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to be wondered at that those who submit to this servile slavery will, when
summoned by their superiors, follow them into rebellion.
To remedy these inconveniences there was an Act of Parliament passed
in the year 1716 for the more effectual securing the peace of the Highlands in
Scotland, by disarming the Highlanders, which has been so ill executed that
the clans the most disaffected to your Majesty's government remain better
armed than ever, and consequently more in a capacity, not only of committing
robberies and depredations, but to be used as tools or instruments to any
foreign power or domestic incendiaries who may attempt to disturb the peace
of your Majesty's reign.
By this Act the Collectors of Taxes were empowered to pay for the arms
delivered in, as they were valued by persons appointed for that purpose in
the respective counties; but as the government was to support the charge,
they did not scruple to appraise them at a much higher rate than their real
worth, few or none being delivered up, except such as were broken and
unfit for service ; and I have been informed that from the time of passing that
act to the time it was put in execution, great quantities of broken and
useless arms were brought from Holland and other foreign countries, and
delivered up to the persons appointed to receive the same at exorbitant
prices.
The Spaniards, who lauded near Castle Donnan in the year 1719, brought
with them a great number of arms ; they were delivered to the rebellious
Highlanders who are still possessed of them, many of which I have seen in my
passage through that country, and I judge them to be the same from their
peculiar make and the fashion of their locks. These, and others now in their
possession, by a moderate computation, are supposed to amount to 5,000 or
6,000, besides those in the possession of the Clans, who are in your Majesty's
interest, provided as they allege for their own defence.
The legislature in Scotland, before the union of the kingdoms, has ever
considered the Highlands in a different state from the rest of the nation, and
made peculiar laws for their government under the severest penalties. The
chieftains of Clans were obliged to send their children, or nearest relations,
as hostages to Edinburgh, for the good behaviour of their respective clans,
and in default they might be put to death by the law. The Clans and
tribes, who lived in a state of anarchy and confusion (as they seem to be in
at this time), were by the very words of the Acts of Parliament to be
pursued with fire and sword ; but as the execution of the laws relating