are not the only instances we might have adduced." None of our thou sand travellers and writers," says our author, "have (has) done justice to Drummond Castle. It is absolutely unrivalled in the low country, and only exceeded, in the Highlands, BY DUNKELD AND BLAIR." Vol. 1. p. 139. Now, without any disparagement to Drummond Castle, we only infer from this, that the Doctor was a frequent guest at the noble owner's table; for if the reader turn to page 257 of the same volume, he will find him labouring to persuade the public that Inveraray, one of the most magnificent seats in Scotland, is altogether a paltry place, being destitute of picturesque beauty, and inferior to a hundred other places which have had no advocate, which have not been puffed into fame !" But we happen to know, that the Duke of Argyll's doors did not open at the Doctor's approach, and that he never in his life spoke greater truth than when he said," TO ME, at least, it was disappointment at my first visit; and, instead of improving on the second, at each time I have revisited it, the disappointment has been greater !” We should be ashamed to say one word in favour of such a place as Inveraray; as a secondary cause of the Doctor's feud against that princely re sidence, we may, however, mention, that the Duke of Argyll is one of the kindest and most generous landlords in Scotland, particularly to his small tenantry; that, instead of "rouping them out," like another noble Duke,or burning their houses over their heads, like a noble Marchioness, or driving them across the Atlantic, like a certain notorious, would-be chieftain, or crowding people, who had been trained to agriculture, or sheep-farming,into miserable fishing hamlets on a barren coast, like many others of the nobility and gentry of the North-he cherishes and loves them; and though in difficulties himself, will not suffer them to be impoverished for his relief. He seems to consider himself as their natural guardian and protector, and to hold the conduct pursued by the abettors of the new system as inexcusable as that of an unnatural parent who disinherits his children without cause. "MacCaillain Mor's heart is still warm to the tartan,” and to those who wear it; and when it ceases to throb with this hereditary feeling of his race, “it must be as cold as death can make it.”

But, while the Doctor's "disappointment" in not finding the "towers" of Inveraray entitled to the epithet "hospitable," taken in conjunction with the Duke of Argyll's humane and generous regard for the poor people on his estates, may have rendered the Geologist so "acerb" in his description of that mansion, it is but right to mention, that mere hospitality does not always secure his tribute of praise. For example, he was received and entertained by the late Lord Macdonald at Armadale Castle, of which, however, he says little or nothing; while he studiously avoids every opportunity of paying even a passing compliment to that noble person. The explanation of this apparent anomaly is simple. No admirer of the new system, the late Lord Macdonald, like his Grace of Argyll, considered himself the father of his people, by whom he was extremely beloved, and would have been bitterly regretted, had not his successor religiously followed the footsteps of his noble and worthy brother. This is not the puffery of a hireling apologist of oppression, who must be paid in solid pudding for his praise; it is the honest though humble tribute of one who loves his country, to the memory of a true patriot, and a man of virtue.

X. By the previous article it will be seen, that Dunkeld and Blair are the Doctor's standards for estimating the beauty of all other country seats in the Highlands; and that, as he cannot praise one person or thing without vilifying another, so he undervalues and speaks contemptuously of Taymouth and Inveraray, in order to aggrandize the family residences of the Duke of Atholl. But he ought at least to be accurate in what he says repecting the latter; and as he generally resides nearly half the year with the Duke of Atholl, and of course enjoys the best opportunities of acquiring correct information, there can be no apology whatever for blunders. Yet, with all these advantages, he cannot state a plain fact without committing wistakes! For example, speaking of Blair,-" Such appearance of artifice as occurs in these grounds belongs to the period of 1742, at which they were

laid out." Vol. I. p. 413. But it was not till 1748 that "these grounds" were laid out," and the castle modernized, as it at present stands. In 1746 the garden was a peat-moss, from which the Innkeeper at Blair was supplied with fuel; and the grounds in front of the Castle were in tillage This, to be sure, is a small matter, considered by itself; but what confidence can be placed in the statements of an author who blunders in regard to a place of which he boasts that he knows" each dingle bush, and alley green? The Doctor, however, is too fine a writer to pay much attention to dates, which, in general, he very prudently suppresses; and he is much more au fait in cracking malicious and ungentlemanly jokes about the red nose of a respectable woman in whose house he was often kindly treated, than in faithfully reporting facts known to all the old people in the country. But to pro eeed:

XI. "The remainder of the pass (of Lochawe) conducting the road and the river, is singularly wild; particularly near the bridge which is here thrown across this boisterous and rude river. Here was fought the celebrated action between BRUCE and JOHN LORD of LORN; the ratification, if not the original cause, of the downfall of that great family. This chief had taken the side opposed to BRUCE, and the impulse on the part of the King seems to have been revenge, as he had already gained the contested ascendancy. A detached party of archers having taken a commanding position on the hill, annoyed the Argyll men so much, that they retreated; and having attempted in vain to break down the bridge across the Awe, they were de feated with great slaughter. JoHN escaped by means of his boats on the lake. This defeat argues little for the military tactics of JOHN and his followers, as the pass of Loch Awe might easily be defended by a handful of men against a very superior force: it is a stronger position than even Killi krankie." Vol. 1. p. 265.

