THE STRONG MINISTER. 359 



LOCH BROOM, 



It appears, possessed a very powerful preacher in the 

 troublous times of 1 745. His proper name was Robert- 

 son, although he was usually distinguished by the name 

 of "Am Ministeir l&idir,'' or, the Strong Minister. 

 While present one day during divine service in the church 

 of Fearn, a Gothic kind of building, covered with im- 

 mense gray flags in place of slates, the roof came sud- 

 denly down upon the congregation. Mr Robertson 

 remained upright, and making his way to the principal 

 door, perceived that the lintel was gi\ ing way at one end ; 

 he instantly placed his shoulder beneath it, and stood in 

 that supporting position till those who belonged to the 

 movement party made their escape. He then re-entered 

 among the crumbling ruins, and extricated his clerical 

 friend from beneath the sounding-board of the pulpit, 

 under which he lay ensconced with the addition of a mass 

 of stones and rubbish. Having afterwards gone to London 

 on business connected with the polities of the period, 

 he was introduced to the Duke < f Newcastle, who gave 

 him a fair promise of pardon to one Hector Mackenzie, a 

 condemned retainer of the Earl of Cromarty. The Duke 

 on his departing proffered him his hand, which the 

 Ministeir laidir squeezed with such energy that his 

 grace reiterated his promise twice over, and the man was 



