My Lord, No. LVI. The Earl of Ilay to Lord Lovat. I SHOULD sooner have done myself this honour, but that I waited till I could answer that pairt of your leter about your coming to London. I was apprehensive, that in case your Lordship befor you hade a direct leave, some of your & my Enemies might have been readie to pass censurs upon it; as they never miss to do, when they have ane opportunitie, whither right or wrong. I spoke to my Lord Townsend to-day; and he told me your Lp might come when you pleased: all the Court, I find, are very weell disposed to take care of you, & to find out such a reward as I forsaw you would, & now they are all convinced you doe, deserve: Our Enemies have of late been very busie; but its very possible that ther plotts may turn upon themselves. I assure you, there is no instance of success I should be fonder of, than an opportunitie of doeing you Service. London, March 27th 1716. I am, My Lord, Your Lordships No. LVII. ILAY. Much Honoured Sir, Mr Robert Baillie [to Culloden.] Numb. 2. I CONGRATULATE you upon the Royal favour which smiles upon your friends; Long may it continue. Yours of 22d is before me; and I humbly thank you for the reprimand given so justly; the person concerned is resolved to mend that fault. I suppose now you expect the confirmation promised in my last; which being a matter of importance, I shall tell you the truth, that the Commander's Landlady inclines mightily to have home her banished, and was pleased with the fidling a few springs, and the dancing of two [or] three Girls, till about twelve, to entertain him; to see if that would put him in a good humour. 3 Ships arrived Wednesday w Powder, Cannons, Mortars, Bombs, Bullets, Granadoes, Carriages, Bisket, Flour, Salt, &c. to provide the Army in Badenoch, where they encamp 3a April. The Dutch and Swiss march hence thither Munday. Some Companies of Grant's Regim' are marched to Ross, to relieve the Garrisons of the Forraigners, who go for the Camp at Ruthven. General Wightman, or W-kman, hath taken six Coach horses, with Coach and Shaes, of Seafort - the Coach is sent on board one of the Ships forsaid. Stores of Corn and Strae are laid up in abundance in our Magazine in the Maggot; and all the Souldiers are in a mighty hurry, preparing for the expedition to Ruthven. Fish and Provisions come in plentifully for the ready Money. Our Synod meets shortly. In the address, cast in a word of Lovat also. If I can, I'll endeavour to make it pass; I hope to see it from you shortly. Some say here, that it would have been better service to have taken the Guns and swords from the Rebells than Seafort's Coach; but G. W-kman is fond of the Bonny Coach and fine horses. Our Our old M-g-s-ts are apprehensive, but fail not to use all means w* General Wightman to fortifie themselves; think upon our liberation from Bondage, and get in such Men whom the K. and all honest men may trust. I humbly conceive our Comm in Chiefe should not comfort them who are suspected of Jacobitism; far less such as are apparently so. Never was there greater oppression in billetting of Souldiers: the poor Whiggs are squeez'd, and Rebells spared. Jameson is like to make a hand with some of our Officers to be reponed to his Meeting House; in which case the Seeds of Jacobitism shall still be nursed among us. Now I suppose you are wearied in reading the incoherent Paragraphs above written; but I would not weary to talk with you all night. My next shall be superscribed number 3d as this numb 2a; and you need expect no other superscription from, Inv: 30th March 1716. Much honoured & Dear Sir, RO. BAILLIE. No. LVIII. Dear Duncan, Sir David Dalrymple to M' Duncan Forbes. I THANK you for your kind correspondence, and am to acknowledge noe fewer than four of your Letters. I am not surprized with the marks of good nature & temper that a certain Judge showes towards me every day. Indeed, I am surprized that a Man of that temper should find Patrons any where. I hope that he has fewer than he imagines; but I will allwayes speak with great reserve in matters which depend on great Men. M' Stanhope told me to-day, at Court, that he does not remember of any order sent to M' Cockburn, or his father, to take care of the Warrants of Councill for the election of y Burrowes; but I shall know more particularly the state of that matter before next post. By a conversation I had this day at Court, I begin to think we shall have no Recruits this year; but I shall be soon certaine in what will be expected in that also.. There is not yet, for what I know, any resolution taken about the Prisoners; only a Petition has been promoted among them to pray for being transported; which, if it save y' lives & fortunes, I believe will go very well down wh the younger sort, but will go heavily down with those of greater age, or