234 HISTORY OF THE 



The following important table is inferted for the 

 information of the public, refpe&ing the operation 

 of the now exifting bounty Jaws on the Hebride 

 Ifles, and the weftern fhores in general. Here we 

 perceive a dawn of beneficial induftry amongft thefe 

 forlorn natives, and had the bounty been continued 

 at 50 (hillings and well paid ; had the laws been 

 more liberal, allowing thefe new adventurers the 

 fame fcope as the Irifh fifhers on the oppofite coaft, 

 it is probable that inflead of 9 bufles, to which their 

 number is now reduced, the increafe might have 

 amounted to 100 or upwards. When we refleft 

 that the improvement of the Highlands, the bring- 

 ing forward a people hitherto loft, in a commercial 

 view, from penury and wretchednefs, to profitable, 

 well-paid induftry j every friend to humanity, and 

 the profperity of his country, mud lament the check 

 thus given to their firft attempts, and the deflruc- 

 tive confequences to whole iflands or diftricls, whofe 

 conjunct abilities had been wholly occupied in 

 raifing this little fleet, to bring from their fhores a 

 degree of wealth which their healthy mountains, 

 never did, and never can afford, to fuch extent. 



Cujtvm- 



