Copy 1, Volume 1

Sketches of the character, manners, and present state of the Highlanders of Scotland; with details of the military service of the Highland regiments / [David Stewart].

  • Stewart, David, Major-General.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sketches of the character, manners, and present state of the Highlanders of Scotland; with details of the military service of the Highland regiments / [David Stewart]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    152/660 (page 126)
    exist among the Highlanders, unless the change of charac¬ ter which is now in rapid progress be checked. Of this change there was no symptom previous to the year 1745, and scarcely a faint indication till towards the year 1770. The Union, which has had the happiest effect in contributing to the prosperity of both kingdoms, seemed at first, and indeed for many years afterwards, to paralyze the energies, and break the spirit of Scotchmen. The peo¬ ple in general imagined, that, by the removal of their court and parliament, they had lost their independence. The subsequent decrease of trade contributed to exasperate and to increase their aversion to the measure; and from this pe¬ riod, the country seems to have remained stationary, if not to have retrograded, till about the commencement of the late reign, when a spirit of improvement, both in agricul¬ ture and commerce, and a more extensive intercourse with the world, infused new life and vigour into the general mass of the population. While this was the effect of the Union in the southern and lowland parts of Scotland, its operation upon the north was much slower and more imperceptible. There the in¬ habitants retained their ancient pursuits, prejudices, lan¬ guage, and dress; with all the peculiarities of their original character. But a new era was soon to commence. The primary cause, both in time and importance, which contri¬ buted to produce a remarkable change in the Highlands, was the legislative measures adopted subsequent to the year 1745. This cause, however, had so little influence, that, as I have already noticed, its operation was for many years im¬ perceptible; yet an impulse was given which, in the pro¬ gress of events, and through the co-operation of many colla¬ teral and subordinate causes, has effected a revolution, which could not have been fully anticipated, or indeed thought possible in so short a period of time. This change appears in the character and condition of the Highlanders, and is indicated, not only in their manners and persons, but in the very aspect of their country. It has reduced to a state of