Note 565 — A SHORT NARRATIVE OF MR. GRANT’S CONDUCT DURING THE REBELLION

App. 45. Mr. Grant to Lord Loudon, dated the 9th Jany 1745-6.—Inclosed your Lordship has a letter I received this day from John Grant Chamberlain of Urquhart. The subject contained in it gives me the greatest uneasiness. I thought I had taken such measures as to prevent any of the Gentlemen or Tenants of that country from so much as thinking to favour the Rebells far less to join them. I have sent the Bearer James Grant my Chamberlain of Strathspey, who has several Relations in that Country to concur with John Grant my Chamberlain of Urquhart in every Measure that can prevent these unhappy People from pursuing their Intentions of joining the Rebells. And I have ordered him to obey any further Orders or Instructions your Lordship shall give him for that purpose, and I am hopefull I’ll get the better of that mad villain Currymony who is misleading that poor unhappy People.

That I may not weary your Lordship, I’ll leave to him to tell you all that he knows relating to that country. I have just now received the Inclosed from Lord Strechin by Mr. Sime Minister of Longmay: My Lord Strichen did all in his Power to save my Friend Lieutenant Grant from being taken Prisoner, even to the hazard of his own Life. I would gladly march to relieve him as my Lord Strichen suggests in his Letter, but I take it for granted that that Thing is impossible, for I could not march to that Country with any Body of men but the Rebells must have notice of it, and would send my Friend to Aberdeen and so forward to Glames, where the rest of the Prisoners are. I am hopeful the Kinghorn Boat on board of which my Friend came to Fraserburgh is by this time arrived at Inverness, but least it should not, I send your Lordship with the Bearer the two last Newspapers from Edin^r, which came by Lieutenant Grant who luckily delivered them with my Letters to Lord Strichen, before he was made Prisoner. And I must refer it to the Bearer to inform your Lorp. of the manner of Mr. Grant’s landing and being taken Prisoner. Mr. Syme who brought me Lord Strichens letter informs that Mr. Grant told that part of the Duke of Cumberland’s horse arrived at Edinburgh Wednesday last. That the Duke of Cumberland arrived at Edinburgh on Thursday last with a great body of horse, and the foot were following. I think it my duty to take notice to your Lop. that the Rebells are exerting themselves in every corner of the North to increase their army. I therefore think it absolutely necessary that all the Friends of the Government should use their outmost efforts to disconcert and disperse them. I had a meeting yesterday with all the Gentlemen of this Country, and I can assure your Lop. we wait only your orders and Directions, and there is nothing in our Power, but we will do upon this important occasion for the Service of our King and Country. I wish it was possible to assist us with some arms, and money to be sure also would be necessary; but give me Leave to assure your Lordship that the last farthing I or any of my Friends have, or what our Credite can procure us, shall be employed in supporting of our men upon any Expedition your Lordship shall direct us to undertake for this glorious Cause we are engaged in. I wish to God your Lordship and the Lord President would think of some measure of conveening the whole body of the Kings Friends in the north together, and I would gladly hope we would form such a body, as would in a great measure disconcert and strike a damp upon the army of the Rebells in the South, and effectually put a stop to any further Junctions they may expect benorth Stirling and at the same Time surely we might prevent their being masters of so much of the North Coast, and also hinder many of the Kings Subjects from being oppressed by the exorbitant sums of money the Rebells are presently levying from them. Complements etc.