48 ST. KILDA. HIGHLAND MUSIC. 



have not investigated the peculiarities by which their 

 own melodies are distinguished, nor been careful in 

 separating from their airs of genuine feeling and cha- 

 racter, all the modern imitations, of spurious origin, 

 and of common place ideas, which have sullied their 

 catalogue. There is indeed much merit in many, even 

 of the most recent compositions of a pastoral or pathetic 

 character ; although few, if any, of modern origin, 

 have imitated the peculiar raciness of the cheerful 

 airs. The former have sometimes successfully main- 

 tained the style and feeling of their originals, and have 

 not even been unsuccessful in engrafting on them those 

 melodies of foreign growth most consistent with their 

 characters. 



The praise of Scottish music must, however, be limited. 

 Even Caledonian prejudice must recollect, that in music, 

 as in poetry, there is a cultivated style. As he, whose 

 acquirements in poetical taste are confined to Chevy 

 chase, must not doubt the superior, feeling of him who 

 is sensible of the beauties of Milton or Pindar, so ought 

 they, whose knowledge of music is limited to Roy's wife 

 or Tweed side, to recollect, that in this art also, there 

 is a standard of taste ; and that the vigour of Handel 

 and the variety of Beethoven are beyond the sphere of 

 their comprehension. 



THE peculiarly unconnected situation of St. Kilda would 

 have rendered it desirable to know the number and names 

 of all the plants which grow on it ; but my time unfor- 

 tunately did not permit a full examination. No rare 

 plants were observed. The Leontodon autumnale is the 

 only one which can lay the slightest claim to this cha- 

 racter ; and the botanical catalogue appeared indeed to be 

 extremely meagre. Juncus sylvaticus is among the most 

 conspicuous, covering the cliffs with its bright green leaves ; 

 but this plant is common in the exposed Highland moun- 



