THE ISLES AND WILLIAM OF ORANGE. 387 



their resolution. All they required was to have a general 

 indemnity, security in their possessions, and a small pay- 

 ment to certain of their number " to put them at ease." 

 The attitude of the chiefs was well known to Hill, who thus 

 found an easy basis for negotiations. But, with criminal 

 recklessness, the Government continued to ignore the advice 

 of the peacemakers, and to listen to that of the Jingoes. 

 The Commissioner, though convinced by Hill and Tarbat 

 of the wisdom of pacific measures, was over-ruled by the 

 war party, and refused to interfere with the military dis- 

 positions which were being made for crushing the insurgents. 

 General Mackay again took the field with so considerable 

 a body of men, as to render organised resistance on the 

 part of the Highlanders, impossible. 



It was at this stage that Lord Tarbat again addressed 

 a long and weighty letter to the King, detailing the recent 

 occurrences, and earnestly pressing for a reversal of the 

 policy which was being pursued. He pointed out the vast 

 expense which was being incurred, with such barren results, 

 and the misery suffered by peaceable subjects, equally from 

 the " necessary harassing" of the army and the " ravaging 

 and robbing " of the enemy. " Twenty such campaigns," 

 he declared, would not reduce the Highlanders; for, notwith- 

 standing the utility of the Fort William garrison, it would 

 never conquer the enemy nor adequately protect the Low- 

 lands from their incursions. " All their estates will not 

 recompense a tenth of one year's losses, and giving them 

 what they desire is less loss than to keep up the army 

 three months, besides three years." But he had an alter- 

 native suggestion to offer. " I ventured to tell you that 

 persuading the Highlanders was a good way to fatigue 

 your enemy and waste money, but in my opinion was not 

 so fit a way to reduce the Highlands as by posting the 

 army so as to block them up within the hills, and mean- 

 while invest them by sea. But neither way is so easy and 

 secure as by treaty, which the tenth part of what is already 

 expended would have done." With reference to Seaforth's 

 position, Tarbat wrote in the same spirit. The Earl was 



