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Unpublished Letters of Simon 12tli Lord Louat. 3G9
unfeigned attachment and unalterable respect, my dear Laird of
Lochiel, your most affectionate cousine and most obedient and respectful
humble servant,
" Lovat."
That Lovat was accustomed to administer compliments in
strong doses is corroborated by the compiler of the "History of
the Chiefs of the Grants," who says (vol. 1, p. xxi.)— "Too much
importance will not be attached to the letters of Simon Lord
Lovat by those who are acquainted with his peculiar style. It
was his wont to indulge in expressions of admiration, and even
adulation, towards such of his friends as he particuliarly fancied."
The letters were, however, not all couched in the affectionate
terms of the above extract. When any incident occurred to
arouse the anger or jealousy of the Northern Chief, he would
adopt a much cooler, not to say freezing tone, and he was in the
habit of exaggerating his grievances equally with his assurances
of afiection when so disposed. Thus, in 173G, he begins his letter—
" My dear sir" (in place of " my dear cousin " or "my dear
Laird of Lochiel "). The grievance complained of in this letter
is apparently the usual one between Highland chiefs, at that time
—a raid or foray in which the members of one clan suffered from
the depredations of neighbours who were supposed to be on terms
of friendsliip or alliance. After referring to certain friendly
overtures which Lovat made, he goes on to say :
" You cannot but be convinced of the great and singular
love and regard I have for your person and family, and of my
extraordinary patience in suffering so long such a terrible and
manifest insult without endeavouring to resent it. But now, my
dear cousin, I must freely and frankly tell you that my patience
is worn out, and that I cannot longer forbear endeavouring to do
myself and my kindred justice. But before I begin such a disagreeable
undertaking, I send two principal gentlemen of my
name that are my Baillies and Chamberlains, and are well known
to you, Alexander Fraser of Bellnain, and William Fraser of
Belloan, to get your final and positive answer of peace or war
which will determine me. The proposition that John Fraser was
so silly as to make to me to send money to those Ruffians to
ransom the cattle, and bring them back, in my humble opinion is
as great an insult as the first. However, I liave bore, patiently
all those aflVonts till now, in hopes that the Laird of Lochiel, my
nearest relation and my good friend, would give me redress, and
that the Clan of the Camerons would not willingly and wilfully
make war against the Clan of the Fiasers, their old friends and
allies who fought their battles against the Macdonalds and the
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