Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“

therefore, the divine rest; the meek regard expresses the divine benignity: the one is the selfabsorption of the total Godhead, the other the eternal emanation of the Filial Godhead. "By what ingenuity," says Landor, can we erect into a verse

portmanteau, names without meaning or signi- | loves or pities. The placid aspect expresses, ficance to the feelings. No man ever carried that atrocity so far as Boileau, a fact of which Mr. Landor is well aware; and slight is the sanction or excuse that can be drawn from him. But it must not be forgotten that Virgil, so scrupulous in finish of composition, committed this fault. I remember a passage ending

-Noëmonaque Prytaninque;"

but, having no Virgil within reach, I cannot at this moment quote it accurately. Homer, with more excuse, however, from the rudeness of his age, is a deadly offender in this way. But the cases from Milton are very different. Milton was incapable of the Homeric or Virgilian blemish. The objection to such rolling musquetry of names is, that unless interspersed with epithets, or broken into irregular groups by brief circumstances of parentage, country, or romantic incident, they stand audaciously perking up their heads like lots in a catalogue, arrow-headed palisades, or young larches in a nursery ground, all occupying the same space, all drawn up in line, all mere iterations of each other. But in

"Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus,”

though certainly not a good line when insulated, (better, however, in its connexion with the entire succession of which it forms part) the apology is, that the massy weight of the separate characters enables them to stand like granite pillars or pyramids, proud of their self-supporting independency.

Mr. Landor makes one correction by a simple improvement in the punctuation, which has a very fine effect. Rarely has so large a result been distributed through a sentence by so slight a change. It is in the "Samson." Samson says, speaking of himself (as elsewhere) with that profound pathos, which to all hearts invests Milton's own situation in the days of his old age, when he was composing that drama

"Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him
Eyeless in Gaza at the mill with slaves."

Thus it is usually printed; that is, without a comma in the latter line; but, says Landor, "there ought to be commas after eyeless, after Gaza, after mill." And why? because thus "the grief of Samson is aggravated at every member of the sentence." He (like Milton) was-1. blind; 2. in a city of triumphant enemies; 3. working for daily bread; 4. herding with slaves; Samson literally, and Milton with those whom politically he regarded as such.

Mr. Landor is perfectly wrong, I must take the liberty of saying, when he demurs to the line in " Paradise Regained:"

From that placid aspéct and meek regard,” on the ground that "meek regard conveys no new idea to placid aspect." But aspect is the countenance of Christ when passive to the gaze of others: regard is the same countenance in tive contemplation of those others whom he

"

་། J

In the bosom of bliss, and light of light ?' ' Now really it is by my watch exactly three minutes too late for him to make that objection. The court cannot receive it now; for the line just this moment cited, the ink being hardly yet dry, is of the same identical structure. The usual iambic flow is disturbed in both lines by the very same ripple, viz., a trochee in the second foot, placid in the one line, bosom in the other. They are a sort of snags, such as lie in the current of the Mississippi. There they do nothing but mischief. Here, when the lines are read in their entire nexus, the disturbance stretches forwards and backwards with good effect on the music. Besides, if it did not, one is willing to take a snag from Milton, but one does not altogether like being snagged by the Mississippi. One sees no particular reason for bearing it, if one only knew how to be revenged on a river.

But, of these metrical skirmishes, though full of importance to the impassioned text of a great poet (for mysterious is the life that connects all modes of passion with rhythmus), let us suppose the casual reader to have had enough. And now at closing, for the sake of change, let us treat him to a harlequin trick upon another theme. Did the reader ever happen to seo a sheriff's officer arresting an honest gentleman, who was doing no manner of harm to gentle or simple, and immediately afterwards a second sheriff's officer arresting the first by which means that second officer merits for himself a place in history; for at the same moment he liberates a deserving creature (since an arrested officer cannot possibly bag his prisoner), and he also avenges the insult put upon that worthy man? Perhaps the reader did not ever see such a sight; and, growing personal, he asks me, in return, if I ever saw it. To say the truth, I never did; except once, in a too-flattering dream; and though I applauded so loudly as even to waken myself, and shouted "encore,” yet all went for nothing; and I am still waiting for that splendid exemplification of retributive justice. But why? Why should it be a spectacle so uncommon? For surely those official arresters of men must want arresting at times as well as better people. At least, however, en attendant, one may luxuriate in the vision of such a thing; and the reader shall now see such a vision rehearsed. He shall see Mr. Landor arresting Milton-Milton, of all men for a flaw in his Roman erudition; and then he shall see me instantly stepping up, tapping Mr. Landor on the shoulder, and saying, "Officer, you 're wanted;" whilst to Milton I say, touching my hat, "Now, sir, be off; run for your life, whilst I hold this man in custody, lest he should fasten on you again."

