The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

1GG3.] AlTIlKHEiXSlO.N OF THE " IIAUKIT STIKK." 281
Laird's beliall" from the Cominitlcu u[ ILstiitcs. lie was to ask a wanaiit
foi- the Laiid's handhig over the '" llaukit Stirk" to the Shei'ilTof Baiill' at
the kh'k of Iiivera\-oii or Skirdustan, and to re})resent the danger in which
the Laird and liis country now stood on account of the apjirehensicn from
M^'Ivanakl and all the tacksmen of the nanae of ?i icdonald in L-- :ialjcr.
He was to rec^uest the Committee to take surety cI' ^M'Kanald ami all the
branches of his house, with the rest of the people vi' Lochaher, Glengarry,
Badenoch, llannoch, Glencoe, Glenlyon, Glengatde in Strathearn, and
Stratliiiairn, that the Laird and all his kin and tenants should be skaith-
less, and in the meantime to direct letters to Glengarry and the Heritor of
Glencoe, because the Haukit Stirk had many friends in these two places.
Other things embraced in the Laird's instructions to the Chambeilain
were the case of certain refractory tenants who had refused their assist-
ance in the apprehension of the Haukit Stii'k ; the obtaining of an ordei-
from the Connnittee to restrain the ])rincipal collectors of cess and excise
from employing any sub-collectors who had been " enimies to the Laird
and his cuntrey in tyme of the Inglishes;" inquiiy as to what course
should be taken with poachers and destroyers of woods ;
the former commission ;
the renewal of
to ascertain the Laird's powers with regard to
thieves taken in their first fatdt, and to obtain a general conmussion in
the Laird's favour against sorners and broken men.
Besides these politic commissions, several of a domestic kind were also
intrusted to the Chandjerlain, as to agree with a baker, brewer, and cook, to
" try for ane house " in Edinburgh, having five or sLx rooms, of which one
should command a view of the street, and two or three go " ewen of without
staires," with a cellar and a coalhouse. If this could not be had in the
town, the chaml)crlain was to ' try for it in the Canongat,"' and to see if
two or three rooms could be had with " hingings." He was also to incjuire
if all sort of plenishing and bedding could be got on hire with the house,
or otherwise if such could be hired in the town ;
to obtain the prices of
stigar, " S2:)yceries, and sweit meatts for ane house," with those of wine,
vinegar, soap, candle, and starch (stiffine), and to bring home some tlint
stones and white Flanders pease.'
' Cupy luhtructious tu James Uiant of .\uelicrnacli, dated 30tli September IGOO, at Castle Grant.
VOL. I. 2 N