Some Eighteenth-Century
Attitudes About the Scots
Samuel Johnson on Scottish civilization
From A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland (1775):
"Till the Union made them [the Scots] acquainted with English manners,
the culture of their lands was unskilful, and their domestick life unformed;
their tables were coarse as the feast of Eskimeaux, and their houses filthy
as the cottages of Hottentots. Since they have known that their condition
was capable of improvement, their progress in useful knowledge has been
rapid and uniform. What remains to be done they will quickly do, and then
wonder, like me why that which was so necessary and so easy was long delayed.
But they must be forever content to owe to the English that elegance and
culture, which, if they had been vigilant and active, perhaps the English
might have owed to them."
James Boswell, on being a Scot in London
London Journal, December 8, 1762:
"I went to Covent Garden and saw Love in a Village, a new comic
opera. I saw it from the gallery, but first I was in the pit. Just
before the overture began to be played, two Highland officers came in.
The mob in the upper gallery roared out, "No Scots! No Scots! Out with
them!", hissed and pelted them with apples. My heart warmed to my countrymen,
my Scotch blood boiled with indignation. I jumped on the benches, roared
out, "Damn you, you rascals!" hissed and was in the greatest rage. I am
very sure at that time I should have been the most distinguished of heroes.
I hated the English; I wished from my soul that the Union was broke and
that we might give them another battle of Bannockburn."
David Hume, on writing in English
Letter to John Wilkes, October 16, 1754:
"[I would] like to put in your hands a Copy
of my History, which I beg you to accept of. I know, that in many particulars,
especially in the Language, you wou'd be able, if you pleas'd to give me
good Advice. I beg of you to remark, as you go along, such Words or Phrazes,
as appear to you wrong or suspicious; and to inform me of them. You cou'd
not do me a better Office: Notwithstanding all the Pains, which I have
taken in the Study of the English Language, I am still jealous of my Pen.
As to my Tongue . . . I regard it as totally desparate and irreclaimable."