The Highlanders of Scotland have long been celebrated for the possession of every military virtue, and the services of the warlike natives of North Britain have been consequently sought by foreign potentates on many and important occasions, when the less martial spirit of the people of other states would not enable them to contend against their oppressors. The achievements of the Scots regiments, which fought in the armies of France and Sweden, and of the celebrated _Scots Brigade_ in the service of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, are recorded in the military histories of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; and the annals of the last hundred years abound in instances in which the Scots troops in the British army have displayed, in every quarter of the globe, the qualities of intrepidity, valour, and temperance, which adorn the national character of the natives of North Britain. The SEVENTY-SECOND regiment, or THE DUKE OF ALBANY’S OWN HIGHLANDERS, is one of the corps which has performed valuable services to the crown and kingdom; its formation took place in 1778, under the following circumstances:-- WILLIAM, fifth EARL OF SEAFORTH, having engaged in the rebellion of 1715, was afterwards included in the acts of attainder, and forfeited his title and estate. His eldest son, however, became a zealous advocate for the Protestant succession, and supported the government during the rebellion in 1745; his grandson, KENNETH MACKENZIE, was permitted to re-purchase the estate from the Crown,--and was created an Irish peer, in 1766, by the title of Baron Ardeloe, in the county of Wicklow, and Viscount Fortrose, in Scotland,--and in 1771, he was advanced to the dignity of EARL OF SEAFORTH, which had been long enjoyed by his ancestors. The American war commenced in 1775, and the EARL OF SEAFORTH, in gratitude for the favours he had received, made an offer to His Majesty, to raise a regiment of foot on his estate, which, in former times, had been able to furnish a thousand men in arms. This offer was accepted in December, 1777; the EARL OF SEAFORTH received a letter of service to raise a regiment of foot, of which he was appointed Lieut.-Colonel Commandant, and in January, 1778, the following officers received commissions:-- _Lieut.-Col. Commandant_, KENNETH, EARL OF SEAFORTH. _Major_, James Stuart, (from Capt. 64th Regt.). _Captains._ Thos. F. Mackenzie Humberston Robert Lumsdaine Peter Agnew Kenneth Mackenzie[6] George Mackenzie Hugh Frazer Hon. Thomas Maitland Charles Halkett[7] _Captain Lieutenant_, Thomas Frazer. _Lieutenants._ Donald Moody William Sutherland Colin Mackenzie Kenneth Mackenzie Patrick Haggard Thomas Mackenzie George Innes Charles M^c Gregor David Melville George Gordon James Gualie George Mackenzie Charles Gladoning William Sinclair Charles Mackenzie John Campbell James Stewart Robert Marshall Philip Anstruther Kenneth Macrae John M^c Innes _Ensigns._