From The Scottish Review.
SIMON FRASER-LORD LOVAT.

(Ob. 1747).

of his country. Occult schemes of statecraft pursued with unwearied industy and practised with Machiavellian art- were the familiars of his life. And ere the stage had darkened, and the curtain finally fell, he had communicated not a little of their direction and force to the fitfully recurring and disquieting oscillations that disturbed the political equilibrium of the time.

THE "rising of the forty-five" still throws a halo round its contemporary period of Scottish history. After the lapse of nearly a century and a half, the picturesque and stirring incidents which characterized that historic episode still exercise a fascinating spell, showing how deep a root they struck in the na- The original position of Simon Fraser tional imagination. Nor is the reason on the family genealogical tree was of this far to seek. The drama was somewhat remote from the main trunk. enacted almost exclusively on Scottish He was a second son, while his father soil. The panorama that filled the was a fourth son. But the death-rate stage depicted some of the most curious had been high amongst the interposing and unfamiliar aspects of Scottish life. branches. Some died peaceably in bed; Its central figure was a youthful prince some were slain in feud; and others of an ancient Scottish line. To redeem fell on the field of battle. When Simon his ancestral misfortunes and vindicate was called upon to make his début the claims of his birth, he had thrown in the world, the intervening lives himself unreservedly on the affections between the family honors and himof a generous and impressionable peo- self, were but two, those of a female ple. Of seemly presence, courageous cousin once removed, and of his father, mood, urbane and chivalrous ways, he now infirm and stricken in years. Virinspired among his followers a devotion tually, this meant that he was barred as romantic as it was rare, and as he but by one life, as his father's succescarried himself with a bright and benig-sion was equivalent in due course to his nant courtesy when his star was in the own. ascendant, so also did he bear himself with a manly fortitude when its lustre

had set.

The lady whose position was thus so inimical to Simon's worldly prospects, was the only surviving child of his first cousin, the existing lord. She was a scion of the powerful Scottish family of Athol, her mother being a daughter of the marquess of that name. There was

Prominent among the names associated with this memorable political interlude, occurs that of Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat. The singular attributes of this striking character-the vulpine no existing deed of tailzie regulating activities of his mind, the opposing succession to the estates. But in virtue vicissitudes of his fortunes, and ulti- of her parents' ante-nuptial contract, mately, his conspicuous and tragic fate the lady in question was destined as - have combined to furnish a page of the heiress. This instrument provided human history which few biographical that the properties should vest in the records can supply. Summoned while heirs male of the marriage, in default yet a youth from the seclusion of aca- of whom, in "the heirs of the marriage demic pursuits, to participate in family whomsoever." To nullify this inconaffairs, his energies were nursed amid venient settlement, and transfer the feud and faction; and his career, from rights of succession to his own immestart to finish, ran through one succes-diate line, was the diplomatic nut which sive development of antithetical and Simon set himself to crack on the very dramatic event. His personal concerns, threshold of his career. with little intermission, constituted the urgent business of the statesmen of his day. The questions which affected his title and patrimony are still ranked as leading causes in the juridical statistics

His

The intellectual faculties of the reigning lord were dull and contracted. cousin's wits were uncommonly nimble and comprehensive. Simon became sedulously observant in his attentions to

his noble relative. His efforts to please | this altered position of affairs. They were directed with all the plausibility had so long been accustomed to regard and tact of which he was so rare a the acres of Lovat as much a portion master. His companionship became of the family appanage as the haughs of indispensable. In each conjuncture of Dunkeld, that the astonishment occacircumstance he exercised the functions sioned by the new situation was only of guide, philosopher, and friend; and equalled by the resentment it inspired. in all his lordship's deliberations his To find the proprietary rights over a counsels were oracular in their author- fine Highland estate, and the baronial ity. In the midst of their intimacy privileges attaching to it, so deftly Lord Lovat paid a visit to. London and filched from their grasp, in the very his fidus Achates accompanied him. hour in which they had counted for The then prevailing habits of Highland possession, constituted a challenge to conviviality were not, perhaps, the most their interest and their pride, which effective safeguards of a facile disposi- they were not slow to accept. The tion against the allurements of London life. During his stay in the metropolis his lordship largely devoted himself to the bacchanalia of the tavern, and similar enjoyments. And it may safely be conjectured that on whatever other lines his cousin's influence was wont to exert itself, in this particular direction it did not prove a restraining force. His lordship's health was completely sapped by his excesses; and he died at Perth, in Simon's arms, on his journey homeward.

