"For the foul to be without know ledge is not good," faith Solomon: But I would rather acquiefce in dreary emptinefs, than fill my mind with logical barbarities. Defpifing their mother tongue, they were accustomed to addrefs the people in Latin; though, however fathionable latin fermons might have been, they must have feen the abfurdity of preaching in a language which few of their audience underflood. An English fermon, indeed, ftuffed with all the terms in theology, must have been, almoft, as unintelligible. For the information of the common people the Bible was tranflated into English. But, as the common people were unable to read English, they could not even now approach the feriptures--There followed, therefore, a pretty general inflitution of reading-feminaries. The authors, who diftinguished themselves in this reign, were men of great abilities; but they were rari nantes in gurgite vafto. At fuch a feafon, true genius and learning always fhine tranfcendently contrafted as they must be with the general darkness. I was going to add, that men of ingenuity are encouraged to exert their utmoft powers, by the applaufes of an age which cannot reftrain its admiration: but the praifes of the ignorant neither foothe nor ftimulate. The History of Sir Walter Raleigh muft place him high in our efteem, when we confider the barbarous language with which he ftruggled. "The Ecclefiaftical Polity of Hooker, who was fuperior to the pedantry of the times, is worthy the prefent age, for its liberal and manly fentiment. And few have dared contend with a Verulam or a Shakespeare. But letters were not, generally, cultivated. Shakespeare himself was illiterate. In the reign of our other Queen, the learned languages were taught with a view to real knowledge; tho' the acquifition of Greek or Latin, in former reigns, was little elfe than the acquifition of words. And our own language was much enriched and polished. The productions, however, of writers, in general, had no claim to elegance. Few were in poffeffion of a correct taste. Clarke was a deep Theologian: but he was phlegmatic and dull.-Shaftefbury dazzies with a falfe brilliancy of ftyle: Berkeley puzzies by his fubtleties. In the mean time, Locke and Newton may be gazed at with wonder, though the reputation of the former feems to be gradually declining. In poetry, we fee a cluster of pleafing writers. And Pope and Addifon are mentioned as the most confpicuous. But Pope is not original : and Addifon is no longer regarded as a poet; tho' he will ever be efteemed as a moralift. In his profe-eflays, indeed, a late ingenious critic hath difcovered a want of precision. Grammatical accuracy and exactness of expreffion were referved for a Lowth and a Harris. But to proceed, in this manner, would be endlefs. I purpofed only a fketch of our beft ages, in order to as waken the memories of thofe, whe might be willing to decide on the queftion, whether this prefent race hath any marks of degeneracy from the learning or the virtue of their forefathers. If I am not mistaken, it already appears, that the English nation hath made a gradual progrefs in literature; from the time of Elizabeth to that of Anne. Indeed, even our morose declaimers have allowed, that Queen Anne's was properly the Auguttan age of this country. The ftreams of knowledge were deep and clear, and yet diffused. At this moment, literature, is still more extensively spread abroad: But 'tis grown fhallow, it feems, in proportion to its diffufion." There is a want of candor and of reflection reflection in this trite remark. The analogy of the ftream will no longer hold good. Is it not ridiculous to fay, that, because we may have five hundred literary men amongst us, each individual is leis learned, than if we had only half the number? or, that none, in such a number, are deep, because many are fuperficial? The contrary position would be much more rational. I should rather fuppose, that the prize of learning would be contended for, with ftronger emulation, on account of the numerous competitors. At fuch a crifis as this, when there are so many men of ability, it must require very great talents to be diftinguished above the rest. For a clearer illuftration of this, let us look only to the prefent ftate of poetry. More than a third part of thofe who have had a claffical education, can now write tolerable verfe. Thofe of our Wickhamifts are fuperior, in verfification, to the best poets under Queen Anne, if we except Pope and Parnell. Among the choir of poets, therefore, who charm us with their mingled melodies, that bard muft poffefs peculiar fweetness, to attract our chief attention to himself, Among the multitude, who rife far above medio. crity, it must require exalted talents, to be greatly distinguished. The fame obfervation may be applied to other fpecies of literature. He, whofe acquirements are now no more than common, would, formerly, have been regarded as a deep fcholar, and would not have been over. looked in a crowd of literati. Perhaps we have, at this juncture, as many writers, as there were readers in the age of Elizabeth. And while the greater part of the community have minds improved and cultivated into elegance, our poetry is mufical and rich; our history is luminous and On the remaining topic I have very little to fay, in addition to what hath already occurred. We have feen the great body of the people much enlightened fince Elizabeth. They have been provided with better inftructors. They have been more generally taught. Under our firit Queen, the fuperior orders were marked by the fame tyrannical and haughty difpofition, the fame cunning and artifice, as