EMINENT CAITHNESSIANS—No. I.
SIR JOHN SINCLAIR, BART. OF ULBSTER.
( Continued. )
DISASTROUS consequences resulted from the continental wars; and in 1793 the number of bankruptcies became very alarming, more particularly in the principal commercial establishments of Manchester and Glasgow, as the general places of credit were temporarily suspended. Speculations into which the traders and manufacturers had entered turned out most ruinous; and the war with France contributed its own share to the mercantile paralysis that seemed to threaten the country. Some of the most wealthy families were reduced to absolute want, and those who had money did not rightly know where to deposit it. The doom that awaited the operatives was apparent, but what could be done to evade the danger? Starvation and distress were likely to besiege every man’s door. In this state of mercantile fear and dismay, Sir John Sinclair contrived a plan that would relieve the more pressing wants, and he intimated to Mr Dundas that he intended to move that a select committee should be appointed to investigate into the commercial credit of the nation. The answer that Mr Dundas gave was not very encouraging, but Sir John then sent his proposed plan to Pitt, with the result that shortly thereafter the Select Committee was appointed. The main difficulty lay with the circulating medium, in consequence of a great number of houses having issued, without adequate capital, too much circulating paper. The Bill having passed, Sir John was most anxious that money should be sent on a certain day to Manchester and Glasgow, as some immense settlements would require to be then arranged; and he was well aware that the Exchequer Bills would not be ready in time to ward off the threatened danger. Sir John, in this great dilemma, prevailed on some great bankers in London to advance him £70,000 on personal security, and sent it to those parties whose pressing demands required the most immediate aid. Pitt, meeting Sir John next day, regretted that relief could not be sent to Manchester for some time, and that the money could not be raised for a few days. ‘lt is already gone! it left London by tonight’s mail,’ was the reply. He afterwards amusingly stated that ‘Pitt was as much startled as if I had stabbed him.' The Exchequer Bills proved of most inestimable value to the country, and the impending danger was averted by the issue of the sum of £2,202,000. Besides, the Exchequer was a gainer on the transaction to the extent of £4000. Pitt was so well pleased with Sir John, in being instrumental in getting the commercial credit of the country restored, that he sent for Sir John, and intimated that if he had anything to wish, he (Pitt) would attend to it with pleasure. All that Sir John desired was the institution of a Board of Agriculture, to which Pitt raised no objection, only he was afraid of the expenses with which it would be attended. At the dissolution of Parliament in 1790, Sir John was returned for his native county, which he represented until the dissolution of 1794. He was thereafter several years out of Parliament; but in 1797 he was elected, through the influence of the Prince of Wales, Member for Petersfield, in Hampshire. In 1794, France exerted all her power and strength in developing her naval and military resources. This was the cause of great apprehension in the minds of our countrymen, who became, therefore, as energetically engaged in developing our own powers, in order that the foe might be coped with on more equal terms. Pitt remarked to Sir John that every effort would required to be strained to add to the strength of the kingdom, and that his assistance would be expected. He was likewise informed that his (Sir John's) estates in the north were inhabited by a warlike people, and that a fencible regiment could be very easily raised from them for the service of the country. Sir John replied that he would ‘not hesitate to comply with his request.' Sir John got his Colonel’s commission, and enlisted and trained his men with all convenient speed, so that about seven months from the date of his commission, the battalion was inspected at Inverness by General Sir Hector Munro, and complimented by him for the excellent appearance they made. This corps was called the ‘Rothesay and Caithness Fencibles.' The dress of the Caithness Fencibles differed from the other Highlanders, who used the kilt. Sir John thought that the ancient Celts wore trews or pantaloons, which were more serviceable than the kilt. In support of this opinion he published a pamphlet. The discussion about the particular dress of the Highlanders became at last very keen, and was ecarried on among them with much warmth. It is said that the Colonel was not contented with his pamphlet, but subsequently actually took to verse, of which the following is a sample :—
’Let other brag of philibeg,
Of kilt and belted plaid;
Whilst we the ancient trews will wear,
In which our fathers bled.’
The regiment was afterwards stationed at Aberdeen for about six months, and from thence proceeded to Berwick, where it was stationed for a short time. The inhabitants of Berwick were so well pleased with the regiment, that they conferred the freedom of the town on the Colonel—Sir John. In 1799, Government disbanded all the Fencibles, and Sir John's regiment was disbanded at Edinburgh, when there was not a single man on the sick list. Sir John, in 1795, got a second commission, which entitled him to raise a regiment that would serve in Ireland. This regiment was called ’The Caithness Highlanders,’ into which nearly all the fencibles enlisted, and subsequently served in Ireland during the Rebellion with great distinction for good conduct and steadiness. Viscount Gosford, in name of the magistrates of Armagh, thus refers to the Caithness Highlanders: ’Divided, from the necessity of the times, into cantonments, and many of them stationed in a manner most unfavourable to military discipline, they yet preserved the fidelity of soldiers, and the manly rectitude of their national character. It is with equal pleasure and satisfaction we declare that the tranquility which this country is now happily beginning to enjoy, must in many respects be ascribed to the ready obedience and proper deportment of the officers and men under your comman.’ They preserved the same character during all the time they remained in Ireland; and on one occasion when private individuals were giving contributions for the defence of the nation, the Caithness Highlanders collected £200 among themselves, and sent it to the public Exchequer. In 1800, upwards of 200 of them joined the expedition to Egypt; and in 1802 the regiment was disbanded at Glasgow. Sir John ever afterwards took the greatest interest in the men who had so loyally and faithfully served under him; and he procured promotion for many of them in the regular army.
War having raged for so long a period with scarcely any real and beneficial results, Sir John was of opinion that a fitting time had arrived for its termination, on account of the establishment of the Directory, and the Reign of Terror being ended. Sir John blamed the ministers for being desirous to continue the war—that although negotiations were broken off between this country and France, the Royal Declaration only increased the violent hatred of the two countries to each other, and he therefore moved that the declaration would be so modified as to show the French nation that this country was anxious for peace on term honourable to both parties. But Pitt rose and delivered one of his most thrilling and powerful speeches in favour of the continuance of the war, so that the hopes of those who desired peace were completely blasted by the bold eloquence of the Prime Minister.
Sir John took a leading share of the business of the House of Commons from 1797 to 1799. Fox and his party retired from the House, as they maintained that their attendance was useless on account of their being always out-voted by ministerial hirelings, and reproached with being enemies of their country.
Pitt, finding himself involved in financial difficulties, resolved on taxing the income of the individual; and he was of opinion that as the income of the inhabitants would be about £100,000,000, he would impose an assessment of ten per cent., and thus procure £10,000,000 for national purposes. To this measure Sir John gave his most determined hostility on account of ’its inquisitorial character; its necessary interference with the productiveness of other taxes; its tendency to raise the price of the necessaries of life; its injustice to the fund-holder, as well towards persons resident in Great Britain, but whose property lay in Ireland or the colonies, and who would thus be under the hard necessity of contributing to the English Treasury out of property not protected by English laws; and, lastly, he insisted on the encouragement which this odious tax would give to profuse expenditure and interminable hostilities. Sir John's speech was to no purpose, as the Bill was carried by a majority of 183 to 17; Mr. Fox and his followers not being present at the division for the reasons already stated.
G. M. S.
Wick, April 5, 1869
( To be continued. )