On this occurrence a testamentary settlement by the deceased was produced, abrogating the provisions of his marriage contract, and bequeathing his possessions to Thomas Fraser of Beaufort, Simon's father.

This deed, which had only recently been drawn out by a skilled London attorney, was in faultless legal form, and set forth that the instrument annulled had been obtained by pressure, which, acting upon an easy and unsuspicious nature, had amounted practically to fraud. The testator consequently conceived it his duty to set aside its authority, to revert to the ancient family practice of conserving the succession in the male line, and, to this end, nominated as his heirs the Beaufort branch of the Frasers as being next in lineal descent. Simon had played his cards with unquestionable astuteness, and had won the first trick in the game. The result of his diplomacy remained to be seen.

It was not to be expected that the Athol family would quietly acquiesce in

brother of the widow, and therefore uncle of the heiress, was the Earl of Tullibardine, who, for State services had been called to the peerage in his own right. He was at this time lord high commissioner of Scotland, an office which, as justice was then dispensed, gave its occupant special advantages in any personal warfare he might chance to have on hand. Nor did Tullibardine fail to take full advantage of his position. Active legal measures, or at least as active as the circumstances of the time permitted, were at once instituted, to upset the pretensions of the Beauforts. And, meantime, to anticipate the slow process of legal incubation, agents and factors were appointed to levy the revenues of the estate on behalf of the heiress. Simon, on his part, nominally representing his father, but really acting an independent part, was not less active in putting into execution such measures to make good his position, as he thought it desirable to adopt. His emissaries were numerous and energetic; and backed by the general sentiment of the clan, they invariably beat those of his opponent out of the field. Worsted in his initial efforts, Tullibardine secured the aid of the Privy Council, whose powers, where they could be brought to operate, were then despotic. Edicts were freely issued in Tullibardine's interest, and would no doubt have proved potent factors in the situation, provided they could have been enforced.

At this juncture, Simon, who was seldom at a loss for an expedient,

sought to resolve the difficulties of his | within the bounds of their residence; position in another direction. He trans- but elsewhere the authority of the formed his rôle from that of a usurper Beauforts was supreme.

into that of a lover, and laid siege, in The Athols were fully alive to this private, to the affections of the lady disadvantage, and they began to cast with whom he was so violently warring about for a remedy. After some indusin public. He succeeded so far in his trious seeking they fell upon a scheme purpose that the susceptible damsel which promised, they fancied, to meet agreed to elope with him. The details the exigencies of the case. A section of the scheme were confided to a clans- of the Frasers, at an early point of man, who undertook their execution. their history — probably in the course But the intermediary proved unreliable of their migratory movement to the at the critical moment. After convey-North (they were originally a southern ing the fair runaway a certain distance sept) — had hived off from the main in the midst of storm and darkness, body and established themselves in the his courage, or some other essential north-eastern confines of Aberdeenquality, failed him, and he conducted shire. There they were still located, his fragile charge back to her mother peacefully tending their flocks or tilling instead of to the rendezvous of her the soil, though not at times altogether lover.

unmindful of the more stirring traditions of their race. Their head was Lord Saltoun, a true-blooded clansman, and, like his kinsman of Lovat, a peer of the realm. The project was, to unite the heiress in marriage with Saltoun's ' son, and present the latter to the Frasers as their consanguineous chief. The prejudices of clanship, it was surmised, would be ingeniously consulted' by introducing to the Highlanders, in this relationship, a scion of the common stock, who though born and nurtured' outside of their own immediate circle, had nevertheless sprung from the same ancestry and bore the same patronymic as themselves. The proposition was favorably entertained by Lord Saltoun. It did not occur to him, in giving assent to the proposal, that serious objection might be taken in other interested quarters; and that such disapprobation, if provoked, might take a form for which his experience of the milder social conditions to which he was accustomed, would find him wholly unprepared. To complete the nego

