generally able men selected by Louis XIV. evinced his discernment; and, amongst these, our history places in prominent relief the ability of Barillon, his ambassador to England, though, probably, Harcourt's success, in procuring for the Bourbons the throne of Spain, is the most signal instance of

tion of Lord Herbert's autobiography, first published in 1764, at Strawberry Hill, by Horace Walpole, is the narrative of his duels, or rather challenges, both at home and at the Court of Louis XIII.

(see page 53 of the Memoirs,) in unhappy accord with the prejudice which sets at nought the peremptory mandate of religion, law, and reason, and substitutes for their jurisdiction a delusive code, and imperious tribunal, equally fallacious in principle and pernicious in action. But this inheritance of a barbarous age, similarly to the savage tribes or beasts of prey, necessarily, however slowly, recedes before the advance of civilization, of which its decay, like that of one of its most stimulating causes-inebriation-may be viewed an unerring test. The "Journal de P. L'Etoile," a contemporary of Herbert, is pregnant with proofs of its destructive consequences. In 1609, he states that, in the short interval of six months, not less than two hundred noble lives had been thus forfeited of deluded men, "qui avoient plus à cœur un honneur fondé sur des fausses opinions que la vie," an accumulation of fatality which produced the royal edict of the 26th of June, then, and long after, quite impotent of correction, or remedial of the evil. Occasionally, however, some signal examples were made in vindication of the law; and, amongst them, in 1627, we even reckon a Montmorency, the Comte de Bouteville, father of Marshal Luxembourg, our glorious William's constant victor. Yet surely the submission, often in defiance of our conscience and conviction, to an arbitrary rule, based on the grossest perversion of terms, and misapplication of the noble precept, "Summum crede nefas animam præferre pudori," argues no genuine courage,

"Ma, verace valor, ben che negletto, E'di se stesso a se freggio assai chiaro."

Brantome's "Discours sur les Duels," referable to an anterior period, well paints the æra and the author, (Œuvres, tome iv.) and Rousseau's Nouvelle Héloise, (Lettre 57,) ably discusses the subject; while Johnson's sophistry, we learn from Boswell, was wielded in its defence. vol. v. p. 95, 8vo. with the rational note of the Biographer, whose son subsequently fell a sacrifice to this scourge of society.

See

diplomatic management presented in that long and eventful reign. Our Sir William Temple made himself conspicuous for truth and plain dealing, which he found the surest instrument of deception, and best cloak for his real designs. Lord Chesterfield, who was himself no mean proficient in the art, describes the French, in general, as superior tacticians in it, though Marlborough, in his portraiture, was still more resistless as an envoy than a warrior. Stair and Stanhope, too, both notwithstanding the haughty insolence military men, were able diplomatists, of a Popilius more than once betrayed, according to St. Simon (tomes xvii. and xviii.) by the former at the French Court. It was usually, likewise, from the mar. tial ranks, that Napoleon chose his envoys, such as Duroc, Andréossi, Lauriston, Bournonville, Caulaincourt, and so many others too numerous to recite. But, how distinguished soever these officers were, two civilians-the one his constant adversary, though his compatriot-the other, long his minister and finally his foe-transcended far in talent, and eclipsed the fame of their war-bred rivals-" Cedant arma toga," was here perfectly applicable; and I need scarcely name Pozzo di Borgo, and Talleyrand, as the most eminent of modern diplomatists.

† In 1831 I had a long interview with this celebrated character, on the part of the late Earl of Dundonald, who had been led to expect that some chemical secrets, which his eccentric lordship probably over-valued, would be purchased by the Russian Court; but the negotiation failed of success. What most struck me, on the occasion, was Pozzo di Borgo's marked Italian accent, notwithstanding his long use and perfect expression of the French tongue. He had been a representative from his native Corsica to the "Assemblée Législative," in 1792, when, as he said, the outrageous proceedings of the 10th of August excited his horror of the Revolution and its promoters-an impression sufficiently apparent in his subsequent career. It was in Paris that this interview occurred, just before Lord Dundonald's decease, which very shortly followed that of his daughter, Lady Dorothea, who died on the 23rd of Jan. 1831, though I have, within these few weeks, seen her death announced in our public prints,- -an error unquestionably; for I attended the religious rites and

deemed it unnecessary; and yet his appeal to your readers, Mr. Urban, would seemingly throw upon others a task which he appears to be so competent to undertake himself. I wish he would, per contra, enumerate the English Ambassadors to France.

In conclusion, I beg leave to remark that if, in pursuing the foregone diplomatic record, the course of my observations should occasionally appear to have overpassed their strict line or necessity of purpose, I may truly aver, that I had much oftener to repress than to solicit the teeming source of the arising and diversifying recollections, which I have thus incidentally introduced. Yours, &c. J. R.

ter, will perhaps prove acceptable to your antiquarian readers.

My principal object in addressing you, is to offer a short description of a sepulchral chamber in a Cairn, situated near Broadford, in the Isle of Skye; and, in order to make my narrative more intelligible, I beg to refer you to the annexed representation, copied from a sketch made on the spot by myself.

