be the case very soon; when the Comp' may be recruited by attesting men in the useuall way. I have beg'd the favour of Capt" Munro, of Culcairn, to wait upon you & deliver you this, who can explain to you at greater length what I would say, than can be done in the compass of a letter ; & who can help you with his advice. I hope you will excuse the freedom which I use; which has no other object than the good of the publick, & the honour of your kindred. I am, Gentlemen, Sincerely your well wisher, and most ob humble humble serv*, &c. No. CCCCXCVII |