The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-20
BY Ia MARaUIsE DE FoNTEsoY.

tr, He announcements: made in these
letters the other day OF the fact
that the :hree chicftains OF the
great Clan OF Macdonald had at
length come to an agreement 10 de-
termine questions of precedence. when
ever they me:, by the spinning OF "A
com thus bringing TO close a bitter
ieud that had bocn in progress for more
than 300 years, and that had been the
cause OF much b!Oodshed, crime adyen-
( ture, and romance. has brought me so
many requests from readers for more
information about the Macdonaids that
the following brief notes may be OF
interest.
The founder OF the family was the
isles, who although married to the
daughter OF IA Norwegian King, CON
tributed more than any ore else to
free Scotland from the rule of the Nor
wcgians, and OF the Danes He was u
shrewd man. and being once on q small
island. with only Il hundred Of his fol-
lowers. ana hnling himself hesieged
there by the entire Norwegian fleet. he
adopted singular stratagem TO frigh-
ten them from landing. His Highland
/ ers being clad in goatskins. he or
n ,..i,e them to march round the island.
with their colors dying and their bag
pipes playing. This attracted attention,
ana the moment the troops were out
OF sight, the men were ordered by him
10 turn their coats inside out, and with
this altered exterior and with different
tunes being played on the pipes they
marched past the Norwegian feet again.
Having repeated u similar mctamor-
phosis several times. the invaders be-
came alarmed at the number OF regl-
incnts apparently mustered TO oppose
! them, and set sail, without beat of
drum.
At Somerleds death, his dominions
were divided between his two sons, ana
from them came tho Lords of the Isles
| the Isles OF the time Of Robert Bruce
| was styled Lord OF Innissacl that is
J to say. Lord OF the Islands of Gael or
calls shf him eSf!aes SIR wSiter Scot,
reason that this name is prettier The
grandson OF Angus Og was named
Donald, and his descendants were call
] ed Macdonald The Lords of tho Isles
were independent until the time of Alex
hnder, who was defeated at the battle
OF Lochaber, In 1929. and reduced TO
submission. by James !. OF Scotland
The last of these Macdonald Lords of
the Isles was John, who was likewise
Earl of Ross. lie was deprived of his
honors for rebellion against James III.
stored to him on his reconciliation to
/ the crown. but not the title of Lord of
! the Isles, which was retained by tho
King, and which has since the union
of The English and Scotch crowns been
one OF the most highly priced titles
of the Prince Of Wales.
Sir Donald Macdonald. who was chief
tain of the elan in the days of Charles
l.. received baronetcy. which is see
ond In point of seniority in the King
dom of Scotland Since last year, this
baronetcy, created In 1925, has been
III the possession of Sir Alexander
Bosvlllc Macdonald, by virtue of a
decree Of the Court of Session of scot
land, dated June 4. 1910, issued after II
had hccn surrendered. as Wrongfully
held. by his ltinsman. Lord Macdonald.
! The baronetcy and the chleftaincy-for
they go together--are known as those
OF Macdonald of Sieat, Sleat being in
/ nj nr
ness.
Both Sir Alexander Macdonald and
his kinsman, Lord Macdonald. nave
royal blood in their veins. For they
are both great-grandsons of the third
Lord Macdonald and OF Louisa Edsir
who was Il natural daughter of George
Ills brother. the royal Duke of
waiting, Lady Almeria Carpenter,
daughter OF the last Earl of Tyrcon-
nell: Louisa was brought UP at Holy
that she ran off with the third Lord
Macdonald to Gretna Green. Owing to
her having been q minor at the time,
there there was question ,.,, In Lord Macdon-
Green ceremony had been valid. So
some years later. after the birth of
his eldest son, he, went through an
according to the rites of the Church
of England. When he died. his eldest
son. born prior e this second marri-
convinced in his own mind that no was
illegitimate, that lie allowed both the
peerage and estates to go to mis- young
err brother, Godfrey. and being adopted
Lord Macdonald, Alexander Bosville by
name, inherited his large fortune and
extensive estates. as we'll as his name
of Bosville. and his armorial bear
ings.
Two years ago. tho present owner