doubtful if they could have so well secured the attachment and support of their adherents, nor could they have expected the same fidelity as was exhibited towards the "Captain of Clan Chattan," after an inroad of that clan into the Lowlands of Moray. This happened in the reign of James V. and was accompanied by the usual ravages and pillage of the times. The Earl of Moray, exasperated at the frequency of these forays, immediately raised his people and followed the freebooters, who, incumbered with their spoil, were overtaken, and a desperate conflict ensued. The Clan Chattan (the Mackintoshes and Macphersons) were overpowered, and 200 prisoners taken. The number of prisoners was a remarkable occurrence among the light-footed Highlanders, but in this case they made a longer stand to enable their chief, who was said to be aged and corpulent, to get to a place of safety, which had been named as the rendezvous after the battle. Lord Moray, with a view of striking terror into his troublesome and lawless neighbours, determined to take a terrible revenge, and ordered 130 of the prisoners to be hanged on the spot; but, anxious to discover the chief's hiding-place, he directed that the Highlanders should be taken out singly for execution, and when at the foot of the gallows, to be told that, if they would disclose the secret of their chief's retreat, their lives would be saved. All refused life on such terms, and declared that no reward or punishment should induce or force them to be unfaithful to a man to whom they all owed so much. Some denied all knowledge of the chief's retreat, but added, that, if they did know, they would rather sacrifice their own lives than bring that of their chief into danger. The whole were executed.

Fearful lest I should have already given too many anecdotes of incorruptible fidelity, I have ventured on this as the last, out of a great many more I could give of the same nature. This anecdote is noticed by Leslie, in his book " De Origine, Moribus, &c. Scotorum," with little variation from the tra ditional account of the country. He states the prisoners

and those executed to have been more numerous than is given in the traditional account which I have in this instance followed.

The Highlanders are now in a rapid progress to a state of civilization, with which such feelings and principles as guided them formerly are said to be incompatible. How high-minded principles, incorruptible fidelity, and a sense of honour, so strong as to make death preferable to a breach of faith or mistrust, can be incompatible with civilization and a state of society, in which education and knowledge among the people are so much encouraged, is a point which must be decided by philosophers and political economists. As a plain soldier, I must acknowledge a preference of old feelings and dispositions; and, as I said in speaking of the superstitions of the Highlanders, I fear I must be accused of improper prejudices, when I lament the extinction or dormancy of those ancient feelings, and of that confidence, those conciliating manners, and that mutual support which subsisted between the higher and lower orders; even although my countrymen may be better educated, and what is called more enlightened than in former days. This enlightening of the people, as practised in the Highlands, instead of improving and preserving their principles, (the best parts of them required no improvement,) appears to have a perfectly different effect. Old principles are getting obsolete and forgotten, attachment to superiors, chivalrous fidelity to honour and to each other, which laid an admirable foundation for good morals, are derided as the remains of feudal manners; ridiculed often by Highland gentlemen, who may yet suffer severely from that change in the character of their people, for which they seem so anxious; and who, from too eager a desire to appear enlightened and liberal-minded, and to introduce the more approved habits of the South, overlook the necessary discrimination, and instead of an attempt to preserve the better part of ancient habits and character, make a clean sweep of the whole, trusting to chance, to the introduction of strangers, and their example for the adoption of

