X-
A
VIEW
OF THE
BRITISH EMPIRE,
MORE ESPECIALLY
SCOTLAND;
WITH SOME PROPOSALS
FOR THE
IMPROVEMENT OF THAT COUNTRY,
THE
EXTENSION OF ITS FISHERIES,
, A K D THE
RELIEF OF THE PEOPLE.
By JOHN K N 0 X.
VOL. I.
The Third Edition^ greatly enlarged.
LONDON;
PRINTED FOR J, WALTER, AT C H A R I N G - C R O S S,
SHEPPERSON AND REYNOLDS, OXFORD-STREET;
W. RICHARDSON, ROYAL-EXCHANGE;
AND W. COUPON, EDINBURGH,
MDCCLXXXV.
1154829
-
V,'
R E F A C E.
T TTAVING in 1764, been led through curiofity,
J~j[ to view the rude magnificence of the High-
lands of Scotland, my attention was foon attracted
by the lefs pleafing fcenes of human mifery in all its
fhapes j unalleviated by the chearing rays of hope,
or any of the comforts which the lower ranks of
mankind inhabiting richer foils, enjoy in a certain
degree. Succeeding journies over the various diftricts
of thofe mountainous wilds, ferved only to difclofe
fimilardiftrefTes ; and curiofity, the primary impulfe,
gave way to ferious inveftigation. By hearing the
complaints of thofe unhappy people ; by comparing
their various relations with each other, and with my
own obfervations, I was enabled to afcertain thofe
fads which form the ground-work of the following
narrative.
A tract of land, that compofes a fifth part of Great
Britain, appeared, with fome few exceptions, to be in
a Hate of nature -y a great body of people, and thefe
the moil virtuous of our ifland, dragging out a
wretched exiftence, perifning through want, or forced
through wild defpair to abandon their country, their
kindred, and friends, 'and to embark, moneylefs and
unknown, the indented flaves to unremitting toil and
drudgery, in boundlefs defarts, at the diltance of
3090 miles.
The refult of thefe obfervations, was an enquiry
whether the improvement of the country, and the
relief of the people, were practicable ; to what extent
a 2 thefe
IV
PREFACE
thefe objects could be carried ; whether merely t<>
foften local diftrefs ; or in doing this humane duty,
whether a permanent and valuable colonv might not,
at the fame time, be eftabliflied in thofe outfkirts of
Britain, to the great benefit, andfecurity, of the centre.
But fuch was the difpofition of the times, that it
feemed a ufelefs labour and expence to introduce the
fubject on either fide of the Tweed*. Some few lines,
however, found their way to public obfervation, be-
tween the years 1770 and 1776, wherein the fidelity
and bravery of the Highlanders were applauded^
and the utility of permitting them to refume their
favourite drefs was warmly recommended.
Thus flood matters, when a train of events, the
mod unexpected and humiliating, contributed, in their
operation and confequences, to exhibit, more than
ever, the value of the Highlanders, and the impor-
tance of the country which gave them birth.
Emboldened by thefe confiderations, and feeing
no regular plan of policy propofed, relative to that
country, I arranged the various memorandums and
papers which 1 had been collecting on thefe fub-
jtcts, during a feries of years; ftated the diftreffes of
the people, and the caufes of thefe diftrefies; attempted
the outlines of a plan whereby fome inconveniencies
would be removed, others mitigated, the country
improved, the fifheries, and nurfery for feamen greatly
extended; and refolvcd, in humble deference, to
lay the fame before the public.
I have, throughout the whole, avoided all chimeri-
cal theories, and tirefome conjectures, founded merely
upon report, or collected from the very erroneous
reprefentations of old writers. It was my wilh to
* Neither was it expedient to bring thefe matters forward dur-
ing the fubfequent war, but the love of folitude and obfcurity
proved a ftronger impediment than both of theie confiderations,
till in 1782, being affeded with a flight complaint, I refolved
upon publifhing, or at ieaft upon circulating printed copies, with-
out further delay.
propofe
PREFACE. r
propofe a plan, adapted, in all its parts, to the natu-
ral ftate of the country, the genius, qualifications,
and relative fituation of the inhabitants ; practicable,
expedient, and within the abilities of government.
Thefeobfervations were printed in the Spring 1783 ;
and ibme iheets privately circulated in both king-
doms, in the hope that gentlemen of rank or influence
would lay the fame before adminiftration, as a ftimu-
lus to objects of greater importance to the ftrength
andopulence of this ifland than is generally imagined.
During a journey through part of Scotland in the
fummer enfuing, I was fully convinced that the cala-
mitous fituation of the Highlands had not been
mifreprefented in the narrative, and it was from the
affecting relations of the people, that I drew up and
annexed fome particulars refpectingthe famine, which
had not then fully fubfided.
Many of the arguments which had occurred in
treating of the Highlands, feemed applicable to Scot-
land in general. This opened a new, and more exten-
five field of enquiry. If the revolt of fome colonies,
the conqueft of others, and the then apparent danger
of lofmg the remainder, gave thofe neglected wilds
additional confequence, the improvement of the king-
dom at large appeared equally expedient. The fame
idea admitted of being extended even to England
itfelf, a country more indebted to nature, and the
induftry of individuals, than the attention or aflif-
tance of its government, as will evidently appear to
any perfon who fhall take the trouble of coniidering
the matter in a general view.
Thus the whole ifiand feems to have been, in a
greater or lefTer degree, neglected, and its real inte-
refts facrificed to expenfive fchemes of conqueft and
empire, which, without effedting any valuable pur-
pofe, brought it to the verge of ruin and bankruptcy.
There are, however, many perfons, who, notwith-
ftanding that the events, and confluences, of the
late war, have difarranged the old delufive fyftem of
politics, and fhewn its inefficacy, Hill adhere to opi-
a 3 nions,
vi PREFACE.
nions, which cannot be defended on any principle
of juftice, humanity, or national expediency.
To fuch perfons particularly I have, with greater
zeal than abilities, addrefled the following fketches
relative to the antient and prefent Hate of Great Bri-
tain; being fully convinced, that the objects of the
greateft value to fociety, may be obtained at lefs
expence of treafure, and without involving the inno-
cent multitude in the complicated, undefcribable dif-
trefles of war.
$ome of the tables," calculations, and eftimates,
-sire inferted from authentic documents ; others, upon
mrfcellaneous authorities ; and fome upon probable
conjecture. Any errors that may have efcaped notice,
amidft fo many figures, will be corrected ; the fame
attention will be given to any miftakes in opinion, as
foon as they (hall be difcovered, or pointed out.
The writer muft difclaim any pretenfions to lite-
rary embellifhments, grounding his hope of appro-
bation, merely on the application, fatigues, and
expence, which have been unavoidable through every
ftage and department of the bufmefs ; and if any of
the grievances, Hated in theie pages fhall be redreffed
or mitigated, he alfo will derive additional fatisfac-
tion, in the feelings of his own breaft.
RICHMOND, SURRY,
April, 1784.
PRE-
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
TO THE
THIRD EDITION.
THE very favourable reception of the former im-
perfed fketches, * fuggefted the idea of a more
complete work, by extending fome of the fubjects, -and
introducing others, fo as to form a fy Hematic com-
pendium or view of thefe kingdoms) brought dowp
to th'e prefent time. The department which appeared
to require the moft circumftantial detail, relates to
North Britain, a country "v^gpfe hiftory and impor-
tance is little known to Englilhmen, and hath there-
fore been the conftant object of ill-humour, jealoufy
and miftruft, inftead of liberality, confidence and
regard for the profperity of the north, as well as
the fouth part of the ifland. The generality of
Englifhmen imagine, that by the union of the two
kingdoms, Scotland rofe into confequence, at the
expence, and through the generofity of England, and
that unlefs this event had taken place, Scotland
muft have remained a poor contemptible province,
incapable of national or individual exertion in agri-
culture, fcience, arts, and commerce. That the
inhabitants have been a pufijlanimous, abject race
of flaves, from the earlieft ages of their hiftory, till
.they were incorporated with England, and, gene-
.rally, to the prefent period. That their flavifh dif-
pofition renders them unqualified for filling the
higher departments of the ttate, and that England
muft therefore be in danger, proportionably to the
number and importance of thofe ftations occupied
by Scotfmen.
• To miftaken ideas of great advantages conferred
on Scotland in virtue of the union, is moft probably
* One writer feemed however to be difpleafed with fome
remarks on the national debt ; another, or the lame writer, hath
adopted the fignature Knox to tome letters upon feleft veftries.
I-t is to be wiflied that this gentlemen will alfo favour the public
with his lucubrations on the practice of monopoly.
yiii PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
owing that extreme ceconomy in the expenditure of
public money upon that kingdom, and that rigid
adherence to thole articles of the treaty which relate
to excife, duties, and cuftoms, without attending to
the ability of the people, or to particular cafes, where
a fpecific fum is levied equally on any given articleof
the like denomination in England, however unequal,
or inferior in quality, to thofe of the latter kingdom.
Many other cafes might be enumerated, which
have their origin in mifconception refpedting thefe
aborigines of the ifland. With a view, therefore, to
elucidate this matter, I have drawn up a brief epi-
tome of the Scottifh annals to the treaty of union in
1707, and from thence have dated the account cur-
rent between both nations, to the prefent time ; by
•which the advantage feems greatly in favour of
England, who abforbs the balance of the Scottifh
commerce with foreign nations, the hard-earned
gains of its manufacturers, traders, and fifhers, be-
fides half a million fterling of the landed property in
fpecie or bills. Thefe annual drains compofe the ba-
lance derived by the greater, from the lefler kingdom,
amounting nearly to one million annually ; befides
the fupplies of cattle, fheep, falmon, linen, and other
valuable articles, for which Scotland takes the pro-
duce or manufactures of England ; befides, alfo, the
powerful afTiftance England receives from Scotland
in feamen and foldiers, whereby ihe hath been en-
abled to combat, and generally to vanquifh, the
greateft maritime force of Europe.
Thus, the importance of the latter kingdom will
appear evident to every perfon who is capable of
judging with candour; and, confequently, the in-
tereft of Scotland will be the intereft of England, fo
long as both nations fhall form one united kingdom.
Upon this ground of National Policy, I had propofed
a more liberal fyftem with regard to improvements,
fifheries, and unproductive taxes, in Scotland j but be-
ing convinced, from fome recent circumftances, and
2. the
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. be
the impotent meafures recommended and propofed to
be brought forward, as the moft effedtual means
of extending and edabliihing thefe fifheries, as
well as the relief of the Highlands, that little is to
be expedted on the principle of Utility to England, I
fhalFtherefore take up the fubject on another ground,
which, for obvious reafons, I had hitherto evaded,
viz. National Juftice> towards the lefTer country, whofe
cafe hath at no time been fairly dated, and whofe
murrnurings, though unknown to theEnglifh nation,
are become truly ferious.
It is necefTary on this head, to take a retrofpeclive
view of the Britifh hiftory, from the aera which gave
rife to the famous flruggle for conqueft on one fide,
and for freedom on the other, towards the clofe of
the i jth century.
Alexander III. king of Scotland, who, as Mr.
Hume obferves, probably inherited, after a period of
800 years, and through a fucceffion of males, the
fceptre of all the Scottilh princes who had governed
the nation fmce the departure of the Romans, loft
his life in 1285, while hunting, without leaving any
male iflue, and without any defendants except
Margaret his grandaughter, who, though an infant
and a female, had, through her grandfather's care,
been recognized fucceflbr, by the dates of Scotland.
Edward I. of England, one of the mod ambitious,
politic, and accomplifhed monarchs of the age, and
whofe whole reign was fpent in fchemes of conqued,
feeing Scotland without a head, immediately laid
hold of the favourable opportunity, of annexing that
kingdom to his already extenfive dominions, by
marriage, or more rough means, as circumftances
might require. He began this great deiign with a
propofal of marriage betweenr his fon Edward, and
the young heirefs of the Scottilh throne, which, not-
withdanding any fufpicions from this alliance on the
part of Scotland, received the fan&ion of the re-
gency, but on fuch terms, and with fuch precaution,
reflecting
x PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
refpe&ing the independency of the kingdom, as re-
flects honour on their memory, and to which Ed-
ward readily aflented in every particular that might
fcrve to quiet their jealoufy, if any did exift; when,
unfortunately, the death of the young princefs put
an end to the amicable alliance, and laid the foun-
dation of a war, which, in duration and bloodfhed,
is fcarcely exceeded in the annals of mankind.
Edward had been trained up in the rudiments of
war, during the civil commotions between his fa-
ther, Henry III. and his rebellious barons. The
latter being fubdued, and peace reftored to the
kingdom, Edward, emulous of military fame, em-
barked for the Holy Land, agreeable to the cuf-
tom of thofe days, where he diftinguifhed himfelf
againft the Saracens, above all the princes of Chrif-
tendom, and returned, foon after the death of his
father, a complete warrior.
His next enterprize was againft the Welch, whom,
after a faint ftruggle, he completely reduced, put
their prince to death, and annexed their country to
the Englifh crown.
Thus, in the zenith of glory, fovereign of Eng-
land, Wales, the greateft part of Ireland, and fome
extenfive provinces in France, he took off the mafk,
and made vigorous preparations for the grand object
of his reign, the conqueft of Scotland, which, had
he effected, would have united the whole ifland un-
der one head -, but that defirable event was referved
for a period at the diftance of j centuries.
The Englifh at this time, had become famous- in
the art of war, particularly archery, in which they
exceeded all Europe, and being alfo powerfully re-
inforced with Welch, Irifh and French auxiliaries,
the whole under the command of the mighty Ed-
ward, they feemed more than fufficient for the con-
queft of a people, now devoted to deftruction, or
fubjedtion to a foreign yoke. There is the olive
branch, and there is the fword, was the alternative
propofed
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xi
propofed by Edward. Many of the Scottifli barons,
forefeeing the calamities which would inevitably
befal their country, by attempting to oppofe a
prince of Edward's difpofition, at the head of the
greateft force in Europe, yielded reluctantly, that
independence which their * anceftors had fo long
and fo ably defended, while others of greater te-
merity, refolved not to outlive the freedom of their
country.
Thus a fmall kingdom became divided againft
itfelf, nearly into two equal parts ; thofe in th<f Eng-
lifh intereft, who afterwards did incredible mifchief
to the kingdom, and thofe who had refolved to fa-
crifice their lives againft that intereft.
This acquifition to the Englifh force rendering
the conteft ftill more unequal, it feemed madnefs in
the extreme to hold out a fingle day, and ftill more
fo, as the Scottifh patriots, as they termed them-
felves, embarked in the defperate caufe, without a
head or general of any experience. The nation had
alfo enjoyed a long feries of peace, during the mild
reigns of Alexander and his immediate predecefTors ;
they were not even provided in arms till they re-
ceived fupplies from the trading cities of Italy, at
the moment when Edward was at their gates. They
foon, however, became expert warriors, under Sir
William Wallace, a perfon of extraordinary ftrength
of body and mind, whom neither promifes nor
threats could fhake from the duty he owed his
country, and who, had he been a Greek or Roman,
would have been celebrated as a hero of the firfl
renown. The independent Scots, thus brought up
in the fchool of adverfity, and inured to incredible
hardfhips, feemed to gain ftrength from every de-
feat, and frequently retaliated the feverities of the
Englifh and the Anglo-Scots; but Edward was not
of a difpofition eafily to relinquish his purpofe, and
being enraged through fhame and difappointment,
he feemed inflexibly determined on a permanent
con qu eft,
xii PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
conqusft, or the extirpation from fea to fca, as he ex-
preffed himfclf, of all thofe who oppofed his arms.
Frefh armies were poured into that unhappy kingdom
on every fide, fupplied by fea with provifions and what-
ever was necefTary for carrying the war to the furtheft
extremities of the ifland, while the Scots now reduced
by endlefs encounters, and ftill more through fa-
tigue and famine, loft their brave commander, who
was taken prifoner, carried in chains to London,
tried, hanged and quartered, without flinching from
his principles, to the laft moment.
The lols of this great man ftruck a damp on the
minds of the independent Scots, who being at the
fame time facrificed by the French, they were taking
leave of their liberties with a parting figh, when
Robert Bruce, of the royal blood of Scotland, flep-
ped forth in the worft of times, colle&ed the dif-
perfed remains of thefe brave men, partook of all
their hardfhips and hair-breadth efcapes, baffled the
efforts of Edward I. II. and III. carried the war
into England, and firmly eftablilhed the indepen-
dency of Scotland, whofe throne hath continued in
his family to the prefent time.
But though the Scots thus bravely regained their
freedom, Edward III. the heroic conqueror of
France, renewed the fatal conteft, for the fuperiority
of Scotland, after the death of Robert Bruce, and
proved a fevere fcourge on that kingdom during the
greateft part of his long reign. At length, all thofe
mighty expeditions, fo ruinous to Scotland, and fo
expenfive and ineffectual to England, ended in a
definitive treaty, whereby the independency of Scot-
land, both in church and ftate, was acknowledged
and ratified by Edward, at Windfor, in 1365; and
thus after a ftruggle, with fome inter millions, of 70
years, the independent Scots withftood the efforts of
3 fucceffive monarchs, who perfonally invaded "the
devoted kingdom 16 different times, befides many
armies and detachments under the command of the
nobles;
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xiii
nobles ; befides alfo, the Anglo-Scots, who redding
chiefly in that kingdom, and knowing all the manoeu-
vres of their opponents, proved a mod defolating
enemy to their country, fcarcely giving or taking
quarter.
But treaties were then, as they are at prefent, only
made to be broke ; and it appears from the moft
authentic records of both kingdoms, and the general
tenor of the fubfequenr. tranfadtions, that the Fng-
lifh monarchs never loft fight of the conqueft of
Scotland by marriage or arms, infomuch that the
latter found it necefTary to cultivate the friendfhip
of France, to whom the Scots proved a faithful and
important ally while the two Britilh kingdoms were
governed by feparate monarchs.
The civil wars, which proved fo hurtful to Eng-
land from the death of Edward III. in 1377, to the
acceflion of Henry VII. in 1485, enabled the Scots
to repair the misfortunes of their country, and to
refume the arts of peace, with fuch vigour, that their
hiftory, from this period till the open renewal of the
Englifh claims by Henry VIII. and the fubfequent
regency, difplays one continued exertion of kings,
barons, dignified clergy, and the royal boroughs, for
the extenfion of commerce, fifheries, and naviga-
tion ; the improvement of lands, promoting litera-
ture, fcience, arts, and whatever tends to the civi-
lization, opulence, and fplendour of kingdoms,
till the fucceffion of James VI. to the crown
of England in 1602, after which event Scotland
became a poor neglected province, fubfervieftt in
all cafes, to the intereft of the greater kingdom, as
will appear from the fequel of tiieir hiftory.
Falling over the fecret intrigues of queen Eliza-
beth, to divide and embroil that country, and the
open robberies of Oliver Cromwell and his foJlow-
. ers, we come to the aera of the revolution in ib88,
a period which united the majority of both kingdoms
in political fentiments, and feemed a prelude to a
clofer
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
clofer connexion. * King William having confirmed
the Prefbyterian eftablifhment in Scotland, and re-
flored peace to a bleeding, impoverifhed country,
the genius of the nation again broke forth, the peo-
ple began to contemplate the benefits of trade, and
to refume the commercial fpirit of their anceftors.
The parliament, now principally compofed of the
whigs, having, in the abundance of their gratitude,
voted liberal fupplies (their then reduced circum-
ftances confidered) of men and money, towards
enabling king William to profecute his foreign wars,
that prince, highly fenfible of the obligation, ordered
the lord commiflioner of Scotland to declare in
parliament, <c That if the members found it would
tend to the advancement of trade, that an act fhould
be paired for the encouragement of fuch as fhould
acquire and eftablifh a plantation in Africa, Ameri-
ca, or any other part of the world where planta-
tions might be lawfully acquired ; that his ma-
jefly was willing to declare, he would grant to the
fubjects of this kingdom, in favour of thefe planta-
tions, fuch rights and privileges as he granted, in
like cafes, to the fubjects of his other dominions."
Many other flattering promifes were added, and the
lord prefident confirmed and enforced all that had
been faid by the commiffioner.
Relying on thefe promifes, the Scottifh nobility
and gentry advanced 400,000!. towards the eflab-
liihment of a company for carrying on an Eaft and
Weft India trade, and 1 200 veterans, who had fer*
ved in king WTilliam's wars, were fent to effect a fet-
tlement on the peninfula of Darien, which lies be-
tween the northern and the fouthern oceans, and
was equally adapted for trading with both the Indies.
The new colony were well received by the na-
tives, and matters began to wear a promifing aipect,
* It is neceflary, for the purpofe of connecting the thread of the
aarrative, to repeat fome pafiages inierted in the work, under
the head of Annals of Scotland.
4 when
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xv
•when the king, on the earned felicitations of the
Englilh and Dutch Eaft India companies, refolved
to gratify the latter at the expence of his Scottifh
fubjects ; and, knowing that the new colony muft
want fupplies of provifions, he fent orders to the
governor of Jamaica, and the Engliih fettlements in
America, to illue proclamations, prohibiting, under
the fevereft penalties, all his majeily's fubjedls from
holding any correfpondence with the Scottifh colony,
or aflifting it in any ftape, with arms, ammunition,
or provifions ; thus the king's heart was hardened
againft thefe new fettlers, whom he abandoned to
their fate, though many of them had been covered
with wounds in fighting his battles.
Thus vanillied all the hopes of the Scottifli nation,
which had engaged in this defign with incredible
alacrity, and with the moft fanguine expectations
that the misfortunes of their country would, by
this new channel of commerce, be completely healed*
The diftreffes of the people, upon receiving
authentic accounts of the fortune of their colony?
fcarcely admit ~ of any defcription. They were not
only difappointed in their expectations of wealth
and a renewal of their commerce, but hundreds^
who had ventured their all, were abfolutely ruined
by the mifcarriage of the defign.
The whole nation feemed to join in the clamour
that was railed againft their fovereign. They taxed
him with double dealing, inhumanity, and bafe
ingratitude, to a people who had lavifhed their trea-
fure and bed blood in fupport of his government,
and in the gratification of his ambition •> and had
their power been equal to their acrimony, in all
probability, the iiland would have been involved in
civil war.
The Scots, after fuch a feries of difafters, dur-
ing the courfe of a whole century, had now nothing
left but their parliament, their nominal indepen-
dence, their frugality, temperance, and induilry.
Internal
xvi PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
Internal peace andfecurity being eftablifhed, it was
itill in their power, by means of thefe advantages, to
reftore their country to its former vigour * and im-
portance. Their predeceflbrs had, in great wifdom,
marked out the line of action, which feems to be
beft fuited to the ftate of the country and the ge-
nius of the people. The lands admitted of great
improvement; the furrounding ocean afforded an
inexhauftible fource of wealth, of which the xm-,
grateful Dutch ftill reaped the benefit ;* they had
a parliament and revenue, to extend and to regu-
late commercial intercourfe with foreign ftates;
patronize manufactures, icience, and ufeful arts ;
to form public roads, and to bring the numerous
detached members of the kingdom nearer to each
other, and to- the centre, by opening canals where
nature feemed to invite their particular attention.
Excife officers, tide-waiters, fupernumeraries, comp-
trollers, collectors, fupervilbrs, commiflioners of the
cuftoms, commiflioners of excife, and other impe-
diments to the wealth of nations, were barely tole-
rated, and little known to the bulk of the people.
As the kingdom lived in ftrict friendfhip with all
its neighbours, neither encroaching, nor being en-
croached upon ; as it had no fubfidies to pay, nor
colonies to protect, there was little occafion for
fleets, armies, or extraordinary fupplies, previous
to the revolution and the expenfive wars carried
on by king William and queen Anne, wherein the
Scots, though they had no concern in thefe diftant
campaigns, contributed a part of the burden. Till
that sera, the Scottifh revenue confided chiefly of
a trifling cefs or land-tax, and an inconfiderable
impoft on a few luxuries, which, being farmed, coil
government nothing in collecting.
* While the Scots were throwing away near half a pillion
fterling, on a fettlement in a burning climate, at the diftance of
4000 miles, their native fliores gave fuccefsful employment to
700 Dutch bufles, befides thole of other nations.
The
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xvii
The articles fubject to duties on importation,
were chiefly French and Spanilh wines, which paid
i\. IQS. per ton; French brandy, tobacco, raifins,
currants, figs, fugar, foap, filks, embroidery, fringes,
laces and points ; ftockings, woollen cloth, (luffs,
flannels, fingrums, linen cloth, thread, &;c.
Under thefe very favourable circumftances, the
Scots had all Europe for a market, and their exports
had generally exceeded their imports. The nation
was, upon the whole, fo well adapted both for in-
land and foreign trade, that, with moderate induf-
try, a fufficient competency might have reached
the inhabitants of every denomination of the peo-
ple, whether on the main land, or amongft the
iilands.
Such were the profpec~b flill in referve for that
exliaufted nation, when king William endeavoured
to foften their refentment by refuming, with afli-
duity, the defirable projed of uniting the two king-
doms in one common intereft, a work which had
often been attempted by the Englifh monarchs, and
as often fruftrated, through the jealouiy of the
Scots, and their unfhaken attachment to their an-
tient royal line.
In all the former propofals offered on that head,
by England, both nations were to remain free and
independent of one another ; each kingdom having
its own parliament, and fubjecl only to fuch taxes,
duties, and commercial regulations, as thofe parlia-
ments fhould judge expedient for the benefit of their
refpedtive ftates. Thefe were the terms held out
by Edward I. and III. and mod of their fucceflbrs ;
and it was under this idea, of a fcederal union, that
the Scots, though now reduced to the loweft abyfs
of national depreffion, were prevailed upon to fend
twenty commifiioners to London, who, with twenty-
three on the part of England, met at Whitehall,
on this great defign, in Oftober, 1702.
b Queen
xviii PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
Queen Anne, who had fucceeded to the crown,
honoured them with a vifit, in order to quicken
their mutual endeavours, but when the Scottilh
commiflioners propofed that the rights and privi-
leges of their company, trading to Africa and the
Indies, fhoulcl be preserved and maintained, fuch a
difficulty arofe as could not be furmounted, and no
further progrefs was made in this commiflion.
In 1706, the bufinefs was refumed, and the
commilTioners met, on the i6th day of April, in
the council chamber at Whitehall. The Scots
were ftill inclined to a foederal union, like that of
the United Provinces, but the Englifh commifli-
oners, or rather the miniftry, were bent upon an
incorporation, fo as that no Scottifh parliament
fhould ever have power to repeal the articles of the
treaty. They declared themfelves fully convinced,
that nothing but an entire union would fettle per-
fect and lading friendfhip between the two king-
doms. The Scots commiflioners made a vigorous
refiftance to the article which fubjefted their coun-
try to the fame cuiloms, excifes, prohibitions, re-
ftriftions, and regulations of commerce, as England;
but the earl of Godolphin, uneafy at any demur,
arid impatient of delay, perfuaded the queen to
pay two vifits in perfon to the board of commif-
iioners, where ilie exerted herfelf with unufual
eagernefs, for their putting the laft hand to a
treaty which Hie represented as eflentially necefTary
to the peace, fecurity, and general welfare of both
kingdoms.
Thefe perfuafions, co-operating with the inde-
fatigable exertions of the duke of Queenfbeny,
at length gained over a majority of the Scots com-
, miffioners, and the remainder reluctantly followed,
excepting Lockart of Carnwath, who never could be
perfuaded either to fign or feal the treaty.
At length, the. articles were finifhed, arranged,
and
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xix
and mutually figned, on the 22d of July, and next
day prefented to her majefty, by the lord keeper, in
the name of the Englifh commiffioners ; while at
the fame time, a fealed copy of the inftrument was
likewife delivered by the lord chancellor of Scot-
land; and each made a ihort oration on the fubjecl:,
to which the queen returned a moft gracious reply.
That fame day me dictated an order of council,
that whofoever mould be concerned in any difcourfe
or libel, or in laying wagers relating to the union,
fhould be profecuted with the utmoil rigour of the
law.
Still, however, the moft difficult part of the bufi-
nefs remained, namely, to obtain a ratification of
thofe article? by the parliament of Scotland. The
promoters of the union had concealed, with the
greateft care, the terms agreed on by the commif-
fioners; and nothing had tranfpired till the whole
treaty was at once laid before the parliament. No
fooner were the articles generally known, than the
whole kingdom was in the utmoft fermentation.
All ranks of people, however divided in civil or
religious fentiments, now united in one general
murmur. The nobility found themfelves degraded
in point of dignity and influence. The barons, or
gentlemen, were exafperated at a coalition, by which
their parliament was annihilated, and their credit
deftroyed. The people in general exclaimed, that
the independency of their nation had fallen a facri-
fice to treachery and corruption : They affirmed
that the obligation laid on the Scottifh members to
refide fo long at London, in their attendance on the
the Britim parliament, would drain Scotland of all
its money, impoverifh the members, and fubjecl: them
to the temptation of being corrupted. The trad-
ing part of the nation lamented the diflblution of
their India company ; and beheld with deep con-
cern, the taxes which this treaty laid upon the necef-
faries of life; the infinity of duties, cuftoms, and
b 2 reftridions
xx PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
reftridions, which it laid upon their hitherto open
.trade with the Levant, France, Spain, Portugal,
the Baltic, Holland, and the Dutch plantations.
They could not conceive how the commerce of
Scotland would pofTibly be advanced by fuch mea-
fures, unlefs it could be proved that commerce,
like the camomile, the more it is opprefled, the
more luxuriant it grows. They confidered the
privileges of trading to the Englifh plantations in
America, as a precarious, and at heft a nugatory
equivalent for the concefTions, both private and na-
tional, which they had made *. Almoft every ar-
ticle of the treaty produced a proteft, and the moft
inflammatory diiputes in the Scottifti parliament.
<c What ! faid the Duke of Hamilton, fhall we in
half an hour give up what our forefathers main-
tained with their lives and fortunes for many ages ?
Are here none of the defendants of thofe worthy
patriots, who defended the liberty of their country
againft all invaders? Where are the DouglafTes and
*• At this time, and long after, the Englifh trade with the Ame-
rican and Weft India colonies bore no proportion to the expence
of keeping and defending them.
In 1706, the amount of the exports was thus :
To Hudfon's Bay - - - £. 958
New England - - 57»°5°
New York - - - 3i»>88
Penfylvania - II»°37
Virginia and Maryland - • - 58,015
Carolina ... 4,001
Exports to America - - 162,649
165,999
60,629
18,895
9'47*
To Jamaica
Barbadoes
Antigua • *
Nevis
Montferrat
St. Chriftopher's
Exports to the Weft-Indies
Sum total to America and the Weft-Indies 429, 287
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxi
Campbells ? Where are the peers, and the batons,
once the bulwark of the nation ? Shall we yield up
the fovereignty and independence of our country,
when we are commanded, by thofe we rcprefent,
to preferve the fame, and allured of tneir afliftance
to fupport us?"
The Lord Belhaven enumerated the miferies
which would attend the union, in a pathetic fpeech
that drew tears from the audience, and is at this
day looked upon as a prophecy by many of the Scot-
tilh nation.
Addrefles againft the treaty were prefented to
parliament by the convention of the royal boroughs,
the commifiioners of the general aflembly, the
company trading to Africa and the Indies, as well
as from fhires, ilewartries, boroughs, towns, and
parifhes, without diftinction of whig or tory, epif-
copalian or prefbyterian.
While the oppofition raged within doors, the
refentments of the people rofe to tranfports of fury,
and revenge. The more rigid prefbyterians recon-
ciled themfelves to the epifcopalians and the ca-
valiers; they chofe officers, formed themfelves into
regiments, provided horfes, arms, and ammunition,
burnt the articles of union, juftified their conduct
in a public declaration, and reiblved to take the
route to Edinburgh, and diflblve the parliament.
During this combuftion, the privy council ifTued
a proclamation againil riots, commanding all per-
ions to retire from the ftreets whenever the drum
fhould beat ; ordering the guards to fire on thofe
who fhould difobey this command, and indemni-
fying them from all profecution for maiming or
flaying the lieges. Notwithstanding thefe precau-
tions of government, the duke of Quenfberry,
though guarded by double lines of horfe and foot,
was obliged to pafs through the ftreets at full gallop,
amidft the curies and imprecations of the people,
b 3 who
xxii PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE;
who pelted his guards, and even wounded fomc of
his friends who attended him in the coach.
Againft all this national fury, the dnke of
Queenibcrry, and other noblemen, attached to the
union and the proteftant fuccefiion, acted with
equal addrefs and refolution. They magnified the
advantages that would accrue to the kingdom from
the union, and argued ftrenuoufly againft all the
objections that were ftarted to the meafure. They
difarmed the refentment of the clergy, by promot-
ing an act to be inferted in the treaty, declaring the
prefbyterian difcipline to be the only government of
the church of Scotland, unalterable in all fucceeding
times, and a fundamental article of the treaty. They
employed emilTaries to allay the ferment among the
Cameronians, and difunitethem from the cavaliers, by
demonftrating the abfurdity, finfulnefs, and danger of
fuch a coalition. They foothed the India company
with the profpedt of being indemnified for the lofles
they had fuftained. They amufed individuals with
the hope of* fharing the reft of the equivalent *$
and finally they brought over the Squadrone Vo-
lante^ a party in the Scots parliament fo denomi-
nated from their fluctuating between the miniftry
and oppofition, through the whole progrefs of the
treaty,
* It was Stipulated in the treaty, that £. 398,085, fhould be
paid to the Scots, as an equivalent for the cuftoms, taxes, and
excifes, to be levied upon that kingdom in coniequence of the
Inglifti debt, which then amounted to more than £. 20,000,000,
though eftimated at 17,000,000.
This equivalent, if it may be fo called, was applied in the fol-
lowing manner :
Firft, to pay off the capital of the Scottifh India company,
which was to be abolilhed in favour of the Englilh company,
trading to the Eaft Indies.
Secondly, to indemnify private perfons for any lofles they might
fuftain, by reducing the coin of Scotland to the ftandard and^
value of the coin of England ; and as generally, reported,
Thirdly, in bribing a majority of the Scottifh parliament, when
matters came to the lafl pufli.
Of
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxiiir
treaty, without attaching themfelves to either fide,
till the critical moment, which was to unite both
kingdoms in a bond of mutual friendfhip, or to
involve them in all the calamities of a civil and re^
ligious war *.
The Squadrone Volante^ by an almoft unexpected
movement, gave the Scottiih minifters a decided
victory, and all oppofition was now in vain.
The articles of the treaty being ratified in par-
liament, with fome trifling variations, the duke of
Queenfberry, on the 25th of March, 1707, finally
dirlblved that antient affembly, and Scotland
ceafed to be a feparate independent kingdom. Its
monarchy was now blended with that of England,
and its parliament agreed to a reprefentation of
fixty-one members, forming a thirteenth part of
the grand legiflative body, and which then compre-
hended 772 members. The duke of Queenfberry,
having thus accomplifhed the great purpofe of the
court, fet out for England, where he was met, near
London, by above forty noblemen in their coaches,
and four hundred gentlemen on horfeback.
The parliament being met, the queen in perfon
told both houfes, that the treaty of union, with
fome additions and alterations, was ratified by an
act of the Scottifh parliament : That me had or-
dered it to be laid before them, and hoped it would
meet with their concurrence and approbation. She
obferved, that now they had an opportunity of put-
ting the lail hand to a happy union of the two
Of the whole equivalent, therefore, only £. 40,000 was left for
national purpofes ; and ib loft to public fpirit, and to all fenfe of
honour, were the reprefentatives of Scotland, three or four no-
blemen excepted, that this balance was fuffered to'lie uielefs in the
Englifli treatury, till the year 1727, when the royal boroughs be-
gan to :;wake out of,their tfupor, and to apply the intereit of the
£. 40,000 towards railing a little fund for improving the manu*
iactures and iiflierics of their country.
* The Englifli troops abroad, and in Ireland, were ordered to
be in readincls to march when called upon.
xxiv PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
kingdoms: and that Ihe fhould look upon it as a
particular happinefs, if this great work, which
had been ib often attempted without fuccefs,
could be brought to perfe&ion in her reign. When
the commons formed thernfelves into a committee
of the whole houfe, to deliberate on the articles,
and the Scottifh act of ratification, the tory party,
which was very weak in that aflembly, began to
flart objections, particularly from the oppofition
made by the Scottiih nation to the treaty.
Sir John Packington difapproved of this incor-
porating union, which he likened to a marriage
with a woman againfl her confent.. He faid it was
an union carried on by corruption and bribery
within doors : by force and violence without : That
the promoters of it had bafely betrayed their truft,
in giving up their independent conflitution ; and he
would leave it to the judgment of the houfe, to
confider, whether or no men of luch principles were
fit to be admitted into their houfe of reprefentatives.
Soon after, the debates concerning the union
began in the houfe of lords, the queen being pre-
fent, when lord Haveriham, in a premeditated ha-
rangue, faid the queftion was, whether two nations,
independent in their fovereignties, that had their
diftinct laws and interefts, their different forms of wor-
fhip, church government, and order, fhould be united
into one kingdom. He fuppofed it an union made up
of fo many mifmatched pieces •, of fuch jarring in-
congruous ingredients, that fhould it ever take effect,
it would carry the necefiary confequences of aftanding
power and force, to keep them from fallingafunder, and
breaking in pieces every moment. He took notice,
that above a hundred Scottifli peers, and as many com-
moners, were excluded from fitting and voting in par-
liament, though they had as much right of inheri-
tance to fit there, as any Fnglifh peer had of fit-
ting in the parliament of England. He affirmed
that the union was contrary to the fenfe of the
Scottifh nation ; That the murmurs of the people
had
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxv
had been fo loud as to fill the whole kingdom ; and
fo bold as to reach to even the doors of the parlia-
ment : That the parliament itfelf had fufpended
their beloved claufe in the aft of fecurity for arming
the people : That the government had ifiued a
proclamation, pardoning all (laughter, blpodfhed,
and maiming committed upon thofe who fhould
be found in tumults. From thefe circumftances he
concluded, that the Scottifh nation was averfe to
an incorporating union, which he looked upon as
one of the moft dangerous experiments to both
kingdoms.
Thefe, and fimilar arguments and objections, were
ably anfwered by a great majority in both houfes,
among whom were, the lords Godolphin, Sun-
derland, Wharton, Townfhend, Hallifax, and
Somers -, the bifhops of Oxford, Norwich, and
Sarum : and the two independent nations of England
and Scotland, were, on the ift day of May, 1707,
unalterably united, under the name of The United
Kingdom of Great Britain.
The whigs promoted the treaty with fuch zeal,
that it made its way through both houfes with the
greatefl difpatch : and when it received the royal
afTent, the queen exprefled the higheft fatisfaction.
She faid, cc fhe did not doubt but it would be re-
membered and fpoke of hereafter, to the honour of
thofe who had been inftrumental in bringing it to
fuch a happy conclufion. She defired that her
fubjedts of both kingdoms fhould, from hencefor-
ward, behave with all poflible refpect and kindnefs
towards one another, that fo it might appear to all
the world they had hearts difpofed to become one
people."
The id of May was appointed as a day of pub-
lic thankfgiving ; and congratulatory addrefTes were
lent up from all parts of England, excepting the
univerfity of Oxford. The Scots were wholly filent
on the occafion.
Thus, the apprehenfions of a popifh fuccefiion,
operating
xxvi PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
Operating upon the minds of the whigs in both
kingdoms, united them in fentiments, and contri-
buted effentially to that great, defirable, and ne-
ceflary event, of a political union between two nations
formed by nature, and various concurrent circum-
fiances, to be one people.
The majority of both kingdoms were, however,
of opinion, that the treaty would produce violent
convulfions, or at beft prove ineffectual ; but the
experience of feventy-feven years hath fhewn the
contrary : in many refpects the union hath been pro-
ductive of the mod happy confequences, and a
common blefTmg to the whole ifland.
It fecured the conftitution, religion, and laws,
on the moft permanent foundation •, and it gave a
vigour to the Britilh arms by fea and land, which
attracts the admiration of mankind in every quarter
of the world.
The infnrmountable obftacles to an effectual
permanent union, which in the opinion of fome
members, would arife from the different ecclefi-
aftical eftablifhments and forms of law, confirmed
to both countries by the treaty, have vanifhed in
the experiment. No inconveniency hath been felt,
or injury fuftained therefrom. On the contrary,
the conftitution and laws of Scotland feem to be
approximating gradually to thofe of England.
Vaffallage, that difgrace to hurrianity, hath been
partly abolilhed at the defire of the beft patriots of
Scotland ; and many beneficial amendments have
been made in the mercantile and bankrupt laws> at
the joint reqneft of the traders in both kingdoms.
Though no conformity is likely to take place be-
tween the ecclefiaftical eftablilliments of England
and Scotland, the religious controverfies, which for-
merly agitated both nations, have quietly fubfided.
When the revolution put an end to compulfory
meafures, and pretended fuperiority, all acrimony
ceafed 5 the phrenzy of religious intolerancy gra-
dually
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. *Xvii
dually difappeared, and hath been happily fuo
ceeded by that liberal fpirit which is the characteriftic
of genuine Chriftianity. The fruits of thefe difpo-
fitions are vifible in the harmony, the epiftolary
correfpondence, and the mutual good offices be-
tween the clergy of both countries.
Thus far the good effects of the union have dif-
appointed the enemies to that meaiure, and exceeded
the moft fanguine expeditions of its friends. But
to give permanency to treaties, it is neceffary that
they fhould be conftru&ed on the folid bafis of reci-
procal benefit, in all pofiible cafes. It cannot, how-
ever, be imagined, that a compact, which was to
consolidate two independent nations in one common
intereft, could at once be adjufted with fuch admir-
able fitnefs, as to preclude the expediency, or even
the necefiity of amendment, in fome of its confti-
tuent parts.
That period of time which hath fo happily efta-
blifhed the many benefits flowing to both nations
fmce the ratification of the treaty, ierves alfo to point
out the defective parts, the caufes, and the remedy.
The project of an union had been a capital object
in the politics of queen Anne's miniftry, which was
compofecl of the ableft ftatefmen, without exception,
that ever managed the affairs of England. Thefe
minifters, therefore, as an introductory ftep to this
important work, procured, after fome opposition, an
act of the Scottifh parliament, authorifmg the queen
to nominate (inftead of the parliament) the commif-
fioners for Scotland, who were to fettle the terms of
the union with thofe for England, confifting of the
miniftry and their friends, named alfo by the queen.
This point gained, the Englifh commifiioners
found lefs difficulty in bringing the treaty to a final
conclufion, in the moft effential parts, upon their
their own terms.
They were not only able ftatefmen, but, for the
moft part, well (killed in the fcience of trade, which
gave
xxviii PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
gave them a manifeft advantage 'over the Scottilh
commiilioners, who confifted of lords and gentle-
men of no commercial knowledge.
The latter were careful, however, to preferve all
their heritable offices, fuperiorities, jurifdi&ions,
and other privileges and trappings of the feudal ari-
ftocracy. But on the grand objects, which were to
give the turn or caft to national profperity, they were
greatly over-matched.
Had the Englifh commifTioners, feeing the fmaller
kingdom thus circumftanced, and its caufe in the
hands of men lefs qualified for the talk, made a libe-
ral ufe of thofe advantages, their country would have
reaped tenfold benefits therefrom ; but it was referved
for a later period, to make that important difcovery
— cc Enrich your cuflomers, and they will enrich
you."
The Englifli commifTioners, in negociating with
• a ruined kingdom, were influenced by the then
narrow, fhort-fighted principle of commercial mo-
nopoly ; and the confequences were fuch as might,
with a fmall degree of reflection, have been fore-
feen.
