Letter to MacDonald of Bellfinlay, March 29. 1749
Metadata
Titles
Table of Contents
Letter to MacDonald of Bellfinlay, March 29. 1749
Forbes
Copy of a Letter to Mr MacDonald of Bellfinlay for the present in the Canongate Edinburgh
Steuart
Letter to MacDonald of Bellfinlay, March
29. 1749
Paton
Letter to MacDonald of Belfinlay
Pages
Forbes
Vol. 6, 1229—1233Paton
Vol. 2, 255—257Credits
Encoder (metadata)
Transcriber
Proofreader
Proofreader
Encoder
Status
Document
Metadata
Correspondence
sent
| Person | Robert forbes |
| Date | 29 Mar 1749 |
| Place | Leith |
| Place |
received
| Person | Mr. MacDonald of Bellfinlay |
| Place | the Canongate |
acknowledgements
compliments to
quote
Make an offer of my most respectfull compliments and best wishes to all the foresaid gentlemen (Paton V.2, 257).
quote
I sincerely wish you all health and prosperity, and that you may have a happy and comfortable meeting with your lady (to whom I beg to be remembered in the kindest manner) (Paton V.2, 257).
enclosed in
enclosures
requests
quote
I beg, you’ll employ your good Of-
fices with Boisdale to transmit to
me in writing an exact &and circum-
stantial Account of the said Con-
versation
quote
If
Clanranald can be prevailed upon
to transmit to me a Copy of his
Journal, it would be extremely
obliging, &and a Service done to Truth.
quote
be so good as to procure the names of these famous guardians in writing from Glenaladale, and transmit them to me (Paton V.2, 257).
remediation
in Forbes
Related Documents
Active:
Malcolm MacLeod's Journal;
wherein likewise his own History
and several very remarkable Particulars (v02.0228.01): Mentions in footnote
Journal of Donald MacLeod, &c. (v02.0266.01): Mentions in footnote
Townly's Ghost, etc. a Song (v03.0545.01): Mentions in footnote
Several remarkable Narratives taken from
the Mouth of Dr Archibald Cameron's Lady (v03.0547.01): Mentions in footnote
Copy of a long & particular Journal taken faithfully from the hand-writings of young Clanranald, Major MacDonald of Glenaladale & Captain Alexander MacDonald, Dalely's Brother (v03.0576.01): Mentions in footnote
Paragraph of a Letter from the Reverend Mr
James Falconer, , to me Robert Forbes (v05.1058.01): Mentions in footnote
Copy of John Goodwillie's Journal of the Prince's March from Edinburgh to the Battle of Falkirk (v05.1095.01): Mentions in footnote
Account of a meeting with Captain Ranald MacDonald of Bellfinlay in Leith, February 1. 1749. (v06.1171.01): Mentions in footnote
Another Meeting with the foresaid, February 4: 1749. (v06.1172.01): Mentions in footnote
A Third Meeting with MacDonald of Bellfinlay, February
18. 1749. (v06.1212.01): Mentions in footnote
Passive:
Account of a meeting with Captain Ranald MacDonald of Bellfinlay in Leith, February 1. 1749. (v06.1171.01): Mentioned in footnote
Transcription
Copy of a Letter to Mr Mac-
Donald✝ of Bellfinlay for the
present in the Canongate
Edinburgh.
My Dear Sir,
Lest you should
happen to set out upon your Re-
turn to the Highlands at a Time
when I may have little Leisure
to write, is the Reason why I so
soon give you the Trouble of this
as a Memorandum, which, I hope,
you will allow to have a particu-
lar Place in your Attention.
happen to set out upon your Re-
turn to the Highlands at a Time
when I may have little Leisure
to write, is the Reason why I so
soon give you the Trouble of this
as a Memorandum, which, I hope,
you will allow to have a particu-
lar Place in your Attention.
I have been frequently well in-
formed, that Mr MacDonald of
Boisdale had a long &and particular
XConversation with a certain
young Gentleman, immediate-
ly after his landing in the Island
of Eriska, upon the Subject of his
intended Expedition, about which
they
1230 (1230)
they happened to differ widely in their
Sentiments; &and that, in Consequence
of this Conversation, an Express✝ was
dispatched to Sir AlexrAlexander MacDonald.
