army. They marched into Lochaber, with a view of attack. ing a body of M'Donalds, commanded by Donald Balloch, and posted upon an arm of the sea, which intersects that country. Having timely intelligence of their approach, the insurgents got off precipitately to the opposite shore in their curraghs, or boats covered with skins. The King's troops encamped in full security; but the M'Donalds returning about midnight, surprised them, and killed the Earl of Caithness, and destroyed or dispersed the whole army. The Earl of Mar escaped in the dark without any attendants, and made for the more hilly part of the country. In the course of his flight he came to the house of a poor man, whose name was Omeron Cameron. The landlord welcomed his guest with the utmost kindness; but as there . was no meat in the house, he told his wife he would directly kill Maol Odhar,* to feed the stranger. "Kill our only cow," said she, "our own and our little children's principal support!" More attentive, however, to the present call for hospitality, than to the remonstrances of his wife, or the future exigencies of his family, he killed the cow. The best and tenderest parts were immediately roasted before the fire, and plenty of innirich, or Highland soup, prepared to conclude their meal. The whole family and their guest ate heartily, and the evening was spent, as usual, in telling tales and singing songs beside a cheerful fire. Bed-time came; Omeron brushed the hearth, spread the cow-hide upon it, and desired the stranger to lie down. The Earl wrapped his plaid about him, and slept soundly on the hide, whilst the family betook themselves to rest in a corner of the same room. Next morning they had a plentiful breakfast, and at his departure * Maol Odhar, i. e. the brown humble cow. departure his guest asked Cameron, if he knew whom he had entertained? "You may probably," answered he, "be one of the King's officers; but whoever you are, you came "here in distress, and here it was my duty to protect you. "To what my cottage afforded, you was most welcome.""Your guest then,” replied the other, "is the Earl of Mar; "and if hereafter you fall into any misfortune, fail not to come to the castle of Kildrummie."-" My blessing be "with you, noble stranger," said Omeron; "if I am ever "in distress, you shall soon see me." 66 The royal army was soon after re-assembled, and the insurgents finding themselves unable to make head against it, dispersed. The M'Donalds, however, got notice that Omeron had been the Earl's host, and forced him to fly the country. He came with his wife and children to the gate of Kildrummie castle, and required admittance, with a confidence which hardly corresponded with his habit and appearance. The porter told him rudely, his lordship was at dinner, and must not be disturbed. He became noisy and importunate: at last his name was announced. Upon hearing that it was Omeron Cameron, the Earl started from his seat, and is said to have exclaimed in a sort of poetical stanza, “I was "a night in his house, and fared most plentifully; but naked "of clothes was my bed. Omeron from Breugach is an "excellent fellow!" He was introduced into the great hall, and received with the welcome he deserved. Upon hearing how he had been treated, the Earl gave him a four merk land near the castle; and it is said, there are still a number of Camerons descended of this Highland Eumæus. No. No. XXXIV. From MR. J. RAMSAY, TO THE Reverend W. YOUNG, at ERSKINE. Ochtertyre, 22d October, 1787. DEAR SIR, ALLOW me to introduce Mr. Burns, whose poems, I dare say, have given you much pleasure. Upon a personal acquaintance, I doubt not you will relish the man as much as his works, in which there is a rich vein of intellectual ore. He has heard some of our Highland luenigs, or songs, played, which delighted him so much, that he has made words to one or or two of them, which will render these more popular. As he has thought of being in your quarter, I am persuaded you will not think it labour lost to indulge the poet of nature with a sample of those sweet artless melodies, which only want to be married (in Milton's phrase) to congenial words. I wish we could conjure up the ghost of Joseph M'D. to infuse into our bard a portion of his enthusiasm for those neglected airs, which do not suit the fastidious musicians of the present hour. But if it be true that Corelli (whom I looked on as the Homer of music) is out of date, it is no proof of their taste; this, however, is going out of my province. You can shew Mr. Burns the manner of singing these same luenigs; and if he can humour it in words, I do not despair of seeing one of them sung upon the stage, in the original style, round a napkin. I am very sorry we are likely to meet so seldom in this neighbourhood. It is one of the greatest drawbacks that attend obscurity, that one has so few opportunities of cultivating acquaintances at a distance. I hope, however, some time or other to have the pleasure of beating up your quarters at Erskine, and of hauling you away to Paisley, &c.: meanwhile I beg to be remembered to Messrs. Boog and Mylne. If |