district belongs to a gentleman named Macinnon, better known by the appellation of his estate,-Coirrie chatachan; for mentioning whom it will be a sufficient excuse to state that the Cairn in question stands on a part of his property; as well as that my companion and myself were indebted to his kindness for pointing out to us this singular monument of antiquity. : Mr. Macinnon's house may be said to stand on the sea-shore,-a small garden in front occupying the only in tervening space; about half a mile eastward of which stands Broadford Inn and nearly midway, in a field of which the beach forms the northern boundary, is situated the Cairn, which is circular, and measures 125 paces round the base. It is reported to have been of a conical shape within the memory of persons living; but that the stones which formed the apex have been carried away by the poor people to assist them in building their cottages. However this may be, the Cairn is conical no longer, but flat at top; and except here and there, where a few of the stones of which it was originally constructed are visible, it is covered with grass. To a person standing on the summit of this mound, it seems clear, after an attentive survey, that it must contain several sepulchral chambers. The surface, which swells slightly at regular intervals, seems to afford unequivocal indications of about ten such subterranean structures, circularly disposed, and of a larger one in the centre; and this supposition is confirmed in the strongest manner by the discovery, which accidentally took place some years ago, of a chamber beneath one of the protuberances just alluded to. The discovery was made by a poor girl, who related the circumstance to me as follows. One day, when she was sitting on the Cairn, some of the earth near her suddenly gave way, and fell in; presently, a large stone followed,-revealing, to her great surprise and alarm, a dark hole, and showing that the Cairn whereon she had been sitting was hollow. She ran and communicated her discovery to some men; who first threw some stones into the cavern, and then descended. The account of such very incompetent observers is hardly to be trusted; but I was assured that the tomb contained nothing but a coffin formed by a series of rough flag-stones disposed so as to form a receptacle for the human body; part of a skeleton; and (I believe) an amber bead, together with some other little object which she could not describe. The triangular aperture which you will recognize in the drawing, (to render which more easily distinguishable, Mr. Macinnon was represented peeping in,) indicates the size and position of the stone which became dislodged on the occasion of the original discovery. Having descended through that aperture, the annexed sketch gives you a faithful representation of the curious internal structure which immediately presents itself. The chamber is hexagonal, and was evidently formed in the first instance by six huge stones, or rather masses of rock circularly disposed; the spaces between them being filled up by smaller flat stones piled horizontally one upon another. The base of the sepulchral chamber measures four or five paces across; but this space is made progressively to diminish above, by three or four layers of huge stones,-each superior layer projecting beyond that on which it reposes,-till a circular aperture is formed, measuring seven feet in diameter. Over this, which may be called the mouth of the tomb, a large flat stone is laid. A section of the structure is represented in the figure (a). An immense number of fig.a. stones,-evidently collected on the sea-shore, from the marine incrustations yet discernible upon them,piled around and above, constituted the Cairn. It will be naturally asked how any one could survey so singular a monument, without wishing to extend the discovery by an excavation. Being prevented by unfavourable circum stances of wind and weather from visiting with my kind friends the wonders of Corrie-usk and Gien-Sligachan-a loss which it is impossible to recollect without the most lively regret, the Cairn was resorted to as a kind of pis aller, and on its stubborn sides was expended some of the fervour which the anticipation of a visit to Corrie-usk had kindled. An understanding was speedily entered into with nine active lads, who with "a pick-axe and a spade, a spade," attacked the stony heap at three different points, under the auspices of divers grave old Gaels; who folding their plaids about them, sat smoking their wee pipes, and predicting between every whiff that the Saxon would not find anything. A troop of half-clad children, attracted by the novelty of the undertaking, swarmed to the spot, and contributed to make a very picturesque scene; for I must request you to imagine the sea on one side, beautifully calm, and bounded by a fine range of hills, spiritualized by distance, their hues varying beneath every cloud and every sunbeam. On the other side, swelling up in solitary grandeur, rose a huge hill, around which a veil of mist was perpetually floating, now half way up its side, now wreathed about its base, and now obscuring it entirely; but more frequently resting on the summit alone, and shrouding from view the spot where, according to tradition, the Queen