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I SHOULD here refer to the losses suffered
by
Highland farmers in the hard years "Na Bliadhnachan Cruaidh" between 1836 and 1841, but as
it would break the thread of discourse on the
ecclesiastical subject, I will postpone my remarks
till another time.
The war was at a roaring height of mutual
exasperation the State bullying through the Courts
of Law, and the dominant party in the Church
bullying through the General Assembly, and from
pulpits, platforms, and press when Mr Duncan
Campbell left Glenlyon in 1842 for the parish of
Kiltearn in Ross-shire. The Glen people had not
fixed their minds on any particular person as the
man they would like to get as his successor. They
were not, however, left long to seek for a successor.
The dominant party in the Assembly took good care
that a follower of theirs should be recommended to
every vacant Highland charge where there was the
slightest chance of winning a victory, or failing
that, of raising a loud cry against patrons, the Peel
Government, and minatory Tory lairds. A Mr
Hamilton, of whom the Glen people knew nothing
at all, was provided for the Glenlyon vacancy.
Presbytery of Weem ministers of his party gave him their turns for preaching
in the Glen. He came, was welcomed hospitably, and preached on two Sundays,
in English and in Gaelic, as the rule then was. He seemed to be of the
sound, solid, and somewhat heavy class of preachers. The general verdict was
that he could not stand favourable comparison with any of the three former
ministers. But as he belonged to the popular side, and was recommended from
headquarters, the Glen people were easily induced to sign a petition to the
Government requesting that he should be presented. Sir
Niel Menzies, chief of his clan, a kindly old fashioned
resident landlord, and a ruling Church of Scotland
elder, knew Glenlyon and its people very well; for
besides old social intercourse between Castle Menzies
and Meggernie Castle, he was one of the three
trustees who managed the Culdares estate during
the long minority and absenteeism of young Culdares.
If Sir Niel, like the new Tories, thought the tenant voters should take
their politics from their proprietors, he led his tenants in the shoulder to
shoulder way, without a hint of coercion. Now
when the Glen people finished the signing of their
petition, they appointed a deputation of three to go
over the hills to Rannoch Lodge to see Sir Niel to
tell him what they wanted and to beg him to lend
them his support I do not know exactly in what
way and to assure him that why they petitioned in
favour of Mr Hamilton was because they desired to
keep out of the Veto Act trouble, which they could
not do unless their petition was granted. I suppose
what they asked was gi-anted, for they came back
highly delighted with their reception, and not a
little amused by Sir Niel's discovery that one of
their number, Archibald Macdiarmid, in Glen parlance, "Gilleaspa Mor Scoileir," or "Big Gillespie the
Scholar," was as like Dr Chalmers as if they had
been twin-brothers. The likeness was striking,
although not so twin-like as Sir Niel declared it
to be.
The petition was sent to the proper
quarter, and
its receipt was duly acknowledged. The sanguine
waited in hope that the prayer would be granted,
and the whole congregation would have been very
glad indeed to get a decent minister without being
hauled into the turmoil connected with the operation
of the Veto Act north, south, east, and west of them. |
