ju_H__ffi_I_IB_E
ere/, z Se-
ACCOUNT OF THE  PRESENT STATE
OF THE
HEBRIDES
AND
western coasts of scotland.
AA A A   /'/it-  left ih.innel in the h'trhviir in which Shifts of an\ burthen mm/ ru^afcaltimes in/inferf Sojeff. B another fiarf Mthe harbour very firpfier fi-r  Vcf'sffs orsmaller burthen . CC at hitfk wafrr this reach is from IV to H'feet dtefi unit mi./ht irrv calilv be converted into a wet Jock where Shifts ci'itttl unloadat all tun'"' it'ide u tlhoid ever toiuhuvj around B a canal lor ./,•„.,,,,., the frefh wafer letn F     <:<;.: ,',// /•• level field that would' bt,/ 'i-i- filar- f.'r a town /'hrouqh every flreet canals pi'salt water t'.<r lighters ccidd be carried and nelh water coidd be brouaf,! I. eve- > In tje from the laheV
HHare lower fields and 11 li'wer still Y. i ■ hufher qroiuxd beina an irregular hjg, itoinl. 1. a i.ckv baf'en a great extent that elb.s ntarh dry. Or; the nai nm   leadutq into itmiahf I e erected a area/ man. tide nulls M « /fy/h » iter lech into which htah tides flow. i
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REMARKS.
i. AMONG the Hebride*, and all along the Weft Coatti of Scotland, the tide of flood fet» to the N. and ebbs to the 8.) and there, efpccinUy in narrow Tounds, tlic tide.flow* with very great rapidity; forming *at one place hi particular (the Connel in Loch-Etive) a cafcade of fait-water, where, at certain times of tide, tl>« waterfalls at once five or fix feet, where (hips a few hours afterwards may fail in perfed fafcty. To thofe who are Uranfcrs to the different phenomena produced by the tides, the navigation of thofe feas would be trouhlc-fome and hazardous; but teamen who are acquainted, and who know how to avail thcinieives of thofe ItronR tide*, tind tliey Often prove »f very great fer-vice; as they can by the aid of them, on many occalioiis, go quickly forward even with a hnlk pale a-head.
a. The navigation in thofe feas would, be rendered (till inoie fafe and cafy, if light-houlc-s were erected on the following place*, Ti3, i. On the Mull ol Can-tire—J. On the ifland of Scalpa in Har-ri*---3. On North Kon.V.lhaw in Ork-ney---and, 4. On Kimiaird"s head, Abcr-decnlhire.
3. Tlie natural harbours among the Weltern Ifiands and narrow channel! are excellent, and fo numerous as to be in almoft every cafe of difficulty within reach. But thefc harbours are at prefent known only to a few fiiher-mcn who annually vilit tliole feas in the hciring-t.uires, and by iinugglcrt. The firft clafs of thefe men, being unable to bVy expeiilive charts, have no opportunity,of difcovering the errors of thofe charts that cxilt, and nnugjlcrs tionotwilh to-gHve others information In regard to thefe particulars. A fet of fmall charts ol thole COaftl that could be ufed in little veffeU, and that might, be procured a: a moderate expence, it tnucb wanted.
4. The feas among the Hebrides abound ever^-where, at the proper fea-fons, with aitoniihing quantities ef cod, Lng, herTings, and a valt variety of other kinds of rith. I he herrings frequently nil the lochs and harbours, fo that inconceivable quantities are of might be caught in them. Into thefc lochs, however, the coming of the herring is uncertain, and by confequenco the ftlhery in thefe lochs is precarious, tut, ill the open lea <>u thofe coafts,
both on the catt and on the weft of Scotland, the herrings abound every feafon, and then might be carried on a much more Heady lillnng than tiie locha afford, were they looked after.
5. The fincft cod are lounu in llrong; currents, about head-lands, where the tide Hows with uncommon rapidity | and in thefe places me filh are laid never to be out ot leafon. There the tithing muft be carried on with hand-sines, at the*turn of ttie tides only. On banks, where little current prevails, they arc iiihcd for witli long lines, and on thefc banks they are in leafon only a part of the year ; and when at the bed, they are much interior to the Urcam-cod, though greatly lupenor in quality to thofe from Newfoundland. It is only of late that the value of Itream-cod ha* come to be known, and 110 extenlivc filhcry of tiiat kind.is as yet cliablilhcd. Orkney bids fair to excel in this kind Of tuhery. Cod arc found on banks from 1 o to 40 fathom ; ling on banks from ao to aoo fathom water. No chart has ever yet been made of the proper rilhing-banks on the wctt coaft; nor arc thefc banks well known by the natives. Such tubing-charts are very much wanted.
6. The VYeftern Iiks and adjacent-coafts are known to contain many valuable articles belonging to the mineral kingdom. Bcfides co.i'.s which have been difcovered in Bute, IOay, Mull, Canniy, Bforvcn, and very lately near Dunilalf-riage, there is found in Iflay, lead, copper, quickfilvcr, emery, marble, and pure chryftallinc fand,ht for making the fined glafs. Lead is found alfo near Loch-Sunart-'-bcautiiul marble at Ti* rce, of a kind fui irr.tris—-ttatuary marble In Skye, and in many places in Rofs-fhire and Sutherland. Llmettone, marie, and Ihelly land, r.bound in the Rrcitelt prufufion. Black lead is found rear Loch-Urn ; and manganefe ha» been of late difcovered in Rofs-fhire.
7. Mull, Staffa, Cannay, and Egg, exhibit abundance of bafaltic columns of the moll perfeft kinds, arranged into forms ftupenduoufly magnificent; and other volcanic productions, that might adnmoi being converted into glafs at a very moderate expence, alfo abound-Fine free-Hone is found in Arran, Iflay, and Mull ; and great abundance of a tf rong coarfc kind > it it in (ikye,and along the adjacent coaft*. The rocks in Tirce, Coll, B.nr.i, I'll!, Harris, and Le^is, are chiefly flefh-coloured granite fpottcd with black, or a texture remarkably iirm, and free from lillurcs.
8. The native lhccp of the Weflern and n011 licrn Ifiands carry wool that exceed* all others known In Europe for Its finc-nefs and pccvliar lilky loitncis. The cattle are fmall, but beautiful, and liiglily valued in every part of Britain, in many places, large flocks of red deer «ic yci iouiiu won in inc mountains. Black game, woodcock, plover, and iuipc, abound on the lower grounds, RToufe In the higlu-r field*, and ptar-niegin In the mountains. The lake* in the low ifiands fwarm during the wintct feafon, with Innunvrablc quantities of water-fowl of various forts.
p. In many places are found cxtcn-fivc forefls of oak and fir-wood, which, if properly cared lur, night 1000 lur-11 tii malts and timber lor the Ko>al Navy of Britain; but thefe lor fome time part have not obtained the attention that their <vct importance ac. Icrve*.
10. The hills upon the Well Coaft rife fiom the fea with a bold front, and ap-^pcar rugged, but arc not of a very great height j as thefc hills do not life by a gradual Continued r.feent as you recede from the fca. The country may be raid to be upon the whole,a plane furfacc furrowed with many deep and abrupt excavations : Hence, valleys are found to extend ba<-kv*ards very far into the country, with tcarcc any rile above the level ol the Ira; along which vallc)s, level roads may be carried, or canal* lor internal navigation might be opened In many pistes at a very moderate tx-pcnci. This would be much facilitated by the numerous, long, and narrow luck* which afUallj OCCUpy a gnat part of thefc level valh)» In their ptc-fent hate. Such roads and canal, would tend greatly to facilitate con merer, were that country pioprily attended to: And the fmall rivers that eefcend Irom the II.,]. mountains on each fide of thole valley., by the great fall that might always be commanded, would liuve.luch a power oi< machinery, a* would give great advantages lor various forts of iiiaiiufatturcs.
1 1. Among the II.-brides the foil Is In many place, exrrtmely lertile, and the climate nun h more lacin .itile than is generally imagined. But, front thd want ol propu market., and bccaiilc of the rcftrunt. ailiiug irom revenue
itws, the 1 • idi arc noseflkrfly allowed
tolcniain ill the Hate ol uatute nearly. 'I lie pio;i'.c, though uu.ucrou., patient, a:il! prone t" InUuHry, arc allowed to UilBUllb III the moll hopelrl. ftatc of In-dlgrilcc-i itnd la the pielent QtUttlon of t:.m;|f, have It not In their power, by Ml cscrtlon* of their own, cither t>» ^•nive ufclal to thr State, or In any i...f|l»!i degice 1 j Iki.i lit ihcluicUcl.
A N
ACCOUNT  OF  THE   PRESENT   ST AT# J£  zS&j*/ Jj^
^BlBLimitEK
H    E    B    R    I    D E
WESTERN COASTS of SCOTLAND:
V
IN WHICH
An attempt is made to explain the circumfiances that have hitherto reprefled the iuduftry of the Natives; and fome hints are fuggefled for encouraging the Fifheries, and promoting other improvements in thofe countries:
BEING  the SUBSTANCE OF A
REPORT TO THE LORDS OF TREASURY, of Facls collected in a Tour to the Hebrides, with large additions; together with the Evidence given before the Committee of Fifheries:
B Y
JAM ES ANDERSON, L L D. F r s. FSA. Scat. Author of
■ The Jntcrefl of Great Britain villi regard to her American Colonic* confidcred: Obfcrvatiom on the Means ef exciting a Spiiit of National Induftry: Ccc. &c. &c,
Uluflratcd with a NEW MAP orScotland, in which the Hebrides and Weltern Coafts, in particular, are laid down from the belt Authorities and latc-it Observations,
EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR G. ROBINSON, PATER-NOSTER-row, london, AND C.   ELLIOT, EDINBURGH. MDCCLXXXV.
CONTENTS*.
INTRODUCTION - pagc i
Iliftorical induction concerning the Filheries ii Difficulty in devifing a plan for encouraging beginning cn-
terprifes - - - - xix
Detached hamlets ; confequer.ces of people living in them xxi Large and fmall towns compared with regard to their
cfLcls on fociety - xxxiv
Villages; iu what cafes beneficial to fociety - lvii
Revenue - - -• - lx
Emigrations; their effect on population and induftry lxxvi National fecurity - cxiv
General inferences - cxlii
To the Right Honourable the Lords Commiffioners of the Treafiiry.
A Report of Facts relating to the Filheries, collected in a Tour among the Iflands, and along the Wcftern Coafts of Scotland, undertaken at their Lord.hip* deiire, by James Anderson LI, D.; and of Observations founded on thefe facts, tending to point out the moft probable means of promoting the Fifhcries, and the confequent improvement of thofe countries • Page I Illustrations of the foregoing Report        -       -       - 135-Evidence given before the Committee of the Houfe of Commons appointed to enquire into the Hate of the Uritim Filheries, &c. by James Anderfon I.LD. [Extracted from the Third Report of that Committee, dated 14th July 178.5.]      ... 245
APPENDIX.
No. I. Conclufion of the Third Report from the Committee appointee!
toenqnire into the Irate of the Britilh Filheries, and into the molt effectual means of their improvement and extcntion, July 14, 178J - " " l''"-se 3*5
No. II. An accountof the way in which the different kinds of Filheries on our coafts arc ufually carried on, by the Author 334
No. HI. Obfcrvations on the generally received dectri::c concerning the migration of herrings, and other particulars relating to their natural hiftory, by the fame     -    - 346
No. IV. Memorial of the Earl of Galloway and others, to the Right Hon. the Lords Commiffioners of His Majcfty'j Treafury, dated London Ijth April 1783     -     - 3^6
No. V. Abflracl of Mr Watts' furvey and cftimatc of the expencc of making a navigable canal with ten feet water from Fort-William to Invcrnefs      ...       - 370
No. VI. Obfcrvaticns on the fame, by the Author      -       - oSS
CONTENTS.
Page
No. VII. Abftract of Mr Watts' report and eftimates of the ex-pence of making a canal of different depths acrofs the peninfula of Cantirc at Tarbet and Crinan        - 304 No. VIII. Obfervations on the canal propofed to be cut between
Loch-Gi!p and Loch-Crinan, by the Author - 305 No. IX. Obfervations 0:1 Mr Murdoch Mackenzie's charts of the
Hebrides and Vveftern Coafts of Scotland, by the fame 403 No. X. Hints for the civil police of a town, &c. by the fame 4x0 No. XI, An account of herrings and cod exported from Scotland;
as alio of all the monies paid in Scotland for the encouragement of the Eritilh herring and cod filheries, from the year 1750 to 1782, diftinguilhing each year 445 No. XII. Ditto from England, from ChriiTmas 1750 to Chrift-mas 17X2, and of faked Btitilh herrings taken for home-conftimption ; as alio of all the monies paid in England for the encouragement of the herring and cod fifherics during that period, diftinguilhing each year 446 No. XIII. Particular account of the number of foreign veffcls fitted
out on the white-herring filhcry, ike.        -       - 447 No. XIV. Exports of herrings from Gottcnburgh from the year
1774 to 1782 - 448
1 No. XV. Anfwer to Mr Byres' Queries concerning the herring-
filhing on the coaft of Sweden - 450
2V. B. The word Loch frequently occurs in the following work, and in the map (abridged J;.)—Englifh Readers will plcafe be informed, that in the Scotfifli dialect, the word Loch, in ftrict propriety, is exactly fynnnimous with L-.ke, being employed to denote a collection of ft:ig-nant frefh water ; and in this fenie it is always underftood along the whole of the eaft coaft of Scotland. But along the weflcrn coafts, it is equally employed in that fenle, and to denote a narrow arm of the lea running up to any confiderable diftance within land, and has in that fenfc no exact fynonyme that I recollect in the Englifh language.
ERRATA.
P. I.
52. 14. For unequal rend unequal'd
59. 10. For the coaft r. the weft coaft
60. 25, Fur mcafurc r. mcafures 94. 2«. Far No. 10. /•. No 9.
I43. 16. For dead r. deep 169. 25. For market r. markets »5I. 15. Dele not
200. 16. For a v< fiel r. the mafter of a velTel 4or. 34. For men r. a man
INTRODUCTION.
IT has long afforded matter of aitonifhment to neighbouring nations, that Britain, whofe mores are furrounded by greater fhoals of fifh than thofe of any other country on the Globe, fhould have fo long remained inactive herfelf with regard to the fifheries, while others have been enriched by the treafures they have derived from this fource.   Their wonder is yet farther encreafed, when they confider that all ranks of people in this ifland, for many years part, have mowed the greatelt defire poflible to encreafe her marine, and have therefore warmly patronifed every fcheme that promifed to augment the number of her feamen.—Yet the fifheries on her own coaft, which are ob-
a
vioufly better calculated for rearing feamen to her than any other meafure that can be propof-ed, have itill been fuffered to remain in fuch a languid date, as neither to employ the induftry of the People, augment the wealth of the Nation, nor add to the revenue and refources of the State. To explain this feeming paradox, and to pave the way for future improvements, it will be neceffary to take a retrofpective view of fome hiftorical events which have had an influence on the prefent queflion.
HISTORICAL INDUCTION
concerning the Britifo Fifheries.
At a very early period, the herring-fifhery was carried on to a great extent, upon the eaft coaft of Scotland. But the rivalfliip that then fubfifted between Scotland and England, and the frequent wars this produced, never permit-ed that bufinefs to be carried on to the extent it otherwife might have been : And, during the great convulfions that thefe wars occafioned, fome of the moft indufirious natives, forced from home by the diitrefs occafioned by fudden predatory expeditions, carried the knowledge of the bufinefs into the Baltic, the Netherlands, and England; and thus efiablifhed a fet of
"rivals, who, profiting by the misfortunes that afterwards befel that unhappy country, acquired in time fuch a decided fuperiority over her in this valuable branch of bufinefs, as to compel her in a great meafure to abandon it.
Of thofe unfortunate events, the war that was carried on with fo much obftinacy during the regency of Mary of Guife, the operations of which were chiefly confined to the very fcene of the filheries at that time, gave the fevered fhock to that bufinefs: And the inteiline dif-orders that prevailed during the whole reign of her beautiful but unfortunate daughter, and the cruel diflra&ion of mind that feized all claifes of people during thofe fcenes of anarchy and rapine that accompanied the Reformation in Scotland, continuing to reprefs the fober exertions of induftry, tended (till more and more to make the fiilieries decline.—From that period till the Union, Scotland was involved in every diitrefs that an infidious policy, calculated to cnilave the body, and enervate the minds of the people, could produce. In thefe circumdances, tho' fome of her Princes were bufy in making enquiries about the value of the fifheries of other States, and talked loudly of encouraging ihofe of Britain, vet thefe verv Princes were at. a 2
the fame time fapping the foundations of Liberty, and cruelly opprefling their people, fo as to difcourage, in the molt effectual manner that could be devifed, thofe filheries they profeff-edly meant to fupport. Even the Revolution, which procured fo many advantages for England, gave very little relief to the people of Scotland; fo that induftry was not fuffcred there to revive. And tho* a fyftem of government has prevailed fince the Union, that is more favourable to the principles of Liberty than before that period ; yet particular events have happened fmce that time, which have tended very much to retard the progrefs of induftry among the people of Scotland. Nor have they, even till the prefent hour, been able entirely to overcome the effects of thofe oppref-iive regulations, which were eftablifhed during that fyftem of arbitrary rule, which fo long prevailed before that event took place.
The Reader will pleafe to obferve, that before the Union, England could have no direct concern in the fifheries on the coafts of Scotland. To her, thefe were, at that time, foreign feas : And although the Kings of England, .as Kings of Scotland alfo, were willing to extend the privilege of fifhing to all their fubjecls j yet
the laws of the two countries fo often clafhed, as to produce many vexatious interruptions; and that jealoufy which the people of each nation then bore to the other, induced the Englifh to look with a much more favourable eye towards thofe infant fettlements they had lately eftabliffied beyond. the Atlantic, from which they then hoped to derive advantages inconceivably great. Nor has the nation been awaked from this delufive dream, till very lately; fo that her Tranfatlantic dominions have Hill continued to be the favourite object, of her care. Nor does me yet diftinctly fee the vifion-ary nature of that delufive phantom me has hitherto purfued, with an ardour fo keen as to prevent her from adverting to the vaft importance of thofe objects fhe has neglected on its account.
It deferves to be here alfo particularly remarked, that during the greateft part of the period above mentioned, thofe regions which are moft peculiarly adapted for carrying.on the fifheries with advantage, were under fuch, peculiar circumftances with regard to civil government, as to be only nominally fubje&ed even to the Crown of Scotland ; fo that neither law nor jufiice could be there impartially ad-
miniflred;—nor could any enterprife by individuals be there attempted, but under the protecting power of Government. And as in thefe circumftances the nature of the country could not be known, the means of improving it were not attended to. The country was therefore neglected as an inhofpitable region, and.the people were confidered as little better than favages ; which totally excluded from the minds of mercantile people, any idea of entering into commercial connections with them.
But, tho' the two rebellions that within the prefent century broke forth in thofe regions, ferved rather to cherilh than eradicate thefe ideas, yet it is now well known, that thefe infurrecYions have been the means of abolifhing that fyftem of feudal government which tended to excite perpetual civil wars and lawlefs diforder, and to introduce in its (lead a fyftem of civil government which has entirely civilized the people j-,
f The natives of the Highlands and Ifles, are at this prefent moment as much civilifed in their manners, and nnder as juft a fubordination to the laws, as any people whatever; fo that in no part of the world is property more fecure, or lawlefs violence more rare among the body of the people, than there ; infomuch that a fingle peace-officer, unattended and unarmed, can execute, without difficulty, or danger to himfelf, any commiffion that the law may
and has prepared them for engaging effectually with any perfons who may choofe to enter into connections with them, either in commerce, or
require. A ftranger alfo in thofe regions, may go where he will, in perfect, fafety ; and if he behaves with decent politenefs, he will not only not be infulted, but will be kindly entertained wherever he goes, with a chearful and unaffected hofpitality.
On thefe unknown coafts, fhipwrecks muft fometimes happen : And, in all cafes of that nature, the mariners are not only faved, where it can poffibly be done, and kindly entertained ; but their property is fecured and preferved, with a degree of care that reflects the highefl honour upon the natives. Many inftances of this kind I heard of incidentally when on that coaft, and fince;—a few of which I fhall beg leave to mention, in confirmation of the character I have given of the people.
During the late war, a fhip from Liverpool, which had received confiderable damage at fea, put in to the harbour of Loch-Tarbat in Harris : And as the matter found it was not fafe to proceed to fea without receiving confiderable repairs, which could not there be had, he found himfelf obliged to leave the fhip and cargo, till he fhould go to Liverpool, to receive inftmciions from his owners. All the hands went with him except one, whom he prevailed on to ftay in the fhip, to take care of the cargo. There fhe lay for nearly the fpace of two years, under the care of this fingle man, without fuftaining the fmalleft lofs, either by violence or pilfering.
During laft winter 1784-5, a veflel navigated by Danifli feamen (I think), who were entire ftranger8 to the coaft, having touched on a rock weft of Icolmkill, afraid of finking, took to their boat, and made for that ifland,
viii      I N T R O DUCTIO N.
in fuch manufactures as the nature of their country, and the Situation in which thev are placed, can admit of.
leaving the veflel, with fails fet, to drive with the wind and tide.   Some of the natives, feeing the veflc! rolling without being under proper management, put off to the fhip, and, finding nobody on board, took poffeffion of her, and carried her fafely into Loch-Scridan in Mull.   The mariners feeing their veffel fafely moored, went and claimed her, and without hefitation or difpute obtained full pof-feffion, without any falvage or other charge being made, favc a few millings to the men who brought her in. The fhip and cargo were then entrufted to the farmer of the land adjoining to the port fhe lay in, who, for a very trifling confederation, infurcd the whole cargo to the owners, and delivered it over to their order, feveral months afterwards, entirely compleat, and in good order.—Another veflel was put afhore about the fame time, on the ifland of Coll ; the cargo of which was in like manner faved and preferved without any pecuniary gratification, by Mr M'Lean, the hofpitable chief and laird of that ifland.
About the fame time, two large American veiTels belonging to Clyde, went afhore on the ifland of Iflay ;—one of them contained on board ten thoufand pounds in fpecie. As thefe veffels were not under management, merely becaufc of the great ficknefs and laffitude of the crews, tho' the weather was not tempeftuous,—the cargoes were taken out, and placed along the fhores, in the beft way they could ; —the veflels were then got off—and, when the articles of the two cargoes were collected together, there was not any-thing amiffing, fave one fingle barrel of tar, which had probably been hove overboard, and loft thro* carelefTnef*.— —But the mo(l lingular inftance of the kind I met with, was the following :    ■ ,
From this detail, it will not, I hope, appear in the lead furpriiing, that the filheries never yet mould have been carried on to great extent upon the coafts of Scotland : Nor will there be any j'ufl ground for urging this circumftance as
Several years ago, a veffel from Ireland, laden with linen-yarn, was ftranded in Iflay. The weather happened to come eafy afterwards, fo that the cargo was got out; but as it was drenched in fait water, it became necef-fary to have the whole well warned in frelh water, to take out the fait. This was done in a river that was near, and the yarn was fpread abroad for many days, along an tx-tenfive links (downs) to dry.—Many hundreds of perfons were employed in this work for feveral weeks, not one of whom had not linen-yarn at home, for that is the ftaple manufacture of the ifland ; fo that the temptation in-; embezzlement was very great, as a difcovery, in thefe eircum-flances, would have been extremely difficult; yet, when the whole was collected together, to the utter aftonifhment of all the parties concerned, a very few hanks only of the yarn, (about five or fix to the beft of my remembrance), value about two or three (hillings, were wanting.—I gladly record thefe instances of honefty and friendly care of the unfortunate ; as the natives of thofe iflands and coafts pique themfelves on maintaining an immaculate character in that refpect, and I think it would be both cruel and unjuft not to allow them full credit for it. I would not, however, infinuate, that every individual on thefe coafts is proof againft all temptations ; but i think I may very confidently affert- that in no part of the world, would a man who had the misfortune to fuffer fhipwreck, have a better chance to meet with every poflible afSflancc, than there, or at a finaller expence.
an argument againft "the probability of their fucceeding, whenever they fhall be fairly tried. I need only farther obferve on this head, that the attempts which from time to time have been made by the Britifli Parliament to encourage thofe fifheries, have produced laws fo ill adapted to the. flate of the country, and the circumftances of the people, as rather to reprefs the bufinefs they were intended to promote, than to encourage it.—This will appear more fully from the circumflances ftated in the following Report, to which I here refer. So that our want of fuccefs hitherto in that bufinefs, affords no fort of proof that we may not be able to carry it on with the greateft fuc-cefs, at a future period : It only proves, that a perfect knowledge of the circumflances of the cafe is necefTary, before laws can be made, effectually to promote any meafure that' may be under contemplation.
Changes in the circumflances of a country, are frequently attended with difagreeable effects to the prefent inhabitants, even where thefe changes are evidently calculated at laft to promote their general profperity: For, between the time that former occupations muit be abandoned, and new employments adopted, there
■Is a period of doubt and uncertainty, which is productive of much diitrefs to individuals, by exciting anxiety, diftruft, and difcontent. In all cafes of that kind, it becomes the duty of a humane and well-informed Legiilature, to be peculiarly attentive to the people who find themfelves in thefe circumflances, and to facilitate the change, by adopting fuch regulations as may tend to mitigate the evils that arife from thefe caufes. This is the rule that prudence and benevolence would prefcribe; but unfortunately the peculiarities of a popular form of government, are ill calculated to forward fuch meafures.-National prejudices,
when once imbibed, are flowly, and with great difficulty, eradicated ; fo that ruinous projects, which have once become favourite objects with the multitude, are long purfued with a blind obftinacy that cannot be diverted; and unfavourable prejudices are adhered to long after the circumftances that gave rife to thefe prejudices are totally removed. At a period not extremely remote, the natives of England, we have feen, thought they had reafon to believe that the inhabitants of the Highlands of Scotland were a fet of men difaflected to Government, averfe to labour, and impatient of all lawful b 2
xii       INTRODUCTIO N.
fubordinalion.   Tliey believed the men to be little better than a lawlefs banditti, and their country an inhofpitable defart,  incapable of cultivation, or of ever becoming the feat of commerce, of induftry, or arts ; and therefore turned from it with avcrfion.   They have not obferved the change that has of late taken place in all thefe refpects ; and the natives, difcour-aged by neglect, and overawed by thofe feveri-ties inflicted on many of their chiefs, have been afraid to put in their well-founded claim to national attention, left they ihould be accufed of mifreprefentation from interefted natives, and meet with obloquy, inftead of fupport.—They have thus been fuffered to remain neglected and unknown ; and while the mod diftant parts of the globe have been attentively explored, with a view to difcover new fources of trade, and to give encouragement for the manufactures of Britain, thofe territories, which are fo peculiarly our own, and which are much better calculated to encreafe the trade, to encourage the manufactures, and to augment the revenues of this nation, than any others that have ever yet been difcovered on the globe, have been fuffered to remain unknown and unexplored j fo that the grcateft part of the inha-
bitants of this ifland, are nearly as well acquainted with the nature and prefent ftate of Japan, as they are with thofe countries here treated of* tho* they are perhaps the mod valuable appendages of the Britiih Crown.
It is many years fmce the obvious importance of thefe neglected regions, attracted the particular notice of the Writer of this performance; and he published his thoughts on that fubject in the year 1777, in a Treatife, intitled, Ob-fervations on the means of exciting a fpirit of national induftry, &c.—He once more touched on this fubjecl, in an Effay he offered to the Public in the end of the year 1780, intitled, The in-tcrcft of Great Britain iuith refpeel to her American Colonies conftdcred; in which he had occafion to fhow, that the nation had in vain expected, for fome centuries pad, to derive advantages from its Tranfatlantic dominions, which it never did, and never could obtain, while it neglected treafures of a more valuable kind, that long had been in her fole pofJTeflion.—The fubject once more obtruded itfelf upon him, on the clofe of the late war, which he confidered as a mod favourable opportunity for bringing this fubject under the public notice: He therefore compiled a Treatife, intitled, A propofal for eftablijhing the
Northern Britifo Fifoeries ; in which the circum-Jlances that have hitherto frajlrated every attempt io cjlablijh thefe fijheries are inveftigated, and meafura, fuggefied by -which thefe ohftruclions may be removed, &c. This Treatife was printed for the perufal of his friends; but was not published, as he confidered himfelf not fufficiently inftructed in all particulars relating to it, never having been on the coafts where the filheries can be chiefly carried on, in perfon ; and therefore juftly fufpecting that he might be unacquainted with many local facts, which it was of much importance fhould be known, before a decided judgment on this fubject could be formed. This Treatife was printed in the year 1783 ; and having attracted the notice of fome public-fpirited men, the Writer was applied to in the beginning of the year 1784, to fee if he would incline to undertake a voyage along thofe coafts, with a view to obtain the information on that fubject, which he feemed to think was of fo much importance. To this propofal he readily aifented ; and having obtained an order from the Treafury for one of the King's cutters to attend him on that expedition, he proceeded on it with alacrity.—The following Report to the Lords of the Treafury, with the Illuftra-
lions that accompany it, contain an abftract of the obfervations he there made. Many of thofe who mail take the trouble to read that Report, will probably be difpofed to think, that he has taken the liberty commonly afcribed to travellers, of reprefenting things rather as they wifh they mould be, than as they really are:—And he will not deny, that from the idea he had conceived of thofe regions, he would himfelf have been much difpofed to put that conftruclion on a fimilar Report, made by one with whofe character he was unacquainted. This circumftance, however, did not prevent him from making his Report with fidelity and freedom j not in the leaf! doubting, but that future obfervers, and long experience, will fully confirm his remarks.
On this head he will only farther beg leave to make two remarks, which he willies may be attended to by thofe who mall have occafion to examine thofe regions in future. The firft is, that the Writer hereof, having made agriculture and rural affairs a principal ftudy from his ear-lieit infancy, by thus being more able to judge of the facility of improving fome uncultivated foils, and the efficacy for that purpofe of the means that are within reach, than others -will be who have not fo particularly attended to this
fubject, he has, in all probability, been induced to form a more favourable opinion of fome districts, than thofe would do who are only capable of judging from the beauty of the prefent appearance of the fields.—The other obfervatiou is of a funilar nature, with regard to the inhabitants.   Thole who judge of mankind from their external appearance—-or thofe who never have adverted to the peculiar vices and defects that neceifarily originate from peculiar circumflances—or thofe who, do not endeavour to divert themfelves of the prejudices they have derived from education, and that locality of thinking which every man imperceptibly imbibes from the converfation of thofe with whom he is moit familiar,—will be apt to form a judgment of thofe people extremely different from that entertained by him, and will perhaps be fhocked at many peculiarities as crimes, which he confiders merely as misfortunes neceifarily arifing from the circumftances in which they find themfelves placed.—Thefe remarks premifed, he configns the Report to the Public, without the fmalleft degree of anxiety or folici-tude on his own account.
Tho' it will be readily admitted on all hands, that the Britifh fifhery is an object of great
great national importance, and therefore ought to be very liberally encouraged by the Public; yet he has reafon to fear, that the minds of his countrymen are not even now fo much enlightened as to enable them diftinctly to perceive the full importance of that object ; and he believes, that till certain popular prejudices have gradually fubfided, it will be in vain to expect that this object will obtain all the. attention it deferves, or that the people will be able to judge of the meafures that would tend molt effectually to accomplilh the end in view. —— From thefe confiderations, he conceives the eltablifhmeht of the fifheries will be a work of time; and that all which can be expected at prefent, is to lay the fure foundation of a fuperflruc-ture, that may, by flow and gradual fteps, become at lad a great and very important object.
That the Reader may in fome meafure enter into his ideas on this fubject, he begs that every-one who has the profperity of this country at heart, will for a moment reflect on the means fhe now poffeffes, of manning a navy on any hidden emergency, and of thus preferving her independence at fea, on which alone her fafety, not to fay her profperity, depends. Things are much changed in this refpect, from what
they were.   Till the prefent day, our trading veiTels furnifhed a ready fupply of feamen whenever they were wanted.—In former times, if a feaman fpake the Englilh language, few enquiries were neceffary to difcover if he was a Britifh fubject.—But now the cafe is altered. On the rumour of a war, nothing will be more eafy than for Britifh feamen to obtain an atteft-ation that they are fubjects of the States of America, or natives of Ireland ; and it is not for a prefs-gang to enter into nice inveftigations to difcover whether thefe allegations are well or ill founded.   Hence it is eafy to forefee, that fo many miftakes will happen in this refpect, as to give room for loud clamour, which muft either be appeafed by great conceflions, or it will bring about a breach between the nations. By confequence, the prefent practice of preff-ing from trading, veffels, mufl be fo much fettered as not to anfwer the purpofe it ufed formerly to ferve ; and therefore, till another more eligible and effectual mode of fuddenly manning a fleet on any emergency fhall be difcovered, our only certain refource will be. the refident fiihermen upon our own coafts, and the feamen to whom the merchandife furnifhed by thefe fifheries give employment. On
the number, therefore, of thefe fiihermen, our fafety alone depends: and we may deem it peculiarly fortunate for us, that we have it in our power to augment the number of this moll neceffary clafs of citizens, almoft without limitation.
DIFFICULTY in DEVISING
a Plan for encouraging Beginning Enterprifes,
But, tho* it will appear from the following •elucidations, that Nature has been wonderfully kind to our ifland in this Tefpect, it will at the fame time be evident, that fhe has hitherto been very little aflifted by art or human ingenuity: And tho' it will alfo appear, that little money is wanted from the public fund for eflablifhing the national fifheries, it will be alfo, it is believed, made fufficiently clear, that much cir-•cumfpection, and no ordinary degree of cautious attention, is nrceflary, to fet things into a proper train in this refpect—particulars thefe, that in a nation like this, can be with much lefs certainty commanded than money itfelf.
In human affairs, things are often fo clofely linked together, and they have fo intimate an effect upon each other, that it is a matter of ▼•cry great difficulty to diftinguifh the caufe
c 2
from the eflect, or to perceive which is the firft principle of motion that gives life and energy to the whole.   So difficult, indeed, is it to perceive this, that perhaps no exertion of human ingenuity is fuflicient fully to accomplifli it : And it has been found by experience, that the moft effectual mode of exciting induftrious exertions among mankind, is to place them in fuch circumftances as enable them to find a ready market for the feveral articles that their induftry can obtain, or their ingenuity difcover, and then to leave individuals, under very few reftrietions, to find out the way in which they can moft benefit themfelves by their feveral exertions.   But this mode of procedure is fo little calculated to flatter the pride of man, which is always vain of dictating rules of conduct for ethers, that it is feldom adopted fave from necelTity or accident.   This is one of the principal reafons why we fee fo many fruitlefs national attempts to eftablifli certain arts or manufactures in particular diftricts in Europe.
The Writer of this work is fo fully convinced that the eftablifhment of the fifheries on our • own coafts, have been prevented merely by a want of attention to this important circum-{lance, that he is very anxious it fhould now be
particularly attended to : And if he can produce arguments which mall convince the Reader, of its great. importance, he will not defpair of feeing this nation not only recover from her prefent abafement, but be able at fome future period to make a figure among the nations, far more refpectable and glorious than fhe ever did in former times.
DETACHED HA ML E T S.
-.jo.i rtmijiji...     *:>..>r/o ••• • •. . . i
Confluences of People living in them.
In the Hebrides, and along the weftern coafls of Scotland, which are occupied by many hundred thoufand inhabitants, unlefs it be at Stornoway in Lewis, and Bowmore in Iflay, there is not perhaps a place without the Mull of Cantire, where there are a dozen of houfes together :—very few, indeed, are found but in fcattered hamlets only. A neceflary confe-quence is, that no trade can there be carried on. Hence, no perfon can obtain from others the manufactures he Hands in need of, or the tools that are neceflary for carrying on any operation he finds might otherways be naturally within his reach. It follows alfo, from the fame caufe, that no man can difpofe of any article of produce that his induftry might enable
him to obtain.   His views, therefore, muft be confined merely to- the obtaining fuch necef-iaries as come within his reach, for the fubfift-ence of himfelf, and thofe who have an immediate dependence on him.  Whatever he could get more, would be to him, mere fuperfluouj lumber hot worth the trouble of procuring. But as thofe who thus labour for their own fubfiftence merely from day to day, can never be induced to provide fuperfluous ftores, they never can be prepared againft thofe vicifli-tudes of feafons that frequently occur, and muft therefore be, in all fuch emergencies, ex-pofed to the moft poignant diftrefs.   It thus happens, that poverty and indolence to the people, are the unavoidable confequences of a want of market for the produce of labour in every part of the world.   Nor would the moft fertile foil, or the greateft abundance of thofe things' that might in other circumftances ferve to accumulate wealth,   produce the fmalleft change on the circumftances of the people : For, till the nature of man be totally changed, nothing but the probable certainty of being able to better his condition, will ever induce him to fubmit to the trouble of labour and bodily fatigue.
1NTRODUCTI ON. xxiii
One neceflary confequence of the total want of markets in a country, is, that the communication between one part of the country and another mufl be in a great meafure cut off, as the intercourfe will be only cafual and precarious. Commodities, therefore, cannot be eafily tonveyed from place to place.   Every kind of traffic or interchange of neceffaries among the people, muft be flopped, or clogged with fuch a multiplicity of obftructions and accumulated expences, as to crufh in the bud every attempt at a beginning commerce. — Whereas, in a country abounding with market - towns, the communication between them is fo fleady and uninterrupted, that individuals can at all times travel from the one to the other with eafe, fafety and expedition, and at a trifling expence. So that men whofe bufinefs it is, can eafily make themfelves acquainted with the fituation and circumftances of the neighbouring places, and can with certainty learn the wants and improvements of the other.
Among other diflrefsful confequences of this difperfion of the people, is the want of regular and quick intelligence between places by means of letters conveyed by poll. This inftance afford*.
us a ftriking example of the intimate connection that fubfifts between different branches of bufinefs, and their reciprocal influence and dependence on each other, without being able to trace a firft caufe from an effect Where men live in detached hamlets, commerce, it has been fhewn, can fcarcely have a beginning. Where commerce does not prevail, men have no opportunity of having any continued communication with thofe at a diftance, fo that their comparative fituation and wants cannot be known. In thefe circumftances, were regular conveyances by poft attempted, the impoflibility that each individual would find of benefiting himfelf by that conveyance, would prevent him from making ufe of it. The expence of the pq/l-office would be certain, and the returns from it trifling and precarious. The public, to fave that expence, would refute to eftablifh a regular poft in thofe regions ; and, in confequence of that want, every attempt to begin an infant commerce by any enterprifing individual, would be ftifled in the bud. The countries which are in this manner cut off from the reft of the world, are thus doomed to remain perpetually unknown, and by confequence neglected and defpifed by all mankind*
It is of much importance that this circum-ftance fhould be duly attended to by thofe who wilh to promote the improvement of thofe countries, fo valuable,.and fo much neglected, which form the object, of our prefent investigation ;—■ and therefore I mult bee; the Reader's indul-gence, while I try to render every particular relating to it as obvious as poffible.— It has been juit now remarked, that, " in thefe circum-fiancest were regular conveyances by poll attempted, the impoflibility that each individual would find in benefiting himfelf by that conveyance, would prevent him from making ufe of it." To understand the full import of this remark, it is only neceflary to obferve, that where every ho ufe is a feparate hamlet, the poft-office, where-ever it fhould be eflabliihed, mufl of neceffity be at a great distance from almofl every individual habitation ; fo that in cafe of a letter coming occasionally to any perfon, it mull either be fent from the poll-office to his own houfe by exprefs, or be allowed to lie there till fome chance perfon happened to come from that per-fon's neighbourhood to call at the poii-oflice. In that cafe, correfpondence mufl be both tedious and expenfive, and by confequence burthen-fome to the people.
d
Nor could the benefits that would accrue from this correfpondence, be in any meafure equivalent to the trouble and expence. When one writes to a correfpondent in a toivn on bufinefs, he may be faid in a great meafure to write to the whole community there aifembledj as the perfon who receives the letter can eafily inform himfelf of all particulars concerning the branch of bufinefs he follows, that occur in that place. — But the cafe is widely different in correfponding with detached individuals, in the fituation fuppofed. In that cafe, each perfon knows only his own affairs, with regard to which alone he can give a fatisfactory anfwer: So that before a man could get information equally fatisfactory as from his fingle correfpondent in town, he would find it neceflary to write, perhaps, fome hundreds of letters, which would have occafion to be addreffed to as many different, perfons, whofe names or circumflances no ftranger could ever have an opportunity of knowing:—From thefe confiderations it is plain, that were there a community which confifted even of myriads of fouls, if it fhould fo happen that thefe were all difperfed through the country in feparate hamlets, the expence of a regular poft-of^ice never could be paid by them —-
Therefore, whatever their circumftances were, thefe muft remain unknown to all the world. Whatever treafures they poffeffed, thefe treafures muft continue, as diamonds in an unopened mine, ufelefs to all mankind. No regular intelligence could there take place. No mutual knowledge of the circumftances of diftant parts could be obtained. No commerce carried on, but at a moft wonderful difadvantage to all the parties concerned.
Such is, in a great meafure, the prefent ftate of thofe countries of which I now treat; and the inhabitants feverely experience the unavoidable diitrefs that their fituation expofes them to. The fact referred to in the notes, which confifls with my own certain knowledge, will ftiew how much they fuffer at prefent from thefe evils f.
\ It has been already faid, that unlefs it be at Storno-way in Lewis, and Bowmorc in Iflay, there is nothing like a town in any of the i(lands of the Hebrides beyond the Mull of Cantire. At thefe two places, are cftablifhed poft-offices ; fo that from thence, intelligence, tho' tardy, may be conveyed to and from the metropolis. Pod-offices have alfo been of late edablithed in Skye and in Mull ; which, for the reafons above afligned, are a burthen upon the revenue. To the extenfive iflands of Uift, Harris, &c. which contain a numerous people, and where are many fafe and capacious harbours, no poll;-office at all has ever been cftablifhed ; and even where polls are eftablifhed, thefc
One inconvenience follows fo clofely upon the heels of another in this investigation, that it is tirefome, though exceedingly neceflary, to point them out. — A cuftomhoufe, like a poft-office, cannot be cftablifhed in a country where the inhabitants live in detached fingle hamlets : for, where no commerce exilh, the expence of a cuftomhoufe cannot be defrayed ; and where no cuftomhoufe is eftablifhed, according to the prefent fyftem of laws in Britain, no fort of trade can poflibly be carried on.   Thus do we
communicate only with other places through the metro, polis :—So that a letter from Skye to Lewis, the direct diftance but a few leagues, if fent by poll, mud travel above 1200 miles before it can reach the place of dedin-ation.
Mr M'Donald of Boifdale, one of the proprietors of South Uift, a man of judgement and enterprffe, has fo feverely experienced the want of a regular conveyance of intelligence to and from his own ifland, that he wifhed, if poffible, to remove this inconvenience. He requeued me to accompany him to the Poflmafler-General of Scotland ; to whom, after dating the inconveniences to which Ills people were fubjecled from the want of a pod-office, and mentioning in particular feveral indances of fliips belonging to Liverpool, Bridol, and other ports, that had been obliged to put into thefe harbours in diilrefs, where they have lain many months without having it in their power to fend any intelligence to their owner:;, fo that they have been given up for lod, and infnrances done upon them at exceeding high rates, when they were lying in as
perpetually return to our endlefi circle of caufes and effects, reciprocally*acting upon, and influenced by the other. A folitary individual, living in a remote ifland, or lay that two or three ihould fo far unite as to be able to produce fome article that might be lent to market, wherever they can find it,— before they dare fhip this article to be carried any-where, they mufl comply with the regulations of the cuftomhoufe, or forfeit veffel and cargo. To go to the cuftomhoufe to obtain a clearance, would,
perfect fafety as if they had been in the wet dock at Liverpool. — After mentioning thefe and other fimilar cafes, pointing out in the ftrongefl manner, the utility or neceffity of a regular poll to and from thence, he concluded with entreating, that a paeket-boat might be eflablifhed to that ifland ; and, as in inducement to it, he offered to beeome bound, ;it the end of three years from the cftnblifh-mcnt of the packet, to make up himfelf whatever lofs Government fhould have incurred (if any) by that cftabliih-inent. This Gentleman is in affluent circumftances, and perfectly able to implement, on his part, this agreement, Unaccepted—But tho' the PoftmaftCr faw the utility of the propofal, ami much approved of the meafure, be fuid it belonged to him only to reprcfent the cafe (which he fhould do), but it was the province of others to determine. He exprefTed a doubt approaching to a certainty, that the requilltion would not be complied with ; nor do 1 hear that the cilablifhment has been made.— Such are the ob-flructions that perpetually Crufll the beginning attempts at improvements in thofe regions.
in many cafes, cod an expence greater than the value of the cargo. This cannot be done, and a final flop mult be put to this beginning attempt at induftry and commerce.—Is it poffible for any man to think of thefe bars that perpetually come in the way to fhackle the hand of induftry, and not to pity the hard lot of thofe who are fo cruelly fubjecled to them !
Thefe are radical evils, which fo effectually tend to counteract a beginning exertion, that no laws, however favourably contrived, could over-rule their influence ; becaufe, the evil of which we here chiefly, complain, is, that the people, in thefe circumflances, are beyond the influence of all laws. While they fhall therefore be fuffered to remain in that ftate, it is vain to think that they can be effentially benefited by any regulations whatever.    That the mere dif-perfion of the people, is alone fufflcient to re-prefs a rifing fpirit of induftry, will appear evident to any one who will take the trouble to obferve what would be the neceffary effect of that difperfion,  in any particular cafe he choofes to try.    The following attempt will put him in a train to think of others, which, it is believed, muft all lead to the fame conclufion.
Introduction, xxxr-
The want of capital for carrying on bufinefs, is the particular moft generally complained of, whenever any exertion tending towards improvement is fpoke of.— How is that deficiency moft likely to be fupplied? Is it not by inducing ftrangers who have capital, to employ it in thofe regions ?—But, how is it poffible for any ftranger to employ his capital in a country fo fituated as this is, were he ever fo much difpofed to do it ? He cannot go to fettle there himfelf; for, inftead of being able to live in a comfortable manner, as a man who has a capital will always expect to do, he muft banilh himfelf into a folitary retreat, where he neither can enjoy fociety, nor have information of anything concerning bufinefs.   It is the hopes of rapid profits alone, and great returns from his capital, that could induce a man to put himfelf into fuch a situation.— But what are his chances of profit there ? If he attempts to employ his ftock in the mercantile line, what are his pro-fpects ? He muft, in the firft place, order for himfelf, a whole fhip-load of goods, from fome one place ; for, he can have no chance of get-ing a fmall parcel for a feparate freight by itfelf: He muft go to the cuftomhoufej—bring an officer to his own home, at a great expence.
to difcharge the cargo f, and probably be obliged to allow the veffel to return in ballad, Without freight.   The outlay here is great:—-what is his chance of returns ? Few people are in his near neighbourhood ; and of thefe few, a very fru-all number can afford to pay for any part of the commodities he has obtained. lie mufl fell them out in fmall parcels, by a flov/ and languid retail ;  in the doing of which, many of the pcrifliable commodities mufl be loft.    He muft even be reduced to difpofe of them to a parcel of poor people, fcattered through a wide country, on credit, in fmall ami pitiful quantities.    When payments are wanted, he cannot call them in by letter; for, no letters can be fent by poft, to the feparate houfes of individuals.     He has no rcfource, but to go in perfon, or to fend another ex-prefsly on purpofe: the chance is a thoufand to one, that the people have not money to art-fwer his demands, and he poffeffes no means of enforcing payments.   Were he to attempt to force it by law, the feat of juftice is at fuch a
f 1 have been affured, that, in thefe iflands, the expence of the cuflomhoufe-officer to difcharge a cargo of coals, amounts, in many cafes, to more than four times the duty on the coals ; and if the cargo be fmall, it will fometimes be more than double the prime colt of the coals.
tHftance, that the courfe of all legal proceedings in fmall matters, muft in fome meafure be fuf-pended.  The expence at any rate is enormou8; and the riik that he himfelf muft bear that ex-pence, is very great.   His returns therefore muft be flow, and wonderfully precarious.— But quick returns, and prompt payments, are the only circumftances that enfure profit in trade, with a fmall capital.   A man, therefore, who meant to make profit of his capital, and who knew how to employ it otherwife, never could think of employing it there; as he muft have much greater difficulties to encounter, an infinitely vexatious courfe of bufinefs to conduct., and much fmaller returns from his capital, than in any other fituation he could have chofen. Inftead of attracting capitals to thofe regions, therefore, every'circumftance concurs to make any fmall capitals that may chance to be among the people, be gradually withdrawn from thence, in proportion as their knowledge encreafes :— For, experience foon (hews them, that a man living in a place where he can deal at all times with men of known credit, has, on every emergency, the full command of the utmoft farthing of his flock, whenever it may be wanted, which he can thus turn a thoufand ways to his own v e
profit and emolument. Till fuch time, therefore, as the people in thofe regions can enjoy the fame advantages, inftead of being able to draw capital from other places, their own capital, as it is at any time llowly acquired, muft gradually be withdrawn from them ; and poor, in that situation, they muft always remain, under every fyftem of laws that the genius of man can invent.
Such being the unavoidable confequences of allowing a people to remain wholly in detached hamlets, we ought not to be furprifed at the poverty of the people in thofe regions, nor at the indolence imputed to them. They are indeed induftrious; but that induftry is unavailing.—They make great exertions ; but thefe exertions tend not to remove their poverty. Is it a wonder, if, in thefe circumftances, they mould fometimes think of moving to happier
abodes ?-Let us now enquire what changes
would be produced there, were the people collected into villages and towns.
LARGE AND SMALL TOWNS
compared with regard to their cff'ecls on Society*
Man owes his fuperiority over other animals entirely to fociety.   To the united efforts alone
fcf many individuals, exerted to produce one eflecr., he owes his power—To the accumulated ftore of fads collected by the attention of many obfervers, he owes his knowledge.    When detached from all others, his mind, like his body, is weak; and it is made to bend, without effort, to every fuperior power that is calculated to overawe the individual. Hence it is found, that that degree of perfonal independence which conftitutes what is generally called political freedom, can be found only in thofe places where men mingle in fociety ; and where the minds of men exalted by communicating with others, come to be gradually expanded, till they acquire an idea of their own united power and importance.— Slavery, on the other hand, is found only to prevail (without the perpetual exertions of conflraining power) where the people are divided into fcattered families, that do not admit of a focial intercourfe.  In Poland, the people fubmit, without repining, in their fepaiate huts, to the will of their lord.   In Rufha, the inhabitants are equally folitary and fervile. In the Turkiih dominions, the towns (the capital alone excepted) are abandoned, and the people hide themfelves in their lonely dens, each foli-citous only for himfelf, like the original pof-e 2
feflfors of the defart.— In all thefe countries the people are flaves ; and never entertained an idea, that they themfelves pofieffed the power, and had an equal right to perfonal protection with the greatest man in the dominions. .,
In the Highlands of Scotland, the inhabitants, feparated from each other by many natural impediments, have few opportunities of giving or receiving that mutual affiflance which their feveral wants require.   Their perfonal weaknefs they feelingly experience on many occasions, and learn to fubmit betimes to the hard law of neceflity without repining ;  and having few opportunities of acquiring knowledge, being in a great meafure debarred all intercourfe with other parts of the world, and having no opportunity of meeting together for. the purpofe of deliberating on the means of promoting their common good, they have not even an idea of any means that could be devifed for bettering their condition, unlefs it be that of freeing each individual from fuch payments as he finds he cannot withour difficulty make good.    Thus it has happened, that for many years they have fubmitted to the influence of laws, which, in their operation, are the moft cruel and unjust that can be conceived, without ever dreaming of
making a reprefentation to the Legiflature, of the hardfhips to which they were thus fubjecled, or even uttering a complaint that might lead to an investigation of their grievances. Would it have been pofiible to find a body of people half fo numerous, who had opportunities of conversing and freely deliberating with one another, who would have been in the fame predicament ? I think not. What has been, may be again, if circumftances are allowed to remain unaltered. Were the prefent evils complained of removed, others equally great might fpring up in their ftead.—In fhort, till the people are placed in fuch circumftances as to allow their minds to act freely in exciting bodily exertions, nothing can be done to bring them into that ftate in fociety, which can entitle them to the appellation of men in a political fenfe.
If a free focial intercourfe be required to give the mental powers of man that vigour which is neceflary before he can form an idea of civil liberty, fuch an intercourfe is yet more neceflary for giving to his bodily exertions that invigourating power which constitutes an active industry. Social intercourfe, in any circum-Jlances, may give rife to a fpirit of freedom ; but that fociety muft be fixed to a particular
fpot, before arts and induftry can flourifli a-raong the people.   The aniient Scythian No-mades had fome idea of civil liberty:—The Tartar Hordes,   and the Arabian predatory bands, are free men, tho' they have no fixed places of abode.   Among thefe, however, arts, and that fpecies of bodily labour which is ufu-ally called induftry, are fcarcely known. — Marfeilies, Venice, Genoa, Antwerp, Amfter-dam, London, and other fuch cities, where great multitudes of men have been collected together, have ever been the parents of induftry, and the places in which arts have flourifhed.— Arbitrary power may indeed reprefs induftry, even in large towns ; but no management can excite it, when men are placed in remote and folitary habitations.    A fteady market for all the products of labour, and exertions of genius, muft be ever within reach, before a fpirit of induftry can arife among mankind ; and fuch a market can only be found in a large town, occupied by a numerous people. As this fubject has feldom been attended to fo much as its importance deferves, it will not perhaps be deemed improper here to point out, with fome degree of precifion, the circumftances that render a large city fo indifpenfibly neceflary for awakening a fpirit of induftry.
When a number of people live together in one place, they neceifarily create employment for each other, and thus eflablifh a market for the products of their labour. The fmith, the mafon, the carpenter, the taylor, the baker, the cloathier, the merchant, &c. all become purchafers of fhoes; and the fhoemaker, in his turn, becomes a cuftomer to all the other arti-fans, when his wants call for their afhftance. Thus all contribute to the fupport of each; which excites a certain degree of induftry, even without any external aid.
A market is thus opened for the product of labour; but, in fmall communities, that market will be languid and unfleady, in comparifon of what takes place in the fame way among a more numerous fociety. A fmall number of people can give employment only for that kind of labour which is indifpcnfibly neceflary, and all other arts of convenience only mu(l be forborn. But, even nccejfary arts, where the customers are few, are fubjected to many difcouragements, which they would not feel in a larger community. Were as many people, for example, af-fembled together in one place, as would give employment to one fhoemaker only, many inconveniences would be felt, both by the puf-
chafers and the artifan; which would greatly abridge their enjoyment, and retard improvement. If a pair of fhoes were made for one man, whicli did not fit him, they muft be returned to the fhoemaker, who might be long before he could find a purchafer for thefe fhoes: perhaps they would not fit any one of his cuftomers ; and he mufl at lafl be obliged to fell them below prime cofl. Thus would he be fubjected to inconvenience, and to lofs ; which would diminifh his profit, even tho* his work fhould be high-charged : And the perfon for whom thefe fhoes were made, would be obliged to go without any, till another pair could be got ready.
In fuch a fituation, too, it will often happen, that five or fix, or more perfons, may all want fhoes at one time, when the poor fhoemaker will be hurried beyond meafure, and the cuftomers will be fubjected to inconvenience by delay. At another time, no fhoes will be called for, and the fhoemaker be laid idle, not knowing for whom he fhould make any, and having no market for thofe that are not particularly ordered.
To indemnify himfelf for thefe loffes, he may perhaps take advantage of the neceiTities of
the people, and charge higher prices, or make his work worfe than it ought to be; well knowing that he can have no competitor, as there is not work for another to fettle in the fame place: So that unlefs he becomes altogether intolerable, and difobliges all the people fo much as to make them with one accord defert him and call another, they muft be content to bear with the inconveniences they fuffer, as it is not an eafy matter to help themfelves ; for no man eminent in his profeffion, will choofe to go to fuch a place.
But, fhould the artift be ever fo much difpofed to act a confcientious part, his cuftomers will be but ill ferved ; for, in that cafe, the fame perfon mufl make fhoes for women and for men, for rich and for poor. And as no One perfon can perform thefe different kinds of work equally well, it mufl of neceflity happen, that fome of them at leafl will be ill made: pofhbly they may be all imperfect in compari-fon of what they might have been, tho' they will be higher-priced than otherways would nave been neceffary.
In a large place, all thefe inconveniences would be obviated : for, as many men of one bufinefs can there find abundant employment, it becomes neceffary for each to recommend
f
himfelf to his cudomers, by a civil deportment agd reafonable charge.   If the manufacturer acts thus, he will there always find a retail-dealer ready to take his goods and pay for them as they are finifhed ; fo that he can go to market with money in his hand, and purchafc materials at the lowed price pofiible. Every man in thefe Circumdances, is at liberty to work condantly at the fame kind of work, without ever putting his hand to any other.—One man, for example, betakes himfelf to the making of fine ladies fhoes, and bedows his whole attention to the doing them up in the neated manner, of the fined materials; and he finds it his intered to excel all others, if poffible, in the delicacy and elegance of his work, without regard to the price; as he meets with many perfons who are fatisfied to purchafe them from him.—w Another finds as condant employment in making firm and durable work, fitted for the ufe of men of moderate fortunes; and he, by paying continual attention to that branch of bufinefs, acquires a knowledge of the materials to be employed, and a fkill in the manner of joining them in work, that he never could have obtained but by an extenfive bufinefs and an unvaried attention to one fingle point. — And a
third finds an equal demand for flight goods, which he learns to vamp up at a price furprif-ingly low.—In fhort, let the goods be of what kind you pleafe, in a large place, if the price be proportioned to their value, they will fuit the tafle and circumflances of fome kind of purchasers, and therefore find a ready fale ; fo that the artifan is enabled to proceed in his bufinefs without interruption or anxiety : And, by the fuperior dexterity he thus acquires, and the choice of materials conflantly within his reach, he is enabled to live well, tho* he demands a fmaller price for his goods than others can afford them for ; which opens a door to foreign trade, that gives a ftill farther degree of fteadinefs to the market.
The fame obfervations may be made with Tegard to every bufinefs that can be named; fo that even the arts of indifpenfible utility, mufl be carried on in a far lefs perfect manner, in a fmall, than in a large place ; and a great many other arts mufl be wholly neglected f.
•|- Not only do men acquire a wonderful dexterity in mechanical arts, in confequence of the divifion of labour, and affigning the feveral operations to different artifts, which can only take place in thofe fituations where manufactures can be carried on upon a large fcale : But the connection of one manufacture is often fuch with another*
fa
Thus, for example, a very few people will furnifli employment to a fhoemaker or a taylor; but a considerable number mull be collected together before employment for a baker can be found : More Hill are wanted, to find good bufinefs to a public brewer. But, till thefe are eftablifhed, each family muft practife thofe bufmeffes to great difadvaniage at home.—A more numerous fociety ftill is wanted, to give employment to a watch-maker or gun-fmith,
as that neither can he carried on feparately with the. profit they might be together.   A foap-maker can fcarcely carry on bufinefs, without being connected with a candle-maker ; nor can he do it with the utmoft ccconomy, un-lefs a glafs-maker lives in the neighbourhood ; for, as it is difficult to extract the 'whole of the alkali from his afhes, part of it remains among the lime.   On account of that fmall portion of alkali, this lime becomes a ufeful flux to the glafs-maker, which he therefore gladly purchafes at a price much greater than can be given for it by others, Thofe foap-makers, therefore, who are at a diftance from a glafs-houfc, muft forego this advantage; and therefore cannot come into competition with others who have that advantage, if they be in other refpects equal.
The moft beautiful illultration of the doctrine here inculcated, that I have met with, is afforded by the following ■very curious ftate of facts, for which I am indebted to the Rev. Dr Tucker, Dean of Gloucefter. I give it as nearly as I can in his own words:—One day at Briflol, the Dean obferved a London tea-cheft; and as there was an eminent eabinet-maker of Brifto! prefent, he alkcd |f he could make
for want of which many inconveniences may be felt. Smiths, carpenters, joiners, Sec. who are eminent in their feveral profelTions, can only find fufficient encouragement among large communities, to which places they of neceflity refort; and of courfe it is there only that the \vorking-tools of other artifts can be properly made or repaired when out of order, which gives to the large place another great advantage over the fmall one.
tca-chefts at Briftol as cheap as they were fold for at London ? which the cabinet-maker anfw.-red in the negative. How fhould that be, faid the Dean? Have you not both the wood and labour cheaper here than at London ? Is not the mahogany often carried from hence to London by land; fo that all that expence, which is confiderable, muft be added to the price, befides the profit on puffing through different hands ?—All this is very true, replied the mechanic ; yet notwithftanding, the London tea-cheft-maker can buy his wood cheaper than here. At London, continued he, where the making of tea-chefts is a feparate trade, the artift never purchafes wood from a wood-merchant : He goes to the fhop of one of thofe extenfive cabinet-manufactories, where tables, chairs, and other large pieces of furniture, are made in great quantities. In fuch fhops, it is the general practice to throw into a fpare corner, all the wafte pieces cut off from their work, which cannot be of any farther ufe for themfelves. The tea-cheft-maker, when he wants wood, goes to that heap, and picks out fuch pieces as he thinks can anfwer his purpofc—Thefe pieces he throw* aiide into a feparate heap; and when he has got the
But, let the place be ever fo large, without the aid of commerce, the market will ftill be circumfcribed in companion of what it might be, and many arts could not there be practifed at all. A manufacturer of pins cannot carry on bufinefs at the cheapeft rate, unlefs he can dif-pofe of eighteen thoufand at leaft in a day f.—
quantity he wants at the time, he bargains for the price; which is ufually a trifle, perhaps not nearly one fourth part of the price it would have coft him had he bought the wood in whole plank, at the fame time that it is much
fitter for his purpofe than it otherwife would have been__.
Here is one very material article of faving ; but the great matter is the fuperior dexterity that a man acquires in this branch of bufinefs in confequence of his adhering to it Continually, which enfures him a living profit, tho' the goods are afforded at a fmaller price than others could furnifh them for. I was, faid the cabinet-maker, witnefs to the decifion of a wager, which will put this matter in a very clear point of view :—One of thefe London tea-cheft-makers undertook to put together a tea-cheft com-pleatly during the time St Paul's clock ftruck twelve. Accordingly, at an appointed day, the parties met ; the detached parts of the tea-cheft were all fpread upon a table ; and when the clock ftruck the firft ftroke, the artift began to put them together; and before the clock had done ftrfking, the tea-cheft was put together compleatly, and the key turned in the lock. This, faid he, I faw with my own eyes ; and he added, that he doubted if the beft hand in his fliop would have done the fame thing in lefs than half-an-hour.
f See the following Report, page 19th, Note.
But, it mull be a pretty large place which would afford a daily fale for fuch a quantity : Nor could the inhabitants be certain that they would be well ferved, unlefs they could purchafe at leail twice that quantity daily; for they could not otherwife have the advantage of a competition, which alone can enfure goods of proper value. This manufacture, therefore, can only be carried on where commerce offers a ready market, not only for eighteen thoufand pins a-day, but for eighteen hundred times that quantity if you pleafe. Trade, therefore, is neceffary for encouraging manufactures.
On another account ftill is trade of the moft indifpenfible utility to manufactures ; becaufe, it is by means of trade alone, that a plentiful market can be obtained of the various materials neceffarily wanted for the different manufactures which minifter to the wants of man. If, therefore, it fhall appear, that trade can never nourifh but in very large places, this will be another reafon for fhowing how effentially neceffary thefe are for the prosperity of any country.
In a large place, there is a constant internal demand for great quantities of every production and manufacture in the world ; and fcope is thus given for mercantile tranfactions on the
most extenfive fca'e.   A man of great capital may find conflant employment, and may, without hesitation, purchafe great quantities of any kind of goods in any market where they are found to be cheapen1, and bring them directly home, being fure of getting them all quickly difpofed of.—In a fmall place, this cannot be done. Extenfive dealings cannot be carried on. Goods can only be procured, in fmall quantities proportioned to the fales, from places to which a trade for other articles is carried on. They can only thus, in many cafes, be bought at the third or fourth hand, to make up a fmall affort-ment for a cargo. They muft therefore be both dearer, and of a worfe quality, than they can be had for in the large place; which subjects the inhabitants,  efpecially manufacturers, to many hardfhips, that tend to reprefs their labour, and make their induftry unavailing.
Another confequence that neceffarily flows from the former, is, that in a large place, merchants are there eftablifhed, who trade to all parts of the globe; and of courfe they have ready opportunities of fending every kind of produce or manufacture that is offered to them, to the moft proper market for that commodity directly; and therefore, they can not
only afford to buy it, whatever it is, at its adequate value, but are at all times willing to pur-chafe fuch commodities in any quantity that may be offered, without hefitation. In a fmall place, no fuch thing can be done ; and many things of value muft there be loft, becaufe no merchant can be found to purchafe them.
A third confequence naturally refults from the former two, which is equally favourable for the larger town. It is this—Merchants abroad, knowing that a ready market can here be found for all commodities, whenever they find a market overstocked with any one article, and its price of courfe low there, purchafe that commodity at the very loweft rate, and fend it thither to be difpofed of for their account :-— And as thefe merchants always find in this large mart, the precife goods that they can difpofe of to the beft account in the places where they refide, or to which they trade, they are frequently enabled to fell the commodity they fend thither at a lower price than it could be afforded ibr at the place it was originally purchafed, on account of the profits that may be made on the goods obtained in return.-—But nothing of this kind can take place in a fmaller town.  No cargoes can be fent to it from other
S
places, but fuch as are immediately wanted there: nor can any-thing be obtained in return, but the native productions of the place.
In confequence. of the ready fale that is thus offered for every kind of commodity in a large place, goods of all kinds are continually poured in upon it from all fides, in great quantities. The number of vehicles, either by land or water, going and returning from it continually, makes carriage to it cheap and eafy for individuals; which gives infinite advantages to the inhabitants and manufacturers of that place, over
others who inhabit a fmaller place f--Internal
commerce therefore is, in the cafe of a large town, facilitated as much in proportion as foreign trade, when compared with a fmaller place; fo that every-thing confpires to add to the pro-fperity of the lar^e town, while they are unfavourable to the fmall place.
■f For example — the diftance between London and Gravefend is twenty miles ; but the intercourfe between thefe places is fo frequent, that any perfon can have art opportunity of being conveyed to the one or the other twice in the courfe of twenty-four hours, without trouble or forecaft on his part, and at the fmall charge of one milling each time ; whereas, in the Hebrides, or any other fuch place where rio towns are eftablifhed, a voyage to an equal diflance cannot be made without a great deal df previous preparation, and at an expence and rifle perhaps a hundred times greater than here.
"We are thus led to perceive, that the benefits which refult to the community from the eftablilhing large towns in any nation, are not confined to the towns themfelves, but alfo dif-r fufe their beneficial influences to a great diftance around them. The country in the neighbourhood, becomes populous and manufacturing for, here, the people have at their hand a ready market at all times, and of courfe ready money for every-thing that their labour can furnifh, and abundant fupplies of all that their wants demand, at reafonable prices.—Agriculture, too,—which* in every country deftitute of large towns, mufl be a menial employment, neceffarily carried on upon a fmall fcale, which puts a bar to every great exertion in that line,— becomes, in thefe circumftances, a great bufinefs, which gives employment for large capitals, and extenfive operations. The bufinefs here, to compare it with mercantile affairs, may be carried on in the whole/ale way, inftead of that little retail bufinefs which muft neceffarily take place where the demand for the products are fmall and precarious. A farmer, in thefe circumftances, becomes a refpectable member of fociety, and is enabled to carry on whatever operations he fees are neceffary, with vigour and effect. In
g 2
confequence of thefe fpirited exertions, and the facility he finds of deriving benefit from every article he can poffibly rear, he is enabled to afford the produce of' his ground at a much lower rate, than thofe can do it who have a more limited demand, and more languid circulation of money.—Hence it neceffarily happens* that a large market will in general be fupplied with the common neceffaries of life, cheaper than a fmaller place.   Hence it alfo happens^ that the native products of the foil can ufually be bought cheaper at the market of a large town, than even in the places where thefe are produced.   The average price of wheat, according to the Gazette account, is lefs in London, than in IVIiddlefex, Eflex, and Kent.— And although it be natural. at firft fight to imagine, that if the demand for any article of the produce of the fields be great in any one place, the price of that article will increafe, yet nothing is more certain, than if that demand be continued, the price will diminifh. Cucumbers and cauliflower are called for in amazing quantities in  London   when compared with Aberdeen, and may be bought in the firft place, at one fourth part of the price they can be had for in the Iaft : On the other hand,
red cabbages are much more in demand at Aberdeen than at London, and can there be bought for half the price. The great demand gives room for great exertions, and induftry upon an extenfive fcale ; and thefe exertions naturally tend to moderate the price.
Thus it appears, in whatever light we view the matter, a large town feems to be abfolutely neceffary for giving fcope to the induftry of man, and for carrying arts and manufactures to their due perfection. It would be endlefs to recount all the ways in which a large place tends to give employment to men, fuited to their various circumftances and abilities, and to facilitate the means of finding a comfortable fubfiftence to themfelves, which they do not enjoy in other fituations. The chain is long,—the links numerous,—and they hang upon one another in fuch an endlefs fucceffion, that it is next to impoflible to trace the whole} but the gradation is fo beautiful, that it may not be difagreeable to attempt to trace it in a few inftances.
In a fmall community, the arts abfolutely neceffary for the exiftence of man, are almoft the only ones that can be followed with a view to profit: But, in a large community, the mere
conveniences of life, which a focial intercourfe fuggefts, furnifh a copious fund of employment to many individuals. A man, for example, who buys a coat, muft, in the one cafe, wear it till it becomes ufelefs, or throw it away: in the other, it is found that cloaths of a certain kind only are fitted to particular descriptions of men. A man of fortune cannot with decency wear a coat that is in the fmalled degree fullied: he therefore choofes to part with it then ; and another perfon of inferior note, is glad to buy it at a lower price than when new. This is again and again changed from hand to hand ; fo that the coat, which was at firft worn by the Peer, comes at lad to be bought by the beggar. The dealing in this article, and in others of a fimilar nature, furniihes employment to a great many people, in various ftations and circumftances. The hawking of ballads, the diftribut-ing' of hand-bills, the cleahing of chimneys, the blacking of ihoes, the gathering of rags, and fweeping flreets, are all ufeful employments, and open a field for induftry to people in the lowed ranks of life, which furnifh a ready means of fubfidence to thofe whofe talents or circum-dances do not enable them to enter into a higher clafs among mankind.
On the other hand, a fkilful optician, or eminent maker of mathematical apparatus, whofe works, on account of their fuperior excellence, mull be made at a price that can be afforded by Princes and great men only, could find an adequate reward for their ingenuity and ufeful labours in a large place alone, where an univerfal correfpondence with all parts of the world takes place.   The fame may be faid of the painter, engraver, carver, architect, enammeler, jeweler, and all thofe who labour in the fine arts, which never could have encouragement in fuch a situation.    In fuch a fituation too alone, the fallies of wit, and productions of genius, find encouragement ; for, it is there only that mental efforts can be brought to market.    There alfo it is, that printers and news-writers, pamphleteers, reviewers, magazine-makers, with all their numerous dependents, find employment, none of which could ever have been called into ex-iftence, but by the influence of large towns.— Thus it appears, that fuch places give occafion for exerting to advantage, all the various powers and faculties of man, whether mental or corporeal : And by confequence, it is there only that every individual is at liberty to occupy that flation in fociety which his genius and cir-
cumftances beft qualify him for.   No man, therefore, needs be there idle j for, he muft, if he choofes it, find fome employment fitted for him j whereas, in a fmaller fociety, idlenefs is-frequently unavoidable, and helplefs poverty its neceffary attendant.   Employment in a fmall place, can only be given to thofe who are {killed in the few arts that are there wanted; and thofe who cannot perform thefe, muft remain defti-tute of employment: But in a large place, every human being rwffeffed of locomotive powers, muft find fome bufinefs adapted to his capacity, which is ready to receive him,—Hence it happens, that great cities prove an afylum to the unfortunate and helplefs members of fociety, who feel themfelves embarralfed in the country, who frequently there attain wealth and honour, inftead of a hopelefs poverty, which their own moft ftrenuous exertions could not remove.
Many fpeculative men, who have not attentively considered this fubjecl:, think they perceive numberlefs objections to large cities, and exprefs a predeliction in favour of villages and hamlets. And tho* there is no doubt that peculiar vices originate in large focieties, as well as peculiar virtues j yet I thought it neceffary to (how in detail, that it is there, and there
and there alone, that men can be univerfaliy employed, or obtain a proper reward for their labour, not only with a view to enforce the necefhty of adopting this plan of improvement on the prefent occafion, but alfo to explain the caufe of that general poverty and indolence of which the inhabitants of the Hebrides have been fo often accufed ; as well as to give an opportunity of explaining, under what circumflances villages and hamlets can be eftabliihed, fo as to give fcope for induftry, and promote the general welfare of the community.
VILLAGES,
In what cafes beneficial to Society.
We are, from the foregoing mdticlkm, led to perceive, that villages are a neceffary and ufelul appendage of a towm People living in fuch villages, enjoy every advantage that is derived from the extended commerce of the town, and obtain the farther advantage of free air, cheap houfes, plenty of room, and other peculiarities of fituation adapted to facilitate the manufacture they carry on. But villages unconnected with towns, afford fcarce any advan-tage to the inhabitants, above thofe that are found in folitary hamlets.   The people in fuch
h
villages, are fubjected to the fame evils with refpect to trade and manufactures, as in hamlets; and experience the additional inconvenience of being lefs favourably fituated for benefiting themfelves by the produce of the fields. It thus appears, that the beneficial progrefiion is, firft to eftablifh large towns, and then to allow villages to fpring up of themfelves around them; and not to attempt, as many have thought was natural, firft to make villages, in hopes that thefe would gradually rife to be great towns ; for, unlefs it be in confequence of a particular manufacture eftablifhed in a favourable fituation in a country not deftitute of large commercial towns, it is plain from reafoning, and is fully confirmed by experience, that a village planted in any place, inflead of riling to a town, unavoidably becomes in a fliort time a defart. It was this circumftance, tho* unattended to at the time, that occafioned the ruin of fo many villages projected and eftablifhed in different parts of Britain, as an afylum for difbanded foldiers at the clofe of the war 1762, no traces of which are now to be found.   The humane projectors of thefe had obferved, that Birmingham, Man-chefler, and fome other places in England, had rifen in a fhort time, from villages, to become
towns, without having adverted to the advantages that thefe villages derived from the vicinity of fo many great commercial places around them;   and rafhly concluded, that a village planted in the wilds of Lochaber, or other fuch folitary place, would enjoy a fimilar degree of prosperity.   The event has mowed, that the conclusion was erroneous; and I now with to imprefs my readers with a conviction, that the principle on which thefe were attempted, for which I find mankind in general entertain a favourable prepoffeuion, was a bad one, and can fcarcely ever be applied with fuccefs. Accordingly we find in the hiftory of all part ages, that every permanent fettlement that was made, was done by bringing the whole members of the community, or a very great body of them, into one place, where they could receive the full benefit of their united exertions. Tyre, Carthage, Athens, Sparta,  Syracufe, Rome, were'eftabliflied on this principle ; and the experience of modern times has (hown, that every diftant fettlement which was founded on any other principle, ended in the total destruction of the people, and the entire ruin of the project. Such being alike the refult of reafoning- and experience, let me warn my countrymen againft h 2
a plan, which, if adopted, will inevitably- occa-fion a great wafte of treafure to the public, or to thofe individuals who fhall undertake it, and be productive of much private diitrefs. to the individuals who fhall be ralh enough .to become fettiers in. fuch places.    A languid referable kind of bufinefs, which can only be kept alive by the continual fupport of bounties, and other burthenfome aids, is #11 that can be expected from fuch an enterprise.   Hopes, will thus be excited, which never .can be realifed : New demands, and repeated disappointments, are the neceffary confequences ; fo that all parties concerned, feeling themfelves burthened' with a load they cannot poflibly get rid of^ come to be foured with each other, and complaints are multiplied, without affording either fatisfaction or relief.
REVENUE.
It is not uncommon to hear men in admi-niftration, and,Members of Parliament, complain that taxes are much lefs productive in Scotland than in England, in proportion to the number of people in thefe two countries refpectively; from whence they infer, that the payment of the taxes is there much more evaded, and con-
fequently that they are levied in general with far lefs ftrictnefs, and muft of courfe be felt much more lightly in Scotland than in England. It would have been well, if, inftead of thus rafhly drawing a conclufion, that for aught they know may be exceedingly erroneous and unjuft, they had ordered an enquiry to be made into the caufes of this difference; as fuch an enquiry would neceffarily have led to difcoveries that could not fail to prove highly beneficial to both countries. In that cafe, they could not have proceeded far, before they would have difcovered that taxes are in general levied with much greater rigour in Scotland than in England "j*. This would have led to an enquiry into the caufes, why the people fhould find difficulty in paying, in one part of the country, a fmall funi in comparifon of what was paid by an equal number with eafe in another, part of it. In the courfe of fuch an inveftigation, they would have found that the people in the one cafe are poor, and in the other are in eafy circumftances, which fhould have brought about an en-
f The Evidence given before the Committee, of Fifheries, fufficiently proves this with regard to the article fait; and a like invcfligation of every other article, would have led to the fame conclufion.
quiry into the-caufes of that difference. This would have led them to obferve, that, in England, the fuuation of the people is fuch as admits of taxes being eafily collected; and in many parts of Scotland, it is fuch as that fcarcely any taxes can be demanded of the people; and that the expence of collecting the few taxes that can be demanded, is fo great as to fwallow up much more than the whole produce of thefe taxes.— They would have had occasion alfo to obferve, that while the one clafs of the people are protected in their rights and properties by an effectual and fpeedy exertion of the laws in their favour, the others are expofed to infults and exactions, to fees and perquifites  innumerable, which continually brings them into difficulties and embarraffments without end.     Thefe things could not have been remarked, without producing fome exertions to remove evils which -tended fo much to diftrefs individuals, and weaken the State.   To affifl thofe who wifh to turn their thoughts towards fuch an investigation, I fhall here beg leave to state a few facts relating to this head, and make fome obferva-tions upon them.
In the Third Report from the Committee of Fifheries [See Appendix, NS i.], the Gentlemen
of that Committee take occafion to obferve, that in the counties of Argyle, Invcrnefs, Sutherland, Caithnefs, Orkney, and Shetland, (to which muff be added, the mires of Cromarty, Nairn, and Moray, as being included in thefe collections), the account of cufloms for ten years, ending
with the year 1784, flood thus :-
Grofs produce, L. 50737    2 i~
Payments,     -   -     -       5l^79 10 9
Payments exceed the produce, L. 926 10 9
On this fact, the Committee make the following pertinent remark :—
" Your Committee can hardly exhibit a more deplorable flate of a public revenue.— It appears, there has been annually collected for cuftoms, in fix counties, (it ihould have been nine), more extenfive than all the reft of Scotland, on an average for the laft ten years, - - - L. 5073 12 o That the expence of collecting is 5167 19 o And that an actual lofs has accrued upon this branch of the revenue, of about L.94:7s. a-year." [In the year 1776, the lofs was L. 4888 :18:21.] " An account of the duties of excife has been called for during the fame period, but not yet prefented to the Ho ufe: But, fo far as your
Committee can judge from analogy, they have little reafon to expect a more favourable refult from their enquiries refpecling the excife than
CUlloms." f
It muft here, however, be noted, that, unfavourable as this account appears to be, it mufl ftill be accounted a more flattering picture, than ftrict juftice would aathorife. The expence here ftated, does not include the whole that fhould be charged to this account; for, befides other leffer articles, the charge of the revenue-cutters employed to cruife on thefe coafts, fhould be included, but is here totally omitted.—The average expence of the cruifers employed Hinder the Board of Cuftoms in Scotland, for five' years preceding the year 1785, I find, amounted to L. 9875 :12: 4TVJ« If we fuppofe that one-half of the above expence fhould be ftated to the account of the nine counties above -mentioned, which I conceive to be an under-proportion, then the expence on this head would be L. 4937 : 11 : 2yT; and the whole account, in
■f This account was afterwards produced, and confirms the foregoing remark.
t See Appendix to. the Second Report of the Committee appointed to enquire into the illicit practices ufed in defrauding the revenue, 4.
this cafe, would ftand thus : — Payments in
thefe counties,     -   -   L. 5167 19 9 Ditto on account of cruifers, - 4937 1 1 2T"T
10105 «o nT'T Grofs annual produce,     -      5073 12 o
Payments exceed the produce L. 5031  18 11 T*T
which is very nearly double the amount of the whole money collected from the people.—A fact of this nature, when thus fairly brought to light, cannot fail to ftrike every thinking perfon with fome degree of aftonifhment and horror.— A croud of reflections here prefs upon the mind. —Why are thefe perfons oppreffed with taxes, when the State is in no-ways benefited by them? Why are the other members of the community loaded with burthens, to enforce the payment of thefe unproductive taxes here ? From what caufe does it happen, that thefe people complain of taxes, while they pay next to nothing ? — Thefe, with a train of fimilar reflections, muft occur to every one : And it is furely of much importance that fuch queftions fhould obtain a cool difcuflion, if it is meant to put the body-politic into a due degree of health, fo as to give energy to its exertions.
. r I
/
I fhall not here attempt to enter into any of thefe queflions, except the laft ; with regard to which, the following remarks are fubmitted to the confederation of the Reader.—
As the account ftands, it would feem that the people paid very little indeed on account of the cufloms.   But this is a mere fallacious appearance.   The funis they pay, indeed, cannot be very great, confidered pofitively, becaufe their commercial tranfaclions mufl be trifling; but when the payments they are obliged to make on account of the cuftomhoufe, are compared with the value of the goods which yield thefe cufloms, I do not fuppofe that I over-rate their charge, when I maintain that they pay at leaft Jive hundred per cent, more than merchants in London, Liverpool, or Briftol, would have paid for the fame goods.   This afferaon, like many others relating to thofe poor people, will appear monftrous and incredible, till it is explained :— Would to God it were as eafy to remove the evil, as to prove that it actually exifts !
It will be obferved, that the little commerce which takes place among the people in thofe* regions, confifts chiefly in articles that cannot be charged with any duty of cufloms at all. Foreign trade, in articles that pay high duties,
does not there exiii; and almoft every article they fend coaft-ways, is nearly free of duties : but though thefe yield no revenue to the Exchequer, they draw a great deal of money from the perfons who tranfport them.    One man, fuppofe, has  five bolls of oat-meal that he means to fend from his own farm, to a friend at fome diftance.  Before he can fhip that meal, he muft give bond at the cuftomhoufe, that it is not to be fent elfewh^re, but muft be landed in Britain.   This bond cofts 8s. 6d. — one fhilling more for a fufferance to fhip it — one fhilling more for a fufferance to unload — and 2s. 6d. for a certificate to be returned before the bond can be delivered up—in all, thirteen millings ; while the whole value of the goods does not exceed perhaps forty fhillings f : And all this independent of expences of going to and from the cuftomhoufe, and carrying the officers to unfrequented ports, there to load and difcharge the veffels.   This expence muft be totally indefinite, becaufe it muft vary according to the fituation of the place. — But I
f This is not a fanciful cafe— I have a&ually paid it wyfelf. The charge would not have been greater, indeed, had it been a thoufand bolls. The hardihip is, that it preiTes upon poor people, and repreffes beginning exertions.
i 2
had it from a Gentleman of veracity, who lived at lefs than half the diflance from a cuftomhoufe that fome others are from it, that, on a loading of coals, the expence of bringing and entertaining an officer for this purpofe, exceeded, in fome cafes, the prime cofl of the coals ; and in fmall cargoes, and at greater diltances, the proportion would, in fome cafes, be three times
that prime colt__It is alfo in evidence before
the Committee of Fifheries, that this expence for bringing officers to a diftance, merely to meafure over fait in Shetland, with regard to which article no cuftoms are paid, fometimes exceeds the whole value of the fait, f
From thefe few fpecimens, the attentive Reader will eafily perceive, that although the natives of thofe diftricts pay very little in to the Exchequer, yet that the money they are obliged to give away on account of the revenue-laws, for every little mercantile tranfaction in which they fhall try to engage, is great, and
-f- Another fnftance is mentioned in the following Report, page 40th, Note ; where a man, for the value of ten millings worth of fait, was obliged to be at five pounds expences, none of which went to increafe the revenue, and but a fmall part of it into the pockets of the officers of excife, aJmofl: the whole being expended in wages for ufdefs labour.
intolerably burthenfome to them.—They are therefore taxed in a much higher proportion than others, though they feem to pay no taxes: They are oppreffed with burthens more grievous than they can bear, though thefe contribute nothing to the emolument of the State: They are reviled for evading the law,—while they are fo feverely fcourged by the heavy preffure of that law, as to be reduced to the neceflity of remaining inactive, becaufe every beginning exertion is attended with exactions with which they are utterly unable to comply. Is it fit that the Legislature fhould fuffer thefe things to fubfift, and not attempt a remedy for evils of a nature fo heavy and grievous ?
But, not to dwell on the inconveniences felt by the natives, let us return to the fubject of national revenue, — a fubject, which, in the prefent fituation of this country, demands the moft ferious confideration of every member of the community.—. It is very well known, that, in towns where commerce can be carried on, where induftry may be exerted with profit, and where of courfe money circulates and wealth abounds, taxes can be paid by the people without being burthenfome to them, and great revenues can be collected at a fmall and trifling
expence. This being obvioufly the cafe, we may reafonably infer, that as there are feveral towns in the nine counties before Specified J, the fmall payments that have been made belong to them entirely : So that the numerous people who are fcattered about through thofe extenfive regions,—which, exclufive of the towns, are not fewer, I prefume, (probably more) than five hundred thoufand,— not only do not pay anything to the Exchequer, but are really a burthen on the revenue of the State, to the extent of ten thoufand pounds a-year at leafl, in the branch of cufloms only.
