Historical account of the family of Frisel or Fraser, particularly Fraser of Lovat

PREFACE. VII
publication, 1749." It brings down their history to the time of
Simon, Lord Lovat, who made so remarkable a figure in 1715
and 1745; and the Author seems to have had an intention of
dedicating another volume to the Life of that Nobleman.
Of the transcripts of two other MSS. which I have once or
twice noticed, when I found them supported by other evidence,
viz. of one in the hands of Mr Fraser of Culduthel, and of ano-
ther of the Erasers of Saltoun, I need hardly speak. The first
is miserably deficient in information, hurrying over a generation
in a line or two. It begins in 1330 and closes in 1641, In
point of pretensions to antiquity ^ the second is sufficiently vene-
rable ; for its author ascends to Charlemagne and his peers. Such
of the MSS. of the other Highland clans as are referred to, are
in the possession of Alexander M'Kenzie, Esq. of Inverness.
With regard to published authorities, I have occasionally
had recourse to ^* The Annals of the Frasers," edited by the
Honourable Colonel A. Frasei of Lovat, In doing so, I was
not aware tiiat I was insensibly making reference to the pre-
ceding MS., intended for the press in 1749, of the existence
of which I was but lately apprised. I have, however, since then,
found, on comparison, that the printed work is little else than
a literal copy of an inconsiderable portion of the written one.
The confusion I should have been led into, in corrections, has
induced me to retain my first reference, with this explanation,—
that the MS. is only brought forward when the incidents in the
annals have been exhausted.