new manners, more becoming a civilized state of society; although it may be asked, what state of civilization has produced better traits of character, than have been found among the ancient habits, superstitions, and mental recollections of the Highlanders, even in their uncultivated state? To prepare the Highlanders for this change, and to cure the evils of superstition, I hope better means will be adopted than that of the Lancasterian system, which teaches to read by rote, and neglects the religious and moral principles on which all education ought to be founded. The simple art of reading does not prove, by experience, to be effectual in the Highlands. If the number of schoolmasters were increased, the number of scholars in each school lessened, and the teachers directed to instruct their pupils in good morals and religious duties, as well as in the mechanical art of reading, the blessings of education would be full and complete, and a few traits of the old-fashioned Highland feeling might be preserved along with the improved education. Perhaps such observations as these may be considered as out of place, in giving an account of the service of a fencible regiment; I shall, therefore, only observe farther, that, as human nature is the same now as when the Highlanders were true to their word, faithful to their superiors, contented with their lot, and loyal to their King, (for the ebullitions of 1715 and 1745 were in the very spirit of loyalty,) may I not ask whether the same condescending and concili ating manners on the part of the higher orders, a kindly regard to the interest of the lower class, (although they may not possess a capital equal to others more fortunate, or skill equal to those who have had better opportunities,) would not meet with a corresponding and kindred return of fidelity and support in the day of need? And as the day of need may come, perhaps, such considerations as these may occupy a Highland chief and landlord's spare time as much to his ultimate profit, and with more true happiness and honour, than in consultations with land-agents and doers, on the best means of augmenting a rent-roll.

I now return to the Clan Alpine. As the Macgregors

were of old a warlike race, it is unfortunate that this regiment had not an opportunity of meeting an enemy, and of maintaining that character for courage which had so long distinguished their ancestors. In 1802 the regiment was ordered from Ireland, and on the 24th of July reduced at Stirling.

REGIMENT OF THE ISLES.

1799.

No name could be more appropriate for a regiment, commanded by a Macdonald, having a number of officers and men of the same name, and nine-tenths of both composed of Islanders, than the "Regiment of the Isles." In the traditions of the Highlanders, the Isles are so associated with chivalry, deeds of valour, and chieftainship of a superior order, that their imaginations are immediately thrown back to those days when the Lords of the Isles, assuming sovereign authority over their insular domains, frequently entered into treaties, and contracted alliances, with the Kings of England. But their possessions were not confined to the Islands. They held extensive domains on the mainland of Scotland, great part of which is to this day possessed by their descendants, Glengarry, Clanranald, Glenco, and other families of the clan. It was in the Isles, however, where they could not be so easily attacked, that they possessed their principal power. There, as petty sovereigns, they supported a sort of regal state, being equal in power to several states in Germany, and certainly exceeding many Continental principalities in the number of disposable men at arms.

It was in Islay, the most southerly of these insular possessions, that the Macdonalds had their principal residence. A small Island in Loch Finlagan, in Islay, was "famous for being once the court in which the great Macdonald, King of the Isles, had his residence. His houses, chapels, &c.

are now ruinous. His garde de corps, called Luchtach, kept guard on the lake side nearest to the isle. The walls of their houses are still to be seen there. The high court of judicature, consisting of fourteen, sat always here; and there was an appeal to them from all the courts in the isles. The eleventh share of the sum in debate was due to the principal judge. There was a big stone of seven feet square, in which there was a deep impression made to receive the feet of Macdonald; for he was crowned King of the Isles standing in this stone, and swore that he would continue his vassals in the possession of their lands, and do exact justice to all his subjects; and then his father's sword was put into his hand. The Bishop of Argyle and seven priests anointed him King, in presence of all the heads of the tribes in the Isles and Continent who were his vassals."

The preceding account of Martin will afford some idea of the estimation in which these great Chiefs were held, and the consequent power which flowed from the devotion and ready obedience of their subjects,-a power which, in times when laws were weak and inefficient, was not always exercised for the protection of their property merely, but sometimes to invade that of others, and sometimes to oppose the laws of the realm, which the King was unable to enforce. Of these inroads, and petty insurrections, there are many instances; but in the fifteenth century, an event occurred of more than usual importance in the history of this family. Walter Leslie, of an ancient family in Aberdeenshire, married the only child and heiress of the twelfth Earl of Ross, the last of that ancient house, and had by her one son, and a daughter, Margaret. The son married a daughter of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, Governor of Scotland during the captivity of his nephew James I., and by her had an only daughter, who, being sickly and deformed, became a nun. Donald of the Isles married Margaret, daughter of the Countess of Ross, and heiress of her estate and title, when her grand-daughter became a nun; but before she took the veil, her grandfather, the Duke of