IV 



PREFACE 



thefe objects could be carried ; whether merely t<> 

 foften local diftrefs ; or in doing this humane duty, 

 whether a permanent and valuable colonv might not, 

 at the fame time, be eftabliflied in thofe outfkirts of 

 Britain, to the great benefit, andfecurity, of the centre. 

 But fuch was the difpofition of the times, that it 

 feemed a ufelefs labour and expence to introduce the 

 fubject on either fide of the Tweed*. Some few lines, 

 however, found their way to public obfervation, be- 

 tween the years 1770 and 1776, wherein the fidelity 

 and bravery of the Highlanders were applauded^ 

 and the utility of permitting them to refume their 

 favourite drefs was warmly recommended. 



Thus flood matters, when a train of events, the 

 mod unexpected and humiliating, contributed, in their 

 operation and confequences, to exhibit, more than 

 ever, the value of the Highlanders, and the impor- 

 tance of the country which gave them birth. 



Emboldened by thefe confiderations, and feeing 

 no regular plan of policy propofed, relative to that 

 country, I arranged the various memorandums and 

 papers which 1 had been collecting on thefe fub- 

 jtcts, during a feries of years; ftated the diftreffes of 

 the people, and the caufes of thefe diftrefies; attempted 

 the outlines of a plan whereby fome inconveniencies 

 would be removed, others mitigated, the country 

 improved, the fifheries, and nurfery for feamen greatly 

 extended; and refolvcd, in humble deference, to 

 lay the fame before the public. 



I have, throughout the whole, avoided all chimeri- 

 cal theories, and tirefome conjectures, founded merely 

 upon report, or collected from the very erroneous 

 reprefentations of old writers. It was my wilh to 



* Neither was it expedient to bring thefe matters forward dur- 

 ing the fubfequent war, but the love of folitude and obfcurity 

 proved a ftronger impediment than both of theie confiderations, 

 till in 1782, being affeded with a flight complaint, I refolved 

 upon publifhing, or at ieaft upon circulating printed copies, with- 

 out further delay. 



propofe 