Inftead of a folid compact, affording, upon the
whole, reciprocal advantages, and which it would
have been the inclination as well as intereft of both
nations to preferve inviolate, the conceilions on the
part of Scotland, and the restrictions to their trade,
were fo quickly, and fo feverely felt, that about the
fixth year after the ratification of the treaty, the
fixteen peers, who firft reprefented Scotland in the
upper houfe, though moft of them had been the
fupporters of adminiftration in promoting the union,
unanimoufly moved for its diffolution. A warm
debate followed upon this motion, in which John
duke of Argyle bore a confidcrable lhare, but the
motion was over-ruled by the Englifh peers, and
from thenceforward the Scots fubmitted, reluct-
antly, to their fate.
Of the nobility, a v considerable number facrificed
their
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxir
their dignity, and their independency, to the nod of
a minitter who boafted that every man had his
price i others, in fallen defpondency, betook them-
ielves to the comforts of the bottle j and a fmall
number enjoyed the hope of great matters to be
brought forth at? St. Germains, in favour of the pro-
fcribed family.
The metropolis, having no manufactures, now
beheld itfelf deprived of its only fupport, by the
tranflation of the parliament to London. The
trading towns pined under the duties and reftridtions
laid upon their commerce. The whole kingdom,
after fo many fatal difafters, feemed completely
ruined beyond recovery, and all degrees of men funk
under the weight of thefe complicated misfortunes.
Had any of the Malcolms, the Alexanders, or the
James's, arofe at this time from the dead, they
would have imagined that fome enemy, more bar-
barous than the Danes, had over-run their antient
kingdom, demolifhed its churches, and caftles ; en-
ilaved its nobility, checked its fifheries, and tranf-
ferred its commerce.
Thefirft fruits of the treaty, in Scotland, was a
board of cuftoms, and another of excife, with
the appointment of commifiioners,, collectors,
furveyors, fupervifors, waiters, gaugers, and all
other necefTary officers, who were immediately
diftributed over the fcveral fea-ports, and difbricts of
the nation.
In many parts they were roughly ufed, particu-
larly the excife officers; and in the Orkneys, the
officers were fo frightened by the country people,
that for fome time, the bufmefs was obliged to be
poftponed.
In 1708, there was a warm debate in the grand
committee of the houfe» of lords, occafiohed by a
bill patted by the commons, and fent to their lord-
fhips, for rendering tbe union of the two kingdoms
more entire and complete, whereby it was enacted,
" That, from the ift of May, 1708, there fhould
be
xxx PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
T>e but one privy council in the kingdom of Great-
Britain," which being carried by fifty againft forty,
the privy council of Scotland was abolifhed, and
the nation being deprived of this laft fragment of
their antient government, the oppofers of the union,
raifed the animpfities of the people to a dangerous
height, but the ferment abated after an ineffectual
attempt of the Jacobites in favour of the pretender.
In 5713, the Scottifh peers and commons pro-
pofed to diffolve the union, but when the motion was
put to the vote, in the houfe of peers, it was over-
ruled.
During the debates on this fubject, the earl of
Peterborough endeavoured tq prove the impofli-
bility of diflblving the union* which he compared
to a marriage that, being once contracted, could not
be diffolved by any power on earth. He obferved,
cc That though England, who in the national mar-
riage muft be fuppofed to be the hufband, might
in fome inftances have been unkind to the lady, yet
fhe ought not prefently to fue for a divorce." The
earl of Hay replied, " That marriage was an ordi-
nance of God 5 and the union, no more than a poli-
tical expedient." To which the earl of Peterborough
again anfwered, That cc the contract could not
have been made more folemn, unlefs, like the ten
commandments, it had come from heaven."
The duke of Argyle ".owned that he had a
great lhare in making the union, with a view to
fecure the proteftant fuccefllon, but he was now
fatisfied this end might be anfwered as effectually
if the union was diffolved 5 and, if this ftep fhould
not be taken, he did not expect long to have either
, property left in Scotland, or liberty in England."
Some other peers of Scotland feconded his grace,
faying, cc That the union was intended to cultivate
amity and friendfhip between the two nations, but
was fo far from having that effect, that they were
fure the animofities between the two countries
were
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxxi
were then much greater than before the union ; and
therefore they were of opinion, that if the union
was diflblved, the two nations would be better
friends/'
Addrefies were now prepared in different parts
of Scotland againft the union, and the people were
proceeding to extremities, when a fecond attempt of
the pretender on thefe kingdoms, in 1715, di-
vided the people fo effectually as to fave this ob-
noxious treaty once more from impending diflb-
lution ; and from this time, we hear of no further
commotions excited by the union, though it was
generally confidered as a national grievance.
In 1718, The merchants of Glafgow, who had
hitherto carried on fome trade with Virginia and
Maryland, by means of chartered fhips from
Whitehaven, now fitted out the firft vefTel of Glaf-
gow property, that had crofTed the Atlantic.
In 1720, the Scots attempted to eftablifh a
fifhery company, and fome fubicriptions were made
for that purpofe; but as fuch company muft have
clafhed with the intereft of the Dutch, who were
then in high favour at court, the project fell to the
ground.
Some faint eflays were made for eftablifhing
woollen and linen manufactures, but they were fo
poorly fupported, that they mifcarried.
In 1725, the people thought themfelves totally
abandoned, and none were more difcontented than
the prefbyterians in the weft. They had expected
great things from their fteady attachment to revo-
lution principles, but found themfelves involved in
the general poverty and difcredit into which the
nation had fallen. Their want of trade and manu-
factures difabled them from paying the taxes then
exifting; and their difcontents being heightened
by the report of an additional malt tax, the popu-
lace of Glafgow, armed with clubs and (laves, rifled
the houfe of Mr, Campbell, their reprefentative in
4 parlia-
xxxli PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
parliament, who had Voted for the bill, and about
20 perfons were killed or wounded by the military.
The feverity Ihewn to the people of Glafgow,
where the ftrength of the government intereft chiefly
lay, gave a check to the diforders which the malt
tax had excited in other parts of the kingdom. It
was fo fenfibly felt in Scotland, that the royal
boroughs prefented a remonftrance againft it, as a
grievous burden which their country could not
bear ; and petitions to the fame effect, were deli-
vered to the reprefentatives in the houfe of com-
mons, from different (hires of that kingdom ; but
neither the petitions, nor the remonftrances, of an
impoverifhed country, could procure the fmalleft de-
viation from the rigorous conditions of the union,
however expedient, juft, or humane. It was in
vain for the people to urge the general decay of
trade, the want of manufactures, the univerfal po-
verty and wretched nefs of their once happy country.
The miniftry, refting on their influence over the
Scottifh peers and commoners, heard with indiffer-
ence, the complaints of indigence, and the calls of
hunger. Not one generous or liberal fentiment had
ever been extended to the great body of the people.
Such was the condition of the northern part of this
ifland, at a period when the commerce, manufac-
tures, and wealth of the fouthern part had increafed,
and were increafmg with aflonifhing rapidity.
The revenue of England had increafed in a
proportionable degree. In Queen Elizabeth's
reign, it amounted to £.188,197 ; in the reign
of George II. it rofe to ^.10,000,000, while the
taxes which -were impofed on Scotland, at the
latter period, with fuch • rigour, and raifed with
fuch difficulty, fcarcely defrayed the falaries of the
cornmiffioners, clerks, and' fubordinate officers,
on the revenue eftablifhment. Since, therefore,
the public derived no benefit from a pitiful re-
venue, thus fqueezed from the vitals of a people
who
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, xxxiii
could with difficulty procure the neceflaries
of life, fome relaxation in this particular, and a
diminution of the expences, would have been fen-
fibly felt, and warmly acknowledged by a grateful
nation. And further, had the miniftry, inftead of
lavifhing the public money among the Scottifbf
members, applied thefe fums to purpofes of na-
tional improvement ; commerce and fifh cries would
again have flouriflied, nor would it have been
necefTary to apply to government, at a diftant
period of near eighty years, for the means of
cutting a paffage through fo fmall a tract as five
miles, or of deepening a few miles of water. This
fcrupulous adherence in the miniftry to the fpirit
of a treaty which evidently contributed to en-
rich one part of die ifland at the expence of the
other part, did not proceed merely from a parfi-
monious fyftem relative to Scotland, but alfo
from a total neglect of that country, and a fettled
indifference to the interefts thereof. Some trifling
funds, the exclufive property of that kingdom, and
which had been fet apart for its improvement, were
fuffered, as hath been mentioned, to lie ufe-
lefs in the exchequer for a number of years. At
length, the convention of the royal boroughs, per-
ceiving the miferat>le fituation into which their
country had fallen, and the inattention of government
to its relief, held feveral conferences on the fubject;
and, in February 1725-6, unanimoufly refolved
to addrefs the king and parliament, that the monies
fettled by law for encouraging manufactures might
be folely applied to that purpofe, in fuch manner as
fhould appear to them moil effectual.
An act of parliament now directed the application
of the funds to the feveral purpofes for which they
were defigned, and appointed twenty-one Commijjion-
ers, who were entruited with' the management of
the fame, and other matters relative thereto,
xx*iv PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
Here we perceive fome glimmerings of public
fpirit, and national exertion, but the funds were
fo extremely inadequate to the great purpofes of
improvement, that no general folid benefit could
be expected from this inftitution, however judicious
in its proceedings. It was a name without a fub-
flance 3 or, at beft, afforded only a faint ray of
hope. Three or 4000!. may embelliih and improve
a country town or borough, but if circulated amongft
1,300,000 indigent people, it lofes its effect ; de-
ceives the induftrious part of the community, whom
it ought to comfort ; affords no ftimulus for inge-
nuity, or affiftance in any plans of general or local
utility*
In 1736, The importation duties and cuftoms
levied in Scotland, by virtue of the union, with
the accumulating fees to officers, had drawn the
attention of the decayed ports and creeks of the
kingdom, to the practice of fmuggling. This illicit
trade having increafed to an alarming degree, it was
refolved, that all the rigours of the law fhould be
enforced againft a fmuggler, then under fentence of
death, in the metropolis, when a dangerous commotion
happened amongft the citizens, in which it is gene-
rally fuppofed, many perfons of fuperior rank were
fecretly engaged.
In 1740, the whole Shipping of Edinburgh and
Leith, confifted of
i Veffel of — 1 80 tons.
40 from 100 to — 1 6
47 veffels carrying — 2628
Theie veffels carried on a petty trade with Lon-
don, Holland, and the Baltic ; as did the other
€aftern ports, by means of a few barks and (loops.
Some
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxxv
Some attempts had been made by Aberdeen, Dum-
fries, Air, and other towns, towards a plantation
trade, but they proved abortive, through the po-
verty of the adventurers, and the nation. Glafgow,
therefore, enjoyed this trade exclufively, in Scot-
land; and in 1735, the whole Dipping of that city
confifted of
. 15 vefTels trading to Virginia
3 m Bofton
4 Jamaica
2 Antigua
2 St. Kitts
i • Barbadoes
4 • The Streights
1 . Gibraltar
7 Stockholm
2 r— Holland
6 1 . London
47 foreign traders
20 fmall coaflers
67 veffels carrying 5,600 tons
Tonnage of the whole Scottifh commerce, previous
to the war 1740, viz.
Edinburgh and Leith 2,628
Glafgow • 5,600
The collective tonnage of all the other^
ports is eftimated high in fuppofmg it I
equal to one half of the tonnage em- j 4>JI4
ployed in the above-mentioned towns J
12,342
While the average tonnage of Englifln
ihipping, in 1736, 7, 8, as appears I g
by the ledger of the mfpector gene- |
ral, amounted to J
Carried over 476^941
C 2
xxxvi PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
Brought forward 476,941
Tonnage of foreign fhips loaded in-i
England " — — )
Being in the proportion of 40 to i
. In I745> fome difaffedted chieftains in the High-
lands, encouraged by the poverty and difcontents of
the nation, entered heartily into the caufe of the
pretender, who in his manifeitoes promifed to dif-
iblve the treaty of union, but the preftjyterians, and
the nation in general, remained firm to the prefent
government.
This rebellion being quelled, and peace refiored
at home and abroad, the benefits of the American
commerce began to raife the fpirits of the nation,
though that trade was ftill confined to Glafgow and
its neighbourhood. Thefe bright profpecls were,
however, of fhort duration : the American war not
only deprived that city of the only commercial benefit
which Scotland reaped from the union, but alfo its
property due by the Americans, to a great amount;
and three-fourths of the fhipping, which fell into the
hands of the enemy, many of them with valuable
cargoes.
In 1776, America prohibited all intercourfe with
Great Britain; and, in 1783, their independency
was acknowledged by the treaty of peace. In
confequence of this event, the exclufive trade to
thofe provinces, which the Scots had dearly pur-
chafed at the union, vanifhed ; while other nations
now enjoy greater privileges in that quarter, than
the inhabitants of Britain.
In 1780, the Englifh miniftry admitted Ireland
to a free trade with the Weft Indies, though the ex-
clufive commerce to thefe iflands had alfo been pur-
chafed by the Scots, in the fame treaty.
Though the nation were thus deprived of their
hereditary rights, for which they had abolifhed their
parliament, their trading company, and taken upon
themfelves
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, xxxvii
themfelves their proportion of England's debts, then
contracted ; they were now burdened with extra-
ordinary taxes, excifes and duties, without any con-
fideration being made for the lofs of America, and
the admitting Ireland to participate in the Weft
India commerce, by which England made her peace
with that kingdom, partly at the expence of Scot-
land, who lofes proportionally to what Ireland gains,
by this donation.
Under thefe deprefiing circumftances, the fpirited
inhabitants of the city of Glafgow, directed their re-
maining capital towards new channels, chiefiy ma-
nufactures of cottons, linens, and other denomina-
tions; but while thefe were in their infancy, and be-
fore the traders had eftablifhed a regular correfpon-
dence in this line, fome enemies to government, and
to the profperity of both kingdoms, fuggefted the
idea of heavy excifes upon every fpecies of thofe
branches. Thus, while England was, with one hctnd,
-depriving the Scottifh nation of the fruits of their
purchafe, fhe was taxing them, with the other hand,
as if the fame right had exifted, in equity, fo to do.
Commotions and murmurings have confequently
pervaded the whole kingdom; every man complains
of thofe burdens which lie heavieft, declaring his in-
ability to fupport himfelf and family under iucK ac-
cumulated contributions. Manufactures, fait, can-
dles, even the fmall half-ftarved horfe, and the
paltry cart, are fubject to the fame taxes, as thofe of
greater magnitude, in ufe over England.
Almoft equally diftreffing are the impofitions of
cuftom-houfe officers, which, under various names
and pretences, they had carried to fuch a height, as
muft have nearly annihilated the river navigation,
and greatly cramped the coafting trade, had not
the royal boroughs awoke from their fupinenefs, and
put a check to this iniquitous bufmefs.
Having thus ftated the account between both
kingdoms for thefe laft 500 years, the candid Eng-
4 liili
xxxviii PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
lifh reader will acknowledge the Equity of relaxing
in the article of taxation in Scotland, being the only
reparation which England can make for the lofs of
America, and the conceflion to Ireland j without
taking into the account, the deftructive wars of
the Edwards and Henries, the intrigues of queen
Elizabeth, the plunders by Cromwell's army,
or the facrifice of the Darien fettlement : and it
muft afford a pleafmg reflection to every friend
of both kingdoms, when he confiders that what
lhall be granted or remitted by England, on the
principle of juftice, will be repaid ten-fold, and
through a thoufand channels, by her induftrious
fellow fubjects, fo foon as the whole nation fliall be
put into action. In this view, therefore, Juftice is
only another word for Utility, or expediency, by
which England may be greatly benefited. Nor will
any indulgence refpecting taxes in Scotland, be
found fo prejudicial to the public revenue, as
may, on the firfl view, be imagined. Though imme-
diately ori figningthe articles of union, the whole king-
dom of Scotland was over-run with revenue officers,
the grofs produce of excifes and duties did little more
than defray the expence of collecting and management.
The new boards of cuftoms and excife alone ab-
forbed a confiderable part of what their inferiors
were employed in collecting. In fact, there were
no fources from which to draw a revenue } no manu~
factures, and fcarcely any fhipping beyond coaflers
and coal veffels. Even fo late as the commencement
of the laft war, the neat revenue of Scotland was
found, upon an average of 3 years, ending iri i773>
to be only 163,598!. in the collecting and manage-
ment of which, the people were burdened with
43,253!. The excifes and cuiloms have increafed
fmce that time •, but, when we confider the nature of
the articles which have been thus re-taxed, there will
be no great realbn to boaft of an increafmg revenue.
They confift chiefly ojf duties or excifes on fait, candles,
infant manufactures, farmers horfes, carts, and other
articles^
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxxk>
articles, which the people"5 declare they cannot pay.
But the moft extraordinary circumftance in the hif-
tory of the Scottifh revenue is this ; that though the
Highland counties, viz. Argyle, Invernefs, Rofs>
Sutherland, Caithnefs, the Orkney and Shetland,
iflands, compofing one half of the kingdom, have
been faddled with collectors of revenue fince the
union; yet it appears, that infteadof any public ad-
vantages therefrom, government have actually been
lofers by it.
In 1782, the grofs produce of cuf- 1 g ^
toms in thefe 6 counties was J
Expences 3105 n 7
Excefs of payments made good from ^
other ports, and lofs to govern- I 535 1 8 8
ment — —
And that the grofs amount of ex-1
cife in thefe counties in 1782, > 2696
was — —
And tlie expences __. 1449
£. 1246 1 6 6
From which deduct the lofs upon > ~
the cuftoms, as above flated )
£• 710 i? 10
Neat annual revenue of late years ; but if we
could ftate the whole grofs revenue from 1707 to the
prefent time, and the per contra expence in collect-
ing and management, it would probably appear,
that government have loft confiderably by thofe
counties fince the union of the two kingdoms, the
land-tax excepted ; while the poor people have been
laid under double contributions during this long
period, merely to fupport a fet of men in idlenefs.
Upon the whole, the revenue of Scotland is little
more than a name; nor can it beotherwile for fever
m
xl PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
ral ages, without endangering the tranquillity of the
ifland ; neither do I perceive, in the whole circle of
Britiih politics, any meafure that will contribute fo
eflentially to the harmony, profperity, and ftrength of
thefe kingdoms, as the remiffion of revenue from
Scotland, the land-tax, and fuch duties and excifes
as may be neceilary for the regulation of trade with
England, excepted.
. Let the annual drain from Scotland, by its parlia-
mentary reprefentatives, &c. amounting to 6oo,oool.
the balance of trade again ft that country, amounting
to 300,000!. and the revenue arifmg from Englifh
goods confumed in Scotland, be placed to its credit
account, and the idea of extorting further drains in
the prefent (late of the kingdom, faddled alfo with
the expence and fees of officers, will appear impoli-
tic to every man who ihall inveftigate the fubjecl:, as
a citizen of the world.
Thefe matters are ftated more fully in the courfe
of the work, where it is alfo propofed that the neat
revenue arifing from the land-tax, regulating duties
and excifes, may be folely appropriated to the im-
provenaent of that Iong-negle6ted country, whereby
it would, in this refpect, be put on a footing with
England, and with Ireland, where millions have
been expended on works of national utility.
Should thefe thoughts meet the approbation of
the public, the objects which feem to claim the firft
attention, are,
1. To open a communication from Lochfrne to
the Weft Sea, by Loch Crinan.
2. To raife, at lead, one fmall market- town on
the weft-coaft of the main land.
3. To erect lighthoufes, beacons, and buoys.
4. To open carriage- roads in the North High-
lands, between the two feas.
5. To cleanfe, deepen, or repair decayed har-
bours, extend new ones ; and,
Laftly, To grant fuch bounties on buiTes and boats,,
as may enable the Scottifli filhers to go to market
on equal terms with Ireland, Sweden, and Norway.
CO N T E N T S
O F
V. O L. I.
PREFACE Page m
Preliminary Difcourfe to the Third Edition - • • • • 3\\
General View of the Britiih Empire
Introduction • • • JL
Skftch of the Britijb Politics and Wars from the Revolution to
the fear 1784, including the Origin and Progrefs of the
•national Debt — Difmembertnent, and rapid Fall of the Em-
pire-— Perilous Situation of Government^ and the Nation in
general — War the CauJ'e of our ovjn DiftreJJes, and thofc
which we have brought upon a conjiderable Part of Mankind 4
Review of 'the 'Colonies and Settlements which ft ill compnfe a Part
of the Britijb Empire, with an Eftimate of their Exports
and Imports, to, and from, England, Alfo, our Exports
and Imports, to, and from, the revolted Colonies J 3
Relative Situation of Great Britain and France, in Climate,
Sail, Extent of 'Territory, Commerce, Revenue, and other
Particulars. — INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS recommended,
as affording new Sources of Strength and Revenue, whereby
the Mother Country will be enabled to retain its Settlements,
and extend and protect its Commerce ... . . . . . . . 20
Annals of Scotland - • • • •« • • 58
Commercial EJlabliJhments • — ' ' 8 1 *'
Prefent State of Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce 8£
Of the various ClaJJesand Degrees of People in the Lowlatidsy
and their Propenjity for the manufactures of England. 86
Scotland, the moft valuable Nurfery of Seamen in the Briti/h
Empire, England exccptcd — — • 89
Scotland conjidered,as a commercial Nation, and its great im-
portance to England in that View. Some Propofals for a
more liberal Syftcm of Policy relative to Scotland, -with con-
jetturalEftimatcs of the beneficial Confluences which would
flow therefrom, to the whole JJland. • •> , , , . gj
(Commercial Advantages and Privileges enjoyed by Ireland,
compared with the prefent State of Scotland. • 100
d A View
CONTENTS.
A View of the Highlands, including the Hebride,
Orkney, and Shetland Iflands.
Divijions and Face of the Country . — 118
The Manners of the Highlanders .informer Times 130
The Character of t!y modern Highlanders^ and their Qualifi-
cations for the Arts of civil Life, as well as thofe of War* 133
Comparative State of the Highlands, and the Northern Coun-
tries of Europe, in refpeffi <f Towns, Commerce and Navi-
The Produce of the Highlands ly Sea and Land 141
Hiftory of Filh, and the Fifheries.
OfFiJb - -- -- 153
Oftbe'-FiJheriet - '• - ». • - — . - 162
Migration of the Herrings • - • .. 171
Re-view of the Herring Fijhcries - . - 175
The Shetland, or Northern Fijhcry - - *- - 1 7 <;
Of the Eaftern Fijheries ' - > — - ' 188
OftheWeficrnFiJherics, including a Review of the Re gula-
•> tions, as the Lavs now ftavds, with their Operations and
Ejfefls upon the Fijbcrics, andthofc concerned therein. Alfo,
a Retrofpeft into the Proceedings of the Comrnljjioncrs of the
.Revenue in -Scotland ; their Interpretation of the Law in
C rertain Cafes ; and the Fees tmpofed en the Fijhcries ; with
other Particulars. - ^- 1^7
Of the 'Non-payment of the Bounty - 1 97
Of the »Timc of Clearing Out - - • - • 204
Of the Places of Rendezvous -^ - 208
Of the Delays, Dangers, and Lojjl's arijing from the Pajfage
;' * 'by the Mull of Cant ire • - — ' - 2 1 1
Of tbc'Reftriflion which prohibits lh» BuJJes from purchajing
Herfings from the Highland E oats - - — — ~- - — 214
Of the Reftraints rcfpetting the Irijh Fijhery, ly the Commif- •
fioners of the Cufloms at Edinburgh, contrary to the Siattite 2 20
Fees cxaftedby the Revenue Officers — Expenfivc Joitrnies, and
Attendances of the Owners ofBuJfis^, to, and at the Cuftom-
^ with other Particulars • • - •— 224
Importance of the fircflcrn Bufs Fijhcry — Difficulties of the.
Adventurers, arijing from natural Canfcs — Expediency of
incrcajing the Bountyr*-Plan of a Bounty per Barrel on Fiji)
taken, impracticable — -A Boat Fijhcry recommended — The
' • — — • — 226
CONTENTS.
JLxpences of a VeJJel of Sixty Tons Burden, fitted out as aBvfc
for the White Herring Fijkery - 233
An Account of the Number of Ruffes fitted out in Scotland f mm
the Tear 1750 to the Tear 1783, both incluji-jc, with the
Amount of their Tonnage, Number of Men, and the Barrels
' of Herrings taken. Extracted from the Ciijlom-lloufe
Books at Edinburgh — 2 3 3
A Table refpcSlinv the Operation of the no<w exifting J>o:i>i*v
Laws on the Hebride IJles, and the We/iern Shores in general 255
A Table giving fame Idea ho~jo far the Royal Naw, the Reve-
' nuc, and other important blatters of public Concern will alfo
be afefted, Jhould the Bufs Fijbcry be abandoned • 236
Of the Weftetn Boat FiJJyery — — — 241
Of the Herring Fijbcries by Foreigners, on the Shores o* Britain
and the Continent ; particularly the Dutch, with their Me-
thod of curing and pack — • -« 2 5 £
Injlruflions by the Magijlrates of Rotterdam, to be obferved by
the Labourers employed in lifting Herrings out of the JJar-
rcls,- and bringing them to the packing Tubs (called by them
Werpers) — — — — 261
Injlruftions by the Magift rates of Rotterdam, to be obfer'vedby
the Packers and Upjillers of Herrings —~ 263
Inftru&ionsbythe.*Magiftrates of Rotterdam to the Servants af*
tending their Herring Cellars ( named by them Plaatjkncgten ) 267
Inftniftions for the Coopers andDaunters or Springers of Her-
rings — — — — 270
Copy of a Letter from Lerwic, Capital of the Shetland IJles,
March 9, 1785 — — — 272
Extract of a Letter from Scotland, May 10, 1785 — 275
Of the SvjediJJi, Norway, Danify, Prujjian, Flemijh and
French Fineries — — — 280
Of the Engtijh Herring Fijheries — — 281
Of the Englfi White ^Jberics — — — 287
Of the Irijh Herring Fisheries — — 310
Of the Irijh White Fi/heries — 316
Table of Bounties, Premium^ and Drawbacks, for the En-
couragement of the Irijlj Fijheries in Europe and America ;
alfo the Premiums allowed by the Dublin Society — 321
Heads of a Bill for further regulating and encouraging the
, March 1785 32;
A View of the Scottifh White Fifheries.
Introduction •
Of the Efijlcrn Fijhery .
Of the Shetland Fijhery
Of the Hf bride or North-Weft FiJIxry
CONTENTS.
Mxtraft of a Letter from a Mercantile Company at
Otf. u, 1784 - - 34*
— from the principal Merchants and Adventurers in
Port Glafgow - - - 34S
»-' fromfundry Papers relative to toe Fijhcries^jignedby
the Magijlratcs aud Adventurers in Rothfay •• • 346
• ..... • of a Letter jlgned by the Magijlrates and principal
Adventurers in Campbdtown • 347
E" • from the Report of a praftical FiJJjer in Stranrawcr 347
Of tie Seal, Bajking Shark, and Sea Dog Fijheries - 351
Whales of the larger and lejfcr Species — • 357
Jlccount of the Bounties, Premiums^ and Drawbacks or De-
bentures^ granted by Parliament for the Encouragement of
the Britiflj Fijheries previous to 1785 - - - • 358
Premiums given by the Board of friiftees at Edinburgh 358
f^levj of the refpeflive Fijherics, giving the Average Exports
at different Periods ; and the Number of F'fJJels in the White
and Herring Fijheries^ in Anfwer to Dr. Smith 361
Review of the Markets for Herrings^ vjithfome Propofals,
vj hereby the Sale may be extended. — FJlimates of the Sale of
Fiji) in general, and the Number of People that may be
employed in that Branch^ providing Government Jhall
tfford a liberal Aid • . • •' • - 371
GENERAL VIEW
OF THE
BRITISH EMPIRE.
IMMODERATE ambition, the love of empire,
or the thirft of wealth, have moft generally in-
fluenced the councils of nations, whether civilized,
or in a ftate of rude barbarianifrn. To fuch ignoble
motives is owing that endleis feries of wars, devafta-
tions, and robberies, which, inftead of giving liability
to the conquering ftate> hath invariably haftened its
fall. Of this truth the hiftory of mankind abounds
in examples. All thofe potent empires which fuc-
ceflively governed the antient world, had their rife,
their meridian, and their decline. By violence they
acquired extenfive dominion; the fame means became
neceffary to maintain, or defend, that dominion ; till
at length, fome neighbouring ftate, or combination
of dates., equally afpiring, fubverted the whole fabric
of power, which they transferred to themfelves, which
they for a while retained, and which they in their
turn loft, together with their freedom and their
name. So complete hath been the extinction of thofe
dates, that, were it not for the Sacred, and fome
remains of prophane writings, corroborated, were ic
neceffary, by infcriptions, medals, ftatues, and ruins
of ftupendous architecture, which have reached our
times, we could have no conception that fuch mighty
empires ever exifted.
A Our
i GENERAL VIEW OF
Our own ifland, though capable of fupplying its
inhabitants in all the real necefTaries of life, befides
a furplus. wherewith to cajry ,on a beneficial traffic
with its neighbours, hath long been convulfed
through the phrenfy of conqueft, both within itfelf,
and beyond thofe limits which nature marked out as
its proper boundary. As Britain is an epitome of
the world, fo are its annals, in all refpects fimilar to
thofe of the great theatre by which it is environed.
No fooner had the fuc cellars of the Norman, hero
dlablifhed themfelves firmly on the throne of En-
gland, than they began to contemplate new fchemes
of conqueft, whereby their dominions might be en-
larged, and their power raifed above that of their
contemporaries.
The object of thofe defigns was nothing lefs than
the fovereignty of France, Scotland, Ireland, and
Wales : and it is fcar^ely in the power of language
to convey a full idea of the calamities which thofe
princes entailed upon mankind, through a fucceflion
of ages> in the profecution of their ambitious fchemes
of aggrandifement. The burthen of thofe wars fell
particularly on Scotland, and the northern counties
of England, owing to the obfiinate refinance of the
Scots 3 who, during a period of fixty years, not only
defended their freedom with fmgular bravery, but
alfo carried the war into England itfelf, where they
abundantly retaliated the violences which had defo*-
lated their country. The effects of thofe mutual in-
roads are ftill vifible on the borders of both king-
doms 3 and it will require fome ages^before cultiva-
tion, manufactures, and population, can be brought
to an equality with the interior parts.
In re-turn for the continual drain of money, the
wafte of bloo'd, and all the inconveniencies which a
hoftile nation muft unavoidably fu (lain, both at home
and abroad, England at the prefent period pofTefies
nothing more than the fovereignty of the fmaH
country
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 3
Country of Wales, and the town of Berwick upon
Tweed. Thus all the expenfive armaments, and
fplendid victories of thofe warlike monarchs, whofe
names are mentioned with admiration by every En-
glifhman, ferved only to impovcrifli their fubjects,
and defolate their country, which was ib greatly re-
duced by thofe exertions, that, had not the fea proved
a barrier of defence, it muft have become a province
to the kingdom which it had long ftruggled to
fubjed.
But though the projects of the middle ages were
barbarous in their object, calamitous in their ope-
ration, and delufive in the fequel ; yet this nation,
inftead of reprobating the deftructive meafures of
their anceflors, hath confiderably improved upon
them.
It was left to the sera of the Revolution * to devife
an engine, by which we might not only deftroy, and
be deitroyed, upon the European continent 5 but
. * Nothing is hereby meant refpec~ring the principles of the Re-
volution ; and though the Whigs tirft let the example of borrowing
money upon the public credit, with a view to ftrengthen the pro-
teflant interefl, in the eitablifhment of a new fucceilion, we find
them early difpofed to redeem thofe debts, infomuch that the reduc-
tion of them was one of the nrft objects of parliamentary attention, at
the acceffion of the prefent royal family. This gave rife, in the year
1716, to a celebrated fcheme, of which Sir Robert Walpole was
the father. " All the taxes charged with the national debt were
now made perpetual, and digefted into three funds, called the aggre-
gate, the South Sea, and the general funds. At the fame time a
confiderable faving was obtained, by the reduction of intereil from
6 to <; per cent, and this faving, together with former favings,
and all that mould afterwards arife, wrere to be collected into a
fourth fund, diftinguimed under the name of the SINKING FUND,
the account of which was to be kept feparate, and the whole produce
appropriated inviolably to the payment of the national debt.
About the year 1728, however, the lame Sir Robert Walpole began
the practice of alienating this fund ; and in 1735 it was even antici-
pated and mortgaged. Thus then expired, after an exiftence of about
eleven years, the Jinking fund — that facred blciimg — once the
nation's'only hope— prematurely and cruelly destroyed by its own
parent ! "
A 2 alfo
4 GENERAL VIEW OF
alfo enabled to extend the calamities of war to every
quarter of the v/orld. Of all the inventions for the
deftruftion of the human fpecies, this hath proved
the mod effedual 5. neither can the moft fertile ima-
gination propofe a method, whereby a commercial
nation may, with greater expedition and facility,
transfer its trade and manufactures to its rivals in
arts and arms. This device is called Funding ; or in
other words, anticipating the property of pofterity,
without conveying to that pofterity any permanent
equivalent, whereby it may difcharge the burdens
thus ungeneroufly entailed upon it, as will appear
by the following retrofpective view of events from
the Revolution in 1688, to theprefent time.
/
Sketch of the Britijh Politics and Wars from the Re-
volution to the Tear 17 8 4, including the Origin and
Progrefs of the national Debt — Difmemberment, and
rapid Fall of the Empire — Perulous Situation of
Government, and the Nation in general— War the
Cauje of our own Dijtreffes, and thoje which we have
brought upon a confiderable Part of Mankind.
When William prince of Orange afcended the
throne of thefe kingdoms in 1688, his cotemporary,
Lewis XIV, at the head of a gallant nation, panting
after military fame, was meditating the eftablifhment
of the French monarchy over Europe ; a project
which gave rife to a general confederacy, who chofe
William as their generaliHImo, or commander in
chief, againft the common enemy.
That war was carried on with various fuccefs dur-
ing eight years, when a general peace was concluded
at Ryfwick, without any material benefit to either
of the contending parties 5 and England, at the death
of king William in 1701, found itfelf involved in
The firft national debt> which amounted to the then
wnheard-of Turn of £. 16,000,000
Queen
THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
Queen Anne refnmed the war with re-"
doubled vigour, wherein the allies,
under the command of prince Eugene
and the duke of Marlboroughj gained
many brilliant victories, but could not
prevent Lewis from fixing his grand-
fon upon the throne of Spain, which
laid the foundation of the family al-
liance or compact, that frill fubfifts,
though faintly, between thofe king-
doms. On the other hand, the events
of war put England in pofTeffion of ^55,000,000
Gibraltar and Minorca in the Medi- '
terranean ; and the French ceded
Newfoundland and Hudfon's Bay in
North America j alfo the fole poffef-
fion of the ifland of St. Chriftopher
in the Weft Indies. The treaty of
peace was concluded at Utrecht in
1713. And the national debt, foon af-
ter the death of the queen in 1714,
had increafed, by the war, to the
alarming fum of
Debt, at the 'commencement of the war i
in 1740, after a peace of twenty- r 46,000,000
feven years
At that time, England again embarked'
in a war with Spain, on account ofAme-
rica ; and, foon after, with France, in
fupport of the queen of Hungary.
Many battles were fought by fea and
] and, with various fuccefs; and in 1748 ^32,000,000
a peace was concluded at Aix-la-Cha-
peiie, the bans of which was the refti-
tution of all places taken during the
war, by either of the parties, butwhich
increafed the debt of England —
A 3 Debt,
GENERAL VIEW OF
Debt, at the end of the war in 1748
Reduced in 1755, a^ter a Peace
of feven years
78,000,000
3,000,000
„
75,000,000
Debt, at the commencement of the war
in 1755
Before Great Britain hai- been able to
reduce a tenth part of the debt occa-
fioned by the preceding war, fhe was
called upon, by herAmerican colonies,
to arm in ^ their defence, againft the
encroachments of the French on the
back fettlements ; and here we have
the origin of the moft extenfive war, (
as Lord Chatham termed it, in which '^71,000,000
England had ever been engaged. It
was alfo the moft glorious to this
country, both by land and fea, and
put us in pofleflion of Canada, and
'the two Floridas, in America; Gre-
nada, St. Vincent, Dominica, and
Tobago, in the Weft Indies ; but in-
volved us in a frefh debt of
Debt, at the end of the war in 1763 "146,000,000
,:•*-*- -*- Reduced in 1775, after a peace
of twelve years,
10,000,000
Debt, at Midfummer 1775 136,000,000
WThile England was exhaufting itfelf in eftabl idling
and protecting the American colonies, the idea of
impofing a flight taxation, fuitafyle to the abilities of
thofe colonies, had been fuggefted during the admi-
niftration of Sir Robert Walpole ; but that fagacious
ftatefman declared, that he would leave the colonies
as he had found them, and that his fuccefibrs might
have the honour of rirft opening this new fource of
». revenue. • After the peace of 1763, the expediency
of • American taxation gained ftrength, in proportion
to
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. f
to the alarming increafe of the debt contrafted in the
acquiikion of Canada, when the French power was
totally annihilated in that part of the continent, and
•when every impediment that tended to obftrucl the
growing wealth of the colonies had been removed.
The experiment was made during the adminiftration
of George Grenville, by a flight tax on paper ufed
in deeds, called The Stamp d£f. It occafioned an urti-
verfal ferment throughout America, and was re-
pealed by the Marquis of Rockingham. A fucceed-
ingadminiftration unfortunately refumed the meafure
of American taxation, by a duty upon tea, of no more,
than three pence per pound. This impofirion the
people of America alfo rejefted, threw the tea over-
board, and flew to arms ; the event of which was,
the entire {Separation of that country, now the 'Thir-
teen States, from Great Britain, which thereby loft,
not only the fovereignty over its hereditary colonies,
but the exclufive trade of thofe colonies,, which is now
laid open to all mankind. Thefe unfavourable cir-
cumftances involved us alfo in a general war with
the principal maritime powers of Europe, of whom
we purchafed peace, by acknowledging the American
independence, and ceding to thofe flates the richeft
part of Canada; to Spain, Minorca and the two Flo-
ridas ; to France, the valuable ifland of Tobago in
the Weft Indies j Goree, and Senegal, on the coaft
of Africa ; befides the reftitution to the latter king-
dom, of St. Lucia, and all places which we had
taken during the war, in the Eaft Indies; circum-
flances extremely humiliating to the dignity of
Britain, fatal to her reputation, and injurious to her
commerce. This was not all. The national debt,
which, at the commencement of the war in 1775, was
136,000,000!. had increafed, atMidfummer 1784, to
280,000,000!. Confequently the lofing of America
hath more than doubled the national debt, and the
burdens of the people.
A 4 Total
* GENERAL VIEW OF
Total amount of debt owing to they
creditors of the public, at Mid- /> 280,000,000
fummer 1784 J ,
The annual intereft of ditto, includ-n
ing the expence of management, is I 10,000,000
fnnnnfed to be J
fuppofecl to be
- , ditto per day £.27,397
The peace eftablifhment, including
the civil lift, above
5,000,000
To be raifed by the public annually £. 15,000,000
• ' ditto per day £.41,095
Neat amount of the annual revenue,
arifing from cuftoms, excife, and
taxes, at Michaelmas 1783, as
ftated by Dr. Price, £.13,017,703. 14*507,703
Additional taxes June 1783, efti-
mated at £.560,000. Ditto July
andAuguft 1784, £.930,000 J
Surplus of the annual expence, above^
the annual revenue, for which ad-
ditional taxeS muft be levied, or
favings appropriated, befides the
arrears not yet brought to account, ^ 492,2^7
the deficiencies in new taxes, and '
a million which muft be raifed, for
a given number of years, to liqui-
date the national debt.
Peace with all the world, and that for a long
continuance, is, therefore, our only hope, and
ought to be the Ardent wifh of every friend of his.
country, and of humanity, For almoft a century
paft,* England hath dazzled the eyes of mankind
* The years of peace fince the Revolution 55
M •*- " of war . ' • . .•.. .... . < 41
with
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 9
with the brilliancy of its campaigns in Flanders, and
Germany ; in fupporting the houfes of Auftria and
Brandenburg, and fecuring the Dutch barrier. But
though one hundred millions have been thus fpent
in continental wars and fubfidies, neither the Dutch
nor the Germans came forth in defence of their be*
nefa&ors, whom they faw engaged in the unequal
ftruggle that difmembered the Britifh empire.
Beyond the Atlantic, we ihall perceive a dill
greater drain of Englifh treafure. The money
granted by parliament in bounties, towards en-
couraging the growth of American produce ; the
fums expended in fupport of the civil eftablifhments
of thofe colonies during their infant ftate ; in de-
fending them againft the French and Indians ;
erecting forts, harbours, and other public works ;
have been raifed by the fubjects of thefe kingdoms
only, though other nations are now invited to reap
the fruits thereof.
Upon the whole, we may fairly eftimate our dif-
burfements in eftabliihing, protecting, and lofing,
the American colonies, at two hundred and fixty
millions fterling. In this eftimate is included the
whole expence of the two late wars ; for, though
the operations of thefe wars extended to every
quarter of the globe, yet the expence ought properly
to be placed to the account of that country fo?
which we engaged, or were involved, in both
wars.
Gibraltar * and Minorca have been in our hand^
riear eighty years, and we cannot value the peace
eftablifhment atlefs than half a million per annum.
In this eftimate we include the military expence
of fix or feven thoufand troops -, ftores -, hire of
tranfports 5 erecting new batteries, and otherwife
* See a pamphlet, entitled <* The Propriety of retaining Gib-
jaltar impartially cocfidered. "
ftrengthening
to GENERAL VIEW OF
(lengthening the works. Confequently, the keep-
ing and defending a barren rock, with an indiffer-
ent harbour ; and a poor, unprofitable itland, with a
good harbour, have coft near forty millions, fince
the years 1704 — 8, when they were annexed to the
Britifri crown.
Recapitulation of money fuppofed to have been
expended by Great Britain in foreign parts, or on
account of foreign connections, fince the Revolu-
tion.
On German affairs 100,000,000
' - — American ditto - 260,000,000
— Gibraltar and Minorca 40,000,000
^.400,000,000
Being above £. 4,000,000 every year, and for
which we polTefs no adequate confideration, no ex-
clufive, permanent fource of trade ; but which, on
the contrary, hath enhanced the price of manufac-
tures, endangered our commercial intercourfe with
mankind, and deprived the nation of the comfort-
able, unmolefted enjoyment of thofe gifts, which
nature hath fo liberally provided for all ranks and
denominations of the inhabitants.
The fum total raifed by Great Britain within the
fame period exceeds £. 750,000,000 ; of which,.
above £ . 220,000,000 have actually been paid for
the interefl of public debts -, and, of this, a
confiderable part, fuppofed to be at prefent
£. 1,000,000 annually, was drawn out of the king-
dom by foreigners.
If, to the £. 750,000,000 collected from the in-
habitants by taxation and duties, we add the vari-
ous inconveniences, interruptions, ioifcs, and extra
expences, fuilained by the merchants, and the
Eaft-India Company ; the manufacturers, and
ether individuals^ during our late wars, the
aggregate
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. rr
aggregate amount will not fall greatly fhort of
£. 1,000,000,000, within the fpace of ninety- fix
years, or £. 10,416,670 per annum. Such were
the aftoniihing refources drawn from the natural1
produce of the ifland, the ingenuity, induftry, and
commerce of the people ; and fuch, alfo, have been
the impolitic obftructions and burdens laid upon
that commerce, and thofe people.
