86 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



than the massacre of his own subjects in Glenco, and the spirited mediation 

 with which he interfered in behalf of these Protestants of the Alps. The facts 

 are totally irreconcilable, and show that the human mind is made up of the 

 most contradictory impulses. The tide of popular indignation against Secretary 

 Stair* ran so high, that he never recovered his standing with the public. 



It is only while contemplating this glen in all its native wildness such as it is 

 in the depth of winter and in observing how difficult it must have been to escape, 

 that one feels the full force of the " Secretary Stair's cool blood-thirstiness," 

 as manifested in his letters ; his earnest anxiety to have the passes well guarded, 

 the work done in the depth of winter, and under cloud of night ; when, if any 

 escaped, they must have escaped naked ; and if they did not fall by the sword, 

 must have perished in the snow. But we now take leave of this painful subject, 

 recommending to such of our readers as would wish to examine the facts more 

 in detail, to peruse the documents then published, particularly " the Report 

 of the Commission"')- given by his Majesty for inquiring into the slaughter of 

 the men of Glenco. 



From such melancholy details it is a sensible relief to turn once more to the 

 radiant face of nature to the romantic landscape spread out before us, and now 

 reflecting its rich and varied beauties in the calm bosom of Loch-etive. " Je 

 revenais de Glenco, par le sentier qui longe le bord du torrent . . . Je me 

 retournais souvent pour considerer les ruines de ce malheureux village !" " Et 

 comment trouvez-vous notre pays, colonel ?" " Admirable !" " N'est-ce pas ? 

 des vues superbes !". . . " Et des femmes charmantes . . . Une, surtout, que je 

 n'ai fait qu'entrevoir."J Here the grand and imposing feature is Ben-cruachan, 

 looking from his " throne of clouds," over the vast congeries of hills that form 

 his girdle. This lake, like most of the others so named, is a long arm of the 

 sea, communicating with Loch-awe by means of the river flowing out of the 

 latter. That portion of Loch-etive which expands before the ferry of Bun-awe 

 the point from which the accompanying view was taken is strikingly beau- 

 tiful, possessing that air of tranquil majesty, that union of the beautiful and 



* In the rebellion of 1745, the Glenco men were accidentally quartered near the house of his son and 

 representative. When the circumstance was adverted to, some apprehension was felt lest the men might 

 seize on so favourable an opportunity to avenge the massacre. But when this transpired, and they learnt 

 that, by way of caution, they were to be marched to some distance, they at once prepared to return home ; 

 and being questioned on the subject " We will not," they said, " endure insult where we had pledged 

 honourable service ! We will not be thought capable of making an innocent man suffer for the crime of 

 his lather." The answer is a noble testimony in their favour. 



t This document was subscribed at Holyrood House, the 2Uth day of June, A.D. 1693. 



J " L'Orpheline de Glencoe." Paris, 1836. 