of Haco, King of Norway, is buried. She desired that her body might be deposited there, (so runs the story,) in order that the winds of her native land might sometimes blow over her grave; and the hill is called in consequence Beinn na caillich, or "the old woman's hill." But some people say that the auld wife was King Haco's nurse, and not his Queen. This is a point, however, which, I suspect, we must leave the old ladies to settle between them. The original name is said to have been Duisgir, of which the meaning is not known. To return to our own proceedings. Our first attempt was made at what appeared a sufficient distance from the chamber already opened, in order to effect an entrance, if possible, into the adjoining chamber: almost simultaneously, an attack was commenced on another well-pronounced protuberance, a few yards further on; and a deerkeeper, who stood by with his gun, having volunteered to show a royal road into the cairn, a third breach was commenced at his suggestion on the side nearest the sea. declared that he had been present at the excavation of many similar cairns in Caithness, and promised success, if I would only attend to his recommendation. He Long and patiently did we persevere, and more and more certain did we feel as every fresh stone was lifted out and rolled down the side of the cairn, that we were approaching the mouth of a second subterranean chamber; but no symptoms of so glorious a comsummation did we discover. The afternoon wore away: hope deferred made the heart rather sick; and the mist which had been playfully threatening us for the first hour or two, speedily began to dissolve in rain,-a systematic drenching rain, which at first dispersed the spectators, and ended by dispiriting my men. Some whiskey, judiciously administered, kept up their spirits till eight o'clock, at which hour they fairly struck, disappointed and wet to the skin; but a promise was exacted from them at parting, that they would be on the ground by four o'clock on the following morning. On the morrow, it was very tantalizing, Mr. Urban, to know that I should be obliged to leave the Island at nine o'clock, and to see none of the rogues make their appearance till six. To work, however, at six we went. Down came the rain, of course, (for it always rains in Skye,) and in spite of fair words and whiskey, at the end of two hours, the labourers, one and all, vowed that it was impossible to go on digging any longer, and threw down their spades accordingly. Meanwhile, the revenue-cutter which was to conduct our party to Balmacarra in Rosshire, was waiting to waft us from Skye; so that remonstrance with my pioneers would have been useless. Away we went, -I, most reluctantly,-from my Cairn; which the charming society we met with on board the Swift, (commanded by Captain Beatson,) could scarce It is a very surprising thing that I failed in finding one or more of the sepulchral chambers which I was in search of. All the three points against which the excavation had been directed, resembled externally that portion of the Cairn which had accidentally been found to contain a sepulchral chamber; and in all these three instances, did we dig from two to three feet below the level of the mouth of the said chamber. I may also mention that, before they abandoned the task, the workmen had made such progress, that what at first were two holes, had become one large one, by their two excavations meeting. Before concluding, I wish to offer a few remarks on the probable history of the Cairn I have been describing; and must beg your patience and attention for a few minutes more, while I advert as briefly as I am able to a delightful and highly poetical peculiarity which struck me much in the north, and at Skye particularly. I allude to the local nomenclature of every meadow, rock, and hill, which prevails so universally. An intelligent young clergyman, by name William Taylor, was obliging enough to furnish me with the names of the different localities immediately adjoining the Cairn, together with their significations; which are as follows. The local name of the field in which the Cairn stands, is Fiasag, which means ["the field of] beards." Supposing you to stand with your face to the sea, the field behind is called Pairc dhubh, which means "Black park or field," and the field behind that, Goirtean a' bhlair, which means "the field of the battle." Beyond, is a locality known as Guala fà'n dubhai, which means "the shoulder of lamentation." The first field on the left is called Achadh nan càrn, which means "the field of the cairns; "behind which is another "Black park or field." Next in order comes Pairc bheag, which means "Little park;" and a narrow slip of ground separating this from the beach is called Port an teampuill, which means the "Port of the temple." Next comes Cùl an t-sabhaill, which means "behind the barn; in the rear of which stands Creag an eas, which means "the rock of the waterfall," apparently a very inappropriate name; and further back still Glaic bhuidhe, or the " yellow hollow." The residence of Mr. Macinnon, which comes next, is improperly called Coirrie, that name being the appellation still retained by a locality about three miles off, where stands the farm anciently inhabited by the family. Coirrie