34 «'« '^^ HrglA'atiJi. Sept. ^, 



it would ?ecm that neither of them are able to compre- 

 hend the force of this plain mode of reasoning. 



I have often said, nor can it be too often repeated, that 

 the Highlands and Islands of Scotland oflFer natural sour- 

 ces of population, manufactures, and trade, and conse- 

 quently revenue, that no other part of the Britifti domi- 

 nions can ever equal ; and a time will no doubt come,, 

 when the nation will avail itself of these natural advan- 

 tages 5 but how long it may be before this takes place» 

 no one can tell. Many ages had elapsed before the Gre- 

 cian Archipelago, from advantages similar ia kind^ 

 though greatly inferior in degree, came to be the wonder 

 of the universe. Innumerable harbours in the Highland^, 

 and Isles which have no bar but those that ill judged laws 

 create, offer a facility of intercourse between every part 

 of the country and another, and with all the world, that 

 arc known no where else. Level straths lead from these 

 harbours into the very heart of the country, in some places- 

 acrofs the whole island, that offer an unequalled facility 

 of intercourse by land. Inexhaustible streams of water, 

 which, from the amazing height of fall, would, under 

 proper manig-ement, have a power over machinery, next: 

 to infinite, would give to manufactures there, an unrival:' 

 led advantage over all others. The sterility of the coun- 

 try is nothing j it is more fertile than Appenzel, more- 

 easily preservfid from the destructive ravages of the ele- 

 ments than Holland ; and were a free intercourse per* 

 mitted by the laws, in coal and in grain *, it would be- 

 come a sure market for the produce of some of the. more, 

 fertile districts ia Britain, which are better calculated for 



• Not only are the salt laws opprefsive,— many others arc equally inju-. 

 dicious. Among others, by the late corn act, it is in the power of any 

 customhouse officer stationed there, to starve' neatly half a niiliaa of" 

 je >plc for w-nt of fojd, abuiwhijihe pleases!. 



