Copy of a Letter to Mr John MacPherson of Stramashie in Badenoch, February 25. 1748
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Copy of a Letter to Mr John MacPherson
of Stramashie in Badenoch, Febry 25. 1748
Forbes
Copy of a Letter to Mr. John MacPherson of
Stramashie in Badenoch, February 25 1748
Paton
Letter to Mr. John Macpherson of Stramashie
Pages
Forbes
Vol. 4, 799—804Paton
Vol. 2, 44—46Credits
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Correspondence
sent
| Person | Robert Forbes |
| Date | 25 Feb 1748 |
| Place | Citadel of Leith |
| Place |
received
| Person | John MacPherson |
| Date | |
| Place |
acknowledgements
quote
25 Feb. Sir, – Your mentioning my name in a letter to your friend61 (who is pleased to be the bearer of this), and your desiring him to call for me, opens a door, I hope, for a friendly correspondence betwixt you and me, which I shall be exceedingly glad to be honoured with. (Paton vol. 2, 44)
compliments to
enclosed in
enclosures
requests
quote
Be so good then as to converse with those that were immediate actors in the affair of Clifton, and to favour me with as full and circumstantial an account of it as possible, that so justice may be done to the brave Cluny Macpherson and his Clan, who behaved themselves in that attempt with so much resolution and with such a sogerly spirit. There is one circumstance I beg to be particularly informed about, which is that either Cluny himself or one of his following did take a fine broadsword belonging to the Duke of Cumberland
for this particular is always mentioned when the action at Clifton happens to be the topick of conversation. (Paton vol. 2, 45)
quote
May I likewise importune you, sir, to exert your endeavours to procure me as exact an account as you can of the several pillagings and plunderings, the burnings and other cruelties committed in the Highlands of Scotland after the 16th of April, 1746? (Paton vol. 2, 45)
quote
Whatever accounts you favour me with please transmit them to me by some sure private hand that comes in your way and not by post, and hereby I assure you that a wise and right use shall be made of them. (Paton vol. 2, 46)
remediation
in Forbes
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Active:
Copy of a Letter from Mr MacPherson of Strathmashie, April 16th, 1748 (v04.0854.01): Mentions in footnote
Macpherson of Strathmashie's Account of
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and of burning Cluny's House (v05.0890.01): Mentions in footnote
Copy of a Letter from Strathmashie to me Robert Forbes (v05.0934.01): Mentions in footnote
Passive:
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Macpherson of Strathmashie's Account of
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Transcription
Copy of a Letter to Mr
John MacPherson of Stra-
mashie in Badenoch.
Sir,
Your mentioning my Name
in a Letter to your✝ Friend (who is
pleased to be the Bearer of this)
&and your desiring him to call for me,
opens a Door, I hope, for a friendly
Correspondence betwixt You &and me,
which I shall be exceedingly glad
to be honoured with.
in a Letter to your✝ Friend (who is
pleased to be the Bearer of this)
&and your desiring him to call for me,
opens a Door, I hope, for a friendly
Correspondence betwixt You &and me,
which I shall be exceedingly glad
to be honoured with.
I am using my Endeavours to make
up a Collection of Papers relative
to the Affairs of a certain Young
Gentleman, &and of those who follow-
ed his Fortunes; &and it affords me
no small Pleasure, when I happen
to find out any Person, who can
be useful in promoting the good
Design of establishing the Truth
both as to Facts &and Men; &and that you
are such a one I am well inform-
ed. Some very extraordinary Events of
of different Kinds have happened
in this Island of late; Events, that
truly may be term’dtermed Prodigies,
&and which loudly call upon the At-
tention of every honest Man for
a strict &and impartial Examination,
that so they may be carefully re-
corded, &and transmitted to Posterity,
according to Truth &and Justice.
up a Collection of Papers relative
to the Affairs of a certain Young
Gentleman, &and of those who follow-
ed his Fortunes; &and it affords me
no small Pleasure, when I happen
to find out any Person, who can
be useful in promoting the good
Design of establishing the Truth
both as to Facts &and Men; &and that you
are such a one I am well inform-
ed. Some very extraordinary Events of
✝
800
(800)
A young Gentleman of the Name of Mac-
Pherson.
Pherson.
of different Kinds have happened
in this Island of late; Events, that
truly may be term’dtermed Prodigies,
&and which loudly call upon the At-
tention of every honest Man for
a strict &and impartial Examination,
that so they may be carefully re-
corded, &and transmitted to Posterity,
according to Truth &and Justice.
Among the several Enquiries
I have made, I have been particu-
larly mindful to ask about the Acti-
on at Clifton; but have never yet
been so lucky as to meet with any
Person, that could give me a true
&and exact Account of it; &and therefore
it is that this Subject is not so
much as mentioned in my Collecti-
on as yet; for I chusechoose not to take
Things imperfectly &and at second
Hand, when I have any the least
Probability of getting them from
those, who were engaged in them.
What makes me the more desirous
to have an exact History of this
Affair, is, that the printed Accounts of 801 (801)
of it are but very lame &and imper-
fect, to say no more of them. — To
You therefore, Sir, I beg Leave to
apply, as a proper Person to fur-
nish me with what I so much de-
sire. Be so good then as to con-
verse with those, that were imme-
diate ActersActors in the affair of Clif-
ton, &and to favour me with as full
&and circumstantial an Account of
it as possible, that so Justice
may be done to the Brave Clu-
ny MacPherson &and his Clan,
who behaved themselves in that
Attempt with so much Resolution
&and with such a sogerly Spirit. There
is one Circumstance, I beg to be
particularly informed about, which
is that either Cluny himself
or one of his Following did take
a fine Broad Sword belonging
to the D:Duke of Cumberland; for
this Particular is always mention-
ed when the Action at Clifton
happens to be the TopickTopic of Con-versation802(802)
versation.
