The History of the Highland Clearances 12

The History of the Highland Clearances 12

Reasoning from this success, and observing that the climate of

Sutherland, owing to its vicinity to the ocean, and to its being

considerably intersected by arms of the sea, was much more moderate

than this latter district, it was fairly concluded that this county

was even better fitted for this system of management, than the heights

of Perthshire and Inverness-shire. The inferior elevation of its

mountains contributed still further to this effect, and held out every

encouragement to adopt the same course which had been pursued with such

success in both parts of the kingdom.

 

The succession of those Alpine plants, which are common to the Cheviot

Hills, when they are put under sheep, being also the natural herbage of

the mountains of Sutherland, renders them still more suitable to this

mode of occupation.

 

On the first melting of the snow, the cotton grass is found to have

been growing rapidly; it forms a healthy and an abundant food for

sheep, until about the beginning of May, at which time it is in seed;

when, after a short interval, the deer hair takes its place, starting

up almost instantaneously, and forming, in the course of one week (if

the ground has been recently burnt, and the weather be favourable), a

green cover to the mountains. This plant grows with several varieties

of bents, until the end of July, when the cotton grass again begins

to spring, and with the pry moss, comes a second time into flower, in

September, after which the heather and more heating plants continue

until the frosts of winter. Nor is there any part of these mountains,

over which the sheep cannot roam with ease, in search of food,

rendering the whole available and profitable.

 

As there was every reason therefore for concluding, that the

mountainous parts of the estate and indeed of the county of Sutherland,

were as much calculated for the maintenance of stock as they were unfit

for the habitation of man, there could be no doubt as to the propriety

of converting them into sheep walks, _provided_ the people could be

at the same time settled in situations, where, by the exercise of

their honest industry, they could obtain a decent livelihood, and add

to the general mass of national wealth, and where they should not be

exposed to the recurrence of those privations, which so frequently and

so terribly afflicted them, when situated among the mountains. It was

a matter of important consideration, to determine how this was to be

accomplished. The local peculiarities of the county presented none of

those advantages in disposing of, and absorbing the surplus population,

which the borders of the two kingdoms, and the southern and eastern

highlands had enjoyed. Besides it had made no approximation to the

state in which the rest of Scotland was placed, when those changes were

carried into effect. It had stood still in the midst of that career of

improvement which had so remarkably and so splendidly distinguished the

rest of the kingdom; and remained separated by its habits, prejudices,

and language, from all around.

 

It had long been known, that the coast of Sutherland abounded with

many different kinds of fish, not only sufficient for the consumption

of the country, but affording also a supply _to any extent_, for more

distant markets or for exportation, when cured and salted. Besides

the regular and continual supply of white fish, with which the shores

thus abound, the coast of Sutherland is annually visited by one of

those vast shoals of herrings, which frequent the coast of Scotland.

It seemed as if it had been pointed out by Nature, that the system

for this remote district, in order that it might bear its suitable

importance in contributing its share to the general stock of the

country, was, to convert the mountainous districts into sheep walks,

and to remove the inhabitants to the coast, or to the valleys near the

sea.

 

It will be seen, that the object to be obtained by this arrangement,

was two-fold: it was, in the first place, to render this mountainous

district contributory, as far as it was possible, to the general

wealth and industry of the country, and in the manner most suitable to

its situation and peculiar circumstances. This was to be effected by

making it produce a large supply of wool, for the staple manufactory

of England. While, at the same time, it should support as numerous,

and a far more laborious and useful population, than it hitherto had

done at home: and, in the second place, to convert the inhabitants of

those districts to the habits of regular and continued industry, and to

enable them to bring to market a very considerable surplus quantity of

provisions, for the supply of the large towns in the southern parts of

the island, or for the purpose of exportation.

 

A policy well calculated to raise the importance, and increase the

happiness of the individuals themselves, who were the objects of

the change, to benefit those to whom these extensive but hitherto

unproductive possessions belonged, and to promote the general

prosperity of the nation. Such was the system which was adopted. In

carrying it into effect, every care was taken to explain the object

proposed to be accomplished, to those who were to be removed, and to

point out to them, the ultimate advantages that would necessarily

accrue to them, from their completion.

 

These communications were made to the people by the factor personally,

or by written statements, communicated to them by the ground officers.

