Besides his musical compositions, Mr. Macfarren has contributed extensively to the literature of the art—as essayist, critic, theorist, and biographer. His analytical descriptions of the "Messiah," "Israel in Egypt," "Creation," "Lobgesang" (Mendelssohn), and other works for the Sacred Harmonic Society and the Birmingham Triennial Festival, are as interesting for their details as they are valuable for their accuracy. The first of these, the "Messiah," prepared for the Sacred Harmonic Society, was published in 1853. Mr. Macfarren's work on harmony stands in high repute, although in some particulars it diverges from the systems which have hitherto obtained acceptance. The most important difference relates to the fundamental roots which generate the scale. Theorists have derived the scale from the tonic (first note of the scale), subdominant (fourth), and dominant (fifth); but Mr. Macfarren rejects the subdominant and substitutes the supertonic (second note of the scale) as the second fundamental root—whence he obtains an entirely new system of notation. He was led to his convictions on this point by conversations with the late Dr. Alfred Day, who is believed to have first invented the theory of the supertonic, which certainly, as Mr. Macfarren has developed it, clears up many points that from time immemorial have puzzled musicians, besides creating a logical defence for much that, while admitted to be effective and even beautiful, was nevertheless objected to as incorrect, in the works of the great masters. In consequence of his uncompromising adherence to this system, Mr. Macfarren was compelled in 1845 to resign his professorship in the Academy; in 1851, however, he was invited to return, and has since taught whatever method he considered expedient. It was in 1851 that he completed an opera called "Allan of Aberfeldy" (not mentioned in the foregoing catalogue), in conjunction with his frequent co-labourer, Mr. Oxenford. This work has never been played, and remains in MS.—J. W. D.
* MACFARREN, Walter Cecil, youngest brother of the foregoing, was born in London. As early as 1833 he was a choir-boy in Westminster Abbey; studied music under the tuition of his brother; and was admitted into the Academy, 1842. In 1845 he was appointed sub-professor, some years later professor (pianoforte), and subsequently (1861) member of the Board of Professors. A pianist of acknowledged ability, he has composed a great deal of music for his instrument, both solo and concerted—duets, trios, sonata (with violin), &c. He has also written many songs, and part-songs, besides some overtures for the orchestra. As a public performer Mr. W. C. Macfarren has achieved distinguished success.—J. W. D.
MACGILLIVRAY, William, a Scottish naturalist, was born in the island of Harris, one of the outer Hebrides, and died at Aberdeen on 5th September, 1852. In early life he devoted attention to natural science, and was appointed by Professor Jameson conservator of the museum of natural history in the university of Edinburgh. He occupied this situation for many years, and during that time he assisted the professor in his lectures. He was of a modest and retiring disposition, and on that account his high merits were often overlooked. On resigning the situation in the university, he was chosen conservator of the museum of the College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, and in that office he acquitted himself admirably. He was an excellent zoologist, and was fond of all departments of natural history. He made many excursions in Scotland in order to examine its zoology and botany; and he published the results of his travels at various times. His claims for preferment were recognized by government, and he was subsequently elected professor of natural history in Marischal college and university, Aberdeen. He fulfilled the duties of this situation till his death. Among his published works are the following—"Manual of Geology;" "History of British Quadrupeds;" "History of British Birds;" "Account of the Mollusca of Aberdeen, Kincardine, and Banff;" "Manual of Botany;" "Natural History of Deeside," published after his death by the command of her majesty Queen Victoria; an edition of Withering's British Plants; besides numerous papers in the Transactions of the Wernerian Society, the Reports of the British Association, the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, and the Magazine of Zoology and Botany.—J. H. B.
