"I think it proper you should write to the King by the first post
after you receive his letter. I need not advise you what to say in
answer to such a gracious letter from your King, only let it not be
very long. Declare your duty and readiness to execute his Majesty's
commands on all occasions, and your sense of the honour he has been
pleased to do you in giving you such a commission. I am not to chuse
words for you, because I am sure you can express yourself in a
dutiful and discreet manner without any help. You are to write, Sir,
on a large margin, and to end, Your most faithful and obedient
subject and servant; and to address to the King and no more; which
inclose to me sealed. I pray send me a copy of it on a paper
inclosed, with any other thing that you do not think fit or needful
the King should see in your letter to me, because I will shew your
answer to this, wherein you may say that you will be mindful of all
I wrote to you, and what else you think fit."
To these instructions assurances were added, that the elder Lochiel, who
had, it seems, been in necessitous circumstances after his attainder,
and during his exile, should be relieved at the Chevalier's expense; "so
that," adds the uncle, "your mind may be pretty easy upon that point."
Donald had, it appears, expressed some discontent at the comparative
comfort in which some of the exiled Jacobites lived, and the poverty of
his father's circumstances, which he had observed when in Paris a few
years previous to this correspondence. Allan Cameron further advised his
nephew to keep on good terms with Glengarry and all other neighbours; to
let "byganes, be byganes," as long as such neighbours continue firm to
the "King's interests;" to avoid private animosities, and yet to keep a
watch over their fidelity to the cause. "As to Lovat," adds the uncle,
"be on your guard, but not so as to lose him; on the contrary, you may
say that the King trusts a great deal to the resolution he has taken to
serve him, and expects he will continue in that resolution. But, dear
nephew, you know very well that he must give true and real proof of his
sincerity by performance, before he can be entirely reckoned on, after
the part he has acted. This I say to yourself, and therefore you must
deal with him very dexterously; and I must leave it to your own judgment
what lengths to go with him, since you know he has always been a man
whose chief view was his own interest. It is true, he wishes our family
well; and I doubt not he would wish the King restored, which is his
interest, if he has the grace to have a hand in it, after what he has
done. So, upon the whole, I know not what advice to give you, as to
letting him know that the King wrote you such a letter as you have; but
in general, you are to make the best of him you can, but still be on
your guard; for it is not good to put too much in his power before the
time of executing a good design.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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