Sketches of the Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of Scotland

PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

THESE Sketches, which, with extreme diffidence, I lately submitted to public notice, having met with a more favourable reception than I could ever have ventured to expect, and a large impression having been rapidly disposed of, I am now encouraged to offer a Second Edition, with a degree of satisfaction which I could neither have hoped for nor anticipated. I have been farther gratified, by receiving numerous communications, confirming the general correctness of the great multiplicity of facts and circumstances which I have had occasion to detail. In a few instances, indeed, the friendly observations of others have enabled me to correct some errors of no great importance, being principally mistakes in dates and omissions of names, of which I have gladly availed myself in this edition. It cannot but be satisfactory, that more numerous alterations have not yet proved necessary; as, in the great mass of statements I have heard, not always coinciding in terms or in

circumstances, I frequently experienced extreme difficulty in detailing military operations in such a manner, as to afford satisfaction, or appear correct, to all who were present; every movement, every change of position, often assuming a dif ferent aspect, according to the distance, particular station, and capability of the observer to form a correct judgment of what passed under his notice.

I therefore publish the Second Edition without any material alterations, except a few additional anecdotes and observations, which, from the necessity of compression, and other circumstances, I was obliged to leave out in the first impression of the work.

Edinburgh, June 25. 1822.

SECT.

CONTENTS

VOLUME I.

PART I.

I. Geographical situation and extent of the Highlands-Celtic

kingdom

II. System of Clanship-Patriarchal sway of the Chiefs-Con.

sequences of this system-Effects of the want of laws, and

of constant agitation and alarms on the character of the peo-

ple

III. Devoted obedience of the Clans-Spirit of independence-

Fidelity

IV. Arms-Warlike array

V. Highland garb

VI. Bards-Pipers-Music

VII. General means of subsistence-Checks on population-Salu-

tary influence of custom in the absence of laws

Page

VIII. Love of country-Early associations-Traditional tales and

poetry

IX. Disinterested, but mistaken, loyalty and fidelity—Conduct in

1745

109

X. Abolition of Hereditary Jurisdictions-Disarming act-Sup-

pression of the Highland garb

115

PART II.

PRESENT STATE, AND CHANGES OF CHARACTER, MANNERS,

AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE

121

I. Influence of political and economical arrangements-Change

in the character of the clans-Introduction of fanaticism in

religion,

122

Page

SECT.

II. Causes and consequences of these changes ·

State when

placed on small lots of land-Poverty followed by demora-

III. Beneficial results of judicious arrangements, and of allowing

time to acquire a knowledge of agricultural improvements

-Emigration-Agricultural pursuits promote indepen-

dence, and prevent pauperism

IV. Illicit distillation-Consequences of reducing the Highlanders

from the condition of small tenantry-Policy of retaining

an agricultural population

PART III.-MILITARY ANNALS.

I. Black Watch-Independent companies-Embodied into a

regiment at Taybridge in 1740-March to England-Re-

view-Mutiny

II. Embarked for Flanders, 1749-Battle of Fontenoy-Return

to Britain in 1745-Three additional companies-Battle

of Prestonpans-Descent on the coast of France, 1746-

Return to Ireland-Embark for Flanders, 1747-Thence

for Ireland in 1749-The number changed from the 43d

to the 42d regiment-Character of the regiment

III. Embark for North America in 1756- Expedition against

Louisbourg in 1757-Attack on Ticonderago and Louis-

bourg in 1758-on Fort du Quesne-on Martinique and

Guadaloupe in 1759

IV. Operations under General Amherst in North America in 1760

Expedition under General Wolfe Battle of the Heights

of Abraham-Death of General Wolfe-Battle of Quebec

-Fraser's Highlanders

V. Montgomery's Highlanders-Dominique taken in 1761-

Martinique in 1762-Havannah taken in 1762

VI. Fraser's, Montgomery's, and Royal Highlanders, St John's,

Newfoundland, 1762-Bushy Run, 1768-Fort Pitt, 1764

-Ireland, 1767-Scotland, 1775

VII. Highlanders embark for America in 1775-Battle of Brook-

lyn 1776-Battle of White Plains-Capture of Fort Wash-

ington 1777-Hessians surprised at Trenton-Pisquatua——

Battle of Brandy-wine-General Wayne surprised--Attack

of German-town-White Marsh-Battle of Monmouth

1778-Rhode Island-Verplanks-Stony Point-Detach-

ment of recruits from London-Consequences-Charles-

town taken 1780---Some Highlanders deserted in 1783---

Pago

Stationed in Halifax 1786--- Embark for England in 1789

...Return to Scotland in 1790

SECT. VIII. Duties of the regiment in Scotland-Disturbances in Ross-

shire in 1792-Embark for Flanders in 1793-Join the

allied army at Menin-Relief of Nieuport-Return to Eng-

land-Embark for the Coast of France-Embark for Flan-

ders in June 1794-Nimeguen-Distressing march to

Bremen-Return to England-Regiments augmented by

drafts from the newly raised corps

968

403

IX. Embark for the West Indies in 1795-Fleet scattered in a
succession of gales-One division of the Highlanders dri-
ven back, the other reaches Barbadoes-Attack on St Lu-

Icia and St Vincent in 1796-Porto Rico 1797 Re-

turn to England, and thence sail for Gibraltar-Expedition

against Minorca in 1798-Expedition against Cadiz in

1800-Malta

X. Expedition to Egypt in 1801-Landing at Aboukir-Battle

of the 13th of March-90th and 92d regiments lead the at-

tack-Battle of Alexandria-Surrender of Cairo-Surren-

der of Alexandria-Indian Army

XI. England-Highland Society-Reviewed by the King-

March to Scotland-Reception-Recruits-2d Battalion

added in 1803-March to England-Embark for Gibral-

tar in 1805-Spain, 1808-Battle of Corunna, 1809-Re-