INTRODUCTORY NOTICE OF THE CAMPBELLS OF KIRNAN.
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.*
THE paternal ancestors of Thomas Campbell appear to have been long settled in that part of the Argyll frontier, which lies between Lochawe and Lochfyne, bordered by the ducal territory of Inverary. The Poet himself had little or no taste for genealogy; but his uncle, Robert Campbell of Kirnan, who wrote the "Life of John, Duke of Argyll and Greenwich," was deeply read in the ancient history of his clan, and traced the origin of his own branch of the family to Iver of Kirnan. The descent may be
* On the genealogical history, to which the first Chapter is devoted, it may seem that I have dwelt too long; but, in explanation, it may be stated that, since Mr. Campbell's death, circumstances have occurred to render it very desirable that, in his biography, the subject should be treated with some degree of minuteness. Many errors and mis-statements, respecting the Poet and his family, have already gone abroad; and to rectify these effectually, the only course left was to investigate the family papers. This was duly accomplished; and the facts resulting from the investigation, form the ground-work of the introductory Chapter. The accuracy of the details has been confirmed by the testimony of surviving branches of the Poet's family; and the particulars now brought out for the first time, will sufficiently contradict the mis-statements to which I have referred.