year 1791 that another opportunity offered for those gentlemen to purchase. No reduction, however, took place, for in the year 1786 the second battalion was formed into a distinct regiment, and numbered the 73d, with the facings green instead of blue.

In consequence of preparations for war with Holland in 1787, two companies were added to the regiment. Captains William Johnstone and Robert Christie, who had purchased the companies refused by the Lieutenants Stewarts, and had hitherto remained in second, succeeded to the additional companies. Ensign James Rose, and Lieutenant Robert Macdonald, from the half pay of the 71st regiment, were appointed lieutenants, and Ensign David Stewart, from the half pay of the Athole Highlanders, and James Stuart, ensigns on the augmentation. *

* On the 1st of June this year, Lord John Murray died, in the fortysecond year of his command of the regiment, and was succeeded by Major-General Sir Hector Munro. It is said that Lord Eglinton was much disappointed on that occasion. He had formed an attachment to the Highland soldiers, when he commanded his Highland regiment in the Seven Years' War; and, owing to Lord J. Murray's great age, had long looked to the command of the Royal Highlanders. In Lord North's administration, and likewise in Mr Pitt's, he had, in some measure, secured the succession, but the King had previously, and without the knowledge of his ministers, assented to an application from Sir H. Munro. Lord Eglinton was appointed to the Scots Greys on the first vacancy. Till Lord John Murray was disabled by age, he was the friend and supporter of every deserving officer and soldier in the regiment. The public journals during the German or Seven Years' War, give many instances of this. I shall notice one. When the disabled soldiers came home from Ticonderoga in 1758, to pass the Board at Chelsea, it is stated, "That the morning they were to appear before the Board, he was in London, and dressed himself in the full Highland uniform, and, putting himself at the head of all those who could walk, he marched to Chelsea, and explained their case in such a manner to the Commissioners, that all obtained the pension. He gave them five guineas to drink the King's health, and their friends, with the regiment, and two guineas to each of those who had wives, and he got the whole a free passage to Perth, with an offer to such as chose to settle on his estate, to give them a house and garden."

In the month of August 1789, the regiment embarked for England, and landed at Portsmouth in October, after an absence of fourteen years. Immediately on landing, they marched to Guildford, and thence continued their route to the north, passing over Finchley Common, where numbers flocked to see them, no Highland corps having been in that neighbourhood since the year 1745, when the same regiment, then the 43d, or Sempill's Highlanders, was stationed there for a few weeks on its return from Flanders. In November they reached Tynemouth barracks, where they passed the winter. While there they were reinforced by 245 young recruits, raised by the officers who had been left at home for that purpose. *

In the month of May 1790, they marched to Glasgow, through Berwick and Edinburgh. In Scotland, as well as in England, their reception was warm and cordial, but not so enthusiastic as that expressed on the return of the regiment at the conclusion of the wars of 1802 and 1815. In America the service was far less brilliant, and the interval that had elapsed between the war and their arrival rendered the recollection of their services less vivid.

Fortunately their stay in Glasgow was short; for the

This, it is added, was soon known in the north, and greatly encouraged recruiting. At that time, indeed, the regiment got more men than they required. Lord John lived much with the regiment in Ireland, ever attentive to the interest of the officers, and vigilant that their promotion should not be interrupted by ministerial or other influence. On several occasions, he got officers removed who had been put over his Once he came express from Ireland, and had an audience of the King, in consequence of three lieutenants, who, as has been already mentioned, had been appointed by the Lord Lieutenant, while the ensigns of his regiment were passed over. In the first instance he failed, but the two were afterwards removed.

own.

In those days the value of such a friend to support his officers was of more importance than now, when so much justice is done to all.

* At this time there took place a small alteration in the military appointments of the men. The black leather belts for the bayonet were laid aside, and white buff belts supplied. Officers' epaulets, which had formerly been very small, were then enlarged to the present size.

hospitality with which the men were treated, and the facility of procuring ardent spirits, * led to an evident relaxation of discipline. This evil, however, was only transient, and of no considerable extent.

Such was the hospitality of the inhabitants, that it was difficult to prevent them from going about with bottles of whisky, forcing drams on the centinels on duty.

SECTION XIV.

Establishment augmented-Several independent companies raised -Regiment marches to Edinburgh Castle-Sent to the northDisturbances in Ross-shire-These quickly subside-War declared against France-Regiment assembled at Montrose-Recruiting unsuccessful-Independent companies raised-Embark for Hull, and thence for Gosport and Ostend-Join the army under the Duke of York at Menin--Ordered back to Ostend to embark for England--Recalled for the relief of NieuportEnemy raise the siege--Destination for the West Indies altered to a meditated descent on the coast of France--Return to England.

In consequence of preparations for an expected rupture with Spain in the year 1790, the establishment was augmented; but, as recent circumstances in the Highlands had excited a strong sensation among the people, the regiment was not successful in recruiting.

Several independent companies were this summer raised. One of these was a fine band of young Highlanders, recruited by the Marquis of Huntly, which joined the 42d, along with his Lordship, who had exchanged with Captain Alexander Grant.

In November, the regiment marched to Edinburgh Castle, and was a year stationed in that garrison. In this interval, it was remarked, that more fires occurred in the town than during any known period of the same extent; and an opportunity was thus afforded for the display of that alacrity with which the men turned out on any alarm. After being reviewed, in June 1791, by Lord Adam Gordon, the Commander-inChief, they marched to the north in October. Their headquarters were at Fort George: one company was stationed

at Dundee, one at Montrose, two at Aberdeen, and one in Banff.

In the spring of 1792, they assembled at Fort George, and from thence marched to Stirling in July, where they were reviewed by the Honourable Lieutenant-General Leslie. They afterwards marched northward, and were cantoned along the coast towns in the same manner as in the preceding year.

In autumn, the whole were ordered into Ross-shire on account of some disturbances among the inhabitants, great numbers of whom had been dispossessed of their farms in consequence of the new system of converting vast tracts of country into pasture. The manner in which the people gave vent to their grief and rage, when driven from their ancient homes, showed that they did not merit this treatment, and that an improper estimate had been formed of their character. A few months after these ejectments, those who were permitted to remain as cottagers rose in a body, and, collecting all the sheep which had been placed by the great stock farmers on the possessions which they themselves had formerly held, they drove the whole before them, with an intention of sending them beyond the boundaries of the country; thinking, in their simplicity and despair, that, if they got quit of the sheep, they would be again reinstated in their farms. In this state of insurrection they continued for some time, but no act of violence or outrage occurred; nor did the sheep suffer in the smallest degree beyond what resulted from the fatigues of the journey and the temporary loss of their pasture. Though pressed with hunger, these conscientious peasants did not take a single animal for their own use, contenting themselves with the occasional supplies of meal or victuals which they obtained in the course of their journey. To quell these tumults, which occasioned little less alarm among some of the gentlemen of Ross than the Rebellion of 1745, the 42d regiment were ordered to proceed, by forced marches and by the shortest routes, to Ross-shire.