Eric, scotice assythment, or reparation for bloodshed, was accepted. One Roger, who had assumed the name De Canteton, a compliance with an Act, which we may conclude had some weight in his favor, was adjudged to pay five marcs to the king, although it was proved he had been all his lifetime held as a Hibernian, and known by his patronymic O'Hederiscall. The chain of illiberality and false maxims in the government of this country might be brought down to the present day, but I have shown enough to convince the unprejudiced that Ireland has been, from remote time, ruled in ignorance of her best interest, or that of the British empire.-Is this policy? Is it humanity or justice?

Yours, &c.

SEANACHADH.

* Edward IV. c. 16, every Irishman shall take to himself an English surname, of a town, as Sutton, Chester, Trym, Skryne, Cork, Kinsale; or colour, as White, Black, Brown; or art or science, as Smith, Carpenter; or office, as Cook, Butler; and that he and his issue shall use this name under pain of forfeiting his goods annually as long as he offends; to be levied twice a year for the king's wars. The Act also strictly prohibits the use of the Irish habit.

SONNET.

WRITTEN ON THE DAY OF MY COMING OF AGE.

TO-DAY I've passed life's Equinoctial o'er
In my frail bark-'tis mine, on either side,
To see the same swell of the sullen tide;
On either side to hear the same wild roar:
All, all is drear expanse-behind, before,

A cheerless blank; nor have I yet descried
Those spots on which my fond young hopes relied,
Peruvia's coasts, or Ceylon's spicy shore.

Oh! would I had not e'er unfurled a sail
To dare the fury of the ocean-storm,

Perchance to founder on some sunken reef!

But how can late repentance now avail?
Oh! for a port, with shelter safe and warm,
To ease me of my full rich freight of grief.
Dolgelly.

A

EXTRACTS FROM AN UNPUBLISHED MS. HISTORY OF THE CLANS,

BY JAMES LOGAN, ESQ., F.S.A., AUTHOR OF THE SCOTTISH GAEL."

SLIOCHD MAC GILLEAN.-TRADITION RESPECTING MURDOCH MAC LEAN,

OF LOCHBUY.

THE Mac Leans, or Mac Laines, as this branch of the clan prefer spelling their name, of Lochbuy, a division of the tribe descended, about 1390, from Eaindubh, Black John of Duart, and located in the island of Mull, have borne a distinguished part in the transactions of their country.

Concerning one of the chiefs of this clan is preserved a curious tradition, which is still current, and is thus related.

EWAN CEAN-BEG, or Ewan of the little head, became involved in a feud with another chief, and it being found quite impossible to settle the quarrel by any other means, it was resolved to bring it to the decision of the sword, and the time and place for the determination of the dispute were forthwith appointed.

Lochbuy, according to common practice in those days, went to a famous weird woman, or reputed witch, in order to obtain some information as to the result of the impending battle. The buidseach told him, that should his lady happen, without solicitation, to lay breakfast before himself and his men, the morning when they were prepared to march to the combat, he would certainly prove victorious; but if she should not, he would as surely be defeated. This was very disagreeable intelligence to Lochbuy, for although he himself was noted for "Highland hospitality," his lady was, unfortunately, the reverse; but for this there was of course no help.

The morning arrived when the fate of the adverse clans was to be decided, and Mac Lean's stout Cearnach and Galloglach, the light and heavy armed troops of the Gaël, mustered at the castle; the banner waved in the western breeze, and the echoes returned the inspiriting notes of the martial bagpipes. Ewan came forth clad in the clogaid and lurich, and his war steed snorted as if impatient for the approaching battle.

The time for departure approached, but there was no

* Helmet and chain mail. Galea et lorica.

appearance of breakfast; and the chief, tortured by anxiety, could scarcely suppress his inward emotion, as he ruminated on the fatal prediction. Loth as he was to "do the deed," by which his fate that day would be decided, the clamours of his devoted clansmen for their "morning meat," compelled the maddened laird to call for food. His tardy spouse at last placed bread, with maighders of milk before the warriors, who, impatient for the battle, quickly despatched the frugal meal; but the unhappy Ewan, broke not his fast; agitated by sorrowful reflection, he paced in silence, but with hurried step, the castle court.

The band set off to meet their foes, they engaged, "chief mixed his strokes with chief, and man with man; as the troubled noise of the ocean, when roll the waves on high, as the last peal of the thunder of Heaven, such is the noise of the battle. Death raises his voices around, and mixes with the sound of shields. The groans of the people spread over the hills; the sound was like the thunder of night, when the cloud bursts on Cona, and a thousand ghosts shriek at once in the hollow wind."

The Mac Leans, among whom it is an immemorial maxim never to turn their backs on a foe, however numerous, fought with characteristic bravery and determination, but they were vanquished, and Lochbuy, covered with wounds, fell on the well-contested plain. His body was interred, with customary pomp, in the venerated isle of Iona, but his spirit is not yet permitted to rest. Wrapped in the same cloak which he wore at his death, his ghost is often seen riding the very cream-coloured horse which bore him in the last of his fields; and long as it is since the occurrence of that event, the robe is as green, and both steed and rider are as active as ever.

