We Now Left Those Illustrious Ruins, By Which Mr. Boswell Was Much
Affected, Nor Would I Willingly Be Thought To Have Looked Upon Them
Without Some Emotion.
Perhaps, in the revolutions of the world,
Iona may be sometime again the instructress of the Western Regions.
It was no long voyage to Mull, where, under Sir Allan's protection,
we landed in the evening, and were entertained for the night by Mr.
Maclean, a Minister that lives upon the coast, whose elegance of
conversation, and strength of judgment, would make him conspicuous
in places of greater celebrity. Next day we dined with Dr.
Maclean, another physician, and then travelled on to the house of a
very powerful Laird, Maclean of Lochbuy; for in this country every
man's name is Maclean.
Where races are thus numerous, and thus combined, none but the
Chief of a clan is addressed by his name. The Laird of Dunvegan is
called Macleod, but other gentlemen of the same family are
denominated by the places where they reside, as Raasa, or Talisker.
The distinction of the meaner people is made by their Christian
names. In consequence of this practice, the late Laird of
Macfarlane, an eminent genealogist, considered himself as
disrespectfully treated, if the common addition was applied to him.
Mr. Macfarlane, said he, may with equal propriety be said to many;
but I, and I only, am Macfarlane.
Our afternoon journey was through a country of such gloomy
desolation, that Mr. Boswell thought no part of the Highlands
equally terrifick, yet we came without any difficulty, at evening,
to Lochbuy, where we found a true Highland Laird, rough and
haughty, and tenacious of his dignity; who, hearing my name,
inquired whether I was of the Johnstons of Glencroe, or of
Ardnamurchan.
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