sufficiently extensive; and no manufactures were introduced. Had trades or manufactures been planted in the islands before the southern districts engrossed the field, a general and permanent amelioration might have been effected in the condition of the people. Though alien at first to their habits and predilections, they would gradually have assimilated to their lowland countrymen in industrial progress, and might have surmounted the disadvantages of soil and climate. The next chapter in Hebridean history shows a complete reversal of the former policy, yet with results much the same. We have, since the date of Johnson's visit, made a circuit of near eighty years, and have returned to the same point. The proprietors at length ceased to check emigration. Sheep-husbandry was rapidly extending, roads were made, a high class of tenants was obtained, and the large farms were managed with admirable skill and perseverance. The people, ont he other hand, when less required to stay, became less disposed to emigrate. The more active and enterprising part of the population was gone. The epidemic had ceased, the wars were over, and so long as herrings visited the lochs, or potatoes flourished on the soil, or the kelp manufacture gave a few weeks' profitable occupation in summer, contentment or listlessness prevailed. There was no stringent poor-law to force attention as to the population; small crofts, or patches of land, were easily obtained and subdivided at will; and hence the little turf-huts multiplied on the hill-side and moors, the standard of civilisation sunk lower, and the population, despite all military and emigrant drains, was doubled in amount. Thus, gradually but inevitably, as the people increased, thousands of families came to depend almosts wholly on one article of food. That failed, and the sequel is well known. A destitution crisis commenced in 1846 unequalled for intensity, and which involved both chief and clan, landlord and tenant, in irretrievable embarrassment and ruin. A second period of transition, more painful than that witnessed by Johnson in 1773, was induced, and though the immediate distress was mitigated by the munificent generosity of the British nation, there seems to be only one remedy or palliative, for the chronic maladyemigration. Many of the old families commemorated by Johnson and Boswell, have disappeared from the islands. Some have dropt off from natural and unavoidable causes; some through sheer folly and extravagance; and others have gone down while struggling to support and replace their dependents. In Rasay, Ulva, and Inchkenneth, the ancient familiar names are no longer heard: " new people fill the land." In Skye, the "Siol Tormod" of Dunvegan, and the descendant of Somerled of the Isles, still hold their possessions; and the Macleans of Coll retain their island patrimony, but all have been grievously shattered by the late storm. To a Scotsman, no more melancholy books were ever published than those "Blue Books," printed by authority of Parliament, in which is recorded the recent history of the Western Islands. To note some of these changes and supply local information, has been the main object of the Editor of this new edition of Boswell's Journal. In order to verify facts and dates, he had to conult various parties; and though it may appear ostentatious or vidiculous to parade a list of names before so small a literary performance, he cannot deny himself the gratification of stating that to the following gentlemen queries were addressed, and, in every instance, courteous and satisfactory answers returned: viz., Macleod, of Macleod; Sheriff Fraser, of Portree; A. K. Mackinnon, Esq., Corry; D. Macleod, Esq., Kingsburgh; Rev. J. Maciver, of Kilmuir; Rev. D. Ross, of Tobermory; Rev. H. Maclean, of Lochalsh; R. Sinclair, Esq., Borlumbeg; Niel Maclean, Esq., Inverness; W. A. Stables, Esq., Cawdor; and W. Forsyth, Esq., Aberdeen. Inverness, March 29, 1852. INTRODUCTION.