Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

1740.] TO SIR JAMES GRANT OF GRANT. 403
481. To The Same — Experience of Courts.
Beaufort, 7th March 1740.
My dear Sik James, — . . . When I was a favourite at Court I got many that spoke well
of me and were ready to serve me, but when I am in disgrace I have few friends and many
enemys ; and this has been the course of the world, for ought I know, since the beginning of
it, and will be the same till the end of it. However, it is an old proverb that every dog has
his day, and I am not so old but I may see another day ; for I bless God I have constitution
to live yet twenty years ; and in all circumstances of life you 'le all ways find me, with a
sincere esteem and respect, my dear Sir James,
Your most affectionate brother, most obedient and most faithfull humble servant,
Lovat.
482. To The Same — Affection of his clan to their chief.
Beaufort, 4th Aprile 1740.
... I do assure you, my dear Sir James, that I absolutly despise that villainous story,
for I am very certain that neither the contrivance of men nor the treasury of England can
hurt me on that article, as long as this generation is alive, and I am fully perswaded that the
nest generation of my kindred will have the same strong affection for my son that this has
for me, for it is in their nature and in their blood ; and I can freely assure you, without
vanity or exaggeration, that there is not one chief this day in Scotland more thorroughly
belov'd by their clan and kindred, both gentlemen and commons, than I am ; no, not
Locheil or Glengerry, who's clans are famous for their love to their chieffs ; for of fifteen
hundred of my kindred that are in my countrey and upon my estate, I cou'd declare it
before God, if it was my last words, that I know not a man of them but what wou'd venture
his heart's blood for me, except three or four pitifull gentlemen, who visibly robb'd me of a
great deall of my rents and money, and who are notoriously known in this countrey for
common lyars and rogues, and who wou'd not get one single man of the name to stand by
them or to countenance them, if they believ'd that they were acting against me.
The affection and inclinations of a considerable clan, as mine is, are easily known by
examining of it, in such a large countrey as mine is, of fourscore and ten miles circumfer-
ence ; and I wish with all my heart that all the men and women and children come to any
age were particularly exatnin'd upon their affection to their chief, and I am very certain
that, among severall thousands that are of them, men and women and their offspring, there
wou'd not be ten found but what wou'd declare that they wou'd all dy for their chief, if there
was an occasion that requir'd it, for his support ; and I do solemnly declare to you, my dear
Sir James, that, upon my last misfortune, my whole kindred, both gentlemen and commons,