of not being exposed to dangers from climate, the sea, or the enemy, induced many to enlist who would have hesitated if these risks had been the immediate consequences of their becoming soldiers. But as many brave men, who, when once engaged, show no reluctance to extend their service wherever it may be required, may, in the first instance, from the persuasion of friends, and other causes, manifest a very opposite spirit; in this view, and to lead them on by degrees to encounter the most arduous duties of the profession, such preparatory and apparently easy service may have had its advantages. Indeed, the Highland Fencibles furnished a most excellent and seasonable nursery of men for regiments of the line. The 72d regiment was in a few months filled up from 200 to 800 men by Fencible volunteers. Upwards of 350 men volunteered from the Clan Alpines into different regiments; 200 men of the Caithness Highlanders joined the 79th and 92d; and so of the others. Still it was a matter of regret, that, during the most trying period of the war, so many efficient corps were so fettered by their engagements, that they could not be employed on those important occasions where they would have formed a very seasonable aid, and where their military qualities could have been exerted to the utmost advantage. To officers, also, the Fencible, like the Militia regiments, presented both advantages and disadvantages. To many young men those corps formed a kind of stepping-stone to get into the regular army. Others, again, who passed too many years in them, gained no rank, spent their daily pay, and acquir ed little professional knowledge, beyond the parade and drill exercise; and when, at the end of six, eight, or ten years, they thought of looking out for some permanent means of subsistence, or some commission that might secure them rank and a future provision, they found themselves as far from the mark as the first day they entered the service.

Several friends, for whose opinion I have a high respect, wished to dissuade me from noticing the Fencible Corps, as nothing interesting could be said on a service confined to

Britain. But it appeared to me, that an inquiry, whether corps of limited and temporary service supported the same character as that which had been acquired by old regiments of the line, so far, at least, as the more peaceable duties of the Fencible regiments, was necessary to the unity and completion of the general plan. The short notices given of the general conduct of those corps have, it is presumed, fully proved that the more marked traits of character did not rest on any accidental cause, but on steady and permanent principles, and although their service was less important, so far as regarded opposing a foreign enemy, yet during the troubles in Ireland, no duty could have been better performed. Nor, indeed, was there any service of greater importance, or executed with more prudence and proper feeling, than that which was entrusted to them; and it was fully acknowledged, that tranquillity and obedience to the laws prevailed in many disturbed districts, immediately after the Sutherland, Caithness, and other Fencible corps came upon the station. The spirit of revenge and of fierce animosity to the Government was softened by the mild and conciliatory conduct of these men towards the deluded peasantry. This, in a very considerable degree, contributed to the restoration of the peace and order which ensued. When troops are stationed in an enemy's country, or are ordered to keep down internal insurrection, the influence which their conduct exerts on those whom they are to control is, in general, conspicuous. If troops are insolent, oppressive, or cruel, the hatred and opposition of those who were inimical before are increased and confirmed; and they may become what an eminent commander said of a part of the troops in Ireland, at that period, more dangerous to their friends than to their enemies." If, on the contrary, the soldiers are careful of giving offence; if they are what has been said of the Highland soldiers, "lambs in the house," and "children of the family," they make friends of their former enemies, and their duty becomes easy, requiring only the usual military rou

tine.

MUTINIES

OF THE

HIGHLAND REGIMENTS.

As the preceding details will have afforded some idea of the nature and extent of the service performed by the Highland regiments of the Line and Fencibles, I now introduce the following statements of a series of very distressing events which have occurred in the course of these military duties,

disgraceful to those with whom they principally originated, and much to be lamented on account of the impressions they have left on the minds of a race of people originally unsuspicious, and disposed to place unlimited confidence in their superiors, but who, in the cases in question, were too frequently considered as ignorant, unable to comprehend the nature of their stipulations, and incapable of demanding redress for any breach of contract. Attempts were, therefore, made to violate these engagements, both in the nature of the service expected of them, and in the pay and allowances promised. Finding their expectations disappointed, the sense of candour has been diminished, and that appearance of suspicious illiberality produced which people entertain when they believe that they have not met with fair or honourable treatment from a quarter where the reverse was to be expected. When they found themselves thus treated,

their ignorance of the language rendered them more jealous, and less able to explain the nature of their grievances, or to vindicate their rights; and when their complaints would not be heard, and redress refused, no other mode of obtaining justice occurred to them but to refuse to perform their part of the contract till the whole was fulfilled. The peculiar dispositions and habits of the Highlanders contributed to increase and to give an unusual degree of irritation to these misunderstandings, which were the more noticed, as their conduct, in other respects, had been orderly and obedient. These peculiarities I have already attempted to explain. One of the most prominent, and which most powerfully influenced their conduct, was the bond of fidelity and affection by which they were held to their superiors and to one another. Accustomed to yield implicit obedience to their immediate chiefs, who durst not break a compact with a people subject to them, chiefly through the ties of love and hereditary reverence, and accustomed also to have promises punctually fulfilled, this implicit submission was not yielded when they had rights to preserve, or agreements to be fulfilled. In later times, when they entered the King's service, they considered themselves as a contracting party in the agreements made with Government, from whom they naturally expected the same punctual performance of their engagements, as well as some degree, at least, of the kindness and attention which they and their fathers had met with, from their ancient and hereditary chieftains. When they found themselves, therefore, disappointed in these respects, and the terms which had been expressly stipulated with his Majesty's officers violated, the Highlanders, naturally irritable and high-spirited, warmly resented such unexpected treatment. Hence the real origin of the resistance to authority in Highland regiments, as will be rendered more evident by a plain narrative of facts.

The mutiny and desertion of the old Highland Regiment, or Black Watch, has been already noticed; and I shall now give a brief detail of similar acts of insubordination among

other Highland corps. By placing the whole in one view, instead of introducing each under the proper section of the different regiments, the general principle will be rendered the more apparent and instructive.

In the year 1779, this corps was ordered up from Fort George for embarkation, and quartered in Burntisland and Kinghorn. Soon after they arrived there, great numbers of the Highlanders were observed in parties in earnest conversation. In the evening of the third day, each company gave in a written statement, complaining of non-performance of promises, of bounty-money unpaid, &c. and accompanied their statement with a declaration, that, till these were satisfactorily settled, they would not embark. They requested, at the same time, that Lord Macdonald, the chief and patron of the regiment, should be sent for to see justice done to them. An answer not having been returned soon enough, or in the manner they expected, they marched away in a body, and took possession of a hill above, the town of Burntisland, continuing firm to their purpose, but abstaining from all violence; and when several other young soldiers wished to join them, perhaps as much for the sake of the frolic as any thing else, they ordered them back to their quarters, telling them they had no cause of complaint, and no claims to be adjusted; and that, therefore, they ought to obey their officers, and do their duty, and leave them (the Highlanders) to answer for their conduct.

Things remained in this state for some days, the Highlanders regularly sending parties to the town for provisions, and paying punctually for what they received. It happened fortunately, that the regiment was at that time commanded by Major Alexander Donaldson, an officer of great