Folio 43. Letter from [George Mackenzie] Viscount Tarbat to the King explaining why...

Folio 43. Letter from [George Mackenzie] Viscount Tarbat to the King explaining why Colonel Hill had gone in his stead to treat with the clan chiefs. Tarbat says that 'if they be dallying with us, it shall be no loss, for we will not be slow in point of diligence, before a total conclusion; but if we either bring them to peace or, at least break them, by taking some of the principals, it will be of good importance to you, for it is not the work of two or three years to force them to peace, albeit, such as are fit instruments were employed; and I am misinformed if this last year's war with them be not above £150,000 sterling in expense'. He writes that the surer way of dealing with the clans is to have two bodies of troops moving along the foot of the hills to keep them pent up or else to fall on them if they come down from the hills and that Sir John Levingston's late action and later on Clova [Angus] and Colean [Culzean, Ayrshire] confirms this. Having spoken at length with the Earl of Breadalbane, Tarbat puts forward a scheme for the King's consideration for the submission of the Highlanders. Sir Duncan Campbell is mentioned as offering to bring off some of the Argyllshire 'tribes' but he told Tarbat 'what is not fit to be written in that matter'.