The confusion and ignorance that predominate in this passage are not apparent, but may be easily demonstrated. King Robert Bruce was born in 1274, crowned King at Scone in 1306, and died in 1329, in the 55th year of his age. But the first Lord of Lorn was Robert Stewart, eldest son of Sir John Stewart of Innermeath", by Isabel, daughter and heir of Eugene de Ergadia of Lorn: he was one of the Commissioners appointed to treat with England for the release of James I, 1421; was one of the hostages for the payment of his ransom, 1424, and remained in England till 1429; was created a baron and lord of Parliament after his return; and is a witness, under the style of Robertus Dominus de Lorn, to a charter bearing date the 5th of September 1439. And his eldest son and heir, the second Lord Lorn, was the FIRST person of the Christian naine of JOHN who enjoyed that title. So that, in point of fact, there was no such person extant in the time of King Robert Bruce, and for a century after his death, as JoHNn Lord of LORN!!!

But there was a celebrated action fought" not far from the spot which the Doctor indicates. Bruce was crowned King, at Scone, on the 27th of March 1306, and on the 20th of July following was unexpectedly attacked at Methven, in Perthshire, by Aymer de Valence, the English General, at the head of a considerable army. After an obstinate contest, the King was defeated, and forced to flee to the north with the remainder of his forces. His mortal enemies, the Cumins, took advantage of his misfortune. In the course of his march, he was set upon, at a place called Dalree, in Breadalbanet, by MACDOUGAL OF LORN, aided by the Macnabs, who had adhered to the party of John Baliol; and there experienced a second overthrow. In the retreat from Dalree, the king was hotly pursued by one of the Mac

It is proper to mention, that Sir John Stewart of Innermeath, father to Robert, the first Lord Lorn, is designed John Stewart of Innermeath, Lord of Lorn, in Rhymer's Foedera, 1407, and in a charter 1412. But this will not serve Dr Macculloch's turn; for supposing Sir John to have been born in the year in which King Robert Bruce died, he would have been 83 years of age at the date of the Charter, 1412! + BUCHANANI Rer. Scotic. Hist. L. VII. c. 30.

dougals, who seized Bold of his cloak or plaid, which was fastened across his breast by a large brooch. The King turned round and killed the man with his battle-axe, but, in his haste, left the mantle and brooch, which were torn off by the dying grasp of Macdougal. This highly-prized trophy was long carefully preserved, but was said to have been destroyed when the Castle of Dunolly, the family residence, was burned, in the seventeenth century. It is rather matter of surprise, that either Macdougal or Macnab were suffered to retain any part of their lands, and that the whole was not forfeited, as generally took place in the coinmotions of a subsequent period: yet such was the case. The estates of Lorn merged in those of two other great families, from natural causes. These facts require no commentary. We must repeat, however, that our author, who is umnercifully severe upon all other historians and antiquaries, cautiously avoids giving dates, which are so useful in the detection of error; and that he has not produced a single authority of any use or valute, from the beginning to the end of his book. Whether this proceeds from neglect or intention, we leave it to the public to decide; but it obviously gives him an advantage, and sometimes keeps open a loophole of retreat, of which, however, we trust, that in the present, as in many other instances, we have deprived him.

XII. Our readers will recollect that, in our former article, we stated, in the strongest terms, our conviction that one and all of the conversations which the Doctor reports as having passed between him and the different Highlanders he accosted, were fictitious, the mere coinage, în short, of his own extravagant fancy. A judgment so sweeping required of course to be clearly made out; but the internal evidence furnished by these wretched dialogues themselves appeared to us so perfectly conclusive, that we deemed it sufficient merely to extract one or two of the longest we could find, leaving it to those acquainted with the Highlanders to decide as to the justice of the charge. This was fair enough; we were at issue with Dr Macculloch on his own showing. But there are OTHER proofs besides the villanous lingo, -neither Scotch, English, nor Erse, nor any known language under the sun,-which he puts in the mouths of the Highland interlocutors. Of these we shall produce ONE, which, we venture to say, will be decisive. In Vol. 1. p. 373, the Doctor giyes the following dialogue, as having passed between him and a Highlander, about a NEW and an OLD road to Aberfeldy :_*

