AN OCTOGENARIAN GAEL.

In his interesting volume entitled Reminiscences and Reflections of an Octogenarian Gael, Mr. Duncan Campbell, for over twenty-six years editor of the Northern Chronicle, writes as follows with regard to the Breadalbane Evictions:—

As second Marquis, “the son of his father,” contrary to all prognostications, became, as soon as expiring leases permitted it, an evicting landlord on a large scale, and he continued to pursue the policy of joining farm to farm, and turning out native people, to the end of his twenty-eight years’ reign. But like the first spout of the haggis, his first spout of evicting energy was the hottest. I saw with childish sorrow, impotent wrath, and awful wonder at man’s inhumanity to man, the harsh and sweeping Roro and Morenish clearances, and heard much talk about others which were said to be as bad if not worse. A comparison of the census returns for 1831 with those of 1861 will show how the second Marquis reduced the rural population on his large estates, while the inhabitants of certain villages were allowed, or, as at Aberfeldy, encouraged to increase. When such a loud and long-continued outcry took place about the Sutherland clearances, it seems at first sight strange that such small notice was taken by the Press, authors, and contemporary politicians, of the Breadalbane evictions, and that the only set attack on the Marquis should have been left to the vainglorious, blundering, Dunkeld coal merchant, who added the chief-like word “Dunalastair” to his designation. One reason—perchance the chief one—for the Marquis’s immunity was the prominent manner in which he associated himself with the Nonintrusionists, and his subsequently becoming an elder and a liberal benefactor of the Free Church. He had a Presbyterian upbringing, and lived in accordance with that upbringing. His Free Church zeal may, therefore, have been as genuine as he wished it to be believed; but whether simply real or partly simulated, it covered as with a saintly cloak his evictions proceedings in the eyes of those who would have been his loud denouncers and scourging critics had he been an Episcopalian or remained in the Church of Scotland. The people he evicted, and all of us, young and old, who were witnesses of the clearances, could not give him much credit for any good in what seemed to us the purely hard and commercial spirit of the policy which he carried out as the owner of a princely Highland property. Such of the witnesses of the clearances as have lived to see the present desolation of rural baronies on the Breadalbane estates can now charitably assume that, had he foreseen what his land-management policy was to lead up to, he would, at least, have gone about his thinning-out business in a more cautious, kindly, and considerate manner, and not rudely cut, as he did, the precious ties of hereditary mutual sympathy and reliance which had long existed between the lords and the native Highland people of Breadalbane.

It is quite true that in 1834 the population on the Breadalbane estate needed thinning. The old Marquis had made a great mistake in dividing holdings which were too small before, in order to make room for Fencible soldiers who were not, as eldest sons, heirs to existing holdings. In twenty years, congestion to an alarming extent was the natural result of the old man’s mistaken kindness. There was indeed a good deal of congestion before that mistake was committed, although migration and emigration helped to keep it within some limits. Emigration would have proceeded briskly from 1760 onwards had it not been discouraged by landlords who found the fighting manhood on their estates a valuable asset; and when not positively prohibited, emigration was impeded in various ways by the Government, now alive to the value of Highlands and Isles as a nursery of soldiers and sailors. Although discouraged and impeded, emigration was never wholly stopped, and after Waterloo Glenlyon, Fortingall, and Breadalbane, Rannoch, Strathearn and Balquhidder, sent off swarms to Canada, the United States, and the West Indies. A large swarm from Breadalbane, Lochearnhead, and Balquhidder went off to Nova Scotia about 1828, and got Gaelic-speaking ministers to follow them. In 1829 a great number of Skyemen from Lord Macdonald’s estate went to Cape Breton, where Gaelic is the language of the people and pulpit to this day. The second Marquis of Breadalbane would have won for himself lasting glory and honour, and done his race and country valuable service, if he had chosen to place himself at the head of an emigration scheme for his surplus people, instead of merely driving them away, and further trampling on their feelings by letting the big farms he made by clearing out the native population to strangers in race, language, and sympathies. He was rich, childless, and gifted, and he utterly missed his vocation, or grand chance for gaining lasting fame among the children of the Gael.