Purfuing thefe fpeculations, let us take a fur-vey of the prefent Hate of the whole inhabitants of Scotland, with refpect to revenue concerns. 5—In the whole of Scotland, there are about 950 parifhes, which .may be arranged under three diftincl claffes, viz. ill, Country-parifhes in the Lowlands; 2d, Parifhes in the Highlands
% The following, towns are in the diftrict before fpeci-fied, of which thofe marked thus f are Royal Boroughs : f/twernefs, Fort-George, Nairn, ^Forres, Findhorn, \Eight, •\Fortrofe, f Cromarty, f Dingwall, \Tain, f Dornoch, \ Wick, \Thurfo, iKirkivall, Lerwick, Inveraray, Tarbat, Campbel-ton, Bowmore, Oban, Fort-JVilliatn, and Siornoivay. Some of thefe are indeed very inconfiderable places ; but others are tolerable towns, efpccialiy thofe on the eail coaft.
and Ifles ; 3d, Parifhes in Towns. Of thefe, the Low-country parifhes are the lea ft populous, the Highland parifhes more fo, and the Town-paiifhes the moft populous of any. The number of parifhes in each of thefe claffes, and people in each, on an average, 1 eftimate as under :—
300 Low-country parifhes, exclufive of towns, containing, on an average 1000 perfons in each— Total        -       -• 300,000
400 Country-parifhes in the Highlands and lflcs, on an average 2000 in each-f-—Total     -       -       - 800,000
250 Town - parifhes, on an average
3000 in each—Total     -    - 750,000
950 parifhes,       Total inhabitants - 1,850,000
f I am fenfible that Gentlemen in England will be aftonifhed at the great number of people 1 here affign to each country-pai ifh , but after having attended carefully to this fubjecl: for fome years pad, I am Satisfied that I have not here gone beyond the truth, but rather am confider-ably under it.—The Rev. Dean Tucker, to whom I about two years ago communicated fome fpeculations of this fort, expieffed fome degree of aftonifhment at this circumftance, and thought I muft have fallen into a miftake. I happened foon after 1 received his letter, to make a fmall excurfion into the Low-country ; in which I had occafion to pafs through five contiguous country-parifhes, which were taken without Selection, whofe population, on an average, was
When thefe three claffes are confidered witfi a view to revenue, I prefume they will (land thus:—The counlry-parilhes in the Lowlands -will in general be nearly upon a par ; that is to Jay, they will yield no free revenue, but they will in general defray the expence of collecting
very nearly, two thoufand perfons in each, (one of them I was affured contained 30CO perfons).    This I confider as confiderably above the general average 5 but there are many places where the numbers are equally great. In the High-lands and Ifles, three thoufand is by no means an uncommon number of people in a pariih.   Thefe things I know will appear incredible to an Englifhman, who has been ac-cuftomcd to fee only one, two, or three hundred perfons in a country-parifh. This circumftance, however, ferves, among others, ftrongly to mark the different flates of improvement in the two countries, when compared with each other.— In England, the fields are cultivated upon a large fcale ; and no more hands are fuffered to remain upon them, than thofe which are necefTary for carrying forward the operations on that large ceconomfcal fca'le.   On an extenfive improved corn-farm, the hands neceffary for cultivating it are few ; but in a wide' inclofed grazing farm, they are next to none at all.  The hands which are in thefe circumftances no longer neceffary to cultivate the fields, are driven from thence into manufacturing villages or towns, where they earn a comfortable fubfiftence by the labour of their hands, and open an extenfive market for the produce of the adjoining fields, inftead of being allowed to fcrape a pitiful fubfiftence, by a wretched kind of culture of the ground, in fmall patches fcattered over the whole face of the country, as in Scotland.
it, fo that they are neither beneficial nor hurtful. The Highland parifhes fall greatly fhort ; and with regard to them, the expence in all cafes mufl far exceed the income. The only productive clafs, therefore, is the laft, whofe payments greatly exceed the expence : But when it is considered, that the deficiency incurred by the fecond clafs, muft firft be paid out of the income arifing from this clafs of people, before the net produce can be afcer-tained, it will not appear at all wonderful, if the general net produce of all the taxes fhould in this country amount to a very inconfiderable fum. Inftead, therefore, of idly blaming the people for crimes they are not guilty of, it would well become the Miniftry, to try to remedy the evils that produce this diitrefs; and it would be a difcufiion as proper for engaging the attention of Parliament as any that can be propofed, to try if, by their united wifdom, they could difcover what would in the moft effectual manner, and in the fhorteft time, remedy that hitherto unobfer^ed difeafef.
•f If we confide;- England and Wales in the fame point of view as we have done Scotland above, and fuppofe its population to be eight millions, the fubdivilion would probably fland nearly thus :-
Mr Neckar, that attentive financier, among the multiplicity of important facts which he has collected and publifhed to the world, affords fome that lead to the very fame conclufion with thofe that now are the fubject of difcufiion, tho* he has not had leifure to point out the ufe that ihould be made of thefe facts. In his laft work, he has given a lift of the net produce of all the taxes in each of the provinces of France ; and, comparing that with the number of perfons in each diftrict, he ftates how much it amounts to a head on an average in each.   And here, as in Britain (and I prefume in every other part of the world), he finds it a rule without
In towns and manufacturing villages, with the adjacent countries, in all which the taxes muft be productive, about - - - 6,500,000
In remote country-parifhes, where taxes are not productive, but where no extra-cxpence to Government is incurred, about       - i,coo,000
In high and inacceffible places, where the ex-pence exceeds the income, about        - 500,000
8,ooo,coo
In this cafe, the productive are to the wafteful part of the community, in the proportion of 13 to 1 ; whereas in Scotland, they are only as 74- to. 8. No wonder, therefore, that the taxes fhould yield much more in the one country, tho' levied lightly, than they do in the other, tho* levied with great rigour.
exception, that in thofe provinces where the number and the extent of large commercial towns is greateft, the rate per head is greatefl alfo, tho* the preffure of taxes is ufually moft felt where the produce is fmalleft. For inftance, in the generality of Paris, the people pay on an average per head 64 Iivres 5 fous, and in' that of Ilennes 12 Iivres 1 o fous, which is at the proportion of more than five to one. The inferences that may be drawn from this fact are fo obvious, as not to require to be here enlarged on. I fhall only ftate one—If the eight hundred thoufand perfons above ftated, who now tend to diminifh inftead of augmenting the revenue drawn from Scotland, were placed in circumftances which could enable them to pay as much per head as thofe in the generality of Paris now pay (about L. 3 each), it would afford a clear revenue to the State of L. 2,400,000 per annum ; and this not only without finding the taxes burthenfome, but with much more eafe and fatisfaclion to themfelves than as they are at prefent. The profperity they would thus enjoy, would make their numbers quickly to increafe, and with that, the amount of the produce of the taxes would be augmented in a yet higher proportion ; which would ftill more k 2
and more increafe the revenue, without either trouble or expence to the Minifler, or difturb-ance to the people. Thus mould we no longer hear complaints of the deficiency of payments from Scotland on the one "hand, or murmurs from thence on the other, of the rigorous Severity with which taxes are exacted from the people j-.
EMIGRATIONS.
Their effecls on Population and Induftry.
It has been in general admitted, that the riches and power of a State depended in a great meafure on the number of its people; and that its prosperity could not be fo much augmented, as by increasing the amount of its population.
f On the fubject of collecting taxes with rigour in Scotland, the fallowing fact will fpeak for itfelf:—In July 1784, when I was at Greenock, a great ferment was excited in that place, by the arrival of an excife-oflicer, charged with ftrict orders to levy from each inhabitant who had a kail-yard (I ufe the exprcffion of the country), one guinea a-year as gardener-tax, for all the years that had elapfed fince the tax upon male-fervants has been eftablifhed. This tax the people refufed to pay, alledging, in the firft place, that moft of their yards were not worth half the annual fum charged for them ; and, in the next place, that none of the perfons kept a gardener for working them ; and that moft of the owners did not even employ a
INTROD U C T I O N. lxxvii
It appears from what has been jufl now faid, that the profperity. of a nation may in fome cafes be much augmented, even without making any addition to its people; tho' it fhould feem by every natural inference that can be drawn from the facts there ftated, that its profperity would be ftill farther augmented, if, along with other ufeful regulations, a considerable addition was made to its population. A doctrine, however, directly the reverfe of this, has been maintained, and ftrenuoufly infilled on by fome modern philofophers of great name. It is of importance that this queflion fhould be fully investigated: I fhall therefore bellow upon it fomewhat more attention than I fhould have thought the doctrine merited, had it not been maintained by
day-labourer for that purpofe—the poor people going out themfelves to dig and clean their little fpots of garden-ground, by way of recreation and amufement, in the evenings, and'hours of relaxation from labour. The excife-ofHcer could find no argument to plead in bar of thefe ; but fliowed them that his order was peremptory to exact it: They as peremptorily refnfed to pay it. How the affair ended, I cannot tell—but afterwards, when I was at Campbelton, the fame officer arrived on the fame errand, and met with the fame fuccefs. I have heard, that under a finiilar pretext, fome perfons in England had been charged with the gardeners duty, for keeping fmall pleafure-gardcn* that were regularly dreffed by a profclfed gardener; but the cafe here was widely different.
names which gave it a weight among the multitude, it never otherways could have obtained.
Dr Price, with feeming ferioufnefs, affirms, That ' when a number of people quit a coun-4 try, there is greater employment and greater ' plenty of the means of fubfiftence for thofe who - remain ; and the vacancy is foon filled up.' Obfervations on Civil Liberty, &c. 9th edit, page 38.—And Dr Franklin afferts, That ' a
* well-regulated nation is like a polypus ; take
* away a limb, its place is foon fupplied ; cut
* it in two, and each deficient part fhall foon
* fpeedily grow out of the part remaining.
* Thus as you may by dividing make ten po-
* lypufes out of one, you may of one make ten ' nations equally populous and powerful, or
* rather increafe a nation ten-fold in number
* and in flrength.'f
•f How beautiful it is to give fanciful analogies, in/lead of arguments !—I, too, perhaps, might have been able to produce fome brilliant paffages, had I only been anxious to pleafe, or defirous to miflead ; but, hard is the lot of that man who has no other aim but to expofe error, and inform the judgment- He rowft tug incefl'antly like the flave chained to the oar, without being permitted to indulge in thofe fairy fcenes he may obferve as he paffes. Like the Knight in chivalry, his fword can only difpel the inchanted caftles that ftart up in his way, and leave nothing but the howling defart dcfolate and bare around him.
There maxims are nothing: more than a re-
o
petition, in a more engaging drefs, of the Old Englifh popular adage, that * if foreigners fhould
* be allowed to fettle in this country, they ' would eat the bread out of the mouths of the
* natives themfelves — an adage which has been often repeated and firmly believed by the vulgar, tho' 1 am ignorant if this doctrine ever was ferioufly maintained by any philofopher before the prefent sera, and therefore it never has obtained the honour of a candid refutation till the prefent time.
If thefe maxims be juft, it mufl follow, that wherever a place is found to increafe by means of an influx of people, the former inhabitants mufl there experience a want of provifions, as well as of employment, which they did not feel before; and that, on the other hand, wherever' it decreafes, thofe inhabitants that remain, muft be much more employed, and in much better circumftances, than formerly : their population muft alfo increafe in a much more rapid pro-greffion.—Let us fearch for examples to confirm thefe pofitions.
The Princes of Spain, who had not the advantage to be instructed by fuch profound phi-lofophers as thofe juft quoted, purfued, from
other motives, a plan of conduct which thefe maxims would prove to have been confident with the founded policy.    They banifhed at once, many millions of their people.    The city of Granada in particular, and the kingdom then belonging to it, were thinned to a very great degree.   Thofe who remained, mud therefore have had much more employment, and greater plenty than before, fo that the vacancy would be foon filled up.   Has this been the cafe ?— All Hidorians agree, that there is not at this day in that didricl, perhaps one tenth part of the inhabitants that it formerly contained:— They have fcarce any employment, are ill-provided in food, and give no profpect of ever being able to make up the deficiency of their population.    Spain, in general, has lince that time been greatly thinned of its inhabitants by emigration.   Have the people, on that account, become more indudrious ? Are they richer and better fed than formerly? Is• their population increasing with unufual rapidity ? — Quite the reverfe.   In all thefe particulars, they are inferior to what they wrere before thefe emigrations took place.
Antwerp was once a mod flourifhing city. Its inhabitants were then fully employed, abun-
dantly fed, and prosperous in every refpecl:. Its population is now inconsiderable : the people want employment, nor do necefiaries abound to an unufual degree; and We hear no accounts of there being a profpetl: of this vacancy being foon rilled up f.—On the other hand, Amsterdam, which was then a place of inferior note, that contained few inhabitants, has become a place of the firft magnitude: But fo far is the employment of the people from being by that means decreafed, that it has increafed exceedingly. The means of fubfiftence abound to an aftonifh-ing degree, while its population increafes.
Thefe examples afford ftrong fufpicions of the falfity of the doctrine advanced, when con-iidered in a general view :—when we defcend to particulars, the proofs of it are not lefs abundant. If the introduction of strangers into a country, tends to diminifh the employment of the natives, and to eat the bread out of their mouths ; upon the firft view of the matter,
f Should any objection be brought againft the example in the text, the fame obfervation may be with equal juftice applied to the antient cities of Syracufe, Verona, Rome, and Capua; to the more modern ones of Marfeilles, Lubcc, and Seville, as well as thofe of Eofton, York, and Cql-chefter, within this ifland; with hundreds of others needlefs Here to mentiou.
this evidently can only be understood of thofe who are rivals in the fame profejfwn. Nobody can believe, that a taylor introduced into any place, will diminifh the employment of the fhoe-makers there, but rather increafe it; for he himfelf mufl have fhoes, as well as all thofe who wanted fhoes before his arrival. In the fame manner, he mufl increafe the bufinefs of the brewer, baker, clothier, fhop-keeper, grazier, and farmer in that neighbourhood; from all of whom he purchafes fuch commodities they refpectively furnifh, as far as his own confump-tion extends. Inflead of diminifhing, therefore, he mufl augment the employment of every individual in the community, excepting perhaps thofe who follow his own profeffion, whofe bufinefs, in certain circuni/lances, he may indeed diminifh.
But tho* there are fome particular branches of bufinefs in which a rival may diminifh the employment of thofe who exercife the fame profeffion, yet there are many others in regard to which that effect cannot take place, but rather the reverfe. All thofe who are employed in manufactures of any fort, that are intended for a diflant market; all who are employed in commerce, or in bringing to perfection whatever
can admit of being fold elfewhere, are not only not hurt by the increafe of thofe of their own profeffion, but greatly benefited thereby. Is a merchant" of London hurt by the number of merchants there ? Quite the reverfe. From the want of an equal number of competitors in the fame place, thofe of Briftol are their inferiors. The merchants of Briftol, for the fame reafon, outfhine thofe of Dublin, as Dublin is fuperior to Glafgow, and Glafgow to Aberdeen. Thus you go on in a perpetual progreflion. As the places diminifh in fize, for the molt part the number of merchants decreafe ; and with their decreafe of number, their weight (as individuals not lefs than in their aggregate capacity) dimi-nifhes in the mercantile fcale of Europe. A rival, therefore, in this refpect, adds to the bufinefs and importance of thofe even of his own pro-fcflion.
In manufactures, we find the. fame thing frequently occurs. What detached place can rival in goodnefs, or in cheapnefs, the cotton manufactures of Manchefter ? What folitary hamlet can afford cutlery wares as good and cheap as the manufactures of Birmingham ? What fmall village can underfel the woollen manufactures of Wakefield and of Leeds ?—
1 2
It is on account of the number of perfons. labouring in a compacted body, that they have there been enabled to bring the feveral branches of their own profeflion to the perfection they have attained. Here, therefore, rival manufacturers in the fame clafs, add to, instead of dimimfhing the bufinefs of each:— And the fame obfervation, with equal justice, will apply to almost every other manufacturer, whofe goods admit of being carried to a diftance. Added numbers, therefore, in all thefe inftances, tend, prodigioufly to augment the bufinefs, and consequently to increafe the wealth and happinefs of the whole, without diminifhing the employment of even a fingle individual. And when it is alfo considered how much the operations of c< ?r>rrierce and of manufactures are facilitated by this increafed population, and how much, improvements in agriculture are forwarded thereby, as has been particularly explained in the firft part of this Effay, we fliall be conftrained to acknowledge, that the univerfal experience of mankind concurs with reafon, in condemning as falfe and ridiculous, that popular doctrine before mentioned, which has been fo long blindly received among the vulgar as indifpute-able, though it has been condemned as abfurd.
by every man who pretended to the character of a philofopher, till the prefent sera. It is becauie of the number of perfons the United Provinces received by emigration from the neighbouring States, and the concentrated population rehilting from thence, that the people there are enabled to fubfift, notwithftanding the very heavy taxes borne by thofe of all ranks and profefftons there; and have found no difficulty to out-rival many other nations, both in trade and manufactures, who enjoy numberlefs natural advantages for thofe employments which that country cannot boafr. of: And it is in a great meafure owing to the decreafe of inhabitants-in Spain, in confequence of emigrations from thence, that that fine country has lofl its commerce, its manufactures, and its agriculture f. The rule fcarce admits of an exception, that
t The deterioration of Spain has been in a great meafure promoted by the tax called Alcavala ; that is, a tax upon provisions, and other goods, fold in market-towns.— This ill-judged tax tends to drive the poor from towns into the country, where they hope to rear provifions themfelves, and avoid the tax. Markets being thus in fome meafure flmt up, they now feel all the inconveniences that refult from the want of them. The proverbial indolence and poverty of Spaniards,, may in a great meafure be traced to this fource.
wherever the number of people is increafing, the bufinefs and means of fubfiftence in that place increafe alfo; and that where a place is on the decline, the employment of the people who remain becomes more flack, and their means of fubfiftence proportionally precarious {. This Dr Franklin, practically at leaft, allows to be the cafe in America, as he ufes every argument in his power to perfuade the people of Europe to fend their inhabitants thither in as great numbers as poflible ; endeavouring to make them believe,' that thus more employment will
* be given to their own people at home, and ' that their numbers will by confequence be
* increafed.' The Doctor, it would feem, does not entertain the higheft idea of the rea-foning powers of the people in Europe, if he thinks them incapable of here drawing the neceflary inference. It feems the polypus in Europe is multiplied by dividing and abstracting from its body; but, in America, the fame ani-
% In conformity with this fentiment, Dr Adam Smith fays, (Wealth of Nations, p. 99.), " The condition of the labouring poor is moft happy in the progreffive ftate of fociety, hard in the Jlationary ftate, and miferabk in the declining ftate. In all the different orders of fociety, the frogrejjlve ftate is hearty and chearfui, the Jlationary dull, and the declining melancholy.''
jnal is not augmented by the fame procefs, but by one directly the reverfe, that of adding to it the detached parts that have been abitracted from others.
A very ingenious advocate for the fame doctrine, alledges, That ' the population of king-
* doms in general is like the afcent of waters. c They rife to the level of the fountain from
* whence they proceed, but no higher, how-c ever they may incidentally vibrate above and c below it from any hidden partial impulfe.
* The permanent number of people in any coun-' try will be nearly proportionate to the num-6 ber of hands that can be employed, or can
* be maintained and fupported.   If thefe are
* diminifhed by war, peftilence, emigrations,
* or any other caufe, as foon as that caufe is
* removed, they will be rapidly recruited, partly ' by the acceffion of foreigners, and partly by
* the increafed generation of the natives, from 6 the ftronger encouragement given to matri-4 monyf.*
I quote this paffage at full length, as containing the moft plaufible ftate that I have feen, of the argument in favour of the beneficial cf-
\ See Mr Howlett's Defence of his Pamphlet on Population, Gent. Mag. Nov. 1782, page 526.
feels of emigration. I ftate it with the farther view of mowing with how much facility ingenious men may impofe upon themfelves and others, by adopting a loofe and popular mode of argumentation.
We are here told, 4 that population, like the * afcent of waters, always rifes to the level of 4 the fountain from whence they proceed, but 4 no higher.' But when we come to enquire what that fountain is, we are at fome lofs to difcover it. If it has any meaniug at all, the fountain of population, ft would feem, can only be the natural fertility of the country, and fhe means if poffejfes for giving the inhabitants room fo exercifc their talents and induftry. If this be admitted, it will neceffarily follow, that there can be no permanent change in the ftate of the population of any country ; for, the above particulars depending entirely on the phyfical conformation of the univerfe, are little liable to change. It muft hence follow, that a country which has once been populous to a certain degree, can never be reduced to a permanent ftate of depopulation. 4 The fountain remains the 4 fame; the waters muft therefore rife to the 4 fame level as before.'—To afk if this hypo-thefes be confident with the ftate of fads in
regard to this world, were to fuppofe my readers altogether unacquainted with the hiftory of nations. Spain, as I have often had occafion to obferve, was once filled with a great multitude of people : by emigration and other rheans, thefe people are now reduced to a handful, and feem not in a condition quickly to increafe: Carthage, for many centuries, contained in her territories feveral millions of inhabitants, which have been long diminifhed to a few; nor exhibit the mod diftant appearance of ever augmenting their numbers: Paleftine fwarmed with people, where fcarce an inhabitant is now to be found. In thefe, and numberlefs other instances that might be produced, we fee, that without any phyfical change in the fountain, the waters may be kept from rifing fo high as the fource: in other words, population may be permanently diminifhed.
It would be equally eafy to fhow, if the above definition be admitted as juft, that the waters may be made to rife above the height of the fountain from whence they fprang. Of this fact Holland is a noted example. That country is not capable of maintaining, even in its prefent ftate, according to the moft authentic accounts, one fourth part of the people which 1 m
inhabit it ; and if our views be carried back for half a fcore of centuries, we fhall find, that in its then ftate, it could not have fuftained one thoufandth part of its prefent inhabitants. Should any man, therefore, at that period, have fixed its permanent ftate of population as high as the fountain itfelf, beyond which it never could rife, unlefs by a temporary vibration, how great ■would be his aftonifhment now, to find that it had continued for centuries, fo much higher than (according to this theory) it was pofliblei Thus it appears, that this imaginary immutable flandard, this fixed fountain which is always to regulate the level of population, proves to be no ftandard at all, as that population may be made permanently to remain infinitely below, or infinitely above it.
I fhall now perhaps be told, that I have mif-reprefented the argument: that the fountain of population is not alone the natural fertility of the country, and the means it poffejfcs of giving the inhabitants room to exercife their talents and induftry ; but that it likewife means the liberty thai is given to the inhabitants to exert thefe talents, and to exercife that induftry in a proper manner* If this definition of the fountain pleafes the advocates for the doctrine difputed,  it equally
pleafes me: If not, let them be kind enough to give their own definition of it. Till that appears, I fhall examine how far the argument is confiftent, on the fuppofition that the above explanation is adhered to.
On the firft view of the argument under this new form, it appears, that inftead of a fixed Standard for population, which we naturally expected, we now find nothing that can be laid hold of as a Standard at allnothing that is more permanent than the caprice of man: for, whatever fhall be the natural advantages of any country, the inhabitants cannot be allowed to exercife their induftry, but in as far as their rulers fhall be pleafed to permit.   The population of a nation, therefore, inftead of depending on phyfical caufes, which are fixed and permanent, would in this caSe depend upon political regulations, which are fluctuating, and perpetually Subject to change.   On this fuppofition, to talk of the permanent number of people in any country, would be in the higheft degree abSurd ; as no rule can be found in nature, which is to fix and aScertain that degree of permanency.   I fhall not purSue this branch of the argument any farther, as it would only m 2
ferve to multiply words, in exposing an abfurdity that is already but too apparent f.
The truth is, that the degree of population in a country, is in part influenced by phyhcal, and in part by civil caufes.   The richeft and moft populous country may be rendered a de-fart, merely In confequence of injudicious political regulations ; and that which is poor and thinly inhabited, may, in confequence of a mild government, and civil inftitutions that tend to promote induflry and fobriety, become rich and populous to an inconceivable degree. The inflances already adduced, are fufficient to prove this beyond a pofhbility of doubt; and many more, if neceflary, might be mentioned. But if this be admitted, it proves that the combination of words above quoted, which affumes fo fair an appearance of an argument, is nothing but an empty form, without a fubflance. Like an ignis fatuus, it appears at a distance to be a reality, and under this femblance ferves to
f I would not here take notice of the quibble that might be raifed on account of the words ' emigration, or any other * caufe, fo foon as that caufe can be removed,' in the paf-fage quoted above, were it not to fhow that it was not overlooked. Should any-one make ufe of it after reading all that is faid in the text upon this fubjeft, I fhall confider him as only arguing for the fake of words.
niiflead the unwary; but when more clofely examined, it totally disappears.
In regard to mere brute animals, incapable of Self-government, of forefight, and of induftry, the argument is juft and true. The number of thefe can in no cafe exceed what the food that nature (or man) has provided, is Sufficient to fuftain.—But in regard to man, who can bring his food from afar, or by his induftry can make the laws of nature in certain cafes become fubfervient to his power, and make the barren defart produce to him the moft luxuriant harvefts, the fame mode of rea-foning cannot apply. Even where he is debar-ed by the natural fituation of his country, from obtaining foreign fupplies, no limitation can be aiTigned to the augmentation in the quantity of food he may derive from his own native foil. Paleftine, in fuch a fituation, tho' at prefent a barren country, by the induftry of its people of old, was found fufiicient to maintain a hundred times the number of people who can now with difficulty find fubfiftence in it. To talk, then, of fetting limits to the population of man from phyfical caufes, is abfurd ; becaufe no one can fay, to what extent the induftry of man can carry his improvements: the degree of
population mufl: therefore yet more depend upon civil than phyflcal caufes. A natural inference that refults from this conclufion is, that we fhould exert ourfelves to the utmofl, to difcover thofe political arrangements that have a natural tendency to augment or to difcourage the induftry of our people, that we may be the better enabled to correct the defects of our civil inftitutions, and thus to augment the number of our people.
The only queftion that remains to be difcufTed between thofe who maintain the expediency of driving away the people from the country, and myfelf, at laft refolves itfelf into this: Will the induftry of the people, and the produce of the country, be augmented or diminifhed by emigrations ?—It is of much confequence that this queftion fhould be fully investigated; fof, if the induftry and population of a country are increaf-ed by fending its people abroad, it then muft be wife policy to encourage emigrations ; and care ihould be taken that no accidental circum-flance fhould ever be fuffered to interrupt that falutary difmiflion of people. But if it fhall, on the contrary, appear, that, in all cafes, emigrations from a place have a neceffary and unavoidable tendency to diminifh the employment,
relax the induftry, decreafe the riches, and re-ta- i the natural increafe of thofe that remain behind, it will follow, that it is a difeafe of the moft deftructive tendency, and, as fuch, ought to be guarded againft with the moft watchful care ; and that inftead of coolly permitting it to go on without controul, every exertion Ihould be ufed to counteract its influence, by a conduct in every refpect the reverfe of what has been above fuggefted ; and that devices mould be adopted, not only to keep our own people at home, but alfo to entice as many ftrangers as poflible to come and fettle among us, and thus to augment the ftrength, the wealth, and profperity of our own people, to the higheft poflible degree.
That the produce of the country cannot be augmented by driving its people away to any other part of the world, feems to be fufKciently obvious, when we advert that the demand for that produce muft be diminiftied, in as far as the confumption of the emigrants extended. The amount of this diminution, therefore, will always be proportioned to the numbers that {hall emigrate. In confequence of this flacken-ing in the demand from the farmer, his induftry receives a check, his bufinefs is diminifhed, his
profits are leffened :—lie cannot live fo veil; he cannot marry fo foon ; he will not, therefore, be tempted to generate children fo early as if no fuch change had taken place.
On the other hand, iliould an additional inhabitant be brought into the diftrict where he refides, that inhabitant muft be fed as well as others who were there before. This occa-fions an additional demand from the farmer, which excites his induftry, augments his profits, enables him to live better, to marry fooner, and to beget children at a more early period than he otherwife would have done. Add to the number of people thus imported, you only give an additional Jlimidus to his exertions, and augment his profperity the more.
It thus appears, that in as far as concerns the bufinefs of the fanner, emigrations from a place, tend, in the moft direct manner, to diminifh his employment; and, in as far as regards him, to give a check to population, inftead of encouraging it. The want of people, therefore, occafioned by the emigrations, cannot be made up by the rapid increafe of this clafs of citizens; but, on the contrary, the decreafe in the population of this clafs, muft be added to the number •f emigrants who have gone away; both which
deficiences muft be made up by the more rapid increafe of fome other clafs of citizens. — What order of citizens this is, let us now enquire.
It is not the butcher — for, his bufinefs will be in like manner diminifhed, not only by the lofs of thofe of his cuftomers who fhall have emigrated from thence, but alfo by reafon of the flackened demand from the farmer, in confequence of his being obliged to live more fpar-ingly than before. For the fame reafon, the baker mufl be excepted ; and alfo the brewer, the mafon, the carpenter, fmith, taylor, fhoemaker, fhop-keeper ; in fliort, all thofe who are employed in furnifhing any article of food, cloathing, or other neceffaries of any fort for their fellow-citizens,— the bufinefs of each of whom fuffers a decreafe, not only on account of the abftraclion of their former cuftomers who have emigrated, but alfo by the diminifhed demand from each of their cuftomers in any of the above-named claffes, in confequence of the decline in their own circumftances, occafioned by the original emigration. Emigrations, therefore, confidered in this view, inftead of giving a general famulus to the induftry of all thofe who remain behind, and of thus tending to accelerate
n
population, evidently tend to diffufc a general languor through the whole body of the people, to deprels their induftry, and to make them propagate more flowly than they otherwife would have done.
The only claiTes of citizens which will not be thus affected by emigrations, are thofe manufacturers who are foUlf employed in working up goods for foreign markets, and merchants who deal entirely in foreign trade. In regard to thofe of both thefe profeflions, who are in part employed in domeftic bufinefs, they muft fuffer by the general calamity as others do, in as far as regards their home cuftomers ; and with regard to the fureign demand, considered merely in the general view, without regard to particular circumftances, it does not appear that they can be benefited in any perceptible degree. The rule, therefore, may be admitted as general, That emigrations from a place diminifh the induflry of the iv hole body of people, and retard their population ; and that, on the contrary, an addition to the inhabitants of any place by migrations to it, tends to augment fhe number of its people, not only by the additional inhabitants thus brought to it, but alfo by the incrcafed temptations to population it thus acquires.   This general rule, thus deduced
from the foundeft principles by a chain of clofe reafoning, is confirmed by the univerfal experience of mankind. The examples are fo numerous as not to require to be particularly
fpecified.
The rule above, tho* general, is not univerfaU It admits of exceptions, which, though few, do yet, upon the prefent occafion, require to be very particularly fpecified.
If the emigrants, on leaving their native country, inftead of roaming through the world at large, and being loft among^ the general mafs of people in other nations, ihould choofe to retire to a particular fpot feparated from all other nations, and fhould ftill continue to keep up a friendly correfpondence with their parent country, taking from thence all the neceffaries of which they flood in need, that they could not fumijh te themfelves at heme; in that cafe, it could not be faid that the whole mafs of the inhabitants fuffered an effentiai lofs by the emigration ; as it might happen that fome individuals might be gainers, and others not fuch great lofers as they would have been had the emigrants retained no political connection with the parent eft ate. Here alfo we muft defcend to particulars, if we mean to fpeak with precision, n 2
It appears at the firft view, that on this fup-pofition, the whole clafs of farmers (the newly-fettled country being fuppofed to be a diftant and fertile one) continue exactly in the fame predicament as before ; for, in the fituation we have fuppofed, the emigrants are as far from requiring any fupplies from them, as m any other cafe. For the fame reafon, the butchers, bakers, brewers, and in general all thofe numerous claffes of the people who are employed in fur-nifning neceffaries for thofe at home, are equally depreffed as on the former fuppofition. In this cafe, however, the clothier who works for the home market f, would not fufler any diminution of bufinefs, if we could fuppofe that the emigrant continued ftill to take the whole of his cloathing from hence : But if he fhould think of manufacturing any part of his cloathing at his new home, our clothier muft Iofe employment, and fuffer a decline of bufinefs in proportion to the part thus manufactured by the emigrant at his new home, as the others above named would do. The merchant, however, who trades thither, may be a gainer by this new employment.—It thus appears, that, even
f Here it will be obferved, 1 confidcr the emigrants as ftill part of ourfelvcs.
on this fuppofition, the induftry of every clafs of inhabitants but the traders to the new fettle-ments alone, muft fuffer a fevere check, their wealth be diminifhed, and their natural procreation retarded.
Should it be faid, that the people who go to thefe new fettlements increafe fafter than they would have done at home ; and that though they require not their whole cloathing from hence, their defcendants in a fhort time will confume more of thefe manufactures than thofe defcendants would have done had the original emigrants remained at home ; and that thus they furnifh equal or greater employment to the manufacturers than if they had never left the country : All this, I would fay, is merely gratis diclum, and requires to be proved before it can be admitted — a tafk that I prefume no man who is to depart from general affertions, and come to ftate particulars, will ever attempt to perform f.  But, fhould he even fucceed in this hopelefs attempt, what would it prove ? — merely, that inftead of being highly injurious to the whole body of the people, thtfe emigrations turned out to prove hurtful only to perhaps
f See, on this fubjeft, the lntercft of Great Britain in regard to her American Colonies confidered, chap. 4.
ninety-nine out of a hundred of the inhabitants; and that, in regard to that hundredth part, it was at beft no more than merely indifferent.
Having thus granted every-thing that can pofhbly be demanded in favour of our own fettlements, it appears, that emigrations even t$ thefe, fcarcely proves in the fmalleft degree an exception to the general rule; as we are ftill forced to conclude, that every perfon who goes thither from hence, tends to diminifh the employment of the whole mafs of the people here, to deprefs their .induftry, and difcourage population inftead of encouraging it, as has been often afferted.f
If we extend our views a little farther, it will appear, that migrations from a place are not lefs hurtful in their confequences in other rcfpecls to a manufacturing nation, more efpecially if
X Dr Franklin, in conformity to that fyftem he has thought neceffary to adopt, draws a very different conclufion, or rather utters a very different affertion on this fubject. « There are fuppofed (fays he) to be upwards of ■ one million of Englifh fouls in North America ; and yet ' perhaps there is not one fewer in Britain, but rather
• many more, on account of the employment the Colonies
* afford to manufacturer' at home.'—I quote this, as well as the former words of Dr Franklin, from Mr Howlett's pamphlet on population, p. 22. not having the Doctor's •wn works to coafult.
the new acquifitions obtained for the fettlers mould be attended with any expence to the prefent State.
We have already feen, that in confequence of migrations from a place, the numbers of the people in it are diminifhed in a two-fold manner, firft by the exit of the emigrants themfelves, and then by a retardation in the progrefs of generation; and as thofe who are left behind become alfo lefs eafy in their circumftances, all taxes inipofed upon them muft at the fame time become lefs productive and more oppreflive than they would have been. This occafions a neceflity of impofing new taxes even to keep up the old revenue, and taxes ftill more numerous to fup-port the additional expence incurred by the new fettlements ; which numerous taxes, by oppressing the people, difcourage manufactures, diminifh trade, and occasion a national languor that would not have been felt had the people remained at home. On the contrary, had people been invited hither, the whole mafs of the original inhabitants would have found their bufinefs to increafe, the courfe of natural population would have been accelerated, taxes would become more productive, the revenue would have increafed, manufactures would have
civ       INTliODUC T I O tf*
flourifhed, and the people would have lived in eafe, affluence, and content. I beg the favour of that reader who is difpofed to difpute thefe inferences, to prove the fallacy of the arguments by which they are eftablifired, by a fair and candid induction of particulars as I have here done.    General affertions fignify nothing.
Another exception has been alledged againft the general rule above named, which here alfo requires to be confidered. It has been faid, that emigrants who go from home in poor and abject circumftances, not with a view to fittli forever, but merely to obtain a livelihood, do fometimes fo far Succeed as to acquire a hand-fome fortune, with which they return to their native country, and, in Spending that money, give employment to numbers around them ; and thus excite a much larger degree of national induftry than could have ever taken place had no one perfon ever gone from home f.
In anfwefing an objection thus generally ftated, it would not be poffible to obviate all difficulties, without entering into long and tire-fome details. That a cafe could not be fuppofed in which the greateft poffible acquifition of
t Sec this objection fully urged, Gent. Mag. for November 1782, p. 525.
money might not counterbalance a very fmall lofs of people, I will not take upon me to affirm. 1 fhall content myfelf with barely tracing, by a careful induction of particulars, the effects that will naturally accrue to the community in confequence of the return of individuals with money from abroad ; after which we fhall be enabled to draw fome general conclufion.
In confequence of the departure of the emigrants, we have feen that the induftry of the farmers, butchers, bakers, brewers, and all the other claffes of the people who are engaged in domeftic employments, or, in other words, almoft the whole mafs of the people without exception, has fuffered a fevere check. The queftion now is, will thefe inconveniences be repaired by the arrival of the few men with their treafures ? or, will other advantages accrue from the acquifition of thefe treafures, that fhall be more than fufficient to overbalance thefe evils ?—Let us try.
It does not appear that the lofs to the farmer can be made up. Thefe few individuals, when they do return, cannot confume, of his produce, more than a like number of the emigrants who went away would have done. No, nor near fo much ; for, almoft the whole of the drink of
o
thofe rich men and the luxurious guefts they entertain, and a great part of their food, is brought from abroad. The farmer therefore gains little or nothing by their arrival, and he muft ftill continue to languifh under all the evils that fprang from the original emigrations.
The butcher, baker, brewer, &c. all are nearly under the fame predicament. Each of them (I here fpeak of the whole of each clafs, without reference to individuals) gets only the addition of as many mouths as return, in place of the number that went away, and the children that might have naturally fprung from them; in which cafe, the lofs of each would be perhaps as one hundred, and the gain only as one. The balance, therefore, is greatly againft every one of thofe claffes j fo that their induftry upon the whole, muft be greatly diminifhed. The fame remark applies to the taylor, fhoemaker, clothier, and every other perfon who is employed in furnifhing the neceffaries of life; all of whom are great fufferers by the change.
What becomes of all the money, it will be faid, which thefe rich men, on their return, lavifh with fo much prodigality ?—Is not a con-fiderable part of it expended for food, cloathing, and other neceffaries of life for the rich
man himfelf, and his numerous retainers ? and does not the money thus expended, go into the pocket of the farmer, butcher, baker, and the others who furnifh the different articles wanted, and thus tend to enrich them all f It is readily granted that all the fads ftated are true, and that ftill the different claffes of men above enumerated, are no farther benefited thereby than has been already ftated. The only difference that takes place in confequence of this new arrangement, is, that fome particular articles of con-fumpt are now demanded, in place of others that would have been confumed had things continued on their former footing ; and that the money which pays for thefe, is iffued from the coffers of one man, inftead of coming from the pockets of fome hundreds. Where, I afk, are the benefits that refult from this trifling alteration? The perfons whom this Nabob maintains, he did not create. Before his arrival they were in the country, and required food, cloathing, and other neceffaries, as well as now, and therefore gave an equal quantity of of employment as they now do. If it {hall be faid they now confume more than before, I an-fwer, that in regard to the phyfical neceffaries of life, that is impoffible. A poor man will o 2
<
eat as much as a rich one. "With regaid to cloathing and other fuperfluities, the cafe fccms to be more in favour of the rich ; yet this will be found too to be only an illufion. The great man buys many fuits of fumptuous apparel, yet he really' wears no more than another. His cloaths, after he has done with them, pafs from hand to hand, and thus fave the expence of new ones to his inferiors downwards till they come to rag-fair, and ferve as a tattered covering to fome travelling mendicant. All this brilliant fhow is merely a deception. The money he laviflies with fuch profufion, and which feems to diffufe fuch univeifal joy and activity around him, fcarce excites one particle of induftry more than before. It only fhifts the fcene, and produces a new appearance without any real change—at leaft for the better, in a manufacturing country.
But tho' it alters not the ftate of the whole in this point of view f, it yet produces a won-
f I hope no-one, from this expreflion, will fuppofc it is meant to affert, that in confequence of the return of this perfon, no alteration at all is produced ; for afTuredly, in as far as the individual's own confumption extends, the community muft be benefited. It was never meant to afiert that ■no advantage is derived from their return : It is only the fmallnefs of this benefit, when compared with the lefs that is thu* fuftained, that authorifes the mode of expreffion adopted in the text.
derful change in the circumftances of many-individuals. How far this change is for the benefit or hurt of the community at large, falls now to be considered.
No fooner does this man of riches arrive from abroad, than he finds occafion for numerous fervants, lacqueys and attendants, which his money foon enables him to procure. Thefe perfons are collected from many quarters, and drawn from different employments, to add to the fplendour, and fubfift upon the riches of this monied ftranger. That bufmefs which by their induftry furniihed them with a fubfiftence, is now abandoned for a life of pleafure and of eafe. Perhaps a manufacturer, in confequence of the higher wages this man gives, is converted into a labourer, and fo on. All the perfons who fubfift now by his means, were formerly fub-fifted either by furnifhing neceffaries for their countrymen, or by manufacturing for ftrangers. In confequence of his arrival, thofe perfons who would have been naturally induced to manufacture goods for a foreign market, and thus to draw from thence the means of their fubfiftence, find themfelves enabled to live without it in idlenefs f.   The wages of labour-
-f- In Spain, where this mode of emigration has been experienced in a higher degree than in any other European
ers and manufacturers are raifed, which it is well known tend to interrupt the demand from abroad, and ruin manufactures. In this manner, many individuals are enabled to live for a time in fplendour, while the bufinefs of the nation at large is declining. No man, I pre. fume, will fay that this is a defirable ftate of things.
This monied man, therefore, though he may-maintain by his bounty or his extravagance a few men in idlenefs who muft otherways have worked for their bread, cannot be faid to have given an excitement to national induftry in any way proportioned to the check it had received in confequence of the forefaid emigrations. In the places at a diftance from him, that malady is increafed by the additional drain of men from thence for furnifhing his numerous retainers. The domeftic employment of the people in thefe parts, therefore, continues to become ftill more and more languid. In the neighbourhood of fuch a monied man, indeed, that domeftic employment is there augmented by the numbers his riches attract, from the diftant poorer pro-country, thefe effects have alfo been more powerfully felt. We are thus enabled to account for fome peculiarities re-» lating to that country, which arc otherways inexplicable.
Introduction. cxt
vincesf. In confequence of the high wages, he gives, manufactures in his own neighbourhood for foreign ufe, or even thofe for domeftic purpofes that can be brought from a diftance, receive a check that occafions an eflential injury to the nation.
There feems to be but one way in which national induftry can ever be excited to its high-eft degree, that is, by inducing very great numbers of people to engage in fuch employments as produce neceffaries that can be tranfported to a foreign market. Thefe numerous artificers thus conftantly employed, muft all be lodged, fed, and cloathed by the labour of others of their fellow-citizens, who, in their turn, require the afiiftance of thofe who minifter to their domeftic wants. So long, therefore, as the commodities fent to a foreign market find a brifk fale, more men will engage in that bufinefs ; and by confequence, the induftry of all the others will be more and more excited, and their numbers will continue by natural procreation to augment. Whatever, therefore, tends to interrupt this primary bufinefs, will give a
f Thefe diftant provinces are thus drained of their beft inhabitants; and an unfurmountable poverty, in confequence «f thefe difeouraging drains, is there cftablifhed.
check to all other employments. But it hag been feen, that the hidden influx of money poured into the country by fuch a Nabob as has been fuppofed, has a natural tendency to do that in fome refpects; and therefore, in fo far it tends to weaken the pillars which fupport the fabric of national induftry;
The demand from abroad for the articles we -fumifh, can only be incrcafed in one of two ways; either by affording our goods at a low price, or by augmenting the wealth of our foreign cuftomers. The lad is not in our power to do in general, had we the will: our bufinefs therefore fhould be, to bend all our endeavours to attain the fird. This will be mod effectually done, by keeping the people who are employed in that ufeful bufinefs, as much as poffible in a continued train of uninterrupted indudrious exertions. The didurbr ance, therefore, occafioned by fuch a fudden influx of riches as that above defcribed, mud prove highly detrimental to the general undertaking.
I am far, however, from infinuating, that wealth, in whatever way it is acquired or ufed, will always prove prejudicial to manufactures and commerce.   Riches gradually gained in
iNTJtODUCTlOtf. am
the profecution of bufinefs, and judicioufly applied towards carrying that to perfection, will prove highly beneficial, and will enable a nation pofTeffing thefe refources, to outrival others who want them. But immenfe funis of wealth, which muft neceffarily be Squandered in diffi-pation and luxury, if they are beneficial in one refpect, prove detrimental in others, fo as to leave it but in very few cafes doubtful whether they do moft harm or good.
On the whole, it appears, that as the check which the induftry of the nation receives by emigration is real, and extends its influence through all clafles of inhabitants ; and as the acquifition of wealth In diftant countries is precarious, and the advantages that refult from the attainment of wealth thus fuddenly acquired is more apparent than real ; we muft conclude, that the nation fuffers upon the whole a much greater lofs by numerous emigrations, than it gains by the riches brought home by the few who return in profperous circumftances from abroad. This reafoning applies even to thofe cafes where the money has been obtained from other nations : But when we come to confider thofe fortunes that are obtained from the public by jobs, contracts, frauds, and collufions, they
tend to diffeminate fo univerfally through the minds of all ranks of perfons concerned, a fpirit of vice, corruption, and licentioufnefs, as welt as to difcourage the fober exertions of induftry, that they muft be accounted in the higheft degree pernicious; and thofe political arrangements that tend to give rife to fuch evils-, de-ferve to be condemned as destructive and ruinous to the State J.
NATIONAL SECURITY.
The fecurity of a nation eonfifts in its having a force at all times at its command, fufhcient to repel any attack that may be made on any of the territories of the Stare; or a power Sufficient to overawe the neighbouring nations, fo as to make them refpect. its fubjects, and fecure them from fnfults.
X A copy of what has been written above, on the fubject of emigration, having been mewn to Dr Price, he, with that liberality of mind which ever diftinguifhes the candid enquirer, politely made the following ingenuous return:—
The notice Dr Anderfon has taken of an affertion of Dr Price's, leaves him no other room for any other fenti-ment than that of gratitude. In that affertion he followed Dr Franklin, and he is now difpofed to think he did it too haftily." A copy of the fame was tranfmitted to Dr Franklin ; but as no return has been obtained from thc-Doctor, he is uncertain if ever it reached his hand.
The force neceffary to be kept in perpetual pay, will depend upon two circumftances, viz. Firft, The natural vulnerability of the territories; cr the reverfe.   What I here chiefly mean, is the compact, or detached nature of the different provinces: for, if thefe lie all together in one compacted whole, fo as to admit of every one part either giving aid to, or receiving it from the others with eafe and celerity when it may be wanted, the forces required for its defence will be infinitely fmaller than where the parts are fo fcattered as not to admit of obtaining aid from each other when fuddenly attacked ; in which fituation, every feparate place muft have a force continually in readinefs for its own defence, on any unforefeen emergency.—Secondly, The perpetual force kept on foot may vary according to the energy the nation is known to poffefs, and the force it can with certainty command when occafion may call it forth : for* if thefe refources be great, it will command the refpect of the neighbouring nations, as well for defencelefs individuals, as for fome weak places belonging to it. In point of frugality, therefore, nothing can be of fuch importance to a nation, as to try to put itfelf into fuch a fituation as may allow it to reft in fecnrity, without being p 2
at the expence of maintaining a great national force, but by merely keeping the power of defence at all times within its reach, ready to be called forth on a fhort warning whenever it may be neceffary.
The refources of a nation confift alfo of two parts, viz. Jirjly in the quantity of money that can be eafily commanded, when the exigencies of the State may call for it; and, fecond, in the number of men qualified to act in the way that tends molt effectually to defend the State, that can be obtained without much deranging the affairs of individuals, when they may be called for. Thofe political arrangements, therefore, which tend in the moft effectual manner to anfwer thefe two purpofes, muft be accounted the beft for infuring national fecurity.
Let us now examine, upon thefe principles, how far the public meafures purfued by the Britifh nation for fome time paft, have been calculated to anfwer the purpofe of national fecurity ; and try if fhe had it in her power, or ftill poffefies the means of making any improvements in this refpect.
For fome centuries paft, the great object we have aimed at, has been to eftablifh diftant colo. njes, and to obtain a6 many foreign poffeiTions^
and as extenfive fettlements abroad, as poffiblcv -r-But every perfon, at the firft glance, can fee that this was tending in the moft direct manner to diminifti the national fecurity, as it rendered our territories infinitely more vulnerable than they would have been, had we confined our exertions folely towards augmenting the profperity of the little compact fpot that forms the bafis of our empire, which, when considered in itfelf, is rendered by Nature fo fecure as fcarcely to admit of any kind of annoyance from Foreign Powers. The confequence has been, that from the moment we obtained thefe external poffef-fions, we have not only been obliged to keep on foot, at all times, a very great body of national forces, which would without them have been altogether unneceffary ; but we have alfo been involved in a ftate of almoft uninterrupted warfare, which has been attended with confe-quences that have already proved very diftrefting to the community, and threaten other confe-quences that are ftill more alarming.
Thefe foreign pofieflions-have not only diminifhed the national fecurity, as above ftated; but they have farther decreafed it, by weakening our refources, and lowering our refpectabi-hty amonp; the nations.   Inftead, therefore, of
being allowed to fit down with eafe in a Hate of tranquil fecurity, we are kept in a ftate of perpetual terror and alarm, fo as to make our exertions at all times great, though our fecurity is fmall. Like a bow perpetually bent, we are enfeebled by the unremitting ft rain ; and when greater exertions become neceflary, our energy is gone, and we become a feeble and a nervelefs opponent.
Great would need to be the benefits that the nation reaps from thofe fettlements, before they could compenfate for the heavy misfortunes that muft ever be the confequences of fuch a diminution in point of national fecurity. But when we come coolly to inveftigate the benefits they bring in exchange for thefe evils, they arc found to be in all refpecls more imaginary than real.
We have long been amufed with the notion, that people fent from hence to our American colonies*, tended to augment our domeftic population and induftry; and, abfurd as this doctrine apparently is, it was believed by many people as a truth. The arguments adduced in the laft Section, fhow how exceedingly groundlefs it was. — I fhall not here add farther on this fubject, than barely to mention, that, by a calculation
which never has been controverted f, to which I refer in the note, it has been iliown, that at no time did. the inhabitants of our colonies in America ever confume, of Britifh produce or manufactures, to the amount of twenty millings value per annum, whereas the fame perfons in Britain confume to the value of twenty pounds at leafl:—So that, had we ftill retained thefe pofiefhons, any number of inhabitants there could not have excited above one twentieth part of the national induftry as if they had been in Britain; while our exertions in their defence as a part of the Britifh empire, muft for each perfon have been more than as twenty to one that it would have been had they remained in Britain.
And why ihould we diminifh our own national fecurity, for the fake of fuch poffeflions ? Experience has confirmed what reafon dictated, that no revenue can ever be derived from thence. And if trade is the object in view, we now fee, that no fooner is that trade worth the coveting, than it muft be laid open to all the world. (I here fpeak in conformity with the abfurd notion, that the trade of a nation fo
f See the Intereft of Great Britain with regajd to her American Colonics conGdercd, chap. u.
fituated as thofe I fpeak of, can in any cafe be' effectually confined into any one channel that fhall be propofed). But, independent of this confi-dcration, is it not plain that colonies are not in the leafl an effential requisite for trade ? Spain has large colonies, with fcarce any trade: Holland has a very extenfive trade, with fcarce any colonies: Our own trade to Holland, tho' that country is no part of our dominions, is much greater than it ever was to America;; and our trade to America new, were we difpofed to give as large credits as formerly, would be much greater than it ever was at any former period. • Trade is much more effectually fecured by the cheap-nefs of commodities, and extent of credit given, than by any retraining power that ever can be devifed. But, as the wafte of money expended on national defence, with its other neceffary accompanyments, tend to enhance the price of manufactures, and curtail the profits of the merchant, we have been purfuing a courfe in this refpect directly the reverfe of that we fhoold have followed had the extenfion of trade been the only object in view*
Our fettlements in the Weft Indies, however unpopular the doctrine may be, will be'found, upon examination, to be equally hurtful and
and unprofitable. In point of fafety, they are evidently more vulnerable, and confequently more liable to all the objections originating from thence than even our American colonies were. As tending to encourage the induftry of the Parent State, they are alfo inferior to the former. As fettlements cultivated by means of Britifh capitals, they are liable to ftill greater objections: For, though it could be proved (which it never can, but the reverfe) that the fame capital laid out on a Weft-India fettlement, yielded a greater return than in Britain, ftill the capital there laid out is withdrawn from this country, and placed in another, which we hold by fuch a flender tenure as fcarcely to de-ferve the name of belonging to us. It is, in fhort, no part of the empire, whether we confi-der it with refpect to national fecurity, refources as to men, or revenue in money. Thus, in a national view, the whole capital there employed, like the whole perfons fent from hence to America, tend to diminifh our national wealth, in a degree very much difproportioned to the returns we ever can hope to derive from thence.
And what do we obtain from thence in return ? Sugar and rum, and coffee, to increafe the luxury of our tables: All which we might.
have obtained from thence, or from fome other nation, in exchange for the native commodities and manufa&ures that might have been produced, with much more national ceconomy, by the capital and exertions that reared them them there j — and cotton for our manufactures, which might have been reared in Africa, by the miferable beings who now cultivate it in the Wed Indies, at a much fmaller ex-pence than it can be afforded for by our own fettlers___Thus would have been laid the foundation of a trade, which, as it would have given encouragement to the induftry of the people in Africa, would have augmented with their profperity, and might long before this time have become an object of aftonifhing magnitude. But, as, without adverting to thefe considerations, the fettlements in queftion were begun, and as monied men have now got capitals fo deeply engaged in thefe undertakings as not to allow them a power to recede, they find themfelves interefted in Supporting them as long as it is poflible, without regard to any fort of public considerations whatever. The whole influence, therefore, of fuch men, (and • great, it is well known, that influence is), muft be continually exerted to invalidate every argu-
ment that fhall be produced to open the eyes of the people in this refpect..   This is one of the many evils that attend rafh and inconfiderate undertakings, which cannot be obviated. The thinking part of the nation is now in general convinced, that our colonies have proved, and ever mufl prove ruinous to the State j yet we have not ceafed to make eftablifhments of that fort.   As if we did. not know that in a few years we mull fubmit to a great expence, with a view to render them as independent of our-felves as thofe other fettlements now are with which they are fo nearly connected : as if we were not fenfible, that, in protecting them in the mean time, we laid a foundation for difputes and wars, which mult fubjecl us to a great waite of men and treafures, and can never be productive of the fmallelt national emolument.
From the fame motives, and from the fecret hope of participating in the gains that may be obtained from the fpoils of diftant fettlements, the Public has been long amufed with the notion, that the falvation even of this nation (1 here make ufe of words that have been often repeated in Parliament) depends upon the profperity of the Eaft-India-Company, and the prefervation of our fettlements in Afiaan idea which feems
to be acquiefced in without examination by-people of all parties, tho' it is not eafy to difcover how thefe things fhould be fo when they are attentively examined.
The trade to India affords to the Exchequer, it is true, a considerable revenue. But, in what manner is that revenue produced? By duties arifing from the fale of tea, and other Eafl-India goods, imported into this country, and confumed by the people of this nation. It is the people, therefore, of this nation, who pay that revenue j and they would continue to pay it for the fame commodities, were thefe obtained by an other means than that of the Eafi-lndia Company. And as it is poffible at leaft, that thefe articles might be furnifhed equally cheap by other means, it does not, from this view of the fubjecl, clearly appear, that the India-Company is of that vaft importance it has been fo often reprefented to be.
Without entering into a very minute examination of this matter, I may here be allowed to remark, that the benefits derived to the revenue from thefe duties, are apt to appear much more considerable than they reaily are j.—But, were
f Thefe articles are ftated in the grofs as paying a high iuty; but that duty is again, in many cafes, wholly drawn
thefe duties much higher than they aftually are, and of much greater national importance than they have ever yet been called, unlefs it could be proved that the fame articles could not be obtained by means of a fair trade, without the burthen of extenfive foreign fettlements to protect, it proves nothing. This point feems to be fully afcertained by the experience of the Eaft-India Company itfelf. We have no fettlements in China, nor any exclusive privileges of trade to that country j yet it is admitted on all hands, that it has been the profits on the trade
Lack on exportation. By an account ftated in the 21ft Appendix to the firft Report of the Committee of Parliament on illicit practices, it appears that the duty paid on coffee imported into Britain, in the years 1770, 177 if 1772, and 1773, amounted to L. 349,728 18:5: And by N- 2 2d in the fame Appendix, it appears that the drawbacks for coffee exported during the fame years, amounted to L. 218,925 15:1; fo that little remained behind,— By the fame account it appears, that the drawbacks in the years 1779, 17$°> x 781, and 1782, amounted to a fum equal to the whole duties paid, wanting only L. 689 9s. lod. : So that the net average duty remaining on this article, during thefc four years, was no more than L. 171 7s. 5^-d- per annum.
By the Appendix to the fame Report, N? 23d, it appears that the average - duties arifing upon Eaft-India goods, during the four laft • mentioned years, amounted on an average to fomething lefs than L. 800,000 per arm.
to China alone that has faved the Eaft-India Company from bankruptcy, (if they be not actually bankrupt at prefent, as many perfons very, boldly affert) : And it is a fad that will not be denied, that ever fince that Company obtained thofe extenfive territories in Bengal, which infpired the flattering notion of deriving immenfe wealth from thence, not as traders, but as territorial proprietors, their affairs have been continually going from bad to worfe ;:—, and the Nation at large, inftead of receiving from that quarter thofe fupplies which it had a right to expect and to demand in its prefent diftrefsful fituation, has been obliged to launch out into farther expences on their account—.
— But the account is accompanied with this notandum —. " There can be no account raifed of the drawbacks of thefe duties repaid on exportation; for, according to the prefent and antient method of exportation, India goods (as well as any other particular fpecies) are entered out, and exported, mixed with different fpecies of merchandife indifcrhniuatcly, at the will of the exporter, from the whole of which the drawbacks are computed : And by the prefent fyftem of the cufiom-duties by branches, the fum of the whole drawback is fo neceffarily raifed, without any pofibility of dividing or applying the fame to any refpeclive or particular fpecies or quantities.'' Thus it happens, that thofe who look at the national accounts for information on this fubjecl;, are mifled, and form a much higher idea of the importance of thefe matters, as branches of the revenue, than they actually deferve.
Hopes, in the mean time, are feemingly entertained, that thofe diforders which have hitherto prevailed there, will quickly be fuppreiled; and that that wealth which has ever been promifed from thence, will with certainty be obtained at laft.   Men, in this cafe, do not feem to reflect, that a country which is already in a great meafure defpoiled of its treafures, is lefs able to furnifh a copious revenue than it was when thofe abounded.   They will not feemingly allow themfelves to fee, that the people, harrafled by arbitrary exactions, and diminifhed in number by cruel regulations, will be lefs willing to exert themfelves, and lefs capable of producing manufactures and facilitating commerce, than before thefe oppreifive exactions took place. They will not permit themfelves to believe, that Princes, irritated by repeated injuries, and intuited by the moft wanton exertions of power, will not endeavour to reclaim their native rights, tho' recent experience'has fuily proved, that they neither are infenfible of the one, nor inattentive to the other.   They will not acknowledge, be-caufe they with it not to be believed, that the natives of thofe regions can ever be made to cope with the Europeans in arms : yet there is not perhaps a man in India, or in. Britain, who
has ferioufly inveftigated thefe points, who wilt not fee reafons for drawing very different conclusions. Such a man will perceive, that all attempts to check* the rapacity of men who have power in their hands, and the means of corrupting the courfe of juftice, are vifionary projects, that never yet have been, and never can be realifed. Such a man will know, that while injustice and oppreffion mufl of neceffity forever prevail, peace, tho' apparently obtained, is merely a ceffation from hoflilities, that will be quickly renewed. To fuch a man, the pro-mife of that wealth which is to arife from peaceful industry and arts, mufl appear like the palling cloud edged with gold, which quickly paffes away, and cannot be recalled. The plea of neceffity in all human affairs, he well knows, muft ever be admitted before any other; and that plea, he fees, will foon have occasion to be pleaded in this cafe. The time, he will perceive, is not apparently far distant, when all the power that can be commanded by that potent Company, and all the exertions of this Nation in its favour, will be vain. Their poffeffions, he will fee good reafons to be fatif-fied, will be wrested from them j and we fhall then, by the fame plea of neceffity, be obliged
to fit down contented with the heavy lofs that the nation has fuftained, by its exertions to obtain and preferve a territory, which can at beft be only considered, with refpect to Britain, as a nurfery of crimes, and a feminary for rapacity and other fhameful enormities.
I wifh that thefe remarks fhould not be con-fidered as the cafual effufions of a fplenetic humour, but as ferious conclusions, deduced from a careful attention to the effects that have invariably refulted from a similar plan of conduct in all ages.—Carthage was not conquered by Rome, till the constitution of her government was relaxed by the power of corruption that individuals acquired in her provincial governments, and the extortions and intrigues which thefe of neceffity occafioned. Rome was not fubdued by the Barbarians, till long after (lie was enflaved by her own citizens, and repeatedly infulted by troops paid by the fpoiis, firft of her diftant provinces, and then of the beft citizens of the State themfelves. The universal fyftem of corruption which wfealth thus amaffed introduced among all ranks of people, foon rendered thofe falutary laws of no effect, which, in the virtuous days of the Republic, made her be reflected by all nations t
r
and with her laws, her vigour and her power were totally annihilated. In more modern times, Spain affords a leffon that ought to be (till more ftriking than any of thefe, becaufe her cafe fo nearly refembles our own in every particular. That nation was eminent in arts, unrivalled in induftry, and great in arms. Her people enjoyed a great degree of freedom, under the influence of a government more fimilar to that of Britain than any other that ever was known in the world—they were of courfe active, enterprising, and wealthy. While fhe was in thefe profper-ous circumftances, that nation acquired territories abroad of boundlefs extent, inhabited by a numerous people, and pollening what was then thought exhauftlefs treafures -j-. To govern thefe extenfive distant territories, many viceroys were wanted, and an infinite number of inferior tools were required. Thefe perfons neceffarily entrufted with power, exercifed it only for their own emolument: the natives were plundered, maltreated, extirpated. Laws at home were enacted to reprefs thefe enormities, and to bring
T At the period here alluded to, Spain pofTcfled not only the whole Continent of South America, and the Weft-India Iflands ; but alfo in Europe, were Lqrds of Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and the Netherlands, befides. many very extenfive fettlements in Afia and Africa.
the offenders to punifhment — but in vain. Thofe perfons, who, by trampling on the laws, had amalfed treafures greater than any individuals before that were ever known to poffefs, returned home in triumph, as if to brave the Legiflature whofe ordinances they had contemned. By dextrous diffribution of part of their wealth among leading men, the reafons for their conduct were fo explained as to obtain the public thanks of that very tribunal which ought to have condemned them to the moft ignominious and exemplary punifhment f.
f The following anecdote is told of a Grandee of Spain. On his return from a viceroyfhip in America, complaints were leud againft him, and he was publicly accufed of peculation in office, extortion, and all kinds of enormities; he having ftuck at nothing that promifed fuddenly to increafe his wealth. Of this general clamour he complained to a friend, whofe advice he begged, in what manner he fhould conduct himfelf on that occafion ; who gave this memorable reply—" If, fays he, the complaints againft you are well founded, the difficulty can be eafily removed. You have only to make a proper application of a part of the treafures thus obtained, and-all will go well. But if you be really calumniated, you are certainly undone."— How deplorable is the ftate of a country when it is reduced to fuch a pafs, where villany becomes a trade, and innocence is reprobated as folly, or fhunned as dangerous! Yet, to fuch a pafs muft every nation come at laft, where war is a trade, and where diftant provinces are governed by a delegated authority.
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This foon came to be generally understood -and their proper plan of conduct as quickly di-gefted into a regular fyftem.   An honeft man, whenever he appeared among them, was pro-fcribed, infuhed, banifhed ; fo that his single evidence, contradicted by a whole hoft of others, was condemned as groundless invective:—Ho-nefty and folly thus became fynonimous terms f. A general fyltem of corruption quickly pervaded all departments of Government.   Thofe who mould have been the guardians of the privileges of the people, became the tools made ufe of by Government to do away their privileges. The people foon became the ilaves of a defpot, whofe will alone, inftead of that of the repre-fentatives of the people themfelves, became the only law; and they gradually funk into that ftate of insignificance, for which they are now remarkable even to a proverb.
Thefe are facts fo generally known, as not to admit of difpute—But, we forget the gradual steps by which that catastrophe was imperceptibly brought on her. We lofe fight of the hopes that were kept alive ; and of the expectations of future wealth and grandeur that would be derived from thence, that were continually in,
f Sec the Writings of Antonio de Las Cafas.
dulged, till long paft the time that they were irrecoverably ruined.   We forget the ftrenu-ous exertions at home for preventing irregularities abroad, and the numberlefs regulations that were made for fupprefling diforders, that only continued to multiply like the Hydra's heads, by every effort to deftroy them. We do not confider thefe evils as arifing from the circumftances of the cafe; but arc rather difpofed to view the perpetrators of thefe enormities, as monfters of an unufual kind, who, in any fituation, would have been a difgrace to humanity.—1 muft not here enter fully into this difquifition, or it would be a very eafy matter to fliew that the Spanifh nation at large was not more indifferent to thofe tranfactions than other nations ; and that the character of individuals in that country, in refpect of found integrity and unfullied honour, might be compared with any others on the globe : Nor would it be an uninltructive detail, to point out the gradual fteps by which thefe events were naturally produced, were this a proper place to enter upon it.—Here I fhall only briefly obferve on this fubject, that plunder and rapine under the Sanction of Government, tho' they furnifh an abundant fupply to thofe who fuit begin the
trade, become gradually lefs and lefs productive. But the profpect of thus fuddenly acquiring wealth is fo very alluring, as in a very fhort time to extinguish, among a people who have the profpect of this within their reach, all de^ fire of obtaining a moderate competency in life, by the flower operations of a painful induftry. This profpect fuddenly enticed from their native country, immenfe numbers of adventurers, the greateft part of whom never found their way home.   The wars which thefe diftant territories occafioned,   carried off many more. So that the Parent State thus exhaufted of its people, felt that decline in its manufactures and agriculture which has been proved to be the neceflary and unavoidable confequence of a diminution of its people.    Enfeebled by thefe means, and difpirited by the lofs of that freedom of Government which alone could have reftored their loft vigour, every fpirited exertion was reprefled among the people.   In the mean time, the expenditure of the State became enormous.   The ruined natives of the diftant dominions, funk under the weight of their calamities, and dwindled almoft to nothing. — Plunder could then be no longer obtained from thence j and the trade which the natives of thofe
countries might have afforded, became extinct f. The revenue derived from thence was nearly nothing, and national bankruptcy enfued.— Domeftic revenue, becaufe of the decreafe of people, and decline of national induftry, fell far fhort of its ufual amount. Tb" make up this deficiency, new taxes were adopted, and the old ones were levied with an encreaf-ed feverity.— Thefe have proved a perpetual check to any attempt at returning induftry : —
f It has ever appeared to me not a little extraordinary, that in the fettlements European nations have made in diftant countries, fo little attention fhould have been be-ftowed on the advantages that might have been derived from the commerce with the natives, had they been properly encouraged, and gradually induced to adopt the arts of civil life. In our communication with European States, we feem ever to view them only as cuftomers for our own commodities ; and in our intercourfe with the nations of Afia and Africa, and the Weft Indies, we feem only to confider them as furnifhing materials for us to purchafe ; in which clafs we rank the human fpecies as a confiderable article. It is, however, fufficicntly plain to any thinking being, that were the people who inhabit thofe extenfive regions brought to relifh the fweets of polifhed fociety, and were our intercourfe with them confined to a friendly interchange of commodities, a very wide market would be opened for many commodities and manufactures we could furnifh ; and as abundant a fupply of productions, which minifter to our wants, and furnifh materials for manufactures, would be afforded to us in return ; which would lay
And the people are doomed to poverty and indolence, till the time fhall arrive, when fome happy revolution fhall knock off thofe fhackles which fo effectually bar all exertions at prefent.
Such have been the confequences of thofe meafures that Spain purfued with an ardour of hope in the day of her exaltation, that left no room for deep reflection.   Thefe events have
the foundation of an extenfive trade, to which the huma» imagination can fet no boundary. Had we, for inftance, inftead of bringing away at firft by open violence or hidden fraud, the natives of Africa, and leading them into flavery, and afterwards fowing the feeds of perpetual difcord among them, with a view to obtain by purchafe a continued fup-ply to make up for the people we had deftroyed, and continue to deftroy in the Weft Indies : Had we, I fay, inftead of that conduct, encouraged them to cultivate the arts of peace, by purchafing fuch commodities as they had, and encouraging them to rear other productions that were natural to thefe climates, we might thus long ere now have obtained from thence, by an advantageous barter, fugar, coffee, cotton, and other products of warm countries, at probably lefs than one half the price we now muft pay for them, without exhaufting our treafures, or deranging our own domeftic oeconomy; and at the fame time we would have fecured a fet of cuftomers for our own commodities, that would have furnifhed uninterrupted employment to all our people, had they encreafed to a hundred times their prefent number. If Afia be confidered in the fame light, the profpect is bouudlefc, and not lefs plcafmg than extenfive.
actually taken place, and are not hypothetical conjectures : They were neceffary, and not accidental confequences of the meafures fhe pur-fued. The fituation of Britain, in as far as regards her Indian territories, is fo nearly the fame with that of Spain in former times, that a carelefs reader might miftake the defcription above given, as one intended for our own provinces. -What reafon is there to believe, that a fimilar conduct, if perfitted in, will not be pro-ductive of fimilar events ? In as far as we have yet gone, every-thing proceeds in the fame train :—the fame unbounded lull of wealth in thofe abroad,—the fame difregard to the rights of individuals and the claims of humanity there,—the fame apparent regard for juftice and humanity in the reprefentations made by all parties at home and abroad with refpect to fpecial complaints,—the fame fyftem of private corruption,—the fame difregard of laws from home,—the fame apologies for pad failure,— the fame promifes of future advantages:— every-thing feems to be the fame except the profpect that the natives in the neighbourhood of our fettlements, by the aid of European politics and discipline, will be able to vindicate their rights before we fhall have had time
5
finally to ruin ourfelves by accomplilhing their utter deftruaion, and thus bringing on a cata-ftrophe fimilar to that of the unfortunate nation whole Heps we fo emuloufly tread, regardleis of that leffon which her fate, fo recently in our view, ought long ere now to have taught us.
From thefe confiderations, I mould be forry indeed to be obliged to acquiefce in the opinion that the falvation of Britain depends in any degree on the profperity of the Eaft-India Company or the prefervation of our diftant territories, as our ruin in that cafe would be certain, fpeedy, and unavoidable. Happily for Britain, there fecms to be no reafon for believing that that is the cafe. The crafh of fuch a Company, when it comes, muft no doubt occafion much private diftrefs and internal confufion in the State ; but that will prove only a temporary inconvenience f.   The real danger to be appre-
f The reafonings with refpect to the Eaft-India Company, are fo nearly fimilar to thofe that were ufed in the days of Elizabeth in favour of the then powerful Company of the Merchant Adventurers, that a man who had flcpt two hundred years, would believe, when he awoke, that no time had interveened. Yet that Company was diffolved, not only without producing the ruin of the nation, as its advocates maintained, but even to the very great emolument of the community; and the very name of that Company is now in a great meafure forgot, tho* it was then, confidered as the moft important object in the nation-.
hended, will arife from the exertions that may poffibly be made to flave off an event which cannot long be avoided, and which ought not perhaps to be dreaded.—The age of monopolies is now paffed :—Armed companies are not mr-.v neceffary, whatever they may once have been, to overawe the nations, and protect the traders in Alia :—Sovereigns are there already fo enlightened, as to be fenlible of the value of ,trade, and the benefits that they may derive from the encouragement of it. All that is wanted to make traders equally free, and the .Subjects of different States equally refpected in India as in Europe, is to banifh from the minds of the natives the fear of ruining themfelves by the favours they fhall be brought to confer on European traders f : And the time, it is hoped, approaches, when their power will be fuch as to reprefs our audacity, and when, in-
T The Princes of India, who, from fimplicity, or affection to particular European nations, have been induced to grant them any friendly indulgences, have, without exception, had reafon fore to rue the time when they were fo blinded by thefe arts as to comply with their defires ; for, flavcry and oppreffion have been the only returns they have obtained for thofe friendly offices. The hillory of the European tranfactions in India is one continued proof pf this fact.
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Head of being conquerors and plunderers, we (hall be forced to affume the more humble, but at the fame time the more ufeful and becoming character of merchants f.   Then fhall we be
f I cannot conceive an idea of an eftablifhment that would be more ufeful to Europe, more beneficial to Afia and Africa, more friendly to the interefts of mankind in general, or more honourable to the nation which fhould carry it into practice, than for a European nation (and Britain is obvioufly the beft qualified to do it) to form a large mercantile mart on fome of the fmall Indian iflands, np0r, a liberal plan, for the fole encouragement of trade, without any views of monopoly to themfelves or rcftraint upon others. To this place people of all nations, and countries, and languages, ihould be free to rcfort, every individual being alike certain of obtaining jufticc and protection while there ; and all goods, from whatever quarter they come, or however imported, to be free to be expofed t0 fale in a public market, on paying, without diflinction, a duty of one per centuvi aJ vj/orevj, and no more, according to an equitable tarif eftablifhed for that purpofe, and printed, that all perfons might know thefe dues The civil government of this mart to be entrufted to a Council 0f inhabitants of the place freely chofen by the other ir.ha-bitants, without diftinction of country, or feet, or religion, modelled upon the moft perfect plan that could be devifed for preferring political and religious freedom, with a due refpect to the laws and regulations of the civil magiftrate. The military government to be under their authority alfo. The whole expence of the military and civil eftablifhment of that place, and nothing more, to be paid from the public revenue there, to the State that eftablifhed it.-^ Such a mart in fome of the fmaller African Iflands beyond
cordially refpefted and beloved ; which will produce an amicable intercourfe, infinitely more beneficial to the community at large, tho' left flattering to the pride of individuals, than that which has prevailed ever fince Europeans found the way to thofe extenfive regions by fea__
the Cape would be peculiarly well fituated for facilitating the commerce from Europe : and if others were eftablifhed on the fame plan on fome other of the fmaller iflands beyond it, fo as to form a regular chain to the Moluccas and China, the beneficial confequenccs would be inconceivably great. European nations which entertain fuch a jcaloufy and rival fhip of each other in thofe parts, might in this way have an opportunity of cxercifing the principles of rivalfhip without hurting either themfelves or others ; for they might vie with each other in a laudable emulation to try which of them could devife the moft faultlcis plan, and eftablifh an inftitution that would be beft calculated to promote the profperity of the whole, and preferve the rights of humanity. Small iflands are, in the above plan, ex-prefsly mentioned as the only proper ones for the purpofe, becaufe it would prevent the neceffity of interfering in the government of the natives of the country. Thefe alfo mould be at a confiderable diftance from the main land, as this would tend to preferve them from the danger of any fort of attack from the native powers of the Eaft.—Tho' it would be eafy to demonftrate the great benefits that every European mercantile nation would derive from fuch an inftitution, accompanied with a total relinquishment of all other territorial jurifdiftion or commercial immunities in India, yet the Reader will not think me weak enough to expect ever to fee fuch a beneficial inftitution adopted.
Our domeftic induftry will be thus encouraged, our population encreafed, our revenue augmented, and the nation be fecured from infult Without thofe overftrained exertions which have brought us into the perilous fituation in which we at prefent find ourfelves placed.
GENERAL INFERENCES. From the whole of the foregoing induction, we are led to perceive that the want of fuccefs in the different attempts that have been made to eftablifh the Fifheries on the coafts of Scotland, has been occafioned by circumftances of a civil and political nature which have not hitherto been fufHciently adverted to, and not in the leaft to natural caufes : That the indolence ufually attributed to the people of thofe regions, is entirely occafioned by the difperfed nature of their habitations, which prevents the natives from having it in their power to engage in any kind of active purfuit with the fmalleft profpect of profit; and that their poverty, which is almoft proverbial, in like manner originates from the fame caufe : That the revenue, inftead of being augmented by people, in thefe circumftances muft be greatly diminifhed thereby ; and that no regulations of police which do not tend
to bring the people into clofe compacted fo-cieties, can ever remove thefe great and radical evils f. We are led farther to perceive, that extent of empire, in circumftances fimilar to thofe of Britain, never can tend to augment the trade or revenue of the State ; but that it
-j- One objection to the plan of eftablifhing large towns in the Hebrides that may be expected to originate from the narrow prejudices of illiberal minds, in which a jealoufy of being hurt by the competition of any kind of rival is always a very predominant feature, muft not be overlooked. ' Why (fays fuch a one who happens to be a merchant in
* London, fuppofe) mould we ftrive to raife up new citieg ' in other parts of this ifland, in which merchants may
* eftablifh themfelves, who will become our rivals in trade, ' and thus diminifh our employment ? Let us rather unite
* in time, and oppofe the meafure fo as to crufk it in the
* bud, which if fuffered to go on, would prove in the ' higheft degree injurious to our interefts.'
It is humiliating to the pride of man to think that fuch objections fhould be fo generally made and require to be fo often anfwered by pointing to the general experience of mankind for a proof of the groundlcifnefs of fuch popular fcart. Amfterdam and Cadiz are two flourifhing emporiums, which, in the judgment of thefe men, Hand forth as hated and hurtful rivals to London. Is it poffible that any man of bufinefs can ferioufly believe that this is the cafe ? But if it is not fo, how could the new cities propofed prove hurtful rivals to London or any other trading place in Britain ?— Let us for a moment fuppofe that an earthquake had fwallowcd up thefc two fancied rival cities, or that the fea had broke in upon them and
in an amazing degree diminiihes the national fecurity, and weakens its refources: That if colonies are planted and protected at the ex-pence of the Parent State, it holds forth flrong allurements to emigrations among the lower claffcs of the citizens; and that thefe emigra-
buried them in irrecoverable ruin,—what, in fuch a cafe, would be the confequence to the traders and trading inte, reft of Britain ? — an immediate ftagnation of trade to an inconceivable amount, which would prove the inftant ruin of a great number of merchants, and which would give a fhock to the induftry and manufactures of this country that would require ages to replace. If, then, thefe places are of fuch effential utility to the trade of Britain at prefent, by taking commodities from us to fuch a great extent, ([The exports to Holland are ufually about two millions value per annum, fometimes near three, as in an.no 1749, when they amounted to L. 2,716,143. That to Spain is ufually about one million; anno 1750, it amounted to L. 1 »7^3,075. The average exports from Britain arc about thirteen millions value. So that the trade to thefe two places is little fhort of one third of the whole that is carried on by Britain. See Whitworth's Tables.], why fhould they be confidcred as hurtful rivals to us ?—. If the ruin of thefe two populous cities would prove fo extenfively hurtful to the merchants of London and elfe-where, is it not a neceffary confequence, that by a converfc of this reafoning, thefe merchants would be proportionally benefited by the creating one other fuch city, or of five hundred fuch, could it be poflible to accomplifh that ?—_ Man wifhes ever to monoplize to himfelf thofe thing3 he highly values 5 but benignant Heaven, by its all-wife de-
lions have an unavoidable tendency to deprefs induftry, and diminifti the employment of the manufacturer at home: That if diftant provinces inhabited by foreign people, are fub-je&ed by force, and governed by a delegated authority, it gives rife to a fpirit of rapine among thofe who are. entrufted with authority,
crces, has in all cafes ordered thing3 fo that the intereft of individuals, when rightly underftood, is beft promoted by the profperity of the whole. Make one country rich and flourifhing, its Very enemies, if they know their owiv intereft, are benefited thereby. But if even oppofing countries are benefited by the profperity of each other, the individuals in the fame country muft be benefited in a much higher degree by the profperity of all its parts.— Whatever, therefore, tends to raife up new and fleurifhmg cities in any part of this ifland, fo far from creating hurtful rivals in trade to thofe who are already engaged in that bufinefs, only raifes up a new fet of cuftomers who will tend to increafe his trade and augment his profits. — While they call for many commodities from him that never could have been wanted had not thefe eftablifhmcnt3 taken place, they furnifh him in return with many articles which enable him to extend his trade with others whom he could not but for this have had occafion to ferve.—— In this manper it becomes highly the intereft of every trader to promote the eftablifhmcnt of new towns and the introduction of new manufactures. Every thing, therefore, that tends to effect thefe purpofts, ought to be viewed by him in the moft friendly light, and claims his warmeft fupport, inftead of that jealous oppofition which can only originate from ignorance and ill-judged felfifliucfa.
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which cannot be controuled. The natives are fleeced by every art that cunning can invent or power enforce, till they become dripped of all their property, opprefled, enflaved, extirpated. This is the natural progreflion with regard to themf.—-With refpect. to ourfelves,—the vaft fums of money that are thus haliily amafled at the beginning, awakens a fpirit of adventure among people of rank and education, who gQ thither in multitudes to participate in that golden harveft, which, for a time, furnifhes fuch
•f When defpotic power is eftablifhed In a diftant province, (and all delegated authority in thefe circumftances is fuch, however much names and appearances may be adopted to foften it), if the people have wealth, or a knowledge of ufeful arts, the firft ftep is to defpoil them of that wealth by force or fraud, or to convert that induftry to the fole benefit of the ruling power. For this purpofe, an infinite number of devices are adopted, all tending to ftrip the people of their lawful property. —« Wealth, in thefe circumftances, is foon exhaufted; and manufactures in a fhort time decline. This deficiency, f0 chilling to the hopes of thofe in power, produces feveritiea on the people. They are punifhed with a view to excite greater exertions. This fails of its defired effect. Indolence is loudly complained of as a native vice of the people, which nothing but the fevercft chaflifements can overcome. They are chaftifed without mercy ; which produces among people who feel they have no power to refift, no other effect' but a defponding ftupidity and morofe fullennefs of behaviour.   The vices thus produced by maltreatment;,
abundant Supplies as to appear altogether in-exhauftible. The arts of domeftic induftry are thus defpii'ed — the improvement of the native country is neglected as an object comparatively infignrncant — a fpirit of diffipation and extravagance prevails — and no time can be fpared to enter into a fober inveftigation of the ftate of the neceffary arts and the fituation of the lower claffes of the people. It is not perceived, during that period of delufion, that the fources of wealth, fo eafily and fo fuddenly acquired from
are then faid to be owing to the natural debility and wic-kednefs of the people. They are accounted as beings of an inferior kind fcarcely deferving to rank among the human fpecies, who muft of neceffity be treated with exceeding harflinefs, and whofe lives are reckoned of as little account as any other of the inferior claffes of animals.— Such is the reprefentation that has been given of the natives of the new world by many Spanifh Authors, as an apology for that cruel devaftation committed among them by their rapacious Lords. And, to the difgrace of the eighteenth century,, fome eminent writers of the prefent age, inftead of placing thefe things in their true light, have not been afhamed to become the apologias of thofe ravagers, who, with not lefs political blindnefs than relent-lefs cruelty, extirpated fo many nations of their fellow-creatures. The fame conduct that ruined the new world in the fifteenth century, has already in part produced in the prefent age, the deftrudtion of fome of the beft provinces in Afia. Several dillricts in the fertile province of Bengal arc already totally depopulated : And thofe people who
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the fpoils of the fubjected people, are gradualrv and rapidly drying up ; and that in a fhort time," the labours of the defpifed poor at home will be all that can be depended on both for revenue, trade, and defence.
To add to the unobferved evils that thus be-fet a country in thefe circumflances on every fide, it mufl happen, that in the moment of pride and fancied exaltation, occasion will be given for frequent wars and never-ceafing dif-putes with Foreign States.    On thefe occasions
half-a-century ago wer* tire admiration of the whole world for their indefatigable liiduftry, are now loudly ac-cufed of a fpirit of indolence which nothing but feveritieg can poffibly overcome. (See Verelft's View). — Thus are we proceeding in the fame natural train of deterioration with our predecedbrs : And if the fame fyftem could be there purfued for half-a-century more, I mould not be furpriled to fee thefe very people whofe ingenious labours have been often admired in Europe, be accounted the moft ftupid and ftubborn race of mortals in the world, upon whom nothing but feverities could operate. And why fhould we be furprifed at this, when we know that at the prefent hour, many perfons account the natives of our own Highlands as fo much addicted to indolence as to be in-capable of being ever induced to makeany vigorous exertions, though every inhabitant of Britain has it in his power to obferve, by his daily experience, that thefe people when put into the fame fituation with others, never fall behind either with refpect to mental or bodily exertions* '.U'.t often outftrip all their competitors!
money muft be expended with a wafteful pro-fufion, which fets open a wide door to multiplied abufes that no human ingenuity can guard againft.    Fortunes in this way are acquired with a facility that tends ftill more and more to make the fober arts of peaceful induftry be neglected and defpifedi   In thefe circumftances, every object feems to merit attention but that alone which can preferve the future profperity of the State, the well-being of the lower orders of the people : and thofe few perfons who try to turn the attention towards objects of the firft importance, find, that in the giddy wmirl of varied amufements, no time can be fpared to examine it. , Even when matters come to fuch a crifis as to obtrude themfelves in fome degree on the attention of the Public : when the Treafury is exhaufted, and calls for money become fo urgent as not to admit of a delay, it is a matter of infinite difficulty to adopt any radical fyftem of reform, as every effectual reform muft clafh with the intereft of fo many powerful individuals, whofe influence may fo derange the beft concerted plans of any Minifter, that fcarce anything farther can be done than to adopt fome temporary expedients to fliift off the preffure
of the evil for the prefent hour, without fo much as an attempt to ward off thofe evils which we have feen increafmg for many years, by adopting fome meafures of radical importance, by the encouraging of manufactures, and promoting a fpirit of induftry and fobriety among all ranks of people at home, which would tend gradually to eradicate thofe diforders.
