HIGHLANDS AND ISLES OF SCOTLAND.
THE Highlands of Scotland, in former times, were divided into two sections—the Western and Eastern Highlands; between which there was a distinct line of demarcation, arising from their geographical separation by the central mountain ridge of the country, the different races of their inhabitants, and the differ- ent course of their history. " The history of the latter," says Mr. GREGORY, " cannot properly be blended with that of the former;- and if introduced into the same work, would only serve to distract the attention of the reader." Ile has therefore chosen for his subject the history of the Western Highlands and Isles, as being the more important and eventful : and he has limited his period to the interval between the years 1493 and 1623, from the forfeiture of the great Lordship of the Isles to the Crown of Scot- land, to the cessation of the rebellions of the Western Highlanders against the King. In an Introduction, he has given a sketch of the history of the Lords of the Isles during the earlier period of their independent sovereignty. Mr. GREGORY is a learned antiquary, and has fulfilled his task with exemplary diligence. This work will be full of value and in- terest to the Scottish clansmen of the present day, from the variety of minute and exact information which it affords respecting the intermarriages, the descents, the feuds, and the alliances of their ancestors; and the author's researches have-thrown some light on matters connected with the general history of Scotland. But the minute and laborious precision of its family and genealogical details, which will recommend it to one class of students, must necessarily render it less attractive to others. The Southron reader, who expects illustrations of the " perfervidum ingenium Scotorum " in strange tales of strife and bloodshed, and looks fur faithful yet spirited pictures of scenes and events over which SCOTT has thrown the dazzling hues of poetry and romance, or general views of the state of society in those wild regions, will be wholly disappointed. But Mr. GREGORY must have been aware
of the impossibility of rendering a work of this kind satisfactory to all classes of readers; and, in the election he has made, has
probably not only consulted his own disposition and capacity, but followed the dictates of prudence: for a body of new historical facts are always of a certain value, and may be turned to more im- portant purposes than is immediately apparent. At the same time, it might have done no harm, in this age of light reading, had Mr. GREGORY mingled a little more of the duke with his utile.
Along with this work, we have received three numbers of
Transactions of the Iona Club, and Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis. The Iona Club was established in 1833, for the purpose of investi-
gating and illustrating the history, antiquities, and early literature of the Scottish Highlands. Mr.GREGORY was one of its founders, and has since acted as its Secretary. Its list of members com- prises many persons of rank and literary distinction, and it seems to be carried on with spirit. The numbers before us contain a great variety of historical documents, extracts from the Norse Sagas, ancient Gaelic poems, &c. The only original article is en- titled "Notices of the Highland Dress and Armour," and contains some curious and entertaining matter.
Mr. GREGORY'S History is evidently one of those works of labour and research, the production of which involves a sacrifice
of time and expense which can never be adequately remunerated by the profits of publication,—works which, though of great value and importance as furnishing materials for the general historian and the political philosopher, would never be undertaken unless where extraordinary enthusiasm in the pursuit of antiquarian truth is allied to ample means, or with the prospect of gaining for their authors that distinction which may be attended with
advantages of a different kind. We know not what are Mr. GREGORY'S views or prospects; but the unwearied and profound
investigations, tire results of which he has now presented to the world, afford unquestionable evidence of his ability to render va- luable services in any employment connected with the examina- tion and arrangement of the public records of the kingdom.
Previous page
