The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

1747.] ELKCTION OF A MliMllKU OF PAKLTAMKN'T. '^77
particular thej clioose to o\v liim an obligation ratlu-r tlinn to such a litle
])uny follow as the Lvon, who jirotoiulcil to give hiiiisflf su^h airs as to he
chosen I'ur tA\'o counties, which insolence the Laird of Crant was the most
projipr person to curli, ami as it would be dilllenlt to get tlir better o!' him
in Naii-n, the most proper e'othod ". ns for ibi- i^aird oi" (/Ji-ai .
to
sin
\\' him
Ills interest in the shire of MiuTay v/a.s suc'i that he eonld .it pretend to
he able to carrv the repi'esentatiou of i\ruri-ay l_)ut by the Laird ol' (Irant's
assistance, and therefore, if I was to have that shire, T must allow Craig-
alachie the absoltite dis])osal of Nairn in favotn-s of Culloden, and in case I
was not easily to be jirevailed tipon to come into this measure, that (Jrant
nmst be either opposed or bnllierl in the sliire ol' Lnei'ness, in oi'der to l)e
a pretext for him to set up in the shire of Muri'ay."' The wiiter also
remonstrates against anv concession being made to the I'amil}' 1' ('idloden,
and insists strongly on liis own friendshi]) for 8ir James Grant aT)d family.
In regard to the same matter Lord Lovat wrote also to Lndovick
Cirant. a fortnight later, that Lord Islay had declaivd hinrself against the
two brothers John and Ihmcan Forbes, but that the two were resolved to
carry Liverness, Lioss, and Nairn. " Ko.ss thev think themselves very sure
of, and they have hook'd in Macleod to get tlie shire of Inverness by him.
. . . And
my Lord Advocate is gone express . . . to assist him to make
twelve or twenty barons, so that he will, according to their scheme, beat
the shire, and then give it up to ( 'ulodin, . . . so
that if your father does not
bestir himself and make as many barons as will ballance M'Leod, he is
affronted, and what will the ministry think of liis interest and mine in this
shire." Lord Lovat even fears that 8ir James may lo.se his seat in Parlia-
ment and his interest in ^b)ray, "so that he is mad and disstracted if he
does not for ever mantain his interest and election in tlie shire of Liverness."
The writer declares he has five votes, and hopes soon to have ten, and he
adjures Sir James to exert himself: " Let him not force his friends and aUays
to forsake him and join those whom they hate. ... If he is not active for
himself, he can make as many barons in L^rqnhart as he pleases, and the
divel take his advisers if he does not make as many as secures himself.""
As to the Cjiiestion of making barons, >Sir James Grant's own opinion.
Origiu;il Letter ;it Castle Grant. - Ibid.
VOL. I. 3 B