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A Famous Minister of Dauiot, 1672-1726. :3ol
ofthc Ciospel. Tlic Act, which i« given ;it U'ugth in Uk; Presbytery
Records, is a very interesting document, but it is l)eyond
the scope of my paper to enter into it. Mr Michael worked
zealously for his church, but its fall was near. The bust meeting
of the Inverness Presbytery of the Episcopal Church of Scotland,
as by law established, was held on 19th September 1G88,
when our minister preached a sermon on the tc^xt " Therefore,
brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction
and distress, by your faith." But the comfort was shortlived.
In a few weeks the Prince of Orange landed in England, and
before the end of December established Episcopacy in Scotland,
and the ancient Stuart dynasty came to a common end.
Immediately after the Revolution, Presbyterianism was reestablished,
and Mr Alexander Fraser, the old minister of Daviot,
claimed the incumbency. Mr Michael, however, tirmly refused
to remove. In 1091 the jiarish was declared vacant by the Committee
of Assembly; but Mr Michael cared little for such declara-
tions, and he adhered to his people, who, in their turn, loyally
stood by him ; and in spite of all opposition he continued the de
facto minister of the united parishes till his death in 1726. A
strong Jacobite and a keen Episcopalian, he never ceased to hope
for the return of tlie old kings, and the restoration of his beloved
Church. In 1715 it appeared as if his dreams were to be realised.
Early in September of that year the Earl of Mar had his famous
hunting, at which James, son of the now deceased King James
the Second, was proclaimed King ; and in a few weeks the Earl
had a considerable army ready to fight for the old line. Among
the first to rise were the Mackintoshes, who, under their Chief, and
the famous Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum, seized Inverness on
the 13th September, and took possession of such public money and
arms as they could find. Next day The INIackintosh, who claimed
the services of the tenants on the estate of Culloden, wrote to Mrs
Forbes of Culloden in the following terms :— " You cannot be a
stranger to the circum.stances I have put myself in at the tyme,
and the great need I have of my own men and followers whereever
they may be found, wherefor I thought fitt, seeing Culloden
is not att home, by this line to entreat you to put no stopp in the
way of these men that are, and have been, my followers upon your
ground. Madame, your compliance in this will very much oblige
your most humble servant, L. Mackintosh." And then, he significantly
adds, by way of postscript—" If what I demand will not be
granted, [ hope I'll be excused to be in my duty." But such threats
had no efiect on the lady of Culloden, and she refused The Mack