"Which is the road to Aberfeldie?'-there were two branching from a point. You may gang either,' said Donald. But the one looks better than the other. It is the most fashionable wi' they gentry. And which is the shortest?' The narrowest is the shortest. What is the use of two?'-'They chused to mak' a NEW ane,'-with a sneer and a huff. Then I suppose the OLD is bad? We like the AULD ane best. Very likely.' It is the shortest, trying to defend himself. Which will take me to Aberfeldie soonest ?' The NEW one;' in a surly tone. Then it is the shortest? It's three mile langer,' said the advocate of antiquity. *But it is an hour shorter,-some NEW fashions are good. Hungh !' said Donald, with a snort, and walked away!"

COLONEL STEWART's Sketches, &c. Vol. II. p. 360, 2d ed. The statement in the text is that which all the authorities we have consulted warrant. But observing in the newspapers that an antique gem, called the "Brooch of Lorn," was a short time ago presented to the young Laird of Macdougal by General Campbell of Lochnell, and surmising that, notwithstanding the current story of its destruction, the curious relic torn from the person of King Robert Bruce might have been accidentally preserved, we lost no time in making the necessary inquiries respecting the history of a jewel obviously considered of great value from some connection with the ancient family to whose actual representation it was, as it were, publicly restored. The result of these inquiries is, that, according to the general belief in the country, founded on traditional record, as well as from the peculiar form and fashion of the gem itself, the brooch given by Lochnell to the young Laird of Macdougal is the Brooch of Lorn." We cannot too highly commend the good taste and feeling that prompted the restoration of this singular trophy, which the first peer in the land might be proud to possess, but which belongs of right only to MACDOUGAL.

"Huugh!" say we; for true it is, and of verity, that no NEW roud has been made, in any one direction leading to Aberfeldy, WITHIN THE LAST NINETY YEARS!!!

XIII. This, we take it, is a home-thrust, which will penetrate even the Doctor's epidermis. The story MUST be false. But still, we consider such falsehoods as absolutely innocuous, compared with the malignant slanders he has published against the people of the North, coating them over with a varnish of the most despicable hypocrisy, in order that the public may swallow them without suspicion. There is scarcely a mean, contemptible vice, in the long and black catalogue of human frailties, of which he has not, in some part or other of his book, accused them. They are liars, extortioners, sycophants, cheats; proud, vindictive, cowardly; inveterately indolent, filthy, and averse to earning their bread by honest labour; and, worst of all, sacrilegious barbarians, who plunder their churches, and desecrate the tombs of their ancestors. And if, to give a colour of plausibility to these heavy charges, he is compelled to notice any good quality for which they have got credit, he labours to turn it into ridicule, and furbishes up every worn-out latterdemalion jest, every disgraceful and spiteful tale, the coinage of ignorance and folly, to assist him in creating a disbelief in their virtues.

To take a few examples, from hundreds that might be produced. He admits that, in one or two instances, the Highlanders have shown something like true courage, and have even had the impudence sometimes to charge regular troops sword in hand, and put them to flight; but then he takes care to add, that they were terribly afraid of cavalry, believing that the horses would eat them; and he repeats, in every possible form, that the native Celt is a cowardly, ignoble animal, and that the military spirit of the Highlanders is extinguished. He tells us, that "as to want of civility, generally speaking, those who have met this must have provoked it;" yet, by his own account, he appears to have met with nothing but incivility, and a fifth part at least of his book is filled with tales, (traveller's tales,) the obvious meaning and purpose of which is to represent the people as a rude, savage, repulsive race, inferior to the Russian boors, and very little better than Calmuck Tartars. And, as if all this were not sufficient to neutralize his own statement, and to leave an ultimate impression on the reader's mind, that the Highlanders are a rude, uncivil race, he travels back to an account of Scotland in 1670, slumbering among the cobwebs of the Harleian MSS., in which" it is said, that the Highlanders are so currish, that if a stranger inquire the way in English, they will only answer in Erse, unless by force of a cudgel," a mode of expiscating information which we should not have considered eminently safe for general practice, laying altogether out of view the difficulty of compelling a man, even by force of a cudgel, to answer a question which he did not understand, in a ›language of which he was ignorant. As to extortion again, it is the maladie du days: the most cunning process of cross-examination cannot, he says, extract truth, even in regard to the simplest matters of ordinary occurrence; and you are every hour, and every minute, liable to be overreached by some "knavish Gael, prowling about in quest of prey, or, like the devil, seeking whom he may devour." He informs us, that virtue is a good thing, (a wise saw!) arise from what it may;" but in the same breath he denies the Highlanders all manner of credit for their unparalleled fidelity to Prince Charles Edward, and the unhappy exiles of Forty-five, assuring us, that "it was the VIRTUE of the ERA, RATHER THAN OF THE PEOPLE!" may say the same," he adds, "of their HONESTY with regard to exposed property, WHICH HAS BEEN FOOLISHLY RIDICULEd.

