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. 17
he was wont to consider), insulted him so grossly that a challenge passed
between them. The goodwife of the clachan had hidden Cunningham's
sword, and, while he rummaged the house in quest of his own or some
other, Rob Roy went to the Shieling Hill, the appointed place of combat,
and paraded there with great majesty, waiting for his antagonist. In the
meantime, Cunningham had rummaged out an old sword, and, entering the
ground of contest in all haste, rushed on the outlaw with such unexpected
fury that he fairly drove him off the field, nor did he show himself in the
village again for some time. Mr. MacGregor Stirling has a softened
account of this anecdote in his new edition of Nimmo's Stirlingshire; still
he records Rob Roy's discomfiture.
Occasionally Rob Roy suffered disasters, and incurred great personal
danger. D On one remarkable occasion he was saved by the coolness of his
lieutenant, Macanaleister, or Fletcher, the Little John of his band - a fine
active fellow, of course, and celebrated as a marksman. It happened that
MacGregor and his party had been surprised and dispersed by a superior
force of horse and foot, and the word was given to " split and squander."
Each shifted for himself, but a bold dragoon attached himself to pursuit of
Rob, and overtaking him, struck at him with his broadsword. A plate of
iron in his bonnet saved the MacGregor from being cut down to the teeth;
but the blow was heavy enough to bear him to the ground, crying, as he
fell, "O, Macanaleister, is there naething in her?" (i. e., in the gun.) The
trooper, at the same time, exclaiming, "D-n ye, your mother never
wrought your night-cap!" had his arm raised for a second blow, when
Macanaleister fired, and the ball pierced the dragoon's heart.
Such as he was, Rob Roy's progress in his occupation is thus described
by a gentleman of sense and talent, who resided within the circle of his
predatory wars, had probably felt their effects, and speaks of them, as
might be expected, with little of the forbearance with which, from their
peculiar and romantic character, they are now regarded.
" This man (Rob Roy MacGregor) was a person of sagacity, and neither
wanted stratagem nor address; and, having abandoned himself to all
licentiousness, set himself at the head of all the loose, vagrant, and
desperate people of that clan, in the west end of Perth and Stirlingshires,
and infested those whole countries with thefts, robberies, and depredations.
Very few who lived within his reach (that is, within the distance of a
nocturnal expedition) could promise to themselves security, either for their
persons or effects, without subjecting themselves to pay him a heavy and
shameful tax of black-mail. He at last proceeded to such a degree of
audaciousness, that he committed robberies, raised contributions, and
resented quarrels, at the head of a very considerable body of armed men,
in open day, and in the face of the government."*
The extent and success of these depredations cannot be surprising, when
we consider that the scene of them was laid in a country where the general
law was neither enforced nor respected.
Having recorded that the general habit of cattle-stealing had blinded
even those of the better classes to the infamy of the practice, and that as
men's property consisted entirely in herds, it was rendered in the highest
degree precarious, Mr. Grahame adds"On these accountsthere is no culture of ground, no improvement of
pastures, and, from the same reasons, no manufactures, no trade; in short,
no industry. The people are extremely prolific, and therefore so numerous,
A more polite and jaunty man
I never saw before:
Then Harry bowed, and blushed, and bowed,
And strutted to the door."'
See a Collection of Original Poems, by Scotch Gentlemen, vol. ii. page 125.
* Mr. Grahame of Gartmore's Causes of the Disturbances in the Highlands. See Jamieson's edition of
Burt's Letters from the North of Scotland, Appendix, vol. ii. p. 348.
VOL. III.-2 B2