As to the Case of Mr. Grant of Shewgly, It’s informed That he is
impeached with a Correspondence w^{th} the Pretenders Son. This is
absolutely false in itself, as he never corresponded with him in word
or write in his life, but upon the Pretenders son arrival in Arisake
how soon he set up his Fathers Standart that he wrote circular letters
to all the countrys in the Highlands desiring to assist and join him
with all the men they could agains a preceese day, among which there
was a letter sent to the Country of Urquhart directed for the s^d
Alex^r Grant and the rest of the Gentlemen of Urquhart with one other
to the Laird of Grant himself. The very next morning after receiving
the letter they chapterly conveened in order to consider of the proper
use to be made therof, and what was thought upon was: immediately to
send that Letter with the other letter to Mr. Grant younger of Grant
by the Baillie of Urquhart to make the legal use thereof as he thought
proper; All this accordingly was done with that very breath and the
Baillie went accordingly. This letter was keeped by Mr. Grant till such
time as the said Alex Grant was made prisoner at Inverness and then
gave it to the Duke of Cumberlands Secretary.
As also its informed that the said Alex Grant was assisting in sending
men from the Country of Urquhart to join the Rebels. This is also false
and injurious as it can be made plainly appear, that the s^d Alex^r
Grant at three several times did turn back some of the Gentlemen of the
Country w^{th} a considerable body of men who marched bag and baggage
under full arms six miles from their habitation, and that by the s^d
Alex Grants persuasion, tho the Country was very oft harased and
threatened w^{th} destruction, prevailed withal to stay at home till
some time in February last that a Regiment of the Macdonalds came to
the Country to force the men, or otherways under-go utter destruction
by burning the country and destroying their heal effects, which to
prevent the most of the Gentlemen with three or four score men went
alongs, and with all the persuasion in the said Alex Grants power could
not get them prevailed upon to stay.
And further to testifie the s^d Alex^r Grant his sincere endeavours
to assist the Government. Mr. Grant younger of Grant w^{th} five or
six hundred of his men having come to the Country of Urquhart some
time after the Battle of Culloden, in order to get the Grants of
Glenmoriston and Urquhart to surrender, Mr. Grant did put upon him the
said Alex. Grant in the strongest manner to concur and assist to get
his purpose effectual, which the s^d Alex Grant accordingly went about
and with a great deal of labour and fatigue both night and day got them
at last convinced, and with great difficulty prevailed with them to
surrender, providing they could be made sure of their lives, which Mr.
Grant not only engaged by Vow and Oath but by a very binding Letter
under his hands to Grant of Daldeagan, which letter is still extant to
produce in the Duke of Cumberland’s hands. This seems no less than a
paradox in itself considering that Mr. Grant gave out to the Duke of
Cumberland that he and his men apprehended them in Rocks and Woods. The
next day after their meeting the said Alex Grant with 84 men of the
Grants of Glenmoriston and Urquhart came near Mr. Grants lodging there
and surrendered prisoners upon terms and gave up their arms before
Sir Alexander Macdonald and several other Gentlemen, and the next day
thereafter Mr. Grant with his men marched directly to Inverness with
the surrender. But the said Alex Grant, being in a bad state of health
after the fatigue and strugle he had in this interpose, came to take
leave of his young Chief and return home, but Mr. Grant told him that
he would not part with him till he had got the Duke of Cumberland to
thank him for his services, and that it was otherways necessary his
going to Inverness, to give a character of the Men for their more
speedy Relief, which accordingly he comply’d w^{th}, and less than
an hour after their arrival at Inverness Mr. Grant sent for him to
his own Lodging upon pretence of material business relating to this
affair, and within two minutes after coming to him the said Mr. Lewis
Grant told him that he was sorry to understand that he the said Alex
Grant was to be made prisoner, which immediately was done and carried
to the Comon Guard, Mr. Grant giving him the strongest assurance that
he would be released the next morning. Its to be observed that if the
said surrenders had been dismissed at Inverness according to Mr. Grants
promise the whole Rebells then in arms in the Highlands of Scotland had
surrendered in less than ten days, the Grants being the very first that
did surrender.
As to James Grant his case what is laid to his Charge is still a
mistery so that no particular answer can be made to it, but it can be
always made appear that since the beginning of the Rebellion he stayed
peaceably at home and after several attempts made upon him defied the
Rebells request to move him any manner of way, and still continued so
till Mr. Grant younger of Grant after the Battle of Culloden brought
his Militia to Inverness, and having sent for a number of men to
Urquhart to join him, the s^d James Grant with sixty men directly
march’d to Inverness, joined Mr. Grant and the rest of his men there,
with whom he continued a Captain till such time as Mr. Grant returned
from Urquhart to Inverness w^{th} the surrenderers. The said James
Grant was very assistful with his father to get the said number of men
to surrender, w^{ch} Mr. Grant had never done but by their persuasion,
immediately as they arrived at Inverness Mr. Grant employed the s^d
James Grant to make out a list of the number of men under his command
in order to provide them Quarters, this being done was sent for, to
come to his Lodgings, where he remained till his father came up, and
with the same breath Mr. Grant told him he was to be made prisoner but
not to be afraid, that tomorrow he would see him relieved, and so forth
was carried with his father prisoner to the Comon Guard but never heard
a word from Mr. Grant till this moment.
The said Alex Grant is informed that the said Mr. Lewis Grant has given
as an article of accusasion ag^{st} him that some of his children
had been sent by him the said Alex Grant to join and carry arms for
the Pretender. The said Alex Grant owns so much of this Charge, that
contrary to his inclination and frequent instruction his said Children
(who were not staying with him) some of them did join the Rebell armie
and the said Alex Grant offers to make it appear by Gentlemen of
undoubted credit and firm attachment to the Government that he used
all the interest he was master of both as a parent and a friend to the
present Government to keep his children at home, and that from the time
his children who so engaged had taken such resolution none of them
durst ever appear in his presence. It is submitted whether or not the
said Alex Grant could have done more to keep his children at home.
(Signed) ALEXANDER GRANTT.
JAMES GRANTT.
_Castle Street, Sixth July 1746._