Series 2 > Origins of the 'Forty-five

294
GRANT OF GRANT S CONDUCT
Lord Deskfoord, both dated at Inverness December 14th
(App. No. 36, 37),* which pretty plainly apeared to Mr.
Grant to be a Rebuke tho’ in very modest and polite terms
for his undertaking that Expedition without orders and that
Lord Loudoun, as he thought he had provided sufficiently
for that service without Mr. Grant, he wished him rather
to return than to proceed further, tho’ he wou’d give him
no orders because he had given him none to go there.
He therefore Resolved to return to Keith of which he
aquainted Culcairne then at Strathboggie, as he did also
* App. 36. G. of G., ii. 194. (From Inverness.) Loudoun’s letter
after applauding Grant’s zeal is very much the same as Lord Deskford’s
letter which follows.
* App. 37. Lord Deskfoord to Mr. Grant, dated \ith Dec.—I am now
with Lord Loudon and in a conversation with him, I find that he is
Sorry he has not Sufficient authority as yet from the Government either
to give Pay to any Clan, except when an immediate necessity which
cannot he answered by the Troops upon the establishment requires it,
nor has he any arms to dispose of to the Friends of the Government,
scarcely having sufficient arms here for the independent companies and
his own Regiment. This being the Case and the Service in the Countrys
of Banff and Aberdeenshire being sufficiently provided for by the 700
men already sent to that Country, it is impossible for him to take your
men into Pay, and as your arms are certainly not extremely good, and
he cannot give you others, I believe he would be as well pleased, that
your People should go back to Strathspey ; but he does not care to take
it upon him to order them back, as the thing was undertaken without
his Commands. If you carry your People home, he wishes you gave
M'Leod Information of it because he must regulate his motions accord¬
ingly with the independent Companys. He says he wont fail to repre¬
sent your Zeal and that of your People, and wishes for the future
nothing may be undertaken but in concert with those who have the
Direction of the Kings affaires in this Country. Pray let us hear what
you do. Loudon who is much your Friend assures me of another Thing
which is that the first opportunity that offers of employing any People
in a way to make them make a figure he will most certainly throw it
into your hands. I hear there are more Troops to march eastward
tomorrow. When Lord Loudon sets out himself is not certain.—lam.
Dear Sir, etc.
As the Governor commands here in Lord Loudons absence My Lord
says he will chuse to leave the Grants here with him, that he may have
one Company that he may entirely depend upon.