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378 Gaelic Society of Inuerness.
and he would not como, and Cluny brought nobody witli him but
In veresci and young Banclier, and anotlier gentleman called Lachlan
M'Phersou. Duncan Campbell of Clunies came here likewise one
Monday night, and the Laird of Foulis came here on Thursday,
and seven of his friends, and dined and stayed all night and was very
merry, so that my house was very throng, as it almost was every
other day this C?) and summer. I was mightily desirous that Cluny
should leave his daughter with me, who is the finest child I ever
saw. But after he fir.st consented to it, he then resiled and
carryed her of, which vexed me very much— notwithstand that
Dr Fraser of Achnagairn gave his positive advice to Cluny not to
carry away his child in the winter time. But he acted the absolute
chief, and carried the poor infant away in a credill a horseback.
Before twenty gentlemen I openly washed my hands from any
harm that would happen to the child by carrying her away in this
season. But Cluny took the blame upon himself, and thi-re I left
it. However, they have had such tine weather that 1 hope the child
will arrive at Cluny in good health. But T cannot think that a
house whose walls was not finished two months ago can be very
wholesome either for the child or for the mother. But it seems
that Cluny is resolved to v.-ear the Britches and the Petty C!oats
too, so that I am afraid my cliild will not comb a grey head in
that country. Howevei-, we must submit and resign all things
to Providence."
Subjoined ai-e two extracts from another letter written in
1743. It would appear that, unless Lovat was indulging in a
joke or in idle compliment, the relative value of cows in the
" Aird" and in Lochaber must have changed pretty considerable
during the last 150 years! But not more than the sentiments
with regard to hard drinking. Sir Wilfred Lawson would hardly
write of a gentleman who, as near as possible, killed himself by
drink that "his death would be a singular loss to his country and
to his friends."
" I had the honour to write you a letter by the Post on
Saturday, and this now goes by a trusty Servant of mine that I
send South every year with Cows to my Doers, he carrys now
with him a Cow to John Macfai'lane, and one to William Fraser,
and T thought to have sent another of my little Highland Cows
with him for my Dear Cousine, the Lady Lochiel. But I was perswaded
you would mock me to send you one of the little pitifull
Cows of this Country when you have much better and larger Cows
of your own in Lochaber. I have sent a Cow to your Aunt, the
Lady Balhady, as I use to do every year. ....