[562] App. 42. Mr. Grant to the Magistrates of Elgin, dated 29th Dec., in answer to their Letter following.—I received your Letter of yesterdays date signed by you and the Magistrates of Elgin, informing me that Macleod and his men were then marching from your Town towards Inverness and that you are now exposed to the same oppression with the other Burghs to the East. As you had Intelligence that there are 500 men ready at Strathbogie to come over, who have sworn heavy vengeance against you. How far it may be in my Power to give them a check, and to prevent the oppression they threaten you with, I dare not positively say; but I assure you, I have all the Inclinations in the world to be of as much Service to my Friends and neighbours during these troublesome Times as I possibly can. Upon the 10th of this month I was informed that the Party under Abbachys Command was levying the Cess and raising men in a most oppressive manner in Banffshire, and that they were to detach a large Party to your Town, and were threatning to use the same acts of violence against you. As at that Time I knew nothing of the Relief that was acoming to you from Inverness. I conveened upon the 12th the most of the Gentlemen of the Country and about 500 of the men, and marched directly to Mulben with an Intention to cover your Town and Country, and to assist my Friends and neighbours in the County of Banff. All this I did without any advice or Concert with those entrusted at Inverness, only the very day I marched from this, I wrote and acquainted them of my Intention; but as they imagined they had sent Force sufficient to clear all betwixt them and Aberdeen, I found it was not expected that I should proceed further than Keith or my own Estate of Mulben; however as I was resolved to chase the Rebells out of Banffshire, if in my Power I proceeded to Strathbogg where I remained two nights, and then finding that I was not desired or encouraged to go further, I returned home, leaving a party of 60 men, with officers in Mulben to prevent any small partys of the Rebells either from visiting you or oppressing that neighbourhood. My Party continued there till all the M‘Leods had passed in their way to Elgin; but then the officers there thought it was not proper for so small a body to remain longer, when Such numbers of the Rebells were so near them. My present opinion is that you may all be easy, unless you hear that a much greater body come from Aberdeen to join that at Strathbogie for these at Strathbogie will never venture to cross Spey, when I am above them and Lord Loudon is so near them. Altho the MacLeods have marched to Inverness, I am persuaded Lord Loudon will send another body sufficient to give a check to those at Strathbogie. In the situation I am at present in I am uncertain whether I am to be attacked from Perth or by those at Aberdeen and Strathbogie for my late March. I dare not promise to march with any body of Men but in Concert and with Lord Loudons Directions. And at the same Time I have demanded to be assisted with arms, and encouraged to keep my Men in the proper way. There is no body can wish the Peace and happiness of my Friends in the Town of Elgin than I do. And I shall always be ready to use my best Endeavours towards preserving the Tranquility you at present enjoy.—I am, etc.
The Magistrates of Elgins Letter to Mr. Grant, dated December 28th, 1745.—The Laird of M‘Leod and his Men are this moment marching from this Place towards Inverness, so that we are left exposed to the like Ravage and oppression which other Burghs and Counties to the East of us labour under. And unless we be immediately favoured with your Protection, we and many others of the principal Inhabitants must remove with our best effects to some Place of Safety without loss of Time. By Intelligence we have from the other side of Spey there are 500 at Strathbogie ready to come over and who have threatned a heavy vengeance upon us, so that we have all the Reason in the World to guard against the Blow in some shape or other. We therefore begg you may give us a positive and Speedy Answer. And we are respectfully, Honble Sir, Your most humble Servants.
[563] App. 43. Sir Harry Innes to Mr. Grant, dated 28th Dec.—The desertion among all the Companys has been so great that M‘Leod is resolved to march to Forress, and for ought I know to Inverness. This will lay this Town and Country open to the Insults of the Rebells. Therefore the Magistrates have writ you and have desired me to do the same, desiring you may march Such a body of your Men here as will secure the Peace of the Country and Town; but as you are best Judge of this.—I am, Dr Sir, etc.
P.S.—We had yesterday the accounts of the Highland Armys being totally routed and dispersed betwixt Manchester and Preston betwixt the 13th and 14th. The Prince as he is called flying in great haste with about 100 horse. The Duke of Perth amongst the Prisoners. If M‘Leod marches I must with him or go to you, but I think I shall go to Inverness for I am not liked at present by many.
