O-F SCOTLAND. 97 



fpeculative fources. Whereas, the benefits which 

 flow from the northern part of the ifland, are pro- 

 greflive and permanent ; and, could we reconcile 

 our minds to the idea of relinquifhing a compara- 

 tively fmall portion of revenue, the influx of fpe- 

 cie from that country " would, as Mr. Hume ob- 

 ferves, be fufficient for the important purpofes of 

 feeding the circulation of the kingdom, " and of 

 a growing national wealth, admitting the balance 

 with other countries to be upon an equality. 



The income, or wealth of Scotland, whether arifing 

 from rural improvements, the induftry, and tempe- 

 rance of the people, or its commercial balances from 

 foreign countries, center, and ever will center, with 

 England. The gentry of the former kingdom have 

 moftly trebled their rents fmce the year 1750, yet they 

 are not wealthier than their forefathers. On the con- 

 trary, the increafeof income, though incredibly rapid, 

 hath not, amongft the generality of families, corre- 

 fponded with their tafte for the elegancies, and the lux- 

 uries of a more opulent people; infomuch, that eftates 

 are conftantly upon fale, the old families gradually 

 difappear, and the landed property falls into new 

 hands, efpecially in the neighbourhood of Glafgow, 

 and other trading towns. This is the natural courfe 

 of things with thofe orders of men. Their rents are 

 ipent by themfelves in England, or carried thi- 

 ther, circuitouQy ; nor will it ever be otherwife with 

 the gentry of Scotland, while London continues to be 

 a univerfal ftorehoufe of whatever is pleafmg to the 

 eye and the fenfes ; the center of amufements, af- 

 fording irrefiftible * allurements for diflipating, in a 

 fafhionable ftyle, the produce of their eftates, and 

 fometimes more. 



The inferior orders, as hath been obfcrved, are 

 equally emulous of Englifh finery ; a fpecies of pride, 

 which, while it ftimulates induftry in one kingdom, 

 promotes manufactures in the other. Thus, fhe foi- 

 bles of the higher, and the virtues of the lower 



G clafles 



