Macleod's high praise of Johnson is in curious contradiction to Sir Walter Scott's account, that "when winter-bound at Dunvegan, Johnson's temper became most execrable, and beyond all endurance save that of his guide (Boswell)."^[2] Mr. Croker, on receiving this account from Sir Walter, applied to the Laird's son and successor, "who assured him emphatically they were all delighted with him."^[3] Nevertheless, as I have already stated,^[4] the young ladies of the family do not seem to have shared in this delight. The true Johnsonian must look upon them as "a set of wretched un-idea'd girls," and so forgive their want of taste.

Macleod, two or three years after our traveller's visit, raised a company of his own Highlanders, and entered the army. In the war against our colonists in America he and his wife, who had accompanied him, were taken prisoners. In their captivity they made the acquaintance and won the friendship of George Washington. Let us hope that the heart of the founder of the great American Commonwealth was softened towards the author of Taxation no Tyranny by the anecdotes which he heard of him from his warm friend, the young Scottish chief. On his return home he raised the second battalion of the forty-second Highlanders, and served with distinction in India as their colonel. Zoffany painted him in his soldier's dress, surrounded with elephants,