better health in both climates than those who wore even the thick cloth pantaloon. Independent of these circumstances, I feel no hesitation in saying that the proposed alteration must have proceeded from a whimsical idea more than the real comfort of the Highland soldier, and a wish to lay aside the national martial garb, the very sight of which has upon many occasions struck the enemy with terror and confusion, and now metamorphose the Highlander from his real characteristic appearance and comfort, in an odious incompatible dress, to which it will, in my opinion, be difficult to reconcile him, as a poignant grievance to and a galling reflection upon Highland corps, as levelling that material distinction by which they have been hitherto noticed and respected; and from my own experience I feel well founded in saying that if anything was wanted to aid the rack-1enting landlords in destroying that source which has hitherto proved so fruitful for keeping up Highland corps, it will be that of abolishing their native garb which His Royal Highness, the Commander-in-Chief, and the Adjutant-General may rest assured will prove a complete death-warrant to the recruiting service in that respect. But I sincerely hope that His Royal Highness will never acquiesce in so painful and degrading an idea (come from whatever quarter it may) as to strip us of our native garb (admitted hitherto our regimental uniform) and stuff us into a harlequin tartan pantaloon which composed of the usual quality that continues as at present worn, useful and becoming for twelve months, will not endure six weeks' fair wear as a pantaloon, and when patched makes a horrible appearance; besides that the necessary quantity to serve decently throughout the year, would become extremely expensive, but above all, would take away completely the appearance and conceit of a Highland soldier, in which case I would rather see him stuffed in breeches and abolish the distinction at once.—I have the honour to be, &c., (Signed) ALAN CAMERON, Colonel 79th Cameron Highlanders.

To Henry Thorpe, Esq., Horse Guards, London.

The reader on perusal of this reply will be driven to the conclusion that the gallant Colonel had not strictly adhered to his promise of impartiality at the outset, at any rate it is clear that the Adjutant-General had applied to the wrong quarter for sympathy or favour for his views of abolishing the kilt as part of the uniform of Highland regiments.

CHAPTER XVI.

WHEN Napoleon left General Menou and his army in Egypt it was to take advantage of the acclamation in his favour by the Republic of France, whose directors created him First Consul; which act was followed by peace known in history as that of "Amiens." But it soon became evident that it could not last. Bonaparte was bent on excluding England from all continental influence or commerce. This inimical feeling was communicated to the Court of St James; also his studied rudeness towards our Ambassador at Paris, which conduct essentially brought the two nations again into war. He ordered all British residents or travellers found in France to be seized, of whom he had 10,000 put in the prisons of the various towns; and at the same time (1805) dispatched an army to displace our Viceroy from Hanover, and another to Boulogne, there to encamp for an opportunity to cross the Channel and chastise the British. This force was entitled the "Army of England"!! He next overran Italy, and was created its King, into which he introduced the conscription, and got 40,000 of its soldiers to abet his designs against Europe. He came to Boulogne and reviewed the 150,000 troops intended for the invasion, but while he was supposed to be ruminating on crossing the British Rubicon, the hostile operations by Austria took himself and his "Army of England" off rapidly to the Rhine. His victory at Austerlitz against the Russians and Austrians was more than vindicated by ours over his fleet at Trafalgar. The British nation had to lament the loss this year of two of her greatest sons— -Nelson and Pitt. Public funerals were

awarded to the illustrious men ; the Naval hero being borne to St Pauls, and the Minister to Westminster Abbey.

The former lay in state for a week at Greenwich Hospital, from which he was conveyed by way of the river with a magnificent procession of royal barges and those belonging to the Guilds of the city of London (1806). From London Bridge to the Cathedral the streets were lined with troops, of whom Colonel Cameron with the 79th and 92d regiments formed a portion. In the accounts of this grand and solemn funeral in the newspapers, reference is made to the presence of the Highlanders, who appeared to have quite won the admiration of the populace.

Although the French were nearly whipped from off the seas by the bravery and skill of our Admirals, Bonaparte was carrying victory before him over all Germany. The Prussians were badly beaten at Jena, which humiliation they richly deserved for their perfidy and selfishness in deserting at an earlier period, the cause of Germany, in hopes to be assigned the Kingdom of Hanover. Their capital was occupied by Napoleon and his generals (Oct. 1806). This was the occasion when the "Berlin Decree" was issued, forbidding all intercourse with England, and use either of her manufactures or any of her produce. By the subsequent submission of Russia to his dictates, a treaty known as that of "Tilsit (1807) was agreed upon by which their fleet and those of Sweden and Denmark were secured to Napoleon.

