The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

171C.] TKANSFKUKNCE UF LFAUEU.^HIP UF CLAN. 327
Ludovick reserved to liiiusclf an annuity of l';JOO sterrnilace. Tlic i.iird, it is said,
sent Lis eldest son Alexu.'ider to Ij^mdon to press his claims ;'-; Indemnity on
the tJovernment. Thes'.- claims w.ve, however, as already ,-uited, rejected.
This statement may refer to the application made in 1707 ; Init it is further
related that on being thus refused, ^Ir. Grant of Grant returned hojne, and
" having obtained his fathers leave, made all the gentlemen and commons
of his name wear whiskers, and make all their plaids and tartan of red
and green, and cummanded them all to appear before hini at Ballintome,
the ordinary place of rendezvous, in tliat uniform, in kilt and under arms,
-which order was complied with." The old Laii'd attended the meeting
with his son, and made a speech to the men drawn up in full order, telling
them that he being now old was no longer able to connnand them as
formerly, and that he therefore devolved the leadership upon his son, who,
" they saw, promised as well, if not better, tLan e\-er he did." He expected
therefore that they would maintain " the same good character, with regard
to courage and unanimity, which they bore while he commanded them."
Then addressing hunself to his son, he said, " ily dear Sandy, I make you
this day a very great present, viz., the honour of commanding the Clan
Grant, who, wliile I conducted them, though in troublesome times, yet they
never misbeliaved, so that you have them this day without spot or blemish.
I hope and beg you will use them as well as I did in supporting their public
and private mterests agreeable to the laws of liberty and probity as are
now happily established in our lands. God bless you all I " -
Thus, according to his admiring biogra}iher, did this Laird of Grant
resign the leadership of his Clan, and from or about this period the old
Laird took no active interest in public affairs. His son, in the intervals of
his military duties, managed the estates of Grant, with the assistance of
his sister Anne, and of her husband, Lieutenant-Colonel William Grant of
BaUindalloch. But thougL tLus relieved of tlie care of Lis large estates,
the Laird's later years were somewhat disturljcd by differences Ijetween
' Charter, dated Otli July 1710, at CciaUc Gr.iiit.
'^ MS. " .Antcdotcd " at L'aitle Grant.