The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

3S8 Silt JA.MICS GKA.NT OK GKANT, BAUONl'.T. [1710-
Tliis view was fouiKU'd on (lie well-knuwii avci-.slun wliicli tlu' lower elass of
liiglihiuders entertained to liylitiny under any one .sa\"e (lie head of tlieir
clan, unless it were a disiino-uished leader sneli as i\Iontrose or Dundee.
Jt is true that the calling' otit of the elans in a hotly v.i nld jii'ohaljly have
Iv'di to dis|iute3 among tlieir eiilefs, bin under a good C" nnander this diili-
cnlty might liave lieen ohvia!"d. In any case, it was i
^;e method adopted
hy the young I'reteiidei', and contributed gi-eatly to his success. Had the
same plan been promptly taken by the Goverraaent, and the l()\al clans in
the neighbourliood of the locality wliere the Prince's standard was first
raised been called out in a body, the insurrection im'ght have been checked
at the outset. These sentiments are expi'essed in a niemoi-ial, dated 'CA)\.]i
October 1745, addressed bv Sir James Grant to tlie Pilidit Hon. Henry
I'elham, Secretary of State, in \Adiich he olfered to raise a regiment from
his own country and clan on the same terms as those regiments raised by
the Duke of Bedford and others in England, but it was not accepted.
Before leaving Strathspey Sir James Grant counselled his son to
remain juissive indess he and the clan were called out together ; that is,
they were to remain loyal, defend their own territory oiJy if attacked, and
aid the Government in every way, but not to rise in arms tmless siun-
nioned to do so. The strength of his opinion regarding the independent
companies may be inferred from two letters written by him at this time.
In the first letter, to his son Ludovick, dated 2d November 1745, he says:
"You know the advice I gave you at parting. I ho]>e you have kept to it,
for it wotdd iiive me the u'reatest uneasines if I but i-ave credit to a letter I
saw from Inverness, telluig that young Grant was to send a company of men
there. I hope it is false, and noe advice or arguments from any person will
perswade yott to sticli a thing until I acipiaint yott. I shall he in great
trouble luiless yoti write the conterar, and had I suspected it in the least,
I would not have left, the country as I did."' In the second letter, which
is addressed to his law-agent in Edinbtugh, Lachlan Grant, writer there,
dated 4th January 174G, Sir James says :— " I thiidv my son did very
right in not accepting of any of those conunissions oilered by the
President, and my letter to him (which I linde tlie rebels have gott)
' Draft Original Letter at Caatlu fuant.