The Wilmingtonian., 1824-01-22

rom inflictlng further crueitles On the re-
naming prisoners.
ROB ROY MACGREGOR.
HThe Eagle he was lord above,
But Rob was lord below"
Although Rob Roy Macgregor, from his great
personal prowess, and the dauntless energy OF his
mind, which, in the most trying and difficult e.
never forsook him, was the dread of
every country where his name was known, thelj
urbanity and kindness Of his manners to his infe-
riors, gained him the good will and services OIL
his whole clan, who were always ready TO subj
init to any privation, or to Undergo any hardshp
ito protect him from the multitude OF ensmiesI
who sought his destruction; and one or two,i
among many instances of their attachment, mayl
here be mentioned IA debt, to pretty large
amount, which he had long owed to person mi
1.-The Lowlands, could never be recovered, BECAUSE
mo one would undertake to execute diligence
against him. At length messenger at Edinburgh
appeared, who pledged himself, that with SIX
men, he would go through the whole Highlands.
and would apprehend Rob Roy, or any man OF his
name. The fellow was stout and resolute. ne
was offered handsome sum, it he would bring
Rob Roy Macgregor to the Jail OF Sterling, and
was allowed men OF his own choice tie accord
ngly equipped himself and his men, with swords,
sticks, and every thing fitted for the expedition;
and having arrived at the only public house then
lin Balquhiddar, he inquired the way to Rob's
house. This party were at once known to be
strangers, and the landlord coming to learn their
business, he sent notice OF it to his good friend
Rob- and advised them not to go farther, lest they
might come to repent OF their folly; but the ad'
Ivce was disregarded, and they went forward
The party waited at some distance from Inc
-lhouse, and the MESSENGER himself went to recon-
Inoitre.
i Having announced himself as stranger who
had lost his way, he was politely shown BY Rob
into large room, where
"--All around, the walls to grace,
Hung trophies of the fight or cllace;
: A target there, bugle here,
4 A battle axe, hunting spear,
: And broad.swords, bows and arrows store,
With the tusked trophies of the boar
(which astonished him so much, that he felt as j
: he had got into u of the internal regions
bpt when the room door was shut, and he saw
hanging behind it stuffed figure OF a man, in
: -tentonaliy placed there, his terror increased t
l,lsuch degree, that he screamed out, and asked
Milf it was dead man To which Rob coolly All
eIswered, that it was rascal OF messenger VIII
olhad come TO the house the night before that N
slhad killed him, and had not got time to hav'
him buried Fear now wholly oyercame the mes
o singer, and he could scarcely arliculate bene
ltdcton for his soul, when he tainted and fell up
r. on the floor. Four of Rob's men carried nm
a out of the house, and, IN order to complete th
ljoke and at the same time to restore the man
efe they took him to the river just by, and tosse
him in, allowing him to get out the best way IL
v could himself. His companions, in the meal
n time, seeing all that happened, and supPosing n
had been killed, took to their heels; but tn
e y, whole glen having now became alarmed, met tn
II fugitiyes in every direction, and gave every on
J. of them such a complete ducking, that they ha
,freason all their lives TO remember the lake an
river of Balquhiddar.
These people were no sooner out of the hand
e of the Macgregors, than they made speedy e.
o treat to Stirling, not taking time on the road
e dry their Clothes lest repetition OF Their trea
r ment should take place; and upon their arriv
d|there, they represented the usage they had r.
= :. ceived, with exaggerated accounts OF the assa
70 snations and crueltes of the Macgregors, maf
[0Inifying their own escape, and prowess IN havln
isIkiljed several of the claH that the story wa
n report ed to the commander of the castle, who o.
oldered company of soldiers to march INTO IN
'e Highlands, 10 lay hold of Rob Roy Mscgregor:-
u A party OF Macgregors, who were returning WIZ
le some booty which they had acquired along til
s banks of the Forth, deserted the military on the
al way to Callander, and, suspecng their intention
Ihastened to acquaint Rob Roy OF what they ss"
lin few hours the whole country was warned {
the approaching danger, and guards were place
at different stations to give nouce OF tne NOV
e : menis of the soldiers. All the men wNhin seV.
raj miles were prepared to repel this INVASION,
:, case it was TO lay waste the country. which ha
" often been done before but the military hao n
d. other orders than TO seize Rob Roy VINO consi'
is cred it more prudent to take refuge IN the h,ll
h. than openly to give the military oattie' Wheh the
nj meant no other hostility.
~ After fruitless search for many Gays, the so
e. -Itliers, unaccustomed to the fatigue OF ctmoin
X mountains, and scramblng over rocks, and thr'
es woods, took shelter at night IN an empty 'louss
r. which they furnished with heath tor oeds an
&c 1.-THE Macyregor unwilling that they should ieaV
'their country without some lasting re'heliora,,
n of them, set fire to the house, Which sPeeoi'
1t. t.disIodged the soldiers. In the confusion mar
,isIof them were hurt number lost their arms, an
Idlone man was killed by the accidental dlschsre
:. lof musket, The military party, thus throw
ll-I;nto confusion, broke down by fatigue, and a
he most famished for want ofprovisions, which the
~. could not procure, withdrew from the count
nd of the Macgregors, happy that they had escape
h $50 we'll.
ie The tribute of sblack mall extended und'
er Rob Rows system TO all classes people, to I
he jferior proprietors, and to every description
ck kltenantry, but the more powerful chieftalns' IN
orthev at times considered Rob as all as il auxili
"a |ry and though their property was often suoJec
81 ed to spolialon; would seldom consent to ,h
IN n-compulsatory regulation, as being too degradi,
re- Ito that consequence which they were ANXIOUS
ain Rob did certainly as OCCASION requFS g