In obeidience to your Lordships Commands we have Examd. the two
Accompts of Walter Grosett Esqr. and from the Certificate of
the Lord Justice Clerk and all the Generals who Commanded in
Scotland, relating to these Accompts, it appears to us, that Mr.
Grosett was employed in the following Service of the Government,
from the first breaking out of the Rebellion to the Suppression
thereof, Vizt.
That upon the Rebells at Pearth having formed a designe to
surprize Edinburgh by getting across the River Forth in Boats and
vissibly[638] as they had done in the year 1715, Mr. Grosett with
the assistance of the Kings Sloops and Boats stationed at Dunbar,
Leith, and Several other places on the Coast, and which were put
under his Directions as a Justice of the Peace, removed all the
Ships, Boats and Vessells from the North to the South side of
the Forth, notwithstanding of the Rebells being at that time in
possession of the North side of that River, and thereby prevented
their putting in Execution what they had projected as aforesaid.
That he was almost constantly Employed in disapointing the
designs of the Rebells, getting inteligence of their motions, and
giving inteligence thereof to the Generals Officers both before
and after the Battle of Prestonpans.
That he conducted an Attempt for releasing several Officers who
were in the Custody of the Rebells, and had been made prisoners
at the Battle of Prestonpans, in which he succeeded.
That upon the Rebells sudden retraite from England, Mr. Grosett
was employed by Lord Justice Clerk and Genl. Guest, to get the
Troops transported in the most Expeditious manner from Stirling,
and the Cannon from on Board the Ships at Borrowstonness to
Edinburgh, for the defence thereof, the Rebells being at this
time within a days march of that Town and by which means they
were prevented from getting again possession of that important
place.
That he on Several occasions provided Vessells, rais’d the well
Affected Country people, embarked Souldiers, and conducted
Several Expeditions upon the Forth, to surprize the Rebells
and retard their intended Siege of Stirling Castle, in which
he succeeded; as also in destroying by the Dukes Command, the
Magazines belonging to the Rebells on the North side of the Forth
and who on that occasion took several of the Rebells prisoners
and sent them to his R.H. then at Stirling.
That he procured several Boats and Vessells to attend ye Army
with provisions and other necessary’s as it march’d along the
Coaste, to attack the Rebells at Culloden (where his younger
Brother Captain Grosett was barbarously murdered) he also
procured Pilotts to go with Commodore Smith to the Orkneys to
prevent the Rebells there joining these at Culloden, and assisted
Lord Justice Clerk in procuring whatever was found necessary for
the Army, and for the Service of the Governmt. at the Critical
Juncture.
That Mr. Grosett was appointed by His Grace the Duke of Newcastle
to transact the Affairs of the Government in Scotland relating to
the Rebellion, and to find out and collect the Evidence against
the Rebells, and to keep a constant Corespondence with His Grace
and Mr. Sharpe in all such matters as might require it, with
assurance that the expense thereof, and of the Witnesses sent up
to Town shd. be defrayed, and that care would be taken of his
having a Suitable Satisfaction for his trouble.
That it appears to us from the Certificate of the Lord Justice
Clerk, that Mr. Grosett being employed on behalf of the Governt.
from the first breaking out of the Rebelling, and his Acting in
so open and remarkable a manner in the Service of the Government,
created against him the particular ill will of the Jacobites
and their adherents, who on that Acct. took every opertunity of
shewing their resentment against him, they Plundered his House
in Town and in the Country, and carried of Effects to a very
great Value, they drove all the Cattle from of his Estate, forced
the payment of the Rents thereof to them, Stript his Wife and
Children of the very Cloaths they had on, and used them otherwise
in a moste inhumain manner.
That as to the Several Sums charged for Expenses in those
Services, Mr. Grosett has not in any of his accompts charged
anything for the Extraordinary trouble and fatigue he underwent,
but only for the sums he actually expended, and tho’ he has
advanced above £5000 in these Services he has not charged the
Governmt. anything on the Head of Interest.
Upon the whole it appears to us, that during the late unfortunate
rebellion, Mr. Grosett was employed in several services of the
greatest trust and confidence, and which required great prudence,
resolution and activity in the execution of them, and that he
executed the same, with great care, exactness and ability and
that he continued his services to the government after the
suppression of the rebellion with equal ardour, zeal, activity
and dilligence, and in the whole of his behaviour, he appeared
to us to be actuated as much by his affection to the government
as the duties of his office, and with regard to the articles of
his accounts which remain unpaid and which amount to the sum of
3709£ 11s. we apprehend them reasonable, and therefore certify
your Lordships that the said sum of 3709£ 11s. appears to us to
be justified, due to him for the sums expended by him in the
services aforesaid.
(_Signed_) Everard Fawkener.
John Sharpe.
_6th February 1749._
A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLES OF PRESTON, FALKIRK, AND CULLODEN; BY
ANDREW LUMISDEN, THEN PRIVATE SECRETARY TO PRINCE CHARLES; BY A
GENTLEMAN WHO WAS IN THESE ACTIONS