Still more painful in the recital, is, the dreadful
eftimate of lives loft in battle, by fhipwreck, and
other accidents of war. Unhappily for the human
fpecies, the conflicts in which we engage are not
confined to France and England only. Whenever
thefe rival kingdoms commence hoftilities, they
draw, into the deftructive quarrel, a confiderable
portion of mankind, not only in Europe, but over
a great part of the habitable world.
The favages of America, armed with their horrid
inftruments of death, march out with frantic rage,
and frightful fhrieks, eager, as their war fongs ex~
prefs it, to drink the blood of Englishmen, or
Frenchmen, againft whom they happen to be refr
pectively led on, by either of the contending
parties.
In the Weil Indies, the fugar iflands are kept in
continual alarm, fubduing and being fubdued al-
ternately. Property is continually fluctuating; and
the man who reckoned upon thoufands to day, fees
himfelf a beggar on the morrow.
In Afia, the calamities occationed by our national
quarrels are ftill more complicated and diftrefiing.
Throughout the whole fouthern divifion of that
immenfe country, every fhore, every fea, and navi-r
gable river, becomes hoftile. The princes of thofe
regions, though they have no natural concern in
European difputes, are not permitted to remain
neuter. They are induced by threais, bribery, or
intrigue, to act as auxiliaries in the armies of fo-
reign
is GENERAL VIEW OF
reign invaders, and as principals againft each other;
Thus, their unhappy fubje&s are involved in a
double war; mutual retaliation of injuries lays
whole provinces wafte, fparing neither age,
fex, nor condition. The lives, the property, and
•whatever is valuable to mankind, are facrificed to
the quarrels of nations who live at the diftance of
eight thoufand miles.
The lives thus cut off, in various parts of the
globe, fince the Revolution, cannot be fewer than
half a million of Britifh fubjects, and European al-
lies, befides the Afiatic lift, amounting to near four
millions of induftrious, inoflfenfive inhabitants, kil-
led, or ftarved •* and, if to thefe accounts we add
the lories on the part of France, and her allies, we
may fairly eftimate the whole to be from five to fix
millions of people, who have fallen facrifices to war
and famine, in all their horribk lhapes, and for
which thefe rival kingdoms are, in a great meafu re,
refponfible -, for, it is a truth, which cannot be re-
futed, that to their unbounded thirft of power, do-
minion, and commercial eftablifhments, hath been
chiefly owing this wafte of the human fpecies, be-
fides the calamities fuftained by the furvivors of
thofe defolating fcenes, abroad ; while, at home,
the train of diftrefTes which war entails upon many
individuals, and families, exceeds all conception ;
and, were their refpective cafes brought into view,
it would fill the moft obdurate heart with horror.
Deprived of hufbands, parents, fons, or brothers ;
reduced, at the fame time, from eafe and affluence,
to indigence, and all the mortifications of depen-
dence, is the lot of thoufands ; who, friendlefs,
* See an account of the famine in Bengal 1769, 70, as pub*
lifhed throughout Europe by the Abbe Raynal. See alfo Dodliey's
Annual Regifter, vol. XIV. page 205. And, fora general view
of the Britifh transactions in Bengal, iince it became a part of our
pmpire, iee Burke '$ Speech, Dec. i, 1783,
unnoticed,
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 13
unnoticed, or defpifed, bewail in filence the lofs of
whatever was valuable, or endearing in the world.
Epidemical contagion, and the convulfions of
nature, are calamities which we can neither forefee
nor prevent ; but the flames of »war were kindled by
ourfelves ; the ravages which they occafioned were
our own act and deed ; nor doth it appear that the
events, even of the moft fortunate wars, have reirn-
burfed the nation, for a permanency, in any part
of the expence and loffes unavoidably fuftained by
thofe wars. Our confolation, on the contrary,
generally confided in the pitiful reflection, that our
enemies were alfo maimed, exhaufted, and almoft
reduced to bankruptcy. This hath been the wind-
ing up of all our wars ; leaving us in the pofTeflion
of no territory beyond our own ifland, which may
not be wrefted from us before the expiration of half
a century.
Review of the Colonies and Settlements which flill
comfofe a 'part of the Britiflj Empire, with an Efti-
mate of their Exports and Imports, to, and from,
England. Alfo, our Exports and Imports, to, and
from, the revolted Colonies.
America. The Britifti America confifted of two
great divifions, the fouth, and the north -, the for-
mer, luxuriant in foil and climate, populous, com-
mercial, and flourifhing -, its produce wheat, to-
bacco, rice, indigo, timber, hemp, flax, iron, pitch,
tar, and lumber. This divifion contains 2,000,000
of inhabitants, who have formed themfelves into
Thirteen Republics, independent of Great Britain,
and of one another, now called The United States of
America. The latter divifion, a cold, inhofpitable,
and thinly inhabited country; its fields covered
with deep fhow, and its rivers froze up from No-
vember
'i4 GENERAL VIEW Of
vember till April, which cuts off all focial and
commercial intercourfe with Europe.
This divifion was retained, by Great Britain, at
the late peace. The habitable part joins the Ame^
rican States, and was originally in the pofleflion of
the French, to whom it proved an expenfive, un-
profitable burden. It hath been no lefs fo to Great
Britain, but it is fuppofed to be very improveable,
and may become both a valuable fource of com-
merce, and nurfery of feamen. It is formed into
two principal governments j thofe of Canada, and
Nova Scotia. Canada is properly the native coun-
try of furs, peltry, and other articles which enter
largely into the Britifh manufactures. It alfo fur-
nifhes grain, timber, pot-afh, and hath valuable
iron mines. This province, bounded on the north
by frozen deferts, on the weft by unknown coun-
tries, is only acceflible to European fhipping by
the river St. Lawrence, whereon {land Quebec,
Trois Rivieres, and Montreal.
Nova Scotia derives great importance from its lo-
cal fituation, and its harbours, particularly Halifax,
Annapolis, and Port Rofeway, the fafefl and moft
capacious in North America; the centre of northern
navigation -, a fhelter to fhipping from all parts of
thofe feas, during the hurricanes, or when the other
harbours are frozen up ; and here alfo veffels of any
burden may be repaired. In a political view> Nova
Scotia is the mofl valuable of all the Britifh fettle-
ments in the weftern hemifphere, becaufe on this
province depends, in a great meafure, our pofiefTion
of the fur trade, the Newfoundland fiiheries, and
the Sugar Iflands.
The Weft Indies. By the Weft Indies is underftood
thofe innumerable iflands which lie between the two
continents of America, to which divifion of the
globe they properly belong. They were difcovered
near three hundred years ago by Chriftopher Co-
lumbus,
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. i5
'lumbns, in the fervice of Spain, and have fmcc
been fhared, through force or treaty, by France,
Great Britain, Denmark, and Holland. Ofthefe
ifiands, Great Britain pofiefTes Jamaica, Barbadoes,
St. Kitt's, Antigua, St. Vincent's, Dominica, the
Grenades, and fome others of inferior importance;
from whence we import fugar, rum, cotton, cof-
fee, ginger, pepper, gnaiacum, farfaparilla, man-
chineel, mahogany, indigo, gums, and other valu-
able articles.
Coaft cf Africa. The fouthern coaft of Africa
was difcovered by the Portuguefe in that adventur-
ous age which firll carried the Europeans to the
American world. Befides fupplying the Weft In-
dies with (laves, it produces gold duft, ivory, gums,
and other articles, far too valuable to be engrofTed
by the Portuguefe alone : confequently, the Eng-
lifh, French, and Dutch, have taken a fhare in this
commerce alfo. Each nation hath its refpective
forts at the entrances of the principal rivers, but
the unhealthinefs of the climate prevents the eftab-
lifhment of colonies.
Eajl Indies. The Portuguefe gradually extended
their difcoveries along the coall of Africa, till at
length they arrived at the moft fouthern promontory
of that quarter of the globe, which, in their joy,
they called The Cape of Good Hope.
This difcovery opened, unexpectedly, a new tract
to the Eaftern fhores of Africa; to Perfia, Arabia,
the Mogul empire, China, Japan, and the numerous
Spice Ifiands of the Indian feas. Here the Portu-
guefe erected a commercial empire at the expence of
•the unhappy natives, on whom they pra6hfed all
the frauds, violences, and outrage, which their
Chriftian brethren of Spain were carrying on, with
unrelenting barbarity, in the weftern world.
The great wealth which the Portuguefe brought
into Europe, while they enjoyed the monopoly of
the
16 , GENERAL VIEW OF
the Indian commerce ; the report of their civil and
religious tyrannies ; the impatience of the natives to
throw off the intolerable yoke, began to engage the
attention of other European ftates, particularly the
Dutch, who, with the affiftanceof the natives, ex-
pelled the opprefTors of India from almoft every
fettlemerit, which the Dutch feized for themfelves,
and thus eftablifhed a new, and more permanent
power, becaufe founded on juftice and moderation
towards the people over whom they prefide.
The Englifh wifely contented themfelves with the
poueflion of Madras, Calcutta, Bombay 3 and other
forts in the Mogul empire ; where, being indulged
by the native princes with fundry exemptions, and
exclulive privileges, they carried on a flourifhing
commerce, and divided eight per cent, upon their
capital.
The Mogul empire, or Indoftan, extends, in a
compact fquare rnafs of country, from the Tartarian
.mountains in north latitude 36, to the Bay of Ben-
gal, latitude 22. From thence it ftretches due
fouth, in the form of a peninfula, to Cape Como-
rin, within eight degrees of the line, and thus en-
joys a coaftof three thoufancl miles, which, befides
the benefits to trade and navigation, contributes to
the health of the Europeans who choofe to reiide in
thofe very diflant regions.
Indoftan, in its moft exteniive fenfe, contains
1,1 16,000 fquare miles, and is confequently equal
in fize to Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Por-
tugal, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Turkey
in Europe. The number of people who inhabit In-
doftan is computed at 100,000,000 of Indians, and
10,000,000 of Mahometans or Moors, the defcen-
dants of thofe Arabs, Perfians, and Tartars, who at
various periods over-ran and fubdued this unwieldy-
empire.
The
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 17
The native Indians are zealoufly attached to their
religious tenets, their laws, and antient cuftoms ; in-
genious, tractable, inoffenfive and fubmiffive to a
degree unknown in Europe ; dark in their com-
plexions, efpecially towards the fouth; feeble in their
perfons, conititutionally and religiouQy temperate,
living chiefly upon rice, vegetables, and water.
Indoftan is not only one of the largeft empires of
the world, but its produce is the mod valuable ; be-
ing the greateft repofitory of diamonds hitherto dif-
covered; befides its fpices, drugs, colours, filk, cot-
ton, faltpetre of the bed quality, faftron, coffee, fu-
gar, and rice. Its manufactures in filks, embroidery,
and cottons, have long been the admiration of Eu-
rope, and particularly of England, where the third of
revenue permits the importation of thefe foreign
manufactures, though now equalled, if not exceeded,
in beauty, by thole at home*
Between the years 1751 and 1760 a train of events,
more fortunate than honourable, put the Englilh
Eaft India Company in poffeffion of thofe provinces
which have hitherto been confidered as the garden of
Indoftan, viz. Bengal, Bahar, and part of OrifTa ;
the whole, collectively, equal in dimenfions to the
kingdom of France, abounding in manufacturing
cities, inhabited by ten millions of people, and pro-
ducing, a revenue of 3,500,000!. annually. The
fertile province of Benares, otherwife Gazipour, ad-
joining to Bengal on the north, and producing a re-
venue of 260,000!. was in 1774 annexed to th£
Company's polfeflions in that quarter. The provin-
ces of Bengal and Benares lie on both fides of the
Ganges, and are every where watered by its tributary
dreams, which are navigable for veflels of 200 tons,
and connected by canals of fufficient depth for all
the purpofes of extenfive inland navigation. The
rompany alfo poflefs a didrict of 40 miles round
B Madrafs 3
iS - GENERAL VIEW OF
Madrafs-j the ifland of Bombay ; and feveral de-
tached cfties upon the Indian fhores.
By means of thefe advantages, and their territo-
rial revenues, the Company enjoy, almoft exclu-
fively, the whole commerce of the Mogul empire ;
with the fouthern parts of Arabia, Perfia, and Tibet.
They trade alfo with the kingdoms of Afem, Aracan,
Ava, Pegu, Siam, Cambodia, Malacca, the empire
of China, * and the principal Oriental iflands, ex-
cepting Japan, the Manillas, and the iflands pof-
ferTed by the Dutch.
Such are the various and disjointed branches of
the British empire ; abounding in articles whereon
mankind fet the greateft value ; a ftirrmlus to inva-
fion, and which will ever require a confiderable ex-
pence to maintain.
Eftimate of Englifh exports and imports to and
from the remaining fettlem^nts, in 1773, that year
ferving as an average medium often years from 1765-
to 1775, being the higheft average of general exports
and imports in the commercial annals of this ifland.
Exports to Imports from Seamen
Eaft Indies £. 845,707 £. 1,9333096 6000
African forts — 6623112 — 68,424 - 3900
Weft Indies - 1,235,734 - 2,700,814 - 12000
Canada — 316,867 — 42,394 - 400
Nova Scotia — 27,032 — 1,719 - 100
Hudfon'sBay — 6,467 — 8,943 - 130
3,1713663 4,823,477
3,171,663
Balance againil exports £. 1,651,814
* In confequence of the fmuggling a£lr our imports from China
will increalevery confiderably, and the illicit imports, from France,
Holland, and Denmark, will proportionally decrease.
Could
THEBRITISHEMPIRE. j 9
Could we afcertain the value of fupplies for gnr-
rifons, particularly in Africa, the balance againft ex-
ports would exceed 2,000,000!. But of the articles
which fwell the amount of imports, we circulate a
confiderable quantity over Europe, chiefly for fpecie.
Eftimate of Englifh exports and imports to and
from the revolted colonies, upon periodical avera-
ges often years from 1700 to 1780.
Exports. Imports. Balance in favour
of Experts.
1700 to 1710 -X 267, 205 -£.265,783 -£. 1422
to 1720 - 365,645 - 392,653 - -
to 1730 - 47I>34- - 5l8^30 -
to 1740 - 660,136 - 670,128 -
to 1750 - 812,647 " 7°8^943 - I03>7°4
to 1760- 1,577,419 - 802,691 - 774^728
to 1770- 1,763,409 - 1,044,591 - 718,818
to 1780- 1,331,206 - 743>56° ~ 58
£. loo,ooo per annum fhould be added to the ex-
ports, being the value of Oaves imported into theie
provinces by the BritiQi merchants directly from
Africa. This included, Lord Sheffield ftates the total
amount of balances in favour of England between
1700 and 1773, at £. 26,000,000
From which may be deducted the eftiO
mate of fupplies for the army and I
navy, the fame being valued in the f IOJ°°°,ooo
exports J
£. 10,000,000
Againft this balance and all the commercial be-
herits which England derived from North America,
previous to the revolt of the Thirteen States, Lord
Sheffield, and other writers, have brought forward
the following ponderous fujiis advanced by this
country \ viz.
B 2 To
10 GENERAL VIEW OF
To the annual civil eflablifhments of the provinces,
previous to the war in 1755 £>• 7°jOOO
To ditto from the peace of 1763 to the ?
time of the ftamp aft I 37O,ooo
To the high bounties granted by parliament to en-
courage American produce, as hemp, flax,, fir, and
pine timber, pitch, tar, turpentine, indigo, &c. fup-
pofed in the whole to be annually, £. 200,000
To commercial indulgencies allowed the provin-
ces at the expence of the BritiQi merchants.
To lofTes fuflained by thofe merchants from bad
payments, particularly fince the year 1775, when
America owed feveral millions.
But thefe considerations, however important, are
trifling to the expence of the three Tail wars, which
I.ord Sheffield places to the account of America, and
eftimates as follows, viz.
Thewarcommencingin 1739 ,£. 31,000,000
1755 71,000,000
1775 ioo,ooo,oco
j£. 202,000^000
The expence of the lafl war feems to be under-
rated by feveral millions.
Relative Situation of Great Britain and France^ in Cli-
mate*, Soil, Extent of Territory, Commerce, Revenue,
and other Particulars. — INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
recommended, as affording new Sources of Strength and
Revenue, whereby the Mother Country will be en~
ailed to retain its Settlements, and extend and proteff
its Commerce.
The ifland of Great Britain is fituated between the
50 and 59 degree of north latitude, a climate which
qualities the inhabitants equally for the arts of peace
or -war; while the breezes from the furrounding
ocean
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. cr
ocean foften the rigours of winter, and temperate
the air to a degree unknown in countries upon the
continent, lying under the fame latitudes.
It is equally happy in its animal and vegetable
productions ; its metals, minerals, and fisheries;
forming, upon the whole, a great ilorehoufe or
magazine of thofe articles which are the moft fer-
viceable to the real wants of mankind. The re-
turns arifing from the exportation of thefe in favour-
able years, exceed credibility, and they admit of
being further extended, particularly thofe of grain,
ami the fisheries.
This natural produce, however valuable in itfelf,
both for home manufactures and exportation, is
rendered ftill more fo, from the oblong form, and
infular fituation of Great Britain, pofTefTmg a coaft
of 2000 miles indented on every fide by lakes, bays,
or harbours ; communicating outwardly with the
ocean ; internally, with numerous navigable rivers*
and canals ; by which means all the trading towns
are ports, which communicate with each other, and
with the four quarters of the world. The manufac-
turers at Leeds, Manchefter, Birmingham, and other
places, fhip their goods almoft at their own doors,
'
* England is fertilized by more than 50 rivers, which arc naviga-
ble for barges, carrying i'rom 5 to i $o tous. Scotland hath only 3
navigable rivers, viz. the Clyde, navigable as high as Glafgow ; the
Forth, at Stirling ; and the Tay, at Perth ; but nature hath made
ample amends to that kingdom in the numerous lakes which pene-
trate from 5 to 40 miles within land, and are navigable for ihipsof
the line. The Duke of Bridgwater hath the merit of firft fetting the
example in artificial navigations, and to his fuccefsfnl perfeverance
his country is indebted tor the numerous canals which at prefent
interfect the centre of the kingdom. In imitation of his celebrated
cut at Mancviefter fundry public-fpirite<l perfons have embarked
in the bold enterprize of joining the Thames and the Severn, or
rather of completing a work, of which only 10 miles remained to
be cut ; but lo unfavourable is nature to thedefign, that a fubter-
raneous cut, 16 feet fquare, mull be made through two miles of
iolid rock, at the expence of 8 guineas per yard.
B 3 at
*2 GENERAL VIEW OF
at a low expence of inland carriage to the pur-
chafers ; and receive back by the fame eafy convey-
ance, the raw materials of both hemifpheres, Thefe
are advantages of the mod efTential importance to a
commercial country, and which no continent, or
widely extended mafs of land, can obtain fo com-
pletely.
Thefe kingdoms are alfo happily placed between
the two great divifions of the globe > having Europe,
Africa, and Afia, and the valuable Oriental iflands,
on one fide ; North and South America, with the
Weft Indies, on the other. By this mod favourable
pofition, in the centre of the world*, they carry on
an expeditious intercourfe with commercial nations ;
their fhips are continually fleering through the ocean
i'n every direction, and the whole earth is their
market. Thus hath nature towards this ifland been
lavifh in favours, which furrounding nations may
admire, but cannot attain. She hath pointed out,
beyond a pOiTibility of mifconception, that the part
affigned to Britain on the great theatre of the world?
is an invariable attention to arts, commerce, fifh-
eries and navigation.
Nature is, however, fo cliverfified, that though,
in fundry refpects, Britain qjpjoys a decided fuperio-
rity amongft nations, yet this pleafing reflection re-
ceives a check in the review of our comparative fitu-
a,tion with France, the only European (late that hath
any pretenfions to rivalihip, or from which danger is
to be apprehended.
* The antients confiderect Britain as placed at the weftern extre?
mity of the world; but, on the diieovery of America, our ifland was
found to lie between the two continents, and equally adapted for
the commerce of the one, and the other. Its fituation, alfo, facing
the entrance of the Baltic fea, affords it a fliort and eaiy com-
munication with Norway, Denmark, Sweden^ Germany, Poland,
and the great empire of Rullia ; countries that furnifh the mate-
rials of thofe mighty fleets which are Britain's glory and defence.
France,'
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 23
Square miles.
France, including the ifland of Corfica,)
contains - $
England and Wales 49,450
Scotland with the ides 27,794
Ireland 27,457
Square miles in favour of France - 36,656
The fuperiority of that kingdom in climate and
foil, is ftill more confiderable. The northern pro-
vinces, as Picardy, Normandy, Britanny, Lorrain,
and French Flanders, equal the moft fertile conn-
tics of England, in grain, and common fruits. But
the natural riches of France are its fouthern pro-
vinces, between which and England all compa-
rifon ceafes.
To explain this feeming improbability, it may be
necefTary to remind the reader, that thofe provinces
fupply Europe and America with the moft delicious
wines, as claret, burgundy, champaign, pontac,
frontiniac, mufcadel. They alfo produce in great
abundance, brandy, honeyr the finer fruits, filk, falr-
petre, fafFron, and excellent fait ; articles, which
enter deeply into the commerce of France, and fur-
nifh exports, fufficient of themfelves to enrich a
great kingdom.
Such extent of dominion, and luxuriancy of foil,
imply a numerous population, which, according to
the late returns of the intendants of the provinces,
amounts to near 28,000,000
England and Wales, agree- -%
able to Dr. Price's calcu- [
lation of 5 perfons to each f ^Oc
houfe, contains * J
* Other writers affirm, that England and \Vales contain above
6,poo,poo inhabitants of all ages.
E 4 Ireland
24 GENERAL VIEW OF
Ireland contains above 2,000,000
Scotland, -30 years ago, a--*
greeable to an eflimate /
made out by the late Dr. ( Ij
Webfler, J
8,300,030
In favour of France 19,700,000
Specie in France £. 87,000,000
Great Britain and Ireland 20,000,000
In favour of France ™ 67,000,000
The revenue and expenditure of France have been
gradually increafmg fince the reign of Lewis XIV.
and they amount at prefent to 18,000,000!. This
fum may found high to an Englifhman ; but was
France taxed proportionably to Great Britain, its
revenues would probably exceed 24,000,000!.
This conjecture is founded upon the comparative
population of both kingdoms. If 5,000,000 of
people in England, raife 15,000,000!. a country
fbill more fertile, equally commercial, and in-
habited by 28,000,000 of people, could extend its
revenue beyond the abilities of any two nations in
Europe to equal.
The great fuperiority which France enjoys, from
extent of territory, and fertility of foil, derives ad-
ditional value from her local and maritime fituation.
Wafhed on one fide by the Atlantic, fhe trades with
the northern parts of Europe, the coaft of Africa,
India, China, and America. Having the Mediter-
ranean on the fouth, fhe engrofies almofl the whole
trade of Italy, the ftates of Barbary, the Turkifh
empire in Europe and Afia, comprehending Greece,
Constantinople, Syria, Egypt, and other parts of
thofe
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 25
thofe extenfive fhores, which antiently engroffed the
commerce of the world *.
Next, if not fuperior, to thofe channels of com-
merce, are her Weil India colonies, which far ex-
ceed, in extent, and value, thofe of Great Britain ;
and new plantations are in continual progreffion.
The annual produce of the European colonies was
thus valued iome years ago, when the ifland of To^
bago was in the hands of the Engliih j viz.
Ships. Men. Value,
French 600 18,000 £. 4, 375,0x0
Britim 600 12,000 2,887,500
Dutch 150 4,000 1,050,000
Danifh 70 1,500 306,250
Spain, it is conjectured, receives to ^
the value of 437,5<>o
9,056,250
It would be endlefs to enumerate the various
channels of commerce and revenue which that
potent, a<5live kingdom hath opened, and is open-
ing i fome of them, at the expence of Great Bri-
tain, in defiance of our fhips of the line, and all
the vigorous efforts we have been making to re-
tain them.
Equally attentive is that nation to obj eels of infe-
rior concern, but which, in the aggregate, are ren-
dered fubfervient to the great plan of national polity.
It is well known that Greece and Rome let examples
to mankind in whatever is beautiful, ftupendous,
and ufeful, in architecture and fcience. In imitation
of thofe great models^ the public works in France
* The Britifh trade with thofe countries was formerly very con*
filerable and beneficial; but it is at prefent little more than a
name, owing to the rivalfhip of the French, particularly in broad
cloth, which they manufacture chiefly of fmuggled wool from
Ireland and this kingdom.
are
t6 GENERAL VIEW OF
are conftru&ed with a fpirit, tafte, and folidity, far
furpafilng the diminutive, imperfect undertakings
in England; becaufe, in the former country, they
are the works of government, conducted on the
moft extenfive plans, with a view to magnificence
as well as general utility. Whereas, in England,
thofe works which are of the greateft national im-
portance, as highways, canals, and harbours, are
entrufted folely to the abilities of a few traders,
or country gentlemen, whofe only views being pro-
fit, or local conveniency, they are executed upon
contracted defigns, frequently with borrowed mo-
ney, and confequently fubject to fuch heavy burdens
as to defeat, in fome refpects, the ends for which
they were undertaken.
Equally liberal, magnanimous, and politic, is the
French government, in adopting its regulations in
finance, to the particular fituations, cafes, and abi-
lities of the refpe£tive provinces which cornpcfe the
kingdom. The duty upon fait, for inftance, is levied
jn fome diftricts extremely high ; in others, confi-
derably lower -, while the poorer countries are
totally exempted. Even the frontier provinces,
v/hich that kingdom hath been gradually abforb-
ing by conquefc or treaty, are indulged with privi-
leges and exemptions, which the native French do
not enjoy. This condefcenfion cannot fail of gain-
ing the ^affections and confidence of thofe remote
fV.bjects, and of facilitating new acquisitions.
Such is the nation which Britain hath as its rival
jn arts, commerce, and arms, Superior in climate,
fertility, and dominion ; in population, revenue,
jpecie, munificence, and civil polity -, availing it-
felf of the errors of this country, and riling upon
its fall.
Upon the whole, we have been too fecure in our
eflimation of that kingdom, and the wifclom of its.
councils. Inftead of a rival^ there is reafon to
dread
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 27
dread a fuperior, or a controuling power, in every
quarter of the globe. We have lately beheld our
widely difperfed, and devoted empire; our com-
merce, {hipping, and all the avenues and fources of
external revenue, at the mercy of the moil potent
kingdom on the globe; whofe friendfhip is univer-
fally courted by mankind, and whofe influence
gives the turn, or caft, to the councils of Europe,
.Afia, and America. No longer governed by an
oftentatious difplay of military parade in Flanders
and Germany, our rival now directs her attention
to commerce, the navy, and the humbling of Great
Britain. While we are amufing onrfelves with the
unceafing fquabbles of ambition, faction, or party,
France is concluding a treaty, or meditating a blow
againft this infatuated country. Our wars, there-
fore, are in future to be confidercd, not as wars of
choice, but of unavoidable neceiTity. To whatever
hemifphere France directs her fleets and armies,
thither the Britifti armaments muft follow, to watch
fo vigilant an enemy, and to ward off the impend-
ing danger.
Thus, there remains no alternative between a,
total relinquifiiment of our tranfmarine poffefTions,
or a continued, expenfive preparation for defenfive
war. If we refolve upon the latter, we mufb at the
fame time devife new fources of men and revenue,
a matter of greater difficulty than fome fpeculative
writers feem to allow. The ordinary and extraor-
dinary revenues have nearly feen their mmoft limits,
beyond which they cannot be carried, without
endangering manufactures and population. Nei-
ther can we extend the lines of our narrow kingdom,
becaufe thefe are fixed, unalterably, by the hand of
Nature. But though we cannot enlarge its boun-
daries, we may improve its foil, realize millions of
acres which are covered at prefent with heath,
mofs, or fbgnated waters. We may
encourage
£* GENERAL VIEW OF
encourage arts, and new branches of manufacture ;
facilitate inland carriage, extend the fifheries, and
raife a new world of thriving populous villages.
Harbours may be deepened or enlarged, royal
dock-yards conftructed in the moft eligible fitua-
tions, and fhip-building encouraged around the
whole ifland.
The hitherto neglected metropolis may be im-
proved, and ornamented with magnificent edifices,
fo as to become the admiration of mankind, and to
draw hither the wealthy, and the curious, from all
parts of Europe, as to the centre of arts, commerce,
and fplendour,
We may adopt a compendious and faving mode
of collecting the revenue, to the mutual advantage
of government and the community ; befides the
fuppreftion of that national evil, fmuggling ; a
practice which the whole navy of England would in
vain attempt to prevent. We may appropriate a
pven fum for reducing the national debt ; or adopt,
for that purpofe, feme of the plans propofed by Dr.
Price, whofe writings on this fubject ought, to be
read by all thofe who have any regard for the fafety t
of their country, its commerce, and dependencies.
Thefe, feem to be fome of the moft necefiary ob-
jects of attention ; but if improvements were ex-
tended to a revifal of the whole fyflem of national
polity, fo as to model, qualify, and bring down
ail the confcituent parts, to cafes and circumflances
now exifling; the objects will be found fo nume-
rous and important, that it would require the abili-
ties, and political knowledge, of a Sheffield, an
Eden, and a Tucker, to bring them into publics
view.
With this ifland is lodged the active, invigorating
force, that gives, or ought to give, fecurity and
protection to all the diflant branches throughout the
wide expanfe of empire. Proportioned, therefore,
to
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 29
to the magnitude of external dominion and com-
merce, ihould be the powers of the centre •, a confi-
deration which hath not, feemingly, had a due
lhare of attention. The improvement of the mo-
ther country was neglefted, as an object of trivial
concern, and the confequences were iuch as might
have been expected. Filled with vaft ideas of ex-
tenfive empire, and commercial monopoly, we en -
joyed a momentary fplendour, at an expence far
exceeding our abilities, and in a few years the
golden dream vanifhed.
But fo extenfive were our diftant poflefllons, that
though an empire be loft, through the weaknefs of
the feat of government, an empire (till acknow-
ledges our fway ; whofe proportionable magnitude
to that of Great Britain is as five to one, without
including the uninhabited regions of Labrador, and
the countries round Hudfon's Bay.
Confidering our fituation, therefore, in every [
point of view, national improvements, and the in-
creafe of population, feem not only matters of ex-
pediency, but of pofetive necejfity ; objects of the
firil importance, and to which all other concerns
are only fecondary, in a very diftant degree. Hap-
pily, the field which yet remains for the exercife of
a patriotic adminiftration ; the internal refourccs
Hill in referve for the relief of an opprefTed king-
dom ; afford a pleafing, well-grounded profpect,
that we fhall not only be able to furmount prefcnt
difficulties, but even to rife, with redoubled ftrength,
from the ruins of a fhattered empire. If we v/ilh to
erect a fabric of future profperity on a permanent
bafis, we muft return to our deferted native country;
trace out the unexplored gifts of nature, and bring
into action all its hidden treaiures. England in
.1784, contrafted with England at the Revolution ;
with Ireland, Ruflla, and North America, is a
highly improved country. But England in 1784,
compared
35 GENERAL VIEW OF
compared with Holland, China, antient Greece, Italy.?
and Egypt, feems to be nearly in a ftate of nature ;
Hill more fo, is the northern part of our ifland, as will
appear in the fubfequent review of that kingdom.
Refpedting population, we have to obferve that
the feven United Provinces of the Netherlands,
containing only 9540 fquare miles, and fupplied iri
grain and neceffaries by their neighbours, calculate
the number of inhabitants at about 2,000,000.
Whereas Great Britain, which contains 77,144
fquare miles, and fupplies other nations with its ex-
uberance, whofe natural fituation is moil eminently
calculated for inland and foreign trade, is fuppofed
to be inhabited by no more than 6,300,000. We
may therefore, without entering upon minute cal-
culation, thus eilimate the number of people, whoj
with the aid of government, might be maintained
and employed in Great Britain, viz.
In England — 12,000,006
— Scotland — — 3,000,000
15^000,000
If the Irifh government lhall perfevere"^
in its patriotic efforts, the popula- [
tion of that fertile kingdom may be ( & 'OO°
increafed from 2 to
io,ooo,oco
the whole conftituting a power fufficient for all
the purpofes of external defence, againft the united
force of our formidable rival, and her numerous
allies.
To thefe favourable circumftances on the creditor
fide of public affairs, we have further to add, that,
after 1791, the remaining long annuities, and life-
annuities, granted in the reign of King William
and Queen Anne, alfo the annuities given as pre-
i miums
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 3!
minms to thofe who have advanced money to the
ftate, fince thofe reigns, will gradually expire, by
which above 1,300,000!. annually, will revert to
the public.
It is ever to be regretted that government did
not raife the loans, or the greateft part of them, on
temporary annuities, which they might have done
at a trifling difference in the expence. If, inftead of
io,ooOjOOol. the intereil of the prefent debt, and of
which eight parts are, or will be, perpetual, go-
vernment had funded a tenth part only in perpe-
tuity, the expence would fcarcely have been felt by
the nation in general, while a million paid annually
to the opulent creditors of the public, would have
fully anfvrered all the purpofes of individual conve-
niency. Such would have been the happy date of our
finances at the prefent time, and fo light the burdens
tranfmitted to poflerity, had miniflers been ferioufly
inclined to keep the public debts within moderate
bounds. Nor is it yet too late to put thefe enormous
burdens into a train of redemption, within a given
time, providing that our prefent rulers fhall be fo
difpofed. If they wifli to gain the full confidence of
the nation ; to unfetter our commerce and manu-
factures ; to check emigration j and to keep that
many-headed monfter, war, at a diflance, by being
always prepared for it -3 if they are emulous of honeft,
well-earned fame, and defirous to tranfmit their
names to pofterity, as the faviours of their country ;
they will liften to the voice of reafon, and the calls
of common jufdce towards an injured community,
who Lave been grievoufly loaded, beyond any ex-
ample in the annals of mankind.
The further refources ftill in referve for national
purpofes, may be thus dated.
Savings in the army and ordnance eftablifhmcnts,
in confequence of the lofs of America, and the very
expenfive, though ufelefs ifland of Minorca.
Ditto,
3* GENERAL VIEW OP
Ditto* in bounties on American produce and
other difburfements in thofe ftates, the whole fup-
pofed to be half a million annually.
Ditto, in collecting the excife, cuftoms, and du-
ties, being at prefent from 6 to 15 per cent, on the
grofs arinount, but which may be reduced to lefs
than one half of that expence, as foon as the compli-
cated mafs of revenue fhall be firnplified or confo-
lidated, and fmuggling fupprefied.
Ditto, by abolifhing the bounty on the exporta-
tion of corn, fuppofed to coft the nation 140,000!.
annually, upon an average of years, without anfwer-
ing any other purpofe than the encouragement of
frauds, it being alledged that many cargoes thus
fhipped upon bounty are, foon after, brought back,
relandedj and Ihipped upon a fecond bounty *.
Sale
* A bounty upon the exportation of corn in a manufacturing
country, is fo far impolitic, as it affords a pretence for raifing the
r-ents of lands at the expence of that clafs of people who are lead
able to bear it ; and, at the fame time, gives our rivals in trade a
decided advantage at foreign markets. It hath been argued, in
iupport of the bounty, that cheap provifion is the fource of idlenefs,
and diforderly habits, amongft perfons who are reftlefs through the
impatience of money in their pockets. Admitting this to be the
caie with a portion of the working people, mall the wives and chil*
dren of tfyefe thoughtlefs men be rendered ftill more wretched,
through the want of that neceiTary article, bread, thus artificially
enhanced beyond its natural value, and beyond the abilities even of
the moft induftrious mother to purchafe a fufiicient quantity for
her unhappy offspring ? Or, becaufe the kingdom may contain 50
or 60,000 diforderly perfons, is the whole body of the iober, the
domeftic, and the induftrious manufacturers, artifts, and labourers,
with their families, amounting to fonie millions, to be thus de-
prived of the gifts which Heaven hath fo bountifully provided fcr
them ?
It hath been further argued, that, as wages are higher in En-
gland than in any other country, the working people can bear a
proportionable rife in the price of provifions ; but it mould be con-
Jfidered, that human nature is fubject to^ccidents, to lingering lick-
nefs, and to death ; that even the moft diligent are fometimes out
of employ, from ft agnation of bufinels ; and that when the work,
from whatever cauie, is at a fiand, the fupplies of a whole family
are.
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 33
Sale of the royal forefts, crown lands, and other
unproductive claims, which would alfo open a new
field to agriculture, population, and the confump-
tion of home manufactures.
Some of thefe favings are now in actual pro-
grefiion, and the accumulated amount of the whole
will ultimately exceed 2,000,000!. annually.
In the mean time, however, additional taxes muft
be levied to raife the public revenue to a par, or
level, with the unavoidable difburfements as before
ftated ; and, as perfons of all denominations have
fomething to fay on thefe fubjects, the following ob-
fervations are fubmitted, among other fchemes of
the day, to the confideration of the reader.
The objects of revenue may be claffed under three
general heads ;
1. 'The landed property ; on which, owing to late
improvements, and the rapid growth of towns, the
tax is levied at prefent very unequally.
2. Trade and commerce -, or duties and excifes on
exports and imports, manufactures, and the necef-
faries of life. Objects, that ought to be the lad in
confideration, and always touched with the greateft
delicacy ; but, which, on the contrary, have been
taxed, and re-taxed, to an alarming degree ; tending
to fap the foundations of commerce> the great prop
on which all other fources of revenue chiefly depend.
3. Luxuries , Jufer flint ies^ and amufementsy feem
therefore, the moft eligible objects of taxation, and
which will be more or lefs productive in proportion
as commerce fhall be exempted. From thefe chan-
nels all the deficiencies of revenue may be amply
are inftantly cut off. Debts, or the precarious dependence upon
friends or neighbours, look them in the face, and the lofs of ope
week throws them back many weeks. It ought alfo to be confidered,
that as taxes, and all the geceflaries of life, have rifen, and are
riling, far beyond any example in other countries, the article of
bread fhould, in policy and humanity, be permitted to reach the
cottage, and the g?.rrct, at fucn prices as bounteous nature alone,
ftiall, from year to year, flamp upon it.
C fupplied^
GENERAL VIEW OF
25
50
5
i
5
25
i
00
fupplied, and at ar^ eafy expence in collc&ing ;
without oppreffing any clafs of people ; without
cramping the national exertions ; or driving the in-
duftrious manufacturers and their families to the
new world. The articles which feem to be the moil
productive, though the leaft burthenfome, are,
ANNUALLY.
Gentlemens carriages having 4 wheels
and 2 horfes,
— 4 ditto ..
-- 6 ditto -
Chaifes or whifkies having 2 wheels
Saddle horfes kept for pleafure
Qualifications for (hooting
Every pack of hounds
Dogs of certain defcriptions, from 55. to
Every houfe-keeper or matter of a family,^
for permiflion that hair powder may be
u fed in fuch family, if renting a houfe >
under 50!. and to be. charged propor-
tionably upon higher rents J
A (imilar tax to be levied and propor-
tioned upon houfekeepers, who per-
mit card-playing within their refpec-
tive houfes
Watches from 55. to
Thefe taxes, if duly enforced, are calculated to
raile above i ,000,000!. a fum which, with favings,
and the extinction of temporary annuities, would
effect the following eflential purpofes, viz :
Make good all the deficiencies of revenue, arifing
from whatever caufe.
Enable government to reduce the national debt*.
by means of an accumulating fund, upon com-
.pound intereil, during a given number of years*.
* . And
* Dr, Price and other gentlemen converfant in numerical calcn-
tions, have given leveral linking examples of the progreifive effects
of
050
200
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 35
And thirdly, enable government to appropriate a
fpecific fum annually to objects of national im-
provement; which, befides giving encouragement
to ingenuity, and employment to the induftrious,
would promote the circulation of fpecie throughout
the kingdom, increafe the demand for various arti-
cles of inland manufacture, keep the people at
home ; and finally produce^ in their operation, an
annual equivalent equal to the whole amount of
the original expence, if not, in many inftances, ex-
ceeding it.
of accumulating intereft, provided that both principal and intereft
mall be permitted to operate, without alienating any part thereof,
as was originally propofed by the proje6tors of the linking fund in
1716.
" Money, " fays the Dr. " bearing compound intereft increafes
at firit flowly* But, the rate of intereft being continually accele-
rated, it becomes in fome time fo rapid as to mock all the powers
of the imagination.- One penny, put out at our Saviour's birth to
5 per cent* compound intereft, would, before this time, have in-
creafed to a greater fum, than would be contained in a hundred and
fifty millions of earths all f olid gold, But if put out onjimple intereft,
it would in the fame time, have amounted to no more thanyk><?«
Jlnllings and fourpence half-penny,
Retpecting the prefent national debt, the Dr. fays, that a million
borrowed annually for 20 years, will pay off, in this time, 55 mil-
lions 3 percent, flock, if difcharged at 6ol. in money for every lool.
ftock ; and in 40 years more, without any further aid from loans,
333 millions (that is 388 millions in all) would be paid off. The
addition of 19 years to this period would pay off a thoufand
Millions. "
" One million yearly applied to difcharge our debt, would, fays
Baton Maferes, raife in 60 years, at 75 percent. 317 millions. "
Such is the hope yet remaining for this illand, after the long
train of political errors which characterize the age. It muft there-
fore afford every friend of his country, and of pofterity, very con-
fiderable fatis faction when hs contemplates, that by a flight requi-
fition on a few articles of luxury only, our incumbrances may be
difcharged, and all taxes on manufactures, and the ncceflaries of
life abolifhed. By this happy turn in our affairs we mall foon be
enabled to go to foreign markets with better goods, and at lower
prices ; nor will there be, under fuch circumftances, the fmallclt
pretence to ranfack the globe, in queft of remote fettlemeiits.
C 2 So
36 GENERAL VIEW OF
So foon as the great concerns of the nation fhafl
be put into this happy train, Britain may be confi-
dered as out of,danger> and in a hopeful way ; ef-
pecially fo, if we, initead offtimulating thejealoufy,
and irritating the paflions of mankind, enjoy our
fuperlative advantages, in humble gratitude to the
Author of thofe gifts, and with moderation and hu-
manity towards mankind, of whatever country or
complexion.
This rule of conduct will allay the jealoufies, dif-
fipate the refentments, and fecure the friendfhip of
an offended world. It will accelerate commercial
intercourfa, give permanency to old channels of
trade, and open new ones, whereof there yet re~
main an unbounded field, efpecially with France,
and the northern part of our ifland ; countries, of
which we have in many refpects loft the benefit, by
labouring to crufh the one, and by cramping the
exertions of the other.
Such is the arduous work allotted for thofe who
are, or fhall be, entrufted with the management of
public affairs. They have to undo the miftakes
of almoft a century, and to lead the nation into
that direction which nature, experience, and the
circumilances of the times, point out as its proper
line of action.
The embarraffments to be encountered, and the
difficulties to be furmounted, in reftoring a fallen
empire, prefent a noble field for the exercife of Ro-
man patriotifm \ that fpecies of virtue which elevates
the mind, fuperfedes all felfifh or frivolous confide-
rations, and perfeveres, with enthufiaflic zeal, in
whatever is great, ufeful, and benevolent. It is
pleafing to obferve, that as our former fyftem was
fallacious in its principle, and ruinous in its opera-
tion to ourfelves, and to mankind; the meafures
referved for the prefent day will produce the mod
falutary, healing, and beneficial effects, wherever
our influence extends. That plan of action, which
is
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 37
is calculated to beftow not imaginary, but real
glory, to this exhaufted country, will, at the fame
time, give peace, fecurity, and comfort to a tenth
part of the human race *.
