hope sends you his Compliments, and speaks of you with affection. Ld Harrington has been ill by a surfeit, but is now in a good way. Macleod, I hear, has declared his Marriage; but I have not seen him nor the Lady since it was publick. My Lord, I ever am, with great truth and affection, My dear Lord, Your most obliged humble Serv', No CCCXLI. AND MITCHELL. The Earl of Dunmore to the Lord President. London, Dec 27th, 1746. M' ROSS promised to acquaint you, by the first post, of His Majesty's great goodness in granting a Pardon to my Brother. I need not say any thing to convince you how easy and happy it has made me; nor of the satisfaction I have, to find so true a friend in your Lordship; whose cordial assistance upon this occasion I shall always remember with the strongest sense of gratitude; and I shall think myself extremely happy if any opportunity should offer in which I might be of any service to you or any of your friends here. I am, with the greatest Regard, My Lord, THE great libertys which your Benevolence has engaged me to take with you, in talking over what appeared to me to be for the Service of the Public, are, you see, productive of more. I with great Freedom explained to you what I thought ought to have been done with respect to M' McDonald of Kingsburrow, S' Alex' Macdonald's Steward, who contributed to the Young Pretender's escape out of the Isle of Sky, before I left London. It was then my opinion, & it is so still, that in Consideration of S' Alex's signal services, his Kinsman and Steward, who had been drawn into this offence by the Intreaty of a woman, My Lady McDonald, who was herself surprized into that request in the manner you have heard of, might with considerable advantage to his Majesty's service have been pardoned; & I was not without Expectation, that persons of greater Judgement, on reflection, would sooner or later have come into the same sentiment; & to their consideration I left it. But the unexpected Death of S Alex' McDonald at Glenelg, as he was on his way to pay his duty to his Majesty and to the Duke at London, lays me under a necessity, from regard to his family, now fatherless, and in duty (as the matter appears to me) to the King, to state the matter as it presents itself to my view to you, that you, if it touches you as it does me, may lay it before his Royal Highness on his return from Holland. I would not bestow many words in stating to you the loss the Public has met, by the Death of Sir Alex', whose merit the Duke was sufficiently acquainted with. He had gratitude enough to the Crown, from which he had received favours, to make him deliver himself from the Fetter of a Jacobite Education, & to arm in support of His Majesty's just Government; and he had interest enough with his numerous Kindred, whose turn had formerly been malevolent, to bring them to act in conjunction with him totis viribus. This Gentleman, and at this juncture, is now dead, leaving his Children Infants, his Widow a stranger to the Country where his Estate lies, and no relation of any Consideration to take care of his Fortune or Family; and, what aggravates their misfortune, M' McDonald of Kingsburrow, who had been Sir Alex's Steward for many Years, & who alone is acquainted with the state & management of his affairs, a prisoner for the Crime which I have mentioned in the Castle of Edin'. In these Circumstances, that his assistance is very much wished for & wanted, you will readily agree; that if his Liberation is not inconsistent with the security of the Government, His Majesty's gracious acceptance of the services of Sir Alex', who now is no more, could not be more amply testified to that Kindred, than by making them a present of a Man so necessary for the taking care of the private affairs of the Family. I am sensible it may be suggested, that it is not fit to trust a Man (who, during Sir Alex's Life, took so wide a step) with the care of the family, now he is dead; but the other side of the Question is also to be attended to; what may be the consequence, if a Kindred lately recovered from Disaffection shall see a person so necessary for the management of S Alex" private Fortune, after a long Imprison ment, tryed, &, if convicted, put to Death? I would not put the Case of his being tryed and not found Guilty, because the consequence of that would be worse in every view; & to tell you, without Disguise, my opinion, I should fear, that if the Law is carried to its full Extent, there will be great danger of alienating a Kindred, of which His Majesty at present has and may keep possession, and of making them a prey to any Attempt to be made by France & the Pretender. Whereas, if this Man's Dismission was made a present of, to the Memory of Sir Alex', I cannot think of any thing that would be more beneficial to the Family, or agreeable to the Kindred. And I so little think that he would make a bad use of his Liberty, that I am ready to become Bail for his appearance when called, & for his good behaviour, & I believe Mr McLeod will be willing to join with me in the Security. You see, Dr Sir, that I write with some Earnestness on this subject; & when you are informed, that I have not the least relation to Sir Alex' Family, nor any Connection with his Kindred but what grew from the Service they were of to the Government, I hope you will be satisfied, that Affection and Concern for the Government is what guides my pen on this Occasion, as it has determined my Actions since I could first reason. If what I have suggested affects you in any Degree as it does me, you will, I know, take a proper Opportunity of laying it before the Duke on his arrival; or make such other use of it as you judge proper. I shall inclose this within one to Mr McLeod, to be by him sent or delivered to you. S I hope I need not make use of many words to persuade you, that I am heartily, Dear Sir, Your most faithful & most obedient humble