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When, on a question that
has undergone much investigation and excited general attention, and
individual comes forward to controvert received opinions, and to offer
views which have previously passed unnoticed, every one is disposed to
ask, what have been the peculiar opportunities of information upon which
he presumes to contradict those who have gone before him. I trust,
therefore, it will not be deemed an unbecoming egotism, that some
particulars relating to myself form the subject of those preliminary
pages.
Without any immediate or
local connection with the Highlands, I was led, very early in life, to
take a warm interest in the fate of my countrymen in that part of the
kingdom. During the course of my academical studies, my curiousity was
strongly excited by the representations I had heard of the ancient state
of society, and the striking peculiarity of manners still remaining among
them; and , in th eyear 1792, I was prompted to take an extensive tour
through their wild region, and to explore many of its remotest and most
secluded valleys. In the course of this I ascertained several of the
leading facts, on which the arguments of the following pages are grounded;
in particular, that Emigration was an unavoidable result of the general
state of this country, arising from causes above all control, and in
itself of essential consequence to the tranquillity and permanent welfare
of the kingdom.
The particular destination
of the emigrants is not likely to excite much interest in those who
believe that emigration may be obviated altogether. Being persuaded that
no such expectation could be reasonable entertained, I bestowed some
attention on details, which to other observers may have appeared nugatory.
I learned, that the Highlanders were dispersing on a variety of
situations, in a foreign land, where they were lost not only to their
native country, but to themselves as a separate people. Admiring many
generous and manly features in their character, I could not observe
without regret the rapid decline of their genuine manners, to which the
circumstances of the country seemed inevitably to lead. I thought,
however, that a portion of the ancient spirit might be preserved among the
Highlanders of the New World - that the emigrants might be brought
together in some part of our own colonies, where they would of national
utility, and where no motives of general policy would militate (as they
certainly may at home) against the preservation of all those peculiarities
of customs and language, which they are themselves so reluctant to give
up, and which are perhaps intimately connected with many of their most
striking and characteristic virtues.
It was on the eve of the
late war that these views occurred to me, and any active prosecution of
them was precluded by the eventful period which followed; but the object
was deeply impressed on my mind, and has never been lost sight of. Far
from being effaced by the lapse of time, or the occupations of maturer
years, my ideas of impracticability and its importance have been confirmed
by every succeeding reflection.
The emigrations from the
Highlands, which has been of little amount during the continuance of
hostilities, recommenced upon the return of peace, with a spirit more
determined and more widely diffused than on any former occasion. All those
views which I had hitherto entertained, then recurred as requiring
immediate attention; and the strong impressions I had on the subject
induced me to state, to some members of the then Administration, the
necessity of active interference, for attracting the emigrants to our own
colonies. These representations were treated with polite attention, but
did not excite an interest corresponding to my own ideas of the importance
of the object. Inasmuich, however, as it could be promoted by the disposal
of waste lands of the Crown, I was informed that every reasonable
encouragement might be expected. Seeing no probability of my views being
effectually adopted by Government, and reluctant to abandon the subject
altogether, I was led to consider how far, under the encouragement held
out, I could, as an individual, follow it up on a more limited scale, to
the effect at least of establishing the practicability of my suggestion.
Having, therefore, received the assurance of a grant of land on liberal
terms, such as promised an adequate return for the unavoidable expenses of
the undertaking, I resolved to try the experiment, and, at my own risk, to
engage some of the emigrants, who were preparing to go to the United
States, to change their destination, and embark for our own colonies.
It is unnecessary to detail
the transactions to which this led, and the various obstructions I met
with in the Highlands, from persons whose jealousy had been roused by my
attempt. When the preparations for my expedition were pretty far advanced,
I learned that in consequence of some calumnious reports, Government were
disposed to look less favourably than at first on my undertaking. To
remove the grounds if these misapprehensions, in February 1803, I stated
to the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, (in the concise
form to which the bounds of a Letter restricted me,) the principal
outlines of the following arguments; and I had the satisfaction to learn
that this representation had removed the doubts of the Nobel Lord to whom
it was addressed.
I was given to understand,
however, that it would be more satisfactory to Government, if the people I
had engaged were settled in a maritime situation, instead of that I had at
first in contemplation. For reasons, which I may perhaps have occasion
hereafter to lay before the public, I was by no means satisfied that this
suggestion was founded in just views of national policy. Nevertheless I
thought it my duty under all the circumstances of the case, to acquiesce,
and determined on making my settlement in Prince Edward's Island, in the
Gulph of St. Lawrence.
From various considerations
I found that, to give the experiment a fair prospect of success, my own
presence with the colonists was indispensable. It was indeed with some
reluctance that I ultimately yielded to this; for, before I sailed, the
unexpected renewal of hostilities had taken place. The business was then
too far advanced to admit of any change of plan; and it was with the most
anxious feelings that I found myself under the necessity of quitting the
kingdom at so critical a moment. In other respects I have had no reason to
regret my absence, as it has not only led me to sources of information, to
which few have access; but I trust that my occupation in the meantime has
not been wholly useless to my country.
I find, that my own views
in this undertaking have been as much misrepresented, as the subject in
general has been misunderstood. But I enter with confidence on the task of
correcting the mistakes that have been disseminated; trusting that a
simple statement of facts will be not less convincing to the public at
large, than it has already been to an official character.
My first intention indeed
was to have given to the world the very Letter, I have above alluded to,
with a few additional illustrations; but I could not avoid expanding my
observations more than was consistent with such a plan, in order to render
them intelligible to those who are not well acquainted with the local
circumstances of Scotland. I have therefore cast the whole anew into its
present form; and, notwithstanding the bulk to which it has grown, I
cannot flatter myself that the subject is exhausted. If time had
permitted, some valuable additional documents might have been circulated
under the sanction of respectable names, should no longer remain
uncontradicted, I venture to submit these remarks, in their present
imperfect state, to the judgment of the public, and solicit that
indulgence, to which, perhaps, I have some claim from the importance of
the subject, and the unavoidable haste of this publication. |
