Edinburgh; whence he went to Paris, and then completed his studies at Leyden, in Holland.

Though well qualified to have cut a respectable figure in any capital city, yet he chose to reside for life near his native place; and having returned to the Highlands, he married and settled in the small town of Lochaber, where, though his practice was small, his generous conduct rendered him the delight and blessing of the neighbourhood. His wife bore him seven children, and was pregnant of the eighth at the unfortunate period of his death.

Mr.

While Dr. Cameron was living happy in his domestic circle, the rebellion broke out, and laid the foundation of the ruin of himself and family. The Pretender having landed, went to the house of Mr. M'Donald, and sent for the doctor's brother, who went to him, and did all in his power to dissuade him from an undertaking from which nothing but ruin could ensue. Cameron having previously promised to bring all his clan in aid of the Pretender, the latter upbraided him with an intention of breaking his promise: which so affected the generous spirit of the Highlander, that he immediately went and took leave of his wife, and gave orders for his vassals, to the number of nearly twelve hundred, to have recourse to arms.

He sent for his brother to attend him as a physician: but the doctor urged every argument against so rash an undertaking; from which he even besought him on his knees to desist. The brother would not be denied; and the doctor at length agreed to attend him as a physician, though he absolutely refused to accept any commission in the rebel army.

Dr. Cameron exhibited repeated instances of his humanity; but when the battle of Culloden gave a decisive stroke to the hopes of the rebels, he and his brother escaped to the western islands, whence they sailed to France, in a vessel belonging to that kingdom. The doctor was appointed physician to a French regiment, of which his brother obtained the command; but the latter dying at the end of two years, the doctor became physician to Ogilvie's regiment, then in Flanders.

A subscription being set on foot, in England and Scotland, in the year 1750, for the relief of those persons who had been attainted, and escaped into foreign countries, the doctor came into England to receive the money for his unfortunate fellow-sufferers. At the end of two years another subscription was opened; when the doctor, whose pay was inadequate to the support of his numerous family, came once more to this country, and having written a number of urgent letters to his friends, it was rumoured that he had returned. Hereupon a detachment from lord George Beauclerk's regiment was sent in search of him, and he was taken in the following manner: captain Graves, with thirty soldiers, going towards the place where it was presumed he was concealed, saw a little girl at the extremity of a village, who, on their approach, fled towards another village. She was pursued by a sergeant and two soldiers, who could only come near enough to observe her whispering to a boy, who seemed to have been placed for the purpose of conveying intelligence.

Unable to overtake the boy, they presented their guns at him; on which he fell on his knees, and begged his life; which they promised, on condition that he would show them the place where Dr. Cameron was concealed.

Hereupon the boy pointed to the house where he was, which the soldiers surrounded, and took him prisoner. Being sent to Edinburgh, he was thence conducted to London, and committed to the Tower.

Being brought to the bar of the court of king's bench on the 17th of May, he was arraigned on the act of attainder, when, declining to give the court any farther trouble, he acknowledged that he was the same person who had been attainted on which the lord chief-justice Lee pronounced sentence in the following terms: "" You, Archibald Cameron, of Lochiel, in that part of Great Britain called Scotland, must be removed from hence to his majesty's prison of the Tower of London, from whence you came, and on Thursday, the seventh

of June next, your body to be drawn on a sledge to the place of execution; there to be hanged, till you are dead; your bowels to be taken out, your body quartered, your head cut off, and affixed at the king's disposal; and the Lord have mercy on your soul!"

The convict, being brought out of the Tower, was delivered to the sheriff's at ten in the morning; and, being placed in a sledge, was drawn through the streets of London to Tyburn, amidst such an immense number of spectators as have seldom witnessed so melancholy a scene. He was dressed in a bag wig, and wore a light-coloured coat, with scarlet waistcoat and breeches. He bowed to several people in the windows, as he passed; and there was equal manliness and composure in his behaviour. He looked round him in a manner that testified the calmness of his mind; and said to the clergyman who attended him, "This is a glorious day to me. It is my new birth-day! There are more witnesses at this birth than were at my first."

