Sutherland and the Reay country

2 25 SUTHERLAND AND THE REAY COUNTRY.
Colonel. The Royal Warrant authorised the enrolling of
iooo men, but about 1500 assembled at the call of the Earl
within nine days after his Lordship had arrived in the north
with his letters of service. Of course only 1000 could be
taken, and the disappointment of many was great when they
found they were not wanted. Numbers returned to their
homes, but the more hardy and determined followed on to
Perth (where the regiment was to muster), and insisted on
being with their chief. The military authorities in Edin-
burgh were consulted, and the result was that permission
was given to add another company of 100 men to the
regiment. It thus became 1100 strong. "The martial
appearance of these men when they marched into Perth in
May, 1760, with the Earl at their head, was never forgotten
by those who saw them," for over 200 of them were about
6 feet in height, and formed two grenadier flank companies.
Their service was entirely confined to barrack duty in
Scotland, and during the four years in which they were
together, no one was punished in the regiment. It was
disbanded in 1763.
Rob Donn, the celebrated Mackay bard, joined the
regiment when it was formed, and remained with it during
the four years it was embodied. He was rather a privileged
character, and was not asked to do duty excepting in a way
that left him very much master of his own time. He was, in
fact, bard of the regiment, and while his companions were at
drill, he was at liberty.
2. — The 2nd Sutherland Fencible Regiment was
raised in 1779. The Earl of Sutherland having died shortly
before, and his only child being an infant girl, William
Wemyss of Wemyss, nephew of the Earl, was appointed