information, or in procuring fresh provisions. A regular correspondence with the rebels in the North was held, through the medium of a rude and rather singular telegraph. This mode of communication was the contrivance of a woman, a grand-daughter of the Bishop of Galloway. She inhabited the upper flat of one of the highest houses in the street that runs from the Lawn-market to the Castle-hill. Whatever intelligence she wished to communicate, she was in the habit of writing, in large capital letters, on a tablet or board, which she exposed at her window, so that the Duke, with the aid of a telescope, could easily read it from the castle walls. The signal of good news was a white cloth which she hung out at the same place, and a black one when she heard any thing unfavourable. *

The secret mystery of these intrigues was at length

* A regular system of espionage was carried on, under the pretext of supplying the garrison with medicines, midwives, and other indispensibles. Grose's Antiq. vol. i. Several ladies of quality were also concerned; among these the Countess Dowager of Errol was one. She was apprehended and committed to custody, owing to the discovering of one of her messengers. This emissary had been in the habit of conveying intelligence while travelling the country in the humble character of a mendicant. Going, upon one occasion, in the tattered guise of a beggar with a bag of meal upon his shoulders, to the house of Viscount Stormont, near the castle, he happened to excite the suspicion of some of the guard. After he had passed several of the centinels, he was at last challenged and stopt by one of them, who, putting his hand into the bag among the meal, found several letters, and the sum of fifteen pounds sterling in gold. These letters discovered the fair conspirator and her correspondents, with her orders for distributing the gold among Dundee's officers. The lady and the gold were sent up to the Council, who ordered the Countess to be committed to prison, and the money to be employed for the service of King William.-Hist. of Revol, in Scotland. The telegraphic lady

discovered, and the true state of the garrison made known by means of some deserters who had been apprehended while making their escape. It appeared that their ammunition and provisions were nearly expended, being scarcely sufficient for three weeks consumption, and that they would have wanted water had they not been providentially relieved by a late extraordinary fall of snow. The bombs had destroyed the greater part of the bread, wine, and beer in the cellars, and forced the Duke, with the principal officers, to retire and lodge within the strongest vaults. Threatened with ruin and starvation, and despairing of relief, the Duke found himself obliged to capitulate. For this purpose he hung out a white flag as the signal of surrender; upon which, Commissioners were immediately sent up to treat with him. While they were debating together upon the terms of capitulation, which, on the part of the Duke, were deemed rather high and unreasonable, a certain person ran suddenly into the castle and delivered several letters to the Duke, either from Dundee, it was alleged, or the late King James, then in Ireland. The Commissioners, considering it unfair that any man, upon such an embassy, should have access to the castle during the truce, without their consent, insisted that the messenger should be delivered up to their

was a Mrs Anne Smith.

The

Her grandfather was a Dr. Atkins. spies were usually secreted in her house, until they could be privately conveyed into the castle, which was done by a newly discovered passage across the North Loch; the ordinary entrance being filled up with earth, and closely blockaded from without. When they had got safe into the garrison, a signal was given to Mrs. Smith by firing a musket off the half-moon.-Vide, Account of the Siege, Grose, vol. i.

hands. This the Duke refused to do, and the treaty was in consequence broken off. The garrison immediately began to discharge both their great and small shot, and continued all night to fire upon the city, and wherever they imagined they could do most mischief. Many houses were much damaged, several persons were killed, and others wounded. Next day, however, the 13th of June, the Duke agreed to surrender, and obtained honourable terms for the garrison, who marched to the castle-hill, where they laid down their arms, and delivered up the keys; thousands of people having collected to witness that gratifying spectacle, and testify their joy by loud acclamations, who never could regard themselves as secure while that important fortress remained in the hands of their enemies. *

* Vide Proceedings of Scottish Parl. Mem, of Viscount Dundee, Hist. of late Revol. in Scotland.

CHAPTER V.

BATTLE OF DUNKELD.

Colonel Canon succeeds Dundee-Cameronian Regiment petition for redress-They are posted at Dunkeld-Attacked by the whole Highland army-Narrative of the Action-Letter of Lieutenant Blackader.

AFTER the death of Viscount Dundee, the command of the rebel army devolved on Colonel Canon, an Irish officer, but destitute of the resolution and military talents of his predecessor. Their numerical loss, which had been but small, was speedily repaired by new accessions. On the Braes of Mar, he was joined by the M'Gregors, the Frazers, the M'Farlanes, and the Gordons of Strathdon and Glenlevit. But neglecting to improve his advantages, and failing in his first enterprises, he lost the confidence of his troops. He opposed the advice of the Clans, who were resolute to engage the enemy immediately, and follow up their success at Killicrankie, by a more complete victory.

For this, the accidental panic into which the govern

D

ment was thrown, certainly offered a fair opportunity. On the first rumour of the battle that reached Edin

burgh, the consternation was extreme. It was reported by those that fled, that Mackay was defeated, and all his army cut to pieces. But the terror of the fugitives had multiplied their own losses, and spread a needless alarm; for in a few days, a disclosure of the real state of matters quieted all apprehensions. Canon declined an engagement, and instantly marched northward to Aberdeen-shire; coasting along the skirts of the hills, followed by Mackay, and afraid to descend to the open plain, knowing that his safety consisted in keeping a position where cavalry could be of no avail. In this way the two generals continued, for nearly a month, traversing the whole range of the Grampian mountains, each unwilling to quit his ground, or resign his advantages to the other. Every day the armies were in sight of each other, and exchanging bravadoes, but without venturing to fight.*

About the middle of August, Canon having got intelligence that the Cameronian Regiment were come to Dunkeld, he resolved to attack them, without delay, expecting to cut them off to a man, being in a defenceless place, and remote from any immediate succour. This regiment, as the reader will recollect, shortly after its formation, had been ordered to the Highlands to join Mackay. While they lay at Dunblane, in the beginning of July, the soldiers emitted a petition and declaration to be presented to Parliament, vindicating themselves from some aspersions of their enemies, and craving, that the church might be purged of Episco

* Memoirs of Viscount Dundee. Balcarras' Memoirs.