The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

1773.] MAKCH OF Tin; GKAKTS TO KKITII. 419
men to tlie nciu'libnui'liood and overawe the ix'bols, wlio were mucli afraid
oftiie Sti'atlispev men. I\Ir. (iiaiit responded liy at once muKterint^' ii\'e or
si.v lumdred men, wliom he marclied to Keith. Of tliis fact he notilled
Loi'd Loudonn, on ]"(h Deccnil'or, in a letter Avritten o;. tlie f \'e of
seit'iiii; out, .-(atiny that lie feh it incnmhent npnii h''i. to p'-t-vent
opj'i'-^sion to his riei.rhhours, and ^lie draLi'^'ini^' of theii" .
nants
vo the
reliil army, and had therefore siniivnoned his clan, lie liojied to be at
Keith next da^•, and tii kee]i tlie surrounding comitry quiet, until he heard
fiu'ther from his Lurdship.'
The Grant men marched straiirht towards Keith, liut the weather
\vas so e.xeessivelv wet, that two da3's after setting out, thev had
oidy arrived in the vicinity of ^lulben, abi.iut four miles from Keith. (Jn
]\lr. Cirant's ajiproach, the rebels disapjieared from that neighbourhodd, and
I'eassembled at Fochabei's, to the number ef two or three hundred, under
the command ol" tTordon of Avachy. Mr. Grant accordingly halted his
men for rest and refreshment after their rapid march, preparatory to an
attack on the rel>els. Here ^fr. Grant received a lettei' from Lord Find-
later, enclosing the veply from President Forbes, and in reference to the
re])orted movement of troops. Lord Findlater says, " All their proceedings
will not secure our .safety unless a sutlicient right and trusty person is
left in Banffshire, for Lord Lewis's small }iarties will stir as soon as they
are past, if tliere is not foice enougli to suppress them." This opinion
fully justified Mr. Grant's independent action. Lord Findlatei- also
excused himself from accompanying Lord Loudotm, on the score of ill
liealth, but states tliat he had written to the sheritl'-deptites to jjrepare
for the troops. lie gave Mr. Grant full power to act for him, if the
sherifls were afivaid to move in the matter."
At the same time, ]Mr. Grant also learned that Lord Loudoun had
reached Moray, and that the rebels had brought the boats on Spey to the
east or Fochabers side of the river. He therefore sent a- party of a luuidred
men, who secured the Boat of Bridge, two miles further u{> the Spe}-. Mr.
Grant then wrote to Sir Harry Lmes at Elgin, detailing what he had done,
and promising protection to the town, also incpiiring about Macleod's
' Vol. ii. of tliis work, p. I'Ji '^ t'opy Letter in AjiiKiidix to 5is. narrative of Lacblan Grant.