The history of emigration from the Highlands of Scotland, the causes of it, the consequences, and the means of prevention, if such exist, appear to demand par ticular notice.
An historical view of Scotish emigration, would not go back much above half a century. Tne discovery of the vast regions of America, was accomplished ages be fore they could be colonized. Few attempts are at tended with more difficulty than the peopling of a dis tant wilderness. The superior wealth and population even of England, stimulated by a spirit of enterprise, and countenanced by the sovereigns of that distinguish ed country, made various attempts, which proved abor tive. A growing knowledge of those remote countries, and perseverance, at last succeeded.
The Scots, disappointed and indignant at the fate of their favourite colony of Darien, were not soon or easily induced to embark in any similar design; and it is not probable that emigration would afterwards have taken place from that country on a far ge sc.tle to Ame rica, if there had not occurred a great alter,..tion in the mode in which lands were let and occupied in the High lands.
The introduction of sheep-farming on the great scale into that part of Scotland, undoubtedly occasio.led the removal of a great proportion of the inhabitants. Whe ther this effect was unavoidable or not, may be a subject for consideration in a posterior part of this article ; the fact is undeniable.
In former times, the farming stock of the Highlands consisted principally of horned cattle, and these not on Ty required more people to attend on them, but furnish ed the means of subsistence in greater variety than sheep. A few straggling goats also appeared there ; and a very small number of sheep, of the small dun faced and fine wooled breed, now almost extinct. Large tracts of country were left by the great landholders, to he oc cupied mostly as forests for their deer. The chase fur nished some degree of employment and subsistence; the cattle were conveyed in summer to the high grounds or shealings, in so far as these were accessible, and then brought down to the straths or vales on the ap proach of winter. From these were obtained consider able quantities of milk, butter, and cheese ; and, though seldom well fed, there was a proportion of the cattle that became fat, and were slaughtered for use. A very se
vere winter and spring occasionally occurring, consu med the little stock of provender that could be raised in the country for such multitudes of cattle, and great num bers of them perished ; while the surviving animals were so reduced, as to become of little value. The ma mire of so many beasts, however, enabled the people to cultivate many spots of land in all parts of the High lands, and, one way or other, there were means found for supporting a considerable population. But under such a system, the Highland mountains were occupied by a stock not adapted for them, and of this kind of stock there were more than could he preserved during the severe months on the straths. In short, the country was at one time improperly stocked, and overstocked. It required many articles, the produce of other parts of the kingdom ; but it raised by much too little to serve as articles of exchange by export.
The introduction of large flocks of sheep to stock the mountains of the Highlands was rather hazardous. Vast numbers of birds and beasts of prey existed there, and proved extremely destructive to them ; and the na tive inhabitants were naturally jealous and hostile. By degrees, however, it became quite apparent, that sheep were the safe and proper stock of those mountainous re gions. They could wander in safety where cattle could not go ; they fed and throve where cattle could not have subsisted ; and in winter they could feed on the coarse pastures, or dig through ordinary falls of snow, without requiring dried provender. But what turned out of most importance, in point of consequences, was this, that the produce of sheep flocks might be mostly exported, and commanded a regular and ample price in other parts of the kingdom.
All these particulars co•operated in recommending perseverance in the system of sheep husbandry ; and the last circumstances appear to have been decisive. Landholders would not give up the advantages to be derived from such a profitable stock, and as the produce was destined mostly for exportation, many of the inha bitants were. obliged to remove.