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"I proceeded on my Journey, and have Travelled through the greatest and most uncivilised Parts of the Highlands of Scotland; And humbly beg leave to lay before Your Majesty the following Report, which I have collected as well from my own Observations, with all Faithfulness and Impartiality."
Clearly Wade considered the Highlands an inhospitable and uncivilised part of the world in comparison with London. He goes on, for the benefit of the King, to describe exactly what he thought the Highlands to be;
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"The Highlands are the Mountainous Parts of Scotland, not defined or described by any precise Limits or Boundaries of Counties or Shires but are Tracts of Mountains, in extent of Land, more than one-half of the Kingdom of Scotland; All the Islands on the West and North West Seas are called Highlands as well from their Mountanous Situation, as from the Habits, Customs, Manners and Language of their inhabitants."
So much for the land, what of it's people?
- "Their Notions of Virtue and Vice are very different from the more civilised part of Mankind. They think it a most Sublime Virtue to pay a Servile and Abject Obedience to the Commands of their Chieftains, altho' in opposition to their Sovereign and the Laws of the Kingdom."
Their Sovereign? Wade speaks as though there was no social structure or order in the Highlands. In truth, the Highlands had a social structure almost as old as time. However, Wade simplified the Highlanders historical background;
- "The Highlanders are divided into Tribes or Clans, under Lairds, or Chieftains (as they are called in the Laws of Scotland), each Tribe or Clan is subdivided into Little Branches sprung from the Main Stock who have also Chieftains over them."
Perhaps the true nature of the General's visit to the Highlands is encapsulated in the following three extracts of intelligence, where he describes the weapons and preferred fighting tactics of the Highlanders. Remember, Wade's report was written only 22 years before the battle of Culloden.
- "The Arms they make use of in War, are, a Musket, a Broad Sword and Target, a Pistol and a Durk or Dagger, hanging by their side, with a Powder Horn and Pouch for their Ammunition.
"They form themselves into Bodies of unequal Numbers according to the strength of their Clan or Tribe; When in sight of the Enemy they endevour to possess themselves of the highest Ground, believing they descend on them with greater force."
"On sudden Alarms, or when any Chieftain is in distress, they give Notice to their Clans or those in Alliance with them, by sending a Man with what they call the Fiery Cross, which is a Stick in the form of a Cross, burnt at the End, who sends it forward to the next Tribe or Clan."
To an English gentleman from London the Highlanders way of life must have been as alien to him as his way of life was alien to the Highlanders. Was their life uncivilised though - judge for yourself. By the way, the Lovat's were a major landowning family in Inverness-shire until a couple of years ago. Their dynasty fell just as foretold by Coinneach Odhar - the Brahan Seer - of the Mackenzie Clan in the 18th century - but that's another story.
- "I Presume also to Represent to Your Majesty, that the Manners and Customs of the Highlanders, their Way of Living, their Strong Friendships, and Adherence to those of their own Name, Tribe and Family, their blind and Servile Submission to the Commands of their Superiors and Chieftains, and the little Regard they have ever paid to the Laws of the Kingdom, both before and since the Union, are truly set forth in Lord Lovat's Memorial and other Matters contained in the said Paper."
Did Wade identify how the Highlanders made a living? His "impartial" report contains comment on raping and plundering. He obviously considered it the case that such crimes happened as a matter of course. Consider also the fact that the English Duke of Sutherland and others had spent some time raping, plundering and forcing the Highlanders from their land, which had been their home for centuries. What would Wade have done if he had been stripped of his rank, reputation and wealth before being made homeless?
- "The Clans in the Highlands, the most addicted to Rapine and Plunder, are, the Cameron's on the West of the Shire of Inverness, the Mackenzie's and others in the Shire of Ross who are Vassals to the late Earl of Seaforth, the McDonnell's of Keppoch, the Broadalbin Men, and the MacGregors on the Borders of Argyleshire."
"They go out in Parties from Ten to Thirty Men, traverse large Tracts of Mountains till they arrive at the Lowlands where they Design to Commit Depradations, which they chuse to do in places distant from the Clans where they Inhabit."
For all it's inaccuracy Wade's report clearly identify's the very essence of Highland life - loyalty and fairness in whatever circumstance.
