It is most providential, that you &and Pa-
trick Grant are become acquainted; for
I was meditating to put a piece of Ser-
vice upon you, in which he can be
most useful, &and it is this. There is One
John MackDonell, alias, OS’ean, or
OS’ian, i.e. Hark you, John, or, Hear
you, John, who was Chief of the
8 heroic Glenmoriston-Men, who
did much Honour to their Country
by their most generous, disinterest-
ed Conduct. Now, this same John,
I am well informed by the best au-
thority, is old, has a Family, &and is
extremely poor. What pity is it
then, not to say Reflection, that he
has never been considered for his
most seasonable, superlative Servic-
cesServices? A plan, therefore, is now laid
to raise a Contribution for him, qchwhich,
if it takes place, you are to be made
Almoner of. Do you then enquire at
Patrick Grant about this same John,
where he lives, &and all about him, 1875 (1875)
without allowing Patrick to know
any thinganything of your Design, that so
you may have him in your Eye, &and at a
Call, if aliquid boni chances to come
in the Way. He lives, if I am rightly
informed, somewhere in the Brae of
Glenmoriston near the Farm of Cras-
kie; but Patrick can well inform you.
Find out John’s Age, &and how many
Children he has, &and inform me. Let
me know the right Syllabication
of OS’ean, or OS’ian, according to the
GalicGaelic; for I reckon this ordinary Spel-
ling to be corrupted. The Foundation
of this Appellation to John is most
honourable; insomuch, that John ought
to order it to be adopted by his poste-
rity, from Generation to Generation,
as a patronymic or SirnameSurname. Pray,
mind to enjoin this. I have Patrick’s
Picture indeed, &and a most striking Like-
ness it is, with a proper Inscription u-
pon it. I would not give it for any
Money. I did him some small Services,
qchwhich he seems to overvalue. He was
extremely fond of his own portrait.
I knew well of his being press’dpressed some
to North America some time in 1759.
&and 1876 (1876) &and that he returned to his own Home,
by this place, upon Chelsea-pension;
but all these old Sinners, when they
are inured to the paths of Tergi-
versation, fly from me, as they would
do from a thing that would hurt ymthem,
but Patrick, I know, was forced, &and
therefore, he might have pull’dpulled up
as much Courage as to see me.
You say, he made a notable Figure
in N.North America. Pray then, be so good
as to write down his Feats from
his own Mouth, &and let me have
the History of them. Mind this
by all means, &and be particular.
He has my thanks for the Gar-
ters, tho’though I have not yet got ymthem.
I dare say, they are pretty, &and I
will wear them for his Sake. I
will get them from Mr Ross, qnwhen
I have the good Luck to see
him. Remember me kindly to yethe
stout, resolute, sogerly Patrick, &and
tell him, I am still the old Man,
whatever Change may chance to
be in him by smelling powder in
the

the Wilds of North America. I
would wish to know the particu-
lar Time of his Return to the
Braes of Urquhart &and Glenmori-
ston. Here is Work cut out for
the leisurely Appinus of well
known De-li-be-ra-ti-onDeliberation.