The Sun.
London, England, 1826-09-19 00:00:00

NOTICES OF THE CLANS.

CHIEFS OP THE CLAN GRANT.
The royal origin, and very ancient and honourable
lineage of the Clan Grant is unquestionable. Their genea-
logy, scrupulously confined to facts established by the his-
torical records of Scotland and France, or taken from do-
cuments preserved in the archives of the family of ()rant,
has appeared in a pamphlet recently published by Mr.
John Grant, bookseller, Elgin, entitled " A Full and Cor-
rect Genealogy of the Honourable Family of Grant of
Grant, brought down to the year 1826." This detail corn-

lenses in the reign, of Alexander 11. of Scotland, Ali
214 but the Baronetage of Scotland traces the descent

of the Grant Chiefs as far back as King Alpin, of the era
820; and it is a remarkable collateral evidence, that in the
Grant Coat of Arms, a crowned head dropping blood, sur-
mounts a motto in the Gaelic Language,—" cuinich
bas Alipin"—remember the death of Alin; words
clearly implying filial resentment for the murder of Alpin,
who was assassinated by Boridus. The Counte de Vamt,
in his Memoirs, has collected various prodfs to confirm the
claim of royal and remote antiquity for the Grant Chiefs,
land numerous traditions corroborate these- written do-
cuments. The translation of a characteristic Gaelic
Oaurskal, had a place in the Inverness Courier, in the
summer of. 1622 ;• in La Belle Assemblie for September
and October 1822, and in Ackermann': Repository of
Arts for October 1822; and after making full allowimce for
poetical licence, embellishing a theme of herdic eulOgy, we
cannot doubt that the Gaelic legends were founded upon
authentic information regarding the events they comme-
morate. We are therefore well authorised, when we refer

to the Annals and the Heraldry of Scotland, as also to
local tradition, showing in the most satisfactory manner,
tat from the earliest times, the Grant Chiefs were emi-
nently conspicuous for loyalty and patriotism—for popular
influence, while holding appointments of high trust and dig-
nity; and for alliances with the most exalted and coin-
mending families in the realm. In addition to the indis-
putable fact above cited, we shall only state, that firmly ad-
hering to the fortuue of Robert the Bruce, Sir John Grant
of Grant joined his personal exertions, and the aid of his
forces, to the brave Wallace, in defence of the liberties of
his country. He and his brother Ralph were sent' cap-
tives to London, but enlarged upon their
parole in
1297. The feudal power, the valour, the talents and
prudence of the Grant Chiefs, through a long succession
of generations, promoted the general interests of the
kingdom at home and abroad ; m capacities civil and
military, and in domestic life, as in transactions with
their vassals of every degree, they presented models
of excellence for the imitatioe f their compeers. In the
late Sir James Grant of Grant, the hereditary virtues of a
gifted ancestry, seemed to concentrate. His long life was
invariably aseene of public services; and private acts of
genuine, unostentatious beneficence, and the disposition,
with the ability for doing good, has been amply transmitted
to his posterity. Sir James Gant of Grant levied two
regiments for the support of the Constitution of Great
Britain, in the most critical times; and at his own expence
furnished arms for more than seven hundred men, as a'
local defence against a threatened French invasion. The
volunteers, imbibing the spirit of their Chief, made offers
of extended service ; and many young men trained in the
ranks became valuable recruits for regiments of the line.
Opportunities for standing forth as defenders of Britain
are -happily superseded by internal peace, and internal
tranquillity; but justice requires us to mention, that
Nile
phis repeatedly caused
scarcityila de
in thfieeineeneceys sari n i esthoef o
life,'r the representative, and the
presumptive heir of the Grant Chief, following the muni-
ficent. example of the late Sir James Grant, expended large
sums in bringing meal and seed corn, to different districts
of their extensive estates.,. The poor, the aged, and the
infirm, were thus enabled to get supplies of food from time
to time; which, without stores near at hand, they could
not have procured,-rand famine, siekneits, and death, were
averted by the seasonable bounty of their Chief. As heirs
to the late Earl of Finlstcr, and succeeding to the titles of
Earl Seafield, Viscount Redhevcn, end Berms of Deskford
and Cullen, -the family of Grant of Grant are elevated to
the eeerag,. lathe reign a George 11. the Grant Chief
declined is patent of nobility) saying, " who then would be
Laird of Grant ?" The Chief felt, and in that brief sen-
ten" honestly expressed, a.conaCi°l4B superiority to' the
honours conferred by mere, lordly sounds, which could
neither enhance his political consequence nor feudal power.
A laudable impression of the importance inseparable from
individual worth, has essentially contributed to the dignity
of character singularly apparent in the long line of Grant
Chiefs. In the time of James I. of Seothmd, a proud
noble uttered sonie surprise that there were not many lords
of a name so mighty in the state. " We that reckon
r kings in-our lineage," replied the Grant Chief, calf feel
t no ambition for the lease; style of lord."--bwerners
Courier.