Shakespeare's Caliban; but the Highland Brownie, our Author tells us, was a handsome fellow, and was so called from his being of a brown complexion. They were extremely useful and faithful attendants on several Highland families, as long as the successors of their estates were lineal. They took a kindly interest in all their concerns; and neighbours remarked, that wherever a Brownie was, the affairs of the family went on well, according to the frequency of his visits. Our Author alludes to the two well-known Brownies of Tullochgorum. The affectionate guardianship of the female one, called Maggy, is well known over the Highlands; and a friend of ours has mentioned to us, that an acquaintance of his having, on a time, gone to wait on the laird, previous to his setting out for Germany, and having mentioned to him, in a field where he met him, that, in the house, he had just seen, in the cradle, his young child, with a girl in a yellow petticoat sitting by it, "Oh! said the laird, with pleasure, "I am glad to hear it, for that girl must have been our Maggy." The WATER-KELPIES were spirits inhabiting lakes, like the water-cows, mentioned in notes to the first work of the Ettrick Shepherd; and the object of both sets of them was to beguile unthinking mortals, and carry them into their watery dwellings, where they devoured them. The "moss-traversing SPUNKIES” were, no doubt, spirits, but their bodies were the ignis futuus, frequently misleading strangers by its sparkling light. But it was no wonder that that being had power in the Highlands of Scotland, for our learned friends will remember its having been sent, by the gods, to glow among the hair of Servius Tullius*, to give promise of his future greatness as Sovereign of Rome and a similar omen, in an earlier age, occurring, with regard to the young Iulus, during that terrible night, to which we have so often alluded, when Troy was in flames, was the sign of the will of Heaven that old Anchises should no longer object to setting out on that • Livy. great expedition, which was to lead to future empire, the patriotic Trojans escaping with their country's gods. Cum subitum dictuque oritur mirabile monstrum. Namque manus inter mæstorumque ora Ecce levis summo de vertice visus Iuli molli Lambere flamma comas, et circum tempora pasci *. We have now reached the last great division of our subject, namely, WITCHCRAFT; a matter of not a little interest, and deserving more for ample inquiry than we can spare it here. Witches were but few among the ancients, and we scarcely remember any others than Hecate and Horace's Canidia, who seems, according to him, to have had, however, not a little power. Refixa cœlo devocare sidera +. The reason of this lesser prevalence in ancient than in modern times, was-what we alluded to before-the want of a right Devil; for our modern Witches are mere deputies of Satan, employed in his increasing business. Why old women have been generally pitched on as his coadjutors does not seem clear, but there is little doubt of the fact. Have we not the strong testimony of Tam o' Shanter in Burns? and was not the sad adventure of the husband of the Witch of Fife, told us by Hogg, important and convincing? But if poets are not competent authorities, may we not refer to far graver writers? Sir George Mackenzie, (known to our countrymen by the name of the Bluidie M'Kenzie), who was his Majesty's Advocate, and had the best opportunity of knowing about it, in his treatise on Criminal Law, actually describes the Devil's nip on old women, which was a pinch that he generally gave to Witches, leaving a discoloured spot, to show them to be his own, like the farmer's buist, or mark, on a flock of sheep. But, besides, did not even our erudite King James VI. believe in old wives being Witches? And does not Lord Fountainhall, in his account of his *Eneid, Lib. II. 1. 680. + Epod. Lib. V. car. 17. times, record an instance of various women having been brought to Edinburgh prison, for having actually danced with the Devil on Heriot Moor, when it was established, that a deposed member of Crichton, by his direction, walked behind them with a long whip, the frequent smacks of which accelerated the vivacity of the reel? But, moreover, do not the records of our Justiciary Court (the authenticity of which none has doubted) bear testimony of very many trials of old women, who actually admitted that they were Witches, condescending most specially on their communication with Satan? and, what is generally understood as proof positive, they went to death confessing it: all this happened not in few, but