TOPICS of the DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 166, 13 July 1907, Page 9

TOPICS of the DAY.

JFrom Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, May 31. "MASSACRE AS PER INVOICE." Few children fail to remember for the rest of their lives the grim story of the Massacre of Glencoe, which they learned in their history books at school, •so that the sale of the document^ which brought about this national crime is a matter oi,widespread interest. At Put,tick's Rooms in Leicester Square, -was put up for auction, this week, a ragged folio which was no other than the order for "a massacre as per invoice," as the Glencoe draft has been aptly described. It will be remembered that after the accession of William 111., Macdonald of Glencoe was the last of the Highland chiefs to take the oath of allegiance to the King. In his obstinacy he left the unpalatable duty till the eleventh hour, and , when he arrived at Fort William on December 31st, 1691, no one was there to receive him. It took five days for him to make the journey to, Inverary, where he swore the oath before Sir Colin Campbell, Sheriff of Argyll.

The tfespa'cli explaining the delay was duly sent to London, but it is alleged that the Master of Stair suppressed it, and William was thereby induced to sjgn an order for the extermination of jgie.^.clan. By February 4 .Captain Robert Campbell, with 120 Soldiers, was in the Glencoe valley, ostensibly the bearer of messages of forgiveness and reconciliation. On the evening of the 12th he received the orders of one Robert Duncanson, acting for the Master of Stair. This was the document put tip for auction this week; it runs as follows:. —

"You are hereby ordered*to fall upon the Rebells, the McDonalds of Glencoe and putt alLto the sword under seventy. You are to have a speciall care that, the old ffox and his sones doe upon no occount escape your hands you are to secure all the avenues that no man escape. This you are to putt in executione att fyye of the clock precisely; and by that time or very shortly after it I'll strive to be att you with a stronger party; if I doe not come to you att fyve, you are not to tary for mc butt to fall on. This is by the Kings Special command, for the good'and safty of the country, that -these miscreants be cutt off root and branch.' See that -this be putt in executione without feud.or favour, else you may expect to be dealt with as one not true to King nor Government, nor a man fitt to cary Commissione in the Kings Service.. Expect-, ing you will hot faill in the fulfilling hereof, as you love your selfe, I subscribe these with my hand hand att Balicholis ffeb: 12, 1692. (So) E.o. Duncanson, ffor ther Maties Service To Capt. Robert Campbell of Glenlyon. In a crowded room of sightseers and relic-collectors the bidding began at £50, and eventually reached- £1400, when the agent of Mr. Tregaskis, of High Holborn, was declared the,, winner. Later, Mr. Tregaskis stated' he had purchased the document for himself, and it remains to be seen who will release it from his hold. Some time ago another manuscript was claimed to be the original, but the experts who have seen both pronounce in favour of the one sold this week, and the owner, moreover, has, it is understood, entered' into a bond and signed a guarantee. The ■ rival manuscript is much less, and for other reasons expert opinion is on the side of the relic bought by Mr. Tregaskis. v