takes place among the children so employed.

There are other parts of Scotland however, particularly the Western Isles, and some parts of the Highlands, where population has considerably increased from the subdivision of possessions; and where perhaps the marriages may be earlier than they were formerly, though not caused by the introduction of manufactures. Here the poverty which follows is but too conspicuous. In the account of Delting in Shetlanda it is remarked that the people marry very young, and are encouraged to this by their landlords, who wish to have as many men on their grounds as possible to prosecute the ling fishery; but that they generally involve themselves in debt and large families. The writer further observes, that formerly there were some old regulations called country acts, by one of which it was enacted, that no pair should marry unless possessed of 401. Scots of free gear. This regulation is not now enforced. It is said

that these regulations were approved and confirmed by the parliament of Scotland, in the reign of Queen Mary, or James VI.

In the account of Bressay Burra and Quarff in Shetland a, it is observed that the farms are very small, and few have a plough. The object of the proprietors is to have as many fishermen on their lands as possible --a great obstacle to improvements in agriculture. They fish for their masters, who either give them a fee totally inadequate, or take their fish at a low rate. The writer remarks that "in most countries the in

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crease of population is reckoned an ad

vantage, and justly. It is however the "reverse in the present state of Shetland. "The farms are split. The young men

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66

are encouraged to marry without having

any stock. The consequence is poverty "and distress. It is believed that there is

"at present in these islands double the "number of people that they can properly "maintain."

The writer of the account of Auchter

VOL. II.

2 Vol. x. p. 194.

I

derran,

derran, in the county of Fife, says that the meagre food of the labouring man is unequal to oppose the effects of incessant hard labour upon his constitution, and by this means his frame is worn down before the time of nature's appointment; and adds, "That people continuing voluntarily to enter

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upon such a hard situation by marrying, "shews how far the union of the sexes and "the love of independence are principles “of human nature." In this observation, perhaps the love of independence had better have been changed for the love of progeny.

b

The island of Jura appears to be absolutely overflowing with inhabitants in spite of constant and numerous. emigrations. There are sometimes 50 or 60 on a farm. The writer observes, that such a swarm of inhabitants, where manufactures and many other branches of industry are unknown, are a very great load upon the proprietors, and useless to the state.

a Vol. i. p. 449.

Vol. xii. p. 317.

Another

a

Another writer is astonished at the rapid increase of population, in spite of a considerable emigration to America in 1770, and a large drain of young men during the late war. He thinks it difficult to assign adequate causes for it; and observes that, if the population continue to increase in this manner, unless some employment be found for the people, the country will soon be unable to support them. And in the account of the parish of Callander the writer says, that the villages of this place and other villages in similar situations, are filled with naked and starving crowds of people, who are pouring down for shelter or for bread; and then observes, that whenever the population of a town or village exceeds the industry of its inhabitants, from that moment the place must decline.

b

A very extraordinary instance of a tendency to rapid increase occurs in the register of the parish of Duthil, in the county of Elgin; and as errors of excess are not so

• Parish of Lochalsh, county of Ross, vol. xi. p. 422. b Vol. xi. p. 574.

Vol. iv. p. 308.

1

probable as errors of omission, it seems to be worthy of attention. The proportion of annual births to the whole population is as 1 to 12, of marriages as 1 to 55, and of deaths the same. The births are to the deaths as 70 to 15, or 4 to 1. We may suppose some inaccuracy respecting the number of deaths, which seems to err on the side of defect; but the very extraordinary proportion of the annual births, amounting to of the whole population, seems not to be easily liable to error; and the other circumstances respecting the parish tend to confirm the statement. of a population of 830, there were only three bachelors, and each marriage yielded seven children. Yet with all this, the population is supposed to have decreased considerably since 1745; and it appears that this excessive tendency to increase had been occasioned by an excessive tendency to emigrate. The writer mentions very great emigrations; and observes that whole tribes, who enjoyed the comforts of life in a reasonable degree, had of late years emigrated from different parts of Scotland, from

Out

mere