PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 



TO THE 



THIRD EDITION. 



THE very favourable reception of the former im- 

 perfed fketches, * fuggefted the idea of a more 

 complete work, by extending fome of the fubjects, -and 

 introducing others, fo as to form a fy Hematic com- 

 pendium or view of thefe kingdoms) brought dowp 

 to th'e prefent time. The department which appeared 

 to require the moft circumftantial detail, relates to 

 North Britain, a country "v^gpfe hiftory and impor- 

 tance is little known to Englilhmen, and hath there- 

 fore been the conftant object of ill-humour, jealoufy 

 and miftruft, inftead of liberality, confidence and 

 regard for the profperity of the north, as well as 

 the fouth part of the ifland. The generality of 

 Englifhmen imagine, that by the union of the two 

 kingdoms, Scotland rofe into confequence, at the 

 expence, and through the generofity of England, and 

 that unlefs this event had taken place, Scotland 

 muft have remained a poor contemptible province, 

 incapable of national or individual exertion in agri- 

 culture, fcience, arts, and commerce. That the 

 inhabitants have been a pufijlanimous, abject race 

 of flaves, from the earlieft ages of their hiftory, till 

 .they were incorporated with England, and, gene- 

 .rally, to the prefent period. That their flavifh dif- 

 pofition renders them unqualified for filling the 

 higher departments of the ttate, and that England 

 muft therefore be in danger, proportionably to the 

 number and importance of thofe ftations occupied 

 by Scotfmen. 



To miftaken ideas of great advantages conferred 

 on Scotland in virtue of the union, is moft probably 



* One writer feemed however to be difpleafed with fome 

 remarks on the national debt ; another, or the lame writer, hath 

 adopted the fignature Knox to tome letters upon feleft veftries. 

 I-t is to be wiflied that this gentlemen will alfo favour the public 

 with his lucubrations on the practice of monopoly. 