What Milton had said, speaking of the "watch- king's statue of its horse. One thing may reful cherubim,” was

"Four faces each Had, like a double Janus;"

Upon which Southey-but, of course, Landor, ventriloquising through Southey-says, "Better left this to the imagination: double Januses are queer figures." Not at all. On the contrary, they became so common, that finally there were no other. Rome, in her days of childhood, contented herself with a two-faced Janus; but, about the time of the first or second Cæsar, a very ancient statue of Janus was exhumed, which had four faces. Ever afterwards, this sacred resargent statue became the model for any possible Janus that could show himself in good company. The quadrifrons Janus was now the orthodox Janus; and it would have been as much a sacrilege to rob him of any single face, as to rob a

call this to Mr. Landor's memory. I think it was Nero, but certainly it was one of the first six Caesars, that built, or that finished, a magni. ficent temple to Janus; and each face was so managed as to point down an avenue leading to a separate market-place. Now, that there were four market-places, I will make oath before any Justice of the Peace. One was called the Forum Julium, one the Forum Augustum, a third the Forum Transitorium what the fourth was called is best known to itself, for really I forget. But if anybody says that perhaps it was called the Forum Landorium, I am not the man to object; for few names have deserved such an honour more, whether from those that then looked forward into futurity with one face, or from our posterity that will look back into the vanishing past with another.

[ocr errors]

LIVES OF LORD LÕVAT and forbES OF CULLODEN.†

SOME one, whose opinion Mr. Burton considers, pursuits. The poetical elements of clan life and authoritative on literary subjects, suggested to clan society, and the heroic virtues of the wild him the biography of the famous (or infamous) Celt-for he had his virtues-either find little Lord Lovat, as offering many curious and remark- favour, or are regarded as something worthable incidents and traits for delineation. He acted less, if not debasing. The blind devotion and loyupon the hint; but to exhibit the diamond with alty of the clansman to his Chief seems looked the foil, the antidote with the bane, he has upon as fanatical idiotcy-which, perhaps, it often coupled the life of the excellent and patriotic was; the generous chivalry of the patriarchal President Forbes with that of the crafty and fla- head of the tribe as a mocking phantom-which, gitious Highland Chief; and thus, by contrast, for generations past, it has not seldom proved. In given a more complete and effective picture, both short, all that has made the Highlands and its of the individuals and the society in which they clans, of late, so captivating to Southerns, and, acted their parts, than could have been exhibited indeed, to all Europe their wild poetry, their in solitary portraiture. No diligence of research, inspiring legends, and intense nationality-are no pains in investigating, comparing and weigh- as nothing to Lovat's philosophical, acute, and jag evidence, have been spared in accomplishing law-trained biographer, who, even if he should bethe onerous task; and yet Mr. Burton has labour-lieve, cares little "whether Fingal has lived, or ed, as we think, under some disadvantages; as Ossian sung." Now, this manner of viewing the every biographer must who sets out, not alone with subject-though, no doubt, the true and correct strong moral disapprobation of the character of one-is much better fitted "to point a moral" his hero, but with what looks very like decided than "to adorn a tale." Yet there is so much of antipathy. In this predicament, which is one variety and vicissitude in the fortunes of Lovat perhaps inevitable to a mind of rectitude, stands -so many strong contrasts and discordant eleMr. Burton in relation to the reckless, yet wily ments in his anomalous character-and so much and versatile, Simon; who, after all, is hardly to that is stirring and novel in the life and scenes in be fairly measured by the standard of morality which he figures, that his history required no emand honour which might be applicable to a culti-bellishments of fiction or fancy. In the memoir, vated Lowland gentleman of the same period. Having no common sympathies with his hero, and, as it appears to us, but an imperfect appreciation of some of the finer points of the Highland character, indulgence was not to be looked for. Nay more, our author appears to entertain decided Anti-Celtic or Saxon dislikes, not merely to the perfidious Jacobite Chief, but to the whole nation or tribe, their institutions, habits, and

the author professes the strictest adherence to facts well established; rejecting all traditional and equivocal statements and narrations. Thus much less pains than he has bestowed might have produced an amusing and flashy book, wanting only in authenticity and sober sense. Nor can we accuse the acute, if somewhat severe, Saxon or Hanoverian Judge Burton of doing the smallest injustice to his Highland hero, however we may