characterized herself, The old baronial extravagance, ftill coloured with ferocity, was the commanding feature of the nobles. The luxury of our own times is far exceeded by the pomp and prodigality of the baron, who, though he rioted among his vaffals, yet breathed the fierce fpirit of defpotifm. In their treatment of the fair fex, our forefathers were harsh and cruel. They are faid to have been all Knight-Errants; but they were only gallants and lovers in mafquerade. Notwithstanding the romantic character they affumed, they really treated and confidered the women as fo many irrational beings. In one reign, females in particular were prohibited, by law, from reading the *Now refident at Exeter. New New Teftament in English. The benefit of the Clergy was not extended to the fair fex, 'till the days of William and Mary. And I mention as a proof of the general degradation of females among our British anceftors, and the rational benevolence now operating on the minds of all, that the Scotch women have been ådmitted, but very lately, as witneffes in a court of Justice. The Clergy under Elizabeth, who had not abandoned the fchool of Thomas Aquinas, were, perhaps, as fincerely attached to a few of his moral opinions, which flattered their frailties, as to his theological tenets, which darkened their understandings. And the angelical Doctor feems to Have, particularly, favoured the concubinage of the Priefts." Id facit in mundo meretrix, (faith he) quod in "navi fentina." An old writer com"plains, that "in feveral diocefes, now-a-days, the rectors of parishes bargain with their bishops for li"cenfe to keep concubines." Tho' in the fixteenth century, thefe indecent practices were no longer openly avowed or licensed, yet I might refer to fuch instances of immorality among the priesthood, as no one will dare attribute to our prefent clergy. 66 Under the care of ignorant or ungentle paftors, it is impoffible that the flock could have fecurely fed, befide the waters of life. In thofe times, the pure fpirit of christianity was, comparatively, but little felt or understood. Beneath the frown of Mary, our mild and meek religion had been miferably oppreft. The people, juft refpiring from perfecution, were now beginning to feel the benignity of the golpel. But fuperftition had still too vifible an influence. Not to advert, particularly, to the other period, (which I had only pitched upon as the golden age of literature) it may be enough to intimate, that, fo far from being degen erated from our forefathers, we fhall never, perhaps, witness fuch bigotry and confpiracies, fuch maffacres and wars, fuch perfidy and licentiousness, fuch thoughtless fenfuality, fuch 'religious and political virulence, as have paffed, in horrid review, from James to Anne. It hath been faid, that the fullen features of the nation are, at present, relaxed by luxurious enjoyment; and that, though we no longer disgrace humanity by the outrages of tyrants and plunderers, we are all funk down together on the couch of diffolute indulgence! It is affirmed, that the ties of order and decorum hang ioose on every ftation-that we are actuated, from the higheft to the lowest, by an inordinate love of pleasure that we cannot overlook the extravagance and unfeeling indolence of the rich, who, wanting in lasciviousness, stifle confcience, and defpife reflection; or the bafe idleness of the poor, who a larmingly increafing around us, refufe to work, though to beg they are not ashamed. Such is the commonplace declamation that affails us, every day, as it iffues from the pulpit or the prefs. But there is a want of truth in the picture: The colouring is, at least, too ftrong. As long as there are men, as Tacitus obferves, there will be vices. And the vice of the present age is a diffipated voluptuoufnefs. Still, however, we are gaining grounds in virtue; fince, on all hands, it is confeffed, that we have discarded the vindictive cruelty, and the furly avaritioufness of our forefathers. In many points we are licentious: But we have an ingenuoufness and liberty of thinking and acting unparalleled by the days that are paft. The higher ranks are more generous and condefcending than even their hofpitable fathers. The clergy are indifputably better educated; and, confequently, better able to inftruct the the people. The vulgar are fufficiently informed: They have the facred books in their hands. From their youth, they have read the fcriptures. They too have their vices: But they are more orderly than in times past. They speak not evil of dignities. They are loyal, industri ous, and temperate. Christianity, in short, is nearly reduced to its pristine purity. Its difguife is detected; and its fimple form is again acknowledged and revered. The effects of fo happy a change muft be perceivable in the general opinions and practice. We enjoy a tranquillity, unexperienced fince the pri mitive chriftians. And, tho'" there $6 are herefies among us, that they "which are approved may be made "manifeft;" yet, in general, we difplay a fpirit of forbearance, of brotherly kindness and charity, which furrounding nations admire and emu late. Surely, then, we are no degenerat ed race, either in literature or morality. Even though a part of this reprefentation be rejected as a painting from fancy; yet I have brought together a fufficient number of facts, to prove our advantage over our forefathers. To what end was the learning of a few, whilft it was confined to a few? Morofenefs and pedantry. To what end was the gofpel, whilft its moralities were veiled by pomp or mysticifm?