^> o^. %%^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 I.I u 2.0 IJJ. 1.25 1.4 1.6 <1 6" ► ^ <^ /w w ^;. /A ^\^'>'^ ^J> 'w o 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WeST MAIN STRE£T WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4503 ^r. L<>/ "^ O V^ ;\ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques ©1984 Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checl signifie 'A SUIVRE", ie symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s A des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque ie document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, ii est film6 d partir de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. ; : ^ 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 mm-^mmmmmm ]~ jw*^ >iAtTXW-i 't^. ■•.-■>. ' rvKn*"' ^MM » ' •"•r^mm '^^ #■ AN- 1 N CLU I R Y INTO THE •' CAUSES AND EFFECTS EMIGRATION FROM THE HIGHLANDS AND WESTERN ISLANDS OF SCOrtJjtS, WUH OBSEkYATrONS 4f 'f ,^ 1 . .. ¥ . f*> f./\ r' ,» ',\ T- « »•* 7 ,..^^>vV ^ '^ .-■*■■• O (.*Jk.yi -"V-i-C i. y.ui's.u'. ^. C*^^ "■>•■■" "T- ,» -M .'i. t.tt; V. o ■? •7 T ***'< '' -^ ' » r "r 1— V 'T rf '— T '^'■ r ' -.ft-:. '•"?■•: !T ■'OT •-a r; -" K-T. t;. ,1K ■:U'^ .irsxa>»«— r^s;iae^r ;h is; 'I- rVriK 7 r '.:• •-' * C ■jtr. V,tf avJf Us^'j i' luUK *!ii :; ii r^^vj^- I. r;Ko.J :'■ ■ 'k :c8i.: Vi ADVERTISEMENT.!. [i!\ J .7 n,QiJO£iJ i U.Uj'.U:J. '-y -v I I .' f . ii ii 1 TL HE motives which induced me to under- take the following Inquiry, and to lay it t)efore the Public, I think it unncceflary to Hate ; they are fufficiently unfolded in the courfe of the Inquiry itfelf. ' '^ ex: , . r a It may be deemed a fault that I have not been more circumflantial in illuilrating the caufes of Emigration ; but I found this impoflible, without entering into a de- tail of fads fotally inconiillent with the brevity which I propofed to myfelf, and the expedition which the cafe required. I aij -li I ■ 3! W 11 have however endeavoured to invefligate all , the pollible caufes of Emigration from the Highlands, though thefe caufes do not apply with equal propriety to every place. To afcertain accurately the number of Emigrants for any length of time, I found would take up too much time, if at all prac- ticable. Satisfying myfelf, therefore, with general flatements, I admitted fuch calcu- lations as could in a fhort time be procured from thofe who had the b'^^fl means of in- formation ', minute accuracy was nqt necef- fary to accomplifh my purpofe. ^^rf ♦ ^Q^if The Obfervations on the Means to be Employed for preventing the Emigration of the Highlanders, ^re offered to the con- lideration of the Highland proprietors, mere- ly as general fuggeftipns to lead to a filler inve {ligation, ,., .. , ^ . .-- v, ;: v J The interference of Government fome way or other is unquellionably in a high degree expedient. Upon this part of the 'tmmi^ fubjedt, however, I did not feel myfelf qualified to fpeak with precifion or confi- dence. The loofe hints which I have ven- tured to throw out are intended to point out, in what circumftances a perfon may be allowed to emigrate, rather than to recom* mend coercive meafures, or impofe indis- criminate reflraint ; for reftraint or prohi* bition, in fome inftances, would be no lefs cruel than impolitic, ijii.,/ ; •; ,. i;.) v The emigration of the Highlanders bcT. ing taken notice of by travellers, journal- ifts, furveyors, and others, I firft intended to write a fhort eilay, colled into one point of view all that lay fcattered in the different authors, and add to this what might have been neceffary ; but T foon found the eflay could not be fhort. I was then advifed to give it the fize of a volume, that it might anfwer, not merely the prefent emergency, but be a work of general utility. * >^ • This plan being difapproved by thofe iU im / whofe Judgment I efteemed better than my own, I found it advifable to comprefs it to its prcfent fhape, without intending any in- jury to its general ufefulnefs. . • - ; From this circumftance, however, the connexion of the whole may not appear io obvious, and the tranfitions may be more abrupt. rif)". . , . . ^.-, It may perhaps be prudent to conceal the difficulties which I have encountered, and the time wliich I have employed in bringing this Inquiry, whatever may be its merits, even to its prefent ftate. ,0-1 ^ • My acknowledgments are due to thofe gentlemen who politely took the trouble of fumifhing me with feveral important local fads, fome of which are given as notes. ' I feel myfelf particularly indebted to thofe who aflifled me with their advice and criticifms. My fenfe of obligation 1 have no language to exprefs. To reveal their Barnes would be deemed by them no fa- ■«as:-. Vll vour. They need not my praifes to efta- blifh their merit; but this teftimony of gra- titude and refpedl 1 could not withhold. If any thing that may be thought of^ fenlive or difrefpedful to any individual, or any order of men, has through negligence, hafle, or warmth, efcaped my notice, it was far from my intention ; if, however, my regard to truth has led me to ftate things that are not agreeable, I truft that, for the fake of truth, they fhall be judged with can- dour. I have no motives of felf-intereft, no par- ticular view to ferve ; I am conneded with no party ; I fear no righteous judgment ; I fpeak as I think. If I gain the approba- tion of thofe who are capable of judging with impartiality, I am fatisfied. "^■•i V -s * /Hi: ll 'JJ'QJ ' ' '■ ■ ■ I ■ _'--.■ _, ' "** ^ ^ ' ' ■ '.•^■» ';n-> ■»»■•;[■•! jV.. 'J T ' i'-Ci-f r '^ ' ■? ■ ■'•; '^''^f? "'!<^ iV;'(:X -' ' i ■ ■ . ■ .*•*,,„ , ■ " *" , ' ¥ ' ' ' ■ - ,. ■, .;r ■' ' \, •- M -* , /-(J,iJ-»*.rf Jl.j'{il*-1 Xlj-.-'/ •r 't:*:';; . C'^' > s^imeasnea '1 ' ■■ ''"^ AN- I N CLU I R Y INTO THE CAUSES OF EMIGRATION fROM THK HIGHLANDS, '^c. iN o nation has manifefled a flronger at- tachment to their country, than the High- landers have fhown to their rude mountains, mofTy wilds, and deep extending valleys. Yet it is a fad of public notoriety, that thoufands of them every year quit their country, and crofs the Atlantic, in quefl of other fettlements/ ' > Acquainted as I am with the force of their attachments, and delicacy of their ■MP feelings, in any point of national honour, I cannot help being flruck with the rapid and formidable progrefs of emigration, and giving it fome (hare of my attention. However powerful vanity and other paf- lions may be, they are not fufEcient to ac- count for the defertion of fuch multitudes as evacuate the Highlands. If thofe deluded Highlanders were all dri- ven to this neceflity by cruel ufage, they would really become objeds of compallion. But were they placed in fuch unhappy cir- cumftances, they would learn better to ap- preciate thofe advantages they fo capriciouf- Jy forego. For not denying that fome of them have no alternative but emigration, I maintain, that by far the greater number emigrate from the prevalence of paffion or caprice. To corred error, remove prejudice, and filence cavils, I fhall endeavour, //y?, To in- vefligate the caufes of emigration from the Highlands. Secondly, To ftate the efFeds which it produces upon, or its relation to the profperity of, the country. T^hirdly, In- quire what means, if any, fhould be em- ' I \ V Jsloyed to prevent it. Axidi, fourthly. Whe- ther it fhould be fubjeded to any reftraint, founded upon national policy, or regulated by any legiflative meafure. AIJ ^A\ Ml (! ! SECT. I. - ^ • ■f. < ., ! }, ^ /.'!'.;•£":*' J 'iM ^■'■^7 r; 0;z tbe Caufes of Emigration from the High- lands y l^c. §. 1 . 1 HE (ituation of the Highlands and Weftern Ifles of Scotland is favourable to emigration. The Highlands are moflly in- dented by arms of the fea, many of which extend forty or fifty miles into the coun- try ; hence many of the people live upon the fea-coafl, and derive a great fhare of their fuflenance from marine produdions. When the terrors of the main furround them, they cheer themfelves with a fong, and laugh at the tempeft. The whole Highlands are mountainous, cold, and ftormy. The people are often expofed to the inclemencies of the wea- ther. Hence they acquire a firmnefs, a vi- gour, and a boldnefs, which the inhabitants of countries remote from the fea, of fertile plains, and more genial climate, do not poflefs. When, therefore, a perfon unac- cuftomed to fuch hardftiips would ihrink at f ' I t Ji the thought of undertaking a long naviga- tion, the dangers of which he conceives fo tremendous, the Highlander deems it as nothing. And if he is led to confider his fituation in an unfavourable light, this adds a double energy to his intentions, and cuts fhort all his deliberations. § 2. The charadler of the Highlanders is adventurous. They are men of noble fpi- rit, quick difcernment, and extenfive views. Their curiofity is infatiable. Their inter- courfe with ftrangers makes them acquaint- ed with foreign countries, and leflens the terrors of diftance. They have a furprifing avidity to go abroad, and cut a figure in lands where their anceflors were formerly diftinguifhed, and where they themfelves expe6l to reap the fame good fortune. Their love of poetry and mufic, gives a refinement to their ideas beyond iheir fitu- ation, fills their heads with imprudent pro- jeds, inclines them to credulity, and gives their imagination a romantic caft. § 3. Their ideas of government may be mentioned, as conducing to emigration. • • • A llj ^-^w l;!i III Hi! t '2 From a multiplicity of caufes, they have been led to acquiefce in an abfolute but le- nient ariftocracy, not founded upon com- pulfion or feudal tenures, nor produdive of flavery, but approaching that fpecies of au-« thority which we know to have exifted in the patriarchal ages. Government thought proper to fubvert this authority, by the abolition of heredita- ry jurifdidions in 1748. From that period the power of the chiefs declined, and the attachment of their re- tainers loft its force. They now maintain only that afcendancy, which prudent policy fhould be careful to encourage. The attachment of the clans to their lead- ers was founded upon a principle which no enemy could vanquifh, no temptation im- pair. IndifToluble, like the ivy which en- twines the oak, they had the fame fortune, enjoyed the ferenity of funfhine, or braved the tempefts together. So long as this prin-t ciple of union retained its energy, the idea of emigration had no room to exift : But being at firft undermined, and ultimately extinguifhed by the progrefs of fociety, th^ tbrtunes of the chiefs, and policy of govern- ment, the Highlander, releafed from its in- fluence, conceived a diflike to his country, loll his adivity, became dilheartened, and felt himfe If injured, becaufe no longer flat- tered, carefled, and feafled. Not attraded by the fame force, not influenced by the fame allurements, he leaves his country with lefs reludance, and is in fome mea- fure indifferent whether he fhall ever re- turn. § 4. The next objedl of inveftigation is the ftate of the population. If the Highlands contain more people than they can fubfifl or employ, it is evident- ly necellary that the fuperfluous immbers fhould betake themfelves to fome other place, where they may procure the means of fubfiflence, and find employment. In fome valleys the population is fo ex- cellive, that it is a queftion with many dif- cerning ];?ople, how the one half of the in- habitants could fubfifl, though they fhould have the land for nothing *. Thofe who * In lome fpots with which 1 am acquainted, there may be from ten to twelve inhabitants, in fome place? • • • ■ A nij "ill !! m\ i 1 II I Ik 8 would be tenants are fo numerous, and the land fit for cultivation fo fcanty, that all cannot befatisfied. The difappointed perfon, feeling himfelf injured, conden^ns the land- lord, and feeks a happy relief in America. The tradefmen are in the fame predicament ; they cannot be all equally well employed, becaufe they are not equally deferving, becaufe there are too many of them, and becaufe cuftomers are too few. They curfe their country, and make hafte to abandon That the Highlands are more populous now than they were a hundred years ago, more, to an acre of arable land. Moft of them have no trade. They apparently live by the produce of the place j and making every allowance for the fcantinefs of the fare, their patience of hunger, and trifling importation of necefl'aries, it is to me inexplicable how they fubfifl. To equipoife population, they fpread themfelves begging^ For inftance, the higher parts of Invexnefsfhire in fum- mcr pour in upon the counties of Perth and Angus, fo that I have feen, in feafons of fcarcity, twenty or thirty ferved at one door, in one day, confiding moftly of wo- men and children. The prevalence of beggary in the Highlands, requires attention, if it be caufed by a defeiSt of econopiy,. or arifes from exceflive population* and are A ill rapidly increafmg in populfi-r tion, few will deny *. ■. But while this is admitted, I maintain that they pollcis refoarces which might fup-» * Emigration may partly be the caufe of this rapid increafe. Hume is of opinion, that as numbers are dimi- nifhed, the remainder being ph^ced in circumftances more favourable to procreation, multiply in proportion to the facility with which food can be procured. EfTay XI. Vol, i. p. 400. on Population of Ancient Nations. In the Highlands, they marry very early, wiiich tends to confirm Hume's remark with regard to them. A gen- tleman, whofc veracity is unqueftionable, communicates to me by letter a remarkable inftance of multiplication, known to himfelf, which puts the fa£l beyond a doubt. •* The third caufe, (fays this gentleman) proceeds from the in- conceivable and rapid increafe of population in the High- lands, an inilance of which I will give you, as confiftent with my own knowledge. " In 1 790, a certain place on this weft coaft contain- ed 1900 fouls, of whom 500 emigrated to America that fame year. In 1801, a cenfus was taken, and the fame fpot contained 1967. From this (continues this judici- ous gentleman), it will plainly appear, that the High- lands cannot fupport its increafe of inhabitants, without trade and manufadtures." He adds a N. B. "The place I mentioned above furniOied 87 men for the army and navy, and not a fingle ftranger fettled in it,'' y iV 10 ^ !■! :ll|li m W ill ply the increafe, without the abfolute ne- ceflity of emigration. Society in the Highlands has greatly changed within the above mentioned period. Manners have become more favourable to the arts of peace ; properf' of all kinds has increafed in value, and is better fecur- ed ; induftry more encouraged, and more flour ifhing ; villages are here a:nd there built ; manufactures, fifheries, and com- merce, have arifen almofl entirely within thefe fifty years ; money is at leafl lix times more abundant, and the means of fubfift- ence are more eafily procured ; though a great deal reuiains to be done. The introdudion and cultivation of ve- getable food *, attention to pafturage, im- • In the Highlands, before the ufe of vegetable food to any extent, they often had fevere trials. Though they generally took but one meal a-day, and lived with afto- nifhing abftinence in the fummer feafon, they fold their cattle (for they had no money) for meal. Often meal could not be got ; then having bled their cattle, they bfiked their blood into cakes, and eat it with milk, and ufed many othei' Ihifts to prevent downright ftarratiop. If a man were now to' do thefe things, he would either be laughed at or defpifed. II provement of cattle, and promotion of in- duflry, have completely removed lb me enor- mous calamities formerly experienced. But it is faid that the Highlands are not now fo full of people as they were in ancient times, perhaps two or three centuries ago. If we go with thofe who adopt this opinion, then it follows that the population does not require any outlet, becaufe the country has refources to maintain increafing numbers, which it did not pofTefs at any period of its hiftory with which we are acquainted. And if the people did not emigrate then, or die in greater proportion, they fhould not now be obliged to provide for themfelves abroad. It is generally aflerted, that ancient na- tions were more populous than modern. Be this as it may with regard to other countries, I apprehend it cannot apply to the Highlands ; for though we have no au- thentic records upon which to form a deci- five judgment, we may argue from proba- bility. * I cannot conceive, if the people were more numerous than at prefent, how they goujd fubfifl, even admitting the full influ- II 1 1,1 ■'! ■ i:'l! Ml ence of their iinfettlcd mode of life, and their perpetual wars and diflenfions. § 5. The arguments for the ancient po- pulation are thefe * : " That more men were brought to the '* field in the contefts of independence or ** retaliation : That prodigious numbers of ** clients and followers formed the train of " the chief, in peace and war, by no means " confiftent with a paucity of inhabitants : ** That it required more than the force of '* the King to reduce to fubmiflion, one ob- ** flinate, rebellious, and turbulent chief: ** That the mountaineers and iflanders of- ten repelled the invalions of potent and difciplined troops, which it is fuppofed they could not do now; and that the ground was cultivated to a greater extent ; for that vefliges of houfes and tillage may ** here and there be difcovered, among our *' mountains, concerning the date of which ** we have hardly any tradition.** Thefe arguments feem formidable at firfl fight, but they are only fo in appearance. * See Dr. Smith's Agricultural Survey of Argyllfliirc, p. 291, 202, ^93. ti ti i< i< 4i I •ft «3 § 6. In old times, the principal occupa- tion of the people was war, or procuring the means of life. All the males of a cer- tain age were at the difpofal of the chief, and attended him, when he chofe to de- mand their fervice. - But if a chief of the firft rank in our days were to revert to former cuftoms, and fum- mon his vafllils and kindred to attend him, I think it may be allowed by fair computa- tion, that his court would be more crowd- ed than any recorded in the moft fplendidii era of chivalry. I dare fay more than thirty or forty thou- fand Highlanders are fcattered among our troops, by fea and land, befides four or five thoufand volunteers ; and yet the bufi- nefs of the country is not materially retard- ed. But if all the males fit for adive fer- vice were called out, they would form fuch an army of Highlanders, as, I am confident, never appeared in the field during the moft arduous and luminous periods of Caledonian hiftory. § 7. It is no wonder that a king, who had little more than the t tie, fettered by 14 I' 'A forms, encompafled by envious, jealous, and arrogant barons, fliould not, without difficulty and expence, reduce a turbu- lent chief, little fliort of royalty himlelf, abetted by the fadioas and dircontented ; fupported by a numerous and faithful clan ; intrenched behind his mountains and marfhes ; ifolated in pathlefs forefts, or de- fended by deep and dreary defiles, and tu- multuous torrents, of frightful rapidity, and irrefiflible violence *. m, > I il : i • The power of the Scottifli monarchs was extremely Hmltcd before the acceflion to the throne of England. Till the reign of Malcolm III. they were only military commanders. In peace they fixcicifcd little more than nominal authority. About the beginning of the fifteenth century, when focicty afllimcd a more regular and civi- lized form, in imitation of other monarchs, cfpecially the French, they employed every expedient, which a fcnfe of their own infignifjcance and meafures of prudent policy could fuggeft, to aflcrt the royal prerogative, abtidge the power, and humble the infolence of the nobles. Lawa had no influence where they could be either evaded by a fum of money, refifted by a force which they could not fubduc, or where the execution of them was committed to thofe moft guilty of tranfgrefling them. Even after the introdudlion of what is commonly call- ed the feudal fyftem into the low country, the barons i^ill I 15 J 8. The caufes which favoured the chiefs in maintaining what they confidered as their continued rcfra£lory, but as it fcrved their purpofe, and were cither engaged in hodilities with their fovcreignj or with i)nc another. The comnion expedient employed by the unfortunate Stuarts was to divide and conquer them. - But when the crown of England was added to that of Seotland, the monarchs acquired power and fplendour, and didance made them more rcfpcdlcd and feared, be- caufe more difficult of accefs. The throne being the natural fountain of rewards and honours, the Scottifli nobility faw the necefllty of court- ing its favour, left they ftiould be fupplanted or excluded by the Englilh, whom they ftill beheld with a jealous eye. From this period the nobility of Scotland began to de- cline in power. What 1 have faid then regarding the dif- ficulty of humbling or conciliating the Highland chiefs, when they chofe to diflent, is founded upon fadt. Nor does the power of the Lord of the Ifles, the ex- tent of his territories, and the number of his forces, over- throw our argument. The circumftances which contri- buted to eflablifli his authority and independence arc known to thofe who have turned their attention to the hiftory of the Hebrides during the fovereignty, and fubfe- quent to the expulfion of the Danes. Tlie population of thefe illes is more than 40,000, and can we fuppofe, that in an age of poverty, oppreflion, and inceffant warfare, they contained more people than in an age of peace, fc- curity, freedom, and affluence ? 