in hundreds of instances. And, farther, and still more materially, have not testimonials of witchcraft been held to be found in many texts of Scripture? It is true, that Mr Paterson, a seceding minister at Midmar, in the North country, has written a treatise against the ordinary interpretation of such texts, in which he shews, that the Bible was translated in times when witchcraft was generally believed, which makes our copies have the appearance of supporting it. With some ingenuity, he has also succeeded in shewing that nothing more was meant than a species of ventriloquism, when the Bible speaks of familiar spirits, "which peep and mutter with sounds coming out of the ground, and talk as whispering out of the dust:" but all that Author's well-meant and zealous attempts to lay the Witch of Endor have been wholly vain; and not one word which he has written has, in the smallest degree, injured the authority of the passages regarding her, which, in all ages of the church, have been quoted in support of witchcraft. We may be told that Witches have been "put down" by Act of Parliament, and that the Legislature drove them away by its enactments: but all this is nothing to the purpose: King, Lords, and Commons, have no command over the powers of the air; and our serious readers may rest satisfied, that the " sway of the Evil One is as great still as it ever was; that he still meets as often as ever with his chosen friends the Witches, and that they still ride with him through the air on broomsticks, as much as they ever did." On the truth of those positions we peril our literary reputation, and will ever support them to the utmost, let sceptics say what they will! Having thus defended Witches from the attacks of infidelity, we shall conclude what we have to say on the subject, by some allusions to our Author's account of them. It seems to be agreed, on all hands, that Witches have the complete power of transformation. The shape of hares is often taken, the more unobservedly to bewitch the fields and their produce. To impede the plough, a stubborn Witch will often lay herself before the ploughshare, in the semblance of a large stone, which the ploughman, if he does his duty, generally breaks in pieces out of despite of her. For more domestic purposes, the form of a cat is often resorted to by Witches; and the carlines, in such disguise, find much facility in running out and in to one another, unobserved, and meeting their master the Devil. There are many well-established instances of their misdeeds in such form, and the following is one of them :-A Laird of Rosay returning from a hunting-match in the Isle of Lewes, with his followers, was overtaken by a sea-storm. The chief had himself taken the helm, and was keeping the vessel steadily in her course towards a lofty point in Skye, Nor When, lo! (says our Author) to their great astonishment, a large cat was seen to climb the rigging. This cat was soon followed by another of equal size, and the last by a successor, until at length the shrouds, masts, and the whole tackle, were actually covered with them. did the sight of all those cats, although he knew well enough their real character, intimidate the resolute Razay, until a large black cat, larger than any of the rest, appeared on the mast-head, as commander-in-chief of the whole legion. Razay, on observing him, instantly foresaw the result; he, however, determined to sell his life as dearly as possible, and im mediately commanded an attack upon the cats-but, alas! it soon proved abortive. With a simultaneous effort, the cats overturned the vessel on her leeward wale, and every soul on board were precipitated into a watery grave. This anecdote relates to the Witches prevailing. We shall give another, which is just as true, where the Hags were overcome through the fidelity of a wife, and the sly dexterity of her husband. The wife had appeared to consent to become a Witch, and she was to be initiated on a pool in the Avon, where the Ladies of the Broom Sticks were assembled for the purpose. The wife having concerted with her husband, he took her dress, and acted her part. On his resorting to the pool's side, (says our Author,) he saw abundance of Hags steering themselves to and fro in their riddles, by means of their oars, the brooms, hallooing and skirling worse than the bogles, and each holding in her left hand a torch of fir,-whilst at other times they would swirl themselves into a row, and make profound obeisance to a large black ugly tyke, perched on a lofty rock, who was, no doubt, the Muckle Thief' himself, and who was pleased to