Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 6, 1898

128
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
by many regiments, and drilled by young officers,
more ships put into commission, and the whole
country bore a most warlike attitude.
Pitt's energy and determination worked
miracles in the Government offices also. He
discarded the old aristociatic generals and
admirals who feared the French, and rendered
his first expeditions unsuccessful. He replaced
them by young, active officers, ambitious of
distinctions, such as Wolfe, Amherst, Murray,
Moncton, Boscawen, Hawke. And to such
officers as told him that his orders could not be
executed within the time specified, he would
peremptorily reply, " It must be done ! " the
mandate was obeyed. He asked one officer, who
was intrusted with an important command,
"How many men he required'!" " Ten thousand,"
was the reply. " You shall have twelve," said
the minister, " and then it will be your fault if
you do not succeed."
One of his earliest measures shows the gener-
ous feelings, the sagacity, and originality of
the " Great Commoner's " mind. He quieted
Jacobite Scotland by employing its turbulent
forces in the service of the country, and by
raising Highland regiments among its clans.
It was long before the Government of the
day could be brought to believe that the majority
of the clans could be trusted. To have armed
the Highlanders at the commencement of the
last century would have been deemed an act of
insanity, but Pitt had faith in their patriotism,
and the loyalty of that race to their chiefs. He
knew how the " Black Watch " had behaved on
Fontenoy's gory field, and showed the world
what a wai'like and loyal race the Caledonian
Scots had proved themselves to be. His resist-
less eloquence persuaded King George, and per-
mission was given to raise some regiments
among the well affected clans — Campbells,
Sutherlands, Mackays, Macdonalds of Sleat,
and others, such as the Frasers, Keiths, and
gradually to all clans without distinction.
In raising these regiments, a wise policy was
observed. The ancient feeling of clanship was
retained. The chiefs and their kinsmen received
commissions, and their clansmen were eager and
proud to rally round them. Every gentleman,
of good birth, who could raise a hundred men,
was appointed captain ; and such as could
bring twenty to thirty, ranked as subalterns.
Sometimes a little pressure was used by the
chiefs, but generally the men were willing to
serve. The regiments thus raised were com-
posed almost exclusively of Highland officers
and men who spoke Gaelic, and the chaplains
were also familar with the language of Caledonia.
Gentlemen who could not obtain commissions at
once, were content to serve in tiie ranks till
vacancies occurred.
The zeal of the great minister was everywhere
crowned with success. He took credit to him-
self afterwards as being the first minister of
the crown to recognise the invaluable qualities
of Highlanders in war, and there is no exagger-
ation in his language. He is entitled to the
credit he claims. He knew that a race so war-
like and restless would form a source of danger,
unless those qualities were turned to some profit-
able account. It was a wise and liberal policy
to employ them in defence of the throne, which
they had recently almost overturned.
Pitt's call to arms was responded to by the
Highland clans, and "battalions on battalions"
were enrolled in the remotest parts of the
Highlands, among those who a few years before
were devoted to, and had too long followed the
fate of the Royal Stuart race. Besides the
loyal clans of Campbell, Sutherland, Mackay,
the Frasers, Camerons, Macleans, Macdonalds,
Macphersons, and others of disaffected names
and clans were enrolled, either as regiments of
the line or as fencibles.
The general result of all Pitt's exertions, and
the spirit he infused into officers and men,
military and naval, and every man who served
him, was, that in July 1758, Louisburg surren-
dered, and Nova Scotia was won. Goree, Guada-
loupe, Ticonderoga, Fort Duquesne, Niagara,
and Quebec fell successively to British prowess
in America, and Canada and the States were
secured to Britain.
Boscawen defeated the French fleet at Lagos ;
Hawke vanquished the Brest Heet under the
command of the redoubtable Conflaus ; Chauder-
nagar yielded to Clive, Pondicherry to Coote ;
the allied arms triumphed in Germany ; and the
combined powers of France, Saxony, Russia, and
Austria failed before the energy of the " Great
Commoner."
Well might he exult in after years, in 1766,
on the aspect — the triumphant aspect — of affairs
in Britain then, in comparison to what they were
in 1756, as has been related, when, in his
celebrated speech in the House of Lords, he
exclaimed : " I sought for merit wherever it was
to be found ; it is my boast that I was the first
minister who looked for it and found it in the
mountains of the north. I called it forth, and
drew into your service a hardy and intrepid race
of men, who, when left by your jealousy, became
a prey to the artifice of your enemies, and had
gone nigh to have overturned the state in the
war before the last. These men, in the last war,
were brought to combat on your side ; they
served with fidelity, fought with valour, and
they conquered for you in every part of the
world."
This was high praise, yet nothing more than
the gallant heroes of his theme well deserved.