summoned the Governor to surrender, else he would set the town in fire in a few hours. Sir John Mackenzie of Coul, Governor, knowing Kilravock's resoluteness, knowing likewise that Lovat, with the Frasers from the Aird, and a battalion of Grants from Strathspey, were approaching, he seized all the boats on the river, and transported his garrison into Ross, early in the morning of November 13th,— then Kilravock and Culloden garrisoned the town for the Government. Thus was the town of Inverness reduced by Kilravock, although others, who had no share in it, assumed the praise. The battle of Culloden, on the 16th of April, 1746, is so recent and fresh in our memories, that I shall take no further notice of it, than to observe, that it has broken the charm of the Broad Sword and Target, and may convince the Highlanders, that, in the way of fighting now practised, their undisciplined, though brave militia, cannot stand before well-disciplined troops, conducted by a proper General. I now come to give some account of the Military ways within this Province. It was the custom of the Romans to make Military ways or roads, in all conquered countries, for the more easy communication between their Colonies and Forts. Xiphil says of Severus, “Ingressus est in Caledoniam, eamque dum pertransiret, habuit maxima negotia, quod Sylvas cæderet, et loca alta perfoderet, quodque paludes obrueret aggere, et pontes in fluminibus faceret."* There are clear vestiges of those ways in the Lothians and Fife, particularly one that runs from Crail to Stirling-bridge, along the coast. It was in the year 1724, that General Wade, commissioned by his Majesty, to enquire into some disorders committed in the Highlands, • He invaded Caledonia, and, in his progress, endured the heaviest labour in cntting his passage through woods, levelling obstructions, in raising mounds through marshes, and in making bridges on rivers. projected the roads that are now so useful. Next year they were begun. The first road was from Stirling to Inverness and FortAugustus,—this road runs in two branches,-one by Dunkeld and Blair of Athole, the other by Dumblain, Glenalmond, and Aberfeldie, and they meet at Delnakerdich, and enter this Province at Dalwhinnie, where the road again branches into two,-the one leads six miles to Caitulack, three to Gayamore, and twelve to Fort-Augustus, the other branch is nine miles to Ruthven, ten to Aviemore, ten to Corribruch, and ten to Inverness. At the same time, the road from Inverness to Fort-William was begun. From Inverness to the General's Lodge are twelve miles, about seven of these are upon the bank of Lochness, a part of which, called the Black Rock, was a very high precipice hanging over the Loch. Here, for almost halfa-mile, the rock was blown up with powder, and the miners were hung by ropes in boring into it. Now the road is beautiful and safe, secured from the precipice below by a wall three feet high,from the General's Lodge to Fort-Augustus are twelve miles,thence to Letirfinlay twelve; and thence to Fort-William twelve miles. In the year 1753, the road from Fort-George, in Ardersier, to Perth was begun. It runs from the Fort to Kilravock four miles, -to the river of Ern seven miles,--to Castle Grant five miles,-to the river of Avon six miles,-to Corrigarf seven miles; and thence by Castletown of Braemar, Glenshee, and Blair of Gowrie to Perth. There are, likewise, roads from Fort-Augustus and from Inverness to Bernera in Glenelg. These roads are from twenty to twenty-four feet broad, run in straight lines where the hills permit, are annually repaired, have aqueducts and side drains, great stones are set up on end on the road-side, as guides in snow or mist. And, besides bridges on rivers, every brook and rivulet has a bridge over it. In a word, this is a work that might have added lustre to the Roman name,-by means of these roads, soldiers have a straight and easy route,-artillery is carried into all the Forts,-waggons, coaches, and all kinds of wheelcarriages, can pass from south to north,-the weekly posts make quick despatch,-commerce and intercourse are made easy,—convenient lodging is found at every stage, and the Highlands will be gradually civilized and improved. I shall now conclude this part with an account of some ancient customs, chiefly Military, observed in this and other Provinces. Anciently, every Chief of a Clan was, by his dependents, considered as a little Prince, not absolute, but directed by the Gentlemen of his Clan. As the Primores Regni, and all who held of the King, in capite, were his Grand Council or Parliament; so the Gentlemen and heads of families were to the Chief, by whose advice all things that regarded the Clan, or particular families, were determined, differences were removed, injuries were punished or redressed, law-suits prevented, declining families supported, and peace or war with other clans agreed upon. Young chiefs and heads of families were regarded, according to their military or peaceable dispositions. If they revenged a Clanquarrel, by killing some of the enemy, or carrying off their cattle, and laying their lands waste, they were highly esteemed; and great hopes were conceived of them. But, if they failed in such attempts, they were little respected,—yea, despised if they did not incline to them. Clans had their Military Officers, not arbitrarily or occasionally chosen, but fixed and perpetual. The Chief was Colonel or principal Commander. The oldest cadet was Lieutenant-Colonel, and commanded the right wing. The youngest cadet commanded the rear. Every head of a distinct family was Captain of his own Tribe. Every Clan had an Ensign or Standard-bearer, which office was at first confered on some one who had behaved gallantly, and usually it became hereditary in his family, and was supported by a gratuity, or a small annual salary. Every Chief, usually, had his Bard, Poet, or Orator, whose office it was (as among the Germans) in time of war to excite and animate them, by reciting the brave actions of the Clan, and particularly of their ancestors and chiefs, as Lucan writes, Vos quoque, qui fortes animas, belloque peremptas, Plurima securi fudistis carmina Bardi.* At marriages, they recited the Genealogy of the married couple, and sung an Epithalamium. And, at burials, they mournfully sung the Elegy of the Chief or great man. Their Military Music was the Great Pipe. The office of Piper was often hereditary, and had a small salary annexed to it. And the Pipers of several Clans had a chief Piper who governed them; and schools in which they were instructed. The most of their time being employed in Military exploits, or in hunting, every Clan had a stated place of rendezvous, where they met when called by their Chief. The manner of convocating them on a sudden emergent was by the Fiery-Cross. The Chief ordered two men to be despatched, one to the upper, and the other to the lower end of his lands, each carrying a Pole or Staff, with a cross-tree in the upper end of it, and that end burnt black. As they came to any village or house, they cried aloud the Military Cry of the Clan, and all who heard it armed quickly, and repaired to the place of rendezvous. If the runner became fatigued, another must take the Pole. Every Clan had a peculiar Cry of War, by hearing which, they were convocated to the place of general meeting. The cry of the Likewise ye Minstrels, who celebrate in stra'ns of end'ess praise, the brave warriors who die in battle, ye have poured forth the numerous songs of the Bard, free from the toils and dangers of war. Macdonalds was Freich, i. e. Heather, of the Macphersons, Craigubhie,--of the Mackenzies, Tullick-ard,—of the Grants, CraigElachie. And this was the cry of him that carried the FieryCross. Every Clan had a distinguishing Badge, whereby they might be known, as they had no military habit or livery. Their badges were natural and plain, (not ribbonds, feathers, or such gewgaws), which they wore in their bonnets. The Macdonalds wore a bush of Heather, -the Macintoshes a Holly-branch,-the Grants a Fir-bush, &c. Upon an expedition, they much regarded Omens. An armed man meeting them was a good omen. If a woman bare-footed crossed the road before them, they seized her, and fetched blood from her forehead. If a Deer, Fox, Hare, or any beast of game appeared, and they did not kill it, it was an unlucky omen, &c. The Cuid-Oidche, i. e. a night's provision was paid by many tenants. In hunting, or going on an expedition, the tenant who lived near the hill, furnished his master and his followers a night's entertainment, with brawn for his dogs. This is now converted into a stated rent. Passing other customs, I proceed to |