Inftead of that moderate and wife conduct which would have been natural and in fome meafure unavoidable had we never extended our views to foreign dominions, we are now oppreffed with a load of debt, to pay the intereft of which, almoft every article that can be ufed as food, or employed in manufactures, is fo highly taxed as greatly to enhance the price of all our manufactures in every market, and by confequence to diminifh their fale and dif-courage the induftry of our people. We have even been fo hard pufhed in this refpect, as in fome cafes to be reduced to the neceffity of taxing not only the materials of manufactures, but the very manufactures themfelves f.   Such pre-
f This mode of taxation is peculiarly deftructive, not only becaufe of the additional price with which it loads the manufacture, but more particularly becaufe it crampg the vigorous exertions of enterprifing individuals, by re-flri&ive regulations, which are incompatible with that
cifely was the conduct of Spain : Her manufactures of courfe declined, her people diminifhed in number, her induftry abated, and her revenue continued to decreafe in fpite of every device that could be adopted to prevent it.
It is not in this cafe only that we have fuffered by our fatal predeliction for diftant dominions, and the wars that thefe have naturally occafioned.—By being obliged to impofe duties upon duties on almoft every article of commerce with a view to augment the revenue, we now find that the revenue yielded by thefe articles when moderate, has been diminifhed in a very furprifing degree; and thus has been laid the foundation of a smuggling trade to an aftonifh-ing extent :—a kind of trade, which, when it once prevails in any State, infenfibly, but very rapidly produces its ruin,—as it acts like a canker in a threefold refpect, which quickly would overpower the ftrongeft conftitution that ever existed.
In the firft place, it tends directly to encourage the manufactures and induftry of a foreign
principle of freedom which alone can ever carry manufactures to their higheft perfection, and which only bellows upon Britain that energy which has enabled her to excel fo many other rival nations. Break that fpirit, and we fhall then find ourfvlves their inferiors in numberlcfs refpect*.
State, in place of that of our own people. The high duty on fait in Britain when compared with that of Ireland, induces many people in Britain to purchafe nothing but Irifh-madc fait obtained by a clandeftine trade at a price fome-what lower than Britifh fait can be afforded for ; by confequence, the manufacturers of fait in Ireland are encouraged by us inftead of our own manufacturers. The fame thing happens in every other cafe of a fimilar nature. Therefore fuch high duties prove a powerful bar to domeftic induftry.
In the fecond place, thefe high duties load our people with taxes in a twofold fenfe ; firj}3 by reafon of the high price that is always charged by the manufacturer on. account of thefe duties ; a great part of which goes into the pockets of unfair traders, without tending to benefit the public revenue ; though the buyer pays very little lefs for thefe commodities than if all the amount of the duties, had been paid in to the Exchequer. — And, in the next place, the deficiency of the revenue thus occafioned mufl be made, up by fome other tax ; which if evaded, in like manner mufl again be made up by another and another in infinitum; till at laft, if fuch a per.
mcious fyftem be adhered to, the people are obliged to pay inimenfe fums in name of taxes, without producing almoft any revenue at all to the fife. In this ftate of fociety, manufactures muft be abandoned, and induftry annihilated. Poverty, indolence, and national debility, are the confequences.—Thus acted Spain, and thus fhe fuffered.
In the third, place, when smuggling is once introduced into a nation on a large fcale, and digefted into a regular fyftem, thofe merchants who deal in it on an extenfive fcale, obtain fuch extraordinary profits as to induce people of very great capitals to engage in thofe branches of trade, and thus to raife up a power in the State, which muft have fuch influence in the Senate, and with the executive Officers of the Crown, as to be able to counteract every deliberation that may be meant to check it, and to fruftrate every regulation that well-meaning men may be induced to adopt. With that view, when fuch a fyftem has once been adopted, the men who are moft benefited by it, in order to fcreen themfelves from fufpicion, will naturally be loudeft in advising fevere penal ftatutes f
f It appears fomcwhat extraordinary, that in this enlightened ago, mankind fhould in fo many instances feem
II
againft fmuggling, and apparently will be moft anxious to difcourage that illicit pradice; as they well know that thefc penal ftatutes may be eafily fo managed as to cruih raw adventurers in the bufinefs, fo as to infure to themfelves a fort' of monopoly. More money has thus been gained within a few years paft by men who bear a character for the faireft traders, on the five articles only of tobacco, tea, rum, brandy and wine, than could have been gained in a fair trade had the duties been fo moderate as to prevent fmuggling, in ten times the fame fpace of time, and by the fale of twenty times the fame amount of goods :   And the nation all the while has
to rely on the power of penal ftatutes for the purpofe of enforcing regulations of Police, tho' the experience of every hour fhews the futility of fuch a hope. But as penal ftatutes, tho' they do for the moft part little or no fervice in refpect of the purpofe for which they were enacted, are always productive of emoluments to fome individuals who gain by the fufferings of the delinquents, we are naturally induced to believe, that by the fecret arts of thofe who thus are gainers, the nation at large is prevented from adverting to the pernicious tendency as well as the total futility ef thefe fevere ftatutes.
The Emprefs of RufGa has exprefTed a maxim on this fubject, which for energy and truth cannot be exceeded. " lb is not, fays fhe, the feverity, but the certainty of punifhment that prevents crimes."—Were this maxim adverted to, fevtrity of punifhment would be perceived to
contentedly paid into the pockets of thefe indi- , viduals, a great many millions Sterling which might otherwife have gone towards extinguifh-ing the national debt.   That debt in the mean time not only remains undiminiihed, but new taxes are wanted to keep it from increafing. Thus do we pay without obtaining relief, and we are in the train of being from year to year faddled with new burthens, which, tho' they do not augment the revenue of the State, moil powerfully reprefs manufactures, impoverish the bulk of the people, and only enrich a few cunning traders with the fpoils of the induftrious part of the community.
be the moft effectual means of increafing crimes; for when a punifhment is too fevere, all indifferent perfons feel a natural propenfity to efpoufe the caufe of the delinquent, and to fcreen him from punifhment, becaufe in that cafe they view him rather as an unfortunate object of pity than as a guilty perfon.   The hope of efcaping with impunity, therefore, is much greater than if the punilhment had been obvioufly proportioned to the offence : Such fevere laws of courfe tend to multiply crimes rather than to prevent them.   Were we indeed to devife a fyftem for the exprefa purpofe of increafing crimes, perhaps it would be difficult to difcover one more effectual than that which we have actually adopted,—that is, firft to offer a ftrong temptation to tranfgrefs the law, then to make the punifhment fo great as to intereft every perfon in protecting the delinquent, and thus to increafe his hopes of efcaping with, impunity.
U 2
clvi      introductic5 Kt,
When a nation unfortunately fuffers itfelf ttf be brought into this train, it has for a time the appearance of enjoying affluence and profperity when i* is faff fmking into poverty :— For, as wealth, from the various caufes above enumerated, comes to be accumulated by feve: ral claffes of individuals, they are enabled to five with fplendour, while the body of the people are groaning under the preffure of multiplied difficulties f. And as thefe difficulties naturally drive individuals to feek for a more comfortable fubfiftence elfewhere, population begins to decline, and induftry to flacken. All taxes are then lefs productive 5 fo that new exactions
f We are here enabled fo difcover the fource of thofe political dlforders that have proved the ruin of every State iince the foundation of the world to the prefent time: a-great inequality in the condition of different orders of men in the fame community. When civil inftltutions are perfect, the rights and privileges of every individual in the fociety arc fo well fecured as that no one can be opprefled-by another; nor is any opportunity given for extraordinary gains being made by any clafs of citizens at the expence of the other members of the community. National wealth being thus generally diffufed among the whole, every one enjoys a comfortable ftate of fubfiftence ; but no one hag-it in his power to live in that magnificent ftile of fplendour which catches the attention of cafual vifitors, and become* the fubject of wonder and admiration of future ages-
become neceflary to preferve a miferable revenue that is inadequate to the exigencies of the State. Foreign aid mufl: then be folicited as the only means of procuring national fecurity. Poverty, indolence, and their natural confequences contempt and diflionour, follow after. It is alfo fufhciently obvious, that when national debility is thus produced, it is next to impoflible ever to recover its former vigour, as a variety of dif-couraging circumftances muft continually check any returning fpirit as it begins to appear.
Since, therefore, fuch are the neceflary confequences of external dominions to a trading nation, and fince thefe are confequences that
But when political diforders begin to prevail, means are devifed for individuals being enriched with the fpoils of the community at large. Such individuals, therefore, become exalted in proportion as the general mafs of the people are deprefTed. They are then enabled to live with a fplendour that is altogether unknown in better times ; and the wealth of the nation thus collected together into a few channels, appears to be infinitely greater than when it was equally dift'ufed among the whole. It was thus the Luculli, the Apicii, the Neroni, the Domitiani, the Eleo-gabili of Antient Rome were enabled to gratify their tafte for fplendour, and indulge their brutal appetites. But that fplendour was the fure harbinger of national deftrue-tion. Our aim, therefore, fhould be to guard againft fimilar evils, by protecting the lower oiders of the people as mucin a» poflible from every fpecies of injuftice and oppreffion..
cannot be avoided by any fyftem of laws that can be devifed, let us no longer amufe ourfelves with hopes which the experience of all nations have proved to be fallacious, but make hafte to adopt fuch decifive and falutary meafures as may yet refcue us from the evils which wc already feel in part, but which muft be yet more grievous in future if not foon obviated. Happily,, our little fpot, our domeftic ifle, is f0 fortunately fituated as to furnifh us with resources which few other nations can boaft of; and which, if duly improved, would foon free us from thofe embarraffments we feel, and enable us to become a refpeftable people.
Should we voluntarily rengn,— or, what i3 more to be expected, fhould we be fortunately expelled from all our external fettlements, and thus be obliged to confine our attention folely to the proper management of our domeftic concerns, we would at once be freed of a great and ufelefs expenditure of national treafure that is constantly applied, even in time of peace, for the civil and military fupport of thofe pof-feflions. This would furnifh a fmall mite to f be applied towards the extinguishing that debt which has already been accumulated on their account.   Our dominions being thus circum-
fcribed in bounds, and neither furnifhing ftrong temptations to others, nor lying in the way of being attacked, we fhould not be under the neceffity of having recourfe to thofe frequent armaments which we are fo often obliged to refort to, on every fufpicious appearance or trifling dif-pute, that arifes between wrong-headed perfons at a diftance from the feat of Government. This would be another faving of great importance.—But, what is of ftill greater moment, by the compaclnefs of our dominions, and their natural ftrength, they would offer no temptations to foreign nations to attack us, and consequently would enable us to keep free of wars, with all their pernicious attendants; which would put a flop to thofe numerous jobs and contracts, and collufive dealings, which ftrike directly at the root of all good government, and tend to eftablifh an univerfal fyftem of corruption and defpotifm in its ftead.
By thefe means would be given an effectual check to thofe dark cabals and party-machinations which fo much derange our Councils at prefent, and our Rulers would be allowed deliberately to attend to domeftic concerns. Monied men, too, finding no longer occafion to fport in that fpecies of gambling which the necefli-
tics of the State have given birth to f, would try to turn their money to account, by applying it in promoting commerce, manufactures, agriculture* and other peaceful arts. And as temptations for going abroad would then be few, that refllefs fpirit of emigration and defire for rambling from home would fubfide, and the minds of men become more fober and do-mefticated than formerly. With the increafe of trade, which the improvement of our manufactures and fifheries would occafion, the people would become more induflrious, more wealthy, and more numerous. By the great diminution of national expenditure which thefe would produce, thofe obnoxious taxes which tend to banifh manufactures and cramp induflrious exertions might be abolifhed, and all that fyftem of heavy duties which gives rife to the pernicious practice of fmuggling be entirely done away. Then would our manufactures and trade, in confequence of thofe irrefiflible efforts which a fpirit of freedom naturally infpires, be carried to a degree of perfection of which we cannot perhaps at prefent form an idea. The
f By political gambling I here mean not only all the tranfaftions relative to the public funds, but every kiud of job or unfair mercantile tranfacHon whatever.
national revenue would of courfe be greatly-augmented, even tho' our taxes fhould be diminifhed. Funds would thus be eftablifhed for carrying forward without difficulty every undertaking that might tend to render the national exertions more effectual, fo as ftill more and more to add to the profperity of the State.
' In this manner, that national debt which at prefent gives juftly fuch ferioys alarms to every thinking perfon, becaufe of the certainty of its being in a very fhort time greatly augmented if the fame fyftem of national exertions fhall be perfifted in, might be viewed with a comparative indifference; as the nation, by gradually acquiring more vigour and greater refources, would foon bring it into a train of gradual diminution. With the eftablifhment of our fifheries, and the enlargement of trade which would follow, we would at all times have at command, on a fhort warning, a body of feamen fit to man a navy that would make us refpect.ed by all nations; and thus, without exertions on our part, and almoft without expence, the fecurity of the nation would be infured, and a Britifh Subject be respected and meet with due protection in every part of the globe.
Thofe who have been accuftomed to think that trade can only be fecurcd by reftricYive laws and stipulations of monopoly, will not relifh thefe notions; tho* even thefe, if they attend to facts as they daily occur, muft foon be convinced from experience, that treaties of commerce are no longer of any utility than the parties concerned find it for their intereft to adhere to them. If this be granted, would it not be more likely that foreign nations would be defirous of entering into commercial engagements with a State that was populous and wealthy, and by confequence that could take off * great many of the articles they themfelves could fpare, than with one that confifted of a fmall number of people only, who were in narrow circumftances, and who could therefore become purchafers of few goods when compared with the other ?—In a commercial view, therefore, it would be much our intereft to augment the number of our people as much as poflible. Every addition that is made to thefe people, and every circumftance that increafes their wealth and induftry, may be confidered as a new coercive power, as an ever-faithful ally raifed up with a view powerfully to inforce every treaty of commerce.
Again—Is it not more likely that foreign nations would wilh to purchafe our manufactures, when they can be afforded of a good quality at a low price, rather than when they are worfe or dearer ? This admits of no dif-pute.   But if the national expence be diminifh-ed, and with that diminution if the numbers ot our people at home be augmented, their exertions will be increafed in a yet higher degree, and the profits of individuals become much greater than it otherwife could have been, tho* the price of manufactures is lowered.  Thus do-we acquire another more powerful incentive to the fulfilment of commercial engagements than all the political ingenuity of the Cabinet or the power of arms could ever enforce.   Our trade, therefore, upon thefe principles, would be eftablifhed on the firmeft bafis, which neither force nor political machinations could difturb. We might then behold with indifference the exertions of every other nation which might be weak enough to believe that their profperity would be augmented, or their trade increafed, by purfuing that delufive fyftem of politics to which we have but too long fo obftinately adhered.
x 2
I have not the vanity to imagine that thefe obfervations will produce the fmalleft change on the prefent fyftem of management in Britain, or that a Minister, were he as much convinced of the juftnefs of the conclusions as I am, would have it in his power to adopt that mode of conduct which would in that cafe appear to be proper.   In the great arrangement of State affairs, there is fuch a complication of interests, and mixed views, when a fyftem has been long adhered to, and the views of men have become fo steadily directed towards certain objects, that they cannot be fuddenly withdrawn from them ; fo that an inconfiderate attempt at innovation muft be productive of very ferious and often destructive confequences to the State. But as fome great revolution in that refpect may be expected to arife from events that cannot be ftaved off. and as it is of importance that we ihould be prepared to make the beft of every event, I judged it to be my duty on the prefent occasion, to point out as fully as I WaJ able, the natural tendency of the metfures I have ventured to recommend. Should but a few men whofe minds are not entirely taken up with the machinations of party, beftow a ferious attention on this fubject, I prcfume, that however much they may
differ from me in their notion of the extent of that improvement, they will at lead be forced to admit, that the forwarding the fifheries and other domeftic improvements that tend to give employment to the lower claffes of the people, muft at leaft be" attended with fome national benefits : And if that be granted, humanity, independent of every other confederation, ought certainly to induce them to make every proper and practicable exertion to relieve fuch a numerous body of the people from thofe diftrefsful circumftances in which they are at prefent unfortunately involved.
t o
•THE   RIGHT HONOURABLE
The Lords Commiilioners of the Treafury.
REPORT of Facls relating to the Fifieries, collecled in a Tour among the JJlands, and along the Weflern Coajls of Scotland, undertaken at their Lordjhips deftre, by James Anderson, l.l.d.; and of Obfervations founded on thefe Facls, tending to point out the mofi probable Means of promoting the Fifieries, and the confequtnt Improvement of thofe Countries.
THE Reporter begs leave, in the Jirjl place, to obferve, That the firft official intimation he received of your Lordfhips pleafure concerning this enquiry, was conveyed to him by a letter from the Secretary to the Honourable Board of Cufloms in Scotland, dated the A 23d
23d of June laft, which he received in Aberdeenfhire on the 26th of the fame month, intimating, that the Board had been required to appoint one of the Revenue cutters under their command, to attend him on that tour; and requesting him to meet the Commiffioners as foorx as convenient, that they might concert meafures for carrying that order into effect.
That, immediately on the receit of this letter, he made hafte to difpatch his private bufinefs,—being fenfible the feafon was already too far advanced to aduut of performing all that would be neceifary.
That he fet out from Aberdeen on the 30th of June, and reached Edinburgh on the 1 ft of July; when he immediately gave notice to the Board of Cufloms of his arrival, and intimated his readinefs to attend them at the time they ihould pleafe to appoint.
That on the 6th, he waited on the Board by appointment; when the Com-mifhoners fhowed the greateft alacrity in
forwarding
forwarding his views, and immediately wrote to Capt. Hamilton of the Prince William-Henry cutter, to repair to Greenock with all poihble difpatch, there to take him on board, and attend him on his cruife. But, by a train of crofs accidents, with the detail of which it is un-necelTary here to trouble the Reader, in fpite of every effort of his to go forward, he found it the 22d of Auguft, before the cutter was ready to take him on board.
Thus it appears, that by a feries of unlucky accidents, he loll near two months of the very bed feafon of the year, which prevented him from accomplishing the one-half of the neceffary circuit: And being obliged to enter on thofe feas during the flormy feafon of autumn, while the long nights rendered his progrefs flow and unprofitable, he had not an opportunity of collecting as many facts as he wifhed to obtain, nor of making many obfervations that would otherwife have occurred.—On thefe accounts, his Report mult be much more imperfect than it otherwife would have been; though he A 2 trulls
trufls it will ftill be fiifficiently intereft-ing to merit the attention of your Lord-fhips, and to excite a defnx of obtaining farther information concerning thefc important objects.
i.
He now begs leave to inform your Lordfhips, that among the Hebrides (t0 which, and the adjacent coafts of Scotland, the prefent Report is confined, \XQ found many large and fair iflands, containing extenfive fields of land naturally endowed with an uncommon degree of fertility; and many tracts of much larger extent, confiiting of foil, that, by a fkilful culture, might be converted into cornfields, which would furnifh fubfiftence to a great number of people *.—That the climate in thefc iflands is more favourable for bringing corn to maturity, and that the harveft is there for the moft part earlier than on the parallel coafts of Scotland f ; and that lime-ftone and marie, and fhelly fand, which are the manures beft calculated for improving
thefe
* Sec Illuftrations at the end of the Report, art. A, •j- Sec B, lilultrations.
Report, &c. 5 thefe foils, abound fo much, that one or other of thefe manures could be got in every place at a very moderate expence, were there any fufficient flimulus to excite the induftry of the people in this refpect:.
2.
That thefe iflands contain many other products of great value :—-Such as, very fine flate at Eafdale and the neighbouring iflands—Lead-ore of the richeft quality in Iflay*, which never yet has been thoroughly worked, but which probably will be opened next fummer—* Copper, fulphur, emery, in. the fame ifland; and iron-ore, of a remarkably fine quality, there and in other places,— Fine marble in Tiree, which has been but of late difcovered, and which by all judges \, even Italians themfelves, is
reckoned
# The beft of it, he was told, yielded 1700 weight of refined lead per ton, and 42 ounces of filver.
■\ Count Andriam\ who was latety in Edinburgh, and Mr Faujas de St Fond, who has made the tour of Europe, and is an attentive observer, were of this number.
reckoned fuperior to the richeft Italian marble yet known — Statuary marble in Skye, which, when polifhed, poUeiTes the warm foftnefs that is fo much admired in the antient ftatuary marble, and which has been fearched for in vain by the Moderns for feveral ages—Pure cryftalline land, fit for making the fmeft kinds of glafs ; and many other valuable produas (which it would be tireforne to enumerate) that are already known *, tho' there are doubtlefs many others that have not yet been thought of, which curious obfervers would difcover when thefe countries fhall come to be more particularly attended to f.
3-
Such a valuable article as coal, muff not here be allowed to efcape notice. And it was not without a very fenfiblc pleafure, that the Reporter found fuch flrong indications of it in many places.
Coal
* See C, Illuftrations.
f Within a few months paft, a very rich and extenfive vein of manganefe was difcovered in Rofs-fhire,-where it never was formerly fufpe&ed to be.
Report, &fr. 7 Coal has with certainty been found in the Ifland of Bute : fpecimens of it, tho* in very fmall veins, are faid to have been found in Iflay. It has been actually worked and burnt by the neighbouring people, in feveral places in the Ifland of Mull: it has been found at Loch-Alin and Loch-Sunart, in the diftricts called Mor-ven and Ardnamurchan: feveral veins of it have been found in Cannay, and one in particular of the canal kind: fome fpecimens of it have alfo been difcovered in Skye.—In all thefe, and perhaps in other places that the Reporter did not hear of, coal has been found, though the prefent ftate of thefe countries does not admit of coal being worked there with profit; on which account, this treafure, like many others in thofe iflands, has not been of any ufe to the Public, nor benefit to Individuals *.
Among the animal' productions, thefe iflands poffefs two articles Angularly precious, which have fcarcely as yet been
coniidered
conficlered as of any value by the in ha-bitants ; Eider down, and wool of a kind extremely valuable, being not only fine in quality, but pollening a peculiar filky foftnefs and elafticity that is not to be equalled by any other wool yet known in Europe *.
5-
Along the extended coafts of thefe iflands, is produced a great quantity 0f fea-weed, from which is made annually many thoufand tons of kelp. This is a manufacture which was introduced there only about thirty years ago, in the management of which the people are daily improving, and the quantity produced is thus augmenting from year to year. Several fea-plants, they now find, yield kelp of a very fine quality, that were
thought,
* Of the fineft of this wool, fome Ladies here have made fhauls, nearly, if not entirely equal in finenefs, and in foftnefs, to thofe of India. Should the coarfer parts of thefe fine fleece3 be employed in the manufacture of flannels, it would give them fuch a superiority over others in refpecr. of warmth and foftnefs, as would infure a ready fale in every part of the world where that ufeful fluff is known.
thought, a few years ago, to be incapable of furnilhing any alkali at all, and which are therefore fuffered to lie neglected on many fhores to this day; fo that there is ftill great room for improvement in this refpect *.
6.
.In thefe iflands, and along the weft coaft of Scotland, there are many of the nneft natural harbours that are to be feen in the world; but thefe, from the want of proper furveys, arc not yet thoroughly known, and, for want of diftinguilhing land-marks, can fcarcely be difcovered by a ftranger: And as no buoys are placed on funk rocks to point out their pofition exactly, many of thefe harbours cannot be entered with fafety by fuch as are not perfectly well acquainted with them. -~-For thefc reafons,. together with the want of one or two light-houfes, the navigation of thofe feas is difficult and hazardous to ftrangers, tho' it might be eafily rendered the fafeft navigation of x any narrow feas in the known world: For, B there,
s See E, llluftration?.
to Report, EsfY,
there, (except on the weft coaft of Cantire), no wind can blow that would not admit of entering a fafe harbour to leeward.
7-
The feas furrounding thofe iflands, abound with an immenfe variety of fifh. Of the teftaceous kind, are found, in very great quantities, crabs and lobfters of the largeft fize, and fineft quality—Great quantities of oyfters of different kinds, fome of them of a fize uncommonly large, and others fmall, and full like thofe of Colchefter—There are alfo great plenty of muffels, cockles, clams, rafor or fpout-fifh, limpets, wilks, lhrimps, and feveral other forts.—As to finny fifh, there ai;e found at certain feafons, great fhoals of mackarel, tho' thefe are only temporary and uncertain vifitors : But they never fail to find in their feas, great abundance of haddocks, whitings, whiting-pollock, feath, blind-hive eels, fkate, holobat, turbot, foal, and flounders of all forts, in the greateft abundance' and perfection*; john-dorie, mullet, and
many
many other fifh of lefs note, that the inhabitants often catch for their own fubfiftence.—All thefc kinds of fifh are now fcarcely looked after, becaufe no market is at hand, to which they could be carried with profit. The only kinds they attempt to catch for foreign markets, are cod, ling, tufk, and herrings. Of herrings, which are a migratory fifh, but whofe natural hiflory is as yet fo imperfectly known as not to enable us to trace their progrefs, (the common received opinion on that head, of their regular progreffion from the north fea, being evidently erroneous *), the quantities that might be catched on thofe coafts between the months of June and January, were the inhabitants in a fituation that permitted them to follow that bufinefs, are fo great as would appear altogether incredible to fuch as never have been on thofe coafts.—As a fpecimen, the Reporter begs leave to mention, that during the courfe of feven or eight weeks this very year (1784), as many herrings B 2 were * See Appendix, No. 3.
were caught in a fmall loch called Loch. Urn, as, if brought to market, would fell for L. 56,000 Sterl.   This computation was made by Mr M'Donell of Barrifdale, jufticiary-bailie in that diftric"t, a fenfible obferving man, who, in virtue of his office, has the beft opportunity of knowing the quantity of fifh there caught: And he obferved, that had the natives the command of fait and cafk, double that quantity might eafily have been caught, as the people were obliged to remain idle a great part of their time, for want of thefe neceffary articles.-—. Such a fifhing as this is no uncommon thing on thofe coafts, there being few years in which one or more of the lochs are not equally well ftored with herrings: but, from the mode in which the fifhing has been hitherto carried on, it feldom happens that great benefits refult from it to the natives *.
During the months that the herrings difappear on the coaft, that is from January to June, is the proper feafon for
the
the cod and ling fifhery: For, though cod, and many other kinds of fifh, are always to be found in abundance on the out-fkirts of the herring-fhoals, when they are on the coalt, yet it is only during the months above named that they are in the higheft perfection *, or are found in plenty on their own proper banks, with fuch a degree of certainty as to induce filhermen to refort thither for catching them. During thefe months, then, cod and ling (and a few tufk fifh, though rare in thofe feas) are found in great abundance on the numerous banks
that
* The cod of Newfoundland being always catched when they are not in feafon, are therefore very much inferior in quality to thofe catched on our own coafts. From this caufe chiefly, we may account for the difference of price between Newfoundland and Britifh cured cod; which, I am informed, is ufually about 30 per cent. If our people were once come into the practice of catching cod in the rapid currents, for foreign fale, the quality of thefe fifh would make them afford a ftill better price. Among the Orkney ifles, where the tithing has not been attended to, chiefly becaufe of the rapidity of the tides, when this peculiarity comes to be adverted to, it will be found to give them particular advantages over others.
that are interfperfed among thefe iflands, and lie around them; in the catching 0f which kinds of fifh, the natives are iu general at prefent very unexperienced, becaufe the circumftances in which they are placed do not admit of their being benefited by their labour; though, from every trial they have made, it appears evident, that, were it not for moral caufes that interrupt their labours, they would find that bufinefs far more lucrative than any other that a labouring man can follow in any part of Great Britain. The Irifh, who fometimes fifh on thefe coafts with their wherries, and the fiihermen from the eaft coaft of Scotland, who often come there, by the great fuccefs they invariably have, abundantly confirm the truth of this obfervation. 8.
Besides the kinds of fifh above fpecified, there are in thofe feas feveral other kinds, that are caught chiefly for the oil they afford. Whales, in great plenty, are feen in purfuit of the herrings when they are on the coaft; but thefe are then fo
reftlefs
reftleis and active, that few of them have hitherto been killed. Valt numbers of porpoifes are feen in flocks, alfo purfuing the herrings; but no ©economical mode of catching them hath as yet been de-vifed *.—It is only of late that they have found out a way of killing the bajking Jhark, a large but harmlefs fifh, which frequents thofe feas during the warm fummer months, from the liver of which they extract: an oil, which amply repays them for the trouble of catching itf; fo that the natives of thofe coafts are now become very alert in the purfuit of, and dextrous in killing them. Great numbers of feals are found about the rocks on the fmall uninhabited iflands in thofe feas, fome of which are annually killed, but many more efcape; for, no mode of entangling them with nets of any kind has yet been found to fucceed, though
fome
* A man in Aberdeen has invented a new kind of net, which, he thinks, might be fuccefsfully employed in this fifhery.
t The oil from the liver of one fifh, will fometimes fell from 20 to 30I. Sterling. •
fome trials of it have.been made. From the livers of dog fifh, the people there ex, trad an oil ; and as fhoals of thefe fifh fwarni amazingly thick on the weft coaft of Lewis, during the months of JUnC) July, and Auguft*, a very lucrative fifhing in this article might there be carried on, were the people hi c'rrcnmjlances that per~ milled iL
9-
These iflands contain a numerous race of hardy and robuft people, whofe labour, if properly directed, might prove of great utility to the State. From the information the Reporter received, on the trudi of which he has reafon entirely to rely, there cannot be at^ prefent, in die iflands
of
* The fhoals of this fifh. are fometimes fo great, that their back fins are feen like a thick bufh of fedges above water, as far as the eye can reach. A boat-load, in fuch a fhoal, may be catched with a few hand-lines in an hour or two : but the fmall open boats on the coaft,. may be often put back before they, dare venture fo far to fea-, fo that their fifhing is at prefent quite precarious: yet, even now, a few boats on the Weft of Lewis, ufually make above 1000 barrels of oil pcr dnnum, (32,000 gallons), befides what ferves the inhabitants themfelves. •
©f the Hebrides alone, lefs than eighty thoufand fouls: and thefe, notwithftand-ing the drains from thence for recruits to the navy and army, as well as by emigration, are encreafing in a rapid pro-grcfiion *. On the mores of the main land oppofite to thefe iflands, there may be about three times that number who arc in fituation and circumftances nearly fimilar to thofe in the iflands. All this numerous people, which (if the Orkney and Shetland iflands were included, and the other parts of Scotland where the inhabitants are in fimilar circumftances) cannot be fewer than five hundred thoufand fouls, being totally unacquainted with the benefits that refult from that compacted ftate of civil fociety, in which individuals can with eafe mutually give and receive reciprocal aid, live at prefent in detached folitary hamlets, in want of G moft
* He could not help taking notice of brie reafon that was affigncd for the late very rapid increafe of the people, viz. the practice of inoculation for the fmall-pox, which hac within a few years become very general among all ranks of perfons in the iflands.
jS- Report, &>c.
moft of thofe enjoyments which men who have lived in fociety would think abfolutely neceifary to exiftence.  In their fituation, every man is not only obliged to dig and reap with his own hand, the little field that is to furniih .bread to himfelf and family, but in many cafes alfo to carry home its produce on his own fhoulders to the barn, and to carry out,the manures to his field in the fame manner: he muft alfo officiate as malbn, fniith, carpenter, cooper, and miller to himfelf: he muft act as taimeiv fhoemaker, clothier, fuller, and taylor. In fhort, almoft every neceffary he wants, muft be made by himfelf, with tools of his own forming; for he neither can find thefe articles to purchafe near himfelf, nor can he fell any fuperffuous pro- * duce he might be able to fpare, to yield him money to procure them. Thus are thefe people continually employed in an uninterrupted and fruitlefs induftry, which is neither capable of freeing them-, felves from want, nor of benefiting the
State.'
Report, fee. *9 State*. Thofe capital branches of employment, which, in other circumftances, might, if perfevered in, furnilh the means of a comfortable fubfiftence, muft be fo- frequently interrupted by thofe other unprofitable, though unavoidable avocations, that it turns out to be of very little benefit to them : And men who obferve very little more of the mode of life of thefe perfons, fave that they frequently defert thofe employments that fuch obfervers think would turn out profitable to them, rafhly conclude, that this C 2 pro-
* Such perfons only as have attended to the divifion. of labour in manufactures, can have an adequate idea of the difficulties that thefe people labour under, and the lofs to which they are thus fubjefted. (See Smith's Wealth of Nations). By an accurate calculation, now in the Reporter's pofTeflion, of the different operations in pin-making, it appears, that, by being divided among eighteen different claffes cf operators, thefe eighteen perfons are thus enabled to make, on an average; ib',coo pins in a day, or at the rate of one thou-limd a day for each perfon. It is doubted, if any man who was to perform all the pans with his own hand, could make five pins in a day; and even that fmall number would be much more clumfy and imperfect, than the thoufand he might otherwife have made in the fame time.
proceeds from an unfteady difpolition, | difinclination to labour, and an infupcr-able indolence of temperament. Contu-mely is thus added to oppreihon, and the poor people are cruelly infulted and ab-ufed, inftead of being tenderly fympa-thifed with, and kindly fupported and cheriilred: yet, though fullering, they complain not, but fubmit to their hard fate with a patient refignation; which ftrongly indicates that their hearts are uncorrupted, and that they may be eafily led to undertake any ufeful employment that might be put within their reach.
From thefe caufes, were none other to co-operate with them, the hfhery never could be carried on by men fo circum-(lanced, with advantage ; and being unable to purchafe boats and other apparatus for the fifhery, they are obliged to rely upon the foil, as the fureft means of finding fubfiftence. Little pojfeffwns (for farms they cannot be called) are fought after by them, with an avidity that is fcarcely conceivable; and they cling to thefe with a degree of eagernefs, which
the
Report, fee. zi
the wretchedaefs of their enjoyments would not feem to authorife. The te-r jiure by which thofe poor people hold thefe, is fhort and precarious, ufually from year to year only ; but fometimes it is extended to /even years, which is the longeft term of a leafe they ever obtain. Being thus continually in danger of being turned out by their fuperior, who for the moil part is himfelf only a greater tenant*, they are obliged to fubmit to almoit any conditions he pleafes to im-pofe upon them, which tends to render their lot ftill more uncomfortable than otherways it would have been.
10.
Tins extreme dependence of the people of all thefe coafls upon the land, has fuggefted the idea to the poifelfors of it, in fome places near the fea-fhore, of malc-ing the poor people purfue the hilling for the profit of the fuperiors only f. With
this
* See H, IHuftrations.
f The fpecies of refinement mentioned in the text, muft only be underftood to apply to thofe parts of the coaft where filheries for foreign export have been eftablifhed j and as none of thefc are yet fet on foot to
the
2 2 Report, &e.
this view, thefe fuperiors furnifh-to their immediate dependents, boats, and the neceffary apparatus for fifhing, for which they charge whatever rates they think proper to impofe : they alfo lay in oatmeal, and other neceffaries, which they give out to their dependents in fmall portions as it is wanted, at what prices they pleafe to exact. To obtain payment for thefe. articles, they take the people bound to go out a-fifhing as often as poflible, and (in fome cafes even upon oath) not to fell to any other perfon, any part of the fifh they fhall catch, but to bring them all to their fuperior, who agrees to take the whole at certain itipu-lated prices, of his own making alfo. By fuch means, fome of thofe fuperiors have contrived to fqueeze the poor people to the utmofl degree they can poflibly bear, and ufually arrange matters fo as
to
the fouth of the ifland of Barra, this fpecies of oppref-fion is only pradYded in the northern iflands, and on the north-weft coaft of Scotland. I never have heard that it was known in any part of Argylefhire, or on the eaft coaft. The people of Barra are alfo free from any exaction of this kind.
to get them into their debt, fo that they could lay hold of their little all, fhould they happen to difoblige them. The poor people are then unable to find the means of emigrating to other countries, and dare not propofe even to alter their fituation at home, left they might thus provoke their mafter to . flrip them of their all. They thus live in a ftate of hopelefs indigence, and abject dependence, than which nothing worfe can be well conceived.—Compared with thefe fiihermen, the people within land think themfelves happy, which makes them fhun the fhores, and as much as poflible avoid entering into the fifliing, tho' neceffity frequently brings them to the rocks to filh with a rod for their own fubfiftence, and to gather fhell-fifh among the ftones, which, on many occaftoiis, has faved the lives of thoufands.
The,above picture is delineated by the Reporter with as | mUch fidelity as was in his power; nor is he fenfible that in any particular he has exaggerated in the fmalleft degree :—neither was he under
any
any temptation to do fo, as lie is totally unconnected with thefc countries, and in a great meafure unacquainted with the perfons who are principally concerned in thefc tranfact ions. It is but juftice, however, to obferve, that tho' things are in general, among thofe northern iflands, conducted in the manner as is here rL-prefented, yet thdy are not univerfal/y fU; and where the above-mentioned management ddes prevail, the fervices are not in all cafes exacted with an equal degree of rigour ; and that, by confequence, the people live more at their eafe in fame diitricts than in others, according as their fuperiors chance to be of a dill poiition more or lefs humane. The fanid thing mult be experienced in all cafes of ftavery. It would appear invidious to enter farther into particulars on this head, which the Reporter therefore willingly declines. It was his duty to ftate the general && is, with all poffible diftinctnefs *.
' 1 \* lit:
* See the evidence given in to the Committee of
fifheries at the end of this Report, at the beginning.
Report, &c. 25 11.
In confequence of this general fyftem of difperfion that prevails in all thofe regions, the proprietors find their lands over flocked with people, who are mere cumberers of the foil, eat up its produce, and prevent its improvement, without being able to afford a rent nearly adequate to that which fhould be afforded for the fame produce, were their fields under proper management f. Countries that are naturally calculated for grazings, as is the cafe with a great proportion of the Highlands of Scotland, can be managed at little expence by a few people. Graziers from the fouth having of late found their way into thefe countries, and obferving that the grounds are peculiarly well adapted to the rearing of fheep, find themfelves able to afford a rent for thefe lands, to be converted into fheep-farms, much higher than the prefent poffeffors, who now live upon the ground, can afford to give for it. No wonder, therefore, that the proprietors D fhould,
f Sec T, llluflrations.
{hould, in fome cafes, find themfelves difpofed to accept thefe offers, or to demand a rent from the prefent tenants, equal, or nearly equal to that which another offers to give; efpecially when he knows, that if he accepts the granger's offer, he will be fure of obtaining a well-paid rent, inftead of one that i8 much more precarious.   Wherever this change, however, happens to take place, it neceffarily occafions a very great dif-trefs and difquietude to the people, as thofe who are thus difpoffelTed, can find no place to receive them at home, and are compelled to feek for refuge in America, or elfewhere.   And tho' it muft be owned, that the gentlemen in general fhow a great difpofition to allow the prefent poffeffors to remain undifturbed, and have therefore, in many cafes, rejected very advantageous offers, rather than drive them away; yet, as it is not to be fuppofed that men can continue long to purfue a conduct: fo directly oppofite to their intereft, this is only at beft a temporary palliative, and the evil
now
now avoided, muft foon approach with irreiiftible force. — It behoves Government, therefore, fo guard in time againft the lofs that the nation muft inevitably fuftain by fuch extenfive emigrations as this will neceffarily occafion, unlefs fome place of refuge fhall be provided for them in this country.
The proprietors of low iflands, and other diftricfs naturally fertile, and well adapted for cultivation, do not find themfelves in a much better fituation than the proprietors of mountains f. Their land muft neceffarily be parcelled out among a great number of fmall tenants, who confume the greateft part of its produce themfelves, and who can therefore afford to give but little rent. If thefe men at any time have an abundant crop, every one around them has alfo enough; and no purchafers being among them, they find no other re-fource, than to diftil the overplus into D 2 whifky,
f Lifmorc, from the peculiarity of its fituation, is an exception to this general rule, as fomething like farms and agriculture takes place in that ifland.
28 Report,
whifky, which they are tempted to confume with a hurtful prodigality. If, on the other hand, the crop is fcanty, they have no means of procuring a fupply, and muft be reduced to the fame ftate of want and abjectnefs as the other inhabitants.
Should it be faid, that the price of grain is ufually very high in the Weft Highlands, and that thefe people might eafily fell their fpare produce with advantage to their neighbours—the anfwer is obvious. Each of thefe fmall tenants can at beft have but very little to fpare; and that little being threfhed out at different times as the ftraw is wanted for provender, he never finds himfelf poffeffed, at once, of a quantity mfHcient to load a boat to carry it elfewhere; and there being n0 commerce to bring boats thither for other purpofes, they have no other way of dif. pofing of it, but by finding a boat for themfelves, and conveying their grain in that boat to the places where it may be wanted; and as there is no market on thefe coafts to which it can be carried,
where
Refort, l$c. ±c)
where this boat-load could be fold at once, the owner, could he even furnifh fuch a boat-load, would find himfelf obliged to fet out, thro' tempeftuous feas, in an open boat, with a cargo extremely-liable to receive damage, to find purcha^ fers, /// retail, among a poor people, along a thinly inhabited coaft. There he would be reduced to the neceffity of fubfifting his boat's crew, and liimfelf, perhaps for many weeks, and of unloading his grain each night, where houfes for fhelter could fcarcely be found, and reloading it in the morning; and thus proceed forward day by day, till his fmall cargo fhould be by little and little fold. In this way, it is plain, that no price, however extravagantly high, could be fufficient to indemnify him for his expence and trouble. He muft, therefore, be contented to dil-fpofe of his grain at home, in the beft way he can. — From thefe caufes, the fields are fuffered to remain in their natural ftate, without improvement: the people are kept for ever poor; and the
proprietor
proprietor can draw but very little rent in proportion to the produce of hi» ground.
Should a man who grounded his notions of improvement of land on the practice he had obferved in countries properly cultivated, endeavour to form a judgment of the means of meliorating thefe low and improveable iflands, he would immediately perceive, that the number of the people on thefe fields, and their general poverty prevented them from reaping any-thing like the crops from their ground that it was naturally fitted to produce, tho* thefe crops were obtained at a much greater expence than was neceffary. No diftant manures, he would obferve, could be brought,—no expenfive manures purcha-fed; no grounds could be cleared from natural impediments to cultivation, no drains could be opened, no inclofures made, no winter-crops could be reared, no feparate property preferved. He would fee, that, before thefe things can be done, the fmall tenants muft be removed, and a ftrong and effective cultivation be introduced
trochiced in the place of that languid culture now pracHfed. Were money to be had in plenty, all that might no doubt be done : But when his corns are reared, where is the market that is to return his money, and enable him to proceed with his improvements ? His own immediate neighbours want, by the fuppoiition, no grain from him; nor could afford to pay him for it, if they did: No merchant appears : he mufl himfelf carry his grain to market: A veffel mufl be provided as foon as his grain is threfhed out, and a cargo got ready : this veffel he mufl go in quell: of, to fuch ports as it can be found at. Before he loads his grain, he mufl have an order from the cuftomhoufe for fhipping, and give bond that it fhall not be carried out of the country: This he may perhaps obtain at the rate of five or fix pounds, if he chances to be at a diftance from the cuftomhoufe. He muft then fet out himfelf on a cruife as fuper-cargo, along the coafts ; and after a voyage of three or four months, may be able to return, after having fold his grain in
iingle
32    . Report, fcfr.
fmgle pecks or bufhels at a time, to fuch as could afford to pay for it:—But how he could, in this cafe, contrive to obtain a certificate from a cuftomhoufe, to enable him to recover his bond, the Reporter is at a lofs to know ; yet, without fuch cuftomhoufe clearance, and bond granted, fhip and cargo are liable to be feized; and confequently no ihipmafter would proceed without this. In whatever way this matter fhall be adjufted, a fimilar procefs muft be undergone at tranfporting each fmall cargo of grain. It is only neceflary to fhow, that fuch a procedure is altogether impracticable; and that, of courfe, thefe lands, however naturally they may be adapted for cultivation, are morally incapable of improvement, fo long as the country fhall remain in its prefent circumftances j\ The
Reporter
f From this example it muft appear evident, that nothing can prove fo deceitful, as for the proprietors of land in thofe regions, to form a judgment of the value of their land from the produce it could be made to yield when compared with other land in a different fituation: Nor could any-thing be productive of fo
much
Report, SirV. 33 Reporter judged it neceflary here to Rate thefe particulars, to remove an objection that might arife in the minds of fome perfons in reflecting on this fubject: for, it is extremely natural at firft glance to think, that if grain ufually fells at a high price not far from any particular place, that circumftance alone fhould prove fufficient to give rife to a fpirited agriculture there f.
But, though the circumftances above enumerated, tend powerfully to deprefs the natives of the diftricts in queftion, E and
much diftrefs, as that of a tenant going from a cultivated country into thofe regions, with a view to carry on a fpirited agriculture. It behoves the proprietors of land, therefore, to bend their chief endeavours, firft to alter the general ftate of the country, before they think of pufhing improvements in agriculture with a view to benefit themfelves. When the common people can earn their bread independent of agriculture, fo as to be able to purchafe grain from the farmer in quantities, and to pay for it as they get it, a farmer may there hve and carry on his operations as fuch; but till that event (hall take place, there never can be any-thing like agriculture, in the proper fenfe of the word, carded on there by farmers, on an extenfive fcale.
f See K, Illuftrations.
34 Report, fcfr.
and to prevent them from engaging in the fifheries; yet, had there not been other bars in the way, their natural advantages are fuch as muft in time have got the better of thefe checks, and have produced a change in the ceconomy of the country, that would have proved favourable to induftry and commerce. This change, fo devoutly to be wiihed, has been, along with other things, moft effectually prevented from taking place, in confequence of a fyftem of Salt-laws, which the Legiflature, ill informed with regard to thofe diftant and hitherto ne-. glecTed parts of the empire, have thought proper to enact. Thefe laws, as they at prefent ftand in the Statute-book, tie up in the moft effectual manner, the hands of the poor natives of thefe coafts, and abfolutely debar them from entertaining the moft diftant hope of ever engaging in thofe filheries on their own account, while they continue in force. This gives an additional power over them to thofe fuperiors already mentioned, whofe power was formerly but too great, which
ferves
Report, fefr. 35 ferves to rivet the chains of thofe poor people dill faff er than they were before.
That your Lordfhips may be enabled to perceive in what manner thefe effects are the unavoidable confequences of the Law, it is only neceffary here briefly to ftate what the Law is on this head.
The Legiflature, with a view to encourage the fifhery, gracioufly intended to exempt all foreign great-falt (as well as home-made fait) that fhould be employed in curing fifh, from the whole excife-duty, which amounts to Ten fh.il-lings per bufhel.   But as it was not intended that fait, for any other purpofe, Ihould be ufed in this country without paying duty, it became a cafe of fome intricacy to devife plans for preventing frauds in that refpect.   With a view to attain this end, all importers of foreign fait were required firft to land it at a cuftom-houfe, where it was to be carefully weighed by the proper officers, and the importer either to pay the duty, °r to enter it for the purpofe of curing fifh j and in that cafe, to give bond, with E 2 two
two fufficient fureties, either to pay tlie excife-duty of ten millings per huihcl, or to account for the fait, under a penalty of twenty {hillings for each bufhel. In confequence of this bond, he muft either produce the fait itfelf at that cuftomhoufe on or before the 5th of April thereafter, or cured fifh in fuch quantities as are fufficient to exhauft the whole of that fait, which fifti he is obliged to declare upon oath, were cured with the fait for which he had granted bond. It is only after all thefe forms, and feveral others, are duly complied with, that the bond can be got up; and thefe bonds, if not cancelled before they fall due, muft be regularly returned to the Commiffioners of Salt-duties, by whom an action muft be inftantly commenced in the Court of Exchequer, for recovery of the penalties incurred in the bonds. If any of this fait remains unufed, a new bond, on the fame terms, muft be granted for it, however fmall the quantity may be: nor can that fait be moved from the place where it is once lodged,
without
Report, &c. $J
without an exprefs warrant from the cuftomhoufe, and another bond granted by the proprietor, fpecifying, under heavy penalties, where it is to be landed; which bond can only be withdrawn in confequence of a certificate from the cuftomhoufe, fpecifying that it was there lodged : Nor can it be fhifted from one veffel to another, did both veffels even belong to the fame perfon, without an order from the cuftomhoufe, and a new bond granted ; nor can a fingle bufhel of that fait, in any circumftances, be fold without a new bond being granted for it, and a transfer of that quantity being made in the cuftomhoufe books. All thefe things are required, with a multiplicity of other regulations, for which I muft refer to the notes f; and ^efe regulations are fo very intricate, as to require a clear head, and continued application, to be able to underftand and to remember them, which can only be expected to be found among men of bufinefs, far above the rank of mean and illiterate fiiher-
men:
t See L, Illuftrarions.
38 Report,
men: And the penalties are fo high as infallibly to ruin any of thofe, who, thro' forgetfulnefs, cafual accidents, or ignorance, omit in any cafe to comply with the letter of the Law with the moft fcru-pulous punctuality.
Without entering into a longer detail on this head, it muft, from thefe fpeci-mens, appear fufhciently obvious to your Lordfhips, that if a man living in thefe weftern iflands, at the diftance of thirty or forty leagues from a cuftomhoufe, (and feveral of them are fully fo far) fhall think of ordering a fhip-load of fait to be employed in the fifhing, he muft find thefe regulations fubjecl him to unfurmount-able difficulties. In that cafe, he would be obliged to order his veffel to go to the cuftomhoufe, inftead of coming direclly to his own home, and there to unload the whole, and immediately to reload it, that it may be carried to his place of abode : but it is ftill an additional hard-fliip, that he himfelf muft leave his own bufinefs at home, undertake a long, ex-penfive, and hazardous voyage to the
cuftom-
cuflomhoufe in perfon, where he may be detained many weeks waiting the arrival of his veffel. Nor will it be eafy for him, when there, at a diftance from his own friends and acquaintances, to rind fureties willing to enter into a bond with him, inferring fuch high penalties; elpecially when thefe fureties muft be confeious, that if, through any neglect or crofs accident, the bond fhould not be duly retired, they themfelves, as being more within the reach of the Law, will be firft profecuted, leaving them to have recourfe upon the principals.
But if thefe difficulties fhould be got over, others await him, that are, if poffible, ftill more burthenfome. If he catches fifh, and cures them with this fait, he can neither fell a fingle barrel of them, nor ufe them in his own family, were he in ever fo great want, till they have been carried to the cuftomhoufe, and regularly entered there : And if thefe herrings be once landed in any one place, he cannot refhip them to be carried elfewhere, without firft fending
to
to the cuftomhoufe, and obtaining an order for that purpofe. If any part of his fait remains unemployed, that alfo muft be returned to the cuftomhoufe, and a new bond-there granted for itf, as has been already fpecified.
It would be tirefome to go through all the particulars ; but from this flight ftate of the matter, and die corroborative proofs mendoned in the notes, your Lordihips will perceive at one glance, that it is altogether impofiible for any man in the iflands, at a diftance from a cuftomhoufe, to engage in the filheries with bondedfait. Were he even a man of confiderable property, this could fcarce in any cafe be done ; but poor men, who can only carry on bufinefs upon a fmall fcale, are abfolutely debarred from ever having it in their power to obtain one buihel of fuch fait, with which fait
only
f A man in Skye, who had got a load of bonded fait, ufed the whole in curing fifh, fave five bufhels only ; but before he could recover his bond, he found himfelf obliged to hire a boat and fend thefe five bufhels to Oban, which coft him upwards of fifa pounds expences.
only herrings can be properly cured for a foreign market "f.
Thus are the native inhabitants of the' ifles in a great meafure excluded from having any mare in this fifhery, tho* it is by them alone it ever can be carried on at fo cheap a rate as to afford profit to the undertakers without public fupport, or engage fuch a number of F people
f When the above was written, I was not aware of all the hard (hips to which thefe laws would fubject the poor fiiherman. One would imagine, that if a man paid the duty for his fait, he might afterwards do with it what he pleafed ; but this, I find, is not the cafe. Laft feafon (1784) a veffel was fitted out in hafte at Aberdeen, to catch herrings that were then on the coafts : But as the owners of that veffel had no dutyfree fait, they were obliged to purchafe fait that had already paid the duty ; but before they were allowed to carry one ounce of this fait to fea, they were further obliged to give bond for it, in the fame form as if it had been duty-free fait.
Again—In the year 1783, Mr James Macdonald in Portree in Skye, purchafed from Leirh, a quantity of fait which had paid duty, and fhipped it by permic on board the for Portree.   It was there regularly
landed, and a cuftomhoufe certificate returned for the fame.—With this fait he intended to cure fifh, when
he
people in the bufinefs, as ever to make it turn out an object of great national moment. Inftead of this, the hihing has been thrown into an improper channel, which is attended with great expence to the undertakers, and an unprofitable wafte of national revenue, from which little benefit refults either to individuals or the public.—In confequence of thefe regulations concerning fait, thofe men only who live in the neighbourhood of a cuftomhoufe, tho' far diftant from the fiihing-ground, have been induced to undertake the bufinefs. Thefe men-are obliged, at a great expence, annually to fit out vcifcls called buffes, for no
other
he could cntch diem in thofe feas ; but not having found an opportumtv of ufing it in the year 1784, he fitted out, at his own expence, this feafon (178^, a: fmall floop, to profecute the fifheries. On board that floop, he put fome part of this fait, with the permit along with it—A revenue-cutter fell in with his veffel,
and feized vefiel and fait, provifions and altogether._
Such are the hardfhips which people muft encounter, •who attempt to fifh in thofe feas at prefent ; and it is. eafy to fee that no fort of bufinefs can be carried on tinder thefe reftraints, whatever advantages it might otherways afford.
other purpofe but to carry their men, and boats, and nets, and fait, and cafks, to the nfhing-g round, and there to fpend their time in perfect, idlenefs f for three months, if they Ihould not in that time fall in with any fhoals of herrings, and to bring all thefe articles back again to to the cuftomhoufe, to entitle the owners to relieve their falt-bonds, and to draw the bounty allowed by Government— a bounty, which, in thefe circumftances, is very dearly bought.
If, on the other hand, thefe buffes meet with a fuccefsful fifhery, there is nearly an equal wafle unnecelfarily incurred. In that cafe, a bufs may fome-times obtain her full loading in a few days. Put the cafe fo, that loading is no fooner obtained, than the whole of the hands, and boats, and nets, mufl be carried away from the fiihing, (where they could at that time be employed to F 2 the
f They are not at liberty to follow any other employment, but fifhing for herrings. It often happens, that they could, when thus idle, catch their fhip-loading of other kinds of fifh equally valuable as herrings, were they at liberty to take them.
the bell purpofe, if permitted to remain) home to the cuftomhoufe again j a long voyage, during which they muft remain entirely idle as before.   But, during the time idly fpent in that voyage, the fu-pernumerary hands in a bufs, above what are wanted for navigating her, if they had remained with their boats and nets at the fulling, and had been fup, plied with fait and cafk from near Itcres by fmall tenders, might have catched perhaps a dozen of cargoes. Many other advantages the natives would poifefs over the bufs-men under their prefent regulations, were thefe natives at liberty to engage in this fifhery ; but they muft here be omitted, to avoid becoming tire-fome f.—If ever, therefore, it is intended
f Among other particulars, the following cafe will mow to what an unneceffary expence the owners of buffes are fubjc&ed.—Many of the hands that are employed in the bufs-fifheryj are natives of the weft coaft and ifles. Before they can enter on board a bufs, they muft go to Greenock, Rothefay, or Campbelton, and there wait till they be engaged and mufiered ; if at Greenock or Rothefay, they muft proceed to Campbelton to be rendezvoused, where they may be detained,
on
ed ferioufly to encourage thefe fifheries, the Reporter humbly conceives, that the firft ftep Ihould be, fo to alter the falt-laws, as to permit the native inhabitants of the coafts and iflands, to engage freely in this bufinefs for their own behoof with advantages equal to thofe that are enjoyed by any others: and this, he imagines, never can be the cafe, until they fhall at leaft be at liberty to purchafe fait in any quantities however fmall, without reftric-tion, and be enabled to obtain this fait at a price not exceeding that for which it can be pUrchafed by others who can become our rivals in that fiihery; and till they be alfo allowed to difpofe of their filh, without thofe cumberfome re-ftraints which at prefent tend fo powerfully to clog the commerce of that article,
on an average, about a week or ten days, before they can beat round the Mull of Cantire : From tbence to the fifhing-lochs, may be, ort an average, a voyage of a fortnight. Thus, after a month or fix weeks time idly fpent, the fifherman comes to the very fpot from whence he fet our. The fame wafte of time is made on his return ; for which he mull be indemnified by fuperior wages, not to mention provifions fpent in idle voyages.
tide, and to diminifh. the profits of the undertakers, by often with-holding them from the very beft markets f.
*il:       ™ZZ <*rM Another inconvenience arifing from
the prefent fyftem of falt-laws, mult not be overlooked, becaufe it tends effen-tially to injure the revenue in one of its principal branches.—By a fyftem of policy, the principle of which is not at all obvious, our Legillature have permitted an unlimited exportation of rock-fait from Liverpool to Ireland, while it is totally prohibited to be carried to Scotland. And as rock-falt can be purified and refined at lefs than one-third part of the expence of fait made from fea-water, the Iriih, independent of duty, can thus obtain their fait at a much fmaller price than it can be afforded for in Scotland. But, not fatisfied with affording them this fingle advantage, our Legiflators have alfo permitted the exportation of coals to Ireland, under the moderate duty of io^d. per ton ; tho' no coals are
permitted
f Sec M, llluftrations.
permitted to be carried coaftwife in Britain, without paying a duty of 3s. io-.d. per ton. By this means, the Iriih not only obtain their crude fait from Britain, but are alfo furnifhed with fuel at a much fmaller expence than Britifh fubject s can obtain it for. With thefe coals they boil up our rock-falt at a very moderate price : And as this fait in Ireland is only charged with a duty of threepence per bufhel, it can be fold fo much lower than Britifh fait, as to lay the foundation of a fmuggling trade in that article along all the weft coafts of Britain, by which the revenue arifing from the falt-duties muft be diminifhed to a very great degree. What may be die precife amount of the defalcation of revenue thus produced, the Reporter cannot pretend to afcertain j ; but, from
what
t The extent of the trade in fmuggled fait on thefe coafts, may be gueffed at from the following fa£t:— A fingle perfon,-in one of the iflands, owned, that in one year, he himfelf imported into that ifland, no lefs than nine hundred and feventy tons, which is equal to .thirty-eight thoufand eight hundred and eighty bufhels.—There were feveral other perfons who followed the fame trade in that ifland, befides himfelf.
what he has feen, he is fully convinced, that at kail five hundred thoufand perfons in Scotland never employ any-thing but Irifli-made fait: and he has no doubt but that a quantity at leaft equal to that has been run into England; for, tho1 the rifh may perhaps be there greater, the temptation is greater alfo, on account of the higher falt-dutics in England.
From this ftate of facts, it will no doubt appear expedient to your Lord-fhips, to devife fome mode of putting a fpeedy flop to an evil of fuch magnitude, were the improvement of the fifheries entirely out of the queftion. And this can be with certainty effected in no other way than by removing the temptation to it, by diminifhing or annihilating the profits on that trade ; for effecting which, the means are eafy and obvious.
14.
It is of importance alfo, under this head, to remark, that as the law at prefent Hands, the inhabitants of Britain are debarred from having any fhare in
the
the trade of faked provifions: For, tho' beef or pork could be afforded freih at the fame price in Britain as in Ireland, yet the Irilh-falted beef or pork could be fold for exportation, at about nine millings per barrel cheaper than the Britifh ; and if they are to be confumed in Britain, the Irifh beef or pork could be fold at about fourteen fhillings per barrel cheaper than the Britifh. It deferves farther to be remarked, that for every barrel of Irifh beef confumed in Britain, the revenue lofes a duty on the fait equal to twelve fhillings per barrel nearly, that it would have drawn if Britifh beef had been employed in its flead \; fo that Britain in effect pays, though probably without intending it, through mere inadvertency, a bounty of twelve fhillings per barrel on all Irifh beef or pork imported into Britain, with a view as it would feem to encourage the produce and manufactures of that country, to the G evident
f For a proof of thefe fa£ts, fee a Memorial to the Lords of Treafury by Lord Galloway and others, dated the 15th April 1783.   Appendix, No. 4.
$o Report, 6&
evident detriment of our own. When thefe different obje&s lhall be duly con-fidered, there can be no doubt but your Lordfhips will perceive the neceffity 0f an early and careful revifal of the falt-laws, with a view to correct defects that are attended with fuch great and pernicious confequences.
The Reporter begs leave farther to inform, That though the weftern parts of Scotland are in general mountainous, yet that thefe mountains, for the moft part, tho' extremely fleep and rugged, are of no very considerable height above the level of the fea: That thefe mountains ufually run out into long ridges, which are divided from each other by narrow Rripes of flat land, there called Jiraths, which run back in an irregular direction into the heart of the country, frequently extending far with very little elevation above the level of the fea : That the numerous arms of the fea which indent the fhores of that country, forming a great number of fafe and commodious
harbours,
harbours, which are there called lochs, occupy the beds of thefe valleys at one extremity: That within land, thefe valleys, wherever the bottom finks below the general level, form frefh-water lochs, which ufually are of great length in proportion to their breadth : That thefe ftraths, with their numerous accompanying lochs, fometimes form a chain of great length, which in its courfe meets with and interfecfs other flraths (in which are other lochs) of great extent, which reach the fea at a great diftance from the place where the nrft-mentioned ftrath began. This is the general and prevailing conformation of the country, —a conformation which would be the fource of lingular benefits, were that country once improved, manufacturings populous, and commercial; but which is productive of many inconveniences to a thinly-peopled country, that tend much to retard its improvement. For, though it cannot be denied, that this particular conformation tends to extend the bounds of the coafts, and to bring many places G 2 within
jfi Report, 8&
within reach of the fea even in its natural ftate, that muft otherwife have been at a great diftance from it j tho' it alio-gives an opportunity of extending that advantage to many places that are now-very far within land, by giving room for artificial canals, and level roads, (that would open a trade through many different channelsV.at an expence beyond a comparifon fmaller than could be effected in other ;parts of the world; and though it offers advantages for manufactures of a lingular kind, not only by giving an unequalled command of running water for turning machinery,, whofe-force might be encreafed to any degree required, by the height of fall that might be always commanded, but alfo by giving an opportunity of conveying to thefe places of manufactures, all kinds of weighty materials, with eafe and fafe-ty, along thefe level canals, either to or from the market: Yet thefe benefits, however great, could only be experien-' ced in a commercial country. In the in-, fancy of fociety, thefe ridges, inftead of
facilitating
facilitating trade, greatly interrupt the little commerce that might be carried on by individuals between place and place : For, acrofs thefe rugged ridges of mountains, no direct roads of communication can eafily. be opened; and the circuit? along the valleys is fo long, and the navigation from loch to loch (-lea-lochs' are here alluded to) that often necelfarily interrupt the roads, is fo troublefome, that the fmall traffic, which in a thinly-peopled country mufl always be carried on by individuals, in retail, if that phrafe can be underftood, mufl be often entirely interrupted. An example will here make the meaning plain.—Suppofe, for inilance, that a wealthy merchant in a flourilhing city, had occafion to fend to another confiderable place, a thoufand tons of merchandife;--fuch a man would find he could lend it much cheaper by fea, than if he had to tranfport it the fame diftance by land: But let it be fuppofed, that another, whofe whole goods did not amount to half a hundred weight, was to fet out from a
place
54 Report^ ijfo
place where he might be able to difpofc of part of his fmall load of goods, the cafe would be far different. By land, he can fet out with his load on his moulders when he pleafcs; can carry his rrovifions, if neceffary, in his pocket; and return without lofs of time» But, by fea, in fuch circumftances, he mult hire a boat, be at the expence of maintaining at leaf! four men, mufl wait winds and tides, which brings on him fuch a heavy expence, as is altogether difproportioned to his circumflances. That little commerce, therefore, is interrupted, and the improvement of the country proportionally retarded j*.
To produce more examples of this kind, might be tirefome; but to have omitted the above, would have been improper, as it ferves to give a true idea of that country, and to account for feveral phenomena that would have appeared inexplicable.
16.
'   The xnofl extenfive of thefe ftraths, i% that which runs acrofs the ifland between
■J- See N, llluftrauons.
Report, m 5* tween the Sound of Mull and Inver-nefs, through which, were the country full of people, manufactures, and commerce, might be carried an extenfive canal, of fuch magnitude and utility as could not be equalled in Europe; but which, it is feared, could fcarcely admit of being carried through, in the prefent ftate of the country, with an adequate profit to the undertakers f.
17-
From this grand canal would branch off feveral others of lefler note, which would carry the navigation to many places in the moft internal parts of the country. The moft confiderable of thefe branches, is that which goes from Fort-William through Loch-Shiel, and enters the weftern fea at Loch-Moidart. This communication is fo nearly open at prefent, and would be immediately attended with fuch benefits to the country, and could be executed at an expence fo very
fmall,
t See an eftimate of the expence of making this canal, &c. by Mr Watt, with obfervations upon the fame fubjecl by Dr Anderfon. Appendix, No. 5. and 6*
fmall, that it feems to be one of thofe lelfer undertakings which is perfectly adapted to the prefent Hate of the country, and therefore might be accomplished with profit to the undertakers f. 18.
Lochfine is the largeft of thofe fait-lochs in Scotland, running up near a hundred miles from the Mull of Cantire to Inveraray, and communicating near its mouth with many large openings, among which the river Clyde is die moft considerable.   The peninfula of Cantire, which feparates it from the fea, affords a long ftretch of coaft on its weft fide, of very difficult navigation, by reafon of the flatnefs of its  fhores, and the want of harbours along the whole coaft. Yet, along that coaft, and through the ftormy fea that ufually rages round the Mull of Cantire, muft all veffels at prefent pafs, that carry on the fifheries on our coaft, or that exercife a traffic with the weftern iflands ;  for, within that head-land, lie all the towns at which
any
f See O, Illuftrations.
any exchange of commodities can at prefent be made f. Nature here has alfo been kind, by interjecting two valleys acrofs that ifthmus, in which, with little difficulty, might be made canals, thro' which all the commerce from the fouth-ern parts of Scotland to the Hebrides might be carried on with infinite benefit to the public. The fhortefl of thefe canals, but at the fame time the lean: ufeful, might be carried acrofs the ifthmus at Tarbet J: But the moft beneficial, tho' fomewhat longer in extent, would be from Loch-GilJ) on the eaft, to Loch-Crinan on the weft ||. This alfo, the Reporter conceives to be one of thofe H leffer
f The fifhing boats from Barra ufually carry their dried fifh to Glafgow to be difpofed of, and are often loft going round the Mull of Cantire. Laft year, 1783-4, of five boats that went from Barra, two were loft on their way to Clyde, and one on their return, and all on board perifhed : Few years pafs without fome lofs there ; but it is feldom fo bad as the above.
$ See P, Illuftrations.
|j See an eftimate of the expence of making both thefe canals by Mr Watt, Appendix, No. 7. ; as alfo, obfervations on the Crinan canal, by Dr Andcrfon, Appendix,, No. 8.
leiTer undertakings that are perfectly adapted to the prefent ftate of the country, which might be now undertaken with a certainty of indemnification to the undertakers. Both thefe canals, (he means that at Loch-Moidart and Loch-Crinan), he has no doubt, were proper Acts of Parliament obtained for the purpofe, to give a reafonable fecurity to thofe concerned, might be executed by private individuals, with little if any public aid. Many other canals equally eafy to be executed, which would prove extremely beneficial, might here be pointed out; but thefe would come to be gradually difcovered, and carried into effect: as the rifing commerce of the country called for them. To launch out into a multiplicity of undertakings of that fort at prefent, would only exhauft that ftock which might more properly be otherwife employed. When wealth is gradually acquiring, thefe communications will come to be fucceffively opened as the want of them is felt. More, therefore, needs not now be faid on that head.
19. An-
Report, Zsfc. 59 19.
Another work of great public utility, which does not admit of being executed by private perfons, is to open a communication for facilitating the beginning internal commerce of the country already alluded to, and for conveying intelligence from place to place expeditioufly and regularly. This can only be done by forming one line of practicable road at no great diftance from the coaft, but fo far within land as to avoid all ferries if poffible; by means of which, the inhabitants of the feveral valleys might have a communication with each other by land. Here, little more would be wanted, but fuch a path as a horfe could travel on with eafe and fafety : For, as all weighty commodities can be tranfported by the valleys to the fea, and thus from place to place, it is only for the carriage offmall matters, and the regular conveyance of intelligence, that this line of road can be wanted. The herring-filhers at prefent are fubjecfed to much lofs of time, and often to a great expence, from H 2 the
the want of fuch intelligence. Nor can this fifhery be ever carried on with half the benefit to the undertakers it might be, were this effected.—Many plans have been fuggefted to the Reporter, for freeing the herring-fifhers from this inconvenience; all of which, except the above, he finds liable to innumerable difficulties. But, were the line of roads here mentioned carried through, and were regular packet-boats eftablifhed from the different iflands, to communicate with that road, the communication would be quick and certain: And this, he is perfuaded, could be done at a very moderate charge to Government, which would foon be repaid by the returns it would occafion in many different ways f.
20.
After having thus given a full and impartial account of the prefent ftate of thofe remote countries, the Reporter fhall now humbly fubmit the following propofitions to your Lordfhips confider-ation, as the meafure that he imagines
would
f See llluftrations.
would tend the moft effectually to eftablifh the fifheries, and promote the profperity of thofe ifles.
SALT LAWSf.
As it appears to the Reporter to be altogether impofiible to devife meafures that will prevent frauds on the revenue^ without occafioning deftructive reftraints upon the filhers, if an exemption of duty is granted for fait employed in curing fifh, while a duty is charged on fait employed for other family - purpofes ; he would humbly propofe, that no difference ihould be allowed to take place in this reSpect, as it only gives rife to frauds and deftrucfive embarraflments that ought ever moft carefully to be avoided.
But as the fifhermen of Ireland, of Holland, of Denmark, and of every other nation that can come into competition with Britain in the filheries, are allowed to employ duty-free fait for that purpofe, or fait that pays fuch a moderate duty
as
f This article, and fome that follow, are here a little altered from the original Report.
as to be, comparatively fpeaking, Uo-thing, it will be neceffary to allow the Britifh fifhermen duty-free fait alio, otherways it will be impoffible for our fifherrnen to Hand a fair competition in any market with thofe rival nations.
Hence it follows, that the whole of the falt-duties in Britain fhould be taken off; and with that, all thofe deftrucTive reftraints upon commerce and induftry, which that fyftem of falt-laws has occafioned, if ever we hope to fee the fifheries on the coaft of Scotland carried to the perfection they are naturally fufcept-ible of.
In the prefent ftate of the finances of Britain, it may perhaps appear to your Lordfhips rather a bold meafure, to attempt to give up a branch of revenue that appears to be fo productive as the falt-duties: Yet, when it is attentively confidered in all its confequences, the Reporter believes it will be difcovered, that few taxes are, in their operation, more hurtful to the induftry and manufactures of the country, than the falt-
duty;
duty ; and that, by confequence, mould this tax be repealed, it may be eafy to find fome others that might be adopted in its Head, which would prove equally productive, and far lefs burthenfome to the people f.
And as it is found by experience, that rock-falt refined by a careful procefs, is equally proper for curing fifh or other provifions, as any other kind of fait, and can be fold, when thus refined, at a much lower price than fait made from fea-water can be afforded for, it will be proper that all reflraints that have been adopted as to the commerce of this article in Britain, be wholly removed; and that permiffion be given, in the moft unequivocal manner, to tranfport either the crude rock-falt itfelf, or the fait manufactured from it, entirely free of duties, or any kind of reflraint or public charges whatever, to every part of Britain. It is difficult to conceive a plaufi-ble pretext why the reftraints on this article fhould ever have been adopted;
and
t See R, IHuftrations.
64 Report,
and we cannot make too much hade to refcind a regulation that is of fo very hurtful a tendency.
COALS. But the benefit that would refult to die fifheries by the forefaid regulations, would be much limited in their influence, in comparifon of what they might be, if the inhabitants of thofe regions fhall not be permitted to tranfport coals along the coaft, free of duty. The granting of this indulgence, it might be fhown, could not injure the revenue fifty pounds a-year (probably not five pounds), but would prove an unfpeak-able advantage to the fifheries.   In that cafe, falt-works could be erected in every convenient fpot in the neighbourhood of the fifheries, each of which would prove an inexhauftible magazine of fait, from which every poor man in the country could obtain a fingle bufhel, or any greater quantity exactly when he wanted it, fo as to be thus certain of always finding abundance, without laying up
any
any ufelefs (lores. In thefe circumftances alfo, he might obtain, when he chofe it, as many barrels as he pleafed, of brine, (being a purified faturated folution of* rock-falt), which would be an article of the greateft utility in curing fifh, and which could be afforded at a moderate price, as all the expence of manufacture would be faved. This he never could obtain were the falt-works at a diftance, on account of the freight, and the difficulty of getting his barrels filled, &c.— By this indulgence alfo, new manufactures might in many cafes be eftablifhed along with the falt-works, which would diminifh the expence of the manufacture. Thus, limeftone may be burnt by the the fame fuel which boils the fait, as is now practifed in Ireland: And as limeftone abounds in thefe iflands, this ufeful article might thus be afforded at a very fmall expence. Iron-ore, which alfo abounds in feveral places, might thus be roafted at a very fmall expence. Other ores, where thefe are found, might alfo be, in fome cafes, fmelted.—In fhort, I wherever
wherever a continued heat is wanted, by a little ingenuity, it might be fo difpofed as to act on evaporating the fait, while it at the fame time produced its other effects. The benefits, therefore, that would accrue from putting fuel within their reach, in places where it might moft be wanted, are obvious, tho* the extent of the benefits it might eventually procure, cannot now be gueffed at. It is fcarcely to be doubted, therefore, that that indulgence will be refufed, when it can prove hurtful neither to the public revenue, nor to any individual.
Perhaps it would be good policy to lower the duty on all coals exported to foreign parts in Britifh bottoms, which, by thus encreafing the demand abroad, would find a market for Britifh produce and Britifh manufactures, increafe the revenue, augment our marine, and give additional flrength to the State :—But, on this fubject, it would be improper to enlarge.
VIL-
VILLAGES and TOWNS.
Were thefe neceffary preliminaries fettled, all that is wanted for eftablifhing the fifheries, could be effected with little trouble or expence.—It appears from the foregoing account of thefe countries, that the difperfion of the people, their dependence on the foil, and that flavery which remits from it, are the chief caufes, together with the falt-laws, that have hitherto prevented the people from engaging in the fifliery. The next ftep, therefore, after correcting the errors of the falt-laws, wjll be to give freedom and independence to the people.
When we look back into the annals of South Britain, we obferve, that there was a time when the great body of the people were flaves to their fuperiors, in the ftricteft fenfe of the word, being nearly in the fame ftate of abject dependence that the people in Poland and Ruflia are at this day. We now perceive, that perfect freedom pervades the whole mafs, And that every man is at liberty to exert I 2 his
his own talents in the bed way he can, for his own emolument. By what means was this flavery fo gradually and imperceptibly abolifhed in the State, as to have occafioned no political convulfions, and even to have efcaped the notice of an-nalifls and contemporary hiilorians ?
The anfwer to this queftion is now eafy. It was by the eftabliihing of towns, and granting to the inhabitants of thefe, certain privileges and immunities that were not at firft thought to be of great moment, but which gradually produced a wonderful change in our civil polity. To thefe places of refuge, people in abject circumftances, thofe who were outcasts from fociety, or too cruelly treated by their lords, fled for fafety and protection. Without knowing in what manner to account for it, thofe who were difpofed to be induflrious, found always abundant employment there, and were enabled to live at their eafe. Trade crept into thefe places, and manufactures in, fenfibly were eftablifhed in them: Wealth flowed in upon the people, which enabled
abled them to afford ftill more and more effectual protection to the individual members of their community. Thefe places became gradually more and more attractive to thofe without; and the fear of driving away their vaffals from their liege lords, mitigated the feverities of fer-vitude, till at laft all tyrannic exertions gradually fell into oblivion, and we found ourfelves in poifeffion of that freedom which all furrounding nations admire.
Since fuch was heretofore the falutary effects of this wife meafure; we have every reafon to expect the fame beneficial effects would now refult from a fimilar plan of conduct. With that view, the following plan is recommended :—
Let it be made known in all parts of thofe countries, That every Gentleman who fhould refolve to eftablifh upon his eftate, a town, or village, by granting feus j', upon a fpot that Ihould be appro-
ven
f The term feu is, I believe, peculiar to Scotland: it means a perpetual property granted by a feudal fuperior to a vaffal, on his continuing to pay a certain ftipulated fum annually, in name of feu-duty. This
property
ven of by Government, and according to a plan that Ihould be in like manner
approved
property is tranfmitted by charter, in the fame manner as any other landed property holding of a fubjea-fuperior. It differs from what is commonly called in Scotland, a landed eft ate, holding of a fubjea-fuperior, chiefly in this refpea, that when a man purchafes an cftate, he pays a confidcration for it, that entitles him to draw the whole of its rents, only paying to the fU-perior fome trifling acknowledgement when called for. In difpofing of feus, on the contrary, the luperior fometimes gets no purchafe-moncy at all; but referves a right to obtain a certain ftipulated annuity for ever, which can neither be augmented nor diminifhed, but by a new bargain : But, for the moft part, the purchaser of the feu pays down a certain fumj in confequenc e of which, he redeems a proportional part of the feu-duty. The amount of this proportion thus paid for by the purchafer, varies very much according to the circumftances and difpofitions of the parties. In the prefent cafe, it is propofed, that no part of the price fhould be paid down ; but that the whole fhould be an annualrent, as if it were a leafe in perpetuity. Tn, deed, a leafe, were it equally agreeable to the people in Scotland, would be a better tenure for fuch fmall property as is here propofed,—as the expence of tranfmitting the property would be lefs, and all feudal claims would be avoided. But no leafe appears half fo eligible to the common people in Scotland, as a feu; and therefore, it would be improper to adopt that mode of tenure on the prefent occafion.
Report, fcfr. yi
approved of under the conditions after mentioned, {hall be entitled to obtain from Government, the fum of one thoufand pounds Sterling, together with a charter, given gratis, erecting this village into a corporation, with a power to the inhabitants to elect their own magiflrates, &c. as foon as he {hall be able to {how, that one thoufand feus j", in any one fuch town, are granted off, and occupied; and fhall, behdes, be entitled to receive one hundred pounds more, for each hundred additional feus that fhall be granted off and fettled, and fo on in all time coming.
The conditions required to entitle him to thefe gratuities, are, That each lot of ground fo feued off, fhall not be lefs than one Sixteenth part of a Scotch ftatute-acre, for which an annual quit-rent, not exceeding half-a-crown (or at that proportion for larger areas) fhall be demanded ; That the ground be granted
to
t If large towns wore to be eftablifhed independent of thefe fmaller places, perhaps it would not be neceffary to infift on fuch a great number of houfes : Poffibly it would be advifeable, in that cafe, to give the premium to each hundred houfes from the beginning.
to each fcucr and his heirs for ever, free from every other exaaion or irritancy whatever; under this fole reftriaion, that the occupant fhall become bound in one year and a-half, or two years at fartheft, to erea upon it a houfe, in the pofition marked in the plan, which houfe fhall be occupied by himfelf, or fome other perfon, or in cafe of non-performance, that it fhall revert to the donor: And alfo under the condition, that a habitable houfe lhall in all time coming be kept up upon it, which, if fuffered to fall into ruins, and to remain in that ftate for the fpace of three years together, fhall, in that cafe, revert to the lord of the manor ; with fome other lefTer articles mentioned in the notes -f\
On the other hand, for the encouragement of poor fettlers in fuch villages, let it be likeways made known; that as foon as fix men who have obtained feparate feus as aforefaid, fhall go before any Magiftrate or Juftice of Peace, and make oath, that they are feuers in fuch a town
\ . • ' or-
f Sec S, Illuftrations.
or village (naming it), and that they intend to follow the bufinefs of fifhing as their chief employment, he fhall give them a certification under his hand to that effect, which, on being prefented to
being authorifed for that purpofe, fhall entitle them to receive from Government, on the day of
thereafter (on which day each year thefe premiums lhall be cliftri-buted), a ftout new boat, well calculated for carrying on the fiihing in thofe feas, with oars and other furniture compleat; together with as much dreffed hemp as fhall be fufficient to make a fet of nets and fifhing-lines for the boat; as alfo, a number of fifhing-hooks fufficient for mounting thefe lines compleatly. All this they fhall receive gratis, upon entering into a recognifance themfelves, together with a gentleman of character as furety ; or, inflead of a gentleman, with the owners of two boats, who lhall have been inhabitants of the fame place, and proprietors of a boat for at leaft one year before that; thefe perfons and their
K fureties
fureties coming bound to employ that boat in all time coming, for the purpofe of fiihing chiefly; and in particular, that it ihall never be employed for the purpofe of fmuggling, under the penalty of forfeiting the value of the boat when new, with all its apparelling and apparatus compleat f.
By this fimple arrangement, thefe poor fifhermen would at once obtain freedom and independence : the means of earning their bread would be put into their hand; and as they would be placed together in numbers, tradefmen and artificers would foon find it their intereft to come among them ;—this would attract, merchants. As numbers encreafed, a daily market for frefh fifh, and fmall articles of con-fumption, would foon ftart up ; and greater periodical markets would be efta-bliihed, at which a more important traffic could be carried on. And being within reach of a large town, as fhall prefently be fhown, they could, in concert, fend thither, when neceffary, out of their, common ftock, as much as would be
fuffioient
f See T, llluftrations.
fufficient to load a boat compleatly, and obtain in return fuch affortments of goods as they wanted. They would not, therefore, be fubjected either to thofe cruel abatements of price in their own commodities, to which they are now liable, or be obliged to pay thofe extravagant rates for what they want to buy, which they muft of neceffity fubmit to at prefent.
It may perhaps be imagined, that tho' proprietors could be found to agree to inftitute villages on this plan, yet the inducement to bring fettlers thither, would be too fmall to collect many, but in a long courfe of time. But the Reporter, from what he has remarked of the circumftances and mode of thinking of the people, believes, that thefe inducements, tho' acknowledged to be exceeding fmall, would be fufficient to produce the de-fired effect. From the precarioumefs of their prefent tenure, thefe poor peoples mind is kept in a ftate of perpetual dif-quietude, fo that they account any-thing that has the appearance of giving them K 2 a
a fixed property, however fmall it mLly be, as one of the greateil bleffmgs of life. And he could produce many examples of the amazing influence of this propenhty among the lower ranks of perfons in other parts of Scotland, where the liberty they enjoyed was out of all degree of companion greater than in thofe regions. He has not a doubt, therefore, but that this, together with the boat and furniture, would be fufficient to bring together many thoufand fettlers into any one place, in a very fhort fpace of time f. Such a fituation mufl evidently appear much more de-firable to them than emigrating to America, which many of them are compelled, much againft their inclinations, to think of.—From thefe confiderations, the Re, porter is convinced, that numbers would flock to thefe places as foon as the conditions were publicly known, fo as to
make
f To attempt to give houfes, as fome will propofe, he conceives would give rife to jobs and frauds of various forts, which would exhauft much treafure, and benefit the poor people very little.
make them increafe very quickly to a numerous fociety.
It was from a contemplation of the many benefits that individuals would reap from a numerous fociety, that no encouragement is propofed to be given to the proprietor, till one thoufand lots be occupied in one place. This regulation would be productive of two good effects. It would prevent the eflablifhing a number of fmall infignificant villages, in which the inhabitants would experience all the inconveniences of a town, without reaping any of its benefits; and it would induce gentlemen to.exert themfelves, in fome cafes with vigour, to bring people to fettle with them. This might tend to lower the rate of quit-rent required, and make the proprietors fludious to grant them every other little accommodation in their power; and every-thing of that kind muft tend ultimately to augment the profperity of the whole.
The encouragement here held out to the proprietor, will by fome be thought too fmall.   But, in fact, no encouragement
ment to him was neceflary,—as it is inv polfible to devife any other plan, by means of which, he could increafe the value of his property fo much as this would do, without either trouble or ex-pence on his part. The rent he would in the firft place receive for the ground thus given off in perpetuity, would be much more than he could otherwife have obtained, being at the rate of forty fhiU lings per acre ; and this for land, which, in many cafes, never could have been worth forty farthings per acre. For one thoufand lots at this rate, he would draw L. 125 per annum : the thoufand pounds he is to receive from Government, at five per cent, affords an annuity of L. 50 more—in all, L. 175 per annum; which, in fome cafes, would be entirely an addition to his income,—the rent of the lands thus to be given off being nothing. In other cafes, perhaps a deduction of five, or poffibly of ten pounds, may be made from it; fo that he acquires an addition of better than one hundred and
fixty
fixty pounds a-year to his eftate, without cofling himfelf one hngle farthing "f.
