78- A Survey and Report of the Coasts- 



the end adjust themselves into the forms most suitable for 

 the place. 



In another point of view it may be stated, that it is a 

 great hardship, if not a great injustice, that the inhabitants 

 of an extensive district should all at once be driven from 

 their native country, to make way for sheep farming, which 

 is likely to be carried to an imprudent extent ; that in a 

 few years tliis excess will be evident ; that, before it is dis- 

 covered, the country will be depopulated, and that race of 

 people which has of late years maintained so honourable a 

 share in the operations of our armies and navies will then 

 be no more : tb.at in a case where such a nunierous body of 

 the people are decplv interested, it is the duty of government 

 to consider it as an extraordinoay case, a)id one ot those 

 occasions which justifies them in departing a little from the 

 maxims of general policy : that for this purpose regulations 

 should be made to prevent land-owners from lessening the 

 population upon their estates below a given proportion; and 

 that some regulation of this sort would in the end be in fa- 

 voia* of the land-owners, as it would preserve the popula- 

 tion best suited to the most improved mode of highland 

 farming, such as is practised at Breadalbane, and to the 

 establishment of fishing villages, on the principle laid down 

 and practised so successfullv by iSlr. Hugh Stevenson of 

 Oban, at Arnisdale on Loch Hourn. 



In whatever light the foregoing statements may be viewed, 

 there is another on which there can, 1 think, be no differ- 

 ence of opinion. This is, that if there are anv public works 

 to be executed, which, when completed, \y\\\ prove gene- 

 rally beneficial to the country, it is advisable these works 

 should be undertaken at the present time. This would fur- 

 nish emplovment for the industrious and valuable part of 

 the people in their own countrv, they would by this means 

 be accustomed to labour, they would acquire some capital, 

 and the foundations would be laid for future employments. 

 If, as I have been credibly informed, the inhabitants are 

 stronirlv attached to their native country, they would greedily 

 embrace this opportunity of being enabled to remain in it, 

 uith the prospect of bettering their condition, because, be- 

 fore the works were completed, it must be evident to every 

 one that the whole face of the country would be changed. 



The Caledonian canal, and the bridges and roads before 

 mentioned, are of the description here alluded to : they will 

 not only furnish present employment, but promise to ac- 

 tomplish all the Iciiding objects which tan reasonably be 



looked 



