The Lord President to Clunie.
Dear Sir,
It is to be hoped that, howsoever zealous they may be, they will do no unnecessary mischief to the effects of their friends and relations that are left behind; and if they should, that will raise a just claim for making good of damages. I intreat that you will let me know, day by day, what your people observe, however small consequence it may be of I am prodigiously concerned for the folly of our friend Lochiell; and I am, etc.
Duncan Forbes
Culloden, 20 Augt, 4 o'clock afternoon
I have yours of the 18th by the Inverness post, & am sensible your situation at present is difficult, as the hills must be fill'd with abundance of loose people. What you have to do, as it appears to me, is to keep the best look out you can towards the Corryyarig & the braes of the country, in which your country guard [the cattle-watch] will be of use to you; and also towards Drumnacher & Menigay, that you may have intelligence & give notice what's adoing in your neighbourhood. I have acquainted Sir J. Cope that I have desired you to remain where you are with the men you have listed for the regt., in order to preserve, as far as possible, the communication with Blair; to give guards for expresses, & to observe the notions of your neighbours. You will therefore forward with care the letter which I have sent to J. Macpherson for the D. of Atholl, inclosing one to Sir John Cope. . . . Should the unhappy gentlemen who are in arms march towards you in numbers that you cannot resist, your own discretion will direct you to retire before them, takeing alongst with you all the able bodied men, that you may make the best use of them you can upon occasion.