I beg, you’ll employ your good Of-
fices with Boisdale to transmit to
me in writing an exact &and circum-
stantial Account of the said Con-
versation, which (to omit other Con-
siderations at present) would serve
as Proof of the young Gentle-
man’s bold &and enterprizingenterprising Genius,
&and of Boisdale’s Sagacity &and Penetra-
tion, if the Conversation was really
such as has been represented to me
me by several Persons. I never
chusechoose to take Matters of Fact at
second Hand, if I can by any
Means have them from those,
who were immediately interested
in them; &and therefore it is, that
I have the greater Anxiety to
see this set in a true Light by
Boisdale himself, who must
know best all the Particulars
that passed in that Interview.
formed, that Mr MacDonald of
Boisdale had a long &and particular
XConversation with a certain
young Gentleman, immediate-
ly after his landing in the Island
of Eriska, upon the Subject of his
intended Expedition, about which
they
1230 (1230)
they happened to differ widely in their
Sentiments; &and that, in Consequence
of this Conversation, an Express✝ was
dispatched to Sir AlexrAlexander MacDonald.
I beg, you’ll employ your good Of-
fices with Boisdale to transmit to
me in writing an exact &and circum-
stantial Account of the said Con-
versation, which (to omit other Con-
siderations at present) would serve
as Proof of the young Gentle-
man’s bold &and enterprizingenterprising Genius,
&and of Boisdale’s Sagacity &and Penetra-
tion, if the Conversation was really
such as has been represented to me
✝
1231
(1231)
In conversing (one Day) with Bellfinlay upon yethe Subject,
he told me, ytthat young Clanranald was yethe Person dispatch-
ed by yethe Prince to SrSir AlexrAlexander MacDonald; but that ysthis
happened after yethe Prince’s landing upon yethe Continent,
that young Clanranald (after returning from SrSir
AlexrAlexander in Sky) was much shaken in his former
Resolutions from yethe Reasonings that had passed be-
tween him &and SrSir AlexrAlexander, who actually insisted upon hav-
ing a Promise from young Clanranald not to join yethe
Prince, &and ytthat young Clanranald accordingly declared
his Backwardness to join in the Expedition. Howe-
ver, Clanranald’s Followers on the Continent,
after seeing yethe Prince, declared their Resolution
of running all Hazards wtwith him, qteverwhatever should
be yethe Event, &and whether yrtheir young ChiftainChieftain should
head ymthem or not. This soon determined young Clan-
ranald to lay aside his Backwardness, &and to take the
Command of his resolute Clan. I well remember, ytthat
Ranald MacDonald (Boradale’s Son) gave me the
very same Account of this Matter. See a remarka-
ble &and well vouched Instance of SrSir AlexrAlexander MacDo-
nald’s Inconstancy &and Want of Resolution, Vol: 2 p: 253, 254,
255, 256.
he told me, ytthat young Clanranald was yethe Person dispatch-
ed by yethe Prince to SrSir AlexrAlexander MacDonald; but that ysthis
happened after yethe Prince’s landing upon yethe Continent,
that young Clanranald (after returning from SrSir
AlexrAlexander in Sky) was much shaken in his former
Resolutions from yethe Reasonings that had passed be-
tween him &and SrSir AlexrAlexander, who actually insisted upon hav-
ing a Promise from young Clanranald not to join yethe
Prince, &and ytthat young Clanranald accordingly declared
his Backwardness to join in the Expedition. Howe-
ver, Clanranald’s Followers on the Continent,
after seeing yethe Prince, declared their Resolution
of running all Hazards wtwith him, qteverwhatever should
be yethe Event, &and whether yrtheir young ChiftainChieftain should
head ymthem or not. This soon determined young Clan-
ranald to lay aside his Backwardness, &and to take the
Command of his resolute Clan. I well remember, ytthat
Ranald MacDonald (Boradale’s Son) gave me the
very same Account of this Matter. See a remarka-
ble &and well vouched Instance of SrSir AlexrAlexander MacDo-
nald’s Inconstancy &and Want of Resolution, Vol: 2 p: 253, 254,
255, 256.
Robert Forbes, A: M:
me by several Persons. I never
chusechoose to take Matters of Fact at
second Hand, if I can by any
Means have them from those,
who were immediately interested
in them; &and therefore it is, that
I have the greater Anxiety to
see this set in a true Light by
Boisdale himself, who must
know best all the Particulars
that passed in that Interview.
