2(5(? Cur/or y Refleclions on the Jlf^jns of Aug. 



very few, who could be thus comfortably accommodnted at home, 

 would fly to foreign lands, where difficulties of great magnitude 

 mull, in the bed view of the bufmefs, be unavoidably encoun- 

 tered. 



According to this plan, a final! fum q>1 m.oney woukl be ne- 

 cefiary for each family, in order that the e:<pences of their jour- 

 ney might be defrayed, and furniture provided for their new habi- 

 tations. To carry off their old furniture, would be an impradH- 

 cable affair, and perhaps it would be fold much below its real 

 value •, of courfe, fome aififtance is neceliury to enfure their com- 

 fortable fcttlement. The fum, however, required for attaining 

 this object, would be nothing at all, when placed oppofite to the 

 immenfe benefit that might be gained to the public and indivi- 

 duals by fuch removals. Were even Government to grant ten 

 thoufand pounds per annum for their afTiftance, I venture to fay 

 that the objecSt might be efFv^clu.ally accomplifhed. 



Thus, I have oi'v^red a izw curfory reflections upon a fubje6k 

 which, of late, has greatly attracted the public notice -, and when 

 the motive which dictated them is confidered, I truft they will 

 experience a candid and impartial confideration. I blame no 

 perfon whatever, and allow that proprietors are fairly on titled to 

 make the )noll of their property ; though I muft repeat, that the 

 future welfare and proipirity of the old inhabitants, aiTe6ted by 

 arrangements, pern ps necrllary before the full value of that pro- 

 perty can be gained, arc matters which c-ught to be attended to. 

 I have pointed out two ways in which this may be ^onz : i. By 

 providing houfes and employment on each eftate for as many of 

 the diipoflefled inhabitants as pofTible. 2. To ufe proper means 

 for fettling the rem-^.inder in the Eafiern diflricts of the kingdom, 

 Mdiere the fcale of population is lower than fatisfies the demand 

 for labour. As the proprietors are the pfimarv, though I confefs 

 innocent, caufe of "removals, I confider it as a duty incumbent 

 upon them to be the ac^tive agents for putting fuch regulations in 

 execution; becaufc it is only by the adoption of fuch meafures, 

 that the inhabitants ca!i be prevented from emigrating to foreign 

 lanti-^. 



Before I am done, allovv- me jufl to notice x\\t proceedings of 

 the Highland Society on the fubject of Emigration, as detailed in 

 the fecond volume of their Tra-ifadlions. That refpeftable body 

 recommend iroprovcment of the fiflicries, the eltabiifhment of 

 the fimpler kinds of manufactures, and tlie opening of commu- 

 nication throu-h thefe n-mote diftrirts by roads, bridges, and ca- 

 nals. But, with fubmiffion, I think it highly probable, that, were 

 even every one of thefe recommendations inftantly a6ted upon 

 in the molt vigorous manner; none of the wiQied for effects 



would 



