XIX. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DUNBAR TO THE EARL OF ALBEMARLE.1 My Lord, Inverness Augt the 2d 1746. Brig Mordaunt desires I will send a Subaltern Officer A Recruiting into York Shire in the room of Enn. Culton who went on that Service, but is dead. I waited on Gen1 Blakney on this head; he told me I must applie to yr Lordship for leave to send one. I have the hon to be who desires ye favour youl put the Genl in mind to deliver my letter to Ld Albemarle about sending an Off recruiting. to remind the Genll to acquaint my Lord that Brig Mordaunt writes me that he has a place in his Coach for me, if my Ld will be pleased to give me leave to goe now I shall be in time to overtake yt good opertunity. The Gen will be soe good as to desire my Lords leave for Enn. Roberts, who has important business to England. when answer is made to this I shall take it as a perticular favour if youl Lett me know by Express, which Ile pay. XX. DUGALD CAMPBELL TO THE EARL OF ALBEMARLE.3 My Lord, Having received a Letter from the Overseer of the Works at Fortwilliam, acquainting me that he is not supplied with Labourers 1 Feilden MSS. 2 This appears to be the note of an enclosure to Major Roper in the foregoing. from the Regimt there as is Customary, and that the Masons and Carpenters are obliged on that Account to serve themselves; which is not only a great hinderance to the Works, but adds greatly to the expence, I am therfore again to trouble Your Lordship, desiring that you would be pleased to send a Standing Order to the Commanding Officer of the Regiment there, to give what Labourers From time to time. shall be called for by the Overseer of the Works; they being payed by the respective Artificer who's part they are employed on the usual price. The Bearer returns to. Fortwilliam, therfore if it is agreable to Your Lordship You will please send the Order by him. I am with the greatest Respect My Lord Your Lordships most Obedient and most humble Servant Inverness 2d August 1746. DUG. CAMPBELL. To the Rt Honle the Earl of Albemarle Commandr in Chief His Majesties Forces in North Brittain. Endorsed:-A. Augst 4th. XXI. LORD BALGONIE TO THE EARL OF ALBEMARLE.2 Inverness August 2d 1746. My Lord, "Tho I have not the Honour to be of your Lops Acquaintance, My afairs at present oblige me to give you This Trouble, to beg your Lop will be pleased to grant me Your Leave of Absence from the Regiment after we are settled in our quarters at Elgin, to go as far as My Lord Levens Seat in Fifeshire. My Lords late bad state of health, and my long absence from home are the principal Reasons for my 1 Houghton's regiment was quartered at Fort William. 2 Feilden MSS. 3 Handasyde's. giving Your LoP this Trouble at present. I have the honour to be with great Respect I have the Pleasure of finding some of my Northern Friends return'd, and very sorry that Yr Ldp is not in the number, but hope before or by the Winter you will also come Southward. I am return'd, my Lord, to Town at a bad time for me, having People at Work in the Country, and no one to overlook them, but hope when my Month in Waiting expires that I shall obtain Leave to go again to my Family, which I left in the Isle of Wight. We have had some Executions, and I hope shall soon have more, and fewer Reprieves; for I confess, my Lord, that my Compassion does not extend to the Guilty Rebells, but to the Fatherless, the Orphans and those distress'd Familys whom these Villains have ruin'd. I this morning presented Mr Lawrence an Ensign in Yr Ldps Regimt and I suppose it will not be long before I repeat the same to my Nephew, whom Yr Ldp has been so good to countenance. His Commission bears date 28th June, the day after Mr Lawrence's, but where to write to him I know not; but conclude he has heard from Yr Ldp, and is on the road for London. 3 1 Feilden MSS. 2 On July 30, Francis Townley, George Fletcher, Thomas Chadwick, James Dawson, Thomas Deacon, John Berwick, Andrew Blood, Thomas Sydall, and David Morgan were executed at Kensington Common. Eight others were at the same time reprieved for three weeks. Cf. Scots Magazine, vol. viii., p. 326. 3 Lord Albemarle was Colonel of the Coldstream Guards. The long Westerly Winds prevents our hearing any News from Flanders, or the moving the Transports from Spithead, who I fear by their long lying there will become sickly. I have, by H.R. Hss's Directions, this day given Orders for discharging 5 or 6 Vestry Men out of each Company, the same being done two days ago in the first Regimt, but Yr Ldp will see by the Return that Ld John Sackville and myself have not that number to dispose of. I doubt not when Yr Ldp gets here we shall have your Assistance in preventing us from being Sufferers for our Diligence and Care in getting so compleat as we have done so soon before all others with Men inlisted for Life; if ever any Consideration be made for it, as in Reason and Justice there ought. I have, my Lord, nothing more to add but to inform Yr Ldp the Regimt looks very well, and we have already great Numbers less Sick than was before the Hospital was finish'd, and doubt not but the Regiment will receive great Benefit from it. I will detain Yr Ldp no longer, but with my best and most hearty Wishes for Yr Ldps Welfare, and subscribe myself I am Just now Honnour'd with your letter of Ist Instant, and shall wait upon your Lordship as soon as I get to fort William, where I hope to be some time this day. I have been detained here longer than I expected by some Informations of Rebells and their Catle being near to us, but I find in Generall they had notice of our Marching almost as soon as we left 1 Feilden MSS. D fort William, and drove off what Catle the Campbells left them twenty miles off in to the Mountains. My Sergeant whom I sent to Glasgow for shoes return'd to me last night with shoes. Captain Miller, who was att Appin House, had a few Arms brought in to him from different people. I hope to morrow by Noon to have the Honnour of waiting upon your Lordship. I am my Lord your most Obedient Humble Servant To The Right Honorable The Earl of Albemarle Lt. Gll. and Commander in Chief of His Majestys Forces in North Brittain. XXIV. JOHN MACLACHLAN TO THE EARL OF ALBEMARLE.1 My Lord, Last night a fellow I sent towards the braes of Knoedort returnd, who Informs me that McDonald of Lochgerry Sent a Servant Sometime ago to the McKinzies's Countrey; he returnd thursday was Seneight to his Master with a letter, who was then near the head of Lochcouach [Loch Oich]; he told a friend of his that day that he had been amongst the McKinzies to look after Frence Ships, and that in Pollew he counted twenty Six of them; he stayd there a day and a night, got bread and beeff from Some of the people belonging to the Ships, who made him drunck with brandy; he askt what reason they had for keeping so quiet; they answerd their designe was to keep very quiet till they hear of the Pretender's Second Son landing with troops. in the South; how far McDonald's Servant told truth I cannt say, but the person he spoke to, and my fellow who had it as a great Secret from yt person, are convinced its fact. Im likewise informd that McDonald 2 July 24. 1 Feilden MSS. |