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Abbay of Holyroodhouse, where many of the nobility of Scotland ly interred. The remains of this very excellent and unfortunate Lady were buried here in the most private and indifferent manner.

Upon her marriage with Sir J---n St---t of Grand---l---y, a gentleman of honour and family, tho' no fortune, the D---ke of D---g---s was intirely alienated from his sister by interested designing friends. He stopp'd her annuity, abandon'd her to poverty and insults of every kind. This excellent woman must have sunk beneath a train of the most severe misfortunes, had not some noble friends interposed on occasions, more especially, the Hon. Mr Pel---m, and the Hon. Mr S---t Mack---zie: Their humanity will ever reflect honour on the high stations which they fill in the state.

These reflections, it must be confessed, are too long, but as they are intimately connected with the subject of the poem, the candid reader may possibly admit them in the close of this Canto.

See Abraham's reply to the rich man, Luke, chap. xvi.

Address to the ingenious Mr Gray, author of these most elegant compositions in lyric poetry, and now professor of modern history in the University of Oxford.

The misfortunes of this most injur'd Lady were peculiarly severe. She was abandoned by her Brother who lov'd her tenderly, but was at last unhappily imposed upon by her most interested enemies. When, by the generous assistance of the Earl of M---t---n, she had got home with her children to Britain, her Husband was confined by his creditors three years in the prison of King's Bench:—She was, with her family, reduced to the condition of starving;—and at length resolved to cast herself on the mercy of the D---ke. When she came to D---g---s Castle, her enemies, ever watchful to frustrate any reconciliation, procured her express and determined exclusion. She passed that night, as the elegant writer of the memorial says, in the town of D---g---s, overwhelm'd with the deepest affliction: She wrote to the D---ke in the most pathetic terms, but was on all sides repulsed; and there is all the reason in the world to believe, that her moving remonstrances never found their way thro' the obsequious train of these emissaries who so meanly engaged in proceedings, the most illiberal, inhumane, and oppressive, as ever could be traced in any period.

Every one has heard of the repulse which L---dy J---ne sustain'd from her brother the D---ke: This pierc'd her very heart with anguish, and the death of her son Sholto, which happened soon after, threw her into the deepest melancholy. —Two physicians, eminent in their profession, declared, as it is in proof, she was dying of a broken heart. She came to Edinburgh in a very languishing state of health, and, on being visited by some friends, expressed the exceeding concern she was under on account of her only child Archibald. Under the awful apprehensions of dissolution, she never forgot her son; even when on the most solemn preparation for another world, the anxiety and affliction of a mother was manifest to every person. Amongst many depositions, this one is remarkable, “That L---dy J---ne took the sacrament in the New Gray-friars church eleven days before her death; and that every night after taking the sacrament, she took leave of her son in a very affectionate manner as a dying woman. She dy'd 22d November 1753, in the forenoon, in a most wretched apartment in the suburbs of Edinburgh, where she had lived for some time, destitute of the common necessaries of life.”

When she found her end was approaching, she made her son be brought to her, and laying her hand upon his head, admonish'd him, and recommended him to the protection of God in the most moving manner.

That L---y J---n D---g---s, when a woman of such virtue and accomplishments, as an hundred evidences have sworn to, and is manifest from a noble series of letters, the very transcripts of her heart, (Memorial, page 302, &c.) that such an excellent person should be abandoned to her fate in a wretched apartment and without the necessaries of life, may appear not a little surprising to many; but, it must be considered, she was of that turn of mind, that when her misfortunes increased, she grew more recluse, and courted retirement to give vent to her sorrow. These noblemen who had formerly supplied her necessities, were strangers to her present distress; others were at too great a distance to interpose. Her ever watchful enemies were only attentive to advance their concerns. She shut up herself in the suburbs, now brooding over the severity of her fate, now preparing to meet the stroke of death with fortitude and resignation. This, a few days after she had in the most devout manner received the communion, put a happy period to all her sufferings. The D---ke still imposed on by designing persons, directed she should be buried at his charge in the poorest manner in the Abbey of Holyrood-house. A few of his servants and others attended. Young D---g---s, who would not quit the corpse, and was privately dressed to attend the funeral, was with the utmost barbarity dragged out of the coach and carried back into the house. The people beheld such proceedings with the most sensible abhorrence, and imprecated vengeance on the authors of her misery.

