in peace unless the business was settled； and that； if the officer would suffer him to return to Glasgow； a few hours there would be sufficient； and he would join him before he reached Edinburgh； and march as a prisoner with the party。 The soldier added； 'You have known me since I was a child； you know my country and kindred； and you may believe I shall never bring you to any blame by a breach of the promise I now make； to be with you in full time to be delivered up in the Castle。' This was a startling proposal to the officer； who was a judicious； humane man； and knew perfectly his risk and responsibility in yielding to such an extraordinary application。 However； his confidence was such； that he complied with the request of the prisoner； who returned to Glasgow at night； settled his business； and left the town before daylight to redeem his pledge。 He took a long circuit to avoid being seen； apprehended as a deserter； and sent back to Glasgow； as probably his account of his officer's indulgence would not have been credited。 In consequence of this caution； and the lengthened march through woods and over hills by an unfrequented route； there was no appearance of him at the hour appointed。 The perplexity of the officer when he reached the neighbourhood of Edinburgh may be easily imagined。 He moved forward slowly indeed； but no soldier appeared； and unable to delay any longer； he marched up to the Castle； and as he was delivering over the prisoners； but before any report was given in； Macmartin； the absent soldier； rushed in among his fellow prisoners； all pale with anxiety and fatigue； and breathless with apprehension of the consequences in which his delay might have involved his benefactor。
〃In whatever light the conduct of the officer （my respectable friend； Major Colin Campbell） may be considered； either by military men or others； in this memorable exemplification of the characteristic principle of his countrymen； fidelity to their word； it cannot but be wished that the soldier's magnanimous self…devotion had been taken as an atonement for his own misconduct and that of the whole； who also had made a high sacrifice； in the voluntary offer of their lives for the conduct of their brother soldiers。 Are these a people to be treated as malefactors； without regard to their feelings and principles？ and might not a discipline； somewhat different from the usual mode； be； with advantage； applied to them？〃Vol。II。 pp。413…15。 3rd Edit。
〃A soldier of this regiment； （The Argyllshire Highlanders） deserted； and emigrated to America； where he settled。 Several years after his desertion； a letter was received from him； with a sum of money； for the purpose of procuring one or two men to supply his place in the regiment； as the only recompense he could make for 'breaking his oath to his God and his allegiance to his King； which preyed on his conscience in such a manner； that he had no rest night nor day。'
〃This man had had good principles early instilled into his mind； and the disgrace which he had been originally taught to believe would attach to a breach of faith now operated with full effect。 The soldier who deserted from the 42nd Regiment at Gibraltar； in 1797； exhibited the same remorse of conscience after he had violated his allegiance。 In countries where such principles prevail； and regulate the character of a people； the mass of the population may； on occasions of trial； be reckoned on as sound and trustworthy。〃Vol。II。； p。218。 3rd Edit。
〃The late James Menzies of Culdares； having engaged in the rebellion of 1715； and been taken at Preston； in Lancashire； was carried to London； where he was tried and condemned； but afterwards reprieved。 Grateful for this clemency； he remained at home in 1745； but； retaining a predilection for the old cause； he sent a handsome charger as a present to Prince Charles； when advancing through England。 The servant who led and delivered the horse was taken prisoner； and carried to Carlisle； where he was tried and condemned。 To extort a discovery of the person who sent the horse； threats of immediate execution in case of refusal； and offers of pardon on his giving information； were held out ineffectually to the faithful messenger。 He knew； he said； what the consequence of a disclosure would be to his master； and his own life was nothing in the comparison。 When brought out for execution； he was again pressed to inform on his master。 