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HISTOKY OF ENGLAND.

. had effected nothing. Highland auxiliaries might have been ofthe greatest use to him: but he had few such auxiliaries. Thechief of the Grants, indeed, who had been persecuted by thelate government, and had been accused of conspiring with theunfortunate Earl of Argyle, was zealous on the side of the Re-volution. Two hundred Mackays, animated probably by familyfeeling, came from the northern extremity of our island, whereat midsummer there is no night, to fight under a commander oftheir own name: but in general the clans which took no part inthe insurrection awaited the event with cold indifference, andpleased themselves with the hope that they should easily maketheir peace with the conquerors, and be permitted to assist inplundering the conquered.

An experience of little more than a month satisfied Mackaythat there was only one way in which the Highlands could besubdued. It was idle to run after the mountaineers up and downtheir mountains. A chain of fortresses must be built in themost important situations, and must be well garrisoned. Theplace with which the general proposed to begin was Inverlochy,where the huge remains of an ancient castle stood and stillstand. This post was close to an arm of the sea, and was in theheart of the country occupied by the discontented clans. Astrong force stationed there, and supported, if necessary, byships of war, would effectually overawe at once the Macdonalds,the Camerons, and the Macleans.*

While Mackay was representing in his letters to the councilat Edinburgh the necessity of adopting this plan, Dundee wascontending with difficulties which all his energy and dexteritycould not completely overcome.

* See Mackay’s Memoirs, and his letter to Hamilton of the 14th ofJune, 1689.

END OF VOL. IV.

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