such as have familys or young Children. They have intimat" within these few days to prepare for y' tryalls speedily, they expect y' Indictments on Saturday I don't yet hear that any Commission of Oyer & terminer is exped. The report, that the Triennial Act is to be changed into a Septenniall, of which no doubt you have heard, is the great subject of discourse in City & in Country, where it is argued with great heat & animosity. To be sure, a project that lessens the sweet opportunitys of eating & drinking heartily, & deprives hot headed Clergy Men of exciteing the people warmly once every three year, will not be very generallie gratefull; & there will not be wanting People who for popularity wil! encourage such sentiments; the matter itself is of moment, & not wout difficulty. It had been better from the beginning a Septenniall act; but it may be dangerous at this tyme to deprive y° people & the Clergy of a beloved Act. This is certain, that these frequent concussions about Elections have encreased our divisions, and the giddie & unsettled temper that appears among among us; it has exhausted the Estates of Nobility & Gentry in many Places, & weakens y reputation of our alliancies with foreigners. If this thing comes to be debated in ye two houses, I believe y Arguments will be urged on both sides with great eagerness & freedom; which would be very entertaining, if a Man could be indifferent in such cases. The large steps which France makes for clearing off her Debts, her doubtfull conduct towards this Court, the weight of a Turkish Warr upon the Emperour, the progress which y Swedes make in Norway, with some other circumstances, afford abundance of matter of speculation to the Politicians; but we have reason to depend upon the goodness of Almighty God, which has not only supported us since the Revolution, but has brought every thing to such Points, as we could not doubt that our safetie proceeded from that watchful Providence. Mr. Walpole cannot be said to be out of danger; but his Phisitians have better hopes of him to day & yesterday, than they had for some days before. You may be sure that the doubtfull state of his health does very much affect all that wish well to the King and his Government. I thank you for the care of Ouchterlony; I hope in a post or two to write something further about him. I don't believe that he's just as clean as white paper; but by all that I have ever heard, he is not charged with any Crime that is not bailable, & would not be thought so in any body that I were less concern'd in. In a word, I believe he is not a Sinner above all that dwelt at Jerusalem; nor are his persecutors the most disinterested in the service of the Government, civil or ecclesiastical. I han't yet seen Colloden; but he and I will mind your honor in a glass deep proportioned to your length, & sprightly as your wisdom. I am, dear Duncan, I HAVE yours of the 27th past; which is the most I have to say in the performance of this officious duty, besides to cover the inclosed. You'l possibly have heard, that Mr. WTM Fraser, Fraserdale's Chamberlain, came here when Lord Lovat was in the Country, w' two stollen passes from Athol & the Commissary Gen" at Blair, to desire a pass from Gen" Wightman; upon these that he might go to the Highlands, to buy Cows for Cadogan's Army; but Wightman refused it till Lovat was returned; & then, understanding that Lovat had procured Orders for apprehending him, he withdrew; next day, by proxies, he gave some information about Fraserdale's Plate; and Lord Lovat as he was going to Ruthven demanded it of Provost Clerk; but he positively refused him, and I believe there happened some hott words. Afterwards Lovat, in his passion, dropt something of it to Wightman; who, when Lovat was gone, by arreast and threatenings of prison, procured the plate from the Provost. I don't know yet what Cadogan may do in it, but Wightman did not make the Prize for Lovat. General Cadogan came here last night; his little army was encamped this day, about noon, at Borlum. There goes hence Detachments of the Fuzileers, Brigadier Grant's Dutch and Swisse to the number of 1000; and it's s" they are to march into the Highlands Monday next. Many Many of us are indeed now sensible of your absence, Sir; for we have none to apply to for the redress of our Grievances; but we'll be sufficiently redrest, if you do what we believe is in your power for us; and if you faile, you'l certainly be discontented with yourself for it afterwards; & pray speak the word for a Post Master to Fochabers. I am, AS the Army passed through Badenoch, an uncivil return was given to a Message from the General, by Mc Donald of Gellaway upon Lochspei in Lagan; whereupon a Detachment of 200 men was sent to that Country, who burnt his house & Corns, & killed all his Sheep, and