Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 12

History of the Macleods. 227
a distance, his people were unfixed, his Government not established. We should have
taken the place, and by a proper motion to the south east, and communication with
Lang, we might have formed a junction with him. This required genius, military
skill, policy, vigour, and disinterestedness ; address to manage and divide the
enemy, and to conciliate and unite his own army, but was infinitely above the con-
tracted ideas of ignorant, improvident, and selfish Mathews. I am at this moment in
very great apprehension for the army ; they are dispersed in a most unmilitary
manner, and in a way which will render their assembly more dangerous and
impracticable than that of the army in the Carnatic at the beginning of the war. In
short, Mathews' success hitherto has been because he has had no enemy ; if Tippo
comes against him he wll fall.
I don't know whether I have done right or not, in being so free about a man you
profess a regard for, but my character is to be open and above board. I have acted
toward him with the most perfect honour and integrity, and will continue to do so.
I must now take the liberty of telling you that I expect to hear directly from
yourself, and that if you don't write to me, I shall think you wish to throw off a
troublesome correspondent.
I have a most affecting letter from Ullinish. His eldest son, my lieutenant, was
killed in America ; he beseeches and implores one of his sons to go home to him.
Believe me, with great affection and respect,
My dear sir.
Your most obt. humble sert. ,
(Signed) Normak Maclkoo.
Bombay, March 14th, 1783.
(To lye continued.)