That nothing might be omitted in this respect, the different ministers,

and the principal tacksmen connected with the districts which were

to be newly arranged, were written to, explaining to them, fully and

explicitly, the intentions of the proprietors in adopting them. It was

particularly requested of these gentlemen, that they would impress

upon the minds of the people, the propriety of agreeing to them, and

of explaining, that the motives which dictated this step, arose out of

a real regard for their interests and prosperity, as well as for the

general improvement of the estate.

 

It was distinctly admitted, that it was not to be expected, that

the people should be immediately reconciled to them. Such was to

expect more than it was possible to hope for. But it was represented,

that if this was so fully felt, and so clearly admitted, that the

landlords must have been strongly and conscientiously impressed with

the necessity and propriety of the measures adopted, as tending

directly to the happiness of those placed under their protection.

These representations had the desired effect, and nothing can be more

praiseworthy, or deserve more to be applauded, than the conduct of the

people on quitting their original habitations; for although they left

them with much regret, they did so in the most quiet, orderly, and

peaceable manner.

 

If, upon one occasion, in the earlier years of these arrangements, a

momentary feeling of a contrary nature was exhibited, it arose entirely

from the misconduct of persons whose duty it was to have recommended

and enforced obedience to the laws, in place of infusing into the

minds of the people, feelings of a contrary description. As soon,

however, as the interference of these persons was withdrawn, the poor

people returned to their usual state of quietness and repose. All the

statements, giving a different account of their conduct, are absolutely

false, and a libel upon their good conduct and peaceable character.

 

These arrangements commenced in 1807, and have been carried on

from that period, as the different tacks expired, and afforded an

opportunity of doing so. Bad years, and the failure of crops continuing

to produce the same miserable effects they had constantly occasioned to

that portion of the population, which still continued to reside among

the mountains. This calamity fell with great severity upon them in the

seasons of 1812-13 and 1816-17.

 

During the latter period they suffered the extremes of want and of

human misery, notwithstanding every aid that could be given to them,

through the bounty of their landlords. Their wretchedness was so great,

that after pawning everything they were possessed of, to the fishermen

on the coast, such as had no cattle were reduced to come down from the

hills in hundreds, for the purpose of gathering cockles on the shore.

Those who lived in the more remote situations of the country were

obliged to subsist upon broth made of nettles, thickened with a little

oatmeal. Those who had cattle had recourse to the still more wretched

expedient of bleeding them, and mixing the blood with oatmeal, which

they afterwards cut into slices and fried. Those who had a little money

came down and slept all night upon the beach, in order to watch the

boat returning from the fishing, that they might be in time to obtain

a part of what had been caught.

 

In order to alleviate this misery, every exertion was made by Lord

Stafford. To those who had cattle he advanced money to the amount of

above three thousand pounds.

 

To supply those who had no cattle, he sent meal into the country to the

amount of nearly nine thousand pounds. Besides which, Lady Stafford

distributed money to each parish on the estate: in order that no

pains nor consideration might be wanting, it was arranged that the

gentleman who is at the head of his Lordship’s affairs, the writer

of this statement, should go to Dunrobin to settle with the local

management and the clergymen, what was the best and most effectual

way of distributing his Lordship’s relief. Similar means were taken

by Lord Reay, to alleviate the distresses of his people. While such

was the distress of those who still remained among the hills, _it was

hardly felt by those who had been settled upon the coast_. Their new

occupation, as fishermen, rendered them not only independent of that

which produced the misery of their neighbours, but enabled them at

the same time, in some degree, to become contributors towards their

support, both by the fish they were able to sell to them, and also by

the regular payment of their rents. While it need hardly be stated,

that these wretched sufferers not only required to be relieved, but

failed entirely in the payment of what they owed the landlord.

 

 

MRS. HARRIET BEECHER STOWE ON THE SUTHERLAND CLEARANCES.[7]

 

[7] “Sunny Memories,” Letter xvii.

 

As to those ridiculous stories about the Duchess of Sutherland, which

have found their way into many of the prints in America, one has only

to be here, moving in society, to see how excessively absurd they are.

 

All my way through Scotland, and through England, I was associating,

from day to day, with people of every religious denomination, and every

rank of life. I have been with dissenters and with churchmen; with the

national Presbyterian church and the free Presbyterian; with Quakers and Baptists.