is an abbreviation, the entire name being Coirrie chatachan, that is, "The corrie or hollow (literally, cauldron,) of wild cats." The present residence is sometimes called Laoras, of which the meaning is not known. I could conduct you further, but had better avail myself of your patience, to lay down the geography of the ground on the right hand of a person standing on the Cairn. A stream which divides Fiasag from Broadford is called, near its mouth, Alltan na bracha, which means the "streamlet of malt," because it was formerly used in distilling; higher up, it is called the "streamlet of seals." A road, running parallel with the beach, separates Goirtean na traghad, the "field of the shore," from Goirlean na h-uamha, the "field of the cave," to which I shall return by and by The meadows behind these are severally called the "height of Broadford," the "short hill," and the "field of colt's foot." Next in order comes Bearbhai, of which the meaning is unknown; but a cairn stood here which was lately removed, inside which, among other objects, was found a curious ornament of green stone, pierced with four holes. Further on is Achadh a' chùirn, which means the "field of the cairn." The extremity of this part of the coast is called Dùn-àcuinn, which means the "castle of Haco," by whom tradition declares the castle to have been built. It is separated from the mainland by Caol-àcuinn, which means the "straits of Haco;" that monarch, as it is said, having passed through them when he went on his great expedition. 1 propose to say a few words more concerning the field of the cave," so called nobody knew why, till an accident revealed the propriety of the appellation. Mr. Macinnon informed me that a few years ago, a labourer of his, ploughing in that field, turned up a large stone, which produced a hollow, into which the man fell. This led to some investigation, when a subterranean passage was discovered, extending to about one hundred feet towards the sea, and capacious enough to admit a person on all-fours. It terminated in a circular chamber, which might have contained four persons crowded close together; and here some sheep bones, a few cinders, and a quern (or stone for grinding corn) were found, obviously showing that it had been a place for retreat and concealment in some remote age. The So much for matters of fact. traditions of the Islanders remain to be noticed; and these, vague as they undoubtedly are, are as unquestionably founded in truth. A battle, say they, was fought on the "field of the battle," between the Scandinavians (Lochlannaich) and the Gaels; and during the engagement, the women stood on the shoulder of a neighbouring hill, watching the progress of the engagement; which being disastrous, they wrung their hands, crying" Fà mo dhubhai, fà mo dhubhai," "my cause of mourning, my cause of mourning," or, as we should say, "alas! alas!" From which circumstance the place is called "the shoulder of the cause of mourning (or of lamentation)" to this day. "Narrations like this," as Dr. Johnson justly observes on another occasion," however uncertain, deserve the notice of a traveller, because they are the only records of a nation which has no historians." That the event was memorable, and, to the last degree, important to the natives themselves, everything conspires to prove; the nomenclature of the neighbourhood, six large cairns, of which I believe but two remain, and the numerous stone coffins (composed, each, of four flat stones) which were discovered in the "field of cairns," twenty or thirty years ago. Lastly, a nursery rhyme may be cited, which no one can explain, though every child in the Island repeats it. It is a mere string of names, the four first being the names of four very small neighbouring islands; and my intelligent informer declared it to be his opinion that it was a traditional list of the most remarkable places connected with the calamitous Achadh a' chuinn 's Achadh nan carn, The poor people do not seem to be aware that a cairn was a place of interment; on the contrary, one Hugh Ross, famous for his skill in reciting Ossian's poems, assured me very gravely that the Cairn in Fiasag was a prison, in which nine Norwegians had been incarcerated. It can scarcely be doubted, however, that some of the most honourable of the slain were interred there, after the memorable battle above alluded to; and surely, in the absence of authentic records, it is something to be able thus to obtain a glimpse even of annals so remote,remote, geographically as well as historically speaking; nor is it difficult, when the very stones as it were thus speak to one, to fill up the meagre outlines of the tale of lang syne which they supply, with deeds of blood, and the shapes of heroes such as Ossian delighted to celebrate. J. W. B. Brunswick Square, Jan. 14, 1840. The Proclamation of the Regent Murray, on the Murder of Darnley, in 1568, compared with a Tract from the Pen of Buchanan, &c. &c. MR. URBAN, Dec. 5. "trans The somewhat Anglicised copy of the Proclamation of the Regent Murray, in the name of the infant James VI. relative to the murder of that royal minor's father, is rightly described in your Review, Dec. p. 633, as muted into an easier style for more convenient and current reading" at the