Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

1745.] JOHN EARL OF LOUDOUN. 185
274. John Earl of Loudoun to [James, fifth Earl of Findlater and Seafield] —
Proceedings of Lord Lewis Gordon.
Inverness, November 5th, 1745.
My Lord, — Yesterday I had the honour of your Lordship's of the 3d, with the inclosed,
which I hearwith return.
I am extramly conserned for that unhappy young man, Lord Lewis, both for his own
sake and for the trouble and distress he is likly to bring on people in the neighbourhood
where he is, and I assure your Lordship I will willingly give all the assistance in my power
to the king's friends ; but I cannot perswade myself that he can make near such a formid-
able figure as your Lordship has been told. I know the Duke has done, and still is adoing,
all in his power to stope his progress ; and the minut that the account of an action comes
from the south, which we have reason to expect every day, there is an entier end of all his
Lordship's scames. In all human apperance, if those gen[t]lemen fight they must be beat, and
if the[y] avoid fighting it will have the same effect ; every body will then think of shifting for
themselves, and as Mr. Grant has so formidable a force just by him, he will find himself
under a nessesity to act very causiously in the mean time.
The Independant Companyes having hitherto come in so slowly, has till now pre-
vented my being able to do any thing of consequence, but now I begine to be able to do
something, and am at presant supplieing those forts in the chain, which must be the first
thing done in order to provide against all events, after which I shall have my hands a littel
more at liberty.
I beg your Lordship will make my complements to my Lady Findlater and Lord
Desford, and that you will believe me to be, with great esteem and reguard, my Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
Loudoun.
275. Sir Harry Innes to Ludovick Grant of Grant — Pressing him to attack
Lord Lewis Gordon.
Elgin, November 7th, 1745.
Dear Sir, — That yow have at present the best opportunity of showing your beeing able to
be of grate service to the Goverment is a fact not to be denayed, and if this is late slip yow
never will hawe such another. Therfor, dear Sir, forgive mey writing in this strane ; it is
ocasioned from my reall regard to yow and family. I ned not tell yow that Lord Lewis Gordon
is pressing men of all age ; that the Duke of Gordon's tenants ar flaying to this cuntry for
shelter in numbers, and that the men he has press'd only want ane opportunity to make
there escape. Yow can not only dow this with eas and without danger, but it is in yowr
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