sons (the eldest was intended) he would have been named a Captain. Clunie and Killiehuntlie I believe owe their Commissions solely to you and me, for both before and after I left London I made as strong interest as I could for them in our name, and lett Clunies connection wt. you be known for which I likewise had your warrant and had I not done so I dare say the Great Men who procured the Commissions would never have thought of them.

I did apply for Foyers and I still hope the Commission is his, and that you Jocke about your Pimp Churgeon. I write this day to London about it. The man who should have sent me ane authentick list after telling me it was Inclosed forgott it, and I learn nothing by either yours or that in the newspaper but that they differ in some particulars. If you are to assist Jos Stewart or anie other in raising their Companies I hope if Foyers is ane Ensign you will desire he may be theirs. I never heard that anie Cameron aplyed for a Commission except the doctor when at your house and that was much too late. Donald Scotos is my sons Lieutenant. I fancy he (my son) is by this time in Ednr. and will soon pop in upon you att Beaufort.

I have wrote as strongly as I could to Mr McLeod in Fairfields afair and inclosed the letter to Charles, but I can realy hardly expect that Mr McLeod whos afairs are not a little Imbarrased att present will be his Cautioner, but I dare say he will when satisfyed wt. the securitie do all he can to find a proper person and the money. Bad as I am I feel some spirits when I am conversing in this way wt. my dearest Friend. I desire you take it for granted that I am quite well if yours to me of yesterdays date bring me good accts. of you, lett me salute all Friends wt. you and assure yourself I am wt. the outmost of my pith yours while I breath, NORMAND MACLEOD.

dun[vegan], july 19th 1745.

I expected the honour of a return from Lady Clunie to the letter I wrote wt. Miss Frasers allowance from you to stay wt. her some time.

Norman Macleod of Macleod to Lord Lovat, 11th August, 1745. My dear Lord,

No doubt you are Informed or this can reach you that some of our unlucky neighbours are up in arms in order to suport The Pretended Prince of Wales. The consequence as to them must be fatal, and I cannot but regrate it, as for you your Loyaltie and Prudence is so well known that its easy to guess the part you will act. Sr. Alexr. Macdonald (who with Lady Margrat Coll Taliscar &c. join

Coll and I

me in their Compliments and good wishes to you) resolve on the same prudent steps that I dare say you will follow, and as we are armless to sitt quiet att least till we have orders to the contrary and are enabled to exert our strenth if required in support of the Government. I shall long much to hear from you and have your sentiments and advice. The Bearer is ane Express of Sir Alexrs. who goes to the President, so that the return I will expect is either by the Post or ane Express as you judge proper. I ever am with the outmost Friendship and affection, your most Faithful Servant, NORMAND MACLEOD.

Talisker, Augt. 11th 1745.

Norman Macleod of Macleod to Lord Lovat, 18th Augt. 1745. My dearest Lord,

Yours of the 13th I recieved att dunvegan late Friday night, and yesterday I sett out for this place to regulate some things that wanted it, and purpose to return to morrow. As its uncertain but I miss the post I chuse to write from this and write as fully, and I am quite sure as freely as I can, from any scrapes of information I have picked up, so that after all you will look on the whole only as Information and may or may not be True for ought I know. First then the Chevaliers Son touched at Uist wt. his small Privateer of 18 Gunns. Told he had some money (but very little) about 1600 Gunns and as many Swords (said to be bad): about Twenty five persons with him mostly Irish or French Irish; no Scotsman of anie Family but the Marquiss of Tullibardine and but one of these had ever been a Lieutenant Collonell; expected no succour from France or Spain and came to try his fate amongst his faithful subjects wt. a resolution to conquer or dye, but never to return. Its alledged some people who pretended to be his well wishers remonstrate against this mad attempt, wh. behoved to end in his own ruin, and the destruction of those that were so much his enemies as join him, and desired his immediate return, or att least to remain quiet, till it could be tryed if he had anie number of Friends that would appear for him, and where arms and a Generall was to be had. However, he sailed to the Mainland and their its alledged he had the same doctrine preached to him, but he continued positive, on wh. they resolved to join him att all hasards; Its very probable all the argumentative part of this story is Clatters and Fiction, but what is certain and is public is, that he did stop att Uist, that that is his real Force and that since he came to the Mainland he is joined by some people there, wh. I dare say is more exactly known wt. you then here as the reports

are various daily. The people named are Glengarry Lochiel Clanranald Keppoch Morors People (but not himself) and some from Apin, but I did not hear himself named. The Standard is its said to be sett up to morrow att Glenfinnon wh. is the outlett from Moydart and Arisaick to Lochhaber. The reports from thence are that they expect a ship wt. Generall Officers and arms and the Ferroll embarkation wt. 6000 Spaniards. Sure we are oblidged to them who have given by the attempt here such timeous advertisment to our rulers to take proper measures to defeat that descent, if anie such was ever intended. Now I've told you all the idle clatters ever I heard about this odd and strange adventure. I hope in return to have your sentiments and information of what is really a doing, and wheter the Goverment is to putt you in a capacity to exert your vigour and strenth in its support, wh. you once did before so successfully when it was in more danger, att least from Inward Broils. Their is a report here to day that the Highlanders on Friday attacked 2 Companies of Foot going to fort William, and after some pickeering killed a feu and took the rest Prisoners. If its true you've more certain information of it or this can reach you. W. Muir whom you mention I fancy is taken too or ran away wt. £200 of the Captains Recruiting money for I've heard nothing of him since he went on that errand, and he should have been back long ago. I approve much of your Scheme for the Master and I hope you will without delay putt it in Execution, being att home att anie rate in his present situation is not to be wished, but as things seem to look odd and dismal and gloomy lett him in Gods name gett hence and compleat his Education. You can not nor can Mr Craigy either say anie thing to his advantage that I am not agst. to believe, for he is the youth ever I saw that I have the greatest opinion off. As to Sandy* I can say nothing till I know more of him, but if his figure is the only objection to his being in the army, if ane Officers head and heart be good it avails little what his Person be. Marshall luxembourg was a hump backed dwarff of a body as ever was seen but a very Great Man and Officer for all that. Write by the Post as I'll be at dunvegan and the Bearer comes here. Your health I rejoice to find mended and must commend your modesty in making me so usefull and you so useless. I wish for your sake as my first Friend I had it in my power to be more usefull then I am, but sure I am for one that would miss me a hundred would you. I pray God preserve and direct both to be usefull to one ane other as for our inclina

