G8 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



of Lochaber, particularly, his memory is cherished with amiable partiality ; and 

 through the Highlands generally, the name of the " gentle Lochiel" never fails 

 to awaken the most kindly sympathies in his favour. His opinion was so much 

 respected, and his support deemed of so much weight in the cause, that, until 

 the prince had obtained a guarantee for the latter, his desperate enterprise met 

 with little countenance from the neighbouring chiefs. However much they 

 felt attached at heart to the house of Stuart, and to the person of its repre- 

 sentative then amongst them, it required little penetration to foresee, that the 

 standard once raised, this proof of their loyalty might entail ruin on themselves 

 and their posterity. This Lochiel clearly foresaw, and would have avoided ; but, 

 led away by a strange fatality, he openly espoused what he inwardly condemned, 

 and to escape the imputation of coldness to his prince, plunged into the vortex 

 in which so many of his gallant clansmen were destined to perish. 



When Charles first landed in Borrodale, Lochiel heard the tidings with 

 inward sorrow, but hastened to present himself before the royal stranger, and, 

 if he could not prevail on him to abandon the enterprise, to offer him at least 

 the rights of hospitality. Thus resolved on the part he should act, Lochiel 

 set out, and on his way to the prince, who had anchored off the coast, called 

 at the house of his brother Cameron of Fassafern, to whom he expressed his 

 intention of dissuading Charles from the mad speculation in which he had 

 embarked. " Then," said his brother, " if such be your intention, proceed no 

 further ; perform this duty by letter ; a trusty messenger shall convey it into 

 the prince's hands." " No," said Lochiel, " that were a mark of disrespect 

 of which I cannot be guilty. I will present myself in person, explain my 

 reasons, and without reserve counsel the prince to deliberate on the rash step 

 he has taken, and abandon the enterprise." " Brother," said Fassafern, " I 

 know you better than you know yourself ; if the prince once sets eyes on you, 

 he will make you do whatever he pleases : reflect while it is yet time." The 

 conversation ended. Thus ominously warned, Lochiel proceeded to the inter- 

 view,* and was complimented by the prince on this early demonstration of 

 loyalty. " Yes," said he, " my father has often told me that Lochiel was our 

 firmest friend." Lochiel, nevertheless, laboured by many arguments to convince 

 the royal adventurer that every circumstance was against him. He pointed out 



* It was while proceeding to this ill-starred interview, that Lochiel is supposed to have been met by a 

 native " seer," in a wild pass of the mountains, and forewarned of the "coming events," and the disasters 

 in which his concession should involve his own and the neighbouring clans. This traditional interview with 

 a person gifted with the faculty of ' second sight," has afforded a hint for CAMPBELL'S celebrated poem 

 of " Lochiel and the Wizard" a poem which, had he written nothing more, would have gone far to 

 establish his claims as the " poetarum facile princeps" of his age and country. 



