The Cockney
1834
The Dublin Penny Journal
Known as the Early Journal Content, this set of works include research articles, news, letters, and other writings published in more than 200 of the oldest leading academic journals. The works date from the mid--seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries. We encourage people to read and share the Early Journal Content openly and to tell others that this resource exists. People may post this content online or redistribute in any way for non--commercial purposes. Read more about Early Journal
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... ntent at http://about.jstor.org/participate--jstor/individuals/early-journal--content. JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary source objects. JSTOR helps people discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content through a powerful research and teaching platform, and preserves this content for future generations. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not--for--profit organization that also includes Ithaka S+R and Portico. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. $4 THE DUBLIN PENNY JOURNAL. formed for any expedition against their neighbours' pros. perity, they and their friends prayed as earnestly to heaven for success, as if they were engaged in the most laudable design. The constant petition at grace of the old Highland chieftains, was delivered with great fervour in these terms : "Lord ! turn tle world upside down, that Christians may make bread out of it." The plain English of this pious request was, that the world might become, for their benefit, a scene of rapine and confusion. They paida sacred regard to their. oath; but as superstition, among a set of banditti, infallibly supersedes piety, each (like the distinct casts of Indians) had his particular object of veneration ; one would swear upon his dirk, and dread the penalty of perjury, yet made no scruple to forswear himseif Utpon the bible-: a second woultt pay the same respect to the name of his chieftain : a third again -ould be most religiously bound by the sacred book: and a fourth regard none of the three, and be credited only if he swore by his crucifix. It was also necessary to discover the inclination of the person, before you put him to the test; if the-objeet of his veneration was mistaken, the oath was of no signification. The greatest robbers were used to preserve hospitality to those that came to their houses ; and, like the wild Arabs, observed the strictest honour towards their guests, or those who put implicit confidence in them. Tie Kenncdies, two common thieves, took the young Pretender under protection, and kept him with faith inviolate, notwithstanding they knew anl immense reward was offered for his head. They often robbed for his support-afid to supply -lim with linen, they once surprised the blaggage horses of olne ofnodr general officers. They often. went in disguise to Inverness, to buy provisions for him. At length, a very considerable time after, one qf these poor fellows, who had virtue to resist the temptation of -thirty thousaind pounds, was hanged fbr stealing a cow, value thirty shillings. The greatest crime among these fellows, was that of infidelity among themselves: the criThinal underwent -a -summary trial, and, if convicted, never missed of a 'capital punish. ment. The chieftdin Inmd his offikiers, and different departments of governments he had his judge, to whom he entrusted the-decision of all civil disputes ; but in criminal cases, the c'hief assisted perhaps by some favourites, always undertook the process. The principal men of his familh, or his officers, formed his council, where every thing was debated respecting their expeditions. Eloquence was held in great esteem among them, for by that they could sometimes so work on their chieftain as to chanrge his opinion ; for notwithstanding he always kept the form of a council, he always reserved the decisive vote in himself. When one man had a claim upon another, but wanted power to make it good, it was held lawful for himi to steal from his .debtor as many cattle as would satisfy his demand, provided he sent notice (as soon as he got out of the reach of pursuit1 that he had them, and -would return them, provided satisfaction was made on a certain day agreed on. When a creach, or great expedition had been made against distant herds, the owners, as soon as discovery was made, rose in armis; and with all their fliends made instant pursuit, tracing theeattle by their track, for, perhaps, scores-of miles. Their nicety in distinguishing tliat of their cattlefirom those that were only castually wandering, or driven, was amazingly sagacious. As soon as they arrived on an estate where the track was lost, they immediately attacked the proprieto,', and would oblige him to recover the track from his land forwards, or make good the loss they had sustained. This custonl had the force of law, which gave to the -Highlanders this surprising skill in the art of tracking. It has been observed before, that to steal, rob, and plunder with dexterity, was esteemed as the highest act of heroism. The feuds between thle great families was one great cause. There was not a chiieftain but kept in some remote valley in the depth of woods ad rocks, whole tribes of thieves in readiness to let loose against his neighbours, xihen (friom sorme public or private re-son) lie dtid not judge it expedient to resent openly any re:al or irmaginary affrontt.-From this motive, the greatest clie-rrin robbers al ays3s supported the lesser, and encouraged no sort of inIprove-
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