ment of Scotland which had been hitherto unknown or disregarded. To increase the authority of the prince, or to secure the privileges of the nobles, had been almost the sole object of the Scottish laws: But, by the claim of right, the liberties of the people were secured, and they gradually acquired more consideration and influence in Parliament. Though the aristocratical spirit predominated until the union of the kingdoms, and retarded the national happiness and improvement, the people enjoyed more security; their minds were gradually expanded; and they formed more extensive plans of industry, commerce, and police.

William and Mary were crowned at London and proclaimed in Scotland on the same day. The estates deputed Argyll, Montgomery, and Sir John Dalrymple, to present the crown to the Prince, and administer the coronation-oath to him. The instrument of government and the enumeration of grievances were first read; and a petition was subjoined, praying that the convention of the estates might be changed into a parliament.

When the coronation-oath was administered, William paused at the clause requiring the extirpation of heresy; and he consented to receive it only on the assurance that it did not require him to become a religious persecutor. The tolerant spirit of the Prince displeased the Episcopal clergy especially, who, in consequence of the establishment of the Presbyterian religion, attached themselves to the interests of the exiled King. They were on that account called Jacobites; and, from their refusal of the oaths to Government, they acquired the appellation of Nonjurors.

Agreeably to the prayer of the petition, the convention of estates was changed into a parliament. This novel measure was justified by the plea of necessity. James, who had landed in Ireland, threatened to invade Scotland; and Graham of Claverhouse, created Viscount Dundee, had retired to the Highlands and threatened the kingdom with a civil war: Hence the convention could not be dissolved with safety, nor could a parliament be freely elected.

An ample redress of grievances was expeditiously made; and it reflects the greatest honour on the wisdom and generosity of William, that he refused his consent to a bill for incapacitating such persons for the public service as had opposed the Revolution or abetted the violent measures of the preceding reigns.

James's adherents, despairing of obtaining an ascendancy in the

Parliament, resorted to the most desperate measures. Viscount Dundee formerly distinguished for his cruelty, but an able, intrepid, and experienced officer-ambitious to equal the exploits of Montrose, retired from the Parliament to Lochaber, where he summoned the clans to meet him in arms.

Seventeen hundred men, armed with their broad-swords, obeyed the summons: But a desultory and protracted warfare suited not their native ardour and impatience. After several predatory excursions, in which they acquired immense booty, they deserted in such numbers, that their general retired once more to the hills, until an expected reinforcement of Irish troops should arrive. Upon their appearance, he summoned the clans, and descended into Atholl. The castle of Blair, the seat of the Marquis of Atholl, had been seized and fortified by one of his vassals in the interest of King James..

Aware of the necessity of preserving that post, Dundee hastened with his troops to prevent its capture by General Mackay, who was advancing from Dunkeld with three thousand infantry and a few troops of horse. The Atholl men, who had been sta tioned at the pass of Killicrankie, to prevent the advance of Dundee, deserted their chieftain; and, filling their bonnets with water on the banks of the Garry, drank to the health of King James, and set off to join their countrymen under Dundee.

It was upon the western declivity of the pass of Killicrankie that the hostile troops were drawn up in battalia, Within an hour of sunset, the signal for battle was given by Dundee. His troops advanced in square columns from the hills, and attacked Mackay's forces, which were disposed in a thin and extended line. The attack of the clans was impetuous and irresistible; the weight of their columns, and their ponderous broad-swords, dispersed and routed the left wing of the enemy.

The terrible onset and execution of the Highlanders is thus described by an officer who was engaged in the action. “There were scarcely ever such strokes given in Europe as were given that day by the Highlanders. Many of their antagonists were cleft through the skull to the very chest; others had their heads divided horizontally above the ears; the bodies and cross-belts of some were cut through at one blow; pikes and small-swords were cut like willows."*

Memoirs of Dundee, by an officer.

While the victors were intently engaged in plundering the baggage, Mackay silently conducted his army across the Garry, and fied through the mountains to Stirling. The Royal army left two thousand dead upon the field of battle or in the hands of the enemy; the Highlanders lost nine hundred; and, had it not been for the death of their general, who was killed in the moment of victory, not a man of the Royalists would have escaped. Dundee survived only to write an account of the battle to James. A rude stone on the field of battle was erected to commemorate the scene of his victory. His remains were interred in the parishchurch of Blair-Atholl.

With the death of their gallant general, the successful career of the Jacobites terminated. Mackay soon reappeared with augmented forces, and surprised a detachment of the Highlanders at Perth. Cannon, an Irishman, succeeded Dundee as commander. of the Highland army; and withdrew to the mountains, whither Mackay's cavalry could not follow but with disadvantage. By a sudden and secret march, the Highlanders surprised a regiment of Cameronians at Dunkeld; but the latter defended themselves with A.D. such obstinate bravery, that the discouraged clans dispersed and returned home. They resumed their arms the ensuing year; but, on descending into Strathmore, they were again. intimidated and dispersed. To restrain their future incursions, Mackay built Fort-William.

