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magnificent plans. The principal misfortunes in the commencement of the operations of this Society, were occasioned by the appointment of improper persons, who offered themselves as candidates for this new and noble service. Its managers have become wiser by the knowledge which cost them so dear in the outset. They have learned that it is easier to raise money than Missionaries; God alone can send these; and we believe, that now they are as discreet and as happy in the choice of persons to intrust with the charge of bearing the vessels of the Lord in distant climes, as any of their brethren who are engaged in the same holy service. That due honour may be done to a Society which is the glory of one class of Christians, the Independents, and reflects equal lustre upon professors of every denomination who can conscientiously unite with them for the furtherance of the pure Gospel of "Christ crucified,” we shall quote the following passage.

We question, indeed, if in the whole history of the propagation of Christianity in modern ages, a mission is to be found so fruitful in important and interesting lessons, as the mission to the South Sea Islands. We shall make only one other remark, and we think it is an observation of considerable importance. The mission to the South Sea Islands, though it has been attended with little or no success in that quarter of the globe, has yet been a powerful mean of promoting the interests of Christianity in other parts of the world, particularly in Pagan countries. Eliot, and Mayhew, and Brainerd, the Danes, the Moravians, and the Baptists, had all engaged in missionary undertakings, and most of them with considerable appearances of success. But their operations never awakened the Christian world from the lethargy into which it had fallen. Individuals were interested and delighted with their exertions; but the great body of professed Christians scarcely ever heard either of them or their labours. It was not till the Missionary Society was formed;-it was not till the magnificent mission to the South Sea Islands was undertaken, the splendour of which dazzled the eyes of mankind, that the Christian world was aroused from its slumbers. Then a general concern was excited throughout the whole of Christendom, for the conversion of the Heathen. Old establishments were revived, or at least supported with more vigour, and prosecuted with fresh zeal. New institutions were formed for the propagation of the gospel at home and abroad, some of which have already been crowned with extensive suce cess, while others promise à yet more abundant harvest. In short, a new impulse appeared to be given to the operations of the Christian world; and this, we think, may be traced in no inconsiderable degree, to the splendour and magnificence of the mission to the South Sea Islands." pp. 402-403.

The concluding chapter of Dr. Brown's Work, includes sundry narratives respecting the exertions of the Edinburgh Missionary Society in Africa and Tartary, and those of the

Church Missionary Society in the Soosoo country, on the coast of Africa, which are well worthy of honourable mention here. The Appendix contains a variety of miscellaneous information, which could not well be reduced under any of the foregoing heads. The Work as a whole, if we regard the subject alone, certainly exhibits some of the most sublime and affecting views of human nature, which the history of the world can display.

Art. III. Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland, to his Friend in London: containing an Account of the Highlands, &c. Printed 1754. Reprinted with Notes 1815. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 594. Price 15s. Gale and Curtis.

T is not without emotions of melancholy, and almost of regret, that, in contemplating the history of nations, we perceive the once strongly marked traits of characteristic manners, and the vestiges of ancient customs, fading into indistinctness, while the race distinguished by those historic peculiarities, becomes daily more assimilated to the people with whom they are surrounded. The feelings with which we revert from their present habits to their past condition, are in some degree analogous to those, with which the lover of nature never fails. to witness the vanishing beauties of an evening landscape. Eager to prolong the vision of what is so soon to dissolve into darkness, he loves to watch from some eminence the surviving glow of light in the west, and to catch the reflection on some spire or turret, long after the rest of the scene has melted into the general shadow.

The solitary memorials which thus stand out in the perspective of history, as the last on which the shadows of time are rapidly about to close, are, in this view, highly interesting and impressive; it was therefore with expectations of peculiar gratification that we took up the present work, which professes to carry us back a century in the manners of an interesting people, the Inhabitants of the Highlands of Scotland. Unknown nationally, even to the present times, by any very splendid achievements in arms,* or extensive conquests over foreigners; (circumstances which form the leading materials of the history of the most celebrated nations of antiquity ;)—indebted, for the tribute paid to them by posterity, to no refinements of literature; since only one book, and that a disputed document, remains, by which any conception can be formed of their genius for composition;having reared no monuments of art to perpetuate their fame,

* A feud between the neighbouring clans, a descent into the Lowlands, or a sanguinary contest with predatory Danes, are insulated exploits, which, how heroic soever they may have been, do not fall within the scope of the above remark,

beyond the simple cairns* which they heaped over their faller chiefs;-these northern tribes have, nevertheless, been enabled to excite, in every susceptible mind, a strong and permanent interest. Their ancient manners are invested with a sort of magic splendour, which excites and engages the imagination, while it warms the heart. Their almost extirpated customs exhibit an independence of mind and a generosity of disposition, which are seldom found among the artificial habits of more civilized life; and if their character was rendered in some degree harsh, by that ferocity which is found to attach to nations in which a martial spirit is bred and cherished by feudal institutions, it was associated with a chivalrous dignity, and with those virtues which spring from daring and hardy enterprise, in minds strongly influenced by romantic and generous affection.