Before proceeding to describe, I should perhaps premise that Broadford,-though a post-town, and posimportance, sessing, as such, considerable local

1830. Forty-five years separated her and her brother the present Earl's births (1775 -1820), no usual circumstance, truly. GENT. MAG. VOL. XV.

district belongs to a gentleman named Macinnon, better known by the appellation of his estate,-Coirrie chatachan; for mentioning whom it will be a sufficient excuse to state that the Cairn in question stands on a part of his property; as well as that my companion and myself were indebted to his kindness for pointing out to us this singular monument of antiquity.

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Mr. Macinnon's house may be said to stand on the sea-shore, a small garden in front occupying the only intervening space; about half a mile eastward of which stands Broadford Inn and nearly midway, in a field of which the beach forms the northern boundary, is situated the Cairn, which is circular, and measures 125 paces round the base. It is reported to have been of a conical shape within the memory of persons living; but that the stones which formed the apex have been carried away by the poor people to assist them in building their cottages. However this may be, the Cairn is conical no longer, but flat at top; and except here and there, where a few of the stones of which it was originally constructed are visible, it is covered with grass.

To a person standing on the summit of this mound, it seems clear, after an attentive survey, that it must contain several sepulchral chambers. The surface, which swells slightly at regular intervals, seems to afford unequivocal indications of about ten such subterranean structures, circularly disposed, and of a larger one in the centre; and this supposition is confirmed in the strongest manner by the discovery, which accidentally took place some years ago, of a chamber beneath one of the protuberances just alluded to. The discovery was made by a poor girl, who related the circumstance to me as follows. One day, when she was sitting on the Cairn, some of the earth near her suddenly gave way, and fell in; presently, a large stone followed, revealing, to her great surprise and alarm, a dark hole, and showing that the Cairn whereon she had been sitting was hollow. She ran and communicated her discovery to some men; who first threw some stones into the cavern, and then descended. The account of such very incompetent observers is hardly to be

trusted; but I was assured that the tomb contained nothing but a coffin formed by a series of rough flag-stones disposed so as to form a receptacle for the human body; part of a skeleton; and (I believe) an amber bead, together with some other little object which she could not describe.

The triangular aperture which you will recognize in the drawing, (to render which more easily distinguishable, Mr. Macinnon was represented peeping in,) indicates the size and position of the stone which became dislodged on the occasion of the original discovery. Having descended through that aperture, the annexed sketch gives you a faithful representation of the curious internal structure which immediately presents itself. The chamber is hexagonal, and was evidently formed in the first instance by six huge stones, or rather masses of rock circularly disposed; the spaces between them being filled up by smaller flat stones piled horizontally one upon another. The base of the sepulchral chamber measures four or five paces across; but this space is made progressively to diminish above, by three or four layers of huge stones,—each superior layer projecting beyond that on which it reposes,-till a circular aperture is formed, measuring seven feet in diameter. Over this, which may be called the mouth of the tomb, a large flat stone is laid. A section of the structure is represented in the figure (a). An immense number of fig. a.

stones,-evidently collected on the sea-shore, from the marine incrustations yet discernible upon them,piled around and above, constituted the Cairn.

It will be naturally asked how any one could survey so singular a monument, without wishing to extend the discovery by an excavation. Being prevented by unfavourable circum

stances of wind and weather from visiting with my kind friends the wonders of Corrie-usk and Glen-Sligachan a loss which it is impossible to recollect without the most lively regret, the Cairn was resorted to as a kind of pis aller, and on its stubborn sides was expended some of the fervour which the anticipation of a visit to Corrie.usk had kindled. An understanding was speedily entered into with nine active lads, who with " a pick-axe and a spade, a spade,' attacked the stony heap at three different points, under the auspices of divers grave old Gaels; who folding their plaids about them, sat smoking their wee pipes, and predicting between every whiff that the Saxon would not find anything. A troop of half-clad children, attracted by the novelty of the undertaking, swarmed to the spot, and contributed to make a very picturesque scene; for I must request you to imagine the sea on one side, beautifully calm, and bounded by a fine range of hills, spiritualized by distance, their hues varying beneath every cloud and every sunbeam. On the other side, swelling up in solitary grandeur, rose a huge hill, around which a veil of mist was perpetually floating, now half way up its side, now wreathed about its base, and now obscuring it entirely; but more frequently resting on the summit alone, and shrouding from view the spot where, according to tradition, the Queen of Haco, King of Norway, is buried. She desired that her body might be deposited there, (so runs the story,) in order that the winds of her native land might sometimes blow over her grave; and the hill is called in consequence Beinn na caillich, or "the old woman's hill." But some people say that the auld wife was King Haco's nurse, and not his Queen. This is a point, however, which, I suspect, we must leave the old ladies to settle between them. The original name is said to have been Duisgir, of which the meaning is not known.