* A king's statue :-Till very lately, the etiquette of Europe was, that none but royal persons could have eques. trian statues. Lord Hopetoun, the reader will object, is allowed to have a horse, in St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh. Tre, but observe that he is not allowed to mount him. The first person, so far as I remember, that, not being royal, has, in our island, seated himself comfortably in the saddle, is the Duke of Wellington.

Lives of Simon Lord Lovat and Duncan Forbes of Culloden; from Original Sources." By John Hill Burton, Advocate, author of the "Life of David Hume." London: Chapman & Hall.

regret that the subject was not found more con- |complished all his selfish objects, but have gone, genial to his tastes.

Besides the immense pains bestowed in the examination of such original documents as inight illustrate his main design, Mr. Burton's researches and speculations throw much light upon the political and social condition of Scotland at the momentous period of which he treats; and especially upon the internal state of the Highlands. It is, however, surprising that so little, that is at once new and strictly personal, should be remembered about a man who acted so prominent a part as Lovat-remembered, at least, in his own domains, where the representatives of many of the leading families of his tribe still remain in their ancestral homes.

down to a peaceful grave with the character of a true Whig patriot, and a worthy private gentleman-a Chief among ten thousand. But his restless genius actually rioted in petty intrigue; and he failed at length, from the belief that he could. dupe every one whom he chose to play with that the Chief of the Frasers had more policy or cunning than all the other Jacobite and Hanoverian leaders put together. Yet, from the first, there were either strong doubts or a perfect knowledge of his cha racter; but each of his party friends fell into the common error, that a man false to all the world,, would yet, from gratitude and affection, be true to him. The favour and influence which he acquired with persons of every nation and class, whom it suited him to use or cultivate, from the palace of Louis Quatorze to the hovel of the clan-follower, is, however, more, as we imagine, to be attributed to those plausible and ingratiating manners which he could so gracefully assume which is, indeed, the common gift of his station and country--than to force of intellect or deep sagacity. He read tolerably well the obvious characters of men; he comprehended their interests; he divined their wishes; took adroit advantage of circumstances as they arose; and, by complaisance and skilful flattery, won his way. The Highlanders, like their congeners, the Irish, even when the fiercest and least civilized, could also be the most ingratiating of men when it so pleased or suited them. And bred in or about a Chief's petty court, looked upon as the future head of the clan, there was no fear that Lovat should either want

"The ease

That marks security to please,"

or fail in the arts of gaining popularity. After the commission of those unmanly and black erimes which should have branded him for ever with infamy, and banished him from all respectable society, he found powerful and willing friends in the House of Argyle, and friends or kindly neigh