Sir J---n was then confined by his creditors in the rules of King's Bench; it was impossible he could then have been absent from one he so deservedly loved. A Reverend and worthy Clergyman, who had been long intimate with L---y J---n, writes thus to Sir J---n on the melancholy occasion: “You were,” says he, “amongst the happiest of men, to be matched with such a one, not only for her quality, but qualifications: She excelled the most of her sex; but as she's gone and shines no more in this world, good reason we have to hope, she has made a happy change, where all sorrow and sighing fly away. She bore her affliction with great patience and resignation to the holy disposing will of God. She had her noble spirit till near her very last.” See D--- Memorial, page 15.

To testify their gratitude to their noble and public spirited benefactors in a public manner, seems, in this enlightened age, to be peculiar to the British nation. Such a concurrence of great events to advance the glory and happiness of a free people under the best of Kings, to secure the public peace and prosperity, our invaluable birth-rights and property, was never known in any age. What warms our hearts with the noblest sentiments; what smiles on every face with conscious joy and a becoming pride; what now transports, it may be said, a whole nation with the most uncommon and universal satisfaction; This great event, as glorious for D---g---s, as fortunate for his Country, shall be engraven indelible on the memory of the British nation, and when these great men the patrons of justice and freedom shall sleep with their fathers, fame shall transmit their deeds in the annals of this age to posterity. Distant ages shall perpetuate the memorial of their wisdom and justice, of their attachment to truth and righteousness, of that sacred bond which no influence on earth, nor fraud, nor faction, nor power, nor violence, could ever unhinge,

The very signal and early interposition of L---d C---c---t, now Ambassador at the Court of Rus---a, the league formed in behalf of D---g---s and the rights of mankind by the D---ch---s of D---g---s, the D---ke and D---ch---s of Q---b---y, the D---ke and D---ch---s of North---l---d, the M---q---s of L---th---n, the late E---l of M---rt---n, S---r J---n W---te---f---d, and many persons of rank, render their names famous to succeeding ages. The great stand which was made in behalf of a good cause in the H---se of P---rs, every body knows, and reflects upon it with gladness. The grand appearances made there by the L---d High Ch---l---r, by the L---d Chief J---s---ce, the D---ke of New---c---le, the twelve J---s, and the British Peers in support of the rights of a great and loyal subject, have made that day ever memorable to latest times.

The praise of that noble and most generous L---dy, who first patronized the defence of the D---g---s is great, as it is most just, through all the nation. Under the Divine Providence, which conducts all things, she seems to have presided through all the steps of this memorable cause, to have planned and acted, and persevered as the grand moving spring of the whole. Superior to every obstacle, to the uncommon fatigue and anxiety which must have attended the investigation of truth in a cause so long depending, and carried on in different kingdoms, she has lived to see the cause of truth and nature triumphant, and reaps the harvest of all her labours; her joy is equal to them, as Providence has crown'd all with success. But the D---ch---s of D---g---s needs none to sound her praise, her conduct speaks for itself, her actions are immortal, and reflect a lustre on the high rank and fortune she enjoys.

That ever memorable defence made by those learned S--- of the C--- of J---, the laborious pleadings both of the English and Scots Council, particularly of the L---d Adv---te, and Sir Fl---ch---r N---r---n; these elegant and manly writers, so much distinguished by their learned Appeals, the Memorial and Proof, the Case, the Essence, &c. the impartial decision of that ever celebrated jury, and their learned Chancellor Archibald M---r---y, Esq; who so nobly, in the beginning, laid a just foundation, which no attempts of fraud, of prejudice, and power could ever shake; all these shall be upheld examples through succeeding ages, so long as freedom and property have existence, or the annals of justice are read and consulted, in Britain the sacred arbiter of right, the stable seat of inflexible law and liberty.

All historians allow, that, in the beginning of this fatal conflict, the King of Scots carried all before him, and, with the forces from the north, intirely routed that part of the English army, where the Earl of Surry had placed his son Sir Edward Howard, one, who, in respect of valour, and personal courage, was inferior to none.

James performed wonders, as the historian observes. He dismounted from his horse, and commanding all his nobles and gentlemen, who fought next his person, to do the like, he spread fear and death wherever he turned his force: but in the end, this brave battalion was overpowered by numbers. The noblest and bravest of the army then formed themselves into a ring, and refusing quarter, fought to the last, choosing rather to fall with that Prince by an honourable death, than to save their lives by an ignominious flight.

