arrangements for his marriage, thence to London to take the proper
measures for pleading his pardon, and return as soon as possible to claim the
hand of his plighted bride. He also intended in his journey to visit Colonel
Talbot; but above all, it was his most important object to learn the fate of the
unfortunate Chief of Glennaquoich; to visit him at Carlisle, and to try whether
anything could be done for procuring, if not a pardon, a commutation at least,
or alleviation, of the punishment to which he was almost certain of being
condemned; - and in case of the worst, to offer the miserable Flora an asylum
with Rose, or otherwise to assist her views in any mode which might seem
possible. The fate of Fergus seemed hard to be averted. Edward had already
striven to interest his friend Colonel Talbot in his behalf; but had been given
distinctly to understand, by his reply, that his credit in matters of that
nature was totally exhausted.
    The Colonel was still in Edinburgh, and proposed to wait there for some
months upon business confided to him by the Duke of Cumberland. He was to be
joined by Lady Emily, to whom easy travelling and goat's whey were recommended,
and who was to journey northward under the escort of Francis Stanley. Edward,
therefore, met the Colonel at Edinburgh, who wished him joy in the kindest
manner on his approaching happiness, and cheerfully undertook many commissions
which our hero was necessarily obliged to delegate to his charge. But on the
subject of Fergus he was inexorable. He satisfied Edward, indeed, that his
interference would be unavailing; but besides, Colonel Talbot owned that he
could not conscientiously use any influence in favour of that unfortunate
gentleman. »Justice,« he said, »which demanded some penalty of those who had
wrapped the whole nation in fear and in mourning, could not perhaps have
selected a fitter victim. He came to the field with the fullest light upon the
nature of his attempt. He had studied and understood the subject. His father's
fate could not intimidate him; the lenity of the laws which had restored to him
his father's property and rights could not melt him. That he was brave,
generous, and possessed many good qualities, only rendered him the more
dangerous; that he was enlightened and accomplished made his crime the less
excusable; that he was an enthusiast in a wrong cause only made him the more fit
to be its martyr. Above all, he had been the means of bringing many hundreds of
men into the field who, without him, would never