Lairds of Glenlyon

42 THE LAIRDS OF GLENLYON.
in the chieftains to his will. The family of Glenlyon, more
nearly related than almost any other, was traditionally
hostile to his, and the present Laird, though in his meshes,
was not uniformly docile ; at any rate, there was no harm
in making assurance double sure ; and so the foregoing was
one of the many moves in the game he played for the
leadership of the clan. The Revolution, as it finally upset
all his plans, taught Breadalbane that " the best laid schemes
of mice and men gang oft ajee ; " but even after that, he
showed he had not given up the darling hope of his life in
despair. To relieve Glenlyon immediately was no part of
Breadalbane's policy, which, to a great extent, might have
been done by simply paying, what was his due, the bond of
5000 pounds granted to him for the expedition to Caithness
This was not done; indeed, it was not all paid up at the Earl's
death in 1716. Glenlyon traditions go much farther than
this in accusing the Earl ; but I have confined myself to
what, as regards the facts, can be proved, for, much as he
wished to make the Laird a useful and obedient dependent,
I cannot see how, at this time at least, it would have sub-
served Breadalbane's interest — and he always looked to his
interest — to put an extinguisher on the family of Glenlyon ;
and I am the more confirmed in this opinion, as he did the
family at a later period, when they were too reduced to be
feared, some acts of real kindness, and as the successor of
Robert Campbell confided in him as his friend and patron.
It is delightful to find that, when deserted by those who
ought to have supported him, the M'Gregors repaid with
grateful devotion the protection extended to their ancestors
by Colin Gorach and his brave son. After more than a
century of persecution and wrong — by which the clan had