As John had no children, his intended heir was a nephew. His greatest desire in life was to marry him to a grand-daughter of his old departed benefactress, the Pensassenach. He offered to settle his whole fortune, which was not small, on the young lady, if she would only marry his nephew; and John's wife did all in her power to back up the proposal. But although the nephew was a good, well-doing lad, he was not the man to take the young woman's fancy; and so the match never took place. CRUELTY OF THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND AFTER THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN. Clifford.--Is it possible that the Duke of Cumberland could have authorized such atrocities, as the hanging up innocent servants in the way you describe, Mr. Macpherson? Dominie.--I am afraid that what I have asserted is but too true, sir. Author.--I am sorry to say, that I am in possession of a document which but too satisfactorily proves, that he did give most cruel orders. It is an orderly book of the thirty-seventh regiment, which was called Cholmondeley's Regiment; and in that I find, in the general orders, dated "The Camp at Enwerness, Aprill 17th, 1746," the following entry:--"A captain and fifty foot to march directly, and vizt all the cothidges in the naberhod of the field of batall, and to search for rebbels, the officers and men will take notiss, that the pubilick orders of the rabells yesterday was to give us no quarters." This, I think, was a pretty broad hint to the men and the officer commanding them, what it was that the Duke expected of them. Grant.--Very distinct, indeed. Author.--Not to be mistaken, I think. Clifford.--Is there anything existing to establish that any such order was given by the Prince, previous to the battle, as that to which the Duke here alludes? Author.--Not a vestige of any thing that I am aware of. But if such orders had been given by the Prince, that circumstance would have afforded no apology for him to have issued the order I have now repeated to you, after the battle was over, and the enemy so effectually cut to pieces in the field. Nothing, I think, could more mark a sanguinary temper than his thus letting loose a body of men, to visit all the neighbouring cottages, and to put to death, in cold blood, all whom his ignorant and bloodthirsty myrmidons might choose to consider as rebels. The slaughter in this way, of the innocent as well as of the guilty, was said to have been immense. Clifford.--The picture is horrible! Grant.--It is horrible to think of it, even at this great distance of time, seated comfortably, as I am at this moment, in this great oaken arm-chair. Serjeant.--And a comfortable arm-chair that is, sir; and many a good day and queer night has it seen. If I am not mistaken, that was old Alister Shaw of Inchrory's very chair. Author.--Ay--who was Alister Shaw, Archy?