MAGAZINE: A REPOSITORY OF ORIGINAL PAPERS, & SELECTIONS FROM ENGLISH MAGAZINES. Published every Saturday Morning, at Robinson's Circulating Library, No. 94, Baltimore-street. AT FOUR DOLLARS A YEAR. ་ VOL. 1.] BALTIMORE, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1818. [No. 16. TRADITIONAL STORY OF A CHIEFTAIN OF THE MACGREGORS. From the Edinburgh Magazine, for Feb. 1818. THE savage war of extermination, by a righteous retribution, upon the which (with occasional intermis- heads of the perpetrators, yet it is sion) was waged for almost 150 sickening to humanity to dwell long years against the unfortunate Clan upon such a picture of reciprocal Macgregor, has stained our na- injury and violence;--and with tional annals with many bloody and something of this feeling, we gladly. atrocious details. And though it is postpone for another month the task instructive to learn from such a of detailing o our readers the cu narrative how publick oppression rious notices relative to this portion and private guilt alike defeat their of Highland history with which we own aims, and are often rolled back, have lately been abundantly furnished by our learned and zealous corWe cannot resist so appropriate an respondents. In the meanwhile, to occasion to give our readers a specimen of the powerful and characteristick lyrick make some amends for this delay, strains with which our great Border we subjoin the following very beauMinistrel has enriched the very merito- tiful little anecdote, which alone is rious work of Mr Campbell-Albyn's worth a thousand stories of feudal Anthology." The Macgregors' Gather- atrocity and revenge. It is extracting" is adapted to one of those ancient ed from a letter dated December pibroch's, the peculiar warlike musick of the Gael,which Mr. Campbell has for the first time succeeded in exhibiting in a printed form. The "Pibroch of Donuil Dhu," another Highland warsong, by Mr. Scott, in this publication, is, we think, a still more animating burst of poetry; but our limits will not allow of further quotation. "Glen Orchy's proud mountains, Caolchuirn and her towers, Glen Strae and Glen Lyon * no longer are ours: We're landless, landless, landless, Gregarich! "But doom'd and devoted by vassal and lord, Macgregor has still both his heart and his sword! "These, and many other lands, belonged to the Macgregors; but they were stripped of them all without an act of Parliament; and to this they imputed the suppression of their name, as serving to disqualify them from instituting any action at law for the recovery of their estates, or the redress of injuries. 16 30, 1817, written by a very worthy of Lamont from Cowal, who, atand well-informed Highland clergy- tended by a servant, was going to man, now upwards of eighty years Fort William. They all went to the kind of inn that was in the are. 1. " of "I know not if ever you have place, and took a refreshment toheard the following traditional story gether; in the course of which, at of a chieftain of the Macgregors re- the close of the day, a trifling dissiding at the time on his freehold in pute arose betwixt Lamont and Glenorchy. His son had gone in the young Macgregor. Dirks were shooting season with a party of drawn, and before friends could inyoung associates to the moors in the terfere, Macgregor fell mortally braes of the country. They met wounded. In the confusion, Lawith a young gentleman of the name mont escaped, and, though pursued, under the cover of night got securely to the house of Macgregor, which Give their roofs to the flame, and their flesh to the happened to be the first habitation "If they rob us of name and pursue us with beagles eagles! Then vengeance! vengeance! vengeance! Gre garich! Vengeance, vengeance, vengeance, &c. * the natives Coin-dubh' (black dogs) to hunt them, and isolated individuals were "While there's leaves in the forest, and foam on the frequently murdered for the sake of the river, Macgregor, despite them, shall flourish for ever! Come then, Gregarich, come then, Gregarich! "Through the depths of Loch Katrine the steed shall . career, O'er the peak of Ben Lomond the galley shall steer, "And pursue us with beagles," &c. "By the 39th act of the 1st Parliament of Charles I for the timeous preventing of the disorders and oppressions that may fall out by the said name and Clan, and their followers,' it was enacted, That every one of the name of Macgregor, on attaining the age of sixteen, should thereafter yearly, repair to the Privy Council, wheresoever they might hap. pen to be, there to find caution for their good behaviour in all time coming; and, regardless of the general impossibility of compliance, if they failed to appear, they were, in the bloom of youth and innocence, to be denounced rebels by the mere ceremony of some police-officer blowing a horn; after which, any of his Majesty's 'good' subjects might mutilate or slay them, not only with impunity, but with the prospect of reward; for the act conclu led with holding out the moveable gools and geare' of this maltreated people, to excite diligence in apprehending or destroying them; and this had such effect, that their enemies became so bold and callous, that they actually employed blood-hounds, called by promised reward! The last two of these dogs are said to have been killed, one at Crinlarach in Strathfillan, the other near Lochearnhead, on the face of the hill opposite to the castle of Edinample; and the fowling-piece with which the last of the Coin-dubh was shot is in the possession of Francis M'Nab of M‘Nab, Esquire. : his Mark what happened in the course of events the son of the royal persecutor (James VI.) was beheaded, grandson dethroned, and the extinction of the once illustrious house of Stuart has recently taken place; and what is not less remarkable--the son and grandson of the most powerful and active instrument of these persecutions suffered on the scaffold. In spite, however, of ill usage and cruelty, the Macgregors, ever loyal, firmly adhered to their rightful sovereign. "The Melody to which the above verses is adapted, was taken down, with all possible care, from Captain Neil M Leod of Guesto's MS. Collection of Pibrochs, as performed by the celebrated Micrim nons of Skye; the Melody to Pibroch of Donuil Dubh was taken down at the same time, i e. September 1-15--the process was tedious and exceedingly troublesome. The Editor had to translate, as it were, the syllabick jargon of illiterate pipers (which was distinctly enough jotted down in Captain M'Leod's own way into musical characters, which, when correctly done, he found to his astonishment to coincide exactly with regular notation.” which met his eve at the dawn of companied him, with twelve men morning. The Chieftain had got up under arms, to Inverary, and, havand was standing at the door. ing landed him in safety on the other Save my life! said the stranger, side of Lochfine, took him by the for men are in pursuit of me to hand and thus addressed him :-- Latake it away,'--' Whoever you are, mont, now you are safe ;—no longer says Macgregor, here you are safe.' can I, or will I, protect you:-keep "Lamont was but just brought to out of the way of my clan.