had more nearly watched and studied the Chisholm's character, temper, and capacity, or used more pains to direct them in a course of honourable exertion than Mr. Thorp; and the record of the friendship of such a man, under such circumstances acquired and retained, is the loftiest commendation which can be given of him who was the object of it. Another acknowledgment to the like effect the writer has received from Mr. Rothman, Fellow of Trinity College, and now Registrar of the University of London, who passed the long vacation of 1830 with the Chisholm in Wales. He speaks not only in terms of sincere regard for his character as a companion and friend, but describes also the great aptitude which he showed for the study of mathematics, and of natural science in general. In the department of botany, especially, Mr. Rothman states that he showed remarkable intelligence, and feels convinced that he would have been a first-rate botanist, if he had only enjoyed the leisure for prosecuting his researches in this branch of science. CHAPTER V. ATTAINS HIS MAJORITY, AND RESIDES AT ERCHLESS CASTLE. NOTICE OF THE CLAN.-HIS POLITICAL OPINIONS AND CONDUCT. THE course of our brief narrative has brought us to that period of the Chisholm's life, in which, having attained the age of twenty-one, he returned to take up his abode in Scotland, and discharge the duties imposed upon him by the possession of his patrimonial inheritance. It is an estate situated in the romantic district of Strathglass, in the county of Inverness, and retains the same name of Erchless or Erchles, by which, as will have been seen in the first chapter, it was in very early times designated. The castle, as it now stands, is but the remnant of a much larger structure; a part of it having been destroyed in the Rebellion of 1715, and, again, another part in that of 1745. Roderick Chisholm, Chief of the Clan in 1715, was an adherent of the Pretender, and his lands were in consequence forfeited to the Crown, and sold into the hands of others; but, pardon having been granted, in the twelfth year of George the First, to him and several others who had been concerned in the rebellion, the estates were re-sold, and, passing through the hands of various possessors, reverted at length, in the year 1774, to Alexander, eldest son of the attainted Roderick', and grand 1 Whilst these sheets were passing through the press, the writer was favoured with a notice of the Clan Chisholm, which had been drawn up about twelve years ago by the late Mr. John Anderson, writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, and author of the History of the Clan Fraser, &c. and originally published as one of a series of articles on the Highland Clans which appeared in the Inverness Courier. The writer avails himself of this information the more thankfully, because he has found unexpectedly that his namesake, although no relative, was formerly his schoolfellow, and he is glad to record the affectionate remembrance which he still cherishes of one of the earliest companions of his boyish days. The passage which occurs in the article in question, and which details the train of circumstances mentioned above, is here subjoined : : "On the 21st of July, 1724, the Commissioners for the father of the subject of this Memoir, by his second marriage with Margaret Mackenzie of Allangrange. sale of forfeited estates, sold to James Baillie, Esq., W. S., the whole lands which belonged to Roderick Chisolm, of Comer, comprising the lands of Erchless, Breakachy, Innerchannick, Comer, Glencannick, and many others. By a highly-ornamented pardon (with a sight of which the author has been favoured), under the Privy Seal, George the First forgives the crimes of treason and levying war committed by the following gentlemen, in these words: Pardonamus, Remittimus, Relaxamus pfat :-Roberto Stuart de Appin; Alexandro Macdonald de Glenco; Johanni Grant dmo Anglicè Laird de Glenmoriston ; Johanni Mackinnon dmo Anglicè Laird de Mackinnon; Roderick M'Kenzie de Fairburn; Alexandro M'Kenzie de Dachmaluack; Roderic Chisolm de Strathglass; Georgio M'Kenzie de Ballamathie; Roberto Campbell als M'Gregor cōiter vocat: Roberto Roy; Johanni Macdougal de Lorne, et Jacobo Ogilvie cõiter vocat: Domin. Ogilvie, et eorum cuill, &c.' Dated at Westminster, 4th January, 12th year of the king's reign. "George M'Kenzie, of Allangrange (a confidential friend), acquired the above lands bought by Mr. Baillie from that gentleman, and a charter of the same passed under the Great Seal in his favour, July 26th, 1723. On the 20th of July, 1727, Allangrange disponed them to Alexander Chisolm of Mucherack, who was infeft (as Crown vassal), the 21st of July the same year. By disposition dated 9th of November, 1742, and registered in the books of Session, 25th of July, 1774, Alexander Chisolm of Mucherack, made over the foresaid properties to Alexander Chisolm, eldest son of the said Roderick Chisolm of Comer, attainted, and the heirs male of his body." The Chisholm had visited his estate, at various times, during his earlier years; and these visits might have served to keep alive, in his young heart, an affection strong and fervent for his native country. But other links of interest had already fastened themselves around him, and bound closely together the lord and the tenantry of that soil. The circumstances herewith connected have already been described in the preceding pages ; and reference is made to them again, only for the purpose of observing the strong confirmation which they receive from the fact now presented to our notice, that he, who, in the days of his boyish minority, had determined to undertake the burden of liquidating his father's debts, and, of his own free will, had remitted to his tenantry such arrears of rent as seemed to be just,—should have shown the continuance and consistency of that generous and high resolve, and his desire to secure to all dependent upon him their rights, by returning, in the very outset and prime of his manhood, to live among them, and to watch over them, and to find his first and fairest field of duty, amid the hills and |