THE HIGHLANDS. 



them, of cowardice, treachery, or flinch- 

 ing, during all the dangers and fatigues of the pre- 

 ient and former wars, wherein .they have borne a 

 confiderable fkare. " I trufted, exclaimed Lord 

 Chatham in parliament, to the mountains of the 

 north, to carry on the mod extenfive war in which 

 England had ever been engaged." This was the 

 declaration of the ableft, moft impartial, and dif- 

 interefted minifter of the age ; one who had pene- 

 tration to difcern, candour to acknowledge, and 

 honefty to reward real merit : whofe elevated mind 

 knew no diftinction of country or people ; no nar- 

 row partialities ; but, in every refpect, was emi- 

 nently qualified for the great purpofes of uniting, 

 more clofely, this wide extended empire ; by a ge- 

 nerous diifufion of reciprocal benefits and privileges^ 

 throughout the various branches of which it was 

 competed. 



Till the days of that great man, the intrinfic 

 value of the Highlanders, like the diamond in the 

 mine, remained in obfcurity ; fome obstructions re- 

 moved, they (hone forth at once a tractable, ufeful 

 people, who might one day prove a confiderable 

 acquifition to the commerce, as well as the internal 

 ftrength of Britain. 



Such* being the character, manners, and import- 

 ance of the Highlanders, in their civilized ftate, a 

 minute review of their country and fhores properly 

 follows. Should thefe be found irreclaimable, or 

 incapable of anfwering any valuable purpofe to the 

 inhabitants, and.the community at large, it would be 

 humane, and alfo good policy in government, to 

 open an afylum, in fome other psrt of the ifland, 

 for the overflow of thefe truly valuable people, in- 



can expert little more than fhelter ; for the cottagers have little 

 more for themlelves ; but if his good fortune brings him to the 

 refidence of. a gentleman, he will be glad of a ilorm to prolong his 



I 4 "ftcad 