He asked if they were serious in supposing him such a villain。 If he did what they desired； and forgot his master and his trust； he could not return to his native country； for Glenlyon would be no home or country for him； as he would be despised and hunted out of the glen。 Accordingly he kept steady to his trust； and was executed。 This trusty servant's name was John Macnaughton； from Glenlyon； in Perthshire。 He deserves to be mentioned； both on account of his incorruptible fidelity； and of his testimony to the honourable principles of the people； and to their detestation of a breach of trust to a kind and honourable master； however great might be the risk； or however fatal the consequences； to the individual himself。〃Vol。1。； pp。 52；53； 3rd Edit。
� NOTE TO THE TWO DROVERS。
Note 11。ROBERT DONN'S POEMS。
I cannot dismiss this story without resting attention for a moment on the light which has been thrown on the character of the Highland Drover since the time of its first appearance； by the account of a drover poet； by name Robert Mackay； or； as he was commonly called； Rob Donnthat is； Brown Robertand certain specimens of his talents； published in the ninetieth number of the Quarterly Review。 The picture which that paper gives of the habits and feelings of a class of persons with which the general reader would be apt to associate no ideas but those of wild superstition and rude manners； is in the highest degree interesting； and I cannot resist the temptation of quoting two of the songs of this hitherto unheard…of poet of humble life。 They are thus introduced by the reviewer：
〃Upon one occasion； it seems； Rob's attendance upon his master's cattle business detained him a whole year from home； and at his return he found that a fair maiden to whom his troth had been plighted of yore had lost sight of her vows； and was on the eve of being married to a rival （a carpenter by trade）； who had profited by the young drover's absence。 The following song was composed during a sleepless night； in the neighbourhood of Creiff； in Perthshire； and the home sickness which it expresses appears to be almost as much that of the deer…hunter as of the loving swain。
'EASY IS MY BED； IT IS EASY； BUT IT IS NOT TO SLEEP THAT I INCLINE； THE WIND WHISTLES NORTHWARDS； NORTHWARDS； AND MY THOUGHTS MOVE WITH IT。 More pleasant were it to be with thee In the little glen of calves； Than to be counting of droves In the enclosures of Creiff。 EASY IS MY BED； ETC。
'Great is my esteem of the maiden Towards whose dwelling the north wind blows； She is ever cheerful； sportive； kindly； Without folly； without vanity； without pride。 True is her heartwere I under hiding； And fifty men in pursuit of my footsteps； I should find protection； when they surrounded me most closely； In the secret recess of that shieling。 EASY IS MY BED； ETC。
'Oh for the day for turning my face homeward； That I may see the maiden of beauty Joyful will it be to me to be with thee； Fair girl with the long heavy locks！ Choice of all places for deer…hunting Are the brindled rock and the ridge！ How sweet at evening to be dragging the slain deer Downwards along the piper's cairn！ EASY IS MY BED； ETC。
'Great is my esteem for the maiden Who parted from me by the west side of the enclosed field； Late yet again will she linger in that fold； Long after the kine are assembled。 It is I myself who have taken no dislike to thee； Though far away from thee am I now。 It is for the thought of thee that sleep flies from me； Great is the profit to me of thy parting kiss！ EASY IS MY BED； ETC。
'Dear to me are the boundaries of the forest； Far from Creiff is my heart； My remembrance is of the hillocks of sheep； And the heath of many knolls。 Oh for the red…streaked fissures of the rock； Where in spring time the fawns leap； Oh for the crags towards which the wind is blowing Cheap would be my bed to be there！ EASY IS MY BED； ETC。'
〃The following describes Rob's feelings on the first discovery of his damsel's infidelity。 The airs of both these pieces are his own； and； the Highland ladies say； very beautiful。
'Heavy to me is the shieling； and the hum that is in it； Since the ear that was wont to listen is now no more on the watch。 Where is Isabel； the courteous； the conversable； a sister in kindness？ Where is Anne； the slender…browed； the turret…breasted； whose glossy hair pleased me when yet a boy？ HEICH！ WHAT AN HOUR WAS MY RETURNING！ PAIN SUCH AS THAT SUNSET BROUGHT； WHAT AVAILETH ME TO TELL IT？
'I traversed