The Chiefs of the Frasers, like so many more clan heads, are of Norman descent, and there had been a long line of Lord Lovats before. About the close of the 17th century, Simon, though but a poor kinsman of the Chief, found himself after his father, however-next in succession to the peerage and the wide estates of the family. There was, indeed, an heiress living, but Lovat was a male fief, and it long was, and perhaps still is, a maxim with the Frasers, that "Lassie heir no richt heir." The Baron of Bradwardine had stout notions on this head, and so had James Boswell, as well as the Frasers and other clans. However all this may be, the future head of the Frasers was educated at King's College, Aberdeen; that is, he attended there for a session or two, and ever afterwards, when it suited him, proved his Humanity by not inapt classical quotations. History is, however, silent as to where his strangely-perverted or involuted mind received the first elements of that education, which, it has been alleged, was completed in Jesuit seminaries, as well as in the closets and purlieus of St. James's, St. Germains, and even Versailles, Of the numerous documents which Mr. Burton has examined, the most curious is a tract entitled "Memoirs of the Life of Lord Lovat," which is beyond question a genuine auto-bours in, among others, John and Duncan Forbes biography. It was written in French, of which of Culloden. Had he only kept clear of Jacobite language Simon, among his other accomplish- intrigues, and remained content with what his ments, was a complete master, and exactly in first treacheries had gained for him from the new that style of vain-glory and rhodomontade which dynasty, he might have remained, to his dying might have been looked for from its author. How hour on the best terms with the most honourable vigorously and purely the semi-barbarian, the and worthy of "the Elector's" party. His perGael, whose mother-tongue was Erse, uses the sonal villanies and treacheries could have been best forms of the Saxon language is seen in the overlooked, but his political sins were not to be free quotations made from his remarkable cor- forgiven; and thus the crafty Simon, who fairly respondence. Mr. Burton proves that Simon was outwitted himself at last, was, much against his a man of great natural ability, and shows him to will, raised to the honours of the block and the have possessed considerable learning and accom- dignity of martyrdom. His story may be briefly plishment, and rather indeed, we think, over- told:He and his father, Thomas of Beaurates his intellect. It is a poor mark of a man's fort," were the reigning Chief's poor kinsmen. understanding that he has not sense enough to be, The Chief himself, Lord Lovat, appears to have even in a worldly sense, honest. With a little more been an imbecile person, and they had his ear, seeming probity and consistency, with less of a and were continually about him. On a visit to decided natural genius for finesse, and even a London, whither young "Captain Simon" acvulgar, if not an honourable appreciation of the companied him, Lord Lovat, it is said by his maxim, that "Honesty is the best policy," Simon, instigation or example, plunged into such a course the trickster between parties and factions, who of dissipation that he died shortly afterwards, his finally outwitted himself, might not only have ac-death-bed soothed by the pious discourse and

[ocr errors]

1

consolations of Thomas. Upon this, Lovat being a male fief, the father claimed the estates, and assumed the title, while Simon was named "the Master of Lovat," the customary style of heirsapparent in Scotland. In defiance of the law, and of the powerful family of Athole, the nearest relatives of the young heiress, Simon finally managed, though after a struggle of many years, by violence, fraud, long litigation, and the basest political treachery, to obtain possession of the wide region, called the "Lovat country," and finally also established his claim to the peerage. Both claims might, indeed, have been found just or legal, if preferred by a Whig claimant ; but were much otherwise in a suspected Jacobite, which Captain Simon then was.

denied the foul crimes here alleged against him, and for which he was long pursued by the rigour of the law, and the vengeance of the House of Athole. The forced marriage was at all events set aside by himself, and during the long protracted life of the unhappy lady, he contracted two more unions, one of which, with their entire approbation and countenance, made him a kinsman of the family of Argyle. It has been alleged that Lady Lovat forgave and was reconciled to the ruffianly felon, who, in the perpetration of what would seem a purely gratuitous crime, seems more like a wretch under the influence of demoniac possession, than a reasonable being, acting even upon the basest of conceivable human motives. The unfortunate woman remained in his power; and if ever reconciled, her magnanimity only blackens his guilt, when we are told that he at last treated the brutal assault and forced ceremony as a youthful frolic, which no whit impeded him, when the time came, from contracting alliances which might better advanee his views of interest or ambition.

Making war support itself, Simon and his followers continued to defy the law, and laugh at, elude, and defeat the military sent out to apprehend him, his father, and their adherents. But this exciting predatory life was not without its troubles; and as the interest of the Campbell's was not sufficient to insure the outlawed Simon's safety, when the accession of Queen Anne gave fresh hopes to the Jacobites, and brought the Atholes into favour, he was compelled to take new measures. The elder Lovat, also outlawed, had by this time been gathered to his father-chiefs in the Priory of Beauly; and Simon, as good a politician as a warrior, was now not only highly popular among the

Simon at first tried peaceful, if not very honourable, means to accomplish his objects. He persuaded the young heiress to elope with him. This scheme misgave, and her uncles of Athole at once removed her for safety from his pursuit from Castle Dounie to Dunkeld, and set on foot negotiations for her immediate marriage with Lord Saltoun; also a Fraser, though the head of a Lowland family. The common name might, it was imagined, conciliate the elan. But Simon, the true heir," though still a very young man, had by this time made himself so popular among his tribe by his bold, daring, reckless character, and the most unscrupulous acts, that he was both loved and feared. He held a commission in the army, but the better to secure his interests, without leave asked, he returned to "the Fraser country," and forthwith drew around him a band of brave and desperate partisans, ready and willing to do his hests, and in so doing no doubt believing themselves only doing the duty" commoners," but had consolidated his power, of faithful and loyal clansmen. Among their first achievements was encountering, routing, and capturing Lord Saltoun, Lord Mungo Murray, and other gentlemen who had come north to visit Lady Lovat, the mother of the heiress, and a daughter of the House of Athole. The bulletin in which this victory was afterwards recorded by *the Master" is worthy of Napoleon in his first campaigns.

