278 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
two flank companies being incorporated with the 42d, then preparing for the
West Indies.
The Fencibles continued embodied till 1799, and did duty in various parts
of Scotland. While stationed at Linlithgow, proposals were made for extending
the services of the regiment to England and Ireland ; but, from some misunderstanding
on the subject among the men, they would not agree. This attempt
on the part of the officers, who acted without duly consulting the soldiers in a
matter which concerned them so materially, gave rise to much discontent and
distrust in the ranks ; but confidence was soon restored by the presence of Sir
James, who hurried to join the regiment as soon as he was aware of the circumstances.
In 1795 the Strathspey Fencibles were quartered at Dumfries, where a
trifling affair happened, which, as it constitutes the only warlike affray that
occurred in Scotland during the whole volunteer and fencible era, is perhaps
worth recording. “ On the evening of the 9th June, the civil magistrates of
Dumfries applied to the commanding officer of the 1st Fencibles for a party
to aid in apprehending some Irish tinkers, who were in a house about a mile
and a half distant from the town. On the party’s approaching the house, and
requiring admittance, the tinkers fired on them, and wounded Sergeant Beaton
very severely in the head and groin ; John Grant, a grenadier, in both legs ;
and one Fraser, of the light company, in the arm : the two last were very much
hurt, the tinkers’ arms being loaded with rugged slugs and small bullets. The
party pushed on to the house ; and, though they suffered so severely, abstained
from bayoneting them when they called for mercy. One man, and two women
in men’s clothes, were brought in prisoners. Two men, in the darkness of the
night, made their escape ; but one of them was apprehended and brought in
next morning, and a party went out, upon information, to apprehend the other.
Fraser’s arm received the whole charge, which, it is believed, saved his heart.
Beaton, it is expected, will soon recover.” So says the chronicle of this event.
One of the soldiers, however, afterwards died of his wounds. The leader of the
tinkers, named John ONeill, was brought to Edinburgh for trial. He was a
Roman Catholic ; and at that time a number of genteel catholic families being
resident in Dumfries, they resolved to be at the expense of defending O’Neill,
on the ground that he was justifiable in resisting any attempt to enter his own
house. With this view, they prevailed on the late Mrs. Riddell of Woodley
Park’ to go to Edinburgh and procure counsel. She found no difficulty in
obtaining the services of Henry Erskine, without fee or reward ; but, notwithstanding,
O’Neill was found guilty and condemned to be hanged. The good
offices of Mrs. Riddell, however, did not terminate here. She applied to
Charles Fox ; and, through him, obtained a commutation of his sentence.
A still more unpleasant affiir occurred in the regiment while at Dumfries
only a few days after hhe encounter with the tinkers. One of the men being
Mn. Riddell was P great beauty, and a poetess of no inconsiderable note. She wrote a critique
on the poem of Bun~s, and materially assisted Dr. Currie in writing the life of the pet.
