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Many writers, notably John Prebble, saw Culloden as the start of the process of clan breakdown which led to the Clearances. The alienation was clear to those writing at the time. On North Uist, Iain MacCodrum, bard to Lord MacDonald, raged
Look around you and see the gentry
with no pity for the poor creatures,
with no kindness to their kin ....
They have lost their respect
for every law and promise
Even more dispassionate observers could see the breakdown and its consequences. Rev Allan MacQueen wrote the entry for North Uist in the 1799 statistical account and, while necessarily tipping his hat to the wonders of British government, and the fact that his appointment as minister was dependent on the patronage of Lord MacDonald, he could still point out,
'Lord MacDonald is sole proprietor of this parish and his predecessors have been in possession of it for several centuries back .... Of old when the chieftains lived upon their own estates, and had no encouragement to send their younger sons as adventurers to a foreign land, they planted them about them upon their own properties, and gave them portions of lands for small yearly rents, which were continued with their descendants from one generation to another. At the expiration of one lease, another was granted nearly upon the same terms ....
The chieftain prided himself upon the number of his gentlemen so much that he looked upon himself as their common father. In their distress he relieved their wants, and when one of them died, he became the guardian of his children, and the executor of his will; which trust was in general executed with fidelity. On the other hand, when the chieftain was threatened with danger from the invasion or encroachments of his neighbours, his gentlemen flocked to his castle to assist in his deliberations, and to offer their services. If war was determined upon, they with their adherents, followed him to the field, to support his pretensions, and to share his fate. By this means the strongest attachment was established between them, partly on the ties of consanguinity, and partly on mutual services. This attachment continued unimpaired, till the rebellion in the year 1745, which, though attended with the happy consequence of civilizing the Highlanders, and making them good and loyal subjects, yet was attended with this disadvantage, that it weakened the attachment between the chieftains and their people; for since that period, the chieftains, from different motives, have withdrawn themselves from their estates, have become unacquainted with their people, whom they visit but seldom, are not so attentive to the ties of consanguinity, and are become less scrupulous in removing the tacksmen from their farms, if a higher offer is made than the possessors can afford to pay.'
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