Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

470 LIFE OF COL. BLACKADER. CHAP. XIX.
thee. The regiments are cantoned round about us,
and consequently the company here is very bad. No
wonder though our carcases be made to dung the face
of the earth. God can be glorified upon us, and work
his own work without such vile instruments.
November 17. Yesternight we escaped a great dan-
ger from fire, by those sad neighbours of ours. Lord,
thou keepest us from terrors by night, as well as dan-
gers by day ; thou puttest a hedge about us, and allow-
est no evil to befal us.
November 18. We got the news of the entire defeat
of the rebels at Preston in England. Lord, thou re-
bukest them every where, — breakest their power, and
crushest their designs.
November 19. In the morning I saw the Duke re-
view the regiments of foot. Some of them are sore
shattered. They who stood and did their duty best,
have suffered least. It generally happens so. But it
was less the fault than the misfortune of the regiments
on the left; they were attacked by surprise before
they had formed.
November 22. The Glasgow regiment marched
home. I convoyed them part of the way, and we
parted with much affection on both sides. I bless the
Lord who has sent them home safe, and that they
were not exposed, nor suffered as others. They were
committed to my charge, I committed them to thine,
and thou hast been their defence. Thou also takest
care of all that concerns me ; even my name and re-
putation has been increased by their coming here.
Lord, to thee be the praise ; I lay all down at thy feet.
This body of volunteers, on their leaving Stirling,
were handsomely complimented by the Duke of Argyle,
as well as in the following letter which Colonel Black-