A very liberal increase of rents, was the invariable consequence of introducing sheep stocks : They were safer, they required much less attendance, and the re turns were adapted to go regularly to the markets of the south of Scotland and of England at little expence. The numerous population could not then be supported, and their labour was not much wanted : emigration of course began, and went on.
It happened, that at this critical period uncommon encouragement was held out for new settlers to assist in peopling the wilds of America. Highlanders dis possessed of their farms, having no immediate view of employment in their own country, and not well adapt ed nor much inclined to engage in manual labours in other parts of the kingdom, were naturally attracted by the prospect of becoming, on easy terms, proprietors of better lands in the colonies. A portion of indignation, on account of their removal from lands which had long been occupied by their ancestors, naturally mingled in their feelings on such an occasion. Mutual understand ing led them to courage and perseverance. They rose above those tender feelings of attachment to their native soil and country, for which they had been long distin guished; and they freighted vessels, and embarked for America.
The plastic genius and vigorous constitution of such a people, rendered them uncommonly valuable settlers in a new country. They were equally lifted for labour and for mutual defence, and were therefore encouraged and courted to remove. The success of those who had first emigrated, likewise encouraged others to follow their example, as they also were in succession removed from their possessions, and flocks of sheep introduced.
In a short time, land proprietors in the Highlands were reduced to the necessity of deciding between their feelings and their interest. if they yielded to the for mer, they devised such measures as they could for pre serving their people ; if they gave way to the latter, the people had scam cely a choice left them,—they were obliged to emigrate.
To describe the affecting scenes which occurred, when a vessel chartered for America arrived, and when several hundreds of these people were preparing to quit for ever that land to which they were ardently attach ed, would he a painful task, and in the altered views and circumstances of those emigrants it is now unsea sonable. Many of their descendants in the New World, have long ago ceased to possess those warm attachments for the land of their fathers ; but others residing in the British colonies, retain the noble spirit of their ances tors, and employ it with distinguished effect in their defence.
As the number of emigrant cargoes increased, it be came an object of avarice to take advantage from them. Deceitful contracts were framed with this intention.
Persons acquainted in the districts, were induced to lend their nefarious aid in this business; and the deluded emi grants were frequently overcharged, crowded to excess in the vessels that conveyed them, and landed in places or circumstances most unfavourable.
Indistinct reports of these occurrences were frequent ly heard ; but the spirit of the people had been generally stirred and bent on emigrating; they were unwilling to believe those discouraging reports ; their own turn came, and necessity was pleaded for their decision, they saw no alternative, and embarked.
While it was easy to find settlements in the more ge nial climates of America, they were or course prelt rred ; and Virginia, with North and South Carolina, or New York, were the chief places of resort for the Scotish Highlanders. Afterwards, when access was difficult there,. the Canadas and Nova Scoria were commonly preferred before the Floridas or Georgia ; but various cargoes of emigrants went out into otner parts of that country; and some took their passAge in latter years for the back settlements on the western frontier, or for those which took place on the southern margins of the Lakes.
The course of emigration was materially affected by _ _ the first American war; and the Scots resident in that country, and their descendants, were divided, as they took part with the colonies, or the mother country. In stead of that security and enjoyment with which they had been flattered, the settlers were involved in the pas sions and dangers of civil war. In the end, when the peace took plaCe in 1783, those who had embraced the cause of American independence, and who survived the war, w ere secured in their possessions; but many of the royalists were deprived of those which had been ac quired by so many labours and sufferings ; and the grants of land which were made in the northern pro vinces that remained under the British government, were not an adequate means of compensation, though liberally and wisely bestowed, The policy of the new erected and independent states having led them to encourage more settlers, with a view to people their extensive territory, encouragement was again held out to emigrants from this and other coun tries ; but so severely had the loyalists been treated in the United States, that few in proportion were inclined to venture on a hazardous settlement there. It was On ly in situations remote, or otherwise inferior, or it was on terms above the reach of emigrants in general, that places were open for them in the territory of the States; and most of those who emigrated after the peace with America, were led to settle in the northern provinces under the British government.