THE HIGHLANDS. 133 



as a nurfery for foldiers and feamen ; that the inha- 

 bitants, formed admirably by nature for the fatigues 

 of the campaign and the ocean, are to be employed 

 in thefe capacities alone, as the occafions of the 

 flate may require ; and that, to facilitate the bufi- 

 nefs of recruiting, it is expedient to keep them low. 

 But as every plan of policy which is founded upon 

 wrong principles, muft fooner or later defeat its own 

 purpofes, fo hath government leen itfelf nearly de- 

 prived of thofe men who were thus devoted to ftar- 

 vation, at home ; or to fall by the fword, abroad. 



The Character of the modern Highlanders, and their 

 Qualifications for the Arts of civil Life, as well as 

 tboje of War. 



The Highlanders have in all ages been renowned 

 for bravery and fidelity, in the caufe which they 

 efpoufed : ftrongly attached to their families, their 

 chieftains and country, for whom they braved all 

 dangers, and endured every kind of hardfliip. At 

 prefent that barbarous ferocity, which was the off- 

 fpring of feudal inftitutions, is completely extin- 

 guilhed ; while their native valour, and military 

 character, remain unimpaired. They are intelli- 

 gent, hofpitable, religious, inoffenfive in their man- 

 ners, lubmifiive to fuperiors, temperate, frugal, 

 grateful, obliging, honeft, and faithful. A man 

 may travel in perfect fecurity from one extremity of 

 the Highlands to the other, without taking any 

 precaution whatever in defence of his perfon or pro- 

 perty. * Wherever he goes, he meets with a civility, 

 modefty, and hofpitality, which would do honour 

 to the moft polifhed nations ; wherever he repofes 

 any confidence, he difcovers an attachment and 

 difinterefted readinefs to oblige, which more opulent 

 fubjects, can fcarcely conceive in idea. Thefe qua- 

 lities are the univerfal theme of travellers of what- 



* There is not a murder committed in the Highlands once in 

 fcven years upon an average; and robberies on the road are unknown. 



i 3 ever 



