NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. J2 i 



LETTER XLII. 



SELBORNE, March gtk, 1775. 



DEAR SIR, Some future faunist, a man of fortune, will, I hope, 

 extend his visits to the kingdom of Ireland ; a new field and a 

 country little known to the naturalist. He will not, it is to be 

 wished, undertake that tour unaccompanied by a botanist, because 

 the mountains have scarcely been sufficiently examined ; and the 

 southerly counties of so mild an island may possibly afford some 

 plants little to be expected within the British dominions. A 

 person of a thinking turn of mind will draw many just remarks 

 from the modern improvements of that country, both in arts and 

 agriculture, where premiums obtained long before they were heard 

 of with us. The manners of the wild natives, their superstitions, 

 their prejudices, their sordid way of life, will extort from him 

 many useful reflections. He should also take with him an able 

 draughtsman ; for he must by no means pass over the noble castles 

 and seats, the extensive and picturesque lakes and waterfalls, and 

 the lofty stupendous mountains, so little known, and so engaging 

 to the imagination when described and exhibited in a lively 

 manner ; such a work would be well received. 



As I have seen no modern map of Scotland, I cannot pretend 

 to say how accurate or particular any such may be ; but this I 

 know, that the best old maps of that kingdom are very defective. 



The great obvious defect that I have remarked in all maps of 

 Scotland that have fallen in my way is a want of a coloured line, 

 or stroke, that shall exactly define the just limits of that district 

 called the Highlands. Moreover, all the great avenues to that 

 mountainous and romantic country want to be well distinguished. 

 The military roads formed by General Wade are so great and 

 Roman-like an undertaking that they well merit attention. My 

 old map, Moll's Map, takes notice of Fort William, but could not 

 mention the other forts that have been erected long since ; there- 

 fore a good representation of the chain of forts should not be 

 omitted. 