These repeated acts of insolence by the French against this country could no longer be permitted to pass without action, and the British Cabinet directed a powerful armament, consisting of 60 war vessels with 380 transports to carry 27,000 troops, to be secretly fitted out and sail from Yarmouth Roads for the Baltic. The land forces were under ! Lord Cathcart, with Sir Arthur Wellesley second in command. Colonel Cameron and the 79th formed part of the force. Arrived at Elsinore, negotiations were opened up for the delivery of the Danish fleet, under solemn engagements that it should be restored on the conclusion of a peace with France. The proposal being indignantly rejected by the Crown Prince, preparations were made to enforce it. The fleet proceeded up to Copenhagen, the troops were landed, batteries were constructed, and a bombardment was immediately commenced both by sea and land, which lasted three or four days, after which the Danish commander surrendered. Colonel Cameron, at the head of the flank companies of the army, with two brigades of artillery, was directed to take possession of Copenhagen.* The loss to the Danes during this bombardment was very considerable. The grand cathedral and its steeple was laid in ruins, and the whole of their fleet was carried off to the Thames with its stores and artillery.

Much difference of opinion prevailed as to the policy or justice of this appropriation of the navy of a neutral power. When intelligence reached Bonaparte of this decisive operation of the British it is said his rage was terrific.

The Houses of Parliament voted their thanks to the Generals, Admiral, army and navy engaged in this expedition; and in additon,

* Life of the Duke of Wellington, Kelly, London,-1814,

Colonel Cameron received a special letter from Lord Cathcart, the latter part of which will be sufficient to quote-viz., "In communicating to you this most signal mark of the approbation of Parliament, allow me to add my own warmest congratulations upon a distinction which the force under your command had so great a share in obtaining for His Majesty's service, together with the assurance of the truth and regard with which I have the honour to be, &c."

Scarcely had the army returned from Denmark when another demonstration was directed towards Sweden, of which Sir John Moore had the command-in-chief, and Colonel Cameron was promoted to the command of a brigade. This was a bloodless campaign, and they returned pretty much as they went.

[When the Highland system of clanship was abolished after the final fall of the Stuarts, hundreds of families left their homes for America. This was the result partly of the influx of the southern farmers, and partly because the chiefs being no longer allowed to keep vassals to carry on their feuds, had therefore no interest in retaining a large band of followers on their lands. The strength of the country was thus diminished, and many bold and patriotic men, whose ancestors had flocked round the standard of King Robert the Bruce, now left old Scotland to return no more. The following verses are supposed to be the parting adieu of an emigrant as he is leaving his native Caledonia] : Farewell to the land of the mountain and I courted thy love 'mong the heather so brown,

wood,

Farewell to the home of the brave and the good,

My bark is afloat on the blue-rolling main, And I ne'er shall behold thee, dear Scotland, again!

Adieu to the scenes of my life's early morn,
From the place of my birth I am cruelly
torn;

The tyrant oppresses the land of the free,
And leaves but the name of my sires unto

me.

Oh! home of my fathers, I bid thee adieu, For soon will thy hill-tops retreat from my view,

With sad drooping heart I depart from thy shore,

To behold thy fair valleys and mountains

no more.

'was there that I woo'd thee, young Flora, my wife,

When my bosom was warm in the morning of life,

CRIEFF.

And heaven did I bless when it made thee my own.

The friends of my early years, where are they now?

Each kind honest heart, and each brave manly brow;

Some sleep in the churchyard from tyranny free,

And others are crossing the ocean with me.

Lo! now on the boundless Atlantic I stray,
To a strange foreign realm I am wafted

away,

Before me as far as my vision can glance,
I see but the wave-rolling wat'ry expanse.

So farewell my country and all that is
dear,

The hour is arrived and the bark is asteer,
I go and for ever, oh! Scotland adieu!
The land of my fathers no more I shall

view.

PETER CRERAR.

THE LATEST VERSION OF THE MASSACRE OF GLENCOE.

0

WRITING in the March number of this Magazine the Rev. George Gilfillan describes the Massacre as "an event with which, even after a period of 200 years, all Scotland, and especially all the Highlands, ring from side to side."

Diabolical as the massacre undoubtedly was, both in its conception and execution, one would naturally suppose, as Mr Gilfillan evidently does, that the memory of it, in all its horrid details, would live, if anywhere, in Glencoe itself, and its immediate neighbourhood. Apparently, however, it does not.