carried off all his Cows. Wednesday the Army marched from Badenoch towards the head of Straithspei, & yesternight Incamped at Moy; & this night are to Incamp about Borlum. Yesternight, at 6 in the Evening, General Cadogan arrived here, under the discharge of the great Guns from our Castle. This day Mr. Stuart & I waited upon His Excellency, being introduced by My Lord Lovat. I hear that tomorrow or Munday the troops in this town will march to the Camp at Borlum. I am informed that Glengary keeps his house at Innergary; but how long he will do so I know not. I need not write the history of Fraserdale his Silver Plate, since you may have that account from other hands; only I am pretty well informed, that it is not above 150 Pounds in value: also I may observe, that G Wn keeps well what he takes. The Gentlemen in Lochiel's Countrey have submitted to the Garrison; but the Laird with a few men is gone to the Hills. I hope shortly you shall hear of the Settlement of this Countrey; of which per next, I am, Much honoured & Dear Sir, Inv: 6 Ap. 1716. Your most Obed' & most humble Serv RO. BAILLIE. Our Presbytrie have appointed two Commissioners to the General Assembly, of which you are one; and it is humbly intreated you may not despise the Office of their ruling Elder in that Court. All the honest Officers who are come along with Cadogan seem surprized that the Lewtennants did not turn out the Jacobite Magistrats; seeing they were chosen when the town was in the hands of the Rebels, whom they aided and comforted.. Dear Brother, No. LXI.. Mr. John Forbes to Mr. Duncan Forbes. YOU are pleased to blaime me for the hurrie I was in at pairting. If you consider what hand John Kennedie and you had in that affaire, I perswade myself you'll think it somewhat out of the Road, first to tempt, and then accuse. In my last, I told you that I had Kist the King and Princes their hands; I have since been with the Prince in Private, and att his desyre given him a true accoumpt of what past past in the North; with which he was very weell satisfied, and seems to have a very just sense of what was done for his Service there; and he seems to understand matters so weell now, that in a very litle tyme its thought the Squad will have but litle to say. I have spoke to the Duke and to Ilay. They both desyre you may continue to write to them; and Ilay told me, he was to write you to that purpose last post; but whether he has or not, fail not to write. The Duke told me a Storie last night, That the Justice Clerk had represented you as a Jacobite, and not fitt to serve as Advocate Deputt, and desyring to have you alter'd. Pray lett me know what ther is of this; the Duke takes a great concern in you, and went himself to Sir David Dalrymple, who told the Duke, if any such thing were attempted, he would lay down before they should have ther Will. I have delivered Sir William S' Quintine's Letter; you may be sure ther shall be nothing wanting on my pairt to serve Mr. Mc Pharline.. I beg you may make my humble duty acceptable to him and his Lady. All our news comes from you. By the Publick prints you'll find a great many thousands gott togither; for no oy' reason but that Cadoggan may subdue them. It is certain, that the trienniall Act will be made septenniall. The Court gives a great many reasons for it, and the tories as many against it. Your Perriwig shall be sent how soon I can. As for my Memorandum anent my affairs, I have not as yett had tyme to think of any; only it were proper to lay down a Plan, how to have our Ingadgements for the Public reliev'd; and likewise that you should direct me how to steate my private loss and expences. London 7th Appryle 1716. I am yours, No. LXII. JO. FORBES. My d' General, Lord Lovat to Mr. Duncan Forbes. I WOULD certainly quarel any man alive, but my General, on what you tell me about y Lly of Invernesse; for I take God to witness, I never thought or design'd it; & I rejected it when others proposed it to me: so you are very unjust to your Corporal on y' head. I send you a double of my L' Islay's Letter. Gen. Cadogan this day, after his geting ane account of Glengary's, Lochiel's, & ******'s surender, gave me leave to go for London, & told me he would serve me if occasion offer'd: so, d' General, Wedsday next I design to go off for Ed: so about ye 22d I hope to embrace my General. Gen. Wightman, contrary to Gen. Cadogan's desire and his own promise, keeps ungenerously ye half of ye plate from me, but I will not quarel with him for it. I give him money for it, and he is to be forthcoming for it, according to the King's order. Give my humble duty to Provost Campbell, & tell him the contents of Islay's letter, & yt I hope to be soon wt him. I am pressd w' the post; & I am Ι for ever, Inverness, ye 7 of Apryle 1716. My d' General, your own LOVAT. ΙΟ The |