-Superftition or hyprocrify. They are now univerfally diffeminated for the happiness of al. And we have, now, in our power, more genuine felicity than was ever known at any former period; if we employ our better reafon, in fhunning the vices and delicacies peculiar to a refined people, and in cultivating that tafte, and elegance, and virtue, which were never brought forward, among our ancestors, into a light fo ftrong or fo beautiful. EXTRACTS FROM THE STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF SCOT. LAND, VOL. IV. PARISH OF EDDERACHYLIS. (County of Sutherland.) THERE is here one fmall ifland in a fresh water loch, that deferves fome notice, on account of memorable events that happened in it. It lies in Loch-Stack, fo termed from a mountain having the figure of a ftack of corn, but of immenfe height, near it. In this small island M'Kay, Laird of Far, chief of the name, had a hunting houfe with a fmall garden, which on occafion of his vifiting the diftant parts of his foreft in the hunting feafon, he reforted to for fome time, and not only he, but after him, other gentlemen have been in ufe to pafs fome days in the fame place, when employed in the diverfion of hunting. While Sir Hugh M'Kay of Far, the father of Donald firft Lord Reay, happened to pafs fometime in this ifland, it was the cuûom of the people in the neighbourhood to make him and his company prefents of milk, fresh meat, butter, and cheese; and in this way the wife of a man occupying the next farm or grazing called Loan; who feems to have been of the better fort, came to him with her prefent alfo; and being a young woman, and as it would feem of uncommon beauty, Sir Hugh took a fancy for her perfon, wanting to gratify his fenfual inclinations; but the rejected his propofal difdainfully, telling him fhe would not live to commit fuch a bafe deed, while her own husband lived, and fo wanting to return home, the found fhe would not be permitted to leave the ifland. Next day Sir Hugh, with one or more attendants, took a walk towards towards the house, where the hufband lived, and defired him to come along with them as they returned to the Ifland, which, as he was doing, either Sir Hugh himself, or fome of his company, stepping behind, all at once ran him through the body with a durk, took off the head, which they brought carefully along with them, and upon their return prefented to his wife. Then the poor woman fearing, by perfifting in her oppofition, to meet with her husband's fate, was obliged to fubmit to Sir Hugh's inclinations, and of that commerce was Donald M'Kay begot, who was the first laird of Edderachylis of the name of M'Kay. Who the earliest inhabitants of Edderachylis have been, is not now eafily discoverable. After the most diligent inquiry among the oldest and moft intelligent people, all that can be learned is, that two or three centuries ago this place was but thinly inhabited; and, that the inhabitants were fuch as held their poffeffions by no legal tenure, paid no rent, and acknowledged no landlord or fuperior. The first who are faid to have held it in property were M'Leods, a branch of the Lewis family, or Shiol Torquil: but prior to their establishment as proprietors, tradition reports, that in the time of the Norwegean kingdom of the western ifles, thefe iflanders made frequent defcents upon the coaft, and sometimes not without bloodfhed, while they attempted plundering the few inhabitants of their cattle, and carrying them off in their boats. The last of the M'Leod family, who died the acknowledged proprietor of Edderachylis, and feems not to have been of the family of Affint, was called Mache a Leifler; probably on account of the first or principal man of the tribe being remarkable for skill in making arrows, for Mache a Leifter is, literally," the fon of the arrowmaker." He having no children by his wife, brought over from Affint a nephew of his wife, called James, the fon of Roderick, the fon of John Moir M'Leod, to live in family with him, and fucceed him in the poffeffion of the eftate at his death, which accordingly happened; but he, being of a turbulent and factious difpofition, had quarrels with feveral of his neighbours, particular-. ly the Morilons of Diurnefs and Ahir, fome of whom he put to death. The laird of Farr alfo, Sir Hugh McKay, having occafion to remit a fum of money to Edinburgh, the bearer of it next day returned to him, after being robbed only one day's journey from his houfe, by a party of armed men having their faces difguifed with black paint, whom every one fuppofed to have been sent upon that enterprise by James M'Leod of Edderachylis. As the Morifons of themfelves were not able to bring James to task for the injuries done themselves, they contrived a plan for. it, by bringing the M'Kays to their affiftance. The principal man of the name of Morifon at that time in Afhir, had in his houfe and family, a baftard fon of the Laird of Farr's (Donald M'Kay) the fame already mentioned, as begot in the island of Loch-Stack; him he propofed both to the M'Kays and to his own friends, to be Laird of Edderachylis, if by their joint efforts James M'Leod was made away with; and all agreeing to this propofal, the plan for effecting it was to engage a coufin of James M'Leod's, one Donald M'Leod, fon to Murdow, fon to John Moir of Affint, to take away his life: this bufinefs he was reckoned the likelieft, and fittest to perform, being a notorious ruffian, and, in order to hinder James's friends from profecuting revenge afterwards when the deed fhould be perpetrated by one of themfelves. The reward promised Donald induced him readily to undertake it, which was, that he should have the half of Edderachylis for himself, and |