1st Duke of Gordon

lib
Represents, as a friend and a weiwisher, and to
my master as a subject, especiallie in the statione
I now hold, if I did not by ane express, acquaint
your Grace wher the matter strikes at. Give me
leave, then, with that submisione suits my mean
qualitie and statione, to sugest to your Grace that
it seemes convenient for His Majestie's service,
your Grace send forthwith your positive order* to
your bailies in this country to raise a comipanie
of wel-arnied men, in terms and for the ends ex-
pressed in His Majestie's letter. Your Grace seee
the matter requires hast, and the sooner the
beater is dispatched with your Grace's order, the
moor you show your aceotion to ther Majesties'
Government. In all things that may concerne
the welfarre of your illustrious family, [I shall
be ieadyl to aiquit myself as beiomes, Madam,
your Grace's most humble amd affectionatt ser-
vant,
Alexander Macky.
The garrison in Badenoch gave Her Grace more
trouble, as we learn from a letter which she wrote
from Gordon Castle on July 16, 16,1, to George,
Viscount Tarbat ("Earls of Oromartie," L, s9) : —
My Lord, — I am still soe much obleeged to your
Lordship's favour, that, altho' my desigue now
is to return you thankes for your former one
as to our parke, without the desi^ne of giuing
you new troubles, yet the necessity and season of
the yeare will not alow me to be sylent in suffering
any longer the aibuses in Badenoch, both by the
cornander, Captain Hewgh M'Kay, and garrison
who are become extreamly tix>ublesome, not only
by their seueTall opretions in other things, but,
in particular, that of their wasting the forests
and espetiall that of Gadlk, being near them:
[they] aire so imperious that the forester dares
neither opose or find fault with the doers. The
particular informations I refer to Sir James
Grant, to whom they are sent to informe your
Lordship off, and shall only add in this letter
that I am ashamed to be soetroblesom in the
beging your asistance in geting redress: if not,
I must take methods of my oune will not be soe
pleasing as the only making a complaint which
fll love not to doe without a cause, since noething
can soe much ineoradge me to it but the hauing
by that am opportunity of telling your Lordship
how much I am, my Lord, your Lordship's humble
servaut.
The Duchess came more prominently to the
front a few yeans later when the Jacobite scheme
to get a footing had taken definite form, and
she entered enthusiastically into the plan which
the redoubtable Colonel Nathaniel Hooke laid
before her, all the more, perhaps, to spite the
Duke, -uho was very lukewarm. She plotted with