At a later period of my life than this of which I am now writing, I looked into many kirk session books, and found that those of the parishes of Kenmore and Killin indicated a worse state of matters in Breadalbane than existed in any of the neighbouring parishes. Pauperism was increasing at a rapid rate, although it was a notorious fact that rents there were lower than on other Highland estates. The old Marquis was never a rack-renter. Other proprietors, when leases terminated, took more advantage than he did of a chance to raise rents, and when once raised they strove ever afterwards to keep them up. But I do not wonder that his son thought that if things were allowed to go on as he found them on succeeding to titles and estates, a general bankruptcy would soon be the result. Without ceasing to regret and detest his methods, I learned to see the reasonableness of the second Marquis’s view of the alarming situation. The population had simply outgrown the means of decent subsistence from the carefully cultivated small holdings which were the general rule. Had it not been for the frugality and self-helpfulness of the people, the crisis of general poverty would have come when the inflated war prices ceased, or at least in the short-crop year of 1826, when the corn raised in Breadalbane, although the hillsides were cultivated as far up as any cereal crop could be expected to ripen in the most favourable season, did not supply meal enough for two-thirds of the people. But the “calanas” of the women, especially as long as flax-spinning continued in a flourishing condition, brought in a good deal of money; and for many years “Calum a Mhuilin” (Calum of the Mill), otherwise Malcolm Campbell, road contractor, Killin, led out a host of young men to make roads in various parts of the country, and these returned with their earnings to spend the winter at home. These sources of profit were beginning to dry up when the old Marquis died.

What came of the dispersed? The least adventurous or poorest of them slipped away into the nearest manufacturing town, or mining districts where there was a demand for unskilled labourers. There some of them flourished, but not a few of them foundered. The larger portion of them emigrated to Canada, mainly to the London district of Ontario, where they cleared forest farms, cherished their Gaelic language and traditions, prospered, and hated the Marquis more, perhaps, than he rightly deserved when things were looked at from his own hard political-economy point of view.

[STATISTICAL STATEMENT.]

Population in 1831, 1841, 1851, 1881, and 1911, of all the Parishes in whole or in part in the County of Perthshire.

18311841185118811911
Aberdalgie434360343297278
Aberfoyle6605435144651102
Abernethy19151920202617141297
Abernyte254280275275209
Arngask712750685547652
Auchterarder31823434416036483175
Auchtergaven34173366323221951250
Balquhidder1049871874627734
Bendochy780783773715502
Blackford18971782201215951374
Blair-Athol24952231208417421342
Blairgowrie2644347124975162...
Callander19091665171621671977
Caputh23032317203720961565
Cargill16281642162913481329
Clunie944763723582474
Collace730702581409324
Culross14841444148711301499
Comrie26222471246318581447
Dron464441394335256
Dull4590381133422565...
Dunbarney116211041066756862
Dunkeld203217521662791628
Dunning20452128220616391145
Errol29922832279624212083
Findo-Gask428436405364357
Forgandenny913796828617565
Forteviot624638638618524
Fortingall3067274024861690...
Fossoway and Tulliebole1576172416211267805
Foulis-Wester168116091483412704
Glendevon620157128147111
Inchture878769745650545
Kenmore3126253922571508686
Killin2002170216081277913
Kilmadock37524055365930122272
Kilspindie760709684693498
Kincardine2455223219931351...
Kinclaven890880881588468
Kinfauns732720650583558
Kinnaird461458370260172
Kinnoull29572879313434614076
Kirkmichael156814121280849421
Lethendy and Kinloch708662556404327
Little Dunkeld28672718215521751945
Logierait31382959287523231371
Longforgan16381660178718541997
Madderty713634593527438
Meigle873728686696856
Methven27142446245419101843
Moneydie300315321233232
Monzie119512611199753428
Monievaird and Strowan926853790700438
Moulin20222019202220662518
Muckhart617706685601528
Muthill32973067297217021431
Redgorton18661929204714521086
Rhynd400402338297205
St. Madoes327327288316258
St. Martins11351071983741630
Scone22682422238124022389
Tibbermore12231661149518832443
Trinity-Gask620620597396360
Tulliallan35503196304322072091
Weem1209890740474391

Population in 1831, 1841, 1851, 1881, and 1911, of all the parishes in whole or in part in the County of Argyll.

