The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

.}:!1 r,ni(;Ai)ir,i;-f;K\i:i;AL ai.kxaxuku grant of gi;ant. [171 G-
1)0 iiifcrred from a letter in whieh David, tliinl l^ail of Leveii, then
C'niiiiiiaiicler-iii-cliief of the forces in Scothmd, iiisti'iieted ('olonel Grant
to take measures against two persons suspected of (h-'signs apMinst tlio
C.'overnnient. The Earl write-, on 9th Septeml)er 17^.^7, "I am certaiidy
ini'ormed that John aiid Ilohei ;
Aoijereairnj, are retu'M'd fro' :
France
Muri-avs,
l)rother-ij;erm,i;s to the l^aird of
to Scotland, aini that upDU ireasim-
a')le desig'nes against the (.! '.-ornment. 1 am infiirm(>il that thev have
l)een in the north, and it is more than j>rol>aI>le that thev will Ije much
in your countrey dureing thair aboad in this paii't of tlie kingdome. The
Earle ]\Iai"she]l, Earl of Arroll [Erro]], and Duke of ( {ordoune, their fimillies
and interests, I presume are the jilaces where they are lickliest to haunl
when in the Low Coimtrv, and when they goe to the llighlands you can
make a better judgement then I what will he their haunts." The Earl
remarks u])ou the imj>ortance of seeming these two gentlemen and their
papers, and also that it was more especially a duty ti)r the militarv. lie
expresses his great contidence in the colonel's ability to manage the affair,
and adds, "I doe therefore earnestly desyre that you use your outmost
dilligence to infovme youi-selfe off and to secure those persones with their
papers if possible." The utnM>st secrecy, however, was to be observed.
The Earl also desires to l)e informed regarding a reported " Highland
huntin!'- " to be held bv the Duke of Gordon.'
At least one of the persons named in the above letter was associated
with the celebrated Simon Eraser of Beaufort, better knowm as Lord Lovat,
when the latter, in 170"2 or 1703, was sent on a s]>ecial mission to the
Highland Chiefs, who. however, distrusted him and I'ejected his overtures.-
Jjord Leven's an.xiety about the Duke of (lordon's reported hunting-match
aro.se from the fict that Lovat had proposed under such a guise to draw
the Ilio'hlaml clans to"-ether and raise the standard of insurrection. But
though a })ersou wIkj had been thus associated was naturally an object
of suspicion to the Government, it does not ajipear whether the report of
Murray's mission was correct, and there is no evidence rerardin"- anv
further procedure l)y (Colonel Grant.
' Vol. ii. of this work, p. 'is.
The Ui-ign of Quci-ii Amu-, l.y .1. Hill Hurtr.ii, v., I. i. j,. .'ni)