In their contest for the mails and dues the Athols found themselves severely handicapped in the sex of their representative. The customs of the clans did not necessarily restrict the succession of the chiefship to the operation of a strict heredity. Their mode of life was largely predial. The functions devolving on the head of the community were exacting and unceasing. If from any cause, they chanced to be even temporarily suspended, the general interests were felt to suffer. Hence, if any disability unfitted the natural successor of a deceased chieftain competently to discharge the responsibilities of the position, it was not uncommon for the vacant office to be filled by a popular selection from amongst the clan. The Frasers were not inclined to a gynarchical form of government. And heading the opposition to such a régime they had a youth in the field of unusual enterprise and parts-who bade for their allegiance not only in virtue of the blood that ran in his veins, but still more because of tiations, he set out for Beaufort, otherthe services it was in his power to ren-wise called Castle Dounie, on a visit to der-services in which all must par- the dowager. ticipate, from the duihne wassel among Simon, at this time, was principally them of highest account to the humblest resident in Edinburgh. He held a servitor in the clan. In the result commission in the army, and his miliSimon's personality everywhere pre- tary duties necessitated his presence vailed. The influence of the dowager with his regiment, which was quartered and her daughter was probably of effect there. But in view of the development

A

few days later he conveyed her to Aigas, an islet in the neighborhood, formed by the waters of the Beauly. Here she was detained for months, a closely guarded prisoner, and permitted only the society of her newly wedded lord to solace her captivity.

of events, of which he took ample care | mother was consequently, with the exto keep himself well informed, he con- ception of her dependants, the sole cluded that the time had arrived for occupant of the castle. Towards her, giving a more exclusive attention to the master of Lovat extended the same his family interests. Accordingly he consideration as he bestowed on the resigned his military appointment, left chattels of the house. She was subEdinburgh, and took up his residence jected to a strict surveillance, and rigwith his clan. As Saltoun approached orously confined to her apartments. the territory of the Frasers, he was the By and by he began to entertain wilder recipient of a document bearing the purposes, and soon proceeded to put signatures of Lord Lovat and twenty of them into execution. In the dead of the leading gentlemen of the clan. night, accompanied by a chosen band Simon inspired the paper, though his of retainers, including an accommodatname did not appear as a signatory. ing divine and a lusty piper, he burst The intimation it conveyed was suc- into the sleeping chamber of the decinctly and strongly expressed. If his fenceless lady, ejected her maids and, lordship's visit, it announced, was ami- maugre her hysterical protestations, cably conceived, his presence amongst forced her through a form of marriage, them would be resented by no one; he himself enacting bridegroom. but if it purposed a disturbance of existing relationships betwixt the chief and his people, it would be regarded as an impudent intrusion; and it behoved | him to know that the Highland fashion of dealing with such offences was to cut the offender's throat or blow his brains out wherever he chanced to be The report of these proceedings, on found. Though somewhat staggered reaching Edinburgh, excited the strongby the vigor of the rhetoric and the est indignation. Tullibardine, indeed, truculence of the threat, Lord Saltoun had twofold cause to harbor the severprosecuted his journey — perhaps with est resentment. He was the official more expedition than he might other representative of the law that had been wise have shown-and reached the so grossly outraged, and brother of castle with his head whole and his the lady who had been so heinously wind-pipe still intact. But he was not wronged. But, at the time, it was all to escape scatheless. After arranging but impossible to strike effectively at affairs with the dowager, to their mu- an evil-doer in the heart of the Hightual satisfaction, he set out on his lands. Such action, however, as was return journey, accompanied by a con- practicable and customary was forthsiderable train of friends and depend- with undertaken. A royal herald ants, and had scarcely emerged from Rothesay, Marchmont or Albany the policies of the castle when he was tended by his pursuivant unicorn, Bute encountered by Simon, who had been or Carrick- -was deputed to summon lying in wait for him at the head of his the offender to surrender himself at the men, and he and all his company were bar of justice to answer for the misdemade prisoners. Sending the captured meanors laid to his charge. The bearer party into confinement, Simon at once of the summons was not expected, on proceeded to the castle to reckon with such a mission, to approach nearer to the dowager, who had so eagerly co- the scene of outrage than was deemed operated with Saltoun to thwart his de- compatible with personal safety. In signs. After the elopement adventure, the present instance this valiant funcit had been judged prudent to remove tionary halted at Elgin - well without the young heiress from the neighbor- the Highland border-line-and with hood of such an ingenious intriguer as blare of trumpet and pomp of pageantry Simon had proved himself to be. The delivered his message from the cross of