Ardchattan and Muckairn24202264231320052047
Ardnamurchan56695581544641053172
Campbeltown94729539938197559497
Craignish892970873451325
Dunoon and Kilmun24162853451880026107
Gigha and Cara534550547382326
Glassary4054536947114348...
Glenorchy and Inishail180683114501705931
Inveraray223322772229946919
Inverchaolain596699474407371
Jura and Colonsay2205229119011343843
Kilbrandon and Kilchattan28332602237517671370
Kilcalmonell and Kilberry3488246028592304815
Kilchoman48224505414225471459
Kilchrenan and Dalavich1096894776504357
Kildalton30653315331022711471
Kilfinan2004181616952153928
Kilfinichen and Kilviceuen38194102305419821403
Killarrow and Kilmeny71057341488227562552
Killean and Kilchenzie28662401221913861019
Kilmartin147512131144811582
Kilmodan648578500323264
Kilmore and Kilbride28364327313151427154
Kilninian and Kilmore48304322395425401811
Kilniver and Kilmelford1072970714405392
Knapdale, North258321701666927656
Knapdale, South21371537217825362100
Lismore and Appin43654193409734333279
Lochgoilhead and Kilmorich119611008348701023
Morvern203617811547828635
Saddell and Skipness2152179815041163964
Small Isles1015993916550396
Southend212015981406955767
Strachur and Stralachan10831086915932700
Tiree and Coll57696096481833762214
Torosay1889161613611102959

Population in 1831, 1841, 1851, 1881, and 1911, of all the Parishes in whole or in part in the County of Inverness.

Abernethy20921920187115301228
Alvie1092972914707564
Ardersier126814751241[29]20861913
Ardnamurchan56695581544641053172
Boleskin and Abertarff18291876200614481791
Cawdor1187115012021070859
Cromdale32343561399036421920
Croy16641684177017091384
Daviot and Dunlichity1641168118571252907
Dores1736174516501148794
Duthil19201759178816641345
Glenelg28742729247016011638
Inverness1432415418164962172525669
Kilmallie42105397523541573704
Kilmonivaig28692791258319281234
Kilmorach (including Beauly)27092694300726181811
Kiltarlity27152896296521341523
Kingussie and Insh20802047220119872199
Kirkhill17151829173014801237
Laggan119612011223917754
Moy and Dalarossie10989671018822696
Petty18361749178415311263
Urquhart and Glenmoriston29423104328024381675
Urray27682716262124781848
Insular—
Barra20972363187321612620
Bracadale176918241597929805
Duirinish47654983533043913093
Harris39004429425048144944
Kilmuir34153629317725621964
North Uist46034428391842644096
Portree34413574355731912431
Sleat27562706253120601385
Small Isles1015993916550396
Snizort34873220310121201694
South Uist68907333617360785469
Strath29623150324326161947

Population in 1831, 1841, 1851, 1881, and 1911, of all the Parishes in whole or in part in the Counties of Ross and Cromarty.

Alness1437126912401033898
Applecross28922861270922392498
Avoch19561931202916911782
Contin2023177015621422957
Cromarty29002662272720095637
Dingwall11592100236422202942
Edderton1023975890431545
Fearn16951914212221351785
Fodderty22322437234220471648
Gairloch44454880518645943328
Glenshiel715745573424339
Killearnan1479164317941059741
Kilmuir-Easter1556148614371146887
Kiltearn16051436153811821138
Kincardine18872108189614721025
Kintail124011861009688...
Knockbain21392565300518661397
Lochalsh24332597229920501761
Lochbroom46154799481341912794
Lochcarron2136196016121456982
Logie-Easter9341015965827700
Nigg1404142614571000827
Resolis or Kirkmichael1470154915511424954
Rosemarkie1799171917761357726
Rosskeen29163222369937733362
Tain30783128357430092507
Tarbat18091826215118781224
Urquhart and Logie-Wester28642997315325252006
Urray27682716262124741848
Insular—
Barvas30113850418953256040
Lochs30673653425662486689
Stornoway5491621880571038913438
Uig30413316320934893436

Population in 1831, 1841, 1851, 1881, and 1911, of all the Parishes in whole or in part in the County of Caithness.

18311841185118811911
Bower16151689165816081393
Canisbay23642306243726261866
Dunnet19061880186816071147
Halkirk28472963291827052041
Latheron70307637822466754512
Olrig11461584187320021450
[31]Reay28812811250621911811
Thurso46794881509662174732
Watten12341966135114061079
Wick985010393118511282212772

Population in 1801, 1811, 1821, 1831, 1841, 1851, 1871, 1881, and 1911, of all the Parishes in whole or in part in the County of Sutherland.

180118111821183118411851187118811911
Assynt241924792803316131782989300627812111
Clyne164316391874171117651933173318121749
Creich197419692354256228522714252422231713
Dornoch236226813100338027142981276425252724
Durness1208115510041153110911521049987830
Eddrachillis125311471229196516991576153015251259
Farr240824081994207322172403201919301673
Golspie161613911049114912141529180415561685
Kildonan14401574565257256[30]2288191619421786
Lairg120913541094104591311629781335995
Loth13741330200822342526[30]640583584367
[31]Reay240623172758288128112506233121911581
Rogart20222148198618051501153513411227892
Tongue134814931736203020412018205119291609

[APPENDICES.]