To return to our own proceedings. Our first attempt was made at what appeared a sufficient distance from the chamber already opened, in order to effect an entrance, if possible, into the

adjoining chamber: almost simultaneously, an attack was commenced on another well-pronounced protuberance, a few yards further on; and a deerkeeper, who stood by with his gun, having volunteered to show a royal road into the cairn, a third breach was commenced at his suggestion on the side nearest the sea. He declared that he had been present at the excavation of many similar cairns in Caithness, and promised success, if I would only attend to his recommendation.

Long and patiently did we persevere, and more and more certain did we feel as every fresh stone was lifted out and rolled down the side of the cairn, that we were approaching the mouth of a second subterranean chamber; but no symptoms of so glorious a comsummation did we discover. The afternoon wore away: hope deferred made the heart rather sick; and the mist which had been playfully threatening us for the first hour or two, speedily began to dissolve in rain,- -a systematic drenching rain, which at first dispersed the spectators, and ended by dispiriting my men. Some whiskey, judiciously administered, kept up their spirits till eight o'clock, at which hour they fairly struck, disappointed and wet to the skin; but a promise was exacted from them at parting, that they would be on the ground by four o'clock on the following morning.

On the morrow, it was very tantalizing, Mr. Urban, to know that I should be obliged to leave the Island at nine o'clock, and to see none of the rogues make their appearance till six. To work, however, at six we went. Down came the rain, of course, (for it always rains in Skye,) and in spite of fair words and whiskey, at the end of two hours, the labourers, one and all, vowed that it was impossible to go on digging any longer, and threw down their spades accordingly. Meanwhile, the revenue-cutter which was to conduct our party to Balmacarra in Rosshire, was waiting to waft us from Skye; so that remonstrance with my pioneers would have been useless. Away we went,-I, most reluctantly,-from my Cairn which the charming society we met with on board the Swift, (commanded by Captain Beatson,) could scarce

It is a very surprising thing that I failed in finding one or more of the sepulchral chambers which I was in search of. All the three points against which the excavation had been directed, resembled externally that portion of the Cairn which had accidentally been found to contain a sepulchral chamber; and in all these three instances, did we dig from two to three feet below the level of the mouth of the said chamber. I may also mention that, before they abandoned the task, the workmen had made such progress, that what at first were two holes, had become one large one, by their two excavations meeting.

Before concluding, I wish to offer a few remarks on the probable history of the Cairn I have been describing; and must beg your patience and attention for a few minutes more, while I advert as briefly as I am able to a delightful and highly poetical peculiarity which struck me much in the north, and at Skye particularly. I allude to the local nomenclature of every meadow, rock, and hill, which prevails so universally.

An intelligent young clergyman, by name William Taylor, was obliging enough to furnish me with the names of the different localities immediately adjoining the Cairn, together with their significations; which are as follows. The local name of the field in which the Cairn stands, is Fiasag, which means ["the field of] beards."

Supposing you to stand with your face to the sea, the field behind is called Pairc dhubh, which means "Black park or field," and the field behind that, Goirtean a' bhlair, which means "the field of the battle." Beyond, is a locality known as Guala fà'n dubhai, which means "the shoulder of lamentation." The first field on the left is called Achadh nan càrn, which means "the field of the cairns; "behind which is another "Black park or field." Next in order comes Pairc bheag, which means "Little park;" and a narrow slip of ground separating this from the beach is called Port an teampuill, which means the "Port of the temple." Next comes Cul an t-sabhaill, which means "behind the barn;

in the rear of which stands Creag an eas, which means "the rock of the waterfall," apparently a very inappropriate name; and further back still Glaic bhuidhe, or the "yellow hollow." The residence of Mr. Macinnon, which comes next, is improperly called Coirrie, that name being the appellation still retained by a locality about three miles off, where stands the farm anciently inhabited by the family. Coirrie is an abbreviation, the entire name being Coirrie chatachan, that is, "The corrie or hollow (literally, cauldron,) of wild cats.” The present residence is sometimes called Laoras, of which the meaning is not known. I could conduct you further, but had better avail myself of your patience, to lay down the geography of the ground on the right hand of a person standing on the Cairn.

A stream which divides Fiasag from Broadford is called, near its mouth, Alltan na brucha, which means the "streamlet of malt," because it was formerly used in distilling; higher up, it is called the "streamlet of seals." A road, running parallel with the beach, separates Goirtean na traghad, the "field of the shore," from Goirtean na h-uamha, the "field of the cave," to which I shall return by and by The meadows behind these are severally called the height of Broadford," the "short hill," and the "field of colt's foot." Next in order comes Bearbhai, of which the meaning is unknown; but a cairn stood here which was lately removed, inside which, among other objects, was found a curious ornament of green stone, pierced with four holes. Further on is Achadh a' chùirn, which means the "field of the cairn."

The extremity of this part of the coast is called Dùn-àcuinn, which means the "castle of Haco," by whom tradition declares the castle to have been built. It is separated from the mainland by Caol-àcuinn, which means the "straits of Haco;" that monarch, as it is said, having passed through them when he went on his great expedition.

1 propose to say a few words more concerning the "field of the cave," so called nobody knew why, till an accident revealed the propriety of the appellation. Mr. Macinnon informed