456 Of the Checks to Population Bk. ii. 



In the account of Bressay Burra and Quarff in 

 Shetland,* it is observed that the farms are very 

 small, and few have a plough. The object of 

 the proprietors is to have as many fishermen on 

 their lands as possible — a great obstacle to im- 

 provements in agriculture. They fish for their 

 masters, who either give them a fee totally inade- 

 quate, or take their fish at a low rate. The writer 

 remarks, that " in most countries the increase of 

 " population is reckoned an advantage, and justly. 

 " It is however the reverse in the present state of 

 " Shetland. The farms are split. The young 

 " men are encouraged to marry without having 

 " any stock. The consequence is poverty and 

 " distress. It is believed that there is at present 

 " in these islands double the number of people 

 " that they can properly maintain." 



The writer of the account of Auchterderran,f 

 in the county of Fife, says, that the meagre food 

 of the labouring man is unequal to oppose the 

 effects of incessant hard labour upon his consti- 

 tution, and by this means his frame is worn down 

 before the time of nature's appointment ; and adds, 

 " That people continuing voluntarily to enter upon 

 " such a hard situation by marrying, shews how 

 " far the union of the sexes and the love of inde- 

 " pendence are principles of human nature." In 

 this observation, perhaps the love of independence 



* Vol. x. p. 194. 

 t Vol, i. p. -149 



