The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

1719.] ]II.S JUCGIMENT. 347
The expedition sailed on the -Itli of May 1711, and on 25th April,
orders were issued lor recruitin'^^ Genei-;d Grant's regiment to the number
of fifty men in each cunijiany. On 1st May tlie regiment was directed
to in'Tch to MorpL'lh, tliere to lie joined hy recruits, an'! 'Iience to pro-
ceed 10 their fn-nier qu- iters at Stirlin-; and Dundee, ;
' aw;::' further
ins! r:;otions.' These caii.e in themonth of August to tlu; effect tliat the
regiment was to be disi.uinded, and the olilcers attached to that of Colonel
Crigliton, then in Ireland.
Not long thereafter tljat regiment also was disbanded, and the officers
ordered to be put on half-j.iay. This created some consternation, and
Brigadier Grant, on behalf of himself and his brother officers, ]>resentcd an
urgent ])etition to the Queen, narrating their circumstances, and their fears
"that there half-pay will be settled in Ireland, wliich would be a great
detriment to them, tlie half-pay of that kingdom being much less than that
of Brittain." They tlierefore beg Her Majesty to consider " there seniority,
there services, and there haveing been raised in Brittain, where all of them
are born and have their friends," and to allow the jietitioners " their half-
pay in Brittain preferable to younger regiments raised in Ireland and in
foreign countreys, though hapjiening to be disbanded on the British
Establishment.""
On 24tli September 1713, Brigadier Grant was chosen Member of
Parliament for the county of Elgin and Forres.^ The Brigadier had
resolved, on his regiment being disbanded, to reside in Scotland. He
seems, however, to have anticipated his election to a seat in Parliament,
and therefore delayed his departure irom London. On the 13th June of
this year he writes : " As for my living in Scotland, that, I ashure you, is
my intention and full resolution, but it is not practicable this year, since it
is not to be imagined that I would come up to Parliament in winter, and
leave my wife in the Xorth. Tliis I will ashure you off, that if I live to
March nixt, both of us shall he with you, and shall not be over heasty in
thincking of returning hither."* In his capacity as Member of Parliament
he received an address, dated on the day of election, from certain gentle-
' Co|iy Order for marclj, at Castle Grant. ^ Extract Minute of Election at Caetle Grant.
- Draft I'etition (holograiih ol General Grant), ibid. •* Original Letter, ibid.