4 1 1 1 ■ ■:! ' 4 rii! iiii Ilii ';li !i M ! ■Jl! ill i6 independence and privileges, in oppofitlon to their fovereigns, co-operated in their de- fence againft foreign invafions. The fitua- tion of the Highlands, the native valour, proportioned union and numbers of the in- habitants, fufficiently account for the ex- tent of their enrerprifes and vigour of their refinance, without proving that they were more populous than at prefent. A few re- folute men, like the heroes of Thermopy- lae, could defend fome pafles in the High- lands againfl tboufands *. § 9. Some faint traces of cultivation may be found among our higher grounds. They make nothing for the ancient populoufnefs of the Highlands ; they are evidently the rude and fimple experiments of agricul- ture. The plains were then covered with fo- refts, and inacceihble to the fpade. The htights were chofen for defence againfl fudden incurfions or unexpedled furprifes ; retreats for the old men, women, children, * See Marfliall Saxe, Reveries or Mcmohs upon the Art of War, chap. iii. p. 12Z' chap. iv. p. 123. and cattle, in time of danger ; and they ■ were alfo confecrated to the purpofes of re- ligion, as the names of fome of them ftill import. In all Celtic countries, the priefts, their wives, and pupils, occupied the lands adjoining the temple, and there redded. It is in general around the ruins of duns or fortrefles, or the rude circles of idolatry and fuperftition, any marks of culture can be difcovered* The neglected flati of the heights, and prefent cultivation of the low grounds, favour our argument ; for as the people multiplied, and fecurity was obtain- ed, they quitted the eminences, and clear- ed the ground below* - Thefe arguments have therefoi*e more {how than fubflance ; they deflroy them- felves. An unfettled Hate of fociety is un- friendly to population, as it is fubverfive of the fociai affedlicns *. M 'rf- ♦V^ - w ~i * ** But who can perfuade himfelf, that thofe favage times, when the}' fcwcd and reaped bat little ; when they had no other choice but that of the deftru£live profeflion of arms ; nf a drowfy indolence, no lefs dcftrudlive 4 when every petcy nation v"! torn to pieces either by pri- vate revenge and fa(^ions within, or by wars with their * i8 ; The progrefs of population fince the 1755 may be feen from the following ftace- ment, extraded out of the Statiflical Ac- count of Scotland : ^> i.. .,.,. ,, f i liii. i'l.'ii i , . ■■"■.- f- ':-. " .. i • Differ- All Stotland. 1755- 171)0-98. Argyllrtifre, »7oS- 1790-98. Increafe. 63.291 76,101 n.Sio ln\^niefs, 64,656 74.979 10,323 • ;,..-:•> .4] fii • ; ■ Gaithnels, ia,ai5 24,802 2,.s87 - '. ■ ''■-■'? lis, i'V?-! f^erth, , 118,903 ^>3.274 14,371 * • r - :iofs, * ' 42,493 5o,r46 7.65 ^ «., ■>,!.t-.;;'/<-' ^;^.>-i '■ Stirling, 35.813 46,663 7.850 ■ "! ,. I' , ... ■ »• • Sutherland, Total, 20.774 22,961 2,187 1,265.380 p,5»6,492 25l,ll2 37 1. '45 428,926 157.781 ••-it > )■ neiglibours without ; when they had no other fubfiftence but rapine, and no other ramparts but wide frontiers laid wade J — who, I fay, can believe fuch a ftate as this more favourable to the propagation of the human fpecies, than that wherein mens goods and perfons are in full fecurt* , ty ? wherein the fields are covered with labourers, and their cities, rich and numerous, flourifh in tranquillity ; wherein the people are left to breathe during long inter- vals of peace ; and there is never more than a fmall part of the inhabitants to which war is deftrufitive ; and laft- ly, wherein commerce, manufadturcs, and the arts, offer fo many refources, and fecond fo well that national prch- penGty to increafe, and multiply, which nothing but the fear of indigence can check- or reftrain ?" See Mallet's 'Northern Antiquities, chap. ix. p. 232, 233. ■■ ■--. • . . 1 •1 a 19 I have taken thofe counties only which compofe moft of what we now call the Highlands, and are mod affcded by emi- gration. It cannot be fuppofed that the population of thefe countic^ was fcrupu- loully taken, but it cannot be very far from the truth. , : . ■,;/'. ) r § I o. The emigration of the Highlanders is fuppofed alfo to arife from the oppref- fion, exadions, or harfh treatment of fupe- riors. ■A .■^'fJ'Vil j:V» But T defy any man to point out in the Highlands even a folitary inflance of open and avowed violence capable of driv- ing any innocent perfon from bis country. What may have been done when fupe- riors had fupreme authority in their own hands, I am not called upon to flate ; but they are now too enlightened to attempt any undifguifed violation of thofe laws of which they confider themfelves the guar- dians. The inferiors are too refolute to fubmit to any encroachment upon thofe rights which they know as their own, and which they prize toO highly to relipqiiifh*. The avenues of juftice are cleared of that • • Blj 20 \l'\ m> rubbifh, and thofe obftacles with which no- tions long ago exploded have choked it. The meaneft individual may call the high- eft to account. A perfon may be removed, but he will not fubmit to violence or dif- grace, without refenting, complaining, or fu* ing for redrefs. I have heard fome inftances long ago, where violence was attempted by fuperiors, and where perhaps juftice found her felf clogged or overpowered by partiality, but the injured, inftead of flying, kept their ground, boldly entered the lifts, appealed to the laws of their country, and though beg- gared by the law's delay, were proud to come ofFvidorious. Examples of this kind occurred, when old ideas of domination pre- vailed, and the fathers w^re provoked by the rebellion of thofe whom they confider- ed their children, and over whom they thought they had Roman authority ; but lince the expanlion of religious knowledge and of liberal arts, thefe adts of violence have vaniftied ; and ftiould they ftill ap- pear, fo far, in my opinion, from caufing emigration, they would be the means of preventing it j for in a free bom mind, of I 21 the Celtic caft, there is fome quality that glories to llruggle and overcome adverfity. But where oppreiTioix prevails for any length of time, it has mofl extraordinary efFedls upon human nature ; it degrades the mind, deprives it of vigour, enervates its courage, and debilitates every noble and manly quality. The foul makes no effort to aflert its freedom, unlefs moved by fome extraordinary impulfe. Dignity of fenti- ment, freedom of expreflion, and a fpirit of enterprife, are annihilated ; the very capa- city for exertion is much weakened, be- caufe the individual is not allowed to adl or think for himfelf, therefore is as little confcious of the operations of his foul as a Pruffian foldier or a common mufician *. Poverty and cppreflion dwell together, though the former is not always a proof of the latter. Where oppreilion prevails, the people are always ragged, their counte- nances are dejeded and fullen, as in the ecclefiallical ftates of Germany ; their gait ferious, and Heps flaw. Ignorant and mi- * See Mcore's Travels in Germany. ? BUJ .'■M* ".'. fil, -■^^XJ it i '< :'l ' .! Ii:l 111 I !• '■ i ?!!' ; ■ 1 III ' ferable in this life, they are refigned, and commit their faith, their hopes, their whole happinefs to the next *. Are people in fuch circumflances fit for long voyages, for un- certain cUmates ? They would {hrink at the thought. They attach themfelves more and more to that very country, where they fuf- fer every indignity, where indeed the brutes are far fuperior to them in poipt of tempo- ral advantages. "We hear therefore of few emigrations from defpotic countries. I remember only the emigration of the Coflacs from Poland in 1637, - V — — ,..- , — It is among the Scythians of ancient, and Tartars f of modern times, that we difco- ver a migrating roving fpirit, becaufe they are accuitomed to enjoy a freedom of choice that knows few or no reftraints. The inhabitants of the defpotic countries of Europe and Afia bear their chains in tranquillity, becaufe defpotifm has made them afraid to think. It would have been * This is vifible in Popiih and Mahometan countries, f See I^ontefquieu's Spirit of Laws, on the Inv^fioas pf Afia. .- : •' "!■ J.I «■< ,#■ ftTWWuJi < 23 « flrange phenomenon to hear of colonies emigrating from the defpotic provinces of Spain, Italy, or Germany. ;• t v -^ '' '^^'^ i The emigration of the Highlanders, then, fo far from indicating oppreffion, in my opinion evinces a large iliare of civil and rehgious advantages ; and if it does not ma- nifeft the leniency, it does not eftabUfli the feverity of domeflic economy. §11. Look to the people of the High- lands, they prefent the appearance of poli- tical happinefs. They are daily improving in the arts of life. The ground is tolerably well cultivated, w^here it admits cultivation. In fome places the houfes are laying afide their rude and favage form, and beginning to be built of flone and lime. The pea- fants are better fed and better clad than when there was no emigration, and in fin- ery they rival their mafters. Does this a- rife from oppreffion ? Dancing fchools are found in every inn. Urbanity and graceful manners are ftudied. Upon all public oc- calions, you behold the face of freedom, the gaiety of competence, and the dignity of independence. Are thefe the fruits of op- B iiy u V ■ r I - »u predion, or of induflry arid increafing pro* Iperity ? '':'• '■'•' "' •■• '''^0tmia^^ Among the gloomy fcenes of Caledonia, one is aftoniflied to meet fuch an air of cheerfulnefs, apparently natural. In a coun-» try where there is no proportion betwixt the fertile foil and barren rocks, where the Climate is fo variable and uncertain, the winter fo fevere, and frofts fo deleterious ; where importation is fo difficult and ex- penfive, and where it requires immenfe toil to raife crops and procure the neceffaries of life, happinefs is found. ' >-- - — No country upon the face of the earth has rifen fo rapidly in the fcale of improve- ment, nor attained eminence through fuch difficulties. In the fpace of fifty years, the value of property has arifen to a pitch un- exampled in the hiftory of any mountain- ous country *. The price of labour has ,,,11.1 I ■■ — I l|l I ■ .1 I ■- ' I '■ ■ I K «'■ ■■I — . Wi.l1l ■| H |BiM^— — ■ » Wi m ill I !■ * A gentleman of refpeft ability and cxtenfive local knowledge, of obliging manners and patriotic zeal, waa good enougii to furnifh me with an example of this. The lands of Glencarnock, lying in the parifli of Balquhidder, were bought by the Earl of Moray in 1764 at 3800I. At Whitfunday 1801 they were fet at above ^ool. of • IP . kept pace with it. Money has increafed in proportion, and, comparatively fpeaking, affluence fhines now, where formerly pe- • nury and forrow hung their heads in dark- nefs. . } 12. The Highlands are fingularly fa* voured by public inftitutions, calculated to promote their happinefs, encourage induf- try, commerce, and arts, and remove thofe obftacles which are thrown in 'the way of improvement. »: w; . «> >. ,ri v » - * 'To gain this end, vaft fums of money are yearly expended. The King allots loool, every year to reform and enlighten them, A fociety, of increafing refources and inde-. fatigable perfeverance, is inftituted to cot operate with the royal bounty, in difFufing (lUL yearly rent, and not a fhilling expended by the proprie- tor upon improvements. . ., The farm of Inverncnty, in the fame parifh, was feu- cd by the Duke of Athole in 1736 to Donald M'Lcrati at the agreed price of 300 merks Scots. It was fold at a public fale in 1794 for 3620I. Sterling, and not a fhil- ling laid out upon improvement. Many fuch inftanccs might be quoted. Let thele fiiffice. / ;^'^^;- ,.:U'-ii- 'v'^IV/ 11 26 the ineflimable bleflings of religion. Ano- ther fociety, which well deferves its name, is eftablifhed, to difpel the darknefs of an- cient prejudices, to roufe the genius of in- duflry, to encourage, by premiums, medals, and honourable diftindions, eveiy perfon who excels in any thing which meets their wifhes, and comprifes their objed. Any' new dilbovery or improvement receives a fuitable mark of honour. .... ., ,^ , Befides thefe, there is a Board of Agri- culture, whofe obje6t comprehends the Highlands, and a fociety for improving the lUiierics. ••' ■,"• i-.^ ' «• >••", '■■•r. . • ' f !• '» t,-if.., V •>■->• -f- V A great many of our proprietors are members of thofe focieties, and concerned in thofe inftitutions. Can we harbour the thought, that men, who are capable of fuch patriotic exertions, ihould adt fo inconfifl- ently, as the charge of oppreffionwould lead lis to believe ? Would they drive from their country thofe very people whofe interefls they ftudy to promote ? Whether the mea- fures adopted in conformity with enlarged ideas, may not have this tendency, will ap^ pear in the fequel. When the caufes of any 27 thing are given, let them be fairly tried and compared with the efFeds afcribed to them, as is ufual in phyfical refearches. Let proper difcriminations be made, and let not the fault of one fall upon the whole. If you except Swiflerland and the Valais before the French revolution, I defy the renown- ed kingdoms of Europe to adduce one pro- vince that competes with the Highlands in point of national felicity. If they have not the luxuries of life, they want their evils. If they have not the refinements of arts, they have the innocence of fimplicity, the glory of moral rcditude, and the purity of unafFeded piety *. - 'i ^'■'iJ * O fortunatos nimium, fua fi bona norint, Agricolie I &c. ■I .'., \y ■i^ O happy, if he knew his happy ftate. The fwain, who, free from bufinefs and debate, Receives his eafy food from nature's hand, And jull returns pf cultivated land ! , . , No palace with a lofty gate he wants, T' admit the tide of early vifitants ; • But eafy quiet, a fepure retreat, r, ■ A harmlefs life, that knows not ho\y to cheat, With home-bred plenty, the rich owner blcftj, And rural pleafures crown his happinefs. I I ill (I,: ri 38 , . J 13. I believe the prevailing opinion refpeding the oppreflion or grievances of the Highlands, is owing in fome meafure to thofe who left them difcontented, to thofe who vifited them in the fame mood, or to thofe who are not fufficiently acquainted with their nature and charadter. - Of the circiimftances that may have mif- led the judgment of the lad defcription of pcrfons, I will fpeak a few words. It may have been biafTed by education. If they have been educated very delicately, they were not able to bear the cold and wet, the hunger and fatigue of the Highland wilds. If they have been bred in the fouth, where in general they know as much of the High- lands as they do of Samoeide, where, how- ever, they conceived them poor, favage, and ignorant, under the influence of fuch pre- UnvexM with quarrels, undifturl-'cl v/ith nolfe, The country-king his own realm ewjoys j Cool grots and living lakes, the flow'ry pride Of meads, and dreams that through the valley glide. And fhady groves, that eafy fleep invite. And after toilforae days, a foft repofe at night. ' - \_ '.: ' Dryden's Ftrg.U. 'I'' ,» judlces, they really came to vifit the land of novelty like a perfon hood-winked *. § 14. Thofe accounts of mifery and di- ftrefs may have arifen from inattention 10 the progrcfs of fociety in the Highlands. If people have taken it into their heads that the Highlands have continued flationary, what can be expeded from fuch a ftraiige belief but as flrange a relation ! Let us fuppofe then that the miftake arifes from other fources. The external appearance of the Highlanders may lead flrangcrs to form unfavourable conclufions. They hear a lan- guage which they do not under ftand ; they fee modes of life they never faw before ; every thing around them differs from what * And hence their accounts refemble Butlcr*s dcfcrip- t'lon of Fame: i""" About her neck a packet mail Fraught with advice, fome frelh, fome ftale, •'* • Of men that walk'd when they were dead. And cows of monfters brought to bed ; Of hailftones big as pullets eggs, And puppies whelp'd with^twice two legs j A blazing ftar feen in the weft By fix or fcven men at leaft. ,ri:-^\ j'l '. .'.* Vf '.i ..(■ vh li!' !,i m I '.II li;i m II! :i they conceive to be freedom and conipe- tency." ' ' * ^ . -^ ■ - - ■ - They meet the dufky hamlet, conftrud- ed of rude materials, the light making its way in at one aperture, and the fmoke fly- ing out at another, or both contending for the fame paflage ; the rank, grafs whiftles on the roof, and the aged mofs covers the unpolifhed walls. - - " - r ^ r ? The iine of cul'dvation is extremely li- mited. Here a patch of oats, there of bar- ley and potatoes. Rocks of gigantic lize, woods, brakes, mofs, fkirt tne whole ; and a half^choked rill bubbks by. - ' . r < A few green paflures ; a flock of (heep fcattered here and there ; u herd of cattle lowing along the vale, gazing at the ftran- ger ; a fliepherd whiftHng on the airy pre- cipice, which threatens his cot ; thefe un- nfual fights ilrike the wary traveller with allomfhment, and make him forget he is in the land of cakes and liberty ; he takes out his diary, and writes down. Who can live here ? Perhaps he never before faw a mountain higher than the fleeple of St* Paul or St. Andrews. His father, his tutor, 3i or his curioiity, in an evil hour introduced him into the Grampians, which receive him, it feems, with very little courtefy, and he will treat them in return with very little referve *. ■; t -r. !,'..., ...^,,.;»,.,.^... : Thefe are fcenes calculated to infpire me- b.ncholy, and fuperinduce a belief that no- thing but wretchednefs would or could re- fide in regions of fnch horror and defo- lation. Yet in thefe I often heard the voice of melody echoing along the rocks, and la- bour cheered by a fong. ■ . ; i j v .!••; , The thinking and philofophic traveller would accordingly confole himfelf, by re- flecting that mountainous places are in all a?es and countries the feat of freedom ; thit tyranny and oppreflion are baniflied * An Englifh gentleman taking a tour, came to CriefT; from Crie^> advancing north by Glenalmond, he had the P'-udence to fend his fervanc jefore to reconnoitre. The fervant returned, and made an unfavourable report- Tlie gentleman, however, drove on, till he arrived at the fouth d.nd of Glenilmond. " Th's," fayc the firft perfon that met him, " is the entrance, the porch of the Highlands." And what," fays he, " mult the palace be^ if this be the porch ?" He ftopt, and thought he had feen enough. (( (t ■•i li '' ' 'iiii^iiijl I 'i'll ' .rrfll 'l 'I.-'. ;i ill { ■ i from fuch lofty and barren trads ; and hence a thoufand agiv'^eable emotions and aflbciations would arife in his mind. >. § 15. The emigration of the Highlanders is occafioned partly by the progrefs of fociety and manners, and partly by the general lyf- tem of improvement, which is conceived befl adapted to the nature of the Highlands. - To keep pace with the progrefs of im- provement in the fouth, many facrifices mufl be made, and many fchemes muft be devifed, which require all the invention of ingenuity, and all the economy of pru- dence. """^ tr.ohlO- '/.■.,-.;-I:v; ^ Hence it is ncceiSry to deprive fome perfons of their polTeffions, to make room for others more induftrious or more fortu** nate. .:_ _ < The landlord, aduated by a principle of benevolence, finds it expedient to difcou- rage every fpecies of idlenefs, therefore re- moves the lazy and the indolent, to encou- rage the adive and. the induftrious. The perfons removed may get another fituation, intended to call their talents to adion, to try their temDcr, fuit their connedlons, or (lifcover the foi^.rce of their misfortune*. But as all men have a good opinion of their own talents, and cenfure what they diflike, this judicious condud excites re- fentment, is taxed with feverity, and load- ed with opprobrium. ,, . , . .. .,, It is refolved to continue the rupture, and quit the eflate. § 1 6. It may be necefTary alfo td make new arrangements correfponding with the r iture of the foil, litaation, and climate^ and conformable to the times. Novelties are expofed to general obferva- tion. The motives which introduced them, and the obied they have in view, are fel- dom conftrued in a favourable light, unlefs they arife from our own fuggeftions, or ob- vioufly appear for our own intereft. r . A)' unprovements are at lirfl new, and are i • v ^d and appretiated in proportion * " TJiis, inftead of being an injury, is the greuteft good that can be done to many a poor tenant, who will rather toil on ihuggling wiih advcrfity, than quit what he cannot enjoy." Sec Gentleman Farmer, by Lord Kaiui'^s^ chap. xiv. p. 305, 306. C H;! Ir:' I '! 