The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

INTRODUCTION TO ROB ROY. 11
Gregor, and restored them to the full use of their family name, and the
other privileges of liege subjects, setting forth, as a reason for this lenity,
that those who were formerly designed MacGregors had, during the late
troubles, conducted themselves with such loyalty and affection to his Majesty,
as might.justly wipe off all memory of former miscarriages, and take away
all marks of reproach for the same.
It is singular enough, that it seems to have aggravated the feelings of the
non-conforming Presbyterians, when the penalties which were most unjustly imposed upon themselves were relaxed towards the poor MacGregors;
-so little are the best men, any more than the worst, able to judge with
impartiality of the same measures, as applied to themselves, or to others.
Upon the Restoration, an influence inimical to this unfortunate clan, said to
be the same with that which afterwards dictated the massacre of Glencoe,
occasioned the re-enaction of the penal statutes against the MacGregors.
There are no reasons given why these highly. penal acts should have been
renewed; nor is it alleged that the clan had been guilty of late irregularities. Indeed, there is some reason to think that the clause was formed of.
set purpose, in a shape which should elude observation; for, though containing conclusions fatal to the rights of so many Scottish subjects, it is
neither mentioned in the title nor the rubric of the Act of Parliament in
which it occurs, and is thrown briefly in at the close of the statute 1693,
chap. 61, entitled, an Act for the Justiciary in the Highlands.
It does not, however, appear that after the Revolution the acts against the
clan were severely enforced; and in the latter half of the eighteenth century, they were not enforced at all. Commissioners of supply were named
in Parliament by the proscribed title of MacGregor, and decrees of courts
of justice were pronounced, and legal deeds entered into,'under the same
appellative. The MacGregors, however, while the laws continued in the
statute-book, still suffered under the deprivation of the name which was
their birthright, and some attempts were made for the purpose of adopting
another, MacAlpine or Grant being proposed as the title of the whole clan
in future. No agreement, however, could be entered into; and the evil was
submitted to as a matter of necessity, until full redress was obtained from
the British Parliament, by an act abolishing for ever the penal statutes
which had been so long imposed upon this ancient race. This statute, well
merited by the services of many a' gentleman of the clan in behalf of their
King and country, was passed, and the clan proceeded to act upon it with
the same spirit of ancient times, which had made them suffer severely under
a deprivation that would have been deemed of little consequence by a great
part of their fellow subjects.
They entered into a deed recognising John Murray of Lanrick, Esq.
(afterwards Sir John MacGregor, Baronet), representative of the family of
Glencarnock, as lawfully descended from the ancient stock and blood of the
Lairds adnd Lords of MacGregor, and therefore acknowledged him as their.
chief on -all lawful occasions and causes whatsoever. The deed was subscribed by eight hundred and twenty-six persons of the name of MacGregor,
capable of bearing arms. A great many of the clan during the last war
formed themselves into what was called the Clan Alpine regiment, raised in
1799, under the command of their Chief, and his brother Colonel MacGregor.
Having briefly noticed the history of this clan, which presents a rare and
interesting example of the indelible character of the patriarchal system, the
author must now offer some notices of the individual who gives name to
these volumes.
In giving an account of a-Highlander, his pedigree is first to be considered.
That of Rob Roy was deduced from Ciar Mhor, the great mouse-coloured
man, who i-s accused by tradition of having slain the young students at the
battle of Glenfruin.*
Erroneously accused. See a preceding note, p. 8.