After the body had hung more than half an hour, it was cut down; and the remaining part of the sentence being carried into execution, the head and body were put into a coffin, and carried to an undertaker's, whence they were conveyed and interred in the chapel of the Savoy. Dr. Cameron was executed at Tyburn on the 7th of June, 1753, in the forty-sixth year of his age.

ROB ROY MACGREGOR,

AND OTHER MACGREGORS.-1700 to 1746.

THOUGH the natives of the Highlands of Scotland long contemned and resisted the laws of the kingdom, and lived in a state of proud and turbulent independence, the cruelty and injustice which dictated the proscription of the clan Macgregor, can only be regarded as a wretched picture of that government and that age which could sanction an act of such barbarity.

This clan occupied the romantic wilds, and, at that period, the almost inaccessible valleys of Balquhiddar, and the Trosachs, comprehending a portion of the counties of Argyll, Perth, Dumbarton, and Stirling, appropriately denominated the country of the Macgregors. Among those regions, in former ages, the benefits of agriculture were almost unknown to the inhabitants, who chiefly lived upon animal food; but of this they were often deprived by the rigour of winter, so that the mutual spoliation of cattle became a regular system, especially during the period of the Michaelmus moon, and in some parts was essential to their preservation. The Macgregors pursued this plan in common with other tribes, though not under more aggravating cruelties.

By the merciless decree of fire and sword against the clan Gregor, not only were this race to be rooted out, but their very name was forbidden. They were indiscriminately pursued and massacred wherever they were found, until, by incessant persecution, and subdued by the number of their enemies, they were ultimately driven to despair, and sought refuge among the mountainous parts of Perth and Argyll, inhabiting the dismal cavities of rocks and the sombre recesses of forests. Even in this state of misery they were not allowed to exist. They were discovered in the fastnesses, and the earl of Argyll, with determined butchery, hunted down the fugitives through moors and woods till scarcely any other than their children remained alive. Amidst the calamities of his race arose Robert Macgregor, Celtically named Roy (red), from his complexion and colour of hair, and as a distinctive appellation among his kindred, a practice which is still followed throughout the Highlands. He was the second son of Donald Macgregor, of the family of Glengyle, a lieutenant-colonel in the king's service, by a daughter of Camp

entertained him with such a number of stories as astonished the visitor, that his lordship should have such spirits on so solemn an occasion.

The major of the Tower inquiring after his health one morning, he said, "I am well, sir; I am preparing myself for a place where hardly any majors go, and but few lieutenant-generals.". Having procured a pillow to be placed at the foot of his bed, he frequently kneeled on it, to try how he should act his part at the fatal block; and, after some practice, thought himself sufficiently perfect to behave with propriety.

Waking about two in the morning on the day before his death, he prayed devoutly for some time, and then slept till nearly seven, when he was dressed by the assistance of the warder. This day he spent with his friends, conversing cheerfully both on public and private affairs. He was even jocose in a high degree, and told the barber who shaved him to be cautious not to cut his throat, which might baulk many persons of the expected sight on the following day. Having eaten a hearty supper, he desired that some veal might be roasted that he might have some of it minced for his breakfast, being a dish of which he was extremely fond. He then smoked his pipe, and retired

to rest.

Waking about three in the morning, he employed some time in devotion, and then reposing himself till five o'clock, he arose, and drank a glass of wine and water, as he was accustomed to do every morning. He then employed himself about two hours in reading, which he could do without spectacles, notwithstanding his advanced age, for he had lived a life of temperance, and his eyesight was uncommonly good.

Having called for his breakfast of minced veal, he ate heartily of it, and drank some wine and water to the health of his surrounding friends. The coffin, with his name and age, and decorated with ornaments proper to his rank, being placed on the scaffold, Mr. Sheriff Alsop went to the gate of the Tower at eleven o'clock, to demand the body. This intelligence being conveyed to lord Lovat, he requested a few minutes for his private devotions; in which being indulged, he returned cheerfully, and said, "Gentlemen, I am ready;" and having descended one pair of stairs, general Williamson requested him to repose himself a few minutes in his apartment.

