lers and fugitives, except to
a few considerately reserved for public execution. No care or
compassion was shown to their wounded; nay more, on the following day
most of these were put to death in cold blood, with a cruelty such as
never perhaps before or since has disgraced a British army. Some were
dragged from the thickets or cabins where they had sought refuge,
drawn out in line and shot, while others were dispatched by the
soldiers with the stocks of their muskets. One farm-building, into
which some twenty disabled Highlanders had crawled, was deliberately
set on fire the next day, and burnt with them to the ground. The
native prisoners were scarcely better treated; and even sufficient
water was not vouchsafed to their thirst. **** Every kind of havoc
and outrage was not only permitted, but, I fear, we must add,
encouraged. Military license usurped the place of law, and a fierce
and exasperated soldiery were at once judge--jury--executioner. ****
The rebels' country was laid waste, the houses plundered, the cabins
burnt, the cattle driven away. The men had fled to the mountains, but
such as could be found were frequently shot; nor was mercy always
granted even to their helpless families. In many cases the women and
children, expelled from their homes and seeking shelter in the clefts
of the rocks, miserably perished of cold and hunger: others were
reduced to follow the track of the marauders, humbly imploring for
the blood and offal of their own cattle which had been slaughtered
for the soldiers' food! Such is the avowal which historical justice
demands. But let me turn from further details of these painful and
irritating scenes, or of the ribald frolics and revelry with which
they were intermingled--races of naked women on horseback for the
amusement of the camp at Fort Augustus."[3]

The author and abettor of these atrocities was the son of the reigning
monarch.

Not satisfied with the destruction which was carried into the very homes
of this gallant, brave and generous race of people, the British
parliament, with a refined cruelty, passed an act that, on and after
August 1, 1747, any person, man, or boy, in Scotland, who should on any
pretense whatever wear any part of the Highland garb, should be
imprisoned not less than six months; and on conviction of second
offense, transportation abroad for seven years. The soldiers had
instr