* The world is fuppofedto contain 9^3 millions of people ; of
which number, 25 millions are under the ibvereignty of the king
of Great Britain ; but, in eftimating the whole collective body oV
mankind who are more or lefs under the influence of the Britifii
councils, or affected by them, we muft, belides our Oriental pro-
vinces, include the greateft part of the Mogul empire. The truft
tvhich Jieaven hath repoied in the members of the Britifh fenate is,
therefore, a matter of the greateft importance, and moft ferious con-
cern : they are the ftewards of nations and people, in every quarter
of the globe ; bound, by every poflible tie, to diffufe univerfal juf-
tice, and effectually to redrefs the grievances of thofe who cannot^
or who dare not, lodge their complaints, perfonalfy, where alone
«he fupremc power is vefted.
ANNALS
ANNALS
O F
SCOTLAND.
SCOTLAND having been long harrafled by
hoftile invafion, and fometimes embroiled in
civil commotipns, the profeflion of arms became
both a neceffary, and a favourite employment
amongft the great body of the people. Every man
was a foldier, ready to march at the command of
his chieftain, or upon the fummons of his prince.
The nation, thus inured to the habits of war, in
defence of their country and liberties, and always
prevailing in the fequel, gained a military reputa-
tion abroad -} while the valour and fidelity of the
auxiliary Scots, in the armies of contending princes,
procured their native kingdom various commercial
privileges and exemptions, which it enjoyed until
the accefiion of James VI. to the crown of En-
gland, when thofe nations, the mart at Campvere
in Holland excepted, alledging that Scotland was
no longer a feparate kingdom, fubjected its com-
merce to the fame regulations and reftrictions as
that of England. The Scots of the middle ages,
fenfible of the benefits to commerce whicji thofe
diftinguifhed privileges beftowed, began to avail
themiclves of the riches which their leas and exten-
five coafts afforded, and to import, chiefly by
means of the rlfheries, not only the produce of more
luxuriant climates, but alfo fpecie in confiderable
plenty j
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 39
plenty ; infomuch, that the coin of Scotland con-
tinued, for many ages, the fame in quality and
quantity as coins of the like denominations in
England.
Mention is made by foreign writers of a traffic
between Scotland and the Low Countries, whither,
in the ninth century, the Scots carried their fifh i
and it is obfervable, that this trade fir ft fuggeiled
to the Dutch the idea of that fifhery on the coait of
Scotland, which was the origin of their rife, from
i-nfignificant villages, to High and Mighty States.
Long before that period, however, the Scots
and Picts feem to have been acquainted with cer-
tain principles of rude architedture, as appears by
fundry houfes and ruins, particularly in the High-
lands, of a moft fingular conftruction, and fully
defcribed by the antiquaries of the prefent century.
• Next in time, are the circular towers at Bre-
chin and Abernethy, which have alfo been de-
fcribed, though their ufes have not been afcertained,
by thofe writers.
It is beyond a doubt that ecclefiaftical buildings
of cohfiderable magnitude began to be creeled in
the fifth century.; fome of thefe buildings being
mentioned by Bede who lived near that period, and
by fucceeding hiilorians, and in charters.
But it was not till the Scots had re-united the
Pictifh kingdom, expelled the Saxons, broke the
power of the Danes, and eftablifhed peace and
fecurity, that the princes, nobility, and dignified
clergy, began, by means of commerce and the
iiftieries, to erect thofe magnificent fabrics which
characterize the nth, I2th, and i3th centuries.
Thofe mighty works were carried on with unremit-
ting afliduity, under the patronage of a line of ex-
cellent mpnarchs, through whofe mild government,
wife inftitutions, and patriotic exertions, the king-
dom arrived, comparatively, to a confiderable de-
gree of refinement, and began to form a part in the
c 4 political
40 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
political fyfbem of Europe, when the death of Alex-
ander III. in 1285, wound up that fiourifriing
period, and embroiled the two Britifh kingdoms in
all the calamities of a fixty years war.
The population, the commerce, and the refources
of Scotland, at the commencement of that de-
ftructive period, mull have been very confiderable*
The kingdom was fupplied by Genoa, with fhips
and arms; and by the Netherlands with arms,
{lores, and provifions.
In the Fcedera, * vol. III. page 771, Edward II.
folicits the Earl of Flanders to break off all com-
munication
* In the beginning of the reign of Henry I. king of England,
anno noo, the records and regifters of public acts of the crown
firil began to be regularly kept. From thefe, Thomas Rymer,
Efq. hiltoriographer to queen Anne, publifhed his ^celebrated
Fcedera in 20 vols. folio : Confifting of treaties, conventions,
letters, grants, &c. between the kings of England, and foreign
princes, and ilates ; and alfo, many charters, grants, proclama-
tions, &c. of thofe kings, relating to matters with their own
lubjects. Tranfcribed fiom the public archives in the Tower of
London and the Chapel of the Rolls ; which collection was
continued by Mr. Saunderfon, keeper of the faid records.
Mr. Carte, in a printed advertifement, anno 1 744, relative to
his then intended hiftory of England, fays, " That our records
began to be kept in the reign of Richard I. (probably he means
more generally} when the acts and grants of our kings, under the
leal of their Chancery Exchequer, began to be regularly en-
rolled and kept in proper repofitories. That the furvey of the
lands of the kingdom in doomfday boolt^ and the meriffs accounts for
one year of Henry I. and for all the reign, except the firft year, of
Henry II, among the rolls, in the Pipe Office, are indeed more
antient ; but thefe are not properly acts of our kings ; nor were
the acts of other kings in Europe ufually enrolled and entered
upon record before that time. In France, before that time, the
Chancellor only kept copies of all grants under the great feal,
which, at his demife, were delivered over to his fuccelfor ; and
the like method was probably obferved in England, and, perhaps,
in other parts of Europe. But an accident of our king Richard's
furprifing king Philip Auguihis in an ambufh, and feizing of
his great feal and the copies of all his grants, made them fall into
the method of regiftering in books, and reporting inlecure places,
the copies of all grants, &c. And this method feems to have been
introduced, at the fame time, into England. "
The
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 4,1
munication and correfpondence with the Scots,
whom he calls rebels ; to which the Earl made
anfwer as follows : cc Our country of Flanders is
common to all the world, where every perfon finds
free permifiion, neither can we withhold this privi-\
ledge from perfons concerned in commerce, without
bringing ruin and deftruction on our country. If
the Scots come into our ports, and our fubjecls go
to theirs, it is not thereby our intention, nor that
of our fub}ecl:s, to encourage them in their error,
but merely to carry on our traffic without taking
part with them. "
In 1322, Edward finding all his remonftrances
with the Earl of Flanders ineffectual, and that his
fubjects ftill continued to fupply the Scots with
arms and provifions, ordered the barons of the
Cinque ports to deftroy all the fhips of the Flem-
ings, which fhould be found carrying fupplies to
the Scots. And in 1333, we find Edward III.
complaining to the faid Earl, and to the burgo-
matters of the three good towns of Bruges, Gaunt,
and Ypres, of their people's aiding the Scots, his
enemies, with their fhips, ammunition, and pro-
vifions.
So refpeclable was the Scottifh trade, even in the
word of times 5 and as all the trifling manufactures
of that early period muft have been nearly at a {land
during the deprefling circumftances attendant upon
war, we may chiefly attribute the foreign aid and
fupplies, to the fiiheries alone.
No fooner had peace, fccurity, and good order,
been reftored, than the nation refumed its commer-
cial fpirit with new vigour, and from thencefor-
ward the progreflive flourifhing date of Scotland is
The valuable collection of Hate papers, thus happily preferred
through a feries of ages, and amidft all the revolutions that con-
vulied the ifiand, hath enabled later hiftorians to correct the
errors of old writers, and to publifh the annals of both nations,
with a degree of certainty hitherto unknown,
fully
42 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND,
fully authenticated' in the writings of Britifh and
foreign hiftorians, as well as by charters and par-
liamentary records.
In 1378, one Mercer, a Scots navigator, hav-
ing beeri taken prifoner by the Englifh, his fon,
with a fquadron of fhips, attacked Scarborough,
where the elder Mercer had been confined, carried
o(F feveral veflels, and a confiderable number of
the inhabitants. This, the Englifh hfftdriaty Wal-
fmgham, laments, as " a great misfortune to En-
gland, which might have been enriched by the
ranfom the elder Mercer was capable of paying. "
The Scots commerce with the Low Countries,
France, Spain, and the Mediterranean, had at this
time become fo confiderable, that the ports in the
north of England, particularly Newcaftle and Hull,
fitted out privateers to intercept it, and actually
took a Scots ihip, valued at the immenfe fum, for
thofe days, of 7000!. fterling.
In 1381, the Englifh council ifiued fpecial orders
that the Scots fhould receive no moleftation in their
trade.
• In 1407, John duke of Brabant, did cc grant his
letters patent of new privileges to thofe of the Scot-
tifh nation, trading all over his dominions, " and
it is further related that Bruges, in Flanders, was
then, and had been very long before that time, the
ftaple port for Scottifh fhips and merchandize."
In 1410, according to Englifh hiftorians, c< Sir
Robert Umphryville^ vice-admiral of England, lay,
with ten fhips of war, before the port of Leith,
when landing on either fide the Forth, where he
did much mifchief and plundered the country, he
took many prizes, and burnt the great galliot of
Scotland, with many other (hips, and yet brought
home fourteen tali Ihips, laden with drapery goods
and corn, whereby he fo far lowered the prices in
England, as to have obtained the name of Mend-.
market, '•
The
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 43
' The fifteenth century opens an asra extremely-
favourable to the arts of civil life in Scotland, par-
ticularly literature, fcience, hufbanury, planting-,
commerce, navigation, and the ftfheries. It intro-
duces the pacific, the fplendid, and truly patriotic
reigns of the five James's, who were equally vigo-
rous in - executing, as their parliaments were in
enacting, the numerous regulations and inftitutions
which di.ftinguifhed the vertical period of Scotland's
glory and happinefs.
JAMES I. one of the moft accomplifhed princes
of the age, applied himfelf with unremitting afti-
'duity, to every object of national utility.
He amply endowed the univerfity of St. An-
drews, of which he was properly the fccond foun-
der. He eftablifhed fchools over the kingdom ;
invited and encouraged learned and ingenious
foreigners to refide in Scotland ; and frequently
honoured their public exercifes with his prefence.
He kept a diary, in which he wrote down the
names of all fnch men as delerved his patronage,
and preferment ; reproved, with great freedom,
fuch churchmen as lived unfuitably to their tha-
ra6ler ; and, as a check to their immoderate lu&Ery,
lie brought over fome Carthufian monks, >£the
fevereft order in the church of Rome, for w-h$m
he endowed and alloted a monaftry at Perth/cthe
centre of his dominions.
He rewarded induftry, encouraged agricul-
ture, hufbandry, manufactures, and commerce ; *
regulated
* In the ftatutos of his firft parliament, mention is made of a
duty of 4d. Scots, on each thoufand of red herrings, made in
Scotland. And, in his lecond parliament, a duty was laid on
• woollen cloth exported. While the foregoing extrads ferve to ex-
hibit the antiquity of red herrings and woollen cloth, for exporta-
tion in Scotland ; they inform us, at the lame time, that our an-
ceitors of thole days were little acquainted with the Ictence of
commerce ; for, befides the impolitic duties laid upon exports,
the royal boroughs made an ordinance, tho.t no foreign merchants
ftiould
44 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
regulated the wages of workmen and labourers,
by a certain flandard -, introduced a better ftyle of
architecture j obliged landlords to rebuild or repair
all their manors, caftles, and forts ; and to fuper-
intend the civilization of their tenants, for whofe
conduct they were made partly refponfible. He re-
formed the courts of juftice, and obliged every advo~
cate, who attended at the bar, to fwear, before
they entered upon any procefs, " that they fhould
fay nothing but truth, in order to make it appear
fuch to the judges : That they fhould not go about
to corrupt the judges, with promifes or bribes :
That they fhould make ufe of no falfe or frivolous
arguments : and laftly, That they fhould by no
means offer to delay or retard the decifion of the
cafe in debate. " He travelled through the moft
uncivilized parts of the Highlands, to fee that juf-
tice was duly adminiftered. He rebuilt, or repaired
bridges -, eftablifhed ferries and inns ; enforced the
antient warlike exercifes of the people, ordering
mufterings or wappinfhawings of all men, between
the ages of fixteen and fixty, to be made four times
a year, in every fheriffdom of the kingdom ; that
every fubject fhould be provided with warlike
weapons according to his degree ; the meanefl to
be.'furnifhed with fufficient bows and arrows, a
fword, buckler, and knife. Laws were enacted
againft drinking, and vanity in apparel ; cloaths of
(ilk, rich embroideries, coftly furs, necklaces of
fhould be permitted, as had formerly been praclifed, to purchafe
herrings from the Scottifh fifhermen, at lea, nor until theywere
firft landed ; that fo their own burghers might be firft fupplied.
Whereupon the Netherlander and the German Hanfeatics (who,
till then, conitantly took off immenfe quantities of herrings from
the Scots, on their coafts, whereby Scotland was enriched) betook
thcmfelves dire&ly to that fifhery, whereby Scotland became after-
wards impoverished, and thofe other people were greatly enriched.
James I. having married his daughter Mary to Wolfred Lord of
Vere, the Scottilh flaple was removed from Bruges to that city,
where it hath generally remained to the prcfent time.
i pearl,
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 45
pearl, &c. were prohibited to be wore, excepting
by knights and lords, or their heirs.
All taverns of wine, ale, or beer, were to be
fhut upon tolling a bell at nine o'clock in the even-
ing, by the magiftrates of burghs, who were to
forfeit fifty {hillings to the king's chamberlain ai
often as they fliould fail in their duty.
James, to the excellent ftatutes which diftin-
guifhed his reign, endeavoured to foften the man-
ners of his fubjects, by introducing the polite arts,
particularly thofe of poetry, painting, and mufic,
to their acquaintance. In poetry, he was an au-
thor j and of muiic, he was one of the bed judges
and compofers of his time. He is generally fup-
pofed to have been the reformer of the Scottifh
vocal mufic, if not the father of that elegant fim-
plicity, for which the antient Scottilh mufic is
every where celebrated. Several pieces of his
poetry were extant in the reign of James V. but
nothing hath reached the prefent times that can be
attributed to him, with any certainty, excepting a
panegyric upon the princefs Jane, before Ihe was
married to him, called the King's guair* which in
the
* The King's Quair was refcued from oblivion by the affiduity
of the learned and ingenious William Tytler, Eiq. of Edinburgh,
who, with the affiilance of a fludent at Oxford, found the copy
amongfl the Seldean manufcripts, in the Bodleian library. la the
fame manner, Dr. Percy firfl difcovered the fong of Peblis to the
Play, in an antieut manufcript collection of Scottifh fongs, pre-
ierved in the Pepyfian library.
Mr. Tytler hath lately favoured the public with an elegant edi-
tion of the King's Quair, and Chrift Kirk on the Green, accom-
panied with a Gloilary > a Diflertation oft' the Life and Writings
of King James, and on Scottifli Mufic. Peblis to the Play, is now
firfl publifhed by Mr. Nichols of London, in the fecond volume of
his Selctf Bcottijb Ballads* The fame gentleman is printing a con-
tinuation of Scottifli Songs, now firfl collected from the or ignals in
the Pepylian library.
" The genius of the Scots,*' fays Mr. Tytler, " has in every age
ihone conipicuous in poetry and mufic. Of the firil, the poems of
compofed in au age of rude antiquity, are fufficient proof.
Tht
46 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
the old language fignifies the King s Book. i. A
ballad or poem, called Cbrift Kirk on the Green*
and
The fceevifli tloubt entertained by fome; of their authenticity, ap*
pears to be the utmoll refinement of fcepticiiin. As genuine re-
mains of Celtic poetry, the poems of Otfian will continue to be
admired as long as there fhall remain" a tafte for the fublimc and
beautiful.
The Scottifh Mt/fe does no fefs honour to the genius of the
country. The old Scottifh longs have always been admired for
the wild, pathetic fweetnefs, which cliilinguiflies them from the
mulic of every other country. I mean, in this eflay, to try to fix
the aera of our moil: antient melodies, and to trace the hiitory of
our mufic down to modern times. In a path fo untrodden, where
icarce a track is to be leen to lead the way, the fureft guide I have
to follow is the mufic itfelf, and a few authorities which our old
hiftorians afford us. After all, the iitmofl I aim at is probability ;
and, perhaps, by ibrae hints, I may lead others to a more direct
road.
The origin of mufic, in every country, is from the woods and
lawns. The fimplicity and wildnefs of feveral of our old ScottifH
melodies, denote. them to be the production of a pailoral age and
country, and prior to the ufe of any muiical inilrument beyond
that of a very limited fcale of a few natural notes<, and prior to the
knowledge of any rules of artificial mufic. This conjecture, if
folid, muft carry them up to a high period of antiquity.
The moft antient of me Scottish longs, Hill preferred, are ex*
tremely fimple, and void of all art. They confift of one meafure
only, .and have 'no iecond part, as the later, or more modern airs
have. They muft, therefore, have been compofed for a very fim~
pie inftnmient, fuch as the fhcpherd's reed or pipe, of few notes,
and of the plain diatonic fcale,. without uling the lemi-tones, of
lharps and flats. The diftingnifhing ftrain of our old melodies is
plaintive and melancholy ; and what makes them foothing and af-
fecting, to a great degree, is the conftant ufe of the concordant
tones, the third and fifth of the fcale, often ending upon the fifth,
and fome of them on the hxth of the fcale. By this artlefs ftandard
ibiue of our ok! Scottilh melodies may be traced : fuch as Gil
Morice — There cam a ghcft to Market's door—*-O laddie^ I man
loo* tbcc, — Hap me ivi'* thy pfttycoat. I mean the old lets Of
thefe airs, as the lait air, which I take to be one of our olcleft
longs, is fo modernized as icarce to have a trace of its antient fim-
plicity. The fimple original air is Hill fang by nurfes in the
country, as a lullaby to ftill their babes to fleep. It may be faid,
that the words of fonie of theic fongs denote them to be of no very
antient date : But it is well known, that many of our old fongs
have changed their original names, by 'being adapted to more
words. Some old tunes have a fecondpartj but it is
only
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 47
and another poem called Peblis to the Play ; both
of them defcribing the humours and manners of
the peafantry in thofe rude ages.
James
only a repetition of the firtt part on the higher o&ave ; and thefe
additions are probably of more modern date than the tunes them-
ielves.
King James I. is faid to have been a fine performer on the lute
and harp, with which he accompanied his own fongs. Playing
on thefe inttruments, mutt, by the prince's example, have be-
come tafliionable j and, of courie, a more regular and refined
modulation in the Scottifli longs mull have been introduced. The
limple ic:}le of the pipe, by the introduction of the ttringed inftru-
ments, became, in confequence, much enlarged, not only by a
greater extent of notes, but by the divifion of them into iemitones.
The great rcra of poetry, as of mufic, in Scotland, I imagine;
to have been from the beginning of the reign of king James I. irt
1405, down to the end of king James V. in 1542. The old cathe-
drals and abbeys, thofe venerable monuments of Gothic grandeur,
with the choritters belonging to them, according to the fplendour
of their ritual church fervice, were ib many ichools or ieminaries
tor the cultivation of mufic. It mutt be owned, however, that
although the icience of harmonic mufic was cultivated by the church
compolers, yet, as the merit of the church muiic, at that time,
confifted in its harmony only, the fine flights and pathetic expref-
lion of our longs could borrow nothing from thence.
This was likewile the sera of chivalry : The feudal fyttem was
then in its full vigour. The Scottilh nobility, poffcfTed of great
eitates, hereditary jurifdictions, and a numerous vaiTalage, main*
tained, in their remote catties, a ttate and fplendour little interior
to the court of their kings. Upon folemn occafions, tilts and tour-
naments were proclaimed, and fettivals held with all the Gothic
grandeur and magnificence of chivalry, which drew numbers of
knights and dames to thefe folemnities.
James IV. and V. were both of them magnificent princes:
They kept fplendid courts, and were great promoters of thefe
heroic entertainments. In the family of every chief, or head of a
clan, the bard was a very conliderable pcrlbn : his office, upon
l/>L-mn fealls, was to ling or r^heade the fplendid actions of the
hciocs, anceitors of the family, which he accompanied with this
haip. At this time, too, there were itinerant or ttrolling min-
itrcl-', perrlrmers on the harp, who went about the country, from
houfe to houfc, upon folcnm occafions, reciting heroic ballads,
and other popular epifodes. To theie lylvan minilrels, as they
were called, 1 imagine we arc indebted for many fine old fong-\
which aie more varied in their melody, and more regular in their
conipofition, as they approach nearer to modern times, though
ft ill retaining their * wood-notes wild. ' . . ,
T*
48 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
JAMES II. founded the univerfity of Glafgow,
and exceeded his father, ifpoflible, in encouraging
fumptuary
To the wandering harpers we are certainly indebted for that
fpecies of mulic, which is now fcarcely known j I mean the port.
Almoft every great family had a port that went by the name of the
family. Of the few that are itill preferred are, port Lennox, port
Gordon, port Seton, %\\&]}ortAthok, which are all of them excellent in
their kind. The port is not of the martial ftrain of the march, as
iome have conjectured ; thole above-named being all in the plain-
tive iirain, and modulated for the harp.
The pibracb, the march or battle tune of the Highland clans,
v/ith the different ftrains introduced of the coronich, &c. is fitted
tor the bagpipe only : its meafure, in the pas grave of the High-
land piper, equipped with his flag and military enfigns, when
inarching up to batrie, is ftately and animating, riling often to a
degree of fury.
To clafs the old Scottilh fongs, according to the feveral aera*
in which we may fuppofe them to have been made, is an attempt
which can arile to conjecture only, except as to fuch of them as
carry more certain marks, to be afterwards taken notice of.**
Mr. Tytler proceeds to flate the gradations of the Scottifh
mufic, and particularly the molt diitinguilhed longs, which fall in
with the following periods of time, viz.
i . The longs prior to the reign of James I.
2. from that aera to the beginning of James IV.
3. . from James IV. to the end of the reign of queen
frOrn queen Mary to the restoration j • and,
5. from the reftoration to the union.
li It were endlefs, fays he, to run through the many fine airs
expreilive of lentiment, and pailion, in the number of our Scottifh
fongs, which, when lung in the genuine natural manner, mnft affect
the heart of every perfon of feeling, whofe tafte is not vitiated and
ieduced by fajbzon and novelty*
As the Scottilh fongs are the flights of genim, devoid of art,
they bid defiance to artificial graces and affected cadences. A-Scots
long can only be lung in tafte by a Scottilh voice. To a fweet,
liquid, flowing voice, capable of fwelling a note from the lofteft to
the fulleft tone, and what the Italians call a vocc di peito, muft be
ynacdfoy&ittty and feeling, and a perfect underflanding of the lub-
ject, and words of the fong, fo as to know the jjgnificant word on
which \.o fuecll QT foftcn the tone, and lay the force of the note.
Frorh a want of knowledge of the language, it generally happens,
that, to moft of the foreign mafters, our melodies, at firft, mult
ieem wild and uncouth; for which reafon, in their performance,
they generally fall Ihortofour expectation. We fometimes, how-
ever, find a foreign mailer, who, with a genius for the pathetic,
said
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 4^
lumptuary laws for the general welfare. He la-
boured with unremitting zeal, to accuftom his fub-
jeds
and a knowledge of the fubject and words^ has afforded very high
pleafure in a Scottifh fong. Who coukl hear, with infemibility,
or without being moved in the greatelt degree, Tenducci ling /'//
never leave t bee, or, The Braes of Ball? ndine? or, Will ye go to tbt
Ewe-$ugffisi Marlon, fung by Signora Corri "?
It is a common defect in fome who pretend to ling, to affect to
(mother the words, by not articulating them, ib as we Icarce can
find out either the fiibject or language of their fongs. This is
always a fign of want of feeling, and the mark of a bad linger ;
particularly of Scottifh fongs, where there is generally fo intimate
a correlpondence bstu-een the air and iubject j indeed, there can
be no good vocal voice without it.
The proper accompaniment of a Scottifh fong, is a .plain, thin^
dropping bate, on the harpfichord or guittar. The fine breath-
ings, tbofe bcart-felt torches, which genius alone can exprefs, in
our fongs, are loll, in a noify accompaniment of inftruments. The
full chords of a thorough, bais faould be uled fparingly, and with
judgment, n.ot to overpower, but to fupport and raiie the voice at
proper panics.
Where) with a fine voice, is joined fome (kill and execution in
either of thole initruments, the air, by way of iymphony, or intro-
duction to the fong, ihonld always be firlt played over ; and, at
the dole of every Itanza, th;? late part of the air flioukl be repeated,
as a relief lor the voice, which it gracefully lets off. In this^'tf-
pbonic part, the performer may {hew his taile and fancy .on the in-
Itrument, by carrying it ad libitum.
A Scottiih fong admits of no cadence ; I mean, by this, no fan-
ciful or capricious defcant upon the clofe of the time. There is
one embellilhment, however, which a fine finger may eafily ac-
quire, that is, an cafyjbake* This, while the organs are rlexibb
iti a young voice, may, with practice, be eafily attained.
ASeottifli fong, thus performed, is among the highcit of enter*
tainments to a mvfcal gatins. But is this genius to be acq\iired,
either in the performer or hearer ? it cannot. Genius in mujic, as
in poetry, is the" gift of Heaven ; it is bom with us, it is not t j
be learned.
An arti ft on the violin may difplay the magic of his fingers, in
running from the top to the bottom of the finger-board, in various
intricate capricios, which, at moll, will only excite furprize ;
While a very middling performer, of uttj and feeling, in a fub-
ject that admits of \.\\z pathos, will touch the heart in its fineft
ienlktions. The fincit of the Italian com pole rs, and many of their
fingers, porteis this to an amazing degree. The opeia airs of
thole
D
50 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND,
j efts to the habits of civil life ,- curbed the licerf-
tioufnefs of the borderers, and obliged them tcx
cultivate their own lands, inilead of preying upon
thofc of their neighbours.
He ehafted fevero-laws againft pirates, and all
thofe who broke the peace, either at home or
abroad ; every traveller,, upon entering an inn, was
to lay afide all his armour, excepting a knife, be-
thofe great mailers, Pcrgolcfc, Jomelli, Galuppi, Perez, and man/
others of the prefent age, are aftonilhingly pathetic and moving. "
Mr. Tytler, in a critical difiertation on the compoii tion and
harmony of the Italian mulic, endeavours to prove, that the Ita-
lians owe the improvement of their imific to- the early introduction
of the Scpttifli melody into it.
The following teftimony of To/font the Italian poet, leaves no
room for further doubt refpecting the originality of our celebrated
airs.- u We reckon, among us moderns, James king of Scotland,
who not only compofed many iacretf pieces of vocal muiic, but,
alib, of himlelf, invented a new kind ofmiific, plaintive and melan-
choly, different from all others ; in which he has been imitated by
Carlo Gefualdo, prince of Venofa, who, in our. age, has im-
proved mufic with new and admirable inventions. Gefualdo is alfo
celebrated, by cotemporary writers, as one of the moft learned
and greateft compofers of vocal mufic in his time. He was, fay
they, the prince of muficians of* our age ; he having recalled the
rythmc into mulic, introduced fiicb ajlyle of modulation, that other
mulicians yielded the preference to him ; and all fingers and
players on flringed inftruments, hying afide that of others, every
where eagerly embraced his mufic. ** Mr.- Tytler, in doling
thefe extracts, exclaims in the honeft warmth of his heart, " How •
perfectly characterrftic, this, of the pathetic ftrains of the old
Scottifli longs ! what an illusions teftimony to tiieir excellency ! "
Many of ttie fineil longs feem to have been compofed by per-
fons above the common rank, of claffic education, and well ac-
quainted with the mythology of the antients. Thefe gentle fwairx
and nymphs relided chiefly in the partoral countries, to the fouth-
wardof Edinburgh. The Tweed, the Yarrow, the Galla Water,
the Broom of Cowden Knows, and the Bullies above Traquair,
were witnelTes of many tender fcenes, and will long perpetuate
thole tales of love in all its various fituations of hope, fuccefs, dif-
appointment, and defpair. Jean of Aberdeen, Lochaber no more,
the Birks of Invermay, Allan Water, and' other beautiful airs, do
honour to the more no'rthem parts of the kingdom. Invermay
lies on the north fide of the Ochil hills in Stratherne, Perthshire ;
and, at no great diftance weflward, is the Water cf Allan, which
•gives name to .\fmalivalley, called Strathallan.
caufe
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 51
caufe the law prefumed the fheriffto be the guar-
dian of the fubjects fafety within his diftricts.
He revived the laws againft beggars, excepting
thofe who were licenfed by the civil magiftrates ;
and the king's juftice was empowered to banifh or
imprifon all gypfies, homers, maflerful beggars,
and feigned fools. t Women were prohibited to
refort either to church or market with their faces
covered, fo as not to be known ; the great nobles,
and dignified clergy only, were allowed to wear
fcarlet gowns, with rich furniture -, no merchants,
unlefs they were magiftrates, or of the town coun-
cil, and no baron or gentleman, who was not
poflefTed of forty pounds old extent, was to wear
filk cloaths ; nor were their wives or daughters to
be drefied in either, but in a manner agreeable to
their fortunes ; coarfe grey and white cloaths were
to be worn by the people, on working days ; but
on holidays, they might were cloaths of other
colours. It was enacted that every man, pofTerTed
of a plough and oxen, fhould fow a certain quan-
tity of wheat, peafe, and beans, yearly -, and all
freeholders, both fpiritual and temporal, when
they let their lands, were to oblige their tenants to
raife trees, quickfet hedges, and broom. The
courts of juftice were further regulated; the cafe of
hofpftals was enquired into ; and it was enacted,
that the chancellor, aflifted by two proper perfons
of each diocefe, fhould vifit all the hofpitals in the
kingdom, to put in force the ftatutes of their feveral
foundations, which had been neglected, or rendered
ineffectual during the diftrefles and commotions oi
former times. Fairs, markets> and the internal
policy of the kingdom, were regulated -, every
parifh was to provide butts and bow- marks, for
every male from twelve to fifty years of age, which
they were to practife once a week 5 mufcerings were
to be held once a month, and all able-bodied
males, between the ages of fixteen and fixty, were
D 2 tO
52 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND*
to be provided, according to their feveral ranks,
with horfes and armour for the field j the greater
towns were to provide artillery and ammunition, and
likewife engineers and other workmen for conduct-
ing the train. * The mint, weights, and meafures,
were again regulated, and other laws were inftituted
by the unanimous concurrence of king and parlia-
ment, between whom there feemed to be only one
mind.
* Advice having; arrived in Scotland, that the Englifh intended
.to renew hoftilities, the parliament patted the following ordinance,
which mows the manner by which intelligence was inftantane-
oully conveyed over the whole kingdom.
In the firil place, the parliament thought it fpeedful (that is, it
was their advice) that fit perfons ihould be appointed to guard the
.pallages of the Tweed, betwixt Roxburgh and Berwick, and to
watch certain places, and fords of the river, in order to difcover
and advertife the country of the approach of an enemy; which
they were to do in this manner. They, for example, who
watched at the ford near Hume, upon the enemy's approach,
were to make a bail, that is, fet on a great fire, at Hume, which
being feen by the neighbouring country, bails were, iii the fame
manner, to be made at Dunbar, Haddington, Dalkeith, the calllc
of Edinburgh, Stirling, Dunbar ton, &c. as, alfo, at Eggerhope
caitle, Soltray Edge, and on the lea coall, as at Dunpender law,
and North Berwick law. By one bail, or fire, thus let on, the
country was to underfland that the enemy was at hand; who, If
he feemed coniiderably flrong, in that caie, two bails were to be
fet, like two candies together ; or three or four, according to the
exigence and danger that might be threatened. By this means, it
was very eafy to advertife moft parts of the kingdom, within a
few hours, of the approach, and Itrength of an enemy, before ft
"was poffible for them to pafs the Tweed : and thus, continues the
.record, confidering their far pallhge (great diitance) we ihall, God
willing, be as foon ready as they.
Other precautions, for the lalety of the borders, againft the
Englifh, were taken in the lame parliament. The Eail borders
were to be provided with garrifons, confiiling of two hundred
fpears and two hundred bows. Thole on the Weft, were to con-
tain one hundred fpears, and as many bows ; and the expence of
the whole was to be defrayed by an equal afleflment of the land-
holders, which was to be fent to the Exchequer by the meriffs.
Every gentleman or baron was to keep his houie in tenantable re-
'l>a;r, fo as to reiift any fudden furpriie ; and to maintain a num-
ber of able-bodied men, if called upon to take the field againft the
vommon enemy.
JAMES
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 53
JAMES III. The reign of James III. though that
-ince proved lefs active than his father, was diftin-
lifhed by the vigour of the parliament, particularly
. regulating foreign commerce, promoting inland
avigation, and the rifheries. The nation had.fecn
ic Flemings, Dutch, Hamburghers, Dantzick-
ers, and other fons of induilry, acquire power and
riches by fifhing upon the Scottifh coaft. It was,
therefore, enacted, cc That the lords (that is, the
parliament) think fit, for the common good of the
realm, and the great entres of riches, which will
be brought into it from other countries, that certain
lords, fpiritual and temporal, and burgelTes, caufe
make great ihips, buiTes, pink boats, with nets,
and all other neceiTarics for fifhing. "
The honour of the nation came next under con-
fideration -, coopers and merchants, who packed
falmon in barrels under the fize of the old Ham-
burgh meafure, forfeited the fame, befides a fine
to the king. The parliament, alfo, regulated the
trade with Flanders, Holland, Zealand, and France,
permitting none but burgefTes, and men of cha-
racter, to fail to thefe countries, on commercial
affairs, and all tradefmen who commenced mer-
chants were required to forego their former crafts.
The parliament of the year 1487 firft permitted
the boroughs to fend yearly reprefentatives to In-
verkeithing, there to treat upon whatever might
benefit commerce,, conduce to their good govern-
ment and intereft, and remove the injuries they
might fuflain. Thefe boroughs, by permifllon,
fent an embafTy from their own body to the empe-
ror, requefting that monarch to defiil from ifTuing
letters of marque againft the Scottifh navigators.
From thefe, and a variety of other evidences, it
appears that the commerce of Scotland, at this
time, was in a very reputable condition all over
Europe.
So great was the fpirit for trade under thofe
D 3 worthy
54 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
worthy patriots, that even the clergy amafled corn
fiderable fortunes, by engaging in it. Bifhop.
Kennedy built a trading Ihip, which he called
the Bifhop's barge, reckoned one of the largefl
mercantile vefTels in Europe. That prelate alfo
built St. Salvador's college, in St. Andrew's, and
endowed it with revenues and rich ornaments. *
In thefe and other public works, he is laid, by
Lindfay, who lived in the fucceeding reign, to,
have expended no lefs than 30,000!. flerling.
The former laws againft furred fcarlets not
having aniwered the purpofes of fumptuary acls,
becaufe they had been fucceeded by filks, which
had not been provided againft, it was ordained,
" That none but knights, minftrels, heralds, or
fuch as could fpend looh of land rent, fhould
wear filk doublets, gowns, or cloaks, on pain of for-
feiting lol. for every fault, to the king, and the
cloaths themfelyes (except fuch as were already
made) to the heralds arid minftrels. The fame
prohibitions extended to the women, f
A law was enacted abolilhing the fancluary of
the church to all perfons guilty of premeditated
murder,
* Within the tomb and monument, which he erected for hirr^
ielf at a great expence, were found, in the reign of Charles II.
fix filver maces, one of which weighs feventeen pounds, is gilt,
and curiouily chafed. Thefe maces were the gift of the munifi-
cent bifhop to his favourite college, and, in all probability, they
had been hid at the reformation, in order to preierve them from
the Gothic rage of the reformers, who deftroyed or defaced every
thing upon which any kind of imagery was reprefented. One of
the maces was given to each of the other three Scots univeriities,
and three remained here.
•j- The king fet the example in thefe fumptuary laws, as ap-
pears in the account oi difouriements, during the year 1474, by
John bifhop of Gialgow, treaiurer to the king.
The particulars of the difburiements are arranged, and fummed.
up, under the three following heads, viz.
Expen
cea
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 5$
murder, and for punifhing all fheriffs, and other
magiitrates, who fuffered murderers to efcape.
-It would be endlefs to enumerate the ftatutes
for the better enforcing of juftice, for mitigating
the diftrefies of the people, and difcouraging idk-
nefs. Particular regard was alfo had to the rights
of churchmen, widows, orphans, minors, foreign-
ers, and the hofpitals.
While the king and parliament was thus profe-
cuting the moft valuable national purpofes, James
encouraged learned foreigners to refide at his
court, patronized fcience and arts, particularly
mufic and architecture, built fhips of war, and made
further regulations for the defence of the king-
dom. An act was made, " That all fpears, whe-s
ther fabricated at home, or imported from abroad,
Expences for the king's perfon — - 117 10 6
Things tane for the queni's pcrfon — 113 i 6
Things coft fQr my lord the prince — 41 i 8
Scots • £. 271 13 8
On the other hand, Cochran, who had been raifed, through th«
king's partiality for favourites, from the ilation of an architect to
the earldom of Mar, is thus deicribed by the hiilorians of thofe
days, and may ferve to giye the reader fome idea of the finery of
the age, and the magnificence aftecled by the»nobUity, whom this
minion imitated : •" When Cochran, fays Lindfay, came from the
king to the council, he was well accompanied with a band of men
of war, to the number of three hundred light axes, all clad in
whjte livery, and black bands thereon, that they might be known
for Cochran the earl of Mar's men. Himfelf was clad in a riding
pie of black velvet, with a great chain of gold about his neck, to
the value of five hundred crowns, and four blowing horns, with
both the ends of gold and iilk, fet with precious {tones. His
horn (a coftly blowing horn, which he wore by his lide, as was
the manner of the times) was tipped with fine gold at every end,
and a precious Itone, called a beryl, hanging in the midit. This
Cochran had his heumont borne before him, over-gilt with gold; and
ib were all the reft of his horns ; and all his pallions (pavilions or tents)
were of fine canvas of filk, and the cords thereof fine twined filk ;
and the chains upon his pallions were double over-gilt with gold. "
D 4 Ihoulcl
56 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
fliould be fix ells long;* that the great ecclefiailical
manors Ihould defray part of the burden of war ;
that prelates, as well as barons, fhould provide
carriages for the field. Every yeoman, who was
not an archer, was to provide himfelf with a battle
axe, and a target made of one hide (folded we fup-
pole into a reasonable compafs) to refill the fhot of
the English ; and all the arms were to be produced
at the weaponfhawingS; held by the fheriffs.
JAMES IV. The long reign of James IV. un-
difturbed by domeftic commotions or foreign war,
was one united effort of king and parliament, upon
the fame falutary principles which had directed
the operations of the three former reigns. The
royal navy now macle a refpe6table figure abroad -, f
commerce
* Some fpears of this enormous length, may 1)6 feen in th&
town-houfe of Dunbar".
f It is plain from James's conduct, that he was afpiring to be
a naval power, in which he was encouraged by the. excellent
feamen, which an extenfive commerce and the fifheries had then
produced in Scotland, He applied himfelf with incredible affi-
duity to building mips, in which he affifted with his own hands.
"In this fame year, faysLindfay, the king bigged a great Ihip,
called, the Great Michael, which was the greateil mip, and of
moft frrength, that ever failed in England or France. For this
fhip was of fo great ftature, and took fo much timber, that, ex-
cept Falkland, flie wafted all the woods in Fife, which was oak-
tvood, by all timber that was gotten out of Norway : for me was
fo ftrong, and of fo great length and breadth, (all the wrights of
Scotland, yea, and many other Grangers, were at her device, by
the king's commandment, who wrought very bufily in her ; but
it was a year and day ere me was complete) to wit, me was
twelvefcore foot of length, and thirty-fix foot within the' fides.
S.V.e was ten foot thick in the wall, outled jeirs of oak in her wall,
and boards on every fide, fo Hark and fo thick, that no cannon
could go through her. This great (hip cumbered Scotland to get
her to fea. From that time flie was afloat, a,nd her mails and
fails complete, with tows and anchors eifeiring thereto, (he was
Counted to the king to be thirty thoufand pounds expence, by her
artillery, which was very great and coftly to the king, by all tho
reft of her orders, to wit, me bare many cannons, fix on every
fide, with three great baffils, two behind in her dock, and one
before,
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 57
commerce was every where extended ; * and it was
enacted by parliament, <f That all maritime towns
fhould buikl buffes, or veffels of at leaft twenty
tons burden, to be employed in fifhingj ^nd thac
all idle perfons fhould be prefled into that fervice."
Provifions were made for the improverpent of
agriculture, and as the wood of Scotland wa$
aimed deilroyed, on account of the fmall fines
annexed to the offence -, the old laws for enco'u-
bcfore, with three hundred {hot of fmall artillery, that is to fay,
myand and battert-falcou, and quarter-falcon, Uings, pefteleiu
ferpetens, and double-dogs, with hagtor and culvering, cors-bows
and hund-bo\vs. She had three hundred mariners to tail her ; flic
had fix fcore of gunners to ule her artillery ; and had a thoufantl
men of war, by her captain, fhippers, and quarter-mailers.
V/hen this fhip pall to the lea, and was lying in the road, the
king gart fhoot a cannon at her, to allay her if Ihe was wight ; but
I heard lay, it deared her not, and did her little Ikaith.' And it"
any man believe that this defcription of the fhip be not of verity,
as we have written, let hi;n pals to the gate of Tiliibardin, and
there, afore the fame, ye will fee the length and breadth of her,
planted with hawthorn, by the wtight that helped to make her.
As for other properties of her, Sir Andre\v Wood is my author,
•who was quarter-matter of her ; and Robert Bartyne, who was
mafter fhipper. "
Buchanan fays, " that James built three {lately iliips of a great
bulk, and many, alio, of a middle rate ; one of his great ones
was, to admiration, the biggeil that ever any man had ieen fail
on the ocean, it being alib fumiihed with all manner of coilly
accommodations. The greatnefs of it appeared by this, that tha
news ftirred up Francis king of France, and Plenry V11I. king of
England, each of them to build a ihip in imitation of it, and each
endeavouring to outvie the other. "
The above curious defcription, while it conveys to pofterity the
particulars of naval architecture, llrength, &c. in ages which we
call barbarous, ferves alfo, to illufirate this important truth,
That the genius of Scotfmen is particularly adapted for navigation
and mip-building.
* Meurfius, the Daaiihhiilorian, relates, that in i^io, the Bal-
tic fea being much frequented by the Englifh, French, and Scot-
t-ifli merchant mips, John king of Denmark prefled all the mips,
of the above-named three nations, into his affiftance, again it tne
Hanfeatic towns, who had invaded- his dominions. That upon the
Hanfeatics being joined by the Swedes, the king of Denmark, in his
neceflity, purchafed {hips of England, France, and Scotland, his
allies, at a great expence. v
raging
5$ ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
raging planting were revived -, "and that every
freeholder fhould make parks for deer and rabbits>
build dove-cots, plant hedges and orchards, and
at leaft one acre of wood, where no great forefts
grew. " The like regulations were renewed for
the prefervation of fifh ponds, orchards, bees, the
young fry in rivers, and in general of all game.