and linked the interests of all the "gentle" Frasers to his own, by granting to each, according to his rank or standing, a bond for a large sum to be paid, when, by their fidelity and assistance, he should be put in possession of his hereditary domains. But, in the meanwhile, notwithstanding these subsidized auxiliaries, his body-guard, and irregular troops-the "men of the belt," and the gillies-the Chief deemed it Simon and his band by this time, in defiance prudent to retire beyond seas. In France he enof the law courts and the executive, held a sort of gaged in those intrigues in which his peculiar military possession of the country, secretly abetted genius was ever so fertile. He sold, or attempted by the great majority of the clan. And this to sell, the Jacobites to the Hanoverian Governvietory was decisive. On the same evening hun-ment, and vice versa ; but, in spite of his cunning, dreds flocked to the standard of the "Master," in placed himself in so equivocal and ticklish a poarms for his father's rights and his own; and the sition, that he was more than once compelled eaptive lords, after being all night confined in the abruptly to change the scene. While protesting hold of Fanellan, and having their eyes regaled himself the most devoted of Jacobites, Lovat was with the tall gallows erected in front of it for so strongly suspected by the Court of St. Gertheir especial benefit, were next day imprisoned mains, that during much of his long residence in in the island of Aigas, a small islet in the river France, he was, if not actually at one time in Beauly, and near Castle Dounie. On the night the Bastille, under strict surveillance. But very of the skirmish that castle, the principal residence little, save what appears in his diplomatic correof the family, was seized, the lady made prisoner, spondence, is known of this period of Simon's and those horrible and revolting scenes polluted life. It is, however, said that he not only took the "roof-tree" of the Lovats, which go far to vindi- orders, and became a popular preacher, discourseate whatever Mr. Burton has said of the ruffian-ing with great unction, but was received into the ism and brutality of contemporary Highland so- Society of the Jesuits. No man could be better ciety. In the latter part of his life, however, Lovat qualified to play the part of Tartuffe.-All this

while Lovat did not neglect his interests in the Highlands, though his correspondence was impeded by the suspicions of all parties. He, when occasion offered, addressed elaborate epistles to the clan, alternately flattering their prejudices, holding out great promises, or menacing them with his displeasure and vengeance if they failed in their loyalty and attachment to their chief. One of these state-papers, written at a subsequent period in London, when Lovat's services in the Rebellion of 1715, or "Mar's year," had raised him high in the favour of the Hanoverian Government, and gained many of his fondest ambitions, may serve as a specimen of his dignified and heroic style, and of accomplishments certainly above the average of his northern compeers.

"To the Honourable the Gentlemen of the name of Fraser.

heir male of my family; but weakly or falsely for little private interest and views, abandon your duty to your name, and suffer a pretended heiress and her Mackenzie heirs male, they will certainly in less than an age chase children to possess your country and the true right of the you all by slight and might, as well gentlemen as commens, out of your native country, which will be possessed by the Mackenzies and the Macdonalds; and you will be bonds throughout the unhappy kingdom of Scotland, and like the miserable unnatural Jews, scattered and vagathe poor wives and children that remains of the name, without a head or protection, when they are told the tra ditions of their family, will be cursing from their hearts the persons and memory of those unnatural, cowardly, knavish men, who sold and abandoned their chief, their name, their birthright, and their country, for a false and foolish present gain, even as the most of Scots people curse this day, those who sold them, and their country to the English, by the fatal Union, which I hope will not last long.

"I make my earnest and dying prayers to God Almighty, that he may in his mercy, through the merits of Christ Jesus, save you and all my poor people, whom I always found honest and zealous to me and their duty, from that blindness of heart, that will inevitably bring those ruins and disgraces upon you and your posterity; and I pray that Almighty and merciful God, who has often miraculously saved my family and name from utter ruin, may give you the spirit of courage, of zeal, and of fidelity that you owe to your chief, to your name, to yourselves, to your children, and to your country; and may Holy Spirit, three persons, one God, save all your souls the most merciful and adorable Trinity, Father, Son, and eternally, through the blood of Christ Jesus, our blessed Lord Saviour, to whom I heartily recommend you.

