Copy of a Letter from Tam Forbes (London, December 29. 1749) about honest old MacGrowther

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1467 (1467)
Copy of a Letter from Tom Forbes
(in this Vol: pag: 1415) to me R:Robert F:Forbes

Dear Sir

The ✝bearer is the man
who has been longer in prison than any
other for the default of Britons.

You know I am piger Scribendi
and as I recommend him to you
I hope, I should have said am cer-
rain, that you’ll treat him as an
honest man &and use your interest for
him; Many less deserving have been
more taken notice of when our Tavern
heroes were in spirit than he has been

✝
Alexander MacGrowther at Dalchruin in
Glenarkney in the Duke of Perth’s Estate, who
delivered the Letter to me on Friday, JanryJanuary 12th
1750. Mr. MacGrowther was made prisoner in Car-
lisle DecrDecember 31st, 1745, &and was (with the other priso-
ners) carried up to London, where he stood his
Trial &and was condemned. After several Re-
prieves, he was at last doom’ddoomed to be banished.
When the Ships were making ready to sail with
those that were sentenced to Banishment for Life,
Mr. MacGrowther was in such a low dangerous Con-
dition wtwith Rheumatism, &andc. that he could not be mov-
ed, &and therefore he was letleft alone as a dying Man.
However, when he began to recover, one Smith (the
Undertaker for transporting the Banished) was not
slow in asking Questions about him, &and desiring to
know if he was ready to set out; but old MacGrow-
ther always answered, He was not yet ready. By
this Time honest MacGrowther was much talked of over
all London, &and Friends (particularly Mrs Cheap &and Mrs
Magdalen Clerk DaugrsDaughters of CapnCaptain Hugh Clerk in EdrEdinburgh)
began to bestir themselves for him, and, having col-
lected a purse of about ten Guineas, they gave it to
Smith,
1468 (1468)
been now at the end of his captivity,
which he would not in all probability
have seen had it not been for a
✝Gentleman discharged at the same
time with himself. I never recom-
mended a wrong man to You, &and upon
conversing with the bearer you’ll
find him an honest man &and me not
yet a bad Judge.The good wishes
of me &and my Concerns attend you &and
yours

Sic SubrSubscribitur Thom: Philo: Manlius
London at large
DecrDecember 29-1749

N: B: The Original of the Above
is to be found among my papers.

Robert Forbes, A: M:
Copy

Smith, who kindly accepted of the present, &and be-
came so complaisantcomplacent as to forget MacGrowther al-
together. Some great Personages (the Sardinian Am-
bassador, the DutchessDuchess of Norfolk, the Countess of New-
burgh, &andc, &andc, &andc) at length interested themselves for
MacGrowther, in order to procure his ReleasmentReleasement,
which accordingly was accomplished, without the com-
mon Form of a Remission, by an Order from the Duke
of Bedford’s Office, upon DecrDecember 11th, 1749, MacGrow-
ther being then 76 years of age, but so healthy &and
well-look’dwell-looked, that people imagined him not to be 60.
He was likewise made prisoner at Preston in England
in 1715, &and endured at that Time a Confinement of
two full years.

✝
Æneas MacDonald, Banker (Brother to Kenloch-
moydart) whole Company &and facetious Conversation
contributed much to keep up the Spirits of honest
old MacGrowther, after all the other prisoners were
gone. The Banker (tho’though a young Man) contracted such a swell-
ing in his Legs, that, immediately after his ReleasmentReleasement, he
was obliged to go to Bath; but old MacGrowther was of so
healthy &and robust a Constitution, that he had no Swellings
in his Body at all.

Robert Forbes, A: M:

Person	Tam Forbes
Date	29 Dec 1749
Place	London
Place

Person	Robert Forbes
Date	12 Jan 1750
Place	Leith