Servant, DUN. FORBES. No. CCCXLIII. Some Thoughts concerning the State of the Highlands of Scotland. WHAT is properly called the Highlands of Scotland, is that large tract of mountainous Ground to the Northward of the Forth and the Tay, where the natives speak the Irish language. ૨ ૨ The The inhabitants of the lands adjoining to the mountains to the northward of those Rivers, in the shires of Perth, Forfar, Kincardine, Aberdeen, Banff, and Murray, where some sort of Industry has prevailed, and where the soil is tolerable, have for many years left off the Highland dress, have lost the Irish language, and have discontinued the use of Weapons; the consequence whereof is, that they cannot be considered as dangerous to the Public peace, and that the laws have their course amongst them. The inhabitants of the mountains, unacquainted with industry and the fruits of it, and united in some degree by the singularity of dress and language, stick close to their antient idle way of life; retain their barbarous customs and maxims; depend generally on their Chiefs, as their sovereign Lords and masters; and being accustomed to the use of Arms, and inured to hard living, are dangerous to the public peace; and must continue to be so, untill, being deprived of Arms for some years, they forget the use of them. From Perth to Inverness, which is above 100 measured miles, and from thence to the Western Sea, including the Western Islands, there is no Town or Village of any consequence, that could be the Seat of any Court of Justice the least considerable, except Dunkeld, which is within 10 computed miles of Perth; neither is there any sort of Inn or Accommodation for travellers, excepting a few that have been built on the King's Roads made by Marshall Wade. Of this large tract of land, no part is in any degree cultivated, except some spots here and there in Straths or Glens, by the sides of Rivers, brooks, or lakes, and on the Sea Coast and Western Islands. The Grounds that are cultivated yield small quantities of mean Corns, not sufficient to feed the Inhabitants, who depend for their nourishment on milk, butter, cheese, &c. the product of their Cattle. Their constant residence during the harvest, winter, and spring, is at their small farms, in houses made of turf; the roof, which is thatched, supported by timber. In the summer season, they drive their flocks and herds many miles higher amongst the mountains, where they have large ranges of coarse pasture. The whole family follow the Cattle; the men to guard them, and to prevent their straying; the women to milk them, and to look after the butter and cheese, &c. The places in which they reside when thus employed they call shoelings, and their habitations are the most miserable huts that ever were seen. A Highland Clan is a set of men all bearing the same sirname, and believing themselves to be related the one to the other, and to be descended from the same common Stock. In each Clan, there are several subaltern tribes, who own their dependance on their own immediate Chief; but all agree in owing allegiance to the Supreme Chief of the Clan or Kindred, and look upon it to be their duty to support him at all ad ventures. The power of this Chief has no foundation in the Laws of the Country. Some chiefs there are that have neither property nor jurisdiction, and the cutting off the present Chief does no more than make way for another. Those Clans or Kindreds affect to herd for the most part together, not choosing (if they can help it) to mix with other kindreds; tho' sometimes accidents oblige them to take up their habitations in the districts of other Clans; but still they retain their allegiance to their proper Chief. As those Clans or Kindreds live by themselves, and possess different Straths, Glens, or districts, without any considerable mixture of Strangers, it has been for a great many years impracticable (and hardly thought safe to try it) to give the Law its course amongst the mountains. It required no small degree of Courage, and a greater degree of power than men are generally possessed of, to arrest an offender or a debtor in the midst of his Clan. And for this reason it was, that the Crown, in former times, was obliged to put Sheriffships, and other Jurisdictions, in the hands of powerful families in the Highlands, lands, who by their respective Clans and followings could give execution to the Laws within their several territories, and frequently did so at the expence of considerable bloodshed. But as the notions of good order and government have been very much improved of late years over all Scotland, excepting the Highlands; and as the disarming Act in the year 1716 disabled the Lords of the several Jurisdictions, who complyed with it, to support the execution of the Laws against armed Highlanders who found means to be possessed of arms; it seems absolutely necessary that some expedient be devised to restrain and civilize those lawless Highlanders. The description of the Highlands already given shows why, whilst the rest of the Country is generally improving, they continue the prey of their accustomed sloth and barbarity. The Want of Roads, excepting the King's Roads already mentioned, the Want of Accommodation, the supposed ferocity of the inhabitants, and the difference of language, have proved hitherto a bar to all free intercourse between the high and the low lands, and have left the Highlanders in possession of their own idle customs and extravagant maxims, absolute strangers to the advantages that must accrue from Industry, and to the blessing of having those advantages protected by Laws. Arms in the hands of men accustomed to the use of them, brought up so hardily as the Highlanders are, obedient to the Will of their Chiefs, who as well as themselves have generally little or nothing to lose, and who entertain strong notions of their own military prowess, are dangerous to the