l803» Prevenfttig Emigraiio?i fr07?i the Highlands, 257 



labour will be furniflied than was adually executed under the 

 operation of the ancient fyltem. 



One thing here defervcs notice, which is, the antipathy hi- 

 therto difplayed by the old poflelTors againfl the new fettlers, 

 and their obftinate refufal to work upon /arms where they 

 formerly confidered themielves as mailers. This is certainly a 

 difhculty of a ferious nature, but might perhaps be overcome, 

 were proprietors ferioully to fliow that they had the real welfare 

 and comfort of the inhabitants at heart. Were fuch immediately- 

 provided with comfortable habitations, inftead of having to take 

 up with the difmal huts and Oiealings of the country ; were they 

 fecured, for a few years, of a certain number of d^ys work in each 

 year, or provided with a fixed quantity of oat meal and potatoes, 

 till the new fyftem came fully into action ; I am almo(t convinced 

 that a number of people, equal to what is wanted, would cheer- 

 fully remain in the country, and that the averfion to the new 

 poflcflbrs would gradually die away. Prejudices are not to be 

 forcibly combated ; indeed, fuccefs never accompanied fuch an 

 attempt ; but, by exerting wifdom and prudence, they will be 

 much abated. Convince the people, not by words, but by actions, 

 that their fituation will be meliorated, and every caufe of oppo- 

 sition ceafes. 



I have already fuppofed, under the hypothetical cafe which I 

 argue upon, that 100 families, confiding of 500 fouls, will be- 

 difpoirclied by the introduOiiGn of the new hufljandry, and I 

 think it very probable that the one half of thefe might be ac- 

 commodated upon the eltate, were fuch fteps taken as 1 have 

 above pointed out. In eretling the village or villages (as perhaps 

 more than one might be necelTary), every perfon who was able 

 to build a houfe at his own expence fiiculd receive a long Icafe 

 x)f the fame, paying only a trifling fum annually as ground-rent 

 for it, and a garden annexed. Were an acre or two of ground, 

 at a low rent, alfo annexed to each houfe, and to accompany 

 the pofTeihan in ail time coming, much benefit would be thence 

 derived* But, in the event of the old inhabitants being 

 unabk to ere<3: houfes for themfelves, fuch a bufinefs Ihould at 

 once be taken up by the proprietor, whofe interell and chara<£l:er 

 is fo deeply concerned- 1 certainly do not exceed probability, 

 when I calculate upon one half of the number being able to ere^l 

 houfes on their own account ; and, to provide for the remainder, 

 500I. would be fufficient, allowing 15I. for each houfe, an«l 51. 

 for fencing the garden, &c. This outlay would be a permaricnt 

 melioration of the property, which, in the cafe of an entailed 

 cftate, could be regiftered, and made efl'edlual againil the hei;s 

 i^t an after period. 



Ccc 5 I 



