The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

400 SIR UUKiVKK CHANT OF (iRANT, HARONKT. [1747-
Shortly tliereaftcr Sir James Grant went to London, to perforn) liis
Parliamentary duties, leaving his son virtual head of the clan, and
earnestly reeonnnending him to coneur heartily in every measure for
support of the Government. Mr. Grant was very will'. ig to do this, and
ill pursuance of liis purpose, calied his iViends together, and ino"ired what
irms were in the possession 'i'his elan. This was .;fGessarv. as by the
operation of the Disarming Act in 1725, the loyal ilans had been left
Avithout arms, and, indeed, any further steps Mr. Grant might liave taken
at this tmie in aid of the Government would have been fi-ustrated by this
deficiency.
Lord President Forlies came to the north with the view of prevent-
ing, if possible, the further spread of the insurrection, and from Alexander
Brodie of IBrodie, Lyon King-of-Arms, who was then in close attendance
on him, j\Ir. Grant received a letter contradicting a report as to the landmg
of a large number of French troops, and giving information that Sir John
Cope was on his way north to meet the reliels.^ Further intelligence of
Cope's march, which was delayed by insufficiency of provisions and want
of money," came from the Lord Advocate,' and also from the Lyon,* who,
in the same letter, intimated the arrival at Liverness of a thousand stand of
arms with anmiunition for the friends of the Government. Sir- John Cope
resumed his march nortliwards from Stirling on '20th August 1745, and
on the 25th Mr. Grant wrote to him with information intimatincf that
he and his clan had been doing theii- best to preserve the peace of the
country, and to defend themselves, and that his fears of vengeance from
hostile clans were dispelled by the news of the General's march.*
The letter was conveyed to Sir John C.'(jpe by a kinsman of Mr. Grant,
who was to inform the General of the number of arms and men which
could be supplied, so that if Sir John required assistance he might
know what was available. The messenger found the General at a point
further north than was expected, he having resolved to march to Liverness
rather than meet the rebels in a mountainous district, where his army would
be at a disadvantage. Mr. Grant's kinsman returned on the '2Gth August.
' Vol. ii. of this work, p. 14.t. ^ Vol. ii. of tliis work, \>. 14G.
2 Browne's History of the HighlarifU. vol. iii. ].. 33. < Ih;,/. ji. 147. ' Ihkl. p. 148.