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374 Gaelic Society of Inverness.
It appears that in 1742 Lovat lent his house in Edinburgh to
Lochiel, and the following reference to its merits and depreciation
of its worthiness for "his dear cousine " is quaint enough to. deserve
transcribing. After referi-ing to the " terrible journey" and
" voyage " to the " Metropolis," Lovat goes on to say :— " It gives
me a singular pleasure to know from yourself that my little house
accommodates your lady and children. I wish it was the best in
Edinburgh for your sake and theirs. It is certain that what is of
it is good. It is both warm, and the large room is very lofty and
well lighted. I am sorry it is not better furnished, but you have
in it everything that I had except worn bed cloathes and a few
necessarys for my kitchino that I could not get here for money,
there is one advantage that my dear cousin, the Lady Lochiel, will
have, that it has the easiest stair in Edinburgh, and that it is situated
in the best part of the town. Would to God that it was
the best in it in every shape for your sake and hers."
Lovat is determined that the rules of good manners shall be
observed by his daughter, for lie writes in the same letter :
" I am very angry at my daughter, Siby, that she did not go
and pay her respects to the Lady Lochiel how soon ever she heard
that she came to towMi, but I ho})e the Lady Lochiel will excu.se
her youth and bashfulness. I have ordered her to be more in her
duty in time to come, and to pay her respects every other day to
the Lady Lochiel."
There are three letters referring to Cluny's marriage with his
daughter. Lovat appears to have had great confidence in Lochiel's
judgment in the matter, but no doubt he is also anxious to avail
himself of the acquaintance which that chief seems to ha\e had
with the circumstances of the young lover. Prudent fathers are
not confined to the 19th century. The following letter, however,
represents the lover as either very bashful or somewhat unskilful
in his addresses, as he was a whole week at Beaufort without finding
an opportunity of " i)Oi)ping the question."
" My Dear Laird of Lochiel,—
" As I sincerely have greater confidence in you than in
many other men on earth, you know, for several reasons, that I
have past grounds for this confidence that I have in you, this
entire trust that I have in your friendship for me, and in your
absolute honour and integrity and upiightness of heart, obliges
me to send you this express to acquaint you that your cousine,
Cluny Macpherson, came here, and, after staying some days, he
—