arms out now to this side and now to that, to keep yourself from stun b'ing in a rugged path. There are others who, in a sense, speak the truth with their lips, and yet have lies hidden in their hearts. The heart makes the lie, deceiving first the man himself, and thereafter his neighbours. The bent is in the mould where the thought is first cast in the embryo, and everything that comes forth is crooked. In my early childhood-infancy I might almost say-a fact regarding the rela tions of matter came under my observation, which I now see has its analogue in the moral laws. An industrious old man, by trade a mason, was engaged to build a certain piece of wall at so much per yard. He came at the appointed time, laid the foundation according to the specifications, and proceeded with his building, course upon course, according to the approved method of his craft. When the work had advanced several feet above the ground, a younger man, with a steadier hand and a brighter eye, came to assist the elder operator. Casting his eye along the work, as he laid his tools on the ground and adjusted his apron, he detected a defect, and instantly called out to his senior partner that the wall was not plumb. "It must be plumb,” rejoined the builder, somewhat piqued, "for I have laid every stone by the plumb rule." Suiting the action to the word he grasped the rule, laid it along his work, and triumphantly pointed to the lead vibrating and settling down precisely on the cut that marks the middle. Sure enough the wall was according to the rule, and yet the wall was not plumb. The rule was examined, and the discovery made that the old man, with his defective eye-sight, had drawn the cord through the wrong slit at the top of the instrument, and then, from some cause which I cannot explain, using only one side of it, had never detected his mistake. The wall was taken down, and the poor man lost several days' wages. It is on some such principle that people err in preparing a representation of their own case. They suspend their plumb, not from the middle, but from one edge of the rule, and that the edge which lies next their own interests. The whole work is vitiated by a bias in the rule which regulates the workman. This is not a light matter. Perfect truth will be the cousummation in heaven, and should be the steady aim on earth. Honesty sufficient to keep you out of prison is one thing, and honesty that will adorn the doctrine of Christ is another. He left us an example, and it is our part to follow his steps. The reproof of this proverb touches not the life of the man Christ Jesus. Guile was not found in his mouth. How calm and truthful is every statement! No one coming after and searching him could find any flaw. The disciples, though they loved and followed him, lingered far behind. Disciples now have abundant room for growth of grace in this direction. On this side there is a large field for progress in conformity to the example of Christ. If we lived in Heaven and walked with God, our bearing, when we were called to plead our own cause, would reveal our home and our company. If the whole tone and strain of our evidence, in a case that touched our own temporal interests, were cast in the pattern that Jesus gave, the world would readily observe the likeness and take knowledge of us that we had been with him. They would own the act as a fruit not indigenous on earth, and conclude that the tree which bore it was the planting of the Lord. In all this he would be glorified. We cordially recommend this work to every reader. He will find, we are sure, a key to some cell of evil in his own heart. THE WEST OF SCOTLAND MAGAZINE AND REVIEW. APRIL, 1858. POETRY AND TRADITIONS OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. (Continued from page 434.) MACKAY had nine regiments of foot and two troops of horse at Killiecrankie; Claverhouse only eighteen hundred foot and forty-five horse. The battle was, therefore, as unequal in point of numbers as that of Culloden. But Claverhouse did not exactly understand the Highlanders' mode of warfare, and a heavy loss, accordingly, ensued, that might have been saved had he entirely forgotten the comparatively inferior weapons and mode of warfare of the English and the Scots or Lowlanders. The bards are enthusiastic in their admiration and praise of Claverhouse; but they seem to have been too sound in their judgments and patriotic in their feelings to conceal the fact, that he did not conduct operations at Killiecrankie in accordance with Highland tactics. It was the custom of the Highlanders, when they came within range of the enemy, to strip themselves of all incumbrances, to assume such a stooping posture as would enable them to cover their heads and bodies with their targets, and to rush, with all the speed they could exert, in this posture, to within fifty paces of the adverse line. They then halted for a moment, delivered their fire, dropped their fusils, and rushed forward until within twelve paces of the enemy, when they again halted for a moment, delivered the fire of their steel-hilted pistols, and dashed them in the faces of the enemy. They then drew their swords, burst through the adverse line, and finished the battle in the twinkling of an eye. Mankind have never seen a mode of warfare superior to this. Hence Scotland, a small country, defied all invaders, and never was conquered. Were the British army thus armed and trained, the united armies of the universe could not stand their charge. But paltry prejudices, created chiefly by hostile feudal historians, have blinded the eyes of officials; our soldiers, instead of being armed like the Highlanders with the weapons best calculated to give full effect to their superiority for natural courage and physical powers, have been armed with those best calculated to bring them to a level with, comparatively speaking, "little men." The following extract from the work from which we have already substantially quoted some brief passages, describes the manner in which Claverhouse managed the Highlanders at Killiecrankie. afterwards see what another of the bards thought of it:— We shall "The clans earnestly entreated Dundee not to engage in person, and told his Lordship that their method of fighting was quite different from that of regular troops. Again, they desired him to consider, that should he be killed, King James's interest would be lost in Scotland. But no argument would prevail with him, nothing could dissuade him from engaging at the head of his troops. General Mackay's army outwinged Dundee's nearly a quarter of a mile, which obliged the clans to leave large intervals between each clan, and, by declining towards the wings, they wanted troops to charge the centre, where a detachment of the Lesly and Hastings English regiments were. The Highlanders threw away their plaids, haversacks, and all other incumbrances, and marched, resolutely and deliberately, in their shirts and kilts, with their fusils, swords, pistols and targets ready, down the hill on the enemy, and received Mackay's third fire BEFORE they pierced his line, in which many of the Highland army fell, particularly Lord Viscount Dundee, their General, the terror of the Whigs, the supporter of King James, and the glory of his country. Then the Highlanders fired, threw down their fusils, rushed on, discharged and threw their pistols in the faces of their opponents, drew their swords, and fell on! The enemy did not maintain their ground two minutes after the Highlanders were amongst them, and I dare be bold to say, there were scarce ever such strokes given in Europe as were given that day by the Highlanders. Many of General Mackay's officers and soldiers were cut down through the skull and neck to the very breast, others had their skulls cut off above their ears, like night-caps; some soldiers had both their bodies and cross-belts cut through at one blow. Pikes and small swords were cut like willow wands. Whoever doubts this, may consult many witnesses of the tragedy still living." The above account of the battle, by an eye witness, clearly shows that Dundee did not understand or appreciate the mode of attack of the Highlanders, any more than it has been understood by the feudal historians or the modern officials of the British army; who, if they judge by results, instead of by prejudiced statements and opinions, need have no doubt of its superiority to any mode of fighting hitherto known. That Claverhouse did not understand their practice, is seen by the fact, that the Highlanders received three volleys "before they pierced MacKay's lines;" that they did not draw their swords until Dundee fell, and that the battle did not last two minutes after they were left to fight it out, in their own way, sword in hand. If the reader will keep in view the above description of the battle, and peruse the following imitation of a poem by another bard who was present in the battle, the distinguished warrior mentioned in the article of the battle of Inverlochy, Ronald, son of Allan of Achatriachaden, who led Montrose's army into Argyle, better known to tradition as Raonal na sge, or Ronald of the Shield, he will see that Claverhouse did not lead his army into the field in accordance with their accustomed tactics. Raonruari day has chased away my rest, |