Like everybody else I visited Glencoe years ago as a tourist. That is, I got out of the steamer at Ballachulish, scrambled with a crowd of other tourists, on to the top of a coach; was driven some distance up the Glen ; walked the rest of the way, and was obliged to listen all the time to bits of Ossian badly recited by Cockneys who had "crammed" from the Guide Book for the occasion; and to various statements as to the proportion in which responsibility and culpability was attachable to the several parties connected with the massacre-from King William downwards. Every passenger on that coach had some knowledge, more or less accurate, of the facts of the case; some of us shuddered, as we strode along, at the remembrance of the atrocious crime; others viewed the Glen with interest, apart altogether from its associations-that interest which always attaches to the grand and sublime in nature; while a few joked and laughed as if MacIan had never lived, and quite unimpressed by the wild magnificence of the surroundings. Doubtless, however, had it not been for the event of 1692 we would not all, on the particular occasion referred to, have found our way up that Glen of Gloom.

I had no opportunity then of conversing with any natives, or of ascertaining from them whether any traditional account of the slaughter of the Macdonalds survived; but having, in the autumn of 1867, had occasion to pass a few days on Loch Leven side, and finding myself domiciled within a very short distance of the scene of the massacre, I being somewhat of an enquiring turn of mind, not unnaturally got into conversation on the subject with one who was born and bred in the district.

The native from whom I sought information was a man in middle life, of average intelligence, occupying a respectable and responsible position, being then, and now for aught I know, head keeper or forester on an extensive deer forest in the neighbourhood. He had not, he told me, had much "schooling," and from books he had gained no knowledge of history. This pleased me much, because having had reason to doubt the accuracy of tradition in general, it occurred to me, a good opportunity offered for testing its accuracy in this particular instance. To my enquiry, as we were tramping through the forest one day, "Did you ever hear of the Massacre of Glencoe ?" the forester replied, "To be sure I did, Sir!"

And on my asking him to tell me the story as he had heard it, he narrated so curious, and to me so new a tale-the tale of a massacre in Glencoe sure enough, but not the oft told and blood-curdling tale with which the students of history are familiar, and which Mr Gilfillan has again told so well, that when we returned to the Lodge I at once got out my note-book and insisted on a fresh recital.

Gaelic was the forester's mother tongue, but my acquaintance with that language being limited, he was obliged to put his narrative into English. Premising that it told much better in the Gaelic, he proceeded to give me what I have ventured to call "the Latest Version of the Massacre of Glencoe,"

Here it is precisely as I noted it down at the time. To alter it into the ordinary English of books would destroy, what appears to me, its charm. The forester's very words and Gaelic idioms are therefore strictly preserved.

"The rents of Glencoe, you must understand," said he, "had not been collected for some years-twenty years or more. Two men of Edinburgh, strong men, came to the man who had the land and said, 'We'll collect the rent if you give us so much.' To their proposal he agreed. They came to Glencoe in de time, and called on the first tenant and got the rent; then they went through the whole Glen, and so formidable did they look that on hearing that their friends at the head of the Glen had settled, the others all paid up. Thus prosperously did the men proceed. till they come to Glen Achunnie; they asked for the rent from the farmers there, telling them that the others had paid; to be neighbourlike these farmers paid also; and the two men, with the rents of Glencoe in their pouches, went up the Glen on their way back to Edinburgh, congratulating themselves upon their success.

"Shortly after their departure one old farmer thought to himself that he had done rather a foolish thing in so easily parting with his coins, and he called his son to him and said that two days had come on Glencoe when two men from Edinburgh would take rent from the whole Glen. The son said that it was so. The father then said that they must follow them and take the rent from them yet. The son saying 'yes,' off they went, and on their way going the father, who was short in the sight, was constantly asking the son whether he was seeing the two men; but after following them seven miles the son saw them before them, and he then said to his father I see them.' Soon afterwards they came up to them, and the father, who was of course spokesman, said they came after them for the rents, and they would have to take the rent to Edinburgh, or them to Glencoe back. The men from Edinburgh said they would have a fight for it, and to it they set. After a short time the father killed his man, and then he sat down, took a snuff and watched his son and the other man. Determined to see fair play done he didn't interfere; he quietly took his snuff, seated all the while on a rock, and beheld the deadly strife between his only son and the 'Gall' proceed. He uttered not a word but took his snuff. The fight at length was ended by the man from Edinburgh killing the son. The father then calmly rose up, approached the stranger and said, 'Well you have killed my only son,