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PREFACE
In 1822, Major-General David Stewart of Garth,
then a Colonel in the army, first published his invaluable “Sketches of
the Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlands of Scotland,
with Details of the Military Service of the Highland Regiments.” It had
a very extensive sale, two large editions having been exhausted and a
third called for in the same year, though it was a high-priced work. In
recent years it became so scarce that a copy realises now from a guinea
to twenty-five shillings. It is admitted by all whose opinion is worth
listening to on the subject, to be by far the best book in every respect
ever written on the Highlands; and it has in fact become the foundation
of nearly all that has since been written on the character and annals of
the Highland people. The author has shown a remarkable insight into the
future, and has so accurately predicted the ultimate results of the
coldblooded exterminating policy of his time, that these could not be
more truly described even at the present day, when all that he so
correctly foretold has been realised to the full in the existing social
and political state of the Highlands, as well as in
the altered relations of proprietors and people. For this and
other reasons the portion of the work which the author himself
designated “A Sketch of the Moral and Physical Character, and of the
Institutions and Customs of the Inhabitants of the Highlands of
Scotland” will prove a valuable addition to the literature of the
present day, and we have decided to republish that portion of the work
at a price which shall place it within the reach of the extended circle
who now take a keen and sympathetic interest in the social position of
the Highland peasantry. It is intended, by and bye, to follow this up
with the publication of the portions of the work which deal specially
with “The Military Services of the Highland Regiments,” bringing down
the account of these to date.
In the Preface to the first edition, General Stewart informs us
that his statements are grounded on authentic documents ; on
communications from people in whose intelligence and correctness he
places implicit confidence ; on his own personal knowledge and
observation ; and on the mass of general information, of great
credibility and consistency, preserved among the Highlanders of the last
century ; and he assures us of his “ honest and perfect conviction of
the truth of all he has advanced, and of the vital importance attached
to the several points touched upon.” Having explained how he was induced
to commence the work, and how he succeeded in obtaining so much valuable
and authentic information, first, concerning the Forty-Second, and
afterwards respecting the other Highland Regiments, he says—“ In the
course of this second investigation into the history of the Highland
Regiments I met, in all of them, with much of the same character and
principles. The coincidence was indeed striking, and proved that this
similarity of conduct and character must have had some common origin, to
discover the nature of which appeared an object worthy of inquiry. The
closest investigation only confirmed the opinion I had before
entertained, that the strongly marked difference between the manners and
conduct of the mountain clans, and those of the Lowlanders, and of every
other known country, originated in the patriarchal form of government
which differed so widely from the feudal system of other countries. I
therefore attempted to give a sketch of those manners and institutions
by which this distinct character was formed; and having delineated a
hasty outline of the past state of the manners and character, the
transition to the changes that had been produced and the present
condition of the same people was obvious and natural. Hence I have been
led on, step by step, from one attempt to another, till the whole
attained its present form.” A large edition was cleared off at once, and
another was issued within two months of the first. In the Preface to the
second edition the author declares how gratified he was “ by receiving
numerous communications confirming the general correctness of the great
multiplicity of facts and circumstances ” which he had occasion to
detail in the first. The second edition, numbering 1300 copies, was
cleared off immediately. The demand for the work still “continued in a
great measure unabated,” and the author made preparations for a third
edition, the printing of which was forthwith commenced.
In the Preface to the third edition, hitherto the last, issued in
1825, and of which this volume is, so far, a verbatim reprint, he
informs us that, “owing to the distance of Garth from the press, and
having no daily post, with other causes of interruption, this [the
printing] proceeded so slowly that the publication of' the present
edition has, in consequence, been delayed for more than a year beyond
the time at which, in justice to the work, it ought to have appeared.
The delay thus occasioned has, however, been attended with one important
advantage ; it has afforded me time and ample opportunities of
re-examining my statements, and of applying corrections, where such
appeared necessary. If I have seen cause to make but few alterations,
with hardly a qualification, even in those economical views which are,
of course, most liable to be disputed, it is solely because the result
of the most minute inquiries, and of personal observation, has
strikingly confirmed the general accuracy of my statements and
reasonings, and affords me additional confidence in the truth and
justness of the opinions which I was previously led to maintain. I
employed three months of 1823 in this personal investigation, and
travelled upwards of one thousand miles through the Highlands, always
communicating with the most intelligent, and those best qualified by
their judgment, general intelligence, and local knowledge to give the
most correct information, and unprejudiced opinions on the subject of my
inquiries. Receiving the fullest confirmation from such men, I have now
the more satisfaction in adding, that, while I thus exerted myself to
render the present edition as correct as possible, the alterations are
so few and unimportant as not to diminish in any degree, the value and
general accuracy of the former editions.” Indeed, almost the entire
change consists of material and very valuable additions to the text,
notes, and appendices.
In “Notes Explanatory of the Map of the Clans,” issued with the
original work, the author thinks it proper to state that the divisions
in which the clans were arranged were “ not intended to indicate that
the chiefs, or heads of the principal branches of all the clans, were
the sole proprietors of the lands classed under their respective names.