But, this is only a fmall part of the profits he will draw, in confequence of this meafure being adopted. When many men are fettled in one place, they mufl not only have food for themfelves, but for cows and horfes, and other animals, which can only be had in the neighbourhood. A market is thus brought to hand for all kinds of vegetables and grain,— dung is produced, which ferves to enrich the neighbouring lands,— barren plots are quickly converted into cornfields,
f I cannot tell how the idea fhould have become fo general, that the granting feus upon an eftate, and thus eftablHhing villages or towns upon it, would be be attended with expence to the proprietor ; for, nothing is more certain, than that this requires from ' them no fort of expence whatever. I have known many cafes, where the proprietor drew, at the beginning, confiderable funis of money from the feuers ; but I know not any one inftance, where the fyftem was attempted on a liberal plan, that it was attended with any expence whatever. —I therefore conclude, that gentlemen who excufe themfelves from making fuch attempts, on account of their inability to afford money to carry them into practice, fpeak without having duly confidered the matter.
fields,--and the value of his land around, becomes ten times greater than it other-wife would have been ; fo that in a few years, a proprietor who made fuch an cftablifhmcnt, would find his revenue bettered by this alteration, probably flVl. hundred, or a thoufand pounds a-ycar, inftead of one hundred and firry j Reporter has known cafes where the rent of land has been augmented better than twenty thoufand pounds a-year, by the encreafe of a town in the neighbourhood. ) If, therefore, the proprietor knew his own intereft, he would be a gainer fhould he pay the thoufand pounds to Government, inftead of receiving it. But as individuals do not in all cafes fee clearly where their intereft lies, and as many of them are apt to grafp at the frjl profit, as the only one they have to ex-pec!, and thus to think of raifing the quit-rent as high as it is poffible for them to obtain; it is perhaps better for all parties, that they Ihould thus be bribed to adopt that mode of conduct, which will tend moft effectually to promote
their
Report, cifV. St their own intereft, while it likewife augments the general welfare of the community \,
L On
f Dr Adam Smith, with his ufual diftin&nefs and accuracy, has remarked, that * the rent of land not
* only varies with its fertility, whatever be its produce,
* but with its fituation, whatever be its fertility.' Nor can any pofition be afTumed, which is more ftridtly true than this is. In the neighbourhood of a town, the value of land is increafed to an afionilhing degree more than land capable of yielding the fame produce in a remote part of the country. Hence it neceffarily happens, that when a town is fet down in a place where none was before, the value of the land around it rifes greatly above what it was. The village of Old Meldrum in Aberdeenfhire, confiding of three or four hundred houfes, has been eftablifhed within the courfe of the prefent century nearly, by granting off feus, without any expence to the proprietor ; and although the fituation is in many refpecls inconvenient, yet from this fmall village, the proprietor draws a free rent above five hundred pounds a-year (as I have been repeatedly affured) more than he could have obtained had not that village been eftablifhed. The town of Aberdeen has increafed in its population greatly within the laft fifty years; in confequence whereof, many thoufand acres of the moft barren land that can be conceived, have been converted into fine corn-fields in the neighbourhood of ir, and now are let for, I pre-funie, above thirty thoufand pounds a-year more than
they
On the other hand, Government would in this cafe, make a purchafe that would prove perhaps equally advantageous to the Public. A boat, with the other neceffaries above fpecified, would coff about eighteen pounds. This divided among fix families, is three pounds for each family : the bounty to the proprietor is twenty fhillings more:—in all, four pounds.— At this rate, fuppofing the fettlers were
to
they formerly yielded.—Even a very final! eftablifh. ment, where any branch of manufacture fixes a few people to one fpot, very foon produces a change upon the country around, that never otherwife could have been experienced. The iron forge at Bunaw gives employment to feveral families, who were fet down in the neighbourhood of it a few years ago, upon a bleak mofs, which yielded only a little dwarfifh heath: feveral hundred acres of that mofs are now converted into beautiful fields of grafs and corn, where fmiling plenty reigns, inftead of dreary defolation : Even the fteep mountain at Fort-William, which feems incapable of any degree of improvement, is now overfpread v with hanging gardens and corn-fields.—Thefe examples may ferve to convince any attentive obferver, that the proprietor of land around any new-eftablilhed town, cannot fail to receive a great addition to his revenue, in confequence of that eftablifh ment, without any trouble or expence on his part.
to be all fifhers, and fuppofmg each family on an average to confiif of five perfons, this would amount to no more than Sixteen Shillings a-head. But if we fuppofe the one-half of thefe Should be artificers of other kinds, each of whofe families coil only twenty Shillings to Government, or four Shillings a-head, each perfon, in this cafe, on an average, would coll Government only ten Shillings. This is the expence :—let us now fee what would be the return.
Every perfon who would be brought into thefe towns, may be faid to pay at prefent no taxes at all to Government: (it would be eafy to prove, that they pay-really lefs than none). When they Should thus be brought into a compacted fociety, they will pay equal to the average rate yielded by others in populous dif-ftricts in Britain. It is known, that about feven millions of fuch people in Britain Pay at prefent nearly fourteen millions of pounds Sterling in taxes,—which is nearly forty Shillings a-head. At that rate, Government, in fettling a thoufand L 2 families,
families, expends L. 2,500, and in return obtains from thence a clear revenue of ten thoufand pounds a-year. This furely will be allowed to be a moft advantageous bargain.
It is impoftible here to avoid drawing a ihort comparifon between the effbas of money laid out thus, or for other pur-pofes on which the national treafure is ufually expended. We have all known twenty guineas given to raife a tingle recruit to the army, who, inftead of yield, ing any revenue, only helps to exhauft it; whereas an equal fum thus applied, would purchafe a perpetual annuity (I fhould fay a perpetually-increafing annuity) 0f one hundred and twenty pounds Sterling. It is thus, and thus only, I mean by putting the people into fuch a fituation as gives room for effeaive induftry, that ever the national revenue can be ejentially advanced :—all other fyftems of finance are but the pitiful workings of little minds, which occafion much trouble, and end in vexation and difap, pointment.
By
By the mode propofed above, many large villages might be quickly founded, which would gradually attain the fize of towns. But fomething more is wanted to give a vivaceous flimulus at the begin-ing, to put the whole machine in motion. A vigorous pufh fhould be made to efta-blifh at the beginning, at leaft otie large town, which ihould ferve as a centre of trade, as a general mart for all the adjacent places, and which fhould be endowed with higher privileges than thofe already mentioned, and be exalted to a degree of pre-eminence becoming the dignified part fhe would have to acT among the furrounding leffer communities.
With this view, it would be neceflary for Government to make choice of a proper place for that purpofe, and there to purchafe, or obtain from the proprietor, a quantity of ground fufficient for the fite of a large town, with a diftrict. around it, to be applied in the manner after mentioned.
Let
Let a plan of that town be made out, divided into ftreets, wards, and diftrids, properly adapted for giving effect to the feveral nccefTary regulations of police. On that plan, let places be marked off for houfes of different claffes; thofe who made choice of a lot in any of thefc different claffes, being entitled to obtain a lot of land in the country, of greater or fmaller extent, according to the clafs in which it ranked, and to the value of the houfe that was required to be built on the feveral town-lots of thefe claffes ; Certain privileges to be annexed to the poffeffors of the different claffes, and a proportional rate appropriated to each in regard to municipal taxes : The loweft clafs of inhabitants to be exactly m the fame fituation, and to be entitled to the fame bounties from Government, as thofe of the villages already mentioned ; with this only difference, that all the lots fhould be here given off in perpetuity, without any referved quit-rent whatever. Let a plan of municipal government be made out for this town, calculated to
preferve
Report,- &c. 87 preferve order, and a due regard for the laws f. Let the Magistrates be endowed, ex ojjicio, with powers fufficient to make the magistracy refpected, and the people with privileges that .Should be fufficient to bar againft arbitrary exertions of power.
NEW SHERIFFDOMS.
Still farther, to add to the weight and dignity of this place, and to confer a fingular bleffing on the inhabitants of thofe countries, of which they are deprived at prefent, let a convenient district: around it be erected into a Shrievalty, and let a Sheriff of courfe be named by the Crown, to take cognizance of all civil trefpaffes againft the laws, and to administer juftice among them. At prefent, thefe countries .are fo remote from the feat of juftice, that it is a matter of great difficulty and expence to obtain juftice by law; which is one of the many caufes that tend to deprefs the people. This, therefore, is one of thofe moft effentially
neceffary
t See U, Illuftrations,—and Appendix, No. 10.
neceflary regulations that ought long ago to have been thought of f.
Should thefe meafures be adopted, the conveniences for trade are there fo eminently confpicuous, that a large town would quickly be eftablilhed, that would ferve as a centre of trade to all thofe regions. And, Ihould the ground be granted to Government for this purpofe
f Thofe who have not turned their attention to fubjecls of this nature, will not be able eafily to form an idea of the hardfhips the natives experience from this circumfiance. In fome places, the people are near two hundred miles from the feat of juftice, with which they can have no correfpondence, but by expreffes fent on purpofe. In this fituation, fuppofe a man of wealth and power choofes to do violence or injufHce to a poor man, how is he to obtain redrefs? In all cafes, a prudent man will compute which is the leaft of two evils, when he mufl: fubmit to one: If, then, the injury he fuftains, be not fo great as the lofs he muft fubmit to before he can obtain redrefs, he will in prudence bear with it, rather than attempt to obtain juftice. Suppofe, for example, that a man who has power in his hands, defrauds or injures another to the value of five fhillings, and the perfon injured knows that it would coft him at leaft five pounds expences to recover thefe five fhillings, he muft fubmit to that lofs without attempting
redrefs.
Report, l$c. 89 hy the proprietor, which it certainly ought to be, feeing his revenue would neceffarily be encreafed thereby many thoufand pounds a-year, it would coif Government next to nothing; or if they had occafion to purchafe the ground, a very few thoufand pounds would be altogether fufficient to effect the work.
One large town would be abfolutely neceffary ; and perhaps near Dunvegan in Skye, is the beft fituation for fuch a town.   There are four others which are M proper
redrefs. In the fame manner, if one man owes another any fmall fum, and does not choofe to pay it, the means of compelling him are fo difficult, that it ean fcarcely be attempted. On thefe accounts, rafcals and oppreflbrs of every kind, are allowed to pradtife their viilanies almoft without controul; and, were not the morals of the people in general better than in places where focial intercourfe is greater, it would be unpoffible for any quiet well-difpofed perfon to live there at all. But, where the checks againft iniquitous tranfacfions are fo few, it is fufficiently plain -that commercial tranfa&ions muft of neceffity be few alfo. fo attempt, therefore, to introduce commerce and manufactures, in thefe circumftances, were abfurd.— 1. he regulations mentioned in the text, muft firft take place, before the others can be attempted with the Jmalleft profpea of fuccefs.
proper Situations for municipal towns, and which, it is probable, the proprietors would be well pleafed to give off on the fame terms -.—thefe are, Stornoway in Lewis, Loch-Boifdale in South-Uift, Tobermory in Mull, and Bowmore in Iflay.—Were each of thefe propofed to be erected into a lhrievalty, and en, dowed with the fame privileges with thofe already mentioned, as they all belong to men of great property, it is highly probable they would be glad to agree %o the condition, were Government to tender them the boon.
In that cafe, the Hebrides would be divided into five Sheriffdoms, viz.—
ISLAY—comprehending the iflands of Iflay, Jura, Colonfay, and Oranfay.
MULL—comprehending the whole of that ifland, with its leffer iflands; alfo, Scarba, Lunga, Loing, Sueil, Eafdale, Kerrera, Lifmore, Tiree, and Coll, with fome of the adjacent coafts of Ardna-murchan, and to the eaftward of it.
SKYE—comprehending Skye, Cannay, |Uim, Egg, Muich, Raafay, Rona, and
fart
part of the continent oppofite to it, as far as the different lochs extend; it being much eafier for the inhabitants of thofe coafts to go thither, than to Inver-nefs, the county-town at prefent;
U1ST — comprehending South and North Uiftj Benbucula, Barra, and the leffer ifles.
LEWIS—comprehending Lewis itfelf, Harris, and the leffer ifles, with a part of the weft coaft of Scotland, from Loch-inver to Cape-wrath.
Thus could juftice be diftributed with eafe and expedition, through all thofe regions :—the people would obtain perfect freedom:—markets for every commodity they could poffefs, would be opened :— a general profperity of the whole people, would be the firft confequence :—an ex-tention of trade, and a prodigious augmentation of revenue to the State, would neceffarily follow, i
CUSTOM-HOUSES. If the meafures propofed were adopted,  cuftomhoufes would come to be M 2 erected
P Report, &c.
erected of courfe : But, mould any delay in that refpect take place, there mould be none in eftablifhing cuftom-houfes at many places on the coaft; as the want of thefe, prevents at prefent every attempt at improvement. The. ex-pence of fuch cuftomhoufes needs be fmall, as a fin-gle officer or two at a place, with Very moderate falaries at firft, might -anfwer the purpofe. The Reporter is not infenftble of the abufe to which filch an inftitution is liable ;—. but if thefe abufes are properly checked by Superiors, they may be kept within bounds, till more proper eftabliihments can be made. .
PACKET-BOATS. Regular packet-boats, as has been faid, fhould alfo be eftablifhed from all the principal iflands to the fliore, from whence they could communicate dire&ly with Edinburgh, and with one another. The importance of this meafure has been already fully illuftrated.
NAR-
NARROW SEAS, To be declared Friths.
The profperity of thefe countries, however, muft in every cafe be much retarded, unlefs all thofe narrow feas between the iflands and the main, fhall be by law declared to be friths, and the fame freedom of navigation given in them as in other friths. Small boats tnuft be continually pafling and repairing between thefe iflands, with different articles of the native produce of the iflands. While thefe are accounted open feas, fuch boats are liable to be feized, unlefs they have a cuftomhoufe clearance. Were cuftomhoufes as thick as the hamlets now are, the expence attending the fees of ofBce would prove an opprefhve burthen on the trade of thefe iflands; but, in the way that cuftomhoufes muft be placed, it would be im-pollible ever to obtain clearances for in-niTmerable articles of finall value, which muft of courfe be either fuffered to lie ufelefs on the hands of the rearer, or be
fmuggled
fmugglcd at a great nfk. Corn, coals, wool, kelp, and almoft every other arti-> cle that can be named, come within that defcription. Till this meafure, therefdre, be adopted, the commerce, and confe-quently the agriculture and manufactures of all thefe fmall iflands, muff ever continue in fuch a languid ftate, as fcarcely to deferve the name of exifting, I cannot, therefore, ceafe to recommend this meafure once more, as one of the moft primary importance.
BUOYS and LAND-MARKS, LIGHT-HOUSES, &c.
To render the navigation of thofe feas fafe and commodious, a more accurate furvey of thofe coafts fhould be made, than any that at prefent are known; for, all the charts of thofe coafts are full of inaccuracies and errors, that tend.to endanger the fafety of any veffels that fhould attempt to fail by them f. Distinguishing land-marks fhould be erected at the entry into harbours, and other
places.
f See Appendix, No. io»
places that require to be noted by fea-faring people, that thus they might always know with certainty, at what part of the coaft they were, whenever they Ihould make the land; for, at prefent, many fhipwrecks are occafioned by vef-fels miftaking one part of the coaft for another, and thus fleering an improper courfe, which might have been fhunned, had they known the coafts with certainty. Buoys fhould alfo be placed on funk rocks ; by the help of which, veffels might fafely enter into harbours, and go through narrow channels, without a pilot, which they dare not attempt at prefent; and in fome places rings fhould be fixed, for enabling veffels to warp, or to be towed out or into a harbour when the wind is not altogether favourable for them ; as, by the help of thefe, many veffels might be faved that are damaged or loft, and much time be gained that mufl now be loft in lying idly in harbours, to the great prejudice of the owners of fhips that frequent thofe feas.   In fome places, light-houfes
fliould
Ihould he erected, particularly on the Mull of Cantire, and on the point of the illand Scalpa in Harris; which are fo obvioufly wanted, that nothing but a total inattention to thofe places, could have permitted them to be neglected thus long f.
if.
f The Mull of Kinhouth or Kinhoa in Iflay, has fuch a general refemblance to the Mull of Cantire, that veffels frequently miftake it for that of Cantire, and, by fleering from thence a oorth-eaft courfe, get themfelves embayed in Machrahanifh-bay on the weft coaft of Cantire, from whence there is no poffibility o£ efcaping fhipwreck, if the wind blows toward the fhore •, and thus many valuable veffels have been loft, and many ufeful hands have periihed.   Were a light-houfe there ere£ted, it would ferve not only as a diftin-guifhing land-mark at all times, but it would alfo enable veffels to fail round the Mull of Cantire during the night-time with fafety, inftead of that hazardous navi, gation they muft frequently attempt at prefent.—With regard to the point of Scalpa, it lies fo low, and is fo covered with high land behind it, that no veffel can make that point during the night, in any fituation; and as every veffel muft keep very clofe to it, to avoid the Stirinoe rock, that lies off it at the diftance of three miles, in its prefent ftate, this navigation is fo difficult that no veffel during the night-time dares attempt it; fo that they are reduced to the nccefjity of either lying
oft'
If, along with'thefe ufeful works, experienced pilots mould be eftabliihed at either entry into fome narrow Sounds that mull ever be dangerous to Hranger3, N fuch
off and on all night, which, in thofe narrow feas, fubjecl: to various currents, is extremely dangerous ; or are obliged to run into a harbour, where they maybe detained very long by contrary winds, that might have been favourable enough for carrying them forward, had they been able to proceed through that pafs. But were a light-houfe there placed, it would not only ferve to allow veffels to go with fafcty at all times of the night through that pals, but as }t would be feen at a great diftance on either hand, through all that long channel called the Mincb, it would ferve as a landmark and fure guide during the night, to all veflels in that ftrait, fo as to allow them to proceed in their voyage with confidence and lafety, which they dare not attempt at prefent. When it is confidered, that all veffels to or from the Clyde, muft pafs the Mull of Cantire, and that all veflels from Liverpool, and the weft of England and Scotland, and the eaftern ports of Ireland, to or from Holland and the Baltic, muft pafs through the Minch, it will appear not a little furprifing, that thefe two neceffary works fhould have been fo long delayed. The additional hifurance that muft have been paid on veffels navigating thofe feas m confequence of that want, would probably have paid the expence of thefe light-houfes a hundred times over, not to count on the value of the ufeful lives that have thus been loft.
fuch as the Sound of Harris, and fome others, which pilots mould be at all times ready to go off to any veffel at a fignat made, as at Liverpool, Sec. thefe Sounds would become fafe and practi-cable, inftead of being locked up, as they may be faid to be at prefent. In fome places alfo, where harbours are much wanted, but where Nature has not been altogether fo bountiful as in others, the artificial aid of a pier might be ne^ ceffary.—By thefe helps, which could all be effected for a very inconfiderable fum of money, the navigation of thofe feas, inftead of being hazardous, would become much more fafe and expeditious than that of any other known narrow feas whatever; not only becaufe fafe harbours are at all times to leeward, as has been already faid; but alfo becaufe of the currents, which, when fully known, could be fo made ufe of, as to help a veffel forward with much greater eafe and expedition than ever could be effected in narrow feas without them.
PRE,
PREVENTING IRREGULARITIES.
When great quantities of herrings come into the bays, it often happens that feveral thoufand boats are employed at. one time in the fame place, when the ftrongeft are frequently tempted to commit trefpaffes, from the hope of eicaping with impunity. To prevent the evils of this kind, which are now loudly complained of, certain perfons ihould be appointed in each district, to act as Judges in all cafes of this nature, and be veiled with powers to carry their awards into effedt,—-a fet of laws being compiled by which the Judges themfelves ihould be regulated. An inftitution of this nature a&ually fubfifts. The Earl of Ar-gyle was formerly empowered to act as Jufticiary Bailie on that coaft, to make regulations for the filheries, with the confent of alfefibrs chofen for that purpofe ; and to carry thefe into effect, by means either of himfelf or fubftitutes.— The office ftill fubfifts, but with dimi-nilhed authority. Three of thefe Jufti-N 2 ciary
ciary Bailies only are appointed for the whole coaft, with Salaries very inadequate to the duties of the office. Their number ought to be much enlarged :— their fidaries rendered fuch ar> to mcrUce the office to be fought after, by men of merit and knowledge, who couM' make the laws refpected :—and a new fet of regulations adopted for the regulation of this office, properly adapted to the prefent ftate of things.
.. s ... ,;v . lib ai Lmjpii^i^
CARE of HARBOURS.
In tfrbie diftant regions, a fohtary fhip in a harbour, without any reftraint upon the crew, are apt to commit great disorders ; and in particular, very often throw out their haftaft in the beft part of the harbour, lo as to choak it up, and render it ufelefs. Several very fine wA bours have been thus already rendered in a great meafure ufelefs (particularly Lewfa on the coaft of Behbucula) ; and many more will be foon effentially hurt in the fame manner, unlefs care is taken to gUard againft it in time. A
law,
law, therefore, mould be enacted, forbidding that trefpafs under very heavy pecuniary penalties :—the whole of fuch penalty Ihould be given to the perfons who bring a proof of the trefpafs being committed ;—-which proof, any of his Majefty's Juflices of the Peace mould be empowered to receive, and pronounce upon,—and his award to be final. Till-fome provifion fhall be made for a more eafy mode of obtaining juftice in thofe parts, this, and many other hurtful enormities, can never be effectually prevented.
SUNDAY.
Sunday is, by our laws, very properly appointed to be kept by a ceffation from labour ; nor is there any difficulty in complying with this regulation, in the ordinary bufinefs of mankind ; but a difficulty arifes with regard to the application of this regulation, in the herring fifhery. The operations are here carried on entirely during the night-time; and as the beginning of the night between Sunday and Monday, and the end of
that
that between Saturday and Sunday, form, in ftrict propriety, each of them a part of the twenty-four hours appointed to be kept as a time of reft, it happens that thefe two nights are fometimes wholly loft, and fometimes entirely employed, according as the perfons concerned are more or lefs rigorous in their principles in that refpect. Hence difputcs arife, that are hurtful and pernicious. To guard againft thefe as much as poffible, Parliament ought to prefcribe a definitive rule to be obferved in this cafe; and perhaps the following regulation might anfwer that purpofe, viz. That all nets Jlmll be hauled bejorc one 0 clock on Sunday morning ; and that no nets Jl3all be wet before one e clock on Monday morning.
BOUNTIES.
Those great and radical works already mentioned, which would lay the fure foundation of the future profperity of thofe countries, being accomplished, it would then be time to think of other letter fubudiary aids; which, tho' not of
primary
Report, IOJ
primary importance, yet, under proper reftridlions, might ftill be of very great utility, and might help to forward the great defign. In this clafs bounties may be ranked;—with regard to which the Reporter does not find himfelf prepared to fpeak with that certainty he could wifh; as he has not had an opportunity of examining all the cafes to which thefe might apply. One obfervation, however, on this fubjecl, is fufhciently obvious^ viz. that as all fudden innovations are hurtful, and as the perfons who have hitherto chiefly engaged in the fifhery upon the bounty, live at a diftance from the fifhing ground, and would be greatly embarraffed were the bounty to be Suddenly dropped—this fubjecl fhould be very carefully weighed before any determination of that kind fhould be adopted, and meafures previoufly concerted, to find, if poffible, fome beneficial employment to thofe people.
One thing more on this fubjecf, the Reporter may be permitted to remark; which is, that the mode of fifhing at
prefent
104 Reports
prefent pracTifed under influence of th~ bounty, appears to him in many refpecf s improper, and does not anfwer what he imagines to have been the view of the Legislature when it was firft granted. They fend out large veffels, it is true; but thefe veflels do not fifh at fea, hut only enter into lochs and harbours, where they fifh with fmall boats, and where the boats of the country-people, without any decked veflels to attend them, could fifh at a much fmaller expence than them. It is, indeed, highly probable, that were the country-people freed from the reftraints that the falt-laws impofe upon them, and were the inconveniences they derive from a fcattered fociety removed, they could catch herrings in thefe lochs at lefs than one-half the charge it ever can be done for by buffes. The reafons on which this opinion refts, might eafily be produced; but it would be tedious to dwell upon them here f.
Experience fhows, that herrings, tho' they are on the coaft in abundance, do not in all cafes enter the lochs and narrow
\ Sec the following evidence,—Art. 4.
row inlets, nor obferve any regularity when they do enter them; fo that it often happens, that the buffes, tho' fitted out at a great expence, do not fall in with any body of fifh, and are obliged to return empty.   In that cafe, a number of men have been kept entirely idle for many months, at a very heavy charge both of wages and provifions to the owners, which  tends greatly to diminifh their profits, and to render their undertakings unprofitable.   It is, however, a certain fact, that there never is a fear fon in which there are not abundance of herrings in the founds and narrow feas, among the iflands, and along the coafts, which might very properly be catch eel there by decked veffels like the prefent buffes,  were they to fifh for *hem after the Dutch method, which they never at prefent attempt. Could they be induced to follow this mode of £fhing, the Reporter is fully convinced, that it would turn out a much more -fteady, certain, and profitable mode of fifhing for the buffes, than that which is O at
at prefent in ufe; and many intelligent timers with whom V has converfed, are of the fame opinion. For thefe reafons, he is perfuaded it would be advifeable, even if the propofed regulations fhould take place, not to withdraw the bounty from buffes after the prefent bounty-law expires ; though it deferves to be confi-dered, whether it might not be prudent to confine it to fuch veffels only as fhould fiih ik the fea, after the Dutch method, and not in the lochs with boats, as at prefent.
It deferves alfo to be remarked, that fhould the regulations propofed for fait take place, and fhould towns be eftablifhed along thefe coafts, as is expected, the owners of buffes would be freed from many of thofe expenfive regulations that cramp them now extremely, and diminifh their profits in a furprifing degree; fo that with the fame amount of bounty they would find their profits greatly en-creafed, and be enabled in a fhort time to go on with vigour, without any public aid whatever.   The reafons on which
this.
Report, fcfa lay
this opinion is founded, are pretty obvious ; but it would take up too much time to enter on a detail of them here.
Another coniideration requires to be here adverted to.   By the prefent mode of fifhing, thofe who engage in the her-ring-fifhery, know nothing at all of the line-fifhing; and, in like manner, thofe who carry on the line-fijhlhg f, are entire ftrangers to the herring-nfhery.   By this arrangement, the veffels and men employed in each kind of fifhery, are unemployed for that part of the year during which it cannot be carried on, to the great detriment of all parties concerned. But as thefe two fifhings fucceed each other, the fame veffels and hands could carry on both biuineffes with the great-eft propriety and. occonomy, were the hands made acquainted with both kinds of fifhing.   This is actually done at present by a fet of fifhers from Rufh, and O 2 fome
t Herrings are always caught in ncts^ cod, ling, tufk, and moft other kinds of fifh, are caught with books and lines; from whence arjfes the diftinftion in the text.   See Appendix, No. 2.
fome ©theY places on the north of Ife~ kfld, who fOiiietimes Come to fifh on our coafts. To induce oiir dwn fifhermen to follow that bufinefs after the fame mode, it is fubmitted, whether it might rioT be proper to grant a bounty only to fucfi veffels as made it their bufinefs to follow both kinds of fifhing throughout the whole year.
All the fifhermen agree, that ivberry-rigged veffels are the only proper ones for the line-fifhery, as none other admit of being worked in the manner that is fieeeffary. The late law, therefore, which prohibits the ufe of fuch veffels, certainly ought, on this account, as well as many others that might be named, to be altered, at leaft in fo far as relates to fifhirig veffels. Wherry - rigged veffels would alfo anfwer perfectly well for the herring-fifhery after the IJutch method : it deferves to be confidered, whether the bounty fhould not be given to fuch veffels, in preference to others f. It is neceffary
f See this fubjecl: more fully treated in the following evidence before the Committee of Fifheries,—Art. a.
cefiary here alfo to note, that on the weft fide of the ifland of Lewis, there appears each year a great fhoal df dog-fiih in the months of June, July, and Auguft, which the natives at prefent fifh for in dpen boats, and catch great numbers j of the livers of thefe fifh, they make an excellent oil for lamps, of which they fell anmtally about eight hundred barrels. According to the opinion of experienced fifhermen, were this bufinefs followed in decked veflels, which could remain at fea all night, during which time they are eafieft taken, it might turn out a more valuable fifhing than the northern whale-flfhery. A fmall bounty on fuch veffels as engaged in this bufinefs, might be of ufe.
DEBENTURE.
A Debenture of two fhillings and eightpence per barrel, is at prefent allowed on herrings exported. The fame ihould be continued, and be extended to barrelled fifh of every kind packed in barrels of the fame fize, and to half and
quarter
quarter barrels; but, to prevent fraud in this refpect, it would be neceffary to mark with a burning-iron, every barrel for which the debenture had been paid, with the letters D. B. at the cuftomhoufe where it was paid, and prohibit the re-landing of thefe, under very fevere penalties : (and he fubmits it to the conn-deration of the Legiflature, if it would not be prudent to allow the fame on beef, pork, and butter).   The debenture of one milling and Sixpence per barrel of red herrings, and that of three fhillings and fourpence per hundred weight of dried cod, ling, or hake, on exportation, fhould be continued, and the laft extended to all other kinds of dried fifh.
DUTY
On Internal Confumptlon. . At prefent, a duty of one milling per barrel is paid for all herrings confumed in Scotland, and three millings and four-pence on thofe confumed in England. Several kinds of fifh are alfo prohibited from being entered for home-confump-
tion.
Report, fcfr. Ill
tion. Thefe duties mould be aboliihed, and all reftraints as to the internal fale of fifh entirely removed.
CURING of HERRINGS.
As in confequence of the foregoing regulations, the quantity of fifh caught in thofe feas would be very great, and could be afforded at a very low price ; the only other circumflance neceffary to enfure a ready fale would be, that they fhould be alfo of a fuperior quality to other fifh that fhould meet them in foreign markets ; and this could be effected in no other way, but by adopting a better mode of curing them than others. At prefent, the fifhermen in Britain are defective in this refpect. Their mode of curing fifh is certainly not the belt, and might admit of great improvements; though the Reporter does not think himfelf fufficiently inftructed, fo as to be able to point out effectual rules for that purpofe : and were he better informed than he is on this head, he would be cautious how he advifed regulating ftatutes in
that
that cafe ; for, he believes the fifhermcn themfelves are better able to difcover improvements in this refpect, than any other perfon; and were the intereft of individuals to be immediately promoted by fuch improvements as thefe individuals fhould make, he has no doubt but many very great improvements would foon be made. By the prefent law and practice, an individual, were he at ever fo much pains, and as fuccefsful as he could wifh in his fuperior mode of curing herrings, he would reap neither profit nor honour from his fuecefs ; which is no doubt a great difcouragement to induftry, and gives rife to a general careleffnefs in the mode of curing, that would not other-ways have been introduced into practice. From thefe considerations, the Reporter is convinced, that were a mode deviied, by which herrings and other fifh could be traced on all occafions to the firft hand directly, it would be a ftrong inducement to earefulnefs; becaufe, in that cafe, a merchant from any quarter of the globe could write to his correfpondent,
that,
that, out of any number of barrels, thofe marked fo, or fo, had been found of a very fuperior quality, and that thofe with fuch another mark had been very bad ; the lad, therefore, had been condemned as ufelefs, whereas the firft had fold at a very advanced price. This could not be eafily done, if the herrings are obliged to be repacked as at prefent; for, in that repacking, they are fo much bruifed f, as to counteract the attempts of the firft curer; nor is it poflible in any cafe to come at the firft curer, if they have ever been fent to any foreign market. But, the Reporter is allured, that the beft P Dron-
f It is neceflary here to explain what is meant by Irui/Ing.—Uy the prefent law, the perfon who repacks herrings, is authorifed to give them three dents, as it is called, during the time of packing. Practice thus explains the meaning of that word. After a few rows of fifljl are laid in the barrel, belly nearly uppermofr, a board is laid over them, and the packer goes into the barrel, and jumps upon .this board as long as he pleafes ; and this practice is thrice repeated during the packing each barrel. By this means, the filh arc frequently totally disfigured, and rendered ufelefs at market.   Of this grievance the fiflicrs complain, but can
have
Dronthcim herrings never are repacked, tho' they bring the higheft price at every foreign market. If fo, it would feem that repacking was not in all cafes neceflary. Should this be found to be fo, and fhould it be required by Law, that all herrings and other fifh, (as alfo beef, pork, and butter), that received the drawback of the falt-duty, fhould have the name of the original curer marked at length upon the barrel, together with the name of his place of refidence, as is pracTifed at prefent in Ireland with regard to beef; it
jxd might
.'■•.-I v!l   :n;:r   /viithr.   .      .    :-r f\ >\ have rjo redrefs.   The pretext for thus crufhing the
herrings, is, that the buyers may be fure to have full barrels. It would be eafy to obviate all difputes on that head, by declaring by law, that the fifh in a barrel of cured herrings ought to weigh a certain weight, fuppofe two hundred weight as taken out of the pickle without rinfing, and that every buyer fhould be permitted to weigh every tenth barrel, if be chofe it, taking them without fele&ion as they came in rotation, and the whole ftock to be accounted the fame as this ftmple,—the feller to be obliged to make a deduction of price proportioned to what Ihould be wanting, or to receive as much over as they fhould weigh more than the legal ftandard—the expence of opening to be born equally by the buyer and the feller.
might be attended with very good effects, as it would tend to raife or lower the price of that man's goods, at market, ihould they be found to be uniformly good, or the reverfe, in the fame way as happens with regard to manufacturers of other kinds of goods.
BARREL STAVES.
It was once enacted, that herring-barrels fhould be made of itaves at leaft half-an-inch thick; but that law was after-Wards repealed. They are now made fo thin, as to be often crufhed in the hold of a veffel, fo as to allow the whole of the brine to be loft, which renders the herrings ufelefs and unfit for any market. That law fhould therefore moft certainty be renewed, and itrictly enforced fI p2 SIZE
t I am told, Drontheim herrings are always packed Jn barrels made of fir, which can be afforded at one milling each, whereas oak barrels in Britain frequently coft five fhillings. Enquiry fhould be made, if, upon a fair trial, fuch barrels would anfwer in Britain. White fir deal is found to be better for this purpofe, than red fir wood. I am difpofed, however, to believe,
that
SIZE of BARRELS.
It deferves alfo to be remarked, tha? the Iriih barrel of herrings contains only twenty-eight gallons, whereas the Scotch barrel contains thirty-two. And, however ftrange it may appear, yet the Reporter is on all hands allured, that the Irifh barrels, on account of their com-pactnefs, or other circumftances, in all -cafes fell at an equal or fuperior price to the Scotch barrels, though the hfh be the fame ; by which means, the Iriih fell the fame quantity of filh, of the fame quality, fourteen arid an-half per cent* dearer than the Scotch. In confequence of this, it is not an uncommon practice for the Irifh to buy Scotch fifh, pack them into
Irifh
that new barrels of this kind would in all cafes communicate a refinous tafte to the fifh ; but I have not a doubt but that larix-wood, which is known neither to fhrink nor warp, would anfwer for fiaves equally well, or perhaps better than oak ; and as no wood grows fo quick, or thrives fo well in our climate, it could ij> time be afforded as cheap as fii-wood. This is one reafon among many, for rearing as many hrix-trces ir> Scotland as poffible.
Irifh barrels, and fend them to the Welt-> Indies. In thefe circumftances, it would doubtlefs be neceffary to reduce the Scotch herring-barrel by Law, to the fame fize with the Irifh barrel, that they might come to market on equal terms at leaft in that reflect. The fame obfer* vation applies to the barrel of beef and pork, both which in Ireland contain only twenty-eight gallons, while the Britifh barrel is thirty-two; and with regard to which, the very fame complaints prevail f.
FOREIGN HERRINGS.
The Reporter is likewife informed from very good authority, that it is a common practice in Ireland, to import great quantities of Dutch, Swedifh, and Norwegian herrings, which are afterwards exported from thence to the Britifh Weft-Indian iflands; though he believes that foreign cured herrings are riot by Law allowed to be fent by Bri-
tin*
t See a Memorial to the Lords of Treafury by Lor£ Galloway and others, Appendix, No. 10.
tilh Subjects to thofe iflands. If this be true, that practice ought no doubt to be Hopped j\
EXACTIONS in IRELAND. Another grievance refpecYmg Ireland, of which the Britifh fifhers moft loudly complain, of the truth of which the Reporter had occafion to be fully informed in his late tour, is as follows: For fome years paft, herrings have call up in greater quantities towards the latter part of the feafon, on the northern coalts. of Ireland, than elfewhere, and the Scotch buffes went there to catch them. At
firft;
•f By an account of exports of herring from Gotten-burgh (Appendix, No. 14.), it appears, that, in the year 1776, no lefs than fifty-fix thoufand four hundred barrels of herrings were exported to Ireland. Thefe herrings, I have been told, are there fhifted into Irifh or Scots barrels, and for the greateft part are exported as Scots or Irifh herrings.
As all the Gottenburgh barrels are made of fir, which we would naturally imagine would give the fifh a ftrong refinous tafte ; and as we hear no complaints of that nature againft herrings exported from Ireland, it affords a prefumption, that this peculiar tafte is not fo ftrong and naufeous as to be very perceptible.
firft, they were permitted to fiih without moleftation; but, in winter 1782, fome fmall fees were exacted by fome of the cuftomhoufe officers, for granting them permifhon to fifh. This became general in winter 1783: every bufs was forced to pay two guineas for each boat fhe carried, for liberty to .fifh, befides paying duty for all the fait and barrels they had on board at the time, though they never were landed—as is more fully fet forth in the Memorial referred to in the notes f. And in the year 1784, they have been forcibly driven from the coaft altogether, in confequence of an affoci-ation of the inhabitants for that purpofe, as they are informed; the particulars of . which are fet forth in another Memorial .referred to in the notes J.   All which
exactions
t A Memorial from the adventurers in the- white-herring fifhery, to the Right Honourable the Board of fi-uftees,,24th July 1783, in the hands of the Right Honourable Henry Dundas, Efq;
t A Memorial for the Magiftrates and Burgh of Campbelton, for themfelves, and in name of the ad-
* venturers
l2o Report^ fee.
exactions and outrages greatly prejudice their intereft ; and being contrary to law and juftice, certainly claim the fpeedy attention of Government. He will only obferve further on that head, that, for fome years paft, the condiut of the Board of Cufloms in Scotland with refpect to the Iriih fifhers on our coaft, has been fuch as could not give any reafon for fuch conduct on the part of Ireland; as thefe fifhers itave not only been allowed to tfifh where «hey pleaded -on our coafts, but have even t>een allowed to draw the Britifh debenture on fiih catched and cured in thofe feas, in the fame manner as if they had tbeem natives of Britain i > c:::::;:r        ■    : ;• . Theie
venturers in the white-herring fifhepy, November 1784, fent to Sir -Archibald Edmonftone, Bart. ; alfo, an affidavit -before the Bailies of Rothfay, in the hands of Mr Dundas.
f It is proper for me here to obferve, that in the fore-goingKeport, I have confined my obfervations chiefly to -thofe leading meafures that feem indifpenfibly neceffary for putting the countries in queftion into a train of iprogreflSve" improvement : I h tve aUvigether omitted -many ifmaller regulations, which would prove highly fccneficial, were thefe leading meafures adopted. Of
thi:
Tliefe are all the particulars that occur to the Reporter, aS of material moment to be attended to, for eftablifhing the filheries on thofe coafts upon a fure and permanent foundation : But the following particulars, as ftrongly affecting the general profperity of the country? ©ught alfo to be ferioufly attended to.
WOOL.
The weftern parts of the Highlands of Scotland, are for the molt part extremely Iteep, rugged, and mountainous, (and the fame may be faid of many of the iflands), forming dry healthy pa-flurage for Iheep, and would afford a much greater profit to the owners if depaitured with iheep, than with cattle. The iflands likewife, which are at prefent poifeiTed of a breed of iheep carry-
CL ing
this nature I confider fmall premiums to be diftri-buted annually to veffels of certain defcriptions, within Pertain diftricts, that fhould prove moft fuccefsful in the fifhery each feafon.—The Reader will find this njatter fully treated in the Evidence given before the Committee of Fifheries, that follows this Report, Art. 4. to which he is referred.
iiig finer wool than any in Europe, and which could be eafily there preferved without debafement, or even improved fo as to yield great quantities of wool, of a quality fuperior to any that is yet known, would, in many cafes, yield a return,, if flocked with fuch fheep, perhaps- tenfold greater than if paflured with cattle.   Yet, on account of the laws that, under the feverefl penalty, prohibit the carriage of wool by fea, but under regulations that cannot pohibly be complied with in thofe countries, the natives have been in general hitherto obliged to rely upon cattle as their principal flock, and thus to forego one of the chief advantages that Nature had conferred Upon them. Thofe fine-wool'd iheep are fuffered to flroll about neglected, in fmall numbers ; and no national benefit has yet been felt from the wool, though it might, if raifed in fufficient quantities, lay the foundation of woollen manufactures of certain kinds; that would be unrivalled in other markets.—A manufacture of JJoauls, it has
been
been already faid, made of this wool, is juft now in its infancy here, which may perhaps in time grow up to be an object, of fome importance, or otru_r manufactures of a kind for which fuch fine wool is fitted, if the laws mould be fo framed as to admit of a reafonably free commerce in this article.   At prefent, however, the natives, from never having been able to derive much advantage from that wool, fcarcely know any-thing of its value in a commercial light: And, fhould they come to difcover its value, if the prefent laws fhall remain in force, there is reafon to fear it may be converted to the benefit of rival nations, by improving their manufactures, rather than our own.    For, as the rifk is really fmaller to fmuggle wool at prefent to France or Holland, by means of the fmuggling veflels which frequent thofe coafts with fpirits, than it is to fend it to any part of Scotland, it is natural to think, that they would embrace that as their fureft and beft market for this commodity.   That foreigners begin to Q^2 know
know the value of this wool, appears probable from die following ftory the Reporter heard in many places, on his late tour; visH That fome perfon in the iflands, finding his wool at prefent in little requefl among themfelves, had been tempted to try if it could be fold to advantage in France ; and that it had far exceeded his expectation, as he had there received an anker of brandy (worth, at his own home, from fifty fhillings to three pounds) for each Rone of wool; and this at a time when the wool on the main-land (which is indeed of a much coarfer quality, the produce of fouth-country Iheep) could not be fold for more than four fhillings, and even not at that price. This report, true or falfe, is current at prefent through all the iflands, and will doubtlefs turn the attention of the people towards that market.   Should this trade be permitted to get firm footing, it will be an evil of the firft magnitude, that will not be eafily eradicated. Would it not be wife policy to nip it \n the bud, by a judicious alter- -
ation
ation of die laws reflecting wool, which, on many other accounts, call out for amendment f ? Great would be the advantages that would accrue to thofe regions from fuch alterations, as it would add much to the value of land in the Jirjl inftance ; and, in the next place, would permit the woollen manufacture to be eftablifhed in thofe regions, fo naturally adapted far that purpofe, tho' it muft be long ere it can there profper under the reftraints to which it is fubjected at prefent %.
CORN-
f Sec X, Illuflrations.
X When a fmuggling trade in one capital article is once begun, it gives rife to man^ other branches of trade of the fame kind, as leffer articles can be fent along with it, which never could have been fent by themfelves; and others are, in like manner, brought by the return of the fmuggling veflels. It is believed the fmuggling of wool laid the foundation of all the fmuggling trade now carried on in Britain j and as the prohibiting the exportation of wool has tended greatly to debafe the quality of Britifh wool, and to hurt our woollen manufactures very much, and has produced many other evil confequences, that law fhould certainly be altered or repealed.
Report, cjfc,
COR N-L A W S.
All thofe reftri&ive corn-laws, which tend to interrupt the free commerce of grain in fmall quantities, ought alfo to be altered. This would give eafe and fecurity to every fmall dealer in grain, which would encourage agriculture in the diftant ifles, that would naturally tend to enfure plenty and cheapnefs to the people.
FAIRS.
The Reporter finds he has omitted one article of importance towards the eftablifhing a beginning commerce; that of inftituting fairs, or periodical markets, at certain feafons of the year, in particular places. Thefe, when confiderable, anfwer in fome meafure the purpofe of temporary towns ; and, when once fully eftablifhed on a liberal plan, prove highly beneficial to thofe places where large towns do not abound. It would therefore be proper to inftitute at leaft one great annual fair in each of the diftriefs
above
above recommended : And, with a view to augment the traffic at that time as much as poflible, it fhould be at thefe fairs that the diflribution of boats, and other premiums that fhall be thought neceffary for encouraging the fifheries, ihould be made.
CONCLUSION. Thus hath the Reporter, with as much perfpicuity as he was able, given the rude draught of a plan, which, if carried into effect, he is firmly perfuaded, would lay the fure foundation of a laft-ing improvement to thofe Countries, which never have hitherto been of any material advantage to the Britifh Empire, tho' they are by Nature capable of becoming perhaps more valuable than any other province of the kingdom. His aim has been to difcover and remove thofe radical defects that have hitherto retarded the progrefs of all improvement, and not to trouble your Lordfhips with a multiplicity of partial fchemes, that tend only to exhauft the national trea-
fure,
Aire, without producing an adequate benefit. He has been particularly careful to avoid every-thing that could lead to great national expence, not only from a perfuafion, that, in the prefent ftate of the finances of this country, fuch frugal plans would have a better chance of being attended to, and carried into effect., than others that were more expenfive ; but alfo from a firm conviction, that, next to fmuggling, nothing tends fo much to difcourage a fpirit of fober induftry among a people, as that of job-ing with public money, which never Can be prevented where great national expence is incurred.—As he willies that thefe regions, fo remote from Court, may long continue the feat of active induftry, he has therefore weighed every propofal with the moft fcrupulous care, with a view to guard againft this evil; and has had the happinefs to find, that he has been able to avoid it to a much greater degree than he himfelf imagined practicable, when he firft reflected on the fubject. Indeed he has been fo fuccefsful
in
in this refpect, that he is afraid, fhould ever thefe propofals come to be made public, they will be received with great coolnefs by many of thofe whofe interefts they are calculated moft effectually to promote. Nor are they calculated, like brilliant propofals that announce expen-five and glaring undertakings, to pleafe the tafte of the populace, who judge of the importance of any object, merely by its fliow, and the parade with which it is introduced to their notice. He will be content if he can be in any meafure mftrumental in quietly difrufing general oappinefs among the people, and of thus adding to the wealth and general ftabi-bty of the empire.
There are not wanting perfons, who will fay that his principal aim has been to encreafe the revenue, rather than to promote the improvement of the countries he has vifited: Nor can it be denied, that the benefits which Government will derive from thefe improvements, if carried into effect, would be at l":ift equally great, and equally certain, R       - as
as the advantages that would refult to all other parties concerned : But that mufl be a never-failing confequence of adding to the profperity of the people ; for, wherever this takes place, the augmentation of the revenue is certain and unavoidable. This is the only true and unequivocal mode of augmenting the national revenue, with which the Reporter is acquainted. It is a mode too, of impofing taxes, which, inftead of oc-cafioning a popular odium, muft always produce the oppofite effect.: He cannot, therefore, help regretting, that it fhould have been hitherto fo little attended to in all fyftems of finance. And it appears not a little furprifing that it fhould not, when we confider how many ftriking iu-ftances are before our eyes, of the baneful effects refulting from an oppofite plan of conduct.
The profperity of that country, were the meafures propofed adopted, the Reporter conceives, would be certain and unavoidable. The people, being freed from thofe reftraints that at prefent tye
up
Up their hands from the fifheries, would engage in them with alacrity, and with proportional fuccefs. Being placed within reach of giving and receiving mutual aid in all their enterprifes, their exertions would acquire a vigour with which thev are at prefent unacquainted. The articles effentially neceffary for carrying on thefe fifheries being always within reach, fo as to be ready when called for, would enable the poor to avail themfelves fully of every fortunate occurrence that chanced to fall in their way; fo that fifh, in thefe circumflances, could he afforded in foreign markets at a very low price, and at the fame time yield a reafonable profit to the perfons concerned. Thus the demand would be en-creafed, and employment afforded to additional numbers of people. The quantity of fifh thus prepared for market, would induce plenty of merchants to fettle in thofe towns, who would find profitable employment in the commerce that this would furnifh, and give at once an adequate price to the fifher-R 2 man;
man ; which Would enable him to proceed in his bufinefs without embarraff-ment.   A ready market would be pro- * Tided For frefh provifions, and for all the produce of the fields.  Thefe would be taken from the farmer in any quantities, as foon as they were fit for the market 5 which would give all the encouragement to agriculture that can be wifhed for. Ships would be daily pafling to and from Liverpool, and other parts, with rock-falt, coals, and other articles wanted for the daily ufe of a numerous, wealthy, and induflrious people: In return for which would be fent, at a very moderate freight in companion or what it now is, kelp, Hate, fifh frelh and cured, oil, bark, and other articles of the produce of thofe countries.   To the Wefl-Indies, the outward freight of fifh would enable the merchants to import fugars and rum at a moderate freight, which would in time give rife to the refining of fugar. To the neutral iflands in the Well-Indies, their fifh would be a welcome commodity, which would find their way into
the
the French Iflands : In return for which, they would procure, by an advantageous barter, melaffes, which could be there diflilled for the African trade, with as great advantage as in Connecticut. To Spain, to Portugal, the Mediterranean, and the Levant, their fifh, their marble, and manufactures, would afford them ready accefs; and the articles they would receive from thefe countries, with lead, and the other native products and manufactures, would lay the foundation of a trade to Holland and the Baltic.
Thus would employment be afforded to an innumerable multitude of people, the manufactures and trade of this country encreafed to an aftonifhing degree, the quantity of fhipping greatly augmented, the number of feamen multiplied, the general profperity of die people promoted, the national wealth accumulated, and the revenue proportionally augmented, without the preffure being felt by any one.
Such are the general confequences, the Reporter is perfuaded would refult from
the
the arrangements propofed, and fuch are the reafons that have induced him to adopt that opinion.   He has ftated thefe reafons with that warmth of colouring which is natural to one who is himfelf fully convinced of the truth of the facts on which he grounds his opinion, and of the certainty of the conclufions.   He is fenlible, that though thofe who have neither had accefs to examine the one, nor to weigh with attention the other, what he has faid will appear to them fomewhat extravagant. He wifhes that other men of greater weight and influence than himfelf, would put themfelves in a fituation to prove the truth of die one, and attentively to confider the other,—as he has not a doubt, but that the more minutely thefe propofitions fhall be inveftigated, they will afford the greater fatisfaction to the candid enquirer.
Goats, near Edinburgh, Cfh December 1784.
ILLUSTRATIONS
of the
FOREGOING REPORT. A.
This refers to the Report, page $th.
"QNLESS it be the Ifland of Arran, which is very mountainous, all the other iflands are in general low grounds, for the moft part pretty level, and capable of cultivation. The three hills called the Paps of Jura, are indeed high land ; but thefe occupy only a fmall part of the ifland. The fame may be faid of Skye, in which there are two ridges of high mountains, with large tracts of flat land between. Mull and Rum are rugged and uneven; as is alfo the eaftern part of Harris and Uift, though not extremely
high
high land. On the north and eaft part of Iflay, are fome rugged hills of no great height; but this large ifland is for the moil: part low flat land, highly capable of culture. Tiree is one continued plain of fine arable land, two fmall hills excepted, and fo low, diat at a little diftance thefe two hills appear like iflands, the land between them being fo flat as not to be feen. The weft fide of Barra, of Uift, and of Harris, and the whole of the iflands lying between thefe, are low lands, exceedingly fertile, being one entire bed of fhell-fandf; and the fame may be faid of the north-weft fide of Lewis. Cannay and Egg are not fb low land,
confifting
f Thefe fields of fhell-fand, when well cultivated, and properly manured with fea-weed, yield returns of barley, that cannot, I believe, be equalled in any part of Europe ; and, were I here to fpecify them, would not be credited. The crops of rye are alfo wonderfully luxuriant i and the fame may be faid of peafe : Wheat has never that I know of, been tried on them, nor turnips, nor lucerne, nor fainfoin, though there is reafon to think that all thefe crops could there be produced, in as great, probably greater perfection than in any other part of Europe. >
confuting of feveral rows of bafakic columns above each other; but the foil there,- is extremely fertile f. Colonfay, S Oranfay, f The long chain of iflands extending from Barra head to the Butt of the Lewis, which, when confidered 4s an aggregate, has been denominated the Long IJIatid, fcems to have coufifted originally of a chain of irregular rocks of granite jutting up from the furface of the fea, with a bold front towards the eaft, but fhelv-ing gradually to the weftern fhore. During the courfe of many ages, that part of the rock which rofe above the level of the fea, has become covered with a fur-face of moffy earth, of unequal depths, the prominent parts of the rock being ftill bare, and the hollow places filled up with mofs, to a greater or fmaller depth as circumftances have been more or lefs favourable for the accumulation of it. And as there feems to be few fifiures in thefe rocks of granite, through which the water can percolate, the cavities where no (helving outlet appears, are filled with water, forming many fmall lakes among the mountains.
With regard to the weftern part of thefe iflands, where the rock has probably extended to a great diftance, fhelving flowly downward beneath the furface of the water, there feems to have been accumulated above the rock, in the courfe of many ages, an extenfive bed of fhells, which being agitated by ftorms, have been pufhed towards the fhore, where they have been left in heaps, intermixed with tangles and other fea-weeds, above the ordinary level of the fea, and have
been
%
Oranfay, and Coll, arc in general flac land, of a fandy foil, not fo entirely
fhells,
been thus gradually formed into a bank, which has acquired an annual addition, to as to become in time a level plain of conliderable extent along the whole coaft. But as the water which flowed from the hills toward the weft, when it came to the bottom or" the declivity, would be interrupted by the bank of land thrown up by the fea, it has been accumulated into a chain of (hallow lakes, till it role to fuch a height as to force a pailage into the fea, through fome of the weakeft parts of the bank.
In conformity with this hypothecs, it is found, that at prefent the weft coaft of the ifland of South Uift, which I had a particular opportunity of examining, (and I was told the other iflands in that chain were exactly in the fame circumftances», coniifts of a plain of (hell-fand of unequal breadth, from about a quarter of a mile to half-a-mile, or perhaps three quarters, within which is a range of (hallow frelli-water lochs that run along the whole length of the ifland, the furface of which is fo little elevated above the level of the fea, that at high fpring-tides the fea flows into thefe lochs, fo as to render the water at times brakifh. On the eaft of thele lakes, no (hell-fend is found \ nor is any moffy earth found upon the weft of them.
The rocks that h.ive formed the grand chain on the eaft fide, have been broke into irregular chafms, forming in fome places narrow channels, that go quite thro* from eaft 10 weft between the iflands -y and in otheir
places,
fhells, and therefore not fo very fertile as fome of the others.    Lifmore is a S 2 low
places, only make deep indentments, which penetrate Several miles within the land, palling the high part of the mountains, and widening within, in the lower part of the country, into capacious harbours, furrounded by level campaign lands of great extent.   Three fuch harbours as are now defcribed, are found in South Uift, viz. Loch-Boifdale, Loch-Eynort, and Loch-Skiport.   The firft, where I happened to be wind-bound for feveral days, went fo deep into the land as to approach within a very fmall diftance of the chain of frefh-water lochs.   It had not originally, however, any communication with thefe lochs ; but Mr Mac-donald of Boifdale, having obferved that the outlet from thefe frefh-water lochs, which was formerly to the weft, was frequently choaked up by the fand, thought it would be for his advantage to open an outlet to the eaft fea, through this harbour.   This he did by opening a ditch into it, of five or fix feet deep ; by which operation, he not only lowered the furface of the water in thefe lochs fo much as to gain*about nine hundred acres of land, but alfo eftablifhed a communication by water, in boats, from the eaft fea, to almoft every fingle farm on the ifland.   Thefe frefh-water lochs are nearer either of the other two harbours, than they are to Loch-Boifdale.   Indeed they come within about thirty yards of the head of Loch-Skiport, and arc fo near as to be marked in Mr M'Kenzie's charts plate, as being entirely joined.
low ifland, the rocks entirely limeflone, the foil fertile even to a proverb: perhaps
in
The Reader will perhaps pardon me for extending this note an uncommon length, as the fubjecl is not a little curious and uncommon. In confequence of the outlet already mentioned, the former channel through which the water chiefly iffued, is now dried up •, and a place at the mouth of that channel, where, thirty years ago, a confiderable falmon-fifhery was carried on, is now dry land, and is near a quarter of a mile diftant from the neareft fhore, which fhows how much the land has gained in that time.
It deferves alfo to be remarked, that as the fhell-fands are heaped up along the fhore into hillocks, which are broke into fteep banks, as is ufual with dry fand-hills, the wind acting upon thefe, blows the fand about irregularly, which covers the adjacent ground, and gradually fills up the neighbouring lochs, fo that in a fhort time they will probably entirely diiappear; and unlefs care be taken to preferve, by artificial means, the communication by water for boats, that conveniency will be entirely loft. Nothing would be more eafy than to prevent the blowing of the fand there, nor could any undertaking turn out half fo advantageous to the proprietor.
A notion prevails among the people in thofe iflands, that the fea makes continual encroachments on the weft coaft, and recedes from the eaft. The facts already mentioned, fufficicntly refute that opinion, as the naked rocks on the eafhrn coaft, walhed by the fea, fufficieutly prove
that ,
in this refpect it is exceeded by few places in Europe.
The
that they receive no addition.—''One facl: was ftated to me, with a view to prove that the fea has gained on the fond by a gradual encroachment on the weft coaft, viz. That on the weft of South Uift, at low fpring-tides, when the fea is fmooth, fomething like the walls of houfes are feen a great depth below the furface, a con-fiderable way from the fhore; from whence the people conclude, that this has been formerly dry land, and that ail between it and the fhore has been gradually wafhed away by the encroachments of the fea.—That this laft could not be the cafe, is plain -, feeing, if it ever had been dry land, and thefe houfes inhabited, it muft then have been above the level of the furface of the fea, and muft have remained fo as long as the foundation continued unaltered. It never could have come into its prefent fituation but by an earthquake, or fome fuch fhock, that had fuddenly lowered the hafe on which it ftood, and not by the gradual encroachments of the fea, as they fuppofe. I conceive, that what they take to be walls, may be fome natural dikes of whin-ftone., like thofe that are feen on the weft coaft of Iflay, rifing to a great height above the furface of the fea, though not above three or four feet in thicknefs, and quite perpendicular.
The eaft part of Lewis, from Stornoway northward, is flat land ; but I had no opportunity of examining it narrowly. I fdw no ftonc but granite in the Long-Ifland fouth of Stornoway, where plumb-pudding ftone abounds.
B.
See Report, page qtb.
The prevailing winds during the fum-rner months in Scotland, are from the fouth-weft; and as thefe winds on the weft coaft come from the Atlantic Ocean, they are much impregnated with moift-ure. Hence it happens, that, being interrupted by the high lands on the weft of Scotland, the clouds there break, and pour down great torrents of rain, elpeci-
ally
The celebrated ifland of StafFa confifts of one flack of bafaltic columns, crowned with a capital of plumb-pudding ftone, furmounted with a fmooth ftratum of of fertile earth, producing a clofe pile of grafs. The neighbouring fhores of Mull, and the adjacent iflands, contain alfo a great variety of bafaltic columns of an imperfect kind. In Cannay,the bafaltic columns rife above each other to a great height, in many fucceflive ranges, each feparated from the other by a ftratum of plumb-pudding (tone, as at StafFa. In walking along the eaft-ern fhore of that lingular ifland ^Cannay) at low water fpring-tide, the top of an immenfe number of thefc bafaltic columns, of a very large fize, and furprifingly regular, were left quite bare, forming a giants caufeway of very large extent, which had a furface nearly as fmooth as an ordinary-paved ftreet.   In fome places,
however,
ally during the latter part of furnmer and autumn. From thefe caufes, the climate is there extremely unfavourable for corn crops, as the continued rains not only retard its ripening, but render the winning of the crop extremely precarious. Thefe inconveniences, however, are not experienced in the iflands in the fame degree ; for, as they are in general low, the winds pafs over them without any interruption to break the clouds, in fo much that in the lowed of thefe iflands, the foil of which for the moft part confifts of fhelly fand, there is ufually rather lefs rain in fummer than the
inhabitants
however, large and dead chafras were formed in it, by the breaking down of fome of thefe contiguous columns, in the fame manner as the cavern at Staffa has been produced. In thefe chafms no bottom can be perceived; and the fea rufhing through them with vaft impetuofity, even when fmooth, forms a fcene ftupen-doufly great, and dreadful to behold.
Though I did not vifit the ifland of Egg, I was told that the fame kind of columns on the north part of that ifland efpecially, are very large and regular ; and that there is a cavern of much greater magnitude and magnificence^ than that which has been fo juftly celebrated in the ifland of Staffa.
inhabitants w-Hh for; and the harveft is far earlier than on the continent, and not at all precarious. In May, which has more rain than fome of the other iflands, the harveft is ufually got in before the end of September, which is earlier than in Eaft-Lothian, the beft corn-County in Scotland ; and Tiree, Barra, Uift, &c. are at leaft equally early.
Among the weftern iflands, where the foil is not fhell-fand, the furface is for the moft part covered with a ftratum of mofty earth of different depths, which, in its natural ftate, produces nothing but heath; but if that molly foil be manured with fhclly fand, it is at once rendered capable of producing very fine crops of grain; and when it is afterwards laid into grafs, it becomes covered with a fine fwaird, confifting chiefly of white clover and the poa-graffes; fo that this improved foil may be ufed indifferently ever afterwards, either for corn or pafture: Even the hills, that do not admit of cultivation, if a good coat of that manure be fpread upon them, lofe the heath that
covered
covered their furface, and obtain a fine pile of thefe delicate graffes, which continue ever afterwards. It muft there* fore be accounted a lingular blefling to thofe countries, diat this valuable manure abounds fo much as to yield inex-hauftible quantities of it; fo that on this account, no bounds can be fet to the improvements of thofe countries.
No perfon, I imagine, can at prefent form an idea of the degree of improvement that thofe iflands could admit of, as they have hitherto been fo entirely neglected, that, unlefs it be in the ifland of Iflay alone, which has been for a few years paft under the care of a judicious proprietor, who has ftudied to augment his own revenue by promoting the profperity of his people, there is fcarce another fpot beyond the Mull of Cantire, that feems to have begun to be improved, but in regard to the Angle article of kelp alone f.   The rapid progrefs in
T the
t Except a fmall part of South Uift, under Mr Macdonald of Boifdale's management, where fome-thing has alfo been done, and perhaps fome others I had not an opportunity of feeing.
146 Illujlrations of the [B.] the beginning exertions of the people of Iflay, affords the moft pleafing profpect. of the improvement which thefe countries may be made to receive, if ever they fhould come to be attended to.
About twelve years ago, Iflay was. nearly in the fame fituation with moft of the other iflands in the Hebrides. It had no roads on which carriages could be drawn, no bridges, no public work of any kind: its population amounted nearly to feven thoufand fouls,—its annual imports of grain to three or four thoufand bolls: its inhabitants were, like • thofe of the other iflands, difcontented with their fituation: emigrations had begun among them, and threatened to extend very far. The war put a flop for a time, to thefe emigrations: the prefent proprietor fucceeded to the eftate: it now contains ten thoufand inhabitants: it ex-ports (inftead of importing) annually, near five thoufand bolls of grain: above thirty miles of excellent roads are already formed: a great number of ufeful bridges are erected: an excellent pier has
been
[B..] Torcgoing Report. 147
been built: a town is begun, which receives annually a confiderable increafe of inhabitants: markets are opened for the produce of the ground : the people are pleafed with their fituation, and induf-trious : large tracts of barren ground are annually brought into culture; and there is every reafon to believe, that if the fame mode of management fhall be purfued, the inhabitants will continue to increafe as fait as they have done within this laft period; and that the quantity of grain they will be able to export, will increafe in a much more rapid progreffion. Befides grain, this ifland for fome years paft, has exported annually, about three thoufand fix hundred head of cattle, between three and four hundred horfv-s, and about thirty-fix thoufand fpindles of yarn, all of their own produce and manufacture. I am well pleafed to mark its prefent ftate, that future obfervers may be able to point out its fubfequent changes.
\ In
flliiflratiojis of the [fj.]
C.
See Report, page 6tb.
In May, fome- native quick-filver has been feveral times found in the bottom of little pools, formed in fmall rills of running water ; but no difcovery has been made from whence it came, nor has any native cinnabar been yet found in that country.—In the fame ifland was alfo of late accidentally found, fome pieces of the mineral called black lead, of a, fingularly-fine quality, as it both cut fmooth and firm, fo as to receive and preferve a fine point for a long time, and poneffed a.fmall degree of elaflicity, fomewhat like horn, which made it much lefs liable to break than the common mineral of that name. Unfortunately thefe were only found in loofe pieces; and no fymptoms have been difcovered, that tend to point out where the mafs lies from which this had been detached. —On the eflate of Mr Macdonald of Glengary, in the weft coaft of Scotland, has been difcovered, much greater quantities
tities of the fame mineral j but it is alfo of a much coarfer quality. Neither has the mine here been ever yet opened,
D.
See Report, page jtb.
Were a coal attempted to be worked in the Hebrides at prefent, the undertaker mufl inevitably be ruined, unlefs it were of a very fuperior quality indeed: for, as the internal demand to fupply the Wants of the neighbourhood mufl be very fmall, dependence for fale could only be had on that part which mould he tranfported by fea. But, to what market could the coals be carried ? The coafting-duty puts a flop to its being carried to any of the large towns in Scotland, where they would interfere with other coals that could be afforded free of duty ; and if they were to be carried to Ireland, they would be under fold by the coal from Whitehaven f.   The only
market
f "Where they can frequently have occafion to obtain a return-freight, which they could not to the; Hebrides.
market that remains, is the Hebrides alone; but, in the circumftances the people are at prefent, however much they might be in want of fuel, the demand muft be extremely fmall indeed : For, as the people live in detached hamlets, each individual family would be under the neceffity of ordering a feparate quantity for itfelf. —-But when it is considered how few families in thefe parts can afford to buy a whole fhip-load at once, it will be eafy to fee that the number of cargoes wanted in a year would be very fmall.   The poor people, who could perhaps afford to pay for no more than half-a-ton or a ton at a time, muft be contented to do the beft they can without them. — However numerous, therefore, thefe people may be, and however great the confumption they would occalion in 9tber circumjlances ; in their prefent fituation, they could not be accounted anything at all. Thus muft they forego this benefit, with many others of which they are in the fame manner deprived.
It
E.   ' ' See Report, page ytb.
It is not much above thirty years, fince Mr Macdonald of Boifdale in TJift, brought fome men from Ireland, for the firft time, to teach the natives of Uifl how to manufacture fea-weed into kelp. The profits he reaped from this manufacture, induced others to follow his example ; and it foon became an object of great importance along all thefe coafts. The late war, by interrupting the trade for Barilla, raifed the price of kelp fo high, as gave an additional fpur to their induftry, and made them exert all their power to difcover new means of augmenting its quantity. Mr Macdonald of Boifdale, fon to the Gentleman who introduced the manufacture, ftill keeps die ^ad as the moft fpirited and fuccefsful operator in that branch. By tumbling rocks into the fea, where none were before, he has much increafed the quantity of fea-weed produced on his fhores : He has alio difcovered, that kelp can be made
with
152 niuflrations of the
with profit from the common tangles (alga-marina) that are often thrown upon the fhore in amazing quantities f. In fhort, every fea-plant he finds may be profitably employed for that purpofe j but the fea-grafs (fweet-grafs as it is fometimes called) yields a kelp of a quality-much fuperior to any other: He diere-fore carefully ufes for that purpofe, all that he can get of this plant,—a plant which has hitherto been deemed in a great meafure ufelefs; for it cannot be employed profitably as a manure, and is therefore fuffered to lie unufed, in amazing heaps, on almoft ■■every-fhore where it is produced; particularly on the north coaft of Ireland, where it is entirely ne-
gleded.
f As thefe fea-wecds are thrown upon the coaft in greateil abundance during the winter months, when it it is difficult to get them dried fo as to burn, he finds it of ufe to cut off the long leaves, and the moft fuc-culent parts that are fo liable to putrify. Thefe he employs as a manure ; but the large ftrong (talks he piles up in fmall ftacks like hay-cocks, laying them acrofs and acrofs each other: they are thus kept fo open as to let the air pafs through them, and thus to dry them fufficiently to admit of being burnt flowly f0r kelp.
glected. This is one inflance out of many, that the people in the Hebrides are neither blind to their intereft, nor defective in. point of induftry, where that induftry can be exerted for their own benefit.
F.
See Report, page 10th.
The abundance of filli of different kinds mentioned in the text, that fwarm upon the weft coaft, is very great; but the proportion they bear to thofe found in any other coaft, has never been ascertained with any degree of accuracy, and therefore can only be guefled at from incidental circumftances that I picked up on my tour.
As there are no great towns on thofe coafts which could furnifh a ready market for frefh fifh, no men follow that employment as a bufinefs. The people on the coaft only go out from time to tune to catch as many as ferves their own families when they want them. They are, therefore, extremely inexperienced fifhermen, and can give no rule U for
for judging of what may be the fuccefs of fkilful filhers on the fame feas ; but even in that manner, they in almoft all cafes very foon catch as many as they have occafion for.
In the mouth of the Clyde, off the Ifland of Arran, the natives fometimes try to fiih to fupply the Glafgow market;, but to them this is only a poor bufinefs. Some fifhermen, however, who came accidentally from Nairn on the eaft coail of Scotland, in the fame feas always catch abundance of fifh, even when the Arran-people fcarce find any. Thefe Nairn-fifhers make rich, and every year carry home a great deal of money to their families,.
One of thefe eafl-country filhers was engaged by Mr Campbell of Iflay, to flay widi him. On converfing with him, he gave me accounts of the quantities of fifh he catched, that appeared altogether incredible. For one article, he affur-ed me, that when he baited his long line for the fmaller flat fifh, which line contains four hundred hooks, it was not
at
at all an uncommon thing for him to take in at one haul, three hundred and fifty fifh from the four hundred hooks ; thefe confift of turbot, foal, and large fine flounders, about two or three pounds weight each. As to fkate, and holobat, he faid he feldom fiihed for them, as they are not a fale able article there ; but he could eafily fill his boat with them, when he chofe it, at one haul of his lines,—fometimes he could fill it three times ; and from the accounts of other people, I had no reafon to doubt the man's veracity.
With regard to the cod and ling-fifh-ery, few of the banks are as yet known fuificiently to enable any-one to fpeak with precifion; and fewer ftill of thefe banks are properly cleared of ground-fifh, to let their value be fully known. It is obferved, that when a fifhing-bank is firft difcovered, few cod or ling are catched on it, till the fkate and eels, and ftar-fifh, which are there called ground-fifh , are cleared from it. They muft therefore begin by catching thefe ; and it is only after that is done, that the value of U 2 the
the bank can be known. Only a very few banks have thus been cleared as yet; and thofe who attempt to fiih on other banks, tho' perhaps much better than thefe, are lefs fuccefsful. From this caufe, velTels often fail in this fiihery that make new trials. I found, however, that in many places, efpecially where the tides are rapid, and where the cod are beft, and always in feafon, it was no uncommon thing for a man to catch from two to three dozen large cod, from ten to twenty pounds weight, in little more than an hour, during the turn of the tide. From thefe flight notices, fome idea may be formed of what the fiihing might be, if properly followed.
G.
See Report, page 12th. The quantity of herrings that fometimes come in one body, is fo great as to exceed belief by thofe who have never heard of them. The following, however, are a few facts relating to this fubjecl, that were ftated to me by a man of
character,
character, to whom I applied for an anfwer in writing to fome queries on this fubjed I put to him: fimilar accounts I received from every individual in thofe parts, with whom I converfed.
4 In the year 1773, (he fays), the her-
* rings fwam fo thick in Loch-Terridon, ' that the boats of about two hundred
* and fifty buffes, all having two, and
* many three, together with an immenfe
* number of country boats, from twelve
* to twenty barrels burthen, were often 4 twice loaded in a night, and frequent-
* ly they were obliged to cut the taves 1 (cords by which the nets are kept to-4 gether) of their nets,  leave part of
* them in the water, and carry the reft
* on ihore to be emptied, being fo load-
* ed that they could not carry the whole ' at one time.  They continued there for
* two months.'
To give fome definite notion of the quantity of fifh mentioned above, let us fuppofe the two hundred and fifty buffes had on an average two boats and a-half; this gives 625 boats: fuppofe 200 country-
try-boats; this makes, in all, 825 boats. Thefe, if twice loaded in a night, would be 1650 boat-loads ; which, reckoned at no more than twelve barrels each boatload, would give 19,800 barrels of herrings as the ufual hilling for one night only.
If four men be allowed to each boat, this fiihing would furnifh employment to two thoufand three hundred fifher-men ; women and others employed in gutting and curing, more than an equal number : fo that it would give bufinefs to between five and fix thoufand perfons. My correfpondent thus proceeds :
* At Loch-Carron, a year or two - after, they were fo throng, that tho?
* the loch from the narrow entry ig
* above a league long, and in fome ' places above a mile broad, and from
* fixty to four fathoms deep, it was in-c different to the fifhers in what part of
* it to fhoot their nets, or what buoy-c firing they gave them; that is, whether
* their nets were near the ground or fur-
* face, they were equally fure to have
1 them
them loaded.   They continued in this .. bay, and the neighbourhood of it, about five weeks.
1 On the weft fide of Skye, I am in-
* formed, they once fwarmed fo thick ' in Caroy-loch, that fhooting night and
* day were alike to them; (obferve that 1 fhooting nets for herrings in the day-
* time, drives them away, and is contrary 1 to law). Some of the fifhers kept their ' nets continually in the water; and if
* any had his nets drying on their quarter,
* and that a fkirt of any of them fhould
* happen to be in the water, it was in-8 ftantly filled with fifh. So many were c caught, that they could not be carried ? off; and after the buffes were loaded,
* and the country round was ferved, ' the neighbouring farmers made them
* up into compofts, and manured their ' ground with them the enfuing feafon. 1 This fhoal continued many years upon c the coaft, but they were not in every
* year, nor in every bay, fo thick as ' in this laft; but were for a number
* of years fo xauch fo, that all the buffes
* made
too RiuJlr:.tions of the [Q.]
* made cargoes, and the whole coafts
* were abundantly ferved.
* At Loch-Slapan, one of the Skye
* bays, in winter 1764 or 1765, I do
* not recollect which, there were above
* three hundred, I believe four hundred ' veffels loaded, the average twenty laft
* each [a laft is twelve barrels]. Some of 6 them made two cargoes, and an incre-
* dible number of country-boats, [four hundred veffels at twenty lafls each, is1 ninety-fix thoufand barrels].
* At Loch-Urn, in 1767 or 1768, they
* came in in fuch quantity, that, from
* the narrows to the very head [about
* two miles] it was quite full: fuch a
* quantity ran on fhore, that the beach,
* for four miles round the head, was ' covered with them from fix to eigh-
* teen inches deep; and the ground un-
* der water, fo far as it could be feen s at low water, was equally fo.   I believe
* the whole bay, from the narrow to the
* mouth [about twelve miles long, and
* a league broad] was full of them. I am ' alfo of opinion, that the ftrongeft fifh
* being
being without, in forcing their way ' into the inner bay, drove the lighteil 1 and weakefl on fhore. So thick were ' thefe laft, that they carried before them ' every other kind of fifh they met,— ' even ground-fifh, fkate, flounders, ckc. ■ and perifhed together. They continued
* at that time feveral weeks, but not fo
* thick after they had run on fhore.
4 At Loch-Urn, alfo in 1782, came in 4 a fhoal of them, correfponding in moft
* particulars with this laft mentioned;
* and a like, if not a greater quantity of
* them ran on fhore; but the bulk of 4 the live herrings retired foon after 4 this happened, though they left fuch
* a quantity behind as to make a good ' nfhincr for feveral weeks.   I cannot
o
' afcertain the quantity taken,—it was amazingly great. And I will venture to affirm, that though there had been ten times the number of veffels and boats in each rf the bays I mentioned, they would have made full cargoes." Theft are a few out of many examples
of the fame kind that might be pro-X duced,
duced, and ferve to mow what immenfe quantities of fifh might be killed, if the people had flores of fait and calk in the neighbourhood, fo as to permit them to continue bufily at the fifhing while it lafted.   At prefent, whenever a bufs has compleated her cargo, fhe mufl: abandon the fifhing entirely ; and none of her hands could return to it again in lefs than eight or ten weeks, before which time, the people of the bufs might have catched perhaps twenty loadings, had they been permitted to remain.   At prefent, the country-people who can remain at the fiihing, are bufy or idle juft as they have much fait.   When a fmuggling boat arrives with fait, they will get perhaps fix fhillings per barrel for their herrings: as that fait is expended, the price falls to five, four, three, two, one {hilling per barrel, fometimes to fix-pence or eightpence; below which prices they will feldom fhoot their nets, as that price is not fufhcient to indemnify them for their trouble in catching them. But it fometimes happens, that you may
purchafe
/
purchafe a barrel of fine frefh herrings for a fingle chew of tobacco. A barrel contains from fix to fixteen hundred herrings, according to their fize.
H.
See Report,page lift.
The inhabitants of the Hebrides may at prefent be divided into three clafles : 1/?, Proprietors of land:—2d, Principal tenants, or tackfmen of large diftnets :—« 3d, The lower clafs of people.
With regard to the proprietors, their number is very fmall in proportion to that of the other claffes, as the property of almoft the whole diftrict is f wallowed up by ten or twelve men of overgrown fortunes, moft of whom know little about the fituation of their eftates, and fcarcely ever fet foot upon them. In their ftead, a fet of men called factors are fubftituted, with yery extenfive powers, which fometimes are exerted in favour of the rights of humanity, and the intereft of the proprietor; but are more frequently employed to X 2 bafer
>
bafer purpofes, as mufl necelfarily happen in the common run of human affairs.
The clafs of tackfincn occupy nearly the fame rank in the Hebrides, as belongs to that of men of landed property in other parts of Britain. They are called Gentlemen, and appear as fuch; and obtain a title from the farm they hold, nearly in the fame manner as gentlemen in other parts of the country obtain from their eHates. Moll of thefe tackfmen are in fact defcended from a line of anceflors as ancient and honourable as the proprietors themfelves, and therefore reckon themfelves equally entitled with them to the appellation of gentlemen. Thefe tackfmen were for the moft part, originally younger fons of the proprietor himfelf, and obtained from thsir father leafes of conliderable tracts of ground at a moderate rent, which was bellowed upon them in lieu of a patrimony: The defcendents of thefe have therefore, in general, been accounted as relations of the family of the proprietor, and were treated with a mildnefs
diat
that made them confider their leafes rather as a fort of property, fubjected to a moderate quit-rent to their fuperior, than as a fair and full rent for land in Scotland. In the abfence of the proprietor, thefe perfons acquired a weight and influence in the country, which was very great; fo that the proprietor, if he had been fo difpofed, would have found it a very difficult matter to crufh them; and as they found always means to bring the factor to favour their interefls, they have been able to continue their fway till the prefent moment, .after moft other veftiges of the feudal power have fallen into difi-repute.—Thefe are the men who in general, together with the factors, keep the lower clafles of the people in the fub-jeclion above taken notice of.
Upon enquiry, I found that moft of the principal tackfmen in thofe diftri&s, have come into the practice of keeping a kind of ftore or warehoufe of neceffaries for the ufe of his immediate dependents; and that the ufual and avowed rate of profit, which they think reflects no dif-
credit
credit upon them to exact, is about fifty per cent, and on grain and other articles confiderably higher. Laft feafon, oatmeal fold at Greenock for about fixteen fhillings per boll; in many places of the Hebrides it was about twenty-four, in fome places I was told twenty-eight fhillings; and this, I was informed, is not beyond the ufual proportion. Some men, as muft be expected in all cafes where the people are entirely under the power of an individual, exact much more than others. An abatement in the price of what articles the people have to difpofe of, at leaft equal to that, muft be in general made; fo that the fituation of the poor people is truly deplorable.
Nor are thefe ftore-keepers fo much to be blamed, as men would in general be difpofed to do, on firft viewing the matter. The expence they muft be at in procuring the articles for fale, muft be uncommonly great; their fales are languid, credits long, and payments precarious. In thefe circumftances, very great apparent profits muft be obtained, before
a
a reafonable profit per annum on the ftock thus employed can be got. A man who turns his money three times a-year, and receives no more than five per cent. profit on each fale, really gains more than another who turns his money only once in three years, tho* he gains forty-five per cent, profit on each fale. Thefe ft ore-keepers, therefore, are under a neceffity of obtaining very great profits on the fale, or be lofers by their trade: it is therefore the circumftances of the country that occafions this mifery, rather than the avarice of individuals; and all parties would be gainers, were thefe circumftances properly altered: nor can the evil here complained of, be in any other way effectually removed f,
I.
See Report, page i$th. The following cafe may ferve as an example and illuftration of what is faid
in
t See this fubjecl more fully explained in the Evidence given before the Committee of Parliament, that follows this Report, towards the beginning of it.
in the text.—About a dozen or fifteen years ago, a gentleman, a principal proprietor in the Highlands, who intended to keep a flock of iheep on his own account, fent for fome perfons of Hull in the rearing of Iheep, to go through his eftate, and choofe a proper place for a fheep-farm. They made choice of one diftricl:, which they thought very proper for the purpofe, and which was of fuch extent as to be capable of keeping, according to their judgment, five thoufand head of flieep throughout the whole year.   Upon enquiry it was found, that this fingle farm was occupied by thirty-two tenants, who paid to the proprietor L.31 : 10 s. Thefe thirty-two families confiifed on an average, of fix perfons each, in all one hundred and ninety-two perfons, whofe bufinefs could all have been performed by little more than the fhepherd and his dog, with occaiional afliftance at times. Few parts of the Highlands are over-ftocked with people to an equal degree as in this example; but there is no doubt that one-tenth part of the prefent inhabitants
bitants would be fufficient to perform all the operations there, were their induftry properly exerted.
K.
See Report, page 33*/. The example adduced in the Report, is one ftriking proof of the utility, the neceffity even, of eftabliihing towns, and of thus opening a ready market for all commodities, in order to excite the induftry of the people of any community, Were the poor people who now live in the Hebrides fcattered in detached hamlets, brought together into one clofe community, it would not only be in the power of the tenants in the neighbouring ifles to fend their produce to that market, where every individual could, without trouble to himfelf, or inconvenience to the feller, purchafe the quantity he Wanted, however fmall it might be ; hut, fhould the fupply thus obtained prove too fcanty, fo as to occafion prices to rife above the average rate of die fur-rounding market, merchants from Liver-Y pool,
t Jo lllufrations of the gMj
pool, Briftol, Clyde, or elfewhere, could eafily fupply the deficiency, which they cannot attempt at prefent. Thus would the inhabitants be infured of always obtaining grain and other neceffaries at the ordinary market price, inftead of paying the exorbitant rates they now are loaded with. The farmer would be certain of a ready market for all his produce, and therefore would be at liberty to exert his induftry to the utmoft *, and every other article, the produce of labour, would find a market equally certain, which would give a fimilar fpur to every other fpecies of induftry.
L.
See Report, page yjth. The following is an account of the fteps neceffary to be obferved by the importers of fait for the curing of fifh, which I received in writing from an experienced bufs-owner, with the expences attending thefe tranfaclions. " When a cargo of foreign fait is imported, a regular entry of it muft be
made
made at the cuftomhoufe, and a duty-paid down, of about twopence halfpenny, or twopence three farthings per bufhel — (This is the duty of cnjlomsJ. A bond muft then be granted (for the txcife-duty, being ten fhillings per bufhel), with furety, as mentioned in the Report, (and the fame muft be underftood of all cuftomhoufe bonds), for which is paid feven fhillings and fixpence. Fees for report, entry, and water-fide officers, on a cargo, will amount to about two guineas, often more. If any of this fait is to be fent to any odier port, a warrant muft be obtained from the cuftomhoufe to fhip that quantity; and after flipping, a coajl-bond muft be granted, obliging themfelves to land it at the port intended : This bond, with other fees, cofts about fifteen fhillings. On the fait arriving at the port where cleared out for, it muft be reported, entered, and again bonded, at the expence of fifteen fhillings more : And after being landed, and perhaps ibid to fome other fim-curer, there muft be an entry made Y 2 m
in a transfer-book kept in the cuftomhoufe ; and the purchafer, on getting the fait into his cuftody, muft again bond it at the expence of feven {hillings and fix-pence more, before'he can clear it out and fhip it. If he ihould carry it to any other port, he muft bond it there alfo, as well as grant another coaft-bond: And thus, as often as it is removed, two bonds muft be granted; and as often as any part of it is fold without being removed, another bond muft be granted.
M If a bufs-owner or fifh-curer intends to fhip fait for the fifhing, he muft have a fufferance to fhip it, and then gets a cocquet, which cofts him about three fhillings and fixpence. If ufed on fifh, and thefe fifh are exported, he pays about twopence a barrel fees ; and if not ufed, he pays only the fees attending the outfit of a. bufs, and her return, which come nearly to two pounds five fhillings, ex-clufive of the bonds. When the bufs-owners get rid of their herrings at the end of the feafon, they fettle their falt-iccompt with every cnftoftihoufe they had
oceafon
occafwn to enter fait or ffij at, whether outwards or inwards. If a balance of fait remains on hand for that feafon, it muff he produced at the cuftomhoufe, entered there afrelh, and mufl be again bonded before the 5th of April annually, under the penalty of twenty millings per bufhel, and feven fhillings and fixpence paid for the bond, as well as feven millings and fixpence, ten fhillings and fixpence, and fometimes as high as twenty-one fhillings, for fettling the old accompt—fometimes thirty-one fhillings and fixpence paid,
" In this manner, thefe bonds ftill hang over the fifh-curer's head; and if the fame fait fhould be kept on hand for twenty years or more, one new bond at leaft mufl be granted for it each year; and if removed twenty times in that year, forty bonds muft be granted for it, at the expence of feven millings and fixpence each, even altho' not one bufliel of it fhould be either fold or ufed during all that time. If, on the other hand, a cargo of fait fhould be landed and bonded by one man, and fold again in
twenty
twenty fmall parcels to twenty other fifh-curers, each purchafer of ever fo fmall a quantity, muff grant a new bond for the quantity he purchafes; and if he removes it to another port, muft alfo grant a coaft-bond, cjfV. as before mentioned; all thefe bonds feven fhillings and fixpence each ; —coaft clearances, three fhillings and fix-pence each;—land-waiters fees, and other expences, from three to four fhillings;—► and expences on fettling his fidt-accompt, from ten to thirty fhillings annually, as above ftated; not to mention his own expences, together with the expence of carrying the balance of his fait to the cuftomhoufe, cifV. cjfV.
" If a veffel containing fait is loft at fea, or at the fifhing, proof muft be made of its being fo loft, before the fait bond can be recovered; and in fome cafes the Commiffioners are fo fcrupulous with refpect to this proof, as to render it next to impoilible to recover the bond, or avoid the penalty it contains."—On this fubject the following cafe was ftated to the Reporter.—
A
A bufs on the fifhing ftation was unfortunately loft, and nothing faved but the lives of the crew.   The mailer went to a Juftice of the Peace, whom he found Htt the neighbourhood where he was, and made oath to the lofs of his veffel, with the fait, &c. on board; but not having faved his papers, he committed a miftake of five or fix bufhels in the quantity of fait on board. This atteftation figned by the Juftice of Peace, was tranfmitted to the Commiffioners, for recovery of the falt-bond. On account of the error, it was returned, to be altered.   The man then went before two Juftices of the Peace, and made oath to the exacl quantity. This atteftation was tranfmitted anew; but returned again as infufficient, it being alledged that the depofition Ihould have been made before a quorum of Juftices ol their quarter fejfions, (fo the law accord-mg to the ftricf letter requires). The mipmafter was gone to fea, and could not be found at that time; and being engaged in the herring-fifhery, it is a thoufand to one if he muft not either
forego
forego a feafon s fifhing, or be brought to pay the penalty of his bond, as he cannot be certain of being home at the precife day the Juftices meet at the quarter feifions.—This is one fmall fpeci-men of the vexatious embarraffments to which poor people are fubjected by thefe bonds: others will probably fall to be afterwards taken notice of.
