Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

352 IV. — LETTERS FROM SIMON LORD LOVAT. [1737.
I am just now told that this ruffian is gone in to Inverness to send fresh lyes, intelli-
gence and complaints of me to his agents at London, to be communicate to the Peer ; so I
beg, my clear Sir James, that, as soon as you jsossibly can, you may acquaint my Lord Hay
of this villain's behaviour, and of his gasconading threats against me and my lieutenant
M c Pherson, who is a mighty honest man. When you let the Peer know of this, I am sure
he will look upon that worthless fellow as a fool and a madman, as well as an ungratefull
rogue, by his owning that he made complaints of me to my Lord Hay, and that my Lord
believ'd him, and that he would alwayes give credite to what he would say or write ; and I
am very sure that in that he belyes my Lord Hay as much as ever he did me. And I am
very certain that my Lord Hay will never see his face when he is rightly inform'd of that
wretche's behaviour at home and abroad. I long much to hear from you and know what
you have done in this affair, which I entirely referr to your own prudent management
and my good friend Sir Robert Munro's, to whom I have given the same account as I have
given you. I earnestly beg you may forgive this trouble ; and believe that I am, with the
utmost zeal and respect, my dear Sir James,
Your most affectionate brother and most faithfull humble servant,
LOVAT.
P.S. — I know the Earl of Crawford is a patron to this wretch, the Earl thinking him a
brave, honest fellow ; but when the Earl will know his roguery and ingratitude towards me,
who was his greatest benefactor, and that he has neither courage nor honesty, I am very
certain the Earl of Crawford will abandon him and never countenance him. So if you are
in good friendship with the Earl of Crawford, I intreat you let him know what I write to
you, in the most proper and calm terms, which I hope will have a good effect ; for I know
it was Crawford that alwayes importun'd my Lord Hay to get him a post, and it were a pity
that the Earl should not be undeceived of the character of that ruffian.
To the Honourable Sir James Grant of Grant, Member of Parliament, at his house in
Conduit Street, near Hanover Square, London.
449. To Archibald Earl of Islay — Vindication of his loyalty — Services to the
Government. [Copy.]
Beaufort, 27th May 1737.
My Lord, — Tho' I was acquainted by severall of my freinds that I was accused and repre-
sented above as a man dissaffected and plotting to disturb the Government, yet the
aspersion in itself being so rediculous, and so contrary to common sense and reason, I truly
thought shame to give your Lordship any trouble about it, especially when you was in a
hurry about the judges and the Edinburgh afair. But since the calumny is continued in such