Note 562 — A SHORT NARRATIVE OF MR. GRANT’S CONDUCT DURING THE REBELLION

App. 42. Mr. Grant to the Magistrates of Elgin, dated 29th Dec., in answer to their Letter following.—I received your Letter of yesterdays date signed by you and the Magistrates of Elgin, informing me that Macleod and his men were then marching from your Town towards Inverness and that you are now exposed to the same oppression with the other Burghs to the East. As you had Intelligence that there are 500 men ready at Strathbogie to come over, who have sworn heavy vengeance against you. How far it may be in my Power to give them a check, and to prevent the oppression they threaten you with, I dare not positively say; but I assure you, I have all the Inclinations in the world to be of as much Service to my Friends and neighbours during these troublesome Times as I possibly can. Upon the 10th of this month I was informed that the Party under Abbachys Command was levying the Cess and raising men in a most oppressive manner in Banffshire, and that they were to detach a large Party to your Town, and were threatning to use the same acts of violence against you. As at that Time I knew nothing of the Relief that was acoming to you from Inverness. I conveened upon the 12th the most of the Gentlemen of the Country and about 500 of the men, and marched directly to Mulben with an Intention to cover your Town and Country, and to assist my Friends and neighbours in the County of Banff. All this I did without any advice or Concert with those entrusted at Inverness, only the very day I marched from this, I wrote and acquainted them of my Intention; but as they imagined they had sent Force sufficient to clear all betwixt them and Aberdeen, I found it was not expected that I should proceed further than Keith or my own Estate of Mulben; however as I was resolved to chase the Rebells out of Banffshire, if in my Power I proceeded to Strathbogg where I remained two nights, and then finding that I was not desired or encouraged to go further, I returned home, leaving a party of 60 men, with officers in Mulben to prevent any small partys of the Rebells either from visiting you or oppressing that neighbourhood. My Party continued there till all the M‘Leods had passed in their way to Elgin; but then the officers there thought it was not proper for so small a body to remain longer, when Such numbers of the Rebells were so near them. My present opinion is that you may all be easy, unless you hear that a much greater body come from Aberdeen to join that at Strathbogie for these at Strathbogie will never venture to cross Spey, when I am above them and Lord Loudon is so near them. Altho the MacLeods have marched to Inverness, I am persuaded Lord Loudon will send another body sufficient to give a check to those at Strathbogie. In the situation I am at present in I am uncertain whether I am to be attacked from Perth or by those at Aberdeen and Strathbogie for my late March. I dare not promise to march with any body of Men but in Concert and with Lord Loudons Directions. And at the same Time I have demanded to be assisted with arms, and encouraged to keep my Men in the proper way. There is no body can wish the Peace and happiness of my Friends in the Town of Elgin than I do. And I shall always be ready to use my best Endeavours towards preserving the Tranquility you at present enjoy.—I am, etc.

The Magistrates of Elgins Letter to Mr. Grant, dated December 28th, 1745.—The Laird of M‘Leod and his Men are this moment marching from this Place towards Inverness, so that we are left exposed to the like Ravage and oppression which other Burghs and Counties to the East of us labour under. And unless we be immediately favoured with your Protection, we and many others of the principal Inhabitants must remove with our best effects to some Place of Safety without loss of Time. By Intelligence we have from the other side of Spey there are 500 at Strathbogie ready to come over and who have threatned a heavy vengeance upon us, so that we have all the Reason in the World to guard against the Blow in some shape or other. We therefore begg you may give us a positive and Speedy Answer. And we are respectfully, Hon^ble Sir, Your most humble Servants.