34 . as their utility is perceived, and according" to the channels through \vhich they come. ' The landlord has thefe prejudices to en- counter, however fatal the confequences. He enlarges his farms, to make way for a mode of agriculture or paflurage, which he conceives more advantageous. He removes the former occupants, and admits a perfon of more underflanding, and more efficient capital ; he make^ orovifion for thofe who may be difpoflelk , by offering them a fmall tenement ; but pride and irritation fcorn to accept his provifion. Emigration is then the fole remedy. § 17. Grazing requires the fame manage- ment, and produces the fame effedt. Attention to paflure, judicibufly conduc- ed, is one of the happy improvements of our day, and what has contributed to raife the Highlands to that rank which they hold in the Empire ; for till this fyftem was a- dopted, our hills were little better than ufe- ' lefs waftes to the owners and the public ; they had fcarcely any value, as may be feen, by comparing the divifion of land intO' I la ! iii ii Klerks, or valued rents, in grazing and a- gricultural diflrids. Our mountains and hills are by nature deftined for the reception of the beads of the field, and the fowls of heaven. And though our valleys are in general not un- fertile, nor unfit for cultivation, their re- turns would be fo inadequate, and, from many caufes, fo precarious, that the fyf- tem of raifing large crops of corn is in many places wifely abandoned for that of grazing. This practice redounds to the immediate interefb of the proprietor, and ultimately tends to promote the public good. Becaufe, if the valleys and hills are enabled to pay a greater rent, they not only put more mo- ney in circulation, but augment the com- mon ilock. If, however, the provifions made for thofe who are difpofTelTed , dif- pleafe, or are deemed inadequate by them, they leave the country, though thefe pro- vifions better fuited their limited capitals, and though they had an opportunity of em- ploying themfelves more profitably in the fervice of their landlords. c ij If i:'J 36 This plan of improvement has put the whole Highlands into commotion. They who are deprived of thofe poflcffions to which they thought they had a fort of he- reditary right, feel a reludance in fettling any where elfe, conceive a difguft at their country, and therefore prefer leaving it. Or if they do not ad w4th this perverfity, they offer for other farms ; and in thefe • cafes, being feldom maflers of prudence, while they are under the dominion of paf- fion, they run the hazard of ruining them- felves by their extravagance. This revolution of farms and mailers increafes ^ ■" duration, and like a Hone thrown intc a pool, one ettate moved, moves perhaps hundreds a- round, and by necefllir}' confequence, obliges many to leave their country ; and the con- nedion once broken, they care not where they go. § 1 8. The next objed of conHderation, is the mode of management, clofely conneded with, and indeed anticipated, in fome re- fped, in the preceding obfervations. But it may be confidered in another point of view. 37 In fiich an extent of country, the ma- nagement of fo many individuals, of differ- ent difpofitions, educations, and principles, cannot be expeded to be faultlci's. The le- niency, not to fay the merciful partiality of fuperiors, has produced fome inconvenien- cies, tending to infpire difgufl, andof courfe to dcfblate the country ; for he that is in bad humour, or ill plcafed with his neighbour and mailer, and thinks he has nothing to defend himfelf and property but law bur- rows, fees no beauty around him, feels no attradion, and in this fever of anxiety and irafcibility, takes to flight. ' ' § 19. The mode of fetting land by roup diredly caufes emigration, and is liable to a thoufand exceptions. . This pradice was adopted in the infan- cy of experiments, in the firfl ftages of rent-rifing, and except w^here this is Hill the cafe, it is w^ifely left off. * I believe it owed its origin to policy. It was not eafy for a proprietor to know the real value of his land, without knowing the opinion entertained of it by the occu- piers themfelves. This fcheme w^ould difr -- c iij t 3» m: mi clofe the fecret, though not accurately ; foe 1 do not loo^ upon roups of any kmd as the b it me. s of afcertaining the vahie of any uiing. They have fuch a maUgnant influence upon the people, by fomenting paffions, and perpetuating diflenfions, that they fhould be applied to only as the lafl; refource. The favourite, the opulent, the intelli- gent, and the audacious, have an opportu- nity of gratifying any paffion that may pre- dominate, at their neighbour's expence- .The poor, timid, ignorant, and unfor- tunate, are thrown out of their pofleilions, and expofed to peculiar hardihips. ' New adventurers have full room to fatif- fy their fpeculative fpirit, and grafp at leafes, at which a poor divided crowd dare not afpire. What can this crowd do, but retire, to feek another fettlement ? § 20. I fhould alfo mention fecret offers, which, though they increafe the rents, lead to emigration ; for the fame clafTes of indi- viduals I named before, may have it in thei^ power to offer for as many farms as they pleufe, at any rate they pleafe. The pru- 39 dent and (kilful, the cool and difpaflionate, proceed by calculation, not by chance. They fend in the oflfers which they think equivalent to the farm, , ,. •. , ,,; ,. Thofe in diflrefled or narrow circum- flances, if they have boldnefs enough, may outbid them. They all ad: in the dark, perfedly ignorant of one another's proceed- ings, unlefs fome relation, friendlhip, or combination, prompt them to reveal their fecrets. ' -,■!.,; ■■,■■-: - But it is clear, that by this pradHce many are furprifed to be told that their farms are given away to others. In a fit of rage and difappointment, they offer for other farms, and, if fuccefsful, perhaps precipitate them- felves into mifery ; but if unfuccefsful, they refolve to leave their native country. I mufl obferve, in juflice to proprietors, that un- lefs they have fome other caufe, they ge- nerally give the preference to the prefent pofTefTor, upon equal terms. Nay, I have known inftances, in which they denied thjemfelves confiderable advan- tages, rather than ejed an old tenant. Be that as it may, this clandefline man- c iiij 40 ncr of receiving ofTcrs, and fcttinghind, by whiitever policy dircdcd, has the liime ten^ deiicy as roiiping, and is the moll excep- tionable of the two*. II! ! ' M , 1 11 $ * A fpecimen of fctting land by roup may be given, to illultrate its tciulcncy. ^^'^ '''' I happened to have been prefcnt at one of them feme years ago, as at a public entertainment, and having no concern, and being under no fufpicion, ray nti^traiily gave me an opportunity of obfervation. J--->.t u.i. - The people aflembled on the day appointed by the fac- tor, at an inn which flood by the highway. After wait- ing fomc time in anxious fufpenfe, eafily obfcrvable in their geOures, the fjftoi- condefcended to lljow himfelf to the tenants, who did him as much honour as they do to the Lama of Thibet. He furveycd them fome time with a lofty eye, and a flrut, mimicking dignity. Then he opened his mouth, ami told them the roup was to be- gin. The farm of was got by a thin, lank, black, furly looking old man, at a prodigious rife of rent, af- ter many a tug, and many a frown, and many a fpittle. Next, this man's own farm came on, which he intend- ed to keep too. For fome time, he allowed the oilers to go on 'f then he employed a neighbour in his ititerell. The tenant of , however, refolvcd to punifli him for depriving him of his farm, and bade fmartly. The con- tell continued beyond rcafon and common fenfe, till the farm nearly tripled its rent ; when on a fudden, the new tenant of itops, and the other found himfelf in poflef- i'lon of at a rent which, in his fober fenfes, he would 41 § 21. Were it confident with my inquiry^ I would willingly pais over the condud of fadors in faience. '" ' ' ' ' ' • '^ I lliouid preiTiife, that though delicacy obliges me to generalife my obfervations, » /^y i-V f. never have thci!,'^ht of, and which indeed he had no inten- tion to ofter, but to punifli , who, he thought, would 1 never givi: up his farm, bccaufc he knew his ambition and avafuc. One oilcred lor his neighbour's tarm, bccaufc he was n-iore fucccfiful than himfeif. Another would not keep his own, bccaufe the mildews were heavy upon it. A third difilkcd his farm, bccaufe the wind fliook his corn. A fourtli would have a ciiangc of place, bccaufe his wife WIS troubled with headachs. A fifth thought his neigh- bour too religious j and a fixth was angry, becaufe ano- ther's wcdders fetched a higher price than his own. A fcvcnth hated !iis pofleflion, bccaufc the fa6lov ufcd to fleep in his neighbour's houf • and he mult have the houfe. ■ ,. .,, , ^4 _ , In fliort, the whole eftate underwent a total revolu- tion. The fadlor was now and then forced from his gravity. Sometimes he called them fools, fometimes piadmcn. ...,.; . /» i ? ' . tft *iC.i ..; This day, however, was the origin of war : Ille dies primus Lcthi, primufi^ue malurum Caufa iuit. . Fir. Mn. IV. At the clofc of the bufinefs, the timid, and prudent, and poor, found themfelvcs unfarmed, unroofed. Such exhibitions of pride, folly, affe^ation, wantonnefs, coyct- ':L tS 42 iili^ W I am far from thinking all of them equally blameable, or unqualified for their duty. Were I allowed, I could adduce living ex- amples of both kinds. " " " ,rThe ignorance, imprudence, or vicioufnefs of fome managers ^rels fometimes with pe- culiar hardships upon thofe committed to their care. If a perfon is fo unfortunate as to give one of them offence, no matter how, he either privaicly or publicly ufes every artifice to render him odious to his neighbours or his landlord, till in the end he finds it neceflJiry to withdraw. It would be tedious and irk fome to enu- merate the various methods by which a fador may get rid of a perfon whom he hates, or to let in, as it is termed, one whom he loves. - A man of fpirit, fatigued, harafTed, and difgufled by the negled or mifcondud of a fador, finds a happy afylum for his forrows oufnefs, difllmulatjon, malice, and ignorance, I never faw. ■ '^ ■ I ' \ . ^ • • .' ' The influence of *he pafTions,, inflamed by this roup, never |oft its a£lion, till it reached America. 43 in another country. A perfon not accuf^ tomed to reflcd upon fuch lubjeds, may be at a lofs to comprehend how any fervant ihould be allowed to exercire fuch authori- ty, or what motives he could have for adl- ing fo unworthy a part. This difficulty may be eafily furmounted, by obferving that they are not always under the eye of their mailers, and that they alone have ac- cefs to their ears. Fadors may have an in- tereft to promote, feparate from that of their mafler ; they may have connections which require facrifices, which outweigh canc^ )ur, and corrupt the heart ; they may be un- acquainted with the humour, the purfuits, the ability, the nature of the people ; they may be of a fervile and abjedt fpirit, too eafily mifled, too delicate to remonftrate, or to recommend falutary meafures. Their maxim is, that fervants fhould always obey • — or approve *« . * Tradition favours us with an anecdote which illuf- trates the quality here mentioned. It is ludicrous. " A gentleman had reafon to think, and judgment to difcern, that his factor would approve and ac^uiefce in any thing I . , i:.i ^ 44 , *•'' The fludy of the feafons, and the fituation ot the country, and many other circum- ftances, are below their attention. Fraught with notions founded upon vague unrealif- ed theory, or borrowed from other coun- tries and other men, which can neither fuit their prefent charge, nor advance their ma- fler^s intereil, they rufh into new meafures with the ufual zeal and madnefs of theo- t n /■ny.j- III which he fuggefted, however abfurd or impra£licable ; for whatever his maftcr ordered, he had a cuftom of faying, He was tliinking of that. " The matter ",« as one day put to the tcft. The do- cile factor was fent for. With a ferious air, his confti- toent opened his bufinefs : " I Iiave," fays he, " a very important fchcmc in contemplation, which will not only fave me money, but will be or public utility." — " I am fure," interrupted the pliant faftor, begging pardon for doing it, " I am fure it is good."—" Well," rt^fumed the gentleman, " I was thinking of fowing that field witl^ fait } it will extirpate thofe noxious wcedo, improve the foil, better than rain, fnow, clover, or any vegetable, which all derive their nutritive quality from fait." The factor, with a flirug of his flir>ulders, followed by a fhort interval of filence, immediately turns round, exclaiming, " Glori- ous, my Lord ! I was jufc thinking of that ; for barilfa grows in Spain, fait r*t Rochellc, and wliy not fait on your cftate, as ^;ood as any in the world ?" 45 f ifts ; and if things do not fucceed accord- ing to their expectations and reprefenta- tions (for they are excellent declaimers), they wage war with men, beafts, trees, flirubs, grafs, every thing. He that could bear the tyranny of fuch maflers might have been born a Mahometan. Emigra- tion happily emancipates the poor High- lander fromi their power, unlefs their folly and inexperience become too glaring to efcape the notice of their conftituents, and an honourable refignation prevent the mif- chiefs of their condud:. § 22. Under the fame geneial head is ^o be conlidered the adaptation or felec- tion of improvement, and the limits which prudence afligns to fpeculation. The fpirit of improvement and. fpecula- tion, from v/hatever caufe, fomedmes pre- cedes the capacities of the people, and may be at variance with the particular circum- ftances of the country. When more is re- quired of the people and the ground than can be reafonably expeded, the defire of improvement may feduce the intelled, fo as to terminate in ihe moil ruinous confe- n 4(5 i^uenc^s *. A man of this caft overturns every thing. If the people do not pay the rent when he demands it, they are a fet of idle vagabonds. If one become infolvent, no matter how, he muft be removed. If they have not crops, cows, horfes, iheep^ every thing in the llyle of Yorkfliire farm- * " The fyftem of farming, which prevails over almoft the whole of the Highlands, neceflarily annihilates the population j and this part of the empire feems to be con- verted into a mere ftieep-walk for the reft. I will not pretend to fay that this partial evil in modern politics, is not compenfcited by the prevalence of manufa£tures and other employments in the more populous parts of the em- pire, but ftill it is an evil to the places where it prevails. The love of fociety is an appetite to the human mind, and we feel a fenfe of privation when we fee whole re- gions depopulated. This was the feeling of an amiable nobleman, who told his factors, that he would rather fee one human being on his eftates than a hundred flieep*^ But the general prevalence of a fyftem fupported by pe- cuniary profit will overcome the exertions of an indivi- dual J and if population is to be equalifed, it muft be by equalifing the diftribution of employment. Manufac- tures, perhaps too numerous in the Lowlands, muft be introduced into the Highlands ', with their aid, agricul- ture will be enabled make a more rapid progrefs.'* Remarks on the Local Scenery and Manners in Scotland during the years 1799 and 1800, hyJohnStoddart,LL. B. 2 vols. 8vo, 1801. 49 ers, tlie ground mufl be cleared ot fuch trafh. ' ' \ The objedl and the heart of this roman- tic fpeculatift are good, his^ judgment is wrong. If he compared the progrefs of arts, and ftudied the circumftances of the country where Providence unfortunately gave him birth, he would have more pa- tience, and probably more fuccefs. Some of thofe gentlemen, by their fupj^^ ticifm after its kind, fell their eftatcs, be- caufe they are not equally well improved with the luxuriant plains of the South, and not only banifh the people, but banifh themfelves. This is a melancholy indif- cretion. Innovations fhould be gradually in edu- ced. However enlightened one may be, he has fome favourite, though trifling prepof- feflion and preference : He Ihould not then declare war againft cuftoms endeared by a thoufand ties, and fandioned by a thoufand years. No people on earth are more at- tached to the cuftoms of their fathers than the Highlanders. A wile man, fomewhat acquainted with 1 i4 48 human nature, whatever his eagerneft itiftV be, proceeds by imperceptible Heps, and by precept and example illuftrates the uti- hty of his alterations, the fpirit which dic- tates them, and the folidity of the princi- ples, upon which they are founded. If he get into a pailion, or if he be naturally choleric, his plans are undone ; the people will leave him. By difregarding their pre-- judices, men have pufhed forward with all the precipitation of frefh convidion, with all the bigotry of modern wifdom, and with all the intolerance of ancient ufages, till ^ey armed the pallions and prejudices of the people againfl them, rendered them- felves unpopular, their meafures abortive, and thinned the country of its moft ufeful inhabitants. * "^ - * § 23. The mode of farming, the inftabi- lity and uncertainty of tenure, come under the fame general head of difcuflion. . -.' I know not from what motives i; origi- nates, or upon what policy it is founded, but many eftates in the Highlands have no ^eafes. I fliould premife, that fome eftates, though in tliis fituation, have the fame *9 tenants for many generations ; fcut ?\ are not fo ; and from the progrefs of manners, thofe which are, may foon change their a** fped. ' This precarioufnefs caufes dependence, and cramps improvement. People natu- rally love fecurity, and foothe their cares with the expectation of reaping the fruit of their labours. Seeing round them fuch fud- den and fatal revolutions, they take the a- larm, and apply for a leafe. If they do not get it, they are difcouraged, at lead dif- pleafed, and the fears of fome of them be- come fo reillefs and uneafy, that they re- move themfelves, rather than wait to be removed by another, or remain from year to year in this uncertainty. If leafes are granted, they are fometlmes fo fhort, or cramped by fuch vexatious and equivocal claufes, that they are not calcu- lated to remove anxiety. But what is worfe, fome of them allow the immediate tenant to fubfet, at any rate, and in any manner, he pleafes* It does not fall to my plan to trace the various grada- tions, through which the pradice of fubfet- so 'i'iiii ting has paflcd. It boafts of antiquity, buC . no age can juftify it. Senfible of the evils of it, feme of the mofl enUghtened pro- prietors have introduced into the leafes re- ftridtive claufes to prevent it ; and all are beginning to perceive the grievances which it produces. Let us obferve the manner in which fub- fetting is conduded, and we will not be furprifed that it driven many from their na- tive country, and caufes murmurs and dif- content. A farm is fet, in the firft inftance, for a number of years. It is then fet again for a certain addition of rent. This fecond, or fubtenant, endeavours to make the befl of it. Perhaps, like his mafter, he fets the whole, or a part, to one or more, as fuits his interefl. The difficulties ftill increafe. The under-tenants, feeing no profpedt of Uving, or paying their rents, threatened by a thoufand evils, at laft, after many unfuc- cefsful efforts, come to the refolution of tranfporting themfelves, while they have it in their power. The farm is unimproved ; the interefl of the landlord is materially 51 injured ; the country is impoverifhed ; for thofe poor underlings, at any other em- ployment would earn a comfortable fub- liflence, and perhaps lay by a provifion for their children; whereas, by the love of farming, they contract debts, and ultimate- ly expatriate themfelves. In fhort, in the fcale of fubfetting, mifery delcends *. It is a fort of trafficking with land which is rui- nous to the people themfelves, for it fhows their landlords to what advantage the lands may be turned, and to what a pitch the rents may be fere wed. § 24. Servitudes deferve to be mentioned, as tending to the fame point. The fervi- tudes I mean are commonly called rural fer- vitudesj fuch as foot roads, horfe roads, dams, aqueduds, watering of cattle, and pafturage, feal and divot, and thirlage f . * Many parts of Ireland are woful inftances of the hardfhips arifing from fubfetting. Accordingly, where it prevails, ignorance, poverty, barbarifm, and emigration, arc obfcrved to prevail alfo. f See Erflcine's Principles of the Law of Scotland, p. 2054 52 I . I m VjSl' ■ ' All thefe kinds of fervitudes may fall with peculiar hardfhip upon the tenant. They are in reality a part of his rent, though they may not be confidered fuch by the proprietor. They derange his plans; they difcourage his exertions. If he be a man of fpirit, they fubjed: him to perpetual mor- tifications ; for whether his immediate fupe- rior be dominant, or another, it comes to the fame purpofe. He cannot, without a ligh, fee his grafs trodden under foot, or devoured by a foreign beftial ; his ground turned up for peat, feal, divot, or turf; befides many other ways of difcompofing his mind, and affedt- ing his intereft. He therefore refigns what he cannot remedy, and is reluctantly thrown upon the fea of emigration. And accord*- ingly, in the counties v/here fubfetting and fervitudes are moil prevalent, emigration is fo too. The people are now pofTeffed of a fenfibility really tender, an obilinacy un- conquerable, in points which concern their own interert, and a defire of eafe and fe- curity, and independence, to the attain- ment of which they will facrifice their na- tive country. S3 Any thing that hurts the laborious and lower claflcs, or any thing they conceive difagreeable or injurious, leads to emigra- tion. ' Having conlidered the ftate of fociety an(^ manners among the more exalted ranks, as productive of emigration, I fliali now con- fider the progrefs of fociety and manners, as it regards the fubordinatc gradations, tending to produce the fame effedt, § 25. Though I might firft inveftigate the flate of political and religious opinions in the Highlands, aiid be able to prove, that they incline the people, in fome inftances, to leave their country, I avoid it, fatisfying myfelf with remarking, in general, that thofe who are difllitisfied, either with the civil or religious eftablilhments of one coun- try, commonly fly to another, in order to remedy an evil which originates more in the conflitution of their own nature than in political circumftances, and vhich a change of place is feldom able to eradicate. § 26. We difcover in the difpofitions and temperaments of the people themfelves fome ftriking peculiarities. Their difcontents Diij iPi u 54 have no fmall influence in leading them a- -way. Thefe arife from various caufes, and aflume a variety of forms, but they all con- cur to render thofe who indulge them reft- lefs and uneafy , and of confcquence incline them to look elfewhere for that tranquil- lity they cannot find at home *. Accordingly, we find the emigrating High -i landers in this unfortunate condition. Their difcontents fpring from the perturbation of their own mind. Uneafy and difturbed, they know not why, they find themfelves placed amidft thofe whom they confider enemies to their repofe. It is not eafy to trace the caufe of this mental derangement, but the effeds of it are vifible, and deferve the ferious regard of every true politician ; for it has not only produced emigra- tion, but convulfed empires. —TT * The general remc^ly, fay^ the profound Johnfon, pf thofe who arc uneafy, without knowing the caufe, is change of place. They are willing to imcigine that their pain is the coiifequencc of fome local inconvenience, and endeavour to fly from it, as children from their fliadows, always hoping for rnore fatisfaplory delight from every new fcene, and ylways returning home with difappoint* ment and complaints. Rambler^ No. 6. Vol. I. 55 It materially injures the value of ihofe pofl'eflions, and thole advantages, which the Highlanders have in their power to en- joy. When one fees another more in the fa- vour of the landlord, more powerful, more opulent, or more profperous, he is feized with the fpirit of emigration, his foul dies within him, he lofes fight of every advan- tage in his own pofleflion *. He becomes diflatisfied with his refidence. His neighbours lofe all their good qualities ; and the innocent landlord, who knows no- thing of this dangerous fever, is to be ac- cufed of injuilice and cruelty, becaufe, for- footh, he will not comply with all the un- reafonable requeCts which fuch a temper may be difpofed to make. His prudent conduct irritates more and more. There- fore this irritation has no relief but a voy- age to the new hemifphere. I mufl obferve, in juflice to my country- men, that I am far from tiiinking this un- ♦ Sec Dr. Blair's fermons on the Diforder of the Paf- fions, ami on the Misfortunes arifing from Ourfelves. • • • • D nij 56 I III' rcafonable kind of diflatisfadion fo general, as many arc ready to believe. In the preceding parts of this