another, that the Macgregors were treacherously waylaid by the Colquhouns. These statements are both unfounded. The battle was deliberately resolved upon, for it was fought in the heart of the Colquhoun country, which of itself is a proof that it was not an accidental rencontre. But what places the matter beyond a doubt, is that Macgregor applied for, and obtained assistance from the Clan Macpherson (with whom he had a treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive), for the very purpose of invading the Colquhouns. There were fifty picked men sent from Badenoch to assist the Clan Gregor, but the action was over a few hours before their arrival, which perhaps was rather a fortunate circumstance, for had they taken part in the battle, it is more than probable that they would also share in the proscription. Another account states that the massacre of the boys was unintentional, that a house in which they took shelter was accidentally set on fire. That the massacre of the boys was un-. intentional on the part of the Macgregors is very true, but still it was the deliberate act of one individual, and no doubt the Clan Gregor were in a certain degree responsible for the conduct of that individual, for although he was not of their name yet he was under their banner at the time. He was a man, or rather a monster, of the name of Cameron, and foster-brother to Macgregor, who was sent to take charge of the boys in order to keep them out of harms way, and strange and unnatural as it may appear, he massacred the whole of them to the number of fortysome say sixty. The origin of the quarrel with the Colquhouns was as follows:-A party of twelve Macgregors entered the Colquhoun country in quest of stolen or strayed cattle, and in a dreadful stormy night came to a sequestered farmhouse, the landlord of which refused them admittance, although it was quite evident that they must perish in the event of attempting to reach any other inhabited place. They, however, acted with extraordinary temper and forbearance, for in place of using force (which under the circumstances would be quite justifiable) they merely took possession of an outhouse, where they lighted a fire, and having in vain applied for provisions, for which they offered payment, they had no alternative but to take a sheep from the churl's flock, which they killed, and handed its value in at a window. Having thus provided themselves with food, they were sitting round a large fire and broiling the mutton, when the savage landlord stole quietly to the top of the house, and dropped a large stone into the fire through the vent hole, which burnt several of the Macgregors severely. One of them, smarting with

pain, made a spring to the door, and when the landlord was in the act of descending from the house he shot him dead. After this accident (for it cannot be called by any other name) the Macgregors returned home, but the Colquhouns having seized several of that clan (who were on their own lawful business and knew nothing of the other affair), they hanged them like so many dogs. So gross an outrage could not be overlooked, but still the Macgregors acted with the greatest coolness, and sent a regular embassy to demand satisfaction, but every proposition was rejected by the Colquhouns, and after much negotiation Macgregor intimated to Colquhoun of Luss that he must hold him and his whole clan responsible for the slaughter of the Macgregors, and he accordingly prepared to put his threat in execution. The Clan Gregor entered the Colquhoun country with fire and sword, and when they came to Glenfruin, and in sight of the enemy, they fell in with a number of boys who came out from Dumbarton to see the fight. They were principally schoolboys, and many of them of good families that probably had no connection whatever with either of the belligerents. Macgregor, in order to keep them out of harms way, directed that the boys should be confined in a church or meeting-house that happened to be close by, and sent his foster-brother (one of the name of Cameron) to take charge of them, who, from what motive it is impossible to divine, massacred the whole of them as soon as he found the armies engaged. The battle of Glenfruin was soon over. The Colquhouns were defeated with great slaughter. Their chief was kllled, and the Macgregors scarcely lost a man. When they returned from the pursuit Macgregor's first enquiry was for the boys, whom he intended to liberate and dismiss with kindness, but learning the horrid fact that they were all butchered, he struck his forehead and exclaimed

"The battle is lost after all." The fate of the Dumbarton scholars was so very revolting to the feelings of every person possessing any share of humanity that it is no wonder that it created a deep and powerful prejudice against the Clan Gregor, and yet they were, at least, morally innocent, and it must forever be a matter of regret that such heavy calamities should be heaped upon the bravest clan in the Highlands for the act of one madman. The Clan Gregor, however, were doomed to be unfortunate, as will appear by continuing their history a little farther. Gregor Our, or Gregor the Swarthy, was the second in rank to the chief, but in deeds of arms he had no superior nor perhaps an equal in all the Highlands. Argyle was his maternal uncle, and his valour in defence of his clan and country when outlawed and assailed by multitudes of foes, would appear more like romance than real

