386 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



The Earl of Breadalbane proposed a fresh armistice until 

 the end of November, and offered his services to treat with 

 the clans. General Mackay, who was then ready to lead 

 his troops against the insurgents, was opposed to a policy 

 of conciliation, having, as a soldier, a greater belief in the 

 efficacy of force than in the negotiations of statecraft. The 

 firebrands prevailed ; and a force under Major Fergusson 

 was sent to reduce the West Highlands and Isles to sub- 

 mission. At this stage of the proceedings, Tarbat inter- 

 vened to save, if he could, the Highlanders from " ruin," 

 and to prevent those who were wavering from being driven 

 to desperation. But although backed by Colonel Hill, the 

 brave and humane governor of Fort William, Tarbat's 

 representations were frustrated by the war party, and the 

 expedition against the insurgents was set in motion. Major 

 Fergusson harried the coasts of the Jacobite chiefs, from 

 Mull to the Long Island ; while the Highlanders on the 

 mainland discreetly kept out of the way of Mackay, who 

 " judged it not fit to seek them out." Much credit seems 

 to be due to Colonel Hill, for his methods of warfare 

 against the Highlanders. Instead of exasperating them 

 by seventy, he sought to subdue them by treaty. He suc- 

 ceeded in detaching Seaforth from the irreconcilables, and 

 in extracting a promise from him not to rejoin the enemy, 

 until the result of the pending negotiations should be 

 declared. In terms of his agreement with the Colonel, 

 Brahan Castle was to be evacuated by the garrison, and 

 the Earl suffered to re-occupy it peacefully. Hill com- 

 municated with Lord Tarbat on the subject, and sent a 

 report to the King's Commissioners ; but for some unknown 

 reason, the report never reached its destination, and Sea- 

 forth was left to nurse his chagrin in the hills. When 

 General Mackay left the Highlands, Colonel Hill resumed 

 his negotiations with the chiefs. With the exception of 

 Seaforth, they had all determined to hang together which, 

 although in a totally different sense, was precisely what the 

 war party wanted them to do and treat for peace in a 

 body ; and they had decided to inform King James of 



