he kindness of consanguinity, and the reverence of patriarchal
authority. The Laird was the father of the Clan, and his tenants
commonly bore his name. And to these principles of original command was
added, for many ages, an exclusive right of legal jurisdiction.

This multifarious, and extensive obligation operated with force scarcely
credible. Every duty, moral or political, was absorbed in affection and
adherence to the Chief. Not many years have passed since the clans knew
no law but the Laird's will. He told them to whom they should be friends
or enemies, what King they should obey, and what religion they should
profess.

When the Scots first rose in arms against the succession of the house of
Hanover, Lovat, the Chief of the Frasers, was in exile for a rape. The
Frasers were very numerous, and very zealous against the government. A
pardon was sent to Lovat. He came to the English camp, and the clan
immediately deserted to him.

Next in dignity to the Laird is the Tacksman; a large taker or
lease-holder of land, of which he keeps part, as a domain, in his own
hand, and lets part to under tenants. The Tacksman is necessarily a man
capable of securing to the Laird the whole rent, and is commonly a
collateral relation. These tacks, or subordinate possessions, were long
considered as hereditary, and the occupant was distinguished by the name
of the place at which he resided. He held a middle station, by which the
highest and the lowest orders were connected. He paid rent and reverence
to the Laird, and received them from the tenants. This tenure still
subsists, with its original operation, but not with the primitive
stability. Since the islanders, no longer content to live, have learned
the desire of growing rich, an ancient dependent is in danger of giving
way to a higher bidder, at the expense of domestick dignity and
hereditary power. The stranger, whose money buys him preference,
considers himself as paying for all that he has, and is indifferent about
the Laird's honour or safety. The commodiousness of money is indeed
great; but there are some advantages which money cannot buy, and which
therefore no wise man will by the love of money be tempted to forego.

I have found in the hither parts of Scotland, men not defective in
judgment or general experience, who consider the Tacksman as a useless
burden of the ground, as a drone who lives upon the product of an estate,
without the right of property,