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An Hiftorical and Genealogical

The fon of Sirach in the book of Ecclefiafticus, has a thought much to the fame purpose. "As of the green leaves on a thick tree," fays he, "fome fall, and fome grow, fo is the generation of flesh and blood; one cometh to an end, and a(1) Book of nother is born, (1.)" And Solomon, who has Ecclefiafticus, c. carefully studied the feveral stages of human life,

xiv. v. 18.

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Ecclefiaftes, c. i.
V.4.

V. 10.

and the various events to which mankind are fubjected, and on this account was fully convinced of the vanity of all things here below, obferves, "That one generation paffeth away, and another generation cometh, but the earth abideth for ever, (2.) Book of (2.)" that is, continues and endures, in order to I receives back those bodies which come out of it: For no generation can abide as the earth doth, but follows the foregoing, as the next that comes after fhall follow it unto their graves. “Dust we are, (3) Book of and to duft we must return, (3.)" Our bodies, Genefis, c. iii. which a few years ago were only embryoes, will foon be reduced to earth and bones. And the earth, though more durable and lafting than our bodies, shall, at length be diffolved, “ nay, the heavens themselves," as the Apostle Peter has exprefsly foretold, "fhall pass with a great noise, and the elements fhall melt with fervent heat, (4.)" But our fouls, like God, after whofe image they are made, remain for ever. Certainly then, it is the duty of the people of every tribe and family, to fecure in the first place the interefts of their fouls, and to ftudy to procure the favour of God, which includes every bleffing, every advantage, (5.) The Con- and can never never have an end, (5.)

clufion.

(4.) Second Epiftle of Peter, c. 3. v. 10.

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Account of the BETHUNES, &c.

33

The Bethunes of the island of Sky, are intitled to bear the fame coat of arms, the fupporters excepted, with Bethune of Balfour their chief, with an annulet or ring for a difference, fince they are defcended of a fifth fon of that family.

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And as this is the cafe with respect to the Bethunes of the island of Sky, fo with respect to their defcendents.

THE END.

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BETHUNES,

In other Places of the NORTH-COUNTRY, befides thofe in the Ifland of SKY.

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AVING in this manner finished the memoirs of the Bethunes of the ifland of Sky, their connections and defcendents. It will not be improper to give fome account of the Bethunes in other places of the North Country.

The Bethunes of Moydart, Morven and Lochaber, derive their descent from a fecond fon of Doctor Peter, which indeed is very probable, tho' that fon be not recorded in the manufcript account of the family, for he might have gone from Sky to that country, and continued there on account of his relation and connection with the laird of Moydart's (1) The Be- family, (1.)

thunes of Moydart, Morven, & Lochaber.

The Bethunes of Sutherland and Caithnefs, derive their original from a brother of the second Doctor Angus, that wrote the Lilly of Medicine, and who went to that country after the death of his uncle Ferquhard junior, that died in the uninhabited island; and for whom the Earl of Sutherland had fuch a regard, that he would not allow him to return to the place of his nativity the island of Sky,

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A Short Account of the BETHUNES, &c. 35

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but gave him all manner of encouragement to take his refidence among his people in his own territories. The third and laft Doctor Angus was fo much convinced of this, that he fent to the eldest branch of the Sutherland Bethunes, a gun, fword and target, as an evidence of his regard for them, and that they were defcended of his family, and as a teftimony of his defire to cultivate a friendship (1) The Beand correfpondence with them, (1.)

thunes of Suand

Caithness.

It is not to be doubted, but feveral are defcend-therland ed of the Bethunes of Sky, whofe names have not been recorded in the preceding account; of whom fome may be in England, others in Ireland and fo-. reign plantations.

It is certain however, there were Bethunes in Sky before Doctor Peter came to that country, families of good efteem and repute, but could give no account how or when they arrived thither. They are now almost extinct, (2.)

(2) There

Others of the name of Bethune came to this were Bethunes in Sky before Ifland after the Doctor had taken up his refidence Dr Peter came in it, who were able and careful phyficians. A few to the island. of them are still in that country. One of them called Neil, not finding proper education at home, went to the Scotch College in Paris, to which James Bethune last Archbishop of Glasgow, of the Popish perfuafion, had been an eminent benefactor, and there he continued until he came over in the year 1715, and joined with thofe that were engaged at Sheriff-muir. After which he went to Spain, where fome years ago, he got a regiment. And the last time he wrote to his friends in the North, he told them he was in expectation of being made a gene- a regiment in ral, (3.)

(3.) Neil Be

thune, who got

Spain.

Bethune

A Short Account of the BETHUNES, &c.

of Culnafkie in Rofs.

Bethune of Culnafkia, and his people in Rofsfhire, are of a much longer standing than the Bethunes in Sky, if we may believe their own accounts, for they fay their right and title to the lands (1) Bethune of Culnafkia, is above five hundred years old, (1.) There is a valiant little clan in Kintail, part of Seaforth's country, called by a Patronymick, M'Kraes, who when Ferquhard, father of Kenneth Bethune of Leaboft refided in that country, profeffed themselves to be Bethunes, tho' they were unwilling to take the name or fubfcribe themselves fo, for fear of giving umbrage to the M'Kenzies, on whom they depended, and who had folicited them in a very earnest and preffing manner to call themselves McKenzies. The beft genealogifts of this tribe are ftill of the fame opinion with refpect to their being in Kintail, originally Bethunes. And probably they came at riginally Be- firft to this country from the island of Sky, (2.)

(2) M'Kiaes

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thunes.

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THE END.

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