In several instances, they were only occupiers and tenants at will of
the lands on which their forefathers had lived for ages. But while the
clansmen obeyed and followed the chiefs of their family and kindred, the
superiors and proprietors of their lands seldom held any authority or
feudal control, except in cases where the superior and his people
entertained similar political views and sentiments.” In a foot-note to
this, our author adds that, “nothing can be more erroneous than an
opinion, often repeated, and therefore sometimes believed, that whatever
side the feudal superior took in any great political question or
contest, he was invariably followed by his subservient adherents. Many
instances to the contrary have been stated, and I could produce many
more, highly creditable to the spirit of independence which long
distinguished the clansmen.” The lands “ occupied by different clans and
tribes, either as proprietors or tenants are generally called their *
country’ or territory; Brae Lochaber, for example, which was occupied
for nearly five hundred years by the Macdonalds of Keppoch, and their
numerous descendants, is called ‘Keppoch’s country,’ although the
fee-simple of the property had been vested for the greater part of the
period in the families of Gordon and Mackintosh. The Dukes of Gordon and
Argyll were feudal superiors of the whole of the Camerons’ country, the
former nobleman being also proprietor of part of the lands, as also of a
considerable portion of Badenoch, the ‘ country of the Macphersons,’
many of whom are his Grace’s tenants. Indeed, this clan is so numerous
in that extensive district that, except in the case of an accidental
emigration from the Duke’s Lowland estates, there is not a tenant of the
name of Gordon throughout its whole extent. The Duke of Atholl possesses
a very extensive property in Athole ; but the district has, for
centuries, been called the country of the Stewarts, Robertsons,
Fergusons, etc. With the exception of the Duke, there is not in the
whole district a proprietor or occupier of land of the name of Murray;
but many descendants, whose forefathers sprung from the Atholl family
prior to the change of their name from Stewart to Murray, are still
resident in the glens of A thole. Part of two large parishes on the
estate of Sutherland, including Strathnaver, from which the Earldom of
Sutherland derives its secondary title, is situated in Lord Reay’s
country, or, as it is called in Gaelic, the territory of the Mackays The
ranks of the Sutherland Regiment of 1793 bore evidence to the propriety
of this appellation, as one hundred and four William Mackays, almost all
of them from Strathnaver, were in the corps, and seventeen in one
company, Captain Sackville Sutherland’s. The small clans or tribes of
Maclarens of Balquhidder in Perthshire, Macintyres of Argyle, Macraes of
Ross, Gunns of Sutherland, and several others, were not proprietors; but
from the earliest history of the clans, till a very recent period,
occupied their lands in undisturbed succession.” Where are they now?
Professor Blackie has repeatedly described General Stewart’s book
as the best existing work— whose “ excellence shines forth on every page
”— on the Scottish Highlands and Highlanders; and that true and
patriotic Sutherland Highlander, Mr John Mackay, C.E., Hereford, writing
to a northern newspaper a few years ago, refers to the work in the
following terms :—“ Without any doubt, Stewart’s Sketches is one of the
best, if not the very best book, published on the subject. It has formed
the groundwork for all the subsequent publications on the Highlands and
Highland Clans. It ought to be in the hands of every Highland lad ; on
the bookshelf of every Highland home, next to the Bible. It is
invaluable to every one who desires to know all about the heroic past of
the Highland people. The author, born amongst the hills of Perthshire,
was reared amidst the people he loved so well, respected so much, before
they became contaminated with Saxon ideas and manners, before chiefs
divorced themselves from their retainers, before sheep became the golden
image to be worshipped, before the lust for gold took the place of love
for the people, and respect and affection for the gallant defenders of
their country in danger; when willing hands and brave hearts, like
himself, were pouring out, year after year, from every hill and vale to
sustain the honour of the country, to preserve its freedom, to conquer
or die for it in every battlefield from Fontenoy to Waterloo. This was
the heroic era of the Highlands and Highlanders. Well did they deserve
of their country and chiefs. General Stewart sets all this forth in his
Sketches, in his own kindly language. Fortunate it was for the
Highlanders to find in their midst such a historian of their prowess and
heroic conduct as the gallant General, whose pen was as ready to do them
justice, and to record their valour, as his sword was keen to lead them
into battle. Fortunate, too, it was to find such a matchless defender of
their character as Sir Walter Scott. It was the incomparable heroism of
the
Highland soldier, and the majestic scenery of his country, that
awakene d the genius of Scott Sir Walter Scott and General Stewart have
done to the Highlanders the justice denied them by others. The magic
wand of the one, and the facile pen and intimate knowledge of the other,
painted their character and heroism in letters of gold, ineffaceable,
imperishable. ‘ Waverley,’ ‘ The Lady of the Lake,’ ‘ The Lord of the
Isles,’ are well known productions of Sir Walter Scott. Stewart’s
Sketches of the Highlands and Highland Regiments are worthy to rank
beside them : even more worthy of being read ; for facts are stronger
than fiction. Stewart Sketches ought to be found in every library, in
the hall or in the cottage. Every Highland lad should have the book in
his hands as soon as he is able to read.” It is, in fact, impossible for
any one to read it without being and feeling a better man or woman after
the performance. The Appendix deserves special attention from the reader
who desires to be fully informed on the subject of the book, as it is a
perfect mine of invaluable facts and sound reasoning—such as cannot be
found together anywhere else that we know of.
A. M.
Inverness, 20th April 1885.
Sketches of the Character, Institutions, and Customs of the Highlanders
of Scotland
By Major-General David Stewart of Garth (1885) (pdf)
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