MACGREGOR, Rob Roy, a famous Highland outlaw, immortalized by Sir Walter Scott, was born about the middle of the seventeenth century, and was the son of Donald Macgregor of Glengyle, said to have been a lieutenant-colonel probably in the service of James II. The clan Gregor was at this time under the ban of the law, and the name forbidden. Rob, therefore, assumed the name of his mother, who was a daughter of Campbell of Glenfalloch. He was originally an extensive dealer in cattle; but having been rendered insolvent by the bad faith of a partner, he was forced to abscond about 1712, and commenced the life of a freebooter with a band of desperate followers. He carried on a fierce predatory war against the duke of Montrose, whom he considered the author of his outlawry, levied black mail over a wide district, and mercilessly plundered those who refused to purchase his protection. He was bold, sagacious, and active, and was possessed of great muscular strength; many tales are told of his daring exploits. He died about 1733 at an advanced age.—J. T.
MACHAM, Robert, an Englishman of the fourteenth century, concerning whom is told a romantic story which makes him the accidental discoverer of the island of Madeira. Being passionately devoted to Anne, the beautiful daughter of the duke of Dorset—one of the nobles of Edward III.'s court—and their union being forbidden by her father, the lovers found the means of seeking on the ocean some place of refuge from the frowns of the world. Their vessel was carried by the winds to the shores of Madeira, then without inhabitants. The date assigned to this is March 8, 1344. The lovers, with a few companions, disembarked, leaving some of the crew in charge of the ship, which during the night was driven off to sea by a violent storm. The heroine of the tale died within a few days of this disaster. Macham soon followed her, exacting from the remaining members of the party a promise that they would bury him beside his mistress, and erect a cross bearing an inscription composed by himself over their common grave. His companions subsequently reached the coast of Africa. This tale, derived originally from a Portuguese writer of the sixteenth century—and of which there is a version presenting some points of difference from the above—is unsupported by any independent testimony, and is to be regarded with considerable doubt. The received date of the discovery of Madeira is 1420.—W. H.
MACHIAVELLI, Niccolo, was born in Florence on the 3rd May, 1469, of a very ancient patrician family, in a decayed condition. His father, Bernardo, was a lawyer, and treasurer of the march of Ancona; his mother, Bartolommea de' Nelli, also of a noble family, was a woman of some poetic talent. Machiavelli entered the government service early, and on the 14th July, 1498, was appointed secretary to the Ten, a board which managed foreign affairs and negotiations. The republic of Florence had now expelled the Medici, long its dominators. As secretary, Machiavelli was very actively employed, being charged with twenty-four foreign legations, and sixteen internal missions. Among these may be particularized a mission to Cesare Borgia, then threatening the Florentine territory, in 1502; and a legation to France in 1511, when Machiavelli did his utmost to secure the independence of his country. In September, 1512, the Medici were restored by the emperor and the pope. On the 8th November, Machiavelli was deprived of his secretaryship, and was soon after subjected to some restrictions, though not of a severe kind. In 1513 he was accused of complicity in a plot made by Capponi and Boscoli against Cardinal de' Medici, afterwards Leo X.; he underwent the torture of six shocks of the cord without condescending to any admission, and was imprisoned in the dungeon of Le Stinche. In March of the same year, however, upon the accession of Leo to the popedom, he was amnestied. He now retired to a small property named La Strada, which he possessed at San Casciano, about eight miles from Florence, and sought refuge in literature. But he lunged to recover some public employment, were it only (as an extant letter of October, 1513, expresses it) "to roll a stone;" and the composition of his famous book, "The Prince," originally addressed to Giuliano de' Medici, then at the head of affairs, and eventually presented to his nephew, Lorenzo, was undertaken with the express view of bringing his great experience and profound political genius to the notice of the family in power. In this desired result it failed. In 1522 some obscure suspicion again fell upon Machiavelli of having joined in a plot against Giulio de' Medici, afterwards Clement VII.; but no proof was adduced, and the probability is that the ex-secretary never conspired. His own avowed policy was against doing so. He had, from 1521, been readmitted to some employment, mostly of a subordinate character, and had even been consulted by Leo as early as 1514; and Clement, who succeeded in 1523, became his firm supporter. His last post was in the army of the league against Charles V.