evening meetings of the Society of Antiquaries. In that form it has been printed in the 28th vol. of the Society's Archaeologia, p. 429, Appendix. Owing to an accidental circumstance, I did not see the article until it had been printed off and published, or I should have requested to exchange it for the verbatim copy, by an amanuensis, which I preserved in my portfolio, in case it might ever be wanted for insertion in the Society's Transactions. As far as the historical bearing of this document is concerned, the mistake is not very important; but as a specimen of the broad Scottish idiom, mixed with Gallicisms, in which it is penned, and as bearing strong presumptive internal evidence that the author was no other than the great classical scholar, George Buchanan, the tutor of James VI. and adherent of the Regent, the transmutation is unfortunate; and I am happy to avail myself of your historical depository, for the purpose of perpetuating a literal transcript of so curious an instrument. The original is closely printed in a clear black letter; and, as I have searched various collections in vain for another copy, I have every reason to believe that preserved at Loseley House, where I had access to it, is unique. I subjoin it, without further apology. Repulsive as the dialect may appear, it will repay the antiquary for an attentive perusal. It will form I conceive, a valuable supplemental article to the collections of Anderson,* whose notice it has entirely escaped; a proof of the extreme rarity which I have claimed for it. Ane Proclamatioun set furth by my Lord Regent, in the name of our Souerane Lord, declaring the purpose of thame quha assistit with our Souerane Lordis Mother, &c. For James be the grace of God king of Scottis, to all and sindrie our faithfull and trew liegis to quhais knowlege this our letteris sall cum, greeting. samekle as the occasioun of the present trublis, occurrit within our Realme, is nocht onknawin to you, and quhat wark God has wrocht in tyme bygane, sen the horrible and vnworthie murthour tresonablie perpetrat in the persoun of the King our maist deir father of worthie memorie: The warld may se it, and the posteriteis following will keip it in lesting memorie. That execrable fact, as it is detestable in Goddis sycht, sa aucht all men that outher feiris God or hes respect to the civile societie amangis men, to abhorre, with the personis that still wald manteine the authouris and devysaris of that beistley crueltie, and be the contrair, avance and promote the rychteous querell of us, thair native Prince and lauchfull King, descendit of the rycht lyne of the maist noble and *Collections relating to the History of Mary Queen of Scotland, by James Anderson, Esq. valeant Princes of this Regioun, as a speciall co'fort and favoure sent be the mercy and Providence of Almychtie God, to this afflictit natioun, And howbeit the cruel murtheraris of our maist deir father, thair favouraris and assistaris, efter his murthure, had conspyrit the same coupe for us to taist of: To transferr the Crowne fra the rychteous lyne to sic as lang has bene ambitious thairof: yit that same God, that preservit our innocent personn fra thair mercyles handis, has respected the equitie of our and maintenit the same to his cause, glorie and our saifgaird, when in mannis sycht baith we and thay that prafessit our obedience and avowit our querell wer maist lyke to have bene overthrawin. Bot because the malicious hartis of our conspyrit Ennemeis nocht only proceedis in that wicketnes and rebellioun aganis us and our authoritie, bot alswa seducis the trew and semple peple our liegis to follow thame, sclanderouslie speikand of us as that our tytill wer in doubt, We have thocht gude to notifie and mak knawin the certaintie of the haill mater, for the satisfactioun of thame quhais judgement yit remains in suspens, that being resolvit of the nakit and sempill treuth, thay may gif place to the rycht, and abstene fra errour. And put a difference betuix our trew subjectis seikand Goddis glorie and our dew obedience, and the rebellious factioun tresonablie seikand to bereve us of our lauchfull crowne and proper inheritance, under ane craftie pretens of the Quene our motheris tytill, unto quhome (God wate) thay beir no better gude will nor unto us; saulffing in sa far as hir presence may move a contraversie, quhairin be proces of tyme having baith us and hir cuttit of, they may win the game, and possess the garland lang hopit for. Bot quhat end sall God put to sic usurparis? All ancient histories, baith godly and prophaine, declairis in similitude. Was euer innocent murthoure left unrevengeit? Or was it euer in the power of man, sa far to blind the eyis of him that is Almychtie, bot quhen the inequetie of men was cum to fulnes his potent hand quicklie confoundit baith the force and polecie of his wickit creaturis. That cullorat clenseing of James sumtyme Erle Bothwell, cheif murtherar of our deir father upon the xii day of Aprill in the yeir of God 1567 yeiris, culd nocht assure that godles and wicket man, nor mak his cankerit conscience rest without terroure, the haill warld persaving his pretens no other thing but as a mask to blind the eyis of God and man. The murtherar seiking his awin purgation, the accustomat |