THE ISLES AND WILLIAM OF ORANGE. 381 



city or inertness of his successor. Mackay of Scourie was 

 soon enabled to take the field again, confident of retrieving 

 the defeat at Killiecrankie, now that the " deil o' Dundee " 

 no longer led his formidable Highlanders. His anticipa- 

 tions were realised, for the caution, not to say the timidity, 

 of Cannon, and his impolicy in restraining the fighting 

 ardour of the clans, gave Mackay an advantage which 

 decided the issue in his favour. The repulse of the High- 

 landers at Dunkeld, where the gallant obstinacy of the 

 Cameronians saved themselves from annihilation, further 

 dispirited the clans, and finally led to their voluntary dis- 

 persal, disgusted with their commander, but steadfast in 

 their loyalty to King James. Mackay, a generous enemy, 

 endeavoured at this juncture to induce them to lay down 

 their arms ; but a spirited letter addressed to him by the 

 chiefs, in reply, showed that although temporarily dis- 

 couraged, they were not disposed to admit defeat. " We 

 scorn your usurper and the indemnity of his Government. 

 Those of us who live in the islands have already seen and 

 defied the Prince of Orange his frigates."* Such were the 

 uncompromising terms in which they answered Mackay 's 

 well-meant overtures. And among " those of us who live 

 in the islands " appear the names of Sir Donald Macdonald 

 of Sleat, Macdonald of Benbecula, and Macneill of Barra.f 

 ! A week later (24th August), a bond was signed by the 

 insurgent chiefs, obliging themselves to assemble in Sep- 

 tember for the service of King James, and in the meantime, 

 to stand by one another in the event of attack. Mac- 

 donald of Sleat was to bring 200 men, Benbecula, 200, and 

 Barra, 50. Lochiel was by common consent chosen to 

 command the clans, Colonel Cannon, in whom the High- 

 landers had lost all confidence, being now an impossible 

 leader. Mackay, disgusted with the supineness of the 

 Government, wished to throw up his command, but failing 

 to obtain even temporary leave of absence, applied himself, 



* Parl Records (Keltic's Highlands, Vol. II., p. 385). 



t Colin Mackenzie, afterwards of Kinachulladrum, Seaforth's uncle, was 

 one of the chiefs who signed the defiant message to Mackay. 



D D 