" No veifel can lend or give fait to any other at the fifhing or otherwife, even though belonging to the fame owners; becaufe the quantity fhipped per cocquet in any veifel, muft be regularly landed at fome cuftomhoufe or other, either on fifh, or not ufed; and if it muft be lent, muft be fo landed and bonded, and again fhipped per cocquet anew. If lent otherwife, the fait and veffel are feizable.
" No fait can be landed, or regularly entered, without warrant, as has been faid, from the cuftomhoufe, and the duty paid down. And in the event of any fiih-curer living at a diftance from a cuftomhoufe, and having a ftore there, he muft bring the mafter of the veffel to the
cuftonv.
cuftomhoufe, be it ever fo far from him, report and enter the cargo, and then a land-waiter is ordered to difcharge the veifel at the moft convenient legal delivering creek within the diftricf of the cuftomhoufe, or at the cuftomhoufe itfelf, as mentioned in the Report, if no nearer iegal delivering creek belongs to it~j*.
" If any merchant fhould purchafe fifh. from a fiih-curer, he muft have a clearance from the cuftomhoufe along widi Z them,
f Many places, even in legal harbours', though convenient enough for unloading veffels, are not within the legal bounds of the harbour, and therefore no good* ean be landed at them.—Thus the new pier on the north fide of the harbour of Campbelton, though a very good place for unloading, is not a legal delivering Place and in like manner, the beft place for a pier at Oban is on the eaft fide of that bay, but not being within the legal bounds of that harbour, cannot be employed as a legal delivering place. It is believed few places among the weftern iflands are legal delivering Creeks; and therefore all veffels muft be entered and difcharged at the cuftomhoufe itfelf: Even where the cafe is otherwife, the hardfhip to the trader is great, as he muft be at the expence of trar.fporting the land-waiter backward and forward to that creek, and fatisfy him befides for his trouble, almoft at what rate he pleafes to demand,
them, be it ever fo far from him, other-wife the fifh are feizable, and the fifh-curer can get no credit for the fait confumed on them. If wanted for home-confhmption, an entry muff alfo be made at the cuftomhoufe accordingly, and the duty of one fhilling per barrel if for Scotland, or three lhiilings and fourpence if for England, be paid, and permit got. If for exportation, they muft alfo be entered as fuch, and the debenture of two fliillings and eightpence per barrel recovered. No fale can be regularly made, nor herrings moved, without 'fuch fteps being previoufly taken."
Many of the above-mentioned reftric-tions feem to be unneceiTary, and have no other tendency but to cramp the fifhing trade in Scotland. Even with regard to England, the people are much more at liberty to act as their intereft prompts them : For, when fiih-curers in England either import or purchafe fait, they have no farther trouble than granting one bond for the quantity laid in; and when fhipping it for the fiihing,
never
Foregoing. Report. 179
never go near a cuflomhonfe; becaufe, by granting bond, they are fully obliged to account for it, under the penalty of ten fliillings per bufhel.   They only give a certificate to the mipmafter, mentioning, that fo much fait is put on board his vef-fejj for the purpofe of curing fifh; which if ufed on fifh, the fifh-curer reports the quantity, and either enters the fifh for home-confumption, and pays the duty, or for exportation, and draws the debenture; and, in either cafe, gets credit in his falt-accompt for the quantity of fait confumed : if not ufed on fifh, he returns his fait to his flore, and his bond remains good as at firft.—Thefe indulgences are great, when compared with the cafe of Scotland; but when it is adverted, that cuftomhoufes afe in all cafes comparatively at hand in England, and at a very great diftance from the people who ought naturally to carry on the fifhings in Scotland, it will appear plain that thefe indulgences were far more re-qtufite in Scotland than in England, as m the laft they could only operate as a Z 2 hardfhip,
hardship, whereas in the fir ft they are no lefs than an abfolttte prohibition.
With regard to the trade in -Hilt from England to Scotland, the rcftraints are equally grievous and impolitic. The beft refined rock-falt is little inferior to-foreign fak for curing fifh. This fait, the Iriih,. Dutch, Swedes, Danes, and others, may purchafe duty-free.   But the Scotch fifhermen, if they purchafe that fait, muft not only give bonds in the fame manner as for other fait, but muft alfo give fecurity, that if that fait is ufed in curing fifh, thefe fifh muft be carried to England before the $th of April next; and if only part ufed, the fifh and remainder of the fait muft be returned; and if no part of the fait is ufed, the whole of it muft be returned.—Thus are the Scotch, fifhers abfolutely debarred from ufing, in any cafe, the Englifh refined rock-falt, which is by far die cheapeft that can be employed in thefe filheries, and therefore they cannot come in competition, on equal terms in this refpect., either with the Iriih, Dutch, Norwegians, or Swedes, all
of
of whom obtain this neceflary article on much ealier terms than they can. Is it a wonder that the Scotch fifheries mould not much profper, when they have been clogged with fo many unreafbnable restraints ?
M.
See Report, page 46th.
It was doubtlefs the intention of the Legiflature, when the feveral bounties were granted to adventurers in the fifheries, that the money paid by Government for bounties fhould go to the immediate profit of thefe adventurers, and nowhere elfe; yet it has fo happened, that, from the numerous and intricate regulations adopted in confequence of thefe bounties, the difficulty of complying with them in all cafes, the extraordinary expence that thefe regulations oc-cafion, the reftraints they impofe, and the loiTes they neceffarily occafion from miftakes, omiffions, and accidents, that bring on ruinous law-fuits, that perhaps n°t one penny of thefe bounties, fince
they
they have been granted, has gone into the pockets of the fiihermcn. The inconveniences arifmg from thefe laws, may he divided into the following claffes: iy?, The great and unneceffary expence they occafion :—
• 2d, The reftraints they impofe on the adventurers with regard to the fifhing, fo as to prevent them from purfuing their own intereft as they otherwife might have done :—
$d, The checks that they give to the trade in this article, fo as to exclude the adventurers from the proper markets :■—
And laflly, The ruin and mifery they produce by multiplied law-fuits, which are, in their circumftances, altogether unavoidable.
As to the firft head, viz. the immediate expence thefe laws occafion—fome fpe-cimens of that have been already adduced. Thefe expences, however, that have been mentioned, affect: thofe only, who, living in the neighbourhood of a cuftomhoufe, are induced to fit out buffes : for, as to the inhabitants of the
Hebrides,
Hebrides, who, from their natural fituation, can alone carry on the fifh-ings with ceconomy, they mufl be here °ut of the queftion; for, the expence to them is fo enormous, as neceffarily to preclude all idea of attempting to derive any benefit from thofe bounties. — In what follows, therefore, on this head, I muft be underftood as confidering only the bufs-fimery.
On the eaft coaft of Scotland, where the bufs-fifhery has been lefs followed than on the weft coaft, and where, it is probable, the cuftomhoufe-fees on that head are lefs properly regulated, I have been allured, that thefe fees, on the outfit of a veffel of thirty tons burthen, have in fome cafes amounted to upwards °f L. 7 ; the bounty on that veffel was & 45: So that here, at one haul, above one-lixth of that bounty is fwallowed up in the cuftomhoufe. This part, therefore, is furely a mere ufelefs expenditure of the public treafure.
The numerous bonds already mentioned, arc another drain that carry oft
a
184 Ulufrations of the
a great part of the bounty, without benefiting the adventurers.
But a ftill heavier expence, which falls equally under the fccond head, is occafioned by the time that is needlefsly fpent each year in going to a particular port to rendezvous, after they have cleared out from another. This, on an average, cannot be accounted, when both outgoing and returning is included, at lefs than one month's delay; and as the failing expence of a bufs of thirty tons burthen is about L. 20 a-month, this article alone fwallows up nearly one-half of the bounty.
Another reftraint which is little lefs hurtful, perhaps more fo, is, that when a bufs goes out on the herring- fifhery, fhe is precluded from taking lines or hooks, or on any occafion following any other bufinefs but the herring-fifhery alone. But it often happens that thefe buries lie for many weeks without falling in with the herrings; during all which time, the men are entirely idle, and only heaping up expences oh the
under-
undertaker's head. But during that time, they are for the moft part cruifing in feas where cod, and ling, fun-fiih, whales, dog-fiih, mackarel, and other fifh that follow the herrings, could be caught in abundance; at which work, had they lines, and were they at liberty to ufe them, the hands might be employed with profit to the owners, and benefit to the nation; as they would.be at all times ready to engage in the herring-fifhery, by laying afide their lines, and employing their nets whenever the flioal call up.
Another heavy expence to the undertakers, as well as national lofs, arifing from the bounty, is occafioned by the law which ordains, that all the hands nvuft pafs mufter at the cuftomhoufe, both before they fet fail, and after they return. In confequence of that regulation, the owners muft give food and wages to at leaft double, for the moft part three times the number of hands that are neceffary for navigating the vef-fel> during the whole time of the voyage A a to
to and from the fiihing-lochs, where hands could in general be obtained at lefs expence than at the port. Thefe hands are thus cooped up idle, for no purpofe ; and during a throng fifhery, as foon as the veifel has compleated her cargo, they mufl leave it to loiter in idle-nefs ; whereas, had they been at liberty to remain, they might have catched, during that time of idlenefs, perhaps the amount of many cargoes of herrings.
Thefe are a few of the expenfive reftraints to which the owners of buffes are fubjected during the fiihing itfelf. The bars to the difpofal of their fiih, occafioned by thefe laws, are not much lefs to be complained of.
By the law, a veifel on the bounty muft continue on the fiihing ground for three months, if fhe has not fooner compleated her cargo; and ihould fhe have caught nine-tenths of her cargo during the firft week, fhe is not at liberty to difcharge a fingle barrel till the three months are expired ; and as the firft day of rendezvous is at prefent the firft of
Auguft,
Auguft, (which, in the opinion of moft of the fiihermen, is eight or nine weeks too ^te), it frequently, indeed ufually happens, that, before they can return to Port, and get their fifh ready for fale, the Weft-India fhips are failed, and muft take in their loading in Ireland, which, in thefe cafes, they purchafe at a higher price than they could have had them tor at home: but, had the fifhermen been allowed to land any part of this cargo, as foon as-they found it ready, they could in general not only reach the Clyde market in time with a great part °f their herrings, but, in many cafes, they could even be fent to Liverpool and Briftol, in time to overtake their Weft-India fhips.   By this means, the fifhermen would not only obtain a ready fale ^and good prices, but they would avoid glutting the market fo much as they often do at prefent, after the Weft-India fleet is failed.
To this head belongs another reftric-tion arifing from the falt-laws, with re-fpecl: to the fale of dried cod, and other A a 2 dlT
188 llluf rations of the fJVLJ
dry fiih.    By the law now in force, white herrings cured  with foreign or Scotch fmall fait carried out duty-free for the fiihery, may be entered for home-confumption, on  paying  one milling per barrel in Scotland, and three {hillings and fourpence in England ; whereas ling, cod, tuik, and hake, cured,with the fame fait, are not by law admitted to be fold or entered for home-confump-tion.   But it is known by fatal experience, to be very prejudicial to the adventurers in the ling and cod fifheries upon thefe coafts, to be obliged to export their fifh to foreign markets, where they are fold at a lofing price, when the British market had little or none of this kind to fupply their demand.—This re-ftriction on the Britifh fifhermen feems to be the more unreafonable, when it is confidered, that veffels cleared out for the Iceland or North-Sea fiihery, are allowed to carry out fait duty-free for the ling and cod fifhery, and, on their return to port, are exempted from paying duty for the fifh fo caught.—And why this
diftincfion
diftinction againft the fifhers on our coafts ? They are, however, in this cafe, obliged either to pay the duty for what fait returns unufed, or to deftroy it at the fight of the cuftomhoufe-officer.— Why, again, in this cafe, fubjecl: the fifhermen to the lofs of their fait, when it might be fafely lodged under the key of the cuftomhoufe-officers, till ufed ?
With regard to the diftrefs brought upon individuals by law-fuits, in confequence of thefe falt-laws, it would fill a volume to recite them. But, were a bare lift of the profecutions raifed on this account fince the commencement of the bounty-laws, to be produced, it would ftrike the mind of every attentive obferver with horror. In thefe cafes, the mifcarriage of a letter (and to places where no regular poft goes, this muft frequently happen), die careleffnefs of an ignorant fhipmafter, the miftake of a clerk in office, or other circumftances equally trivial, often involve a whole mduftrious family in ruin. There are inftances of men being brought to Edinburgh,
burgh, from many hundred miles diftance, to the neglect of their own affairs, merely becaufe of fome neglect or omiftion of fome petty clerk in office, which, when rectified, brings no other relief, fave a permillion to return home, with no farther load of debt but the ex- » pence of fuch a journey, and the lofs it has occafioned.   But, fhould the cafe be otherwife, and fhould the miftake have been committed by the poor countryman, tho* that miftake originated from ignorance only, or was occafioned by the lofs of a letter in going to places where no regular pofts are eftablifhed, he becomes loaded with additional burdens, which in many cafes all his future induftry and care will never enable him to difcharge f.
From
f On this occafion we may remark, that tho' the law is the fame with regard to fait in England and in Scotland ; yet, in England, fo many eafes are given ro fifhermen, in the execution of the law, when compared with Scotland, that it appears quite a different fyftem, and is there productive of very little inconvenience. In Scotland, many actions are carried on every year with refpect to falt-bonds : In England, when the Committee
From a confideration of thefe circumftances, fome of the beft informed fiiher-men are much difpofed to petition Parliament rather to charge the full duty 011 all fait ufed in the filheries, and allow a freedom from thefe cruel reftraints, than to grant the exemption from duty on the prefent terms f. This requeft fhows at leaft the ftrong fenfe they entertain of the hardfhips to which they are fubjected by thefe laws; tho' they do not feem fufliciently to advert to other confequences that would refult from this meafure: For, as the Dutch and Iriih, and all other competitors in the fiihing bufinefs, are exempted from the high duties they would pay on fait, the Bri-tiih filhermen would thus be rendered
unable
tce of Fifheries required a lift of the number of actions °n that account, which had been there carried on fince the law for encouraging the filheries commenced, the return was only ONE.—Alas ! poor Scotland, how are % people harraffed !
t At prefent, even fait that has paid duty, if carried out in a fhip to the fifheries, muft be bonded, and is liable to the fame regulations as duty-free fait; fo that unlefs an exprefs law be made for difpcnfing with thefe ,-egulations, they will always be infilled on*
unable to compete with them in foreign markets, and the fiihing, under that fevere check, could not flourifhj-. In general, however, the bulk of the nfhermen feem to think of no other remedy, but to obtain an augmentation of the bounty, and fome little eafe with regard to fome of the reftriclive regulations concerning fait, without feeming to think it is poflible to remove thofe radical evils that fo much tend to diminifh their profits at prefent, or to throw that bufinefs into fuch a train as to enable die great body of the people in the Hebrides to follow it on their own account with vigour and profit. il§ixi t»:ii moii l>^moJC^,i|||Mp^i^| j   .     : . •    1 N.
See Report, page 54/^.
It is difficult for men who have been accuflomed always to Jive in an improved, commercial, and populous country, to form an idea of the ftate of a country
that
f Foreign fait duty-free to the Irifh, Dutch, &c. coftsper bufhel of fifty-fix pounds, about one (hilling; ditto paying the duties in Britain, amounts to eight fhillings j—difference as eight to one.
that does not polTefs thefe advantages. One who from his earlieft infancy has been accuftomed to fee a good road, on which he could travel with eafe from place to place, has no notion of the circumftances of thofe who cannot find a poffibility of going a few miles from home without great difficulty and danger. One who fees waggons and other carriages palling his door every day, in which any kind of goods, whether they be cheap and bulky, or fmall and valuable, can be fafely and expeditiouiiy fent at a trifling expence, can form no idea of the difficulty and expence of fending on purpofe with every feparate parcel, where no opportunity occurs of fending it along with others. A letter, for example, can eafily be conveyed from London to Edinburgh, by poll, for feven-pence; but if it were to be fent on purpofe by itfelf, where no roads had been made, no towns formed, nor places where horfes could be hired, it would coft five hundred, perhaps five thoufand times that fum. A fmall box may be B b eafily
tCjq. fllujlratioiis of the [q/r
eafily fent from Leith to London for a milling ; but the freight of a veiTel to go with that, if it had nothing to bring back in return, would coff perhaps a thoufand times that fum. But if there was only a fingle perfon living in Edinburgh or Leith, and no- commerce,, or roads or towns in the way, that letter, or that box, mult either remain unfent, or the heavy expence of fending them alone be born with. — This may ferve to give fome idea of the bars that interrupt the progrefs of induftry and commerce in thofe countries f.
o.
See Report, page 56/^.
The canal mentioned in the Report, would be of very great benefit to that country, in feveral refpects. In the frjl place, were it hniihed, it would open a direct communication between all the countries round Lochiel and Lochaber, and the fea at Loch-Moidart; and of courfe would open a direct communication with Cannay, Uift, Skye, and all
the
f See the Preface, Art. Revenue.
the beft fiihing ftations on the weft coaft ; fo that the people about Fort-William and adjacent countries, coulcl enter into that fiihing with freedom, if they fo inclined.
In the next place, it deferves to be remarked, that on the fhores about Loch-Moidart, there are found abundant beds of Ihell-fand, which could thus be carried in boats to many extenfive fields in Lochaber, which by that means could be highly improved, and rendered of great value to the proprietors, at a fmall expence; but which never can be improved at a moderate expence, in any other way that lias yet been difcovered* Oil the other hand, the fir-woods diat come down from Loch-Arkeck and Loch-hochy, which are fo much wanted in me weftern iilands, but which cannot be carried thither at prefent, fave by a long navigation round Morven and Ardnamurchan by the Sound of Mull, could be carried down by the return of thefe boats at a fmall expence, to the Vcry near neighbourhood of Skye, and B b 2 other
other iflands in that part of the country. This would tend much to facilitate the improvement of thefe parts.
P.
See Report, page $~jth. Opinions differ with regard to the expediency of the propofed canal at Tarbat or at Crinan, fome perfons thinking the one, and fome the other, would be moft expedient. On this fubjecl:, however, after having examined both places, and confulted Mr Watt's eftimate of the ex-pence of both canals, I think there is no room for hefitating about that to which the preference fhould be given in point of national utility. The canal at Crinan lies directly in the track from the Clyde to the North Highlands. The fame wind that favours the navigation in one part of this courfe, favours it through the whole; whereas that of Tarbat lies out of the track, and requires a different wind in one place, from that which would answer in all other parts of it. This cir-cumftance alone, is with me entirely de-
cifive
cifive as to the national utility: and as to the difference in the expence between the two, it is fo fmall as to deferve no attention in a work of fuch great utility. Were that at Tarbat finifhed at this moment, I do not conceive that it would prevent „ the other from being executed; and in that cafe, the inconveniences occafioned by the Tarbat canal, would perhaps equal the benefits that would accrue from it.
See Report, page 60th The neceffity of this road, or even the utility of it, will not perhaps appear obvious at firft fight; but a little reflection upon the fubjecl, will tend to make it apparent.
In opening a communication between different places in diftant parts of the country, the eafieft way, it has been found by experience, is to eftablifh one direct road leading from the moft diftant parts to the metropolis, and opening lateral communications to that road from all other places as it paffes them.   By this
means,
means, one poll: travelling along the great road, fupplies the whole; and there arc only lateral polls wanted from the principal places on each fide of it, to that principal road. Hence it will follow, that if the principal road is as near the different places as may be, the expence of the lateral polls will be as fmall as poflible, and vice verfa.
At prefent, the only great poll-road thro' Scotland northward, is from Edinburgh by Perth, Aberdeen, Invernefs, &c. Now, any-one who looks at the map of Scotland, will perceive, that this line is as far removed from the well coait as it can pofhbly be, and by courfe, that every lateral poll leading to it from thence, mufl go acrofs the whole ifland, the ex-pence of which is fo great as to prevent a poflibility of making many of them; fo that few places can have polls at all, and no direct communication at all can be carried on by poll between places very near each other.
Let it, for example, be fuppofed, that a man in Loch-Yew was to fend a letter to
another
another in Loch-Broom, the direct diftance being about twenty miles ; that letter muft firft travel to Edinburgh, and from thence be returned to Loch-Broom, a diftance of near a thoufand miles going and returning, in travelling which fpace near a fortnight muft elapfe; and the fame thing muft happen by the prefent courfe of poft between any two places fituate twenty or thirty miles fouth and north of each other in all thofe regions. The confequence is, that their only correfpondence is confined to accidental opportunities of meeting with veffels failing along the coaft, or exprefs boats fent on purpofe. So long as things fliall remain on this footing, the people muft remain in a great meafure ftrangers to the ftate of each other, unacquainted with their refpective wants, and unable to relieve them. But, were a road made, leading from Fort-William along the Weft coaft from fouth to north, as near tne coaft as poffible, fo as to keep free of ferries, to go forward till it reached '•fhurfo on the eaft coaft, and to have a
branch
branch from Fort-William directly to Inverary, it would neceffarily happen, that all the packet-boats from the weft coaft, to any of the iflands, would have a very direct communication with that road. And if pofts were regularly traveling on it, the time neceffary for corresponding between any of thofe iflands and Edinburgh, would be much fhorten-ed, and intelligence could be thus quickly, and at a trifling expence, conveyed along the coaft from place to place everywhere: fo that if a great take of fifh eaft up in any one loch, intelligence of it would quickly be conveyed to every other loch; and a veffel in any one place could know with certainty, in a very fhort time, not only of one place in which the herrings had appeared, but of every place in which they had been feen, and the fize of the body of fifh that had been difcovered. He could thus direct his courfe immediately to the place which beft fuited his purpofe, without danger of being milled.
At
At prefent, jfifhermen complain, that tven when expreffes are fent on the bufinefs of fiihing, the intelligence is not conveyed to all, but only to fuch as the perfons employed think proper. This objection muft ever lie againft private intelligence. A public poft cannot be made, in this manner, the tool of a monopoly:—— Befides, though fifti may eaft up in one loch, from whence an exprefs is fent, they may alfo be in another in greater quantities, or nearer at the time, from which no news have come:—veffels may be thus milled, and drawn away from the beft fiihery, to one that is much worfe.— Too many may be thus induced to croud together into one place, fo as to occa-fion great diforder, and many inconveniences ; all which would be obviated by a daily correfpondence by poft; which might eafily be eftabliihed, were a road carried in the direction here propofed.
From thefe, and other obvious con-fiderations, I was extremely folicitous, when on that coaft, to difcover if a road Sould be formed, that would be tolerably C c level,
level, in the direction propofed; but as it goes directly acrofs the general ridges of hills, all the inhabitants concurred in telling me, it would be a matter of great difficulty, if not impraaicable.   I cannot, however, be eafily fatisfied that it would be impracticable, if a perfon well-fkilled in matters of this kind were to furvey the country; for, I have feldom feen a ridge of hills, of very great length, without fome practicable opening winding thro* them, on which a horfe-path at leait could be formed. I therefore would propofe, that a premium Ihould; be offered to the perfon who ihould difcover the belt courfe of a practicable horfe-road (I do not infift on a road for carriages) in the direction propofed.
But, if after all it fhould be found that no horfe-road could be there obtained, I mould not, from that circumltance, abandon the idea of having a port elta-blilhed in that direction. Men to run could there be found, who would go fhort ftages very quickly; and were the poft to go every day (Sundays not excepted);,
cepted), the mails would be light, and the fame man could always go and return the fame ft age in the fame day, fo that he would become perfectly acquainted with every ftep of the road in a very ihort time. During very violent falls of fnow, the poft might indeed be a few days interrupted; but that ufually happens at a feafon of the year when the interruption could be eaiieft born with.
As to the idea of roads being formed there for the purpofe of driving weighty carriages, or for conveying uncured fiih from place to place along them, as one gentleman feems to apprehend; it is too abfurd, as I ihould think, ever to have entered into the thought of any man who had the fmalleft claim to be con-fidered as a rational creature.
r.
See Report, page 6$tb.
' It muft here be remarked, that in no branch of revenue, is the difference between the grofs amount and the net produce fo great as in the fajt-duties; the
C c 2 grots
grofs amount being in England about L. 900,000, and in Scotland L. 36,000; the net produce in England about L. 250,000, and in Scotland L. 11,000 per annum: So that above two-thirds of the grofs revenue is dellroyed in the ex-pence of management, and in drawbacks. Much therefore is paid, which does not come in to the public treafury.
It will perhaps be faid, that, no part of what goes under the name of drawback^ is paid by Britifh fubjedts; yet it will be no difficult matter to ihow, that, in the prefent cafe, nearly as much is actually paid by the fubjeefs of Britain, as the whole of the grofs revenue ftated in the accompt, even when the whole of the drawback (lands as a part of it.
Thofe who are not in the fecrets of certain trades, can never explain clearly the way in which frauds on the revenue are committed; though, when a man is in polTeffion of certain facts, he may be able to demonftrate, with the moft undeniable clearnefs, that fome kinds of fraud muft be committed, to a certain
amount.
amount. A man, for example, who knows that about 20,000 hogfheads of tobacco are annually confumed in Britain, and that the revenue arifing from that article amounts only to about L. 300,000 per annum, (which is not quite equal to the duty of 5000 hogiheads), mull: know, that, by one mean or other, three hogsheads nearly are clandeilinely imported, for every one that pays duty.
In like manner, a man who knows the quantity of fait that is on an average confumed by each individual during a year, and alfo knows the number of perfons nearly who are in the ifland, can eafily afcertain with tolerable exactnefs, what is the quantity of fait confumed in the ifland, without having recourfe to the falt-accompts.
On this principle, I find, upon enquiry at many attentive houfeholders, that the average quantity of fait actually confumed in an ordinary family, amounts to nearly two pecks, or half-a-builiel of fifty-flx pounds weight to each perfon in
one
one year %   But, as this quantity rifes very high, let the quantity ufed on food be taken only at one peck and a-half each, and then the quantity confumed would be as under, taking the number of people in England and Wales at eight millions, and thofe of Scotland at two millions; both which computations, there is good reafon to think, are rather below than above the truth.—Eight millions of perfons in England, confuming twenty-one pounds of fait each, would, in one year, make ufe of three millions of bufhels; which, at five fhillings per bufhel, (die prefent duty in England), is L. 750,000. In Scotland, two millions of people, at the fame rate, would ufe 750,000 bufhels; which, at one fhilling and fixpence per bufhel,  gives  L. 56,250.    The whole money, therefore, paid by the people of Britain for falt-duties, actually muft amount to L. 806,250; or, taking it at a round fum, to upwards of L. 800,000;
for
.f It is to be obferved, that the fait ufed in bread, and falted provifions if any are ufed in the family, fhould be taken into this accompt.
for fait ufed on provifions, beiides what is ufed in manufactures, and for glau-ber falts, mineral alkali, &c. which may be rated fafely at L. 50,000, — in all L. 850,000. Of this fum it appears that only L. 250,000 is paid in to the Exchequer in England, and L.i 1,000 nearly in Scotland,—in all L. 261,000: So that the people actually pay very near four times as much on account of this tax, as goes to the revenue.
What, it will be faid, becomes of the refidue? The anfwer is plain—It goes into the pockets of fmugglers,—a fet of men who are equally deflructive to the fair trader, and detrimental to the pub-he, by appropriating to themfelves that: money which ought to defray the expences of the State, the deficiency of which mufl be made up by fome other tax. If ever this tax fhall be repealed, therefore, it mufl follow, diat all thofe perfons who at prefent profit in any way by this clandefline trade, will be loud in their clamours with a view to fruflrate
any
e68 UlujlraUons of the fR.]
any plan that may be thought of for raifl ing a revenue equivalent to the amount of the falt-tax, as they mull well know, that their unjuft profits will be annihilated, as foon as it lhall be adopted. But, ihould the Legiflaturc impofe any othev tax in its flead, that would be eafy to collect, and which fhould not prefs unequally on individuals, and not be liable to evafions, it is fufhciently plain, from the foregoing confiderations, that if no more revenue fhould be raifed by it than the net revenue arifing from the falt-duties at prefent, the whole body of the people would be great gainers by the exchange.   For, if the people in Britain confume at prefent as much fait as fhould pay to Government about L. 850,000 of duty, (and the confumers pay the fame, or very near the fame price as if it all paid duty), and Government nets only L. 261,000, it is plain, that i£ inftead of that falt-duty, they paid, by another tax, the fum of L. 260,000, they would, by this exchange, fave five hundred
dred and ninety thoufand pounds per annum. When individuals are to be fuch gainers, and the revenue to lofe nothing by a meafure that would be productive of fuch very eflential benefits to commerce, manufactures, and fifheries, as this meafure would obvioufly be, it is fcarcely to be fuppofed that fuch a falu-tary meafure would be rejected by the Legiflature of this country, becaufe a few intereited individuals ihould induf-triouily employ their emiffaries to raife a clamour againft it.
Of all the kinds of taxes which can be propofed, thofe which are levied upon consumable commodities, are the molt hable to efcape the notice of the perfon who pays them, and are at the fame time the moil liable to frauds upon the people, (lor I choofe to ftate it fo, rather than call it by the lefs exceptionable, though lefs juit name of frauds upon the re-Venue), than any others. Hence it happens, that whenever a tax is impofed on articles of this kind, the confumer is not only obliged to pay to the perfon who D d fecretly
.216 lllujlratiom of the [R.]
fecretly evades the duty, the fame rate he ought to have paid to Government; but in moil cafes he is charged befides with an additional price, equal to five or fix times the amount of the duty charged to Government.  The instances of this kind are fo numerous, and fo obvious to every perfon, as not to require to be here pointed out.   The natural inference to be drawn from this remark is, that con-fumable articles of neceffary ufe among the lower ranks of people, ought not to be charged with duties by Government; becaufe this, in all cafes, subjects the people to a very heavy aifeffment, without affording an adequate aid to Government.    And as fait is a neceffary that cannot be difpenfed with by the pooreit people, and is befides an article of great ufe in agriculture, and a variety of other manufactures; and as the trade in this article is exceedingly liable to frauds, it mufl, in found policy, be deemed an object extremely improper for taxation. And though it mufl be owned, that nations whofe rulers neither attend to the
dictates
dictates of humanity, nor principles of found policy, have chofen to tax this fub-ftance merely becaufe it cannot be dif-penfed with by any-one; yet the hardships to which this tax fubjects die whole body of the people, and the civil difor-ders it occafions in the State, ferve very effectually to point it out as a tax exceedingly pernicious and impolitic. From thefe confiderations, it will well become the enlightened Legiflators of Britain, to fet the example to all furrounding nations, of firft deliberately freeing their people from this cruel, impolitic, and unproductive tax.
Should the Legillature refolve upon tins meafure, which I cannot doubt of, they ought at the fame time to guard againft an evil that may be expected to flow from it. Thofe who have been fo long accuftomed to rob their fellow fubject s, under the pretext of paying a high duty to the King, will feel no fcruples of confeience in continuing the fame practice under any other pretext they can de-vife: and as it is ufual when a new duty D d 2 is
is impofed on articles of this nature, for dealers to charge three or four times the amount of that duty on the articles they fell; fo it may be expected, that if a duty is taken off, they will endeavour to apply the fame rule, and lower the price of the commodity only one-third or one-fourth the amount of the duty that is taken off. Should this be permitted in an article of fuch general ufe as fait, the intention of this wife alteration would be fruftrated, and the people would ftill, without any reafon for it, be loaded with a very heavy tax. Care, therefore, fhould be taken in framing the law effectually to guard againft this abufe, which might be done by a few fimple regulations which it is unneceffary here particularly
to fpecify.
I do not confider it as falling within my province, in this public manner, to point out a lefs objectionable tax that might be adopted, to yield a revenue equal to the net produce of the falt-duties. But, fhould this meafure be ever ferioufly intended to be carried into
practice,
practice, (and I have no hefitation in ikying, that till the falt-duties are taken off, it is in vain ever to think of efla-bliihing an important fiihery on the Bri-tiih coaits), there will be no difficulty in finding a tax to be adopted which cannot be evaded; which will not be felt as fevere by the pooreft perfon in the ifland, and which can be liable to no abufe in the collection, nor other frauds by which the money paid by the fubject will be diverted from going directly into the coffers of the public.  What an immenfe fum of money would be faved to the in-dultiious people of this ill and, were all the taxes on other neceffary articles of consumption taken off, and other taxes of the fame nature with that here alluded to adopted in their ltead f! Were the
good
t It is ftrange to fee the general favour that the people bear to thofe manufacturers, who they know fall upon means to evade payment of any one article of ^ut7, without ever confidering that thefe manufacturers as effectually rob their fellow-fubjects of that him, as if they put their hand into their neighbours Pocket, and took the money away: For every pound of
candles
214 Mlufrations ofthe [p^j
good effects of one fuch falutary change experienced, it might gradually pave the way for that of others.
Among the benefits that would refuk to Britain from the abolition of the falt-duties, one of the firft that would be felt, would be the enabling her own people to fupply her navies and fhips, &c. with fait provifions, which for many years pail have been obtained from Ireland, in confequence of that abfurd bounty already fpecified which has been granted by us to Ireland, to give them a monopoly in this branch of trade againft ourfelves. In confequence of that monopoly, Britain imports from Ireland annually about 78,000 barrels of beef, and 48,000 barrels of pork, befides butter and other faked provifions, the value of which, if
reckoned
candles that a manufacturer fecrets, he obtains from the confumer twopence more than its juft price, which goes into his pocket without paying any value for it, and comes out of the pocket of the purchafer without any equivalent given in exchange, as he muft inevitably pay that twopence over again to make up the deficiency of the tax. The fame may be faid of every other fhnilar cvafion.
reckoned only at three pounds per barrel, amounts to L. 3 69,000 per annum ; and this not reckoning what is taken in by Britifh veffels for fhip-flores in Ireland, the amount of which I have not been able to afcertain, but which mufl probably be more than that which is imported directly into Britain. To obtain a branch of trade of fo great national value, and one of fo much importance to the landed and mercantile interefls of Britain, well deferves the ferious attention of the Legiflature of this ifland, and would alone authorife a much bolder meafure than that propofed, were no other confequences to refult from it.
But the trade in falted provifions, great as it is, is not the only benefit that would refult to Britain, in refpect to her commerce with Ireland, from the abolition of the falt-duties. Ships which are under a neceffity of touching at Ireland to take m the important article of falted meat, delay taking on board all other flores that can be purchafed at a lefs, or even equal price in Ireland, than they can be
had
Iiad for in Britain, which tends yet farther to diminifh the trade and manufactures, and to injure the revenue of Britain: But, could falted provifions be had equally good and cheap at home as in Ireland, it would not be worth while in moit cafes, for a veffel to lofe time to flop at Ireland to take in the articles of lefs confequence, which might be obtained a fmall matter cheaper in Ireland. Thefe articles, therefore, would be taken on board in Britain alfo; and thus our revenue and trade would be augmented by their consumption, inftead of that of a foreign State.
We ought alfo farther to advert, that, in confequence of our prefent falt-laws, a very great trade is carried on from Ireland to Britain (and the fame may be faid from Norway and Sweden to our northern iflands), in fmuggled fait. An innumerable multitude of fmall boats are constantly employed in this trade, by which they are chiefly fupported. It is this which forms their cargo ; but along with it, many other articles of
value,
value, and fmall bulk, are fent to every part of our coaft, which never could be brought thither, were it not for die opportunities that readily offer, of fending them fo eafily by the falt-boats. This fait bufinefs, therefore, lays the fure foundation of a very extenfive fmuggling trade on all our coaft, in a variety of articles which could not be carried on without it.—Annihilate that trade, and the other muft fall of courfe.
From thefe considerations, I am fati£ ned, that if the falt-duties in Britain were abolifhed, diough no other tax were adopted in its Head, the revenue of this nation would not be in the fmalleft degree diminifhed; far lefs could that diminution be experienced, were another lefs objectionable tax, that would produce an equal free revenue, adopted in its ftead. I cannot, therefore, bring myfelf to believe, that the nation will hefitate about approving of this propofal, whenever it fhall come to be coolly considered.
Ee
It
R 2.
to Report, page 6$tb.
It occurs to every perfon who thinks about the means of improving the fifh-erics, that the benefits would be great^ were ilores of cafk and fait laid up in convenient places along thefe coalls: And many perfons confidcr this as a matter fo eafy and obvious, that they make light of every difficulty ; and imagine, that by this fingle improvement, which might, as they think, be carried into practice a3 foon almoft as it could be thought of, the fifhermen.Would have every advantage they could reafonably wilh for. It is, however, molt certain, that the prefent (late of that country does not admit of this improvement at all, and that, till the fituation of the inhabitants be altered, it is altogether impracticable.
The falt-laws are, in thefrf place, an unfuperable bar to fuch a plan. While thefe fubfift, no man can fell fait for the purpofe of the filheries, in fmall quantities ; and in the iflands, at a diftance
from
from the cuftomhoufe, it cannot be fold at all in fuch a way as could benefit the filheries ; as has been already fhown.
But even were the falt-laws altered in this refpect, it does not appear how it would be poffible, as things are now cir-cumftanced, to eftablifh fuch ftores as would afford the relief wanted.   It has been already fhown, that herrings come in at times in fuch quantities to particular lochs, as that many thoufand barrels might be catched in a very fhort time:— And as the time of their arrival is altogether uncertain, and their continuance there equally precarious,—to anfwer the purpofe wanted, on a coaft where no regular conveyance from place to place is eftablifhed, it would be neceffary to have a ftore of immenfe magnitude eftablifhed at each fifhing-loch upon the coaft, to be ready to anfwer the demand whenever that fhould happen.   But as it fret-~ quently happens, that many years elapfc before fuch an abundant fifhing caffs up m any one loch, the immenfe ftores thus accumulated, would be allowed to lie E e 2 during
during all that time, as a dead and decaying flock. So that, tho' individuals fhould be found, who could at firft command a flock fufhcient for that purpofe (and fuch individuals could not be met with in thefe countries), what man could afford to lie out of his money fo long ? No profit in trade that can be named, would be fufficient to indemnify him.— Such a flore, therefore, cannot be eftablifhed by individuals : And no man of common fenfe would ever propofe that Government fhould furnifh them. The propofal would be too abfurd to merit any anfwer.
From thefe considerations it will appear, that however plaufible fuch a plan may feem at the firft glance, it is, when examined, altogether impracticable; and that no effectual ftores can ever be there obtained to anfwer the purpofe wanted, till a general brifk intercourfe for the exchange of commodities fhall be eftablifhed between different places along that coaft; in which cafe, without being under the neceffity of accumulating fuch
wasteful
wafteful ftores, a fupply fufficient to anfwer the demand, however great it might £>e, could quickly be brought to the place where it was wanted. I fhall foon have occafion to fhow how that intercourfe may be eftablifhed. — It is only neceffary further to obferve in this place, that the propofal in the Report, as it is calculated to promote that intercourfe, could only be reckoned beneficial in as far as that intercourfe was fuppofed to be eftablifhed. Let us, however, fuppofe that large towns were there eftablifhed—an univerfal circulation of intelligence would be the firft confequence, and a general commercial intercourfe the next, that would be felt among the whole. If a fhoal of herrings fet in to any one bay, it would immediately be known, and it would at the fame time be known if they were to be had on any other part of the coaft; all the owners of veffels would therefore know whither to repair. Should the fifhing be fo great as to endanger a fcarcity of fait, merchants would immediately obtain
fupplies
£24 tlhijlratwns of the [R 2.]
fupplies from all thofe places on the coaft where there were no timing at the time ; and fupplies would be ordered from all other places, fo that the quantity could not be exhaufted.—The fame thing may be faid of barrels. But in cafe it ihould be found that thefe could not be got fo quickly as they were wanted, joiners and carpenters would be employed to make great vats to anfwer the fudden emergency, in which the nfh could be packed, where they could remain to be properly pined: And in the mean time, many barrels from various quarters would come in, fo as to allow the herrings to be packed when ready for that purpofe:—Some alfo would be pined in clofe-decked veffels, in bulk, and fent coaft wife to large places, where part of them might be fold, and the remainder barrelled up. In this way, a hundred times more herrings might, in fome cafes, be catched than can be done at prefent, by die fame number of people ; and therefore they could be fold, with profit, at a much fmaller price than that for which they can be now afforded.
Among
S.
See Report, page J2d.
Among thefe conditions the moft important is, that the proprietor fhall engage to furnifh to each fettler, for the firft feven years after this eftablifhment, if the perfon choofes to receive it, one Scots pint (two Englifh quarts) of un-fkimmed fweet milk, of a good quality, each day between the firft day of May and the firft of November, at a ftipulated price, not exceeding one penny per pint; and from the firft of November to the firft of May, one chopin (one quart Englifh) per day, at a price not exceeding one penny. The feuar in this cafe to have an option to difcontinue it for fix
months, at any of the terms above . mentioned, upon giving one month's previous notice of his intention to the proprietor, or any perfon he fhall entruft with the management of this department; tt being always under flood, that if no fuch intimation be given, the feuar intends to continue it, and fhall therefore
be
be obliged to pay for it at the rate above mentioned.
I know not a ftipulation of more in-difpenfible neceflity than the above, tho' it will be confidered by many as ridiculous, and by others will be accounted fo troublefome to the proprietors as to require to be omitted. I trull, however, that, when it is duly confidered, it will neither be found ridiculous in the eyes of any-one, nor in the fmallell degree troublefome to the proprietor, but rather highly beneficial to him.
When a poor family is fettled in any place, milk is fo neceffary for children, and fo ufeful as an article of diet for old people (beer cannot there be had), that no family can poffibly do without it. To obtain this neceffary article, it is invariably the practice in country-places for every family to haye a cow, without which it is thought they could not poifi-bly fubhil. To obtain food for this cow, they are under a neceffity of farming fome land; the digging of which, and the tending this fingle cow, takes
up
tip as much of their time as to prevent them from benefiting themfelves by more productive induftry.   The purchasing of this cow alfo, and the flocking the land that is neceffary for her fubfiftence, ex-haufts fo much of their little ftock, as to render them exceffively poor; and the rent they are obliged to pay for that land, keeps them for ever in the fame ftate—The milk that is thus obtained for their family, is purchafed at a price ten times more than its worth; and,on this account,their whole life is fpent in mifery and want. a plan, therefore, which propofes to free them from this intolerable grievance, can afford no juft fubject for ridicule.
Every perfon I have consulted upon this fubjed, agrees in thinking, that nothing proves fuch an obftrudion to the fifheries, as the operations and the Cares of agriculture, nor a greater bar to the progrefs of agriculture than the fifheries, where both are practifed by the fame perfon. It is therefore univerfally admitted, that if thefe arts are to be carried to perfection, they muft be carried Ff on
on as. dillinct profeflions.   The farmer muil have nothing to do with the filheries, nor the filherman any immediate concern in the operations of agriculture. But, how is it poflible to effed this, in the fituation here fuppofed, fo eafily, or effectually, as by the mode here pre-fcribed ? The filherman would thus* enjoy this indifpenfible neceffary of lifev without being under any temptation to engage in agriculture ; and the farmer, by having an extenfive market provided for this ufeful product of his farm, would find fufficient employment at all times, at his own bufinefs, to prevent him from ever thinking of engaging perfonally in the cares of the fifheries.  Thus would be at once drawn that neceffary line of partition between the two bufineffes, which has been often attempted by more complicated regulations in vain, by which they would for ever afterwards be continued as diltinct and feparate employments.
It will already, I hope, appear plainly enough, that there is no room to apprehend
hend that this ftipulation would prove inconvenient to the landlord. No fooner would fuch a market be provided for this product of the farm, than many men, feeing the profit that would refult from it, would be emulous of obtaining the privilege of fupplying this article: And as the demand would be fteady, and* the money that could thus be drawn from the fame quantity of forage in this way, would be much more than can be obtained in any other way in thofe countries, they would be enabled to be at a proper expence for finding rich and fucculent food for their cows at all fea-fons of the year, which would give rife to modes of culture that never could have been experienced without it. And as the man who firfl obtained the privilege of fupplying the fettlers with milk, Would foon make money, other perfons would wifli to ihare in his profits: new farms would be taken for rearing cows ; and thefe rival cow-feeders would endeavour to obtain cuftomers, by felling their milk to fuch as chofe it, at a lower Ff 2 price,
price, or affording it of a better quality than the original contractor. To give rife to this fpecies of rivalfhip, and thus to prevent the abufe of the contract, the ftipulation was made, that any perfon who choofes it, may withdraw from the original contractor at any term he fhould find it convenient. By this natural pro-greffion, many fields would foon be cultivated. Rival tenants would raife the rent to its proper value to the proprietor ; and rival cow -feeders would fink the price of milk to its proper value to the confumer. All matters would then be carried on in the eafy natural way that takes place at prefent in the neighbourhood of every town, without the care or regulating efforts of any-one,
T,
See Report, page "j^ib. There would here be an opening for frauds. Certain perfons would no doubt be employed to build thefe boats by contrast, and thefe would probably try to make as much profit as they could by
that
that contract. — To guard againft the evils that might be expected to originate irom that fource, let it be required by law, that die following condition fhould he inferted into every contract for building boats for this purpofe, viz. That no payment of the price of thefe boats fhall be made till eight days fhall have fully elapfed after the delivery of the boats to the feveral perfons who fhall be adjudged to have gained the premiums, without any complaint being lodged with the Commiffioner of Stores, complaining of their infufhciency.    But if any fuch complaint fhall have been there lodged before that time, the Commifhoner fhall not pay the price till the queftion fhall have been fairly difcuffed.    For that purpofe, a warrant fhall be iffued by the Commiffioner (or fome other perfon who ftiall be judged more competent) to fum-nion fifteen perfons in the vicinage, who are acquainted with matters of this fort, within two days at fartheft after the complaint is lodged with him, to meet as a jury to examine the boat themfelves,
felves, and to judge from their own knowledge, and from the evidence of fuch other perfons as they fhall choofe to admit, whether thefe complaints are well or ill founded : And if two-thirds of this jury are of opinion that any boat complained of be faulty, and unfairly made, that is, of fuch materials and fize as are not allowed by the contract, the boat mail be entirely forfeited ; and it fhall be competent for this Court, to impofc befides an additional fine, not exceeding the price that fhould have been paid for the boat. But if the fame Court fhall find that the boat has been fairly and honeflly made of good materials, &c. but that it is not adjudged to be honeflly worth the money that was to have been its price,—the Court, in this cafe, may either order the contractor to make a new boat of the full value it ought to be, and to deliver it into the hands of the perfons who have the faulty boat, allowing them in the mean time to make ufe of the boat they have got till the other be given them,— the price of the firft
boat
boat being retained till a certificate be obtained from the owners of the boat, acknowledging that they have received a fecond boat in its place, of a good and fufhcient kind, with which they are fa-tisfied. Or the Court may decree, that a part of the contract- price, amounting to double the fum that they find the boat is deficient in value, lhall be kept back from the builder of the boat, and be given to the perfons who have got the boat. — Under the controul of this claufe, it is believed few frauds would be attempted.
There is one other difficulty occurs with regard to the boats; which I have often had under contemplation, but never yet have been able to difcover in what way it could be obviated.—In different -places, boats of very different conftruc-tions are accounted the beft for the fifheries • fo that if the perfon in one diftrict were to be forced to take thofe that were of a conftruction the moft efteemed in another diftrict, it would give great difcontent: And as each particular kind
of
1$z UluJU-al'ions of the
of boat poueffes certain advantages over others, it is a matter of great difficulty to afcertain which is abfolutely the bell. This being the cafe, perhaps the befl way to pleafe all parties, would be to eftablifh a competition annually at the place of rendezvous in each diftrict, with regard to the belt form of boats for that diftrict, by advertising a premium to be given to the perfon who lliowed the boat of die beft construction there—the judges to be chofen from among the inhabitants of that diftrict. at the time—The boat which obtained the premium, to ferve as a model for the boats to be built in that district for the enfuing year.
U.
See Report, page 8jth.
These were my first ideas on this fub-» ject; but, on considering it more maturely, I am convinced it would be more eligible, not to give any lots of ground along with the town-feus, but merely to grant the fettlers the property of their feus in town'only; for a distinction in
ranks,
ranks, let certain flreets in the original plan of the town, be auigned for particular claffes of inhabitants ; each clafs to have peculiar privileges, and be bound by certain regulations, to be adopted at the beginning. One of thefe regulations mould be, That thofe who take feus allotted by the plan to thofe of the firft clafs, mail become bound to build a houfe on that, not under the value of , and thofe of the fecond clafs not under the value of , and fo on of
all the other claffes; and that in all a£-feffments for the town, the rate fhall be afcertained according to the different claffes, at a certain per centage on each, varying according to the clafs he holds, being higheft per cent, on the higheft claffes, and lower on the others — the Weft clafs being entirely exempted from any affeffment: it being always allowable for any perfon who holds a feu in any one clafs, to difpofe of that feu when he inclines, and to take another in any of the other claffes he pleafes, on complying with the general terms adopted.
G S For
For the particulars in this cafe, fee the Appendix, No. 10.
And as it would be a great conveni-ency for the original fettlers to obtain money to build fuch houfes as might be fit for eftablifhing themfelves there, it would be an advantageous thing for them, if a fubfcription were opened for raifing money in London or elfewhere, to be applied for this purpofe, on the following terms :—>
That any fettler wiihing to have money from this fund, on bringing an atteftation properly authenticated, that a houfe had been built by him, on a feu his own property, which had been duly examined by proper perfons appointed for that purpofe, Ihould be allowed to obtain, if they called for it, any proportion of that money they inclined, not exceeding 75 per cent, of the whole fum ; and that this fum, on being duly recorded in a regifter to be kept in each town for that purpofe, ihould become a preferable debt to all others on the fubjecf.
2<r/, That in confequence of this advance, the perfon obtaining it ihould become bound to pay a fum annually, not tinder the rate of feven and a-half per cent, of the money fo advanced, but as much more as the poffeifor inclined : of the fum thus annually paid, five per cent. ihould be allowed to go for intereft • and after deducting the duty for insurance againft fire, and expence of management, the remainder ihould go as a finking fund to extinguiih the original debt: thefe payments to continue till the whole debt was paid off; after which, the burthen ihould be ftruck off the regifter, and the property remain clear to the poifeffor.—At the rate of j± per cent, in about twenty-three years, the whole debt, with the in-iurance, would be entirely paid off, and the fubject would remain ever afterwards tree to the proprietor.
4/Z>, To facilitate the payment of the intereft, let it alfo be provided in the Act, That in cafe the annuity aforefaid be not duly paid, the fame fhall not only G g 2 bear
236" Ilhiftratiofts of the [tfr]
bear intereft from the time it falls due, and an action at common law be competent to recover payment, but that if at any time the laid annuity fliall be allowed to remain unpaid for the fpace of three years, in that cafe, it fhall be competent for the lender of the money to bring the fubject to fale in a fummary way, by petition to the chief magistrate of the town, who, on proof being produced of the fact, fliall grant warrant for the faid fale, it being firft duly advertifed according to the ufual cultom in the place. After the fale, the money due to the lender being firft paid, the balance that remains after his demand is fatisfied, with the expence of fale, fhall belong to the proprietor of the houfe fo fold.
By thefe conditions, the lender would be fecured; and the inhabitants of thofe places, were money thus advanced, would be much accommodated.
Should it be found that monied men were fhy to advance money thus on account
count of the fmall payments, it might perhaps be neceflary to allow one quart, or one-eighth per cent, for expence of management.
X.
See Report, page 125/&
In the Report, manufactures and products are mentioned in general terms only; but there are two capital articles that deferve to be particularly fpecified. —The country in queftion is very well calculated for the production of ivool9 which is already at fo low a price, that a woollen manufactory might very foon be there eftablilhed, were the reftraints that now prevent it removed. This, therefore, would be one capital branch added to their exports ; and the advantages for machinery of all kinds are fo angularly uncommon there, that many other branches of manufacture would naturally fpring up.—Wood too, which on account of its low price for many years Paft, for want of a ready communication through thofe countries even by fea, and a confequent want of markets, has
been
238 llLiiJlrations of the fx.]
been hitherto neglected, tho' no country jn the world is better adapted for rearing it, would quickly rife in value, and by confequence be attended to, fo as foon to become a great fource of wealth, and medium of commerce. Oak, fufficient to furnifh exhaufllefs ftores to the Britifh navy, might there be produced, and of the fineft quality. Fir, for mails to any veifel that fails the fea; and Larix, whofe value as a fliip-timber is not yet known, and which grows on thofe mountains in the higheft perfection, would enable, us in a fhort time to rival the Ber-mudians themfelves, in building light, durable, and buoyant veffels, at a fmall expence j".
For
' f Larix-wood is poffeued of fo many valuable qualities, that, to enumerate the whole, would appear extravagant hyperbole. It is known to refift water, without rotting, almoft for ever. The piles of larix-timber on which'the houfes of Venice were built many hundred years ago, when examined, are ftill found as freih as when firft put in. And I have been told, flakes of it have been tried in the Decoys of Lincolnfhire, which, between wind and water, have already outworn two
[X.] Fofegolng Report. 239
For thefe diftant undertakings, the internal parts of Scotland are Angularly Well calculated. To many places there, the ac-cefs is at prefent extremely difficult; and in fuch situations, were there a diftant profpect of ever making the accels eafy,
woods
or three fets of oak-ftakes, and do not yet difcover any fymptoms of decay. It is alfo known to poffefs the valuable quality of neither fhrinking nor warping when put into work ; nor is it liable to be pierced by worms in our climate, as many of the paintings of Raphael Urban, which are done in this wood, and are ftill perfectly entire, fufficiently prove.
Experiments have not yet afcertained whether it will refilt the fea-worm in tropical climates, like Bermuda cedar ; but there is reafon to think it would, as in many of its other properties, it refembles that wood Very much. Along with thefe valuable properties, it is known to be one of the quickeft-growing trees in this climate, remarkably hardy, and extremely beautiful when growing. It is befides much more eafily reared than the oak, and could be fpread over a great extent of mountains, if fufficiently bare of herbage, at next to no expence, by the natural ihedding of its feeds, like birch or fir in foils that favour them, merely by keeping out cattle from thole fields in which fmall clumps of this kind1 of wood had been planted fome years before. In this way, very extenfive trafts, in the condition defcribed, might be entirely filled with this valuable timber.
woods, either natural or planted, could be permitted to grow without danger of being deftroyed, till they ihould attain the fize of full-grown timber. Were a few canals once finiihed, many other situations would foon be difcovered, from
which
The ufes to which it might be applied, are innumerable. It would be valuable not only for fhip-plank ; but even crooked timbers might be obtained, by ufing a little art when young to bend it, as the Bermudians do their cedar. For flood-gates in navigable canals, and wet-docks, it would exceed every thing that can be obtained in this climate. For barrel-ftaves, it would be inimitable, and would enable us to furnifh that article as cheap as any other nation whatever : And in building, it would anfwer all the purpofes to which fir is now applied, being much ftronger, and more durable than that wood. And when it is alfo adverted to, that it is next to incombuftible, the Reader will not think it ftrange, that I in this manner fo ftrongly recommend it to the attention of my countrymen, particularly thofe in the moft rugged and barren diftricts : For, in fuch fituations, it would be eafy to fhow, that at a very trifling charge, they might in a fhort period of years, bring their eftates to a hundred times the value they bear at prefent, or ever can be made to bear by any other kind of improvement. This would be a much more eligible plan of bettering their for.'unes, than that of trying to fqueeze, with difficulty, from a poor people, a raifed rent for a fubjecl: that does not admit of proportional improvement.
which canals might be formed at an eafy expence, were any object to be found there, that could afford to defray the ex-pence of fuch a canal. It would foon be difcovered, that a large extent of valuable timber, in thefe fituations, would necefi-farily in time force open fuch canals • and it would become the fludy of proprietors of' fuch diitricts, inftead of fuf-fering their woods to run into ruin, or to be purpofely deftroyed and rooted out as at prefent, to preferve their natural woods With care, and even add to their extent by artificial plantations: For, thus they would perceive, that they would lay the certain foundation of aggrandizing their families, and of improving their native diftrict without expence: for fuch canals would then be made to bring this valuable article to market; and if once made, they would remain for ever after a bleffing to posterity.
It affords no unpleafing reflection, 011 clofing thefe remarks, to obferve, that no part of the improvements recommend-£d in the foregoing pages, require any H h coercive
coercive or compulfory regulations of any fort.   Every thing depends upon the mild allurements of felf-intercit in all the parties concerned; fo that it will tend to promote a general cordiality and good-will among all the different claries of men there, inftead of thofe jealoufics and difgultful animofities which mufl ever prevail where unavailing attempts are continually making by every individual, to better his circumftances by means that are altogether inadequate to the end.   Difappointmcnts have a natural tendency to four the mind; and in that fituation, every little circumflance is catched at, to afford fubjecl of complaint againft each other.   No man can be in thofe countries, without remarking that querulous fpirit among all ranks; and no feeling mind will behold it with indifference. The profperity of the lower claffes of the people, will appear to have been the chief object I have ever had in view in thefe remarks; but thofe who advert that every national improvement mufl be carried on by that order of men, and
that
that the income which arifes from the produce and manufactures of any country, muft be proportioned to the energy with which thefe can exert their mental and corporeal powers; and thofe who know that that energetic fpirit can never be awakened till eafy independence is in view, will not be furprifed that fo much attention mould have been feemingly beftowed upon them.   Should ever the period arrive, when the people there fhall be put into the fituation I have de-fcribed, the gentlemen of landed property in thofe regions, will feel, if poffible, a yet greater alteration in their circumftances to the better, than even the common people can experience.   In that tale, without the fmalleft exertion, or tore eaft, or care, on their parts, money would pour into their coffers from every quarter, with an abundance of which they fcarcely can at prefent have an idea; and their refpective families would be exalted to a degree of eminence, very unlike to that which their prefent prospects, Unlefs fome meafures of this kind fliall be adopted, feem to forebode.
If h 2 It
It would be improper for me here to enlarge on this fubject,' as I make no doubt but it would be looked upon as chimerical by many of thofe whole intereft would be moft immediately affected by the change : Yet 1 cannot help recommending to the attentive part of the proprietors there, into whofe hands this Treatife may chance to fall, a very ferious investigation of this particular. Thofe who beft know what wealth has thus accrued to the Family of a Grofvenor, a Pultney, a Bedford, and others, will have the leaft difficulty in believing the pofhV bility at leaft of what is here alluded to, and ought of courfe to be moft difpofed to forward improvements, which, at the fame time that they have fuch a powerful tendency to add to the wealth and stability of the State, muft, in a yet higher proportion, enrich and aggrandize their own private families.
END
Of flluf rations of the Report.
EVIDENCE given before the Committee of the House of Commons, appointed to enquire into the State of the Britijh TiJIj cries, &c. by Javmes Anderson, l. l. d. [Extracted from the Third Report of that Committee, dated 14th July 1785.]
J^R. Anderson having beennimmon-ed to attend your Committee, and being prefent while the Committee read his Report, various queftions were propofed to the Doctor, touching the matter contained therein, which proc}ueed the following Evidence.
1.
Being afked, Whether he imagined that the proprietors in the iflands and weftern coafts of Scotland behold with indifference the poverty of the lower orders of people on their eftates ? or, Whether they do not rather make exer^ tions to free them from that diftrefsful poverty which he defcribpej in his Report?
port ?—He anfwered, That he imagined the proprietors in the weftern coafts of Scotland, in general, fhew a fpirit of lenity to their tenants, and the lower order of people under them, equal at leaft to that difcovered by the Gentlemen of any other part of Britain that he is acquainted with; and that he knew many in-fiances in which they have iliewed a very great deiire to free thofe people from the inconveniences they labour under, though attended with considerable expence to themfelves.
And being afked, Whether feveral of the proprietors on thofe coafts do not guard againft the fervitude of the lower orders of the people, by not only freeing them from fervices to themfelves, but alfo by preventing the tackfmen from having fubtenants?—He faid, That he had been affured they do fo, and he had no doubt of the fact.
And being afked, Whether he imagined that thefe regulation^ tended effectually to remove the evil ot which he took notice ?—He aniwered, That he was very
far
far from imagining they do—That the people on thofe coafts are hurt chiefly becaufe of the want of an open market, to which the commodities they ft and in need of could be fent by merchants from a diftance, and in which the articles they have to difpofe of might be freely fold, where a competition of merchants could take place ; and as, therefore, this inconvenience continues, when they are freed from that fpecies of fervitude, equally ftrong as before; unlefs fome other meafures are adopted along with that, he does not apprehend they will be materially benefited by that regulation, however benevolent it may be in the perfons who adopt it.
And being afked, Whether he thought it would be a benefit to the lower claffes of people, if any of the tackfmen or others were debarred by Law from entering into a contract with thefe people for obtaining the pre-emption of their hhr, ckc. as fpecified in his Report ?—He anfwered, That fo far from thinking it Would be a benefit to the people, he
ihould
Ihould think it would prove a material injury to them; for they have no other poflible way of being supplied with the neceifaries they want from diftant markets, but by the intervention of thofe perfons who keep ftores, in the manner defcribed in the Report ; neither have they in general any means of finding money to purchafe boats and other neceffary apparatus for fiihing ; and that unlefs they were furniflied by thefe ftore-keepers upon credit, very few of them could engage in the filheries at all; and, in the prefent fituation of that country, as they have no other poflible way of paying the debts they thus contract:, but by the fifh they catch, no perfon would furnifh thefe upon credit, unlefs they had the pre-emption of them—That it has been already ftated in the Report, that this kind of trade, though apparently very oppreflive to the poor in all cafes, affords but very little profit to the merchants; and that he knew feveral instances where the people who keep thofe ftores, by acting in a difinterefted
manner,
manner, have contributed very effentiaU ly to promote the welfare of the country* But as this depends entirely upon the temper of the perfon who follows tins kind of trade, there being no competitors at hand, there are too many instances where the people fuffer all the inconveniences that have been ftated in his Report; and therefore he confidered the evils there mentioned, as neceffarily arifing out of the ftate of the country, and not at all from the oppreflive dif-pofition of the people.
And being afked, Whether, in cafe thofe reftraints were taken off, it might not be an inducement to merchants to fettle there, who might furnifh the people with materials upon better terms than meir landlords, and thereby encourage the fifheries?—He faid, That in the present fituation of thofe countries, it is im-pofhble for any perfon to engage in any kind of trade, but thofe who refide continually on the fpot; the habitations be-lng fo detached from each other, and the fales fo flow, that a conftant attendance I i during
during die whole year, is abfolutely neceffary— That the demand from one, place is fo extremely trifling, as not to give room to the fmallefl degree of competition ; and therefore, were thefe reftraints taken off, it would not, of itfelf, in his opinion, operate as an inducement for any ftranger to come and fettle among them.'
And being afked, Whether, till of late years, the beft fifhing on the north-weft coaft of Scotland, was not always in November and December? and whether the herrings caught at that time of the year, do not find a preference at market before the fummer-fifh, on account of their fize ?—He anfwered, He did not know that the riming was for any number of years confined to the months of November and December; but he knew that there are very great variations in that refpect: He alfo knew, that it is much eafier to cure herrings in the winter-months, than in the fummer-months ; but he did not know that the fize of the
fifh
I    1   fag '•;
Committee of Fifheries. 251
nfh is in any refpect connected with the feafon of the year in which they are caught—That laft feafon, when he was upon the coaft, both large and fin all fifh were caught in different places at the fame time, and the fmall fifh were much better in quality than the large—That for two or three years paft, the fifhing on the coaft of Ireland, has been ufually in November or December ; yet there was a very abundant fiihery there laft year, in July and Auguft; fo that he prefumes no regularity has been obferved in that refpect f.
And being afked, Whether it is not poflible, in the months of November and December, to fifh for herrings in the deep fea; and whether a winter-fifhery nuift not always be a loch-fiihery ?—He laid, If by deep fea it is underitood thofe feas that lie between the Long-ifland and the main land ufually called the Minch, he does not think it impoffible to fifh in winter after the Dutch method; but that he is not at all acquainted with die other feas, not having been in them,
Ii 2 And t Sec Appendix, No. 3.
And being afked, Whether fmall boats could pafs to different parts of the coafts in the winter-months, to feek for herrings ? or whether the fiihing by fmall boats only, muft not be confined to the inhabitants on the fide of the lochs where the herrings let in ?—He anfwered, That fmall boats fit for herring-nfhing, can doubtlefs pafs, and actually do at prefent pafs from place to place along the coaftr at any feafon of the year, when the weather is not ftormy; but in the prefent lituation of the country, were the people to go in open boats, they could not carry on the fiihery during the winter-feafon, becaufe they would have no places to ftielter themfelves during the night—If that inconvenience were removed, he faw nothing to prevent thefe boats from fifhing at that feafon, and in any feas that the boats belonging to the buffes at prefent can ever be employed f.
And
f The following queftion and anfwers ftand in the Report of the Committee of fifheries, viz.—* And ' being afked, Whether the buffes are not now fmall * enough for the winter-fifhery ?—He faid, He was
* very
And being afked, Whether finall boats, fuch as have been ufed in the fifhery, can go in quell of fhoals of herrings, or whether they muft not wait till the herrings come upon the coaft?—He faid,
That
* very well fatisfied, that veffels perhaps larger than ' many of the buffes, could be employed in fifhing at ' fea after the Dutch method;'—which has been inaccurately taken down, and is therefore omitted. The queftion (which I cannot pretend to ftate exactly) enquired, Whether veffels larger than the prefent buffes might not be in danger of being wrecked in thofe feas during winter ?—To this, an explanation of the meaning was afked ; and it was obferved, That doubtlefs fhips as large as the largeft in the Royal Navy, might be loft in thefe, or any other feas in which they failed, at any feafon of the year : But as this queftion feemed to be foreign to the purpofe in hand, it was not meant to be taken down at all. The witnefs tmderftood it to imply an infxnuation, that no veffels fmaller than the prefent buffes, could be employed in ♦he winter-fifhery; and a wifh to have it expreffed, that even larger veffels ihould be employed in that fifhery than thofe now in ufe.—If this was the meaning of the queftion, he would anfwer,That, in his opinion, veffels °f a much fmaller fize than many of the prefent buffes, m,ght be fuccefsfully employed in thofe feas, at all the feafons of the fiihery; without pretending to fay, whether, in certain circumftances, even larger vefllls than the prefent buffes might not be fuccefsfully employed ln the fame fifhery: though he rather thinks not.
That fmall boats could eafily go to any place upon the coafts where buffes fitted out upon the prefent plan ever go in fearch of herrings.
And being afked, Whether he apprehended that buffes rigged as at prefent, could hill for herrings in the manner the Dutch now do?—He faid, that he had no doubt but they could, though he was not fufficiently informed to fpeak with certainty upon the fubject.
3-
And Dr Anderfon being further examined, was afked, Whether it is his opinion, that the fiihery in the Britifh feas can ever be brought to fuch perfection as that it could be carried on with profit to the undertakers, without any bounties or public aid whatever?—To which he faid, He certainly is of that opinion, otherwife he fhould not have taken the trouble he has done in this bufinefs, nor have recommended thofe exertions for bringing it forward that he has had the honour to propofe. He conceives, that if any bufinefs is of fuch a nature as to require
quire the continual aid of public Support, it Ihould be abandoned as hurtful to the community; but this, as he conceives, is very far from being the cafe with the Britifh fifheries.
Being afked, Whether he thought that the fifh caught in the Britifh feas, by Britifh fubjecfs, could, in any circumftances, be afforded fo cheap, as, without public aid, to bear a fair competition in an open market, with fifh of the fame kind from Holland, Sweden, Norway, or any other country?—He faid, If the queftion means to apply to fiih in general, and is not meant to be confined exclusively to any Particular kind, he does, without hesitation, give it as his opinion, That were the people who inhabit the iflands and coafts of Britain, in fuch situation and circumftances as to be able to avail themfelves to the utmoft of the natural advantages they poffefs, their fifh could he afforded cheaper than other filh of e(lual quality from any other part of the globe; though it is poflible, that, in certain circumftances, fome particular kinds
of
of fifh. may be afforded at as low, perhaps a lower price than they could be afforded by the Britifh fifhermen ; tho* he does not at prefent recollect any kind of fifh taken in quantities in diofe feas, to which this obfervation will apply. The reafons on which he grounds his opinion are as follow : — In moft other countries, where any kind of extenfive fifhery has been hitherto carried on for foreign markets, the filhing-feafon lafts but for a part of the year ; fo that the people who engage in thefe fifheries, having no con-ftant employment, cannot afford to fell fo cheap as if they had an uninterrupted fifhery during the whole year round'—In many cafes, the fifhery is precarious; and in ftill more cafes, the people who follow the fifhing, being at a great diftance from the fifhing-grounds, are fubjected to a great expence on the outfit of veffels, and a ftill greater charge of wages and provifions to the fifhermen going and returning from the fiihing-grounds—In all thefe refpects, Britain enjoys an unequalled pre-eminence.  The variety of
fifh
fifh which fwim on her coafts, is fuch as puts it in the power of the natives to follow that bufinefs with fuccefs throughout every day in the year that a veflel can go to feaj and the fifhing-grounds are fo near, and in other refpecfs fo convenient, as to render it poffible even for a fmall boat to follow the fiihing of one kind or another from day to day. This puts it in the power of people in the loweft ranks of life* to become competitors with others, and thus bars all kind of monopoly in this article.—Hitherto, however, it muft be owned, that our fifhery has been carried on by means of encouragement fo little adapted to the nature of our fituation, or the circumftances of our people, as to preclude us from availing ourfelves of thofe advantages; fo that we have fcarcely come to have an idea of what thofe local advantages are.
4-
It being then ftated to the Witnefs, That he has in his Report defcribed feveral alternatives as to bounties and other encouragements, that might, as he K k thinks,
thinks, be adopted by the Britifh Legislature, for giving a temporary encouragement to the filheries. He was defired to ftate to the Committee, the fpecific meafures that he thinks would the moft effectually, and in the fhorteft time, put that fiihery into fuch a train as that it could afterwards go on of itfelf, without any public aid whatever:.—To which he anfwered, That he begged the Committee would always bear in mind, that he confiders bounties and premiums as only of fecondary importance in bringing about the object here in view. The thing that he confiders of the firft importance, is to bring the people of thofe diftant regions from that difperfed fituation in which they now live, into clofe communities, where they can exercife commerce and arts, and mutually give and receive aid from the induf-trious exertions of each other. Unlefs this be firft done, he conceives it is altogether impofiible ever to make the fifheries on our coaft be a matter of great importance, or to bring the fifh to market
Committee of Fifheries* 259
ket fo cheap as to enable the undertakers to go on without public aid. From this confideration, he conceives, that till fuch meafures are adopted, bounties and premiums for the fifheries mufl be accounted in a great meafure an ufelefs expenditure of the national treafure, which he fhould not be willing, unlefs in particular circumflances, to advife.
The natural progreffioiii in this cafe feems to be this :—Before the people of thefe countries at large can engage heartily in the fiihery, and follow that as their chief employment, they muft be brought together into fome clofe fociety—Before they can live comfortably in towns, they muff have coals at as moderate a price as poifible—Before they 'can feel the enlivening influence of a fpirit of induftry, they muft be rendered in fome meafure mdependent—And before they can en-Sage in the filheries with a reafonable Profpect of fuccefs, they muft be allowed a perfect freedom in buying and felling fait and fifh of all kinds on the coafts, without any fort of reftraint whatever.
K k 2 Hence
Hence lie holds it as a circumftancc of indifpenfi-ble neceffity, in the firft place, to repeal all the laws at prefent exifling as to fait, and, in their ftead, to give entire freedom in this refpect, without exacting either duty of any kind, or bonds on this neceffary article—Unlefs this is to be done, here we may flop; for, without it, nothing effectual can ever be done for eftablifhing our filheries. The home-market fhould alfo be opened for our own fifh, free from duty or reftraints of any kind; and the debenture at prefent allowed on the exportation of fifh, be continued for fome time.
Coals fhould alfo be admitted to be carried coaftways duty-free, and rock-falt from Liverpool; as, without thefe particulars, the fifhing eftablifhments muft ever be exceedingly languid, in compari-fon of what they otherwife might have been.
Thefe two heavy reftraints being removed, let the people be induced to come into towns, by granting to each family, in the firft inftance, and to their
heirs
heirs for ever, a fmall fpot in each town fufficient for a houfe and garden, which would render their poffeffion perfectly fecure—And to put it in dieir power to earn their bread, and become independent of every-thing fave their own induflrious exertions for fupport, let a boat, and the neceffary fifliing-apparatus, be given gratis to each fix men who chofe to engage in the fifheries as their chief employment.—This is a fpecies of gratuity, which, by being given once only, produces a very extenfive influence at a fmall expence, and will be in other reflects attended with the happiefl effect, by exciting a great deal of induflry, which, but for this fmall aid, mufl have been fuppreffed for ever.
When the people are thus placed in a fituation. to begin the fiihing, and to carry it on with ceconomy, certain bounties and premiums will be of great ufe for fome years at the beginning, with a view to lead them in fome meafure into a proper train of fifhing, and to give an additional four to their induflry.
That
That the reafon for recommending this meafure may be underftood, it iti neceffary to premife, that fifh may be caught in thofe feas, either by pretty farge veffels, which are able to keep the fea at a confiderable diftance from land; or in fmall boats, that dare not conveniently go to a great diftance from fhore. It is hard to fay at prefent, which of thofe two kinds of hillings could be carried on with moft advantage to the undertakers, and confequently to the public : But as the boat-fifhing is the only one which the poor natives of diftant places can begin with, and as the richer inhabitants of towns at a diftance from the fifhing^ground, can carry on their operations beft with larger veffels ; and as it fhould be our ftudy to engage as many in this bufinefs as can be profitably employed therein, we fhould encourage both thefe kinds of hilling, ef-pecially when we advert that they may be fo conducted, as mutually to prove beneficial to each other, inftead of entering
ing into a hurtful rivalfhip, as fome might apprehend was probable.
Hitherto the fifhing on the north-weft coaft of Scotland, has been chiefly carried on by adventurers from towns at a diftance, by the aid of large veflels, in fuch a way as fubjects the undertakers to a great and very unneceffary expence, and therefore obliges them to require a very high price for their fifh, to fave themfelves from bankruptcy.—From places within the Mull of Cantire, many veflels are fent out annually, in the months of July and Auguft, to the herring-fifhery, in which they are employed for the moft Part till the months of December and January: they then return to port, and are laid up, or employed in the coafting trade, till the following fifhing-feafon in July returns.—In either cafe, the whole hfhing-hands are difcharged, and become a heavy burthen on their friends or families during thefe fix months of idlenefs; for, it is plain they muft either have as much pay during the time they are employed, as to maintain them when
idle,
idle, or be reduced to a ftate of extreme indigence during that period. A veffel on the fiihery, requires an extra number of hands for that bufinefs. To navigate a veffel of eighty tons burthen, four men, or at moft four men and a boy, are fufneient; but, for a bufs of the fame burthen, eighteen men are neceffary. Such a veifel, therefore, even if fhe fhould be employed in the coafting-trade during the intervals of fiihing, muft di£ charge at leaft thirteen hands.—On the other hand, feveral veffels are annually fitted out from Peterhead, and other towns on the eaft coaft, early in the fpring, to profecute the fifhery for cod and ling; in which bufinefs they continue till the month of June and July, when they return to port, difcharge their fifliing-hands, and lay up their veffels, or employ them, if they can, in the coafting-trade—Thus are one fet of hands laid entirely idle during one feafon of the year, and another fet of hands laid idle during another feafon of the year, while the others are bufily employed; fo
that
Commit Us of Fifjerks, 265
that if the prefent perfons were acquainted with both kinds of hilling, both parties might have found full employment during the whole year, and the veffels never be laid up at all. This want of ceconomy is great and obvious, and loudly demands a remedy.
It deferves farther to be obferved on this head, that in both cafes above mentioned, the large veffels that go on the fifliing-bufinefs, are not employed to catch fifh at fea; they only carry boats, &:c. with them, which they hoifl out when they come to the fiihing-ground, and with thefe boats carry on all the operations of fiihing: fo that till this mo-nient, we have no other fiihery but that of boats, on any part of our coafts; and we of courfe are not enabled to avail ourfelves of the advantages that might be derived from thofe fifheries a little off the coaft, were we to follow it in larger veffels.
The beft fifhing-banks for cod and hng round the Shetland coaft, are at a considerable diftance from land; fo that L1 on
on all occasions, much time is wafted in going and returning in thefe open boats7 which greatly enhances the price of fifh -there caught; and when the weather is fqually, they are often detained at land, when they might have been employed at the fiihing, if they had made life of larger veffels, fit to keep the fea in fuch weather; and when it happens diat thefe open boats are overtaken by a fud-den florm at fea, they are in danger of being, overfet, and in this way many lives have been loll in thofe regions.
To remedy, in fome meafure, thofe evils that originate from the laft-mentioned circumstance, fome of the adventurers in the fifheries on thofe coafts have of late fent out decked veffels, to accompany the boats as tenders or guard-veffels, to which the people in the boats can occasionally retire for fhelter in cafe of urgent danger; but though the lives of the men are fometimes thus faved, the boats, being towed behind the veffels in a stormy fea, are frequently daihed to pieces againft each other, or funk: So
that,
that, from every view of the matter, this appears to be a very expeniive and inadequate remedy for die evil it was meant to redrefs.
From all thefe considerations, the Wit-nefs hopes it will appear very obvious, that before the fiihery can be carried on with advantage, either in deep feas, or on banks at a diftance from land, the people engaged in that bufinefs, muft employ fome kind of flout veffels, that can remain for a confiderable length of time at fea, and weather occasional ftorms, and by themfelves, without the aid of boats, there carry on the fifhery in a proper and ceconomical manner.
The only veffels that have hitherto been difcovered, that can possibly be employed for thefe purpofes, are fuch as are wherry-rigged; for, with fuch veffels °rdy, can the fails be worked with the facility that is neceffary on thefe occa-u°ns ; and with fuch a rigging alone, can a veffel of any confiderable burthen be fo worked as to be capable of flioot-mg and hauling a long line under the L 1 2 eafy
eafy management of a forefail, fo as not to break and deftroy the lines. The ufe of thefe veflels is well known by the fifhers of London, Yarmouth, and other places on the eaft coaft of Britain, where fiihing with the long line is practifed to a confiderable extent at a diftance from land, as alfo by the nfhermen from Ruih, and feveral other towns on the north-weft coaft of Ireland : And their fuperiority in this refpect, over every other kind of veifel, and indeed the ab-folute neceffity of employing them if ever this kind of fea-fiihery fliall be attempted, is univerfally admitted by every perfon the Witnefs yet converfed with, who underftood any-thing of that fiihery j* :   He conceives, therefore, if
any
f The great advantage that would be derived from the ufe of wherries in the line-fifhery on the coaft of Shetland, is clearly proved by a paper from Capt. Kyd, inferted in the Appendix to the Third Report of the Committee of Fifheries, No. 9.—He there ftates, that eight wherries manned by fixty-four men, catched, in one feafon, on the coafts of Shetland, 1056 quintals, which is fixteen quintals and one:half each hand : At
the
Committee of Fifheries* 269
any bounties are to be given, that no one kind of bounty could be fo beneficial, as one calculated to introduce the ufe of thefe veflels on thofe parts of the coaft where they are not now generally employed with the greateft advantage : And this he would the rather recommend, from his being affined, on the moft undoubted authority, that veflels fo rigged, are as proper for every kind of fifhery that can be carried on in thofe feas, as any other, and can be navigated with as great fafcty, and at as little expence, for other purpofes^ as any kind of veffel Whatever. The great object he aims at, is to enable the undertakers to engage, Without any change of veflels or hands, in any kind of fifhery that may take place at any time on thofe coafts—whether diat fhall be the herring-fifhery at
fea,
the fame time, the proprietors and others in Shetland employed about 500 boats, and 2,400 fifhermen, by whom were catched 11,544 quintals, which is at the rate of four quintals and eight-tenths each h.md : So that every perfon in the wherries catched as many fifh nearly as four men in the boats.
fea, after the Dutch method ; the cod and ling-fifhing on diftant banks at fea, by means of long lines j the cod-filhing on ihallow banks, or in ftrong currents, at the turn of tide, by means of hand-lines; the dog-hilling at fea, by means of hand-lines ; or, in iliort, any other kind of fiihery that promifed to turn out to the profit of the undertakers :— all which could be performed by thefe veffels, and by veffels of this particular conftruction only.
Thefe ufeful veffels, however, being at prefent forbid by Law to be employed in Britain, unlefs under a fpecial licence from the Board of Admiralty, ihould by Law be allowed to be employed in the fifhery, the owners giving bond at the cuftomhoufe not to employ them in fmuggling, under fuch penalties as fliall be judged expedient.
It has been objected to this propofal, that nothing but very large veffels can fifh without boats, after the Dutch method, at fea. This is a miftake : what is called the drave-&u\zry at Eymouth, has
been
been carried on for feveral years paft in large open boats, after the Dutch method; and at Harwich and Yarmouth, the fiihery for mackarel and herring, which is all done in the Dutch manner, is performed by veffels between twenty and fifty tons burthen: Nor is there any reafon to prevent a veffel from the fize of the fmalleft boat to that of the largeft bufs, from fiihing after the fame manner, if it ihould be thought right by thofe to whom the veifel belonged.
It has been faid, large veffels could not fifh with fafety in narrow feas:—which is true; but large veffels could go to open feas, fmall boats to fhallow bays proper for them, and veffels between thefe fizes to feas adapted to their fize, and fit to cope with die weather that may be there looked for.
It has been faid, no herrings could be caught between the Long-Iiland and the •Main, till the months of November and December.—The fact is denied: He himfelf found that fea full of herrings laft year, in the months of July and Auguft;
and
and he was allured by the natives of thofe coafts, that feldom a year palfed when that was not the cafe.
It has been laid, that veffels fiihing in ftormy weather, would run the riik of being loft:—Which no perfon can doubt: But, where is the neceffity of fiihing in ftormy weather?
The Witnefs further faid, That he thinks it would be proper that a bounty of forty flii flings a ton per annum, Ihould be granted to all wherry-rigged veffels from fifteen to fixty tons burthen, not excluding veffels above that fize, but re-ftricling the higheft bounty to fixty tons, fitted out from any port in Britain, and properly equipped for the fiihery, which fhould follow that bufinefs in any part of the Britilh feas, or among the iflands, or upon the coafts hereafter mentioned, viz* between the Mull of Galloway on the weft coaft, and Invernefs on the eaft coaft, including all the Britilh Iflands and Northern Seas; but not including any part of the coafts to the fouthward ef the two places above named — becaufe,
Committee of Fifheries, -273
caufe, in die fouthern diftricts of Britain, many veifels of the kind here al-hided to, are now profitably employed in the filheries, for fupplying London, and other large towns in Britain, with frefh fifh; fo that there, no encouragement to introduce them is wanted. At the fame time, the inhabitants of thofe diftricts, if they choofe to fend their veffels into thofe feas, are not precluded from reaping the benefit of the bounty.—If particular encouragement is wanted to the herring-fifhery in the Frith of Forth, or Yarmouth, particular regulations fhould be made for that purpofe, fuited to their fituation, of which he, the Witnefs, is not a judge : It is plain, the general plan here propofed, could not apply to them.
That every veffel fitted out on this bounty, fhould be provided with a hawser, of at leaft fathoms in length, for a veffel of fifteen tons, and fathoms more for every five tons above that; with an apparatus for letting off and taking in this hawfer, after the Dutch method of fiihing; and M m ft-aU
fhall have at lead fathoms of nets, each net to be fathoms deep, for a veffel of fifteen tons, anci ( fathoms more for every
five tons above that; and fliall alfo be provided with at leaft fathoms of fifhing lines, with hooks in proportion, for a veffel of fifteen tons burthen, and fathoms more for each
five tons above that; and fhall have at leaft nine hands on board all the time they are out upon the bounty.
And the Witnefs farther faid, That in filling up the above blanks, he would ftrongly recommend moderation. The only intention of having any reftriction at all is, to oblige perfons to carry out fuch an apparatus as to put it in their power to try thofe modes of fifhing, fairly, that appear moft likely to turn out to their advantage, but by no means to load them with an unneceffary expence on ufelefs apparatus. If, upon trial, they fhould find any particular apparatus peculiarly advantageous, they will, if left to themfelves, encreafe that apparatus as
much
Committee of Fi/befles. 275
touch as neceflary; and if they fhould find it unprofitable, they fhould not be obliged to expend great fums on that ufelefs apparatus.--—And the Witnefs added, That, for thefe reafons, were he capable to determine precifely what ihould be the exact amount of the articles above fpecified, he would recommend that they fhould not be obliged to carry above one-half of that quantity at moft; and perhaps were it not in deference to the prevailing mode that has hitherto been adopted in cafes of this kind, he fhould think one-fourth part a much better proportion.
That he thinks a vefTel fhould be at liberty to enter at any time upon this bounty, and to clear out at any port of Great Britain, when the mafter fhould declare that the veffel is to proceed to the Britifh fifhery, from that day, in fome of the feas above mentioned, there to profecute that bufinefs with diligence and afliduity, for twelve calendar months from that date; and fhould alfo enter into a bond, with fureties, that during that Mm 2 period,
period, he will not engage in fmuggling,. or commit any voluntary fraud, with intent either to injure the revenue, or any perfon, under the penalty of forfeiting treble the amount of the bounty : And further, that he fhould be required to keep- a regular journal of all tranfacfions and ob~ fervations made during the time of his voyage; which journal fhould be delivered up to the cuftomhoufe when the bounty is claimed, and before that bounty can be paid : the bond fhould continue in force for three years from the date thereof, in refpeel to the particidars hereafter mentioned-, that is to fay, In cafe the mailer or owner of the veffel, after fuch entry made, fhall find it convenient to defert the fifhery before the end of the feafon, and to follow any other lawful employment, it fhould be in the option of the faid owner or mafter fo to do; and thus voluntarily to abandon the bounty, upon giving regular notice at any cuftomhoufe that he is fo to do ; and in that cafe, he fhould not be under any obligation to deliver in a journal of his
pro-
proceedings, or to inflru6l that he has followed the fifhery with diligence : But, as much greater liberty mufl be given to thofe veffels than others, in refpedl to buying and felling fiih and other articles in thofe feas, and in taking on fhore different articles of the produce and manufactures of thofe countries, it is neceffary that fuch parts of the bond as relate to fmuggling and voluntary frauds, fhould remain in full force till the bond run out, in as far as related to trefpaffes committed while the veffel was on her fifhing voyage, and no longer.
