The seventh and last, dated 21st November 1743, is addressed to the Laird of Mackintosh, and the politeness of the courtier is here seen to its full. It is sad to think that so soon after its date, such trouble fell on his Lordship and the Earl of Cromarty. At this time, 1743, Simon states there was nothing but "mirth and affection," and that the Earl and Doctor Fraser "were enough to make a hundred rejoice if they were in company." My Dear Laird of Mackintosh,—It gave me vast joy to know by Invercauld and Dunie that you and the worthy Lady Mackintosh, and dear Miss Farquharson, are in perfect health. I pray God it may long continue. There is no man on earth wishes it better, and I humbly beg leave to assure you and the good Lady Mackintosh and Miss Farquharson of my most affectionate, humble duty, best respects, and good wishes, in which my son joins me. I owe my dear Lady Mackintosh ten million of thanks for doing me the honour to engage her lovely brother, the young Laird of Invercauld, to see me in this little hut. His visit bas given me vast pleasure, and I have enjoined my son to live in great friendship with him all his life. He will make the prettiest gentleman that ever was called Farquharson, which I wish from the bottom of my heart. I was so lucky as to have here the Earl of Cromarty, and Lord Macleod, his son, and his governor, and Dr Fraser, when Invercauld came here. They are all still here, except Lord Macleod, who is gone to Edinburgh to his colleges. I never saw more delightful company than they have been and continue so. The Earl and Dr Fraser are enough to make a hundred rejoice if they were in company. There was nothing but mirth and affection among us. Dunie will do me justice that I drank your health and the good Lady Mackintoshes, as a family health, every day, and when the toast went round Lady Mackintosh and Miss Farquharson were not forgot. I am sorry that young Invercauld is so pressed with time, that he could not stay two or three weeks to make up a thorough acquaintance with my son, that they might contract such a friendship as would last all their days after I am dead and gone. But I hope after this their acqaintance won't be to make whatever they meet. I I beg my dear Laird of Mackintosh that you may do me the honour to let me hear from you once every week or ten days, that may know how you and the good Lady Mackintosh and Miss Farquharson do. You have only to send your letters to Duncan Fraser's by any person that comes to Inverness, and I will send my letter to him for you, so that we may correspond without your having the trouble of sending a servant to Beaufort, or my sending one to Moyhall, unless some extraordinary thing happen. We expect great news by this post. If I have anything extraordinary, I will acquaint you. I pray God preserve our friends, and restore the liberties of our country, and I am, with a most uncommon esteem, attachment, and respect, my dear Laird of Mackintosh, your most obedient and most faithful, humble servant, and most affectionate cousin, (Signed) LOVAT. Beaufort, 21st November 1743. Altogether, these letters show Simon to have been kindly, hospitable, and charitable; for it must be presumed that the lot of farthings he wished, were intended for wandering beggars-a class he used to converse with when he met them. I have the good fortune of possessing several other letters from Lord Lovat; also a volume, "Crawfurd's Officers of State,” which was in his library, with his book-plate, wherein part of his designation is "Governour of Inverness." It has also on an early blank page, a long holograph note in Latin. Books with his plate are rare, as the Castle and whole contents were utterly destroyed by fire by the Hanoverian troops immediately after the Battle of Culloden. MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. HONORARY CHIEFTAINS. Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, Bart. Colin Chisholm, Namur Cottage, Inverness. Alex. Nicolson, M.A., LL.D., advocate, sheriff-substitute, Kirkcudbright. Rev. Thomas Maclauchlan, LL.D., Edinburgh. LIFE MEMBERS. Burgess, Peter, factor for Glenmoriston, Drumnadrochit. Ferguson, R. C. Munro, of Novar, M.P., Fletcher, J. Douglas, yr. of Rosehaugh. Fraser-Mackintosh, Charles, of Drummond, M.P. Macdonald, Lachlan, of Skaebost, Skye. Mackay, Donald, Gampola, Kandy, Ceylon. Mackay, George F., Roxburgh, Otago, New Zealand. Mackay, James, Roxburgh, Otago, New Zealand. Mackay, John, C.E., Hereford. Mackay, John, of Ben Reay, Herriesdale, Dalbeattie. Mackenzie, Sir Kenneth S., of Gairloch, Bart. Mackenzie, Allan R., yr. of Kintail. Scobie, Captain N., late of Fearn, Ross-shire. HONORARY MEMBERS. Anderson, James, solicitor, Inverness. Blackie, Emeritus Professor John Stuart, Edinburgh. Burgess, Alexander, Caledonian Bank, Gairloch. Cameron, Donald, Woodville, Nairn. Cameron, Ewen, manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank ing Company, at Shanghai. Cameron, James Randal, Jacksonville, Oregon. Campbell, Duncan, editor, "Northern Chronicle," Inverness. Chisholm, Captain A. Macra, Glassburn, Strathglass. Davidson, Donald, of Drummond Park, Inverness. Dunmore, the Right Hon. the Earl of Fraser, Alexander, agent for the Commercial Bank of Scotland, Inverness. Fraser, A. T. F., clothier, Church Street, Inverness. Grant, John, Cardiff, Wales. Grant, Field-Marshal Sir Patrick, G.C.B., Chelsea, London. Grant, Major W., Drumbuie, Glen-Urquhart. Innes, Charles, solicitor, Inverness. Jolly, William, H.M. Inspector of Schools, Pollockshields, Glas gow. Macandrew, H. C., sheriff-clerk of Inverness-shire. Macbean, William, Imperial Hotel, Inverness. Macdonald, Alexander, of Edenwood. Macdonald, Allan, solicitor, Inverness. Macdonald, Andrew, solicitor, Inverness. Macdonald, Captain D. P., Ben-Nevis Distillery, Fort-William. Macdonald, John, Marine Hotel, Nairn. Macfarlane, Alex., Caledonian Hotel, Inverness. Mackay, Charles, LL.D., Fern Dell Cottage, near Dorking. Mackay, Neil, Penylan House, Pencoed, Bridgend, Wales. Mackenzie, Major Colin, late of 78th Highlanders, 49 Pall Mall, London. Mackenzie, Mackay D., National Provincial Bank, Gateshead-on Tyne. Mackenzie, Malcolm, St. Martins, Guernsey. Mackenzie, Osgood H., of Inverewe, Poolewe. Mackenzie, Major Thomas, late of Seaforth Highlanders. Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Moyhall. Mackintosh, Angus, of Holme, Palace Chambers, 9 Bridge Street, Westminster. Mackintosh, Eneas W., of Raigmore. Mackintosh, P. A., C.E., Bridgend, Glammorgan. Maclauchlan, Rev. Thomas, LL.D., F.S.A., Scot., Edinburgh. Macleod, Reginald, Dunvegan Castle, Skye, Macmillan, E. H., manager of the Caledonian Bank, Inverness. Macpherson, Colonel, of Glentruim, Kingussie. Macrae, Ewen, of Ardtulloch, Australia. Menzies, John, Banavie Hotel, Fort-William. Rose, Major, of Kilravock. Ross, Rev. William, Cowcaddens Free Church, Glasgow. Shaw, A. Mackintosh, Secretary's Office, G.P.O., London. Wilson, P. G., Inverness. ORDINARY MEMBERS. Baillie, Peter, Inverness. Bannatyne, William Mackinnon, Bridge of Allan, Barron, James, "Courier" Office, Inverness. Black, George, banker, Inverness. Buchannan, F. C., Clarinnish, Row, Helensburgh. Cameron, Rev. Alex., Sleat, Skye. Cameron, Donald, of Lochiel, M.P. Cameron, D., teacher, Blairour, Aonachan, Lochaber. Cameron, H. E., Clunes, Lochaber. Cameron, Neil, Ben-Nevis Cottage, Ballifeary. Cameron, William, Keeper of the Castle of Inverness. Campbell, Angus, Hotel-keeper, Tongue, Campbell, Fraser (of Fraser & Campbell), High Street, Inverness. Campbell, George J., solicitor, Inverness. Campbell, G. H., grocer, Church Street, Inverness. Campbell, Paul, shoemaker, Bridge Street, Inverness. Campbell, T. D. (of Cumming & Campbell), Inverness. Cesari, E., Station Hotel, Inverness. Charleson, Hector, Railway Refreshment Rooms, Forres. Chisholm, Alpin, High Street, Inverness. Chisholm, D. H., 21 Castle Street, Inverness. Chisholm, Alex., Alexandra Buildings, Inverness. Chisholm, Duncan, coal merchant, Inverness. |