History of the Clan MacLean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period

392 History of the Clan MacLean.
diligent inquiry, I have failed to obtain a trace of them. It is also affirmed
that Lieutenant-Colonel Murdoch Hector MacLean, of the Seventy-seventh
regiment, wrote a history of the MacLeans of Lochbuie, and that the MS was
in the charter room of that family in 1839. i!t was not there in 1887, and I
failed to obtain any trace of it.
It will be noticed that a strange fatality appears to follow those engaged
in publishing the history of the MacLeans. Charles Hope MacLean died
within a year after the publication of his Account of the Clan MacLean;
Charles Maxwell MacLean died while his Clan Tarlach 0' Buie was in the
printer's hands, as likewise did Alexander MacLean, with his Ffamily of
3IcLea7i.
CHAPTER XLII.
THE FAMILY OF JOHN MacLEAN.
Sixteen thousand MacLeans still live in Scotland, but very few on the
ancestral estates; although they are to be found in Ireland, England, India,
the Gold Coast of Africa, the West Indies, Canada, and the LTnited States.
Canada and the United States contain not far from twenty thousand of the
name. In the directory of the city of Philadelphia are recorded the names of
two hundred, probably representing not less than five hundred. New York
adds one hundred and thirty, representing about four hundred. To give an
account of the MacLeans of America would require a volume nearly as large
^as the present one. They have flourished in the arts, sciences, and the ele-
ments of civilization in this country, surpassing those left on the native soil.
All of the various walks of life have been adorned by those of the name.
They have attained eminence in statesmanship, diplomacy, civil law, divinity,
medicine, invention, literature, and the fine arts. When MacLeans were
assisting George III. in his oppression of the American Colonies, we find
other MacLeans battling for freedom, and winning renown not only for daring,
but for a patriotism born inherent in human rights. To speak of those whose
voices have been heard in the halls of Congress, or the acts of those who have
held cabinet positions, or sat in governors' chairs, or rendered decisions from
the Supreme Court, or engaged in the diplomatic service, or arousing and in-
structing the people from the editor's chair, or spoken words of wisdom and
consolation from the pulpit, or gave sound medical advice, would be great