But little
information of William's proceedings during the first few years
of his rule is obtainable. He seems to have continued abroad,
for on the 23d of May, 1709, an order is found addressed to the
forester at Letterewe signed by his mother the Dowager, "Frances
Seaforth." But on the 22d of June, 1713, she addresses a letter
to Colin Mackenzie of Kincraig, in which she says - "I find my son
William is fully inclined to do justice to all. Within fifteen
days he will be at Brahan." [Original produced at Allangrange
Service in 1829.]
At this period the great majority of the southern nobles were ready
to break out into open rebellion, while the Highland chiefs were
almost to a man prepared to rise in favour of the Stuarts. This
soon became known to the Government. Bodies of armed Highlanders
were seen moving about in several districts in the North. A party
appeared in the neighbourhood of Inverness which was, however, soon
dispersed by the local garrison. The Government became alarmed,
and the Lords Justices sent a large number of half-pay officers,
chiefly from the Scottish regiments, to officer the militia, under
command of Major General Whitham, commander-in-chief at the time
in Scotland.
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