Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 3

HISTORY OF THE HIGHLANDS.
*No. XXIII.
Mr Drummond of Bochaldy to the Chevalier de St George.
Xbth Sovcmber, 1743.
Sir,
I HAD the lionour to put myself at His Royal Highness, the Duke's feet,
along with Lord Sempil last evening. We were both extremely happy to find
him so well recovered, and in so mucli spirits, among a number of his friends of
the Bouillon family. His Royal Higlmess has had the condescension to allow
us to make our court to him from time to time, and at the same time has given
us orders to c/ive no more inforinatioyi or memorials to the French Ministers
concerning yotir Majesty's friends in England. The two gentlemen now come
over, having -powers from the Prince, who must hnow his JKoyal Highness's
intentions much better than we. Lord Sempil informs your Majesty particu-
larly of this, for wliich reason I shall not give you the trouble of a repetition.
I inclosed Mr Moor's letters in his own hand, of which I was accustomed to
6eud copys, the originals being then necessarily kept here, both lest the French
ministers should call for the originals which Mr Amelut and the minister of
Marine were sometimes accustomed to do, and because of the danger of the
packets being tahen, — a danger our correspondent did not incline to risk. Now
that that danger is much less, if there be any ; I have sent the originals, and
kept copies to be sent the P. by the first opportunity, hoping they may be ot
some use and satisfaction. I have likewise a letter from Mr Smart of the 22d ;
but it bears nothing save that the rebels, (as he names them,) manage so se-
cretly, that the longest sighted ministers cannot penetrate their designs.
*No. XXIV.
The Fev. Alexander Gordon to the Chevalier tie St George.
Sire,
J'ai ose me flatter qu'aiant I'honneur de presenter h votre Majesty une
copie du memoire que j'ai remis a Son Altesse Royale Monseigneur le due
d'York, il me seroit permis d'y joindre des assurances de mon zcle sincere et de
mon respectueux devoument pour votre Personne sacrce. J'expose dans cet ecrit
la situation dans laquclle se trouvait Son Altesse Roiale Monseigneur le Prince
de Galles lors de mon depart de I'Ecosse, et comme je n'agis alors que par ses
ordres, aussi ne me suis je conduit ici depuis que par ceux de Son Altesse Roi-
ale Jionseigneur le Due d'York et de Monsieur O'bryen, votre ministre j heur-
eu.x si en continuant i suivre leui-s directions je pouvois etre effectivement de
queique utilite. Mais Sire, quelqu' ardent quesoit mon zele, et qiielqu' envi que
j'aiede servir les interets de Votre Majesty aussi-bien que ceux de Messeigneurs
les Princes, je ne puis m'y employer qu' avec le conseiitement du (ieneral de la
compagnie dont je suis niembre II les a trop k coeur lui-meme ces interets,
pour ne point donncr volontiers les mains h tout ce qui pent y contribuer sur
tout si votre Majeste dnignoit s'expliquer a lui la-dessus : et afin qu'il puisse
me distinguer d'un autre qui porte le meme mon que moi il s'agit ici de cehii dont
le frcre, Pere Jacques Gordon est all6 par ses ordres demeurer a Rome depuis