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368 Gaelic Society of Inverness.
of the letters (1743-44) all those which might in any degree compromise
those adherents of the Stuart cause who had escaped the
vengeance of the Government were destroyed. It seems unlikely,
except on this hypothesis, that so confidential a correspondence
should have been maintained between two Highland chiefs whose
intia:acy was so close, and yet that all those topics which, to a
large extent, occupied the thoughts of men at that time should be
studiously avoided.
There are, however, a few other letters addressed to Macleod
of Macleod, the commencement to which is somewhat quaint.
Lovat seems always to have begun his letters to that chief thus
" My dear mother's chief," his mother being Sibylla, fourth
daughter of John Macleod of Macleod. In reference to this, it is
curious to observe the extreme punctilioiisness which a hundred
and fifty years ago marked the style of correspondence even
between the most intimate friends. The following extract may be
given as an example of the courtesies of correspondence then pre-
valent, but hardly ever brought to such perfection as in the present
instance. Every letter in the collection begins in this way,
or something very like it :— " My very dear Cusin," or, " My dear
Laird of Lochiell " or " Lochziell "— " I received the honour of
your letter, dated the 7th of this month, and I am exceedingly
overjoyed to know that you keep your health ; biit I am very
sorry that my dear Cusin your worthy lady is still tender and has
a cough. I i)ray that Heaven may recover her health, for your
comfort, and the good of your children, and for the satisfaction of
her friends and relations. I am very sure she has no friend or relation
in the world that wishes Her Ladyship better than I do, and I
I beg leave to assure you and her, and all the lovely Beams,
of my most humble duty and affectionate respects."
Subjoined is a specimen of the conclusion of one of the letters,
and it may indeed be said that in many cases the complimentary
portion of the letter often occupies as large a space as half the rest
of its contents :
" I was ovei-joyed by my cousine Gortuleg that you and my
very dear cousine, the Lady Lochiel, and your lovely Bairns were
in health. Gortuleg makes panegericks on your friendship and
good advices. You will always find him a very honest man,
and much your faithful servant. I beg leave to assure you and
my dear cousine, the Lady Lochcil, and the dear young ones, of
my most aflectionate humble duty and best respects and good
wishes. My Jenyie joins with me in these dutiful respects and
good wishes. And I am much more than I can express, with most
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