invcftiga^ tion, I have fliown proofs to tlie contrary. But, as fhall appear immediately, from the diftufion of knowledge, and mixture of old and new notions, many of them harbour very inconfiflent prejudices, extremely ho- flile to their own intereft, in the firfl in- ilance, and produdlive of no good to their country. § 27. It is neceflary to impofe reflraints upon them, to fecure rights and property. . Some things in the Highlands were not confidered by the peafants property till very lately. It was neceflary to change their i- deas, and teach them to refped the rights of their fuperiors to game, fifh, and wood. The old notions are yet ftrongly retained in fome diftrids, and not unfrequently put in practice ; for it is not eafy to convince a Highlander, that ^ landlord has a better right to a deer, a moor-fowl, or a falmon, than he has himfelf, becaufe he confiders them the unconfined bounty of Heaven ; 57 lie thinks it therefore no crime to ilretch his hand and eat. The flate of fociety required an adjuft- ment of fuch notions ; but it was not fo eafy to make the people perceive the neceflity of, or reconcile themfelves to, this change. But worfe than all this, they are not allowed to ufe wood at pleafure. The Highlander, born in woods, once permit- ted, nay, applauded and paid for rooting them out, cannot conceive that what was once a virtue can ever become a crime ; he looks upon this reftridion as a grievous opprefRon j he therefore fets off for the back fettlements of America, where he thinks he may cut down as many trees as he pleafes, kill as many deer and birds as he can, or take up the tomahawk with the Indian, and roam at random in quefl of unappropriated prey. § 28. The ordinary calamities which bad feafons occafion, or flow from other fources, reduce the people to difEculties, who in ge- neral would always receive good, but no evil ; they mull, however, from the pre- •jiii: 11^ it- ':i(i: H m ■i|' fent order of things, be fometimes tried by adverfity. In fiicli feafons as the two laft, many of them are thrown out of employment, and many of them experience the hardfliips of want. Thefe hardfhips they could bear with patience, if they did not know how to remove them ; but defpairing of remov- ing them in their own country, and of enjoy- ing the common conveniencies of life, they fee no alternative, but feek relief where they think it may be found. This is laudable, if they would do it quietly, like goodChriftians, and not throw the whole blame where it ihould not whol- ly lie ; but, guided by paffion, or deluded by fancy, they afcvibe what is only the common lot of humanity, to the admini- llration of the country, to the contefts of independent nations, or to the judgment of the Almighty. Unfortunately they can find no region of the globe where human government is exempted from imperfedion, where no war prevails, and where (in does not excite the difpleafure of the Supreme ?eing. Ws 39 No human affair, no human condition is ftationary. However flourifhing and prof- perous any country may be, its commerce, its manufactures, its refources or employ- ments, muft be fluduating. Markets rife and fall, interruptions of human happinefs frequently occur, and it is fortunate that they do. The Highlands have their own fhare of the common lot. But the fpirit of emigration revolts and criminates — whom ? Providence, that did not ordain our condition more ftedfaft, or give us always the defire of our hearts. The wifdom of Heaven is not diredlly charged with the fluduations of life, and confequent preifures of calamity, but. the proprietors iliould do better. If the crops are bad, the markets low, and money fcarce, the mafters fhould pre- vent it ; or, to fpeak in more awful lan- guage, they muft be omnipotent. Tl '.y mufl be endued with the fpirit of prophecy and divination, to calculate every chance, forefee and obviate every ca- lamity ; they mufl: ru' the winds and rains, give liability to markets, direct the circula- , li l:i ■' Hi! 60 tion of money, and regulate the demands of every appetite ; they mufl have a hun- dred eyes, a hundred ears, to fatisfy ca- pricious whims ; they mufl, in fhort, work impoilibiUties. What abfurdity ! what ir- rationality ! Yet from thefe circumflances, which are not under the controul of any human power, the emigrants arraign the equity of their condud, and as if fecurity could be gained by a change of place, tranf- port themfelves to foreign countries *. § 29. Imagination deludes the poor emi- grants. Whenever it is fet afloat, reafon lofes his helm. A thoufand gay illufions fport before the eye, and fo licit the fancy. Prefent advantages become infipid, or fink in efleem ; the future gains what the pre- fent lofes. The emigrants are not perhaps fenfible * It may be obferved, that all tliat is incumbent upon landed proprietors in fixing a rent, is to regulate it by a jud medium of fo many years, making due allowances for fituation, climate, difficulties to contend with, and nature of the ftock. If their calculations fail, they may in prudence grant dedudlions to prevent infolvency, witii all its tra.'n of evil confequences. 6i of the deception, becrmfe they do not fuf- ped any fuch thing. They live by antici- pation. Every thing that oppofes their de- lires, their paffions, or their pleafures, is ba- nifhed from the land of imagination. Every one flatters himfelf, that if he could get once abroad, he would have all his wants fupplied, and wifhes gratified in a moment *. There the evils, which he feels in the land of his nativity, find no place. He figures to his mind that it is owing to the ill nature of his country he is r- . , hat he wifhes to be. Placing happinefs xii external things, he doubts not but thefe things might eafily be obtained in foreign lands. " If I got ** once abroad," lays one of thefe roman- It ftiould be noticed, that during the currency of a leafe, there may be good and bad feafons, years cf fa- mine and years of plenty, prices low and high, but al- ways balancing each other. This is the prefent order of things. * A puny tailor aflures himfelf, if he got his foot once in America, he would be a laird. A little giddy country lafs, of no beauty, puts on a new ribband, buys a calico fmock, and aflumes airs at the thought of getting a great match in America. 6i i V I' I 'l|! ill, t !: hi li^ » I'l I I' 1 ij'i : * H <( t€ *t tic prqjedors, ** my merit would foon raife me to notice ; I would be a laird, and then — I would ioil n\ a carriage, fleep on a fine bed, have fine clothes, a grand houfe^ woods, fields, and fports to my wifhes." Thus felf-love co-operates with imagina- tion in making fools. Thofe who are once infedted by the fever of emigration, make America every thing they pleale. It is amufing to hear their account of it. The foil is fertile and unfailing, the pro- dudions rare and abundant ; the forefls con- tain all manner of fruit ; their tops reach the clouds, and every animal fit for food reclines beneath their fhade ; the fpring, mild and prolific, clothes the fields and vales with unceafing verdure ; the fummer has no fcorching heats, no blighting dews ; autumn, in riches and luxuriance, rewards every toil, and realifes every hope. Every thing difpleafing or breeding fa- tiety and difgufl, every uneafy fenfation, every fear of difappointment and lofs, all things inimical to prefent fantaflic notions of happinefs, are thence excluded. Some fpots of America may anfwer the 63 former part of the defcription, but no part of the world is deftined to fuit the latter. As the land which emigration intends to reach thus rifes in efleem, the land it is leaving lofes every good quality ; it is ei- ther parched with drought, or deluged with rain ; misfortunes, dangers, obftrudions, more frequent, menacing, and invincible. Its phyfical properties feem to alter with our affedions *. Thus imagination, aided by milconception, with increafing force im- pels the vain, the foolilh, the thoughtlefs, the credulous and enterprifing, to purfue airy and impradicable fchemes of happi- nefs, and rather lofe what they really pof- fefs, than forego what they imagine they may poflefs. To buoy up imagination, and feduce the underflanding, fuperftition ads its part. •t * Having formed this unfavourable opinion of their 6wn country, they would be inconfiftent to flay in it, when they knew where to find a better. " It is natu- ral," fays the learned Montefquieu, ** for a people to leave a bad country to feek a better, and not to leave a good countty to feek a worfc." Spirit of Laws, Vol. I. Book xviii. Chap. 3. p. 287. SM'i mm a! ■,'. ''I !! -ill 64 There are few or none who have not fome expedation of being fome time great or affluent. From the dreams of the night, the predidion of a beggar, or figns of the blind and the dumb, many of the High- landers promife themfelves dignities and honours beyond the Atlantic. Fortune- tellers, living by falfehood and impofture^ like mendicant friars, fall in with the pre- vailing prejudices of the people, and fuc- ceed in leading them ail:ray *. § 30. Avarice, or the love of money, pro- duces emigration. The Highlanders, till mthin a few generations, were remarkable for their contempt of money. Military glory or fame was their ruling pallion. Sil- ver and gold, as objedls of afFedion, they deemed beneath the dignity of human na- ture exercifed in the field, and folicited by immortality. * The Highlanders, as well as all mankind, in certain circumftances, arc famous for the influence of a vifionary fancy in deciding their happinefs or mifery. Thoufand inftances of this kind, known by the name of the fecond fight, occur, and are credited in fome parts of the High- lands. <53 But the fcene is changed ; they now fee the neceflity of imitating their neighbours. They love and defire wealth, becaufe it at- tracts refped and purchafes pleafure ; and fince they fee but a very 'rnall profped: of acquiring it at home, they have a fanguine hope of being more fortunate abroad *. To confirm this deception, they fee now and then fome acquaintance returning home in •all the trappings of good fortune ; their foul fires at the fight, and from the impulfe of the moment, they refolve to tarry no longer, but to pack up their baggage and fet off. Thus, in a wanton frolic or fit of envy, they appropriate to themfelves ano- ther perfon's good fortune, as if they had really a title to do fo. They are ftrongly terr.pted by the flat- tering reports tranfmitted from time to time by former adventurers. If thefe are in a good fituation, they are wonderfully grateful, for they have got the art of am- * They fhould recolle£l, that in every country under the fun there muft be rich and poor. This is obvious, yet a vaft multitude overlook the neceflary diftindtion. 66 li f \ M' m^t, :■ plification to an amazing degree. They exaggerate their own good fortune, as it is natural they lliould, and depreciate the ad- vantages of thofe whom they artfully ad- drefs. ' . ; Whatever may be their fortune, they hide the evil, becaufe they are aihamed to be difappointed, extenuate what they can- not hide, and conclude with an invitation to follow them. Diflance, credulity, and affedion, give their mifreprefentations cur- rency and value. It is no fmall encouragement that friends are there before ; this gives more liability to hope, and more boldnefs to timidity. The relation follows the relation, the father the fon, and this aflbciation gradually in- crcafes till it takes in the whole Highlands ; for I am perfuaded, that there is not a fa- mily, hardly an individual, who has not a father, brother, lifter, coufin, or kinfman^ in America, with whom they keep up a re- gular correfpondence. America,^ then, is become familiar, and its diftance is no longer an objed of terror, fince a regular intercourfe can be kept up 67 at fuch an eafy rate. Thofe fears which might have deterred fome, are removed by the delulive accounts of thofe that v^^ent be- fore them*. • . ' ' ; §31. The laft caufe which occurs to me, arifes from the inftigation of interefted per- fons, who promote the ferment of the peo- ple, and go about recruiting for the planta- tions with the ufual eloquence of crimps. They generally gain belief from the cha- rader they aflumc, their fubjedl, and the difpolitions of thofe whom they addrefs. Their mountebank elocution is wonderful- ly popular, becaufe fuited to every capaci- ty. Their exaggerations and fidions work like a talifman's wand, or an eledric fhock. The poor and illiterate portion of the com- ;f 'II' * The miferics which thofe emigrants fufFer after land- ing in America, are pathetically dcfcribed by Sir John Sin- clair, in his fecond letter upon Emigration, publifhed in an appendix to the Statiftical Account of Scotland. It is faid that laft year, on board one of the emigrant ftiips, upwards of fifty perfons died during the paflage, for want of the neceflary accommodations. This is fliocking to humanity, and deferves the fcrious confideration of the adminiftration of the country. E IJ y\i III . t' in^ i!i I, 68 munity have taken it for granted, that all foreign countries are different from their own, and that every traveller mufl have flrange adventures to tell ; this more rea- dily makes them fall a prey to thofe whofe intereft it is to deceive them. Some inftigators have lands in America, but they have no people to cultivate them ; they mufl then try to fupply this want, by thofe meafures which interefl fuggefls, by large promifes of profperity, and by gay defcriptions of the country. They run no rifk of detedtion till they have gained their objed, and then detedion is lefs dangei> js. At any rate, they who are willing to be deceived take fome time to recover their fenfes, and when they do recover, they are afhamed to confefs their weaknefs, becaufe it is humiliating. There is another fpecies of infligators^ whofe charader is more deteflable than thofe above defcribed ; they are thofe who want long and lucrative leafes ; but the dif- ficulty is, how to difpofe of thofe who in confequence mufl be difpoffeffed. Propri- etors, though tempted by large offers, arot, 69 unwilling to drive poor innocent creatures afloat upon the mercy of the world, unlefs they choofe to do it themfelves. If they 4o, no proprietor is warranted, by his own. authority, to detain them againfl: their will. It is not difficult, however, to make thefe peafants the dupes of their own credulity. To this they fall a facrifice ; and when once the afTent of one is gained, or one is remov- ed, the whole is unfettled, or more ealily wrought upon. The ground is cleared of fmall tenants, and the tackfman is profited by his fuccefs. I am told there is another clafs of prompt- ers or infligators. They praife emigration from vanity, to (how their fuperior knowledge or power of oratory. They are in no danger of inter- ruption. They probably have tried emi- gration themfelves without fuccefs, and find- ing wood, water, land and rocks, good and bad in America, as well as at home, they returned ; but they muft have old faws, and fage fentences, and fhrewd nods, to pleafe the rabble, who are determined to be pleaf- ed with any thing that is new. Eiij E . Ill fuccefs having foured their temper, aduated by malice, or envy, or fome viti- ous motive, they extol the advantages of America, and excite difllitisfadtion, uneafi- nefs, and turbulence. Bridled by the re- flraints of law, or fear of punifhment, they dare not agitate feditions and commotions ; they therefore wreak their rancour and fpleen upon their innocent country in ano- ther way, and reprefent America as the land of liberty and pleafure. Thofe who liften to them, and are lilly enough to be hood- winked, may be faid to deferve any punifhment, • • ; MM Mifcellaneous Ohfervations upon the State of Society in the Highlands^ as conneBed with this SubjeEl, ' During a long courfe of years, the High- lands fuffered every indignity which a go- vernment, ignorant of the true method of reducing them to compliance with a change pf mtxi and meafures, could inflid, Dreads i] 71 ful examples of military execution, as dif- graceful as they were impolitic, were exhi- bited, to overawe turbulence, or convert prejudice. But thefe examples had the con- trary effed ; they inflamed the paffions of people tenacious of honour, and flrength- ened tenets tranfmitted and confecrated by anceftry ; they expofed adminiflration to the charader of cruelty, excited oppofition to its meafures, and foftered a fpirit of re- fentment ; they ferved to render more com- pact the old confederacies; and, reducing the clans to defperation, or roufing their defire of revenge, made them ready to liften to any intruder who might have influence to fow fedition, or temerity to promife ven- geance. Not only was military defpotifm efta- bliflied for a time to fecure tranquillity, if not compel fubmiflion, but laws or ads of council pafled to difarm them, to abolifh their language, and to deprive them of their drefs *. Indignant at fuch coercion, exaf- • When Cato treated the Celtiberians in tlie fame man- ner, it is faid that fome of them adlualiy died of grief. It • • • • E nij prr m m l^!P Hi' ;i>i|i,t' ii'H'lii 72 •erfvted by fitch meafures, they fpumed obcdier.ce to a government that neither undeiftood their vahie, nor refpected their dignity ; of courfe the i ecords of the times are replete with complaints and groans ex-^ preffi ^e of the national feelings. Thus bereaved of all they held dear, ty- rannifed over by imprudent adminiflration, they murmured ; a few fled to France, Spain, or America ; but their numbers bear na proportion to the colonies which are now every year formed in the new hemifphere. It If not a little remarkable, that while they laboured under fuch oppreflions, they fliould remain in a country where they had no honour, no liberty, and almofl no right. For, while fufpeded, they were treated like; conquered or difguiled enemies, and were bereaved of even the pleafure of complain- ing, as complaints were fuppofed to indi- cate rebellion. But it is perfectly confifl- ent with the character of the Highlanders, who bear hardfliips with a fortitude tha>: only jfloics could conceive. is probable Ibme of the Highlanders died by the fame caufe. 73 While this imprudent line of reforma- tion was purfued, the Highlanders were a little crulhed, but they in general fcorned to retreat. At length it was difcontinued. It was underflood, that the befl: way to tame them was to treat them with mildnefs. Mutual confidence betwixt them and Government was gradually leflored — reftraints were ta- ken off — their civilization, that is, their reconciliation with the Proteflant fucceifion, was committed to the flow, but fure opera- tion of fecondary caufes. The old fyftem of opinions made a laft effort in 1745, and then expired. The ideas of indefeafible right, hereditary fuc- cefTion, divine vicegerency, palFive obedi- ence and non-refiftance, yielded to the vHore manly didlatcs of limited authority and reciprocal duties. By this, vhe fove- reign loft nothing he fhould have, and the fubjed gained every concellion that ihould be afked. or could be granted. During the firft American war, the High-, landers emerged from obfcurity and infig-. pificance, and proved themfelves worthy of 74 public confidence, by deeds of valour, not furpafTed by the heroes of Greece or Rome. They have uniformly maintained the fame charader, and lame loyalty. Accordingly, attention was paid to them, and they anfwered expectations. The for- feitures of their mailers, and the line of condud purfued by the Managers of the Annexed Ellates, contributed not a little to place their importance in a new light. It weakened, and uliimately crufhed attach- ment to chiefs that no longer exifted, the force of which was frequently felt in the time of public commotions. Ever lince the abolition of jurildidions, and the parti- cipation of common advantages, notions of political happinefs, hardly reconcileable with civilized induftry, and proportionate com- petence, have diffiifed themlelves perhaps too far, and embittered thofe enjoyments which were long wanting, and intended to be fecured. The Ipirit of independence, impatient of reftjraint, which did always fo much mif- chi^f, has not been divorced, though di- veiled of violence, and turned into other 7, .^??-^«2iL±_£~LLl- ■ IS i- channels. Aided by liberal knowledge, and called to exertion by the congenial wilds, it could not ceafe to exift, though it has al- tered its charader. Some ciroumflances, that ferve to pre- vent the depreflion of the Highland charac- ter into that of an unpoliftied ruftic, Ihould not pafs unnoticed, becaufe they ferve to elucidate our inquiry. The firfl clafs of fociety, excepting a few philofophic individuals, feldom vilit the fa- mily refidence above once a-year. They are generally as often feen as the great Mo- gul or the emperor of China. They con- verle with their people by their agents, of courfe they are llrangers to one another. Their rank and equipage have hardly any opportunity of gaining refped, nor of fup- porting that fenfe of fubordination which is fo eflential to every well governed ftate. If the fadlor prefumes to mimic his mafler, he only expofes himfelf to ridicule. The next clafs, learned and liberal as they are, meet in the focial circle, eat and drink occafionally with the peafants, and difFufe civility and elegance of manners, by the powerful charm of imitation. From «|l s 76 this intercourfe, the peafants are roufcd to emulation, always gather knowledge, and bett^jr underfland their own inaportance. A thira clafs, rivals of the preceding, confifl of tackfmen, very often pcrfons of liberal education. They are however more on a level with the tenants of the inferior ranks, and therefore their example has a commenfurate degree of force. They muft, almofl every day, mix with the vulgar. It is eafy to conceive how much this mufl po- lifti ruflicity. Unfortunately, as in every community, the higher ranks have little jealoufies and rivalfhips, to which they fometimes facri- fice good fenfe. As if they had crowns to gain, or empires to lofe, each aiming at popularity, and the depreflion of his rival, defcends from that eminence which pru- dence ihould carefully maintain, and fome- times courts his inferiors, at the expence of dignity and intereft. . This condud in every place leffens the force of fubordina- tion, and familiarifcs the lower clafles too much, by going beyond the proper diflance. Jt cannot be called prudent, though it may fpread knowledge. Few can defcend from iiiir 11 ' » n their own flations, without hurting their dignity. Some, I grant, have the happy- talent, who, like the fun advancing in the eaft, rife with more effulgence, after being a while in darknefs. To favour the propenfity of the High- landers to fortune-hunting, the younger fons of the nobility and gentry in general go abroad, and of courfe draw the atten- tion of their countrymen after them, per- haps take many along with them, efpecial- ly if they ferve in the forces by fea or land. The return of foldiers and failors gives in- formation of diflant lands, and excites cu- riolity, without fatisfying it. He that confiders and fludies all thefe caufes and circumflances, will not be at a lofs to underlland how the Highlanders emi- grate or colonife ; but he may be furprifed that more of them do not. But, go or flay, they cannot in this world attain the fum- mit of their wifhes : Henven is not yet open to receive them. Pindar. Tf 78 SECT. n. * > , I Tbe EffeEis of Emigration. 