The common dread of justice soon allies | Stout were their hearts, and stubborn was The clown, who robs the warren, or excise, the same, Till the revenue baulk'd, or pilfer'd game, Flesh the young culprit, and example leads To darker villany, and direr deeds. Wild howl'd the wind the forest glades along, And oft the owl renew'd her dismal song; Around the spot where erst he felt the wound, Red William's spectre walk'd his midnight round. When o'er the swamp he cast his blighting look, From the green marshes of the stagnant brook The bittern's sullen shout the sedges shook! The waning moon, with storm-presaging gleam, Now gave and now withheld her doubtful beam; The old Oak stoop'd his arms, then flung them high, their strife, O'erpower'd at length the Outlaw drew his knife! Next morn a corpse was found upon the fell The rest his waking agony may tell! SONG. OH, say not, my love, with that mortified air, That your spring-time of pleasure is Nor bid me to maids that are younger flown, repair, For those raptures that still are thine own. With his flying guns this gallant gay, And boasted corps d'arméeOhe fear'd not our dragoons, with their long swords, boldly riding, Whack, fal de ral, &c. To Campo Mayor come, he had quietly sat down, Just a fricassee to pick, while his soldiers sack'd the town, When, 'twas peste! morbleu! mon Hear the English bugle-call! Right about went horse and foot, artillery and all, And, as the devil leaves a house, they tumbled through the wall; They took no time to seek the door, But, best foot set beforeO they ran from our dragoons, with their long swords, boldly riding, Whack, fal de ral, &c. Those valiant men of France they had scarcely fled a mile, When on their flank there sous'd at once the British rank and file; For Long, De Grey, and Otway, then Ne'er minded one to ten, But came on like light dragoons, with their long swords, boldly riding, Whack, fal de ral, &c. Three hundred British lads they made three thousand reel, Their hearts were made of English oak, their swords of Sheffield steel, Their horses were in Yorkshire bred, And Beresford them led; So huzza for brave dragoons, with their long swords, boldly riding, Whack, fal de ral, &c. Then here's a health to Wellington, to Beresford, to Long, And a single word of Bonaparte before close my song: I The eagles that to fight he brings Should serve his men with wings, When they meet the bold dragoons, with their long swords, boldly riding, Whack, fal de ral, &c. ON THE MASSACRE OF GLENCOE. 1814. "In the beginning of the year 1692, in action of unexampled barbarity disgraced the government of King William III. in Scotland. In the August preceding, a proclamation had been issued, offering an indemnity to such insurgents as should take the oaths to the King and Queen, on or before the last day of December; and the chiefs of such tribes as had been in arms for James, soon after took advantage of the proclamation. But Macdonald of Glencoe was prevented by accident, rather than by design, from tendering his submission within the limited time. In the end of December he went to Colonel Hill, who commanded the garrison in FortWilliam, to take the oaths of allegiance to nished him with a letter to Sir Colin Campthe government; and the latter having furbell, sheriff of the county of Argyle, directed him to repair immediately to Inverary, to make his submission in a legal manner before that magistrate. But the way to Inverary lay through almost impassable mountains, the season was extremely rigorous, and the whole country was covered with a deep snow. So cager, however, was Macdonald to take the oaths before the limited time should expire, that, though the road lay within half a mile of his own house, he stopped not to visit his family, and, after various obstructions, arrived at Inverary. The time had elapsed, and the sheriff hesitated to receive his submission; but Macdonald prevailed by his importunities, and even tears, in inducing that functionary to administer to him the oath of allegiance, and to certify the cause of his delay. At this time Sir John Dalrymple, afterwards Earl of Stair, being in attendance upon William as Secretary of State for Scotland, took advantage of Macdonald's neglecting to take the oath within the time prescribed, and procured Those who escaped owed their lives to a from the king a warrant of military execution tempestuous night. Lieutenant-Colonel Haagainst that chief and his whole clan. This milton, who had received the charge of the was done at the instigation of the Earl of execution from Dalrymple, was on his march Breadalbane, whose lands the Glencoe mer. with four hundred men, to guard all the had plundered, and whose treachery to govern- passes from the valley of Glencoe; but he ment in negotiating with the Highland clans, was obliged to stop by the severity of the Macdonald himself had exposed. The King weather, which proved the safety of the unwas accordingly persuaded that Glencoe was fortunate clan. Next day he entered the the main obstacle to the pacification of the valley, laid the houses in ashes, and carried Highlands; and the fact of the unfortunate away the cattle and spoil, which were divided chief's submission having been concealed, the among the officers and soldiers."