acknowledge most graciously those expressions of their loyalty and devotion, by bowing, grinning, and clapping his paws. Hav. ing administered to the bride (for so the noviciate witch was called) some preliminary instructions, the impatient wives desired him to remain by the pool's side, until they should commune with his Satanic Highness on the subject of her inauguration, directing her, as they pro ceeded on their voyage across the pool, to speed them in their master's name. this order the bride was resolved to pay particular attention. As soon as they were embarked in their riddles, however, and had wriggled themselves, by means of their brooms, into a proper depth of water, "Go," says he, "in the name of the Best." A horrid yell from the Witches announced their instant fate, -the magic spell was now dissolved crash went the riddles, and down sank the Witches, never more to rise, amidst the shrieks and lamentations of the Old Thief, and all his infernal crew, whose combined power and policy could not save them from a watery end. Το But there is one noted Witch slightly mentioned by our Author, of whom we should like to hear a good deal more. (See page 198.) We allude to the Goodwife of Laggan : now, she must have been a neighbour, and perhaps an acquaintance of Mrs Grant of Laggan, through whose instructive and interesting work on this curious subject we have searched in vain for information about her. We trust that that intelligent lady will take the hint, and supply the defect in the next edition, by a copious account of her. The treatise before us, though not remarkable for any particular merit, yet deserves some praise. The reader will remember, that the Spectator remarks, that we are often desirous "to know even the personal appearance of an author who instructs us." The same observation is applicable to professions; we wish to know the lines of life of those whose works we read with pleasure. We felt that anxiety here; but, as the Covenanter said of the Episcopalian, "Busk ye as ye like, I see the horns of the mitre," so our Author has not been able to conceal his being a limb of the law. Various allusions in his book shew this. Thus, there is one to an infeftment at page 54, and one to the style of an indenture at page 170; but, above all, his well-founded suggestion, at "claim of relief,' page 168, of a against Auld Nick, for the value of a cow, which he had given to a poor Highlander for his soul, and which had been evicted from him as stolen goods. We therefore say we have no doubt that this Author is in truth a writer. But with this discovery, let him not be afraid of the present critic, who is himself of the ordinary trade*, as well as he; and in a paper so much connected with Scotland as this is, we may say that "ae corby is loth to pike out another's e'e." After all, however, he does not require to shelter himself under such a plea of mercy, for he has really produced a very distinct memorial on his case; and, what is but rare in such producIt is tions, it is a very amusing one. a good specimen of his arrangement and talent for neat composition, and a swatch which we trust may produce him many good orders, where the proceeds will be less shadowy and more substantial than Ghaists and Goblins. In Ancient Greece, each district had a separate dialect. So it is also in Scotland; and the same word in different quarters has different significations. At Paisley, by the term ORDINARY TRADE is meant a Weaver; at Edinburgh, the same expression means cither a Vriter or an Advocat. In his next edition, he must really give us some account, and a few wellauthenticated instances of Second Sight, which has been improperly overlooked by him; for what Dr Johnson believed must not be slight ed. We recommend to him the perusal of Collins' Ode to Dr Carlyle, and the late lamented Lord Kennedder's addition to it, on Highland Superstitions. The last of them particularly abounds with information; as for the first, it is much more poetical than perspicuous, and has added nothing, which we can discover at least, to the knowledge previously possessed on its subject. We advise our Author to pursue his research, and shall be happy to see him again before us. Next jaunt he takes to his mountain clients, we trust he will find leisure to do so; and that from their proofs and protests, deeds and declarations, tacks, tailzies, and testaments, he may spare a little time for their Feys and their Fairies, their Witches and their Warlocks. Ban Duffe's Pilgrimage. Canto IV. DAN left Montrose quite cocker'd up in Where you may see the country, every spirits, The