Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

1775.] GENERAL SIMON FRASER OF LOVAT. 453
whom I am engag'd to support, has lately started up, rais'd by Lord Elphinstone in favour
of one of his sons. The first person that I apply'd to upon this occasion was Sir James, but
I am sorry to say I have not receiv'd that frank and favourable answer which I flatter'd
myself I should meet with. I know no reason for this coldness, but that he alledges I have
been too dilatory in speaking to him, and that he shall probably not be present at the
Dunbartonshire election, being oblig'd to attend in the North. I am confident, however,
that he is not engag'd, and as his declaration with his friends would be of great consequence
to me, you will confer the highest obligation upon me, if you can pirevail upon him to take
a determin'd part in my favour without further delay or hesitation, which might be the
means of fixing several others who are wavering and stand off. At any rate, I beg the
favour of you not to mention to Sir James or his son that I have wrote to you, as perhaps
they might not approve of my having taken this step. Whatever you may think proper to
do, I flatter myself at least you will excuse my having given you this trouble, and that you
will believe me, dear Sir,
Your faithfull humble servant,
Argyll.
531. General Sdion Fraser of Lovat to Sir James Grant — As to raising a Regiment of
Highlanders.
George Street, Hanover Square, November 30th, 1775.
My dear Sir, — I had the pleasure of your letter last week. There is a committee of
gentlemen now employ'd in frameing a bill for a Scots Militia. It will not, I believe,
be brought in before the holydays, and I fancy the fate of it is somewhat uncertain. I
have not at all attended to it.
I am apointed to raise a regiment of Highlanders. The manner of proceeding in it,
tho' in some respects creditable to me, has been in other respects disagreeable. At first the
great officers in the war department were so averse to new levys, that I was told it coud not
take place. Some time after the idea was resumed, but still in such suspence that I coud
take no step without the hazard of apearing afterwards rediculous, in so much that to
Macintosh and others who aplied to me upon the faith of the report, I said it was not likely
to take place, but if it did, I shoud be happy to serve him ; and I coud not with
propriety aply to any body. At length the measure was resolved on, and then everything
was to be done in such a hurry that I coud not consult my friends with any prospect of
receiveing their answers in time, and was obliged to make a choice from such applications as
had been previously made, or from such as were made at the time by persons on the spot,
which were more than enough to fill two regiments. In this manner I was engaged for all
the conrpanys, so far as depended on my recomendation, when I knew of our cousin Mr.