’Dear Sir,

’Your most obliged, affectionate,
    ’And most humble Servants,
        ’DUGALL CAMERON, of Strone. 
         DUGALL CAMERON, of Barr. 
         DUGALL CAMERON, of Inveriskvouilline. 
         DUGALL CAMERON, of Invinvalie.’

‘Strone, 11th March, 1737.’

Ewen Cameron was protected, and his son has now a farm from the Laird of Col, in Mull.

The family of Col was very loyal in the time of the great Montrose[809], from whom I found two letters in his own handwriting.  The first is as follows:—­

FOR MY VERY LOVING FRIEND THE LAIRD OF COALL.

’Sir,

’I must heartily thank you for all your willingness and good affection to his Majesty’s service, and particularly the sending alongs of your son, to who I will heave ane particular respect, hopeing also that you will still continue ane goode instrument for the advanceing ther of the King’s service, for which, and all your former loyal carriages, be confident you shall find the effects of his Ma’s favour, as they can be witnessed you by

     ’Your very faithful friende,
     ‘MONTROSE.’

‘Strethearne, 20 Jan. 1646.’

The other is:—­

     ’FOR THE LAIRD OF COL.

’SIR,

’Having occasion to write to your fields, I cannot be forgetful of your willingness and good affection to his Majesty’s service.  I acknowledge to you, and thank you heartily for it, assuring, that in what lies in my power, you shall find the good.  Meanwhile, I shall expect that you will continue your loyal endeavours, in wishing those slack people that are about you, to appear more obedient than they do, and loyal in their prince’s service; whereby I assure you, you shall find me ever

     ’Your faithful friend,
     ‘MONTROSE[810].’

‘Petty, 17 April, 1646.’

I found some uncouth lines on the death of the present laird’s father, intituled ‘Nature’s Elegy upon the death of Donald Maclean of Col.’  They are not worth insertion.  I shall only give what is called his Epitaph, which Dr. Johnson said, ‘was not so very bad.’

     ’Nature’s minion, Virtue’s wonder,
      Art’s corrective here lyes under.’

I asked, what ‘Art’s corrective’ meant.  ’Why, Sir, (said he,) that the laird was so exquisite, that he set art right, when she was wrong.’

I found several letters to the late Col, from my father’s old companion at Paris, Sir Hector M’Lean, one of which was written at the time of settling the colony in Georgia[811].  It dissuades Col from letting people go there, and assures him there will soon be an opportunity of employing them better at home.  Hence it appears that emigration from the Highlands, though not in such numbers at a time as of late, has always been practised.  Dr. Johnson observed that ’the Lairds, instead of improving their country, diminished their people.’