- "The Chiefs of some of these Tribes never fail to give Countenance and Protection to those of their own Clan; and tho' they are taken and committed to Prison, by the Plaintiff (who is) better satisfied than if the Criminal was executed, since he must (be) at the Charge and Trouble of a tedious dilatory and expensive Prosecution."
"They determine all disputes and differences that happen among their Vassals, and on extraordinary occasions such as the Marriage of a Daughter, the building of a House, or any other pretence for the support of their Chief, or honour of the Name, he levies a Tax on the Tribe. And it is not to be wonder'd that those who submit to this Servile Slavery, will, when Summoned by their Superiors, follow them into Rebellion."
Divide and conquer has long been an apt saying. The English Parliament put it into practice against the loyal Highlanders and their children in 1716 as Wade recalls.
- "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."
"The Legislature in Scotland before the Union of the Kingdoms have ever considered the Highlands in a different State from the rest of the Nation, and made peculiar Laws for their Government under severest Penalties. The Chieftains of Clans were obliged to send their Children or nearest Relations to Edinburgh as Hostages for the good behaviour of their respective Clans, and in default they might by the Law be put to death."
"I cannot omit observing to Your majesty; this National tenderness your Subjects of North Britain have one for the other, is great encouragement to the Rebells and attained Persons to return home from their Banishment."
Wade speaks of servile submission as an attribute exclusive to the Highlander. The Highlanders would never have blindly followed any Chieftain, they were far too intelligent. However, can one say the same for Wade? Here is an excellent example of servile submission from someone who really did blindly travel about the Highlands. If only he had opened his eyes.
- " have endeavoured to Report to your Majesty as true and impartial an Account of the several particulars required by my Instructions, as far as I have been able to Collect them during my short continuance in the Highlands, and, as Your Majesty is pleased to Command me, presume to offer my humble opinion of what I conceive necessary to be done towards establishing Order in those Parts, and reducing the Highlands to a more due Submission to Your Majesty's Government."
All of which is most humbly Represented and Submitted to Your Majesty's Royal Consideration.
London, 10th December 1724.
Wade, in an addendum to his main report, advised the King which Clans were against him. Who know's, maybe they still are disaffected subjects of the English Monarchy?
- THE UNDERWRITTEN CLANS OR TRIBES WERE ENGAGED IN THE LATE REBELLION, MOST OF THEM ARE ARMED AND COMMIT DEPREDATIONS.
The Mackenzies and the small Clans vizt., the Meras, McLennans, Murchisons and the MacLeods of North Assynt, the McLays inhabiting the Countries belonging to the late Lord Seaforth, and all the Gentlemen and others of the Name of Mackenzie in the Main Land and Isle of Lewis, in Ross and Sutherland Shires.
The McLeods and others of Glenelg in the Isle of Skye, and the Harris, in the Shire of Inverness.
The McDonels and others of Glengary, Abertarff, and Knoidart, in Inverness-shire.
The McDonels and others of Moidart, Arisaig, Muick, Canna, South Uist, in Inverness and Argyleshires.
The Camerons of Lochiel in Inverness-shire.
The Camerons of Ardmurchan, swin and Morvine in Argyleshire, and the other small Tribes in those Countries.
The McDonnels of Keppoch and others in that part of Lochaber belonging to McIntosh of Borlum in Inverness-shire.
The Stewarts of Appine and others in that Country of Argyleshire.
The McLeans in Mull, Rhume, Coll, Morvine, Ardmurchan and Swinard, in Argyleshire.
The several Clans in that part of Lochaber belonging to the Duke of Gordon, in Inverness-shire, and those in Murray and Banffshires.
The McPhersons in Badenoch in the Shire of Inverness.
The McNeils of Barra in Argyleshire.
The Mcintoshes and other Tribes of that Name in Inverness-shire.
The Robertsons belonging to Strowan in Perthshire.
The Editorial Staff at Highlander Web Magazine are always pleased to publish articles on subjects in response to requests from readers. If you have a particular interest or request, let us know. We will be pleased to help. john@catalyst-highlands.co.uk
Look out for further accounts from the past in future editions of Highlander Web Magazine. It's the only place to learn about Scotland.
For more details on General Wades Report to King George I, hot jump to the second chapter in the series, or the third and final chapter - exclusively published in Highlander Web Magazine.
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