The Scotish Gaël, or, Celtic manners : as preserved among the Highlanders, being an historical and descriptive account of the inhabitants, antiquities, and national peculiarities of Scotland, more particularly of the northern, or gaëlic parts of the country, where the singular habits of the aboriginal Celts are most tenaciously retained / by James Logan.

  • Logan, James, 1794?-1872.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Scotish Gaël, or, Celtic manners : as preserved among the Highlanders, being an historical and descriptive account of the inhabitants, antiquities, and national peculiarities of Scotland, more particularly of the northern, or gaëlic parts of the country, where the singular habits of the aboriginal Celts are most tenaciously retained / by James Logan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    15/544
    litical causes, and the situation of the country, was not at that time well calculated to produce a favorable or unprejudiced view. The High- landers were even at this period deemed little better than savages. The moderation and orderly conduct of the army of Prince Charles during its success, and the bravery and humanity displayed throughout the affair, that might have vindicated their character from such injustice, were forgotten in the stigma of audacious rebellion. The consequent abolition of the system of government so conducive to their indepen- dence, brought them under more particular notice and observation. The suppression of heritable jurisdictions, the previous formation of the mili- tary roads, and acts for disarming the people and discharging the servi- ces of watching, warding, hosting, and hunting, opened the Highlands to the investigation of the curious, and broke down the chief obstacle to the mixture of the inhabitants in other society—the safeguard against the intrusion of strangers, and the great protection for their primitive simplicity of character. The Gael, who had before this time been so little known, even to many of the more Southern Lowlanders, leaving their native hills, dif- fused a more intimate knowledge of themselves and their country, and by their abilities displayed in the various situations of life, have shown themselves equal to the natives of any portion of the kingdom, and worthy of the respectable station which they have acquired in society. With the loss of much of their distinctive character, they have had but too many opportunities of showing that their military ardor and prowess are yet unimpaired. All Europe has admired the achievements of the Scots'troops, and in the late war they covered themselves with glory. The history and antiquities of so singular a people opened a copious source of speculation and literary discussion, and the subject could not fail to be generally interesting. The publication of several works gave a stimulus to research, and excited the critical acumen of many writers. The proud and high-minded Highlanders repelled with indignation the slights they received, and the attacks that were so unceremoniously made upon almost every thing which they valued as national. Unfortu- nately, an acrimonious spirit in which some writers indulged begat an animosity but ill suited to calm inquiry. Abuse and recrimination took the place of serious investigation. The elucidation of historical truth was either altogether put aside, or made subservient to the defeat of an opponent, by turning his cause into ridicule; and thus both parties have sacrificed much of the weight that would otherwise have attached to their arguments. While facts were obscured or perverted, error and fiction accumulated, and impartial judgment and unbiassed decision were thereby prevented. Those works were more fitted for the perusal of the antiquary than the amusement of the general reader; but a pow- erful stimulus to the curiosity concerning Scotland has been given by the writings of Sir Walter Scott, one of the most illustrious of her sons, whose works have indeed produced a new era in literature. Caledonia 2