“THE HISTORY OF ST. KILDA.”

Abstract

THE authorship of The History of St. Kilda, published in 1764 by the Rev. Kenneth Macaulay, Lord Macaulay's great uncle, has, since Dr. Johnson and Boswell cast doubts on it, remained uncertain. Johnson, although he obviously suspected Macaulay of Whiggism, liked the book,' and when he met him at his manse at Cawdor, in 1773, complimented him on a very pretty piece of topography.2 He was, however, immediately convinced from his conversation that he was not the author: Mr. Johnson said there was a combination in it of which Macaulay was not capable, and he said to me privately, ' Crassus homo est' was Boswell's report made at the time.3 Macaulay's subsequent rhapsody against creeds and confessions, no doubt, strengthened Johnson's conviction, and he ended by regarding him with complete contempt.4 Boswell, who had previously met or corresponded with Macaulay, but had not, in 1773, read the book, agreed with Johnson that he was not the author.5 At this time neither Johnson nor Boswell had any positive evidence in support of their adverse opinion. When they were in Skye they were informed that Macaulay had only collected the materials for the book and that Dr. John Macpherson, minister of Sleat, was supposed to have arranged them and put them in language, with illustrations and reflections.6 Boswell does not