Much of this character remained among the Highlanders so late as the beginning of the Eighteenth century, though it was considerably modified by a more unrestrained intercourse with the inhabitants of the Lowlands, than would have been tolerated in the days of Ossian. The unsuccessful attempt of the Chevalier de St. George, in 1715, accelerated the extermination of those hardy military habits, impatient of foreign control, which had long distinguished these Mountaineers, notwithstanding their nominal submission to the British Sceptre. A military road was driven through the deepest ravines and the most inaccessible fastnesses; the chain of forts was completed, which, though contemptible when opposed to disciplined troops well provided with heavy ordnance, were sufficiently strong to impose a considerable check upon the thinly scattered Highlanders; and by the continual presence of an armed force, the spirit of these brave men was altogether broken. The reverses of 1745, extinguished the expiring flames of that bold independence of character, which had for ages shone forth with a peculiar brightness; but even its last flashes cast a dazzling lustre upon those intrepid heroes, who closed their career by executing prodigies of valour not unworthy of the sons of Fingal, although exerted in an unhappy and mistaken cause. With the downfall of the power of their chiefs, the peculiar habits and customs of the people also declined. That emulous ardour to rival the deeds of their fathers, so enthusiastically described in their popular songs, subsided into a languid and paralyzing submission to their conquerors. The shrill

* A tumulus formed, in general, by a pile of loose stones. The term is also figuratively applied to mountains; as Cairn-Gorm; [the blue-hill;] Cairn-Dû; [the black-hill;] &c.

note of the Pibroch* no longer echoes among the rocks, to rally a devoted clan around its chief; the bloody cross no more traverses hill and valley, to give the alarm of battle; the harp which once shed the soul of music' in their halls, no longer vibrates; and the song of the bard, which formerly resounded deeds of high emprise, is silenced for ever. That magic spell which associated their traditionary talest with every train of thought, and interwove their solemn superstitions with every act and adventure of common life, was broken. So great and rapid has been this change, that it requires the closest attention to catch some glimpse of the fleeting scenes; and, in all probability, before another half century shall have rolled away, no vestige of the ancient national customs of this interesting Northern race will remain, except in the page of history.

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Even at the period when Dr. Johnson visited the North of Scotland, the change wrought in the Highlands by the last conquest, and by the laws subsequent to it, had been so rapid and general, that few traces were discoverable of the habits familiar to the preceding generation. Nearly half a century ago, this keen observer of man remarked with regret,- We came ' hither too late to see what we expected, a people of peculiar appearance, and a system of antiquated life: the clans retain little now of their original character; of what they had before the late conquest of their country, there remain only their language and their poverty.' In order therefore to form correct ideas of this subject, we must transfer ourselves back to a more remote period; to one which preceded the rebellion of 1745; and it is to this early period that we are led by the work under consideration.

These "Letters from the North of Scotland," are stated to have been written about the year 1726-7, although they not published till the year 1754.§ We eagerly

were

*A piece of martial music, played upon the bagpipe.

+ The Sgeuldachds.-It is astonishing that no collection of these has yet been formed. There is, surely, some one Highlander, whose refined taste and intimate acquaintance with the Gaelic, might qualify him for the task. We indeed know, that the thoughts of an individual have been long occupied upon this subject, and we trust he will shortly favour the public with a work which cannot fail to excite considerable interest.

Journey to the Western Isles in 1773.

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We take this opportunity of correcting an erroneous statement made by the Author of Waverley, who says that these "Letters" were published about 1726.' (Waverley, Vol. I. Preface, 3d Edition.) This mis-statement we are the more desirous of noticing, because we are rather sceptical both as to the genuineness

opened a book which professed to communicate some very interesting information respecting the manners of the Highlanders, drawn from living features, in the very state in which they were imbodied nearly one hundred years since. It is with considerable regret we add that our expectations have been severely disappointed.

To paint, with fidelity, the manners of a people whose habits are totally different from our own, requires no small share of natural talent, aided by much patient observation, and influenced and directed by a benevolence of heart which leads us to survey the different tribes which people the earth, as children belonging to a common family. Qualities so rare are seldom found combined and harmoniously blended in the same individual; nor is there any evidence, that they were possessed in an extraordinary degree by the writer of the Letters before

us.

The Author informs us that he was an officer in the British service, quartered with his regiment at Inverness, the Highland metropolis. A soldier residing among people lately in arms against their sovereign, and whose very professsion is to watch with a scrupulous jealousy every motion indicative of a rebellious disposition, is placed, we admit, in very unfavourable circumstances, for nicely investigating and justly appreciating the national character and peculiar manners of such a people. It would indeed be remarkable, if, in attempting to sketch the character of a subjugated nation, his views should be unclouded by prejudice, or his criticisms wholly devoid of the insolence of conquest. For, occasional distortions of feature delineated by such a hand, and arising from such causes, we are bound to make candid and not inconsiderable allowances.

Yet, after having made all these concessions, a more unfair account of the Highlands, we may venture to say, has not hitherto been presented to the public. Dr. Johnson's illiberal treatment of our Northern brethren is universally known, yet his utmost severity is mildness itself, when contrasted with the satirical criticisms, the uncandid observations, and the malicious flippancy, of our anonymous officer. and the authenticity of these volumes. A material deduction must be made from the credit of testimony, which is in itself very suspicious, and which was not published till long after the times of which it professes to give an impartial account. It is admitted that 28 years intervened between the time of the composition of the letters and the anonymous publication of them; a period, considered numerically, short we admit; but in which as great changes took place in the Highlands, as are produced in some nations during two or three centuries.

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