Rob Roy – Complete

Published in Blackwood’s Magazine, vol. ii. p. 228.

22

Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Canto II.

23

See Appendix, No. VI.

24

Such, at least, was his general character; for when James Mhor, while perpetrating the violence at Edinbilly, called out, in order to overawe opposition, that Glengyle was lying in the moor with a hundred men to patronise his enterprise, Jean Key told him he lied, since she was confident Glengyle would never countenance so scoundrelly a business.

25

Note E. Allan Breck Stewart.

26

The Trials of the Sons of Rob Roy, with anecdotes of Himself and his Family, were published at Edinburgh, 1818, in 12mo.

27

James died near three months before, but his family might easily remain a long time without the news of that event.

28

It does not appear to whom this letter was addressed. Certainly, from its style and tenor, It was designed for some person high in rank and office – perhaps the King’s Advocate for the time.

29

This curious epistle is copied from an authentic narrative of Marshal Wade’s proceedings in the Highlands, communicated by the late eminent antiquary, George Chalmers, Esq., to Mr. Robert Jamieson, of the Register House, Edinburgh, and published in the Appendix to an Edition of Burt’s Letters from the North of Scotland, 2 vols. 8vo, Edinburgh, 1818.

30

i. e. John the Red – John Duke of Argyle, so called from his complexion, more commonly styled “Red John the Warriour.”

31

A pass on the eastern margin of Loch Lomond, and an entrance to the Highlands.

32

The introduction of gaugers, supervisors, and examiners, was one of the great complaints of the Scottish nation, though a natural consequence of the Union.

33

This seems to have been written about the time of Wilkes and Liberty.

34

Now called Don Juan.

35

Perhaps from the French Juste-au-corps.

36

On occasions of public alarm, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, the horses of the Catholics were often seized upon, as they were always supposed to be on the eve of rising in rebellion.

37

[The lines here quoted belong to or were altered from a set of verses at one time very popular in England, beginning, Tobacco that is withered quite. In Scotland, the celebrated Ralph Erskine, author of the Gospel Sonnets, published what he called “Smoking Spiritualized, in two parts. The first part being an Old Meditation upon Smoking Tobacco.” It begins —

This Indian weed now withered quite,
Tho’ green at noon, cut down at night,
Shows thy decay;
All flesh is hay.
Thus thank, and smoke tobacco.]

38

Note F. The Abbess of Wilton.

39

[The Laigh Kirk or Crypt of the Cathedral of Glasgow served for more than two centuries as the church of the Barony Parish, and, for a time, was converted into a burial-place. In the restorations of this grand building the crypt was cleared out, and is now admired as one of the richest specimens of Early English architecture existing in Scotland.]

40

I have in vain laboured to discover this gentleman’s name, and the period of his incumbency. I do not, however, despair to see these points, with some others which may elude my sagacity, satisfactorily elucidated by one or other of the periodical publications which have devoted their pages to explanatory commentaries on my former volumes; and whose research and ingenuity claim my peculiar gratitude, for having discovered many persons and circumstances connected with my narratives, of which I myself never so much as dreamed.

41

This I believe to be an anachronism, as Saint Enoch’s Church was not built at the date of the story. [It was founded in 1780, and has since been rebuilt.]

42

[A street in the old town of Glasgow.]

43

[The lads with the kilts or petticoats.

44

[The Gorbals or “suburbs” are situate on the south side of the River.]