The appearances have no dependence upon
choice: they cannot be summoned, detained, or recalled. The
impression is sudden, and the effect often painful.
By the term Second Sight, seems to be meant a mode of seeing,
superadded to that which Nature generally bestows. In the Earse it
is called Taisch; which signifies likewise a spectre, or a vision.
I know not, nor is it likely that the Highlanders ever examined,
whether by Taisch, used for Second Sight, they mean the power of
seeing, or the thing seen.
I do not find it to be true, as it is reported, that to the Second
Sight nothing is presented but phantoms of evil. Good seems to
have the same proportions in those visionary scenes, as it obtains
in real life: almost all remarkable events have evil for their
basis; and are either miseries incurred, or miseries escaped. Our
sense is so much stronger of what we suffer, than of what we enjoy,
that the ideas of pain predominate in almost every mind. What is
recollection but a revival of vexations, or history but a record of
wars, treasons, and calamities? Death, which is considered as the
greatest evil, happens to all. The greatest good, be it what it
will, is the lot but of a part.
That they should often see death is to be expected; because death
is an event frequent and important. But they see likewise more
pleasing incidents. A gentleman told me, that when he had once
gone far from his own Island, one of his labouring servants
predicted his return, and described the livery of his attendant,
which he had never worn at home; and which had been, without any
previous design, occasionally given him.
Our desire of information was keen, and our inquiry frequent. Mr.
Boswell's frankness and gaiety made every body communicative; and
we heard many tales of these airy shows, with more or less evidence
and distinctness.
It is the common talk of the Lowland Scots, that the notion of the
Second Sight is wearing away with other superstitions; and that its
reality is no longer supposed, but by the grossest people. How far
its prevalence ever extended, or what ground it has lost, I know
not. The Islanders of all degrees, whether of rank or
understanding, universally admit it, except the Ministers, who
universally deny it, and are suspected to deny it, in consequence
of a system, against conviction. One of them honestly told me,
that he came to Sky with a resolution not to believe it.
Strong reasons for incredulity will readily occur. This faculty of
seeing things out of sight is local, and commonly useless. It is a
breach of the common order of things, without any visible reason or
perceptible benefit. It is ascribed only to a people very little
enlightened; and among them, for the most part, to the mean and the
ignorant.
To the confidence of these objections it may be replied, that by
presuming to determine what is fit, and what is beneficial, they
presuppose more knowledge of the universal system than man has
attained; and therefore depend upon principles too complicated and
extensive for our comprehension; and that there can be no security
in the consequence, when the premises are not understood; that the
Second Sight is only wonderful because it is rare, for, considered
in itself, it involves no more difficulty than dreams, or perhaps
than the regular exercise of the cogitative faculty; that a general
opinion of communicative impulses, or visionary representations,
has prevailed in all ages and all nations; that particular
instances have been given, with such evidence, as neither Bacon nor
Bayle has been able to resist; that sudden impressions, which the
event has verified, have been felt by more than own or publish
them; that the Second Sight of the Hebrides implies only the local
frequency of a power, which is nowhere totally unknown; and that
where we are unable to decide by antecedent reason, we must be
content to yield to the force of testimony.
By pretension to Second Sight, no profit was ever sought or gained.
It is an involuntary affection, in which neither hope nor fear are
known to have any part. Those who profess to feel it, do not boast
of it as a privilege, nor are considered by others as
advantageously distinguished. They have no temptation to feign;
and their hearers have no motive to encourage the imposture.
To talk with any of these seers is not easy. There is one living
in Sky, with whom we would have gladly conversed; but he was very
gross and ignorant, and knew no English. The proportion in these
countries of the poor to the rich is such, that if we suppose the
quality to be accidental, it can very rarely happen to a man of
education; and yet on such men it has sometimes fallen. There is
now a Second Sighted gentleman in the Highlands, who complains of
the terrors to which he is exposed.
The foresight of the Seers is not always prescience; they are
impressed with images, of which the event only shews them the
meaning. They tell what they have seen to others, who are at that
time not more knowing than themselves, but may become at last very
adequate witnesses, by comparing the narrative with its
verification.
To collect sufficient testimonies for the satisfaction of the
publick, or of ourselves, would have required more time than we
could bestow. There is, against it, the seeming analogy of things
confusedly seen, and little understood, and for it, the indistinct
cry of national persuasion, which may be perhaps resolved at last
into prejudice and tradition. I never could advance my curiosity
to conviction; but came away at last only willing to believe.