NOTE A. (See Page [115].)

The following pertinent observations appeared in the Dundee Advertiser, of 10th January, 1914. They are from the pen of a notable Dundee lawyer, Mr. John Walker, who has made a special study of the legal aspects of the Highland Clearances:—

At the time of Patrick Sellar’s trial the ruthless evictions carried out by the Stafford family had been so long in process of execution that no one had the slightest doubt of the facts of these taking place. The question tried was not whether they took place, but whether they were carried out, in one particular instance, in such a way as to directly cause the death of Donald M’Beath and Janet M’Kay, two helpless, old, bedridden people. The trial took place at Inverness. Of the 15 jurors 8 were landed proprietors, and the rest were mostly either factors or those interested in factors. The most of the witnesses for the prosecution were evidently terrified to say one word against the accused. When Sellar was arrested, he emitted a declaration which was put in evidence at the trial, and, to be strictly fair, I shall confine myself to that. The gist of it is as follows:—In December, 1813, the crofting lands were advertised to let, and at the set, where apparently the lands were disposed of to sheep farmers, a paper was read that the removed tenants would get allotments “in the lower part of the county.” “That Lord and Lady Stafford directed the declarant (Sellar) to offer at the set for any farm he chose a few pounds beyond the highest offerer; and they directed Mr. Young on his so offering to prefer him.” That thus Sellar got possession of the farms of Rhiloisk and Rossal. That in April, 1814, decrees of removing were got against all the tenants on these farms. That the ejections were carried out in June, 1814, and “that his directions to the officers were that they should lawfully eject the tenants, and that after ejecting ... they should remove the roof of every house in Rhimsdale excepting those occupied by families, wherein sickness was mentioned to have been.” That he was present at the first part of the ejections (of the towns of Garvault, Ravigill, Rhiphail, and Rhiloisk), but after they had ejected from a few houses and had unroofed these the tenants of the others “in the neighbourhood yielded obedience to the warrant, and removed themselves.” “Interrogated. If the declarant’s orders to the officer and party were not to throw down the couples and timber of the different dwelling-houses, barns, kilns, and sheep cots? Declares that the declarant directed the officers ... to remove the tenants’ property and effects from the premises; and thereafter to unroof the huts to prevent them from retaking possession after the declarant should leave that part of the county.” Sellar himself admitted burning only in one case. The proceedings from a judicial aspect were largely a farce, as can be judged from the fact that the first evidence adduced for the defence consisted of written certificates from three landed proprietors, who did not appear, as to “Mr. Sellar’s character for humanity,” and that these certificates, although not evidence, were founded on in Lord Pitmilly’s charge to the jury. But the important thing is that Sellar’s declaration implicates Lord and Lady Stafford as being by their own instructions the direct instruments of putting this tyrannical under-factor in the position of rendering homeless some hundreds of their helpless tenants. The little crofts were made into large sheep farms, which were advertised to let to the highest offerer, and the exposure was a farce, because the Sutherland family had personally arranged that Sellar was to be allowed to cap the highest offer. One would require a double-power microscope to see the noble philanthropy of that transaction! I have extracted the above summary from the report of the trial, which was prepared and circulated by Sellar’s own junior counsel.

On the other hand, the stories yet told in Sutherland represent a much harsher state of matters. I personally have talked with men whose fathers were as young children turned out on the hillside to see their little cottages burned to the ground, and I have had pointed out to me the sites of these same cottages and crofts, where now there is nothing but miles and miles of dreary waste; and this did not happen in one or two instances, but in the whole of Strathnaver, Strathbrora, and many other places in all parts of the county.

NOTE B. (See Page [218].)

The following interesting letter has been handed to the Editor by Mr. J. Stewart Bannatyne, solicitor, Glasgow:

“Castlebay, Barra.
“September 21st, 1912.

“Dear Sir,

“In reply to your letter of the 6th inst., and after consulting the older inhabitants, I beg to inform you that it was John Bannatyne who rescued Mrs. J. M’Kinnon, her sister and another woman, from compulsory emigration, but it was John Crawford who rescued John M’Lean. I know the women and M’Lean as well as I know my two fingers, and heard the whole story from their own lips different times.

“Both my father and mother were eye-witnesses of people being chased like wild cattle over the hills, not in Barra, but in North and South Uists. People can hardly believe now what took place then, and what my mother, who died in my arms at the fall of last year, told me it would be enough to make the devil himself desperate, if I am not using too strong an expression.

