Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

382 IV. — LETTERS FROM SIMON LORD LOVAT. [1739.
souldiers of my company, otherwise it was impossible that the countrey cou'd be so peacable
and free of depredations as it has been all this year ; but if the G-enerall would allow the
captains to manage their own companys, and to post them where they thought most proper
for preserving the countrey from depredations, we wou'd enact ourselves to pay every cow,
horse and sheep that are stollen in the north of Scotland ; but it is impossible that we can
keep the towns, customes-houses, excise and the King's roads, and preserve the cows from
being stollen at the same time. If you be so good, my dear Sir James, as to represent this
as it truly is to the Earl of Hay, I am fully convinc'd that his Lordship, out of common
justice and his friendship to us, will take it seriously to his consideration. I shall long to
hear from you upon this subject ; and I am, without reserve, with a sincere attachment, my
dear Sir James,
Your most affectionate brother, most obedient and most humble servant,
Lovat.
467. To The Same — Education of his son.
Beaufort, 26th Aprile 1739.
My dear Sir James, — Since my last I was twice speechless, and was within a second of
expiring in the arms of my physicians, but it pleas'd God to spare me yet in the land of the
living, and I bless God these three or four days past I am much better. The inflamation in
my throat is almost gone, and my strong fever very much abated ; but the violent humour
is fallen down on my tongue and the roof of my mouth and my lips, which gives me vast
pain day and night, but I hope the worst is over as to this violent and dangerous distemper.
I am glad that you and the Laird of Luss, and my dear Mr. Frank, are well ; and I
assure you and them of my most affectionate humble duty. I don't at all doubt but Mr.
Frank will get his commission in Culcairn's company after what I saw ; and I find that the
giving out of all commissions is very tedious.
The Lyon jokes you, for I did not write one single word of business to him, but thank'd
him most kindly for sending me his news more frankly than my other friends did, which
was very true, and which was all that I said. All the world knows that I have stuck closs
by my friends, friendship and promises, and that for so doing I brought upon myself the
wrath and resentment of great men and men in power; but as I acted a stedfast and
honourable part, I neither regrate it nor repent of it.
You may be sure I 'le wait with patience the day that my Lord Hay proposes to give
you an answer about my son.
I have great confidence in my Lord Hay's goodness and friendship for me, that he will
not give me the mortification in my old and sickly age to take the management of my eldest
son from me. I am fully perswaded that my Lord Hay's intentions are good towards me and
my son and my family ; but the taking away my son from me in my old tender age would