Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

1740.] TO SIR JAMES GRANT OF GRANT. 397
that I don't wish shou'd be followed, as I am a chief and the head of an old family, tho'
indeed I did assist in it as well as others, and you know for what.
You may remember, my dear Sir James, that severall years agoe, before my dear wife
your sister dy'd, you did me the honour to write me a strong letter, which I have still in my
custody, in favours of Mr. Grant of Devay and Clowry, that I might engage my kindred to
vote for them to make them collectors of the cess in this shire, in place of the late Dalrachany,
who was my intimate friend and comerad ; and in that letter you put all the friendship and
alliance that was betwixt you and me and our familys, on that single point of acting for
those gentlemen against Dalrachany. Now, my dear Sir James, I have much greater reason
to put all the friendship betwixt you and me, and betwixt your family and mine, upon that
single point of your acting for your worthy sister the Lady Scatwell, and engaging your
cousin Lethen, with whom you and your son have more to say than all the rest of mankind,
if it is not his cousin the Laird of Calder. Therefore, my dear Sir James, I intreat you
exert yourself in this matter, if you have any regard or value for my friendship or my
family's. You nor no man alive shou'd wonder at this resolution, for I ow greater and more
reall obligations to the Lady Scatwell than to any relation I have upon earth. She was my
constant and stedfast friend while her sister my dear wife was alive, and since her death
she was a reall mother to my children, took as great care of them as she did of her own, and
upon all occasions she has been so good as to interess herself in all that concern'd me as
much as if she had been my full sister, born of the same father and mother ; so that no man
can forget such obligations but an ungratfull monster. I therefore again, my dear Sir James,
humbly beg of you to obtain your sister the Lady Scatwell the justice and favour that I
presume to plead for her, otherwise Up gossapry ! since I know you can do it. I humbly
think you shou'd have the better opjiinion of me, that I strenuously concern myself for a
person to whom I ow such infinite obligations, and who besides is one of the best women
living.
I earnestly intreat your positive answer on this subject, by which I will regulate myself,
and I hope it will be satisfactory ; for I truly am, with a very sincere attachment and respect,
my dear Sir James,
Your most affectionate brother and most faithfull humble servant,
Lovat.
477. To Ludovick Grant, younger of Grant — The same subject — Eoss of Pitcalny.
Beaufort, 27th January 1740.
My dear Laird of Grant,— I received the honour of your letter of the 18th instant, and I
am exceeding glad to know that you and worthy Lady Margaret Grant, and the prince and
infantas of Strathspey, are in very good health in this terrible and rigorous season, for such
an intense frost and great storm of snow was never known before ; for tradition nor history