facts. After various desperate actions in which the Clan Gregor displayed incredible prowess, but which considerably reduced their number, they learned with amazement that Argyle, at the head of an overwhelming force, was advancing to attack them. Upon the receipt of this intelligence Gregor Our proposed to stop his uncle's progress, and having communicated his plan to his chief he set out alone and in disguise. After several narrow escapes he succeeded in making his way into Argyle's tent at midnight (by telling the sentry that he was the bearer of despatches from Government, the delivery of which admitted of no delay), and after upbraiding him for his cruelty and injustice, told him plainly that his life was forfeited unless he instantly agreed to relinquish the expedition. Argyle knew the determined character of his nephew, and it is also possible that he might be influenced by affection towards a relative of whom he might very justly be proud, but be his. motives what they may, he at once agreed to the proposed terms, and conducted Gregor safely out of the camp, and soon after disbanded his troops. Nor did his good offices cease there, for he became an advocate of the Clan Gregor at Court, and obtained an armistice for them as well as a protection to Gregor Our, with instructions to him to appear before the Privy Council to explain every circumstance relating to the battle of Glenfruin and the massacre of the scholars. Gregor Our accordingly set out for Edinburgh with the concurrence of his chief, but he was no sooner gone than suspicions began to arise as to the purity of his intentions. Dark hints were first thrown out, and afterwards stated boldly as a fact, that Gregor, through the interest of his uncle and his own address, had obtained a royal grant of the chieftainship, as well as of the estates of Macgregor for himself. By these insinuations and reports (which no doubt had great plausibility in them) Macgregor was driven to a state of absolute distraction, and having learned that Gregor Our was on his way back from Edinburgh, he went to meet him, and without the least enquiry or explanation, shot him through the heart with a pistol. On examining his papers it was discovered that there was not a vestige of truth in these reports. The pardon to the Clan Gregor was addressed to Macgregor. His estates were restored to himself, and Gregor Our did not secure a single benefit to himself but what he got in common with every individual of the clan. This discovery drove Macgregor to madness, and he actually became deranged. The pardon was recalled, and the proscription was enforced with greater rigour than before, nor is is at all surprising that Argyle should become their bitter (as he was their most powerful) enemy.

V. BATTLE OF BLARLEINE.

The battle of Blarleine was fought between the Macdonalds of Clan Ranald and the Frasers about the year 1545. The cause of it was this:-Clan Ranald married a daughter of Lovat, and in less than two years died, leaving only an infant son (Ranald), who was brought up and educated at Beaufort with his grandfather, from which circumstance he received the nickname of Ranald Gauld (or low country Ranald), from the Macdonalds. When Ranald became of age he went to take possession of his patrimony, and was received with great rejoicings. Bonfires were lighted on every hill, and beef and mutton were killed and roasted in dozens, but unfortunately Ranald Gauld spoke contemptuously of these preparations, and declared publicly that he would rather dine upon a broiled chicken than on all the coarse fare they had prepared, which he considered downright waste. Upon this unfortunate declaration the clan had a consultation, and unanimously agreed to eject him from his patrimony, which they did without the least ceremony, and elected his uncle, John Mudardach, in his place, who was a natural son. Lovat of course made every exertion to reinstate his grandson, and with the assistance of Huntly entered the Clan Ranald country with such an overwhelming force that the rebellious Macdonalds durst not oppose them. Ranald Gauld was therefore restored, apparently, without opposition, but no sooner had Huntly and his forces departed than John Mudardach assembled the whole of Clan Ranald and attacked the Frasers. The battle was long and bloody, and it would have been very doubtful to which side the victory would lean, were it not for the treachery or cowardice of a Benjamin Clark, whom Lovat sent with one hundred men to guard a particular pass, and who fled without fighting a stroke. This circumstance ruined the Frasers. Lovat fell, and Ranald Gauld was killed after performing prodigies of valour, so much so that he was admitted by both sides to be the first warrior in the field. When John Mudardach assembled the clan for the purpose of attacking the Frasers, he gave orders that none should be allowed to march against the enemy except those whose beard was thick upon the chin. One young man, however, disobeyed, and insisted on accompanying his father. He was of a good family, and dressed so well as to be conspicuous among the clan, which caused a number of jests to be passed upon him, such as, how very interesting he would appear when running away from the Frasers, and such like. To these

jests he made no reply, but when the battle commenced he proved himself to be equal, if not superior, to the most celebrated warriors of the clan. In the heat of the fight this young man observed his father engaged with Ranald Gauld, and on the eve of being cut in pieces. He therefore sprung to his assistance, but he soon found that he was also overmatched, for he received a severe cut on the head, and was forced to give ground. He therefore had recourse to an artifice, and called out to his antagonist, "You are attacked from behind," upon which Ranald Gauld turned round, and when in that position received a mortal blow. By this time the battle was over, and the young warrior was so weak from his wounds and loss of blood that he was carried to a

barn where many of the wounded were. He was stretched upon a little heather and Ranald Gauld's sword by him, when a number of his clansmen came into the barn, every one of whom claimed a right to the sword as the conqueror of Ranald Gauld. The young man listened to them for sometime, but at last, his patience being exhausted, he addressed them in the following words :-" Gentlemen, give up your boasting; were that sword in the hand which grasped it this morning, and in the same vigour, and this barn crammed full of such as you, I would much rather enter the barn at one end and go out at the other, sword in hand, than face that sword." This rebuff silenced them, but it proved fatal to this very superior young man, for, to the eternal disgrace of that clan, they bribed the nurse to put a rusty nail into his brain when dressing his wound, in consequence of which he died.

VI. JOHN ROY STEWART.

Colonel John Roy Stewart was an outlaw like many others after the Battle of Culloden. He was a native of Kincardine, in Strathspey, where he was exceedingly popular, and a great favourite with the Grarts, although they were opposed to the Stewart interest. Notwithstanding the Colonel's popularity, there was one Grant who undertook to apprehend him for the sake of the bloodmoney offered by Government. This Grant ought to have been a man of some consideration in Strathspey from his ancestors and connections, but nevertheless he was known to be far below par in point of intellect, and as to courage, he was considered, in the ring phrase, mere dunghill. He paraded through Strathspey with a party of twenty-four men, some of whom joined him because they were his sub-tenants, some because they had nothing else to do; but for the most part to make game of him,