-Article sanguinary orders for proceeding to military "BRITAIN;" Encyc. Britannica-New Edition. execution against his clan were in consequence obtained. The warrant was both signed and countersigned by the King's own hand, and the Secretary urged the officers who commanded in the Highlands to execute their orders with the utmost rigour. Campbell of Glenlyon, a captain in Argyle's regiment, and two subalterns, were ordered to repair to Glencoe on the first of February with a hundred and twenty men. Campbell, being uncle to young Macdonald's wife, was received by the father with all manner of friendship and hospitality. The men were lodged at free quarters in the houses of his tenants, and received the kindest entertain ment. Till the 13th of the month the troops lived in the utmost harmony and familiarity with the people; and on the very night of the massacre the officers passed the evening at cards in Macdonald's house. In the night, Lieutenant Lindsay, with a party of soldiers, called in a friendly manner at his door, and was instantly admitted. Macdonald, while in the act of rising to receive his guest, was shot dead through the back with two bullets. His wife had already dressed; but she was stripped naked by the soldiers, who tore the rings off her fingers with their teeth. The slaughter now became general, and neither age nor infirmity was spared. Some women, in defending their children, were killed; boys imploring mercy were shot dead by officers on whose knees they hung. In one place nine persons, as they sat enjoying themselves at table, were butchered by the soldiers. In Inverriggon, Campbell's own quarters, nine men were first bound by the soldiers, and then shot at intervals, one by one. Nearly forty persons were massacred by the troops; and several who fled to the mountains perished by famine and the inclemency of the season. "O TELL me, Harper, wherefore flow Where none may list their melody? Screams chorus to thy minstrelsy?”— "No, not to these, for they have rest,- But those for whom I pour the lay, Could screen from treach'rous cruelty. "Their flag was furl'd, and mute their The very household dogs were dumb, In guise of hospitality. To tend her kindly housewifery. "The hand that mingled in the meal, The friendly hearth which warm'd that At midnight arm'd it with the brand, "Then woman's shriek was heard in vain, Far more than Southern clemency. "Long have my harp's best notes been gone, Few are its strings, and faint their tone, They can but sound in desert lone Their grey-hair'd master's misery. Were each grey hair a minstrel string, Each chord should imprecations fling, Till startled Scotland loud should ring, 'Revenge for blood and treachery!' FOR A' THAT AN' A' THAT. A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE. 1914. THOUGH right be aft put down by strength, As mony a day we saw that, The true and leilfu' cause at length Shall bear the grie for a' that, For a' that an' a' that, Guns, guillotines, and a' that, For Wellington made braw that. The Fleur-de-lis, for a' that. And bloom in peace for a' that. Stout Russia's Hemp, so surely twined Around our wreath we'll draw that, And he that would the cord unbind Shall have it for his cra-vat! Or, if to choke sae puir a sot, Your pity scorn to thraw that, Where he may sit and claw that. There's ae bit spot I had forgot, America they ca' that! Atlantic winds shall blaw that, For on the land, or on the sea, Where'er the breezes blaw that, The British Flag shall bear the grie, And win the day for a' that! Though anxious and timeless his life was expended, In toils for our country preserved by his care, Though he died ere one ray o'er the nations ascended, To light the long darkness of doubt The storms he endured in our Britain's ADDRESSED TO RANALD MACDONALD, STAFFA, sprung from high Macdonald, The perils his wisdom foresaw and o'er-Staffa! king of all kind fellows! Well befall thy hills and valleys, HEALTH TO LORD MELVILLE. Sung at a public dinner given in honour of his acquittal after his trial in 1806. SINCE here we are set in array round the table, Five hundred good fellows well met in a hall, Come listen, brave boys, and I'll sing as I'm able How innocence triumph'd and pride got a fall. |