Character, Manners and Present State of the Highlanders - Colonel David Stewart

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Title : Sketches of the Character, Manners and Present State of the Highlanders
Author : Colonel David Stewart (David Stewart of Garth)
Edition: Second, 2 vols, published in 1822 by Archibald Constable & Co, Edinburgh; and Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, London.
Printed: Vol. I Abernathy and Walker Vol. II George Ramsay and Company both Edinburgh
Physical Description: 22.5cm x 15 cm , 8ov

·Vol. I: [8] A-2O⁸2P⁴; [i-v] vi-viii, 1-595 pp + Map Bound Oposit Title

·Vol. II:[4] A-Ee⁸Ff⁴ a-h⁸g⁴; [i-v] vi-xv, 1-455 pp, [i-iii] iv-ci

·Binding: half Brown Calf marbled boards and matching end papers, spine with gilt title and volume details, and six compartments (five bands)bound by Carss and coy of Glasgow, which aligns with the date, Some minor bumps to spine.

·Condition: little foxing, content complete and solid.

·Description: Stewart’s work is notable for its depth and authenticity. As a Highlander who served in the 42nd Regiment of Foot (the Black Watch), he had firsthand knowledge of the people and traditions he describes. His accounts of Highland culture are rich with detail, preserving customs and oral histories that might otherwise have been lost following the cultural suppression after Culloden. His military history is equally valuable, providing a detailed record of the Highland regiments’ organization, recruitment, and battlefield exploits. The book is written in a clear, engaging style, blending historical narrative with personal anecdotes, which makes it accessible to both scholars and general readers.

·Significance: Sketches of the Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of Scotland is a foundational text for understanding Highland history and culture. It captures a way of life that was rapidly disappearing in the early 19th century due to the Highland Clearances, emigration, and cultural assimilation. While it must be read with an awareness of its romantic bias, it remains a compelling and informative work, offering a window into the Highlanders’ past through the eyes of someone deeply connected to their traditions.