echo of his triumph gave some queer hits Upon his heart, when parting from the steeple, Which happen'd at that time of his existence When he was from the borough six miles distance That is, two miles from Brechin, where he view'd A scene most aptly suited to the painter, And also to my muse; but notions crude Have tended (most unluckily) to taint her: There run the Grampians, lofty, firm, and rude, With tops that in the distant sky were fainter : Here Brechin smiles with tenements and towers, Streams, meadows, gardens, rocks, and shady bowers. It is an ancient and most reverend city, Renounced th' ecclesiastical degree: In Brechin, Maison Dieu, with ruin'd gabel, Houses the horse, and, therefore-is a stable! The finest view of Brechin may be got From a soft rising ground beyond the bridge, spot, And the town rising up a sudden ridge; The castle, old cathedral, and what not, And the spire's griffin 'minish'd to a midge; Then, as I said before, the lofty Grampians Protect the distance like stout Highland champions. Dan and his servant view'd this pleasant scene, So did the Gulloch and John's charger view it; Some folks may have their doubts, but what I mean Is, they'd an opportunity to do it. Yet not with all those special marks of through it, glory, Which graced them in the former Canto's story. With all the Gulloch's highly-spurr'd velocity, Dan hasten'd to the inn, and there he found, (Besides a luncheon) a great curiosity— A man of genius worth ten thousand poand! A gentleman, indeed, whose shrewd precocity Had well been prov'd by volumes large and sound; But neither as a wit nor a grammarian, But as a clever, subtile antiquarian, Who, when a little boy, scarce fit for school, Delighted to retain within his trust That which is spent by any other fool, To wit, a fine collection of bright dust; This last word has two meanings, by the rule Of mother tongue or slang; it may be rust, It may be gold, or silver too, and I know That this man lov'd both old and modern rhino. Besides a good acquaintance with the sciences, Painting and heraldry, he was a man Whose fathers had made very good alliances Not that he had not several little ones, But these I mention had the self-same mother; His daughters ('twas the fashion) were made nuns, And a wolf swallow'd the remaining bro. ther; Kenneth receiv'd the crown as th' elder boy, And all the people bellow'd loud for joy. He swore against the Picts with dreadful fury, With the fair daughters of each Highland And when he saw his nobles were not clan; Therefore he had the strength of their defiances United in himself, and laugh'd at Dan, Who, though an antiquarian, seem'd to be Without a long and glorious pedigree. He told his own as follows: (you'll ex cuse, Sweet readers, what I've now to lay be. fore ye; Because the special forte of my poor muse Is to relate a lineal kind of story: Doubtless you may have better things to choose, And finer tales with brighter beams of glory; But that's no reason you should treat your bard, His pilgrim and acquaintances, too hard.) When Alpine, king of Scotland, led to battle. A host, to take the Pictish land by force, Fate, when she saw that the Picts' plum age sat ill, Came from a wood in shape of several horse: The Scots, alarm'd no doubt, ran to and fro, As emmets on an ant-hill would, you know. Well, this same skirmish happen'd near Dundee, pliant, (His nobles may be here suppos'd the jury, And then, you know, the kingdom is his client,) "Brave men," he cried, "I come here to assure ye, That though ye had the sinews of a giant, Unless our favour sways your wise majority, Prudence may reasonably cry, good-morrow t' ye!" This would not do: so in the dead of night, All for the nonce of his most ardent wishes He gets some ghosts, most hideous to the sight, Cover'd with skins and scales of certain fishes; Salmon, and cod, and haddock, shining bright, (And looking temptingly when on the dishes ;) These ghosts, all glitt'ring like a lump of phosphorous, Or like fair Hero's lanthorn near the Bos phorus, Came to the chambers of the sleeping peers, Each muttering through a hollow twisted horn; The awful oracle so struck their ears That ne'er a wink of sleep had they till morn; I think i' the year eight hundred thirty They swore they never felt before such four; Poor Alpine tried in vain to run or flee, As well you may suppose as many more; They took him to the stump of some old tree, fears Even since the blessed day that they were born; Kenneth was pleas'd that things so patly tallied, And sapp'd its dry roots with his royal And rais'd his standard, and his army |