Rob Roy — Volume 01

She left me in confusion and amazement; amid which, however, I could find a lucid interval to admire the firmness, composure, and presence of mind which Miss Vernon seemed to possess on every crisis, however sudden.

In a few minutes she returned with a sheet of paper in her hand, folded and sealed like a letter, but without address. "I trust you," she said, "with this proof of my friendship, because I have the most perfect confidence in your honour. If I understand the nature of your distress rightly, the funds in Rashleigh's possession must be recovered by a certain day — the 12th of September, I think is named — in order that they may be applied to pay the bills in question; and, consequently, that if adequate funds be provided before that period, your father's credit is safe from the apprehended calamity."

"Certainly — I so understand Mr. Tresham" — I looked at your father's letter again, and added, "There cannot be a doubt of it."

"Well," said Diana, "in that case my little Pacolet may be of use to you. You have heard of a spell contained in a letter. Take this packet; do not open it until other and ordinary means have failed. If you succeed by your own exertions, I trust to your honour for destroying it without opening or suffering it to be opened; — but if not, you may break the seal within ten days of the fated day, and you will find directions which may possibly be of service to you. Adieu, Frank; we never meet more — but sometimes think of your friend Die Vernon."

She extended her hand, but I clasped her to my bosom. She sighed as she extricated herself from the embrace which she permitted — escaped to the door which led to her own apartment — and I saw her no more.

1

As it maybe necessary, in the present Edition(1829), to speak upon the square, the Author thinks it proper to own, that the communication alluded to is entirely imaginary.

2

Note A. The Grey Stone of MacGregor.

3

Note B. Dugald Ciar Mhor.

4

See Statistcal Account of Scotland, 1st edition, vol. xviii. p. 332. Parish of * Kippen.

5

See Appendix, No. I.

6

His courage and affectation of foppery were united, which is less frequently the case, with a spirit of innate modesty. He is thus described in Lord Binning's satirical verses, entitled "Argyle's Levee:"

7

Mr. Grahame of Gartmore's Causes of the Disturbances in the Highlands. See Jamieson's edition of Burt's Letters from the North of Scotland, Appendix, vol. ii. p. 348.

8

"At night they arrived at Luss, where they were joined by Sir Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss, and James Grant of Plascander, his son-in-law, followed by forty or fifty stately fellows in their short hose and belted plaids, armed each of them with a well-fixed gun on his shoulder, a strong handsome target, with a sharp-pointed steel of above half an ell in length screwed into the navel of it, on his left arm, a sturdy claymore by his side, and a pistol or two, with a dirk and knife, in his belt." —Rae's History of the Rebellion, 4to, p. 287.

9

Note C. The Loch Lomond Expedition.

10

The first of these anecdotes, which brings the highest pitch of civilisation so closely in contact with the half-savage state of society, I have heard told by the late distinguished Dr. Gregory; and the members of his family have had the kindness to collate the story with their recollections and family documents, and furnish the authentic particulars. The second rests on the recollection of an old man, who was present when Rob took French leave of his literary cousin on hearing the drums beat, and communicated the circumstance to Mr. Alexander Forbes, a connection of Dr. Gregory by marriage, who is still alive.

11

The reader will find two original letters of the Duke of Montrose, with that which Mr. Graham of Killearn despatched from his prison-house by the Outlaw's command, in the Appendix, No. II.

12

About 1792, when the author chanced to pass that way while on a tour through the Highlands, a garrison, consisting of a single veteran, was still maintained at Inversnaid. The venerable warder was reaping his barley croft in all peace and tranquillity and when we asked admittance to repose ourselves, he told us we would find the key of the Fort under the door.

13

Letters from the North of Scotland, vol. ii. pp. 344, 345.

14

Mad herdsmen — a name given to cattle-stealers [properly one who deserves to fill a widdie, or halter].

15

The winds which sweep a wild glen in Badenoch are so called.

16

Appendix, No. III.

17

Such an admission is ascribed to the robber Donald Bean Lean in Waverley, chap. lxii,

18

Some accounts state that Appin himself was Rob Roy's antagonist on this occasion. My recollection, from the account of Invernahyle himself, was as stated in the text. But the period when I received the information is now so distant, that it is possible I may be mistaken. Invernahyle was rather of low stature, but very well made, athletic, and an excellent swordsman.

19

This fatal piece was taken from Robin Oig, when he was seized many years afterwards. It remained in possession of the magistrates before whom he was brought for examination, and now makes part of a small collection of arms belonging to the Author. It is a Spanish-barrelled gun, marked with the letters R. M. C., for Robert MacGregor Campbell.

20

Note D. Author's expedition against the MacLarens.

21

Published in Blackwood's Magazine, vol. ii. p. 228.

22

Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto II.

23

See Appendix, No. VI.

24

Such, at least, was his general character; for when James Mhor, while perpetrating the violence at Edinbilly, called out, in order to overawe opposition, that Glengyle was lying in the moor with a hundred men to patronise his enterprise, Jean Key told him he lied, since she was confident Glengyle would never countenance so scoundrelly a business.

25

Note E. Allan Breck Stewart.

26

The Trials of the Sons of Rob Roy, with anecdotes of Himself and his Family, were published at Edinburgh, 1818, in 12mo.

27

James died near three months before, but his family might easily remain a long time without the news of that event.

28

It does not appear to whom this letter was addressed. Certainly, from its style and tenor, It was designed for some person high in rank and office — perhaps the King's Advocate for the time.

29

This curious epistle is copied from an authentic narrative of Marshal Wade's proceedings in the Highlands, communicated by the late eminent antiquary, George Chalmers, Esq., to Mr. Robert Jamieson, of the Register House, Edinburgh, and published in the Appendix to an Edition of Burt's Letters from the North of Scotland, 2 vols. 8vo, Edinburgh, 1818.

30

i. e. John the Red — John Duke of Argyle, so called from his complexion, more commonly styled "Red John the Warriour."

31

A pass on the eastern margin of Loch Lomond, and an entrance to the Highlands.

32

The introduction of gaugers, supervisors, and examiners, was one of the great complaints of the Scottish nation, though a natural consequence of the Union.

33

This seems to have been written about the time of Wilkes and Liberty.

34

Now called Don Juan.

35

Perhaps from the French Juste-au-corps.

36

On occasions of public alarm, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, the horses of the Catholics were often seized upon, as they were always supposed to be on the eve of rising in rebellion.

37

[The lines here quoted belong to or were altered from a set of verses at one time very popular in England, beginning, Tobacco that is withered quite. In Scotland, the celebrated Ralph Erskine, author of the Gospel Sonnets, published what he called "Smoking Spiritualized, in two parts. The first part being an Old Meditation upon Smoking Tobacco." It begins —

                  This Indian weed now withered quite,                   Tho' green at noon, cut down at night,                             Shows thy decay;                             All flesh is hay.                       Thus thank, and smoke tobacco.]

38

Note F. The Abbess of Wilton.