John Douglas Earl of Morton, with George Master of Angus, and many brave men of their vassals, were among the slain.

Archibald Campbell Earl of Argyle, Malcolm Stuart Earl of Lennox, William Sinclair Earl of Caithness, John Lord Maxwell, and his three brothers, Alexander Gordon Marquis of Huntly, were among many who made that day lamentable to their country by their death.

The river Till which rises out of Cheviot hills, runs by Wooler, and falls, after a winding course, into the Tweed. This the English passed at Melford, and hard by on a declivity, since famous by the name Flowdon, was this battle fought.

The invectives of modern scurrility and national abuse, cannot fail to rouse in every honest mind a just indignation. What venom of this kind has been of late vented to the shame of human nature! vented most undeservedly against a generous, free, and warlike people! The authors and abettors of such impotent malignity are equally contemptible, and the mischief they design'd, like the wicked counsel of Achitophel, recoils upon themselves. The glory of an intrepid, virtuous, loyal, and great nation will be acknowledged by future ages with admiration, while the very memorial of the man who reviles his country, defies his sovereign, and blasphemes his God, shall perish, lest even the recollection of such monstrous wickedness, should contaminate the principles of posterity.

Historians agree that the Roman legions never could reduce the Caledonians or North Britons, but contented themselves with building the famous rampart known by the name of Graham's Dyke, to restrain the inroads of the brave race, who, notwithstanding, carried fire and sword into the Roman Province, wearied out the patient valour of the legionaries, and obliged the emperors at last to relinquish all their conquests, and give up their claim to Britain.

King of Norway, now part of Denmark. He arrived nigh the island of Bute with 160 sail, 20,000 soldiers, was intirely routed especially by Alexander Stuart the great grandfather of James I.

The famous defeat at Bannockburn, when Edward II, engaging with a handful of brave veterans under Robert the Bruce, lost his whole army, and relinquished his conquests.

William Douglas son to Lord Archibald, laid waste England to the gates of York; gained the famous battle of Otterburn against Lord Henry Piercy. The young hero Douglas lost his life; and Piercy, with his brother, and many others, were carried prisoners to Scotland.

The uniting of two great nations, whose fierce contentions had often proved fatal to themselves, and spread terror and ruin among their neighbouring kingdoms. The forming these by the solemn consent of the states, into one firm, free, and happy constitution, is one of the most memorable events which we meet with in the British annals. Every man's particular advantage under the happy union of the two nations, obliges him to acknowledge so fortunate an event, and he must be very insensible who can look back upon these great patriots who brought about so excellent a state of union and government, and not feel his breast warm with gratitude; and worse than insensible, who can go about with malevolent designs to interrupt this harmony of government, and divide a nation against itself.

Under the present auspicious reign, the success attending the British arms has been as great and extensive, as was ever known in any period whatever.

This successful monarch has carried his victorious arms through every quarter of the world; places of strength the most remote, and deemed impregnable, have been reduced; the interests of Britain, and the glory of her arms have been supported through the Mogul's empire by an officer of character from North Britain, with lasting honour to his brave battalions, and with glory and advantage to his king and country. A great general, seconded by an experienced and successful admiral, have accomplished the conquest of the French empire in North America. The many laurels reaped in Germany by a great personage, whose courage, ability, and good fortune, will astonish after-ages, intirely humbled the pride of the enemies of Great Britain; and the great part which the Scots nation bore in all these conquests, has justly procured them the thanks of the country, and of the sovereign.

Our present sovereign brought the war, by his signal and repeated victories to a glorious conclusion. He gave laws to the two mighty monarchies of France and Spain; he gave peace like the father of his people to his kingdoms, and to the whole world. Ever ready to promote the good of his subjects, to defend their rights, to advance commerce, and the liberal arts, to temper judgment with mercy, it can be no flattery to compare him to that great emperor Titus Vespasian, whose beneficence and shining virtues intitled him to the appellation of deliciae humani generis, the delight of mankind.

A noble Roman, whose frugality and honesty was equal to his most undaunted courage: Having conquered Pyrrhus, he divided the lands of Rome, to every man four acres, saying, “None should be a captain, who could not live hardy like a soldier.” When offered a bribe by the enemies of his country, he rejected it with disdain, saying, “He would rather be ruler over the rich, than rich himself.”