Notwithstanding these reverses, the Jacobite leaders maintained a secret correspondence with the exiled King, and fomented. the discontent and animosity, which the Revolution had produced. So violent was the party-spirit of the times, that every concession made by William to the Presbyterians offended the English church and every indulgence to the Scottish Episcopalians increased the jealousy and resentment of the Presbyterians..

The last hopes of the discontented were placed on the expected refusal of Parliament to redress the popular grievances; but they were frustrated by the wisdom and moderation of the Govern ment. Agreeably to the claim of right, the sentence pronounced against Argyll and others was reversed; the forfeitures and fines incurred during the late reigns were repealed, and the sufferers indemnified; the act of supremacy was repealed, and Presbytery restored: But William complained that his commissioners, in abo lishing patronage, had exceeded his instructions.

It seems to have been his predominant wish to conciliate and attach the disaffected to his government, by clemency and favour. A.D. With this view, twelve thousand pounds were intrusted to 1691. the Earl of Breadalbane, to be distributed among the Highland chieftains, to purchase their forbearance: But, from an unhappy misunderstanding between that nobleman and some of the hostile clans, measures of a coercive nature were resorted to.

A proclamation was issued, requiring the submission of the refractory clans before the expiration of the current year, under the penalty of military execution. The chieftains, intimidated, hastened to take the oaths to Government ; except Macdonald of Glenco, who lingered until the time specified had expired. His disinclination was at last overcome by a sense of his danger; but, to aggravate his misfortunes, he was overtaken on his journey by a storm which detained him some days, and afforded his enemies an opportunity of representing his contumacy as meriting the severest punishment.

Macdonald presented himself before the Sheriff of Argyll, who reluctantly received his submission and transmitted his oath to Government; but it was maliciously concealed. Instigated by Sir John Dalrymple, the Secretary for Scotland, the King was advised to sign and countersign a warrant of military execution against Glenco and his thievish clan.

A.D.

This order was executed by Campbell of Glenlyon, with 1692, S savage barbarity, accompanied with a breach of hospitality. The cold and long nights of winter were chosen as the fittest season, when the devoted clan could not escape to the hills nor exist without shelter. Macdonald, considering himself under the protection of the laws, had returned home; but, after the lapse of a month, a party of soldiers from Fort-William, under Captain Campbell, appeared in the vale, and were kindly received and hospitably entertained for a fortnight by the unsuspicious clan; when an order arrived from Government to attack their defenceless victims at midnight, and not to suffer a man under seventy years to escape their swords.

Campbell hesitated not to execute this obnoxious mandate, though his niece was married to one of Glenco's sons. That chieftain was shot dead in the back part of the head, with two bullets, as he was rising from his bed; his wife was stript naked by the soldiers, and expired next morning with grief and horror.

The murder of Glenco was the signal for a general massacre. Even the women were butchered while attempting to save their tender offspring; and the helpless children, while imploring mercy from the soldiers, to whose knees they clung, shared their fate.

About forty persons were thus sacrificed; and the greater part of those who escaped to the hills, about one hundred and fifty in number, perished of hunger and cold. Rapine and desolation succeeded the carnage: The cottages were reduced to ashes; the cattle were driven away; and, with the other moveables, they were divided as lawful spoil among the officers and soldiers.

All Europe was shocked with the news of a transaction so inconsistent with the tolerant and merciful character of William. The Jacobites were rendered furious with resentment; but their mutual jealousies and the disclosure of their intrigues deterred them from any alarming opposition. Although a Parliamentary investigation to discover the authors of this atrocious deed was loudly demanded, it was suppressed, as the King with his ministers would have been involved in the odium and guilt..

CHAPTER XII.

Commercial projects.

Origin of the national debt. Colony of Darien-its misfortunes. Death and character of William. Death of James. THE extensive enterprises in which the Crown was engaged after the Revolution-the settlement of Britain, the reduction of IreJand, and the prosecution of the war with France-were productive of greater expense than the nation expected, or than Parliament could be persuaded to defray. Unable, therefore, to answer the necessities of Government by the annual produce of taxes, the ministers were forced to anticipate the supplies, by borrowing money from individuals; to whom securities were granted for the interest and the capital on branches of the public revenue, which were believed to be sufficient in a few years to repay the loan, and so to remove the incumbrance. Such was the origin of the national debt; which, before the death of William, amounted to more than twenty millions,-a sum which at that time appeared lso enormous, that an alarm of national bankruptcy became universal, and occasioned much clamour and invective against the Government.