EMIGRATION. 



577 



Coloniza- 

 tion ol (!:s- 

 tart wilds 

 exceedingly 



difficult. 



The Scots 

 not easily 

 induced to 

 cmiLTate in 

 large bodies. 



The system 

 f iheep 

 farming oc- 

 casioned the 

 removal of 

 tlie people. 



Ancient 

 stocking 

 and rural 

 economy of 

 the High, 

 land*. 



Beneficial 



piimrjutn- 



ces of 



stocking 

 with sheep. 



Scotland, the causes of it, the consequences, and the 

 means of prevention if such exist, appear to demand 

 particular notice. 



An historical view of Scotish emigration, would not 

 go back much above half a century. The discovery of 

 the vast regions of America, was accomplished ages be- 

 fore they could be colonized. Few attempts are at- 

 tended with more difficulty than the peopling of a dis- 

 tant wilderness. The superior wealth and population 

 even of England, stimulated by a spirit of enterprise, 

 and countenanced by the sovereigns of that distinguish- 

 ed country, made various attempts, which proved abor- 

 tive. A growing knowledge of those remote countries, 

 and perseverance, at last succeeded. 



The Scots, disappointed and indignant at the fate 

 of their favourite colony of Darien, were not soon or 

 easily induced to embark in any similar design ; and it 

 is not probable that emigration would afterwards have 

 taken place from that country on a large scale to Ame- 

 rica, if there had not occurred a great alteration in the 

 mode in which lands were let and occupied in the High- 

 lands. 



The introduction of sheep-farming on the great scale 

 into that part of Scotland, undoubtedly occasioned the 

 removal of a great proportion of the inhabitants. Whi- 

 ther this effect was unavoidable or not, may be a subject 

 for consideration in a posterior part of this article; the 

 fact is undeniable. 



In former times, the farming stock of the Highlands 

 consisted principally of homed cattle, and these not on- 

 ly required more people to attend on them, but furnish- 

 ed the means of subsistence in greater variety than 

 sheep. A few straggling goats also appeared there ; and 

 a very small number of sheep, of the small dun facet! 

 and fine wooled breed, now almost extinct. Large tracts 

 of country were left by the great landholders, to be oc- 

 cupied mostly as forests for their deer. The chase fur- 

 nished some degree of employment and subsistence ; 

 the cattle were conveyed in summer to the high grounds 

 or shealings, in so far as these were accessible, and 

 then brought down to the straths or vales on the ap- 

 proach of winter. From these were obtained consider- 

 able quantities of milk, butter, and cheese; and, though 

 seldom well fed, there was a proportion of the cattle that 

 became fat, and were slaughtered for use. A very se- 

 vere w inter nnd spring occasionally occurring, consu- 

 med the little stock ot'provender that could be raised in 

 the country for such multitudes of cattle,and great num- 

 ln >- of them perished ; while the surviving animals 

 ') reduced, as to become of little value. The ma- 

 nure of s<> many beasts however, enabled the people to 

 cultivate many spots of land in all parts of the High- 

 lands, and, one way or other, there were means found 

 for supporting a considerable population. But under 

 such a system, the Highland mountains were occupied 

 by a stock not adapted for them, and of this kind of 

 stock there were more than could bo preserved during 

 the severe months on the straths. In short, the country 

 was at one time improperly stocked, and overstocked. 

 It required many articles, the produce of other parts of 

 the kingdom ; but it raised by much too little to serve 

 as articles of exchange by export. 



The introduction of large flocks of sheep to stock the 

 mountains of the Highlands was rather hazardous. 

 Vast numbers of birds and beasts of prey existed there, 

 and proved extremely destructive to them ; and the na- 

 tive inhabitants were naturally jealous and hostile. By 

 degrees, however, it became quite apparent, that sheep 

 were the safe and proper stock of those mountainous re- 



VOL. vui. PART H. 



gions. They could wander in safety where cattle could Emigration. 

 not go ; they fed and throve where cattle could not V """"Y~^"' 

 have subsisted ; and in winter they could feed on the 

 coarse pastures, or dig through ordinary falls of snow, 

 without requiring dried provender. But what turned f-""' 1 ' 101 ' 1 - 

 out of most importance, in point of consequences, was m j ne a Jy 

 this, that the produce of sheep flocks might be mostly these. 

 exported, and commanded a regular and ample price in 

 other parts of the kingdom. 



All these particulars co-operated in recommending , Kcl ! t3 of 

 perseverance in the system of sheep husbandry; and ^"|, * 

 the last circumstances appear to have been decisive, merited" 

 Landholders would not give up the advantages to be produce, 

 derived from such a profitable stock, and as the produce aml many 



was destined mostly for exportation, many of the inha- f *" ,? eo " 

 i * t_i- j ^ plefindin;; 



bitants were obliged to remove. nothing to 



A very liberal increase of rents, was the invariable occupy 

 consequence of introducing sheep stocks : They were tnem.remo- 

 sat'er, they required much less attendance, and the re- ve "l- 

 turns were adapted to go regularly to the markets of 

 the south of Scotland and of England at little expence. 

 The numerous popidation could not then be supported, 

 and their labour was not much wanted : emigration of 

 course began, and went on. 



It happened, that at this critical period uncommon A demand 

 encouragement was held out for new settlers to assist . for sett l er 

 in peopling the wilds of America. Highlanders dis- iu ( ^ me j Ca 

 possessed ol' their farms, having no immediate view of gr ea "-. 

 employment in their own country, and not well adapt- fects. 

 ed nor much inclined to engage in manual labours in 

 other parts of the kingdom, were naturally attracted by 

 the prospect of becoming, on easy terms, proprietors of 

 better lands in the colonies. A portion of indignation, 

 on account of their removal from lands which had long 

 been occupied by their ancestors, naturally mingled iii 

 their feelings on such an occasion. Mutual" understand- 

 ing led them to courage and perseverance. They rose 

 above those tender feelings of attachment to their native 

 soil and country, for which they had been long distin- 

 guished ; and they freighted vessels, and embarked for 

 America. 



The plastic genius and vigorous constitution of such Highland- 

 a people, rendered them uncommonly valuable settlers ers excel- 

 in a new country. They were equally fitted for labour lent scttlers > 

 and for mutual defence, and were therefore encouraged *,J! 

 and courted to remove. The success of those who had to'emba'rk!' 

 first emigrated, likewise encouraged others to follow 

 their example, as they also were in succession removed 

 from their possessions, and flocks of sheep introduced. 



In a short time, land proprietors in the Highlands 

 were reduced to the necessity of deciding between their 

 feelings and their interest. If they yielded to the for- 

 mer, they devised such measures as they could for pre- 

 serving their people ; if they gave way to the latter, 

 the people had scarcely a choice left them, they were 

 obliged to emigrate. 



To describe the affecting scenes which occurred, AUern.v 

 when a vessel chartered for America arrived, and when tivcs of the 

 several hundreds of these people were preparing to quit proprietors. 

 for ever that land to which they were ardently attach- 

 ed, would be a painful task, and in the altered views 

 and circumstances of those emigrants it is now unsea- Consc( l ucn - 

 sonaMe. Many of their descendants in the New World, t 

 have long ago ceased to possess those warm attachments 

 for the land of their fathers ; but others residing in the 

 British colonies, retain the noble spirit of their ances- 

 tors, and employ it with distinguished effect in their 

 defence. 



As the number of emigrant cargoes increased, it be- 

 4 D 