A Roman senator, who, having long struggled to reduce the power of Carthage, sailed over to Africa, sack'd Carthage, and advanced the glory of the republic to its greatest splendor.

The elder Cato, a noted soldier, and moralist. He subdued great part of Spain. His grandson Cato Uticensis is famous for his opposition to Caesar, when he invaded the liberties of Rome.

Paulus Emilius. The disinterestedness of this Roman was remarkable. Having conquered Macedon, he brought all the spoil of that ancient and opulent kingdom into the public treasury, reserving nothing to himself, but the glory he so justly acquired by his uncommon love to his country, and his attention to support her interest.

The ancient name of Dornoch, the chief town in Sutherland, pleasantly situated upon the coast, and watered by the Firth of that name; it lies about ten miles to the southward of the stately castle of Dunrobin, the seat of the most noble and ancient Earls of Sutherland.

Bertha was a very ancient town and fortress, it stood on the south side of the Frith of Tay, at the mouth of the river Almond. Having been entirely demolished by an inundation of the Tay about the thirteenth century, it was soon after rebuilt by the Scots King, in a most agreeable situation, as a garrison city, and ever since, it bears the Chieftain's name of Perth, who was proprietor of these lands.

The noble family of Sutherland (now represented by the young Countess, the Lady Elizabeth, a minor) is inferior to none, and in the right of ancient nobility, has the precedence before all the Earls, being raised to the dignity of Earls of Sutherland, many centuries ago. The hero from whom they trace their descent was, according to the simplicity of these times, stiled Hugo Freskyn: his son, William, as appears by record, was Earl of Sutherland long before 1214. Sprung from the most ancient race of Scottish herpes, the records of their prowess and chivalry goes back to the wars of Fingal and Lochlin.

In the troublesome æra of Bruce and Baliol, they were distinguished for their supporting and defending the cause of their country against the insolent tyranny and oppression of Edward. And in the heroic age which followed, of Douglas and Piercy, their valour and attention to the public interest, was singular among the first.

Kenneth, the third Earl, march'd his clan along with Douglas, the regent, in that unfortunate expedition, undertaken to relieve Berwick, then hard pressed with continual siege by the English. The battle of Halidon-hill proved fatal, in which he was slain, after uncommon proofs of his undaunted courage against the vastly superior forces of the enemy. With him fell also Douglas, the Earls of Ross and Caric, with James, John, and Allan Stewart, uncles to Robert the Second: this battle was lost in 1333.

William, the fourth Earl, married Margaret, daughter of Robert the First, and younger sister to David, his successor. This prince, upon his return to the throne, after a tedious captivity, forfeited severals of the most powerful, for their cowardice and misconduct in the battle near Durham, where he lost his crown and liberty for so many years. It seems some of the nobility had most shamefully retreated, without striking a blow, while David was taken prisoner in the very center of the English army, fighting desperately to the last, and striking down his assailants with his gauntlet, after he had broken his sword.

Amongst others, he passed by Robert Stewart, his nephew by his eldest sister, and settled the crown, with the form of these old times, upon Alexander, son of Margaret; he even conveened the nobles, and prevailed with them, in public assembly, to swear allegiance to his nephew, as his heir apparent; but upon the untimely death of this most promising young nobleman, the design as to the settlement of the crown was frustrated, and Robert came again into favour. After the death of Alexander, William, his father, had other children by the King's sister; his eldest was William, fifth Earl of Sutherland.

The applause, with which the Earls of Sutherland have done honour to nobility in later times, whether as heroes or statesmen, is well known, and needs not to be here repeated.

Ancient names of Norway and Denmark.

Ancient names of Norway and Denmark.

Now Inverness, the ancient town, or fortress; which stood on the south side of the river of that name, where it falls into Murray frith: it was built by Evenus Second, in such a manner as to serve either for war or merchandize, for Enner in the ancient Scots language, denotes a place where ships arrive.

Odin, or Woden, as we see from the Gothic Mythology, was the power who presided over war; his rites were most religiously observed by these barbarous nations, whose history contains little else than one continued sacrifice of war and inroad in honour of their chief Divinity.