public peace, and must therefore be taken from them. Tho' all the Arms now in the possession of Highlanders were taken from them, the Government would not be absolutely secure, so long as the present race, acquainted with the use of Weapons, exists; because France or Spain, by supplying them with arms, might make them hurtful. But if the Highlanders can be effectually debarred from the use of Arms untill the present generation die out, their Successors, unacquainted with the use of Gun, Sword, or Durk, must be as harmless as the commonality of the adjacent Low Countries; and when they can no longer live by Rapine, must think of living by Industry. It will be no difficult matter to have the disarming Act executed amongst the wellaffected Highlanders; but it will require a considerable standing force, and that for some years, to disarm, and effectually to prevent the use of Arms amongst the rebellious Highlanders. For, as the Districts in which they reside, because of the asperity of the Surface, and the total want of accommodation, and of the common Conveniencys of living, with which his Majestie's other Subjects are accustomed, are seldom if ever visited by Strangers; the Član or Kindred may continue to do amongst themselves what they think fit. Offences against the disarming Act may be committed without discovery; and when discovered, it will be no easy matter to bring the Offenders to justice; not to mention the possibility of attainted persons, or other emissaries from France, coming amongst them, without the danger of being heard of, far less of being seized, by the Government. To obviate these difficulties, it seems absolutely necessary, that some force more or less be placed in the several Straths, Glens, or districts, where those lawless Highlanders reside; to keep a constant Communication with each other, to observe what passes, and give notice to the next Commanding Officer, and to execute such orders as they shall receive. To effectuate this in the Way the most practicable, and which at the same time would be attended with a train of other advantageous consequences, it is proposed, that five or six different stations in the body of the Highlands be pitched upon; in each of which 10 or 12 Companies may be placed; and from which small parties may be detached to the several Straths or Glens, &c. in the neighbourhood of such Stations, to prevent the wearing arms, and all intercourse between the Inhabitants and attainted persons, and to assist in the execution of all Warrants by Civil Officers; that each Station be secured by some slight fortification, in the most unexpensive Way, as they are to be made use of no longer than till the disarming Scheme is sufficiently executed. That at every such Station a parcel of ground be set off to be built on, by Sutlers, Butchers, Bakers, Maltsters, and all other tradesmen and dealers who may find their Account in carrying on their business at those Stations for the Accommodation of the Troops. That power be given to some proper person at each Station to set off the ground that may be fit for any Undertaker to build on, and that a Property in the ground be given to the Undertaker. That at the several Stations, Spinning-schools be set up, to draw the idle females of those Countries into that Manufacture; and that Weavers be stationed there as soon as there is Spinning sufficient to set them to work. That so soon as any Collection of industrious people is thus brought together, his Majesty do erect the Village, with such further Lands as he shall judge convenient, into a Burgh of Barony, to be held immediately of the Crown; and do appoint the ordinary Judge the Baron Baillie, to issue all Warrants in his Majestie's name; in the execution whereof he will be assisted by the Troops, untill that Country shall be brought to reverence the Authority of the Law. That in such of those Stations as may be fixed on the Sea Coast, encouragement be given to introduce Fishery; not only for the Convenience of the Troops, but for promoting the trade of the Nation. If such a Project, as it may with attention be improved, were followed, these effects would probably ensue : 1st The Highlanders would be effectually disarmed, and keeped from using arms. 2dly The Communication with attainted persons would be rendered difficult, if at all practicable. 3dly In case of any Invasion, or attempt to raise an insurrection to favour it, early advice would be had; &, 4 4thly, Upon such advice, the troops at the several Stations might draw themselves together, or dispose themselves in the best manner to defeat the design. 5 thly All processes of Law would be executed securely; Criminals might be brought to justice before the Judges of Affize, or other Courts; and Witnesses might effectually be subpoenaed. 6thly So soon as the Boroughs intended to be created can yield convenient Accommodation, the Judges, if it shall be thought proper, may in their Circuits hold Courts for trying Crimes in them. thly If any mines or improveable grounds shall be found to be amongst the mountains, men may be disposed to take leases of them, by the Security to their persons and property that will attend this Plan. 8thly The numbers of troops posted at the several Stations, and the numbers of Sutlers and Artificers that must necessarily follow them, will, undoubtedly, produce some Gardening, and some better kind of Husbandry in the neighbourhood of those Stations, than has been known amongst the mountains heretofore; and if those experiments shall succeed, as it seems certain they must in some degree, it is to be hoped that one of two things will follow; either that the natives may follow the example, having the advantage of instruction in these particulars at the Station to their Children; or, that the Undertakers for supplying the Station will take leases of proper Grounds at greater distances, and improve them properly, 9thly When |