“I have many apologies to offer for trespassing
so long on your patience; but I felt a natural desire,
if possible, to correct what I conceive to be a groundless
imputation on the memory of my ancestor, before it
shall come to be considered as a matter of History.
That he was a man of violent passions and singular
temper, I do not pretend to deny, as many traditions
still current in this country amply verify; but that
he was capable of forming a design to assassinate Montrose,
the whole tenor of his former conduct and principles
contradict. That he was obliged to join the opposite
party, was merely a matter of safety, while Kilpont
had so many powerful friends and connexions able and
ready to avenge his death.
“I have only to add, that you have my full permission
to make what use of this communication you please,
and either to reject it altogether, or allow it such
credit as you think it deserves; and I shall be ready
at all times to furnish you with any further information
on this subject which you may require, and which it
may be in my power to afford.
“Ardvoirlich, 15thJanuary, 1830.”
The publication of a statement so particular, and
probably so correct, is a debt due to the memory of
James Stewart; the victim, it would seem, of his own
violent passions, but perhaps incapable of an act of
premeditated treachery.
Abbotsford, 1stAugust, 1830.
II. INTRODUCTION (Supplement).
Sergeant More M’Alpin was, during his residence
among us, one of the most honoured inhabitants of
Gandercleugh. No one thought of disputing his
title to the great leathern chair on the “cosiest
side of the chimney,” in the common room of
the Wallace Arms, on a Saturday evening. No less
would our sexton, John Duirward, have held it an unlicensed
intrusion, to suffer any one to induct himself into
the corner of the left-hand pew nearest to the pulpit,
which the Sergeant regularly occupied on Sundays.
There he sat, his blue invalid uniform brushed with
the most scrupulous accuracy. Two medals of merit
displayed at his button-hole, as well as the empty
sleeve which should have been occupied by his right
arm, bore evidence of his hard and honourable service.
His weatherbeaten features, his grey hair tied in a
thin queue in the military fashion of former days,
and the right side of his head a little turned up,
the better to catch the sound of the clergyman’s
voice, were all marks of his profession and infirmities.
Beside him sat his sister Janet, a little neat old
woman, with a Highland curch and tartan plaid, watching
the very looks of her brother, to her the greatest
man upon earth, and actively looking out for him,
in his silver-clasped Bible, the texts which the minister
quoted or expounded.
I believe it was the respect that was universally
paid to this worthy veteran by all ranks in Gandercleugh
which induced him to choose our village for his residence,
for such was by no means his original intention.
