John Mack Donell, hanged at Inverlochie in 1754 for Theft, not one of the eight noted Glenmoriston-Men in 1746

N.B. At EdrEdinburgh, Thursday, OctrOctober 28th, 1756.
I dined with the R.Right R.Reverend Mr WmWilliam Falconar
in his own House, in company with Mr
Duncan Campbell of the Family of Calder,
&and Patrick Grant, one of the 8 noted Glen-
moriston-Men in 1746 when the said Mr Camp-
bell took Occasion to examine the said
Patrick Grant, very strictly &and minutely, about
a Matter, that had hitherto prevailed, &and
met with Credit universally, viz, “that John
MackDonnell, who was hanged at Inverlo-
chie, upon Friday, May 31st, 1754, for Cow-
Stealing, had been one of the said noted
Glenmoriston-Men.” Patrick Grant assured us,
that this Story was far from being true; for ytthat
John MackDonell (one of the above eight) was
his Door-Neighbour, &and still in Life &and good
Health, &and that he was really &and truly a Camp-
bell, having changed his Name to that of
MackDonell upon his coming to live in the
Bounds, &and under the Protection, of the Family
of Glengary, it being the usual Custom for
those of a different name to take the Name
of the ChiftainChieftain, under whom they live, in the
Highlands of Scotland. Patrick Grant said, ytthat,
as to the above Story, “the Matter of Fact was
“this, that the hanged John MackDonell, upon
“his being taken up, affirmed himself to be one
“of the 8 noted Glenmoriston-Men in 1746, the
“Sameness of the Name favouring his Design, he
“vainly imagining, that his Story, if once credit-
“ed, might be of Use to him in the Event of his
“being brought to a Trial; that the Story was
“indeed so universally credited, never meeting
“with the smallest Contradiction, that the people
“in &and about Inverness, both Gentry &and Commo-
“nalty, commiserated his Case very much, &and shewedshowed 1778 (1778)
“shewedshowed him singular Acts of Kindness &and
“Sympathy,” ; “&and
“that the other John MackDonell, really and
“truly one of the foresaid eight, did not think
“himself at Freedom to [] appear then or after-
“wards for the Discovery of the Cheat, because
“that would have tended to have set himself
“up as a Mark to be aimed ^at sometime or other;
“&and therefore it behoved him to lie snug, to
“allow the Imposition to pass from Hand to hand,
“&and to consult personal Safety by a profound &and
“seasonable Silence.”—BpBishop Falconar &and Mr
Duncan Campbell were extremely pleased wtwith
the whole of the Conversation, but particularly
delighted with the clearing up of the Truth as
to the foresaid current Story. Mr Duncan was
not a little fond to discover, that a Campbell had
a Share in the truly heroic Action Conduct of
despising 3000 ￡ Sterl.Sterlingat the manifest Haz-
ard of Life it selfitself, &and c.