48 HISTORT of the SOCIETK 



Account of with arms for their own defence, it feemed but juftice to allow 



Lord Prefident , J 



Dundas. the other the fame means of fecurity and protection. 



These arguments, which are of a general nature, or at beft 

 applicable only to a temporary emergency, and to an apprehen- 

 fion rather of eventual than of immediate danger, were an- 

 fwered by reafons drawn from the ftate of the country, from 

 the character of the people, and from a view of thofe confe- 

 quences which muft have been the certain refult of the propofed 

 eftablifhment. Scotland, it was argued, is far behind her fifter- 

 kingdom in the ceconomical arts of induftry. The genius of 

 the people, particularly in the northern parts, is averfe to la- 

 bour and to all the arts of peace. But the Scots are warlike 

 from conftitution, and the military character of the nation has 

 been high in all ages. The artificial habits of difcipline and 

 regular exercife, are little neceflary in a country, where men 

 are by nature foldiers, attached with enthufiafm to their native 

 land, and prompt to defend themfelves with fpirit upon the 

 flighted alarm of danger. But they need excitement to the 

 arts of induftry. Agriculture is, in many diftricts, fhamefully 

 neglected. Manufactures, through the whole country, are yet 

 in their infancy. The employment of our labourers can nei- 

 ther be fpared from their fields, nor of our mechanics from 

 their looms, their forges, or their anvils. To offer to thofe who 

 are naturally little difpofed to induftry, fuch allurements to 

 idlenefs as a national militia would prefent, would be, in the 

 higheft degree, impolitic and ruinous to the country. 



Thus, it appears, that the fcheme for the eftablifhment of a 

 militia in Scotland, admits of very oppofite views ; and men of 

 candour, equally endowed with good fenfe, and equally patrio- 

 tic, may be fuppofed, as was certainly the cafe, to have formed 

 different opinions on the fubject. What part the Lord Advo- 

 cate of Scotland, who, by his office, is one of the chief guar- 

 dians of the ftate, and bound by duty to a watchful attention 

 in all matters which regard the intereft of his country, ought 



to 



