any place, than in remote and unprofitable

provinces, where it can commonly do little harm, and whence it may be called forth at any sudden exigence?

It must however be confessed, that a man who places honour only in successful violence, is a very troublesome and pernicious animal in time of peace; and that the martial charac- ter cannot prevail in a whole people, but by the diminution of all other virtues. He that is accustomed to resolve all right into con- quest, will have very little tenderness or equity. All the friendship in such a life can be only a confederacy of invasion, or alliance of defence. The strong must flourish by force, and the weak subsist by stratagem.

Till the Highlanders lost their ferocity with their arms, they suffered from each other all that malignity could dictate, or precipit- ance could act. Every provocation was re- venged with blood, and no man that ventured into a numerous company, by whatever occa- sion brought together, was sure of returning without a wound. If they are now exposed to foreign hostilities, they may talk of the danger, but can seldom feel it. If they are no longer martial, they are no longer quarrel- some. Misery is caused, for the most part, not by a heavy crush of disaster, but by the

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