pass without a convoy。 All trials of right by the sword are
forgotten； and the mean are in as little danger from the powerful
as in other places。 No scheme of policy has； in any country； yet
brought the rich and poor on equal terms into courts of judicature。
Perhaps experience； improving on experience； may in time effect it。
Those who have long enjoyed dignity and power； ought not to lose it
without some equivalent。 There was paid to the Chiefs by the
publick； in exchange for their privileges； perhaps a sum greater
than most of them had ever possessed； which excited a thirst for
riches； of which it shewed them the use。 When the power of birth
and station ceases； no hope remains but from the prevalence of
money。 Power and wealth supply the place of each other。 Power
confers the ability of gratifying our desire without the consent of
others。 Wealth enables us to obtain the consent of others to our
gratification。 Power； simply considered； whatever it confers on
one； must take from another。 Wealth enables its owner to give to
others； by taking only from himself。 Power pleases the violent and
proud： wealth delights the placid and the timorous。 Youth
therefore flies at power； and age grovels after riches。
The Chiefs； divested of their prerogatives； necessarily turned
their thoughts to the improvement of their revenues； and expect
more rent； as they have less homage。 The tenant； who is far from
perceiving that his condition is made better in the same
proportion； as that of his landlord is made worse； does not
immediately see why his industry is to be taxed more heavily than
before。 He refuses to pay the demand； and is ejected； the ground
is then let to a stranger； who perhaps brings a larger stock； but
who； taking the land at its full price； treats with the Laird upon
equal terms； and considers him not as a Chief； but as a trafficker
in land。 Thus the estate perhaps is improved； but the clan is
broken。
It seems to be the general opinion； that the rents have been raised
with too much eagerness。 Some regard must be paid to prejudice。
Those who have hitherto paid but little； will not suddenly be
persuaded to pay much； though they can afford it。 As ground is
gradually improved； and the value of money decreases； the rent may
be raised without any diminution of the farmer's profits： yet it
is necessary in these countries； where the ejection of a tenant is
a greater evil； than in more populous places； to consider not
merely what the land will produce； but with what ability the
inhabitant can cultivate it。 A certain stock can allow but a
certain payment； for if the land be doubled； and the stock remains
the same； the tenant becomes no richer。 The proprietors of the
Highlands might perhaps often increase their income； by subdividing
the farms； and allotting to every occupier only so many acres as he
can profitably employ； but that they want people。
There seems now； whatever be the cause； to be through a great part
of the Highlands a general discontent。 That adherence； which was
lately professed by every man to the chief of his name； has now
little prevalence； and he that cannot live as he desires at home；
listens to the tale of fortunate islands； and happy regions； where
every man may have land of his own； and eat the product of his
labour without a superior。
Those who have obtained grants of American lands； have； as is well
known； invited settlers from all quarters of the globe； and among
other places； where oppression might produce a wish for new
habitations； their emissaries would not fail to try their
persuasions in the Isles of Scotland； where at the time when the
clans were newly disunited from their Chiefs； and exasperated by
unprecedented exactions； it is no wonder that they prevailed。
Whether the mischiefs of emigration were immediately perceived； may
be justly questioned。 They who went first； were probably such as
could best be spared； but the accounts sent by the earliest
adventurers； whether true or false； inclined many to follow them；
and whole neighbourhoods formed parties for removal； so that
departure from their native country is no longer exile。 He that
goes thus accompanied； carries with him all that makes life
pleasant。 He sits down in a better climate； surrounded by his
kindred and his friends： they carry with them their language；
their opinions； their popular songs； and hereditary merriment：
they change nothing but the place of their abode； and of that
change they perceive the benefit。
This is the real effect of emigration； if those that go away
together settle on the same spot； and preserve their ancient union。
But some relate that these adventurous visitants of unknown
regions； after a voyage passed in dreams of plenty and felicity；
are dispersed at last upon a Sylvan wilderness； where their first
years must be spent in toil； to clear the ground which is
afterwards to be tilled； and that the whole effect of their
undertakings is only more fatigue and equal scarcity。
Both accounts may be suspected。 Those who are gone will endeavour
by every art to draw others after them； for as their numbers are
greater； they will provide better for themselves。 When Nova Scotia
was first peopled； I remember a letter； published under the
character of a New Planter； who related how much the climate put
him in mind of Italy。 Such intelligence the Hebridians probably
receive from their transmarine correspondents。 But with equal
temptations of interest； and perhaps with no greater niceness of
veracity； the owners of the Islands spread stories of American
hardships to keep their people content at home。
Some method to stop this epidemick desire of wandering； which
spreads its contagion from valley to valley； deserves to be sought
with great diligence。 In more fruitful countries； the removal of
one only makes room for the succession of another： but in the
Hebrides； the loss of an inhabitant leaves a lasting vacuity； for
nobody born in any other parts of the world will choose this
country for his residence； and an Island once depopulated will
remain a desert； as long as the present facility of travel gives
every one； who is discontented and unsettled； the choice of his
abode。
Let it be inquired； whether the first intention of those who are
fluttering on the wing； and collecting a flock that they may take
their flight； be to attain good； or to avoid evil。 If they are
dissatisfied with that part of the globe； which their birth has
allotted them； and resolve not to live without the pleasures of
happier climates； if they long for bright suns； and calm skies； and
flowery fields； and fragrant gardens； I know not by what eloquence
they can be persuaded； or by what offers they can be hired to stay。
But if they are driven from their native country by positive evils；
and disgusted by ill…treatment； real or imaginary； it were fit to
remove their grievances； and quiet their resentment； since； if they
have been hitherto undutiful subjects； they will not much mend
their principles by American conversation。
To allure them into the army； it was thought proper to indulge them
in the continuance of their national dress。 If this concession
could have any effect； it might easily be made。 That dissimilitude
of appearance； which was supposed to keep them distinct from the
rest of the nation； might disincline them from coalescing with the
Pensylvanians； or people of Connecticut。 If the restitution of
their arms will reconcile them to their country； let them have
again those weapons； which will not be more mischievous at home
than in the Colonies。 That they may not fly from the increase of
rent； I know not whether the general good does not require that the
landlords be； for a time； restrained in their demands； and kept
quiet by pensions proportionate to their loss。
To hinder insurrection； by driving away the people； and to govern
peaceably； by having no subjects； is an expedient that argues no
great profundity of politicks。 To soften the obdurate； to convince
the mistaken； to mollify the resentful； are worthy of a statesman；
but it affords a legislator little self…applause to consider； that
where there was formerly an insurrection； there is now a
wilderness。
It has been a question often agitated without solution； why those
northern regions are now so thinly peopled； which formerly
overwhelmed with their armies the Roman empire。 The question
supposes what I believe is not true； that they had once more
inhabitants than they could maintain； and overflowed only because
they were full。
This is to estimate the manners of all countries and ages by our
own。 Migration； while the state of life was unsettled； and there
was little communication of intelligence between distant places；
was among the wilder nations of Europe； capricious and casual。 An
adventurous projector heard of a fertile coast unoccupied； and led
out a colony； a chief of renown for bravery； called the young men
together； and led them out to try what fortune would present。 When
Caesar was in Gaul； he found the Helvetians preparing to go they
knew not whither； and put a stop to their motions。 They settled
again i