1 HE effeds of emigration are felt, not on- ly in the prefent time, but will be felt for ages to come, whether we confider the Highlands by themfelves, or as forming a part of a great, powerful, and rifing empire. In either view, emigration, ailing like a great mortality, tends to produce weaknefs, retard improvement, and paralize the effi- cient force of the nation. § I . For, confider the numbers of emi- grants : They are faid by fome to have a- mounted, fince the conclufion of the lafl American war, to one hundred and fifty thoufand perfons ; by fome to two hundred thoufand ; by others to fifty or fixty thou- fand. It is faid, that from 1773 to 1775, upwards of thirty thouiland individuals have left the Highlands *, * Dr. Garnet's Tour through the Highlands, i^c. page 134- 79 . As it would require much time and trou- ble to obtain a full and faithful flatement, perhaps it m:y be going high enough to calculate their numbers, during the lafl thirty or forty years, at one hundred thou- fand perfons. I do not pledge myfelf for the accuracy of any of thefe (latements, be- cauie the accounts received are fo contra- dictory, that it is belt to attempt neither to confute nor reconcile them. Some fay, that lafl year upwards of five thoufand people emigrated *, and that this * Laft year, failed from Ullapole, Lochbroom, 130 from Fort- William about 700 I have not been able to acquire any accurate informa- tion how many failed from Greenock and other ports of the main land, nor from the different ports of the adja- cent illands ; but, if their numbers bear any proportion to the numbers form Ullapole and Fort- William, the above ftatement cannot be far from the truth. It is faid by a letter from Halifax, that ^aft year one thoufand five hundred, moftly Highlanders, arrived at that port. In 1 79 1, fome diftricls are faid to have fent out four hun- dred emigrants ; fome in the 1793 four hundred and fif- ty. A fingle eftate, with which I am acquainted, is faid to have loft, from 1797 to 1798, about five hundred perfons. io ii il i year foi thoufand or more are about to emigrate. It is manifeft, from the (late of the High- lands at this moment, and the extent of country occupied by the Highlanders in North America *, that the number of emi- grants cannot be fmall. There are fome parts of the Highlands where population has diminifhed one-fourth within thefe ten or twelve years. § 2. This continued depopulation is al- ready feverely felt. In fome diflrids day- * By General Haklimand's cenfus in 1784, Canada contained one hundred and twenty- three thoufand and twelve inhabitants. Nova Scotia, 57,000 fquare miles in extent, from the number of its towns, and other caufes, muft contain many more. The inhabitants of Shelburne, a town faifed fmce the war, are faid to be nine thoufand. New England could furnifh, upon an emergency, an army of one hundred and fixty-four thoufand fix hundred men. MaflachuiTet is faid to contain three hundred and fif^ ty thoufand, Connecticut two hundred and fix thgufimd. New Hampfhire eighty-two thoufand two hundred, Rhode Ifland fifty thoufand four hundred. See Morfe's Amer» Geog. Since 1784, fome parts of America have doubled their population. ■» \M ■» 8i labourers are become fcarce ; in others, they can hardly be got for any price. Hence their wages have increafed fourfold within the lad 12 years*. .., ■ i » '1 »*) ^ If This rife renders it difficult for people of fmall fortunes to improve their eftates, or repair the wafle of time. ^ . , , The farmers and graziers fufFer no lefs f . At the prefent ratie of wages, they cannot pay the rent that may be demanded or ex- pected ; for the produce of the land is ac- tually confumed by the expence of culti- vating, or managing it* Hence they are brought fometimes to great embarraft ments, and not unfrequently ruined. ,^ . It bears no lefs hard upon the proprie- tors. The rents are fometimes ill paid, debts are contracted, diforders produced, mort- * Other circumflances have contributed to do this | but emigration is certainly one great caufe. f The prefent high Wages of fervants is an infurmount- able obftacle to the well-being of the tenants, and of courfe to agricultural improvements. See Dr. Robsrt- fon's Agricultural Survey of Perth, Appendix, 534. 82 if 'Pi 1*1 ■ m . gages or anticipations are reforlecl to, old fannilies are driven to poverty, new ones rife upon their ruins, and thus many eftatcs are either difmembered, or wholly itlienated. J 3. Thefe emigrants are alfo compofe4 of tradefmen of all defcriptions. ' - - ' ' ' Their feceflion, when they are capable of profiting the country which was at the expence of inftru(^ing them, tends to leave it always i!l fupplied with proper artificers ; fof they are not the unlkilful that venture abroad, but thofe who are confcious of in- ventive powers, and capable of improving their art by new experiments. When one of them Emigrates, the injury fuflained by the community is not in pro- portion to his individual capacity, but to the influence of that capacity upon others. By one fkilful contrivance, one ufeful dif- covery, millions are benefited, fociety gains liability, rifes to eminence, procures riches, and blefiings are extended over the earth. The leaft attention to the ufe of machinery in manufadures, both as it accelerates la- bour, and cheapens the neceflaries of life, fully illuflrates our pofition. «3 Therefore, as one or more of thofe pof- fefled of inventive powers is removed, the country finks into proportioned defpond- ence and inadivity ; and from this very cir- cumftance arifes, in fome meafure at leaft, the backward ftate of ufeful arts in the Highlands, for it is a rare thing to find in them a tradefman who thoroughly under- ftands his bufinefs. Hence the Highlanders are obliged to fend for flrangers, when a job of any im- portance is to be carried on. Almofl every article of drefs, and all the implements of hulbandry, are either imported from the South, or made by ftrangers ; while the na- tives, poflefled of fuperior acutenefs, are al- lowed to remain ignorant, in too great a mea- fure, of the., rts that adorrj mdblefs human nature. § 4. It is not the poor that emigrate, for obvious reafons, but people in good cir- cumftances ; they carry a great deal of fpe- cie along with them. This falls very heavy upon all orders in the country ; it affcds the induftrious far , er, the afllduous and projeding merchant, and the public-fpi- Fij IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 Ir"^ I.I 1.25 1.4 2.5 22 1.6 ^. «^ /i >^^ .i" .^r^ ^v> ^9 c^ ^^ Y .^^ ^^^ ^^y '/ PliotDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STi.^VT WEBSTER, N.Y. 145<80 (716) 872-4503 ^■^' ;i7 ,v ^\ ^ <^ .o" 6^ ^^ "^^" '^ 4^ "Sb 5. C^ I / I ^* (J ■ ii: ,84 rited proprietors. Many of thefe carry on their bufinefs, and rear their families, by the force of their credit ; a demand is made upon them perhaps at the very time they are lefs able to anfwer it ; the emi- grants mull have their money. They who are unlucky enough to be expofed to their urgency are thrown into pecuniary embar- rafTment, or reduced perhaps to infolven- cy. In times of fcarcity, or of any calami- ty, the efFeds of this are felt with tenfold force. They fall peculiarly hard upon thofe beginning the career of life ; they prevent the execution of many a promifing fpecula- tion. They alfo fall with great preflure up- on men of large families, and tottering fortunes. They hurt many an eflate, tend to reduce the value of land and its produce, and give a general blow to the charader of credit. i.ltXi'^.C}^ ■:l(^.iif i0r'.--' *'.ri:i .d-.-fS:ii\vf^^-^A^,\ifi\. § 5. But if thofe multitudes, of fuch di- verfified talents and inclinations, were em- ployed either in the embellilhment or im- provement of our country, who can efti- mate the value of their accumulated la- bours? ;.,, »^»J.,* . AJ*Hi- i.xUx:^ ,;4ii.,i v,^j 'i^ n 85 t If If plantations were more generally ex- tended and inclofed ; if roads were made, and bridges eredled, where they. are want- ing, to facilitate and encourage internal communication ; if mofles were drained, and moors cultivated, where it is prac- ticable ; if, in favourable fituations, villages were formed, and manufadures eftablifh- ed ; if every fource of political affluence and political eminence were progreflively laid open, fupported by the moneyed inte- reft, and direded by the inventive and eco- norriical genius of our countrymen, our de- ferts would bloflbm as the rofe ; the furface of the ground would lay afide its forbidding afped ; our mofles would produce food for man and bead, in all the luxuriance of pro- fperous vegetation * ; our rocks themfelves would be deprived of their flerility, and be compelled to own the empire of human in- ,1 nH(*t * In proof of this, let mc refer to the account of the mofs of JCincardine, affixed to Dr. Robertfon's Survey, Appendix, No. 2. ; alfo to Ur. 3fi"th's Agricultural Sur- vey of Argyllfhire, p. 32. ... , ■. "TT^ ■> fi F Uj 'm S6 'k It i h I ill' duftry ; the value of property would rife, and fo much would be added to the nation- al ftock and the national efficiency. Thefe would furely be defirable events. But when I look around me, I find that I have been deluded by fancy ; the gay profped: va^ nifties ; the people are gone ; dreary and frightful defolation meets me, where once I faw the happinefs of competence, and the aflemblage of ruftic mirth. I look for ver» dure along the gloomy heath, I fee it only frowning more feverely. »^.. i. fe.*^. i*^* In fome parts of the Highlands, I admit, all thefe improvements are going on, but not to that extent which the urgency of the cafe requires ; for though one fpirited land- lord may exert himfelf, it does not remove the evil, while hundreds around him, deaf to the voice of intereft, fleep in lluggiih in- dolence. ■;:• /■" - ;v c-.iia--: - ^ r«f/ .nfrt* 111 fares the land, to haftening ills a prey, . Where wealth accumulates, and men decay. Princes and lords may flourifli or may fade ; A breath can make them, as a breath has made j But a bold peafantry, their country's pride, When once deftroyM, can never be fupply'd. 87 But it may be argued, that though every Highlander in Scotland fhould emigrate, and never return, it would be no great lofs ; others would loon fill up the vacan- cy, perhaps of more real and permanent ufe, and more tradable difpofitions. This objedion hardly needs confutation. Thofe that would fill the empty ijpace fhould have been employed elfewhere ; cf courfe, by tranflating them to the Highlands, they were taken out of the natural fphere of their exertion. This would only hold good up- on the fuppofition that the kingdom was too crowded with inhabitants, which is not the cafe, for by bills of naturalifation we give flrangers the rights of Britons.^" ^r- - A tree lopt of its iifelefs branches, no doubt, acquires additional vigour ; but will any man fay that the Highlanders are ufe- lefs? § 6. Let us now attend to the effeds of emigration upon the Highlands in their fo- cial capacity, or as connected with the reft of the empire. ,j It is manifeft, that the evils which I have already ftated, as arifing from emigration , *••••■ FlUJ '! i ;: i ;ii m p.. 1 1,' S8 I I 'I i iifl itr afifed the empire at large ; for the political body refembles in this refpedl the human ; you cannot injure a part, without an injury to the whole."' Ifil.iioollAuQ-^ V It is eafy to perceive that the ftrength and refources of the empire are impaired by emigration; J'^ff vif)7«'ii[ /rr»ii>,''fio f-'ciT ' i^ As already obfcrved, a great deal of mo- ney is take^ from the circulation of the kingdom to' enrich another. If you fhould only fuppofe that each of a hui^dred thour fand emigrants carries along with him 7I. *, merely the price of the paflage, al- lowing that fome are conveyed iji Britifh bottoms, this is an immenfe fum taken from its natural courfe. The revenue then lofes by it, in proportion to the taxation im- . pofed upon it, and to the profits arifing from its proper agghcation, aX:^%^igj<^gji^, - '♦ Sir William Petty, in his Calculations, fuppofes, that ft man in England is worth what he would fell for at Al- giers, i, e. 0ol. Sterling. This can be true only with re- fpe£l to England. There are countries where a man \s worth nothing ; there are others where he is worth Icfs than nothing. Montefquieu*s Spirit of Laws, Book xxiii. chap. xvii. p. p^jiioit. .^-Xti. ..dl '(li^X'^'' 89 ?-^ As the quantity of money is diminifhed in the country, its value is raifed. If it Continue to be exported with the emigrants, it will tend to reduce us to primitive rude- nefs, becaufe the articles of commerce hav- ing no medium but money to fix their va- lue, or facilitate their circulation and con- fumption, as this medium is afFeded, fo muft they. They would only be valucdJby comparing one with another, if the whole money of the kingdom were to be with- drawn, ihrnm mnvr^ifi ui'MU yi\ b^n6m >■ Credit is founded upon the adual quan- tity of coin in the kingdom. However in- fenfibly, credit muft fufFer in proportion as this neceflary fupport is withdrawn, o uhr^f ^'* As our country is deprived of this me- dium of trade, America receives it, ac- quires proportionate ftrength, and is ena- bled to turn the courfe of exchange in its own favour. In order to prevent this, though a law were ena($ted to raife the va- lue of money, the expedient would be in-? efficacious, becaufe none would truft a coun- try liable to fuch a fludhiation. * '^-^ ^ There is one way we may gain by fend- !- ).;■* 90 I if k- 11 k'i^i' i: ]• ill v; III »!! /in ing money out of the kingdom, that is, when it enables the country that receives it to give more for our goods than we give for theirs ; but a country like America, in its infancy, having many comm.odities we have not, will retain the money it receives, and give us thefe commodities at an exor- bitant price *. nitJtu'^ni ;r ivi- ?/? jarvtifcTfiifj.' y § 7. The labour and fervices of thefe multitudes contribute alfo to promote the national profperity, for all improvements effeded by them are juft fo much addition to the common ftock. An acre of land that formerly paid only il. rent, and pro- duced only 4 bolls of corn, being made to yield 9 bolls of com, and pay 4L of rent, juft contributes fo much to the wealth of the country in general f . Vrri>kd 'irmit -. 5 8. The confumption of fo many arti- cles of life is leflened in proportion to the * '~ • ■ ' ■' — I — '■ • See Montefquieu's Spirit of Laws, Vol. II. Book. xxii. Chap. X. p. oj*'^ •■»■»»= '-'-j^t^* Cvj , f jt^^ji^i- uf tjui -jf ** He that njakes two ears oi com to grow,** hy* the celebrated Dean S^yift, " where only one grew be- fore, does more good to mankind than the whole race of politicians togcthei'.*' V" - •" - -.. j. . I i'i numbers and circumftances of the emi- grants. Every thing a man ufes, conduces to the ftability, independence, fecurity, or credit of the ftate, for every thing employs fo many hands, and pays fo many taxes > the lofs of fo many hands, then, ads againft all thefe *. ,^i <•• f>-ir>4-^/ Ar*- r § 9. The manufa<5lures are alfo affedted, by retarding or diminifhing the confump- tion, and by rendering hands fcarcer, and of courfe more difficult to be had, and their wages higher. Such is the ftate of our ma^' nufadlures, that almoft every perfon above fix years old may be called to their fervice j hence, then, they are always afFeded by any thing that deprives th^m of fober, diligent, or fkilful workment They employ this mo-r ment thoufands of Highlanders, inferior to none in docility, fobriety, induftry, and AlCCefs. *' ■'"'■' ' •-. •■■-■r -' r § 10. The refources of the country are again injured by loling fo many people of fuch virtue, hardinefs, and courage, that might aflift in carrying on its commerce. , •••■ «■■ ■!■■...■.. ,■.■■■■11 ■iniiii^Bi I ■■■■III -III ,m^ ,,^.mm .,_i,iv.i i^^^Kt^im^tmm^t^mmmma^m^ * See Smith's Wealth of Nations. ■ ^ I i-;*. KB '" t 92 • Emigration from a commercial country a<^s againft its interefts, according as its lia- bility and real wealth depend upon tliis re- fource, and according as it furpafles fur- rounding nations in this refpedt. A fhip detained in the harbour fix weeks for want of proper hands to navigate her, may ruin the owner, difcourage others, and turn the foreign market againft us ; or if hands are fo fcarce that the goods cannot bear the ex- pences, or find a market to receive them fo high, it comes to the fame thing* ; the in- dividuals immediately concerned are hurt, and the public at large fufFer lofs ; hence, in time of war, fo many failures are ob- fervable, becaufe fo many hands are prefix ed to the defence of the country, and the merchant fiiips are detained in port, or per- haps loft for want of fkilful feamen,'^^ Mif^n It is obvious that the emigration of the Highlanders ads in the fame way. Vaft numbers of them are accuftomed to the fea from their cradle, either in fiftiing, or in carrying on the common bufinefs of ♦ See Smith'8 Wealth of Nations* the country. When any one of thefe is lofl, the nurfery is injured, and the com- merce of the country muft bear its fhare of the evil, ■r . - • ' - • - • . -^ . §11. This leads me to another very im- portant confideration. The flrength and refpedtability of the empire are materially affeded by the lofs of fo many brave de- fenders. The truth of this fully appears in. every war in which we are engaged. The Highlanders have the fame character by land and fea. Inured to hardfhips from their earlieft years, poflefTed of adtivity and courage, which brave difficulty, and know no fear, they form a part of our bulwarks, aflailable indeed, but not yet demolifhed by any contending power. .^ ,.^^,,..^., It is well known that the Highlanders, fcattered through our fleets and armies, arreft the admiration, and excite the aflo- nifhment of the world. Patient of hunger and fatigue, ready to obey, and as able to execute, they are feleded for the mofl ar- duous and defperate enterprifes, and uni- formly cover themfelves wiih glory, though not always crowned with vidory. _ y *!) I! 11 94 ^ Who can read the hiftory of the diflen- fions regarding the fucceflion of the Queen of Hungary to the Imperial dignity, the war for the admiffion of the French and Ruffians into Germany, the contefts for the independence of America, the defence of the Britifh fettlements in India, and the late ftruggles with the French Republic, without thanking Providence that he was bom a Highlander ?^^<^^^^>''' ^ i -^m^^r''^ '- Who can then learn without regret, that thofe firft in aflault, and laft in retreat, a- bandon their native country, and abandon its defence ? 4' :v "" -^f^-^v, 1 know no way of eftimating the lofs, but by withdrawing all the Highlanders from our forces, or by fuppoling, that in another country they {hould turn their arms againft us.'-, ^ \ / ^.- . • ^v. .v.^.-' ■-- ^^^--v .- - - <-----. ~' If the Highlands were either menaced or adhially aflaulted by a foreign force, thofe robuft and loyal mountaineers would foon- er bury themfelves in the ruins of their country than tamely fubmit. But if they thus remove in thoufands, where fhall fuch ■w 95 defenders be found ? Our wealth may in- vite the phmdering foe, but not repel him. But were I to indulge in a fpeculation, which I truft (hall never be realifed, and fuppofe, that this fpirit of feceilion fhould extend itfelf over the empire, to what a de- graded ftate it would reduce us in the fcale of independent nations ! ' Yi;*/^iiii Thefe, I admit, are dangers in the womb of futurity ; but contingencies are at leaft poflible, and every wife legiflature will make a provifion for them. § 1 2. Let us now extend our view, and confider the country in which thefe emi- grants fettle, and the evil of emigration v^ll be feen in ftill ftronger light. If they retire into our own plantations, I confefs the evil docs not appear to me fo formic dable, becaufe they are ftill a part of the empire ; but even in this cafe, the danger of revolts, the weakneffes produced, and ex- ]^)ence contracted by extenfion of territory, are ferious confiderations ; for who can read the hiftory of Britain or of Rome without perceiving this at once ? .; , .,.-, But a great many of thofe emigrants fet- Sk'ii 9^ f n Kf. ! tic in the independent provinces of Ame- rica. Here, then, the evil accumulates, be- caufe by their wealth, by their labour and IkiU, and by their adive numbers, they may foon fee themfelves fuperior ta us in every pomt of national advantage. , kmu*} ,,r In fome articles the balance of trade is already againfl us, and in all nearly equi- poifed *. • ■:■' V* • ^ ' .• f '-..rfV tl * At an average of three years, the exports from the province of New York were faid to amount to 526,000!. and their imports from Great Britain ftatcd at 531,000!. In the year 1786, the number of vefTcls entered at the cuftom-houfe of Philadelphia was 910.