The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

177.k] I'lIOTElTIOX liKyUKSTKD BY THE TOWN OF KLGIX. 425
Wr. Grant tli:it Tjonl Le\\'Is (lonlon had only (Irtcaaiunod on tlie attack
%\lieii ]ic knew llial tlie Grants had hccn \n itlidrawii.
Tliroui^'h the ]ironi])t nicasuros taken ]>y ^Ir. (irant, ]\hicleod and his
otlii.'i.'^'s crossed tlie Sjny in safety on the evening (_)f the l!4th, and for greater
seenriiy agaiH-;t surprise, I^lr. Grant, instrueted his oillcer.-; lo remain on
Spe :.ide, and take eare of the hoats/
In anxious letters from Sir Harry Innes and the jMagiscrates of Elgin,
dateil ^Sth December, Mr. Grant was reijnested to march his clan to their
ncighbourliood fur their protectii.m, but in fice uf what had already passed,
he did not feel iustiiied in doinir so. The ]\lai:isti-ates comiilained that Mac-
leod was inarching away from their town towards Inverness, leaving them
expiosed to the oppression of the rebels, and that unless they received
protection from Mr. Grant, they and the principal inhabitants would recjuii'e
to remove with their eifects to some place of safety, especially as live
lunidred rebels at Strathbogie, uttermg threats of heavy vengeance, wei'e
ready to commence an attack. Si)- Hariy Innes wrote in suppiort of this
appeal.' In his reply to the Magistrates on the 'lOih, Mr. Grant assured
them of his inclination to serve them, and narrated the circumstances
of liis former march, which was intended to protect their town and neigh-
l)ourliood, and the discotu'agernent he had from those in authority. lie,
however, was of opinion that the people of Elgin had no cause to be alarmed
unless a much larger body of the rebels came from Aberdeen to join tho.se
at Strathbogie, as the latter would never ventiu'e to cross tlie Spey when
]Mr. Grant was above them and Lord Loudoun so near them. He antici-
pated that though the Macleods had marclied to Inverness, Lord Loudoun
woidd send snlHcient force against the rebels at Strathliogie. "With respect
to himself, Mr. Grant adds, " In the situation I am at present, I am uncer-
tain whether I am to be attacked from Perth, or by those at Aberdeen
and Strathbogie for my late march. I daie not |>romise to march with
any body of men Init in concert and with Lord Loudouii's directions, and,
at the same time, I have demanded to be assisted with arms and encourafed
to keej) my men in the pn-ojier wa}-.""
' Vol. ii. of this work, p. 20". '" Copies of letters in Ai)]ieii