 tenth in direct descent from John of the Tower,
engaged heart and hand in the insurrection of 1715, and was forced to fly to
France, after the attempt of that year in favour of the Stuarts had proved
unsuccessful. More fortunate than other fugitives, he obtained employment in the
French service, and married a lady of rank in that kingdom, by whom he had two
children, Fergus and his sister Flora. The Scottish estate had been forfeited
and exposed to sale, but was re-purchased for a small price in the name of the
young proprietor, who in consequence came to reside upon his native domains.41
It was soon perceived that he possessed a character of uncommon acuteness, fire,
and ambition, which, as he became acquainted with the state of the country,
gradually assumed a mixed and peculiar tone, that could only have been acquired
Sixty Years since.
    Had Fergus Mac-Ivor lived Sixty Years sooner than he did, he would, in all
probability, have wanted the polished manner and knowledge of the world which he
now possessed; and had he lived Sixty Years later, his ambition and love of rule
would have lacked the fuel which his situation now afforded. He was indeed,
within his little circle, as perfect a politician as Castruccio Castrucani
himself. He applied himself with great earnestness to appease all the feuds and
dissensions which often arose among other clans in his neighbourhood, so that he
became a frequent umpire in their quarrels. His own patriarchal power he
strengthened at every expense which his fortune would permit, and indeed
stretched his means to the uttermost, to maintain the rude and plentiful
hospitality, which was the most valued attribute of a chieftain. For the same
reason, he crowded his estate with a tenantry, hardy indeed, and fit for the
purposes of war, but greatly outnumbering what the soil was calculated to
maintain. These consisted chiefly of his own clan, not one of whom he suffered
to quit his lands if he could possibly prevent it. But he maintained, besides,
many adventurers from the mother sept, who deserted a less warlike, though more
wealthy chief, to do homage to Fergus Mac-Ivor. Other individuals, too, who had
not even that apology, were nevertheless received into his allegiance, which
indeed was refused to none who were, like Poins, proper men of their hands, and
were willing to assume the name of Mac-Ivor.
    He was enabled to discipline these forces, from having obtained command of
one of the independent companies raised by Government to preserve the peace of
the Highlands. While in this capacity he acted
