The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

ie;s8722
171C.] ASSr.MKS THE MAXAOKMENT OF HIS KSTA'IKS. 295
under the Laird's fall lor. That (lie Laird liimself was tliiis einpoworod by
liis curators to intromit witli liis own estate implies considei'aljle confidence
in Lis general shrewdness and business ea})acity.
From this time, reeei}>ts and discharges were granted by the Laird
lumself, who gradually assumed the full management of his estat-;. He
afterwai'ds made a formal cludlenrfe of Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick CJ rant's
tutory, and raised an action of count and reckoning, setting aside the dis-
charge already referred to, on the ground of minority, and that it %vas not
signed by a quorum of curators. The accounting between tlie Laird and
liis uncle was afterwards submitted to arbitration, and it was found, upon
examination of a formal account of cliarge and discharge drawn by the Tutor
in 1G82, that the balance due by him was i'7305, 10s. 9d.^ Following
upon this award, matters were settled in an amicable manner, and two
months later, mutual discharges were executed both by the LaLrd and
the Tutor on the same day at Ballachastell."
There is little to relate regarding Ludovick Grant during the next few
years, or previous to his marriage. He probably employed himself in
settling his estate. Like other Highland landlords, he was much troubled
with the depredations of loose phuidei-ers and broken men, as they were
called, who, roaming from district to district, pilfered everything on whicli
they could lav their hands. These were distinct from tlie Ccarnacli.'^, who
may be described as a higher class of freebooters, who made occasional raids
in the way of cattledifting. Their profession was considered so honourable,
that they were frequently joined by sons of the " tacksmen, or second order
of gentry," who considered their exploits as good training for the life of a
soldier.^ Ludovick Grant's treatment of one of these gentlemen freebooters
will be afterwards related.
The depredations connnitted during the Laird's minority were of a
petty description. It was customary for the Lairds of Freuchie to receive
commissions to act as sheritis or justiciars within their own bounds, and
such a conunission or Act of Council in favour of the Laird had been obtained
shortly after his father's death. This appears from a letter to the Tutor of
1 Original Account and Memorandum of Award, I'Jth September 1084, at Castle Grant.
'^ Discbarges dated Ttli Xoviinber 1GS4, il>'nl.
3 Stewart's Sketches of tbe Hiyblanders, vol. i. f. 30.