Besides Woden, there were likewise the Vhalkyrhiuk, a troop of female Divinities, of inferior order, who seem to have been servants to the god of war; their name signifies the Chusers of the Slain. Mounted on flying steeds, they attended the warriors in battle, as so many genii, who presided over, and directed the issue of their bloody encounters.

With flaming swords they passed amongst the combatants, and in the throng of battle, selecting such as were destined for slaughter, conducted their victims to the awful Valhalla, that is, the Hall of Odin, or Paradise of the brave. There the slain were supposed to attend as servants upon the ghosts of their conquerors, whom they served in station of Cup-bearers.

See the Orcades of Thormodus Torfoeus, Bartholinus de causis contemnendæ mortis, or the beautiful Ode of the Fatal Sisters by the ingenious Mr. Gray.

The martial atchievements of this warlike branch sprung from the noble house of Douglas, and the memorable exploits of the other heroes here celebrated, may be seen at large in the historical tracts of Buchanan, Abercrombie, and other Scots writers.

Hauberk was a sort of corslet, or armour, for the body, peculiar to the ancient warriors; it was composed of a net-work of steel ringlets, or of brass, frequently, as we read of them used in old times; this armour was light and easy in battle, and most proper in standing fight, being so pliable, and adapting itself to all the motions of the body.

The device portrayed on the Danish standard, was a raven, the proper emblem to denote the savage genius of that ancient and warlike people. Their leaders, that they might inspire the host with more invincible courage and assurance in battle, gave out how this banner carried with it a supernatural charm: how it was woven by the sisters of King Ivar, a most savage prince, how they raised a tempest while at work, and all the demons of destruction, who hung over the woof with their baleful influence; so that whenever it was advanced in fight, it should shake terror and destruction on the enemy. These very picturesque lines in the mask of Alfred, by Thomson and Mallet, contain the best account we meet with of this magic banner:

Alfred, Act. II. Scene 4.

Camilla, a princess of the Volscian line. See the beautiful description of this warlike maid. Virg. End of 7th Æn.,

Colville of the Dale: The first of this family was a French knight, who came over with Douglas, Duke of Turraine: that they were favourite vassals, appears both from the Scotch and English history. Their lands are now swallowed up into the vast estate of Douglas, but their loyalty has continued the same, never to be alienated.

Their most steady and most singular attachment to the cause and fortunes of young Douglas for these many years past, is sufficiently known to all the world, and therefore need not be any further taken notice of.

The objection made to this note does not hold, as it cannot possibly have any reference to the noble peers of this name, whose prowess in war in former and later times, has done honour to nobility.

That they have been eminent for power and opulence, as well as for courage and conduct, in old times, is manifest from the stately fabricks of their castles and Gothick seats in sundry places, as well as from history.

The tomb of the Danish king is still pointed out at a little distance from the castle of Dunrobin. See Bowen's geogr.

The Danes landed in Scotland about the middle of the eleventh century: attempting in vain to get footing in the southern counties, they sailed northward, ravaging the coast in their way.

They were at last entirely routed by Græme and Dumbar, who commanded the forces from Lothian, and came up with them at Coilen, a river in the north of Banff.

This alludes to the famous victory at the village of Loncarty, near to Perth. The Danes had ravaged all the adjacent country, and had well nigh taken the place, when Kenneth fought them to relieve his strong garrison there.

One of the name of Hay coming up with his three sons, after the Scots army was broken, recovered the day, and entirely cut off the invaders: He was nobilitate at the first assembly of the Scots peers, and the descendants of the hero bear his arms to this day, three red shields portrayed on a shield of silver. This battle was fought, anno 985.

In the 1263, Acho King of Norway invaded Scotland with a fleet of 160 ships and 20,000 soldiers; he was entirely defeated by Alexander Stewart of Rothsay.

This baron was great grandfather to Robert the Second, and one of the illustrious ancestors of the noble and ancient family of Bute.

The isle and sortress being thus recovered, give a title to the eldest sons of British sovereign. Acho died at Orkney through grief for the death of the Prince of Norway, killed in this invasion.

See the Orcades of Torphoeus.

The Earl of Orkney, with the northern chieftains, sailed round with a fleet and army to the assistance of Syctrig, king of Ireland. The Earl of Orkney, and Brian, the monarch, against whom they had come, were both slain. This battle was fought about the 1230. See Orcades, &c.

Ancient name of Ireland.