When any fuch veffel fhould have fi-nifhed her year upon the bounty, it hSould be in the option of the mafler to go into any port he pleafed, where there was a cuftomhoufe; and, on producing bis clearance at entry, and his journal, there to enter anew for the enfuing year, Jf he chofe it; and alfo to obtain either the bounty-money, or a debenture for that purpofe, from the officers of the cnftoms there. But if, from the journal, °r other circumftances, thefe cuftomhoufe
houfe officers ihould fee caufe to fufpect that the mailer has been loitering, or faultily negligent in the difchargc of his duty, the payment of the bounty may be delayed till an anfwer can be returned from the Board of Cufloms relative to this head, provided that this delay fhall in no cafe exceed the fpace of fix weeks, unlefs a fpecific charge mould be made to the captain by that time, and a lift of the witneifes to be adduced in proof of the facts, if a procefs fhould be commenced for the recovery of the bounty: And if, upon trial, fuch culpable negligence fhould be proved, the bounty for that time fhould be forfeited, but no other penalty incurred: the higher penalties of the bond only to be incurred in cafe a proof can be brought of fmuggling, with the connivance or approbation of the owner, or part owner of the veffel, or of fome wilful and intentional fraud. It ought alfo to be flipulated, that in cafe of a ftoppage, the cuftomhoufe officers fhould, within three days  at fartheft from the time of the demand of the
bounty
bounty being made, inform the mailer of fuch Hoppage, and write to the Board of Cufloms on that bulinefs within diat time, if the courfe of the poll admits of it.
The velfels failing on this bounty, Ihould be at liberty to buy or fell lilh of all kinds, from Britilh filhermen, or inhabitants of Britain, on their declaring them to be Britilh caught fifh; and to take them on board at fea, or otherways, tinder the reilrictions after mentioned; or to put them on Ihore wherever they lhall find convenient, without any cuftomhoufe clearance: Nor Ihould they be prohibited from taking on board, or put-ing on Ihore, fait, or other fmall articles of the produce or manufacture of the country, fo as that this kind of traffic does not appear to have been a principal object of their voyage; and in general, that they fhould be at liberty to prosecute the fiihery in thofe feas, with all the freedom that can tend to diminifh their expence, and in a fair way to augment the profits of the undertakers.
Under
Under thefe encouragements, the ufe of thefe wherries would become general in thofe feas.   The fdhery for herrings in deep water, and the linc-fifhery with flout veffels on diitant banks, would become generally known, and employment would be given to the fame hands throughout the whole of the feafon; which mufl tend greatly to diminifh the ex-pence with which the fiihery is loaded at prefent, and to remove one very great evil, of which all the undertakers in the herring-fifhery at prefent loudly complain, namely, the want of employment for fo many of their people during many months each year, which not only obliges the owners to give more wages than otherwife would be neceffary, and keeps the people very poor, but alfo fubjecls thofe perfons who are thus out of employment, to the temptation of engaging in fmuggling and other illicit practices, which they never would have thought of, unlefs they had been idle.
And the Witnefs added, That he fhould only obferve further on this head, That
the
Committee of Fi/herles. 281 the bounty here propofed, needs not preclude the bounty at prefent payable on herring-buffes-  which, if it lhall be judged expedient, may be continued under fuch new regulations as the abolition of the falt-duties might render neceflary: And he apprehends, that though thefe bounties ihould be continued for fome time, the advantages above fpecified, in favour of the wherries, would be fuch as gradually to induce the prefent bufs-owners to enter voluntarily into that line of bufinefs, in preference to the odier, fo as to give them much more extenfive employment, and much higher profits, with lefs national expence, than they ever can obtain upon the plan of bounties that have hitherto been adopted. The veflels employed as above, would lend very much to encourage the fiihery carried on by poor people in boats along the coaft, as thefe veffels, in their cruifes, would find it for their profit to purchafe from the poor fiihermen, at reafonable prices, fuch kinds of fiih as they had ready for market at the time, which N n would
282 Evide?ice before the
would prove a powerful fpur to the induflry of thefe poor people, and allow them to follow their bufinefs in tranquillity, widiout deranging their cecono-my, by going in quell of a market; and by being certain of having thefe veffels at hand, upon the fifhing-banks, to which they could fly for fhelter in cafe of being overtaken by a itorm, boats might fafely venture farther to fea than they dare do at prefent. And he defired that the Committee would here pleafe take notice of the benefit that would refult to all parties, from the eftabliihment of towns and cuftomhoufes in various parts of thofe coafts; for, to thofe towns in the near neighbourhood, could fuch veflels quickly repair, to unlade fuch fifli, ckc. as they had obtained, and to procure fuch articles as they were in want of, and without lofs of time be in the midft of the fiftiing-ground. A veifel, in thefe circumftances, might frequently put a-fhore one lading, and obtain another, perhaps two or three others, in lefs time than fhe could go to thofe diftant ports
from
irom whence they are at prefent fitted out, and return again to the fifhing-ground: Such towns, therefore, are indi-fpenfibly neceflary, if ever we wifh to he able to carry fifh to market at a rea-fonable price.
To lay a fure foundation for a farther encouragement to the boat-fiihery on thefe coafts, and to render practicable fome neceffary regulations for promoting induftry and good order, the whole -coafts before mentioned, including the iflands, fhould be divided into a certain number of diftricts, and to each diftrict a particular name fhould be appropriated: And it fhould be alfo ordered by Law, under certain penalties, that every boat that fhall be employed in the fifhery, fhould be regularly numbered in each diftrict, and ihould have the name of the diftrict, the name of the owner, °r principal owner, and the number of the boat, marked in legible characters on each boat, fo that there may be no difficulty in identifying them for any pur-Pofe that may be wanted.
N n 2 That
That it mould be required by Law, that on all barrels in which herrings or other fifli mall be cured, lhall be marked in legible characters, by a burning iron, the name of die diitricf, the name of the owner, and the number of the boat, or other veffel, by which the fifh were caught or curedv  This regulation would at leaft tend to render the curers of fifh more attentive to the bufinefs than at prefent; as it would not only fubject them to fuch penalties as it may be thought proper to impofe on thofe who fhall offer fifh for fale that are not properly cured, but alfo would give thofe who are careful, and particularly well-fkilled in the forting, curing,, and pack* ing their fifh, an opportunity of being benefited by their care and fkill, by obtaining a higher price, or more ready fale for their fifti than others.  This they cannot do at prefent; and it is chiefly owin<r to this circumftance, as he apprehends, that, in many cafes, the curing of fifh in Britain is fo much inferior to what it might be. Poflibly other regulations
tions on this head might be ufeful; but he is fo much afraid of throwing reftraints in the way of induftry, and feting bounds to the exertions of genius, that he ihould very much hefitate before he advanced farther.
As a further inducement to induflrious exertions, let a fet of premiums be appropriated annually to the ten boats in each diftricT, which ihould prove that they had caught the greateft value of fifh during the preceding year, in proportion to the fize of the boat, and number of men employed therein; that is to fay,
To the Firft beft fifhed boat, L. 40   o o
Second ditto,     - 20   o o
Third ditto,   - - 1000
Fourth ditto,   - - 800
Fifth ditto,     - * 600
Sixth ditto,      - -500
Seventh ditto,   - -400
Eighth ditto,   - -300
Ninth ditto,   - -     2 10 o
Tenth ditto,    - -     1 10 o
L. 100   o o
Thefe premiums to be afcertained by a jury of refpecfable perfons in each di-ftrict, upon the firft Monday of June annually.
In order to prevent frauds as much as poflible, in competing for thefe premiums, and otherways, let it be required by Law, that no boat, or other veflel, lhall fell or give over to any other boat, or other peribn at fea, or otherwife, (unlefs in a retail way, as at market), under a certain penalty, any kind of fifh, or other articles the produce of the filheries, above the value of to one perfon at a time, without obtaining a written receipt from the perfon to whom they are delivered; in which receipt lhall be fpecified, the name and delignation of the purchafer, the time when and place where delivered, the number of the boat, name of the owner, and that of the diftrict to which the boat belonged from which the fifh were pur-chafed, with the quantity of fifh, and price paid for them.   Thefe receipts and accompts (in which accompts fhall be
par-
Committee of Fi/Jo cries. 287
particularly fpecified, the whole quantities of fifh either bought or fold during the former year, entered in a regular journal, with die names of the buyers, or of the perfons to whom fold, unlefs in retail at market) to be given in in a public manner to the jury, and to be iuflained as evidence in competing for the premiums; a copy of which journal, any perfon defiring it, may be at liberty to take : But if it fliall appear that thefe accompts are in one article falfe, the perfon who has dius falfified the accompt, fliall be excluded from obtaining any premium for that time.
And with a view further to guard againfl frauds, let it be ordered, That in cafe it fliall be difcovered at any time after a premium has been paid, that any fraud or unfair means has been taken for obtaining it, the perfon who fo obtained that premium, fhall be rendered incapable of competing for any other Premium ever afterwards.
To give a ftill greater ftimulus to the exertions of induftry, let another fet of premiums be diftributed annually
to
to the ten boats, which, in proportion to their fize, and the number of men, fhould be found to be the moft fucceff-. ful in the whole of the diftriefs on the coaft. Thefc premiums to be determined at Edinburgh each year, on the firft Monday of Auguft, by the Truftees for Filheries, 8cc. from the returns of the quantities, and value of fifh caught by the boats obtaining all the premiums in each of the diftridts : Such returns being required to be made to them for this purpofe, immediately after the diftribu-tion of the premiums of the diftriefs. Thefe premiums to be —
Firft beft,	L. 200	0	0
Second ditto,	100	0	0
Third ditto, -	- ' 80	0	0
Fourth ditto,	60	0	0
Fifth ditto, -	- 50	0	0
Sixth ditto,	40	0	0
Seventh ditto,		0	0
Eighth ditto, -	- 20	0	0
Ninth ditto,	12	0	0
Tenth ditto,	8	0	0
Total
L.600   o o
In confequence of this arrangement, it muft happen that a few poor induflrious nien, without friends or powerful connections of any kind, would receive at once the amazing fum of L. 240; the hope of obtaining which, would excite a degree of vigour and exertion, of which it is difficult to form an idea. Thou-fands of perfons would look up to this as to a prize in the lottery, which was to confer wealth and independence on themfelves and their poflerity for ever. It would be a lottery, however, the prize of which could only be obtained by labour, perfeverance, and fkill:—It would be a lottery, too, of fuch a kind as would not tend to impoverifh, but rather to en-rich the unfuccefsful adventurers, as they Would be benefited by their own exertions, even though they had not reached the top of the fcale; and each individual might indulge the enlivening hope, that though he had not been the moft fuc-Cefsful this feafon, yet that, in confequence of more vigorous exertions, aided by the fuperior fkill he had acquired O o by
by practice, he might obtain the prize* next year. In this way, therefore, a very fmall fum of money excites an amazing deal of induftry, and thus produces the moft beneficial effects upon the community.
The Gentlemen of the Committee will pleafe alfo here advert to the confequences that will naturally refult to the community afterwards from the money thus obtained. In this way, a great addition will be made to the capital of thofe fifhermen, whofe practical knowledge of that bufinefs is the greateft; and to thofe men, who, from having been fuccefsful in that bufinefs, have the greateft defire to profecute it with vi^ gour : confequently it will happen, that every fhilling of that money will be applied to the farther improvement of the fifheries,—and applied with the utmofl ceconomy, in that very way that is calculated to produce the greateft effect poffible. Men who began with fmall boats, will thus be enabled to obtain larger veffels of the kind, which experience
ence proves to be the beft.  In this manner, though, at firft fight, our plan feem-ed calculated only to encourage the boat-fiihery, yet it now appears to be well calculated to promote the fiihery in larger veflels, if experience fhall prove that thofe are the moft ufeful. By this modeof procedure, knowledge always precedes the outlay of capital; and by confequence, that capital will always be laid out with that judicious caution which effectually enfures fuccefs.   A gradual progreflion from fmall to great, is thus eftablifhed; which, when once fairly begun, can fcarcely be interrupted in its progrefs f.
O o 2 That
f One of the greateft objections to all the plans that have hitherto been adopted for profecuting the Britifh filheries, is, that they all lead to a wafteful careleffnefs in "the hands employed, and unthrifty expenditure of ftock and provifions through the whole courfe of the bufinefs, which loads the undertaking with a heavy ex-Pencc, that muft be returned by the high price of fifh fold, or the bufinefs be abandoned with lofs. This evil would be entirely and effectually removed by the •mode of procedure here propofed. Every individual being himfelf at the whole expence of his own outfit, and being entitled to draw the full value for his fharc
cf
That induflry may be kept awake, and emulation excited in thefe larger
veflels,
of the fifh caught, has every inducement that can be devifed, for the ftrictcft frugality in the outlay of every farthing in the outfit, and for carefully prcferving from wafte the fmalleft article that can be turned to account. The difference between a manufacture carried on upon the one or the other of thefe plans, is infinite j and the impoflibility of ever bringing it into practice in our bufs-fifhery, has ever been confidered as one of the chief caufes of our want of fuccefs in that bufinefs.
The only place I know of in the Britifh dominions where this is ftridfly pradtifed, is among the wherries fitted out from Rulh, and fome other places on the north of Ireland, (if my information reflecting them can be depended on), and the fifhers in fome large fifhing villages on the borders of the Murray-Firth, and other parts on the eaft of Scotlaqd : and their fuccefs in every undertaking they embark in, when compared with that of others, fufficiently proves the unequalled propriety of the plan. The boats that profecute the herring-fifhery in Lochfine, are fitted out fomewhat after the fame manner;—but here the feeds of corruption have been fown, the principle is debafed, and the efforts proportionally weakened.
Many years ago, 1 was informed, the boats in Lochfine, and about Campbelton and that neighbourhood, were entirely navigated by owners only; nor had any other perfon a fhare in thefe boats, but the men only who fifhed in them.—This is what I confidcr as the
moft
. veflels, it would alfo be right to appropriate another fet of premiums, on the
fame
moft perfect mode poffible for carrying on the bufinefs ^economically; and every deviation from it, is, in that rem fpecl, a d eterioration. When the bufs-fifhery commenced, fuch a large capital was wanted, as could not be commanded by the operators themfelves who were to carry on the operations; and they could be fitted out only by men of confiderable ftock, who ventured that capital in this bufinefs 011 /peculation, trufting in a great meafure to the bounty, for indemnification, and hiring fervants for carrying on the menial offices belonging to this bufinefs: and every man knows, that on fuch a plan, a drift ceconomy cannot poffibly be pracufed.
No foonerwas the idea adopted, of laying out money on (hips for profit, by thofe that were not fifhermen, than it came to be applied to boats.—Monied men built boats in the ftile of the Iriih wherries, to be employed in the white fiihery, and other fifheries through-out the year ; and obtained fifhermen, who were willing to affign a certain proportion of their gains for the ufe ■of the veffel. Nine men, as I was told, was the ufual compliment of thefe veffels; but inftead of dividing the whole produce of the fifheries into nine equal fhares, as was the cafe when all were equal owaers cf the boat, it then was divided into eleven fhares, two of which went to the owner of the boat for his fhare, and the other nine fhares were divided among the pennymen, as they were then called, equally. Thefe pennymen finding each his own hooks and lines, and other fifhing apparatus, as well as provifions, without encroaching on the boat's fhare.
While
fame plan, to thofe veffels from fifteen tons and upwards, that were employed
in
While things remained in this fituation, all went on tolerably well: for, though the workmens profits were fomewhat diminifhed, thefe were ftill fufficient; and as little or no ftock was neceffary for the fifhers themfelves, there was no difficulty in finding perfons ready to engage in the bufinefs, and monied men found no difficulty in increafing the proportion affigned to their boats fhare. The firft innovation they attempted, was to ftipulate, that befides the two fhares affigned for their boat, they fhould be allowed further to put in one hired man along with the eight pennymen, to whom they paid wages, and furnifhed lines and other fifhing apparatus, and provifions, as each of the pennymen did for themfelves ; and they, in confequence of that, became entitled to receive his ninth fhare of the produce of the fifhery.
Matters went on now worfe than before, but ftill tolerably well; and the owners of the boats finding that their profit on this hired man fo put in was very great, being ufually about three pounds (frequently, as I was told, fix pounds) clear profit, after paying all expences for a fiihing of three or four months, they became anxious to have ftill a greater fhare in the venture. The fifhermen, having no boats of their own, were at their mercy; and the boat-owners, as is ufual in all fuch cafes, grafped at as much gain as was poflible. They in lifted on putting in tivo hired men along with feven pennymen. This point they carried. The profits on each
fhare
Committee of Fifheries. 295 in the filheries, within the diftricts afore-laid. One fet of premiums on the whole
coafts,
fhare decreafed, becaufe of the indolence, &c. of the hired men—the pennymen became poor, and exerted themfelves lefs vigoroufly—more hired men were put in upon them— the employment of a pennyman became no longer a lucrative one—they gradually deferted it, the owners of the veffels willingly fubftituting hired men in their ftead, reckoning, that their profits would be encreafed in proportion to their number. By degrees, the bufinefs was entruffed entirely to hired men—the profits decreafed—lofs was afterwards fu-ftained—and the bufinefs, in that train, was at length entirely abandoned.
Such was the hiftory of the progrefs and decline of a white-fifhery that was formerly carried on about Campbelton, on the plan of the Irifh wherries, as I had it from an old experienced filherman of that place; and it affords a leffon full of inftruction, on which any comment is unneceffary.
The herring-fifhery in Lochfine, is to this day carried on pretty nearly on the fame plan as that I have marked above, in the fecond ftage of the progrefs. Monied men frequently furnifh the boats, and draw their fhare ; but as this fifhery is much more precarious than the white-fifhery, it does not admit of the fame abufe. An unfuccefsful feafon, even as things now are circumftanced, is in danger of driving away the pennymen, and of thus rendering the boats ufelefs to their owners: they muft, therefore, be treated
with
coafts, would be enough for this purpofe; and thefe might be as follow, viz.
To
with greater delicacy. Thus has it happened, that the profits on one fifhery being fteady and too high, have gradually wrought, its ruin; while the other, which was more precarious, and the lefs defirabie of the two, has been preferved. This affords an explanation of one of the many feeming paradoxes we fo frequently meet with in our refearches of this kind.
Among the weftern iflands, the boats are in general furnifhed by the tackfmen, or proprietors; but, inftead of drawing a fettled proportion of the fifhery for their fhare, they ufually ftipulate, as I was told, a fixed allowance for the boat, and take the people bound to fell their fifh to none but thofe who furnifh the boat, at ftipulated prices. In Shetland, the fame practice prevails ; and, in both cafes, the rent demanded for the land occupied by the fifhermen, muft be accounted a lax upon the fifheries, which tends wonderfully to deprefs the people, and make their exertions extremely languid.
It has been my ftudy, in the plan recommended, to guard as much as poffible againft all thefe inconveniences; and I fhould wifh to fee the idea of monied men furnifhing boats with a view to profit, entirely dropped, along all thefe coafts : as this muft ever operate in one of two ways, which are nearly equally destructive to the fifheries,—either to keep the pennymen, as they are there called, very poor and dependent,—or to banifh them entirely, and to introduce hired men in their ftcad.
But,
Committee of Fifheries* 297
ro the Firft beft nihecL in proportion to its fize, and the number of perfons
employed in it,	L. 500	0	0
To the Second ditto,	200	0	0
Third ditto,	100	0	0
Fourth ditto,	60	0	0
Fifth ditto,	40	0	0
Sixth ditto, -	- 30	0	0
Seventh ditto,	25	0	0
Eighth ditto,	20	0	0
Ninth ditto, -	- l5	0	0
Tenth ditto,	10	0	0
Total, -	L. 1000	0	0
			In
But, as it is altogether impoffible for the lower Gaffes of fifhennen on thofe coafts to find money to lit out a boat at their own expence, unlefs thefe boats fliall be at firft given to them gratis, the filheries muft either ftop entirely, or the boats muft be fur-nifhed by others, on fome of the modes above taken Notice of: That meafure, therefore, feems to be abfolutely neceffary; and the expence, confidered as a national cbjeft, is fo fmall as not to be worth regarding.
Should this plan be adopted, thofe men who now aPply their fmall ftocks in equipping boats, and fur-n>fhing fcahtV fupplies of neceffaries for a miferable People, would fhl much greater profits, by applying it to forwarding the operations of a biifk commerce that
would
In a few years, the bounty on* the tonnage, which requires a much greater fund, and is lefs calculated to promote induftry, may be with fafety withdrawn, and thefe premiums continued under fuch farther reftrictions as experience may point out as neceffary.
From
would take place, which, by furnifhing quick returns, Would foon augment their capital; and the fifhermcn always finding that their profits would be augmented in proportion to their frugality and induftry, and being at prefent accuftomed to the greateft moderation in diet and perfonal expences, "thefe habits of frugality would become univerfal among them, and would prevail even in thofe greater enterpi ifes, which would gradually be attempted, as their capitals encreafed. It was habits of thit, kind, acquired nearly in the fame manner, that have ever made the Dutch nation fo confpicuous for frugality, even long after they have become a wealthy people. I once more repeat it, therefore, that I think it will be the greateft bleiling to that country, if every idea of inducing wealthy people to engage in the fifheries fhould be banifhed from thence; and that the efforts of thofe who with to forward the fifheries, fhould be confined merely to the putting the poor people into a fituation that enabled them to profecute the fifheries on their own account only ; and then fuf-fering them to pufh forward, juft as faft, and no fatter than their induflrious exertions fuffered them to go.
' I an*
Commit lee of Fl/hcrks. 299
From this defcription of veffels, nothing hut fifh themfelves produced, or receipts for thofe that have been fold, or given away, will be received; and an account muft be delivered, upon oath, of all fifh, otc. that have been bought from others, fpecifying the time when bought, the perfon from whom, the place where, the the quantity, kind, and price, (a copy of which account any perfon defiring it may be at liberty to take) ; from which vouchers, the value of the fifh, P p 2 &c.
I am fenfible thefe ideas are exceedingly different from the opinion entertained by the generality of men on this fubject; but as I am myfelf fully convinced they are founded on the foundeft principles, I hold it to be my duty to develope thefe principles as fully as I can, cven at the rifk of being accounted tedioufly minute. Every man knows, that the greateft fupport of manufactures of every kind, is a habit of induflry and frugality among the people who engage in them; and that thoufands of attempts to eftablifh new undertakings have failed, merely from the want of thefj qualifica-tl »ns: Cut few have turned their thoughts towards the difcovery of the caufes which tend to produce thefc habits, or the reverfe. My views have been chiefly du-ctcd towards this point.
&x. caught by each candidate, mail be afcertained. Before payment of the premium, each candidate fliall give bond, with fufficient furety, for the amount of the premium, with one-half more to be forfeited in cafe any frauds in thofe accounts or vouchers fliall be proved within one year from that period ; after which time, the bond fhall be no longer in force. And in cafe of the forfeiture of any of thefe bonds, the amount of the original premium thus forfeited, fhall be given to the perfon on the lift who ftands next below him ; and each of
thofe
Let mc not here be mifunderftood—I hold frugality among the operators, to be of the firft importance in manufactures of every kind ; and that, in commerce, liberal and extenfive ideas, with great and commanding capitals, are the things moft requisite.—Far be it from me, therefore, to wilh to infinuate, that monied men fhould not engage in thofe branches of bufinefs which would be dependent on the filheries : So far from it, that it is from the aid the fifheries would derive from this application of capital, that I think they muft chiefly owe their ftabiiity. The plan propofed, muft be confidered in all its parts, or it will prove exceedingly defective ; and I entreat the Reader, not to lofe fight of this circumftance.
Committee of Fi/berics. 301
thole below, to occupy the clafs which he would have held, had the premium forfeited never been adjudged; and of courfe, that the lowclt premium mail be adjudged, in that cafe, to the veifel which was higheft upon the lift of thofe who did not obtain the premium. With regard to the fum forfeited more than the premium, it lhall be divided into as many parts as it will admit of, each equal to the loweft premium ; and if any fraction remains, that fraction fhall form another ihare: thefe fhares to be diftributed in order, to the veffels which were not gainers, but which flood higheft on the lift next to thofe. By this means, it would become the intereft of thofe who were beft able to difcover frauds, to detect them; and of courfe, it would be very dangerous to attempt any kind of fraud in thefe competitions.
As the extenfion of thefe fifheries rnuft in a great meafure depend on the large demand for fifh, it is of much im-'portance that the people fhould be induced to cure them as carefully as pofi.
fible.
fible. And with a view to excite a very-general attention to this article, let a fet of premiums be distributed annually, to the perfons who fhould produce the beft forted and beft cured white-herrings, viz.
For the Firft beft forted and beft cured fpecimen of Britifh-caught white-herrings (confining of one laft each fpe-
cimen),	L.	100	0	0
'To the Second ditto,	-	5°	0	0
Third ditto,		40	0	0
Fourdi ditto,	-	3°	0	0
Fifth ditto, -	-	25	0	0
Sixth ditto,	-	20	0	0
Seventh ditto,	-	*5	0	0
Eighth ditto,	-	10	0	0
Ninth ditto,	-	6	0	0
Tenth ditto,	- -	4	0	0
	L.	300	0	0
The gainers of each of thefe premiums to. produce to the judges, if they defire it, a particular account of the whole fteps in the proccfs of curing the fifh, which they may publiih, if they
mail
Committee of Tifoerics. 3°3
lhall fo incline. And on all occafions, the names of the gainers of thefe premiums, the diftrict to which they belong, and the number of the veifel marked on the barrels, fliall be publifhed in the news-papers.
The curing of white herrings naturally divides itfelf into two branches, viz. that for the home or European market, and that for the Weft Indies, or other warmer climates; which would require two kinds of procefs extremely different from each other. For the firft, it is wifh-ed to preferve the fifh as nearly as poffible in their natural ftate, with a rich flavour, and as little tafte of fait as is confiitent with their found prefervation. In the other cafe, the acrid tafte of the fait is lefs difguftful to the natives; nor is it imagined, that other acrid fiibftances or fpiceries, if they fhould be found ufeful in preferving the fifh, would be difagreeable to the natives; as high feafoning in warm climates, is neceffary and pleafmg. Much room is therefore left for ingenuity in both cafes,
to.
3 04 Evidence I)cfore the
to difcover antifeptics that are calculated to preferve the food, and adapt it to the palates of the confumers by a more elegant preparation than any that have been yet difcovered.   Common fait, tho* a much weaker antifeptic than manv others, has been the only fubftance hitherto employed; yet, for warm climates, pepper and other fpiceries, or aromatic plants, the native production of our own fields, which can be obtained very cheap, may be found to have an antifeptic power very great, (fome of which are known to be twenty times more powerful as an antifeptic than common fait), and may add greatly to the delicacy of the flavour of this filli to the palates of the natives of warm climates.   Gn the other hand, many fubflances may be found, which, though poffelhng a much flronger antifeptic power than common fait, and mildnefs of tafte, if ufed along with fait in curing provifions, would add to its power, while they in a great meafure deftroyed its acrid pungency. Sugar acts as an antifeptic at leaft four times more
power-
powerfully than common fait, and at the fame time diminilhes its pungency to an aftoniihing degree. Other fubftances rnay perhaps be found ftill cheaper, and better calculated for the purpofe of giving an elegant prefervation of herrings adapted to the delicate European palates: The premiums above propofed, would excite an attention to thefe matters ; and if they were alternately appropriated, one year to the curing of herrings for the Weft-Indian market, and another year to thofe cured for the European market, one fet of premiums would anfwer both purpofes equally well.
Another fet of premiums, exactly fimilar to the above, fhould be appropriated annually to the ten beft fpecimens of the beft cured red herrings. Here alfo there might be two claffes,—one year to be given to the beft fpecimens of thofe fmoked after the Yarmouth method, with oak-wood only ; and another year to the beft fpecimen of red herrings fmoked with any other fubftance that could be eafily procured in Britain, or O a even
even dried without fmoke f. There are? many other kinds of filli, which acquire a peculiarly delicate flavour from being cured in the thick fmoke arifing from particular fubftances ; and it is not at all impoflible, but that, herrings, by fome
procefs
f One Mr Snow1, an Englifhmari, who purchafed an eftate in the north-weft of Ireland, wirh a.view there to profecute the filheries, found, that cod could be caught in great quantities on that coaft during the winter-months ; but the climate being there fo damp, he found great difficulty in getting them properly dried. This induced him to invent a fort of kiln, in which, by means of heated air without fmoke, after fome trials^ he found they could be dried thoroughly, and at a very fmall expence, without regard to the ftate of the weather at the time. This kiln, with his other buildings, was pulled down by the natives foon after it was erected-; and he himfelf, with his wife and children, made a narrow efcape with their lives; their buildings', &c. being entirely deftroyed. He afterwards erected another kiln, on the fame plan, in the neighbourhood of Dublin, for the inflection of a Committee of Parliament, from which he was folliciting aid. 1 law the Report of the Committee on that fubject, which was as full an approbation of the whole as words could exprefs; fo that there is not a doubt, from experiment, as well as from i-eafoning, that fifh may be thus cured, if it ever fhall be found neceflary.'
Stock-
procefs of the fame kind, might become a peculiar delicacy in certain markets. The more general we can make our markets, and the more peculiarly our own, by means of new and elegant pre-Q q 2 parations,
Stock-fifh are made on the coaft of Norway without fait: they arc dried in the open air during the winter and fpring months, till April, after which time no niore can thus be properly cured. They are tied by the tails two and two, and hung upon poles expoled to all leather. I have been affured by a gentleman who lived long in that country, that frojl is not at all neceffary for that procefs, and that they might eafily be thus cured w Britain, if it were thought proper.
Among the weftern iflands, the natives, who are often in want of fait when herrings come upon their fhore, frequently dry great quantities of herrings without fah, by hanging them upon rods or cords within their barns, which are ufually made of wicker-work: And I have been affured, that when the weather is cool and dry, they can be very perfectly thus cured, and afterwards keep very well, and afford a delicate morfel: Poffibly, were thefe dried by the help of heated air without fmoke, they would become a favourite article of food, and would be in particular valuable for fea-ftores, fua'niihing frefh food for the feamen in long voyages, ^'hen fah meat has become pernicious. Herringsfbe-lng a fatter and more tally fifh than cod, or other white *ifh, would probably be far more agreeable to the palate without fait than flock-fifh.
parations, the more effectually will the hfheries be encouraged.
On the fame principles mould be distributed annually, another fet of pre, miums for the belt fpecimens of cured dry cod, hng, tufk, or hake, ufually called haberdines — one ton of each to be produced—the premiums to be the fame as above—and the fame condition re-cmired of difcovering the procefs.
Thus it might happen, that the fame poor perfons who had obtained L. 240 premiums in one year, for being the molt fuccefsful fiihers, might alfo obtain L. 200 more, for being the mo it fkilful forters and curers of herrings, and of dried fiih ; fo that one boat's crew might gain in one year L. 440. To perfons who perhaps never were mailers of ten guineas at one time, fuch a fum of money, obviouily within their reach, mult excite a wonderful degree of exertion indeed.
Such are the meafures that at prefent appear to the Witnefs to be belt calculated for effectually, and in the fhortelt
time,
time, putting the filheries on thofe coafts into fuch a train as to go on fucceff-fully, without any public aid whatever.
5-
And Dr Anderfon being afked, Whether he could make a computation of the fum of money that might probably be required to put the fifheries on our own coafts into fuch a train as to be able afterwards to go on without any further public aid ?—He anfwered, That were the reftraints arifing from the falt-laws alone entirely removed, it is not at all impoffible, but that the fifheries, without any fort of public aid, might be able to go on. But, in that cafe, the exertions of individuals in thefe fifheries, muft be-extremely languid; and it would be very long before it could become an object of great national importance. Should any further encouragement be intended, it would not be difficult to fliew what would be the probable effect that would refult from the application of any given fum, upon the foregoing plan.
The price of the ground to be given in perpetuity to each family, is propofed to be one pound.
Hence, for fix families, L. 6 o © The price of a boat ready to
go to fea,      - - 500
The price of nets, lines and
hooks, to be given along
with it, fuppofe - 900
The value of hemp to be
given for making more
nets, ckc. fuppofe 400 Total expence for eftablifh- -
ing fix families,      -     L. 24   o o
Or L. 4 each family. And reckoning five perfons on an average to ■ each family, it is exactly fixteen fhillings. each perfon.
If it fhould be fuppofed, that a number of perfons who were to follow other employments than the fifheries, would choofe to eftablifh themfelves in thefe places, equal to the number of fifhermen (each of which families would coft Government
veniment only twenty ihillings), it will follow, that, reckoning five to each family, each of thofe perfons would coif four ihillings only.—At that rate, for every thoufand pounds thus applied, there would be eftablifhed 400 families, or 2000 perfons:—So that L. 5000 a-year applied tlms, would fettle annually about 2000 families, or 10,000 perfons:—This continued for twenty years, would amount to 200,000 perfons, not to take in to the account the increafe by natural procreation.
Of thefe 200,000 perfons, one-tenth are fiihermen, as originally fettled—that is, 20,000.—And if it is fuppofed, that each of thefe fiihermen, on an average, have in thefe twenty years bred up one fon to the bufinefs, the whole number reared up by the application of L. 5000 per annum, would, in that period, amount to 40,000^-Of courfe, fuppofing L. 10,000 thus applied annually, the number of nien thus trained to the fea, would be fourfcore thoufand.
' The annual expence of the fore-men* tioned premiums would be-To the boats, fuppofing ten diftricls at L. 100 each, is L. iooo
To the ten beft boats on the whole 600 To the wherries - - - 1000 To the beft cured white herrings 300 To ditto red ditto - 300 To      ditto       dried cod, ling, 8cc. 300
In all   -   L. 3500
With regard to the bounties on ton-age propofed ; as the Witnefs confiders that to be the moft expenfive mode of granting encouragement, if the effecT: produced be attended to; and as he does not conceive that any bounties could be wanted, were towns once eftablifhed on the coaft, and the natives a little initiated into the ufe of thefe veffels ; thefe bounties, after a very few years, might be entirely withdrawn. But as their amount during thefe very few years is altogether uncertain, every one muft be left to form the beft judgment he can on this head. At the rate of thirty fhillings per ton,
the
Committee of Fifheries. 313
the bounty on a bufs of eighty tons is L. 120, the number of hands is eighteen; of courfe, the premium paid to each perfon, is L. 6 : 13 : 4. for three months fiihing only. L. 10,000, therefore, thus applied, employs no more than 1515 men, and thefe only one-fourth part of their time, fo as to make them but very imperfect feamen: And Ihould this bounty be continued for twenty years, or for two hundred years, it could not produce a greater number, nor tend to put matters in a train to enable the filheries ever to go on without the bounty. Whereas, in the method propofed, the fame fum of money duly applied, for the fame time, Would train up eighty thoufand men, who, finding conflant employment at fea, without any annual fupport, would be able to go on with the filheries without any aid, at whatever period Government niight think it prudent to withhold any farther encouragement.
In Hating to the Committee the effects that may be expected to arife from the Proper application of thefe fmall fums, R r the
the Witnefs is fufficiently aware that thefe effects will feem fo difpruportion-ately great, as almoft to exceed belief. He muft beg, however, that gentlemen, before they allow themfelves to be fway-ed by fuch general preponeilions, will attentively examine the facts as ftated, and draw the conclufion that unbiaffed reafon authorifes. In moral, as in phy-fical cafes, fome things are extremely difficult, or altogether impoffible, which, by a fmall variation of circumftances, are rendered perfectly eafy. To force water to flow in a certain channel, where the point to which it is to be carried is in the fmalleft degree above its level, would be a work of infinite difficulty, and great expence.—Perhaps, however, in certain circumftances, labour and ex-pence might force it up for a time; but in that cafe, the expence muft never be interrupted, or the effect muft immediately ceafe.—But if, inftead of that unnatural exertion, the channel had been deepened at the end which was originally higheft, the expence might in fome cafea
be
be a very trifle, and the current would continue for ever afterwards to flow without ceafing, without care, and without expence. Let us not therefore con-elude, that an undertaking cannot be, completed becaufe much money has been in vain expended upon it; nor let us imagine, that great fums of money are always required to produce very great effects.
6.
And the Witnefs being afked, What number of men he imagines might find conffant employment at fea in the prosecution of thefe filheries, were they carried to the higheft degree of perfection they are naturally and morally fufcept-ible of?—He replied, It is impoflible to Ipecify that number with precifion. If the quantity of fifh to be caught be confidered, there feems, in that refpect, to ^e no limits that could be affigned; for, the fifh there fo much abound, as far to exceed the utmoft efforts of man fenfibly to diminifh their numbers. If, on the °ther hand, we think of the markets to R r 2 which
which they might be carried, and keep .n our eye the poflible improvements of curing the different kinds of fifh which there abound, fo as to render them more palatable to different nations, and advert to the very low price at which they might be afforded, were the fifheries carried on with ccconomy upon a large fcale, there feems to be as little room for fetting bounds to it on that fide: So that this feems to be a fpecies of manufacture that admits of being extended to an indefinite degree, and may, in future times, afford employment to a great multitude of people.—He cannot help obferv-ing under this head, that it is impoflible ever to think on any commercial fubjecl,
without reflecting on the deplorable ftate
l
to which the wretched fyftem of European polities has reduced the inhabitants of the greater part of Africa. Had they been treated in a friendly manner, and civilized, what an extenfive market would this have opened for the product of our fifheries, and many other European manufactures ! — and how much cheaper
might
Committee of Fijhcrles, 317
might they have afforded cotton, and many other productions of warm climates, than we now can buy them 1 Shall we puniih ourfelves for ever, by continuing that cruel and wretched policy without end ?
By the foregoing computation it feems probable, that by a very fmall exertion, in the courfe of a few years, eighty thoufand fiihermen might be trained to that bufinefs. And when it is confidered, .» that above a hundred years ago, it was computed by De Witt, and others, that 260,000 perfons were employed by Holland in the fifheries alone, it will not, he prefumes, be accounted an extravagant fuppofition, if it fhould be admit-ed, that one hundred thoufand fiihermen might find conftant employment in the Britilh feas : And if that number of fiihermen were employed, the mariners neceffary for carrying thefe fifh to market, for bringing fait, and coals, and grain, materials for fliip-building, cafks, and all the various articles dependent on thefe extenfive  fifheries, might probably a-
mount
mount to twenty or thirty thoufand. Here, then, Government would have all times at hand, a Heady body of above i2o,ooo feamen ; out of which body, without any violent exertion, our fleets might be manned on any ^udden emergency, with the greateft facility. The obfervations which ' crowd upon the mind from this view of the matter, whether we confider the ftrength and liability the empire would derive from the putting this her natural bulwark on fuch a refpectable footing, or whether we advert to the advantages her trade and manufactures would derive from the abfence of war, which would neceffarily be occafioned by the refpect that would be infpired into neighbouring nations, from the contemplation of thefe unequalled refources, are fo many, and fo obvious, as not to require to be here pointed out.
7-
And being afked, Should thofe fifheries, and the confequent improvement 6n the coaft, be carried to the perfection
the
the Witnefs thinks them fufceptible of, vvould not die national revenue be augmented thereby? and if fo, what does he think might be the amount of the additional revenue which might be thus obtained?-—He anfwered, That the national revenue would thus be augmented, there can be no doubt:—That that revenue would be thus augmented in a very high degree, feems alfo to be unqueflionable; but what might be the precife amount of that additional revenue, it is impoffible now to forefee. In general, whatever adds to the number of the people, or (which is ftill more effential) whatever puts them into a fituation in which they can exercife an active induftry that they could not exercife before, augments the amount of all taxes on articles of consumption, and thus renders them more productive, without the aid of new impofitions, and vice verfi. Hence it will appear, that the eafieft and beft mode of obtaining an additional revenue by a Minifter, would be to find out fome new and profitable employment for fuch of the
people
people as were not fully employed before—To fee that julllcc mould be impart! ally adminiflred to all, fo that no" degree of opprcffion, cither from individuals, or the State, could be felt: and thus not only to encourage the people who arc already in the country, to marry and multiply, but alfo to allure as many more as poffible to come from other parts of the world, and fettle among them.—-The meafure now recommended has precifely this tendency. There maybe found in Britain itfelf at prefent, without the aid of foreigners at all, at lead half a million of people, who now languifh in poverty and indolence. All thefe people, if properly called forth, might find abundant employment in the filheries, and would thus in a fhort time become equally able to pay their proportion of the public taxes, as any other clafs of Britilh fubjects: But it is well known, that in the populous parts of Great Britain, the taxes paid by the / people amount to the rate of forty fhillings a-head per annum nearly.   At that
rate,
Committee of Fifheries. 321 rate, the revenue would be augmented by this arrangement, at leaft one million per annum. Nor would this be a lickly revenue, liable to fluctuation and decays but it would be an increafing fund, that would grow greater and greater, without trouble or expence,. as the profperity of the people increafed.
And here it is proper to take notice, that although, for the fake of diftiuct-nefs, it has been ftated, that a fmall annual fum fhould be apparently paid out of the public revenue of this country, for the purpofe of promoting thefe filheries ; yet it now appears, that inftead of requiring money to be paid by the other fubjects of Britain, for the fupport of thofe engaged in this undertaking, diere would only be wanted a very fmall portion of the money that the filheries themfelves would produce, to be applied for fome time, for the purpofes diere fpecified; and a very large overplus would remain, to be applied to the common exigencies of the State. This undertaking, therefore, not only promifes to afford to S s the
the nation a more permanent degree of fecurity than could be derived from the' moft impregnable fortrefs; but it is a for-trefs that yields a large revenue, which may be applied to die purpofe of promoting arts, agriculture, and commerce, inftead of requiring, as all other fort-reffes do, perpetual large fums for rearing fortifications, for artillery, ftores, provifions, and pay to the garrifons ; all which muft be obtained at the expence of the people, whofe numbers are diminifhed, and whofe burthens are. thus augmented to a very high degree. The End of the Evidence. .
Addendum.
When I was on the weft coaft of Scotland, all the perfons I met with, unani-moufly concurred in opinion, that no veffel bigger than a boat, could poflibly be fo managed as to flioot and haul long lines, unlefs thofe that were <wherry-rigged. Since that time, I have met with feveral facts that convince me this opinion
mon is not ftri&ly juft: for I am affured, that the Dutch do adually fifh with long lines at fea, in veffels rigged 10 feveral different ways; and that the people of Harwich, and other places on the eaft coafl of England, do the fame. I now think it highly probable, that veffels of various conftructions, may, under fldlful management, be employed in the long-line fifheries; though it feems frill to be admitted on all hands, that none are more fimple, and more eafily worked, than wherries. I thought it neceffary to ftate this fact, for the confideration of thofe who have better accefs to be informed of the mode of managing a veffel at fea than mvfelf. It is but about fifteen years fince the people at Harwich, &c. learned to flioot lines after the Dutch method, and now they are very dextrous fifhers.
In reflecting on this fubject., one other confideration deferves to be attended to. A veffel that is to be employed in fifli-mg for herrings at fea after the Dutch method, requires probably a peculiar-S s 2 built
cr a
324 Evidence before the Committee, tsfc.
built, and pofftbly a particular rigg alfo, for lying eafy  in the water, with the circumftances of which I am not acquainted.   I have been affured, it is of much importance, that one at leaft of their raafts ihould admit of being ftruck while they are driving.—Enquiry, therefore, fhould be made very particularly into all thefe circumftances, before any decifive meafure be adopted for promoting the fifheries, that the encouragements held forth may tend to introduce the very beft form of veflels for both purpofes.   In this refpect, it would 1 be extremely abfurd in me to pretend to direct: I have only ventured to fketch the outlines of a fyftem  that leads to the confederation of the objects of principal importance j fully fenfible that it will require the continued attention of much greater talents to watch over the progrefs of this important undertaking, with a view to correct defects, and to remedy inconveniencies, which experience may be. expected to difcover in every fyftem that human ingenuity can devife.
ap-
APPENDIX.
No. I.
CONCLUSION of the Third Report from the Committee appointed to enquire into the State of the Britijh Fijheries, and into the mojl effectual Means of their Improvement and Extenfion. July 14. 1 785.
AS the Law granting a bounty on the tonnage of buffes employed in the herring-fifhery, will foon expire, when the fubject will unavoidably be brought Under the review of Parliament, your Committee fub-niit to the Houfe, the following obfervations.—
It appears the lefs furprifing to your Committee, that the opinions of men fhould be divided on this fubjecl:, becaufe there is much more to be faid againft cither fide of the queftion, than in its favour. According to the prefent belief of your Committee, the herring-fifhery will be but indifferently encouraged, either hy a continuance of the prefent bounty on the buffes, or by beftowing that bounty on the barrel of herrings *hen caught and cured.
h is certain, that a change of the bounty in the manner laft mentioned, would immediately extinguish the bufs.fifhery, unlefs the bounty to be given on the barrel of fifh cured, were to be very extravagant and enormous indeed, and far exreedinr the abilities of the nation to furnifh, or becoming its wisdom to grant. For U appears by the account in Appendix, No. 2c, that the
money granted on the tonnage, amounts, on an average of eleven years, viz*from 1771 to 1782 inclulive, to 74s. ii'd. on every barrel of herrings caught by buffes fiihing on the bounty, and exported from North Bricain ; and to lis. 3d. on the barrel of herrings confumed nt home, and this too exclufive of the allowance of ufing fait duty-free. Yet, notwithftand-.ingthis improvement, great as it feems to be, your Committee cannot reprefent the bufs-fifhery as being in a flourishing (late; for, in the year 1782, there appears to have been but 1^5 buffes, navigated by about 2COO filhers, fitted out from all the ports of North Britain. Your Committee, however, are fenlible this bounty has not been entirely mifapplied : Many hands have been trained to the feas, who would, in all probability, not otherwife have been fo trained. The places from whence this fiihery is carried on, have increafed in wealth and in numbers, and have not been backward, during the laft war, in furnifhing their quotas to the manning of the navy. Your Committee are not prepared to recommend to this Houfe, the difcontinu-ing immediately the bounty on the bufs-fifhery; for, as many people have embarked their property in this trade, k may be advifeable to continue the bounty for fome time longer, till the effect of other meafures fhall be known.
Your Committee are of opinion, That the caufes operating to the discouragement of our fifheries, will not be removed by any fingle meafure, but will require the adoption of a new fyftem: for, befides the discouragements on which your Committee have already reported, arifing from the reftraints and embarraffments impofed by the laws relating to the duty on fait, the delays and expences of cuftomhoufes and cuftomhoufe fees, our fifheries, and particularly thofe of herrings, have many other difficulties to contend with. — The main and principal difficulty appears, by the evidence, to arife from the ftate of the country, and the condi-
Appendix, No. I. 327
tion of the inhabitants occupying the mores of thofe feas, lochs, bays, and creeks, near to which the beft fiihing-banks are fituated, and where the herrings at certain, feaibns of the year-refort in great abundance. There the inhabitants live in fcattered and detached habitations : They are occupied, during the feafon bell: calculated for fiihing, either in providing a miferable fuel for the winter, or in managing their own little farms, or in performing certain perfonal Services for their landlord or his Steward, or the principal tackfmen under whom they hold their precarious poffeffions. Their avocations are therefore numerous, and their time often unprofitably employed; and were even thefe Services to their fuperiors at any time difpenSed with, and the people at liberty to engage more freely in the fisheries, and their labours in that way fuccefsful, which from their extreme poverty is not likely to be the cafe, they would be expofed to demands of an increafe of rent, in proportion to their fuccefs in the fifheries, and to the extent of the public encouragement for carrying them on. The landlord, or his Steward, or the Superior tackfmen, might profit by the bounty given on the barrel of herrings taken; but it is a matter of doubt with your Committee, if the poor fiiher himfelf would reap any Solid benefit therefrom.
Your Committee, willing to afford every poffible "'glu to this Houfe, refpecting the fituation of that country, have examined certain accompts referred to them, viz.
An account of the duties of cuStoms paid or collected in the counties of Argyle, Invernefs, Rofs, Sutherland, Caithnefs, and Orkney and Shetland, as ahb the net amount of the Said duties, distinguishing each county and port, for the year 1765, and for the year 1782 ; and alfo,
An account of die above duties from the year 1774 to the year 1784.
From the firft of thefe accounts it appears to your Committee, That in the year 1765, the grofs receipts of the cuftoms amounted to    -    L. 3930   2 i.t$ The expence of management to     -      3097   9 2 The net produce to      - - 832 13 9!-
And in the year 1782, Grofs produce was L. 2569 12 1 fi-
Payments - «■ 3foS 11 7
Excefs of payments more than produce,   535 18 7
By the fecond account, the following appears to be the ft.tte of the cuftoms from 1775 to 1784, viz.
377' i77(> 177.
1778
1779 1780 1/81 178a 1783 1784
Giot's Produce. Payments
'153*   * 4
9189   9 ii
i93» 17 6£
3040 19 ©!
1480   8 l|
M5S   9 "4
3;^4 14 «4
2569 12 11$
a<; 18  o 8
fiz%7   8 M
50737  a \%
ttwi 17 14078 7 4
3817 18 3 361a 11 6i
i!>40 17 1 3079   4- 1 *i 3234 16 11} 3105 11 7 3088   9 11 3017 18 io\
$1679 13 8*
Net Produce.
3728   5 t|
120 19 j§
149 17 4
3199   9 4
Payments exceed Produce.
488S 18 l\
571 i» 6
1360   8 15
623 15 o£
535 »3 7i
>7o   9 3
7198 10 n£
8151 1 8£ 7198 10 n|
952 10 9
Your Committee can hardly exhibit a more deplorable ftate of a public revenue. It appears there has been annually collected for cuftoms, in fix counties more extenfive than all the reft of Scotland, on an average of the laft ten years, - L. 5073 12 o That the expence of collection is - 5167 19 o and that an a&ual lofs has accrued on this branch of revenue, of about h. 94: 7 s. a-year.— An account of
the duties of excife has been called for during the fame period, but not yet prefented to the Houfe ; but, fo far as your Committee can judge from analogy, they have little reafon to expect a more favourable refult from their enquiries reflecting the excife than the cuftoms.
Your Committee have alfo examined the following accounts, viz.
An account of the duties on fait paid or collected in. the counties of Argyle, Invernefs, Rofs, Sutherland, CaithneSs, Orkney and Shetland, as alfo the net amount of the faid duties on fait, diftinguifhing each county and port, for the year 1765, and for the year i't 82; and alfo,
An account of the above duties from the year 1 774 to the year 1784.
From the firft of thefe accounts it appears, that- in the year 1765, the grofs receipts of the falt-duties a-mounted to - - L. 19   7 8
The expence of management to - 27 4 6 Excefs of payments more than produce,       7 16 10
And in the year 1782, The grofs produce (there being no expence
of management) amounted to 53 2
By the Second account, the following appears to be the ftate of the falt-duties from 1774 to 1784, viz.
-	Grofs Produce.		Payments.			Net Produce.		
l775	620 14	6	248	'5	o	371	19	6
1776	788 16	6±	323	9	64:	465	7	0
!777	598 14	5*	277	5	4±	321	8	
1778	200 9	***	66	2	44-	134	7	7t
»77o	66 0		4	11	10	6l	9	U
1780	5° l£	2	0	0	0	5°	*5	2
1781	76 16		0	0	0	76	16	
1782	53 2	9i	0	0	0	53	2	9*
J783	154 14	1	0	0	0	'54	'4	1
J784	57 12	6	24	12	9	32	19	9
	2667 17	4*	944	16		»723	0	Si
Tt
Your Committee, in obedience to the order of the Houfe, think it their duty to fuggeft fuch encouragements and regulations as have appeared to them from the evidence, to promife future fuccefs to the Britilh fifhery in all its branches.
Although your Committee have already reported very fully to the Houfe on the fubjecl: of fait, they are induced again to offer it as their opinion, That nothing would more contribute to the prosperity of the fisheries, than that Parliament fhould fee fit to commute the duties upon that commodity, and allow it to be ufed not only free from duty, but alSo from the various vexatious bonds and penalties which at prefent accompany that indulgence, and which, in many cafes, are as di-ftreSSing to the fifhers, as if they paid the duty upon the fait they ufe.
idly, The labour of the inhabitants of thofe parts where the fisheries would be beft carried on, being employed for the greateft part of the Summer in providing fuel for themfelves and others ; it appears to your Committee, that either a total remiffion of the duty on coal carried coaftways for a certain number of years, or a commutation of that duty, would enable the people to purchafe coal at a moderate price, remove one of the great obstacles to their collecting themfelves together in towns and villages, and allow them to employ the Summer in profecuting the fifheries, and other branches of induftry.
It appears from accounts laid on your table, That the whole net duty collected on coal over all Scotland, does not exceed L. 3000 a-year; which furnifhes the moft convincing proof to your Committee, that the prefent duties are too high, and operate more as a prohibition on the ufe of the article, than as a benefit to the revenue. The net duties on fah in North-Britain, amount only to L. 12,000 a-year ; fo that the confequences of a commutation of both the above duties would not be felt as a heavy burthen, whether it were
impofed on houfes, like the tea, or levied by a fmall additional duty on malt confumed in diftilleries, and in brewing for private ufe. Should the laft mode be thought expedient, an additional tax of threepence per bufhel on malt ufed as above, would yield to the public a greater fum by feveral thoufand pounds, than that which is relinquished by exempting coal and fait from their prefent duty.
Your Committee would recommend the granting encouragement to fuch of the proprietors of lands in that country, as are difpofed to build towns upon their eftates. The encouragements which would operate the moft fuccefsfully for this purpofe, appear to be the following :—Charters of incorporation, like thofe of other towns in Scotland, allowing the inhabitants of the faid towns to choofe magistrates vefted with the uSual powers, for the good government of the community.—The fame form of government might alfo be given to the fmaller iflands in the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland: And in all the charters, the corporation Should be declared to be free and open, allowing every perfon reSident in the place to be a member of them, and at liberty to exercife any trade or profeffion, without paying any-thing for freedom or entrance. Some public aid for building churches and court-houfes, and making harbours fit for receiving the Small fiShing veffels, might alSo be requisite; and cuStom-houSes and poSt-offices Should be eftablifhed early in tkefe riling communities, in order to enable them more conveniently to carry on their commerce and navigation. And your Committee are inclined to think a board of fub-commif-fioners of cuftoms and excife, placed either at Inverness, or Fort-William, would conduce much both to lhe facility of commerce, and the better collection of the revenue in that remote country, where the prac-t'ce of Smuggling prevails to a great extent, as your Committee have every reafon to believe.—On this Subject, your Committee have inferted in the Appendix, T t 2
No. 2t. fome observations, with which they have been favoured by one of their members, and a large proprietor in that country.
/[thlyt For the fecurity of the navigation and fifhing on thofe feas, fome additional light-houfes ougi^t to be erected, four of which have been particularly pointed out to your Committee, one at Kinnaird's Head in AberdeenShire, a fecond at North Ranalfha in the Orkneys, a third on the Mull of Cantire, and a fourth at the point of Scalpa in the ifland of Hemes. For want of thefe light-houfes, it appears that many valuable lives and cargoes are loft in every winter feafon.
$thly, Premiums distributed fomewhat on the plan fuggefted by Dr Anderfon, would, in the opinion of your Committee, have a confiderable effect in Stimulating the boat-filhers along the coafts, to exert themfelves vigoroufly in the profecution of the fisheries.
6th!y\ Some canals appear neceffary for affifting the navigation of that country; one which feems the eafieSt to be made, would alSo be of the greateft importance, from Loch-Gilp to Loch-Crinanj through the pcninSula of C antire; by which a moft dangerous and tedious voyage between the north-weftern and the more cultivated parts of Scotland would be avoided. A Second Should be made between the two Seas from the Murray-Firth to Fort-William, which would alfo facilitate the intercourfe between the more cultivated and ruder parts of thofe northern countries. A third would, at a fmall expence, unite Loch-Moydart and Loch-Eil, on the northern extremity of Argylefhire, with great benefit to the fiihing veffels and boats in thofe feas.
A Survey and..report reSpecting that from Invernefs to Fort-William, by Mr Watt, engineer, employed for that purpofe by the Board of Police in Scotland, together with his eftimate of the expence of making a canal from Loch-Gilp to Loch-Crinan, is fuhjoined in Appendix (No. 22). Tn the fame Appendix, are fome obfervations on the laft-mentioned canal, by Dr Anderfoi}.
Itptji The ftate of the roads through that mountainous and almoft defart country, from which the fifheries might be carried on to the greateft advantage, merits alfo the attention and aid of the public.
Stfdy, As the feeble execution of juftice appears to your Committee among Lhe caufes that have retarded the improvement of the more northerly parts of this ifland, your Committee are of opinion, That much benefit Would arife, were the Courts of Jufticiary to extend its circuits through the countries of Cromarty, Rofs, Sutherland, and Caithnefs, and to hold Courts at Dornoch, Wick, and Fort-William, twice a-year, as is done in the other parts of the kingdom: And your Committee would recommend the erecting the great and populous iflandspf Skye, Lewis, and Shetland, into three new and feparate meriffdoms, which would contribute much to the eafe and relief of the inhabitants.
ythly, Your Committee moft earneftly recommend it as a meafure abfolutely neceflary for encouraging the filheries, That all boats and veffels employed therer m, be abfolutely exempted from the expence of cuftomhoufe fees, and that no fees of any kind be demanded on receiving debentures for bounties or drawbacks on fifh exported. On this head your Committee have annexed a paper in the Appendix (No. 23.)
lot/j/y, Your Committee alfo again recommend allowing fifh falted or cured for home-co iumption, to be nfed freely, without paying the duty on fait. This appears the more neceflary, as it is to be feared the foreign markets of Europe and the Weft Indies will be fupplied by Swedifh herrings. On this fubject your Committee have inferted in the Appendix (No. 24), a paper delivered to them by Mr Lyres, of undoubted authenticity. And in farther corroboration of the truth of the facts ftated therein, they refer to the Appendix (No. 25.) for an account of the exports of herrings from Got-tenburgh for the years 1775, 1776, and 1777; and alfo for i77o> I?g0j antj ,73,. Your Committee have alfo
annexed in the Appendix (No. 26), extract of a letter from Gilbert Mafon, Efq-, of Leith, on the fame fubject.
Thefc are the outlines of the fyftem which your Committee would fuggeft to the consideration of the Houfe, as being in their opinion beft calculated for promoting the fifheries on the coafts of Great Britain. This fyftem would at the fame time contribute to the improvement of the country, and the increafe of the revenue, and be generally ferviceable to a great number of our valuable fellow-fubjects, many of whom are languishing in poverty and idlenefs, and are frequently expoled to the danger of perifhing by famine, or of becoming a burthen on the more induflrious part of the community.
It is not only in evidence before your Committee, but it is a fact of general notoriety, that a confider-ble degree of diifatisfaction prevails among the inhabitants of the remoter parts of this ifland, many of whom have already difpofed of their little property, and embarked with their wives and children for America ; others, it is confidently faid, are preparing to follow their example : Nor does your Committee fee any other means of checking this dangerous fpirit of emigration, but by promoting induftry, particularly in the line of the filheries, among thefe people, and thereby enabling them to procure a comfortable fubfiftence for themfelves and their families at home.
APPENDIX, No. II.
An Account of the ivay in which the different kinds of Fifheries on our coafs are ufually carried on.
3. HpHE herring-fifhery in our feas is always car-ried on by nets ftretched in the water, one fide of which is kept from finking, by means of buoys fixed to it at proper distances   and as the weight of the net
makes the fide fink to which no buoys are fixed, it is HitTered to hang in a perpendicular pofition like a jcreen, and the fifh, when they endeavour to pafs thro' lr> are entangled in its mefhes, from which they cannot difengage themfelves : there they remain till the net is hauled in and the herrings are fhaken, or picked out °f the nets. Hence it frequently happens, that though fifh abound, none of them may chance to be taken. I his event may be produced in either of the following Ways.
2. If the fifh remain at reft, the net may hang among them a long time without any being taken. When the fiihermen think this is the cafe, they fometimes throw ftones, &c. into the water, to terrify the herrings, make them run to and fro, and thus to caufe them Jtrile, as they call it, into the net: But this is reckoned very prejudicial to the fifhery, as it fcares *way the fifh, and drives them out of the lochs.
3- If the mefhes of the net be of an improper fize f°r the fifh, none will be caught; for, if they are too 'arge» the herrings get through it without flicking; and if too fmall, they cannot enter it, and therefore cannot be taken.
4- If the net be not let down to a proper depth, the fifh will efcape. Sometimes the body of fifh fwim very deep ; in which cafe, the net fhould be allowed to fink to the fame depth they fwim in, by lengthening the rope that faftens the buoy to it, (which rope they CaH the buoy-ftring): Sometimes, on the other hand, the body of fifh keeps very near the furface, fo that if the buoy-ftring be too long, the net will be entirely below them. Fifhers are attentive to this circumftance, and Shorten or lengthen the firing as circumftances feem to require.
S* If the threads of which the net is made be thick, jt is found by experience, that though in other refpects ]t be the fame with another net made of finer threads,
wih not catch fo many herrings in equal circum-
Stances. The moft Skilful filhers, therefore, pay great attention to this circumftance ; and, with that view, grudge no price for the fineif hemp, and beft fpinners. Nome have tried to make the nets of flax-, but how this Succeeds, I have not learned.
6. With a view to Strengthen the nets, and render the threads more compact, they arc all tanned. This operation is thus performed :—A quantity of oak-bark is boiled in a large cauldron, till the bark on trial becomes infipid : The bark is then (trained out of the liquor, and thrown away: The liquor is farther boiled till ic becomes vifcid to the touch, and, on dropping a little on the thumb-nail, grows thick as it cools ; it is then judged to be of a proper degree of Strength. The nets are then put into a large veSfel, and this liquor poured upon them while yet hot: they are Suffered to lie there twenty-four hours—are then taken out and dried. The Same procefs is repeated three times ; and then it is fuppoSed they have enough of it. The nets, by this operation, are tinged of a dark-brown hue, approaching to bhek.—Sails are done over in the Same way; and they reckon it makes them laft three times as long as they would do without it: when long ufed, it becomes neceffary to dip them anew.
j. In every kind of herring-fiShery, the nets are (tretched only during the night-time—as it is found, the fifh are caught in much greater abundance while dark, than while it is light. The darkeft night, therefore, and thofe in which the furface of the water is a good deal ruffled by wind, to hide the view of the clear fky, are always reckoned the belt—and bright moonlight calm nights the worft for the fiihery. It is always fuppofed, that nets Stretched in the day-time frighten the fifh, and drive them out of the places where that practice is followed, and therefore it is 4tri£tly forbid.
8. The herring is a fifh that becomes very foon tainted after it is killed.   In fummer, it becomes fen-
fibly worfe after being a few hours only out of the water ; and if they are expofed but a few minutes to the rays of the fun, they are rendered totally ufelefs. and never will take fait. Therefore, it is very neceffary that they fhould be falted as quickly as poffible after they are taken, and in the night-time if it can be done. In winter they may be kept longer than in fummer; but, in every cafe, the fooner they are falted the better.
9. No kind of food is found in the ftomach of the herring, (unlefs it be about the time of their Spawning) only a fmall quantity of flimy matter. They are gutted by pulling out the guts with the finger and thumb, without opening. The offals thus obtained, are thrown into a cauldron and boiled, from which is obtained a fmall proportion of oil.
10. On our coafts, no other nets but thofe of the hanging kind above defcribed have been employed for catching herrings, and nets of the fame kiod are always employed by the Dutch filhers; but the fifhery with thefc nets, is carried on in feveral different manaers. On the weft coaft of Scotland, they diftinguilh that which is carried on by boats alone, from that carried on by means of buffes, though they are in fact the fame; all the fifhery there being carried on by boats in bays or narrow creeks of the fea; the bujfes Serving no other pur-Pofe than to carry the boats and other apparatus to and from the fifhing-ground. While they are catching fifh, the bufs is clofely moored.   The nets are Shot by the Small boats: the nib. drawn into them, and carried either to the bufs, or on fhore, to be cured.
11. The Dutch, on the other hand, never allow their buffes to cany out fo much as one boat: the nets arc ^hot by the buffes thcmSelves, in the open fea. Thefe nets are in that caSe fixed to a long and ftrong rope, called Sometimes a buSs-rope, horSe-rope, and by Several other names in different places, the vcSfel being fuffered to drive with the wind and tide, hanging by this rope during the night-time. The nets are drawn
Uu
into the bufs in the morning, or when they are found loaded, by means of a capftern, and the herrings taken out there, and cured on board the veffel.—The herririg-fifhery at Yarmouth, is carried on nearly after the lame manner, at a great diftance from land •, and on the eaft coaft of Scotland, about Eymourh, a fiihery fome-what of the fame nature is carried on by ftout boats, that go out a great way from the fhore, and filh in deep water, which they diftinguifh from the other fiihery carried on at the fame place near the fhore, and in bays, like that pracfifed on the weft coaft, calling the firft the drave-fifhery, and the laft the ground-tithing.
12. On the coafts of Sweden, where the fhores arc flat and fandy, the natives furround the herrings with a large net having clofe melhes through which they cannot efcape, and draw both ends of the net towards the fhore, till it can touch the bottom. They in-clofe within it lometimes an immenfe body of fifh, which, when they are brought into a fmall fpace, fo as to be quite clofe upon each other, are taken up into boats furrounding the net, by means of fmall nets fixed to a handle. As the herrings become fewer in number, the net is drawn clofer, and fo on till the whole that were at firft furrounded are taken, if the weather proves fo mild as not to derange the net. This has never been pracYifed, that I hare heard of, on our coafts.
13. In a few cafes, herrings have been caught in (hallow bays on the weft coaft of Scotland, by ftretching a low net by means of poles driven into the ground acrofs the bay, over the top of which the herrings pafs freely at full fea; and when the tide ebbs fo that the net riles above the water, they are prevented by the net from returning, and are fometimes left dry behind it in great quantities. Small walls of loofe fcones were formerly erected for the fame purpofe, which were called y.ires. The nets feem to be an improvement on that practice.
14. An ingenious man, one Bruce of" Aberdeen, contrived a net to be employed in the herring-fifhery, that
£fomifes to be of much ufe, on a principle different from either of the foregoing. A defcription of it was lent to Dr Anderfon, which he fhowed to the principal fiihermen on the coaft, who unanimoully agreed, that m many cafes it could be employed with the greateft • uccefs, tho' it could not apply in all cafes. The net Was propofed to be made of as great length and depth as could conveniently be managed; to be fhot by one or two boats according to its fize : to take a circular fweep, fo as to clofe both ends at one point. The bottom was then to be drawn clofe by means of a line run through Open holes made for that purpofe, fo as to form a kind of bag when clofe drawn, which would effectually confine all the fifh. that had been at firft inclofed within it, which, when the fhoals were thick, would be an immenfe quantity. Thefe might be taken out at leifure, by fmall nets fixed to a handle, like thofe ufed by the Swedes.
15. Another Gentleman in Aberdeen contrived another net, which, when the fhoals were very thick, might certainly be ufed with fuccefs. It confifted of a fquare frame of wood, with a net fixed loofely at the bottom of it. This frame was to be let down into the water edgeways, to fuch a depth as trials ihould prove Was below the body of the fifh. When it wa9 at the proper depth, it was then, by .pulling a fmall line, righted fo as to make the frame affume a horizontal pofition; and then gradually raifed to the furface in that pofition, fo as to bring up all the fifh that came within its compafs in its afcent. This net cannot be made of a very large fize, but it can be worked very quickly, and with great eafe ; and, in the opinion of all who have heard it defcribed, would on fome occafions be the means of greatly benefiting the fifheries. It has the advantage over all others, of being beyond com-parifon the cheapeft apparatus that ever was invented for this purpofe ; and therefore could be carried by every veffel, to be ufed occafionally, without loading U u 2
them with an expence that could be felt, even if circumftances fhould not prove favourable for its ufe. This net is fo eafily managed, that one man can work it j fo that each man on board might have one.
17. Mackarel are catched by the fiihermen in Harwich and Yarmouth, by an apparatus in every refpect. the fame with that ufed for herriiigs, the mefhes of the nets only being made larger in proportion to the fize of the fill).
18. John-dorie is a fifh that is only catched by a net called a traul-, that is, a large net which is drawn upon flat Shores, touching the ground the whole way: which mode of fiihing can only be practifed on (hallow fandy fhores. In the fame way are fometimes caught foal, turbot, and other kinds of flounders; as alfo falmon in rivers, and in the Shallow feas near the mouth of rivers.
19. Mullet is an active fifh, which is caught in nets of the fame kind ; but it ufually leaps over the top of the firft net, and efcapes, unlefs another net be made to follow it, which this active fifh frequently overleaps alfo ; fo that the fiihermen are never certain of catching it, unlels they have a third net following thefe two, from which it Seldom efcapes, being fo much fatigued by its former exertions, as to be unable to leap over it.
20. Other kinds of finny fifh (thofe large kinds which are Struck with harpoons excepted) are ufually catched by means of hooks affixed to lines of different forts, and baited in many different ways. The chief of thefe kinds of filh, are cod, ling, tufk, hake, fkate, holobat, haddocks, whitings, not to mention flounders, which are for the moft part catched with lines, and feveral other kin ds of lefs note f.
f On the coaft of Norway, they catch cod with nets placed in creeks in a. very particular manner, that I cannot defcribe exactly, having only got a very imperfect account of it myfelf. The fimermcn on the coaft of Norway, are a hardy induflrious race of men, well-accuflorned to a bold fhore and ftormy feas, and habits of moderation. A gentleman well acquainted with thofe people, thinks it would tend much to
21. The A'w-fifhery, befides leffer variations, admits of two grand divifions, viz. that carried on by hand-tines, and that by long-lines.
22. 1. he fifhery by hand-lines at fea, is chiefly performed by means of a funk bait; a few fifh only, among which the whiting, pollock (the Lyeth of Scotland), and mackarel, are the chief, being catched by fkimming the hook along the furface, like an angler's fly. In mof± other cafes, the line, to which is fixed one, two, or at the moft three hooks properly baited, is dropped over the fide of the veffel, and allowed to fink by the help of fmall weights appended to it for that purpofe, till it touches the bottom, if a fifh has not fooner taken hold of it: it is then drawn back a little, fo as to be kept from touching, and kept gently moving a little till the fifh bites, when it is inftantly hauled into the fhip. In this way the cod on the banks of Newfoundland, are all caught; and in this way alfo, thofe cod that are taken in rapid currents on our own coafts, muft all be catched. Thofe on banks with us, and in general haddocks and whitings, on our coaft, are ufually caught by hong lines ; and ling in almoft all cafes, that fifh being found often at too great depth for a hand-line fiihing.
23. What fifhers call a long line, is a piece of fmall cord of many fathoms, fometimes a mile or upwards in length •, to which is fixed, at regular diftances, fhort fines, a fathom or two in length, each of thefe fhort lines having a hook fattened to the loofe end of it. •This long line is coiled up in a bafket before they go to fet it, and all the hooks baited fo difpofed that they cannot entangle. When they go to fet their lines, the bafket is placed in a proper part of the veffel: one end °f the line, to which is fixed a proper linker, is then
the benefit of our filheries, if fome of them could be induced to come ■*nd fettle on our weftern coafts, to iulti uct the native* in the beft mode »f carrying on the fifheries there; as the feas and fhores arc fomewhat of the fame nature with thofe in Norway—only, in general, not fo bold »nd expofed.
thrown into the fea; ?.nd the vcSicl is made to proceed forward in the direction they wifh it fliould lie, till the whole of the coil of ropes, with all thefc hooks appended to it, are ftretched in the fea. This operation is called floating the. lines. Buoys, at regular diftance*, are fattened to the lines by means of long cords, that reach altogether, or nearly to the bottom; by the help of which buoys, the lines are found. Thefe lines are fuffered to lie a certain time in the water; after which the fifhermen return, and going to one end of the line, they pull it up by means of the buoy-rope into the boat, and coil it into the bafket as it rifes, exactly as it was at firft, taking off the fifh from the hooks as they come into the vtffel, and replacing the hooks in the fame order as before they were fet, fo as to prevent entanglement. Thefe hooks are afterwards baited anew, and prepared for being fet again;—and fo on at every time they are ufed, a fimilar procefs is repeated.
24. One of thefe long lines contains fometimes four or five hundred hooks : the thicknefs of the line, and fize and Strength of the hooks, as well as the nature of the bait, are proportioned to the fifh that are intended to be taken.
25. Thefe long lines, on the coaft of Scotland, are ufually fet and drawn by means of fmall open boats ; in confequence of which, the fiihing is confined within a fmall diftance of the coaft. But the Dutch, and the people of Harwich and many other places, employ decked veffels of a confiderable fize, to Shoot and haul their lines ; in conSequence of which, they are at liberty to go to a great diftance from the Shore, where they can remain for a fufficient length of time to com-pleat a loading, if the fifhing is favourable, before they return to land—the fifh being cured in the intervals between the fetting and drawing of their lines.
16. Thofe who have not been made acquainted with the proper mode of working a veffel for this purpofe, find it impoSJible to haul a long line into a large veffel;
for, unlefs the veffel be put under way, fo as to run at an eafy rate along the line, the weight of the veffel, if it were attempted to be hauled in by main force, as hi a boat, is fuch as would infallibly break the lines. They therefore find, that a particular rigg of veffel, and a peculiar management of the fails, is neceffary before this operation can be properly performed. Wherry-rigged veffels are deemed peculiarly well calculated for this purpofe; and the people on the weft coaft of Scotland in general believe, that no other mode of rigging can fo well anfwer this purpofe: and in particular, that Sloop-rigged veffels are altogether unfit for it; though I have, fince I was on that coaft, met with fome facts that induce me to believe, that there is a confiderable latitude in this refpect, when the hands are very fkilful.
27. The above will ferve to give thofe Readers who are altogether ftrangers to thefe matters, fome idea of the meaning of many things incidentally mentioned in this volume without being explained, as being very generally known by thofe who have ever had accefs t© fee the fifheries carried on.
The manner of carrying on the Herring Fifiery at Eyemouth, communicated by Mr George Knox.
" TO begin with the boats,—they are large cobles, from thirty to thirty-three feet long, from feven feet fix inches to eight feet wide in the middle, and about three feet wide at the Stern : the bow is fharp, flattifh bottomed, and in burthen from five to feven tons : from their construction, remarkably eafy rowed, and Serviceable for putting up on the beaches of the different creeks on the coaft. 1 mention this more particularly, as I cannot find any other, where they are ufed, of this advantageous description. They come under the defcription of boats, feizable by the 24th of his prefent- JVIajefty, cap. xlvii. feet. 45.; which although from the'good feofe of the officers of the revenue, is
not put in execution, yet it would be well if an exception was made in their favour.
*' The nets are made of two-ply twine, fpun from good hemp; after wrought, are fteeped amongft boiled bark : along the upper part is faftened fix or eight plies of fmall fine cord, like jack line, to Strengthen them; their dimenfions from fifty to fixty yards long, and eighteen yards deep :—thefe for the float-fifhing, and ten to each boat. The fame number, fpunJhonger, are ufed at the ground-fiShing, forty yards long, and ten deep.—The warp, or what our fifhermen call the fwing, is a tarred three-inch hemp-rope, about forty-five yards long.
The manner offifing at the Float. ** The nets faftened to each other by the fmall cords at top, and to the fwing, which is again faftened to the boat, having fmall ftones affixed along the bottom, to keep them fufpended from bladders filled with air at furface ; are put out to windward of the boat, in a Straight direction acrofs the courfe of the tide, and drive with the current till hauled in, which is done by the lkipper pulling the cords at the top, a man at the middle, and another at the bottom :—the buoys or bladders being faftened by a cord fifteen yards long, the top of the nets are confequently funk as mafny yards below the furface of the water; but this depends upon the depth where fifhing, as they are not Sunk fo much in Shallow water.
The manner of fifhing at the Ground. " In this fifhing are ufed two fmall anchors for each five nets, which are called a Fleet:—There is a tarred three-inch hemp-rope, about forty-five yards long, faftened to the flouks of each anchor; and at the other end of this rope, is faftened a fmall caflc for a buoy : Again, there is a rope of the fame Strength and length fattened to the ftock of each anchor; to the other end of which is faftened the nets by the fmall cords at top,
fufpended by (tones at bottom, from bladders at furface, as at float-fifhery. The fleet is thus fet in a Straight direction, fixed, with an anchor at each end, with the tide; that is to fay, when the current is Setting eaft and weft, the direction of the nets is eaft and weft: They are fet in the evening, and hauled in the morning; but when there are great quantities of herrings, they are hauled evening and morning: The diftance they ufually fifh from the fhore, does not exceed a mile, and often fo near the rocks as to endanger the nets getting foul therewith. The ground-fifhing is in a creek or bay, or in (hallow water: The time they begin to fifh, is about the 20th of July: the time they leave off fifhing, is about the 20th of September ; in the laft 14 days of which time, the ground-fifhing ufually happens.
" The fifhings every year fince the late peace, have increafed in number of boats, longer continuance of fifhing, and quantities taken, till this year.—This feafon proved remarkable bad weather, the wind always blowing from N. and N. N. E. which occafioned a great fea,, and fuch that the boats could not go off; there were feldom two days in one week during its continuance even fo favourable.
" Some days preceding Tuefday 23d Auguft, was fine weather; and on that morning, every boat was loaded, having from twenty-five to thirty barrels each. This fuccefs might in all probability have continued, had not the wind again fet in from the North, preventing any-thing from being done for a fortnight. In fuch had and unfettled weather, the fuccefs was variovs: I imagine fome boats caught one hundred and rortjn barrels, and others not above half the quantity. There Was no ground-fifhing here this feafon : it was fuppofed the bad weather forced the herrings up the Firth to Dunbar, where there was a very great ground-fifhing for eight days."
X x
APPENDIX, No. III.
Obfcrvations on the generally received doctrine concerning the migration of Herrings, and other particulars relating to their natural hi/lory.
I.  A N opinion has very long prevailed, that the her-ring is a migratory animal: that it breeds in the North Sea, from whence it iflues forth in a great body early in the feafon each year : that this great body of herrings comes undivided to the Shetland Ifles, where it arrives about the middle of June : that it from thence proceeds Southward, till, meeting with the land, it divides ; one body of the fifh going to the weft, and another to the eaft of this ifland ; which, in their progrefs fouthward, gradually fill the feas and bays on our coaft as they advance : that they reach Yarmouth, and the north of Ireland, in the months of October and November, where they continue fome time; and that the fhoal, in its progrefs fouthward, gradually difperfes, and difappears about the beginning of January, retiring, as it would feem, into the northern feas, where they again appear the following year, and repeat the fame annual progrefs as before.
1. It is not eafy to difcover the writer who firft told this plaulible tale ; but it has been fo frequently repeated, as to have come gradually to be believed, without hefitation or enquiry, by almoft all European nations ; and from thefe allegations, admitted as incontrovertible facts, have been deduced rules for regulating the fifheries in many cafes. It is perhaps of greater confequence that we ihould not in this refpect be mif-led, than we are at prefent aware of; and as I have met with many facts that tend to render this theory doubtful at leaft, I think it my duty here to ftate them to the Public, with a view to induce mankind to be more attentive in their obfervations on this fubject than they have hitherto been.
3. One circumftance in this tale always ftruck me as very wonderful, viz. that the fifh were never feen at fea in their progrefs fouthward ; though, if it had been true, they muft have gone northward every year, as well as fouthward : but I never yet have met with any perfon who fays he has feen them at fea in their progrefs northward,—it being always fuppofed, wherever they have been feen, that they were advancing fouthward. It is evident, however, that, in the open fea, it will be no eafy matter for a palling vefiel diftindtly to obferve the direction of their route, unlefs they were moving with great rapidity. This I mention only as tending to excite diflruft:—the following facts go farther.
4. It is a well-known fact, that the herring-fifhing in Loch-fine in Argylefhire, ufually commences early in June; for the moft part, long before any herrings have been obferved in any part of the channel between the Long Ifland and the Main, or on any part of the coaft from Cape-Wrath fouthward. But as the fifh, had the theory been juft, muft have paffed from the North Sea along all thofe coafts, and entered into Loch-fine, round the Mull of Cantire, it is fcarcely poffible they Ihould have been fuffered to pafs unperceived in all cafes, had they really made that progrefs.
5. The fifhing at the lflc of Man, confiderably to the fouthward of Cantire, ufually commences about the beginning of June, which is even before the time that the great body of the fifh has been fuppofed to have reached Shetland, as well as before any herrings have been feen in thofe narrow feas, through which they muft have paffed in their progrefs thither from the Northern Ocean, had they come from thence.
6". Herrings are feldom feen on the coaft of Aber-deenfhire, except early in the month of June; at which time, all the bays on the coaft from Buchan-nefs fouthward for many miles beyond Aberdeen, arc frequently fo filled with them as to be taken up X x 2
by almoft any kind of fmall mefhed nets, in great quantities.
7. The herring-fifhing at Eymouth, ever fince they adopted the drave-fifhing, ufually commences about the middle of June.
8. Although it is commonly the month of October before the herring-fifhing at Yarmouth commences, yet it generally happens, that, in the channel to the fouthward of Yarmouth, herrings are catched in great abundance in the months of April and May : And every perfon who has been in London about that feafon of the year, muft recollect, that the ftreets are ufually filled with frefh herrings every day for many weeks together about that time. But at this feafon of the year, according to the theory, they fhould all be at the great northern rendezvous, far beyond Shetland.
Thefe facts feem ftrongly to contradict the fore-mentioned theory,—nor are thofe that follow, more compatible with it.
9. At Drontheim in Norway, the herring-fifhery commences about the middle of June, and continues without any regular intermiffion till the month of February, when they in general ceafe from fiihing ; though herrings may be found there at any time, till the fifhing-feafon in June again arrives. The reafon they affign for not fiihing in the intermediate months, is, that the herrings which are then caught, cannot be fo cured as to keep well. Perhaps a better reafon is, that their cod-fifhery then commences, which probably yields the natives greater returns.
10. Though, by the wording of the Dutch placaerts, it would feem to be infinuated that the herrings proceed gradually fouthward, and defert the Shetland ihores as they advance, yet in fact their mode of fifhing does not point out this to be the cafe. Many, of their buffes no fooner have made their appearance at the rendezvous at Braffa Sound, as the Law requires, than they proceed immediately fouthward, and begin
to fiili off the coaft of Aberdeen, where they are found every year off Stonehaven, Aberdeen, and Peterhead, even within fight of land, as has been faid, as early as the month of June.
11. The fifh do not defert the Shetland feas towards the latter part of the feafon, as we muft fuppofe they would do, were the theory juft'; but the fact is, that the inconfiderable herring-fifhery which is at prefent carried on by the natives on the weftern fhores of thefe iflands, feldom commences till towards the end of autumn, and ufually continues till January or February.
12. Did the herrings obferve any uniformity in their progrefs, it muft neceffarily happen, that nets ftretched in a direction fo as to crofs that line of progrefs at right angles, would catch many more fifh than if they were fet in a direction parallel to the progrefs of the herrings ; that is to fay, if the herrings be advancing fouthward, a net ftretched in a direction from eaft to weft, would catch many more fifh than one which ran in a direction from fouth to north : becaufe, in the firft cafe, the fifh advancing fouthward, would be forced by thofe behind into the mefhes of the net, fo as quickly to fill it; whereas, in the other cafe, they might march forward on each fide the net, like a body of troops on each fide of a wall parallel to their route, without fo much as one attempting to pafs thro* it. No fiihermen, however, have obferved any fuch difference in their mode of fetting their nets at fea. Both the Dutch and Yarmouth filhers uniformly allow their veffels to drive as the wind and tide force them, without obferving any difference in their fuccefs when it happens that their nets are ftretched in a direction fouth and north, or eaft and weft. But, had any fuch progrefs of the filh been obferved, as is known to be the cafe with falmon, they would have taken care to watch thofe opportunities when the wind blew from the weft or eaft at flack tide, (the tide ufually ftts in thofe feas fouth and north) then to fhoot their
nets, that by their drifting with the -wind, their nets might crofs the courfe of the herring: but as no fuch practice prevails, we may reasonably conclude, that the filhers have perceived no fenfible difference in this refpect ; and by confequence we may conclude, that the alledged progieffion of the herrings to the fouthward, is only a vague conjecture, founded on inaccurate ob-fervation.
13. With regard to the fifhery on our own coafts, the fame reafoning has been applied. It has been faid, that the herrings, in their progrefs fouthward from the great Northern Ocean, touched firft on the weftern coafts of Scotland in the Summer and autumnal months; but, paffing forward, they were oppofed in their courfe directly by the north coaft of Ireland, where, of neceffity, from this circumStance, the winter-fiShing muft always be much more abundant and certain than on the coaft of Scotland.
14. If this opinion were well founded, it muft neceffarily happen, that the early fummer-fiShing of herrings fhould be much more plentiful and certain on the northern coafts of Caithnefs, than in moft other places; becaufe, there the land would oppofe the great fhoal in its progrefs, and all the arms of the fea fhould be there filled with herrings as full as they could hold. The fact, however, is, that thefe northern lochs are not nearly fo good for the herring-filhery, as many of thofe on our weftern coafts; and in thofe lochs the fifhing is ufually beft during the autumnal and winter months, and not worth regarding in Summer, long after the fifhery in Lochfine and at the ISle of Man have been carried on with the beft fuccefs.
