642 



SCOTLAND. 



Statistics, ten miles, and rising immediately from the sea. It is 

 ^^^/^*^ an entire quarry, and with scarcely the labour of work- 

 Commerce ing, might be loaded of any size from the rock into the 

 and manu- sn ip. Here, were it necessary, columns might also be 

 iactures. wrought of any length, and shipped. Excellent free- 

 stone may also be procured on the western shore of 

 Mull, and in Inch Kenneth. 



But it is in granite that Mull is particulary rich, 

 while nothing can exceed the commodiousness of the 

 situation for quarrying and shipping. This tract of 

 rock lies at the mouth of Loch Scriden on the Ross, 

 which is formed of it ; and this loch offers secure har- 

 bours in abundance. The quality resembles that of 

 the Egyptian, being of a high red colour, and a large 

 grain. Having been used in the ancient buildings of 

 lona, its aspect is generally known. It is perhaps 

 even more valuable for its solidity of dimension and 

 for its forms, easily wrought, than for its colour. As 

 it is disposed naturally in large blocks, and in thin 

 and flat masses, it is easily split into the shapes re- 

 quired by architecture, and is of such dimensions and 

 continuity, that it would afford shafts of columns fifty 

 feet in length, emulating those of ancient Egypt. 



Of many other granites, we shall content ourselves 

 with indicating only one more, on account of its pe- 

 culiar advantages. This is found on the east coast of 

 Harris, near Loch Trolamarig, consisting of immense 

 blocks, almost already squared to the mason's hand, of 

 a very free grain and beautiful colour, and lying so 

 loose on shelving rocks by the sea shore, that it might 

 be shipped directly into a raft merely by a lever and 

 rollers. Were large monumental stones required, these 

 would scarcely cost more than the freight. 



It would be endless to point out the various and 

 commodious quarries of all this shore ; but Jura de 

 serves notice, not only for the same facilities, but for 

 the beauty of its white quartz rock. This stone is not 

 only preferable to granite in point of durability, being 

 absolutely indestructible, whether above water or be- 

 low it, but excels the finest sandstone in beauty of 

 colour and texture. At the same time, it is offered by 

 nature in blocks which are often ready squared to the 

 mason's hand, or which might be rendered square by 

 a few blows of the hammer. That such a material has 

 been utterly neglected by architects, is .the result of 

 habit and of ignorance respecting the existence of a 

 rock which has only lately been pointed out even to 

 geologists. 



Isla might easily furnish roofing slate were it required, 

 and it now possesses a valuable variety of this substance 

 hitherto entirely neglected, and well deserving the 

 notice of architects and masons. This slate rises with- 

 out any labour, in flags so large that they will serve 

 alone for the walls of cottages or out-buildings, requir- 

 ing only to be set on their edges, and combining there- 

 fore cheapness with eternal durability and safety from 

 leakage. A still more valuable variety' may be pro- 

 cured with great facility in posts and beams, so even as 

 not to require a tool; or, if necessary, capable of being 

 rendered absolutely square by a very little labour of the 

 adze. The beams are often from twelve to fifteen feet 

 long or more, and not above three or four inches square ; 

 so that they would serve for joists and rafters were it 

 necessary to guard against fire, while, when of a less 

 size, they answer a great variety of useful purposes in 

 rural architecture. 



Of limestone, Lismore is an entire quarry, and it fur- 

 nishes much of the neighbouring coast, being general, 

 hy burnt on the spot. Many other practicable quar 



ries are superseded by the lime of the east coast ; but Statistic?. 

 Broadford also, in -Sky, possesses an extensive manu- ^^y*^ 

 facture of burnt lime, for which there is a large de- Commerce 

 mand. Here also there are endless quarries of marble * nd manu. 

 of various qualities, and of ornamental appearance, well fa( 

 adapted for interior architecture. Among these there 

 are considerable rocks of pure white marble, the best 

 and the most considerable yet discovered in the British 

 dominions. The grain is extremely compact and fine, 

 and well adapted to the smaller works of statuaries. 

 The quarries have been opened, but no attempts were 

 ever made towards a sale. In the Garveloch isles also 

 there are inexhaustible quarries, and not less conve- 

 nient. These are of still more various colours, being 

 whitish, yellow, and pink, veined with red ; while 

 there are also large beds of breccia, nearly resembling 

 many of the most highly prized Italian antique brec- 

 cias, and not less ornamental. As yet this rock is un- 

 known. While on this subject, we may also mention 

 the marbles of Assynt in Sutherland, once wrought, 

 but abandoned ; with others on the shores of Loch Eri- 

 bol and Diurness bay, which might easily become ar- ; 

 tides of commerce were it the fashion to employ our 

 own produce. 



Of the in-door, or domestic manufactures of the 

 Highlands and islands, we may enumerate hemp, flax, 

 and wool, as the sole materials. Yet little or nothing 

 is made for exportation, the whole, nearly,being for ob- 

 jects of domestic consumption, or for the very limited 

 market at their own doors. 



It has been a frequent and favourite speculation, that 

 regular manufactories might be established in the 

 Highlands, with advantage to the country, and that this 

 might tend to check that emigration solong held in dread. 

 Thus it was supposed that the fishing towns might also 

 become manufacturing ones, and hence find occupa- 

 tion for an unemployed people. But this is to forget, 

 that capital does not leave its established and habitual 

 seats without strong inducements, and that no induce- 

 ment could be held out to it to move from the places 

 of established industry and acquired mechanical skill, 

 to those noted for the want of both, and to a people 

 a*erse to minute attentions and steady exertion. Nor 

 does the natural produce of the Highlands of any kind 

 hold out temptations of this nature, when it is so much 

 more easily transported in the rude state to the mar- 

 kets, where, after all, it must be consumed or exported. 



Of the manufactures purely domestic, flax is the prin- 

 cipal, being spun and woven into coarse but useful 

 linens. A small quantity of wool is also wrought in 

 the same manner, and for similar purposes, being fre-. 

 quently dyed by the native vegetables, and with con- 

 siderable dexterity. A very little hemp is wrought 

 into fishing lines. 



Instead of establishing capital and regular manufac- 

 tories, where labour thus appropriated must be paid, 

 and where the capitalist would find no compensation 

 for surrendering his machinery, and abandoning his 

 connections and workmen, it appears to us that it would 

 be the best and most useful policy, at least for the peo- 

 ple, to encourage those domestic ones, which may be 

 carried on when the weather confines the agriculturist 

 to the house, or when he has no employment on his 

 farm ; a state of things which occupies half the year.. 

 Here all the labour thus employed would be clear gain ; 

 and thus also costing nothing, the produce might even 

 compete in the market with that of capital and machi- 

 nery, and with superiority of mechanical dexterity and 

 habits. This is the labour which, if it came into the 



