Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

CHAP. IV. CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 73
prelacy, and arbitrary power, in all its branches and
steps, until the government of church and state be
brought back to their lustre and integrity, established
in the best and purest terms. *
Such were the conditions of their formation ; and
upon the same terms they offered, if necessary, to
equip two or three regiments more, without beat of
drum or expense of levy-money.
It was in this patriotic corps that young Blackader
volunteered as a cadet, and served for sixpence a-day.
Through what peculiar interest or connexion he en-
tered this regiment, is not known. But most probably
it was owing to his intimacy with the Lieutenant Colo-
nel, who had been a fellow-student with him at the
University. Cleland was well acquainted with his
family, having been occasionally on the patrol that
guarded his father at Conventicles, and as we have
seen, was a conjunct agent with his eldest brother, in
promoting the Revolution f His noviciate seems,
however, to have been but short, as in less than two
months he carried a Lieutenant's partisan. J It does
not appear that he had ever been a member of the
United Societies ; and he certainly did not entertain
their peculiar views of ecclesiastical affairs : But in
other respects, he possessed all the necessary qualifi-
cations. He could plead exemption from the prevail-
ing defections and compliances of the times. He had
never been guilty of hearing curates or indulged
clergymen ; of supporting the cause of antichrist by
* Memorial of Grievances. Faithful Contend. f Blackader's
Mem. p. 211-12. \ A weapon somewhat like a halbert.