Sir Harry Innes to Mr. Grant, dated 28th Dec., probably from Innes House.—I wrote you this forenoon from Elgin, which I suppose would or will be delivered to you by one of the Council of Elgin. As M‘Leod was then resolved upon Marching here, they were determined to apply to you for some Relief and Support for their Town and Country in General. I have and must do M‘Leod Justice. He is far from loading you with any share of their late unlucky disaster, and would willingly act in Concert with you for the Common well, but to his great Surprise when he came here, he found that his men who had deserted in place of going to Inverness had mostly past from Findorn to the Ross side. So he does not know when or where they may meet. This has hindered him from writing to you to desire you to bring your men to Elgin in order to act with his. Altho he had desired this from no other authority, or any Reasons, but your doing the best for the common Cause, but this unlucky passing of his men at Findorn has prevented his writing as he told the Provost of Elgin he was to do. For these Reasons I run you this Express that you may think how to act. I go to Lord Loudon and the President tomorrow, and will return to M‘Leod Monday forenoon.—My Complements, etc.
P.—The President writ me that Lord Deskfoord is gone for London in the Hound and that they sailed the 25th.
[564] App. 44. C. of G., ii. 208. (From Inverness.)
[565] App. 45. Mr. Grant to Lord Loudon, dated the 9th Jany 1745-6.—Inclosed your Lordship has a letter I received this day from John Grant Chamberlain of Urquhart. The subject contained in it gives me the greatest uneasiness. I thought I had taken such measures as to prevent any of the Gentlemen or Tenants of that country from so much as thinking to favour the Rebells far less to join them. I have sent the Bearer James Grant my Chamberlain of Strathspey, who has several Relations in that Country to concur with John Grant my Chamberlain of Urquhart in every Measure that can prevent these unhappy People from pursuing their Intentions of joining the Rebells. And I have ordered him to obey any further Orders or Instructions your Lordship shall give him for that purpose, and I am hopefull I’ll get the better of that mad villain Currymony who is misleading that poor unhappy People.
That I may not weary your Lordship, I’ll leave to him to tell you all that he knows relating to that country. I have just now received the Inclosed from Lord Strechin by Mr. Sime Minister of Longmay: My Lord Strichen did all in his Power to save my Friend Lieutenant Grant from being taken Prisoner, even to the hazard of his own Life. I would gladly march to relieve him as my Lord Strichen suggests in his Letter, but I take it for granted that that Thing is impossible, for I could not march to that Country with any Body of men but the Rebells must have notice of it, and would send my Friend to Aberdeen and so forward to Glames, where the rest of the Prisoners are. I am hopeful the Kinghorn Boat on board of which my Friend came to Fraserburgh is by this time arrived at Inverness, but least it should not, I send your Lordship with the Bearer the two last Newspapers from Edinr, which came by Lieutenant Grant who luckily delivered them with my Letters to Lord Strichen, before he was made Prisoner. And I must refer it to the Bearer to inform your Lorp. of the manner of Mr. Grant’s landing and being taken Prisoner. Mr. Syme who brought me Lord Strichens letter informs that Mr. Grant told that part of the Duke of Cumberland’s horse arrived at Edinburgh Wednesday last. That the Duke of Cumberland arrived at Edinburgh on Thursday last with a great body of horse, and the foot were following. I think it my duty to take notice to your Lop. that the Rebells are exerting themselves in every corner of the North to increase their army. I therefore think it absolutely necessary that all the Friends of the Government should use their outmost efforts to disconcert and disperse them. I had a meeting yesterday with all the Gentlemen of this Country, and I can assure your Lop. we wait only your orders and Directions, and there is nothing in our Power, but we will do upon this important occasion for the Service of our King and Country. I wish it was possible to assist us with some arms, and money to be sure also would be necessary; but give me Leave to assure your Lordship that the last farthing I or any of my Friends have, or what our Credite can procure us, shall be employed in supporting of our men upon any Expedition your Lordship shall direct us to undertake for this glorious Cause we are engaged in. I wish to God your Lordship and the Lord President would think of some measure of conveening the whole body of the Kings Friends in the north together, and I would gladly hope we would form such a body, as would in a great measure disconcert and strike a damp upon the army of the Rebells in the South, and effectually put a stop to any further Junctions they may expect benorth Stirling and at the same Time surely we might prevent their being masters of so much of the North Coast, and also hinder many of the Kings Subjects from being oppressed by the exorbitant sums of money the Rebells are presently levying from them. Complements etc.
[566] App. 46. Lord Loudon to Mr. Grant, dated 16 Jany. 1745-6.—I have had the Honour of two Letters from you since I had an opportunity of writing to you. I think your scheme of relieving the low Country is a very good one; but in the present situation until I have a Return of the Letters I have sent for Instructions, and a little more certainty of the motions of the Rebells, I dare not give them any opportunity of Slipping by the short road over the hills into this Country and of course into possession of the Fort. Whilst I am in the low Country, as soon as Instructions arrive, I shall be sure to acquaint you, and consult with you the most effectual way of doing real Service to our Master and our Country. I begg my Complements etc.