- The commo- dities exported to Great Britain and other markets, confid- ing of grain, flour, and other animal food only, befidcs timber, fliips built for fale, copper ore, and iron in pigs and bars, at an average of three years, were calculated at 705,5001. The new duty upon imported goods of 2|. per cent, ad valontn, produced, from iil of March to id of I/ecember 1784, 132,000!. in Philadelphia, correfpond- ing to ah importation of 3,168,000!. * / About the fame time the exports of South CaK>1ifia» of native commodities, to Great Britain, at the fame ave- rage, amounted to more than 395,000!. annual value, and its imports to 365,000!. j exports of North Carolina about 70,000!., and its imports i8,cool. ; the exports of Geor- gia about 74,oool., and its imports 49^000!. Morf^s Amtr. Geog. j/yj.;^ ^jiorfi to Tfi^ffi 7iJ3lSJ n liM 97 The Americans, during the very laft war, fupplied the nations of Europe with ma- ny articles I need not name, and we our- felves in fome meafure depended upon them for daily bread. They may take advantage of our diftreffes, hurt our credit and our commerce, and increafe when we decreafe. • In cafe of another colonial war^ they might affift our colonies, or wreft them from us* ,.,;ij,. ^ *jr^j But to prognofticate calamities that may never happen, is the character of defpond- €ncy. Yet a wife man may acquire in- llrudion from the experience of ages, and the ordin ♦y courfe of human affairs. - ..'^gOir^f ' i:iM-'-y'.r:j'2 ,;..;,.. .■ ' .'' r ', ^ ' ' r ' ■; ; * ■« . .y ;,,..<. 4 {j'.oai ;il';j.w,-(> t/* ;.4 7l '^lui''.Hi'Kr'-f :V■;; i ;, -■:■ ■' '"'. yh.. ■ -' T ' ' ••' ' "' "f ' - ' ■-". " ' -.■,;;■>; .■i>:i ■ -V^J^vilit S;,, t.«* .^: '..'V'.i'.i''' *'i/ ■■■;* . - •.? -i/ ':i X: .' i.'t's^'il f*f ^7^.» -}';^>'::i''> -'L ' ::.'.. ■ •■' " ■ '"^ ! *»»; 'v<'' i:'m lir m ' ": .1^ li;!. M ft ':| h -ij/ij sv/ fc.-i,; SECT. in. 98 Ohfervations on the Means to he employed for i:u. i,vi-; ^Preventing Emigration, '.^^r. ^^j^,,, 1 DO not pre'^nd to have fuch a full and accurate knowledge of the country, as to be able to decide, without hefitation, what means are beft adapted to every particular cafe. '-^ ^ -" i.:..'. ■.:..- i:j jiij, t:: , * The gentlemen, whofe properties are more immediately afFeded by emigration, mud be better acquainted with the circum- flances or motives that induce the people to quit their country, and of courfe more able to fuggefl the moft practicable fleps to counterad fo alarming an evil. I intend, therefore, to purfue the plan upon which I fet out, and make my obfervations as gene- ral as is confiftent with the objedl I have in view. . , , ,/,/ -: , ■;, ■ _:-,,: I muft premife, however, that though the means here propofed be ilated in gene- ral, I muft not be underftood as if none 99 of them had been already employed, or as if they applied, with equal propriety, to every place. There are fome diftridts, where almofl every thing I mean to flate' is alrea- dy carried on with great efFe6l, but there are others which lie in their primitive rude- nefs. ' "^- ■" ,.--^ - - ' - .uoJ^;nf:i. The meafures I would recommend muft apply particularly to the latter, though a great deal remains to be done even in the bed cultivated fpots in the Highlands, ^^*? Every perfon feels fome attachment to the country that gave him birth *. The Highlanders in general, as obferved more than once, feel the full force of this attach- ! ,u ■'i'^ fM f .. ■>>. .f- *-i<- ■-. *'rft*i. i... * This Is happily illuftratcd in the character of Ilarley fetting out for London.—" He fliook Peter by the hand, as he pafled, fmiling, as if he had faidj * I will not weep." In a few hours he reached the inn, where he propofed brcakfafting ; but the fulnefs of his heart would not let him eat a morfel. He walked out on the road, and gain- ing a little height, Itood gazing on that quarter he had left. — He looked for his wonted profpe£ts, his fields, his woods, and his hills. They were loft in the dilUnt clouds. He penciled them on the clouds, and bade them farewell, with a figh.'' Alan of Feelings p. 28, 29. y 4 I III :• Mil's' 5'IV ICO ment. Let this principle then be enc6ur- agcd by proper applicatioils, and it will adt moft powerfully. Tnn^n t .uDr:qTT:?T> ' If the condition of the people be not im- proved, let it not become worfe, and, ge- nerally fpeaking, they will not leave their native foil. ... .a?";^* § I . To procure the means of fubfiftence muft be the firll objed of confideration. In vain you offer any terms, if the people fee no profped of a competent livelihood* This is their fir ft care, and therefore, when- ever they fee it endangered by any thing, they inftantly take meafures to infure their fafcty. '•; ^'^^i\*?i5,rrf»-Ki?i!i Hence, in thofe diftricls or counties where population is ftill increafing, the land fliould be cultivated, where it admits of cultivation. In Perthfliire, Argylefhire, indeed all over the Highlands and Ifles, a great deal of land lies wafte, that might fumifh, at a little expence, food to thofe who feel the neceffi- ty of providing for themfelves elfewhere*. * We meet every where in the Statiftical Accounts of the Highland parifhe* this meafure ftrongly recommend- I ox f This meafure recommends itfelf ftrongly to thofe, whofe eftates lie upon the fea- coaft, contiguous to lime-quarries, or other manure. It may be faid that our country if fo poor and unfertile, the climate fo bad, that plans of this kind would not defray the expcnce of carrying them into execution. ^ Admitting that our country is in general barren, and feafons variable, improvement of wafte land tends to improve the climate. ,. If our moiTes were drained where they can be drained*, if our long and favage ed. Of the many pafTages tfiat might be quoted, I (hall {eh€t onCi becaufe it comprehends in a few words almoil the whole that can be propofed to prevent emigration, at . leaft from being carried to any dangerous exten' . ** The eftablifhment of manufactures, the enlargement of farms, fo as to enable every farmer to keep a plough for himfelf } the. inclofurp of the fields, the divifions of the commons, the ftraightening of the ridges in ploughing, the giving up the prevailing pra£tice of run-ridges, and the fpread- ing of plantations of larches and Scottifh firs over the - wild and barren hills, would no doubt contribute gjreatly ' tp improve tue condition, and increafe the populatibn of the country.*' — Stat. Ace. Vol. V. p. 87. Logierait. — ^ee alfo Dr. P obertfon's Agricultural Survey of Perthfhire. * In Ranoch a mofs was drained by the Managers of the Annexed Eftates. The crop of hay which gre^ oa • ' • • ft G IXJ i 102^ I ■i moors were divided and inclofed, or belted in proper order with foreft trees, they would defy the climate, or at leaft would not mif- carry once perhaps in feven years, y^ij^i^i^i I fee here and there fmall farms of from 20 to 50 acres, arable and pallure, within head dikes^ containing perhaps one or two hundred people, and at the diftance of one or two miles from them, a moor in empty defoiation, with fcarcely a fhrub, or a pile of grafs *. f ■■'• '- •i^/ a^lpm, 3-^0 il , , It mufl not be objeded that they do not' admit improvement, for the mofles and moors bear yet in many places evident traces of former cultivation. And if they were once cultivated, why not again ? Their bad returns perhaps baniftied til- lage ; but in this enlightened age of agri- culture, lime and other manures, under it would have fold lad year for near 30I. It was not for- merly worth 30s. Another of the fame kind, near Min- gary'Caftle, was improved by the public fpirited Murrays, while they had Ardnamurchan. • This is difgraceful to the propiietor, in whofe fa- mily this moor has been for 150 years, and who refufed many handfome offers for its cultivation. I03 proper management, wculd convert almofl: any mould to vegetative foil. I have fecn on the coifts of Invernefs and Argylefhires the finell crops of oats potatoes, and bear, growing in gravel upon the fea fhore, or in mofs upwards of fix feet deep *. im4 *S .-.f\..t f. ,«i ♦ The mofles have grown fince the deftruftion of the forefts i the furface, from various caufes, has undergone many revolutions, and in many places has become worfe ; for by (lothfulnefs or inattention, and from the political circumilances of the country, marfhes or fwamps have been formed where formerly corn or trees grew. You cannot mov« a ftep in the Highlands without meeting with fuch mar(hes» which required no more than to let the water off by the ftroke of a fpade. By the conftant agitation of the water, by the accumu- lation of foil, and from many other caufes, thefe marfhes have, in the courfe of ages, fwelled to a prodigious ex- tent, and produced either mofles or lochs. A detail of the formation of lochs might be given, were this the place. The formation of fome of them is extremely An- gular s^ they are found on the tops of mountains, or in the middle of folid rocks, where they have no apparent communication. But to account for this is eafy, by at- tending to the motion of a drop of rain falling upon a ftone. By the long continuance of this power, by the corrofive quality of fnow and water, and perpetual fric- tion of the contiguous particles, little lakes are formed on the tops of mount-^ins and hills, of great ufe, a3 they • • * • G lllj m"^ 104 From the moors in the lowlands of Perth-, (hire, and in different parts of Scotland, now bearing the richefl crops of wheat, and in my own memory deemed by fome people vfelefs, it i$ evident to what a condition other moors of better quality might be brought by well direded indufl y *. Say that our mofles in the bottom of the valleys would be brought to yield grafs, even in this cafe it is obvious that they would operate, if not in furnifhing food for people on the fpot, yet in providing for them elfewhere. They would, in this im- proved flate, not only beautify, bv^t enrich the country f . >>T,uvt^ ^{[^ Where it is found more profitable to lay water in fummer the adjoining fpace, and prevent the fa- tal efFe^s of drought. In this place, I will not mention how they become (lored with fifii. Suffice it to remark|^ . that their formation proves the neceffity of attending to the progrefs of fwampt, or ftagnation of water. • Mr, Marflial fays, that the foil of the Highland hills is better in general than that of the ^ills of Yorkihire* See Marihal*s Rfport. f Whoever has travelled the road from Glafgow to Greeiiock, and obfervcd the mofs drained and cultivated by Mr. Alexander, mufl be fenfible of the value of improy<> / 105 fL diftrid under grafs, to the half or two- thirds of its extent, it is obvious, that un- lefs you make a previous provifion of fome kind, many muft leave their country to feek food and employment in fome other place. In this cafe, one of the moil im- proveable farms (hould be divided into , crofts or fields of one or three acres, and a judicious feledtion (hould be made of thofe to whom they fhould be offered j for fome men, who pride themfelves upon being men of fpirit, would fpurn at the thought of de- fcending from the rank of a tenant into the ftation of a crofter. If a man of this kind, however, refufes any rational accommoda- tion, the country is better without him ; he is ripe for enugration. He may be cur- ed by changing his refidence. His fpirit is not found. This is the touchftone, ''• § 2. This parcelling of people forms vil- lages, and under due limitations, inftead of injuring the interefls of the country, flrong- ed mofs. Upon one Hde of the road the mofs is forced \o yield a rich fward of grafs ; on the other it lies in its natural ftate, forming a ftriking contrail. io6 i P ly promotes it. No doubt all thefe villages will not equally profper. This may arile from particular circumftances ; either from the cha rafter of the people who form them, from the fituation in which they are placed, or from the encouragement given them by the landlords. ■ ~^"" ...«•-«« ^^.^.iJ^y^i^■iy^ They are fometimes, indeed, hurtful to the morals of the community ; for it is ob- fervable, that intemperance, profanity, and other vices, prevail in fome of them to a great extent. - ^^' ^' Hence there are inftances of villages hav- ing received opprobrious names, fuch as So- dom and Gomorrah. i^j -i , n^ .- j w. ?u This is an evil of an enormous and threat- ening nature, which certainly deferves at- tention. -"- <♦ - .a— -^ , ,. . -,, . In the firfl place, the complaint, though not ill founded, is exaggerated. The evil is fpread oyer the country. In villages it is more ftriking, becaufe it is more concen- trated ; the temptation is ftronger, oppor- tunity of gratification oftener recurring, and delinquency lefs fhameful, becaufe more frequent. - ; r ^^ 107 Thefc evils are unavoidable wherever ma- ny people are aflembled, without the mod fevere difcipline ; and indeed no difcipline, however rigid, can prevent immorality al- together. But villages muft not be indif- criminately condemned upon this ground,, otherwife, for a much llronger reafon, you muft alfo banifh large towns and cities, "^ff^^^ All towns and cities were fir ft villages, or perhaps a motley garrifon ; yet to their vigour and virtue we owe much of the li- berty and many of the bleilings this day enjoyed in Europe *. -' 'm^arn'i^ vni While I thus contend for the expediency of building villages, as the means of accom- modating fome of our moft adive and ufe- ful citizens, I muft obferve, that the mode of huddling houfes of all defer iptions, dwel- ling-houfes for men and beafts, ftables, byres, and bams together, merits reprobation f • .'. * See Dr. Robertfon's Life of Charles V. Vol. I. p. 36* 37> 39» 4o» 43. ■ ^ it f Sir John Sinclair, whofe zeal for promoting the in- terefts of his country defervcs a kingdom, may inftru^); thofe who want inftru£tion upon the beft plan for build- ing a beautiful and a commodious village loS III r If 'f ^ But it is not enough that the plan of the ftreets, fquares» and houfes, fhould be neat and elegant, but there (hould be a proper police ; there fhould be a regular magiftra- C]fUu It is not fufRcient that one bailifif or juftice of the peace fhould be at the diflancc of ibme miles, to be applied to in cafes of emergency ; one fuperior magiflrate fhould refide, and be concerned in the profperity of the village, who would be always at hand for detecting and punifhing lefler offences. And there fhould be by-laws * for infUd- ing fummary punifhments, without the ne- ceffity of having recourfe to the doubtful and tedious ifTue of a procefs. This power ft ould be lodged in difcreet hands, fuper- intended by the Lord Paramount. »?:>: > 1/:: -■ The minifter and elderfhip fhould unite their efforts to fupprefs every difarder, and applaud the virtuous and laborious, j uci' r But to colledt men together without ap- parent means of fubfiflence, without any particular regulation or reflraint, is attend- ed, in this profligate age, with a train of the mofl pernicious confequences. In fuch X'^- v».A, • • ■• • Or burrow laws. '^ "'** *"^^"''^'^ f^ ^ I'iii log a ft ate of infubordination and liccntiouf- ncfs, villages deferve the opprobrious titles which they receive. §3.1 avoid faying much upon the impor- tation of com, my objedl being to roufe the latent powers of the country to exertion. In England adive meafures to effedt this laudable and invaluable purpofe have been adopted. Scotland is alfo following its ex- ample. I know that in extraordinary emer- gencies com muft be imported ; we have experienced the neceflity of this for the two laft years. The expenditure of 15,000,000!. Sterling for food from foreign markets, is the ftrongeft argument that can be ufed. If two millions laid out in premiums were applied to encourage agriculture, who can calcul?Xe the refult ? The good of it would be permanent. I fee no harm in trafficking in corn more than any other merchandife; but why not ftudy the art of raifing it at home with the fame application as any 0- ther, becaufe it is the foundation of all arts, and all fciences, and all happinefs ? A nation may blaze forth in the art of war, frighten and aftonifh the world, while the / 110 11 ^ 1 ■ ■•■ ^s ' I m I' m i mi . peafants are crying for bread with all the turbulence of hunger. Our philofophcrs may trace planets and comets, meafure the winds and the feas, and teach us to fubdue all the elements ; but if famine frowns upon them with haggard looks, they drop the fcale and the compafs, and remember that they are dufl. Oar ;»olitical wifdom may rival that of the celebrated politicians of Greece and Rome, overrule the councils of furrounding empires, isnd decide the fate of contefted dominions ; but a wildemels may furroand them, and the clamours of the hungry recal them home. Our merchants, in gold and diamonds, may furpafs the mofl renowned of antiquity, may fail round the globe, exploie all its fecrets, and feed us for a time with foreign luxuries, valuable on- ly becaufe new ; but if bread be wanting, we rejedt them as naufeous, and call for the plough and the fpade. Nobody denies this. But I am told that Egypt and Sicily were the granaries of ancient, and Poland and America of modem times ; and why not have granaries now ? This may be an- fwered by another queftion at lead as ftrong : HI Why not make our own country this gra- nary ? I fee no good reafon againft it, but I fee one ftrong reafon for it, that it would have been better than buying meal from thofe who, for want of food in their own country, go to get it in America. >'f*c)^ I Ye generous Britons, venerate the plough, . r. r- * And o'er your hills and long withdrawing vales * ' ' Let autumn fpread his treafures to the fun, V Luxuriant and unbounded I As the fea •'f^'i'^rfj '^.,^ Far through his azure turbulent domain i^^ ^1 r Your empire owns, and from a thoufand ihores ^, Wafts all the pomp of life into your ports ; - So with fuperior boon may your rich foil ^^•'-'^ ^^*^^ • Y' Exuberant nature's better bleffings pour .•j^Tmr [i'\ 0*er every land, the naked nations clothe, - r*J('/',v' And be th' exhauftlefs granary of a world ! -^ ' , . Ihomforfs beajons, § 4. After finding food and lodging for the people, the next point is to find em- ployment for them , for adtion is as necef- fary for their fubfiflenc<" and morals as dai- Iv food. ^^■''^''' ?f'''''v/ ,' « V ''iifx^i*^^'.?*'?.-^ Upon this I would firfl remark, that food- and employment mutually aid and fupport one another. «w>> ^ > This deferves a complete invefligation, %^% iia ti • to help the judgment, and give room to thofe who are difpofed (if they knew how) to cxercife the Fncr feelings of the heart ; for I am perfuaded that all the Highland proprietors lament the depopulation and confequcnt degradation of their country. . They are all difpofed to augment their fortunes, and fupport an equipage fuited to their liberal ideas, and correfponding to the rank of their fouthem neighbours. In order, however, to rival fuccefsfuUy their fouthern neighbours, they muft fol- low the fame fleps to attain the fame for- tune. This is not done by laying heavy rents upon the tenant *, for this difpofes him to leave a country where he thinks he is opprefled, and to feek for one where he , imagines his fituation will be mended. > - It is not by introducing precipitately new modes of farming, which neither the foU., climate, fituation of the country, nor the genius of the people, will all at once ad^ mit. ■„:)h-::? i < Hli > l> » « ii i i < ■ « n «i ( » "^■■iMii««*i^M*i#i* ril l i< " ' mw***— iw I r«t . < i i > i ■«* * See Dr. Smith's Agricultural Survey of Argylefliircy^ p» 2^. •? i^ .^' ^v;^^ 113^ It is hot by laying whole valleys under fheep or black cattle, with all the intolerant rafhnefs of a fchool-boy, without confider- ing what produce they are befl fitted by na- ture to fupport, and what is noft profita- ble. This is not the way to cope with thofe in the South. This is t^ e worfl poflible plan of improvement, unlefs ufed difcreet- ly.; It is in fad the way to become poor; for population is the wealth, as well as the flrength of a country. This, the very men who feel themfelves juflifiable in ading fo inadvertently, know perfedly. But in their hurry to get rich, pr, in other words, to improve their eflates, they do not obferve that they imitate the boy and the gobfe, or the frog and the oxj to ::i\ mBibm MMtit^^ Meanwhile, I will.refume the conlidera- tion of the fecond meafure, calculated to modify or prevent emigration, at leafl for fome time, until the country fhall arrive at the lafl poffible degree of improvement. Every man fhould referve of his income a certain fum proportioned to that income, for carrying on improvements, fuited ^to the fituation in which he may be placed. >\' H ^ 114 No man can prefcribfi rules for afcertain- ing the fum that fliould be allotted for this purpofe. It fhould not be according to the extent of the fubjed to be improved ; for then a vafl and fpeculative genius might in a fhort time contract debts, fo as to difpof- fefs, or rather difinherit himfelf. - Money fhould not be borrowed for im- provement, unlefs upon fure expedations. The defire of improvement fhould not be allowed to go too far, nor fhould a man heedlefsly think of rivalling or furpaffing a more opulent neighbour, but be always regulated by his own experience or circum- ftances*. .^x If there is any particular object to be gained, without lofs of time, a greater fa- crifice fhould be made. ... t In all cafes, the fafefl rule is to lay out mo- ney by calculating the returns of the im- proveable fubjed, and proceed like an ac- • Proprietors from 200I. to 300I. a-year, free rental, might well afford 2| per cent, per annum, and fo on in proportion. This, regularly continued, would in a few years operate moft powerfully. , y. * ,,- , , . ; "5 countant, in the way of debtor and credi- As every one would wi(h to maintain a rank fuited to expedlation, he fliould upon all occafions fludy rational economy, and apply to ufeful and ornamental improve- ment thofe fuperfluiti. > that are often waft- ed in ufelefs or pernicious practices. A perfon of fuperior rank muft not a- bridge every pleafure ; he muft, for the fake of his family and connections, give a little to the faftiions of the times, to avoid the appearance of Angularity, aufterity of manners, or ridicule and contempt. But the favings of luxury and diffipation might be devoted, with great fuccefs, to ufeful improvements. iWere this to be pradlifed, plans of farm- ing, tillage, or grazing, would go on fmooth- While you would be improving your eftates, and laying a foundation for future eminence and grandeur, you would furnifli employment and food for thofe creatures, whom, by your difregarding this circum* HIJ i'*^?.