Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

1745.] ALEXANDER GRANT OF CORRIMONY. 173
were distinguished by white cocades, that the sample they had already given us of the
government they were going about to establish, must greatly tend to reconcile all true
friends of liberty to it. I must, however, do them the justice to acknowledge their civility
to me, for sometime after I parted with them they ordered one of their number to my house,
to know if any of their party had presumed to give me the least disturbance by searching for
arms or otherwise, assuring me if they had, that I should have ample satisfaction, but none
of them attempted any such thing. Thursday they entered the town of Nairn and took
possession of the tolbooth, their title to which no body I believe will deny. They found a
few guns and some Danish axes in the town-house, of which they possessed themselves. They
seised, I 'm told, some guns and pistols in the house of Macleod the tinker, proclaimed the
Pretender king at the mercat cross, and drank many healths suitable to the occasion, etc.
etc. We were informed this day that they disarmed a few Strathspey men, who were at
the fair selling timber. Had the gentlemen of this country exerted themselves as they
might and ought to have done for the protection of their own tenants, who only waited
orders to get up in arms for their own defence, a far greater number of banditti had not
dared to offer sucli insults ; but the spirit is departed from our gentry, which I took the
freedom to tell some of them. But after all the publick rendevous, private cabals and
parades, these people have had,- one might venture to lay ane equal wager, that few if any of
them will venture to join the Highland army. Lord Lovat appointed a day for a rendevous
of his clan, but when the day came he countermanded it, and it is the opinion of those
who know him best that he will not openly rebell this year. We hear at present of no stir
among the clanns to the north of us. If you're at leisure I begg your news by this bearer. My
dutiful regards to Lady Margaret and the rest of the good company I left at Castle Grant,
who I hear are still with you. I thought my Lord Desford would have put up at my house
rather than at the publick house when he passed here. My wife sent him ane invitation by
his servant, who called here, and she expected his Lordship. I will take the liberty yet to
reckon with him. I am, with respect and esteem, honourable and dear Sir,
Your affectionate and obliged humble servant,
Pat. Grant.
To the Honourable Ludovick Grant of Grant, Esquire, at Castle Grant.
260. Alexander Grant of Corrimony to The Same — Lord Lovat's clan to
join the Prince.
Corrimony, 15 October 1745.
Honourable Sir, — You are no doubt surpris'd at my conduct since I had the honour of
waiting of you at Castle Grant, but such is the miserable situation of this place, being at a
distance from their chief, who is still capable to protect his friends, had they been in conjunc-
tion with the throng of the clan, to return any insults offer'd or acted against them, that