Confervators had, long before this time, been
appointed by the government of Scotland, to take
care of the intereit of their countrymen abroad ;
and, to prevent the extravagance of tranfmarine
fuits at law, it was enacted, That the confervator,
aflliled by at leaft four honeft, intelligent Scots
merchants, fhould determine all differences that
happened abroad among his countrymen ; and he
himfelf, or his deputy, was to repair every year to
Scotland, to give an account of his conduct,
James was at great pains to mend the breed of
horfes, for which purpofe he fent agents abroad,
with letters to the reipective princes, fome of which
are ilill in being ; but James's principal delight was
in military exercifes, and he earneftly laboured to fee
all his fubjects become foldiers. The laws were re-
newed refpecling the weaponlhawings, arms, and
military drefs. The fheriffs were impowered to
mufter, four times a year, the inhabitants of their
refpe&ive diftrifts ; the aldermen and bailiffs doing
the fame within their burghs, as theylhould anfwer
to the chamberlain or his deputy. Every gentle-
ma'n, worth ten pounds, or more, of yearly revenue,
was to be armed with bafnet, fellet, white hat,
gorge or piiTane, complete armour for the legs,
fword, fpear, and dagger. Inferior ranks of fub-
jects were to be armed as the king's commiflary, or
the fherifF ihould appoint; but the meaneft inha-
bitant was to be provided with a bow and arrow, or
a good axe.
Many excellent laws were made for regulating
$he internal trade of the kingdom •, for the better
admin jftratiou
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.- 59
adminiftration of juftice; civilizing the Highlands;
and protecting the church againft the encroachments
of the court of Rome. It was laid down by parlia-
ment, as a maxim, " That the privileges of the
church, as well as the ftatutes of the realm, had
been created for the benefit of the community, and
that they could not be renounced without confent
of the king, the three eftates^ and the refpedive
chapters. "
This reign is particularly diftinguifhed for one
of the bed and moft humane ftatutes that is to be
found in the annals of the moft civilized ftates, and
at a time when clergy as well as laity, throughout
great part of Europe, were plunged in barbarifm,
It was enacted, That all barons and freeholders
of fubftance ihould henceforth fend their eldeft fonsa
or heirs, to the grammar fchool, at eight or nine
years old, there to remain till they had attained a
perfect maftery of the Latin, * when they were to
be removed to the college, where the arts and laws
were taught, at which place they were to continue
three years ; to the end, fays the ftatute, that
juftice might reign univerfally through the realm,
all judges ordinary under his highnefs having know-
ledge to do juftice;"
Thus the kingdom, by a uniform perfcverance in
the moft excellent inftitutions which human wifdom,
could devife, enjoyed peace, |fecurity, and a mutual
conri-
* To this excellent law was owing, in all probability, the ele-
gant ftyle of Boethius, Buchannan, and other Scottim writers of
f The fplendour of the Scottifli courc, upon the event of
James's marriage with Margaret, daughter of Henry VII. lerve to
corroborate the teltimony of hiilorians, reipecting the fiourifhing
Hate of Scotland under this excellent prince. The royal bride fet
out from Richmond, in Surry, June, 1503, attended by her
father as far as Collewefton, near Nottingham, the reiidence of
his mother, where Ihe was reiigned to the care of the earls of
Surry and Northumberland, who proceeded with her in the man-
»er and form preicribed by Henry, in his own, hand-writing, which
is
$0 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
confidence between the prince and the people.
Abroad, it no,w compofed a part of the political
fyilem,
is {till extant. The retinue confuted of the chief nobility, knights,
and gentry, in the kingdom, and they were attended by above
2000 followers, and the molt iplendid equipages that were made
ufe of in thofe times. Many of the company took their leave at
the borders ;; but thole who remained itill made a fplendid ap-
pearance, and arrived at Lamberton church, in the Merle, where
the bride was met by James, accompanied by a fuperb train of hia
nobility and officers of ftate. From Lamberton the proceiFion pro-^
ceeded to Dalkeith, and next day to Edinburgh, where the mar-
riage was celebrated with great magnificence. From the bell
accounts, both published and in manulcript, it appears, that the
Scots outfhone tlieir gnefts in every article of luxury. Their ap-
pearance was more coilly, their chains of gold more mally, and
their furniture and equipages richer. This mult have been owing
to the great inteicourle and commerce which James and his fub-
jefts, at this time, entertained with foreign courts and countries ;
for even the moil ibber luxuries wrere then unknown in thole of
Denmark, Sweden, and the other northern parts of Europe where
commerce had made Ids progrefs ; an indication of what Scotland
would have been at the preient day, had it remained the feat of
its fovcreigns, and its wealth been ipent, as of old, w ithin the
realm.
Many foreigners were prefcnt during, this Scottifli jubilee, and
partook of the feftivities attending it, which, according to the-
inodes of that time, and the particular diipofition of James,
chiefly confuted in reats of arms. James, in fome of thoie exhU
bitions, aiTumed the character of a iavage knight, and it is i*aid
that he diilinguiihed himic-lf above all the company by his ftrcngth,
activity, and addreis in martial cxercites. That he might fupport
' the character with the greater propriety, he had, for his retinue,
two bands of Highlanders, or perions in that dreis, who fkirmilhed
with each other, with targets and broad fwords, to the mufic of
their bagpipes ; but thofe feigned conflicts were far from being
harrnkls, for they produced real wounds and blocdfhed, as in a
true battle, which itruck the ipe&atcrs with the highelt altonim-,
ment, at the refolution of the combatants, who could thus fpoit
away their lives, the cuftom of the times not fuffering them to
hold the practice in deteitation. The exhibition of the day being
over, the night was fpent in entertainments, mafquerades, and
dancing. The king's politenefs was iiill more dillinguifhed than
his chivalry, fo noble was the entertainment, and fo elegant the
attendance paid to every giieft.
The fame of thefe tournaments drew to the court many
foreigners, efpecially from France, to try their prowefs, who were
ail liberally entertained by the king, and as bountifully difmiffed.
*
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 61
fyftem, and its friendihip was folicited, in ftrong
terms, by the powers 'who then acted the princi-
pal part on the theatre of Europe. * Many letters
lent to James by thefe potentates, and thofe lent
by James in return, are Rill extant. The claffic
flyle of James's Latin epiiclcs were the theme of
foreign pens, both in prole and verfe.
James proved a faithful and ufeful friend to all
his allies in their -dirh^rTes. He lent a powerful
armament, and ten thoufand men, to the afiiftance
of his kinfman, the king of Denmark. When the
duke of Guelders was cruelly attacked by the over-
grown houfe of Auftria and Burgundy, James
not only fupplied the unfortunate prince with men
and money, but alfo wrote preffingly in his favour
to the continental powers. To Lewis XII. when
deflitute of allies, and ready to fink under the
arms of England, Germany, and Italy, James
lent a fleet, and a body of troops j for- which fea-
fonable fupplies, Lewis was fo overcome with
gratitude, that he gave orders for ratifying and
augmenting the ancient privileges of the Scots
nation in France. His letters of naturalization in
favour of Scotland give the following reafons :
fc Becaufe of the league 7 which had been of old
made and obferved between the two nations -, and
in
* The ambitious and turbulent pope, Julian IT. having kindled
the Jinmes of war over all Europe, endeavoured to detach Tames
from the French alliance; for this purpoie, he lent a 'nuncio into
Scotland, who presented James with a molt elegant fword of ilats,
five feet in length; which iword \vas d'jpohted in the caiUe o;
Edinburgh, with the other rc^liii of Scotland, at the time of
the m. ion, where they ilill remain.
f Alluding to a league ci ;:.;iiry between Charlemain, king of
Fiance, and Achaius, king of Scots, in the year 790 ; to \\ lin.h
alliance moil of rhe lubiequent treaties of reciprocal defence
l>etween Fiance and Scotland had a reference. In the contract of
marriage between the d.uiphin oi France arid Mary queen of
Scct3, publifhed among tlie Frencli treaties of rc;v.-e and alliance,
is mads of the Antls^t It^na betwixt th: two Zixitomsi
62 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
in confideration of the great and mighty fervices
clone by the Scots to the kings and kingdom of
France, efpecially during the reign of Charles VII.
when many princes of Scotland came over to
France, and helped to expel the Englifh, who
were then mailers of the moft part of it. For
which fignal piece of fervice, and the undaunted
courage exprefTed by the Scots on all occafions^
that monarch, Charles VII. had appointed two
hundred of them to guard his perfon, of whom one
hundred were men of arms, and are now, adds the
record, the one hundred launces of our antient
ordinance, and one hundred archers, twenty-four
of whom are called archers of the body. Secondly,
becaufe of the unfhaken fidelity, which, without
any variation^ or interruption, has at all times been
Irguit eight hundred years lefore that time* The origin of this
ancient alliance feems to have arifen, firft, from the obftinatc
refinance of the Saxons in Germany, aided by their countrymen
in England, to the arms of Charlemain, which obliged that great
conqueror to recruit his armies by auxiliaries from various parts
of Europe, among!! whom were four thoufand Scots, commanded
by Gilmer, brother to Achaius. This Gilmer, after fignalizing
himfelf againit the pagan Saxons, embraced a religious life, and
founded fome monasteries for his countrymen in Germany and
other places. Which fact is fully authenticated by the united
teitimony of French and Italian hi ftorians of thofe early timer.
In Paul us Emilius's hiflory of the French atchievements, we meet
with the following very remarkable expreffions : " The Saxons
being overcome, that their name, by degrees, might be extinguished,
Charles beftowed the honours of magiflracy upon Grangers, but
principally upon the Scots, whom he made uie of for the great
fidelity he found in them."
Secondly, Charlemain was defirous to agrandize France, by
rendering it the feat of literature, as well as extenfive empire ;
for this purpofe he invited thither the learned from all parts, and
particularly certain ecclefiaftics of Scotland, whom he employed
to read philofophy, in Greek and Latin, at Paris, and afterwaras
in founding a univeriity in that metropolis.
Old hi ftorians fpeak of Inverlochy, as being the refidence of
Achaius, and a place of fome note, to which the French and Spa-
niards rcforted for fiih. The ancient caftle was deflroyed by the
Danes. The prefeiit building is luppofed to be of the thirteenth
century.
confpi-
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 63
confpicuous in thofe of that nation ; and in the
extraordinary good offices done by the prefent king
of Scotland, who has declared himfclf a faft friend
of the French monarchy, in oppofition even to his
own brother-in-law, the king of England, and has
fent both a confiderable land army, and a fleet,
confiding of many good fhips, to France; upon
which account his Jubj efts ought to be for ever encou-
raged and favoured above all others. "
Upon the whole, the reign of James IV.
may be confidered as the brighten: sera in the
annals of Scotland. Her gold and filver abound-
ed more than at any other period; her com-
merce flouriflied abroad ; peace and tranquil-
lity reigned at home; faction was annihilated;
univerfal harmony prevailed amongft all ranks of
men; and, it is worthy of remark, that no perfoa
fuffered, during this long reign, for rebellion, con-
fpiracy, or any real or imaginary trefpafs againft tl»e
crown.
JAMES V. profecuted, with unwearied zeal, the
great plans of national improvement, which had
been chalked out by his anceflors, and their parlia-
ments. He revived the laws for the building of
fifhing buffes, the encouragement of commerce,
the fupplying his fubjects with wine, and necefTaries,
the planting and prefervation of woods, forefts,
and hedges ; eftablifhing a national militia; and
for the internal government, peace and fecurity of
the kingdom. He introduced a better ftyle of civil
architecture, built or repaired feveral palaces for
the royal refidence, embellifhed the town of Edin-
burgh, promoted the fine arts, and employed Ger-
mans to work the gold mines difcovered in Crawford
Moor. * He fet out with five fnips, attended
by
* James IV. and V. contrafted with funclry Germans, who
had the chief management of the Scottifli mines in Crawford
Moor, whers they employed three huadred men, and procured
64 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
by fundry noblemen, upon a voyage to the Orkney
andHebride ifiands, for the double pnrpofe of taking
charts of the coafts, * and eftablifhing juftice among
the people. He inftroduced order and good govern^
ment amongft the borderers, and punifhed as thieves
and robbers, thofe defperate bands of them who lived
upon the contributions of their English neighbours ;f
and,
gold to the amount of one hundred thoufand pounds. Some of
the French memoir writers, in fpeaking of the marriage of James
V. to the king of France's daughter, mention among other par-
ticulars lerved by way of deiert at the marriage feaft, a number
of covered cups, filled with pieces of gold, and gold dull, the
produce of Scotland, which James generoufly diftnbuted among
the gueils. It is allb upon record, that thofe coins, ft nick by-
James V. called, bonnet pieces, were fabricated of gold found iii
Scotland. " They were/' fays bifiiop Nicholibn, " extremdy
beautiful, and little interior to the fineft medals." Many pieces",
of gold mixed with various fubilances, have been found in thofe
parts, wafhed down by the floods; one of which, weighing an
oimce and ahalfj is in the pofieffion of the earl of Hopton, the
proprietor of Crawford Moor.
* Thefe drawings were completed by the French king's cof-
niOgiapher*in 1583. Mr. Adair drew them anew in 1688.
f James refolved to attempt in peribn, what his predeceflbrs
had io often failed in by their deputies. As he \\as known to be
greatly addicted to hunting, he fummoned his nobility to attend
him, with their horfes and dogs, which they did in fuch numbers,
that his hunting retinue ccnlliled of about eight hundred peifons,
two thirds of whom were well armed. This preparation gave no
iuipicion to the borderers, is great hunting matches, in thofe
.days, commonly confirmed of fome hundreds; and James, having
fct out upon his diverfion, is laid to have killed live hundred an:!
tortv deer.
Among the other gentlemen M ho had been fummoned to attend
him was John Armftrcng, of Gilnock-hall, inLiddeidale. He was
the head of a numerous clan, who lived with great fplendor upon
the contributions under which they laid the Englifh on the borders.
He was himielf always attended by twenty-fix gentlemen on horfe-
Lack, well mounted and armed, as his body guards. Having received
the king's invitation, he was fond of dilplaying his magnificence to
his fovereiga, and attiring himfelf and his guaid more pompuouily
than common, they prefcntedthemielves before James, from whom
they expected feme particular mark of diftinctiori for their fer-
vices againil the Engliih, and for -the remarkable protection they
had always given to their countrymen, the Scots. On their firii
. appear-
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 65
and, as a final conclufion to the zealous efforts of his
predeceffors for the impartial diitribution of juflice,
he
appearance, James, not knowing who he was, returned Armftrong's
falute, imagining him to be fome great nobleman ; but, hearing
his name, he ordered him and his followers to be immediately
apprehended, and fentenced them to be hanged upon the fpot.
It is faid, that James, turning to his attendants, alked them,
pointing at Armftrong, " What does that knave want, that a king
mould have, but a crown and a fword of honour?" Armftrong
begged hard for his life, and offered to ierve the king in the field
with forty horiemen, befides making him large prefents of jewels
and money, with many other tempting offers. Finding the king
inexorable, " Fool that I am," faid he, " to look for warm water
under ice, by afking grace of a gracelefs face;" and he and his
followers fubmitted to their fate.
James, having, by thefe and fome other feverities, reftored peace
to the borders, chofe, foon after, to make the Highlands the feat of
his diverfion, to which he was attended by the queen mother, an
ambaflador from the pope, and a retinue fufficient to lubdue the
moft powerful robbers and outlaws. Lindfay, the hiftorian, who
Jived at the time, gives a curious account of the reception an<i
entertainment which the king and his train met with in Athol,
upon this occafion, which, as it ferves to give fome idea of the
produce of the Highlands, and the magnificence of the ancient
barons upon extraordinary occaiions, I mall partly tranfcribe, .
" The earl of Athol, hearing of the king's coming, made
great provilion for him in all things pertaining to a prince, that he
was as well ferved with all things neceflary to his eilate, as he had
been in his own palace of Edinburgh. For I heard fay, this noble
earl gart make a curious palace to the king." — Then follows a
defcription of this palace, which was lituated in a fair meadow,
and built of green timber; it was ornamented with flowers, had a
drawbridge, and was furrounded with a meet of water. ' " And
alfo this palace within was hung with fine tapiftry, and arrafles of
filk, and lighted with fine glafs windows in all airths ; Further this
great earl made fuch diversion for the king, and his mother, and
the embaflador, that they had all manner of meats, drinks, and
delicacies, that might be gotten, at that time, in all Scotland,
either in burgh or land; that is to lay, all kind of drink, as ale,
beer, wine, both white and claret, malvery, mulkadel, hippocras,
aquavit*. Further, there was of meats, wheat-bread, main-bread,
and ginger-bread ; with flefhes, beef, mutton, lamb, veal, venifon,
goofe, grice, capon, cony, crane, fwan, partridge, plover, duck,
drake, briflel-cock, and pawnies, black-cock, muir-fowl, and cap-
percaillies : and alfo the flanks that were round about the palace
were full of all delicate fifties, as falmonds, trouts, pearches, pikes,
eels, and all other kind of delicate fifties that could U gotten, in'
E freih
eg ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
he inftituted the court of fefiion, upon the famt
plan in which it has remained, with little variation,
to the prefent time.
But James, as hath already been obferved, did
not reft folely on the courts of law for civilizing hi*
fubjects. In imitation of former kings of Scotland,
he frequently penetrated into the mod barbarous parts
of the Highlands, for the purpofe of punifhing
delinquents, eftabliiliing peace, fecurity, and the
arts of civil life. Buchannan, who lived in that
reign, reprefents the young monarch as being fo
brave and daring in his perfon, that, flighting all
dangers, he would attack and break the moft for-
midable band of banditti, with inferior numbers;
that he would fit on horfeback for twenty-four
hours without intermiflion, fatisfying the calls of
nature with the meaneft food that was at hand; that
robbers feldom efcaped his activity, and were often
terrified into fubmiflion with the dread of his name*
Tho' James's education had been neglected, his
memory was celebrated by Ariofto under the name
freih waters ; and all ready for the banket. Syne were there prcv
per ftewards, cunning baxters, excellent cooks and potingers, with
confections and drugs for their deferts ; and the halls and chambers
ttere prepared with coilly bedding, vefiels and napery, according
for a king. The king remained in this wildernefs, at the hunting,
the fpace of three days and three nights, and his company, as L
have ftiewn. I heard men fay, it coil the earl of Athol, every day,
in expences, a thoufand pounds.
The embaflador of the pope, ieeing this great banket and triumph,
which was made in the wildernefs, where there was no town near
by twenty miles, thought it a great marvel that fuch a thing
could be in Scotland, and that there ihoulcf be fuch honetty and
policy in it, efpecially.inthe Highlands, where there was but wood
and wildernefs. But, moft of all, this embaflador marvelled ta
fee, when the king departed, and all his men took their leave, the
Highlandmen fet all this fair place in a fire, that the king and the
embaflador might fee it. Then the embaflador faid to the king?
4t I marvel, lir, that you {hould thole yon feir place to be burnt,
that your grace has been fo well lodged in. '* Then the king anfwered
the embaflador, and faid, " It is the ufe of our Highlandmen,,
though they be never fc well lodged, to burn their lodging, when
ikey depart."
of
ANNALS Of SCOTLAND. tfj
of Zerbino* Several other Italian poets have
recorded his memory in Latin verfes, as did Ron-
fard, the French poet, who reiided feveral years in
Scotland. Tho' James himfelf was a poet, we
know not with certainty any of his productions
that have reached our tirries, excepting a hurriorous
defcription of one of his amours, printed among
the earlieft collections of Scottifli fongs, by the
name of The Gaberlimzie Man.
Such are the ou dines of the Scottifri affairs, and
national exertions at home and abroad, from 1424
to the death of James V. in 15425 an sera wherein
nothing was omitted, not even the mod minute cir-
.cumftance, that could contribute to improve the
kingdom, civilize the people, and diffufe univerfal
happinefs amongft all orders and degrees of men. *
The
* We fhall conclude this early period with a circumftantial
account of the military fyftem of the Scots, and their method
of fighting, previous to the general ufe of fire arms. " And
for this purpofe," fay the Scottifh Hatutes of 1541, " it was
enacted at the fame trme, that weapon-fhawings mould be made
in the months of June and October ; but, becaufe they had been
omitted for fome years, the lieges fhould be muflered thrice
the firit year by the flierriffs, bailies of regality, provofts and
bailies of boroughs, and other commifiaries whom the king pleafed
to appoint." At thele mutters it was alfo ordained, " that every
nobleman, fuch as earl, lord, knight, and baron, and every great
landed man, having one hundred pounds of yearly rent, fhould
appear in white, light or heavy, as they chofe, with weapons
correfpondent to his honour ; while others, of lo'.ver degree, were
to have jake of plate, halkrik or brigatanes, gorget or pefane,
with fplents, panfe of mail,- with gloves of plate or mail : the other
tmlanded gentlemen and yeomen being ordered to wear jakes of
plate, halkriks, Iplcnts, fellat or fteel bonnet, with pefane or gor-
get; the whole having fiords." No other weapons v jre to be
ihewn at thcic rendezvoiifes, but ftrong f; tears and pikes fix ells
in length, Leith-axes, halberts, hand-bows, arrows, crofs-bows, cul-
verins, and two-linpded f'.vords. — They likewife ordained, That inha-
bitants of burgh , ., .lopoileiTedone hundred pounds, mould be armed
in white armour; i i 1 others, who could fpend ten pounds yearly, hav*
ing orders to appear at the muiters like gentlemen and yeomen. To
prevent frauds oa t:.. ie o canons, it wag (latuted, that every earl,
lord, baron, laird, and others, flipuld give unto the mutter-mailers
£ z the
6$ ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
,
The death of James V. clpfed the fplendor, and
in fome degree, the independency, of that antient
kingdom.
the names and weapons of their attendant foldiers at every rendez-
vous, figned and fealed, to be considered by his majeily's com-
rnillaries, as all lords and bailies of regalities were to do the fame
within their jurifdiclions. But, as both numbers and arms are ufelefs
where difciplme does not obtain, they further voted, " That theme-
riff,|fteward, provofty bailies, aldermen, lords, and bailies of regality,
iUall, with the king's commiffioners, after the mufters are complete,
chooie one Captain or more for every parifh, to exercife the com-
panies of his diftrid:, at leaft twice a month, in May, June, and
July, on what days they fhall think moft convenient, and in every
other month, if poffible. The captains to be elected as often as
the Iheriff, commiffioners, and counsellors, appointed by the king,
ihall think it expedient."
" And, laftly, becaufe great damage was always done to the
country by the multitudes of horfemen who came in times of war
to the king's army, although all there fought on foot, it was pru-
dently ordained, that no man ihould have any other than a baggage
horfe, but mould march on foot from the firil place appointed by
his rnajefty for the rendezvous of his army. Yet might earls, lords,
barons, great landed men, and others whom the king or his lieu-
tenants fliould appoint, ride wherever his jnajefty moved with his
army."
The following curious defcription of the order of battle obfervf tf
bey the Scots is copied from a journal of the prote&or Seymour's
expedition into Scotland, and the battle of Pinkey in 1^47, written
by W. Patten, who was joined in commillion with Cecil, as judge-*
raarihal of the Englim army.— "• But what after I learned, fpecially
touching their order, their armour, and their manner, as well of
going to offend, as of Handing to defend, I have thought necef-
fary here to utter. Hackbutters have they few or none, and
appoint their fight moft commonly always a-foot. They come to
the field well furnifhed all with jack and fkull, dagger and buckler,-
and iwords all broad and thin, of exceeding good- temper, and
\iniverfally fo made to (lice, that, as I never fawr none fo,good, io
I think it hard to devife the better^ Hereto every man his piker
and a great kercher wrapped twice or thrice about his neck, not
for cold, but for cutting. In their array towards joining with-
the enemy, they cling and thruft ib near in the fore rank, moulder
and moulder together, with thsir pikes in both their hands ftraight
afore them, and their followers in that order fo hard at their
backs, laying their pikes over their foregoers moulders,, that, if
they do aflail undifeovered, no force can well withftanci them.
Standing at defence they thruft moulders likewife fo nigh together,-
the fore-ranks well nigh to kneeling, iloop low before, their follows
behind holding their pikes with both hands, and therewith, in
.1 their
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. £9
kingdom. The oppofite factions, under the in-
fluence of France and England, co-operating with
the druggies which fubverted the popifh religion,
exhaufted the internal flrength of the kingdom,
enfeebled the executive powers of government,
defolated the country, and laid in ruins thofe noble
edifices which it had been the work of ages to
ered. *
But
ig their pike points
thus each with other to nigh as fpace and place will fuffer, through
the whole ward, fo thick, that as ealily mall a bare, finger pierce
through the fkin of an angry hedge-hog, as any encounter the front
of their pikes"
With the decline of the ancient military art in Scotland ended
alfo the Ihort-lived navy, which arofe in the reign of James III. and
difappeared after the death of James V. being buffered' to rot ia
the ports of France.
* They coniifted of monafteries, abbeys, convents, priories,
colleges for fecular priefts, and provoftries for the chief perfons of
that order. Thefe buildings were the repertories of the public or
national annals ; of all eccleiiaftical charters, records, bulls of the
popes, and regifters of the national councils, diocefan fynods,
confecrations, and o:her canons of the reipective churches.
The moft ancient of theie buildings was at Icolrakill, (a fmall
ifland on the weft coaft of Mull, in Argylemire) which was founded
or erected in the fixth century. From that time, to the death of
James V. the Scottim princes, nobility, and dignified clergy,
ieemedtovie with each other in raifing and endowing thofe numerous
monuments of piety, tafte, and national genius ; whofe fate
hath no parallel in the hiitory of civilized nations, and whofe
ruins are beheld with admiration by every ftranger.
In 1559, the mob of Perth, inflamed by a declamatory fermonagainft
churches and convents, as monuments of idolatr. ,fir{l: began the
dreadful work of demolifhing the noble edifices of that place, and a
fpirit of devaftation inltantly pervaded the greateft part of the
kingdom.
In this, the populace were openly encouraged by the leading men
of the reformation, who among other acts " palled one," fays Spotf-
wood, " for demolifhing cloifters and abbey churches, fiich as were
not yet pulled down ; the execution whereof was committed to the
moft violent men of the party ; thereupon enfued a moll pitiful devaf-
tation of churches, and church-buildings, throughout all parts of
the kingdom; for every one made bold to put their hands, the
meaner fort imitating the example of the greater. No difference
E 3 wai
ft ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
But though the nation was thus internally con-
vulfed, during the reigns of Mary and James VI.
commerce ftill continued to ilourifh, in a certain
degree.
In I543> Henry VIII. gave orders for feizing
feveral Scots Ihips, that were trading to France.
He imagined that thofe feizures would induce the
reprefentatives of the great burghs in Scotland to
vote for the marriage of their young queen to his
fon prince Edward j but this was fo far from being
the cafe, that the merchants refufed to have
their fhips and cargoes delivered to them on fuch
a condition. Thefe feizures having been made
in time of peace^ gave the Scottifh government
yery great caufe of complaint ; the anfwer returned
....... ' .........
made, but all churches were either defaced or pulled to the
ground. The holy veflels, and whatibever elie they could make
gain of, as timber, lead, and bells, were put to fale : the very
fepulchres of the dead were notfpared;" and, among others,
thofe of the kings and queens, lince king Malcorh III. at Dum-
fcrmline, Scoon, Arbroth, Melrofs, the charter-hpule of Perth, &c.
infomuch, that of all the Scottifh royal family, from ages co-eval
with the Remans, there is not one monument left entire within
that kingdom.
Of the ecclefiaflical edifices the cathedral of Glafgow only
efcaped the fury of the times, owing to the refolution of the citi-
zens. Many buildings were totally demoliftied, and the flones
removed for private ufes. Others, whofe walls were left Handing,
have ferved the purpofe of quarries to the neighbourhopd ; and, in
a few ages more, every veftige of thofe venerable remains will,
in all probability, vanifh from the eye.
The ruins which chiefly attraft the notice of flrangers are thofe
of Melrofs, in theftiire of Roxburgh ; Paifley in Renfrew (hire ;
Dumiermlihe, and St. Andrews, in Fifeihire ; Arbroth or Aber-
brothic, in Angus ; and Elgin in Murraymire.
The reader will be able to form feme judgment of the magnitude
of thofe buildings, by the following flatement of their dimeniions,
compared with the cathedral of Glafgow, which remains entire.
Length Breadth Height Travefic
Glafgow Cathedral 284 65 9$
Elgin 264 114
Aberbrothic 275 67 j6$
St. Andrew's \ 370 62
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 71
by Henry, was, c< That the {hips were carrying pro-
vifions to his enemies, the French, and that the
crews had fpoken difrefpe&fully of the Englifh
party in Scotland." To this it was anfwered by
the Scots, cc That the fliips were only laden with
fjh, and that the treaty did not prohibit the fubjects
of Scotland from carrying on their trade as ufual."
In 1 544, the Englifh army pillaged the town of
Leith; " where/' fays lord Herbert, <c they found
more riches than they could have eafily imagined."
Dr. Drake, another Englilh hiftorian, fpeaking of
that period, relates, " That his countrymen took
twenty-eight of the principal fhips of all Scotland,
fraught with all kinds of rich merchandife, as they
returned from France, Flanders, Denmark, and
other countries, and brought them into Englifh
ports."
In 1545, Henry prevailed with the Flemings ta
feize fixteen Scots fhips and their cargoes.
Louis Guicciardin, in his account of the com-
merce of Antwerp with foreign nations, about the
year 1560, fays^, " To Scotland Antwerp fends but
little, as .that country is chiefly fupplied from
England and France. Antwerp, however, fends
thither fome fpiccs, fugars, madder, wrought filks,
camblets, forges, linen, and mercery. And Scot-
land fends to Antwerp vaft quantities of peltry, of
many kinds, leather, wool, indifferent cloth, and
fine large pearls, though not of quite fo good a
water as the Oriental ones." The fame author,
fpeaking of the commerce of Holland, obferves,
" ThatVere, or Campvere, owes its principal com-
merce to its being the fVaple port for the Scot*
fhipping, and fo has been for a long feries of years,"
Befides Campvere on the continent, the antient
city of St. Andrews had long been a mart of gene-*
ral commerce. The town was large, elegant, full
of merchandife, fhipping, and bufmefs. It was the
great refort of trading veflels from all parts of
Jturope, who, to the amount of three or four hundred,
E 4 held
71 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
held an annual fair in the bay, trafficking with each
other, and with the natives. The fair lafted from
twelve to fifteen days, and contributed, with the
literary andecclefiaftic eftablifhmentsof St. Andrews,
to that eminent degree of wealth and fplendor for
which the place was long celebrated.
Such was the commercial fpirit of the nation,
in antient times, and even during the unfettled
reigns of Mary, and James VI. Both fides of the
Forth exhibited an almoft continued line of trading
ports, and wealthy boroughs. Nor was foreign
commerce neglected on the weftern coaft.
In the annals of Glafgow, mention is made of
one Elphinflon, as a promoter of commerce in
that antient city, about the year 1420. Its trade
confided of pickled or cured falmon and herrings,
which it exported chiefly to France. The returns
were fait, brandy, and wine, particularly the latter,
which was both plentiful and cheap.
In 1569, cc It is ftatute and ordainit, be ye
magiftrats and council, yat ye pynt of wine be fald
na darrer yan eighteen perinys ye pinj:." Which
eighteen pejinys is only equal to three halfpence
fterling, and the Scqttifh pint is equal to four En-
glifh pints.
Dumbarton, Air, and Irvine, fituated upon the
Clyde, were alfo places of trade and fhipping, as
appears from an order of the national council, upon
the cefTaton of" arms between the two Britilh king*-
doms ; which order, as it particularifes many of the
principal commercial towns of Scotland, during
the middle ages, is inferted in this place for the
information and amufement of the reader.
Order of council, Edinburgh, 2 Aug. 1546.
ff The qiihilk day, forafmekle as thair is ane
pece taken and ftandand betwix our foverane lady,
and hir derreft uncle the king of Ingland, quha
has written to hir grace, fhawand, that thair is
eertane Scottis fchippis in the eft feis, and utheris
placeis.
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 73
placeis, that dailie takis, rubbis, and fpulzies his
fchippis, and liegis of his realme, pafiand to and
fra, defyrand thairfbre hir grace to putt remeid
thairto, for keiping of the faid parte; thairfore
ordanes letteris to be dire<fnt to officeris of the
quenis fheriffis, in that pairt, to pafs to the mer-
kat croces of Edinburc and Kyngorne, Dyfart
and Pittenweme, Kirkaldy and Inverkeithing,
Quenisferrie, pere and fhore of Leith, Dunde,
Aberdene, Montrois, Are, Irwyne, Dumbertane,
Glafgow, and uther placeis neidful, and thair, by op-
pin proclamatioun, command and charge all and fun-
drie our foverane laydyis Hegis, that nane of them tak
upoun hand to pafs furt in weirfair, unto the tyme
thai cum unto my lord governour, and lordis of
counfall, and have his grace's licence, under our
foverane lady is previe fell, or great fignet, and fub-
fcriptioun of my lord governour, with fik reftric-
tionis as fall be gevin to tharrre, under the pane of
tynfell of lyff, landis, and gudis ; and gif ony
fchippis happy nis to depairt, that nane of thame tak
upoun hand to invaid, tak, truble, or moleft, ony
Inglis fchippis, under the pane forefaid."
The principal exports of Scotland, previous to
the union of the two crowns, were grain, cattle,
ftieep, faked pork, white rifh, pickled falmon,
pickled and red herrings, wool, coarfe woolen and
and linen goods, leather, various kinds of peltry,
pearls, lead, and coals f> alfo, during the late reigns,
fome gold and filver fent to Germany.
The foregoing fketches evidently prove, that the
Scots, while under the immediate prefence of their
ibvereigns and parliaments, had carried navigation,
commerce, literature, fcience, and all the arts of
civil life, to a height then unknown in many
countries of Europe, particularly thofe lying under
the fame latitudes ; and had not their laudable ef-
forts been often interrupted, their country laid
wafte, their towns plundered, and their fhipping
£ carried
j4 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
carried away, or deftroyed, through baneful war,
there is every reafon to fuppofe, that Scotland, at
the beginning of the iyth century, would have
rivalled the moft opulent and polifhed ftates.
And, as a further proof of the fpirit, the pene-
tration, and the good fenfe of that nation, it Ihould
be remarked, that the total fubverfion of the an-
tient ecclefiaftical eftablifhment, and the refcora-
tion of the primitive doctrine and difcipline, were
effected by the people only -s and though the fer-
vour of their zeal carried them, in certain refpects,
to violences which cannot, in reafon, be defended,
yet, the beneficial revolution which they ulti-
mately accomplifhed in the courfe of a few years,
and in the face of the greateft monarchy in Europe,
will be handed down and recorded, as one of the
rnoft fmgular events which any Hate hath pro-
duced.
We now arrive at a period when patriotifm dif-
appeared, and when all public fpirit and national
improvement ceafed. An event took place, which,
though it fheathed the fwords of both nations,
proved, in its confequences, more fatal to Scot-
land than the politicians of thofe ages had fore-
feen. This was, its giving a king to England, in
the perfon of James VI. anno 1603, whereby the
two crowns were infeparably united ; an elevation
extremely pleafing to James, who thereby became
fole monarch of Great Britain, but which ftruck fo
deep at the root of national profperity in his native
dominions, that many of the trading towns fell into
decay, and have not yet been able to recover their
former importance. The princes who had infpired
the nation with noble fentiments, who had warmly
patronifed whatever conftitut.es the power, the
opulence, and the elevation of ftates, being now
fuddenly withdrawn, the people loft their fpirit,
univerfal dejection took place, and the nation funk
back rapiclly into ignorance and infignificance.
Tht
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 75
The moment that James left Scotland, that
country ceafed, in effect, to be a free, independent
kingdom. To the prefence of a prince, the fplen-
dour and refinements of a court, the invigorating in-
fluence of a patriotic king and parliament, fuc-
ceeded a pufillanimous council and fenate, the
creatures and humble dependants of adiitanr. court;
whofe contentions, jealoufies, and mutual diilruft,
ferved to cherifn thofe party feuds and family ani-
mofities, which had often thrown a fhade upon the
Scottifti annals, during the brighteft periods of na-
tional profperity.
The advantages of this union, on the part of En-
gland, were of the moft folid nature : It deprived
France of an antient, faithful ally, which England
drew over to itfelf, and thus obtained a double ac-
quifition of ftrength, while the rival nation fuf-
tained thereby a double lofs. It gave the greater
3ritifh kingdom the entire command over the lefler
one, in all cafes whatever^ and it brought to Lon-
don the rents of Scottifli noblemen and gentlemen,
who, from inclination or hope of preferment, were
led to refide in that capital.
On the part of Scotland, no commercial benefit
was gained ; no treaty of reciprocal advantage was
procured, whereby the nation, and efpecially the
metropolis, might be enabled to fuftain the fhock
which this event occafioned. On the contrary, the
commercial privileges which Scotland had long en-
joyed in foreign kingdoms, were moftly with-
drawn; and reftrictions, hitherto unknown, were
now vigoroufly impofed. The trading towns,
feeling the effects of thofe regulations, petitioned
their abicnt monarch to interpofe in their behalf,
but no effectual redrefs could be obtained.
To complete t.he diflrefTes of that melancholy
period, the kingdom was invaded by whole armies
of military enthufiafts, who, under the pretence of
reforming church and date, repeated the barbarous
policy
76 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
policy of the moft defpotic tyrants ; deftroyed thou-
iands of the innocent inhabitants, feized the fhip-
ping, the merchandize, and valuable effects of the
trading towns ; * demolifhed the caftles of the nobi-
lity, pointed their cannon againft the poor remains
of ecclefiaftical ruins, carried off the national re-
cords, and creeled forts in the moft eligible places,
to enforce obedience to the government of an
ambitious ufurper.
Equally calamitous in their operation and con-
fequences, were the religious commotions of that
devoted kingdom -, and as thefe are clofely con-
nected with the civil and commercial affairs of the
nation, during this unhappy period, we cannot
wholly omit the [fnbjecl:.
King James had laboured to fubvert the prefby-
terian eilablifliment of his native country, with a
view to uniformity of religion over the whole
ifland. He proceeded, in this impracticable work,
by flow and gentle means ; but the prefbyterians hav-
ing made a ftout refiftance to all innovations, his fuc-
ceffors, at the inftigation of Laud and other zealous
bigots, attempted to enforce obedience by the fword.
Thefe fanguinary meafures, inftead of making con-
verts to the church of England, produced all thofe
dreadful effects which have ever difgraced religious
war. Epifcopacy and Calvinifm became triumphant
alternately, while of Chriftianity nothing feemed to
remain
* In 16^1, General Monk deflroyed or carried away the fhip-.
ping, the artillery, and the merchandife of the Forth, ftorrhed
and plundered Anftruther, and ruined St. Andrews, the once
glory of the kingdom. From thence he fent a detachment to
Dundee, under Colonel Alured, who observing the wealth of
the place, found a pretext for a general maflacre of fix hundred
inhabitants, who were put to the fword, and having thereby
crulhed all opposition, he gave the town up to plunder, carried
away forty cannon, and fixty fail of trading veflels which had re*»
tired for fafety to that harbour, " Some of my men, fays he, in
his letter to the parliament, have gotten 500, fome 300, others
300, and
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND; 77
remain but the name. * Numbers of both parties
fell in battle. Some hundreds fuffered death or
torture; many betook themfelves to a voluntary
exile among their friends in the north of Ireland ; f
others
200, and 100 pounds apiece. None of them but are well paid
for their fervice. "
* The prefbyterians were promifcuoufly called covenanters^ from
their having figned a folemn league and covenant j or -johigamores^
from whig, an acid blueifli liquor drawn from the churn, the
wiual drink of the peafantry at that time, and at preient. And now
arole the diftinction of whig and tory, and the averiion to the
Stuart family, which ftiil prevails among the former ia Scotland.
f The northern Irifli had never fubmitted completely to the
Englifh arms. They were therefore profcribed as barbarians and
aliens, living without the Englifh pale, and who took every
opportunity to harrafs the Englifli intereft. On the other hand,
they kept up a correfpondence with the Scots, whom theyconli-
dered as their countrymen and friends. In 1315, Edward Bruce,
brother to Robert king of Scotland, having invaded Ireland at the
head of a coniiderable army, made an impreffion on the Englifh
intereft, and was formally crowned king of Ireland, at Dundalk f
but loiing, foon after, his crown and life, the adminillration of
the kingdom reverted to the Englilh government. The conne&ioa
and intercourfc was, however, llillkept up between the Scots and
northern Irifh. In 1505, Henry VII. king of England, propoiedaa
interview with James IV. to fettle the affairs of Ireland, and other pur-
pofes. This report reaching the Irifh chiefs of the north, oneOdoa
Odongnoil, who feems to have entered into a league with James or
his father, feat one Heneas Macdowal from the town of Druman^
geil, to notify to James the death of his ally, Ocion's father, and
to require from James, by virtue of the alliance between then},
4000 men, to be commanded by John, the ion of Alexander M<u>
kcan. Healfo befeeched James that he would not go out of hi*
f>vvn kingdom, to meet with the king of England.
About the year 1540, there being a great coldnefs between
Henry VIII. and James V. the latter prepared a navy of 1 5 fhipsr
with 2000 men, for arfecret enterprize. Lord Herbert " does not
pretend certainly to know James's defign in thole preparations*
though, fays his Lordfhip, it looked as if he hoped to annex lre-<
land to his crown, fmce, about this time, certain Irilh gentler
men came to invite him over to their country, promiftng to ac-
knowledge him for their king ; and that divers' noblemen and gen-
tlemen of Ireland mould come over to do him homage. " Henry
kavuig at tliis time declared himielf king of Ireland, of which he
v,*$ before only ityled the lord, thereby gave umbrage to James^
WiJO
1* ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
others were branded with hot irons, and had one
of their ears cut off, under which indignities they
were tranfported as (laves to Jamaica, and the
American plantations. Nor did the women efcape
the fury of this religious phrenfy. They were
branded, whipt, tied to flakes within the flood-
mark, and otherwife punifhed, frequently without
the form of a trial.
Such were the effects of religious intolerance, in
Scotland, during the greateft part of the laft cen-
tury, and which ought to ferve as a leffon of mode-
ration to all thofe factious fpirits, who, infenfiblc
of the valuable privileges, civil and religious,
which the Britiih conftitution diffufes amongft all
denominations of people, are ever meditating in-
novations equally unmeaning and unneceflary.
Thefe privileges were confirmed by king William
tvho firmly aflerted that he had a preferable claim to, at leaft, one
half of that ifland, which had been peopled chiefly by the iubjecls
of Scotland, and who unanimouily conlidered him as their natural
Jbvereign.
Numbers of Highland volunteers were at this time blended with
the Irim troops, while, on the other hand, a body of Irim archers
were at the battle of Pinkie, anno 1 547, in the divifion com-
manded by the earl of Argyle. Reciprocal aid, and fupplies of
troops, had been cuftomary between both countries, from the
earlieft ages down to that melancholy period, when the unhappy
Scots were driven in whole bodies into the north of Ireland, much
to the prejudice of their native country, but highly beneficial to
Ireland, which thereby acquired a new colony of iober, ingenious,
and induftrious people, by whom the great ilaple of the linen ma-
nufacture was introduced, and by whole descendants it hath been
extended to an incredible degree.
Since, therefore, a connection and friendfhip thus kept up from time
immemorial, hath been lately cemented by confanguinity, fimilarity
In religion, purfuits, and modes of life, we would gladly hope that
the northern Irim and weftern Scots will behave as kindred, coun-
trymen, and neighbours, giving and receiving mutual affiftance,
particularly ia the fiflieries upon their mores, which feem intended
by providence, not merely for the inhabitants of Lock Broom and
Lock Swilly, but for the general fupply of all Britifh and Irifh
fubje&s, whofe local fituation enables them to avail themfelves
of this ineftirnable bounty,
AC
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 75
at the revolution, in 1688, when the prefbyterian
eftablifhment received a permanent fanction, and
peace being then finally reftored to a bleeding,
impoveri fhed nation, the people began to contem-
plate the benefits of trade, and to refume the com*
merclal fpirit of their anceftors.
