"Much honoured and dear Sir,"--thus wrote Lord Lovat to the
Laird,--"The real friendship that I know you have for my person and
family makes me take the freedom to assure you of my kind service,
and to entreat you to join with my other friends between Sky and
Nesse, to sign the addresse which the Court requires, in order to
give me my remission. Your cousin James, who has generously exposed
himself to bring me out of chains, will inform you of all steps and
circumstances of my affairs since he saw me. I wish, dear Sir, from
my heart, you were here; I am confident you would speak to the Duke
of Argyle and to the Earl of Isla, to let them know their own
interest, and their reiterated promises to do for me. Perhaps they
may have, sooner than they expect, a most serious occasion for my
service. But it is needless to preach now that doctrine to them;
they think themselves in ane infallible security; I wish they may
not be mistaken. However, I think it's the interest of all who love
this Government, betwixt Sky and Nesse, to see me at the head of my
clan, ready to join them; so that I believe none of them will refuse
to sign ane adresse to make me a Scotsman. I am perswaded, dear Sir,
that you will be of good example to them on that head. But secrecy,
above all, must be keept; without which all may go wrong. I hope you
will be stirring for the Parliament, for I will not be reconciled to
you if you let Prestonall outvote you. Brigadier Grant, to whom I am
infinitely obliged, has written to Foyers to give you his vote, and
he is ane ungrat villian if he refuses him. [If] I was at home, the
little pitiful barons of the Aird durst not refuse you. But I am
hopefull that the news of my going to Brittain will hinder
Prestonall to go north; for I may come to meet him when he lest
thinks of me. I am very impatient to see you, and to assure you most
sincerely how much I am, with love and respect, Right Honourable,
your most obedient and most humble servant,

"LOVAT."

"The 24th of Nov. 1714."

The nature of the address to which this letter refers was not only an
appeal to the King in behalf of Lord Lovat, but also an engagement, on
the part of his friends, to answer for the loyalty of Lord Lovat, in any
sum required. It is remarkable that when James Fraser,