.173 



KM I G RATION. 



f: I*, 



Often IK-. 

 the 



net and 

 perfidy. 



Difflmlijr 



i -....:- 

 



Retort Of 

 III* H V h. 



Under* lo 

 i 1 c Ameri- 

 CM pip tia- 

 ra. 



Influence of 

 thefii* 

 American 

 war on the 

 course of 



: ::. 



Subsequent 

 course of it 

 lastly to- 

 ward* the 

 Uritish part 

 f America. 



F.xample of 



this course 

 in a unglc 

 year. 



Public at- 



drawn to it, 

 and mea- 

 sures duvi- 

 *ed for pre- 

 > 'iting the 

 cruel almtcj 

 pracucd. 



became an object of avarice to take ml vantage from 

 thein. Deceitful contracts were framed with this in- 

 tention. Persons acquainted in the districts, were in- 

 duced to lend their nefarious aid in thin business ; and 

 the deluded emigrants were frequently overcharge*!, 

 crowded to excess in the vessels that conveyed them, 

 and landed in places or circumstances most uniavour- 

 able. 



Indistinct reports of these occurrences were frequent- 

 .rd ; but the spirit of the ]>eople had been gene- 

 rally stirred ami In-lit on emigrating ; they were un- 

 willing to belie\ e those discouraging reports ; their own 

 turn came, nnd nen -ity wa> pleaded for their decision, 

 ..w no alternative, and embarked. 



While it was easy to find settlements in the more ge- 

 nial climates of America, they were of course preferred ; 

 and Virginia, with North and South Carolina, or New 

 York, were the chief places of resort for the Scotish 

 Highlanders. Afterwards, when access was difficult 

 the Canada* and N'ova Scotia were commonly pre- 

 ferred before the Floridas or Georgia ; but various car- 

 goes of emigrants went out into other parts of that coun- 

 try ; and some took their passage in latter years for the 

 back settlements on the western frontier, or for those 

 which took place on the southern margins of the Lakes. 



The course of emigration was materially affected by 

 the first American war ; and the Scots resident in that 

 country, and their descendants, were divided, as they 

 took part with the colonies, or the mother country. In- 

 stead of that security and enjoyment with which they 

 had been flattered, the settlers were involved in the pas- 

 sions and dangers of civil war. In the end, when the 

 peace took place in 1783, those who had embraced the 

 cause of American independence, and who survived the 

 war, were secured in their possessions ; but many of 

 the royalists were deprived of those which had been ac- 

 quired by so many labours and sufferings; and the 

 grants of land which were made in the northern pro- 

 vinces that remained under the British government, 

 were not an adequate means of compensation, though 

 liberally and wisely bestowed. 



The policy of the new erected and independent states 

 having led them to encourage more settlers, with a view 

 to people their extensive territory, encouragement was 

 again held out to emigrants from this and other coun- 

 tries ; but so severely had the loyalists been treated in 

 th United States, that few in proportion were inclined 

 to venture on a hazardous settlement there. It was on- 

 ly in situations remote, or otherwise inferior, or it was 

 on terms above the reach of emigrants in general, that 

 places were open for them in the territory of the States ; 

 and most of those who emigrated after the peace 

 with America, were led to settle in the northern pro- 

 vinces under the British government. 



In the single year 1802, there were 8 vessels loaded 

 with emigrants, exceeding in all 3300 in number, and 

 bound from various j>arts of the Highlands of Scotland 

 for America. Most of these went to the British pro- 

 vinces, only one vessel going to the territory of the 

 United States. 



Such a considerable number of people emigrating 

 from a country very thinly peopled, and liable to those 

 cruel and nefarious impositions to which avarice occa- 

 sionally subjected persons in their situation, very natu- 

 rally excited public notice and general interest. The 

 Highland Society interposed with representations ; and 

 a bill was carried through parliament for the purpose of 

 securing ample space in the vessels hired for emigrants, 

 and a sufficient stock of provisions for their use. 