The parliament having, in the abundance of
their gratitude, voted liberal fupplies of men and
money, towards enabling king William to prole-
cute his military enterprizes ; that prince, highly
fenfible of the obligation, ordered the lord com-
mifiioner of Scotland to declare in parliament,
cc That if the members found it would tend to the
advancement of trade, that an aft Ihould be pafied
for the encouragement of fuch as fhould acquire
and eftablilh a plantation in Africa, America, or
any other part of. the world, where plantations,
might be lawfully acquired; and that his majefty
was willing to declare, he would grant to the iiib-
jects of this kingdom, in favour of thefe plantations,
fuch rights and privileges as he granted, in like
cafes, to the fubjects of his other dominions. "
Many other flattering promifes were added, and
the lord prefident confirmed and enforced all that
had been faid by the commiflioners. A dutiful
anfwer was voted to the king's letter. Two com-
mittees were appointed, a loyal one for the king-
dom, and a patriotic one for the encouragement of
trade.
The latter, in confequence of powers that had
been granted to the commiflioner by the king,
prepared an act for eflablifhing a company trading
to Africa and the Indies ; with the very extenfive
privileges of planting colonies, building cities,
towns, and forts, in places uninhabited, or in
others, with the confent of the natives, exempting
the merchants, for twenty-one years, from all
Duties and impofitions, and rendering the trade ex-
cluiive. Letters patent were directed jt>y the parlia-
ment
So ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
tnent to be expedited under the great feal, confirm-
ing this ac"t, without farther application to, or war-
rant from the' crown.
Shares in the new company were purchafed with
fuch readinefs, that, notwithftanding the low Mate
to which the kingdom had been reduced, a capital
of £. 400,000 was actually raifed in Scotland ;
£. 300,000 had been fubfcribed privately in En-
gland; and £. 200,000 was offered by Hamburgh.
It was determined to raife the capital to £. i ,000,000,
and to eftablilh a fettlement upon the Ifthmus of
Darien, which joins the two continents of America
in fuch a manner, as to enable the colony to carry
on a trade with the South Seas, the Atlantic, the
Eaft and Weft Indies.
Depending on the royal word, the new India
company refolved to execute their pro] eel without
delay. For this purpofe, they purchafed fhips of
large burden, at Hamburgh, and Amfterdam, which,
with a number of tranfports, they loaded with mer-
chandize, artillery, and military ftores. Having
embarked 1200 experienced veterans, who had
ferved abroad in king William's wars, the fleet
failed from Leith in July, 1698, went round by the
Orkney Iflands, took in fome wines at Madeira,
and had a fafe paflfage to Darien.
The natives, ftrongly preporTefTed againft Spain,
and acknowledging no dependence on that king-
dom, received the Scots with open arms, lived with
them like fubje&s or brothers, and afTifted in the
cftablifhment of the infant colony, which foon be-
gan to affume a favourable appearance, and was
named Caledonia. A fafe and commodious harbour
which they took pofTeflion of, was declared to be
free $ the town of New Edinburgh and Fort St. An-
drew * were begun to be formed, and every com-
mercial advantage was opening to their view, when
all their hopes were fruftrated by an oppofition,
which
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 81
which had been raifed by the Englifh and Dutch
India companies to this promifing enterprize. The
king endeavoured to foften the refentment of the
Scots, by refuming, with afliduity, the long medi-
tated project of uniting the two kingdoms in one
common intereft, which dcfirable work was com-
pleted in 1707.
The commercial benefits which had been expected in
virtue of the union, were, however, fcarcely perceived
in Scotland, till the late reign, when a fpirit of improve-
ment, induftry, and commerce, began to pervade the
centre of the kingdom. While the encouragement
given to the linen manufacture gave new life to the
decayed ports of the eailern fhores, and roufed them
into action, the American commerce, and the bounties
en the fifheries, animated thofe of the weft.
The citizens of Glafgow, availing themfelves of
their fituation, fitted out in 1718, the firft vefiel of
Glafgow property that eroded the Atlantic. Their
trade advanced by flow degrees till 1750; and from
that period to 1775, it may be faid to have flourifhed.
In 1776, America prohibited all intercourfe with
Great Britain. In 1782, Ireland was admitted to
participate in the American and Weft India com-
merce ; and in 1783, the American trade was laid
open to all the world. Thus vanifhed, after a fhort
pofTeflion, all the exclufive commercial privileges re-
lative to that country ; for which, the Scots had anni-
hilated their parliament, their African and India com-
pany; and fubjected themfelves to excifes, taxes,
duties, and commercial reftrictions, unknown before
the year 1707.
Commercial Eftaklijbmfnts*
All the commercial privileges which the Scots en-
joyed abroad have been revoked, as before men-
tioned, excepting at Campvere in Holland, which is
ftill the refidence of a conful, or confervator, ap-
pointed by the royal boroughs of Scotland ; and even
tliefe privileges have of late been held on a preca-
F rious
tt ANNALS OF SCOTLAND,
rious tenure, notwithftanding the obligations whic&
Holland' owes the former kingdom.
The court, OF Convention of tbe Royal Boroughs in
Scotland^ had its origin about the middle of the twelfth
century. Their meetings were held occasionally as
Haddington,. and afterwards> ann-ually, at Inver-
keithing. The number of thefe boroughs is at prefene
fixty-fix, including the cities. Some of them are in
ruins, others decayed,, the harbours choaked up, and
the corporations involved in debts. The boroughs
are reprefentcd in parliament by 1 5 members ; and,
at the annual convention held at Edinburgh, by one
commiflioner from every borough, befides Edinburgh,
which fends two.. Their privileges extend to com-
mercial affairs both within the kingdom and abroad,
of which they confider themfelves the guardians, but
having neither funds nor fpirit> their conventions of
late years have not effected any material purpofe of
national concern.
In 1726, however, the convention1,, perceiving the
miferable Hate of the nation, procured a new efta-
blifhment,./0r the Encouragement of Fijberies, Manu-
fattures'y and Improvement sy confifting of 21 Trufteesy
who fa far as their very limited funds extend, have
rendered their country the moil efTential fervices. The
funds allotted for thefe great national objects eonfifl of
An annuity, as per treaty of union, of 2000
Intereft of £.40000 lodged in the royal)' .«
bank> at 4! per cent. y
Annual favings, on an average — 500
A flax fund, arifing from an additional J
duty on foreign linens> about C
The following is a flate of the linen manufaclure>
which fliil increafes under- the foflering hand of
this Board^ *
* Account of linen cloth Damped in Scotland, froni the ffrff
of No vembc ?, 1782, to the i fi of November, 178*, diitinguifhing
ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. gj
In 1746, Archibald duke of Argyle (the Mae-
cenas of Scotland) procured a royal charter for the
the quantity, value and price pet- yard, at a medium, ih each fhire ;
and likewile the total quantity ^ total value, and price per yard, at a
medium, in Scotland:
Shires.
Yards.
Value.
Price per
yard at a
medium.
'
£. s. ,'.
s. d.
Aberdeen — —
150,032^
1(,
*{
i
9§
Air — —
63,490!
3,716
9
3
2
*Argyle — —
4,666
282
4
i
2153
Banff — —
4'»354
2,875
13
4i
i
4r7T
*J3ute and Arran —
Berwick — —
24,263
x>593
r3
8
i
3i9i
*Caithnefs —
1,525
58
i
i
9 /*
Clackmannan — —
~*Cromarty — —
4,36$
163
J3
9
9
Dumfries — —
24,804
17
TOl
ri
Dimbarton ~ < —
118,798!
7X0
7 81
7 4.
i
3l*-
Edinburgh — • —
180,120^
27,229
8 i,j
i
iT
Elgin — —
49,671
1,802
10 6
8 B_
Fife — —
2,360,739!
90,303
15! 8
9i**
Forfar — —
6,742,387^
T77»IO5
S
6 i
Haddington —
27,500
1,562
5 8-
i
i V*
*Invernefs — —
292,509
8,601
1 1
21
7
Kincardine — —
104,046^
4,08^
2
«?i
Kinrols — —
87,4114;
4^75
Io
5
1 1 j1,. '
Kirkcudbright — . —
2,256
2OI
3
4
i
7A-
Lanerk — • —
1,571,7987
65,577
1 1
81
2
Lirilithgbw — • —
5,286
460
12 7-
1
8I<5*
*Naira ~ —
10,468 .
64I
i8J 8i
I
2^1
Orkney -=- —
18,294
1,858
10 4
2
V
Peebles — * —
i
I 4
Perth — —
1,699,682!
8l,I9^
4
i of
Iri5^
Renfrew — • * —
1,577,451^
66,637
7
5"
2
i +.
*Rofs — —
24,020
827
I 2
8 ^L
Roxburgh — -—
44,698
13
7
I
6l»*.
Selkirk — —
Stirling — —
95,922
7,354
14
4l
1
6 4?
* Sutherland — • —
36
5
I
Wigton — *—
20,459
827
6
9ft
Total {lamped in Scotland
5> 348,7441
75,100
7,
5i
Do. from Nov. i, 1782, to
i
Nov. i, 1783. — ~
7,074,777 [866,983
10
6
|
r i rJL^-3
84 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND.
eftabliihment of a Britijh Linen Company, with 3
capital flock of ioo,ocol. and which may be fur-
ther increafed as the affairs of the company fhal!
require.
In 1782, the principal merchants and rnanufac->
turers in Glafgow and its neighbourhood, formed
themfelves into a Society, by the name of The Cham-
ber of Commerce and Manufactures in the city of Glaf-
gow y comprehending the towns ofPaiJley, Port Glafgow,
Greenock) and the places adjacent.
This fociety is eftablifhed by royal charter, and
is governed by thirty directors, one of whom is
their chairman. *
Present
The flars mark the Highland counties, whh, with the
Hebride Ifles, cbmpofe nearly one half of the kingdom,
exclufive of the Highland part of the mires of Perth, Elgin, ahd
Aberdeen.
The proportion of linen made and {lamped for fale in the two
divifoofcs of the kingdom, is thus in value, viz.
In the Lowlands — — — 76.4,489
In the Highlands and Hebride Ifles — — 10,611
£. 775,100
Confequently* one half of the kingdom manufactures leventy-two
times the value of the other half, beiides a variety of other manu-
factures in the Lowlands, that are entirely unknown in the High-
lands. This great disproportion is not owing to any idle diipo-
fition, or incapacity of the Highlanders, as fome people wrongly
iniinuate, but purely from the neglecl: of that country, and its
want of towns and markets. It is well known that the High-
landers of both fexes, who are employed as fervants in the Low-
lands, arc equally dextrous and diligent, as the people amongft
whom they refide. Combining this circumflance with the finall
quantity of linen yet made in eleven counties of the Lowlands, viz.
Banff, Berwick, Clackmannan, Dumfries, Elgin, Haddington,
Kircudbright, Kinlithgow, Peebles, Selkirk, and Wigton, amount-
ing only to 1 0,46 1 1. 173. 3d. we may conjecture that when every fup-
port is given to, and every impediment removed from this manu-
facture, the numbers of yards may be extended to 50,000,000 an-
nually ; and, coniequently an additional demand for Englifh goods.
* " The outlines of bufmefs committed to the charge of ths
Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, mall be :
i . To confider of fuch plans and fyilems as fhall contribute to
the
( 35 )
Prtfent State of Agriculture, Manufactures > and
Commerce.
Improvements in the various branches ofhufban-
ilry, planting, and the railing a better breed of
cattle and fheep, have made rapid progrefs in the
Lowlands (ince the year 1750; but much remains
to be done, particularly on thole eftates whofe pro-
prietors refide in other parts of the ifland.
Partly to the abfenceof thefe gentlemen, is owing
the neglect of manufactures, and commerce, over a
.very confiderable part of the kingdom ; the banks
of the Clyde, the Forth, and the Tay, with a por-
tion of the eaft coaft, as far north as Invernefs,
may be faid to carry on the whole trade of the na-
tion both inland and foreign.
Moft of the countries to the fouthward of Edin-
burgh,
the protection and improvement of thofe brandies of trade and
•nanurattures which are peculiar to this country, and which may
t)e interefting to the members of the chamber at large.
2. To regulate all matters refpecting any branch of trade or ma-
Tiufacture, which may be fubmitted to the director?, for the pur-
pofe of eftablifhing rules for the convenience and affiitance, either
of foreign traders, or manufacturers
3. To read and difcufs all public and private memorials and
reprefentations of members of the chamber, requeuing the aid of
the directors in any matter regarding trade or manufactures.
4. To afford aid to members, whether as individuals or other-
'wife, who may apply for affillance in negotiating any matter of
hufmel\ whether local,, or of a nature which requires the weight
and influence of the directors', in making application to the boanj
of truftees, to the king's minifters, or to parliament.
5. To procure relief or redrefs in any grievance, hardfhip, op-
preffion, or inconvenience, affect tog any particular branch of trade
and manufacture, carried on by the members of this fociety, by
intcrpofing the weight and influence of the directors in any public
negotiation that may be thought necciTary to effecl fuch relief.
6. To confider of ail matters affecting" the corn laws of this part
of the united kingdom in particular, as being of the utmoft con-
iequence to its trade and manufactures.
And, in general, to take cognifance of every matter and thin^
that lhall be in the Icait degree connected with the interefts of
F 3 commerce
86 PRESENT STATE
burgh, and whofe inhabitants, compofed in antient
times, the flower of the. Scptpfh armies, exhibit at
prefent a melancholy picture of decayed boroughs,
neglected feats, and a dejected commonalty.
Though this diftrict hath a coaft of near 200 miles,
abounding in fmall harbours, and fituated mod ad-
mirably for weftern commerce, and the fifheries ;
yet, from the head of the Solway Firth to the town
of Air, there is neither manufacture, nor Hupping
beyond the fize of the herring bufTes, although it
would appear by the number of ports, and by tradi-
tion, that there was formerly a petty traffic in aH
thofe places.
The fame remarks are applicable to that exten-
five inland country which reaches from the river
Tay, or the lake of that name, to the Pentland Firth.
There is, however, amongft the gentlemen of the
northern counties, a more general fpirit for intro-
ducing fmall branches of manufacture $ alfo for
planting, and other rural improvements. By thefe
generous efforts^ the hills begin to be covered with
timber of various denominations, and fo numerous
as to exceed credibility. Of this, the eflate of the
late Sir Archibald Grant furnilhes the moft ftriking
inflance, that gentleman having^ it is faid, lived to
feefeyeral millions of trees of his own planting, and
moflly in full growth.
Of the various Claffes and Degrees of People in the
Lowlands, and their Prof evfity for the Manufactures
cf England .
It is fcarcely neceffary under this head to rnen-
commerce~-to aflift in pointing put new fources for promoting
whatever may be ufeful and beneficial — and attend to every appli-
cation made to parliament, which may be thought injurious to the
trade 'and manufactures of this country— ^to . 'fupport an intercourfe
and friendly correfpondence with the convention of royal boroughs,
and board of truflees for fifheries and manufactures, for the pur-
pofe of communicating new and ufeful improvements to their at?
OF SCOTLAND. *7
tion the nobility, gentry, and principal traders;
their manners and modes of life being fimilar to
thole of the fame ranks in England, from which
country they fupply themfelves in tne. various arti-
cles of drefs, furniture, and paintings.
Very different, however, in many refpec~ts, arc
the generality of the farmers of Scotland from their
fouthern brethren. No fooner has the traveller
patted the borders, than he perceives a ftriking
contrail, not only in the appearance .of the farms,
houfes, and cattle, but alfo in the eo-untenances of
the people. The men are fober, temperate, and
laborious; -the women equally diligent io raifing
coarfe woollen and linen cloth, and other ceceifa-
ries for the family, befides fome fmall matters,
particularly linen and yarn, for fale. Some of the
more fertile diftricts excepted, this clafs of people
feldom enjoy the luxury of butcher's meat, wheaten
bread, or even fmall beer. Thefe they chearfully
relinquifh, to gratify their propenfity for Englilk
broad cloth and .other fineries, wherewith to adorn
thenafel'ves on Sundays, and public occafions. Not-
withftanding the unceafing toils of the week, they
attend all the duties of religion with the utmoft
punctuality, and are equally attentive to the edu-
cation and morals of their children ; infomuch, that
irregularities feldom happen, and crimes of a grofs
nature are fcarcely known. For many years after
the revolution, the number of perfons executed in
die courfe of juftice, did not exceed three, upon an
annual average, through the whole kingdom,-
Equally fohxer,, indiaflrious, and domjeflic, are
the mechanics, wlipfe -earnings^ .excepting thofe
who are engaged in the finer manufactures, do not
exceed feven or eight fillings weekly, in the
fouthern parts ; and from four (hillings and fix-
pence to fix (hillings in the north. On this they
ilrefs in Englilh broad cloth ; and their wives, oc-
<c.a£onally, in a gown, or cloak pf fijk^, from Lon-
F 4
88 PRESENT STATE
don. On this alfo, they bring tip, educate, and
fit out for the world, thofe adventurous, intelligent
people, who abound throughout Europe, Afia,
and America.
There is another clafs in Scotland, whofe induf-
try, and laudable pride, enable them to maintain
themfelves without troubling the parifhj and at
the fame time contribute materially to the great
flaple of the kingdom. Thefe are females of all
ages, and under various diftreffing circumftances ;
the orphan, the widow, and the aged mother -, all
thofe who have out-lived their kindred, or who
receive no fupport from them. By unremitting
application at the wheel, they gain two (hillings
weekly, in or near the manufacturing towns ; but
thofe of the northern parts, and who are chiefly
employed in knitting {lockings, cannot, with the
elofeft application, clear above eighteen pence. So,
flender an income implies a fcanty fubfiftence, con-
fiding of barley-meal, greens, potatoes, butter-
milk, whey, or water. A fmall moiety is referved
for a decent apparel, of home manufacture, wherein
to appear at church -, and though worn down with
age, infirmities, or neglect, they hold out with fur-
prizing chearfulnefs and fortitude, having always
in contemplation*, the profpect of a happier ex-
iilence throughout eternity. This is alfo the con-
folation of the great body of people in that king-
dom 5 the favourite fubject of their converfation
when in health, and the fupport of their minds, in
the days of affliction.
Upon the whole, when we condder the Lowlands
of Scotland in a general view ; the difpofition, in-
duftry, and fober manners of the inhabitants ; the
many acres yet in a ftate of nature ; the nume-
rous decayed fea-ports, which might be reftored ;
the abundance of fifh, cattle, fheep, vegetables, and
roots; and that of 32 counties, 18 export grain,
jjot from the extraordinary crops^ but ;he thinnefs
of
OF SCOTLAND. $9
of inhabitants ; when we fum up all thefe circum-
ftances, the aggregate will enable us to form an
cilimate of the importance of that divifion of the
ifland ; and this leads to the main objects of the
work, fo far as they relate to that kingdom.
Scotland^ the mo ft valuable NUT f cry of Seamen in tie
Britijb Empire, England executed.
The benefits which England derives from Ireland,
America, Africa, the Eaft and Weft Indies, have
been the frequent theme of public difcufnon by the
natives of the refpe&ive countries, or by perfons
whole intereftor inclination it was, to fet forth thefc
advantages in the mpft favourable light.
Our derivative benefits, from the northern part
of the united kingdom, in flrength, and commerce,
though of all others the moft valuable, permanent,
and improveable, have not hitherto been fo forcibly
reprefented, fo fully underflood, or regarded with
fuch attention and refpect, as their importance
feems to require. To this may be partly owing the
neglrct of that kingdom, the contempt in which it
is beheld, the comparative fcantinefs of the funds
allotted for its improvement, and the univerfal dif-
pofition for emigration amongft the hufbandmen
and artiils, to a country where thofe induftrious
people will eilablifh, much fooner than is generally
imagined, the various manufactures of their native
land.
It is to be wifhed that we may not, for a long
term of years, have occafion for fuch numerous
armies as have lately pervaded the globe, and in
which the Scots fupported, as ufual, their military
reputation : but a powerful, well-appointed fleet,
and a proportionate number of men, always in rea-
dinefs, will ever be neceflary, both in peace and
war. The great exertions, and the incredible ex-
pence of this kingdom, in acquiring, raifing, pro-
\ te&ing,
jo PRESENT STATE
tecYmg, and retaining, diftant fettlements, had the
navy in view, equally with commerce, becaufe the
one depended upon the other. The carrying trade
to, and from, thofe fettlements, refpectively, was
confidered as lo many fources, which conftituted
England's glory and defence : but that conclufion
admits of fome exceptions. The trade to China
and the Eaft ladies, inftead of being a nurfery for
-Teamen, is the confumer of that very ufeful clafs of
people, and requires constant fupplies from the tem-
perate Chores of Britain, The trade to Africa is
equally deftructive ; and -even the W-eft Indies, be-
ing fufoject to all the diforders peculiar to the tro^
pical climates, muft debilitate and carry off great
numbers of men in a premature age.
The North American commerce was more fa-
vourable to longevity, and employed .8000 feamen,
who were, however, chiefly Britons ; nor did Ame-
rica eyer afford any ftipplies to the navy, and none
is now to be e-xpected from that quarter. On the
contrary, the northern provinces are building {hips
of war for our rival, to whofe marine ftrength, by
an unexpected turn in human policy, the forefts of
that great continent are at prefent devoted.
Such being the partiality of America towards
France -y and fuch the deftructive nature of the car-
rying trade to all our remaining fettlements, Canada,
Nova-Scotia, and Newfoundland excepted, the
Scottifh fifheries claim the moft ferious confidera-
tion. That great nurfery contributes, in a double
capacity, to the aid and ftrength of this kingdom;
it fupplies equally the wafte of the mercantile fer-
vice, and the royal navy ; enabling us to carry on
the greate-ft traffic, and to man the moft victorious
fleets that the world hath feen.
Previous to the American war, or in years when
the bounty to the herring buffes was regularly paid,
the fifheries of that kingdom and the three divifions
<pf iflandsj employed 20,000 men, compofed of
. experi-
OF SCOTLAND. 91
experienced Teamen, or perfons who were advancing
progreflively, in the naval profeflion.
The great fuperiority of this nurfery to all others
appears in the following comparative ftatement :
The commerce of the 13 States when in our")
pofieflion ; alfo Canada, Nova Scotia and > 8000
Hudfon's Bay, employed J
The Whale fifhery to Greenland, Davis's^
Straits, and other parts, encouraged ju- I 3000
dicioufly, by a large bounty, employs J
The fettlements, colonies, and iflands, ftill fubjec"b
to Great Britain., in various parts of the world,
employ, viz,
Hudfon's Bay — ~ — 130
Nova Scotia* — - — - — • 200
Canada — *- •** - — • 400
Africa — — * — 3900
Weft Indies — • — 12000
China, and the Eaft Indies, previous to the i ,
tea aft «- ~ -, } 6°°°
22630
The Newfoundland fifheries employed of>
men and boys, from Great Britain and I 1 2000
Ireland, exclufive of the natives J
' This ftatement fpeaks at once to the underftand-
ing. We perceive that the Scottifh fifheries, and
of one fpecies only, employed in the proportion
of nearly feven feamen to one of thofe who are en-
gaged in the whale fifhery ; above two to one of
thofe who carried on the whole North American
commerce while in our pofTeflion \ and nearly equal
: The eftimate, refpe&ing Canada and Nova Scotia, being
ade before the American war, muft be confidered far too lo\r
for the prefent time. The great refort of refugees to thofe pro-
vinces, and the rapid increale of trade with the mother country
and the Weft Indies, will in a few years employ a or 3000 Britifli
ieamen. On the other hand, the Newfoundland fiflieries will, in
all probability, fall chiefly into the hands of France, Nova Scotia,
and ;he American flutes,
to
92 PRESENT STATE
to the number now employed in all our remaining
fettlements, the Newfoundland fifhery excepted.
Of ftill greater confequence will thefe fifheries
appear, when it is known, that the herring and the
white fifheries, upon the coafts, lakes, and firths of
Scotland, could raife. and keep in conftant readinefs
for the naval and mercantile fervice, 50,000 hardy
feamen, and at no greater expeiice to the public
than a fmall moiety beftowed in bounties to the
boats and bufTes, who engage in that hazardous and
flavifh bufinefs, upon the boifterous feas of the
north.
The war at the revolution employed 45,000 fea-
men. The number hath increaled every fucceeding
war; and in 1782 it amounted to 110,000. The
great efforts which France, aided by Holland and
America, is now making in the naval department,
require the fame attention on our part, and in all
probability the Britilh fleet, at the breaking out
of another war, will far exceed "that of the year
1782, great as it was. An additional number of
men will confequently be wanted : and as the man-
ning of the navy hath ever been attended with con-
iiderable difficulty and expence to government, and
with circumflances of oppreflion towards many
who are dragged into that fervice againfl their
confent , there is not, in the whole fyftem of Bri-
tifh politics, an object of greater importance to
the defence and prosperity of thefe Kingdoms, than
that of increafing the number of hardy, intrepid
feamen, by means of the northern fifheries,, and
coafling trade. The arguments for a vigorous at-
tention to this national object^ derive additional
force, from the fober manners, and tractable difpor
fitions of thofe men, a circumftance well known
to the naval officers, and much approved of by
them.
Scotland
OF SCOTLAND. 93
Scotland conftdered as a commercial Nation, and its
great Importance to England in that View. Some
Propofals for a more liberal Syftem of Polity rela-
lative to Scotland \ with conjectural Eftimates of the
beneficial Conferences which would flow therefrom,
to the whole I/land.
It hath been obferved, that a fpirit of induflry,,
trade, and rural improvements, began to revive in
Scotland about the year 1726, in confequence of
the American commerce carried on from Glafgow,
and fome falutary, though incomplete meafures
of government reipedling the linen manufactures,
and the weftern fifheries, by which the whole king-
dom was more or lefs benefited. Since that time,
more cfpecially from the year 1750, the demand in
Scotland for Englifh manufactures, and various
foreign articles through the channel of London, as
filk, drugs, tea, and India goods, gradually in-
creafed, till the fatal commencement of the Ame-
rican war in 1775, wnen the annual value of
Englifh exports to Scotland had amounted to
— — £. 2,000,000
The ready money fpent by the Scots ^
nobility and gentry redding in Eng- > 500,000
land. . — — J
Ditto, by traders, and other perfons,!
in their periodical journies to Lon- |
don 5 alfo in remittances to !
boarding fchools, academies, and |
for a variety of other pur-
pofes — —
£. 2,600,000
In 1696, was eftablifhed in England, the office
of infpector-general of the value of exports and im-
ports to, and from, all pans of the- world ; and in
$4 PRESENT STATE
1697, the amount of exports was found to
Annual exports to Scotland only, be-^j
tween 1763 and 1775; including I ,
alfo, the money fpent in • England f
by the natives of Scotland — J
£. 925,906
being within a million of the whole exports of
England, in the memory of man. The fuperiority
c>f Scotland in a commercial view, at the prefent
period, to any other channel or fotirce of trade,
will further appear from the following comparative
flatementj taken from Sir Charles Whitworth's
Commercial Tables for 1771, that being the high-
eft year of Englifh exports, particularly to the
American States, where the imports from this
kingdom never exceeded 1,763,409!. upon an ave-
rage of ten years, prior to 1780.
Africa -
Canaries
Denmark and Norway —
Eaft Country
Eaft India '
Flanders
France — .
Germany
Greenland
Holland
Ireland
Italy
Madeiras
Portugal
RufTia ,
Spain .
Streights
Sweden*
Turkey
Venice
Exports to
Imports from
712,538
97,486
23,825
6,803
I52.340
8337H
95,961
195*357
1,184,824
1,882,129
861,777
142,138
146,128
5^645
1,316,492
765.774
10
i3>8°3
1*685,397.
428,080
1,983,818
i.38<Y737
782,582
947. *38
11,213
2,067
716,122
354.63I
150,159
1,274,620
1,224,811
568,323
64,180
157*851
20,573
100,443
73>956
83.335
Guernfey,
OF SCOTLAND. 95
Guernfey, Jerfeyand Alderney 5,8,565 56,802
North America . 4,586,886 1,468,941
Weft Indies ••• 1,151,360 2,716,569
Spanifh Weft Indies 4,301 39,988
£. *7ji6i>i46 12,821,995
Since the year 1748, the annual amount of Eng-
lifh imports hath gradually increafed from- 9 to
12,000,000!. while from 1771, that of exports hath
been gradually decreafing ; infomuch that the ba-
lance, which, upon an average of 50 years previ-
ous to 117 1> had been above 4,000,000!. in favour
of exports, did not, at the conclufion of the late
war, amount to i ,000,000!. after deducting the
value of (lores and other fnpplies for the army and
navy. Nor are there any good grounds to hope,
that the national exports to foreign parts will again
produce a balance of 4,000,000!. or even half of
that fum, for a permanency of years.
The balance with RiuTia, Sweden, and other
countries upon the Baltic, hath always been againft
England, owing to the importance of the articles
which we receive from thence, to m an u failures,
and fhipping. Our exports to Ireland, Portugal,
Italy, Turkey, and the S freights, have lately de-
creafed to the amount of two millions annually, which
France hath partly gained ; and fimilar deficien-
cies, by means of that politic nation, may be ex-
pected with other European kingdoms, the trade of
RufTia excepted.
In America, the profpect is ftill more gloomy.
As thofe ftates are feducing artifts and manufac-
turers from all the commercial nations of Europe,
and as their country abounds in raw materials, as
iron, copper, timber, furs, peltry, cotton, hemp,
flax, indigo, and filk ; it may be prefumed, that
they will reftrict their imports from this country to
fuch articles only as they cannot raife within rhem-
iclves,
96 PRESENT STATE
felves, and, inftead of being a general cuftomer,,
become a rival, much fooner than we imagine.
The fame may be faid of Ireland, whofe non-
importation agreements furnifh matter of ferious
concern*
Upon the whole> the luxury of the times hath
confiderably increafed our imports, while the exer-
tions of France, the independence of Ireland, and
America, have fo greatly abridged our exports, as
to bring both nearly to a par. And though the
commercial balance is decreafed, or nearly annihi-
lated, the drain of fpecie, by the Eaft India com-
pany, * fmuggling, the intereft of public debts paid
to foreigners, and remittances to abfentees ; amounts
to near 3,000,000!. annually) which emiffions will
foon be attended with very alarming confequences,
unlefs fpeedily checked, or new fources of com-
merce are opened.
Some of the negative remedies to thefe unfavour-
able circumftances are now the fubjec~t of parliamen-
tary difcufllon ; others, we would gladly hope, will
be brought forward in gradual fucceffion, while the
productive fources of a commercial balance demand
an equal degree of attention. We perceive from the
foregoing tables and eftimates, that, as theScottifh
fiiheries are the mofl valuable nurferies for feamen,
fo is its trade, and its expenditures in England, the
moft beneficial to our manufactures. With feme
nations we carry on a loiing trade ; from others we
receive an uncertain balance •; and even the tenure
by which we poffels our diftant fettlements,, and
the monopoly which we derive from them, are fo
extremely precarious, that it would be political
infanity to build our future profpects upon fuch
* The fmuggling of tea will decreafe in confequence of lower-
ing the duties, but the conlumption will remain the lame, and
the whote, or the greateil part of it, muft ever be purchaitd with
fpecie.
fpecu-
O-F SCOTLAND. 97
fpeculative fources. Whereas, the benefits which
flow from the northern part of the ifland, are pro-
greflive and permanent ; and, could we reconcile
our minds to the idea of relinquifhing a compara-
tively fmall portion of revenue, the influx of fpe-
cie from that country " would, as Mr. Hume ob-
ferves, be fufficient for the important purpofes of
feeding the circulation of the kingdom, " and of
a growing national wealth, admitting the balance
with other countries to be upon an equality.
The income, or wealth of Scotland, whether arifing
from rural improvements, the induftry, and tempe-
rance of the people, or its commercial balances from
foreign countries, center, and ever will center, with
England. The gentry of the former kingdom have
moftly trebled their rents fmce the year 1750, yet they
are not wealthier than their forefathers. On the con-
trary, the increafeof income, though incredibly rapid,
hath not, amongft the generality of families, corre-
fponded with their tafte for the elegancies, and the lux-
uries of a more opulent people; infomuch, that eftates
are conftantly upon fale, the old families gradually
difappear, and the landed property falls into new
hands, efpecially in the neighbourhood of Glafgow,
and other trading towns. This is the natural courfe
of things with thofe orders of men. Their rents are
ipent by themfelves in England, or carried thi-
ther, circuitouQy ; nor will it ever be otherwife with
the gentry of Scotland, while London continues to be
a univerfal ftorehoufe of whatever is pleafmg to the
eye and the fenfes ; the center of amufements, af-
fording irrefiftible * allurements for diflipating, in a
fafhionable ftyle, the produce of their eftates, and
fometimes more.
The inferior orders, as hath been obfcrved, are
equally emulous of Englifh finery ; a fpecies of pride,
which, while it ftimulates induftry in one kingdom,
promotes manufactures in the other. Thus, fhe foi-
bles of the higher, and the virtues of the lower
G clafles
$8 PRESENT S T A T £
clafles of people in Scotland, become fubfervient td
the opulence and profperity of England, in a very
confiderable d-jgree. Every man, who, through un-
remitting labour, gains the fmall pittance of ieven
Shillings weekly, becomes a cuflomer to the wealthy
Englifh farmer, clothier, or draper; befides bring-
ing forward a generation of new cuftomers, by means
of the excellent principles which he inftills, and the
example which he fets before them,
We may, therefore, confider the trade of Scotland
as our principal mart, and the landed property of that
kingdom as an inexhauftible mine ; from which chan-
nels flow a permanent flux of fpecie, with this pecu-
liar circumfbnce in favour of thofe fources, that
they require no fleets and armies, no waile of lives,
and of millions, to defend. From that country, there-
fore, we derive every poffible benefit, negative and
pofitive ; and which, with the judicious appropria-
tion of a fuitable fund, will accumulate beyond con-
ception ;. for it is to be remembered, that a very
confiderablc part of the country is in a ftate of na-
ture ; that other diftricts admit of farther improve-
ment; and that the manufactures and commerce of
the kingdom are moftly limited to the three navi-
gable rivers, and a portion of the eaflern coaft only.
When a fpirit of trade and improvements becomes
more univerfal, pervading every fhore, and every
valley of the nation ; and when the riling metropolis
fhall attract a more numerous refort of wealthy ftran-
gers, the confequences will be proportionabiy great.
The good effects of vigorous meafures, fupponed
by aid of government, are boundleis ; of which the
prefent century affords fome .ftriking inftances.
Ruffia, from an immenfe defert, inhabited by Barba-
rians, and only known by name, to the fouthern dates
of Europe, hath become inilantaneouily the feat of
arts,, fcience, and literature; a general emporium of
European and Afiatic commerce > and bids fair in
2 another
OF SCOTLAND, 99
another century, to equal, if not eclipfe, the moil
celebrated empires of the world.
The progrefs of the Britifh American colonies,
under the direction of their refpective affemblies,
afiifted liberally by the mother country, had no pa-
rallel in the annah of antient or modern nations.
The prefent ftate of Ireland, a country nearly fimi-
lar to Scotland in dimenfions, local fituation, cli-
mate, and natural produce, requires on that account
a more circumftantial detail. That kingdom had
been an expenfive burden to England, from the time
when it became fubject to the latter nation, in the
reign of Henry II. to that of Queen Elizabeth, in-
cluding a period of 385 years.
C£ In 1573, the money which the queen had fen c
to Ireland, fmce her accefiion tothetthrone, anno 1558,
being computed, came to 490,779!. whereas the
whole produce of the revenue of Ireland, during all
that time, amounted but to 120,000!." being SoooL
per annum.
cc In 1641, part of the walls of Dublin fell down,
which lay unrepaired for want of money, until the
lords juftices fent the citizens 40!. to advance that
fervice. In 1644, the citizens of Dublin were num-
bered, and found to be 5551 proteftants, and 1608
papifts, in all 8159." Corke, Waterford, Belfaft,
and Limerick, were ftill lefs confiderable ; and it is
beyond a doubt that the ports of Leith, St. Andrews,
or Dundee in Scotland, then carried on, and had for
many ages, more foreign commerce than the whole
kingdom of Ireland ; as appears by an authentic lift
of the number of feamen, fifhermen, and boatmen,
in the latter kingdom, anno 1695, amounting to
4,424 only.
Towards the commencement of the prefent cen-
tury, the parliament of Ireland began to direct its at-
tention to national improvements, and with fuch per-
feverance and fuccefs, that the public revenue,
which in queen Elizabeth's reign produced only
Soool. annually, amounted at Chriftmas, 1784, to
G 1 £.I,QOO>OOO
ico PRESENT STATE
i, ooo,oool. though the excifes, taxes, and duties,
are fo light as fcarcely to be felt by the inhabitants.
By means of this revenue, and the patriotic national
exertions, Ireland may, at this time, be confidered
both as a manufacturing, and a commercial coun-
try; and promifes to become, foon, a confiderable
emporium.
In 1697, the exports of Ireland amounted to
£. 251,262. In 1782, the exports of linen cloth to
Great Britain were 24,692,072 yards, from is. jdf
to is. 6d. per yard ; total value ^. 1,646,138.
the whole exports of Ireland to Great Britain
/. 2,699, 825; ar)d to all the world about^. 3, 500,000.
The balance of trade in favour of Ireland is fup-
pofe'd to exceed jC. 1,000,000. A manufactory
which gives employment to 4 or 5000 perfons,
in the Manchefter branches, is eftablifhed near
Dublin; another manufactory carries on the Glaf-
gow and Paifley branches, at Dundalk. Broad
cloth, filks, ribbons, and poplins, are carried on to
a considerable extent in Ireland; the exports to
America, and the Weft Indies, have become very
confiderable, and are daily encreafing.
The increafe and fplendour of Dublin correfpond
with the growing wealth of the nation. That me-
tropolis contains 100,000 inhabitants; it is ten
miles in circumference, and its new ftreets are com-
modious, and fingularly elegant. The public build-
ings lately erected, and now erecting, have a foli-
dity and grandeur fcarcely inferior to the ftructures
of antiquity ; and it is the peculiar felicity of Ire-
land, that every corner of the kingdom proclaims
the magnificent tafte of its fenate. *
If
* Commercial Advantages find Privileges enjoyed ly Ireland com-
pared with the prefent State of Scotland.
In Ireland, the trade, manu- Scotland hath no national re-
faetures, commerce, agriculture, venue, and, consequently, no
inland navigation, harbours, cha- public works have been creeled
rity ichools, public buildings, in that kingdom, at the public
and
OF SCOTLAND.
101
. If fuch hath been the rapid tranfuion from igno-
rance, floth, and extreme penury ; to opulence, fplen-
and other objects of national be •
nefit, are vigorouily fupported
by parliamentary g.ants from
50,000!. to ioo,oool. annually.
Ireland hath alfo three national
focieties, compofed of the nobi-
lity, dignified clergy, gentry,
and principal traders, endowed
with revenues, amounting in
thevvholeto 30,000!. or 40,000!.
annually, which are diftributed
in bounties, premiums, and re-
wards, for the encouragement
of fimeries, manufactures, the
fine arts, and ingenious men.
Ireland hath a public revenue
of i,ooo,ocoi. which is moflly
fpent within that kingdom.
Coals exported from Scotland
to Ireland pay a duty of is. id.
per chaldron.
Rock fait is permitted to be
exported from England to Ire-
land ; and, duty free.
A bounty of five per cent, is
given by the Irifh parliament on
gauzes, lawns, &c. manufac-
tured in that kingdom for in-
land confumption — and eight
and ahalf per cent, on exportation.
All manufactures in Ireland are
exempted from excife or duties.
Taxes are low in Ireland,
particularly on fait, candles,
leather, loap; and all Engliih and
India goods exported to Ireland,
have a drawback of the excile and
duties.
expence, fmce the union of the
two crowns in 1603. Some
military roads and fortifications
have been formed or erected for
the purpofes of government.
Scotland hath three national
or public focieties, whole con-
junct revenue? cjo not amount to
Soool. annually ; a fum which
would ferve to embdlifh or im-
prove a country town, but is far
inadequate to the great purpoiea
of national improvement.
Scotland, having no feparatc
revenue, is thereby deprived of
the benefit of circulation within
itfelf.
Coals carried coafl>ways from
one part of Scotland to another,
or from England, pay a-duty of
53. 4d. per chaldron,
Scotland is not permitted to
import rock fait from England.
No bounty is allowed in Scot-
land upon fine manufactures,
fabricated in that kingdom for
inland confumption.
All manufactures in Scot-
land, linen excepted, are lub»
ject to duties from 20 to 40 per
cent, including the duties upon
the importation of the raw ma-»
terials.
Taxes are high in Scotland,
particularly on fait, candles,
leather, fpap, &c. and thele, in
their operation, may be conli-
dered as additional burdens on
the above-mentioned impofts.
No drawback is allowed on
g.ods exported to Scotland.
c 3 dour,
102 PRESENT STATE
dour, and national importance, in lefs than 90 years*
what may no*, be expelled from a civilized, induf-
trious people, were they equally exempted from
certain burdens of no great importance to govern-
ment, and fupported by adequate funds operating in
every department, and amongft all denominations,
from the fifherman and aged fpinfter, to the count-
ing-houfe of exports and imports ? The education,
fober manners, and domeflic turn of thofe people,
qualify them moft eminently for meeting govern-
ment half w$y in every beneficial meafure, and no
period ilnce the union required more vigorous efforts,
on both fides.
The lofs of the exclufive trade of America, the im-
pediments to commerce, in confequence of a feven
years war, the capture of 313 veffels, many of them
richly loaded, and the non-payment of the American
debts, have checked the progrefs of the weflern parts,
and reduced many families from affluent circumflan-
ces to the verge, of bankruptcy. The almoft infur-
mountable difficulties of the working people, in
confequence of frequent bad feafons, and the fuccef-
iive high prices of grain, attended, at the fame time,
with accumulating excifes and taxes upon trade, and
the neceflaries of life, have filled the whole kingdom
with murmurs, and feem to threaten a decrcafe or
removal of various manufactures, which ferved as a
fubftitute for fpecie, to England, that article being
drained from Scotland by other channels. The
general decay of the fifheries, and the very injudi-
cious impediments to that important branch, as
enumerated in the fubfequent detail, are objects alfo
of the moft ferious concern. *
Equally
* Titles and Suljlancc offondry Memorials from the Royal Boroughs^
and Trader S) of Scotland.
1. Prefent State of Cultom-houfe Fees, and the Trade upon Ri-
vers. Edinburgh, February 1782.
2. To the Right Hon. the Lords CommiiTioners of his Majefty's
Treafury, The humble Memorial of the General Convention of
th«
OF SCOTLAND.
Equally alarming is the late decreafe of exports,
to foreign countries, and the confequent increafe of
an unfavourable balance, of which the following is
an authentic ftatement :
In
the Royal Boroughs of Scotland, 1783, relative to Duties on
the Materials for Bleaching.
3. Memorial from the Manufacturers of Iron, in Scotland, rela*
tive to the Duties on that Article. Glafgow, March 1783.
4. Memorial of the Royal Boroughs of Scotland, 1 784, relative
to the Duties on printed Linens and Cottons.
5. Memorial of the Chamber of Commerce and Man u fact urea*
in the City of Glafgow, 1784, on the Subject of the propofed
Tax on printed Cottons and Linens.
