Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

400 IV. — LETTERS FROM SIMON LORD LOVAT. [1740.
and calumniated by wicked men from my youth till this hour, I thank God for it, for it is
a proff that I am a Christian, for Christ was more bely'd and calumniate[d] than any human
creature ever was.
The Lyon writes to me that it is commonly said at London that I gave in to the Earl
of Crawford's regiment but the half of my company, and those made up of old men and
boys. This is a damn'd horrid lye, for I sent in four score men as good as are in that regi-
ment or in any regiment, whereof above three score are Frasers born in my own estate ; and
for the five or six men that are in it under sise of the ninty-two that I determin'd to give
in to that regiment as my company, I have given my word of honour to your brother the
Major under my hand, that I will give full sis'd men for them within eight days after he
calls for them ; and I can say, without vanity, that the company that I gave in to that regi-
ment is full as good a company as any that was given in to it ; and it seems that I have but
few friends when there is none that dare tell the truth to my advantage.
I told you often, my dear Sir James, that I never had a suspicion of your honour or
honesty. The letter that I told you of concerns your sister only, and I insist that you may
obtain for her what I asked. By what your brother the Collonell told me, it will not be
difficult to obtain it if you press it hard ; and as to the complaints that I have of your
unactivity and irresolution to serve me, I shall freely write to you of it in a post or two. In
the meantime, I earnestly intreat that, if you do not think that it will hurt your court, that
you will do me the friendship to tell freely and frankly to the Earl of Hay what I write to
you, for, by the living God, he is the man in England that I desire most to make my court
to ; and that not for any favour that I ought to expect, but merely for the love I have
for his person and for his father's son. If I knew that he was convinc'd of this, then I
wou'd think myself happy in the midst of all my misfortunes ; and if you do not tell him
my words and my tb oughts as I explain them to you, I do not think you use me well, for my
Lord Hay cannot take it ill to see my brother-in-law appear my friend.
I shall long to hear from you ; and I am, with unalterable attachment and respect, my
dear Sir James,
Your most affectionate brother, most obedient and most humble servant,
Lovat.
480. To The Same — Constancy of Lovat's friendship — Undersized recruits, etc.
Beaufort, 2 2d February 1740.
... I do sincerely assure you, my dear Sir James, that I never belieived one single
word of the silly rumour that went about of your haveing knowledge of my misfortune before
it happened, and your not acting a friendly part towards me, and I was full as angry at the
report as you cou'd be, for I never had the least thought of your being in the knowledge of