The emigrant bill, which passed in 1803, has a Un- F.migrnticm. 

 dincy r.tther to prevent imposition cm the p.trt of ship *|~~V 1 ' 



11 to prevent rmit'r.-ition. The seviirinc ' ' ' 

 i * "eel* 



ot ample -.pace and pro\ i-nvis. removes the In 



most ranaioobll which emigrants had to <lnr.il. jjroiu bill 



No doubt they mu>t pay more libu.ilU for so much brt- JSuU. 



ter accommodation ; but this difftivmc i> not - 



as to prevent any considerable number who had it at 



heart to embark. As a measure of policy, therefore, 



its influence cannot be great, but it must obviously 



have considerable effects as a measure of Immunity. In 



one view, by discouraging artful and insidious contrai 



it may operate in both character:-. 



A more powerful bar to the progress of emigration progreM O f 

 is presented ut this time (1814), in the MVOIH! Ameri- emigration 

 can war. It is also to be expected, that tin- gr kcd by 



diminution of the wilds of America must proportion- otherc * u - 

 ally reduce the demand and encouragement held out ***" 

 for settlers ; but this will depend on the arrangement 

 of territory at the conclusion of the war, and on the 

 further progress of the policy of colonizing. 



The most pleasing means that can be employed for wi^ and 

 the purpose of preventing emigration must be devised liberal poll, 

 at home; and this has not escaped the attention of a cy at home, 

 liberal and enlightened legislature. 



A rugged and uncultivated country, destitute of pro- TT.e High. 

 per means of communication, can hardly be expected lands rug- 

 to furnish means of subsistence for a growing popula- ft 01 *' llncu '- 

 tion ; and it cannot be supposed, that any country, in 

 such a state, can afford to pay for such expensive works 

 as canals and roads capable of opening it up. The 

 Highlands of Scotland were precisely in that state, 

 when the great and liberal plan was formed, of open- 

 ing a passage from Fort George by Fort Augustus to 

 Fort William, by means of the Caledonian Canal. This 

 great undertaking must necessarily require some years Caledoniaa 

 to complete it ; and afterwards time will be required, can 

 in order to render it extensively useful. The import- 

 ant objects of this work, are likely to be greatly pro- 

 moted by the invention and use of steam-boats employ- 

 ed on the lakes. In the mean time, a field of useful 

 labour is opened within that country ; and in the end, 

 it cannot be doubted, that very great advantages will 

 be derived from such a splendid national work. 



In prosecution of the same general plan, the High- Highland 

 lands of Scotland have been intersected by roads in the roads, 

 most useful directions, executed under the authority of 

 parliament, partly at the public expence, and partly at 

 that of the landholders of the country : and provision 

 is made also for keeping these roads in due repair. 

 Thus there is laid a great and promising basis of pub- proirminp 

 lie industry and improvement in that country ; and if basis of fu- 

 unforeseen events do not prevent the proper use of it, t > m - 

 there can be little doubt, that such improvements as 

 are suitable to the country will naturally follow ; and 

 these must have a powerful effect in preventing the ne- 

 cessity of such extensive emigration. 



The navigation of the Caledonian canal is not only Peculiar ad- 

 well defended by the chain efforts at the two extremities vantage* 

 and the centre of it ; but the lakes not being liable to 

 freeze, there is an advantage not commonly to be ob- jJ^Jj|J 

 tained in canals, which may be expected from this pro- ^]; : ts of tfc 

 perty in its waters. Vessels of great burden, it is in- 

 tended, shall have depth of water to convey them from 

 the Murray Frith to the Linneheloeh, and thence to 

 the Sound of Mull and the Atlantic. A communica- 

 tion thus opened between the eastern and western seas, 

 without going round by Cape Wrath, or encountering 

 the dangerous passage of the Pentland Frith, must be 



