A. D. 1780. 653 



The great force, which the French now had in the Weft-Indies, could 

 not fail 10 be very alarming to all who were interefted in our remaining 

 ]X)fl'effions in that part of the world. The planters and others concerned 

 in the ifland of Jamaica, as being the moft numerous and confiderable 

 body, therefor prefented a petition to the houfe of commons (10''' Fe- 

 bruary), and another to the houfe of lords (21" February), wherein 

 ihey rcprekntcd, that that ifland, one of the moft valuable of all our 

 foreign poflLftions, with the profperity of which the intercft of Great 

 Britain is intimately and infcparably conneded, was totally deftitute of 

 defence, and owed its being now a Britifti colony to the mere accident 

 of the forces of the enemy being directed to another object : that the 

 l)lanters of Jamaica, confidering the diftrefles brought upon them by 

 I he v.':\r, had gone far beyond their abilities in taxes and contributions 

 paid both in Jamaica and in Britain, and alfo in very burthenfome per- 

 fonal fervices. They complained of the neglect of their petitions by the 

 miniftry ever fince the year 1773, and, having affirmed that they and their 

 interefts were worthy and deferving of proteclion, they concluded by 

 demnnding it as their undoubted right *. 



Every wellwiflicr to the profperity of the Britifli empire will approve 

 of my paying a tribute of refpedl to the memory of Mr. David Loch, 

 inerchant in Edinburgh and afterwards general infpedor of the fiftieries 

 of Scotland, who finiflied his ufcful life this year (February 21"). This real 

 patriot, whofe ruling palfion was zeal for the welfare of his country, exerted 

 himfelf ftrongly in promoting the improvement of Scotland, and efpe- 

 cially the increafe and improvement of the breed of ftieep, and the pro- 

 fecution of the woollen manufacture, which very many natural advan- 

 tages evidently point out as the proper ftaple of Scotland. He infifted, 

 that the extenfion and fucceis of the woollen manufadure in Scotland, 

 inftead of being, as fome narrow-minded people fuppofe, injurious. 

 to England, would greatly promote the general welfare of the united 

 kingdom, and be the fureft means of fubduing the competition of the 

 French and Dutch. He afferted ' tliat millions of additional Iheep may 



* be raifed without encroaching upon a fingle acre of land capable ot 



• bearing corn, or rearing black cattle :' and his public-fplrited advice 

 produced a great augmentation in the breed of that valuable animal in 

 Scotland, and particularly in the Highland diftricts. Tlius it is in the 

 power of one patriot to increafe the happinels of millions. The con- 

 queror has for his objedt the empty aggrandizement of his own name at 



• It is worthy of remark, tliat at the very time with warlike (lore>, under the command of Colonel 



ihefc petitions were prcfciitcd, a military force, Polfon and Captain (now Lord) Nciron, failc-J 



confiilnig of about 500 regulars bcfidcs volunteers, from Jamaica on an expedition ag.iinll ilic Spii.'iijli 



and fcveral fmall fliips of war and tranfports, with Matu> 



a 



go'jd train of artiJIcry, and foitably provided 



