 are distinguished (like the Welch) by patronimics;
and as I have known an antient Briton called Madoc-ap-Morgan, ap-Jenkin,
ap-Jones, our Highland chief designs himself Dou'l Mac-amish mac-'oul ich-ian,
signifying Dougal, the son of James, the son of Dougal, the son of John - He has
travelled in the course of his education, and is disposed to make certain
alterations in his domestic oeconomy; but he finds it impossible to abolish the
antient customs of the family; some of which are ludicrous enough - His piper,
for example, who is an hereditary officer of the household, will not part with
the least particle of his privileges - He has a right to wear the kilt, or
antient Highland dress, with the purse, pistol, and durk - a broad yellow
ribbon, fixed to the chanter-pipe, is thrown over his shoulder, and trails along
the ground, while he performs the function of his minstrelsy; and this, I
suppose, is analogous to the pennon or flag which was formerly carried before
every knight in battle - He plays before the laird every Sunday in his way to
the kirk, which he circles three times, performing the family march, which
implies defiance to all the enemies of the clan; and every morning he plays a
full hour by the clock, in the great hall, marching backwards and forwards all
the time, with a solemn pace, attended by the laird's kinsmen, who seem much
delighted with the music - In this exercise, he indulges them with a variety of
pibrachs or airs, suited to the different passions, which he would either excite
or assuage.
    Mr. Campbell himself, who performs very well on the violin, has an
invincible antipathy to the sound of the Highland bag-pipe, which sings in the
nose with a most alarming twang, and, indeed, is quite intolerable to ears of
common sensibility, when aggravated by the echo of a vaulted hall - He therefore
begged the piper would have some mercy upon him, and dispense with this part of
the morning service - A consultation of the clan being held on this occasion, it
was unanimously agreed, that the laird's request could not be granted without a
dangerous encroachment upon the customs of the family - The piper declared, he
could not give up for a moment the privilege he derived from his ancestors; nor
would the laird's relations forego an entertainment which they valued above all
others - There was no remedy; Mr. Campbell, being obliged to acquiesce,