Complying with this invitation, he staid about five minutes, behaved with the utmost politeness to the company, and having drank a glass of wine, got into the governor's coach, which conveyed him to the gate of the Tower, where he was received by the sheriffs. Being conducted to a house near the scaffold, he told the sheriff he might give the word of command when he pleased; for (added he) I have been long in the army, and know what it is to obey. Having drank some burnt brandy and bitters, he ascended the scaffold, and taking a survey of the surrounding multitude, he expressed his astonishment that such numbers could assemble to witness the decollation of so ancient a head.

Observing a friend on the scaffold who appeared very desponding, he put his hand on his shoulder, and said, “cheer up thy heart, man; I am not afraid, and why shouldst thou?" Then giving the purse of gold to the executioner, he bade him act his part properly, saying, "if you do not, and I am able to rise again, I shall be much displeased with you."

He now sat down in a chair, and having repeated some sentimental lines from the classic authors, he stripped himself, and laid his head on the block. After a few minutes spent in devotion, he dropped his handkerchief; on which his head was cut off; and being received in a cloth of red baize, was put nto the coffin with the body, and conveyed to the Tower in a hearse.

Immense crowds of spectators were on scaffolds on Tower-hill, to behold he final exit of this extraordinary man; but some of them paid dear for their curiosity; for, before he was brought out of the Tower, one of the scaffolds broke down; by which several persons were killed on the spot, and a great

number had their bones broken, and were otherwise terribly bruised; to the distress of many families, and the total ruin of others. Lord Lovat was executed on the 9th of April, 1747.

CHARLES RATCLIFFE, esq. (brother of lord Derwentwater, who suffered in 1716), having been taken prisoner at Preston, was conducted to London, where, being tried and convicted, he was imprisoned in Newgate, but received repeated reprieves and it was thought he would have been pardoned in consideration of his youth. Being lodged in a room called the castle, he and thirteen other prisoners escaped to the debtors' side of the prison, where the turnkey let them out, on a supposition that they were visitors to some of the unfortunate debtors.

Thus at large, Mr. Ratcliffe embarked for France, from whence he went to Rome, where he obtained a trifling pension from the pretender. After a residence of some years in Italy, he went to Paris, where he married the widow of lord Newburgh, by whom he had one son.

Coming to England in 1733, he lived some time in London; but no notice was taken of him, though he made no secret of the place of his residence.

He went again abroad, but returning in 1735, made application for a pardon; but though this was refused, he still remained unmolested. Unsuccessful in this application, he went once more to France, where he lived in a retired manner till the commencement of the rebellion in 1745, when he embarked at Calais, bringing his son with him, with a view to have joined the pretender; but the vessel in which he sailed being taken by the Sheerness man-of-war, he was brought to Deal, whence being conveyed to London, he was committed to the Tower, where he remained till the rebellion was suppressed.

His son, having been born abroad, while his father denied his allegiance, was not considered as a subject of England, and was therefore exchanged on the first cartel for French prisoners.

Mr. Ratcliffe was brought up to the court of king's bench, in Michaelmas term, 1746, and there received sentence of death on the record of his former conviction in 1716; but on account of the noble family from which he was descended, he was ordered to be beheaded, instead of being hanged.

A scaffold being erected on little Tower-hill, the 8th of December was ordered for the day of execution; when the sheriffs, going to the Tower about eleven o'clock, demanded the body; on which general Williamson, the deputy-governor, went to Mr. Ratcliffe's room, where hefound him in a scarlet coat, faced with black velvet, and trimmed with gold, and a waistcoat laced with gold. The prisoner received the governor and his attendants politely, and after drinking a glass of wine with them, got into a landau, which conveyed him to the back gate of the Tower, where the sheriffs received him; and he then went into a mourning-coach, being attended by a priest of the Roman Catholic persuasion.