-May an inner apartment, and introduced God forgive and bless you!" to the family, when a loud inquiry, "This happened some short time was made at the door, if a stranger before the severe act of proscription had entered the house. He has, against the Clan Gregor in 1633, says Macgregor, and what is your when, to the discredit of justice, a business with him ? In a scuffle,' weak government sacrificed a whole, cried the pursuers, 'he has killed people for the atrocities of a few. your son; deliver him up that we Macgregor lost his property, and may instantly revenge the deed.' was hunted for his life in conseMacgregor's lady and his two quence of this iniquitous act. daughters filled the house with their took shelter in the house of this very cries and lamentations.- Be quiet,' Lamont,-noted for his urbanity, says the Chief, with his eyes stream- and his deep contrition for the mising with tears, and let no man presume to touch the youth-for he has Macgregor's word and honour for his safety; and as God lives he shall be safe and secure whilst in iny house!' In a little, after Lamont had experienced the most kind and hospitable treatment, the chieftain ac IT He fortune of his younger years; and who, by every act of kindness to his venerable guest, and some branches of his family, revered the providence which had thus put it in his, power to repay to the family of his benefactor, in some measure, the loss he had occasioned them in the death of a son." ON NOVEL READERS AND NOVEL WRITERS. From the British Critick, for June, 1818. was our intention, on com- events which they record, or the mencing the present remarks, to form and method of narration in have concluded them with a short which those events are recorded. review of the most distinguished We shall then be led to contrast writers in this province of the re- the advantages and disadvantages publick of letters: but the great of each particular system as conlength, at which we have already sidered by itself, and as compared trespassed on the patience of our with others; and from such a comreaders, compels us however re- parison, be able to exhibit in the luctantly, to defer such a discus- clearest light the beauties, into sion to a more favourable opportu- which they have at some times senity. When that event occurs, we duced, and the faults, into which will gladly resume the subject of they have at others betrayed, genius our present labours; and will point and talent of the most exalted orout the various genera, into which der. For the present we shall take novels are divided, according as leave of our readers, by recalling they depend upon the nature of the to their observation, what all f them will have previously observed, would inevitably decay and perish but what few of them will have tak- under the pressure of the toils, en the trouble to account for, the vexations, and vicissitudes of forsuperiour ability which women dis- tune, which he is unfortunately play over men in every qualification heir to in the other sex, should it which is requisite in works of this never have previously existed, it is description. In the representation certain to be elicited during that of those fine and fugitive impres- dangerous period of their lives, sions, which constitute the soul and which intervenes between childessence of sentiment, the fair sex hood and puberty, when released are universally allowed to shine from their grammars and their with unrivalled lustre. They de- samplers, escaped from the frowns, lineate them more sensibly, because and threats, and petty vengeances they feel them more forcibly; and of their governesses, no longer portray them more gracefully, be- children, and not yet quite women, cause they discern them more dis- they labour under a redundance of tinctly, than we do. This pha- new born hopes and ideas, which nomenon arises not more from the keep in perpetual play the powers difference of their education in of the imagination. Once elicited, childhood, than of the nature of it receives immediate support and their occupations in more advanced nourishment from the influence, existence. From his very cradle, which love almost simultaneously man is taught to scorn those refined begins to exercise in their bosoms. sensibilities, which woman instinc- This passion, which forms but an tively fosters with the warmest af- episode in the history of man, comfection. He is told, that they are poses the main story in that of woinconsistent with that Roman dig- man, and by forming one of the nity of character, which he is re- constant objects of her solicitude, commended to emulate; he per- heightens and refines her sensibiliceives, that they are little suited to ties to such a degree, that the most those tumultuous scenes in which languid frame of mind would be he is to mingle as a busy actor; and preferable to their intensity, and, he discards them, as delusive in many cases, would be considered weaknesses, not less to be shunned as a welcome refuge from it. than dreaded. Woman, on the pleasing cares, which flock around contrary, naturally disposed, by her her on becoming a wife and a mother, conscious inferiority of personal instead of diminishing, increase strength, to imbibe them with ea- and augment them: they may ingerness, cherishes them with re- deed be changed in the points to doubled energy, as soon as she dis- which they are directed, and limit. covers them to be the sources of all ed in the objects on which they are those gentle emotions, which cast bestowed: but all that you effect, over all her words and actions a by narrowing the channel, is to magick spell too mighty to be re- make the tide flow in the space, sisted, and which render her at over which it does flow, with a once the pride, the ornament, and richer, a deeper, and a stronger the presiding genius of society. In current. To sensibility, sentiment man, if this refinement of feeling is nearly allied; they are children were not extinguished by the force of the same house, and cannot well of education, it never could sur- exist apart from each other. The vive amid the increasing intercourse original elements, of which woman with the world, which is forced up- is composed, render her the crea on him with increasing years, but ture of sensibility; and sensibility The |