BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 67
more ancient than the beltid plaid (or kilt) worn by the other Highland regiments.
His opinions on this subject he embodied in a pamphlet; and in a
song, written by him for the Caithness Fencibles, the idea was not forgotten-
“ Let others brag of philibeg,
Of kilt, and belted plaid,
Whilst we the ancient trews will wear
In which our fathers bled.”
A few years after the Fencibles were embodied, Sir John raised another corps
for more extended service. This regiment, at first six hundred, and afterwards
one thousand strong, was called the ‘‘ Caithness Highlanders,” and served in
Ireland in suppressing the Rebellion.‘ During the volunteer period, he commanded
the Camp at Aberdeen, and as usual on every subject that engrossed
his attention, he published several pamphlets on military matters. One of his
essays was entitled “ Cursory Observations on the Military System of Great
Britain,” in which the tactics of Napoleon were investigated, and improvements
in the British system suggested.
Sir John had no seat in Parliament from 1794 till 1797, when he was returned
through the interest of the Prince of Wales, for Petersfield, in Hampi
shire. The treasury was then exhausted, while its demands were increasing,
and barriers almost insurmountable appeared in the way of negotiating a new
loan. In this dilemma Pitt had recourse to his advice, and the result was the
scheme known by the name of the “ Loyalty Loan ” the germ of several subsequent
financial measures. So long as war seemed unavoidable, the Baronet
gave his support unhesitatingly to the ministry; but at length, conceiving that
peace was practicable, from the disposition of the French Directory, he readily
entered into the scheme of a new administration, attempted in 1798 under
the Earl of Moira. This, however, came to nothing; and, throughout the
remaining years of Pitt’s retention of power, he took a lively interest in all the
financial measures of Government, and stood forward almost alone as the
champion of economy and retrenchment. When the Union with Ireland was in
progress, he made a bold but unsuccessful effort to have the number of Scottish
representatives au,pented to the amount since accomplished by the Reform
Bill.
When party changes had settled down after the reign of “AI1 the Talents,”
convinced from the conduct of the First Consul-who had abolished all aemblance
of deliberative government in France-that safety only consisted in the
vigorous prosecution of the war, Sir John entered warmly into the measures
of Government ; and, during the Premiership of Perceval, had the honour of
being sworn a member of his Majesty’s Privy Council, Much, however, as he
admired the general capacity of that minister, he sincerely regretted the coun-
When the expedition to Egypt waa undertaken, s considerable body of the Caithness Fenciblles
One of them, named Siclair, was the soIdier of the 42d
For this service Si
volunteered into regimeni of the line.
regiment who took an eagle from the Invincibles at the battle of AIexandria.
John procured him promotion.