retard his progress. Several powerful chiefs in the highlands were
attached to the government, and exerted themselves in its defence. The
duke of Argyle began to arm his vassals; but not before he had obtained
the sanction of the legislature. Twelve hundred men were raised by the
earl of Sutherland; the lord Rae brought a considerable number to the
field; the Grants and Monroes appeared under their respective leaders
for the service of his majesty; sir Alexander Macdonald declared for
king George, and the laird of Macleod sent two thousand hardy islanders
from Skye to strengthen the same interest. These gentlemen, though
supposed to be otherwise affected, were governed and directed by
the advice of Duncan Forbes, president of the college of justice
at Edinburgh, a man of extensive knowledge, agreeable manners, and
unblemished integrity. He procured commissions for raising twenty
independent companies, and some of these he bestowed upon individuals
who were either attached by principle, or engaged by promise, to the
pretender. He acted with indefatigable zeal for the interest of the
reigning family; and he greatly injured an opulent fortune in their
service. He confirmed several chiefs who began to waiver in their
principles; some he actually converted by the energy of his arguments,
and brought over to the assistance of the government, which they had
determined to oppose; others he persuaded to remain quiet, without
taking any share in the present troubles. Certain it is, this gentleman,
by his industry and address, prevented the insurrection of ten thousand
highlanders, who would otherwise have joined the pretender; and,
therefore, he may be said to have been one great cause of that
adventurer's miscarriage. The earl of Loudon repaired to Inverness,
where he completed his regiment of highlanders; directed the conduct
of the clans who had taken arms in behalf of his majesty; and, by his
vigilance, overawed the disaffected chieftains of that country, who had
not yet openly engaged in the rebellion. Immediately after the defeat
of Cope, six thousand Dutch troops* arrived in England, and three
battalions of guards, with seven regiments of infantry, were recalled
from Flanders, for the defence of the kingdom.

* They were composed of the forces who had been in garrison
at Tournay and Dendermonde when those places were taken, and
engaged by capitulation, that they should not perform any
military function