There are two events in the literary history of Scot land, which it is impossible to pass without notice, not only from the prominent place which they hold, but from the extensive and deep interest which they have excited in every part of the civilized world. The events to which we allude are the appearance of the poems of Ossian, and the novels of Sir Walter Scott. If the poems of Ossian are the productions of an an cient period, they cannot fail to he regarded with the most intense interest. If, on the contrary, they are the productions of a modern bard, Scotland has equal reason to be proud of having given him birth. Whe ther they are ancient or modern, they have been read with the deepest interest in every part of the world; they have been translated into all the languages of Europe, and the most distinguished critics have vied with each other in pointing out their beauties; while many of the most eminent poets have endeavoured in vain to imitate that pathos and wild sublimity by which they are so particularly characterized. Nor was this a transient effect produced by the blaze of their first appearance. After fifty years they have re tained their popularity, and have acquired a permanent interest independent of the controversies to which they have given rise.II The publication of the Wavcrley novels forms a sin gular feature in the literary history of Scotland. The fine sketches which they contain of the character and manners of the Scottish peasantry; the dramatic scenes which the author has sketched with such viva city and richness of effect; and the purity of the Scot tish language, with all the peculiar phraseology and idioms which are employed, have placed these works at the head of all others of the same class. But the singular feature in these works is that, like the poems of Ossian, though they are in a peculiar manner na tional works, conversant with our national history and local manners, yet they have acquired the charac ter of European productions, which excite the same admiration in the most distant countries, where our history, our language, and our customs are unknown. The author has struck those chords of human feel ing and sympathy which belong to man as an indivi dual of the species, which no territorial limits can confine, and which no factitious institutions can im pair. The German, the Frenchman, the Swiss, the Italian and the Spaniard, the Scandinavian and the Russian, weep over the sorrows of Ossian, and over the heroes of our Jacobite history, as if they had been the objects of their own national idolatry.
In national character the Scots hold a high rank. They are a grave, sober, sincere and religious people, and attached to their superiors, whether that superi ority is derived from rank, wealth, official dignity, talents or virtue. Out of their own country they are peculiarly noted for their industry and enterprise, and few of them return till they have earned a competency to support them in their old age. Like the English, they are distinguished by their courage, by their love of domestic life, and by a contempt for every thing like show or theatrical effect. By their enemies, the Scotch have been considered as displaying a pliancy or servility of character; but if this remark is the result of observation and not of malignity, it must have been drawn from the study of that part of our population which have but recently escaped from the influence of feudal habits, or must have been witness ed in those districts where the power or kindness of the chieftain still calls forth the humility or the affec tion of his vassals. In the lowlands of Scotland, the people have the same independence of character as the English, and we should be disposed to say, that the Scottish peasantry even surpass their neighbours in that respect, in so far as they surpass them in edu cation and general knowledge, which are the sure foundation and the best tests of independence of cha racter. There is nothing more characteristic of
the Scottish peasantry than their respect for the Sabbath. In place of spending the Sabbath day in idleness and gaiety, the Scottish peasant accompanies his family to the house of prayer; and however small be his means, he appears in clean and decent attire. When the service is over, he instructs his children in the duties of religion, reads with them the holy scrip tures, and perhaps accompanies them, when these duties are discharged, to some romantic and seques tered scenes, to contemplate the beauties of the mate rial world. This observance of the Sabbath is no doubt the principal cause of the superior information and the sober and moral habits of the people.
In the lowlands of Scotland, the food of the people does not differ essentially from that of the English peasantry. Animal food is certainly less used than in England, and spirituous liquors are much more com mon. The lowland Scotch are now better lodged, their houses are kept with a greater degree of clean liness, and if they do not in these respects rival their English neighbours, they arc advancing towards them with accelerated steps. In the Highlands of Scotland, we regret to say, that the cottages are, generally speaking, of the worst description, and are as uncom fortable within as they are squalid without. The diet of the Highlanders is principally oatmeal, potatoes and milk; fish being much used on the coast.
The dress of the lowlanders is the same as that of the English. In the Highlands, the bonnet, the hose, and kilt, and the plaid are still worn by the peasantry, and on many occasions by the gentry. The bonnet is made of sky blue felt; the kilt and the plaid are made of what is called tartan, which is a woollen stuff chequered with different colours, each clan having its tartan formed of a combination of colours peculiar to itself. The hose are stockings which do not reach the knee, and which are made of worsted chequered red and white.
The diseases most prevalent in Scotland, are con sumption, rheumatism, the ague, fevers, the croup, end scrofula, &c. Consumptions are now more fre quent than formerly among the young, and they carry off the greatest number about the middle period of life. This disease is said to have been formerly very rare, and seldom mortal. Rheumatism, which is now very prevalent in every part of Scotland, is said to have been but little known about eighty years ago. The ague was formerly prevalent over a large part of Scotland, but in consequence of the system of drain ing which has taken place, it has been entirely banish ed from many districts of the country. The fevers which prevailed in former times, were generally of the pleuritic and inflammatory species, but those of a low lingering and nervous kind are more prevalent. The croup is one of the most alarming of our diseases. It prevails chiefly near the sea, and is most frequent in damp situations, and rainy seasons. By the early application of leeches, and the use of calomel and emetics, it may be to a great degree prevented from assuming its severest form. Serofula, which is an hereditary disease, is said to be very common, and to prevail chiefly in cold and damp places, and among people who live on poor diet, and principally vegeta bles.