Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

AGRICULTURE. 223
all Highland peculiarities alike, are fast disappearing.
But there is so little in their power, that censure could
scarcel)' answer any useful end, even were it better me-
rited than it really is. If they are often deserving of
blame for want of activity, they cannot justly be cen-
sured for what arises from ignorance ; precluded as they
too often are from information or good example, and
having-, in reality, no resource but to follow the imperfect
practices that have descended to them from their ances-
tors. If '* la coutume est un traitresse maitresse d'ecole,"
as Montaigne tells us, it is not easy to see where they
are to find a better. 1 believe that much of the censure
in this case, is far better deserved by those whose duty
and interest it equally is to enlighten them. All the
people of all the world are wedded to ancient practices,
and the more so in proportion to their ignorance ; since
conceit and ignorance always go hand in hand. Nor
do I see that the Highlanders are, in this respect, more
prejudiced or more mulish than other nations: I am
much inclined to think, on the contrary, that they are a
docile people. Every M'here, time is diminishing the
number of ancient prejudices ;
and that, in an accelerat-
ing ratio, as education and knowledge spread. The pro-
gress of information is daily limiting these to a narrow
circle; and when once ancient systems are discovered to
be prejudices, their downfall is not far off. To make
these things matters of reproach to the Highlanders par-
ticularly, is unjust; because similar faults belong to all
people and all times. And he who will candidly exa-
mine the state of the country and the people, and recol-
lect the short period that has passed since the very pos-
sibility of improvement was entertained by them, ought
rather to be surprised and pleased that so much has
been done in so short a time against such a weight of