Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

386 IV. — LETTERS FROM SIMON LORD LOVAT. [1739.
of me, that I was complaisant enough to her, and that that was all, but that she did not love
the country nor any that was in it, that they were all devils ; tho' it is well known that
there is not in Scotland a more kindly, affectionate and humane people than those of my
kindred in this country. This wicked behaviour and resolution of her's to hurt my person
and family has made my cousin Balhadie, Evan Baillie, and Commissary Munro advise me
positively to acquaint her brother and Sir James Grant and Sir Robert Munro of it, in the
most prudent and modest manner, which I am resolved to do without loss of time. I have
obliged Evan Baillie to write to your father, and Commissary Munro to Sir Robert, and I
send you inclosed a copy of what Evan wrote to your father Sir James. The strong things
that the Commissary wrote to Sir Robert Munro made Sir Robert send him his advice in
his letter. He said that Colonel Campbell was a very good natured, honest gentleman, and
that his advice was that I should write directly to himself, which I am resolved to do, in a
general modest manner, and concert my letter with our friend Evan, who, out of pity as well
as love to me, is full of zeal in this affair. I would not execute my resolution nor send my
letter till I had first your advice ; and when I do it, I hope you will concurr with me in
writing strongly to your father to do me all the service in his power on this occasion, as he
loves my ease, my life, and the interest of my family. If I can but manage her friends so
as not to lose them, I shall be mighty glad to be rid of her, even at the expense of giving
her her whole jointure that the contract of marriage gives her after my death ; for it is a
hard case to be obliged to live every day with an unmannerly, brutal devil, that openly pro-
fesses her hatred to my person and family and kindred, tho' I brought her from misery, and
as her brother wrote to her, inclosed in my letter, that she should be a very affectionate,
obedient wife, because she had not bread to her mouth, nor cloaths nor linens to her back
when I married her ; and since that time, which is about six years, she has actualy robb'd
from me and stolle from me out of my strong boxes (the locks of which she blew up with
greater dexterity than ever the English rogue did any), in gold specie, gold medals, silver,
bank notes, bonds and bills, above twelve hundred pounds sterline, so that I may freely call
her, as I do every day, my dear, for she has been a very dear lady to me ; so that there was
no man ever in Scotland more unfortunate or more to be pitied. Yet I bless God I carried
with uncommon patience and good temper, to the astonishment of everybody that sees it,
and behaving to her as if she was as good a wife as in Scotland.
I am angry at Mr. Cockburn that he did not, according to my repeated desire, send me
an account of what my dear little Sandie wanted as to cloaths or money, or any thing else,
and what money he wants himself for his board and education. I have intreated of him
to let me know it precisely by the bearer, and to send down the child's measure, that the
next week I may send him cloaths and every thing else he wants, and what money Mr.
Cockburn wants. I intreat you may order Mr. Cockburn to send me down a perfect
account of this by the bearer.