"I desire that this letter may be kept in a box, at Beaufort, or Maniack, and read once a-year by the heir male, or a principal gentleman of the name, to all honest Frasers that will continue faithful to the duty I have enjoined in this above-written letter, to whom, with you and all honest Frasers, and my other friends, I leave my tender and affectionate blessing, and bid you my kind and last farewell.

"London, the 5th of April, 1718.'"*

**LOVAT.'

MY DEAR FRIENDS-Since by all appearances this is the last time of my life I shall have occasion to write to you, I being now very ill of a dangerous fever; I do declare to you before God, before whom I must appear, and all of us at the great day of Judgment, that I loved you all; I mean you and all the rest of my kindred and family, who are for the standing of their chief and name; and as I loved you, so I loved all my faithful commons in general, more than I did my own life, or health, or comfort, or satisfaction: and God, to whom I must answer, knows that my greatest desire, and the greatest happiness I proposed to myself under Heaven, was to make you all live happy, and make my poor commons flourish; and that it was my constant principle to think myself much happier with a hundred pounds, and see you all live well at your ease about me, than have ten thousand pounds a-year, and see you in want or misery. I did faithfully design, and resolve to make up and put at their ease, Alexander Fraser of Phopachy, and James Fraser of Castle Ladders, and their families; and whatever disputes might ever be betwixt them and me, which our mutual hot temper occasioned, joined with the malice and caluminy of both our enemies, I take God to witness, I loved those two brave men as I did my own life, for their great zeal and fidelity they showed for their chief and kindred. I did likewise resolve to support the families of Struy, Foyers, and Culduthel's families; and to the lasting praise of Culduthel and his familie, I never knew himself to swerve from his faithful zeal for his chief and kindred, nor none of his familie, for which I hope God will bless him and them, and their posterity. I did likewise design to make my poor commons live at their ease, and have them always well clothed, and well armed after the Highland manner, and not to suffer them to wear low country clothes, but nake them live like their forefathers, with the use of their arms, that they might always be in condition to defend themselves against their enemies, and to do service to their friends, especially to the Great Duke of Argyle and to his worthy brother the Earl of Islay, and to that its own sake, led him astray; but his heart ever Interest, ambition, and the love of intrigue for glorious and noble family, who were always our constant and faithful friends; and I conjure you, and all honest reverted to its first love. And, besides, he had Frasers, to be zealous and faithful friends and servants to nothing more to gain from the new dynasty for the family of Argyle and their friends, whilst a Campbell the personal aggrandizement of Simon Fraserand a Fraser subsists. If it be God's will, that for the Lord Lovat. His estates were secured, his peerpunishment of my great and many sins, and the sins of my kindred, I should now depart this life, before I put age was recognised, he enjoyed offices of high these just and good resolutions in execution; yet I hope trust; and he longed for another scene on which that God in his merey will inspire you and all honest to display his talents and power, and to show all Frasers, to stand by, and be faithful to my Cousin Invera- Europe that he could make and unmake kings. — labie, and the other heirs male of my family, and to venture your lives and fortunes, to put him, or my nearest And the Stuarts could make him a Duke; while heirs male, named in my testament, written by John he had nothing more to expect from the House Jacks, in the full possession of the estates and honours of of Brunswick. When his equivocal conduct led my forefathers, which is the only way to preserve you the Government to strip him of the important from the wicked designs of the family of Tarbat and Glen-offices which he ought never to have held, anger garry, joined to the family of Athol. And you may depend upon it, and you and your posterity will see it and find it, and revenge farther stimulated his loyalty to the that if you do not keep stedfast to your chief, I mean the old race, and his hatred of the new dynasty.

We leave the reader to peruse at length, in the original work, the adventures and achievements of Lovat, in his escape from France, and his prowess against the "Jacobite rebels." So well had he recommended himself to the Government, and so powerfully was he befriended by sound Whigs and true Protestants, that he was made Sheriff of Inverness-shire, and otherwise held, what might be called, in such hands, most dangerous power; for Mr. Burton appears quite right in believing that Simon's inclinations were always with the Jacobite party.

« AnkstesnisTęsti »