To the people of Mull the spectre seems well known, and the appearance of Ewan Cean-beag is minutely described in some of their local ballads, in which his earthly prowess is also celebrated. In popular opinion it is the kindly office of Ewan's spirit to be present wherever any of the family of Lochbuy are in danger; and from the execution of this paternal function, neither mountain, nor main, nor distance, nor tempest, can prevent him. He is seen at night riding securely in tracts where deer and ghosts only could find footing; he has often crossed between Scotland and Ireland with supernatural celerity, and among the latest of his recorded exertions was his appearance with the Black-watch in Spain

and Portugal, particularly at Burgos, when attacked by that celebrated regiment. He there watched over the young Murdoch Mac Lean, of Lochbuy, who at that time held a commission in the corps.

IAN GARBH, MAC LEAN OF COLL.

BETWEEN the laird of Coll and Mac Niel, of Barra, there arose in a former age, very unhappy and protracted dissensions. They originated from a marriage between Barra and the widow of Mac Lean, of Coll, whose heir was then in minority. This youth was treated with much disrespect and harshness by his oide or stepfather; and taking advantage of his youth, the ambitious chief even hoped by the influence he had acquired to be able to add the fertile island of Coll to his own possessions.

The young chief, resenting this unnatural conduct, by the advice of his friends fled to Ireland, where he remained until, attaining the years of discretion, he determined to force his enemy from the lands of his inheritance, and assume the management of his own affairs. In prosecution of this design he collected as many of his friends and followers as he could muster, and set sail for Coll, where he safely landed at a place called "the hidden harbour."

In his passage from Ireland he landed at the castle of Ardtorinish, in Morven, where he found his uncle Mac Leod, of Harris, a prisoner to Mac Donald, lord of the isles. Determined to rescue him if possible, he boldly and alone entered the place with his battle-axe, and his resolute behaviour, with the knowledge of his force, procured the release of his kinsman, who accompanied him on his expedition home. When he landed at Coll, a faithful adherent met him, and gave him important information respecting the state of affairs on the Island. Barra, the woman said, was living at Grisipoll, on the opposite side; but he maintained a constant correspondence, by a trusty messenger, with the castle of Breacachadh, near where Coll then was; and it happened that while the woman was talking she observed the messenger leave the castle to give information of the landing of the hostile armament. On this, she pointed him out, and observed, that if he was not intercepted, the object of the young chief would certainly be defeated.

Among the followers of Coll was one Gilli-riavach, or the greyish coloured lad, who offered, for the free possession of the lands of Darvaig, to bring to his master the head of

Barra's messenger. The proposal was at once agreed to, Gilli-riavach went after the man, and having by a circuitous route got before him unperceived, he sat down in apparent carelessness at a place called Bealach-na-foille, or the pass of treachery, probably so named from this event. When the scout came up, Coll's follower inquired the news. "News enough," replied he, "Ian Garbh is landed, and is on his way to Grisipoll with his company, and I am in great haste to warn Mac Niel, lest he be taken by surprise. "Would it not be better," says Gilli-riavach, "that you had some signal by which you could inform your master, when yet at a distance, whether the strangers are friends or foes." "Indeed, there is a sure sign," replied the other, "if they are foes, I shall not go near them, but if they be friends I shall put myself on my white steed, at their head." "I have heard enough," cried Gilli-riavach, starting to his feet, and, dragging the man to the ground he stabbed him; then monnting his horse he hastened to lead on Coll and his warriors, whom he had ordered previously to come up, and marched towards Grisipoll. Mac Niel, although deceived by this stratagem, having 120 good men, about an equal number to his antagonist, marched out and valiantly gave battle. During the fight the rival chiefs met hand to hand, when Ian Garbh must have been overcome by the more powerful Mac Niel, but for the timely assistance of Gilli-riavach. He brought Barra to his knee, and having thus restored the advantage to his chief, he left them to fight it out. He himself, however, met with more than his match in Barra's foster-brother, from whom he was forced to retreat, although in giving ground he still faced his foe. At last, driven to the verge of a deep running stream, he, by an astonishing leap backwards saved his life, by avoiding a blow given with such force that the battle-axe sunk far into the ground, and got so intangled that the brave Galloglach could not readily disengage it. Gilli-riavach seeing his advantage, instantly sprang forward, and killed his then defenceless antagonist. Mac Niel was defeated, and Ian Garbh, restored to his possessions, performed his promise to his heroic clansman, whose descendants long held the farm he so gallantly acquired. The Gilliriavach's leap is yet pointed out over the stream of Grisipoll, and few would undertake to clear the chasm, by springing forward.

Mac Niel, it appears, attempted to recover the island, but he was in turn invaded by Coll, who took his castle and held possession of Barra for seven years, by way of punishment