*Sandy was Lovat's second son, often referred to in Lovat's letters as the "Brigadier."

tion.—If we have the power theirs little doubt of that. Wont it be proper to see what turn these Commotions take or I leave home, had it not been that, I would have sett out for Inverary by this time.

I cannot find out what neighbour of yours to the West aggreed in conjunction wt. you in my neighbours Sentiments and mine. Lochiel I thought had, but I fear you was mistaken, as I am sure I was.

I offer my Compliments to all with you, wh. I suppose for ordinary is not a feu, as I hear all the Country is in a Moving disposition. I ever am with the most unalterable Leal Friendship and attachment my dearest Lord yours NORMAND MACLEOD.

Glenelg, Augt. 18th 1745.

The Captain is in harris Recruiting and will return wt. his men whenever the wind allows, to go for Inverness where he is ordered. I dare say you are tyred of me and my letter long or you gett this lenth.

Copy of Lord Lovat's letter to the Earl of Stair, dated 21st

My Dearest Earl,

September, 1745.

I was much overjoyed to know by my Cousin the Laird of Macleod (who is your faithfull Servant), that he saw a letter of your Lops. with my Lord President, giving accounts that your Lop. was in perfect health. I pray God you may long continue so; this will always be the sincere wish of my heart and soul. Macleod tells me that your Lop. was so good as to make kind mention of me in your letter to the President, for which I give your Lop. ten thousand thanks. It is not the first time that I had

singular experience of your Lops. great goodness and generous friendship towards me, for which my heart is sincerely full of gratitude, and will be so while there is breath in me.

When I was so desireous the last year that my second son shoud have a Company in the Earl of Loudon's Regiment, he was then prosecuting his studys at the Colledge of St Andrews, and I had not seen him for several years. As he was then going 17 years, I had reason to believe that he would have a growth like other men. But to my great surprise, when he came here I found him to be ane extraordinary undergrowth, the next degree to what they call a Dwarf. So that I would not wish for £5000 that my son would appear a Captain in any Regiment. And this is the real cause of my present misfortune that I cannot accept a good commission that your Lop. was so very good towards me as to

are various daily. The people named are Glengarry Lochiel Clanranald Keppoch Morors People (but not himself) and some from Apin, but I did not hear himself named. The Standard is its said to be sett up to morrow att Glenfinnon wh. is the outlett from Moydart and Arisaick to Lochhaber. The reports from thence are that they expect a ship wt. Generall Officers and arms and the Ferroll embarkation wt. 6000 Spaniards. Sure we are oblidged to them who have given by the attempt here such timeous advertisment to our rulers to take proper measures to defeat that descent, if anie such was ever intended. Now I've told you all the idle clatters ever I heard about this odd and strange adventure. I hope in return to have your sentiments and information of what is really a doing, and wheter the Goverment is to putt you in a capacity to exert your vigour and strenth in its support, wh. you once did before so successfully when it was in more danger, att least from Inward Broils. Their is a report here to day that the Highlanders on Friday attacked 2 Companies of Foot going to fort William, and after some pickeering killed a feu and took the rest Prisoners. If its true you've more certain information of it or this can reach you. W. Muir whom you mention I fancy is taken too or ran away wt. £200 of the Captains Recruiting money for I've heard nothing of him since he went on that errand, and he should have been back long ago. I approve much of your Scheme for the Master and I hope you will without delay putt it in Execution, being att home att anie rate in his present situation is not to be wished, but as things seem to look odd and dismal and gloomy lett him in Gods name gett hence and compleat his Education. You can not nor can Mr Craigy either say anie thing to his advantage that I am not agst. to believe, for he is the youth ever I saw that I have the greatest opinion off. As to Sandy* I can say nothing till I know more of him, but if his figure is the only objection to his being in the army, if ane Officers head and heart be good it avails little what his Person be. Marshall luxembourg was a hump backed dwarff of a body as ever was seen but a very Great Man and Officer for all that. Write by the Post as I'll be at dunvegan and the Bearer comes here. Your health I rejoice to find mended and must commend your modesty in making me so usefull and you so useless. I wish for your sake as my first Friend I had it in my power to be more usefull then I am, but sure I am for one that would miss me a hundred would you. I pray God preserve and direct both to be usefull to one ane other as for our inclina

* Sandy was Lovat's second son, often referred to in Lovat's letters as the "Brigadier."