Blair Collection > Treatise on the language, poetry, and music of the Highland clans

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 31
and certainly the Saxon, and every other family now to be found in Europe,
appear to be the descendants of the Gael or white race.
Although I hold by the above opinion, namely that all the varieties of
white men are of one and the same race, I regard the question, which has
frequently been under public discussion of late, as to the cause of the diflerence
in comparative wealth and poverty of the classes who inhabit the richer and
poorer districts of Great Britain and Ireland, as extremely interesting; but I
greatly doubt whether the conclusion at which the writers on the subject seem
to have arrived, — that it is to be ascribed to the inferiority of the Celtic race in
mental and physical capacity — is borne out by the military or civil history of
the races, even in those kingdoms. The so called Gothic race, for instance, where
they are supposed to be of pure lineage, as in Holland, have generally been
characterized as of phlegmatic tempei'aments, and heavy or unwieldy frames ;
and the Celtic race have uniformly been represented as of fiery temperaments
and active frames. Yet, these writers ascribe to the phlegmatic race all that is
intellectually great and physically energetic ; while to the Celts they ascribe
all that is mentally feeble and physically indolent. I do not think these premises
and conclusions reconcilable.
Cffisar describes the Gauls, who were Celts, as far advanced beyond the
Germans, (who are assumed to have been Saxons,) in civilization ; and
civilization is the result of the exercise of what is termed " the industrial
virtues." Are not the industrial virtues accpiirements ? If so, may not the
difference between the habits and circumstances of the inhabitants of the richer
and poorer districts of Great Britain and Ireland at this day, as well as the
difference between those of the Gauls and Germans of the days of Cresar, be
accounted for separately altogether from any supposed diflerence in the mental
and physical capacity of the Gennan and Celtic races ?
Is it not the fact, that the more nearly we find mankind (no matter of
what race,) to their primitive and uncultivated state, the more are they
characterized by apathy and indolence ? Nay, is it not the fact, that, in the
bosom of the most active seats of enterprise and industry, whole families are
to be found whose deficient education in the industrial virtues, stamps them
with all the characteristics of indolence and apathy ? Now, it will not be denied
that the inhabitants of the more cold, sterile, and inaccessible disti-icts of all
countries, (by whatsoever race inhabited,) continue much longer in a primitive and
uncultivated state than those of the more fertile, genial, and accessible districts.
The origin of wealth is in the abundance of Nature. It is almost spontaneously
produced in the more fertile, and can only be produced by extreme industry in
the more sterile districts. Now, wealth is essential to, if not the parent of, com-
mercial and manufacturing industry. It creates artificial wants, and searches for
and rewards the enterprise and industry whereby they may be supplied. A people
living in a barren country, and who know no wants excepting those of nature,
are contented with milk and potatoes, brogues and hodden greys, and do not
possess within themselves the means nor the stimulus necessary for the creation
of commerce and manufacturing wealth and industry.