Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

1740.] TO SIR JAMES GRANT OF GRANT. 409
486. To Sir James Grant of Grant — Laird of Ulbster married to the
Earl of Sutherland's sister, etc.
Edinburgh, 20th November 1740.
My dear Sir James, — ... I was glad to know yesterday by Lachlen Grant that all the
family at Castle Grant are in good health. I had a letter this day from your son the Laird of
Luss from Rosdoe, and I am glad to know that he and his lady are in good health. The Earle
of Sutherland came to see me this day. He is going for London in ten or twelve days. He
has married his sister to the Laird of Ulbster, who has given the shire of Caithness to his uncle
the Lyon, and he says that Ulbster is likewise master of the town of Wick, which he is to give
to his Lordship, to be dispos'd of as he pleases. My Lord likewise says that he is master
of the town of Kirkua in Orkney, so that he goes up to London with a present for the Ministry
of a shire and a district of borrows, which must make him very acceptable. By this means
your son Captain Colqhoun of Luss will be member of Parliament, and my friend Sir Robert
Munro cut out. This is but the course of the world. Every man does what he can for his
own interest and ambition, without respect to friends or relations, and any man that does other-
wise is reckon'd a fool, and in some respects he truly is so, of which I have some experience.
The. account you gave of the infortunate King of Prussia's death is very surprising,
and that brave young Prince must be regrated over all Europe, for he was adorn'd with the
reverse of all the brutall qualitys of his father. He was the darling and delight of all his
subjects, so that they will all lament him as if they had lost a father, a son, or a brother.
This is the most remarkable year that has been these thousand years in Europe, by
the death of the two imperiall crowns without an heir-male, and many powerfull princes
to dispute the succession of the females, so that many a brave fellow will fall to the ground
before that quarrell is decided. I think myself very happy that is out of the date of fighting,
and that I have no more to do now than to be faithfull and dutifull to the King, pay my
taxes, and raise my proportion of a militia when it is ordered ; and all that I will do cheer-
fully, and then I will retire to my own fireside, read my book, and enjoy my thoughts and
my friend, and laugh at the world, whether honest or dishonest, trusting for the safety of
my life and estate to the protection of the King and the laws of my countrey, which I am
faithfully resolv'd to observe inviolably ; and I do sincerly abdicate all the right that I have
had to the pleasures, intrigues, politicks, and preferments of the world in favours of my son your
neveu ; and if he acts his part as I have done one the stage of the world for the benefite of
his kindred and estate, he may leave them in the best condition of any family in that corner.
I shall be allways glad to have the honour to hear from you ; for I truly am, with
unalterable esteem and respect, my dear Sir James,
Your most obedient and most affectionate humble servant,
Lovat.
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