6. Propoials for the Eafe and Relief of Mariners and Traders,
in the Carriage of Goods not liable to Duties when ihipped Coaft*
ways. June 1784.
7. A View of the Conlequences of the propofed Tax on printed
Linens and Calicoes, with Regard to illicit Trade, Glafgow, July
1784.
8. Memorial in Behalf of the Manufacturers of Muilin in the
City of Glafgow and the Neighbourhood. July 1784,
9. Memorial from the Manufacturers of Th read<-Gauzes, Lawns,
and bordered Handkerchiefs, in Glafgow, Paiiley, and the NeigHv
bourhood. July 1784.
10. Memorial, or Cafe refpecting Coals, and Cuftom-houfe Fees
in Scotland. 1784.
1 1 . Memorial of the Manufacturers of printed Linens andCalicoe*
in the City and Neighbourhood of Glafgow. July 1784,
12. Three Memorials from the Magiftrates of Rothfay, flating
the Hardihipof the Coal Duties.
All the above- papers, excepting thofe from Rothfay, are printed.
They are compofed with great judgment and irrength of argu-
ment, and copies were transmitted to feveral members of parlia-
ment, at London. Some relief hath been granted refpecting the
duty upon barilla, and the cuftom-houfe fees, impofed by the
revenue officers, on boats and fmall crafts navigating the firths
and rivers contrary to law, and the cuftoms of England, in fi-mi-
lar circumftances. But the great bufmefs refpecting the duties oft
manufactures remains for the further confideratioa of the legifr
lature.
The Sulftance of tkefe Mem or i ah, is generally fit follows :
That the propofed additional import upon thofe fabrics of linea
and cotton, which are chiefly manufactured in Scotland, will raife
the whole duty to 35 or 40 per cent on the article in its nniflied
#ate for printing.
That befides promoting tumults, by rendering defperate a
great body of the induilnous workmen, U iir&es collaterally
G4
104 PRESENT STATE
In 1770, the balance in favour of Scot- } r
land had arrived at - - \ V
1780, it fell to , - 99>3*5
1781, it was againft Scotland — 34>7^i
1782, ditto - I55>3*3
And
againft the great ftaple of Scotland-— The linen traJt, which is
fupportedin an eminent degree by the printing of coarfer fabrics.
That high duties will operate moft effectually in eitablifhing a
fyftem of illicit trade, perfectly fimilar to that which prevailed
with regard to India muflins and calicoes, before the duties on
thofe articles were reduced from 33 to 18 per cent.
That limilar manufactures are eitablilhed in Ireland, aided by
bounties, both on inland confumption and exportation, and that
the Irim parliament hath burdened the Scottiih goods with a
duty pf 10 per cent, when imported into that kingdom ; which,
taken in conjunction with the bounty given on their own manu-
factures, operates as a moft fevere check on the former j and having
already drawn over above i ooo weavers in the branch of thread-
gauzes, lawns, &c. mows the impolicy of any additional burden,
under circumilances fo extremely delicate and critical.
Finally, That the memorialiits little expected, at a moment when
they are itrugglihg at every foreign market with a competition
threatening the ruin pf their infant manufactures, that a blow fo
fatal to them fhould originate with that legifla^ure to which they
have been accuitomed to look up for prote6tipn. That tKeir ar-
dent defire is to be ufeful and induftrious members of the com*
munity ; but while they fee themielves marked as the victims of
diftreis and ruin, by a meaiure partial in its operatipn, ancl de-
ftructive in its conferences, they would act a criminal 'part to lit
iilent, without avowing to his majefty's minifters, to parliament,
and to the world, thofe fentiments which become the •• iubjefts of
a free gpvernment.
It hath been alib aflerted by the principal manufacturers, that the
Britifh India company fupplies Germany, France, and particularly
Switzerland, in calicoes; which thofe nations print and import into
Great Britain, being enabled thereto, by the drawback ori 'the firft
purchafe, faving of the excife, and cheapnefs of provifions aud
labour. The Jri|h have the iame advantages over Great Britain ;
and thofe obftructions will finally drive every man of property out
of the trade, or into the foreign trade ; thereby diverting the--r
capital from a fafe and commodious trade at home, beneficial to
.themfelves and their country, to a circuitous, a difficult, and a,
precarious trade abroad. And, fay they, it is notorious, that when a
rnamifacturer goes to London, and offers his goods to th^ ware^
houfekeepers, the latter immediately turn over goods of India
fabric, ahd alfo of France, Germany, and Switzerland, which,
they purchafe. at pleafure |rom the agents of tfip.fe countries, or^
OF SCOTLAND*
And it ought to be obferved, that, whether the
commercial balance be in favour, or againft that
kingdom, there is, and ever muft be, a drain of
fpecie for grain and meal, amounting to 300,000!.
annually, upon an average of years ; which, with
the balance to England, the remittances of taxes and
rents as already ilated, forms an aggregate, far be-
yond the unafnfted exertions of Scotland to fupport
for a permanency of time. The confequences of a
lofing trade with foreign nations will be a propor-
tionate decreafe of imports from England, and of the
balance in favour of that kingdom. Of the exports
from Glafgow previous to the American war, three-
fourths were of Englifh produce or manufactures.
The exports of that city being now reduced, the com-
miflions to England are proportionably abridged.
Upon the whole, the intereft of Scotland is in
every pofiible reipect the intereft of England; and,
fuch is their relative fituation and mutual depen-
dence, that as they are united by nature, fo ought
they to be unalterably confolidated in one com-
mon intereft, for they will rife or fall together.
Therefore, after contemplating the fubject in
every point of view ; the diftreffes under which
Scotland labours from foil and climate ; its great
diftance from the feat of government ; its having
no invigorating national atfembly within itfelf ; no
adequate funds for the great purpofes of general
improvements : in confideration alfo of the lofs of
America j the transfer of Weft India trade to
Ireland; the drain of fpecie by the nobility and
gentry, and other objects as ftated in thefe pages ;
the mod efficacious means of fupporting that coun-
try, and of promoting, the general profperity of
Great Britain, would be, I humbly conceive, to
abolifti all taxes, duties, and excifes in Scotland,
the land-tax excepted ; and, inftead thereof, to
iubftitute fuch duties only, as (hail feem necefTary
cnfier jerms than the Britilh manufacture, burcten$4
can be iold at,
for
io6 PRESENT STATE
for the regulation of trade and commerce between
both kingdoms ; the produce, of which duties, to-
gether with the land tax, to be vefted in the board
of truftees at Edinburgh, and to be by them ap-
plied, unalienably, to the improvement of Scotland,
the encouragement of the fifheries, manufactures,
and other falutary purpofes, as fliall from time to
time appear conducive to the profperity of the
kingdom, and the happinefs of the people.
And, it is further fubrnitted to confideration,
whether the board of truftees, confiding at prefent
of 21 members only, fhould not be eftablifhed
'Upon a wider bafis; and to include, for the time be-
ing, the whole body of the nobility of Scotland,
the lords of feflion, barons of exchequer, the
crown lawyers, the minifters, profefibrs, and magif-
trates of Edinburgh.. In order dill" further to
combine the national force in one refpeclable efta-
blifhment, it is fubmitted to confideration, whe-
ther it would not be proper to confolidate this
board and the convention of the royal boroughs ;
the whole conflicting a Board, or College of Com-
merce, Manufactures, FiJJoeries, and Improvements,
entrufted with fuch powers as government fhall
deem expedient.
An inftitution thus compofed of perfons of the
firft eminence, * would reftore public fpirit among
the higher orders, call forth the exertion of men-
tal powers, encourage general induftry, revive the
drooping mind, and gladden every heart. Each
individual would find employment, and comfor-
table fubfiftence for his family ; tumults, murmur-
ings, arid emigration, would ceafe or abate $ gra-
titude to majefty, and an enlightened government,
would pervade the kingdom, and its molt dift&nt
iflands.
* Of fuch deicriptions of men are compofed the national Societies
tftabliihed in Ireland, Denmark, France, Spain, (called the Friends,
•f their Cowt>y) and other European Hates.
Were
OF SCOTLAND. 107
Were further arguments necefTary ta enforce the
expediency of theie proportion s, it might be ob-
ferved, that the revenue of Scotland, though bur-
thenfome to the people, is comparatively ib very
inconfiderable to that of England, that, were the
pen drawn through every item of it, the deficiency
in the eftimate of ways and means, would fcarcely
be obfervable; while the advantages, which would
flow into England by the various channels which
have been enumerated, would exceed credibility^
Such was the main argument of the American co-
lonies, fo kte as the year 1776. They contended,
that the magnitude of their imports from the mother
country, included within it, a productive revenue,
and a profitable commerce, centering in Great Bri-
tain. The fame reafoning is applicable to Scotland.
Exempt us, fay they, from infupportable reftraints
on trade ; from excifes on our infant manufactures,
and the neceffaries of life ; reduce the expenfivc
burden of revenue officers, and you will gain
ten-fold, by means of the profits of our induf-
try, which will ultimately circulate in your manu-
facturing towns ; and, by the revenue upon your
goods, which we confume. But, Ihould we, after thus
contributing to your opulence and fplendour, be
deprived of every fourth candle, every fourth pound
of foap, and bufhel of coals, we (hall neither be
able to weave nor bleach ; our aged parents will Ian-
guifh through cold or famine ; and the young men,
who promiled to become beneficial cuftomers, will
fly, indignantly, beyond the feas ; and thus be loft
to their families, to their country, and to you.
Confider, we befeech you, whether a people
labouring under every poffible difadvantage, natural
and political -, of whom two-thirds live, or rather
exift, upon meal, vegetables, and butter-milk, bt
proper objects whereon to lay, with the fame indif*
criminate hand, the burdens of your ruinous wars,
ii) which they had no concern, and from which they
could
PRESENT STATE
could derive no advantage. Confider whether a
bleak, narrow country, compoled in general of
rock, heath, or land ; whofe commercial balance
of late with foreign nations, and at all times with
you, hath been unfavourable, can ever produce an
efficient permanent revenue, without manifold ha-
zards, and lofTes, in the experiment.
So completely drained is that kingdom of its
fpecie by England, that though, at the time of the
union, the circulation amounted to nearly i,ooo,oool.
'fterlin g, the whole currency of the kingdom hath
not for many years exceeded 200,000!. and even
that trifling fum is purchafed in England for the
purpofe of iupporting the circulation of the Scottifh
banks, at an expence of 4000!, per annum j nor
can it be otherwife in a country where London bills
often fell at a premium of two per cent.
Upon the re-coinage fome years ago, the fpecie
of Great Britain and Ireland was found to be nearly
as follows, viz :
In England — ~ £• 18,000,000
Ireland — — 1,600,000
Scotland — — 200,000
19,800,000
And fo unproductive is the revenue of that
country, that the annual exciies, upon an average of
3 years, ending in 1773, raifed only .£. 95,229
The cuftoms in ditto — —, 68,369
Neat amount, (exclufive of the land-tax)^
in the collecting of which, the people I
were burdened with the further ex- j
pence of
Thus the country pays above one-fourth more
than is received at the exchequer, and it is certain
that many of the taxes fcarcely defray the expence
in collecting them. The excifes have, however,,
jncreafed confiderably fince 17735 and fome writers
OF SCOTLAND. 109
unacquainted with the abilities of the country, or
inattentive to the fallacious caufes of that increafe,
exult on the imaginary ftourifhing date of the king-
dom, and the progreffive revenue which may be
expected to flow therefrom.
That this increafe is derived from impolitic fources,
every reader will readily allow, when informed,
that it arifes chiefly from additional duties on fait,
foap, printed cloths, mullins,lawns, and other articles
highly prejudicial to fifheries, and infant manufac-
tures ; alfo from diftilleries, though the kingdom de-
pends upon other nations for daily fupport in meal
and grain.
Moil certain it is, that nature hath put a negative
againft productive revenue, and extenfive agricul-
ture in that kingdom; endowing it, however, by
means of other channels, with the fourccs of
beneficial, active bufinefs. Were government,
therefore, to follow this unerring guide, to co-
operate with it in the great lines of political admi-
niftration, and to confider Scotland, not as an ob-r
ject of revenue, but of trade, the following eftimates
will Ihow the prodigious advantages that mull flow
to England from the proportions before ftated.
Admitting 200,000!. annually to be the utmoft
extent of neat revenue in Scotland, and alfo the
given fum for its improvement ; the progrefllvc
increafe of population, naval ftrength, imports from
England, and the influx of fpecie to that kingdom,
would, we conjecture, from the above-mentioned
circumftances, be found at the end of fifty years as
follows :
Wefliall ftate-^
the populati- 1 1,300,000; and in 18343^3,000,000
on in 1784 at J
The men em-"
20>000 - ditto 5
the fifheries in f
the belt years J
The
no PRESENT STATE
The imports frorrn
England, as they
flood before the >£. 2,000,000 In 1834*4,060,00^
American war,
nearly •*
Rents, &c. fpent^j
in England by l£. 600,000 ditto i, 000,000
Scotfmen J
Whereas 1 0,000, oool. the accumulated amount of
the above-ftated 200,000!. exclufive of intereft, for a
period of fifty years, would be exhaufted in twelve
months, if expended agreeably to the old iyftem, in de-
ftrudive war. Such would be the oppofite effects in the
operation of the fame fpecific fum, circulating within
our own ifland, upon the arts of peace ; or lavifhed
amongft diltant regions, in the profecution of ima-
ginary glory, external dominion, and fallacious
channels of commercial monopoly.
Unhappily, the prelent fituation of government,
and that deftructive body, the India company, afford
no flattering profpecl: that any arguments tending
to the abridgment of the national finances will pro-
duce the defired effect. A deduction of facts ; a
ftatement of pofitive grievances, and the expedi-
ency of redreffing them, however, excite the atten-
tion of fome readers towards a people, whofe life is
one continued ftruggle, and whofe patience is nearly
exhaufted.
Suppofing, therefore, that government fbould not
be inclined to delegate the internal affairs of Scot-
* This fuppofition is flrongly fupported by a comparative view
of the exports to Scotland, between the years 1697, and the union
jn 1707, which upon an average, amounted only to £. 65,345 an-
nually. From this it appears that the exports between 1707 and
1775, have increafed thirty-fold. And, it may be iuppoied that
the money fpent by Scottifh nobility and gentry reiiding in Eng-
land, within the fame period, hath increafed in the proportion of
five to one.
land
OF SCOTLAND. tn
fand in the manner now fuggefted -, but defirous, at
the fame time, to give every poflible relief confident
with the abilities of the ftate j in that cafe, a general
revifal of the civil policy of the kingdom, though
leis efficacious than the former propofal, would be
productive of efTential benefits to every clafs of
people.
For this purpofe a committee of enquiry might
be appointed, from the convention of the royal
boroughs, to take into confideration the ftate of the
kingdom, beginning with thofe objects which re-
quire immediate notice, as the fifhcries, and inland
navigation ; the linen and cotton manufactures in
all their branches ; the unproductive excifes or duties,
which it would be expedient to abolifh, and the re-
gulation of taxes partially impofed on that part of
the united kingdom.
It would require a whole volume to enumerate,
bring forward, and explain the various objects
which await the attention of a committee thus ap-
pointed ; and, as public fpirit begins to revive
amongft the inhabitants of North Britain, we enter*
tain a hope that this leaibn of peace will be appro*-
priated to thefe great purpofes. We are the more
confident in thefe expectations, from the confide-
ration that the age is more enlightened refpecting
the relative operations and effects of commerce.
Writers of the firft abilities have lately exploded that
contracted fyftem which impoverifhed the diftant
branches to aggrandize and enrich the centre : and,
if we may judge from the very favourable concefiTions
made to the American ftates, and to Ireland, it
would feem, that government hath happily adopted
the fame generous fentiments. A confcientious re-
gard to the common rights of mankind knows no
diftinction of country, or local fituation. Neither
is it politic. From favours partially conferred, or
burdens injudicioufly impofed, ariic commotions,
revolt,
H2 PRESENT STATE
revolt, and civil war; while an equal diffufion
of benefits, protection, or redrefs, fuited to cafes
and circumftances, is government founded on the
fure bafis of philofophy, and political wifdom ; prin-»
ciplcs infeparably connected, by the Ruler of the
tiniveife, for the benevolent purpofe of uniting all
the various parts of empire in one common intereft.
The half-ftarved Highlander, inured to the in-
clement feafons, and barren heaths of the 5 8th
degree, is an improper object of taxation ; but he
fupplies his country, and its fugar iflands, with fifh 3
takes upon him the toils of war ; repofes himfelf,
after the fatigues of the day, upon a bed of fnow ;
and is always prepared to renew the march, or the
attack, with frefh vigour. While, on the other
hand, the opulent citizen of the 5ift degree, is
unqualified for fuch exercifes ; .but he contributes
liberally to the revenue, fupplies the ways and
means, fupports the credit of the ftate, and the
honour of the nation. Thus every denomination
of fubjedts furnifh their quota to the general flock
of commerce, revenue, ftrength, or defence, and
have an equal claim to the notice of government.
Having thus attempted to ftate the relative fitua-
tion of the various branches which compofe the
Britifh empire in general, and the two Britilh king-
doms in particular, with a view to that fyftem of
policy which feems to be the moft equitable, and
moft conducive to the benefit and fecurity of the
whole; I fhall clofe this part of the fubjecl: in the
words of certain writers, whofe diftinguifhed repu-
tation, unanimity of fentiment, and thorough
knowledge of the true intereft of their country, fully
eftablifh the pofitions which I have been endea-
vouring to enforce.
Mr. Arthur Toung. " Had the millions, and tens
of millions, which have been expended on the ori-
ginal fettlement and fubfequent protection of the
colonies, been laid out on the melioration of Eng-
land,
OF SCOTLAND.
d, this kingdom would have had at prefent dou-
ble the quantity of cultivated lands, and double
the number of ufeful inhabitants. "
Dean Tucker. cc Suffice it to obferve, that the
wars of Europe for thefe 200 years laft pad, by the
confeflion of all parties, have really ended in the
advantage of none, but to the manifeft detriment of
them all : fuffice it further to remark, that had each
of the contending powers employed their fubjects
in cultivating and improving fuch lands as were
clear of all difputed titles, inftead of aiming at
more extended pofleflions, they had confulted both
their own and their people's greatnefs, much more
efficacioufly than all the victories of a Csefar, or
an Alexander. "
The Dean, after enumerating the true principles
and real caufes of our increafe of trade fmce the re-
volution, proceeds thus : — " Now all thefe things
co-operating together would render any country
rich and flourifhing, whether it had colonies or
not : and this country in particular would have
found the happy effects of them to a much greater
degree than it now doth, were they not counter-
acted by our luxury, our gambling, our frequent
ruinous and expensive wars, our colony-drains,
and by that ill-gotten, and ill-fpent wealth, which
was obtained by robbing, plundering, and (larving
the poor defencelefs natives of the Eaft-Indies.
A fpecies of villainy this, for which the Englifh
language had not a name, 'till it adopted the word
v.abobing"
Lord Sheffield. cc Fifheries, coafting trade, and
northern voyages, produce hardy and intrepid fea-
men $ African and Indian voyages deflroy many,
and debilitate more.
" It fhould never be the policy of England to
give a particular encouragement to fedentary fifh-
cries, at the diftanct of 3000 miles, as they inter-
H fere
n4 PRESENT STATE
fere fo much with the fifheries carried on from the
coafts of Great Britain and Ireland,
" TJie fifh from New-England, and the country
adjacent, cannot be put in competition with the her-
rings fent in great quantities from Scotland and
Ireland ; nor fhould any regulation be made likely
to affect this nurfery for feamen, which may be
greatly increajed with proper attention.
" If any thing like policy is preferved in this
nation, we fhall have fhip-building in every port
and creek of Britain and Ireland, by the encoiirage-
, went which we ought to give every fjhery, and t&
every art connected with navigation.
" Nothing can be more impolitic, at leaft in a
commercial nation, than a fondnefs for foreign-
dominions, and a propenfity to encourage diftant
colonization, rather than to promote domeftic in-
duftry and population at home. The internal trade
of Great Britain is much greater than its external
commerce. The beft cuftomers of the manufac-
turers of Britain are the people of Britain.
cc Europe has been long wild and extravagant in
looking towards America for every thing^ fortu-
nately for France, {he failed there^ but in her pur-
fuits loll more glory than flic had attained elfewhere
during a century. Spain has been impoverished,
and is much- reduced below what fbe was before ihe
fuffered from her American delufions. England
furvives ; -and it is to be hoped will furvive her
American misfortunes ; that flie will learn wifdom
from what has happened; and that Hie will no
longer fquander her riches hecdlefsly at a diftance,
and out of her reach. Britain may have the good
fortune to fee her ffoeries furpafs ihcfe of the reft of
the Worldy and to raife Jive feamen of the left and
hardieft kind for one Jhe does now. "
The Bifhop of Landaff having, in his icrrnon be-
fore the houfe of lords, put? the moft favourable
conftruction upon the prefcnt flate of public affairs,
fums
OF SCOTLAND. nj
fums up the whole, in the following mufical
language.
" But great and happy as we are, there is much
room left for thofe whom it may concern td make
the attempt of making us greater and happier :
and we fincerely pray to God that all parties may
be difpoied to do this, not by facriftcing public
confidence to private animofity ; the (lability of
government, to felfifh or ambitious druggies for
power ; not by indulging a proud propenfity to
embrace the firft favourable opportunity of regain-
ing our glory, as it is called, by the renewal of
war ; not by profecuting unjull views of commer-
cial monopoly, or territorial conqueft, in diftant
countries -t * but by taking the moil prudent mea-
fures
* " I wifh," fays the Bifhop, " I could confider our acquifi*
tions in Alia as compenfating our loffes in America ; but they
have been obtained, I fear, by unjuft force, and on that account
I cannot think that they will be ufefnl to us. It requires little
political fagacity to foretell, that the natives will pay their tri*
bute with reluctance ; that it \vill be expended in the maintenance
of the (landing army by which it mull bs collected ; that our
enemies in Europe, jealous of the refources which we mail {land
a chance of deriving from Alia, will endeavour to counteract all
our projects of intereft and ambition, and to make that country
another America to this nation. "
The Eaft India company hath ever been obnoxious to the people
of this kingdom ; infomuch, that in the reign of king William,
petitions were prefented from various parts of the country for its
fliflblution. The houfe of commons alfo addrefled the king to
the fame purpofe; but, fays a hiilorian of that period, " thole
xv ho had been the moll warm in detecting abufes fuddenly cooled ;
and the proiecution of the affair began to languiih. '*
The abufes of the company's lervants in latter times are well
known, but llill ir is contended,
1. " That the India trade is a valuable nurfery for fenmen. " —
To mis proportion it hath already been obfcrved, that thele very
diflant and iultry voyages are the deftroyers of that clafs of men.
2. " The trade to India is tha grand channel of Englifli com-
merce, and will enrich the kingdom by the magnitude of its ex-
ports and imports. " — The exports to India, till we became pof-
icfled of the territorial revenue of that country, conliited chiefly
Ji 2 «f
ii6 PRESENT STATE
fures at home, to heal our divifions, and amend
our morals i for the ftrength, foreign and domeftic,
of every nation upon earth, mud ultimately, under
God,
of fpecie for the purpofe of completing the inveftments or cargoes
feat from thence to England.
The following periodical flatements of the value of goods ex-
ported thither iince the commencement of the preient century,
compared with our exports to Holland, Germany, and Spain, are
extracted from Sir Charles Whitworth's Commercial tables ; viz,
we exported in
To India. Holland.
Germany.
Spain.
2700
126,697 1,765,951
629,997
610,912
1710
126,310 2,071,306
975,803
2IS>93$
1720
83,811
,915,112
760,224
499>324
1730
J3S»484
,766,526
1,00,2,490
777>949
1740
281,751
»7S4»2°4
1,091,061
101,635
1750
508,654
,204,095
1,255,872
1,783,075
1760
1,161,670"
,784,442
1,544,016
1,048,222
1773
845,707.
,873,860
^337»SS3
839,072
The exports to Portiigal ufed formerly to treble thofe to India;
and Flanders hath of late equalled, if not exceeded, the whole
eaitern commerce. Thus our imercourfe with feveral kingdoms
of Europe is incomparably iuperior to that of India, and without
any expence to government.
3. " ThcEail India trade produces a confiderable revenue, and
is coniequently a great fupport to the ftate. " — This is the charm,
which hath long influenced the Britifh councils, and from which
we may partly trace the difmemberment of our empire, and the
preient embarrafled lituation of the kingdom. It is well known
that the cargoes of tea fent to America with a view to ferve the
India company, and clogged with a duty of three pence per pound,
renewed thofe commotions which terminated in the lois of that
empire. For this alib, we permit the company to pour into theie
kingdoms whole cargoes of muilins, callicoes, dimities, fhawls,
nankeen, china ware, and other. Aliatic manufactures, to the great
injury of our merchants and traders* and by which 200,000 work-
ing people are deprived of their natural right. It hath alfo been
alledged by many, that the heavy excifes laid, time after time,
upon Britifh printed cottons, and linens, originate in Leaden-halt
ftreet.
Admitting this to be a groundlefs furmife, it is, however, be-
yond a doubt, that our Oriental connections have, in: a general
riew, proved extremely prejudicial to the honour and intereir. of
this nation. Arid it would feeiur that the only meant whereby
shac
OF SCO TLAND. . 117
God, depend on the union, and on the number
of its inhabitants, and its happinefs on their
VIRTUE. "
that country may be rendered really and permanently ferviceable
to government and the community, would be, to regulate its
commerce by a general prohibition of all manufactures, of what-
ever denomination, that interfere with thofe of Great Britain ; while
the ruw materials, and other articles, the natural produce of Alia,
as indigo, iilk, ialtperre, i'piccs, drugs, tea, and diamonds, would
flill enable the company to carry on a refpedable, lure, and pro-
fitable trade, and to reftore their credit and their honour, without
prejudice to India, or their native country. •
« 3 A
US A V I E W O F
A VIEW
THE HIGHLANDS,
JNCLUDI^G THE
^EBRIDE, ORKNEY, AND SHETLAND
ISLANDS.
Qivifions and Face of the Country.
SCOTLAND admits of two grand diyifions, the
Lowlands and the Highlands.
The firft divifion comprehends the countries fouth-
jvard of the Forth, with the eaftern coaft, as far
north as Inverness. In this divifion the language,
manners, and drefs of the people, are nearly the
fame as in England, This is alfo the moft fertile
and improved part of the kingdom, wherein are fitu-
ated the towns of any note ; the feats of manu-
factures, commerce, and navigation^ as before de-
fcribed.
The fecond divifion remains to be confidered ; it
comprehends the weft fide of the kingdom, from Can-
tire to the Pentland Firth, with the Hebride Ifles ; alfo
the interior parts of Scotland, from the Firth of
Clyde, Loch Lomond, and Loch Tay northward 3
and here the people fpeak the Erie or Gaulic lan-
guage, drefs in the antient Roman manner, and have,
till of late years, lived almoft in a ftate of nature.
The face of the country, in this divifion,: exhibits
one
THE HIGHLANDS.
one great mafs of rugged mountains, appearing in
all manner of dire&ions, covered on the fides with
heath or natural woods, and on the higheft fummits
with everlafting fnow. Thefe mountains are fepa-
rated from each other by vallies, ftraths, or glens ;
and, in fome places, by narrow deep chafms, dark-
ened with timber, through which the united tribu-
tary ftreams of the furrounding mountains roll,
with great impetuofity, till they vent themfelves in
fome inland lake ; but more frequently in the capa-
cious bays formed by the Atlantic, on one fide j or
the Britifh fea, on the other fide of the ifland.
The Hebrides, or Weftern ides, are about 300 in
number, above 40 of which are inhabited. In extent,
collectively, they are nearly equal to Wales ; they
cover almoft the whole weftern coaft of Scotland,
and are fuppofed, from the bed calculations, to con-
tain from 50 to 60,000 people. The language, man-
ners, drefs, and face of the country are limilar to thofe
of the oppofite coaft of the continent, but the timber
hath been completely exhaufted.
Names of Number of
the Iflands. People.
*Ilay
7000
Jura 1 200
*Tirey 1700
Col 1000
Mull 5000
*Li.fmore 1500
15,000
Raafay
Produce, exclufive of grain, hemp,
flax, roots, cattle, fiiecp, filh, fowl,
and kelp.
Lead, and fome filver ; iron-
ore, marie, lime-ftone, and
(hell fand.
Iron-ore and flate.
Marble, and flint ftones.
An appearance of coal on the
fouth fide.
Compoied entirely of lime-
ftone.
Fine variegated marble, free-
ilone,lime-ftone,marle,iron-
ore, and cjays for earthen
ware.
Freefloiie,
H 4 Lewis
120
VIEW OF
*Harris
*North Uift
Bcnbecula r> 15,000
*South Uift '
Barra
Waterfay
Biihops IQesJ
<?he ftars denote thofe
ijlands which are the mofl
fertile.
Lewis 1 Marble, fine red clay, co-
ral and coralline.
Thefe i (lands form a chain
near 140 miles in length
from north to fouth.
They lie from 34 to 57
miles due weft from
the mainland of Scot-
land. The channels by
which they are feparat-
ed, at low water, are fo
fhallow as to give them
the appearance of one
ifiand, and from this
circumflance, they are ufually called the Long I/land.
Their fhores are one continued fKhery, and their
commodious bays * give fhelter to the fhipping of
all nations who navigate thefe northern feas.
The lefTer i (lands, which lie between the Long
Ifland and the mainland, are chiefly,
Giga, Colonfa, Rum, Canay, Scalpa, and Rona,
The celebrated Icolmkill and Staffa, on the coaft
of Mull.
Kerrera, Seil, Lung, Shuma, &c. on the coaft of
Argylefhire, and abounding in flate.
Befides the above-mentioned Hebride ifiands,
lying beyond the Peninfula of Cantire,, there are feve-
ral iflands on this fide of the Peninfula, within the
Firth of Clyde, which may be called the Little He-
brides, viz. Arran, Bute, the two Cumbras, Lam-
lalh, Sanda, and the remarkable Craig of Ailfa; the
whole inhabited by about 12,000 people, who are
* Particularly thofe on tlie eallern fide, which penetrate betvveeq
the openings of a lofty fliore of r°ck. The weft fide is in general
a fandy level, where the ocean hath made, and is ftill making,
great depredations. It hath gained four miles upon South Uift, as
appears by the remains of buildings now overwhelmed with water.
Perfons of the laft age, remembered to have fiflied from the win-
dows of a. church which is now at the diftance of two miles from,
the land.
admirably
THE HIGHLANDS. 121
admirably qualified for the fifheries, . and all the
branches belonging thereto.
<£he DiftrtJJ'es of the Highlands.
Such being the natural ftate of the Highlands,
the only parts capable of agriculture are the vallies
or glens around the bafes of the mountains; and
thele vallies having the fun for a few hours only,
vegetation advances flowly, and the harvefts are
always late. The climate is equally difcouraging
to the purpofes of hufbandry. The fpring is bleak
and piercing ; the fummer is cold and fhort ; the
autumn, from the beginning of Auguft, deluged
with rains ; the winter long and tempeftuous. Dur-
ing the latter feafon, the people are cut off from ail
communication with the Low Countries, by deep
beds of fnow, impaffible torrents, pathlefs moun-
tains and morafles on the one fide \ by long and
impracticable navigations on the otrfer.
To thefe accumulated difcourngements of nature,
are added the oppreffions and ill- judged policy of
many proprietors of thofe fterile regions, far beyond
their natural value, were they even in hands more
capable to improve them. Where both foil and
climate confpire againfl the railing of grain in any
confiderable quantity, and where there are no mar-
kets, poffibly within the diftance of fifty miles, for die
fale of corn and the leffer articles of hufbandry, the
farmer turns his attention chiefly to the grazing of
a few cattle and Iheep, as the means whereby he ex-
pects to pay his rent, and fup'port his family. If,
therefore, his farm hath been raifc-d at the rate of 300
per cent, while the price of cattle hath Icarcel
vanced 100, this method of improving eftates, as the
proprietors term it, furnifhes a high- founding
roll, extremely pleafing to human vanity, but which,
being founded upon opprefTion, injufticc, and folly,
hath hitherto proved fallacious and humiliating
fill thofe who have perfevered" in the cruel expe-
riment.
Upon
122 A VIEW OF
Upon the whole, the fltuation of thefc people,
inhabitants of Britain ! is fuch as no language can
defcribe, or fancy conceive. If, with great labour
and fatigue, * the farmer raifes a (lender crop of oats
and barley, the autumnal rains often baffle his ut-
moft efforts, and fruftrate all his expectations ; and
inftead of being able to pay an exorbitant rent, he
fees his family in danger of perilhing during the
enfuing winter, when he is precluded from any pof-
fibility of afiiftance clfewhere.
Nor are his cattle in a better fltuation : in fum-
mer they pick up a fcanty fupport amongft the
morafles, or heathy mountains ; but in winter, when
the grounds are covered with fnow, and when the
naked wilds afford neither fhelter nor fubfiftence, the
few cows, fmall, lean, and ready to drop down
through want ofpafhire,are brought into the hut where
the family refides, and frequently lhare with them
the fmall flock of meal which hath been purchafed,
or raifed, for the family only; while the cattle thus
fufrained, are bled, occafionally, to afford nourifh-
ment for the children, after it hath been boiled, or
made into cakes.
* This description alludes to the country in general, and admits
of exceptions, in regard to the foil of the vallies, and ibme of the
iilands and Ihores, as {hall be fpecified more fully in another place,
Inftead of the plough, the farmers, in many parts, nfe the
fpade, partly through neceffity, arifmg from the irregularity of
the furrace, and partly from antient cuilom. The rainy feafon
commences about the firft of Auguft, and continues, with little inr-
termuTion, till November. Whep, therefore, the corn is cut clown,
which is performed by hooks, a number of iheaves are piled toge-
ther, and thatched on the top. In the firft interval from rain, the
thatch is t^ken pff j and the Iheaves, if dry, are carried to the
barn. This laborious wprk is repeated until the whole crop hath
been thus fecured. Againft all inconveniencies ariling from rains,
the duke of Argyle hath erected a very extenfive, and lofty buildV
ing, with open floors, and other vents, to dry the corn immediately
after it is cut down j and which, at the fame time, prevents the
ftraw from heating. Other gentlemen have adopted the fame
plan, though on a imaller fcale, and was this very neceflary im?
provement more general in that country, fome thoufand bolls
might be fayed annually, to the diitrefled farmers,
Tie
THE HIGHLANDS. 123
The fheep, being left upon the open heaths, feck
to Jhelter themfelves from the inclemency of the
weather amongft the hollows upon the lee-fide of
the mountains j and here they are frequently buried
under the fnow, for feveral weeks together, and in
fevere feafons during two months or upwards.
They eat their own and each other's wool, and
hold out wonderfully under cold and hunger ; but
tven in moderate winters, a confiderable number
are generally found dead after the fnow hath difap-
peared, and in rigorous feafons few or none are lefc
alive. *
Meanwhile the fteward, hard prcffed by letters
from the gaming houfe, or Newmarket ; demands
the rent in a tone which makes no great allowance
for unpropitious feafons, the death of cattle, and
other accidental misfortunes ; — his honour's wants
muft at any rate be fupplied, the bills muft be duly
negotiated.
Such is the Hate of farming, if it may be fo
called, throughout the interior parts of the High-
lands ; but as that country hath an extenfive coaft,
and many iflands, it may be fuppofed that the in-
habitants of thofe fhores enjoy all the benefits of
their maritime fituation. This, however, is not the
cafe : thofe gifts of nature, which in any other
commercial kingdom would have been rendered
fubfervient to the mod valuable purpofes, are in
Scotland loft, or nearly fo, to the poor natives,
and the public. The only difference, therefore, be-
tween the inhabitants of the interior parts, and
thofe of the more diftant coaft, confifls in this ; that
the latter, with the labours of the field, have to
encounter, alternately, the dangers of the ocean,
and all the fatigues of navigation.
To the diftrefling circumftances at home, as
ftated above, new difficulties sncl foils await the
* In the north of England the farmers difcover the fheep, when
under the fnow, by mcnns of fpaniels, who upon corning to the fpot
where the fheep are buried, fcrape the fnow with thotr feet.
devoted
i24 A VIEW OF
devoted fanner when abroad. He leaves his family
at the commencement of the winter fifnery in Octo-
ber, accompanied by his fons, brothers, and fre-
quently an aged parent, and embarks on board
a fmall open boat, in queft of the herrings,
with no other provifions than oatmeal, potatoes,
and frefh water 3 no other bedding than heath,
twigs or ftraw ; the covering, if any, an old fail.*
Thus provided, he fearches from bay to bay,
through turbulent feas, frequently for feveral weeks
together, before the ihoals of herrings are difco-
vered. The glad tidings ferve to vary, but not to
diminifh, his fatigues. 'Unremitting nightly la-
bour (the time when the herrings are taken), pinch-
ing cold winds, heavy feas, uninhabited fhores
covered with fnow or deluged with rains, contri-
bute towards filling up the meafure of his diflrefTes;
while, to men of fuch exquifite feelings as the
Highlanders generally pofTefs, the fcene which
awaits him at home does it moft effectually.
Having realized a little money amongft country
purchafers, he returns with the remainder of his,
capture, through a long navigation, frequently
amidtl uncealing hurricanes, not to a comfortable
home and a chearful family, but to a hut compofed
of turf, without windows, doors, or chimney, en-
vironed with fnow, and almoft hid from the eye by
its great depth. Upon entering this folitary man-
fion, he generally finds a part of his family, lying
upon heath or ftraw, languifhing through want, or
epidemical difeafe ; while the few furviving cows,
which potfefs the other end of the cottage, inftead
of furnifhing further fupplies of milk and blood,
* The Highland drefs, lately refmned, is extremely ufeful ta
thefe people when on board, as well as in the field. The plaid
contains lundry yards of woriled fluff, which the Highlander
wraps feveral times round his body, and lies down to fleep amkm
all inclemencies of weather $ his only comfort a little whifky, ancj
a pinch of fiiuff,
demand
T H'fc H I G H LAND S. 1 15
demand his immediate attention to keep them in
•exiftence.
The feafon now approaches when he is again to
delve and labour the ground, on the fame (lender
profpect of a plentiful crop, or a dry harveft. The
cattle which have furvived the famine of the winter,
are turned out to the mountains ; and, having put
his domeftic affairs into the bed fituation which a
train of accumulated misfortunes admits of, he re-
lumes the oar, either in fearch of the fummer her-
ring, or white fifhery. If fuccefsful in the latter,
he fets out in his open boat upon a voyage (taking
the Hebrides and the oppofite coaft at a medium
diftance) of 200 miles, to vend his cargo of dried
cod> ling, &c. at Greenock or Glafgow. * The
produce, which feldom exceeds twelve or fifteen
pounds, is laid out, in conjunction with his com-
panions, upon meal, and rifhing tackle -, and he
returns through the fame tedious navigation.
The autumn calls his attention again to the field j
the nfual round of disappointment, fatigue, and
diftrefs awaits him j thus dragging through a
wretched exiftence, in the hope of foon arriving in
that country where the we any ihall be at reft.
Prfany other circumftances might be reprefented
in this picture of human mifery, of which I (hall
at prefent mention orrly two. In time of war, thofc
who engage in the tifheries are indifcriminatrly
prefied, without the fmallcft regard to cafes or cir-
cumftances, however diftrefllng to the
victims and their itarving families ; while ethers,
* The'largeft fifli are generally taken off B;irra, a part of the
Long I (land, about 200 miles from Giafgow. When a lioat ar-
the town bell is Ibnt round, the people flock to the quay,
and the filh are inmv '-damm -.-h. Were
ten times that quantity hi ought to Glafgoiv, and ihe other trading
towns on the Clyde, they wculu rind a rcadv :n u iijr, to the mutual
benefit or all parties; but this cannot happen until the j
Ihall be ftioricned by th- : .ila of
'ire.
126 A VIEW OF*
who travel from the moft remote parts, without
money or provifions, to earn 30 or 40 fhillings in
the Lowlands by harveft work, are often decoyed
into the army, by ftratagems which do no credit to*
the humanity of the age.
Thefe virtuous but friendlefs men, while endea-
vouring, by every means in their power, to pay
their rents, to fupport their wives, their children,
their aged parents, and in all refpecls to act the
part of honeft, inoffenfive fubjects, are dragged
away — they know not where — to fight the battles of
nations who are infenfible of their merits, and to
obtain victories of which others arc to reap the ima-
ginary benefits.
The aged, the fick, and the helplefs, look in
vain for the return of their friends, from the voyage
or the harveft. They are Ireard of no more. La-
mentations, cries, and deipair, pervade the village
or the diftricl:. Thus deprived of their main fup-
porc, the rent unpaid, the , cattle fold or feized,
whole families are reduced to the extremity of want,
and turned out, amidfl all the inclemencies of the
winter, to relate their piteous tale, and to implore
from the wretched, but hofpitable mountaineers, a
little meal or milk, to preferve their infants from
perifhing in their arms.
In this fituation they wander towards the Low-
lands, * happy to find fhelter at night from the chil-
fing winds, driving fnow, or inceffant rains, in fome
cavern or deferted cottage ; ftiil more happy, if
chance hath provided their lodging with a little
ftraw or heath, whereon to lay their ah noil lifelefs,
* The Highland poor have of late become fo numerous in the
Lowlands that fome towns pofitively refute them admittance.' —
** We are eat up, fay they, with beggars. '* Thus the poorcrea*
tures, efpecially women, children, and old people, are driven
from place to place, as nuifances in ibciety, and unworthy of ex-
iftence, though they require nothing more than the coarfefl gifts of
nature, which Britojis in general would fpurn at*
infants.
THE HIGHLANDS. 127
infants, the conftant objects of their firft attention
amidft all the calamitous viciffitudes of life.
Such is the hard lot of the great body of the peo-
ple who inhabit a fifth part of our ifland. Neg-
letted by government ; forfaken, or opprefled by
the gentry ; cut off, during moft part of the year,
by impaffible mountains, and impracticable naviga-
tions, from the feats of commerce, induftry, and
plenty; living at confiderable diftances from all
human aid, without the necefiaries of life, or any of
thofe comforts which might ibften the rigour of
their calamities -, and depending, moft generally,
for the bare means of fubfiftence, on the precarious
appearance of a veiTel freighted with meal or pota-
toes, to which they with eagernefs refort, though
often at the diftance of fifty miles. Upon the whole,
the Highlands of Scotland, fome few eftates ex-
cepted, are the feats of opprefiion, poverty, famine,
anguife, and wild defpair, exciting the pity of every
traveller, while the virtues of the inhabitants attract
his admiration.
It is no wonder, therefore, that the refentments
of human nature fhould burfl forth, upon the firit
opportunity, againft thofe, who, inflead of labour-
ing to mitigate their diftrefies, were daily adding
new oppreflions ; till having, by thofe means, defo-
lated whole diftricts of the country, the delufion
vanifhed, and they found themfelves under the
fhameful neceflity of purchasing cattle and fheep to
graze the deferred heaths.
This humiliating circumftanc? was facilitated by
an event which their penetration had not forefeen.
The Highlanders, who had ferved in the American
war, being, by royal proclamation, entitled to fet-
tlcments in that extenfive country, were defirous
that their kindred and friends fhould partake of
their good fortune. Some tranfmitted their ienti-
ments by letters ; others, returning from thence to
pay a farewell vifu to their native land, delivered
their
idS A VI E W O F
their opinions perfonally, and all agreed in their
encomiums upon the new world. They exhorted
their countrymen to exchange their barren heaths
' for the boundlefs plains of America ; they declaimed
upon the ibftnefs of the climate, the fertility of the
foil, the abundance of provifions, the exemption
from taxes -, the opulence, eafe, and luxury of the
people.