"I

Now, we have here a bright specimen of the Doctor's master ruse-deguerre. For whenever he wants to exhibit any thing in a light" absolutely ridiculous," he hints that it has been "ridiculed," subjoining some qualifying epithet, to mask his malignity, and prevent suspicion. We beg leave to call the particular attention of the public to this circumstance, because it furnishes a key to all that this author has written in disparagement of our brethren in the North, and exhibits the paltry device upon which he has

fallen, in order to gratify his malice, by insinuating what he durst not openly and boldly state. The honesty" of the Highlanders has been "ridiculed;" ergo, it is "absolutely ridiculous." This is Macculloch's logic, stript of its verbiage. Now, we apprehend, that "honesty" is never ridiculed except by thieves, who, we have no doubt, indulge in a vast deal of pleasantry on the subject,-upon the same principle that courtezans make a mock of chastity, courtiers of patriotism, renegades of consistency, profligates of sobriety, infidels of religion. But, are honesty, chastity, patriotism, consistency, sobriety, and the fear of God, on that account," ridiculous?" Is virtue to be scoffed at and discountenanced, because of the ribald pro fanity of hardened and inveterate guilt? Who will, dare, even by innuendo, to answer in the affirmative? Yet-but no; we will leave these things to make their own impression.

Strange as it may seem to those who have perused what we have written on this subject, the Doctor has the unparalleled effrontery to describe himself as a friend to the Highlanders! Thus, in vol. III. p. 157, he says, “I want to prove to you (he is addressing SIR WALTER SCOTT!) that, instead of being ACERB, I am the very best FRIEND the Highlanders ever had?" and again, in Vol. IV. p. 477, “It is I that am always their steadiest FRIEND and APOLOGIST.' This is the ne plus ultra-the climax-the acmé-the apex-the every thing of cool, assured, brazen-faced impudence; it is unique of its kind, and would be spoiled by the ablest commentary.

XIV. Speaking of Schichallien, and adverting to the deaths of Smeaton, Maskelyne, and Playfair, the Doctor adds: "Time, too, has clutched the knavish Donachie, who erected himself to the post of my guide uninvited. There was some ingenuity in this particular vulture, entitling him to a distinction among that new class of Cearnachs, now to be found wherever a Saxon traveller is seen or expected. Why he concluded that I was an astronomer or a mathematician, I know not, unless, he saw the mark of a parabola, or a sinister aspect, in the third house of my face. But he talked of zenith distances, and of Dr Maskelyne, and was, I doubt not, very pro found when he was in proper company. He should be happy to accom❤ pany me if I would permit him; he would meet me on the morrow and explain every thing. I wanted no explanation; I suppose he thought otherwise, for the next day he was at my elbow. I thought this somewhat too much; however, for the honour of astronomy, I gave him a crown. I found that he had expected a guinea, which, assuredly, was perfectly mathematical; because if the former was a proper fee for two hours or hire, what reward could be sufficient for him who had generously volunteered his services? As he turned off grumbling, I prepared for my own depar ture, when I discovered that this scientific scion of Clan Donachie had taken care to arrive at the inn the night before, WHERE HE HAD REGALED HIM SELF WITH ALL THE DELICACIES HE COULD PROCURE, repeating the same process in the morning, and, for the third time, HAVING ORDERED DINNER TO BE REGISTERED IN THE ASTRONOMICAL BILL. This was the very cube of Highland knavery ; but unless he and the landlord solved the equa tion between them, it remains undetermined to this day." Vol. I. p. 436..

The only person in Rannoch at all answering to the above caricature was a man of the name of John Roy Robertson, who died about four years ago, at the advanced age of 82. He lived a little above Mount Alexander, at a place now called Colyear Town, where he had a house and some acres of land rent-free from the late Colonel Robertson of Struan. This individual had received an uncommon education for his time and rank in life, possessed a very tolerable share of knowledge in the mathematics and in practical astronomy, and had attended Dr Maskelyne during the time he was performing his celebrated experiments to determine the attraction of Schichallien. In his youth he had been in easy circumstances; but having involved himself in difficulties, he latterly became a pensioner on Struan's bounty. His spirit, however, continued unbroken, in spite of the two great evils of age and poverty; he was respected by every body in the country; and his superior information and accomplishments made him a