The head of the Nairne clan, a John Nairne, third Baron Nairne, had fought for the Stuarts in 1745.  He died an exile in France.  Of how close kin to him was the young Highland Officer, John Nairne, who settled later at Malbaie, we do not know.  His family was of course Jacobite.  In “Waverley” Sir Walter Scott mentions a Miss Nairne with whom he says he was acquainted, and this lady appears to have been one of the sisters of Captain John Nairne.  In 1745, as the Highland army rushed into Edinburgh, Miss Nairne was standing with some ladies on a balcony, when a shot, discharged by accident from a Highlander’s musket, grazed her forehead.  “Thank God,” she said, “that the accident happened to me whose principles are known; had it befallen a Whig [the name then identified with the anti-Jacobite party] they would have said it was done on purpose."[4] At Murray Bay there is still a miniature portrait of Prince Charlie given it is said by himself to Miss Nairne.

Before fighting under Wolfe John Nairne had followed the Dutch flag.  Just before the rising of 1745, when a youth of only 17, he, like a great many others of his countrymen, is found serving in the well known “Scots Brigade”; many years later at Malbaie, he tells in his letters, of old companions in this service with well known Scottish names—­Bruce, Maclean, Seton, Hepburn, Campbell, Dunbar, Dundass, Graham, and so on.  In the pay of Holland Nairne remained for some nine years.  He made, he says, “long voyages” possibly to the Dutch possessions in the far East.  But he was glad of the chance to serve his own land which came when Britain, embarked upon the Seven Years’ War, was anxious to recall her banished sons and to find soldiers, Scots or of any other nationality, who would fight her battles.  So John Nairne left the Dutch service to join the 78th Highlanders and henceforth his loyalty to the house of Hanover was never questioned.  From the first, since Scotland offered only a poor prospect of a career, Nairne may have thought of remaining in the new world when the war should end.  The Highlander of that day, like the Irishman, found better chances abroad than at home.  Unlike Nairne, Malcolm Fraser, a younger man, had not seen foreign service.  The two met for the first time when, in 1757, they both joined the 78th Highlanders.  Soon they became fast friends and for nearly half a century they were to live in the closest relations.

Fraser’s Highlanders had landed at Halifax in Nova Scotia in June, 1757.  Their dress seemed unsuited to both the severe winters and the hot summers of North America and a change of costume was proposed; but officers and men protested vehemently and no change was made.  During the campaigns in America the Highlanders boasted, not with entire truth as we shall see, that they with their bare legs enjoyed better health than those who wore breeches and warm clothing.  At Louisbourg they did well.  At Quebec a Highland officer’s knowledge of French proved a great