a similar employment in a situation a little nearer home. There is no probability therefore, that such establishments could have any effect on those who are inclined to emigrate to America.

tence, which would ot
the success of a manufact
in the Highlands work
effect, than to fix the se
tion of industry in one!
instead of another. Man
prises are limited by the
ket, as well as by the supp
either of these respects, a
blished in the Highlands,
and expense, could only oce
one, which would of itse.
in those parts of the king.
undertaking is not subject to
ral and political disadvanta
the Highlanders may find t
they are in want of.

The establishment of a the Highlands, might thus al tions of those classes who ... ployment in the old establis' dustry: but to the small to... objections which occur again tory in the South, would ay

*70*. Some time after Dr. meration, the emigrations nd since the year 1770, have and of great amount. A y and observation, whose Island gave him the best ormation, estimates the migrated, between 1772 ). The number who,

eriod, went to the Low

1, going in a more gradual
less notice, could not bc

ined; but from concurring he considers 8000 as the least can possibly be reckoned.

ng this drain, it appears my of population to ed up the blank; h have left the increase which ng them also, cannot doubt Imber of peo

and. General Table

VIII. Emigration has no permanent effect on population. Legal restrictions useless and dangerous: discontents in the Highlands: emigration useful to the public peace.

THE

HE concise view that has been taken of the different resources which have been proposed for preserving the local population of the Highlands, may be sufficient to show, that not one of them is applicable to the circumstances of those who are most inclined to emigration. It must also be observed that these resources are still to be found only in the regions of theory; and to their practical application there are impediments which cannot be removed without much patience and exertion. The country is by no means arrived, and will require a considerable time before it can arrive, at such a state, that every man who is industriously disposed, may have opportunities of employment adapted to his situation.

Independantly of any question as to constitutional propriety, nothing seems more obvious, than the necessity of bringing re

sources of this kind to full maturity within the country, before any legal interference is hazarded for preventing the people from seeking them elsewhere. To act upon contrary principles would be productive of the utmost misery, and of a real, instead of an apparent depopulation. Let us suppose an extreme case; that, while the change of the agricultural system is allowed to go on, and no adequate means of support are provided for the superabundant population, invincible obstacles should be contrived to restrain the people from removing to a different situation. The infallible consequence must be, that the lower classes would be reduced to the utmost distress: the difficulty of procuring either land or employment would amount almost to an impossibility; and even if the people should escape absolute famine, few would be inclined in such circumstances to undertake the burthen of rearing a family, or would venture on marriage. The misery of the people would thus in time produce the effect which emigration is now working, and reduce their numbers to a due proportion with the employment that can be given.