6

HISTOKT OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.XVIII.

1052 .

They were impelled by hereditary enmity, as well as by want,to live at the expense of the tribe of Campbell. Breadalhane’sproperty had suffered greatly from their depredations; and hewas not of a temper to forgive such injuries. When, therefore,the Chief of Glencoe made his appearance at the congress inGlenorchy, he was ungraciously received. The Earl, whoordinarily bore himself with the solemn dignity of a Castiliangrandee, forgot, in his resentment, his wonted gravity, forgothis public character, forgot the laws of hospitality, and, withangry reproaches and menaces, demanded reparation for theherds which had been driven from his lands by Mac Ian’s fol-lowers. Mac Ian was seriously apprehensive of some personaloutrage, and was glad to get safe back to his own glen.* Iiispride had been wounded; and the promptings of interest con-curred with those of pride. As the head of a people who livedby pillage, he had strong reasons for wishing that the countrymight continue to be in a perturbed state. ITe had little chanceof receiving one' guinea of the money which was to be dis-tributed among the malecontents. For his share of that moneywould scarcely meet Breadalbane’s demands for compensation;and there could be little doubt that, whoever might be unpaid,Breadalbane would take care to pay himself. Mac Ian there-fore did his best to dissuade his allies from accepting termsfrom which he could himself expect no benefit; and his in-fluence was not small. His own vassals, indeed, were few innumber: but he came of the best blood of the Highlands: hehad kept up a close connection with his more powerful kinsmen;nor did they like him the less because he was a robber; for henever robbed them; and that robbery, merely as robbery, wasa wicked and disgraceful act, had never entered into the mindof any Celtic chief. Mac Ian was therefore held in high esteemby the confederates. His age was venerable: his aspect was

* Report of the Commissioners, signed at Ilolyrood, June 20. 1695.