devise how to prevent these two men from being
executed for his own murder, could hardly have contrived a better mode
than by the apparition in the manner which was sworn to.

The most rational supposition seems to be, that the crime had come to
M'Pherson, the ghost-seer's knowledge, by ordinary means, of which
there is some evidence, but desiring to have a reason for communicating
it, which could not be objected to by the people of the country, he had
invented this machinery of the ghost, whose commands, according to
Highland belief, were not to be disobeyed. If such were his motives,
his legend, though it seemed to set his own tongue at liberty upon the
subject, yet it impressed on his evidence the fate of Cassandra's
prophecies, that, however true, it should not have the fortune to be
believed.

ABBOTSFORD, 18th March, 1830.

TRIAL OF

DUNCAN TERIG ALIAS CLERK, AND ALEXANDER BAIN MACDONALD,

FOR THE MURDER OF

ARTHUR DAVIES, SERJEANT

IN GENERAL GUISE'S REGIMENT OF FOOT.

JUNE, A.D. MDCC.LIV.

TRIAL OF

DUNCAN TERIG ALIAS CLERK,

AND ALEXANDER BAIN MACDONALD.

_CURIA JUSTICIARIA S. D. N. Regis tenta in Nova Sessionis Domo
Burgi de Edinburgh, Decimo die Mensis Junij 1754, per honorabiles
viros Carolum Areskine de Alva, Justiciarij Clericum, Magistros
Alexandrum Fraser de Strichen, Patricium Grant de Elchies, et
Hugonem Dalrymple de Drummore, et Dominum Jacobum Ferguson de
Killkerran, Commissionarios Justiciarij dicti S. D. N. Regis._

_Curia legittime affirmata_,

INTRAN.

DUNCAN TERIG _alias_ CLERK, and ALEXANDER BAIN MACDONALD, both now
prisoners in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, Pannels,

Indicted and accused at the instance of William Grant of Prestongrange,
Esq., His Majesties Advocate, for His Majesties interest, for the crime
of murder committed by them in manner at length mentioned in the
indictment raised against them thereanent, which indictment maketh
mention, THAT WHEREAS, by the laws of God, and of this and all other
well governed realms, Murder or Homicide is a most atrocious crime, and
severely punishable, especially committed with an intent to rob the
person murdered, and that by persons of bad fame and character, who are
habite and repute thieves, YET TRUE IT IS, and of verity, that they,
and each of them, or one or other of them, are guilty, actors, or art
and part, of the foresaid