THE HIGHLANDS. 



of grain for home confumpdon. In extent of terri- 

 tory, thofe provinces do not exceed the Hebride 

 ifles, and their winters are more fevere. But fuck 

 is the influence of an active, vigorous government, 

 on manufactures, commerce, and population, that 

 the Seven Provinces contain 113 cities, 1400 towns 

 and coniiderable villages, and upwards of two mil- 

 lions of inhabitants. 



This fwampy country produces no raw materials 

 for manufactures ; yet the inhabitants are conti- 

 nually engaged in fabricating an endlefs variety of 

 articles for fale, at home and abroad. They have 

 ho minerals, metals, or timber -, yet their yards and 

 warehoufes are ever prepared to fupply the demands 

 of Europe, and both the Indies, in thofe articles. 

 The coail is extremely dangerous, and the harbours 

 are few ; their ihipping is however to be found in 

 all the maritime parts of the world, while their 

 own ports are the grand emporiums of European 

 commerce. Their fhores afford little or no fifh for 

 exportation, but they neverthelefs foreftall the Eu- 

 ropean^ markets in thofe fifties which are in mofl: 

 efteemC They owed their firft rife to the herrings 

 taken on the coafts of Scotland, which they ex- 

 ported to all parts of Europe; bringing in return 

 the produce of thofe nations, and thus gradually 

 became the greatefl mart in the known world. 



It is to the influence and example of thefe induf- 

 trious people, that I am enabled to give two in- 

 ftances, nearer home, of the benefits resulting from 

 a proper attention to commerce and the fillieries. 



Kirkwall, capital of the Orkney iflands, though 

 fituatcd 140 miles north of the medium latitude of 

 the Highlands, contains above 300 houfcs, moil of 

 them built of {lone and lime, dated, and accom- 

 modated with kitchen gardens. The gentlemen 

 alfo have good houfcs on their eftates, and enjoy 

 moil of the conveniencies of life, in confiderable 

 Abundance. The farmers are, for the mofl part* 



better 