Near the scaffold was erected a small room hung with black, in which he was employed about half an hour in private devotion, and then ascended the scaffold. He had several friends, as well as the priest, to attend him, and he behaved in a manner remarkably resigned to his fate. After speaking to the executioner, he gave him a purse of guineas; and then kneeled on the scaffold, and his friends likewise kneeling, he prayed devoutly for a few minutes; then rising up, he put on a nightcap, threw off his clothes, placed his head on the block, and suffered the sentence of the law.

On the 23d of June, 1746, at the sessions held at St. Margaret's hill, for the trial of the rebels, colonel FRANCIS TOWNLEY, of the Manchester regiment, was indicted for the part he had acted in the rebellion. When the pretender came to Manchester, Townley offered his services; which being accepted, he was commissioned to raise a regiment, which he soon completed; but being made a prisoner at Carlisle, he was conducted to London.

His counsel insisted that he was not a subject of Great Britain, being an

entertained him with such a number of stories as astonished the visitor, that his lordship should have such spirits on so solemn an occasion.

The major of the Tower inquiring after his health one morning, he said, "I am well, sir; I am preparing myself for a place where hardly any majors go, and but few lieutenant-generals.". Having procured a pillow to be placed at the foot of his bed, he frequently kneeled on it, to try how he should act his part at the fatal block; and, after some practice, thought himself sufficiently perfect to behave with propriety.

Waking about two in the morning on the day before his death, he prayed devoutly for some time, and then slept till nearly seven, when he was dressed by the assistance of the warder. This day he spent with his friends, conversing cheerfully both on public and private affairs. He was even jocose in a high degree, and told the barber who shaved him to be cautious not to cut his throat, which might baulk many persons of the expected sight on the following day. Having eaten a hearty supper, he desired that some veal might be roasted that he might have some of it minced for his breakfast, being a dish of which he was extremely fond. He then smoked his pipe, and retired

to rest.

Waking about three in the morning, he employed some time in devotion, and then reposing himself till five o'clock, he arose, and drank a glass of wine and water, as he was accustomed to do every morning. He then employed himself about two hours in reading, which he could do without spectacles, notwithstanding his advanced age, for he had lived a life of temperance, and his eyesight was uncommonly good.

Having called for his breakfast of minced veal, he ate heartily of it, and drank some wine and water to the health of his surrounding friends. The coffin, with his name and age, and decorated with ornaments proper to his rank, being placed on the scaffold, Mr. Sheriff Alsop went to the gate of the Tower at eleven o'clock, to demand the body. This intelligence being conveyed to lord Lovat, he requested a few minutes for his private devotions; in which being indulged, he returned cheerfully, and said, “Gentlemen, I am ready;" and having descended one pair of stairs, general Williamson requested him to repose himself a few minutes in his apartment.

Complying with this invitation, he staid about five minutes, behaved with the utmost politeness to the company, and having drank a glass of wine, got into the governor's coach, which conveyed him to the gate of the Tower, where he was received by the sheriffs. Being conducted to a house near the scaffold, he told the sheriff he might give the word of command when he pleased; for (added he) I have been long in the army, and know what it is to obey. Having drank some burnt brandy and bitters, he ascended the scaffold, and taking a survey of the surrounding multitude, he expressed his astonishment that such numbers could assemble to witness the decollation of so ancient a head.

Observing a friend on the scaffold who appeared very desponding, he put his hand on his shoulder, and said, “cheer up thy heart, man; I am not afraid, and why shouldst thou?" Then giving the purse of gold to the executioner, he bade him act his part properly, saying, "if you do not, and I am able to rise again, I shall be much displeased with you.'

He now sat down in a chair, and having repeated some sentimental lines from the classic authors, he stripped himself, and laid his head on the block. After a few minutes spent in devotion, he dropped his handkerchief; on which his head was cut off; and being received in a cloth of red baize, was put into the coffin with the body, and conveyed to the Tower in a hearse.

Immense crowds of spectators were on scaffolds on Tower-hill, to behold he final exit of this extraordinary man; but some of them paid dear for their curiosity; for, before he was brought out of the Tower, one of the scaffolds broke down; by which several persons were killed on the spot, and a great