Highwayman, and in his Dress and Equipage very much affected the fine Gentleman, yet to a Man acquainted with good Breeding, that can distinguish it from Impudence and Affectation, there was very little in his Address or Behaviour, that could entitle him to that Character.

It is true, he is descended by the Father's Side from a very honourable Family in the Highlands of Scotland, whose particular Distinction it would be cruel to mention on this scandalous Occasion. His Father, a younger Son of this Family, was bred up a Divine of the Church of Scotland, and going over to Ireland , became Preacher to a dissenting Congregation at Monahan , in the northern Part of that Kingdom; by whom, and the whole Neighbourhood, he was esteemed a Gentleman of singular Probity, Piety and Humanity. He married into a reputable Family in these Parts and left only two Sons; one of them an Honour to his Memory, and Profession, he bred up a Divine, and is now Pastor of a Protestant Congregation at the Hague. The other the unhappy Sufferer, whose behaviour has afforded so much Matter of Speculation to the World. To him he gave a decent Education, designing him for some mercantile Employment, so soon as he should be of Age proper to be put into a Compting-House ; but unhappily for him, his Father died before he could find an Opportunity of settling him as he intended, and his Share of the little Effects he left behind him falling into his Hands and Management before he was quite Eighteen, it was no Wonder it was soon squandered, without Reflection upon a future Settlement in Life.

Mr. Maclean's Patrimony gone before he was much turned of 20, his Mother's Friends who were the only Relations he had in Ireland, quarrelled with him for his Extravagance, and refused him either Advice, Shelter or Subsistence, his Brother was then in Holland, and he was too far removed, and too little acquainted with any of his Family in Scotland, to acquaint them with his Wants, or receive any Assistance from them.

After various Attempts to prevail on his Mother's Relations to fit him cut for the Sea, or some other Business that might insure his future Subsistence, proving unsuccessful, he had no other Recourse lest, but for Bread, to become menial Servant to Mr. Howard, then on his Way to England, with whom he staid some Time; but the low Station he was in exposing him to the Conversation of the lowest Class of his Countrymen, his Morals was not much improved by his Travels in England , and he quarrelled with his Master, and return'd again to his own Country, once more to solicit his Friends to do something for him suitable to his Birth, and the natural Expectations of his earlier Years.

But either they saw something in his Manner and Principles that did not promise them much Credit from their Kinsman, or his Demands were ill-timed and unsuitable to their Circumstances, for they refused either to see him, or afford him any Countenance.

On this Disappointment he gave over all Thoughts of any of his Relations, except his Brother at the Hague, from whom he frequently received Remittances and Advice that might have been of greater Service to him than all the Money on Earth, but the Cash was to him much more acceptable, he spent it as fast as he could, and never remembred the prudent Council that accompanied it longer than he was reading the Letter: However, it could not be expected that the Appointments of a Dutch Minister could spare Support for an idle Gentleman. These Favours frequent, and larger than could be expected, every Thing considered, were not sufficient to depend on for Subsistence, and Mr. Maclean was obliged once more to look out for some Gentleman's Service, where he might be free from the Dread of meer Want of the Necessaries of Life.