d dagger, I am afraid, was of
more use in private quarrels than in battles. The Lochaber-ax is only a
slight alteration of the old English bill.

After all that has been said of the force and terrour of the Highland
sword, I could not find that the art of defence was any part of common
education. The gentlemen were perhaps sometimes skilful gladiators, but
the common men had no other powers than those of violence and courage.
Yet it is well known, that the onset of the Highlanders was very
formidable. As an army cannot consist of philosophers, a panick is
easily excited by any unwonted mode of annoyance. New dangers are
naturally magnified; and men accustomed only to exchange bullets at a
distance, and rather to hear their enemies than see them, are discouraged
and amazed when they find themselves encountered hand to hand, and catch
the gleam of steel flashing in their faces.

The Highland weapons gave opportunity for many exertions of personal
courage, and sometimes for single combats in the field; like those which
occur so frequently in fabulous wars. At Falkirk, a gentleman now
living, was, I suppose after the retreat of the King's troops, engaged at
a distance from the rest with an Irish dragoon. They were both skilful
swordsmen, and the contest was not easily decided: the dragoon at last
had the advantage, and the Highlander called for quarter; but quarter was
refused him, and the fight continued till he was reduced to defend
himself upon his knee. At that instant one of the Macleods came to his
rescue; who, as it is said, offered quarter to the dragoon, but he
thought himself obliged to reject what he had before refused, and, as
battle gives little time to deliberate, was immediately killed.

Funerals were formerly solemnized by calling multitudes together, and
entertaining them at great expence. This emulation of useless cost has
been for some time discouraged, and at last in the Isle of Sky is almost
suppressed.

Of the Earse language, as I understand nothing, I cannot say more than I
have been told. It is the rude speech of a barbarous people, who had few
thoughts to express, and were content, as they conceived grossly, to be
grossly understood. After what has been lately talked of Highland Bards,
and Highland genius, many will startle when they are told, that the Earse
never was a written language; that there is not in the world an Earse
manuscript a hundred years old; and that the sounds of the H