The Scottish Kilt and The Old Irish Dress

If a new Pseudodoria Epidemiou were to be written and certainly such a work is not altogether unrequired, even at the present enlightened era, the kilt delusion should have a prominent place in it. A correspondent SENEX in vol. v.,p. 167 of this journal, inquire whether "Scottish antiquaries have been able to discover a period when the kilt was not worn by Highlanders?"

Now, Scottish, as well as Irish, antiquaries have discovered so many very curious things that it really would not be safe to say, without fear of contradiction, what they have or have not discovered. But it scarely requires an antiquary to discover when the kilt was not worn by Highlanders. SENEX himself, judging by his nom de plume or, at any rate, that venerable and ubiquitous individual so generally known as the "oldest inhabitant", might almost remember the period in question. For, thought it might not be quite prudent to hint at such a matter in the purlious of the Canongate or the Candleriggs, the truth must be told here; and the simple fact is, that the kilt was invented by an English tailor, and the first person who wore it was an Englishman, so late as the year 1727. This may sound strange to some, but it is no less true; and, what is stranger still, Mr RRawlinson, the English gentleman by whose directions the kilt was invented, and who first wore this article of dress, so associated in our minds with deeds of martial daring, was a peace loving member of the Society of Friends!

The supposition of SENEX, that the old Irish and Highland costumes were identical, is, however, perfectly correct, as may be seen from the following authorities.

Lindsay, of Pitscottie, in his Chronicles, written about 1550, speaking of the Highlands, says they "are full of mountains, and verie rude and homlie kynd of peple dothe inhabite", which is called the Reid Shakis, or Wyld Scotes." They cloathed with one mantle, which one schirt fachioned affter the Irish manner, going bair-legged to the knie."