The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-04-23 00:00:00

IV THE EDITO.

laiving been rumoured in military eir.
cles, that the Commander in Chief had it in con.
temptation to make some arrangements conducive
to the abolishing the Highland costume in Scotch
regiments of the line—a costume sanctioned by
ancient custom, and cherished by modern enthusi-
asm, much alarm has been excited in the few corps
distinguished by this national uniform. Discus.
sion has been at many and various times provoked
on this subject ; but whether such an order would
eventually tend to the advantage or prejudice of
the service, has never yet been decided. Amen
the numerous peculiarities incident to different
countriesi there is, perhaps, none more singular
than the rooted partiality entertained by the High.
handers for the customs and habits, in every sense,
of their ancestors; and in entering upon a milita-
ry career, numbers of this hardy race have found
an uncommon satisfaction in retaining a badge of
their nation, so dear to them on many accounts.
Those who aro acquainted with the Scottish cha-
racter, must have observed the strong leadingttrait
of partiality to all that is national ; and among all
that is national, the Highlander esteems nought
more than the garb of his. native- hillsilirt is not
t
now to be questioned, any more than is to be
proved, that in all places and situations where the
calls of the country have put Scotch regiments
foremost, glory and never-fading laurels have en-
circled their swords. In the ranks of danger, and
in the hottest of the fight, the Highland Thistle
has ever appeared prominently conspicuous ; and
though the plumes of Caledonia's mountains have
oft been trodden on the plains, they revive with
fresh vigour, and still nod terror and defiance at
the common enemy. Beneath Scotch banners and
Scotch badges, our Highland corps have acquired
honourable distinctions so closely allied to those
• banners and those badges, that to remove them
were nut only dangerous, 'hut ititpulitic in a high
degree. There hare scarce ever been any instan-
ces of innovations of national costeme, that have
not invariably been followed by national disorder.
The early part of the reign of Charles 111. of
Spain was marked by a national cetivulsiun that
made him totter on his throne—a convulsion ex-
cited by his edict to abolish the long cloak mad
Spanish beaver: outrage succeeded outrage until
he recalled his mandate. In later times, and in
the history of our own country, many instances
present themselves where.atteMpts at alteration in
dress and customs have been attended with conse.
quences the most disastrous. But, waving this
consideration, and admitting the most tacit acqui—
escence to changes in customs, is it a wise measure,
supported by any good policy, to alionate from a
proud people those distinctions under which they
have made themselves formidable to every foreign
foe ? Is it prudent to annihilate those emblems
and those particularities that keep alive that inde-
finable spirit of enthusiasm so tine and so delicate
in the nature of its essence? Patient of fatigue,
and disheartened by no privation, the hardy High-
handers advance and fear not. In the toils of the
march the.). are as placid as they are furious in the
field ; and in every cog:lenient of notoriety they
share in the palm. France of old dreads the
plumes and plaids of Scotland ; and where those
troops have thus signalized themselves under these
national insignia, what thinking mind hut must
condemn the policy that, in obliterating the little {
vanities of a nation, may extinguiSh a fire which is
even fed by trifles.
No small murmur has been raised In Highland
corps by a late order, tending to strip the officers
of their epaulettes, worn time immemorial ; and
although satire has put itself forth, and pointed
out economy to soothe wounded vanity, perhaps
one of the must excusable foibles of the Hightail.
der is this very vanity in regard to appearance.
Under every consideration, it is deroutly to be
wished that this rumour may never be converted
into reality ; and to the present Commander-in.
Chief, who boasts his desceet from that country,
it is to be hoped it will be particularly obvious,
that invading the peculiarities of the Scotch nation
can be grounded upon no sound judgment--:can
be defended by no sound policy. While the
Highlanders fight as bey ever have done, let them
dress as they please; and while they dress the ene-
ow as well as they drds themselves, let their pre-
jtliees be as sacred as their fame is brilliant.
I am/ Sir, 4c.
DOUGLAS.

General Brownrigge, it is stated, is to succeed
General Hewitt, as Commander-in-Chief in the
East Indies ; and Sir G., Pacvusr is mentioned as
the intended successor of the veteran Sir G.
BECKWITII, in the military command in the West
Indies.
A German author having remarked that flies
never settled upon an artificial magnet in his study
though they did upon other iron articles, sug.
gents, that iron might be magnetised, and em.
played to preserve it (ruin being soiled by these
insects, and perhaps also fur other purposes.
Four Persons were lately found 41ead in a house
which they inhabited at Killoterant, county of
Waterford. From an attentive examination of
their bodiesi and the situation of the building, it
was ascertained that they had been suffocated by
she mephitic vapour arising from a►k adjoining lime.
kiln, and which had been driven by a particular
wind ton ards the house.

A young man in Bewcastle, Cumberland, who
was not on good terms with his wife, resolved a
few days ago to dispose of her by auction. Nut
being able to find a purchaser in the place where
they tasided„''she persuaded him to proceed to
Newcastle for this purpose. Accordingly they set
out, and this modern Dalilah laid her plan so well,
that immediately on his arrival, a press-gang con-
veyed him on board a frigate preparing to get
under weigh fora lung cruize.:
A tremendous hail-storin occurred on the 16th
ult. in the department of the Lower Alps, which
did very considerable damage. Many of tlke
hail-stones were as large as a goose's egg, and
weighed upwards of a quarter of a pound. Six
peasants were killed, many others wounded, and
the loss iu cattle, &c. is incalculable.