-Character of Dr. Johnson. He arrives in Scotland AUGUST 15.—Sir William Forbes. Practice of the law. Emigration. Dr. Beattie and Mr. Hume. Dr. Robertson. Mr. Burke's various and extraordinary talents. Question concerning genius. Whitfield and Wesley. Instructions to political parties. Dr. Johnson's opinion of Garrick as a tragedian AUGUST 16.-Ogden on Prayer. Aphoristic writing. Edinburgh surveyed. Character of Swift's works. Evil spirits and witchcraft. Lord Monboddo AUGUST 17.- Poetry and dictionary-writing. Scepticism. Eternal necessity refuted. Lord Hailes's criticism on "The Vanity of Human Wishes." Mr. Maclaurin. Decision of the Judges in Scotland on literary property AUGUST 18.-Set out for the Hebrides. Sketch of the author's character. Trade of Glasgow. Suicide. Inchkeith. Parliamentary knowledge. Influence of AUGUST 19.-Dr. Watson. Literature and patronage. Writing and conversation compared. Change of manners. The Union. Value of money. St. Andrew's and John Knox. Retirement from the world. Dinner with the Professors. Question concerning sorrow and content. Instructions for composition. Dr. AUGUST 20.-Effect of prayer. Observance of Sunday. Professor Shaw. Tran- substantiation. Literary property. Mr. Tyers's remark on Dr. Johnson. AUGUST 21.-Want of trees. Lawrence Kirk. Dinner at Monboddo. Emigration Homer. Biography and history compared. Decrease of learning. Causes of it. Promotion of bishops. Warburton. Lowth. Value of politeness. Dr. Johnson's sentiments concerning Lord Monboddo. Arrive at Aberdeen AUGUST 22. Professor Thomas Gordon. Public and private education. Alexander Gordon. Trade of Aberdeen. Prescription of murder in Scotland. Mystery of the Trinity. Satisfaction of Christ. Importance of old friendships AUGUST 23.-Dr. Johnson made a burgess of Aberdeen. Dinner at Sir Alexander Gordon's. Warburton's powers of invective. His "Doctrine of Grace." AUGUST 24.-Goldsmith and Graham. Slain's castle. Education of children. Buller of Buchan. Entails. Consequence of peers. Sir Joshua Reynolds. AUGUST 25.-The advantages of being on good terms with relations. Nabobs. Feudal state of subordination. Dinner at Strichen. Life of country gentle- 72 AUGUST 27.-Leonidas. Paul Whitehead. Derrick. Origin of evil. Calder manse. AUGUST 30.-Dr. Johnson on horseback. A Highland hut. Fort Augustus. AUGUST 31.-Anoch. Emigration. Goldsmith. Poets and soldiers compared. SEPTEMBER 1.-Glensheal. The Macraes. Dr. Johnson's anger at being left for a little while by the author on a wild plain. Wretched inn at Glenelg 100 SEPTEMBER 5.-Sir James Macdonald's epitaph and last letter to his mother. Dr. SEPTEMBER 9.-Antiquity of the family of Rasay. Cure of infidelity SEPTEMBER 10.-Survey of the island of Rasay. Bentley. Mallet. SEPTEMBER 11.-Heritable jurisdictions. Insular life. The Laird of Macleod SEPTEMBER 12.-Sail to Portree. Dr. Johnson's discourse on death. Letters from Lord Elibank to Dr. Johnson and the author. Dr. Johnson's answer. Ride to SEPTEMBER 16,-Dr. Johnson's hereditary melancholy. His minute knowledge in SEPTEMBER 21.-Description of Dunvegan, Lord Lovat's pyramid. Ride to Ulinish. Phipps's voyage to the North Pole SEPTEMBER 22.-Subterraneous house and vast cave in Ulinish. Swift's Lord Orrery. Defects as well as virtues the proper subject of biography, though the life was written by a friend. Studied conclusions of letters. Whether allow- able in dying men to maintain resentment to the last. Instructions for writing the lives of literary men. Fingal denied to be genuine, and pleasantly ridiculed 187 SEPTEMBER 23.-Further disquisition concerning Fingal. Eminent men discovered SEPTEMBER 28.-Ancient Irish pride of family. Dr. Johnson on threshing and SEPTEMBER 30.-Mr. Burke the first man everywhere. Very moderate talents requisite to make a figure in the House of Commons. Dr. Young. Dr. Dodd- ridge. Increase of the infidel writings since the accession of the Hanover family. Gradual impression made by Dr. Johnson. Particular minutes to be • |