xl PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 



ral ages, without endangering the tranquillity of the 

 ifland ; neither do I perceive, in the whole circle of 

 Britiih politics, any meafure that will contribute fo 

 eflentially to the harmony, profperity, and ftrength of 

 thefe kingdoms, as the remiffion of revenue from 

 Scotland, the land-tax, and fuch duties and excifes 

 as may be neceilary for the regulation of trade with 

 England, excepted. 



. Let the annual drain from Scotland, by its parlia- 

 mentary reprefentatives, &c. amounting to 6oo,oool. 

 the balance of trade again ft that country, amounting 

 to 300,000!. and the revenue arifmg from Englifh 

 goods confumed in Scotland, be placed to its credit 

 account, and the idea of extorting further drains in 

 the prefent (late of the kingdom, faddled alfo with 

 the expence and fees of officers, will appear impoli- 

 tic to every man who ihall inveftigate the fubjecl:, as 

 a citizen of the world. 



Thefe matters are ftated more fully in the courfe 

 of the work, where it is alfo propofed that the neat 

 revenue arifing from the land-tax, regulating duties 

 and excifes, may be folely appropriated to the im- 

 provenaent of that Iong-negle6ted country, whereby 

 it would, in this refpect, be put on a footing with 

 England, and with Ireland, where millions have 

 been expended on works of national utility. 



Should thefe thoughts meet the approbation of 

 the public, the objects which feem to claim the firft 

 attention, are, 



1. To open a communication from Lochfrne to 

 the Weft Sea, by Loch Crinan. 



2. To raife, at lead, one fmall market- town on 

 the weft-coaft of the main land. 



3. To erect lighthoufes, beacons, and buoys. 



4. To open carriage- roads in the North High- 

 lands, between the two feas. 



5. To cleanfe, deepen, or repair decayed har- 

 bours, extend new ones ; and, 



Laftly, To grant fuch bounties on buiTes and boats,, 

 as may enable the Scottifli filhers to go to market 

 on equal terms with Ireland, Sweden, and Norway. 