^.i^ *^ }f^: i 41 1 I. I'.. fr^nm r: I. Im \ > ,R1' ii6 i I m •;..»;vir'" Pi 'I i II M ■'I i Aance, you drive headlong upon the mercy of the winds and feas, and banifh, to im- prove and enrich another country,-/*^ riA re If yoii would lay out with one hand 2~ or more per cent, you .would receive in 5 or more per cent, by the other*. ( ; vjffrrr. -i Thus,, then, by improving the furface of the ground, or by building villages, you would find food and employment for the redundant population, which, when proper- ly employed, would ceafe to be redundant. ;h§'5. In many diftrids of the Highlands and liles, there are few or no roads, even where they cannot eaiily have the ufc of water carriage ; and without attending to the excefs of people^ or providing for thofe * I I I i n . "fj* 'pjjjg jg obvious, from daily experience. In my neighbourhood there are 6elds, which^ in their natural uni^nproved ftate, were fcarcely worth any thing, but which will now fet at 2I. or 3Lan acre. A fipld of from 4 to 6 acres yields a crop of hay which fells for 30I. or 40I. I have feen thefe fields mere black mofs, or rocks, dones, and brufliwood, like^ the inaeceffible jungles of In- dia or America. ^ This may be feen at Tay mouth, Lord Brcadalbane*s feat, and at Drumchary, the feat of Mr. Stewart of Garth, nd in numberlefs other places. > A 'farr.*': 117 removed, the country muft for ever remain in thii barbarous flate. Any perfon that travels the coafts and inland parts of Ar gyle, Tnvernefs, and Rofs- ihires, I may fay Perthfhire too,, though in general farther advanced in this refped, feels every day this inconvenience*, t^^^vnt • ' ' * In cafting the eye over thofe Highland countries, a man is aftoniihed to find fo few traces of roads or com- munication. The mod inaccefTible and mountainous parts of Argyle, Perth, and Invernefsfhircs, I have tra- velled, I will not prefume to point out the lines of road that might be drawn, and where the ilate of the country evidently requires thenr. *. There are two highways cutting acrofs the Highlands, but the communication between them is miferable be- yond defcription. I (hall mention only one place. Be- twixt the Bridge of Tumble in Frofs and the King's houfc at the entrance of Glenco, excepting for a few miles, there is fcarcely a path fafe enough for foot paflcngers ; yet this is the centre of-Scotland, and the courfe from the ead to the weft fea. The Braes of Perth and Invernefsfhircs have no communication \ hence in winter many lives are loft. The cattle and every thing clfe muft go round either by Fort-William or Pitmain. You would think, that like the ancient barbarians of the north of Europe, the High- landers delighted In being feparated by frightful defcrts, ;\ .\ > : — ■!-.•:.,- I ^illlo \. .vrTjR^Kl ?fJ^t^&;iOf Sec Knox's Tour. '-^J^"fe"-fM^>'r:'* HUJ ij8 ■^ ^'i i .* Inftead of allowing the people to fet off in thoufands to America or to the South, how _ ■ I I I . ' I i i I I y I » To join Ix>chaber and Ranoch, a read migh( be drawn acrofs Lcchdchaorin, and from Ranoch to the fouth, by the Braes of Glcnlyon, which would (horten travelling to the fouth at leafl 30 miles. But if we examine the wef- tern parts of Argyle and Invernefsfliires, the accefs is ftill worfe. Except the north-eaft coad of Mull, there is hard- ly a.iy path. The parifhes of Morven, Ardnamurchan, Glenelg, Kintail, LochaKh } from Rouanriddar, the fouth- em extremity of Morveni to Fort Auguftus, to the di- (lance of 30 or 40 miles into the country, there is hardly any thing that deferves the name of a road. A perfon is aftonifhed to fee the natives fcrambling with beafts of burden (there are no carts) over precipices that would frighten a ftranger. It will require a day to travel over thofe rugged furfaces, only X2 miles, by any perfon but a native. The common rate is at a mile an hour. From Invernefs to the point of Kintail, or to Caolra, what a road ! if it can be called by this name ; for it is hardly agreed upon by travellers which is the line, every one making one for himfelf. If you crofs over to the Iflands, you are every moment in danger of (Iraying or perifliing. The paths, fuch as they are, take fuch oblique, fuch whimHcal, fuch injudicious directions, not even excepting General Wade's, at .ofs the Grampians, that they feem hardly to have been drawn by rational beings. For I could prove, that our (heep follow better lines, and un- derftand the level better j for they tr^id round the fide of the hill, and when they afcend or defcend, they fele£l: the eafieft and fafefl: track with wonderflil fagacity. I 119 many thoufands might be employed in mak- i-ig new roads, or repairing old ones, in thofe very counties where emigration has, for a feries of years, been parried to a ruin- ous extent ! ^ It may perhaps be faid, that when the people go away, there is no occafion for roads. Admirable policy ! — The advan- tage of roads in the Highlands cannot be forefeen -, they facilitate general intercourfe, and open an eafy conveyance to the market. Ydu are not to eftimate improvement in parts, but in the whole, connected and ex- tended ; but the want of them obvioufly af- fedls the flate of the country. No man will give you the fame price for a quantity of wool which he muft. bring on horfeback over rugged rocks, which he would give if he could carry it in a cart or a waggon on a good road, becaufe he muft regulate the price by the difficulty 1,1 fuppofe the Highland roads in general have remained in thofe perplexities and curvations which they had when the boar and the wolf contended with the natives for their poiTefGons, anH when each tribe traced the wary maze^ to attack, pr efcape the incurfions of, one another^ • fl • • , ' IflllJ 126 i. I 'i ■ ' u p f] ,i and expence of bringing it to the market. This holds true of every falcable commo- dity whatever, whether live or dead flock. In this cafe, danger and difficulty ope- rate againll the firll feller and againfl the fecond purchafer, and ultimately fall upon the community at large. * ; . i § 6. Canals come next under confidera- tion. They would produce the fame efFed as roads ; they would employ multitudes^ hot only in forming them at firft, in keep- ing them in repair, but alfo by facilitating and increafing internal and external com- merce ; they would raife the value of the contiguous properties, and that of the pro- duce of the whole country ; they would tend alfo to difpel that cloud of ignorance which yet hangs over fome diftrids remote from the fea *. -v The poverty of the country, it is object- ed, cannot bear the expence of cutting ca- • The canal by Lochnefs and Fort-William has been long talked of, and its length and expence calculated. See Knox's Tour through the Highlands, and Smith's Survey of Argylelhire. .^ .. «..k... ; ' mi - 121 . nals, efpecially through fuch rocks and moifes. -KMAii,?} t\f itiomt in ".nrnir^'XR riB •^"^It is not the abftraded refowrces of the Highlands that we muft take into our ac- count, but their relative fituation in the commercial world. Cut roads, and people will walk on them ; cut canals, and they ;eill provide for themfelves in the fame manner. <* I H^1i^jJ\\l ' ft,f^H At : \ % •*) To her canals Ruffia owes much of her fuddcn elevation to the diftinguifhed rank which fhe holds. To the fame caiife mull be attributed the internal refources of France and of Holland. ^mnf ' '^ The riches and population of China, arif- ing from the fame fource, furpafles all con- ception. rij_|.Mi;M?.#ji mil- ; :>iW pi di' ^nifjisi i* t And what renders England fo powerful, aiad the productions of our country fo va- luable in her hands, but her canals or wa- ter carriage. Bulky articles conveyed by water can be fold i o per cent, cheaper thail carried by the beft road in Britain ; of courfe canals encourage trade, employ hands, and promote the confumption of every kind of merchandife. .^m^\^A^^ , >iivh u 122 Ih h. The relative poverty of the Highlands is an argument in favour of canals. They are poor, and muft be poor, fo long as their re- fourccs are fufFered to lie dormant. Upon rocks as barren as ours, upon naked iflands, in mud, in the bottom of the fea, human induflry has reared bulwarks, acquired ter- ritory, and accumulated wealth and power*. § 7. Thofe extend ve forefts which have for time immemorial covered the face of the Highlands, compofed generally of oak, a(h, fir, elm, birch, and fome other fpecies of timber of lefler value, are fit for every purpofe. Without making roads, or clearing the cliannel of rivers, fome of them cannot be brought to ufe ; and accordingly many of them have been allowed to fall, rot, form mofs, and difgrace the country. . a. For houfes, for fhips, for charring, for tanning, and fever al other ufeful purpofes, I * The two fine provinces of Klanguan and Tchekian in China, Egypt, and Holland, were formed by human induftry, and require the fame induflry to provide for their fubnftence. i^irit of Laws, Vol. I. p. 289. ; ' ■ xaj they might have been, and may be flill ap- plied ; yet if they are not applied, and if the people are allowed to emigrate, they are for ever a nuifance to the country ; a nuifance when they form marlhes, to mil- dew our corn, add feverity to the climate, generate difcafes, and endanger our own Jives and thofe of our cattle. They are of fome advantage, I confefs ; they may accumulate mofs for fuel ', but their roots and crops would have done fo, though the ufeful part of the tree were re- moved. This would furnifti a confiderabla fource of induftry to the redundancies of the people, and of wealth to the proprietors upon whofe lands they grow*. . \ Our woods of oak and fir employ, dur- ing the fummer months, thoufands of poor people. This is admitted ; but if the coun- try is depopulated, labourers cannot fo eaiily be found. The forefts cannot really be J. J * Unfavourable to population as are the cold and fro- zen regions of Norway, their numerous forefts are con- verted by toil and indullry into means of fubfiftence and employment, and are comparatively well inhabited. m 124 it ^1- Ifti I'i prclervedf for it requires a great number of hands to inclofe them and keep the in- clofurts in repair. § 8. The next objed is penetrating our mourtains. It is well known that the coun- try abounds with lead, copper, iron, and dates, befides other foflils. If thefe were made objeds of general attention, they would be an additional fource of wealth and ftrength to the country. Many of thern lie along the coaft, or contiguous to roads, It is aftonifhihg how they fupport the grow- ing population of the country, by draw- ing it from the plr.ces where it is exceflive, and by fumiftiing work, and of courfe the means of fubiiflence. The mines of Clifton 9nd Strontian * have been carried on for a long time with tolerable fuccefs, and em- ployed frequently from fifty to a hundred and fifty or more men ; add to this women ^hd children, and you maj calculate at * Thefc mines are row given up. It is remarkable lliow the poor people employed in them have improved the 'barren moors contiguous to them, and ftill continue to live on them. Clifton, near Tyndrum, is one of the highcft, mod •ftorijiy, and defert fituat'.ons in Scotland. • ia5 Strblitian at leafl three hundred inhabit- ants, in it5 itioft flourifhing ftate. ^irrr/^ lo Mines carried on in a free country by fr^e men, would ad exadly as other im- provements ; but conduced by Haves, as in fbme parts of Germany, in the Spanifti do- minions, and other parts of the globe, they injure and retard population, and always fhow a defeat in that government whicb permits fuch llavery. ^ '=>ir'^'r'"r"*^*'r>^t hr;M § 9. Our lakes and rivers are well ftored with fifh, that might produce incalculable advantages *. Our friths, and what is term-, ed fait w^ter lochs, teem with fhoals of her- ring, cod, ling, lythe, fahnon, fays, and my- riads of all kinds. All the iflands ov, the weft coaft are furrounded by them. . • The tranflation and multiplication of fifh as a na- Vfei;! tional refourcc has been tried in different places. The celebraif i Dr. Franklin tranfplant jfji^' ^-^ bsiiiao tovii^'i What ufe has yet been made of thefe ad-- vantages? The herring fifhery in general is left in the hands of ftrangers, or a fetv na- tives, of very narrow capitals. rromrmr The proprietors, whofe eflates are encom- pafled by luxuries of fuch value, Ihould gfant land to accommodate fifhers at an eafy rent. The fifheries would be profitable to them- felves and to the country ; they would feed and employ thoufands of the natives * ; they would improve the foil conterminous to the fphere f their immediate operation ; they would draw a great deal of money to the * Drs. Hyndman and Dick, who with others in 1760 viHted the Highlands for a religious purpofe, flate, that i? the pariih of Contin there were near 3000 catechifahle pcrfons, and add, " the largenefs of their number being ** bccafioned by the people refiding here for the fake of the ** fifhery.*' The adjacent parifhcs, having the fame oppor- tunities, and nearly of equal extent, did not contain half the number, Applecrofs being only ftatcd at 1200 cate- chifahle perfons. >■•:•'* >' { ._jVi,;iij^.„^s,*VU*flv''V country f , which would readily girculatc, and make the rents not only higher, but better paid, and of courfe enrich the pro- prietors, as well as the community at large* Yet poflefling thefe advantages, admitted on all hands, hardly a man of loool. flock at his outfet engages in fuch a lucrative branch of trade*/ . .y^vamtrjd 1;a': ':.ifH:t r?-- •. > Some Highlanders about Greenock, and from that to Stornaway, may have fome y '^rs cleared from one hundred to ^ *^hou- Juua pounds Sterling, after having palTed all the dangers arifing from a diftant, flor- my, and perilous navigation, I do not mean that our proprietors (hould convert themfelves to fifh-mongers, and have the felfifh fpirit of commerce ; but thofe who have not done it fhould at leaft fuperintend, and give m ore than cold approbation. They might c i?; ,:.e by their agents, and, as fome of them a » oncourage the people by fmall donations of land, or nets, or fome trifle. ' I'M f A falmon ftnack arrived at London from Invemefs 27th June 1766, and brouglit 11,000 live lobilerit valued at abou; oool. .. ;. .. 128 m IP' I;}!* it' I:' till they would be brought to feel their In-^ tereft, and then no incitement would be neceflary. The people already, in many places, draw fome fhare of their fubliftence fromfifh*; but in general this is no ad- vantage ; for they who do this, are moftly tenants or tradefmen, therefore withdrawn from their real bufinefs. What I mean is/ that fifhers by profeflion fhould be efta- blifhcd. Government c : .!ie laiided pro- prietors fhould unite their /orces, remove the refledions which have been thrown up- on them for their negled in this matter, and prevent that depopulation which goes on, and threatens flill to increafe. But it may be replied, fifheries are al- * ready adive ; why do they not prevent e- migration ? It is true ; but, as already re- marked, they are carried on by people, at leaft two thirds, from other countries, and the Highlanders muft leave them, becaufe they have no permanent refidence, and be- . * The people of Barra nnd fome other iflands pay al- moft all their rent by this refource j therefore all thefe iflands are amazingly populous, virtuous, and healthy. • »f 129 - i.;aufe they are not properly direded. I' know that falmon and cod-fiflimg have in fome places been tried, and failed ; but the failure was owing to the mode of manage- ment, the circumflances of the managers, or the envy of rivals. Proper companies, upon a fufficient foundation, would, as in every other place, remove inconveniencies^ and furmount unforefeen obflacles. § lo. Manutadures and arts in general are the next objed of confideration. . Thefe, in places where fuel, and food, and water, are eadly provided, and where proper attention is given to the health and morals of the people, form a prodigious re- fource.to any country. Every body admits, that the Highlands of Scotland are as well calculated for obtaining all neceflaries as any part of the Britifh dominions. By their natural canals, by the £ills of water, by the abundance of fuel in fome places, by their proximity to markets, and by their fituation in general *, they might, in * This is fully fhown hy the laudable aeal of Newte and Knox. • - j commercial importance, vie with any king- dom in the world ; yet hardly a fhip of any burden is built, a woollen manufadure e- ftablifhed, a tannery or diftillery founded, though foreign timber pafles by them to England, though our wool and raw hides are fold for half their value, and though great fums of money are expended on fo- reign fpirits. As for cotton mills, iron founderies, or manufadures of foreign productions, it is vain to talk of them, when the productions of the country are allowed to pafs into the hands of thofe who know their value *. § 1 1. Here it may be objeded, . at fome of thofe fine improvements have been tried, but failed. .'■■ « . . - ^- . - .■ . ■ . > . . '. Of this objedion, in all its force, I have been aware all along, and it may be eafily removed. * A gentleman well acquainted with the Highlanders, in a letter to me, makes an excellent remark, that they are averfe in general to fettle in the manuf-iftories of the low country, and therefore (hould be em|:byed where they could. -_ ..^ . 131 All the meafures recommended here have been recommended a hundred times before, and they are adopted, and fuccefsful, in ma- ny other parts of the united kingdoms. Why fhould not they have the fame fuccefs in a (ituation full as fa vourable as any in Eu- rope ? Their expediency is admitted ; they are not avlerted to be impradicable. It may be obferved, in the fir ft place, that arts and commerce in their infancy axe liable to numberlefs obftrudtions and failures. This is the order of things. It is only by repeated trials, by unwearied in- duftry, that thofe obftacles are furmount- ed*. ' ' • ■• ■■"' ' ' - ■ ■ •' ■' Thofe obftacles and failures may arife from the men that condud the bufinefs ; for if they are not properly qualified, others that excel them turn the market againft them. If t-hey have not a fufficient capital, their profperity is endangered by unexpeded de- mands. If they do not agree in their plans, they cannot fucceed. I .1 - -^ --- - — * See a ftriking defcription of the progrefs of arts in tlie Rambler, No. 9. IIJ i l! 'I i;52 Ir -it hi: E'> If they have not proper connexions, cor- refpondence, and oftablifhed credit, they may be i ainec' undermined, or overreach- ed b) j ilous rxvals. If they have not chofen a fit fituation for mannfadories, they may find inconveni- encies in conveying their goods to market, and in providing food for their people. If they do not make choice of proper fubjeds, that is, commodities that have the befl: chance of fucceeding or felUng, this ex- pofes their imprudence, and prevents their fuccefs. J , And laftly, If they condud their bufinefs upon an extravagant fcale, without keeping regular accounts or ftrid: economy, they cannot exped to fucceed. And above all, unlefs hone ft as well as fkiful overfeers and clerks are feleded with proper difcernment, their bufinefs may be thrown into confu- fion. , In moft parts of the Highlands, fo far as I know, they ftiould pay particular atten- tion to the above ftatement, and apply it as they fee caufe. I believe moft of the difappointments ^33 which have impeded experiments in trade have arifen in general from the want of fufficient funds and credit, and want of fkil- ful workmen. When people have not patience enough, but would be rich all at once ; when the articles are not fufficiently prepared for the market ; when there is no zeal nor conti- nued application ; when the undertakers and contradors launch out into all the fop- pery of fafhion and profufion of expence, what can be expeded but difappointment ? The landholders of rank, credit, and ge- neral influence, ihould not be unconcerned fpedators. But if they are willing to lend an adive hand, one thing is of efTential confequence; they fhould at ftated times appoint competent judges to infpedt and examine the Hate of accounts and progrefs. of the work, to flimulate induftry, fhow their concern, and prevent embezzlement or mifcondud. . ,. . .. i ^ They fhould cautioufly guard againfl granting letters of credit, and above all, buying fliares without knowing the flate of the pompany, • • • 1 iij '34. 5, hi I The Darien and South Sea Comixiniesi, the Bank of Ayr, and many other aifocia- tions, iliould be a perpetual warning againft rafli or imprudent interferences. A man in a fit of public fpirit will feel difpofed to go any lengths, but fits or mo- mentary impulfes are dangerous to the in- dividual and to fociety. Upon the whole, the objedion has no force farther than that arifing from una- voidable circumilances, which by united and repeated efforts might be gradually re- moved. If any one argues againft the very idea of introducing arts into the Highlands, I would recommend to his confideration the hiftory of commerce to the prefent day. By a fhort view it might be fhown how it advanced, from India, Egypt, Phoenicia, Perfia, Tyre, Colchis, Greece, Italy, Portugal, France, Netherlands, for 4000 years, till the com- merce of the whole world is almoft exclu- fively engrofled by the Britifh ifles. ■ 4. The Hanfe Towns, about the beginning of the fifteenth century, when the fpirit of enterprife, freedom and knowledge revived. 