15. Had this theory been juft, it muft alfo have happened, that no part of our coaft could in any refpect have equalled the Southern Shores of the Murray-Frith for the herring-fifhery : for, this coaft directly oppofing the herrings in their fuppofed progrefs fouthward, muft have Stopped them in their courfe; and as the Shore
weft from Buchannefs trends a little fouthward, many of the herrings, in feeking a paffage to the fouth, would run up towards Invernefs, where, being met by the weftern coaft, and pent up by thofe that preffed forward from behind, they muft have been found in inconceive-able quantities, during the whole time that any part of the fhoal was coming up from the northward ; and it could only be after thefe were fairly paffed, that the poor prifoners could be allowed to wheel about and make their efcape. At this rate, Invernefs, the Bay of Cromarty, and the whole Southern Shores of the Murray-Frith, muft have been the very beft Summer-fiShing Stations in Britain, and there the fiihing would gradually decline as the autumn advanced, fo as to dwindle at laft into nothing in winter. How do facts cor-refpond with this theory ?—Invernefs has never been a good fifhing ftation, though a few herrings are catched there every feafon, that are chiefly confumed by the people on Shore, freSh. This fiShing begins in autumn, and continues through the whole winter, even as late as February, and Sometimes March. Herrings are Seldom Seen in the Bay of Cromarty. A Small fifhing has been for fome rime paft carried on upon the north Shores of the Murray-Frith, particularly about Wick in CaithneSs: But herrings are Seldom Seen on the Southern coaft of that Frith, and never have been found there in fuch abundance as to eftablifh a her-ring-fifhery of any kind.—How miferably are we, in innumerable inftanees, difappointed by this theory!
16. The only fact I have met with, that feems, without any intention of a theoretical nature, to trace the herrings in their progrefs from fouth to north during the Summer SeaSon, directly contrary to what is uSually aSferted, is in a letter from the Reverend Mr Downie of Stornoway, dated 14th March 1785, (Appendix to the fiihery Report, No. 45), which runs thus: " They (that is the dog-filh) make their appearance on the weft fide of the Lewis i our people firft obferve them
©ff Gallon-He ad': They run generally in the month 3 of July and Augufl, Sometimes near the ihore, Sometime?) one, two, three leagues diftant: They go from fouth to north, I mean along Shore, at the Same diftance from the land, and difappear off Europa-Point: They feem at* tvays to follow the Jhoal of herrings, as their ftomachs are generally full of them when caught."—Some fifher-men at Aberdeen alfo informed me this feafon, June 1785, that they had fallen in with a body of herrings off the GirdleneSs, near Aberdeen, diftant five or fix leagues, proceeding directly northward. I was told alSo at Rothfay, that a Shipmafter, whom I did not See, had fallen in with a body of fifh in the year 1783, weft of the ifland of Colonfay, moving northward with great rapidity. I leave thefe facts as I find them, to the confederation of the Reader, without any remark.
17. Although it fometimes happens that the herrings are found in greater abundance on the weft coaft of Scotland early in Summer, when few are to be found on the coaft of Ireland; and that, on the contrary, plenty are fometimes found on the coaft of Ireland towards the latter part of the feafon, when none are to be found on the Scottifh coafts, as happened to be the cafe pretty much both in the year 1782 and 1783 ; yet this rule is not general, far lefs invariable. Before the year 1782, the winter-fifhing on the Scottifh coaft fel-dom failed, and was often very abundant; nor was the winter-fifhing on the coaft of Ireland, ever, till then, taken notice of as considerable. It chanced in the year 1782, that both the Summer and winter-fifhing on the coaft of Scotland failed, and that a tolerable fiShing on the Irifh coaft eaft up late in the fcaSon, which attracted the attention of our fifhermen. In 1783, the early fiShing on the coaft of Scotland was very good,—the late fifhing there poor, though very abundant on the coaft of Ireland. From this partial fact a general rule has been deduced, but without foundation; for, in the year 1784, the herrings fet in upon the coaft of Ireland
m great abundance, in the month of June, but were not to be found in any confiderable body during the latter part of the winter; whereas, on the Scottifh coafts that feafon, a tolerable fifhing eaft up in July and Auguft; but the moft abundant was at Loch-Roag in Lewis, in the montli of November, when fcarce any were found on the coaft of Ireland.
18. Did the general theory, fo confidently affertcd by feveral individuals engaged in the fifhing bufinefs, hold good, that bufinefs would be much lefs precarious than it is found to be at prefent. In that cafe, the buffes would invariably proceed at the beginning of the fifhing feafon to the northward, there to wait the fifh; and when they fell in with a body of them in one bay, which afterwards left it, would know that the herrings might be looked for with certainty to the fouthward. So far, however, is this from being the cafe, that the fifhermen all agree, they know of no rule for forming any fort of judgment where the fifh may be looked for, after they leave any one loch; and therefore, in cafe of herrings leaving any one loch, the buffes difperfe to all quarters wherever chance directs, fometimes to the fouth, and fometimes to the north, not having the leaft idea where or when they may next fall in with them.
19. Of thefe facts innumerable examples might be produced : the following only are felfcted.— Auguft 1783, Herrings were found in abundance in Loch-Craig-nifh, fome at Oban and Fort-William, and great plenty in Loch - Urn, but few in the northern lochs. In September and October of the fame year, fcarce any were found on the coaft; but, in November, plenty were found in Loch-Roag. In fhort, a loch-fifhing is on alt hands admitted to be a moft precarious bufinefs; chiefly from this circumftance, that no judgment can be formed a priori, in what place the herrings will eaft up; and many of the moft attentive fifhers, with a view to remedy this defect, are exceedingly anxious to have
Yy
advice-boats eftablifhed along thofe coafts, with a view to carry intelligence as quickly as poflible to the buffes, of any place where the herrings chance to have come into a loch, or arm of the fea.
20. On this fubjecl:, it may not be improper to take notice of a notion that has been pretty generally propagated, though probably without fufficient foundation, viz. that the filh are forced into particular harbours, by ftorms of wind driving them forward into the bays. Without pretending to fay that a body of filh may not on feme occalions be thus determined to embay, 1 think it may be fafely afferted, that this is by 110 means a general cafe, otherwife fiihermen would not be fo frequently at a lofs where to find them as at prefent ; for, if it were fo, they would know, that after an eafterly wind, they might be in general found in the lochs on an eaflern fhore ; and after a wefterly wind, in the Skye lochs, and on the weftern coafts of Scotland : which would remove, in fome meafure, that uncertainty fo generally complained of. This is an argument founded on experience.—Another may be grounded on the obfervations that have been made on the very fmall depth to which the fea is known to be agitated in a ftorm ; as it has been found, that in the deepeft fea, during the moft violent wind, it is only a few feet, not to mention fathoms, on the furface, that are difturbed by it: It can only be thofe, therefore, which are very near the furfv.ee, that can be forced away violently by the wind ; and as they have it always in their power to dive and evade that difagree-able conteft, we may conclude they do fo in general. Indeed, if they did not do fo, but were forced along by the furface waves, it would happen, that whenever they approached the Ihore, they would be dafhed upon the rocks with inconceivable violence, and, like a fhip upon a lee-fhore, be inevitably deftroyed in immenfe bodies—a thing that is fcarcely ever obferved to take place.   From hence we may faii'ly conclude, that they
8?e Tel-Jom forced by a ftorm, to go where they Would hot of themfelves choofe to go.
21- Another part of the received opinion already-referred to, is, that the fifh caught in the month of June, are invariably the fatteft and beft; and that from that period, they turn leaner and worfe in quality as the feafon advances. It is alfo believed, that before the 2cth of June, they are unfit for ufe; and are, therefore, forbid by the Dutch regulations, to be taken before that day.
22. But if the fifh are unfit to be ufed before the 25th of June, is it poffible to fuppofe, that they Ihould be in the ftate of the higheft perfection on the 26th of that month ? Yet this opinion muft be maintained, before the two parts of the foregoing theory can be reconciled. This, I believe, no perfon will ferioufly maintain,—as all will be ready to admit, that if the herrings are in the higheft ftate of perfection about the middle of June, they muft have been gradually advancing to that ftate of perfection before that period, as happens with all other kinds of fifh. 1 therefore conclude, that as fome of the herrings caught about the middle of June by the Dutch buffes, are, without dif-pute, of a very good quality, the Dutch regulation, which forbids them to be catched before the 25th of that month, is merely an arbitrary regulation, that has no jult foundation for its eftablifhment, or fome other foundation than that which is here alledged.
23, That this regulation was not adopted, from the consideration that the herrings were not advanced fo far fouth as Shetland, before the time mentioned in the placaerts, appears very plainly from the regulations themfelves ; for, though all fhipmafters are prohibited from fhooting their nets with a view to catch herrings for being tured, till the 24th day of June f, yet, by the fame placaert, they are exprefsly permitted to fifh for
f The nets arc not permitted to be wet till the night of the 24th of June ; and confcquently the herrings are not caught till the ajth.
Y y 2
■
herrings before that time, for bait. This fhows, that herrings were known by the Dutch to be upon the coaft before the time they are faid to iffue forth from the North Sea ; and that they knew, as the Drontheim fifhers maintain, that herrings are upon the coaft at all times of the year.
24. This laft fact is corroborated by the teftimony of the old fifhers in Loch-fine, and other places on the weft coaft, who invariably maintain, that herrings may be there caught at all feafons of the year, if they are fearched for at a fufficient depth ; as well as by the experience of the fouthern fifhers, who fupply the London market with frefh herrings in the months of April and May.
25. Another opinion has arifen out of this, that feems to be as ill fupported by facts, as any of thofe I have hitherto had occafion to animadvert upon. It is, That the herrings which come firft upon the coaft, are fmaller, as well as fatter, than thofe that come afterwards: that the largeft and leaneft herrings are catched only during the winter-months ; and that thefe large, lean, winter-catched herrings, are the only kind that can be properly cured for the Weft Indian market, &c.
26. That the earlieft herrings are not invariably fmall, we know from this circumftance, that the herrings caught in Loch-fine, very early in the feafon, are in general very large-fized herrings, and for the moft part much larger than thofe catched later in the feafon off Dunbar.
27. In like manner, it is well known, that the Manx herrings, (herrings that are catched about the Ifle of Man), which are ufually catched early in the feafon, are larger than thofe of Yarmouth, which are taken at a more advanced feafon, in the proportion fometimes of one to two, and feldom lefs than as two to three.
28. Juft fo we find, that the herrings which are caught about Invernefs, and from thence to Wick, as
alfo thofe in Loch-Eil near Fort-William, are for the moft part a much fmaller kind of herring, than thofe that are caught about Loch-Broom and that neighbourhood, though the fifhing begins as early at Loch-Broom as at either of thofe places, and though the fifhing ufually continues longer in them, efpecially about Invernefs, than Loch-Broom.
29. But there are other facts, which place this object in another point of view. Sometimes a fhoal of large herrings will appear in a particular loch, leave it, and be fucceeded by one of a fmaller kind, and vice verfa: And fometimes it happens, that very large fifh are found in one loch, at the very time that in other places near it only very fmall herrings can be found ; and fometimes the large and fmall herrings are intermixed in the fame fhoal, and may be caught at the fame feafon of the year. I will give examples of all thefe kinds that occurred while I was on that coaft in the year 1784.
30. At Oban, a fhoal of large lean fifh (about 700 to a barrel) made its appearance in the end of July, or beginning of Auguft, where they continued ten or twelve days, and then fuddenly difappeared; but where they went, nobody knew, as no fifh refembling thefe were feen on any part of that coaft during all that feafon. About a week or ten days after their departure, they were fucceeded by another fhoal of fmall fifh, (about 1200 to a barrel), which continued in that bay for fome weeks, bur not in large quantities.
31. In like manner, it happened that very feafon, that abundance of large fine herrings were caught in Loch-Urn, at the fummer-fifhing; but thefe were fucceeded afterwards by a body of fmaller fifh, not much above half their fize.
32. Again, at the time that the body of large fifh above defcribed was in the bay of Oban, another fhoal of filh, of a much fmaller fize, (about 12 or 1500 to a 'barrel), eaft up in Loch-Craignifh, to the fouth of it;
35S AppM&x, No. 3.
and another fhoal ftill fmaller, at Fort-William, to the north of it: nor are fuch diverfities as thefe in the leaft uncommon. For this reafon, a bufs properly equipped always carries three fets of nets having mefiies of different frzes, that they may be prepared to catch that fize of fifh which chances to come in the way—and on this wife forccaft depends very often the fuccefs of the hfhery. The people of Rothfay in Bute, from having beftowed a more than ordinary attention to this cir-cumftance, have defervedly obtained a very high degree of reputation in the herring-fifhery f.
33. With regard to what has been ailerted, that the fmall herrings are always fatteft, and moft difficult to be cured, I do not meet with facts to fupport either the one or the other of thefe affertions. In the cafes already mentioned, that confided with my own knowledge, the facts flood thus :—
34. The fmall herrings that were catched in Loch-Craignifh (32.) were very good ; thofe ftill fmaller, that were caught near Fort-William (32.) ftill better; and the large ones, that were caught at Oban (30.) were much leaner, and of a worfe quality than the others. Thefe facts feem to confirm the theory.—On the other hand, the large herrings that were caught at the beginning of the feafon in Loch-Urn (31.) were fatter, and in every refpect better than thofe fmaller ones which were found in it at a later period (31.) But the Iargeft and fatteft fifh that were caught on that coaft in the year 1784, were caught in Loch-Roag, towards
f In the month of Auguft 1784, a great body of herrings came into Loch-TJrn, confifting of many different fizes intermixed.—" Yesternight, fays Mr Macdonnell of Barrifdale, in his letter to Mr John Clack, dated Auguft 3d, (Appendix to the Report on the fifheries, No. 13.), I went into the loch (Loch-Urn), and carried with me nets, fume larger, fome fmaller in the ir.ejhes ; and I have the pleafurc to tell yon, that though I had but four of our fmall country nets in* the yaul, not exceeding the fifth part of a bufs-train, in lefs than twenty minutes I hauled twelve harrels of fifh—every net, a! they -were, •wide er narrtvr in the mtjh, catching herring in proportion to their fize.,y
Appendix, No. 3,        v 355
the latter end of November (17). Thefe facts contradict every part of the theory.
35* From particular facts, let us come to others more general. It is univerfally admitted, that the Manx her rings are not only much larger in general, hut alfo much fatter than thofe of Yarmouth ; as are thofe of Loch-fine both fatter and larger than thofe caught off Dunbar.
36. Hence, fmall herrings are not, as fuch, to be accounted either better or worfe than large ones; nor are fummer-caught herrings, as fuch, to be accoumed better than thofe caught in winter—an infinite divcr-fity being obferved to take place in this refpect.
37. Neither are lean herrings more eafy to be cured than fat ones, in equal circumftances, if the concurrent teflimony of all the fifhermen I talked with can be relied on. Nor are they more faleable at any market: for, they unanimoufly declared, that if in any cafe they had lean and fat fifh to choofe upon, they would invariably prefer the fat kind for any purpofe whatever f. Some of them indeed defcribed a kind of oily herrings, which they feemed to confider as a difeafcd fifh, which they wifhed to reject, becaufe they were apt to gild ; but the real healthy fifh, though much fatter, they did not confider as peculiarly liable to that dif-order %.
t It has been in particular often afTeited, that lean herrings jre much better for being cured as red herrings, than fat fifl): But, on ill the weft coaft, this fa<ft was denied,—the owners of red-herring houfes invariably concurring in alleitin,*, that the fatteft and beft herrings wore *ar preferable to lean ones for this particular ufe.
t It is commonly faid, that when great quantities of herrings an kc caught, and no opportunity occurs for curing them, a great rbal of oil may be extracted from them by boiling.—There is much reaibn to fufpelr this is a miftake. When herrings have been gutted, and a'e boiled for eating, it is well known, that very little oil is this feparated from them. It is alfo well enough known, that if the :n-trails be boiled by themfelves, a confiderable quantity of oil is obtained, which is in all cafes carefully preferved by our filhers. I th:re-fure fufpta, that if they be boiltd without being jutted, the oil ;hat
38. If fat fifh are therefore not to be rejected as unfaleable at the Weft Indian market, fo neither are fmall fifh, as fuch, there unwelcome, if the following fact, which I had from a confiderable fifh-merchant in London, can be relied upon. He was employed by the fifhers about Wick and Invernefs, for feveral years, to difpofe of the herrings they cured. The owners of thefe fifh, thinking the largeft were beft, had Separated the large from the fmall, and empowered him to fell the fmall at a lefs price per barrel They were equally veil cured and packed as the others, and he fold them at firft fomewhat lower than the large ; but, finding a great demand for the fmall, he raifed the price to the fame as the others, and found he could always difpofe of the fmall rather in preference to tbe others.—This was for fhe Weft India market; and upon enquiry he found, that when well-cured, the proprietors there liked tbe fmall herrings beft, becaufe they could be more eafily divided into what portions they pleafed than the larger f.
39. As to fifh caught at different fcafons, there is not a doubt but that it is more difficult to cure fum-mcr than winter-caught fifh: becaufe, in fummer, the fraalleft delay in any of the operations, will fpoil them entirely, the being a few minutes, as I have been frequently affured, expofed to the fun at that feafon, will fo effectually fpoil them, as tli2t they never will take on the fait, and therefore muft be ufelefs; whereas in win-is .hus obtained, muft arife chiefly from the entrails; and if fo, it muft be a very unceconomical practice, to deftroy the whole fifh for obtaining it. This I mention, not as a decided point, but as a very proper fuhjtct forobfervation and accurate experiment.--Tt is not the fatttft kinds of fiih thav, yield the moft oil. Salmon afford but very little ; but in the curing, after they are in the barrels, a fmall quantity of that oil is worked off. and this operation, they find, tends much to prevent the I'i.h from becoming gilded. I much fufpeft, that this would be by far the befi method alfo, of obtaining the oil from the herrings, as well as the beftmethod of curing that delicate fifh.
f Thefe were Co very fmall, as to take, in fome enfe?, about 2CC0 to a baud.
ter, a much longer delay is not accompanied with equal hazard. Whatever the quality of the fifh therefore may be, there is a greater rifk that they will be fpoiled in the curing in fummer, than in winter j but if proper care be taken, there is not a doubt but the fatteft fum-mer-cured fifh that can be obtained, will be equally good with the beft that can be obtained in winter, and much better than the lean fifh that fliall be caught at that feafon.
40. There is one peculiarity relating to the natural hiftory of herrings, that feems to diftinguifh them from all other kinds of fifh with which I am acquainted, and which affects the various queftions agitated in this enquiry, in many different ways.—It has been fuppofed, that herrings either breed in the North Seas during the fpring months, when they defert our coafts, or that they iflue from thofe feas in fearch of a more convenient place to depofit their fpawn in, (for I do not find that fpeculators are agreed as to this point). There are good reafons, however, for believing, that neither of thefe opinions is well founded.
41. It is found by experience, that in every unforted heap of herrings, at whatever feafon of the year they have been catched, there are found fome that have full roes, others that are altogether empty, being lately fpawned, which are called by the Dutch Jhotten herrings, and others in all the different ftages of pregnancy f. Hence it muft appear evident, that the herring does not breed at one particular feafon only, like moft other kinds of fifh, and the greateft part of the wild animals we know ; but that, like man, and feveral tribes of domeftic animals, they procreate at all feafons of the year without exception. This being the cafe, it will follow, that herrings muft fpawn in all thofe feas in which they are ever found; fo that they can have no
t This may be obferved by infpe&ing any parcel of unforted Britifh cured herrings.
z
particular place for breeding in. The fact above mentioned with refpect to the diverfity that is obferved in every heap of herrings, I had occafion to obferve my-felf, and it was confirmed to me by every intelligent filherman I converfed with ; but it was only a few who told me that they had frequently had their fiihing-lines in Loch-fine and other places, covered with the fpawn of the herrings which they had found in the bottom of the water.
42. But though all agreed that the fact above mentioned was undeniable, yet they acknowledged that the following diverfities with regard to it were ob-fervable.
43. It fometimes happens that a fhoal of herrings will be found, the greateft part of which are full of roe; while another fhoal will be met with, perhaps at the fame time of the year, the greateft part of which are lately fpawned (fhotten), or another in which the generality of them are in an early ftate of pregnancy, while a fourth has them all intermixed, without any one kind having the afcendency.
44. From the facts that I could collect, it likewife appeared to me probable, that, upon the whole, a greater proportion of herrings found on our coaft are pretty far advanced in their pregnancy, and fhotten, towards the months of November and December, than at the earlier periods of the fifhery.—This feemed to me pro-* bable, though it was not fupported by fuch a general concurrence of opinion as to render it certainly to be relied on.
45. It was, however, very univerfally admitted, that at whatever feafon the fifh were catched, thofe that had lately fpawned, or were what is called Jhotten, are the leaneft and worft herrings: that they approach to this lean meagre ftate as they come towards full roe ; and that they are fatteft and beft when they are not at all, or but a fmall degree advanced in their pregnancy. Thefe different ftates can be diftinguifhed by a fkilful
filherman, without a particular examination, merely by the glance of his eye, who can obferve a fenfible difference where another perfon could not perceive it in the leaft, as i frequently experienced when on board the cutter, the common men never failing to pick out the beft with the utmoft facility, where i would have been much difficultedf.
46. Though this peculiarity has not, that i know of, been taken notice of by any of thofe who have treated of the natural hiftory of the herring, it is plain the Dutch have been long well acquainted with it; for, in their printed regulations, it is exprefsly required, that at allfeafotis of the fifhery, the herrings of each night's catching fhall be carefully forted into three parcels, the prime, (I write here from memory, and am not certain of the name), the full, and the fatten, which laft is always accounted rebate fifh. From the circumftances ftated it will appear, that this forting muft always be a matter of great importance, if we wifh to obtain very fine herrings; and as it is not much attended to by our fifhers, that muft be one principal mean of making our fifh be much inferior to the beft of the Dutch herrings.
47. I could not find, by my enquiries, at what fize or age the herring begins to breed, or how long it is in attaining its full growth; but it is fometimes found in roe of a very fmall fize, and confequently fmall lean fifh may be found, as well as large fat and plump fifh. It is probable they fometimes have attained to a confiderable age, from the very great difference of fize we obferve in thofj which have attained maturity"]:.
f A Gentleman who had great experience in the filheries, favoured' ^e with the following remarks on this fubje<ft,—" There are, faid he, many different qualities of herrings, which may be known at fight, or otherwife. The beft are a thick ihort fifh, which, on being examined, ftave a fat yellowifh fwimming-bag t thofe that are longer, and have this bag whiter, and more like a firing, are of an inferior quality; but the Worfi arc thofe that are long and thin, and have a bag blown up with air."
t The herring is a delicate fifh, which is killed by a very fmall degree 01 violence. Whenever it is taken out of the water, even tho' it feems
Z 2 %
48. From the whole of thefe fails, it will, I hope, appear, that though the natural hiftory of this wonderful little fifh is not as yet enough known to enable us to fpeak with certainty as to many particulars concerning it, yet there feems to be no reafon to doubt, that the generally received opinion concerning its migrations, is altogether erroneous j and that thofe general rules which have been deduced as to the goodnefs or bad-nefs of large or fmall herrings, or as to the fize or quality of fuch as have been catched at an early or late feafon of the year, cannot be relied upon, the exceptions being fo numerous as to leave no room for efta-blifhing the rule.
to have received no hurt, it gives a fmall fqueak, and immediately expires ; and though it he thrown inflantly back into the water, it never recovers —Hence arifes the proverb, as dead as a herring.
No conjecture can be made relating to its food. It feems to be nou-rilhed by fome fubftance that abounds every-where in the fea-water in prodigious quantities, though too minute for obfervation.—Were it not every-where prefent in the water, the fhoal* are fo great, that thofe which come laft, muft fufTcr for want of food, and become lean. This is never taken notice of by fifhermen. It is obferved, that the ftomach contains only a quantity of (limy matter, unlefs it be very near the fpawni:ig-time, when a few fmall fifh are fometimes found in the ftomach : they are then called foul fifh, being more full of blood than at other feafons: they never take bait but when in this ftate, and very feldom then.
Some fanciful people, in order to make the hiftory of their migrations complete, defcribe them as being led forward by a leader who directs tlicir courfe, who has been called their king. No fuch thing is even believed by any of the fifhermen.
When a great body of herrings ate in the water, they can be diftin<ft-ly perceived by the fmell, as I myfelf frequently experienced.
They fometimes fwim very near the furface, and fometimes at a greater depth, as has been faid ; but the circumftances that occafion the one or the other, have not been obferved. It does not depend on the feafon of the year, nor, by what I could learn, on any obferved peculiarity of weather.
At times they feem to take pleafure in riling to the furface of the water, and putting up their nofes, and inftantly drawing back. This occafions a little pattering noifc, like the found of a few large drops of rain on the water; which is denominated by the natives on the fhores they frequent, the play of herrings. It is moft ufually obferved in a ftill calm evening; and at thefe times, they are thought not to enter rcadilv
49. Many of the facts above ftated would feem to indicate, that tho' the herring may be in fome meafure accounted a roving fifh, yet that it in many cafes feems to be pretty much confined to one ground, where it breeds and remains, nearly as a particular breed of fheep, if left to itfelf, would not depart very far from its native hills. Some facts indeed feem to point as if there were fome diverfity in the fhape and other qualities of particular breeds of this kind of fifh, like that which we obferve with regard to oxen, fheep, &c. The large fize, and uncommonly fine quality of the Manx and Loch-fine herrings, when compared with thofe of Yarmouth and Dunbar; the uniform fmall fize, and compact form of the Drontheim herrings, when compared with thofe much larger that are frequently caught on the weft coaft of Lewis, fetm to give fome obfcure indications of this fort.—But we arc as yet by far too little advanced in our knowledge on this fubject, as even to dare to hazard a conjecture on this head.
into the nets, and therefore h is not thought a favourable indication of the fuccefs of the fiihery for that night.
But the moft wonderful peculiarity relating to the ceconomy of that little fifh, was one that I never had an opportunity of obferving myfelf, hut which I was affiired was a fact, by every perfon acquainted with the filheries who f|>oke with me on that fubject. I therefore tell it to the Reader as I had it, without contradicting or confirming it, tho' I rather fufpeet the opinion has taken its rife from inaccurate obfervation,—It is, fay they, a certain fact, that at particular times, in thofe lochs where herrings abound, a ftrong fmart found is heard, like the report of a piftol when fired. This found, it is fuppofed, is in fome inconceiveablc way produced by the herrings themfelves, and is always accounted a certain proof that they are immediately to leave that place. When the found is heard, or fuppofed to be heard, it is faid the herrings have cracked; and, in that cafe, it never fails but that the whole are gone before next day. Whatever truth may be in this, there can be no doubt but the herrings frequently withdraw from any loch in a very fhort time, and leave no veflige of them behind.
Mr Knox of Eymouth remarks, it is obfervablc for a day before, as *ell as fome days after a northerly blaft, there is fcldom much fuccefs: *hether the herrings knowing by fome natural inftinct of its coming on 80 off into deep water, or whether they keep at the bottom to avoid the tiff^E, 1 WiU noj take upon mc fay.
366 Appcjidix, No. 3.
cc. Mr Macdonelt of Barrifdalc is one of the few* men I have met with, who his attempted to make any obfcrvations on this fubject. Some others I have found, who are convinced that herrings do actually breed in our own feas, and only retire to the bottom, where they remain lefs active than at other feafons, during the time wc do not obferve them on our coafts. This conjecture feems to gain force from the obferv-ation, that herrings are catched in the fhallow feas near London, where nets can be let down near the bottom, at a feafon of the year when they cannot be found in our deeper feas, where no net could reach them f. But however this may be, Mr Macdonell above named thinks he can diftinguifh, in the lochs with which he is acquainted, two kinds of herrings :—one he calls homebred fifh, which he knows by certain peculiarities of *fhape, &c. from all others \—the others he calls foreign fifh, or fuch as have been bred elfewhere, and only occafionally come into the loch that does not belong to them the native herrings themfelves fometimes in their turn making a tour elfewhere, but return again.—I take it not upon me to fay that this theory is juft, more than the other. Much of conjee-, ture muft be in every-thing of this nature ; and long and attentive obfervation is neceffary, before it can cither be confirmed or rejected. But the following remarks, with which he in the moft obliging manner favoured me, in anfwer to fome queries I put to him in writing, appear to me fo very ingenious and important on this fubject, that I cannot think they fhould be concealed from the Public.
t Perhaps the progrefs of the herrings could be belt traced by means of other filh : for, in general, the herring is preferred as a bait to all ethers, cither by cod or ling. If, therefore, the herrings be in thofe feas that are not too deep for thefe fifh, it is to be prefumed they vi ill be found in the ftomach of the cod or ling when caught. Cod are fcldom found in water that exceeds 30, or at moft 40 fathoms; ling have been caught in joo fathoms water : if the herring does not fink to a greater depth than that, therefore, they might be traced by means of thefe fifh.
$i. "It may not, fays he, be improper here to infert a few obfervations I made on the herrings in our bays, that in fome degree diftinguifh them from thofe of the neighbouring ones. The herrings of this loch (that is Loch-Urn) and Loch-Duich, I mean the home-bred ones, are fhort, their bellies prominent, their backs thick, and rather hollow, or bending inwards about the middle of it, than ftra'ight; and as the herrings of both bays feem to be the fame, when they leave Loch-Duich, they generally eaft up here. Thofe of Loch-Nevifh have more of the falmon fhape, are ftronger, and have large black and full eyes. Thofe of Loch-Na-naugh have fomething that diftinguifh them from both, and fo forth. Not but that the fame fhoal may fometimes vifit all thefe bays, and perhaps many more."
52. On this fubject I fhall beg leave to fubjoin a few other remarks made by the fame ingenious and attentive obferver.
53. " About eleven years ago, fays he, a very large fhoal of foreign fifh appeared at Gareloch about the beginning of Auguft, being the only one of that kind that I remember to have feen fo early in the feafon. Their courfe was from the north fouthward, and in their progrefs filled all the lochs and bays as far as Loch-Duich, and even that loch. A fmall branch of it came to this loch, continued in it five days, and then difappeared, carrying with them a fmall body of homebred fifh they found in the loch. They continued, however, longer in the bays to the northward, then retired to the ofting till winter, when they returned to thefe bays \ I mean to the northern ones, and to thofe on the north and eaft of Skye, where they remained until the beginning of January. In this manner they continued to make their appearance early and late for five years, or until the whole body of them were deftroyed ; nor did I hear, nor do I think that this fhoal ''ver removed farther to the fouthward or weft-ward.   It is remarkable, that the home-bred ffi ivere
all along difiinguifable among them. Since that time, no confiderable fhoal of foreign fifh appeared in my diftrict i though now and then a few, probably the remains of the great fhoal, were diftinguifhable among the home-bred fifh.
54. " In the year 1753, a very large fhoal of foreign fifh came into Loch-broom, and the bays in its neighbourhood, in winter. They continued their vifits for three or four years; then flackened. Soon thereafter, they appeared :n Barra, in winter likewife. They continued a-year or two, and then made off.—The winter following, they came into the bays on the weft fide of Skye, in immenfe quantities, and continued to return regularly every October or November till the year 1765, and afterwards in fmaller bodies till 1768, when they entirely vanifhed, or I fuppofe were all deftroyed."
55. What a pity it is that fo attentive an obferver Ihould not be placed in a condition to extend his ob-fervations farther, and to benefit the fifheries by his uncommon fkill and indefatigable afliduity!—This is that Mr Macdonell, who, when a boy, was engaged in the rebellion in 1745, for which he was condemned, and refpited ; and after eighteen years confinement in the Cattle of Edinburgh, was at laft pardoned and liberated.
56. The foregoing obfervations are only meant to fhow, that we fhould not blindly adopt either the theory or the practice of others.—I do not attempt to fubftitute any theory in place of one that is evidently liable to great objections :—my aim is rather to induce Gentlemen to think for themfelves, and collect facts on this very curious fubject, than to raifc any ufelefs fabric on imperfect foundations.
Appendix, No. JLi 360/
APPENDIX, No. IV.
MEMORIAL of the Earl oc Galloway and ethers, to the Right Honourable the Lords Com-mijfioners of His Majejtys Treafury, dated London April 15. 1783.
i^HEWETH, That attempts have been lately made in Scotland, to fait beef and pork to a confiderable extent, both for ufe of fhips in their voyages, and for exportation to foreign markets : And if reafonable encouragement is held out to fuch as may think proper to carry on this branch of trade in Great Britain, it might in time prove very beneficial both to the landed and commercial interefts thereof; becaufe the farmers and graziers would then have ftronger inducements to r.iii'e and fatten cattle and hogs, when they could at all times find a good and ready market for them ; and the merchant would not always be under the necefftty of either importing thefe articles from Ireland, or fending his fhips to that kingdom, not only for a fupnly to his correfpondents abroad, but alfo for the very provifions requifite for the ufe of his fhip during her voyage. Neverthelefs, as the laws ftand at prefent relative to the duties upon fait, and to the drawbacks upon the exportation of falted provifions, it appears abfolutely impracticable, that any attempts made in Great Britain to cure beef and pork for exportation, or for the ufe of fhips during their voyage, can be attended with fuccefs to thofe who may engage in fuch a bufinefs. And if fuch is the fact, which will appear by the following obfervations, it is equally impoffible, that the firmer or grazier can have fufficient encouragement to raife and fatten cattle and hogs, becaufe he would not find a ready market for them, fhould he increafe his prefent quantity to any confiderable extent. 3 A
That, either owing to inattention, or fome other* caufe, Scotland, as the Laws ftand at prefent, is not even upon a* footing with England in the article of curing beef and pork for exportation, in two very ef-fential points, viz. ijl, That in England, the drawback of five fhillings per barrel is received upon the exportation of a barrel containing 32 gallons of well-cured beef or pork, whether it is cured with Englifh or foreign fait feparately, or with a mixture of each 5 whereas in Scotland, no fuch drawback, or any drawback whatever indeed, is allowed upon fuch a barrel, utilefs cured ivith foreign fait alone ; nay, what is more remarkable, no beef or pork cured with a mixture of fait, can, as the Law at prefent ftands, be exported from Scotland, even without the bounty or drawback, and even although the Scots fait ufed therein has paid the equalizing duty with England. It is true, the Commiffioners of the Cuftoms, upon application, generally permit fuch to be exported ; but they never, and it is prefumed cannot allow the drawback of five ihillings per barrel oh the exportation of provifions fo cured with a mixture of falts. Now, this hard fhip will appear particularly diftreffing to Scotland, when it is confidered, that in order to cure beef and pork properly to ftand a warm climate, it is efientially neceffary that it fhould be firft rubbed ivith fmall or home-made fait, as is the univerfal practice in Ireland, and lie in the pickle thereof from ten to twenty days, in order to draw off the blood and other fuperfluous juices, which is called Pining ; for, if great or foreign fait was ufed in this part of the procefs, the juices of the provifions would be fo much exhaufted by the ftrength thereof, and they would thereby become fo dry and hard, that they would be unfit almoft for ufe, at leaft for fale in a well-fupplied market. After being fo rubbed and pined with fmall fait, the provifions are taken out of the fteeps, and then packed away with great fait in calks proper for exportation i and thofe converfant in the
Appendix, No, 4. 371
fcufinefs, know how neceffary great or foreign fait is for this purpofe. id. In England, a proportional drawback is allowed of two (hillings and fixpence upon tbe exportation of half-barrels; whereas in Scotland no drawback is allowed upon any caiks under the fize of 32 gallons, even although the beef or pork therein is cured with foreign fait alone,—a hardfhip obvious and well known to thofe converfant in the bufinefs, many half-barrels being wanted for the convenience of ftow-age, and the fupply of the Weft-India iflands.
That the memorialifts do not mean to infinuate, that even if Scotland was put upon a footing with England in thefe two particulars, any attempts made there to cure provifions for exportation, or for the ufe of fhips during their voyages, will be attended with fuccefs, while the falt-duties, and bounties or drawbacks on falted beef and pork, remain as they at prefent are ; neither can fuch attempts be attended with fuccefs in England, as will be evident from the following confiderations:
Firft, At the time of the Union, the duty in England upon home-made fait was only 3 s. 4d. per bufhel of 56 lib. and upon foreign great fait only 6 s. nd. per bufhel of 84 lib.; and, at that period, the drawback paid in England, upon the exportation of beef or pork properly cured, was 5 s. per barrel of 32 gallons wine-meafure ; which article was, by the 8th article of the Treaty of Union, extended to Scotland, upon paying at the cuftomhoufe of exportation, the equalizing duty with England on Scots fait ufed in curing fuch provifions. Now, as it takes about a bufhel of home-made fait, and nearly half-a-bufhel of foreign great fait, to cure a barrel of beef or pork properly for exportation, and for the pickle to fill it up when Ihipped, the duties thereon, according to the above-mentioned rate, would be about 6s. od. By this drawback, therefore, of 5 s. per barrel, there was about I s. od, paid to the revenue on each barrel exported, 3 A 2
provided the proportions of home-made and foreign fait were ufed as above If there was a greater proportion of home-made fait ufed than above mentioned, the duty to the revenue would be lefs, and vice verfti. At prefent, however, the: duty on home-made fait is 5 s. per bufhel of 56 lib and upon foreign great fait 10 s. 4d. per bufhel of 84 lib.; the amount of which duty, in the above proportions ufed in curing a barrel of beef or pork, is 10 s. f>d.; while, at the fame time, the drawback upon exportation is no more ftill than 5 s. Here, then, is an evident difadvantage of 3 s. 5d. per barrel, which a perfon who cures beef or pork in Britain now labours under, more than he did befoie the hue duties in 1780 and 1782 were laid upon fr.lt.
2dhi The very heavy duties neceffary to be paid dnvro upon foreign fah, before it can be removed from the King's cellars, is another very great difadvantage and difcouragemcnt to any perfon who cures beef for exportation in Great Britain.   This duty, as ftated •above, is now about 10 s. 4d. per bufhel of 84 lib. ; fo that the proportion thereof, being half-a-bufhel as above mentioned,  ufed upon each barrel of falted beef or pork, is 5 s. 2d. befides the duty upon a bufhel of home-made fait alfo ufed therein, to be paid before it can be removed from the falt-pans ; making in all fully one-fourth part of the whole value of each barrel of beef or pork when ready for market. This requires a great flock to be employed in fuch a bufinefs, even if the whole duties were to be drawn back at exportation, which deters a Britifh merchant from engaging in it ; efpecially when he confiders, that in Ireland no duty whatever is paid upon Irifh-madc fait, only 3xd. per bufhel on Britifh, and 4xd. per bufhel on foreign great fait; and on exportation of the provifions from thence,  the merchant pays a farther duty of one fhilling per barrel for beef, and 1 s. 6 d. for pork, all Irifh money.   The advantage, therefore* that the Iiifh has over the Britilh merchant, is, in this refpect,
fo evident, that it is unnecelTary to fay any-thing farther upon it.
•2^'y> A third difadvantage under which a perfon would labour who cures beef or pork in Great Britain is, That no drawback whatever is allowed on the exportation thereof, whether intended for the ufe of'fhips crews during their voyage, or for home-confumption. When the duty upon the importation of Irifh provifions into Great Britain was 3 s. 4 d. per barrel, and at the f.une time the duties payable in Great Britain were only 3s. 4d. per bufhel on home-made, and 6s. nd. per bufhel on foreign great fait, this reftriction of the bounty upon beef and pork exported, would not materially affect the merchant who cured luch provifions in Great Britain. But now, when it is confidered that the duty upon importation of Irifh provifions into Britain is wholly withdrawn, or taken off, while at the fame time the duty upon home-made fait is increafed to 5s. and upon foreign to 10s. 4d. per bufhel, it is evident that no Britifli merchant can cure beef or pork, for the ufe of fhips crews, or for 1 ome-con-fumption, under fuch great difadvantagcs, but will import from Ireland all that is neceflary for him to do, and that 7 s. or 8 s. cheaper per barrel than he can cure them in Great Britain, by the faving alone of the duties upon fait; and the confumption of falted provifions for fhips ufe in particular, is fo very material, that few or no perfons in Great Britain will engage in the curing beef or pork at all, unlefs they have fome chance of fupplying thefe articles for that confumption, which, in the prefent fituation of matters, it is impoffible they can have, for the reafons above affigned.
4^/y, Another confiderable difadvantage the curcrs of provifions for exportation in Britain are under, is, That no barrel is entitled to any drawback whatever, unlefs it contains 32 gallons Englifh wine meafure, and half-barrels in proportion. The memorialifts do not know whether any Acts of Parliament in England fpe-
cify tbe quantity of beef and pork to be packed in each barrel ; but the Scots Act, iff Queen Anne, § itti cap. 5. which enacts, That each barrel fhall contain 8 gallons Scotch meafure, being a little more than 28 gallons Englifh wine meafure only, requires 20olib. well-pined beef or pork to be packed in each barrel.   And it is fome-what extraordinary, that the 8th article of the Union, by which the drawback oji exportation of 5 s. per barrel is granted to Scotland, is wholly filent both as to the fize of the barrels, and quantity to be packed therein : And the Britifh Act, 5th Geo. I. cap. xviii. § 15. which enacts, That, " as the herring-barrels contain only 8 gallons 2 pints Scotch meafure, which is only 29 gallons 3 pints ii gill Englifh meafure, they fhall, after the tit June 1719, be the fame all over Britain, and contain 32 gallons,"—relates only to the fize of barrels ufed in packing herrings, without taking any notice of the fize of thofe of beef and pork: nor, fo far as the memorialilts know, has there been any Act of Parliament fince, relative to the fize of fuch barrels. It would appear, therefore, that the barrel of 8 gallons Scotch meafure required by the Act of Queen Anne to contain 200 lib. well-pined beef or pork, is entitled, in Scotland, to the drawback of 5 s. on exportation: But the contrary practice has crept in; as no barrel containing beef or pork is allowed the drawback, unlefs it be 32 gallons Englifh wine meafure.   A barrel of 28 gallons Englifh wine meafure, will contain 200 lib. of well-pined beef and pork; and there is juft that quantity packed into the barrels ufed in Ireland, which at the fame time never contain more than 28 gallons.   If, therefore, it is not neceffary to pack more than 200 lib. well-pined beef or pork in a barrel; and if a barrel of 28 gallons will contain that quantity, which there is not a doubt of j why fhould not the Britifh merchant be allowed to ufe barrels of that fize, and to recover the drawback upon exportation, in the proportion they bear to 3 2 gallons ? If he is not allow-*
ed to ufe fuch, one of thefe confequences muft naturally follow, either that the provifions muft be loofely packed, which is very pernicious; or otherwife, that from 25 to 30 lib. more beef or pork than an Irifh barrel contains, muft be packed into each Britilh barrel containing 32 gallons. But the barrel containing 28 gallons only, is found from experience to be the moft handy and convenient at a foreign market; and, ftrange as it may appear, it is certain, that great complaints are made of Britifh barrels in the Weft Indies, on account of their fize only, although they contained from 25 to 30 lib. more beef than the Irifh barrels, and have been fold at the current price of the latter. It is a great difcouragemcnt, therefore, to the Britifh merchant, to be obliged to pack 25 or 30 lib. more beef in his barrel, while at the fame time, inftead of receiving any advantage therefrom at a market, he experiences the reverfe, on account of their fize and unhandinefs.
The memorialifts beg leave further to notice, that a barrel of beef falted for home-confumption, pays about ios. duty on fait to the revenue ; whereas a barrel of beef from Ireland, pays only is. duty to the revenue of of Ireland on fait, and none to the revenue of Britain on its importation and confumption here; fo that there is a premium of 8 s. per barrel, which Irifh beef confumed in Britain, has over that of Britain.
It is further to be obferved, that after confuming a barrel of beef or pork cured with foreign fait, there is found in the barrel, at an average, about a quarter of a bufhel of unconfumed fait. The duty on this quantity is about 2 s. 6 d. which the revenue lofes on Iriih beef and pork confumed in Britain ; as this fait »s ufed, and very proper for culinary purpofes.
The memorialifts have ftated the difadvantages Under which the Britifh merchant at prefent labours, in curing beef or pork, either for exportation, the ufe of his fhips on their voyages, or home-confump-tion: And they humbly hope they are only neceffary
376" slpp-etufix, No. 4.
to be pointed out, to induce the Lcgiflaturc to give the neceflary redrefs and relief, efpecially for the two firft-mentioned objects ; as nothing is more certain, than that this branch of trade, if an adequate and proper encouragement is given to it, will not only greatly advantage the revenue in the duties upon fidt, but there will alio be much money kept in the country, which is fent elfewhere for lalted provifions, tallow, and hides; and, in time, thefe two laft articles, fo neceffary to the poor, after being manufactured into foap, candles, ami ihoes, &c. will thereby become cheaper in Great Britain.
Your Memorialifts, therefore, humbly pray your Lord (hips, to take the premifes into confideration ; and that your Lordfhips will be pleafed to give your countenance and fupport to a bill, which may put the merchant who cures beef or pork, upon the fame footing with the curers of herrings, as to the duties upon fait; allowing him, in the fame manner, to receive home-made fait from the pans, and foreign fait from the cellars, where it may be lodged under the joint cuftody of the importer and officer of the revenue, to be ufed for curing beef or pork for exportation, or for the ufe of the navy, or merchants fhips in their voyages ; under fuch oaths and regulations, and under fuch penalties as lhall be thought proper.    And more particularly, that, for the benefit of the revenue, there fhall be paid for every barrel of 23 gallons containing fitted  beef in pickle, is.; and of pork, is. 6d.; and fo in proportion for cafks of a larger or leffer fize: And that for each cwt. of dried flefh, there fliall be paid a duty of 4 d.
(Signed) GALLOWAY. STAIR,
KEITH STEWART. J. HUNTER BLAIR.
Appendix, No. 4. 377 .
N. B. From the foregoing fate of fuels it appears, that the duty payable to the revenue on a barrel of beef or pork in England, is, at the prefent time, For one bufhel of home-made fait,   L. o 5 o One-half ditto of foreign fait, 052
Total,     —      - o io 2
On a barrel of Irifh beef or pork : Internal duty on home-made fait    L. o o O On ± bufijel of foreign fait, at
4^d. per birfhet,      - -      o o 2~
Total,   —   . 002^
Difference, — L. o 9 11£ if for home-csnfumption, in both countries, or for flip prov'ifons, no duty or drawback being allowed on them.
Irifh beef, if brought to England, pays a duty of One filling per barrel on exportation in Ireland; and, fay, one filling more for freight: At that rate, a barrel of Irifh heef can be afforded in England, 7 s. 11 d. cheaper than a barrel of Britifi cured beef—the prime cofi of the meat being fuppofed the fame.
A Britifi) barrel of beef contains 32 gallons ; an Irifh iarrel only 2 8 : therefore, if equally welt packed, the Bri-iifh barrel will contain 28 lib. more than the Irifh barrel; which, at 3 d. per lib. is 7 An Irift) barrel of beef, therefore, may be afforded for fhips provifions, at the rate •f 16 s. 11^ d. cheaper than an Englifh barrel of ditto, fuppofing the frejh meat had cofl in both cafes threepence per pound.
Irifh beef imported into Britain, pays no duty to the Bri-tifli revenue ; but a barrel of Britifi ditto pays \o s. 2d. : And as there remains in the barrel, about half-a-bufliel of fait after the beef is taken out, which is good for culinary purpofes, the duty on which would be at leaf 2 s. 6d. the Britifi revenue, at this rate, lofes lis. 8 d. for every barrel of Irifh beef and pork imported into Britain, or confumed in flips provifions, which it would have drawn if Britifh falt-meat had been ufed in its fiead.   tVe thus
wmy he faid to have given a bounty of 12 8 d. on every barrel of Ir'ifl beef confumed by Britifh fubjetls, ivith a view to give them a monopoly of this branch oj trade agawfl
curfelves.
It has been flown (page 2\a) that about 156,000 barrels of Irifh beef and pork are annually confumed in Britain; and, computing flips provifions to equal that, it ivould be 31 2,000 barrels per annum ; the bounty of ivhich amounts, at the above rate, to L. 197,600 per annum : What goad reafon can be affigned, why Britain flould fa-crifce fo much for repreffing her own agriculture and ma* nufaBures ?
APPENDIX, No. V.
Abftracl of Mr Watt's Survey and Efimate of the Expence of making a Navigable Canal, ivith ten feet water, from Fort-William to Invernefs.
Defcription of the Country. rT~1HE Highland mountains, which commence at the Frith of Clyde, extend upon the weft fide of the country, to the northernmoft parts of Scotland ; in general, they begin clofe at the fea-fhore: they are interfered by deep, but narrow valleys; the quantity of arable land is exceedingly fmall, and its produce greatly kffened by the prodigious rains that fall upon that coaft. The tops of the mountains are craggy, and their fides are fteep; but they produce a grals very proper for breeding fmall black cattle, and in fome places for feeding fheep.
The fea-coaft is exceedingly rugged and rocky, and abounds with great inlets, which are excellent harbours. It is fheltered by many iflands, which, like the main land, are generally mountainous and rocky, but rather more fertile.
The falt-water lochs, or arms of the fea, are nurfe-ries for fifh, of which many kinds are found in plenty
In the feas upon thofe coafts. The herrings, the cod, and ling, are thofe which are taken in greateft quantities, and exported to foreign parts ; but there are other fpecies which may perhaps become fubje&s of trade.
The fhores produce in abundance, the Alga Marina, or fea-weed j which being burnt, makes the alkaline fait called kelp. The quantities of this commodity made and confumed of late years, are immenfe $ and the rents paid for the kelp of fome fhores, have borne a great proportion to that of the land they fur-rounded.
There arc in many parts of the country, confiderable coppice-woods of oak and other timber. The oak-woods have been greatly hurt by the deftructive ■practice of cutting them for their bark, the timber being often left to rot upon the fpot.
The eaft coaft of Scotland exhibits a very different profpect. The high mountains are feveral miles from the fea-coaft ; the intermediate fpace confifts of arable lands, intermixed with hills of a moderate fize and height. In many places, great tracts of level ground are in a very advanced -ftate of cultivation; but the country in general will admit of improvements, and -the fpirit of making them feems to be daily increafing. ■Altho' the fea-ports are in general inconvenient, and the coaft no-way fheltered, yet it is lined with towns, the inhabitants of which are induftrious. In many -places they fubfift by fifhing, tho' the fifth upon that coaft are not to be compared, cither for plenty or fize, to thofe upon the weft fide of the country.
The fituation of the Murray-Frith will be beft conceived by viewing a map of Scotland. It is a great arm of the fea, feparating the counties of Murray and Invernefs from Rofsfhire and Sutherland. The lands upon both fides of it are of a moderate height, and the navigation is efteemed exceeding fafe. About ten miles from Invernefs, the frith is contracted
3B2
to a fmall breadth by the point of Ardrefier, where Fort-George is built, and the oppofite point of Chan-, nery in Rofsihire ; above that place it is confiderably wider, and extends about four miles beyond Invernefs, where it ends in a fhallovv bay at the mouth of the water of Beaulie-
The town of Invernefs is fituated upon the river Nefs, about a mile from its mouth. The river is navigable in neap tide, for veffels drawing nine feet water, to the harbour, which is a little below the town.
The grounds from the fea-coaft to Invernefs, are level •, but, near it, they rile Hoping to a confiderable height, which is the eaftern boundary of the Highland mountains. It may not be improper to obferve, that in going northwards by the eaft coaft, it is in the country hereabouts that we firft find the Gaelic or Erfe language, the common dialect of the inhabitants; On the welt coaft, it is ufed in all the countries north of the Frith of Clyde.
The town of Invernefs is of a middling fize, tolerably well built, and has a good bridge over the Nefs. It has not much trade, excepting the exportation of the falmon caught in the river, the quantity of which is confiderable ; and alfo a manufacture of fail-cloth and twine, which employs many hands, and is in a thriving condition.
At Invernefs a valley begins, which extends fouth-weft in a ftraight line, quite acrofs the ifland, to Lochiel, an arm of the Atlantic Sea, on which Fort-William is fituated ; the whole being an extent of fifty-nine miles.—Through this valley the new communication is propofed to be made. The mountains which bound it, are fteep and craggy : on the eaft fide of the country, they are of a moderate height, and form continued ridges parallel to the valley ; but from the middle of the country, to the weft coaft, they are much higher, and more divided by narrow valleys or glens.   The ftupenduous hill of Ben-Novifh, com-
monly cfteemcd the higheft in Britain, Hands upon the (hore of Lochiel, near Fort-William.
This extenfive tracf, the regularity of which is aftonifhing in fuch a rugged country, is naturally divided into feven diftridts: the three moft confiderable are entirely filled with water from hill to hill, fo as in many places not to leave a paffagc for the highway.
The four parts that are dry land, are not level plains, but have confiderable inequalities, which may be avoided or remedied in the paffage of a canal.
The firft diftrict is the valley of the Nefs, which extends eight miles from the fide of the Murray-Frith, to the eaft end of Loch-Nefs. The river Nefs, which is large and rapid, runs through this diftrict, in a fomewbat winding channel j and the valley itfelf i» above a mile wide.
The fecond diftrict is Loch-Nefs, a frefh-w;ter lake, twenty-two miles long, and one mile wide, faid to be in general an hundred fathoms deep. It is the fourcc of the river Nefs, and is very ftraight, and free from fhallows or detached rocks. It is navigated upon by a floop belonging to the Government, and by a few-boats; the principal employment of the latter, is to carry the birch-timber that grows upon the fides of the lake, and the fir-timber which comes from Glen-Morrifon, a valley upon the north fide of it, to the head of the river Nefs, down which it is floated in rafts, that river not being navigable. Both fides of Loch-Nefs are woody; but the woods, confifting moftly of birch, alder, and hazle, with a fmall intermixture of oak and afh, are not valuable f.
t I have, fays Mr Watt in another place, a little to arid to my former defcription of Loch-Nefs. It is a beautiful piece of water, bounded upon each fide by rocky mountains, which in many places are covered with wood. Except at the eaft end, it is every-where deep clofe to the fhore. I imagine, that its great depth is the caufe of its never freezing; for, the water that is taken out of it, is as much affected by froft as any other. I have heard, that in a florm, the waves-uin higher upon it than they do at fea ; but I was at the eaft end of ft duiinj the time of a moft violent one at fouth-weft, and I faw no
The third divifion is the land lying between the weft end of Loch-Nefs, and the eaft end of Loch-Oich. In this valley there are feveral fmall rocky hills: the river Oich runs near to the north fide of it, on a bottom of loofe ftones and gravel; and Fort-Auguftus is fituated here, upon a point jutting into Loch-Nefs. The length of the valley is five miles, and its breadth about half-a-mile.
Loch-Oich, a frefh-water lake, four miles in length, and a quarter of a mile in breadth, conftitutes the fourth divifion. It is not fo deep as Loch-Nefs; but (except in one place of no great extent, where the bottom is mud) is fufficiently fo for the purpofes of navigation f. It receives its waters principally from the Garry, which is large; enters it upon the north-fide; and is fupplied itfelf from Loch-Garry and Loch-<)neich, ;wo large lakes lying among the mountains to the weft. Loch-Oich difcharges itfelf by the river of the fame into Loch-Nefs : The mountains upon its
waves that would have deterred me from venturing upon It, with fkilful boatmen, even in a fmall boat.
The unfavourable weather hindered me from making an accurate fnrvey of the coafts of I.och-Nefs : 1 attempted to find its length by ti igonometry; but its great extent, and the want of a proper bale, made the refult dubious. The draughts I have given of it, and of Tnch-Lochie, arc therefore to be confidered only as giving general ideas of the fliape of thefe lochs, in which their direction is afeer-tiiincd, and their lengths and breadths nearly given.
f The (hallow place mentioned in the text, is occafioned by the dc-pofition of gravel and mud brought down by the water of Oarry, which has already formed two fmall iflands, and narrowed the loch very much. Were the loch here deepened, it would be gradually filling up, fo as to require to have that expence often repeated; and I have no doubt hut in a flioit time this Wh will be filled up entirely in the middla by this mud, the water of Garry forcing for itfelf a paflage over it. To avoid the inconvenience of repeated cleanings,! would therefore propofe, that a canal fhould be dug through that flat valley on the fouth of l.och-Okh, which doubtiefs has been formed by the mud carried down by the river, and therefore could offer no obflruiftions to the operation, but what mighe arifc from the water oozing through it; and as it has probably been five mud, the coarfer parts being depofited near the mouth of the river, it would probably hold water fo well as not to allow that inconvenience to be fenfibly felt.  J. A.
ibuth fide arc very high and fteep, but fmooth, covered with earth, brufh-wood, and grafs : thofe upon tbe north are not fo high, but more rugged ; they are alfo in general covered with brufh-wood.—-In Glengary, there are faid to be valuable fir-woods ; and the York-Buildings Company had once an iron-furnace there.
Loch-Oich appears to me to be the higheft point to which it is neceffary to raife the canal. Its furface is about one hundred feet above the high water of neap tide. It is excellently formed for a canal of partition: Its fize will fecure a reafonable fupply of water ; and much more than appears neceffary for a navigation, may be collected in the lakes of Garry and Queich, to be referved for dry feafons.
The fifth diftrict is the land between the weft end of Loch-Oich and the eaft end of Loch-Lochie. It is the higheft part of the whole valley; the fummit which the canal muft pafs through, being twenty-two feet above Oich. This fummit, and the other inequalities of the diftrict, appear to be wholly gravel and earth; and if I may judge from the fteepnefs and regularity of the adjoining hills, the canal may be carried through the fummit upon the level of Oich, without any rifk of meeting rock. The ground declines very faft, both to the eaft and weft ; the valley is about half-a-mile wide here, and this diftrict about two miles long.
Loch-Lochie, another large frefh-water lake, forms-the fixth diftria ; it is very deep, above half-a-mile wide, and ten miles and a-half long. The mountains upon the north fide are very lofty, and the moft fteep and craggy of any in the whole tract: On the fouth fide, for part of the length, they are high, fmooth, and fteep, and are reckoned to produce the beft grafs of any in the Highlands. The grounds upon the remaining part of this fhore, are irregular, but not very high. On the north fide, and near the weft end, the water of Arkeg enters it;—it comes from a lake of that name, fituated about a mile north from Loch-Lochie, and of She fame fize with that lake.
On the banks of Loch-Arkeg are very extenfive na^ tural fir-woods belonging Jo the forfeited cftate of Lochiel; they are now cutting, and the deals and timber are floated down the rivers of Arkeg and Lochie, neither of which are navigable for boats.
The feventh diftrict is the valley in which the water of Lochie runs, from Loch-Lochie to Lochiel: It is more irregular than any of the others, but prefents no difficulties but what may be furmounted. The Lochie is a river about the fize of the Nefs, and very rapid, having in one place a fall over rocks: it enters Lochiel upon its fouth ihore.
Lochiel is about a mile wide, and communicates with the ocean by a larger arm of the fea, called the Linnhe-Loch, the mouth of which is oppofite to the fouth end of the Sound of Mull. At the junction of Lochiel with the Linnhe-Loch, there is a narrow place where the tide rufhes both out and in with great violence j but neither that, nor any other part of thefe lochs, are efteemed dangerous for large veflels j and Lochiel is faid to be every-where fufficiently deep, except near the mouth of the water of Lochie, where the Ihore is fhelving.
The town of Maryburgh of Fort-William is fmall, and has fcarce any trade but what arifes from the garri-fon, and the exportation of the falmon taken in Lochie*
E S T I	M t	A T	E.	
	Length of the Canal.	Total rift In the Canal.	E „ 3 5 v u 3 J3 Hi	EXPENCE, Without taking in the value of the land occupied by the Canal.
	Milci.	Feet.	Acres.	L.     s. d.
The canal upon the Nefs, The canal upon the Oich,	8 5	43 5S	IZI IOI	34656   7 4 37698 14 IO
Greateft rife,		too		
Canal on the fummit defcending The Lochie canal, -	a 1\	ao 8o		a8a86 ia j 63389  4 9
Total, —		IOO	453^	164030 19 4
Appendix, No. 6. 385 *The navigable lochs in this paflage, are
	Length.	Height of its. furface a-bove high, water.
	Miles.	Feet.
Loch-Nefs,      -         -         - . Loch-Oich, -Loch-Lochie,      -         - -	22 4 io|	45 lOO So
Total length of navigable frefh-water 1 lochs,       -          r 5 Length of canal to be cut,	3^ 22 i	
Total diftance between falt-water on7 each fide of the ifland,      - 5	59	
APPENDIX, No. VI.
OBSERVATIONS on the Canal propofed to he carried acrofs the ijland from Fort-William to Invernefs.
TN the prefent ftate of the northern parts of Scotland, I do not conceive, that the internal commerce, were a fmall canal carried through there, would be fufficient for many years to raife a fum that would be capable of keeping the canal in repair and defraying the current expences of it—far lefs to return a proper annuity to pay for the intereft of the money that would be wanted to execute the canal.—From which confi-derations, I ihould think it would by no means be ad-vifeable to attempt to carry through a canal of that kind in this place.
For the fame reafons, I fhould be apprehenfive, that a canal of ten or twelve feet in depth could not be executed with a reafonable profpecl: of making a
return nearly adequate to the expence until many* towns ihould be eftablifhed in thofe parts : For, as moft of the traffic from thence in fmall coafting veffels, muft for many years be carried on to places to the fouthward of the Friths of Forth and Clyde, they would be fo much in the track of going that way, that were the canal between thefe two friths compleated, and a canal carried acrofs the ifthmus of Cantire at Crinan, which may be done at a fmall expence, coafting veffels going fouthward would find it more convenient to go that way than to crofs between Fort-William and Invernefs : fo that by them it would be very little ufed, and, of courfe, would not be of exceeding great utility.
From thefe confideration6, it would feem that the only eligible plan for a canal in that place, would be one of great magnitude, on which fhips of very confiderable burthen could pafs and repafs freely without unloading.   In that cafe, were the lockage-dues fuf5-ciently moderate, all the trade from Liverpool, Clyde and other ports on the weft of Britain, not even Briftol excepted, as well as from Dublin and other ports of Ireland, to Holland and the Baltic, would naturally pafs that way,—as they would fave a very long and hazardous navigation which muft otherwife be undertaken.   The fame would happen with regard to the trade from Leith and every other place on the eaft coaft, not even London excepted, to the Weft Indies, but more efpecially to the American States.   At all times, this would be a much fafer and more expeditious navigation than that which is at prefent purfued : But in time of war, the advantages from this canal would be very great; as the danger of being taken is greater in beating up the Channel than all the reft of the  voyage,   and confequently the infurance much higher, and the expence of waiting for convoy is much greater on that account.   Many veffels, therefore, would pafs this way, were a large canal made i
even thofe of Holland, Sweden, and Denmark; and «onfequently the returns would be much larger in that cafe than if it were of a fmaller fize.
A canal of the kind here alluded to, muft be a work of great magnitude, and therefore ihould not be attempted without due confideration. Difficulties fhould be carefully weighed, and nothing attempted rafhly. To pave the way for fuch an investigation, the following thoughts are fubmitted to the confideration of the Public:—
One objection has been often urged, which, unlefs it can be totally removed, ought to preclude every other difquifition on this fubject. It is this :—The valley which extends from Fort-William to Invernefs is bounded by a range of fteep hills on each fide Tuning nearly in a parallel direction from fea to fea : of courfe, the wind, which by being confined to a narrow channel is there often very violent, blows in general directly along the valley either from the one end or the other, fo as fcarcely ever to be found there blowing acrofs it. This is a fact that will not be disputed.— A confequence is, that it frequently happens that the wind blows for many weeks without intermif-iion from the fame quarter without fhifting in the fmalleft degree; during all which time it might be directly a-head of any veffels that had occafion to pafs it: and as the frefh-water lochs are too narrow to give fufficient room for turning up againft the wind, the navigation muft by this means be greatly retarded unlefs fome way of obviating this difficulty can be devifed.
Another objection arifing from the fame caufe does not wear a much lefs formidable appearance as it is urged by fome perfons. They fay, that the yards and other high timbers of a fquare-rigged veffel offer fuch a large furface to the wind, that it would be impoffible for any force that could eafily be commanded to drag a large veffel of that kind along a canal when the wind was right a-head.
3C2
Thefc two objections appeared to me to be fo plau* fible, and were urged fo confidently by men of fenfe whom 1 looked upon to be much better judges of thefe matters than myfelf, that I for a long time believed they could fcarcely be got over, and confequently defpaired of having the profpect of that canal being ever attempted. I am now, however, informed by an authority that I hold to be of the moft rcfpcctable kind, that thefe objections Ihould be confidered as of little weight, becaufe they proceed upon erroneous data. I am affured, that the force neceffary to move a very large fquare-rigged veffel in a ftagnate canal, even when the wind is directly a-head, is very far from being of the formidable nature here reprefented : that the power of the men ufually employed on board fuch veffels is altogether fufficient to carry them forward \ and that by confequence, a very few horfes, where their force can be applied, would be quite fufficient to accomplifh it. The proof of this fact as well as the proof that it is poffible for a veffel to be carried up the narrow lochs in queftion againft the wind, is the practice that invariably prevails in going up from Crbnltadt to St Peterfburgh.
If my information be right, there is an uninterrupted ftrong current fets down there from the river Neva into the Baltic, for feveral leagues from its top, which would carry a fhip, without wind, at the rate of knots an hour. To work up againft this current in the ufual way would be impoffible unlefs when a very brifk wind was blowing in a contrary direction ; and as this can feldom be expected, it would have proved fuch an obltruction to the navigation as muft have deftroyed their trade entirely. To remedy that evil, anchors were funk along the track at regular distances, with a proper rope and buoy affixed to each; and when a veffel comes into this current, and finds herfelf lofing inftead. of gaining ground, the fhip's boat is hoifted out, which carries a line to the rope affixed
to the anchor, which being faftened to it the veffel is warped up by means of the capftern. In the mean time the boat goes forward with another line to the next anchor which is taken in its turn ; and fo on they go till they reach the port. In this way I have been affured that a veffel may woik up againft both wind and tide at the rate of two or three knots an hour. If fo, they could go much fafter even when the wind is contrary in our frefh-water lochs where no current prevails, with the fame force.
This objection being thus removed, it does not feem to be mere ufelefs labour to confider the other circum-frances relating to this canal.
In every other refpect Nature feems to have been here uncommonly kind for the forwarding fuch an undertaking. The whole diftance from fea to fea is 59 miles; and if the Linnhe-Loch be confidered as a pare of the Channel, and that part of the Murray.Frith above Ardrefier Point, it will then be about 100 miles, of which the whole is at prefent navigable water except 22! miles of land. In refpect to a fupply of water alfo, the natural refervoirs are fuch as would afford a fup-. ply for a navigation much greater at leaft than can ever be expected there, without cofting one farthing on that account. Thefe natural refervoirs are, Lochs-Nefs, Oich, Garry, Loc-hy, Arkeck, Quoich; the extent of whofe furface may be gueffed at by infpedtion of the map, which is fo great as to make any computation of their exact magnitude be altogether un-neceffary.
Another advantage, of a nature at leaft equally Angular and much lefs to be expected in a mountainous country, is, that the valley is every-where of fuch a breadth as to admit of making a fufficient canal, and leave room at the fame time for the rivers to flow freely in their natural channel, fo that no quantity of fu-perfluous water can ever prove hurtful to the canal. Thus would abundance be at all times at command, and never too much.
Another advantage which is in a manner peculiar to this place, is, that thefe lakes, from fome unknown caufe, arc fcarcely ever known to freeze; the waters which iffue from them, for the moft part retaining fuch a tepid warmth as to go to the fea without freezing: and as the fupply is fo abundant, a current might be at that time allowed to flow through the canal fufficient to prevent a ftagnation long enough to cool it. In confequence of this circumftance, a canal here would be open at almoft all feafons of the year: an advantage that no other frefh-water canal in fuch a northern latitude has ever yet poffefied.
The only other circumftance of material conle-quence that deferves to be attended to is the ex-pence that would be neceflary in forming that canal. And here alfo the fituation is peculiarly favourable. The Reader will here eaft his eye on Mr Watt's efti-mate above for a canal of ten feet deep. In almoft every other fituation that could be named, the ex-pence of making a canal of much greater depth than that could fcarcely be eftimatcd, becaufe the chance of meeting with rock is fo great, and the hardnefs of that rock fo indeterminate, that fcarcely any idea of it can be formed. Here, however, the chance for meeting with rock (unlefs in two narrow ridges only) is fo fmall as fcarcely to deferve to be reckoned upon. The reafons on which this opinion is founded, are developed in the following note f, which I have been
+ Any perfon who attentively confiders the nature of the country here treated of, and who has been accuftomed to remark the changes that time and the unccafing operation of natural caufes produces on our globe, will very foon be fatisfied that the whole :of that valley which extends from Locheil to Loch-Nefs without interruption, has been, at a very diftant period of time, either an uninterrupted chain of lochs, or a cavity of much greater depth than the furface of either the land or the water in that valley at prefent. There is no doubt but that in every part of the globe the rain is perpetually wafhing off a confiderable part of the furface of the high lands, which is carried with the current into valleys, where it is depofited in many different ways, and thus gradually raifes their furface to a greater height
at the greater pains to fpecify in detail, as they may ferve to give fome notion of the practicability of fuch other cabals as may come afterwards to be thought of in other parts of this country.
Upon the whole, tho' I am, from the foregoing considerations, fully convinced of the practicability of car-
than they originally had. In level cultivated fields, the earth waffled off forms a fine flimy mud which is only allowed to fubfide flowly in thofe places where the water stagnates, and there in time railes the bottom Co high Chat what was originally a pool of clear water comes to be filled with reeds and flags and other tall deep-growing aquatic plants; and as the bottom continues to rife, aquatic grafles appear, and it becomes a bog. Tl>e bog gradually acquires folidity; and as it rifes above the furface of the water becomes a meadow, and in time dry firm land fit for many purpofes of agriculture. The progrefs is flow but certain, and may be illustrated by many well-known examples. The fens of .Lincolnshire is one; the ifle of Thanet another; and innumerable instances of the fame kind in valleys and by the (ides of rivers in every part of the kingdom might be here produced, were it judged nc-cedary.
But though fmall accretions to the furface of the dry land are thus gradually making in the internal parts of the country, yet thefe are inconfiderable when compared to the much larger additions that are from the fame caufes made on the (hallow Shores of cultivated countries. There the frelh water impregnated with mud, rulhes forward with fuch impetuofity during violent inundations, as to allow little to be depofitcd till that current is interrupted by the tide; but when it is thus rendered Stagnant, a copious deposition of fediment takes place, forming that foft bottom called jleetcb, which in tlie openings within the mouths of cftuaries or friths is peculiarly abundant, and thus tends very fpecdily to fill them up, efpccially at the fides and in the deepell bays where the current is wcakefl. There the llectch gradually rifes to the furface, becomes covered with plants, remains for fome time a fait marlh fubject to be overflowed by high tides, till by flow degrees it gets above the level of the higheft tides, becomes dry land fit for cultivation, and its origin is in time forgot by carelcfs obfervers. The Delta m Egypt is a noted acquifition of this kind : The extenfive and fingu-iarly fertile diftrict called the Ukraine at the mouth of the Danube is another: The whole territory of Indoftan a third: The fertile plains at the mouth of the Po below Ravenna arc a fourth : The iflands in the Adriatic on which Venice Hands is another; and the whole of the Netherlands in our own neighbourhood is another very (hiking example of the fame kind. The induftry of the people of Holland has indeed forwarded the operations of Nature in that province by artificial aid; and thus, by excluding the frelh water from their land, they force it forward into their Shallow feas, which arc thus gradually filling up and
rying a canal acrofs the ifland from Invernefs to Fort-William, of fuch dimenfions as might admit of fhips of burden palling through it without unloading; yet I am ftill more firmly convinced that till feveral large commercial towns lhall be fully eftablilhed on the weft coaft, and the improvement of the country in refpect to manufactures and induftry be carried much farther than we have a view of for a great many years to come,
will in conflquerice thereof become in time, firft marfhes, and then dry land alfo. The fame progrefs is going forward in the Baltic, which is gradually filling up; but Irom the want of tides in that fea, the depo-fition is more general over the whole bottom than it could be where tides prevailed, and lefs abundant towards the edzes. Hence the origin of the troublelbme (hallows there, tho' the acquilition'of land upon its ihores be there more (low and Itfs perceptible than in (Daft other places.
Thefc examples have been felcifted from foreign countries only becaufe of their magnitude and notoriety, not becaufe we want examples of the fame kind in our own illand. This procefs is peculiarly obferve-able in the eftuary of the Humber in England, which ferves as an ont-fet to feveral great rivers that have a long courfe through fertile cultivated fields; and accordingly we find the fhores of that eftuary filled with deep flectch, and the plains on each fide rifing gtadually from foft bare mud to firm and fertile fields. At Barton this is peculiarly remarkable; and the greateft part of the country from Hull to \ork, but more evidently from Hull to Beverly, owes its origin to a gradual dcpofition of this kind of mud, which has in time become for the moft part fertile meadows. The low fertile country on the banks of the Thames called the Hundreds of Eflex, owes its origin to the fame caufe : And in the fame manner have been produced thofe low fertile fields on the banks of the Tay and the Forth, called the Carl* of Gowrie, and the Carfe of Falkirk, Accretions of the fame kind, though of much fmaller extent, might be pointed out in feveral other parts of Scotland ; but thefe, from the depth of water in general on our coafts, from the fhort run of our rivers, and from the rugyed and mountainous nature of our country, mult of neceffity be not only lefs frequent and of fmaller extent, but alfo of a nature in moft cafes extremely different from thofe we have hitherto had occafion to take notice of. The valley on each fide of the Frith of Dornoch has been filled up fo entirely in this way, as, for feveral miles towards the top of the level to which the tide flows, to leave no more open tb«n a narrow channel like a canal juft fufficient to allow a paflage to the water of the river that there falls into the fea ; though, from obvious caufes, the depofition here'eonfifts rather of fand than fleetch.
In level cultivated countries, the mud wafhed off by rain is carried to a very great diftance in the rivers before it fubfides; but in ragged mountainous countries, inftead of light mud and the finer parts of the
there Is no profpect that it could be a faving plan to be executed by individuals: And were Government much more difpofed to advance money from the public funds than they feem to be at prefent, i fhould much doubt how far it would be prudent even to afk it. There are many other leffer works that could at a fmall expence be carried forward which are much better adapted to the prefent ftate of thofe countries, that ought firft to be fiaifhed. To attempt fuch a large undertaking now,
mold, the torrents in their precipitous defcent often fweep along with them large ftones, gravel, and fand, which, on account of their great weight, are let fall by the Stream at the bottom of the declivity, and the fmaller parts only are hurried a little forward into the plain by the accelerated velocity with which the mountain-torrent fweeps along the plain when fuddenly fwclled by an unufual fall of rain. Hence it happens that thousands of fmall dreams that aie produced by a Shower and difappear when it ceafes, rufhing with irrefiflible impetu-ofity over the lofty precipice, tear the boSbm of the mountain, and Carry its contents to the bottom : the ftones remain ijear the place where they tall; but the gravel and fand and lighter particles go forward to the plain, where they are gradually depofited as the flream lofes its velocity. In this manner the valleys between mountains where the declivity is fmall, are gradually filled with ftones, and gravel and fand, to a great depth : And as that part of the valley which has been filled up by one inundation is higher than other parts of it, the flream fecks for itlclf a new bed in the lower place; which being ill led up in its turn by Succeeding inundations, the flream again alters its courfe, and fo on till the whole valley between the mountains be fucccflively filled up. In this manner veiy large excavations conic in time to be filled up ; and beds of gravel, and fmall Hones mixed with fand and fome earth, are found, of very great depth, to occupy the bottom of almolt every valley among mountains through which a flream pa lies over a iiirface of fmall declivity. Fiom thefe considerations, and from having obferved that the whole plain thro' which the river Lochy runs confifts of one continued bed of gravel, (two fmall ridges of rocks excepted), and that the ground on whiclv Fort-AugttStus Stands, and along the whole courfe of the river Oich, confifts alio of gravel, ( conclude that both thefe valleys have been filled up probably from a great depth after this manner ; and that, of courfe, no obstruction would be met with in digging a canal there, but what might be- very eafily overcome. I had not an opportunity of examining the plain through which the river Nefs flows; but think there is (rieat reafon to believe that it has been originally of the fame nature with the former. As rherc mult ever lie here more water than can he wanted for any ctuwl. A Caam leakage wculd be of lefs confequence than ufunl,
3 I>
would only divert the public attention from thefe more practicable works: And as the funds would probably fall fhort, it would in that cafe only ferve to damp a fpirit of enterprize, and in the end retard rather than promote the improvement of thofe countries. — From thefe confiderations, I wifh this project to be left to pofterity : It will be enough if we can put things into fuch a train as to render this great work at fome future period a neceffary undertaking.
APPENDIX, No. VII.
Abjlracl of Mr Watt's Report and EJlimates of the Expence of making a Canal of different depths acrofs the Peninfula of Cantire at Tarbat and Crinan.
By the Tarbat paffage.
r_pHE total diftance between high-water-mark on each fide the ifthmus, is, one mile. The greateft perpendicular rife above high-water neap-tides, is forty-five feet.
The expence of a canal of feven feet deep, is efti-mated at      - - -      L. 17988 10 6
Ditto of a canal of ten feet deep, at        23884   7 0
Ditto of 3 thorough cut without locks, of twelve feet deep at high-water neap-tides, at - -        73849   9 5
Ditto of ditto fifteen feet deep, at        120789   9 o>
By the Crinan paffage.
THE total diftance between high - water-mark on. each fide the ifthmus, is fix miles and one-half.
The greateft rife above high-water neap-tides, is feventy-five feet.
The expence of a canal of feven feet deep, is efti-matedat - - L. 34^79   0 0
Ditto of a canal ten feet deep, at 484°S   5 7
APPENDIX, No. VIII.
Obfervatiom on the Canal propofed to be cut between Loch-Gilp and Loch-Crinan.
H e benefits that would refult to the community from the opening a canal to join Loch-fine and the Atlantic, through the valley that runs from Loch-Gilp to Loch-Crinan, are fo many, and withal fo obvious to any perfon who attends to the fubject, as not to require here to be ftated. It is admitted on all hands, that a canal there is not only practicable, but that it could be carried through at a very fmall ex-pence ; and that if ever the Hebrides are to be improved, and the fifheries to be carried on with proper fpirit, thefe improvements muft begin by the opening that canal.
In reflecting on this fubject, there are two confiderations that naturally attract attention, with regard to which opinions will differ, viz. if, What would be the moft proper dimenfions of the canal ? and, 2d, At whole expence fhould it be executed, by the public funds, or by private adventurers ?
With regard to the firft queftion, there can be no doubt but that a large canal will be much more beneficial than a fmall one, could funds be obtained with equal eafe for executing the one as the other : And if it can be made appear that this can be done, doubtlefs a large canal, 1 mean a canal from nine to twelve feet depth of water, would be much better than one of three or four feet deep only, or even of frve or fix.
When I fpealc of its being equally eafy to raife money for executing a large canal as it would be to raife money for making a canal of fmaller dimenfions, it can only be upon the fuppofition that a return by way of indemnification to the undertakers is expected to be made from the canal when finifhed ; and, on this 3D 2
principle, I tliink it will be eafy to fhow that the fc-» turns will be greater in proportion to the expence on a large than on a fmall canal fo fituated as that in queftion is.
It muft be adverted to that this canal will fcrve to join two feas of confiderable extent •, and that there are no maiTts of bulky or weighty commodities immediately in that neighbourhood that would require to be carried through it to market \ of courfe, all the commodities that would pafs through it would be brought from a diftance in fhips, each of which, if it were a fmall canal, would be under the neceffity of flopping till it could be unloaded by boats that were to carry the goods through the canal. This would be a tcdiou3 and expenfive bufinefs, that every one who could do it would be deflrous of avoiding.
In the next place, as the goods to be carried thro' that canal would be always intended for a more diftant market together, not being intended to be there broke down fo as to make up an aiTbrtmsnt of other cargoes; and as it muft frequently happen, in fuch a fituation, that the owner of the goods would find it neceffary to accompany them to market himfelf,—he would in all cafes wifh to find a veffel at the oppofite end of the canal exactly of the fame burthen that fuited his cargo, ready to receive the goods on board, and proceed with them directly to market, that he might thus be faved the expence of warehoufc-rent, portage, perfonal expence, and other charges: But as this could not be expected to be had, it would prove a principal caufe of preventing goods from being brought to that canal. And,
In the laft place, even if the foregoing circumftances fhould prove favourable, it would fubject the employer to pay a freight confifting of two feparate voyages, which he never could obtain at fuch an eafy rate as ill the whole could be completed in one voyage-'
From thefe confiderations I am difpofed to conclude, that if a fmall canal only were formed there, few decked veffels of any fize would come to either end of it; but would rather choofe to proceed as at prefent round the Mull of Cantire : fo that little other bufinefs would be there carried on but that of admiring a few open fifhing-boats to pafs to the Clyde to a market, in which traffic only a very few are juft now employed; and their number, fhould the improvement of thefe countries be carried forward, muft rather dc-creafe than otherwife. On this plan, therefore, the undertakers would receive but fparing returns, and the Public be very little benefited by it.
On the other hand, fhould a canal be made large enough to admit veflels of 80 or too tons burthen eafily to pafs, and fhould the lockage-dues be moderate, almoft all veffels going to or from Campbehon, Clyde, Irvine, Ayr, or any other parts within the Mull of Cantire, to the Hebrides, would choofe to come that way, as it would, on an average, fhorten their voyage between three and four weeks, befide9 rendering it much more fafe and infinitely lefs trying for crazy veffels. In that cafe, even at the beginning, the refort to that canal muft be great, and with the riling improvement of thofe countries, it would be daily increafing : For, Ihould the Carron canal be finilhed, which may be foon expected, and Ihould it alfo be deepened, which is alfo in contemplation, the trade between Leith or other eaftern paits of the ifland and the Hebrides, would all be carried on through the fame channel: And fhould the coafting-duty be taken off coals, which I cannot doubt will fome time take place, a great additional trade would be carried on through this canal. From thefc confiderations, I have not a doubt but that much larger returns in proportion to the expence incurred would be obtained from the large than the fmail canal.
With regard to the fetond queftion, Whether fhould this canal be executed at the public expence or by private individuals ? I would in the firft place obferve, that I fhould confider it as an unreafonable demand  to  atk the public funds for forwarding any work tending to promote the trade and profperity of a particular diftrict without ftipulating  a x-eturn for that aid, unlefs where the trade of that particular diftrict could not afford to pay for it without being-loaded beyond what it could pofiibly bear.    But the orcflnt cafe does not feem to come within that defcription, as there cannot be a doubt but that a very moderate tonnage on veffels palling this way, would do much more than afford a reafonable intereft for the money that would be required for executing this canal. And as Government, if it were to borrow money for executing that work, would probably mortgage the lockage-dues on that canal as a fund for payment of their money, I can fee no difference to the Public between this and the mortgaging thefe very funds to private individuals for the fame purpofe, on fuch terms and under fuch ftipulations as would render the undertakers perfectly fenfiblc they could not be lofers by it; while on the other hand equal care was taken that thefe undertakers fhould never, under any change of circumftances, draw unreafonable emoluments at the public coft: And as it would be eafier to carry fuch ftipulations into effect with private individuals than with Government, and as the expence would be much lefs if it were executed by private individuals than by Government, I cannot help thinking it would be much more eligible to have it made as a private undertaking than as a public job.
One other confideration weighs with me on this occasion in favour of its being executed as a private work, which is this:—There are many other neceffary canals that would come to be attended to and gradually opened at future periods in Scotland.   Now, fhould it
once be found by experience that individuals had been gainers by fuch a work, and that they could not fo advantageoufly fecure their money in any other way, it would encourage fuch works in future fo that they would be executed in the fame way whenever they were wanted, without any of thofe cabals and political delays and manoeuvring which always takes place when public aid is expected. A fpirit of independent reliance on their own powers fhould ever be cherifh-cd among the people; and a cafe can never occur in which there is lefs room for fervile dependence on public aid than the prefent.
From thefe confiderations I fhould wifh to fee this work undertaken by individuals, not from any public-fpirited view, or under the femblance of charitable contributions, but merely as a gainful project, as a profitable way of employing their money. The following conditions, it is imagined, would tend alike to give perfect fecurity to the undertakers, and to guard the Public from being fuffcrers, under any change of circumftances whatever.
CONDITIONS.
\ft. A plan and eftimate of the expence of the canal being made, let a fubfcription be opened for money to execute it on the following terms.—But as a preliminary, let it be underftood that the work would not be begun till at leaft 50 per rent, more money was fub-fcribed for that purpofe than the eftimate indicated, and that the fubfcription fhould not be clofed till double the fum apparently wanted was fubfcribed; that is to fay, if the expence of the canal ihould be efti-mated at L. 30,000, the work fhould not be begun till at leaft L. 45,000 was fubfcribed, nor fhould that fubfcription be clofed till it amounted to L. 60,000; this to anfwer contingencies. So many inconveniences arife to the undertakers when a work of this kind is flopped before completion, that, to guard againft it,
this preliminary feems to be extremely neceffary. Thi* done, each fubfcriber to be liable to pay, on a call, fo much per cent, of the fum fubfcribed, as it fhould be wanted.
id. After the work is finifhed, the undertakers fliall be entitled to levy from each veffel palling the canal, at the rate of per ton, under the
name of lockage-dues, which fhall continue thence-forward liable to the regulations after mentioned.
31/. A dividend fhall afterwards be annually made of the free profits (after paying all expence of repairs, management, &c.) among the fubferibers ; and thefe fubferibers fhall be entitled to draw the whole of thofe profits, until they have received at the rate of five per cent, intereft on the feveral fums advanced, from the time thefe different fums were rcfpecTively advanced, till the day of that dividend which fliall pay up all ar-rears on this fcore.
4M. After the undertakers fhall thus be paid up all arrears till the day of the laft dividend at the rate of intereft aforefaid, they fliall be allowed to draw from that period, the whole free money arifing during the current year, if that fhall not exceed the rate of five and a-half per cent, on the whole capital employed on that undertaking.
$tb. But if the free money fhall at any time amount to more than five and a half per cent, of the capital, the fubferibers fhall not be entitled to draw that overplus, but it fliall be fet apart as a flock to be employed as fliall hereafter be fpecified.
6th. If, during the Jucceeding year, it fhould be found that the profits in like manner exceeded the rate of five and a-half per cent, of the capital, that overplus fhall be added to the ftock fet apart in the former year—and fo in like manner for the third. But after three confecutive years of increafing profits, the managers fliall then lower the lockage-dues to fuch a rate as would on an average of the three preceding
years, have amounted exactly to five and a-half per 'i-nt. on the capital (if this can be done without inconvenient fractions, or in that cafe to the neareft practicable rate above that). And in future, if the profits i lhall continue to increafe, the furpliis money lhall be added from year to year to the ftock, till the fyear» when a new lowering of duty fhall take place in the fame manner as aforelaidj and fo on for ever.