I have made, I have been particu-
larly mindful to ask about the Acti-
on at Clifton; but have never yet
been so lucky as to meet with any
Person, that could give me a true
&and exact Account of it; &and therefore
it is that this Subject is not so
much as mentioned in my Collecti-
on as yet; for I chusechoose not to take
Things imperfectly &and at second
Hand, when I have any the least
Probability of getting them from
those, who were engaged in them.
What makes me the more desirous
to have an exact History of this
Affair, is, that the printed Accounts of 801 (801)
of it are but very lame &and imper-
fect, to say no more of them. — To
You therefore, Sir, I beg Leave to
apply, as a proper Person to fur-
nish me with what I so much de-
sire. Be so good then as to con-
verse with those, that were imme-
diate ActersActors in the affair of Clif-
ton, &and to favour me with as full
&and circumstantial an Account of
it as possible, that so Justice
may be done to the Brave Clu-
ny MacPherson &and his Clan,
who behaved themselves in that
Attempt with so much Resolution
&and with such a sogerly Spirit. There
is one Circumstance, I beg to be
particularly informed about, which
is that either Cluny himself
or one of his Following did take
a fine Broad Sword belonging
to the D:Duke of Cumberland; for
this Particular is always mention-
ed when the Action at Clifton
happens to be the TopickTopic of Con-versation802(802)
versation.
May I likewise importune you, Sir,
to exert your Endeavours to procure
me as exact an Account as you
can of the several Pillagings &and
Plunderings, the Burnings &and other
Cruelties, committed in the High-
lands of Scotland after the 16th
of April, 1746? In doing of this,
be particularly inquisitive about
the Names of Places, &and of Persons,
whether Perpetrators or Suffers; but
where the Names cannot be got, (as
indeed it is not an easy matter to
discover all these exactly in such
a Confusion), still let the Facts be
impartially narrated. The Burning
of Cluny’s House has been often
mentioned to me; but I have ne-
ver yet taken any Account of it in
Writing, as all I could have about
it was only at second Hand, &and re-
peated sometimes with different
Circumstances. I could wish to have
the true Account of this. Let me
know what Number of Men might be 803 (803)
be in the Party, who executed the
fiery Orders, &and under whose Com-
mand they were, &cetc.
to exert your Endeavours to procure
me as exact an Account as you
can of the several Pillagings &and
Plunderings, the Burnings &and other
Cruelties, committed in the High-
lands of Scotland after the 16th
of April, 1746? In doing of this,
be particularly inquisitive about
the Names of Places, &and of Persons,
whether Perpetrators or Suffers; but
where the Names cannot be got, (as
indeed it is not an easy matter to
discover all these exactly in such
a Confusion), still let the Facts be
impartially narrated. The Burning
of Cluny’s House has been often
mentioned to me; but I have ne-
ver yet taken any Account of it in
Writing, as all I could have about
it was only at second Hand, &and re-
peated sometimes with different
Circumstances. I could wish to have
the true Account of this. Let me
know what Number of Men might be 803 (803)
be in the Party, who executed the
fiery Orders, &and under whose Com-
mand they were, &cetc.
Narrative, you favour me with, may
be well vouched; for I would not
wish to advance a FalshoodFalsehood upon
any Subject, no, not even on Wil-
liam the Cruel himself, for
any Consideration whatsomever. It
is a most base &and flagitious Device,
&and can proceed only from the Fa-
ther of Lies, to endeavour to pro-
mote even the best of Causes by
wrong Means; &and therefore, let who
will take up with this fashionable
Way of managing Matters, it will
always be the constant Care of e-
very truly honest Man to scorn the
dirty Employment.
Whatever Accounts you favour me
with, please, transmit them to me
by some sure private Hand, that
comes in your Way, &and not by Post; &and 804 (804)
&and hereby I assure You, that a wise
&and right Use shall be made of them.
with, please, transmit them to me
by some sure private Hand, that
comes in your Way, &and not by Post; &and 804 (804)
&and hereby I assure You, that a wise
&and right Use shall be made of them.
You see, I have writ to You with
the utmost Freedom &and Openness; the
Method I always chusechoose, when I am
doing my selfmyself the Honour of corres-
ponding with any of the Highland
Worthies; &and therefore I must rely
upon your Prudence &and good Sense to
make a very discreet Use of this Let-
ter. When you have read it over, &and
communicated the Contents of it to
any Worthies, that may be living
in your Neighbourhood, I wish, you
would commit it to the Flames.
the utmost Freedom &and Openness; the
Method I always chusechoose, when I am
doing my selfmyself the Honour of corres-
ponding with any of the Highland
Worthies; &and therefore I must rely
upon your Prudence &and good Sense to
make a very discreet Use of this Let-
ter. When you have read it over, &and
communicated the Contents of it to
any Worthies, that may be living
in your Neighbourhood, I wish, you
would commit it to the Flames.
I esteem &and revere your Charac-
ter, &and sincerely am,
ter, &and sincerely am,
Sir,
A constant Admirer of
Highland Heroism,
your most affteaffectionate Friend, &and
very humble Servant,
Robert Forbes. —
Highland Heroism,
your most affteaffectionate Friend, &and
very humble Servant,
Robert Forbes. —
Citadel of Leith
February 25th,
1748.
February 25th,
1748.
Saturday.
Citation
Forbes, Robert. “Copy of a Letter to Mr. John MacPherson of
Stramashie in Badenoch, February 25 1748.” The Lyon in Mourning,
vol. 4,
Adv.MS.32.6.19, fol. 90r–92v. The Lyon in Mourning Project,
edited by Leith Davis, https://lyoninmourning.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/