135 enjoyed exclufively the advantages of all the trade then carried on between Europe and Ada. At that time our wool went over to Flanders before it was manufadlured. '-♦t- Henry VII. firfl: obferved the advantages of his fituation ', Elifabeth purfued his plan; the refult is well known, f^iw utM ' The north of England hardly made any figure till the lad reign, and now let it be compared with the north of Scotland, and the difference will be manifeft. The fame caufes always produce the fame eflfeds. ■" ^ '"••• Is there any thing in the people of both countries which can account for the pre- eminence of the north of England ? ' -f^ We complain that the lower orders of the Highlanders are full of prejudices, which no argument can remove ; yet thofe very people have diflinguifhed themfelves in ma- ny parts of the world, by affiduity, genius, and fuccefs, as their opulent defcendents and munificent benefadions teftify in many places on the continent of Europe and A- merica. Show them their intereft, and place them • • • • iiiij 1^ 136 in a favourable fituation, and they will pur- fue it. ,,.... Thus I have endeavoured to ftate the means which the country provides for food and employment, and of confequence for preventing emigration. I do not look up- on any of them beyond our reach, for what is done in one place may be done in iino- ther. ' '' "- , § 12. The next object which is fuggefted by the ftate of the Highlands, is fecurity. Leafes, adapted to the nature of the par- ticular foil, fliould be given. Againfl this I fee no fufHcient objedlion. That it makes the peo^^le independent, that is, more their own mafters, is indubitable j but without independence no country can improve, and no people can be prolperous. It does not hurt the intereft of the land- lord. If he give a leafe for 1 9 years, at a rent deemed fufficient, he may not have the continuing rife of things ; but from this very circumftance the tenant improves the foil, gathers ftrength and courage, and will be able, towards cne expiration of his leafe, if he has been ordinarily diligent and 137 Uiccefsful, to give a confitlerablc advance of rent for a new Icafe ; fo that the proprietor upon the whole would gain in his individual and focial capacity. * '^ — Tlie infecurity arifing from the defec-» tive poUcy of withholding leafes, has the mod pernicious confequences ; and it is not a little furprifing that fuch enlightened land- holders as are in the Highlands have aot all feen them. i. ..;. Leafes are becoming more general ; for what the majority believe to be good, mufl ime influence the pradice of all. But lome of the leafes are yet fo cramped by claufes, as to render it impoflible to fulfil them ; and hence it would appear that they are given by way of experiment, becaufe they may be reduced when they difappoint expedtation. /t- -r Grant leafes upon rational and equal terms, as fuit corn and grazing countries, inforce their conditions legally, but not vexatioufly, and you at leafl prevent por pulation from being much reduced. When the people find that they are re- fpeded, that they have time to be be- li i!' II I 138 m nested by their labours, that they have a fure dwelling, at leaft for a limited time, they will not in general think of emigra- tion. But if they fee themfelves expofed to the fpleen, humour, or caprice of a ma- iler, they become reftlefs and difcontented. I do not propofe thefe meaiis as contain- ing all that can be faid upon this part of our fubjed. Local knowledge no doubt may fuggeft local remedies ; adtive mea- fures, however, are abfolutely neceffary. Self-intereft recommends them more ftrong- iy than any thing which can be faid by a per- fon, who, though not an indifferent fpeda- tor, yet has only a general concern in the profperity of his country. m - - § 13. I fhall not wade time in Hating the means fitted to remove every particular caufe of emigration. - .j: . . ' But fuppofing it arifes from latent and ill-founded difcontent, from fonxc; preju* dice, or bad humour, or error, if all pru- dent and peaceable means are ufed in vain to convince or reciaim, emigration is the oell remedy. Great caution is however requifite in judging in matters of this kind ; mm « " for the uneafinefs of the people is orten not iil-founded, therefore rafhnefs might lead to increafe the evil. Bat when difcontents of a migratory nature fpring from the in- fligation of others, inimical to our efta^ bli{hments, the police of the country fnould not hefjtate to inflidl the punifhment beft adapted to the emergency, becaufe their perfuafions have the moil pernicious ten- dency. And though there be no exprefs ftatute to comprehend this crime, it never- thelefs deferves notice. There is a law a- ganift kidnapping, or men-fteahng ; and what is inftigation but a fpecies of kidnap- piiig ? leading the poor people or to ruin, ^ifrarbing their enjoyments, rendermg them ripe for a revolt, deluding them l)y falfe hopes, and of courfe infpiring them with dilcontents of the moft dangerous tendency. It belongs to the niagiftracy to watch fuch characters, whether natives or aliens, and treat them as culpriib, hoflde to the very vitals of the conflitution, and the eic- if;ence of domeflic happinefs. ^1' II, N 140 ' .'U ., _ .,1. SECT. IV. r ■. 0/j? /)&.. -^ ' Many inftances have occurred lince the year 1793, which fliow that criminals are, and may be remanded by the govern-^ ment of that country againft which they have offended. § 2. But when thefe cafes do not occur, and a perfon can exercife his individual and focial rights, may he not go ^\hen and where he pleafes ? The principle which forms fociety fup- poies choice, or liberty of adion, and that H3 wliich keeps it together is mutual haj ^^i- neis* '' ' '■'•' ■■■■ •• '' After a perfon has confented to be a member of fociety, and to regulate his con- dud: by the eflablifhed cuftoms, maxims, or laws of that fociety ; after he has enjoy- ed its privileges, and realifed fome fortune V nder the protedlion of thefe laws or privi- leges, is it not an injury to that fociety to leave it, and withdraw fo much from the common flock, at the time, and in the manner he pleafes ? Is it warrantable there- fore to interfere, fince every individual, as well as every body of men, has a right to defend himfelf from injury, upon the prin- ciple of felf-prefervation ? Incorporate bo- dies often do interfere. Suppofe a number of perfons fhould ima- gine that they were opprefTed by the laws of the country, that they had no liberty, * This was the cafe, after men had formed feveral di- flin£t focieties ; and though it does not hold exa£lly in the firfl formation of fociety, which was a family, yet perfons might even then feparate themfelves from the reft, and lay the foundation of another nation. ■ I ; m and therefore in one body refolved to leaV© it, what (hould be done in fuch a cafe ? They might, by unreafonable demands, di- flrefs their neighbours ; they would dimi- nifh the revenue, and weaken the general interefts of the community. Here the ad- miniftration might legally impofe at leall temporary reftraints. .v , Suppofe the minority of the people in time of danger, fay of invafion, or of any natural or political calamity, fliould, in a fit of paflion or ill humour, or under the im- preflion of groundlefs fears, determine to quit ihe fcene of danger or difficulty, would not the majority be juflifiable in ufing pro- per means for detaining them, at leafl for a limited time? i^ i ■> There may be then fome cafes in which a perfon is reftrained from exercifing his right of choofing his refidence, and in which the Legiflature m*ay interpofe its au- thority, without violating the principle of focial compadl. Some regulations exifl to render emigra- tion lefs dangerous ; for the country to I^w U5 which it tends, may be as much afFedted by it as that which is deferted. Hence the- objed of the aUen adl, and the time necef- fary to naturahfe a foreigner. During the period fixed by law for natu- rahfing a foreigner, he may be claimed by that government whofe dominions he quit- ted ; and the country in which he fettles is not juftifiable in forcibly detaining him, be- caufe it may by an edid expel him its terri- tories. In fhort, when emigration endangers the happinefs or exiftence of the country, from whatever caufe it may originate. Govern- ment may juflly interfere, and at lead di- flinguifh betwixt thofe who can be fpared, and thofe who cannot. For inflance, a certain number of perfons are jufl now marked out for ferving in the militia of this country ; fuppofe they refolv- ed to emigrate to America, might not they be detained, without any tyranny or op- preffion ? upon this principle, often alluded to and admitted by all, that every one is bound to ferve the fociety under whofe laws he lives, and of confequence is prohi^ K 1? 146 Sir I mi bited from leaving it when it has need of his fervice. . - • ' • When Government interferes in one cafe, it may interfere in another of a fimilar na- ture. By charters from the Crown, fome places cannot be reforted to, excepting by thofe nominated in the charter, or others per- mitted or employed by them. In cafes of monopolies, Government thought fit to difpenfe exclufive or difcre- tionary power to a number of individuals, for an oftenfible caufe. So long as this grant continues in force, no other perfon can legally encroach upon the corporate rights of the monopolifts. None, for inflance, can go to the Eaft Indies, unlefs employed by the Eaft India Company ; it cannot be therefore the ob^ jedl of emigration. Here, however free, you cannow exercife your natural right or freedom of choice. Government might lay any other country, in fimilar circumftances, under fimilar reftraints. But as Govern- ment has adually prohibited emigration in 147 fome inftances, it has encouraged it in o- thers. It has granted charters to individuals of :many parts of America, and of confequence permitted them to people them in any man- ner they faw fit *. Here was a legal per- miffion to emigrate ; and where there is a power to grant fuch a liberty, there is a power to impofe regulations confident with the national fecurity. It is indeed fuperfluous to confider this quefi:ion farther, for almoft all governments in Europe, as might be fhown, exercife their authority by colonization, or by interfer- ence, when emigration threatens the na^- tional exiftence. This is founded upon the firfl principle of union. Indeed it the whole fociety diflTolved partnerfhip like a trading company, by common confent, no injury could be done. But the quellion being * Hence knights-baronets were CiCatcd, called the Knights of Nova Scotia. After this country was con- firmed to us by the peace of Utrecht, 3000 families were tranfportcd to it 1749, at the charge of Government, and built the town of Halifax, in honour of the earl of that name. 148 agitated concerning the Highlanders, fup- pofe they all (hould form a refolution to de-» fert their country at once, is Government juftifiable in oppofing them? A combination was formed not many years ago in a cer- tain diftrid, and the objed of it actually ac- complifhed ; was it legal, or fhould it have been an objed of public invefligation ? It is true, no perfon is obliged to give my price for my property ; but is that perfon juftified in forming a combination to hin- der others from buying it ? This feems liable to the fame punifh- ment as aflbciations among workmen, jour-* neymen, or any other clafs of labourers, to raife their wages, with this difference, that the combination in the one cafe is to raife the price of labour, and in the other to bring down the price of land ; both which operate againil the public weal, and there- fore juflly fubjeded to arbitrary punifli- ment. When emigration originates in fome unreafonable prejudice, it is the duty of magiflracy to employ the mofl falutary nieafures which the cafe may fuggefl. As 149 it is the duty of any- perfon to employ means to remove a malady which attacks any of his Umbs, fo it is of the body poli- tic to cure any diltemper which may have feized any of its ov n members. !. '. KllJ •1 ,, ; ' ];;__a .<( . . i J i i ) ^50 SECT. V. Mr Mifcellancous Ohfervntions. If emigration fhould be carried to a great extent in the Highlands, ofRcers might be appointed by Government to give it a new fhape, to condu6l thefe voluntary exiles, or to infpedt their circumftaiices, and invefti- gate their motives or caules of feceflion. This is pradticable at the fea-port towns, or before they quit home ; and if it be found that they had no alternative but to fly i' om local hardfhips, thefe hardfhips might confiftentlv come under the view of admi- niftration *. As fo much fpecie is carried over the Atlantic, and operates againfl our credit, raifes the value of money, and lowers the produce of the country, fome flep might * Ye friends to truth, ye ftatefmen who furvey The rich man's joys increafe, the poor's decay, *Tis yours to judge how wide the limits ftai^d Between a fplendid and a happy land. Goldfmith*s Deferted Village, »5i be taken to detain it, either by exchange or credit conveyances, in the ufual way of commerce. Perhaps if the proprietors whofe lands are evacuated were to co-operate vnth the Highland Society, of which many of them are members, examine more minutely the flate of the country, and communicate their fenti' ">ents freely, they might difcover the caufe, and devife proper means for prevent- ing fuch impending calamities* If emigration proceeds from envy, jea- loufy, or inordinate paflion, it might be ufeful "o advertife, that the gentlemen of the comtry would furnifh vciTels to convey all thofe difpofed to emigrate againft a cer- tain day, and this might be the means of creating a paufe in fome clafles of people, and of inducing them to act by the fpirit of contradidion, as it would lead them to fufpedl that a defign was formed againft their liberties, and ftiow them that theii fervices could be wanted *. * I am indebted for this hint to a friend well verfed in rural affairs, and well acquainted with the prefcni cha* ra£ter of the Highlanders. K lllj JnJWB WWiJl The idea of being fent out of their na- tive country by others would increafe their attachment to it, and incline them to con- lider more foberly the caufes of leaving it. I am not, and never will be an advocate for tyrannical reflraints ; I argue upon the ground of freedom and right. If the Highlanders were opprefled and haralTed by perfecution or defpotifrc, if they were not really exempted from many of the calamities which affed fome of the mofl favoured nations, I would perhaps be the fir ft, by precept and example, to en- courage emigration ; but while I admit that they have many of the common hardfhips of human life, I have attempted to prove that they are iingularly favoured. I have little confidence in the loofe hints which I have here thrown out, as efficacious for the purpoie I had in view. Nay, it may be conflently afTerted, that all the meafures I have propofed fl^all not produce any good, unlefs Government interpofe, not by legal or arbitrary reftraints, but by expendmg a part of the public money, in conjundion with the independent gentle- 155 men of the country, to find emplo3^ment for the inhabitants*. About 150,000!. has been direded, by fucceffive adminillra- tions, to promote the interefts of the Pro^ teftant reUgion. Upwards of 20o,oool. has been employed by afTociations to attain the fame end. Nay, it may be calculated that more than half a million Sterlinsf has been * This is fhi opinion of Colonel Robertfon of Struan, in his letter to Dr. Robertfon of Callender, regarding Ra- lioch. After delivering his opinion, that it would be for the immediate advantage of proprietors in the High- lands to remove at lead one half of their tenantp, he ob- fcrves, " As many of the proprietors, from unavoidable circumftances, will be under the neceflity of having re- courfe to this expedient, would it not be an objedl worthy the paternal care of Government to devife fome means of enabling ihcm to follow their earneft wifhes, to prevent the depopulation of the country ? Premiums are very pro- perly allowed for the encouragement of every ufeful im- prc^-ement of natural advantage, and none can be of more general utility than ke)epir.g the people in their own coun- try. Upon the fame principle, why fliould not the pro- prietors of latcs in the Highlands, who facrifice their own interelt to that of the nation, and to the dilates of humanity, be in fome degree indemnified by Govern- ment ?" Dr. Roberifoih Agriculti' al Survey of Perth/hire, Appendix, p. 524, 525, BBBBI 154 expended, within a hundred years, to con- folidate the happinefs of the Highlanders. The effeds fhould be manifeft. Why not appropriate 50,000!., or fome adequate fum, to keep them at home, and enable them by their labours to repay fuch im- menfe expenditure ? . . ' . Though every perfon who can read thinks himfelf qualiiied to cenfure the wif- dom of adminiflration, in the diflribution of the public money, yet I do not feel myfelf competent to judge in a matter of fuch magnitude ; being fatisfied that it is lodged in fafe hands, that no elevation of rank or fortune can fecure from fault, that abufes creep into the mofl prudent manage- ment, and that there lives not a man who can put his hand upon his heart, and fay, he never mifapplied any part of his own property. For an obfcure individual to prefcribe or admonifh may be confidered prefump- tion, and treated with contempt. It mat- ters not ; he that feels a concern for the good of his country, has difcharged a duty, when he endeavours to point out what may be done to promote that good. It is a Angular phenomenon in the hifto-. ry of Britain, that fo many citizens Ihould leave the moil favoured province. It how- ever requires uncommon caution to inter- meddle by prevention. Emigration {hows clearly either an increafe of knowledge, change of manners, impatience of reflraint, a revolutionary fpirit, or all thefe together. The firft clafles of people inhabiting thofe diftrids affeded by it, are loudly call- ed upon to confider the*, -'ys. and be wife; to extend their view to tuturity, and duly appreciate thofe advantages, of which emi- gration may bereave their pofterity; to watch carefully the progrefs of moral and political fentiments among the people, whofe united labours alone conilitute their temporal feli- x:ity ; and above all, to diredl, by precept and example, the difFufion of religious knowledge, without which no condition can be called profperous, and no govern- ment pronounced fecure. The country, where their interefls are more immediate- ly involved, has been from the earh'eft ages BD w i '' i *56 Jremarkable for heathenifh and popilh fu- perflition, and by abandoning this fuper- ftition, may be throv/n -nto confufion, un- lefs a proper fubflitution be made. Next to the bleilings of pure reUgion, firmly eftabUfhed, and widely difFufed, no fubfli- tution is better than virtuous induflry. - " There is plenty of wool in the High- lands, to employ the people in fpinning ; plenty of land for potatoes, and fome grain ; abundance of paflure fitted for producing mutton, to feed ali the inhabitants, in aid of their grain ; enough of timber to erecSt houfes to lodge them, and inexhauftible funds of mofs in different places to be fuel. iThere is more humanity in rendering man- kind happy and comfortable, than in driv- ing them from home, to wander they know not where ; more pleafure, furely, in ren- dering them convenient, than in reducing them to mifery ; more prudence in keeping artifls and labourers at hand, for being em- ployed in providing the various neceflaries, which the advanced flate of the country and the tafle of the age require, than in purchafing them at a dear ra^^e, and carrying ^"57 them from afar; andcertainlythereismore patriotifm in contributing to keep the peo- ple in their own country, to fight our bat- tles in the time of need, and defend every thing that is dear to Britons, than in chaf- ing away the natural guardians of our pri- vileges and independence, to feek an afy- lum on a foreign fhore. Muft Britain be a cruel flepmother to her children ? And fhall the Highland gentlemen, whofe fa- thers had a pride in the number of their men, fhut up their bowels of compaflion againft the children of thofe who fell by their fathers fide ? " Have the anguifh and tears of their kin- dred, and thofe of their blood, no effect in melting their hearts to the tender feelings of compaflion ? And is the bleffing of him who is ready to perifh not worthy of being enjoyed ? " The voice of truth is fometimes fo feeble, that it cannot be heard till it be too late. But it is the bufinefs of Govern- ment, the natural guardians of the flate, to watch with a vigilant eye over the national profperity, to guard againfl national evils, 15* to forefee danger, and prevent it by falu- tary regulations ; to make its voice to be heard all over the empire, its authority to be regarded in every province, and fubmit- ted to by the moft remote individual *." ** Bid harbours open, public ways extend. Bid temples, worthier of the God, afcend } Bid the broad arch the dangerous flood contain) The mole proje£led break the roaring main ; Back to hit bounds their fubje£l fea command) And roll obedient rivers through the land. Thefe honours peace to happ/ Britain brings, ; Thefe are imperial works, and worthy kings." Popct Epiji. IV. 167. * Dr. Robertfon's Agricultural Survey of Pcrthftiirc, P' 413* 4M> 415- FINIS. 3=2 BOOKS Prinfed for and Sold by PETER HILL, AND MUNDELL ^ SON, EDINBURGH, AND LONGMAN i^ REES, LONDON. *'t 1. GENERAL VIEW OF THE AGRICUTTrTRT? OF THE COUNTY OF ARGylLf withS^^^^^ on the Means of its Improvement, drawn up for the Con- fiderationof the Board of Agriculture and Internal Im- provement, by John Smith, D. D. one of the Minifters of Campbelton, illuftrated u^ith Plates, and a large Map of the County, 8vo — Price 8s. in boards. '^iT^T^^?"/"^^' P^P^^» P"ce I2S. in boards.— 1 he Map of the County may be had feparate, price 3s. 6d. or 7s. 6d. on canvas and rollers. . 2. GENERAL VIEW OF THE AGRICULTTTRF OF THE COUNTY OF CLYDESdIlE, wTo^^^^^ vations on the Means of its Improvement, by John Nai- Imith. Drawn up for the Confideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement, 8vo.-Price as. m boards. Illuftrated with a Map of the County. jH IS-'.' iai Mi , * ■ i 3. THE LIFE OF ST. COLUMBA, the Apoftle and Patron of the Ancient Scots and Pidts, and Joint Patron of the Irifli, commonly called Colum-Kille, the Apoftle of the Highlands. By John Smith, D. D. one of the Minifters of Campbelton, Honorary Member of the An- tiquarian and Highland Societies of Scotland j i vol. 8vo, Price 3s. fewed. The I-ife of this Celebrated Saint of the Sixth Century was written in Latin by two of his fucceflbrs, Cummin and Adomnan. Their perfor- mances, like other works of the fame nature and of the fame age, are filled with Viflons, Prophecies, and Miracles. Di. Smith has therefore imdertaken to difencumbir the memoirs of this great and good man from the miraculoun garb with which they have been fo long invefled ; to fc- parate the fadt from the fable, and to fliow the Saint m his real charac- , tcr. — M'jfttliy RevieiVy Dec. 1 798. 4. THE MISCELLANEOUS WORICS OF TOBIAS ^SMOLLETT, M. D. with Memoirs of his Life and Writ- ' *ings, by Robert Anderfon, M. D. The Second Edition enlarged, containing, The Life of Smollett — The Adven- . turesof Roderick Random — The Adventures qf Peregrine Pickle — ^The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom — Plays and Poems — An Account of the Expedition againft Carthagena — ^The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves — ^Travels through France and Italy — The Expedition of Humphry Clinker — and The Adventures of an Atom, vols, large 8vo. — Price 2I. 8s. in boards. :•; ^^:.-■■vv^//i 'K>,iv>;'»^ix''v'j l«»-;1P«:|?r-W'.'V '«C«f«il- ■j'^ V^, -i% ■imti ril r';.i' ';••> iiifC :\Hi :i > .,, u 'J> - ♦ ■■^■■v ,#• # "