The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

412 SIR LUDOVICK OltAXr OF fUlAXT, liAIUlXKT. [1717-
tlieir allegiance. lie considered it of great inipoiiance to tlie (Jovei-nnicnt
tliat those %vlio were resolved to remain I'aithful at the hazard ot'tlulr lives
or fortunes, should not he sutl'ered to ho draggcnl into the rchellion against
th'cir Avill.'-, and heing aware that Lord I,oudouii, havin'.- hut a small f ave
ai. his Command, could not desjiatch a iorce .sufiicient ; - lander
the reliefs
in their design, he determined to meet the emergency liimseh". As there
"was no time to deliherate oi' receive Lord Louduims insl ructions, he
nuistered his friends to the numher of six oi- seven hundred, and man-lied
towards Liverness on his wav to Urquhart,'' (h'sii'ing his hrother-in-law,
Lord Dcskford, to iniorm ]jO)-d Loudoun oi' his march, and tci request that
the men nu'ght he provided with quarters at Liverness.
To this recjuest President Forhes returned answer, of date 2Gth
Octoher, that directions had been given for acciunmodating the men in tl:e
best w^ay possible. He however expressed his own regret and that of hoi-d
Loudoun that Mr. Grant had not communicated liis design before setting
out with such numbers." When this reply reached ^^Ir. Gi'ant, he had
already halted his men some miles from Liverness, having been met by
James Grant of Dell, a tenant of Urquhart, who brought the agreeable
news that the I'ebels had left that district, and niaivhed north to Assynt.
Mr. Grant thereupon dismissed his men with the exception of a few foi'
disposal near his house. On hearing of Mr. Grant's change of plan, Lord
President Forbes wrote expressing his relief that the whole nundjer stated
did not come, as there was no plan arranged for disposing of them, but he
was concerned that the company under Rothiemtu'chus did not come, as they
liad been expected earlier. He desii-ed, therel'oi'e, that thev might be sent
Avithotit delay. Pieferring to the oppression of the Urc^uhart jjeople and
the probable necessity of marching a considerable body of men to their
relief, he says, "that in due time may be concerted and execttted, tlio' it
ought not to hinder the immediate march of the company, who in all
events will be so far in their way."^
Here also Mr. Grant received further information of the proceedings
of the rebel clans through Sir Harry Lines of Lines, and liis own bailie
' MS. narrative by Sir Archibald Orant ami Lachlaii (irant.
' Vol. ii. of tbis work, y\>. IT'.l, ISO.
'•'
Ibid. j.. ISO.