1th, But if, during any one year, the free profits fhould fall fhort of five and a-half/trrev//. the fubferibers fhall in that cafe be entitled to draw from the referved ftock, if any, as much as fhall make their dividend five and a-half per cent, and no more : But if there Ihould be no ftock accumulated for that purpofe, and if the dividend does not fall lower than five per cent, they fhall content themfelves with that dividend, without allowing it to go to account : But if the dividend fhould chance at any time to be below the rate of five per cent, luch deficiency fhould be allowed to go to account, to be drawn out of the firft money that arifes from the lockage-dues after a dividend of five and a-half per cent, for the current year fliall have been allowed to the partners—and fo on for ever.
tStht As to the accumulated capital already fo often mentioned, after it amounted to one thoufand pounds, it fhould be lent out to intereft that intereft to be annually added to the favings, if any, till thefe amounted to another thoufand pounds, which in its turn ihould be lent out to intereft alfo; and fo on till the whole referved capital Ihould amount to the fum of L. After which time, the intereft arifing from this ftock fnould be applied annually to fome public works in the Hebrides, under tne direction of t'his is always on the fuppofition that die fubferibers have not occafion to draw the money as aforefaid.
9th, But if after having lowered the duties, as has been mentioned, it Ihould at any time be found that the fuh-fcribers have drawn lefs than five per cent, dividend for
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three confecutivc years; in that cafe, the managers (half be empowered to raife the lockage-dues for three years to fuch a raie as would have given the fubferibers five and a-half per cent. a"nd no more during the three laft preceding years, and on in like circumftances in all time to come. Provided always, That this rate of lockage-ducs never lhall exceed that rate which was firft granted by Act of Parliament : For, nothing but a new Acl: of Parliament, granted for that purpofe, fhould empower them to raife higher dues than what Was originally due,
Lafthy To remove all poffibrlity of doubt with regard to the fecurity of this fund to the fubferibers, let Government become bound to make up to anydub-fcriber who fhould demand it, any deficiencies of the dividend, till it arofe to the rate of four per cent, intereft on the capital advanced by fuch fubfcriber from the day it was advanced till the day of the dividend laft paft: But even in fuch cafe, the perfon receiving fuch advance from Government, fhall have no claim to any profits that might at any future period belong to his fhare of ftock preceding the time of fuch advance; Government in that cafe coming in the place of the original fubfcriber previous to that period, and being entitled to receive every emolument the original proprietor would have received from that proportion of ftock prior to that date, but no longer. This can be confidered merely as a Government infurance, that the fubferibers can in no cafe receive lefs than four per cent. on the capital advanced, for which they pay a premium which is merely contingent.
Thus would the fubferibers be certain of reaping at the worft four per cent, for their money, while they would have a chance equal at leaft to a hundred to one, that they would draw five and a-half per cent, free of all expences for ever. The Public alfo would be perfectly certain that the lockage-dues muft neceffarily be lowered as foon as circumftances would admit of it, and thus would be ferved at the cheapeft poffible rate.
APPENDIX, No. IX.
Obfervations on Mr Murdoch M*Kenzie's Charts of the Hebrides and Wejlern Coajls of Scotland.
JT is unfortunate when a man, in difcharging his duty to the Public, has occafion to take notice of the faults or errors of others; yet this in fome cafes cannot be avoided, unlefs he refolves rather to allow the Public to be deceived, than to fubject himfelf to the obloquy that a fteady impartiality of conduct may be expected to pi-oduce. Unluckily I found myfelf thus circum-ftanced with regard to Mr M'Kenzie's charts of the Hebrides and Weftern Coafts of Scotland laft yearf. On my tour among thefe iflands, I had occafion to obferve that thefe charts were in feveral refpects defective and erroneous; and I thought, that in giving a report to the Public, of the prefent ftate of thofe regions, and the circumftances that affected their profperity, I fhould have been highly to blame if I had
"t Many years ago, Mr Murdoch Mackenzie, at his own private ex-pence, made a furvey of the Orkney islands and part of Lewis, the charts of which were afterwards published under the title of Oroides; to which was prefixed, a Treatife on Marine Surveying, in which he explains the meafures he adopted on that occafion to guard againft errors, which, if always duly attended to, were very well calculated to prevent mistakes. This furvey bears'the character of accuracy; and I had no reafon to fay any-thing to the contrary (unlefs with regard to the Skcrinoe-rock, which fhould have been corrected after he had difcovered that it was there wrong laid down) as I was not among the Orkney iflands.
lie was afterwards employed at the expence of Government, to make a furvey of all the Weftern Coafts of Britain and of Ireland, which have heen fince published in three different feries of charts, one containing the weft coaft of Scotland, another of the coaft of England, and one of tne coafts of Ireland. It is only the firft charts of the coafts of Scotland and the Hebrides that are referred to in the f/llowing obfervations; and I beg the Reader will keep this in view as he goes along.—With regard to the others, it would be very impertinent in me to fay any-tllmg, as I never had an opportunity of feeing or examining any of them; they arc, therefore, here quite out of the queftion.
3 E2
overlooked this circumftance. No fooncr, however, was it known that I had faid they were not fo perfect as could be wifhed, than I was peremptorily called upon by Mr M'Kenzie, or his friends, either to con-delcend publicly on fome particulars that wereerroncoiv* in thefe charts, or that I ihould be deemed an unjuit calumniator.—Averfe as I was to engage in an altercation of this fort in a common news-piper, I found it could not be avoided ; and therefore did, upon the 18th December 1784, anfwer this challenge in the
following manner.-
" Tho' Dr Anderfon did not go with a purpofe to furvey thefe coafts for the making of charts, and pretends to have made no difcovery of any rocks that were not well known to the people who frequent thofe feas, yet he is able to condefcend upon many places that are fo exceedingly erroneoufly laid down in Mr M'Kenzie's charts, as to be difcoverable by the eye of even a fuper-ficial obfervtr of thofe countries. The following arc a few:
" 1. By Mr Mackenzie's map, a right line drawn from the point of Ardinrider, forming the north-eaft fide of the Sound of Mull, to the Csftle of Dunftaffnage, would pafs clear of the fouth-weft point of the ifland of Lifmore, leaving that ifland to the north of it near one mile;—whereas, in reality, a line drawn between thefe two points would cut the ifland of Lifmore between two and three miles to the north of that point.
" 2. Again—r-From the bay of Ardmurkinifh at the houfe of Lochnel to Loch-Creran, as laid down by Mr Mackenzie, is a diftance of between five and fx miles; whereas, in reality, it fcarcely meafures one mile.
4« 3. The coaft on the fouth fide of Loch-Crinan, by Mr Mackenzie's chart, bears in a direction fo as to fall within (to the eaftward of) Duntroon Caftle ;—whereas it points to the eaft entry into Loch-Craignifh, be* tween one and two miles weftward of Duntroon.
" 4. In the harbour of Crinan alfo, the ifland Daviero |n Mr Mackenzie's map is nothing like its real fhape, and lies in a very different direction, the eaftmoft fide of it pointing nearly N. W. in the chart; whereas it points nearly N. E. towards the Cattle of Duntroon. The fmall rock in that harbour is equally erroneoufly laid down, as it really lies in a right line between the head land to the eaft of the ifland Daviero and the Caftle of Duntroon, about one third over, inftead of lying clofe by the weft point of that ifland, as in the map. The draught of the harbour in other places is equally erroneous.
" 5. In the harbour of Loch-Boifdale in South Uift, are two funk rocks near the entry, both of them erroneoufly laid down by Mr Mackenzie.—And in the furvey of the harbour itfelf, feveral iflands of confiderable extent, not under fix or eight acres, are not fo much as delineated at all.
*' 6. In the harbour of Eaft Tarbat in Harris, are many inaccuracies •, feveral iflands quite out of their places, and of a different form from what they bear ; and feveral funk rocks alfo very much out of their true place.   It is not poffible here to fpecify thefe exactly f.
" 7. From the head of Lochinilaal in Skye, Loch-Efforf, by Mackenzie's charts, bears W. by S. nearly, diftant Jive miles and an half; —whereas it really bears from Lochindaal about N. N. W. diftant about one mile.   Here is a difference of feven points in the bear-
t A difcrcpancy was here taken notice of between two of Mr Mackenzie's charts, in a hafty and inaccurate manner : this, on accouBt of a fmall inaccuracy of language, has been attempted to be denied. The following is a true and accurate flate of that fact.—
Mr Mackenzie gives two delineations of the coaft of Harris, one in plate xxix. and another in plate xxxi. which diner from each other m the following particulars :
In Mr Mackenzie's plate xxxi. Eaft Loch-Tarbat is diftant from the WeQ one mile, [I found, by meafurement, the real diftance was about fix hundred yards, fo that this is three times its real diftance.] And in plate xxix. which comprehends in the fame direction Wt miles (that is nearly eighteen times its real diftance) fcom the
ing, and an error of more than four times the diftance. —From the fame Lochindaal to iiroudford, is by Mackenzie a bearing of N. by W. -J- wefterly, diftant eight miles,—though it really bears about N. wefterly, diftant about four miles.
" But, to put an end to all farther altercation on thi* fubject, he will here make one very plain propofal, which will at once decide the matter in difpute.—As Mr Mackenzie feems to pride himfelf on the unequalled accuracy of his maps, he can furely have no exception to get that accuracy afcertained by one iingle trial. l)r Anderfon, therefore, hereby makes offer to accompany Mr Mackenzie, or any perfon he fliall appoint, to make an actual furvey of the harbour of i .och Boifdale in South Uift j on this condition, that if Mr Mackenzie's chart of that harbour lhall prove to be accurate, Dr Anderfon lhall pay all the expence of the furvey, with a reafonable allowance to Mr Mackenzie for his trouble ; provided that Mr Mackenzie, on his
point of Weil Loch-Tarbat, Eaft Loch-Tarbat is not at all included. Tbe bearing in plate xxxi. is N. E. by N. \ northerly,—a difference from its real bearing of about five or fix points. Loch-Crcofavagh is diftant from Weft Loch-Tarbat, in
plate xxix. - - - 6 \
Ditto, in plate xxxi. - - 3 -J-
Difference, — 3 +
The difference of diftance between Loch-Creofavagh in the two charts,
rear fix miles. The bearing from ditto in plate xxix. is N. E.
Ditto, in plate xxxi. E. by S. eaftcrly. Difference about five points. The bearing of the weft coaft of Harris, in thefe two charts, differs about four points. It is unnecciTary to fperify here any more particulars, all the other parts being nearly equally erroneous. For my own vindication in this particular, I found it neceflary to make out an cxaft copy of thefe two charts on one piece of paper, a copy of which is to be tranfmitted to each of the following places, where thofe who wilh for farther fatif-faction on this head may have an opportunity of confulting them, ■viz. the Curtomhoulcs of Leith, Greenock, Liverpool, London, and Edinburgh. The accuracy of the drawing, when compared with the original plates, is attefted by Mr Robertfon Profeflor of Natural Philosophy in Edinburgh, and others.
fide, agrees to pay the whole expence, together with a reafonabie gratification to Dr Anderfon for his trouble, if the printed map of that harbour fhall be found to be erroneous.—With thefe candid remarks, and this fair propofal, Dr Anderfon, on his part, here clofes this controverfy, not intending to fay any-thing further on this fubject till the furvey is made, when he would propofe that the accurate furvey Ihould be publifhed.
** P. S. Dr Anderfon condefcends upon Loch Boif. da'Ie above, not becaufe he thinks it lefs accurate than others, but becaufe he thinks it an uncommonly fine harbour, and therefore withes the Public to be poffefled of an accurate plan of it. If Mr Mackenzie is not fatisfied with' the one trial above mentioned, Dr Anderfon will, if he choofes it, name feveral other places which he is ready to get furveyed on the fame terms."
N. B. The fame offer was ^afterwards made with regard to all the other places above fpecified.
Mr Mackenzie, however, tho' he in general denied the facts above fpecified, did not choofe to have them fubmitted to the decifive left of experiment, which alone can afcertain the truth in matters of this fort; but Contented himfelf with fome vague reafoning upon this fubject which it would be futile to repeat, and abundance of abufive language tending to vilify my character, which it would be difgraceful in me to retort. Such warmth is but too natural wherever the fhoe pinches ; but it feldom requires any fort of anfwer.
I fhould be willing to believe, that in the prefent cafe, Mr Mackenzie has been induced, from the indif-creet zeal of fome injudicious partizan, to lofe fight of propriety for a time, and to adopt a mode of condutt that feems to me but ill calculated for the purpofe he had in view, which induces me, much agairtiT: my own wclination, here to refume a fubject that I wifhed not to enlar ge upon. — A pamphlet was printed many months ago by Mr Mackenzie, and circulated with great privacy among h]s friends and thofe with whom
he thought it would have influence, in which my cha* rafter was again attacked with great virulency. This pamphlet was circulated feveral months before I heard of it; and it was fo carefully guarded, that tho' 1 made every poffible enquiry to try if a copy could be obtained, I could not get one, till at laft I got a reading of it only a few weeks ago from a gentleman to whom a copy of it had been fent.
In that pamphlet, befides the'arguments employed before in the public news-paper, and fome additional abufe, of which enough has been already faid, he endeavours to difprovethe fadts I had fpecified, by collecting general attestations from different quarters in favour his charts:—a mode of proof which 1 am perfuaded no man who had been capable of reafoning coolly, would ever have thought of adopting with refpect to matters 9p fatly if he had thought they could bear the teft of any other mode of inveftigation; becaufe, if this kind of evidence were to be admitted, any pofition that could be affumed might be clearly proved, and truth could never be afcertained.
So fenfible are people in Britain of the juftnefs of this remark, that unlefs it be in the fingle cafe of quack medicines, I know of no other in which men are in general difpofed to fubmit to the difhonourable imputation of adopting that kind of evidence. It is found to anfwer their purpofe perfectly well; as every fact they wifh to be eftablifhed, can thus be proved in the cleareft manner. If will not, however, be expected, that I Ihould think of adopting a fimilar plan on the prefent occafion.
In matters of a public concern, men ought ever to be allowed to fpeak freely fo long as they adhere to truth: but if, as in the prefent cafe, a man who acts with candour and fairnefs fhall find himfelf liable to receive fuch abufe as has been poured out againft me, few will choofe to fubject themfelves to it; and thus errora will remain uncorrected.   Poffibly it may have been
with this view that the mode of conduct here adverted to has been adopted. Be that as it may, I fhall clofe this paper with a few ftridures on the nature of that exculpatory evidence, which Mr Mackenzie has not been afhamed to rely on as the fole means, of juftifica-tion on the prefent occafion.
In the firft place, a good-natured man, who thinks he is to do an obliging thing, will on many occafions not be very fcrupulous to %n a paper prefented to him
* for that purpofe when he thinks it will oblige a friendf, even tho' it contains afferdons that he does not know to be ftricily juft, or when it relates to a fubject that he never has had an opportunity of inveftigating thoroughly himfelf; fo that men, even-without intending any harm, are thus often made to affert things pofitively as facts, that they do not for certain know. In the prefent cafe, one of the gentlemen who has given an atteftation to Mr Mackenzie, fays, without referve, * They are the ' very belt (charts) that ever was done;' though T pre-
f It appears that attcftations ready-worded had been fent to the different ports, and entrufhrd to the care of particular friends, to get as many names fuDJoined to them as poflible. Thefe attcftations were fwith a proper change of names) as follows: ' H'e, commanders and ' m<rjtcrs of veffels in Leith, t:avigr,!i>ig the Orkneys and -weft coafts of Bri-' tuiu, do hereby certify teat we have alwayt found Mr Murdoch Mac-
* kutZU's charts fufficiently txatJ for navigating flips amongfl the Iflands ' and upon th; coajls; and by his unproved method in them, the great drver-
* fry of high and tow lanth, clifs.Jlwret, &c. are fo~ remarkably dijiinguifl-
* cd us to 7i:ake than eafily known; Jo that we can proceed -with more con-
* fidencc, a;id have found them Jurer guides than any other charts we have ' ever feen-'—The Reader will pleaft here to take notice, that the atteftation is carefully made to include all or any of Mr Mackenzie's niaps, though it was only one particular clafs of them that had been called in queftion. It mijht therefore happen, that men who had failed !>y the charts of the Orcades, or of the Coaft of England, or of Ireland, might with a fafe confclcnce fign thefe attcftations, if he found thofe charts accurate, although he had not perhaps ever fctn or had occafion to employ one of the charts in queftion. Such a difingenuous mode of evading the point in queftion, by an artful appearance of bringing it Under review, is no very clear proof of confeious rectitude. But it is altogether of a piece with every thing Mr Mackenzie has thought proper to urge ir. his defence.
3F
fume this Gentleman will not pretend to fay that he fa acquainted with all the other charts that ever were made of any coafts.— This I only take notice of, to fhow how far zeal frequently outruns judgment in cafes of this nature.
In the next place I would obferve, that it is not every man who fails along a coaft with a particular chart in his poffeffion, who is capable of remarking the errors it contains. Many men who have the management of a veffel in fuch feas as thefc, are fo little ac-cuftomed to compare real objects with the reprefenta-tion of them in a chart, that they cannot in any cafe be able to perceive a discrepancy between them, even when that difcrepancy is obvious and ftriking to another. I had occafion in my tour to converfe with a ihipmafter who had navigated thofe feas frequently with Mackenzie's charts on board, who did not know almoft in any one cafe how the places where he had been were laid down in thofe charts. When I looked at them and compared the defign with the objects themfelves around, and pointed out the various difcre-pancies, he could not deny that they were very great; vet no man would be more ready than fuch a one to give an unrcferved character of the charts in cafe it fhould be afked of him: For, a man who is confeious of ignorance, is always vain of being confulted in cafes of this kii>d, and is therefore eager to come forward as far as he can, thinking it will tend to make him be confidered as a perfon of great confequence.
I cannot help on this occafion taking notice of a cafe that occurred to mvfelf relating to thefe very charts when I was on my tour, to fhow with what caution anv-one fhould adopt a character of works of this nature from particular men who may even feem to have had good opportunities of being well informed. In my range among the iflands; I fell in with a Gentleman who was eminently diftinguifhed, nor only for his good fenfe, but alfo for his enterprifing lpirit and attention.
Among other topics of conversation, Mackenzie's charts happened to be mentioned.—I afked if be had ever feen them ? He faid he had himfelf a copy of them, and. pointed to one lying on his table.—I afked what opinion he entertained of their accuracy? He faid, a very high one, and launched out greatly in their praife.—I then afked, if ever he had taken particular notice how the places on his own eftate and the neighbourhood, with which he was well acquainted, were laid down in thefc charts ? He faid he had not particularly attended to them.—I then begged he would turn up the maps and look at them, and let me know whether he thought they were juftly laid down or not: which he very readily did; but, to his own feeming afionifhment, he found them inaccurate in almoft every particular, and expreffed a degree of furprife and indignation much greater than I now choofe to exprefs. I make no doubt but if before that hour Mr Mackenzie had defired him to fign an atteftation of the character of his maps drawn up in the ftrongeft terms he could devife, it would have been readily complied with.—It would be well if in cafes of this kind, men in general would compare the places they themfelves perfectly know, with the charts, as they could then judge of their accuracy in thefe refpects with certainty, and from that trial would be enabled to judge of thofe places to which they are ftrangers  Unfortunately for the detection of error, it ufually happens that a man beftows greater attention to thofe parts of a map that he is not acquainted with than to thofe in his own near neighbourhood.
In the thtrd place, it is but very few who fail along a coaft by any particular chart who can have an opportunity of discovering errors even where they exift, and where the obferver is capable of diftinguilhing whatever comes within his own obfervation. It is only from certain points of view that particular errors can be obferved ; and in failing along a coaft, a veffel may Rot chance to be in that particular fituation which 3 F 2
could make very important errors obfcrvable.—In another refpect they arc ftill lefs capable of judging. If funk rocks are wrong placed, unlefs they chance to ftrike on the rock itfelf, they may fail paft it hundreds of times, and never have the fmalleft occafion to difcover the error in that refpect, and confequently will be naturally difpofed to believe the chart is right f. From thefe caules it muy happen that a fhipmafter, who
f One of Mr Mackenzie's attefl.itors fays, ' Thefe are to certify -whom
* it doth or may concern, that Robot Stewart, maflcr of the Lady's Advtn-
* hire, nor any of my Jhip's company, wot ever at Liverpool before, and, ' by the ajfiftaucc of Mr Mackenzie's Draughts, and nothing clfc but God's
* blefling, went clear of every danger.'—Without endcavoni'mg to impeach the accuracy of the chart in queftion, I would only heic obferve, that the fact alledged is by no means a proof of the fact for which it is here ad* duced. It puts me in mind of a fact I had from a Gentleman lately returned from the Levant. He w>s one day put into a port in the Archipelago in a violent gale of wind. A fhort while after the vefTel was moored, another vcfTcl came into port, and dropped anchor along-fide of them. The matter of this laft vefTel, who was a Greek, came oh board and hegged to have a little oil. On enquiring why he was fo urgent to have it, he told it was to light a lamp to fulfil a vow he had made during the dorm. In that diftrefs, without knowing where he was, or what courfe to fleer, he weut and fell down on his knees before a Madona he had on board; and folcmnly delivering up the veflcl to her management, he retired to the cabbin, and left the Madona to take care of it, who faved him from every peril, and brought him fafely into port. 1 prc-fume this fhipmafter ever afterwards would have as implicit faith in the Madcna, as this Gentleman has in the charts, and, for aught that appears by his affidavit, w'.th equal good reafon.
Another in fiance of a fimilar nature happened not many years ago. A velTel weft of the ifland of Jura was attacked with a violent florm during a very daik night, and driven about no. one knew where. During the night, the (hip's company found the vefiel flop in her courfe in a very gentle manner, and remain fixed as if moored in a fafe dock. They waited'for the light with great anxiety; and when it came, they found themfelves in a fafe creek in the innermoft part of the harbour of Crinan. Thus had he come fafe into port. But I queftion much if he would think it advifcable to venture through the whirlpool of Coryvreckan, and among the fmall iflands in that neighbourhood, during a dark ftormy night at another time, A man may have the good fortune to fail fafely through a moft dangerous pafTage without either chart or compafs ; but that affords no proof that he would do well to truft to fuch a mode of navigation in future.
has navigated by an erroneous chart, may in many-cafes have had no occafion to difcover an inaccuracy, particularly with regard to funk rocks; and therefore may believe the chart to be perfectly right.
On this head I beg leave to remark, that there are only two claffes of men who are capable of judging of the accuracy of any charts of thofe coafts ; and unfortunately for the Public thefe two claffes of men are entirely precluded from judging in the prefent cafe. Thefc are the men who frequent thofe feas in herring-buffes, and fmugglers.   With regard to rhe buffes, they muft carry fo many hands on board that one learns from the other the particulars relating to different lochs: the buffes likewife go fo frequently from place to place, they are fo often obliged to lie idle along-fide of feveral others, and have fo much time to converfe with the natives of the place, and have fo much intereft in making themfelves acquainted with the particulars of the different harbours, that it forms a great part of their converfation and mutual enquiries.   In confequence of that, there is fcarcely a funk rock on the coaft, or a fingle particular that can affect the navigation of thofe feas, that fome one or other of thefe bufe-men are not acquainted with. They therefore generally fail without any chart, and often go through dangerous founds in fafety, that few men would venture through with the beft charts that could be drawn ; and not one among a hundred of them ever faw Mr M'Kenzie's charts, and confequently have had no opportunity of discovering or correcting their errors.   Indeed thefe charts are too expenfive for them, and too bulky to admit of being ufed in their fmall veffelsf. Befides, the greateft part of thefe men are fo little acquainted with charts, as to be altogether incapable of judging of them when they look at them. Hence it happens, that
f From this confideration it is evident, that a much fmaller and Jefs expenfive fet of charts of thefe coafts ought to have been publifhed for the benefit of fuch veffels as chiefly frequent thofe feas.
the Public have not been obliged to this clafs of men for their corrections of thefe charts, though, from my own experience, 1 know they are capable of pointing out errors in numberlefs particulars.
"With regard to fmugglers, they go farther. Thefc men in general acquire a knowledge of the coafts in pretty much the lame way with the bufs-owners ; but being better able to pay the country-people on the coaft for their afiiftance, they have the full benefit of all the local knowledge thefe poffefs, on every occafion that they have for it. Thefe men, however, finding it is their intereft that no one Ihould know the coaft fo fully as themfelves, efpecially revenue-cruifers, take all poffible pains to conceal from iuch men any errors in a chart they may chance to difcover, and would voluntarily praife the worft they knew as the belt, if they thought there was a chance that they would be believed. No corrections, therefore, can be expected from fuch men. Yet thefe men at the prefent moment owe a great part of their iuccefs to their knowledge of fafe creeks and fmall harbours which are not fo much as marked in Mackenzie's charts, and to their knowledge of difficult panes where no revenue-veffel dares venture to follow them.
From thefe caufes it happens, that thofe men only are acquainted with Mackenzie's charts who are fo Tittle acquainted with the coaft as to be incapable of judging of their correctnefs j and thofe who could judge of their correctnefs are unacquainted with the maps.—Hence we are able to explain a peculiarity that at firft fight feems a little inexplicable in the pamphlet that gave rife to thefe obfervations. It is, that Mr Mackenzie, when in fearch of atteftations of the goodnefs of his maps at Leith, Liverpool, Port-Glafgow, &c. has met with the greateft fuccefs from the moft diftant places. At Liverpool, he has obtained twenty-three names fubfcribed to his atteftation ; at Leith, twenty: But from the Clyde (where he ufed
much diligence to obtain fubfcriptions, and where I fuppofe there are not, including the prefent navigators and fuperannuated rnafters and pilots, fewer than three or four hundred) he has only been able to obtain fix names to his paper, and not a fingle one from Stornoway or any other place in the Hebrides. I here put the moft favourable construction that can be put on the back-wardnefs of the people who may be naturally fuppofed to be belt acquainted with thofe feas, to atteft the accuracy of thefe maps ; as I am far from wifhing to take any fort of advantage of a man who I am forry to think fhould have been reduced to the difagreeable neceffity of having recourfe to fuch an expedient to fupport his reputation.
I fay nothing of the danger that mankind run of being milled in every cafe where they are to rely on atteftations given by perfons unknown, as this muft occur to every one. Surely no man, therefore, would have recourfe to this mode of eftablifhing a character, while any other lefs exceptionable mode was in his power ; becaufe he muft know, that thofe who arc difpofed to judge unfavourably, might very naturally entertain a fufpicion that names of perfons were there produced who perhaps never exifted, or who, if they do exift, are perhaps of fuch a character as might be brought to fubferibe any-thing that is required of them. It is well known, that the only clafs of men who in general depend upon this mode of eftablifhing their character (Quack Doctors) make no fcruple of practising arts of this kind, and therefore find no difficulty of thus eftablifhing the truth of any point they drive at, were it even a direct impoflibility.—Since then attestations of this nature are liable to fo many objections as that no man who has more regard to character than a Quack Doctor would have recourfe to them, I cannot conceive that any-thing but very great inattention to the cafe, or unavoidable neceffity, could have driven Mr Mackenzie to adopt this mode of exculpation.
To conclude, my engagements to the Public required me to fay that I had found Mr Mackenzie's charts of that part of the coajl 1 had occafion to examine inaccurate. I have condefcended on examples of thefe inaccuracies, not one of which has been in the fmalleft meafure denied by any one perfon who has been called on to give evidence in this cafe; and have farther offered to fubmit the proof of thefe facts to the teft of fair experiment. While that is declined, I conceive that no other anfwer from me is neceffary to any argument he may think proper to adduce.—I am con-fcious here of being in no error; and therefore have no fort of temptation to engage in fcurrility or perfonal abufe. J. A.
APPENDIX, No. X.
Hints for the Civil Police of a Toivn, (sV.
"\T7HERE many men are affembled in one place, dif-orderly perfons will be found who will difturb the fober and induflrious part of the community, unlefs meafures fhall be adopted to prevent it. In projecting any eftablifhment of this nature, it becomes therefore a matter of great importance to devife fuch a fyftem of regulation as may tend in the molt natural and eafy manner to curb the licentious, and to protect the innocent and induftrious part of the community.
And as it is in general more eafy to prevent dif-orders at the beginning, than to eradicate them after they have obtained a firm footing, in every new undertaking, thofe regulations which tend to preferve good order and fobriety, and to encourage patient and per-fevering habits of induftry among the people, fhould be much more attended to than penal ftatutes intended to punifh delinquents after the crime has been committed. When the heart is once corrupted, and when diforderly pafiions have been allowed to take their full
Jippsndlx, No. so. 417
fwing, the fear of future evils, which may poffibly be evaded, is bur too feldom fufficient to reftrain men from indulging their prefent unruly appetites. Severe penal ftatutes thus tend rather to diminifh the numbers of the people, than to reprefs licentioufnefs.
* It is the certainty, not the feverity of punifhment, that moft effectually prevents crimes.' And as punifh-rnents never can be certain but where meafures are adopted for quickly difcovering the perpetrator of every crime, the firft ftudy of one who aims at the moft perfect fyftem of internal police, ihould be to adopt fuch arrangements as are beft calculated to lead directly to a difcovery of the perfon who fhall have been guilty of any enormity. Thefe were the principles which influenced the meafures that will be explained in the courfe of this fhort Effay.
To eftablifh a due fubordination, the inhabitants of-this place fhould be divided into the five following claffes, that is to fay, The poffeffors of houfes in the different ftreets fhall obtain a perpetual property on the following conditions, viz.
Claffes of houfes and order of Citizens.	Inhabiting ftreets of the undermentioned width, viz	Amunl quit-rent for each houfe.	Minimum value of a houfe to be built in two years at farthcth
	Feet.	L. Ih.	1 1..
5 4	20	0 I	2
	40	0 5	5°
3	60	0 10	100
2	80 '	1 0	2CO
1	90	2 0	400
The above-mentioned quit-rents are to be paid by all perfons who inhabit their own houfes; but if the proprietor fhall move from them, and they fhail come to be occupied by a tenant, the rate of quit-rent in every cafe fhall be double the fum it is here rated at.
In the above claffes of citizens, thofe of the fifth or loweft clafs fliall be incapable of being appointed to any 3 G
office, unlefs it be watchmen. Thofe in the other claffes, to be capable of bearing the offices of truft that fhall be afterwards mentioned.
Befides the quit-rents above named, each perfon fhall pay to the public fund, for the purpofe of paving and lighting the ftreets, bringing water, creeling public buildings, paying minifters ftipends and other public ufes, at the following rates, viz. For every houfe which fhall be valued above Two pounds, and not exceeding Fifty, \ per cent, per annum of its value.
From   5cl. and not exceeding jool. \ per cent. From 1001, and not exceeding 2001. \ per cent. From 200I. and not exceeding 4001. £ per cent. From 400I. and not exceeding 6ocl.   per cent. From 6001, to      -      -       800I. £ per cent. From 8col to      -      -      loool.    per cent. And rdl exceeding ioool. to pay 1 per cent, per annum. And fhould it be found neceffary on any extraordinary emergency to levy more public duties, the above fhall ferve as a rule for every other affeffment.
But as it may happen that perfons who were once in indigent circumftances, and in the loweft orders in the community, but afterwards grow better, and become ambitious of entering into higher claffes, it fliall be lawful for any one fo to do without changing his place of abode, only in this cafe, the perfon fo riling into a fuperior clafs, muft pay in to the Treafury of the town, on getting his name inrollcd in the new clafs, one-half the difference of value between the loweft houfe in that clafs he occupies, and the loweft houfe of that clafs into which he enters.   Thus, fup-pofing the loweft value of a houfe in the 5th clafs to be L.2, and that in the 4th clafs L. 50, difference L.48, the half of which is L. 24.   In the fame manner, the difference between the 4th and 3d claffes would be L.25, from the 3d to the 2d would be L. 50, and between the 2d and 1 ft L. 100.
In that cafe, alfo, from the time of his entering into the higher clafs, the houfe he occupies fhall pay the fame rate of quit-rent from that time ever afterwards, as if he had been ranked originally in that clafs. That is to fay, if he occupies the fecond clafs, the quit-rent muft be five fhillings, and fo on of the other.
Any perfon may likewife be admitted into a higher* clafs, by purchafing a lot from thofe who formerly occupied it, and poffeffing it himfelf. But in all cafes a perfon muft have been inrolled in that clafs at leaft one year before he can be eligible into any office peculiarly appropriated to thofe of that clafs.
As very much depends on the inferior magiftrates in an infant fociety, it is neceffary to enlarge more particularly on thefe, than fuch men as have been long ac-cuftomed to a ftate of fociety more advanced would think neceffary.
Hundreds, &c. King Alfred, of all the Legiflators I am acquainted with, feems to have beft underftood the wants of an infant fociety, and to have adopted the moft proper meafures for fupplying thefe wants. According to his plan, the New Town fhould as foon as poffible be divided into hundreds; that is to fay, each contiguous hundred houfes fhould be erected into an inferior diftrict, over whom ihould be appointed an inferior magiftrate, to be chofen from amonii the inhabitants of the hundred it-felf, by a majority of votes of the heads of families in it ; refpect being had in this choice, to thofe who have been remarked for moderation, fobriety, induftry, a ftrict regard to decorum of conduct, and adherence to the principles of morality. The magiftrates fo chofen to be prefented to the Parfon of the parifh, to he by him ordained an Elder of the church, if no valid objection fhould be urged againft him. Thefe elders to he chofen from among the fecond or third clafs of citizens, and none higher, and to be all perfons who ac-3 G 2
tually refide in the feveral hundreds they refpectively are chofen for. Ten of thefe hundreds (or more or fewer according to the extent of the places) to be erected into a ward; each ward to conftitute a parifh. Each parifh to be governed, in as far as concerns religious affairs, by a parfon and thefe elders, as is at prefent uni-verfally practifed in the Church of Scotland.
The elders, together with the parfon, fhould have the folc executive management of the poor's funds ; as experience has clearly proved, that no other method can be devifed that can be better calculated both for discovering the wants of real objects of charity, and for detecting the irtipofitions of others: For, as each elder, by living among the people, can know the wants and fituation of every individual within his own hundred, he could therefore judge with propriety where any fupplies were wanted, and know the extent of fupply that the cafe demanded. They fhould alfo be vefted with a kind of cenforeal authority, being required to have an eye upon the regularity of conduct of the feveral families among the poorer clafs of people within their ltfpcctive diftricts.to the employment they followed,and the means of fubfifting their families. In confequence of this knowledge, they would be enabled, in cafes of any enormity being committed within their diftrict, to aflift the civil magiftrate in difcovering thofe who were moft likely to have committed the action. The good effects that refult from fuch an inftitution, can only be known by thofe who have had an opportunity of living in fome of the country-parifhes in Scotland.
But, as too much care can never be taken to guard againft abufes in the management of public funds, the elders, in all their intromifnons with the poor's money, Ihould be accountable to the community at large. For this purpole, all their tranfactions fhould be regularly minuted in a book, which fhould be open to the inspection of any houfeholder in the parifh when he chofe to call for it (upon paying a fmall fee to the
parifh-clerk) : But as experience fhows that when no particular member of the community is fpecially called upon to perform a certain duty, it is in time entirely neglected ; to guard againft this evil, a meeting of the inhabitants fhould be appointed to be held on a certain day each year, .for the exprefs purpofe of choofing from among themfelves three fober difcreet perfons to act: as auditors of the poor's accounts, who fhould examine thefe accounts with care, being empowered to call for fuch vouchers as they may deem neceffary, and after due attention had, either to pafs the accounts, or refufe to do fo as they faw caufe. Their power to expire after a certain limited day, when another meeting fhall be held to receive their report, where they fhall explain the reafons of their conduct, that the parifh may in that cafe judge what is proper to be done with regard to that bufinefs.
And that thefe auditors may not perform their bufinefs flightly, let it be farther provided, That if any individual fhall difcover that they have been guilty of culpable neglect, he may fue them before the Court of Aldermen, (to be afterwards explained) where, if they be convicted of culpable negligence, they may be fined to that amount the jury fliall think proper to award. The right of profecution in this cafe to pro-fcribe in three months from the day of their having paffed thefe accounts.
Many perfons will judge thefe regulations trivial; but thofe who have obferved the abufes which have gradually crept into the management of the poor's funds in England, the difficulty of now correcting thefe abufes, and the mifchievous confequences that flow from them, will allow that it is a matter of no fmall importance to attempt to guard againft fuch evils.
An elder, when once ordained, may be continued for life; but as his influence in fociety would be much diminifhed fhould he ever become unpopular in the dif-charge of his oflice, it ihould be appointed, that at the
meeting when the auditors accounts arc patted annually, a new nomination of the elders fhould take place, when the former elders fhould be continued, unlefs it fhould appear that thiee-fourths of the heads of families prefent fhall • j(,ct to it; in which cafe he fhall be difcontinued, and another elected in his ftead.
At all thefe meetings relating to parifh.-bufinefs, the Parfon fhall act a.-: Prefcs if prefent •, and, in hisabfence, the Warden, (to be afterwards mentioned)\ or in the ab-fenceof both, any other refpecbtble perfon the meeting fhall choofe : and on every queftion, when the Prefes declares his opinion of the way in which the queftion is carried, it fhall be as he fays, if no perfon prefent requires a ballot: but if any individual calls for it, the point fhall be immediately afcertaincd by ballot in the manner that lhall be afterwards defcribed.
Thus much for church government and the management of the poors funds. We now proceed to confider other matters of police.
Regulations for Public Houfes, Sec.
As diforders in fociety ufually originate in riotous living, idlenefs, intemperance, and debauchery, every method that can be devifed for repreffing thefe in a beginning fociety fhould be adopted. Luckily, from the circumftances in which men ufually find themfelves placed when a new city is founded, it may be then much more eafily effected than it could be after riches had introduced extravagance and diflipation.
The firft ftep towards the repreffing thefe diforders, is to guard againft the abufe of houfes of public entertainment. With that view, a municipal law ought to be made, that no perfon fhould be authorifed to take up a houfe of public entertainment without having firft obtained a licence from the Lord Mayor and Council for that purpofe, with the concurrence of the inhabitants of the ward in which it was to be eftablifhed.   Nor fhould it be lawful for the Lord Mayor
to grant that licence but in confequence of a petition prefented for that purpofe, and backed with a letter from at leaft fix refpeclable citizens offering to become bound to the extent of one hundred pounds Sterling for the good behaviour of the perfon fo claiming. It fhould alfo be required, that before this licence could be granted, the petition fhould be pafted up in the molt public places of the town, or otherwife publicly advertifed, for at leaft fix weeks before the prayer of it could be complied with, that all concerned might know of it, and make objections if they faw fit.   Thefe forms being duly complied with, and no reafonable objections being made, the licence fhould be granted: but always under this exprefs condition, that if at any future period it fhould appear that at a public meeting of the ward called for that pur-'pofe, two-thirds of the mafters of families fhould vote for that licence being withdrawn, the Lord Mayor, on this vote being duly intimated to him, fhould be obliged to revoke the licence, and give the publican warning to give up that bufinefs, or remove from thence at the next cuftomary term of removal that fhould happen, at leaft three months after fuch intimation had been given him.    Magiftrates may fometimes favour disorderly perfons from particular motives : it is therefore fit that the body of the people ihould have it in their power, when they found it neceffary, to remove a nuifance from among themfelves whenever they found it become intolerable.
"With a view alfo to increafe the revenue of the town without giving occafion to fmuggling, and in fome mealure to encourage people to live regularly at home, inftead of granting a power to the magiftrates to levy an import; upon liquors when brought into town, as is fometimes practifed; they fhould be authorifed to exact from every perfon who kept a houfe of public entertainment, the fum of per annum, from all thofe who cxercifed the bufinefs of a vintner, that is,
for thofe who fold wine, and half that fum from thofe who only fold other liquors. They fhould likewife be all bound to adhere to the other regulations of police that fhould be made reflecting thofe who exercifed this bufinefs.
Among thofe regulations, befides keeping an order-* ly houfe, and difcountenancing riotous perfons in intemperate drinking, (with which view care fhould t>e taken at the beginning to introduce the practice univer-fally, to charge all articles of food, fuel, lights, lodging, and in fhort every article of expence feparately, as well as drink), every inn-keeper fhould be required to keep a regular journal of the arrival and departure of all ftrangers at his inn, under the penalty of forfeiting twenty (hillings for every omiffion that fhould be difcovered in this refpect. In this journal fhould be fpecified the name, apparent fex, age, and other ob-fervable particulars of the ftranger. This journal fhould be delivered at the end of each year into the Warden's office, there to be preferved from deftruc-tion. He fhould likewife be bound under the like ^penalty, to fend notice in writing to the Warden's office, of the arrival of fuch ftrangers, within three hours at fartheft, if fuch arrival was between fix o'clock in the evening and fix in the morning; or before ten o'clock in the morning after, if the arrival was between fix o'clock at night and fix in the morning, together with the name, &c. of the ftranger: and the fame with regard to their departure. This to be entered into a regifter to be kept by the Warden for that purpofe, under the title of The REGISTER of STRANGERS.
No houfeholder fhould be allowed to let lodgings for hire without firft giving intimation to the Warden (whofe office will be more fully explained below) their intention fo to do, who, upon fuch requifition made, accompanied with a letter of recommendation and cautionry from at leaft one refpectable houfe-holder, fhall be obliged to fend a particular lieenfing ticket, to
be placed above the door of the houfe. And all houfeholders acting in this capacity Ihould become oound, under certain penalties, within the fame fpacc after entering any new lodger as fpecified for the inn-keepers> to fend notice in writing to the Warden's office, of fuch entry, fpecifying the name, &c. of the lodger; and the fame intimation to be given on their leaving it, even were it but for one night. Thefe particulars to be entered into a feparate journal appropriated for this ufe, under the title of REGISTER of LODGERS.
Perfons exercifing the office of pawnbrokers, fhould either be totally forbid, or put under very particular regulations; as thofe who follow that bufinefs too often prove the means of encouraging a fpirit of extravagance and diffipation at leaft, if not of theft. All dealers in fecond-hand goods fhould alfo be put under ftrict regulations, as encouragers of pilfering by fer-vants in fmall articles. Perhaps the beft way of regulating all thefe employments, would be to require that each perfon exercifing any of them, fhould firft obtain a licence for that purpofe from the Lord Mayor, in the manner prefcribed for innkeepers, &c. But in particular, that this licence fhould be revokable at any time that a majority of houfeholders in a wardmote fhould vote for fuch revocation : For, it often happens that perfons in the neighbourhood may have good reafon to know of irregularities and improprieties of conduct in matters of this fort, when no legal proof could be brought of any acts of direct theft. And when perfons of that character knew that they were liable to this kind of punifhment, in confequence of acting fo as to give room for fufpicions being entertained of them, they would naturally be much more on their guard againft deviating from the right path, than they might have been had they been lefs liable to feel the effects 06 any impropriety of conduct. In the licences fhould be exprefsly fpecified each individual article in which
3H
the perfon obtaining it was permitted to deal. Too many precautions cannot be taken to guard againft the evils originating from this clafs of people.
No burgeon or phyfician ihould be allowed to prac-tife there without having previoufly obtained a licence from the Lord Mayor, after undergoing the lame forms as for an innkeeper. To render acceis to quacks and irregular practitioners in phyfic a matter of fome difficulty, is of much importance to the community.
Every furgeon, on getting fuch licence, fhould become bound, under a fevere penalty, to enter into a Regifter, the name, &c. of each perfon he had occafion to drefs, having received any wound or contufion, fpecifying fhortly the nature of the wound, and manner in which it was faid to be received. This Regifter to be delivered once a-year into the Court of Wards, there to be locked up and fealed by the Lord Mayor's feal, without being examined or afterwards looked into, unlefs'by public order of the Lord Mayor and Council, when it might be judged neceffary to confult thefe Regifters with a view to lead to the difcovery of fome fecret murder or other attrocious deed. Surgeons fhould be likewife farther bound to come before the Lord Mayor at any time that particular emergencies might make it neceffary for the Lord Mayor in Council to iffue a public order for that purpofe, and bring thefe journals with them up to the prefent day, that they might be then, if neceffary, examined for the purpofe above fpecified.
Watchmen or Conflablcs. As thefts, robberies, and domeftic difturbances always take their rife from perfons being permitted to llroll abroad too freely during the night-time, the plan of the town fhould be particularly calculated to guard againft this evil. "With that view, all thofe ftreets peculiarly appropriated to the refidence of the
lower claffes of the people, Ihould be fo contrived as to be fhut up each night with doors; thefe to be clofed, precifely at ten o'clock, and not to be opened before five in the morning in winter, or when it becomes light at an earlier hour at other feafons, unlefs under the precautions and exceptions that fhail be hereafter mentioned, or in cafe of fire or any other extraordinary incident. With the fame intent alfo, the town fhould be fo contrived that no accefs can be had from one ward to another between the hours of ten and five, &c. as aforefaid, but by pafling through a gate which muft be exprefsly opened for the purpofe, with the following precautions:—
At each of thefc bars (for fo I choofe to diftinguifh thofe gates that feparate one ward from another) fhall be placed two watchmen, who fhall be entitled to require from each perfon who pafTes between the hours aforefaid, one penny. They fhall farther be required, under the penalty of forfeiting their office, to enter in a Journal the name, &c. of every perfon who paffes, if a refidenter in the city. If a ftranger, not only the name, but fuch other obvious peculiarities of appearance as ftrike them at the time, and the hour when they pafied. This lift to be given in to the Warden's office every morning, to be there entered into a particular book called the REGISTER of STROLLERS.— It is obvious that fuch regifters would effectually tend to the difcovery of any pei (on who had been guilty of any crime in one place, and wifhed to make an efcape. It would alfo prove a check to irregular ftrolling about, and nocturnal vifiting, efpecially among the lower claffes of the people ; and would give the magiftrates an idea of thofe whofe conduct was irregular, and enable them to know fuch as had occafion to be particularly looked after. The fmall gates to be opened with the fame precautions, and the fame gratuity demanded, unlefs in cafes of neceffity, fuch as going for a phyfician or midlife, or particular bufinefs that did not admit of delay. 3 H 2
In thefe cafes, for the reafons given, which fhould be entered in the Journal, they ought to be allowed to pafs free, and the fame at the bars.
Thefe would appear grievous reftraints to the members of a fociety far advanced in refinement. For fuch they are not intended.—But it may be obferved, that to people in a genteel line, this would be but a fmall re-ftraint if the town was properly laid out, as they would be allowed to pafs freely through every part of the fame ward at all hours ; and thefe wards might be fo contrived, particularly in the middle ward intended as the chief refidence of people in the higheft ftation, that they might go feveral miles without meeting the fmalleft interruption. This, therefore, would not prove fo very troublefome as it appears to be at firft fight.
Befides the watchmen at the bars and gates, two other watchmen in company fhould go the rounds of each ward at' twelve o'clock at night; and wherever they found a houfe with the perfons not yet in bed, mark it in their Journal, efpecially if they were riotous, particularly in public houfes. They fhould go their rounds once more at two, and again at four o'clock in the morning, marking every appearance of irregularity. This lift or journal alfo to be tranfmitted in the morning to the Warden's office, to be entered in a particular book under the title of REGISTER of DISORDERLY FAMILIES.
As very much would depend upon the integrity and difcretion of the watchmen, care Ihould be taken to have that office filled by men of manly difpofitions and refpedtable manners, though in a low ftation. To obtain room for choice in this refpect, the emoluments of the office fhould be confiderable. Each watchman Ihould have a neat comfortable dwelling-houfe affigned to him by the Public, free of rent; and fhould befides have fuch a falary as with the dues of office would make it coveted by many. His office fhould be during pleafure; but he fhould not be amovable but by a
public vote of a majority of houfeholders in the ward, in which he ferved. In cafe of a vacancy ip that office, each candidate fhould produce a recommendation figned by at leaft twelve refpectable houfeholders, at-tefting that in their opinion he would properly discharge the duties of the office, and coming bound for his good behaviour to the extent of fifty pounds. He fhould be admitted by a majority of votes at a public meeting of the ward fpecially called for that purpofe.
In confequence of thefe regulations, the Warden would at all times have it in his power to form a tolerable judgment of the general conduct of every perfon in his own ward, and to know with much probability who were the perfons who committed any diforders therein.
It would perhaps be an improvement on this fyftem of police, to adopt one other of Alfred's inftitutions, but this I beg leave only to fuggeft as doubtful, viz. to oblige the Ward to make up all loffes fuftained by robbery or theft within the ward. The perfon complaining of fuch theft or robbery, to bring proof of their lofs to the fatisfaction of a jury, who fhall in all cafes afcertain the value of the articles abftra&ed. This jury to confift of neighbours, but not inhabitants of the ward affected. The payment of thefe loffes to be raifed by an affeffment on the ward, which fhall be apportioned according to the per centage on houfes as above explained. In this cafe, each watchman fhould be affeffed as high as the higheft clafs of the citizens, and the Warden at twice that rate in cafe the thief or robber was not difcovered and apprehended j but if the thief or robber was apprehended by their diligent exertions, the watchmen and warden fhould each receive as a gratuity from the Ward, a fum equal to double that they would have been obliged to pay reflectively if the thief had efcaped. By this regulation it would become the immediate intereft of every individual to look fharply after irregular perfons, particu-
43°- Appendix, No, to.
larly that of the watchmen and wardens, who, by virtue of their office, would be poffeffcd of the means that would in molt cafes lead to a difcovery if attention and care fhould be bellowed.
A mode likewife might be devifed for making the inhabitants of each ward the infurers of each other's property from loffes by fire. But this I only hint at in this place as a probable means of diminifhing the evils that attend loffes by fire in cafes where each individual is left at liberty to infure or not as he thinks fit.   It deferves to be attended to.
Wardens.
From what has been faid it will appear, that the office of Warden is, on this fyftem, an office of very great importance to the well-being of the community ; and therefore great care fhould be taken that it fhould at all times be held by a perfon properly qualified for exercifing that important charge. On every vacancy, therefore, the Court of Aldermen (to be afterwards mentioned) fhould be required to prefent three refpedt-able perfons at leaft as properly qualified for difcharging the duties of that office, who fhould all be chofen from among the three higheft claffes of citizens in the ward where the vacancy happened, none of them to be under twenty-five years of age. Thefe candidates to be fucceffively voted for at a public wardmote, and that candidate declared to be duly elected who fhall obtain the greateft number of votes.
But as it might poffibly happen that a perfon might be appointed to that office who afterwards became dif-agreeable to the greateft part of the people, it fhould be in the power of thefe people to exclude that perfon, or to expel him from that office at any time they fhould fee caufe. For this purpofe, let it be provided that a wardmote fhould be held regularly once a-year on a ftated day, for the exprefs purpofe of confirming or rejecting the Warden.   In that cafe, a vote fhould firft-
be put, CONFIRM, which fhould be done by a holding up of hands by as many as approve of it; and after a proper interval, another vote fliould be propofed, REJECT, which fhould in like manner be denoted by holding up of hands by as many as approve of it. The Chairman fhall then declare what he takes to be the ftate of the vote ; and if none object to his deciGon, it fliall be confidered as final. But if any perfon objects to it, he fhall immediately give order for it to be afcertained by ballot. The manner of conducting the ballot to be in this and in every other cafe as afterwards fpecified.
The Warden fhould be ex officio a Juftice of the Peace, and fhould take cognifance of all breaches of the Peace, or trefpaffes againft the rules of police that happened within the bounds of his ward. For this purpofe, a Court fhould be held every morning at a ftated hour, Sundays excepted, by himfelf or depute, within the ward, to hear and fummarily to decide on all caufes cognifable by that court. From this decifion a right of appeal fliall lie to the General Court of Wards, which is a Court that fhould be held twice a-week, where all the Wardens of the city fhould fit themfelves as Judges, and, by a plurality of votes, fummarily decide on the different caufes that thus come before them. From the fentence of this Court alfo fhould lie a right of appeal to the Court of Aldermen, to be afterwards fpecially mentioned.
In the General Court of Wards fliall be lodged at the end of each year, all the different regifters formerly mentioned, the regifter of the whole wards in the town of the fame clafs being bound up together, and a general index then made out for the whofe, to affift in making a fearch at any future period for any particular purpofe that may be wanted.
Dean of Guild. This Magiflrate to have the fuperintendance of all matters relating to the prefervation of the public pro-
pcrty from encroachments, buildings, weights, meafures, markets, provifions, &c. to be chofen for life (with a power of removal by ballot if judged expedient) from one of the three higheft orders of the citizens.— —Other inferior magiftrates may be
Trades Counfellcr. This Magiftrate fhould be chofen once a-year (with a power of continuation or rejection as in the cafe of the warden) by the tradefmen of the town, from among themfelves, being one who ranks in one or other of the four higheft orders of citizens. His bufinefs is to judge in all cafes between tradefmen and others relating to their bufinefs. In this Court lhall be re-giftered all indentures between tradefmen and their apprentices.
Merchant Counfellor. To be chofen by merchants from among themfelves as above, with a power of continuation or rejection as the others.   He fhall take cognifance of all difputes belonging to mercantile affairs.
Superintendant of Fiferles.
To be chofen from among thofe concerned in the fifheries, with power of continuation, &c. as the others. He (hall take cognifance of all difputes relating to that bufinefs, and maritime affairs.
Each of thefe magiftrates fhall hold Courts twice a-week for hearing caufes that come under their re-fpective jurifdidtions, and fhall in all cafes decide fummarily on the viva voce evidence produced by the parties, without the neceffary intervention of lawyers of any kind. From their fentence, in all cafes, fhall lie a right of appeal to the Court of Aldermen, where the caufe may undergo a more folemn review, and be determined by the fentence of a jury. But in all cafes of appeal from inferior courts to the Court of Aldermen,
h (hill be admitted as a rule of Court, that the appellant fhall pay the whole cofts of fuit incurred by both parties in confequence of the appeal, unlefs the jury fliall think proper fpecially to decree otherwife.
Aldermen.
In each ward fhall be chofen one perfon under the title of Alderman. This perfon to be chofen by a majority of votes at a wardmote to be called for that purpofe on every vacancy. The candidate for this office muft refide within the ward, muft be at leaft forty years of age, and be chofen from one or other of the two higheft claffes of citizens, and ought to be refpect-able for regularity of manners and decency of conduct. When chofen, he fhall be continued for life, unlefs he he rejected by a vote at a wardmote fpecially called for that purpofe, at which three-fourths of the votes are againft him ; nor fliall fuch wardmote be fummoned unlefs it be required by a letter to the Conveener of the ward, figned by at leaft fifty houfeholders fpecifying the bufinefs for which it is called.
The Aldermen fhall hold a Court of Appeal once a week, to which caufes may be brought from the inferior courts before fpecified, where they fhall undergo a folemn difcuffion, and a fentence be awarded in all cafes by the majority of votes in a jury of twelve men (the foreman in cafe of equality having a double voice). The Court may in all cafes where they fee caufe, admit of a new trial by granting a writ of error; but where this is refufed, the award of the jury fliall be final in every cafe where the matter litigated does not exceed one hundred pounds. In matters of greater value, a right of appeal may lie to the Houfe of Peers.
In matters df fmall value it is of great importance that juflice fhould be fpeedily obtained at as little ex-pence as poflible: with that view the inferior courts before mentioned have been thought of.   Cut as it is 3 I
poflible that abufes might in fome cafes be introduced* by fummary decifions, were it a matter of great difficulty to correct thefe errors, it was judged expedient to inftitute the Superior Court now treated of; and under the reftridYions already mentioned, it is imagined that juftice would be there adminiftered with as much cafe, expedition, and impartiality, aa by any fyftem that has hitherto been devifed. The only objection to the trial by jury, which is the expence, might thus be avoided in all but important cafes; and the chief inconvenience it occalions, the trouble to jurors, would be in a great meafure obviated, as trials of this kind would be much lefs frequent than would otherways happen.
Befides their office as Judges, the Aldermen fhould be ex officio members of the Lord Mayor's council, and as fuch affift at all deliberations in which the intereft of the Public is concerned.
Lord Mayor.
This magiftrate to be chofen by a majority of votes at a common-hall, or by ballot if the ihew of hands be difputed. This election to be annual ; nor fhall it be lawful to continue the fame perfon more than two years running. The only perfons entitled to exercife this office, are thofe who are or have been of the Council, or if not of the Council, are of the higheft order of the citizens only.
The Lord Mayor fhall in all cafes prtfide in Council, and lhall iffue all orders relating to public improvements and the expenditure of the ordinary revenues of. the Town which are authorifed by the Council. But in cafe any public work of evident utility fhould be approved of by the Lord Mayor and Council, which exceeds the ordinary revenues of the Town, no new impofition fhall be laid on the Public, but with the following formalities That is to fay, unlefs it is ap-proven of by at leaft two-thirds of the Council, the
propofition fhall there ftop entirely. But if it firft pafs in the Council by fo great a majority, the propofal, with the reafons for adopting it, fhall then be printed and pubiifhed, that all concerned may have an opportunity of confidering the cafe with attention. At the end of three months from the day of this publication, a Common-hall fhall be fummoned for the purpofe of taking the opinion of the heads of families, at which the matter fhall be propofed ; and if upon a fhew of hands it appears doubtful, it fliall be determined by ballot in the ufual way. If it appears by the ballot that a majority of the people approve of it, it fhall be adopted, or if otherwife rejected ; nor lhall it after being thus rejected be carried into effect, unlefs by an Act of the Britifh Legiflature, which may be applied for if it fhall be judged neceffary. In all cafes the affeffment to be made according to the rule already fpecified.—It is a misfortune in many cafes that nothing lefs than an Act of the Britifh Legrflarure can compel a few refractory members of the community to agree to meafures of evident public utility ; by which means many improvements which do not admit of the ex-pence of procuring an Act of Parliament are. entirely flopped. The meafure here propofed would remove this evil without being attended with any inconveniency. The members of the Council being in general men of confiderable property, who would be deeply affected by any aifeffment, they would in the firft place guard againft any improper meafure being carried there; and unlefs the propofal was obvioufly beneficial, a majority of the ordinary inhabitants never could be brought to adopt it.
Many rules might be adopted for conftituting the Council, to which few objections could be made. The following might in this cafe perhaps be attended with few inconveniences.—
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Lord Mayor, Prefidcnt. f Old Lord Mayor Aldermen: chofen for life,but removable by ballot Wardens : removable when thought expedient by
the people, but alfo retainable for life Dean of Guild : ditto Trades Counfellor : ditto Merchant Counfellor : ditto Superintendant of Fifheries : ditto Conveeners of the feveral wards : to be chofen
' annually Conveener of Trades: ditto Convcener of the Company of Fifhers : ditto City Treafurer: to be chofen annually, though
continuable for life if thought expedient Engineer, or Mafter of public works : ditto Recorder, or City Lawyer : ditto * City Clerk, to act as clerk of Council alfo: chofen for life, but removable by ballot if thought L neceflary.
Our bounds here do not admit of taking into confideration the revenues of the Town. By.the plan propofed, they would be confiderable ; and as in that cafe there is always room to fear that the public money may be improperly expended, it is of much importance that this fhould be guarded againft with care.   It fhould be a rule that the whole of the revenue nearly ihould be expended upon public works of one kind or other within each year, unlefs where it lhall be otherwife fpecially appropriated by a by-law enacted for a particular purpofe fpecified, paffed in the form above de-fcribed ; for nothing is of more hurtful tendency than^ a fpirit of hoarding in a community, as the money thus accumulated, inftead of benefiting the community for whofe ufe alone it is obtained, ferves only to debauch the minds of'future magiftrates.   At the end of each
year, at a public common-hall appointed for that purpofe, three men lhall be nominated by a majority of votes by ballot, to act as auditors of the public accounts, with a falary of for that bufinefs. Thefe auditors fhall carefully examine every article of the accounts, and be authorifed to call for fuch vouchers and other evidence as they may judge proper, and fhall digeft the whole into a regular form, which fhall be printed and publifhed each year, and fold at a moderate price, that every individual may have an opportunity of confidering deliberately and comparing with former accounts particulars that fo nearly intereft the whole ; and if from the report of the auditors any malverfation fhall appear, the perfon who has been guilty of it fhall be called on to make his defence, which he fhall be permitted to do before a Common-hall by counfel or otherwife ; and after hearing parties, the decifion fhall be made by a vote by ballot of the community at large, which may be of three kinds } either a reprimand, or difmiffion from office, or a fine according to their idea of the nature of the offence. A fimple majority fhall acquit. ■>
Order of Balloting.
In this, and in all other cafes where a ballot is required, the following order fhall be ftricfly obferved : After the Prefes of the meeting has declared his fenfe of the majority by a fhew of hands, if a ballot be called for, it fhall be immediately ordered, and thus conducted.
Each ward fliall be inrolled according to feniority of fettlement; and every ward, it has been already faid, is divided into hundreds. Each hundred to be claffed in the ward-rolls in a regular progreffion, which lhall never afterwards be altered, according to feniority of fettlement, being numbered as Hundred N° 1. N° 2. N° 3. Nu 4. and fo on. The individual houfeholders m each hundred alfo fhall have their names regularly inrolled according to the original feniority of their
occupancy. To avoid all manner of confufion, therefore, on every cafe where a ballot is required, the names in the roll /halt be regularly called over, beginning, at a eommon-hall, (where all the wards are concerned), with the firft ward in the roll, and proceeding regularly through all the others according to the order of their inrolment. In each ward, alfo, the hundred firft upon the roll fhall be firft caled, and they fhall proceed forward in a regular order. By this means each individual can know with tolerable eafe, at what time his name will be called for; fo that he may have an opportunity of giving his vote without lofing much time.
Things being thus arranged, each perfon, when his name is called over, muft, if he means to give a vote, anfwer to his name, and come forward to a perfon appointed for diftributing the balloting balls, who fhall give to each perfon as he comes forward, one ball for that purpofe properly contrived to guard againft counterfeits. The perfon receiving that ball fhall proceed immediately forward into a fmall apartment appropriated to that ufe, in which, for ordinary oc-cafions, fhall be placed two boxes in a confpicuous place, one painted white, and inferibed APPROVE; the other painted black, and inferibed REJECT ; into one or the other of which, as he inclines, he fhall drop his ball without being feen by any one, and proceed directly forward, and go out of the apartment at a door right oppofite to that at which he entered : the doors being fo contrived as to open and clofe both together ; fo that when he opens the one door to go out, the perfon who fucceeds him enters at the door behind him, and fo on till the whole ballot be clofed, if it can be done in one day. At the clofe of the ballot, if it be finifhed at one meeting, or at the end of each day's ballot if it lafts longer, the perfon who diltributes the balloting balls fhall be firft ordered to declare how many have been diftributed.—Then the approving box fliall be opened, and the balls found in k numbered
over in prefence of the Chairman, and marked publicly in the Regifter.—The rejecting balls fhall in like manner be numbered over, and marked alfo in the Regifter: And on humming up thefe two, if the numbers corre-fpond with thofe diftributed, no farther enquiry is neceffary : but if the number of balls in the two boxes lhall exceed the number that were diftributed, it proves that fome perfon has intended to act unfairly, and has put in fome counterfeit balls to ferve a particular purpofe. In that cafe, therefore, it will become neceffary to examine all the balls, that the counterfeits may be picked out and rejected, and the true ftate of the vote thus afcertained. It was with a view to prevent counterfeits that the ball is only given immediately before it is to be ufed ; and for the fame purpofe, at each time thefe are employed, a particular fecret mark fhould be ufed, or a different kind of ball, fo that it might be thus rendered a very difficult matter to get counterfeits ready for the occafion.
By this mode of procedure every perfon would be at all times at liberty to give his vote with freedom without fear of difobliging any-one ; as no perfon could know which way any individual had given his vote. It would likewife difcourage all attempts to obtain votes by means of bribery or other undue influence, as they could have no fecurity that after this had been done the votes would be given according to their wifh.
All queftions in every cafe where votes are mentioned in regard to this community, to be determined exactly after the manner here prefcribed : Firft by a fhew of hands, apd then by a ballot if neceffary. In a cafe where feveral candidates are competitors, there fhall be no other difference; but that inftead of two boxes, there fhall be placed one for each competitor, with his name inferibed above it in legible characters. The boxes alfo fhall be painted in different colours, which fhall be publicly declared in the hall, to direct thofe (if any) who may not be able to read.
In regard to the particular vote to the condemnation or acquittal of the magiftrates, there mall be placed in the balloting-chambcr four boxes, one ACQUIT, one REPRIMAND, one DISMISS, and one FINE; in which laft cafe difmiffion ihould always be included, and in this laft cafe alfo the amount of the fine fliall be afecrtained by a Jury before the Court of Aldermen. In all cafes where a cenfure is paffed on any-one, it fhall imply a legal difability from being again elected into any department of the magiftracy.
The above I conceive to be the particulars of moft effential utility to be attended to in the fyftem of police for a town calculated to preferve a due fubordination to the law, and to guard againft crimes without infringing on the liberty of the fubject. To enter into farther details concerning the minutix refpedting the magiftracy, would lead to too great a length for this place, and therefore are omitted.
I fhall only fubjoin a fhort defcription of a fketch of a plan of a Town, adapted for carrying the above-mentioned regulations into effect.
Explanation of the Plan for a Town. In the ground-plan of a town, part of which is delineated on the plate fronting page 442, it is divided into four principal divifions, ABC and D, which for diftindtion's fake fhall here be called WARDS. The Ward A is delineated entire, B being exactly its fellow. The Wards C and D are in like manner fellows, one half of each only being here reprefented. Each Ward is divided in the middle by one ftreet (E E E E, 8s feet wide) paffing directly through it. From that ftreet branch off at right angles, two other ftreets F F F F, &c. 80 feet broad alfo : And from thefe again branch off other ftreets, viz. G G of 60 feet, H H ftreets of 40 feet, and i ftreets of 20 feet wide each.—There are likewife narrow lanes K of eight feet broad each, to
App.
cndlx, No. 10. 441
afford ready communication at times with other ftreets, as lhall be afterwards mentioned. Between the wards A and B is a range of market-places, 1, 2, 3, &c. each feparate market confining of a quadrangular open court furrcunded by a range of covered Halls, the wi.ole forming only one range of buildings all of one uniform ftructure, which could not be here reprefented. Round each quadrangle runs a walk of twelve feet wide paved w:th fiat frec-ftone, and covered; on each fide of which ■is a range of flails, fomewhat on the fame plan with that of the market-place of Leeds. This walk runs along each fide without interruption, and communicates frpm fide to fide by means of the crofs diviiions. By this means, a perfon once in this market-place, can go through the whole without ever being in the leaffc expofed to the weather. The frails communicate with the inner courts, to which commodities for the market are brought in carts or waggons, and thus conveyed to the ftalls without incommoding the purchafers. 'Ihefe markets may be thus arranged:
1. Fruit market 7. Bacon and Pork market
2. Poultry ditto 8. Trype ditto.
3. Veal do. 9. Greens do.
4. Beef do. 10. Roots do.
5. Beef do. 11. Meal and Corn do.
6. Mutton do.
Round the four wards here reprefented, runs a ftreet L L, &c. of 90 feet broad, which communicates with the principal ftreet M M leading to the centrical area. In the middle is the parade or public place of exchange P, confining of a quadrangular platform, which is railed two fleps above the level of the common ftreet, and confifts of fl it pavement. In the centre is an oc-togonal ftructure confifling of eight columns furround-ing a central tower, the columns fupporting a flat roof to afford fhelter from rain, and the central tower terminating in a fpire.   On one fide of the parade,
3 K
is a large public building O; the under part of that front of it which looks to the parade being formed into piazzas, affording a covered walk ; and within, on the level of the floor, a coffechoufe for the cafe of tranf-acting bufinefs. The upper parts of the building form the Town-hall and public offices. Fronting this ftructure, is an open area properly railed in, with a ftreet and houfes on each fide.
The dark-fhaded circular line with thofe adjoining to it at either end rcprcfent a double range of (hops with a covered walk in the middle, fome idea of which may be obtained by infpection of the plan ; the covered walk in the centre, and the paffages from fide to fide, being marked by dotted lines. On each fide of this range of fhops is an open ftreet, and .It each end is a church, (one end only is feen, the other being fuppofed exactly fimilar to it). This middle range of buildings rifes no higher than the height of one fhop. The whole range being built in one uniform manner, with large elegant windows, and terminated at top by a cornice and bal-luftrade. The roof of each fhop flat arched, and the whole covered with a ftone pavement. To this there are ftairs for attending and descending at'proper di-ftances, which could not be reprefented on account of the fmallnefs of the fcale ; fo that it forms an elegant parade in the middle of the ftreet, [the breadth of which is, the open ftreet on each fide the fhops, 70 feet, the breadth of the double range of fhops, with the walk in the middle 72, fo that the whole diftance from fide to fide of this ftreet is 212 feet], the moft elegant houfes being in this ftreet on each fide of it. The fmallnefs of the fcale, and the want of elevations, render it impoffible here to give a proper idea of it. In the round towers terminating the two points of the circus, are ftairs for afcending and defcending. Thefc towers rife to a confiderable height, forming at a diftance wings to the Town-hall. N N, &c are the Bars formerly mentioned that divide the wards from
9366^8448689714250^01825877673
7P
each other, which are fhut at night. The ftreets L L L L, &c. which are fuppofed to furround the other four wards, together with the ftreets M M, the circular area and parade, form another Ward fhut up from a communication with the country by the bars Qj^&c. and from the other Wards by the bars N N. Oppofite to the bars N N, adjoining to the ftreet M, a covered gateway for carriages goes through the row of fhops, and another at the fide of the circular area, both denoted by dotted lines.
The public buildings might be placed fronting the end of each ftreet, which would fhew them to great advantage.
D
All the other parts of this Plan may be underftood by inflection, (See the Plate). Only it is to be obferved, that on account of the fmallnefs of the fcale, the Engraver has not been able to preferve the exact proportions of the feveral ftreets^ &c. for which the Reader will make a proper allowance.
APPENDIX, No. XI.
AN ACCOUNT of all Herrings and Cod exported from Scotland; as alfo of all the Monies paid in Scotland for tbe Encouragement of the Britlfj Herring and Cod Fifoerles^ from the Tear 1750/0 1782, dlflinguijhlng each Tear.
Total. 4031
HERRINGS.
Rod.
-arrek
20
607 688
boo 843 334 1 19 190
White.
Total.
Barrel?. Barrels
2 ^SOC.',-
18000} 26420-}
2633$! 49429
414564-24542
41602
220574-14787
263964-
134-6
25265
93j'
3°4S*>
27033
20060
281844.
25624
4744^4-.31086 21679j 39777
43275*
33082
501654
412174-
35620
52110
25122
140824.
125 22^
9234741
25800^ 18000^-26420^ 26335A
49429 41456* 24542 41602 22057-I-14787 2 63 96-r 1348$ 25265 9351 3°458 27033 20060 28.844-25624
47442r
31086
21699T
39777
43*8:4;
33870
5°595r
42017i
3r,463
32444
25241
142724
12522 r
9275°5t
C O D.
Dried.
Cwts.   qrs. lbs.
8040 8198 9674
13°75 7826 ICS17 7922 13180 i 2580 11139 8544 IOI7I 1 1063 i 1582
118 71
8i73 8c 17 10967
6374 9248
8802 7830 8307
7563 10566
11246
i2743 8«37 6646 14492 14501 141P2
o
7 o
23 '4
1 14
9
6
7 H
1
:o 1
10 i
3 !o 3 o
23 2 21
o 23 3 18
*3
10 25
1 J5
2 17 1 21
1 3
3 '3 1 11
324291    i 11
Wet.
Barrels.
'5
57 20 16
34 107 218 14 »9 69
32 46
9 1
6 29 364-35
3
6
524-3
6
i?4i
ioi8f
BOUNTIES paid on the Veflels employed in the Herring - fiihery.
PREMIUMS paid on the Herrings  and Cod exported.
Total Monies paid for the En-' co ura ere me nt of the Fifheries.
l.	s.	d.
223	4	O
45 2	8	O
777	18	O
605	8	O
116	H	O
116	l4	O
259	10	O
454	0	O
454	0	O
1386	J7	6
1863	x7	6
5140 9228	10	0
	17	0
12S28	0	7*
17642	5	0
31190	l5	0
3l39<	11	8
23884	0	0
9670	0	0
2154	10	10
20S5	0	10
11103	7	6
12510	8	6
17025	5	0
19609	]5	0
21290	7	6
17592	2	6
16316	2	6
15287	0	0
13445	12	6
9674	<5	0
10584	l5	0
316365  12 ii-
s..
4647
3635 4975 5474 7764 7r53 4471 7546 4829
3644
4808
3323 5028 2987 5846 4830 3893 5403 4373 77 '5 5+68 4070 6550 6967 6062 8436 75'2 6159
53*3
56'3 4071
38^9
11
17 iS 6 11 10 6 9 7 8 0 16 12 6 6 7 4 3 7 17 16
7 1
7
8 12
5 <5 17
7 5 '7
4
6*
2
4^r 3* 9f 3^:
7i 10*
5v 5i lIf
9i 7i
9i
11
6i It 3i
/4
8| 24-6t 4 7 iof o
Si *i
1 of
172409 15 7}
' 4870 4088
5753 6079 7SS1 7270
473o 8000
5^3 5°3i -6671
8464.
H257 15815 234S8
36021 ■
35284. 29287
!4°43
9S70
7553 1517 3 19060 23992 25672 29726 25104 22J.75
2c6©0
(9058
'3746
14414
15
5
16
14
5
4 16
9 7 6
17 6
9 7 11 2
16
3 7 8
17 '5 10 12 3
'9 8
18
17
19
4
H 2
34
7i 4i
5-t nf
5* 7i 9*
H 11
it 2^
2i~
6f 10 1
42"
O
12 lOf
48S775   8 7$
Cuftonmoufe, Edinburgh 13th December 1784.
CATHCART BOYD, Examiner of Salt and Fifhery Accounts.
3K3
,-4-6
APPENDIX, No. XII.
AN ACCOUNT of the Quantity of Herrings and Cod exported from England, from Chriflmas 1750 to Chriflmas 1782, and of Salted Britifh Herrings taken for Home-con-fumption; as alfo of all the Monies paid in England for the Encouragement of tbe Herring and Cod Fi/heries during that period^ difllngul/hing each Tear..
HERRINGS.
COD.
For Exportation.
Red.
Barrels. 54568
55577
37*95* 45298
60490-582664 495404-18169* 22221 7038 13650* J9634T
z53«3 14066*
8923 19644 19124 15840 28644 12 706-J-18803
78754-423464-325764-28920 121 [5 127034. 189424 24083T 19386 2 1091
White.
Barrel 5.
For Home confumption.
Red.
ThrtHiands.
48604-7229 5020 592 i* 8453 9407I 109424-
8043* 8167
12274*
14475* 102 ro
9042
6759
'3425 7060 6748T 4526* 2723 3966 2487
74i 2296 2655
4398
94'7
1 1775* 1173 8
13829
7,697* ' 2513 14268*
11246762 13632924 19660423 13121448 18043514 20294214 26852728
8297373 12 600114 6449999 5809468 8804672 5711182 11605520 8244151 7684210 10942128
857^33 9168860 13562878 •0378131 16521224 21845315 19932019 14504880 14780015 12908357 11236109 19326045
13350544 12570886 12984839
White.
Exported.
Barrels. Gall.j Cwts.  qrs. lbs.
1750 O
2644 29
5692 O
3384 26
5769 15 6847 O
6172 IO 420I 17 2894 24
6545 1396
1401 i6
2H5
2609
4421 7080 3726 26 3795 17 353° o 3708 29 8993 15 5552 o 7558 20 7308 10 5767 30
3318 1 6765 21
5778 15 8231 9
3644 12
4394 3 *543 1.7
*5 9
5003 2263
2277
3718
■2091
1722
1489
3549 3676 2466
1893 11642
3784 2310 2311 1625 7
209 o
112 2 1*7
.0 o
22 IO 264
3473 3539 495 4»39
-6905
*34J
18 o o o o o
7 o
2 17
9 o
23 20
*4
27
o 27 2 16
o o
12
o o o o o
16
o
18
2
o o
BOUNTIES on the Veflels employed in the Herring-fifhery.
«. d.
187 920 2194
493 2 5170
3384 8667
5433 o
1466 1466 1466 1466 1918 1918 1590 2245 2057 3608 18783 22296 16220 55° 633 908
935 815
397 o
19 1
4 9 13
1.7
3
9 o
9 9 9 9 7 7
17
1.7 15 7
15 10 1 8 11 8
5
o
11
IO
o
17
4 2
8 6 o 6 o
102 o o 77 12 6
o   o o
PREMIUMS paid on the Herrings and Cod exported.
I,.    s. d.
6246 12 8
6203   8 o
4312 j2 8
5357   o o
6768   9 3
6640 17 8
5906   9 4
3254 17 8
3670 18 2
2661   9 4
3431   7 4
5019   8 8
2600 10 4
3507   5 8
3405 j8 8 1992 11 8
2563 J2 2183 I I749 I
3212 3 1474 10
*774 3 995 3 4063 *7 3438 8 8 3830 2 o 3209, o 3268 7
3583 *5 3823 10
4416 o 3970 io
Total Monies paid for the Encouragement of the Fifheries.
L.
6434 7123 6506 10289
IJ939 10025
H573 8688 3670 4127
4897 6486 4067 5425 5324 3583 4809 4240
5357 21995 23770 17994
J545 4696
4347 4765 4024 3666 3583 3925 4493 397°
12
9 17 9 2
14 11
12 7 6 10 18 2
19 l7 18 o
*3 6
9 9 16
1 1
5
r
5
2 2 6 4 9 2 18 10 11 8 14 8 8
17 •0 12
o
4 l5 10 12 10
N. B. This Table is collected from the Firft, Second, and Third Appendixes of the Third Report of the Committee of Fifheries.   The Eighth Column is computed from the Debenture payable by Law on Herrings and Coo^exported, as in Columns Second* Third, and Sixth.
APPENDIX, No. XIII.
■ ■''   ■ "' ■ t
PARTICULAR Account of the Number of Foreign Veffels fitted out on the JVhite-herring Fifhery, &c.
Number of VciTe-L.	Number of Men each Bufs.	Total Number of Men."
I 2 3 73 25 45 j7	14 14 15 14 14 13 '3	28 45 1022. 35° 585 221
166 44 29 7 13 11	14 14 ► 10 13 !3	2265 616 406 70 169 143
270 3 2	Number of Seamen Yaggers 8 men each, is "With 36 men each	2669 24 72 •
1 375	Total number of men	j 4765
Different Places.
Holland
Pruffia
Denmark
Trance
Flanders
Particular Ports.
Schedaam
Rotterdam
Deeflhaven
Vlaerdinjr
Maeze Sluifs
Enchuyfen
The Reap
Embden -Hamburgh and Altona Dunkirk Offend -Newport
Number of foreign fhips
Befides which, the Danes have
The Dutch 2 convoyers, or ftorefhips
Total number of fhips or veffels
APPENDIX, No. XIV. EXPORTS of HERRINGS from Gottenburgh, from the Tear 1774 to 1782.
HERRINGS.
To Corke, and other Irifh ports — Madeira and Weft Indies — Dant2ick — —
Stettin — — —
Konigfberg — —
Riga — — —
St Peterfburgh — —
Wolgaft        — — Different ports in the Eaft Sea — Trance, and the Mediterranean
Different ports in Sweden
Barrels —
Barrels
ThU taken from the Third Report of the Committee of Filheries,
	1775-	1776.	1777-	1779-	1780.	1781.
	Barrels.	Barrels.	Barrels.	Barrels.	Barrels.	Barrels.
—	25836	564OO	I9267	7313	13243	
—	6278	7437	5826	20849	7281	2700
—	5693	4321	3716	755	538	1120
—	2967	740	I485	2489	I770	66l2
—	4670	497°	6592	740	l6oi	1260
—	3359	373°	7337	2424	220Q	953 1
—	2179	4195	7507	6263	2182	3298
—	1962	2205	2458	3501	3"24	8380
—'	20722	16930	3537°	41897	33332	50270
—	300	4267	54'3	8369	12615	24225
—	73966	io5'95	94971	94600	77886	107399
—■	20627	23272	37°75	40485	28778	29250
—	94594	128467	132046	<35c8S	106664	1366,59
Extracl of a Letter from Gilbert Meafon, Efq.
T Send you inclofed two accounts of the exports from Gottenburgh, where, of late years, they have had a prodigious herring-fifhiog; and I am fo old as to remember two fhips going yearly from the Weft Highlands to Gottenburgh with herrings, where there was not a fifh caught at that time.
The herrings are a wandering fifh : A great many years ago, there was a great quantity catched in the Frith of Forth ; they left our coaft, and went over to Norway, where they remained fome years ; and now their fifhing is very confiderable.
Since, they have been got in fuch abundance on the coaft of Sweden, where they are catched at no ex-pence, as they fet into little inlets amongft the rock3, and, by incloling them with a large net, they take out as many as they pleafe with little bag-nets: they fell the herrings at Gottenburgh for nine or ten fhillings per barrel, calk and fah included ; fo that they have cut the Dutch entirely out of the trade, in fupplying the different markets in the Baltic, as they can be firft from Gottenburgh to all the markets in the Baltic at a very eafy freight; they are now in the practice of boiling the herrings for oil, as you will fee by the quantity of herring-oil exported from thence. In 1781, they exported 14,542 barrels of herring-oil, not having confumption or demand for the herrings they caught. This quantity of oil muft have deftroyed an immenfe quantity of fifh.
I think it my duty, as an individual, to furnifh every information in an enquiry of this nature. But I fear it would require a very high bounty to enable us to difpute the market with the Swedes.
450   '.      Appendix,'No. 15.
APPENDIX,   No. XV.
Anfwers to Mr Byres' ^cries concerning the Herring FiJJjirg on the Co/ift of Sweden.
lA nPl-^ fifhing commenced 1752.
* 2d. During the firft years after its commencement, the quantity cured was not fo confiderable; but, fince the year 1760, we may reckon on an average 200,000 barrels yearly.
yl. The herrings are caught among the iflands or rocks, none at fea, the nets not being calculated for that purpofe ; befides, it is unneceffary while they are in fuch. plenty within the rocks.
4th. No Dutchmen or Foreigners have been employed in this fifhing.—The Swedes had formerly veflels that fifhed on the coafts of Shetland ; confequently they knew the manner of curing them.
$th. The nets ufed are in the manner of thofe ufed in Scotland for catching falmon, only much larger, and are worked in the fame manner ;—with this difference, The falmon are drawn immediately on the fhore ; but with a large draught of herrings this is impofiible: they therefore heave in the net by a capftan at each arm, ■till the fifh are fo confined that boats can lie round the net, and load them with hoop-nets faftened to a fhaft. Thefe boats carry each from 30 to 100 barrels of frelh 'fifh. There' have been 2000 barrels in a net, but this is rare; 400 to 800 barrels is common.
6th. Herrings are catched on all parts of this coaft, from Gottenburgh to Stromftad, a diftance of about 35 leagues; none further fouth than Gottenburgh, or further north than Stromftad.—Late years, they have been moft plenty to the northward.
"]th. In the beginning of this fifhing, they appeared the end of July, and in Auguft ; but have gpadually altered, and feldom are feen now before the beginning of November.
%th. The fhoals are much the fame ; but the late feafon of the year, with its ufual attendants, ftormy weather, certainly prevents getting fo large draughts as formerly ;—neither are the fifh lb fat as when they appeared early.
oth. The firft fifh cofts fometimes very dear, from five to fix dollars Smtper barrel (4 s. 6 d. to 5 s.)—but this only for a few cargoes that people ftrive to get firft to certain markets.—When the fiihing fets ferioufly in with favourable weather, prices fall on an average; a barrel of frelh herring will ftand 2 dol. Smt or is. 8d.
1 oth. One barrel of fait is generally allowed to three barrels herring.
wth. The charge of cafks and cooperage may be ftated according to prefent circumftances, at 2-r d. or 22 4-.
12th. The people who gut and fait, are paid by the barrel of frefh herring, about 1 d. per barrel.
12fh. In point of bulk, a barrel of frelh herrings may be about one quarter larger than falted herrings.
14th. Formerly Government allowed a bounty on exportation; it was afterwards reduced to the duty of fah, which was drawn back.—Now nothing is allowed. Salt pays a duty of 2 I d.
i$tb. A faving price for herrings we reckon juft now d. 10 S,nt per barrel—That is without profit.
\6th. Formerly we ufed to fend 30,000 barrels yearly to Corke, of which the greateft part were re-fhipped for the Weft Indies; but of late years, that quantity is reduced to 6 or 8coo barrels.—To the FrenchWeft Indies we fend none, being prohibited: very few go to France. This and laft year a good many cargoes have gone to St Euftatia.
1 ^th. Herrings, as foon as gutted, arc regularly laid into the cafks or barrels with fait.—After ftanding 10 or 12 days, we reckon them ready for fhipping, when the barrels are well daunted and filled up.
3h
\§ih. The herrings that are faired yield no oil: it is extracted only by boiling them in boilers that contain from 10 to 20 barrels.
loth. 8 to ro,ooo cafks or a'hms (nearly 42 gallons) are generally boiled: the quality is much inferior to whale-oil, and even to liver-oil; having this incon-veniency, that in cold weather there is no keeping it. from congealing to a confiftence fomething like honey. The principal markets are the Baltic, Holland, and Spain; 10 to irod cafks are yearly confumed in this country. —The average price is about 55 d. Smt, L. 2: 7 s.
tctf}. On an average for the whole fifhing, 18 barrels of herrings will yield a cafk of oil, which, including cafk and all charge, will ftand 42 to 44 d. Smt.
21ft. No bounty is allowed on the exportation of oil; on the contx-ary, it pays an excife and duty of i£ d. per calk.
lid. An oil-cafk contains very nearly 42 gallons ; a herring-barrel 314 to 32 gallons, — of middle-llzed herrings 900.
- 23^/- Anfwered by 19 as to oil.—The markets for herrings are all the ports in the Baltic, Mediterranean, Madeira, France, and Ireland.
24th Freights to the Baltic vary much, as veffels are wanted.—From one to three d. Smt per barrel.
N. B. Thefe remarks were wrote in fummer 1780. The autumn fiihing that year was later than former years,—and the frefh herrings flood high average price, nearly 3 d. per barrel.
FINIS.
PrintTl hf HVJNDIXL & WILSON'.