I am likewise well apprizedapprised,
that Clanranald ✝kept an exact
Journal of all the Hardships &and
Distresses, which he himself &and
his Fellow-Prisoners endured, when
on Board a Ship of War. If
Clanranald can be prevailed upon
to transmit to me a Copy of his
Journal, it would be extremely
obliging, &and a Service done to Truth.
that Clanranald ✝kept an exact
Journal of all the Hardships &and
Distresses, which he himself &and
his Fellow-Prisoners endured, when
on Board a Ship of War. If
Clanranald can be prevailed upon
to transmit to me a Copy of his
Journal, it would be extremely
obliging, &and a Service done to Truth.
I have enquired at several
Persons about the Names of the
Glenmoriston X Men, that proved so
trusty &and useful in a certain Period
of Danger &and Distress; but could never yet
1232
(1232)
yet meet with any oneanyone to give me
them. When I had the Happi-
ness of seeing Boradale’s ✝ Son
here, I begged the Favour of him
to get the Names of these Men
from Mr MacDonald of Glenala-
dale, who must know them, be-
cause he was engaged in the
same Scene of Difficulties with
them; but I have never yet been
favoured with any Return as to
this Point. Pray then, Dear Sir,
be so good as to procure the Names
of these famous Guardians in writ-
ing from Glenaladale, &and transmit
them to me.
Persons about the Names of the
Glenmoriston X Men, that proved so
trusty &and useful in a certain Period
of Danger &and Distress; but could never yet
yet meet with any oneanyone to give me
them. When I had the Happi-
ness of seeing Boradale’s ✝ Son
here, I begged the Favour of him
to get the Names of these Men
from Mr MacDonald of Glenala-
dale, who must know them, be-
cause he was engaged in the
same Scene of Difficulties with
them; but I have never yet been
favoured with any Return as to
this Point. Pray then, Dear Sir,
be so good as to procure the Names
of these famous Guardians in writ-
ing from Glenaladale, &and transmit
them to me.
Make an Offer of my most respect-
ful Compliments &and best Wishes
to all the foresaid Gentlemen,
&and assure them, that whatever
Journals or Accounts they are
pleased to honour me with, they
shall be as dead Secrets as ever,
till a proper &and seasonable Oppor-
tunity offer.
ful Compliments &and best Wishes
to all the foresaid Gentlemen,
&and assure them, that whatever
Journals or Accounts they are
pleased to honour me with, they
shall be as dead Secrets as ever,
till a proper &and seasonable Oppor-
tunity offer.
I will not allow my selfmyself to doubt
of your Readiness in using your En-deavours
1233(1233)
deavours to procure me all the
well vouched Accounts you can of
Facts during the late Troubles.
I will gladly embrace every
right Opportunity of maintaining
a frequent Correspondence with
you, than whom none can be
more welcome to any Place
where I can pretend to have
the smallest Interest.
of your Readiness in using your En-deavours
deavours to procure me all the
well vouched Accounts you can of
Facts during the late Troubles.
I will gladly embrace every
right Opportunity of maintaining
a frequent Correspondence with
you, than whom none can be
more welcome to any Place
where I can pretend to have
the smallest Interest.
I sincerely wish You all
Health &and Prosperity; &and that you
may have a happy &and comforta-
ble Meeting with your Lady1 (to
whom I beg to be remembredremembered in
the kindest Manner) is the hearty
&and earnest Prayer of,
Health &and Prosperity; &and that you
may have a happy &and comforta-
ble Meeting with your Lady1 (to
whom I beg to be remembredremembered in
the kindest Manner) is the hearty
&and earnest Prayer of,
My dear Sir,
Leith,
March 29th,
1749.
Saturday,
Citation
Forbes, Robert. “Copy of a Letter to Mr MacDonald of Bellfinlay for the present in the Canongate Edinburgh.” The Lyon in Mourning,
vol. 6,
Adv.MS.32.6.21, fol. 62r–64r. The Lyon in Mourning Project,
edited by Leith Davis, https://lyoninmourning.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/
Appendix
Presumably meaning Belfinlay's wife or fiance. According to Macdonald and Macdonald, Belfinlay died unmarried and was succeeded by his uncle Allan MacDonald (Clan Donald, p. 288). Charles Fraser-Mackintosh raises the possibility that Belfinlay had a son (Allan) who succeeded him, but there is no mention of the boy's mother; Fraser-Mackintosh's account of the family line is significantly at odds with the standard account on several points, however, and Clan Donald is probably more reliable on questions of genealogy (Antiquarian Notes, p. 308).