PREFACE. r 



propofe a plan, adapted, in all its parts, to the natu- 

 ral ftate of the country, the genius, qualifications, 

 and relative fituation of the inhabitants ; practicable, 

 expedient, and within the abilities of government. 

 Thefeobfervations were printed in the Spring 1783 ; 

 and ibme iheets privately circulated in both king- 

 doms, in the hope that gentlemen of rank or influence 

 would lay the fame before adminiftration, as a ftimu- 

 lus to objects of greater importance to the ftrength 

 andopulence of this ifland than is generally imagined. 

 During a journey through part of Scotland in the 

 fummer enfuing, I was fully convinced that the cala- 

 mitous fituation of the Highlands had not been 

 mifreprefented in the narrative, and it was from the 

 affecting relations of the people, that I drew up and 

 annexed fome particulars refpectingthe famine, which 

 had not then fully fubfided. 



Many of the arguments which had occurred in 

 treating of the Highlands, feemed applicable to Scot- 

 land in general. This opened a new, and more exten- 

 five field of enquiry. If the revolt of fome colonies, 

 the conqueft of others, and the then apparent danger 

 of lofmg the remainder, gave thofe neglected wilds 

 additional confequence, the improvement of the king- 

 dom at large appeared equally expedient. The fame 

 idea admitted of being extended even to England 

 itfelf, a country more indebted to nature, and the 

 induftry of individuals, than the attention or aflif- 

 tance of its government, as will evidently appear to 

 any perfon who fhall take the trouble of coniidering 

 the matter in a general view. 



Thus the whole ifiand feems to have been, in a 

 greater or lefTer degree, neglected, and its real inte- 

 refts facrificed to expenfive fchemes of conqueft and 

 empire, which, without effedting any valuable pur- 

 pofe, brought it to the verge of ruin and bankruptcy. 

 There are, however, many perfons, who, notwith- 

 ftanding that the events, and confluences, of the 

 late war, have difarranged the old delufive fyftem of 

 politics, and fhewn its inefficacy, Hill adhere to opi- 



a 3 nions, 



