[938] Johnstone’s Memoirs, p. 36.—In the account of the battle published by the Highland army, Captain Macgregor is stated to have been mortally wounded; but he lived several years thereafter, and retired to France in 1753. On his arrival he addressed the following letter to Edgar, secretary to the Chevalier de St. George. The original is thus quoted in Edgar’s hand-writing, “Rob Roy’s son, May 22d, 1753:”—
Boulogne-sur-Mer,
May 22d, 1753.
Sir,—I use the freedom to beg of you to lay before his Majesty my following unhappy case. What I am his Majesty will see by the inclosed certificate, and whatever little my venity might make me imagine I have to his Majesty’s protection, all I expect or desire at present is, that assistance which is absolutely necessary for the support of a man who has always shown the strongest attachment to his Majesty’s person and cause. As long as I could stay in Scotland I never thought to have added to his Majesty a trouble or expense; but upon Dr. Cameron, Lochiel’s brother, being taken up, a strict search was made over all, that I had no way of avoiding being taken but comming to this country, where I am in a situation so uneasy, that I am forced to applay to the generosity of the best of kings. I flater myself that it is in my power to acquaint his Majesty with something of the greatest consequence to his cause and our country. But I think it would be improper, unless I had the honor of being presented to him. The general character you, Sir, have for being ready to serve any body in distress, leaves me no room to doubt of your interesting yourself in my behalf, which I dare say will be of the greatest use to me, and I am sure will be conferring the highest obligation upon, Sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
JAS. DRUMMOND.
May I request the honor of an answer
to the care of Lord Strathallan.
The following is the certificate referred to:—
Boulogne-sur-Mer,
May ye 22d, 1753.
We the underwritten certify that it consists with our knowledge, that James Drummond, son to the late Rob Roy, was imploy’d in the Prince Regent’s affairs by James, Duke of Perth, before his Royal Highness’s arrival in Scotland, and that afterwards he behaved with great bravery in several battles, in which he received many dangerous wounds.
STRATHALLAN.
CHARLES BOYD.
WILLM. DRUMMOND.
To relieve his necessities, James ordered his banker at Paris to pay Macgregor 300 livres, in reference to which Lord Strathallan thus writes to Edgar, from Boulogne-sur-Mer, on 6th Sept., 1753:—“I had the honor of yours some time ago, and deferred writing you until I heard about the 300 livres for Mr. Drummond, (Macgregor); but I have never heard any more of it. I immediately acquainted Mr. D. with the contents of your letter. The attestation I signed was only as to his courage and personal bravery, for as to any thing else, I would be sorry to answer for him, as he has but an indifferent character as to real honesty.”—Stuart Papers.