custody. I designe to-morrow for Argyllshire; and,
there not being a quorum of Exchequer in town, am oblidged to delay
passing the remission till next moneth. We have all had lyes enuf of
his Majestie before: his goodness in this will, I hope, return my
friend Culloden to his old consistency, and make E. Argyll appear to
him as good a Presbiterian and a weel wisher to his country in no
lesse a degree then Tullibardine, who plundered my land some tyme
agoe, and Culloden's lately. Pray recover the same spiritt you had
at the Revolution; let us lay assyde all resentments ill founded,
all projects which may shake our foundation; let us follow no more
phantasms (I may say rather divells), who, with a specious pretext
leading us into the dark, may drownd us. I fynd some honest men's
eyes are opened, and I shall be sorie if Culloden's continue dimm.
You have been led by Jacobitt generales to fight for Presbiterie and
the liberty of the country. Is that consistent? If not speedily
remedied, remember I tell you the posteritie of such will curse
them. Let me have a plain satisfactorie answer from you, that I may
be in perfect charitie with Culloden. Adieu."

Accordingly, the Duke having obtained his pardon, Lord Lovat was
enjoined to lay down his arms, and to go privately to London. That
sentence, which had followed the prosecution on the part of Lady Lovat,
was not, at that time, remitted, for fear of disobliging the Athole
family. Upon arriving in London, Lord Lovat found that Lord Seafield,
the colleague of the Earl of Tullibardine, was disinclined to risk
incurring the displeasure of the Athole family. He put off the signing
of the pardon from time to time. He was even so much in awe of the Earl
of Tullibardine, that he endeavoured to get the King to sign the pardon
when he was at Loo; that Mr. Pringle, the other Secretary of State,
might bear the odium of presenting it for signature. During this delay,
Lord Lovat, not being able with safety to return to Scotland, resolved
to occupy the interval of suspense by a journey into France.

Whilst Lord Lovat's affairs were in this condition, the Marquis of
Athole, resolved for ever to put it out of Lord Lovat's power to gain
any ascendancy over the young heiress of Lovat, Amelia Fraser, was
employed in arranging a marriage for that lady to the son of Alexander
Mackenzie, Lord Prestonhall. It was agreed, by a marria