Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 6, 1898

THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
127
The happy connection betwixt Henry Sraitli
and the Clan Chattan was not destined to
terminate with the fight. Henry was invited
to the north, and to unite with the clan for the
future — and it is recorded that " Henry of the
Wynd set out from Perth, with a horse load of
his effects, and said he would not take up his
re.sidence or habitation until his load fell, which
happened in Strath Avon, in Banffshire, where
he accordingly settled. The place is called to
this day Leac-a'-Ghobhainn. The Smiths or
Gows, and MacGlashans are commonly called
' Sliochd a' Ghobha Chruim,' but all agree that
he had no posterity, though he had many
followers of good positions to the number of
twelve, who were proud of being reputed the
children of so valiant a man. The more to
ingratiate themselves in his favour, they
generally learned to make swords as well as to
use them. His twelve followers spread them-
selves over the country, in time, many assuming
the name of Mackintosh, their chief."
In ir)89 the name of Thomas Gow, nottar, is
found to a Bond by Keppoch to Mackintosh,
signed at Dunkeld.
Many of the leading Gows settled in the
parish of Alvie. James Gow is tenant under
Mackintosh in Badenoch in 16.35, and in 1G79
the names of William Gow and Ewen Gow, in
Crathiecroy of Laggan, are noted. In the rising
of 1745 the name of Alexander Gow in Ruthven
is found, a private in the Jacobite army,
regarding whom a Hanoverian ganger bearing
the appropriate name of Campbell was pleased
to report that he " insulted the country people."
Coming down to recent times, the Gows are
now chieffy east of Spey, on the banks of Feshie.
Some of them possess great musical talent,
worthy of their celebrated namesake, Neil Gow,
who may have been himself of Clan Chattan.
Others have shown literary powers, and one
liead keeper at Dunachton posse.ssed some of
the skill and characteristics of a Red Indian
hunter.
As the Gows, like the Clarks, had no lands in
the north, they in like manner are difficult to
trace. But I will refer to one, to whom High-
landers are much indebted. Mr. John Gowie,
retired officer of Excise, whom I knew very
well, a native of Strathdearn, occcupied himself
much in his well-earned retirement, being a
skilful draughtsman, in framing an elaViorate
plan of the battlefield of Culloden and its
surroundings. The field as now viewed, with
its great reclamations and plantations, can give
no visitor a correct idea of what the place was
in 1746. In Mr. Gowie's plan, framed when
matters were much in the same position as for
the previous hundred years, he was able to
indentify the position of the armies, the different
regiments and clans, and their numbers with an
accuracy, and fulness of detail now impossible
to equal. Contrasted with this plan, those made
at the time, and even the later plan prepared
for Home's history, are mere daubs. Here I
would like to say that since Mr. Gowie'g time,
other retired officers of Excise in the north,
such as Mr. A, Carmichael and Mr. John
Murdoch, have greatly opened up and illustrated
Highland matters, deservedly earning the respect
and gratitude of their Highland countrymen.
(To be continued).
THE "GREAT COMMONER" AND THE
HIGHLAND CLANS.
Highland Regiments Raiskd in Defence of
THE Empire.
IpT^HE significant title given to Mr. Pitt
V^ (afterwards the Earl of Chatham) " The
^^^ Great Commoner," marked a political
revolution. When the nobles opposed his plans,
with haughty pride he answered, "It is the people
who sent me to the House of Commons." He
was the first to see that the long political
inactivity of the public mind had ceased, and
that the progress of commerce and industry had
produced a great middle class unrepresented in
the legislature. When Pitt sought to save
Byng by appealing to the sentiment of
Parliament, George II. said to him, "You have
taught me to look to the voice of the people in
other places than within the House of Commons."
Things have gradually righted themselves since
that time. The temper of Pitt harmonised
admirably with the temper of the commercial
classes which rallied round him with its energy,
patriotism, honesty, self-confidence, and its
moral earnestness. Hence his hold U])ou the
minds of the middle classes, for lie wielded the
strength of resistless eloquence.
Pitt saw his country insulted and defeated on
land and sea. He saw the national spirit sinking.
Y^et he knew what its resources, if vigorously
employed, could effect. " T am sure," said he to
a noble duke, " I can save this country, and that
nobody else can."
He appealed to the country, he called upon
the counties of England to come to its rescue,
to enrol their militia, to raise regiments for
foreign service. He infused his own ardent
spirit into all, and the aft'airs of Britain, soutli
and north, soon assumed a new aspect, the dor-
mant spirit and martial ardour of its inhabitants
soon supplied the requisite number of men for
soldiers and seamen. The army was increased