In the single year 1802, there were 8 vessels loaded with emigrants, exceeding in all 31300 in number, and bound from various parts of the Highlands of Scotland for America. 'Most of these went to the British pro vinces, only one vessel going to the territory of the United States.
Such a considerable number of people emigrating from a country very thinly peopled, and liable to those cruel and nefarious impositions to which avarice occa sionally subjected persons in their situation, very natu rally excited public notice and general interest. The Highland Society interposed with representations ; and a bill was carried through parliament for the purpose of securing ample space in the vessels hired for emigrants, and a sufficient stock of provisions for their use.
The emigrant bill, wnich passed in 1803, has a ten dency rather to prevent imposition on the part of ship contractors, than to prevent emigration. The securing of ample space and provisions, removes the first and most formidable danger which emigrants had to dread. No doubt they must pay more liberally for so much bet ter accommodation ; but this difference is not so great, as to prevent any considerable number who had it at heart to embark. As a measure of policy, therefore, its influence cannot be great, but it must obviously have considerable effects as a measure of humanity. In one view, by discouraging artful and insidious contracts, it may operate in both characters.
A more powerful bar to the progress of emigration is presented at this time (1814,) in the second Ameri can war. It is also to be expected, that the gradual diminution of the wilds of America must proportionally reduce the demand and encouragement held out for set tlers ; hut this will depend on the arrangement of terri tory at the conclusion of the war, and on the further pro gress of the policy of colonizing.
The most pleasing means that can be employed for the purpose of preventing emigration must be devised at home; and this has not escaped the attention of a liberal and enlightened legislature.
A rugged and uncultivated country, destitute of pro per means of communication, can hardly he expected to furnish means of subsistence for a growing popula tion ; and it cannot be supposed, that any country, in such a state, can afford to pay for such expensive works as canals and roads capable of opening it up. The
Highlands of Scotland were precisely in that state, when the great and liberal plan was formed, of open ing a passage from Fort George by Fort Augustus to Fort William, by means of the Caledonian Canal. This great undertaking must necessarily require some years to complete it ; and afterwards time will be required, in order to render it extensively useful. The important objects of this work, are likely to be greatly promoted by the invention and use of steam-boats employed on the lakes. In the mean time, a field of useful labour is open ed within that country ; and in the dnd, it cannot be doubted, that very great advantages will be derived from such a splendid national work.
In prosecution of the same general plan, the High lands of Scotland have been intersected by roads in the most useful directions, executed under the authority of parliament, partly at the public expellee, and partly at that of the landholders of the country : and pi °vision is made also for keeping these roads in clue repair. Thus there is laid a great and promising basis of public indus try and improvement in that country ; anti if unforeseen events do not prevent the proper use of it, there can be little doubt, that such improvements as are suitable to the country will naturally follow; and these must have a powerful effect in preventing the necessity of such ex tensive emigration.
The navigation of the Caledonian canal is not only well defended by the chain of forts at the two extremities and the centre of it ; but the lakes not being liable to freeze, there is an advantage not commonly to be ob tained in canals, which may be expected from this pro perty in its waters. Vessels of great burden, it is in tended, shall have depth of water to convey them from the Murray Frith to the Linneheloch, and thence to the Sound of 'lull and the Atlantic. A communica tion thus opened between the eastern and western seas, without going round by Cape Wrath, or encountering the dangerous passage of the Pentland Frith, must be extremely useful to the commerce of the kingdom; and the transit of merchanclize and vessels through the ca nal, must eventually 'tend to the improvement of the country.