Upon the 16th of September Mr. Grosett was sent
out twice in the morning to get Intelligence of
the Motions of the Rebells, and to let General
Fowkes, who was then posted at Coltbridge, know
their Motions, and the last Account he brought
was that the Rebells had lain down upon their
Arms, about Twelve that Day near Kirklisten,
about 6 Miles to the West of Edinburgh, that the
Dragoons having soon after this upon the motion
of the Rebells towards them quit their Post at
Coltbridge and retired in some haste by the
North side of the Town about 3 that afternoon,
without sending the Party of Dragoons into the
Town as had been conserted in the morning of
that Day, and Lord Justice Clarke observing
that this might give a Handle for justifying
the Provest to give up the Town to the Rebells,
he sent Mr. Grosett to the Provest, to press
the Defence of the Town, and to assure him,
that as many of the Dragoons as he pleased to
desire should forthwith be sent in, to assist
in the Defence thereof, till Sir John Cope, who
was then hourly expected by sea from Aberdeen,
should come with the Troops to their Relief. But
the Provost, declining to defend the Town upon
Pretence of the Uncertainty of Sir John Cope’s
coming in time to their Assistance, Mr. Grosett
returned and acquainted Lord Chief Justice
Clarke thereof; and as by this time an Express
was arrived from Dunbar with Letters for Lord
Justice Clarke, giving an Account of the Arrival
of the Troops under Sir John Cope off Dunbar;
Mr. Grosett was the only Person who would
undertake to go back into the Town with these
Letters; but not being able to prevail with the
Provost to agree to the Defence thereof, he
left it about One in the Morning, and brought
Lord Justice Clarke an Account of what had past
[narrowly escaped falling into the Hands of
the Rebells, who by 5 in the Morning were in
full Possession of the Town, the Gates having
been opened to them; But the Particulars of
Mr. Grosetts Transactions, and the Provosts
Behaviour at this Juncture, will more fully
appear from a Narrative relating thereto,
formerly delivered by Mr. Grosett to His Grace
the Duke of Newcastle.[592]]
[Sidenote: No. 3]
Expended and Lost in this Service, Mr. Grosett
in his speedy Return to Edinburgh having lost
both his Hatt and Wig and killed one of his
Horses 16 17 0
[Sidenote: Sept. 1745]
Mr. Grosett having retired with Lord Justice
Clarke to Dunbar, and his Lordship having
upon the 18th Septemr. received Information
that the young Pretender was to be that Night
with some of the Chiefs of his Party at the
Dutchess of Gordon’s house,[593] about 7 miles
to the South-East of Edinburgh on their Road to
England, and that the First Column of the Rebell
Army was to march that way, Mr. Grosett was sent
by Lord Justice Clarke with proper Guides and
Assistants in the Night to reconnoitre and
send certain Intelligence of their Motions
and number; But receiving Information near
the Dutchess of Gordon’s House, that they
had changed their Resolution he returned and
acquainted Lord Justice Clarke thereof; From
this time to the Battle of Preston, Mr. Grosett
was employed in reconnoitering and procuring
Intelligence of the Motions and Designs of the
Rebells [narrowly escaped being killed the Night
before the Battle, by a Party of the Rebells who
lay in ambuscade in a Thicket of Wood on the
side of a hollow way, Mr. Grosett had to pass
through in going by the Directions of Sir John
Cope to observe their motions and numbers, as
they were drawing up in front of our army from
whence they fired close upon him, as he went
along, and from which Place they were drove by
our Cañon after Mr. Grosett’s return with an
Account of their Situation]; and the Day of the
Battle he Lost a Horse and all his Baggage,
the servant who had charge thereof being made
Prisoner by the Rebells.
[Sidenote: No. 4]