The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-06-24
NUMBER q
G'ne Nine OF Diamonds.


y correspondent having requested ~
to state why the nine Of diamonds card
is called the "curse of Scotland" has in
duced US TO give very full answer 10
this often asked but seldom answered
Question. The famous family of the
Dalrymplcs, from whom so many strange
and horrible stories have their origin, are
also the cause of this curious expression.
Sir James Dairymple, first earl Of
Stair, was man Of great ability and ac>
tive public life in Scotland during the
days of the protectorate, after the restora-
ton and in the reign of William and
Mary. Macaulay speaks Of him as the
founder of a fsmily emineDtly distin-
gulshed at the bar, On the bench. In the
senate, IN diplomacy, in arms and in let
ters, but distinguished also by misfor.unes
and misdeeds which have furnished poets
ard novelists with material for the dark
est and most heart-rending tales" Sir
Walter Scoot called him one Of the great
est lawyers who ever lived, and his family
an ''iilustrious race 1t WAS the daugh-
ter Of this carl of Stair, James Dalrymple,
who stabbed her bridegroom in the nup-
tial chamber, upon which incident Scott
founded his story of lie bride Of LamDer-
moor.
Sir James Dalrymple lived ip corrupt
times, had to do with wicked men, and
must have been depraved, indeed, TO ex-
coed the sins Of those of his days; yet he
appears to have been hated with great iu-
tensity by large portion of the Scottish
&c
witch, and his many tragic misfortune
were considered special visitations O.
Providence. Still, withal, there had nos
yet fallen to the history OF his house lie
harsh imputation implied by the term - 6
are about TO explain.
This remarkable man shared his p0Ii.i-
cal power with his con, the able Juha
DalrymPlc, who, under William III, was
appointed Lord Advocate of ScoilanG,
and by his connection with lhe frightful
massacre of Glencoe, brought upon him
self and his fathers house the redouble3
hatred of the people The story of the
fierce crime is briefly as follows
William had issued proclamation Cf
pardon to all TIE highianders who would
S'tender :heir submission before The first
Of January, 1892" In obedience to this
demand the little can of Macdonald Of
! Glencoe, through the person of their chief
desiret so TO report their intention, be.
severe weather and mishaps delayed HI
| arrival before the proper officials uutil five
| days after the final day. John Dalrym-
pie and Others, ovcrjoyed at the incident.
obtained, by Misrepresentation TO the
king, permission to subdue the clan. 4
company of soldiers (Campbelrs) were
sent to the lonely glen, and a scene OF
atrocious cruelty was enacted, resulting
in the destruction of the clan, by blood
shed, hunger and cold.
The coat-of-arms of the Dalrymples IS
described; in heraldic phrase. cat or on;
| ground satire azure, nine lozenges of
the field,' meaning, principally, nine dia-
mo1sds, on St. Androw's cross. The
explanation is guessed before we finish
the nine of diamonds is, by reason of re-
semblance, called the ''Curse of Scotland "
1t is also said that Dalrymple's order
sending Campbell of GlenIyoh-who, by
| the way. was one of the ancient kinsmeu
of the lately celebrated Marquis of Lorne-
on the bloody errand to the fatal glen was
written on the back Of The nine of dia~
mond card, but this is altogether unlikely.