“There is a man still living at Mallaig, Inverness-shire, named Ewen M’Dugald, who sailed with John Bannatyne.

“People nowadays are trying to deny that such brutalities were carried out by landlords, but they need not attempt such nonsense. I have no doubt but the descendants of the perpetrators of those acts are ashamed of the deeds—and no wonder.

“Yours faithfully,
“Don. M’Aulay.

“John Stewart Bannatyne, Esq.,
“Solicitor, Glasgow.”

NOTE C. (See page [234].)

In the Inverness Courier for 11th October, 1837, appears the following:—

A large body of emigrants sailed from Tobermory, on the 27th September, for New South Wales. The vessel was the “Brilliant,” and its size and splendid fittings were greatly admired. “The people to be conveyed by this vessel are decidedly the most valuable that have ever left the shores of Great Britain. They are of excellent moral character, and, from their knowledge of agriculture, and management of sheep and cattle, must prove a most valuable acquisition to a colony like New South Wales.” The Rev. Mr. Macpherson, of Tobermory, preached a farewell sermon before the party sailed. The total number of emigrants was 322, made up as follows:—From Ardnamurchan and Strontian, 105; from Coll and Tiree, 104; from Mull and Iona, 56; from Morven, 25; and from Dunoon, 28. There were two teachers and two surgeons. A visitor from New South Wales presented as many of the party as he met with letters of introduction, and expressed himself highly gratified with the prospect of having so valuable an addition to the colony. A Government agent superintended the embarkation.

Jamieson & Munro, Ltd., Printers, Stirling.

[FOOTNOTES]

[1] Mackenzie’s Pamphlet, 1881.

[2] Author of “Gloomy Memories,” etc.

[3] “Clearances” had, however, been effected in some parts of Sutherland previous to this period, although to a smaller extent. From along the banks of the river Oykell, for instance, many families were evicted, in the year 1780. (Statement by the Rev. Dr. Aird, of Creich).

[4] “Sketches of the Highlanders.” First edition.

[5] Leading articles on Sutherland as it was and is.

[6] An Account of the Improvements on the Estates of the Marquis of Stafford, by James Kinloch, General Agent of the Sutherland Estates. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown, 1820.

[7] “Sunny Memories,” Letter xvii.

[8] From enlarged edition of “Gloomy Memories,” published in Canada in 1857.

[9] Macleod wrote this in 1854.—Ed.

[10] See [Note A] in Appendices.

[11] The italics are mine.—Ed.

[12] London Times of Tuesday, 20th May, 1845.

[13] By Alexander Mackenzie.

[14] Major W. S. Butler in MacMillan’s Magazine for May, 1878.

[15] See pamphlet published at the time entitled Report on the Leckmelm Evictions, by Alexander Mackenzie, F.S.A., Scot., Editor of the “Celtic Magazine,” and Dean of Guild of Inverness.

[16] Celtic Magazine for July, 1882.

[17] The Days of the Fathers in Ross-shire, 1861, pp. 15, 16.

[18] A very full account of these proceedings, written on the spot, appeared at the time in the Inverness Courier, to which we are indebted for the above facts.

[19] See [Note B] in Appendices.

[20] Quebec Times.

[21] Dundas Warder, 2nd October, 1851.

[22] Leading articles from the Witness.

[23] Compiled partly from evidence submitted to Deer Forest Commission of 1892 (see Minute of Evidence, vol. ii., pp. 884-5 and pp. 912-3), and partly from notes of conversations which the Editor has had with actual witnesses of the incidents described.

[24] See [Note C] in Appendices.

[25] Reminiscences of a Highland Parish.

[26] Farewell to Fiunary, by Donald Macleod, D.D., in Good Words for August, 1882.

[27] Megantic, by Dugald Mackenzie Mackillop.

[28] Land Nationalisation, its Necessities and Aims; being a Comparison of the System of Landlord and Tenant with that of Occupying Ownership, in their influence on the well-being of the People, by Alfred Russel Wallace, author of “The Malay Archipelago,” “Island Life,” &c. London: Trübner & Co., 1882.

[29] Including 948 military and militia in Fort-George in 1881.

[30] The lands of Helmsdale and others previously in the parish of Loth were, about this time, added to Kildonan, which accounts for this large increase. It also accounts for the decrease in Loth.

[31] Note that Reay is given both in Caithness and Sutherland records same figures. The parish lies one half in each county.

[Transcriber's Note]

The following apparent errors have been corrected:

The following are used inconsistently in the text:

p. 204 "“When the evicting" has no corresponding closing quotation mark

p. 256 "“By the" has no corresponding closing quotation mark