at

that ancient town. The northern air, | regular troops. Simon kept his enehowever, did not possess the properties mies at bay and his head upon his of the ear of Dionysius. The tympa- shoulders; and gradually hostilities num of the culprit was unaffected by slackened, until, eventually, the troops the Elgin bugle-blast. He did not re-appeared only in a desultory and altopair to Edinburgh as required; and his conduct remained unreformed.

gether innocuous way within the bounds of the barony.

Following upon this abortive proced- The old chief, Simon's father, broken ure, and further influenced by the by age and infirmity, and equally insuccessful raiding of Simon and his volved with his son in these embarrassemissarics on the revenues of the ing proceedings, had found a refuge in estate, application was made to the Dunvegan Castle, a fortalice in the Scotch Privy Council for "Letters of Isle of Skye, the residence of Macleod Intercommuning" against the obdurate of Macleod, his brother-in-law. There, law-breakers; which issued forthwith. while the foregoing events were tranThose ancient instruments of Scottish spiring, he died, and Simon, assuming law were in frequent recourse in the the baronial honors, had now attained exigencies of the times. They corre- the position which had so long been the sponded very closely in character with object of his ambition. His assumpthat once formidable weapon of eccle- tion of the family dignities, however, siastical warfare — the bull of excommu- brought no cessation to the toils and nication, and were a finished example hazards to which he was exposed. His of a social system attaining to some personal security continued to depend notoriety in these latter days under the on the exercise of a sleepless vigilance name of boycotting. The subjects of and a prompt dexterity. The unrelaxtheir anathemas were not to be aided ing character of the efforts required of by the king's lieges with "meat, drink, him became so fraught with discomfort or other provisions;" they were not to that in time he began to cast about for be afforded, "whatever their needs, some means of relief. We have seen any help comfort or relief; " and their that the influence of the Athol family 66 cattle, horses, and other goods " might was at this time paramount in Scotland. be taken possession of by whomsoever It was only natural to suppose that such it pleased, and, so far as the law was an influential position would prove no concerned, with impunity. Further, inconsiderable source of jealousy to the documents announced a govern- other rival houses. This was indeed ment reward of two thousand merks the case, and it became obvious to the Scots for the head of the Beauforts acuteness of Lovat that an adept like father or son — - dead or alive. It does himself might play upon this human not appear to what point of northerly sentiment to his own substantial advanlatitude these punitive missives pene- tage. He accordingly addressed himtrated; but it is certain that for good self with all his art to the Duke of and sufficient reasons they did not cir-Argyll, whom he much impressed by culate in the straths of the Aird or the the speciousness of his proposals and wilds of Stratherick. Later on, still the pregnance of his suggestions. So further measures were adopted. A effectively indeed did he ply the duke military commission was issued, giving that he entirely enlisted in his behalf powers of fire and sword. With Fort the interest of that puissant personage. William as the basis of operations, At his Grace's instigation, and under repeated endeavors were made to bring his protection, he undertook a journey the mountaineers to account. But, in to London. The duke engaged to truth, the Highlanders were more smooth his way at court and become feared by the soldiery than were the patron of his suit for a remission of his soldiers by the Highlandmen. The offences. But his iniquities were nospecies of warfare entailed upon them torious. Progress in the desired direcwas entirely novel, and unsuited to tion was slow. Before much had been