Thefe alluring defcriptions had the defired effect
upon the imaginations of men naturally Warm, and
impatient of injuries. The Highlanders now firft
began to look on their native country with con-
tempt, and upon their oppreffors with indignation.
— Shall we, faid they, remain in thefe miferable
huts, the objects of clerifion, without the common
neceffaries of life, or the prcfpect of better times ?
No I we will depart to the great country beyond
the ocean, where our labour will be rewarded, and
our families comfortably maintained.
Such was the language, and fuch the cifpofition
of the oppreffed, the much-injured Highlanders,
whether fituated upon the continent, or amongft the
iflands. In vain did the landlords ufe the mofi per-
fuafive arguments, offering terms, which formerly
would have been gladly accepted. The heroic ex-
ploits of their anceftors, the antiquity of the clan,
the refpect for the chief, no longer held the people
in fetters. They began to think, and to act for
themfelves. Whole groups of men, worrier}, and
children, paffed in continual fuccefliorij to the ft a
ports, * and with fuch determined refolutioil, that
thofe
* In myjournies through the Highlands, I often met families or
bodies of people travelling to the ports. They generally edged off
the road, and hurried along as if fhy of an interview ; which, upon
the ether hand, I was equally delirous to procure, though I neither
could fpeak the erfe, nor was furnilhed with that infallible recom-
mendation— a ihuff box. Upon finding their flight thus interrupted,
not by a hoilileor dangerous force, but a fingle individual, without
or fpurs, uponafmall hoife,and in the midft of uninha-
bited
THE HIGHLANDS.
thofe who could not pay for their paflage, fold
themielves to the captains who were to tranfporc
them to the new world ; and were, by thefe cap-
tains,.re-fold upon their arrival at the intended ports.
The Americans beheld this inundation of Britons,
with aftonifhment, mixed with contempt of that
government, which thus permitted a continued
drain of its inhabitants; while the looks, the de-
jection, the poverty, and the tattered apparel of
thefe unhappy wanderers, touched f their feelings,
and called forth the exertions of humanity. They
could fcarcely believe, that a people, whofe valour
they had fo recently extolled, whom Wolfe admired,
and whom Chatham applauded, ihoukl be reduced
to the fad alternative of perifhing at home, or em-
barking with their families, on a voyage of 3000
bitcd wilds, he who could fpeak the beft Englifh ftept forth, with
a dejected countenance, while his companions, and especially the
Children, feemed to remain in eager liiipence. The motive of thefe
interviews, led to enquiries refpedting the hiftory of the people,
the caufes of their emigrations, the Hate of their finances, and their
notions of the country to which they were going. They reprc-
fented their diftrefles with great feeling, moft generally in tears ;
and with a ftricl regard to truth, as appeared in the uniformity
of the accounts delivered by different companies, ftrangers to ons
another. " O fir, we dinna leave our kintra without reafon, great
reafon indeed, fir. Sometimes our crops yield little more than the
the feed, and fometimes they are deftroyed with rains, or dinna
ripen ; but fome of our lairds mak nae allowance for thefe mis-
fortunes. They feize our cattle, and all our furniture ; leaving
us Haething but the Ikin, which would be of nae fervice to them.
They are not Highlandmen — fo greedy, fir — but God will judge
between them and us, in his own gude time. O fir, can you tell
us ony thing about the kintra of America — they fay poor fok may
get a living in it, which is mair than we can get in our parts. We
are driven, fir, with our poor bairns to a far land. \Ve are beg-
ging our way to Greenock, and all our clothes, fir; are on our
backs, as you f e. God forgive our oppreflbrs who have brought
us to this pafe. We are (tranters in the Lowlands ,- could you ad-
vife us, lir, how to mak our bargain with the captain of the ihip ?
They fay that thofe who have no money to pay for their paflage,
mi! ft fell themielves to the captain. Th:s i<* our cafe — O fir, what
have we done —but it is God's will — blefled be his holy name. "
Such was, and fuch is at this day, the language of unmerited
diflrefa in many parts of the Highland*.
I miles,
* jd A V I E W O £
miles, upon the hope of finding that relief in a
firange land, which their native and highly favoured
ifland had denied them.
Thus, what Britain loft, America gained ; and it
was not long before thofe very men became the in-
voluntary inftruments of punifhing the neglecl: of
a country, which hath within itielf the means of
iuftaining a more numerous population.
It is difficult to afcertain what diftrifts have fuf-
fered moil by emigration ; but certain it is, that
between 1763 and 1775, above 30,000 people
abandoned their habitations, befides great numbers
from the Lowlands j and there is reafon to believe,
that in a few years more, the whole Highlands would
have been greatly depopulated, except thofe diftri&s
under the paternal care of an Argyle, an Athole, a
Brcadalbane, and a few other patriotic chieftains*
feut while the rage of emigration was thus depopu-
lating the north, an order of congrefs fhut up the
ports of America, and prohibited, under fevere
penalties, all intercourfe with Great Britain. To
this fingular event, more than to the foftering hand
of government, is owing the detention of thofe peo-
ple, whofe calamitous fituation hath been the fub-
jecl of the foregoing pages ; and whom to reftrain at
home by iuitable encouragement, will be- the fubjecl;
of what follows.
Manners cf tbs Highlanders in former Times*
When a barren country is fuffered to remain in a
ftate of nature, without arts, manufactures, or com-
merce, the inhabitants, impelled by the irrefiftibltf
demands of hunger, feize the cattle, and fome-
times the corn of the more fertile plains, which
they confider as lawful prey, without ever reflecting
on the diftreffes, which they thereby bring on the
injured proprietors.
To fuch caufes were owing the frequent irruptions
of armed Highlanders upbn the Low Countries, to
which they proved a continual terror, n o twit hfta rid-
ing all the fpirited efforts of the Scottish princes to
THE HIGHLANDS. 131
check their predatory inroads. Their mountains not
affording them the means of fubfiftcnce, and being
utterly unacquainted with the arts of civil life, they
partly lived by plunder and the fpoils of the unpro*
tected frontiers. Having concerted the plan of
operations, they ifTiied forth in the night time, flept
amidft the heaths and rocks through the day, and
thus reaching the fcene of action, while mankind
were at reft, they drove off the cattle and fheep into
the defiles and labyrinths of the mountains, far be-
yond the reach of purfuit, with any profpedt of fuc-
cefs, or perfonal fafety.*
Thofe habits having been handed down from
father to fon, were confidered as laudable induftry,
the incumbent duty of the young and the brave*
the atchievements of valour, by which lovers re-
commended themfelves to the favour of their mif-
trefies j and fo far were the Highlanders from hav-
ing any idea of criminality in fuch practices, that
prayers were made to heaven for fuccefs to every
intended enterprize, and for the fafe return of thofe
who were to embark in them. The parent who
could not beftow much dowry with his daughter
upon her marriage, confoled the bridegroom with the
produce of the next full moon, and thus he por-
tioned off his family, f
Such were the mariners and modes of life in the
Highlands, fo late as the year 1748, when the le-
* Thefe irregularities were not, however, univerfal in later
limes. Theeltatesof Argyle, Breadalbane, Athole, Gordon, Sun-
derland, and other great proprietors, were plundered equally with
thole of the Low Countries.
A Rob Roy, Glengyle, and other petty lairds, countenanced thefe
practices amongil their tenants, in order to extort a contribution from
their neighbours, on pretence of protecting their cattle. They
collected their tribute annually in money and meal, and were re-
markably faithful to their engagements.
f " The law hath come the length of Rofsfhtre, " faid one
neighbour, by way of news, to another ; *' O ho ! " replied he-.
** ii God doth not ftop it, you will foon have it nearer home. "
£very clan had, however, laws of their own enacting, to which they
paid implicit obedience. Thefe laws were few and general, and
Itrongly mark the fimplkify of rude ages,
.1 a giflature
132 A V I E W OF
giflatiire wifely difiblved the moft obnoxious feudal
tenures, broke the authority of the chieftains over
their vaflfals, and vefted the produce of the forfeited
eftates in truftees, for the eftablifhment of charity
fchools, and civilizing the people. The beneficial
effects of thefe meafures greatly exceeded the ex-
pectations of thofe who had propofed them ; info-
much that, throughout the annals of mankind,
there is fcarcely an inftance of a great body of peo-
ple having been reclaimed fo rapidly, from bar-
barifm to inoffenfive, peaceable fubjefts. The
tranfition was almoft inftantaneous, and ilrongly
marks the difcernm'ent and good fenfe of the inha-
bitants, as well as the pious, indefatigable labours
of the few clergymen who were appointed, upon
very flender falaries, to reclaim their manners, to
fuperintend their morals, and to enforce, by precept
and example, obedience to divine and human laws.
Thus far, the legislature were entitled to the tri-
bute of applaufe ; but after having ma4e a fuccefsful
beginning in the great work of provincial refor-
mation, they at once abandoned the Highlanders,
civilized indeed, but otherwife in a more diilrefsful
fituation than while under the immediate controul
of their chieftains. No .villages, magazines, or
harbours were formed, or manufactures introduced,
by which the people 'might be ufefully employed,
and a permanent, valuable colony eftablifhed. Suc-
ceeding admin iilrations have feen, and acknow-
ledged, their fidelity and importance ; but have
taken no effectual fteps to meliorate their diftreffes,
to reconcile them to. their inhofpitabie fho'res, to
give protection to the injured, bread to the hungry,
employment to the induilrious ; nor hath the fmallefl
ray of hope been held out, whereby they might ex-
pect to lee better days. * On the contrary, it feems
to be a political maxim with many peribns, that the
Highlands of Scotland are to be confidered merely
* When this part was firft printed, in 1782, no meafures had
been propofed or fpoke of, by government, or in parliament, re-
fpe£ting the Highlands, and the nflieries.
THE HIGHLANDS. 133
as a nurfery for foldiers and feamen ; that the inha-
bitants, formed admirably by nature for the fatigues
of the campaign and the ocean, are to be employed
in thefe capacities alone, as the occafions of the
flate may require ; and that, to facilitate the bufi-
nefs of recruiting, it is expedient to keep them low.
But as every plan of policy which is founded upon
wrong principles, muft fooner or later defeat its own
purpofes, fo hath government leen itfelf nearly de-
prived of thofe men who were thus devoted to ftar-
vation, at home ; or to fall by the fword, abroad.
The Character of the modern Highlanders, and their
Qualifications for the Arts of civil Life, as well as
tboje of War.
The Highlanders have in all ages been renowned
for bravery and fidelity, in the caufe which they
efpoufed : ftrongly attached to their families, their
chieftains and country, for whom they braved all
dangers, and endured every kind of hardfliip. At
prefent that barbarous ferocity, which was the off-
fpring of feudal inftitutions, is completely extin-
guilhed ; while their native valour, and military
character, remain unimpaired. They are intelli-
gent, hofpitable, religious, inoffenfive in their man-
ners, lubmifiive to fuperiors, temperate, frugal,
grateful, obliging, honeft, and faithful. A man
may travel in perfect fecurity from one extremity of
the Highlands to the other, without taking any
precaution whatever in defence of his perfon or pro-
perty. * Wherever he goes, he meets with a civility,
modefty, and hofpitality, which would do honour
to the moft polifhed nations ; wherever he repofes
any confidence, he difcovers an attachment and
difinterefted readinefs to oblige, which more opulent
fubjects, can fcarcely conceive in idea. Thefe qua-
lities are the univerfal theme of travellers of what-
* There is not a murder committed in the Highlands once in
fcven years upon an average; and robberies on the road are unknown.
i 3 ever
134 A V I E W O f
ever nation, who have lately vifked the Highlands
of Scotland. *
To fum up the whole, they are a hardy, brave
race of men, equally qualified for the domeftic, the
naval, and military line; nor is there an inftance
* The character of the Highlanders may, by foftie perfons, be
Confidered as too flattering : I have been twice amongft them iince
it was firfl printed ; and, upon reviewing it over and over, I can-
not, in jufiice, retrench a {ingle word. It is the language of
truth, inter ted as a memorial of virtues which do honour to the
prefent age, and worthy of imitation by poiterity.
. Intrepidity. — In rapid marches and ludden attacks, the High-
landers are unequalled. During along march, a regiment of thefe
men keeps up with the cavalry. If a diitant coaft is invaded, or
a pofl in danger, the Highlanders are collected at an hour's notice :
they let off, and continue their march with incredible fwiftncis,
leaving all other troops, panting and breathlefs, far behind. The
French tremble at the fight of them, calling out, the Engtifi //,
ions
Fidelity.—- The fidelity of the Highlanders would appear incre-
dible to Chriftians and Philofophers of more happy climates.
Were it not fully authenticated by the experience of many ages.
Among a variety of inftances, the following may be depended upon ;
Hector Mackintofh having, in 1 527, carried fire and fword through
the lands of the Murrays and Ogilvies, fled immediately from the
hand of juiHce ; 200 of his followers were hanged, and fuch was
their fidelity, even in a bad caufe, that, though each of them was
feparately offered his pardon, if he would difcover where Hedlor
was fkulking, yet all of them rejected the condition, and fub-
jnitted to their fete.
A more {hiking inftance of their fidelity happened after the bat-
tle of Culloden, when the young Pretender found fafety during
five months amongil thefe people, though perfonally known to
fome hundreds of the lovveft ranks, and a re\\ ard of thirty thoii-
fand pounds had been offered to any perfon who would deliver
him up. Two perfons of the name of Kennedy, not only rejected
this immenfe fum, with difdain, but alfo hazarded their lives in
Collecting provisions and linen for the ufe of the prince, whjle the
Highlands, and the Hebride ifles, were over-.run with foldiers in
purfuit of him.
Hofpitalit.y. — " Kindnefs and hofpitality pofTefs the people of
thefe parts. We fcarce patted a farm but the good woman, long
before our approach, fajlied out and flood on the road fide,
holding out to us a bowl of milk or whey. " Pennant.
" It need not, I fuppofe, be mentioned, that in countries fo
little frequented as the iilands, there are no houfes where travellers
are entertained for money, jle that wanders about thefe wilds,
either procures recommendations to thofe whofe habitations lie
Kfiar his way, or, when night and wearinefs come upon him, takes,
*h£ chancy of general hoipitality. If he finds only a cottage, he
THE HIGHLANDS.
them, of cowardice, treachery, or flinch-
ing, during all the dangers and fatigues of the pre-
ient and former wars, wherein .they have borne a
confiderable fkare. " I trufted, exclaimed Lord
Chatham in parliament, to the mountains of the
north, to carry on the mod extenfive war in which
England had ever been engaged." This was the
declaration of the ableft, moft impartial, and dif-
interefted minifter of the age ; one who had pene-
tration to difcern, candour to acknowledge, and
honefty to reward real merit : whofe elevated mind
knew no diftinction of country or people ; no nar-
row partialities ; but, in every refpect, was emi-
nently qualified for the great purpofes of uniting,
more clofely, this wide extended empire ; by a ge-
nerous diifufion of reciprocal benefits and privileges^
throughout the various branches of which it was
competed.
Till the days of that great man, the intrinfic
value of the Highlanders, like the diamond in the
mine, remained in obfcurity ; fome obstructions re-
moved, they (hone forth at once a tractable, ufeful
people, who might one day prove a confiderable
acquifition to the commerce, as well as the internal
ftrength of Britain.
Such* being the character, manners, and import-
ance of the Highlanders, in their civilized ftate, a
minute review of their country and fhores properly
follows. Should thefe be found irreclaimable, or
incapable of anfwering any valuable purpofe to the
inhabitants, and.the community at large, it would be
humane, and alfo good policy in government, to
open an afylum, in fome other psrt of the ifland,
for the overflow of thefe truly valuable people, in-
can expert little more than fhelter ; for the cottagers have little
more for themlelves ; but if his good fortune brings him to the
refidence of. a gentleman, he will be glad of a ilorm to prolong his
I 4 "ftcad
136 A V I E W OF
ftead of driving them, by hundreds, acrofs the
Atlantic ocean.
On the contrary, fhould the 300 iQands of the
Hebrides, thofe within the Firth of Clyde, and the
extenfive line of coaft upon the mainland, their nu-
merous bays, lakes, and rivers, be found capable
of being rendered the bulwark of our ifland, on
that fide ; the great nurfery of hardy feamen and
foldiers, to defend our fettlements abroad ; the
chief repofitory of fifh, to fupply the wants of the
labouring people, and to extend the fcale of com-
merce, navigation, and fhip-building ; fhould thefe,
and other objects, prove the certain confequence
"of parliamentary attention, it is to be hoped that
government will take that bufinefs into confidera-
tion, before America fhall again open a door for
the dirTatisfied, from all parts of Britain, but more
efpecially for thefe hitherto neglected mountaineers.
Comparative State of the Highlands, and the Northern
Countries of Europe, in rejpetf of Towns, Commerce ,
and Navigation.
If we take our ftand at the fputh-wefl extremity
of Cantire, and look northward along the double
.coafl of the continent, and the Hebride iflands, to-
wards Cape Wrath, we fhall perceive no towns, mar-
kets, ftorehoufes, granaries, manufactures, commerce,
or fhipping of any fort. *• If we extend the view
. from Cape Wrath to Dungfby-Head, the eaft en-
trance to that Firth, and from thence fouthward to
* A few herring buflfes, and the village of Stronaway in Lewis
excepted, where feme Dutch families had been fettled, but were
imrbrtunately driven away during the Dutch wars in the lalt cen-
tury. Theie ia duftrious people, during their fhort flay, extended
• the fifhe'ries, and eilablifhed a petty navigation, both of which
have been kept up, in feme degree, by the natives, who can boait
of more traffic than t|ie Hebride iilands united. An attempt was
ah%made fince 1760, towards abufs fiihery, by the natives of the
\yeftern coafls of Argylefhire, but which failed through the fame
ca'ules that ruined the bufs filliery in general,
the
THE HIGHL'ANDS. 137
the Firth of Cromarty, we fhall perceive a few
places, dignified indeed with the high-founding ap-
pellations of royal boroughs, but which, in reality,
are nothing more than ruinous villages, exhibiting
all the fymptoms of decay, poverty, and diftrefs. *
Climate and foil, it hath been admitted, are
greatly againft that country ; but this circumftance,
inftead of difcouraging government, ought to excite
the moft fpeedy, vigorous meafares, towards fuch
objects as nature points out to be both practicable
and expedient.
Every member of the Britifh parliament knows,
that the countries of Europe which lie under the
fame latitudes as the Highlands of Scotland, and
even beyond thefe latitudes, exhibit the ftrongeft
proofs of public attention. Thofe countries have
generally, by dint of art, been rendered the feats
.of induilry, and a happy mediocrity of fortune
which enables the great body of the people to live
Comfortably, under feverities of climate, which a
Highlander can fcarcely comprehend in idea.
They abound in large mercantile cities, and in
capacious harbours; the works of incredible labour
and expence ; numerous (hipping •> and the various
produce of the four quarters of the globe ; as
Archangel, formerly the only port of] ^ .,.
Ruflia, and ftill a large commercial f /g In*
i • • 04 ?o
town, lying in — — f
Drontheim, a trading city in Norway, 63 15
Bergen, capital of ditto, — 60 10
Abo, a city of Sweden, — — 60 5
Peterfburg, capital of Rutfia, — 60 o
Cronftadt, the arfenal andftation of the) ,
Ruffian fleet, $
Stockholm, capital of Sweden, 59 30
Chriftiana, a large trading city in Norway, 59 5
Jlevelj ditto in RufTia, 59 o
* Thefe are Wick, Dornocb, Tain, Dingwall, and Fortrofe.
Narva,
A V I E W OF
,Narva, a large trading city in RufTia, fr-1
mated a few miles beyond the latitude { ^
of Dunnet-Head, the moil; northern (
part of the continent of Scotland,
Gottenburgh, ditto in Sweden, 58 o
Riga, ditto in Ruffia, lying near the")
. medium latitude of the Highlands of i, 57 o
Scotland, —
The climate of thofe countries admits of two
feafons only, viz. the fummer, which begins in
May, and ends in September; and the winter,
which inftantaneoufly binds up the earth in one
continued frofb, fhuts up the ports, and covers land
and water with frozen inow, on which all manner
of travelling is performed by means of (ledges. In
this feafon the inhabitants drefs in furs or fkins,
which, however, do not prevent the frequent lofs
of hands or limbs, through the intenfenefs of the
«old. *
It is therefore to the attention of their refpective
governments, more than the advantages of nature,
that fo many commercial cities have gradually
arifen in the north of Europe, within the fpace of
a few centuries, and that places hitherto obfcure are
daily increafing in wealth and magnitude.
With thofe cities may be enumerated the Seven
United Provinces, a country, which, though fitu-
ated in more fouthern latitudes, furnifhes no mate-
rial articles for commerce, and fcarcely a fufficiency
* " Whenever, fays Maupertuis in his journey through the
northern parts of Sweden-, we would taile a little brandy, the only
thing that could be -kept liquid, our tongues and lips froze to the
cup, and came away bloody : in a cold that congealed the fingers
of ibme of us, and threatened us with fhll more diimal accidents.
Jf we opened the door of a warm room, the external air inilantly
converted all the vapour in it into fhovv, whirling it round in
white vortexes. If we went abroad, we felt as if the air was tear-
ing our breails in pieces. At the beginning of June, winter yielded
up the earth and fea j and we prepared for our departure to Stock"
"holm. "
Of
THE HIGHLANDS.
of grain for home confumpdon. In extent of terri-
tory, thofe provinces do not exceed the Hebride
ifles, and their winters are more fevere. But fuck
is the influence of an active, vigorous government,
on manufactures, commerce, and population, that
the Seven Provinces contain 113 cities, 1400 towns
and coniiderable villages, and upwards of two mil-
lions of inhabitants.
This fwampy country produces no raw materials
for manufactures ; yet the inhabitants are conti-
nually engaged in fabricating an endlefs variety of
articles for fale, at home and abroad. They have
ho minerals, metals, or timber -, yet their yards and
warehoufes are ever prepared to fupply the demands
of Europe, and both the Indies, in thofe articles.
The coail is extremely dangerous, and the harbours
are few ; their ihipping is however to be found in
all the maritime parts of the world, while their
own ports are the grand emporiums of European
commerce. Their fhores afford little or no fifh for
exportation, but they neverthelefs foreftall the Eu-
ropean^ markets in thofe fifties which are in mofl:
efteemC They owed their firft rife to the herrings
taken on the coafts of Scotland, which they ex-
ported to all parts of Europe; bringing in return
the produce of thofe nations, and thus gradually
became the greatefl mart in the known world.
It is to the influence and example of thefe induf-
trious people, that I am enabled to give two in-
ftances, nearer home, of the benefits resulting from
a proper attention to commerce and the fillieries.
Kirkwall, capital of the Orkney iflands, though
fituatcd 140 miles north of the medium latitude of
the Highlands, contains above 300 houfcs, moil of
them built of {lone and lime, dated, and accom-
modated with kitchen gardens. The gentlemen
alfo have good houfcs on their eftates, and enjoy
moil of the conveniencies of life, in confiderable
Abundance. The farmers are, for the mofl part*
better
140 A VIEW OF
better lodged than 'thofe on the continent, or the
Hebrides. The inhabitants of Kirkwali export
Ibme grain, malt, meal, beef, butter, feathers,
fkins of calves, otters, and feals ; herrings, kelp,
linen yarn, and cloth, fine worfted {lockings, and
coarfe woollen goods.
By means of thefe articles, they traffic with the
Dutch, Danifn, and .other buffes which frequent
their coafls, during the fifhing feafons, when Kirk-
wall hath all the appearance of a continued fair.
The inhabitants alfo carry on a petty commerce
with Edinburgh, Newcaftle, London, Norway,
Hamburgh, Spain, and Portugal, thereby fupply-
ing themfelves with a variety of neceiTaries, and a
fmall balance in calh.
One degree further north, are the Shetland ifles,
ftill lefs indebted to foil and climate. Here the
Ihortefl day does not exceed five hours, and the
winters continue till April, during which feafon the
winds are fo high, and the fea is fo agitated, that
thofe ifl ands are almoft inacceuTole for feveral
months/ when the natives are cut off from all inter-
courfe'with the world. Yet, even here, in lat. 60.
8, and amidil barren rocks, Hands the town of
Lerwic, containing upwards of 300 handfome
houfes, and is every year increafmg. In the neigh-
bourhood, there are many genteel families lodged
in flrong, well-built houfes, commodioufly fur-
"nifhed, and whofe tables are well fupplied. Thefe
iflands being the great theatre of the Dutch fifheries,
carry on a confiderable trade with thofe people,
and fome foreign commerce, chiefly by means qf
.white fifh that abound on their coafls.
Thus the northern rocks of the Orkney and Shet-
land ifles, animated and inftructed by the Dutch,
prefume to trade with London, the Baltic, and the
Mediterranean ; while the more exten five and fou-
therly iflands of the Hebrides, and the whole weftern
•coaft of the continent, are not matters -of a fingle
o
manu-
T H E H I G H L A N D S. 141
manufacture, or veflel beyond the fize of a fifhing
bufs. The Orkneys contain one provincial fynod,
three prefbyteries, twenty-eight parifhes, and eigh-
teen minifters. In Sky, one of the Hebride iflands,
double the fize of all the Orkneys, there are only
feven parifties ; and, of late, the flatcd houfes did
not exceed three, though (lone and lime abound
in the ifland, and (late, at no great diftance.
As a conclufion to .this comparative review, it
may be remarked, that the town of Kirkwall in the
Orkneys is rated higher in the tax roll, than all the
towns of the Highlands united.
The Produce of the Highlands by Sea and Land.
Throughout the globe, nature feems to have dif-
tributed her favours with a very impartial hand.
To fome parts fhe hath afiigned mildnefs of climate ;
to others, luxuriancy of foil, the precious metals,
valuable timber, or the riches of the ocean. If we
except the frozen extremities of the earth, towards
the poles, her gifts will be found admirably adapted
to the various fpecies of the animal creation, parti-
cularly man, who holds the higheft rank in nature,
and who fancies himfelf entitled to the unlimited
ufe of whatever it contains. In conformity to this
univerfal lav/, thofe diftricls of Scotland, called the
Highlands, though little indebted to climate and
foil, abound in riches, which put them upon an
equality with the moft fertile regions of the jvorld.
Gold, lilver, wine, filks, fpices, and the riner
fruits, they have none : but the produce of the
Highlands; of their feas, lakes, bays, and rivers;
may, with proper management, obtain an influx of
thole valuable articles, and whatever is neceflary for
tjie fupport and comfort of life.
Grain is raifed, though at prefent with much
difficulty, fufficient to maintain one third of the
people ; and, whenever the more fertile parts (hall
be
Hi A VIEW OF
be inhabited by men of property, and knowledge irt
agriculture, the harvefts will be earlier, the autum-
nal rains partly avoided, and that valuable article
of life greatly increafed. The unexpected fuccefs
in the Low Countries, of late years, fbould at kaft
induce the people in the Highlands, to try the fame
*xperimeni;s. *
Roots, vegetables, falads, and common fruits/
being lefs hurt by the rains, can be raifed in any
quantity ; their potatoes, turnips, kale, and cab^
bages, .are more delicate and pleafant to the tafte
than thofe of England, j Flax is railed in tolera-
ble
* It is difficult to afcertain with precifion, what proportion the
fertile or improveable lands in the Highlands, bear to thole which
cannot be brought into any other uies than the railing plantations
'of pine and fir.
We flia'll therefore only attempt fome general (ketches of thofe
-diitri'&s, where nature maybe affifted with fuccefs and profit, to the
refpeclive proprietors, and the itate.
Such in general are the vallies, flraths, and glens of the interior
parts ; the banks of the lakes and bays, of the marine parts ; the
whole weftern fliores of Argylefhire ; thofe of the Pentland Firth j
the greate'ft part of Caithnei's ; both fides of the firth and r vef
of Dornoch, as far as Loch Shin ,• Cromarty, and the whole eaftern
coaft of Rofsfliire.
Of the Hebride ifles, may be reckoned, Hay, Giga, Lifmore,
Colonlay, Tirey, South and North Uift, Harris ; with a number
of fmalliiles, from two to five miles in circumference. There are
alfo ibme fertile vallies and ihores in the great iiles of Jura, Mull,
'Sky, and Lewis.
From which I conjecture, that the improveable parts of the He-
brides, may, collectively, amount to 700 fquare miles, or 470,000
fquare acres, liatute meafure ; being the diineniions of the .county
of Surry : and, if to this, we add the tracts of the mainland as- above
enumerated, the whole arable, or improveable portion of the High-
lands of Scotland, will amount, at a moderate computation, to
2,500 fquare miles, or 1,600,000 fquare acres ; being the dimen-
iions of Middlefex, Surry, and Kent, which compoie a twentieth
part of England and Wales.
In this calculation are included not only the plains, and what if
called arable or meadow lands, but alfo, the rifing grounds, and
fides of the hills, which> by the prefent management, form valv*-
able flieep walks.
f The people in" the Lowlands have of late years been at great
THE HIGHLANDS. i4j
ble plenty, and might be improved : Hemp in great
abundance, and in high perfection.
Small, but hardy horfcs, admirably fuited to the
labours of that rugged country, and which require
little fupport. They run wild among the moun-
tains till they arrive at a proper age for labour,
when fome thoufands are annually driven to the
fouth, chiefly to the coal-pits at Newcaftle. *
But the above-mentioned articles are only fecon-
dary confiderations to the immenle numbers of fmall
black cattle which this country fends to the fouth,
fome of them as far as London, where, after being
fed in rich paftures, they fell at a high price. It is
by the breeding of cattle, that many farmers inha-
biting the interior country are enabled, in good
ieafons, to pay the high rents impofed on them j
but this fpecies of property is, in the Highlands, fo
precarious, as fometimes to involve whole dillricts
in one general fcene of diilrefs.
Thefe indigent people are materially affected,
whether the cattle die through want, or fall in
their price, which is always regulated by the Eng-
lifli markets. In cither of theie cafes, the farmers,
(many of whom having no other refources) are
under the melancholy neceffity of removing eljc-
where for fupport. The fize and condition of the
Highland cattle might be greatly improved, by th^
introduction of clover, rye-grafs, lucerne, and tur-
nips, for winter provifion> as lately practiled in the
Low Countries.
tttpence in erecting high garden walls of (lone an<l lime, whereon
to raiie peaches, apricots, and other fruits, in the nucun'.i
which never cim be brought to any degree ot'perfeftion
climate, or in England beyond the Trent. The fruits ra :
Scotland with fuccefs, are llrawberries, goofebctfries.
plumbs, cherries, pears, and in warm ieafons, apples 01
flavour, though Icarccly bearing a diilam rcica;bLaocc to t!.
{*!&]
* There is a fpecies of the horfe, in Barra, vthofc height ..
age is from thirty lo thi; i*s,
The
144 A V I E W O F
The failing a .better breed of fheep, hath of late'
years become an object of considerable attention in
the Highlands, and with very great fuccels in the
quantity and quality of the wool, as well as the
fize and condition of the fheep. But this agreeable
profpecl: is checked in the reflection, that the deep,
and Ibmet-imes long-continued fnows, deftroy, upon
an average of years, from i to 200,000 annually, be-
fides enfeebling, or reducing to Ikeletons, thofe which
furvive. Could any method be deviled for pre-
ferving thefe valuable animals, between the end of
November and the beginning of March, the High-
land mountains would become, in importance,
nearly equal to the vallies. The flieep only require
fhelter, and fitches, or turnips j of the latter, any
quantity could be raifed in the Highlands, and
which, at the fame time, would improve the foil.
The number of fheep in Scotland, is calculated at
3,000,000, of which one half may be raifed in the
Highlands and illes.
The height of fome mountains in Tibet, a large
country joining the Mogul empire on the north-earl.,
is 8000 feet above the level of the fea ; and the
height of the Andes in South America is 15,000
feet. The fheep fed on thofe mountains produce
wool of the fineft quality.
The higheft mountain in the Highlands of Scot-
land, is only 4200 feet above the fea j and, in
general, the ridges of hills in that country, do not
exceed 2000 feet.
The Highland mountains have alfo the advan-
tage of tall heath, which ferves inftead of whirls for
ihelter and other purpofes. Argylefhire hath of
late years become the greater! fheep country in the
Highlands -, while the northern parts are chiefly
occupied in railing black cattle.
Goats are numerous in the Highlands. Alfo,
various fpecies of deer and game. The .earl of Fife
hath a park in Abcrdcenihire, of fifteen fquare
miles,
THE HIGHLANDS. ^
miles, called Mar Foreft, which is referved entirely
for deer and game* of which there is the greatcft
plenty and variety*
Water-fowl, particularly folan geefe, abound in
fuch immenfe quantities, that it is difficult to give
credit to the accounts which have been given of
them, by modern, as well as antient writers, who
have vifited the Hebrides. *
The
* They are thus described by the ftev. Mr. Macaulay, who was
appointed milfionary, by the general aflembly of the church of
Scotland, to the ifland of St. Kilda, a rock of three miles in length,
furrounded by fundry lelTer ones, and fituated 18 leagues due weft
of the Long Ifland.
" Thefe rocks are in fummer totally covered with folan geefc
and other fowls, and appear at a diitance like fo many mountains
covered with fnow. The nefts of the Iblan geefe, not to mention
thofe of other fowls, are fo clofe, that, when one walks between
them, the hatching fowls on either fide can always take hold of one's
cloaths, and they will often lit until they are attacked, rather than
expofe their eggs to the danger of being deltroyed by the fea-gulls ;
at the fame time an equal number fly about, and furnifli food for
their mates that are employed in hatching : and there are, befules,
large flocks of barren fowls of the different tribes that frequent the
rocks of St. Kilda.
" The folan geefe equal almoft the tame ones in fize. The
common amuiement of the herring-timers Ihew the great ftrength
of this fowl. The fifhers fix a herring upon a board which has a
fmall weight under it, to fink it a little below the furface of the fea :
the folan goofe, obferving thefifh, darts down upon it perpendicu-
larly, and with fo much force, that he runs his bill irrecoverably
through the board, and is taken up directly by the fifliers.
" The folan geefe repair to St. Kilda in the month i.f March,
and continue there till after the beginning of November. Before
the middle of that month, they, and all the other lea- fowls that are
fond of this coaft, retire much about the fame time into fome other
favourite regions ; fo that not a (ingle fowl belonging to their ele-
ment is to be feen about St. Kilda, from the beginning of winter
down to the middle of February. Before the young folan geefe fly
off, they are larger than their mothers, and the fat on their brenfls
is Ibmetimcs three inches deep. Into what quarter of the world
thefe tribes of wild fowl repair, after winter lets in, whether into
the northern ocean, the native country and winter quarters ot her-
rings, in general, or into lome other region near the lun, or whe-
ther they be of the llecping kind, they who pry into the myfteries
of natural hiflory, or have converfed much with writers of vc
can beft explain. I fliall only pretend to fay, that thefe different
K. Da'.
146 A V I E W O F
•
The weflern coafts of the continent, particularly
the banks of the lakes, are generally fringed with
natural woods, rifing beautifully from the ihores,
towards the fummits of the mountains* Thefe
woods are compofed of oak, chefnut, afh, elder,
elm, afpine, hazel, larches, pine, and fir. In
fome parts of the interior country upon the river
JDee, as Brae Mar, the pines are from ten to twelve
nations df the feathered kind are taught tochoofe thepropereft habi-
tations and feeding places, and to fliift their quarters feafonably,
by the unerring hand of God.
** From the account given above of the multitudes of fea-fowU
that leek their food on this coaft, we may juiUy conclude, that there
muft be inexhauftible ftores of fiih there. Let us for a moment
confine our attention to the confumption made by a fmgle fpecies
of fowls. The folan goofe is almoft infatiably voracious ; he flies
with great force and velocity, toils all the day with very little in-
termifTion, and digefls his food in a very fhort time ; he difdains to
eat any thing worfe than herring or mackarel, unlels it be in a very
hungry place, which he takes care to avoid or abandon. We mall
take it for granted, that there are 100,000 of that kind around the
rocks of St. Kikla j and this calculation is by far too moderate, as
no lefs than 20,000 of this kind are defkoyed every year, including
the young ones. We fliall fuppofe, at the fame time, that the folan
geefe fojourn in thefe leas for about feven months of the year ; that
each of them deftroys five herrings in a day ; a fubfiftence infinitely
poor for fo greedy a creature, unlels it were more than half ftip-
ported at theexpence of other fifties. Here we have 100,000,000
of the fineft filh in the world devoured annually by a fmgle Ipecies
of the St. Kildafea-fowls.
" If in the next place it be confidered, that much the greatest
part of the other tribes have much the fame appetite for herring,
and purfue it from place to place, in the feveral migrations it makes
from one fea to another^ the confumption muft be prodigioufly
great. Taking thefe into the account, and allowing them the fame
quantity of food, and of the fame kind, by reafon of their vaft fu-
periority in point of numbers, though their ftomachs are confider-
ably weaker ; we fee there are no lefs than 200,000,000 of her-
rings fwallowed up every year by the birds of a very fmall diftriift
of rocks, which occupy fo inconfiderable a fpace in the Ducale-
donian ocean.
" Should all the articles of this account be fuftained, articles
which feem no lefs juft than plain, and mould our curioiity lead us
into a new calculation, allowing between fix and feven hundred
to every barrel, it is evident that more than 330,000 barrels are
annually carried away by fuch creatures. "
feet
THE HIGHLANDS. 147
feet in circumference, and from fixty to ninety feet
in height, without a collateral branch ; their age,
two centuries. A few have meafured fixteen feet.
Great numbers of fine trees, of twelve and thirteen
feet in girth, have yielded to age and dorms ;
others are fuccefiivtly falling to the ground. Of
fome trees thus blended with the foil, one end may
be cut into peats, the other fawed off and ufed as
good timber. The foreft which produces thefe
trees, lies at a diftance from the fource of the Dee,
where no art can bring them to the river. *
Nor is it in natural woods only that the High-
lands excel. While the fturdy oak, and the hardy
pine, wave their branches over impending preci-
pices, deriving vigour and ftrength from the boifle-
rous elements of that climate, the vallies and nar-
row glens underneath give protection and fuftenance
to plantations of a more delicate quality.
At Taymouth, the feat of the earl of Braedalbane,
there is a double row of ftraight lime trees, whofe
branches, at the height of eighty feet, unite fo
clofely, and with fuch regularity, as to form one
of the mod magnificent arches in the world. This
aftonifhing effort of nature affifted by art, is, how-
ever, lolt amidft extenfive plantations, containing
many millions of trees of various fpecics, and all in
* Tiie river Dee runs above 70 miles due eaft, in a ftraight
line, from its fource to Aberdeen, where it falls into the lea, after
contributing its tribute of falmon to that city, and to L,-
Along its banks, and in its neighbourhood, there are many pleafmg
vallies, abounding in timber, and well inhabited. Gentlemen*
feats are alfo Riimerous, Deer and hare are fo plentiful, and de-
frnictivc to agriculture, that the tanners kill them at plcafure.
The people in general have a remarkable ; urn for induftry ; every
perfon, from cliildhood to the age of 80 or oo, is conlhntly erh'-
ployed in domeflic affairs; in fpinningyarn, or tutting ftockin
fale at Aberdeen, the capital of the north. Thole circunv/
to fuggelt the utility of a market town towards the head of the Dec,
fimilar to the nun -.1 figuring, thriving towns of Huntley and Keith,
upon the banks of the De-
K 2 the
148 A V I E W O F
the utmoft perfection. The Tay, which glides
gently through this valley, is almoft hid from the
.eye, while the lofty hills on each fide exhibit a view
which aftonifhes every beholder. Thefe were the
works of the late earl of Braedalbane, who thereby
fet an example worthy the imitation of all thofe who
wifh to improve their lands, and ornament their
country.
Contiguous to this eftate, is that of the duke of
Athole, equally obligated to the two laft proprie-
tors, for every arTiftance which nature can receive
from art. The works of thofe illuflrious patriots
begin to appear fome miles above Blair, and are
continued, without intermiffion, to Birnam Wood
below Dnnkeld, the whole length meafuring near
thirty miles. In this extenfive valley, the beauti-
ful meanders of the Tay and the Tumel, are every
where fhaded with exotic, as well as native trees,
and all of them in a thriving condition.
Thus, in a country where nature hath denied the
means of fuccefsful agriculture, that kind parent
points out to the inhabitants a progreffive, inex^-
hauflible fource of wealth, which cannot be injured
by unpropitious feafons, the events of war, or the
revolutions of empire. Nor doth it require the
expence, and labour, fo neccfTary for the raifing
of thofe fcanty crops of oats and barley, which
neither enrich the landlord, nor fupply the wants
of the tenant. On the contrary, a gentleman fe-
le&s the moft barren tracks of his eftate ; rocks,
fands, gravel, and other wafte grounds, un-fit for
agriculture or grazing. On thefe wilds he plants
firs, pines, and larches ; whicji, at the expiration
of thirty years, are ufed for various purpofes, and
when arts and commerce fhall be introduced into
thefe parts, the value will be trebled, as appears
from recent inftances in the neighbourhood of trad-
ing towns, where trees of this age have brought
from
THE HIGHLANDS. 149
from one (hilling and fix-pence, to three (hillings
each.
Few gentlemen in Scotland are unacquainted with
the value of that fmall fpecies of oak, which grows
fpontaneoufly upon the hills and rocks. The bark
fupplies the tanner, the net, and fail-maker; the
wood is confumed in various works of glafs and
metal, and is alfo extremely proper for making red
herrings. Thefe oaks are cut down every 20 or 25
years. The price is regulated by the demand ; and
the demand, by the progrefiive (late of arts, manu-
factures, and commerce, in thefe kingdoms : con-
fequently the value of this timber is continually
advancing, infomuch that a wood, which would
bring only £. 1000 twenty-five years ago, now fells
at£. 1500. The oaks allowed to come to a more
advanced age, are ufed in the building of bufics
and coafters.
This branch, therefore, opens a new field of action
to all thofe who have wifdom to avail themfelves of
it. By thus attending to fuch objects as nature
dictates to be both practicable and profitable, the
Highlands will become an immenfe foreft, enrich-
ing the landlords, and giving employment to the
hitherto itarved commonality, in the various occu-
pations of enclofing, planting, cutting down, peel-
ing the bark, fawing, and tranfporting both timber
and bark to diftant markets.
It is well-known that Norway, a country bound
up in froft and fnow nine months in the year,
loads many vefTels annually with mafts, planks and
deals, the produce of the fir.
In England, the full grown oak, and other tim-
ber, conftitute a confiderablc portion of the landed
property of that kingdom. The letter tiir.L
fold in faggots or by the cart-load, and ufed for a
variety of purpofes. The large trees, many of
which bring five pounds and upwards, are conv
to the capital and elfewhere, by an incredible num-
K 3 bcr
150 A V I E W O F
her of barges which navigate the rivers and canals,
befides the cargoes fent coaftways.
But thefe fupplies, though great, are far from
anfwering the demands of a kingdom, whofe villa-
ges are rifing to the magnitude of cities, and where
the fliipping is continually upon the increafe. * The
forefts of the Baltic, Poland, Germany, and North
America, load fome hundred ihips annually for the
Britifli ports, though burthened with infurance and
high freight, which muft unavoidably enhance the
price, f Here therefore the produce of the Scottifh
mountains and vallies will always find a good mar-
ket, and an inexhauftible vent. Inftead of a petty
traffic from one ifland to another, in little open
boats,
* Ship building in England would have been carried to a ftill
greater extent, had we not found a powerful rival in North
America, which we encouraged in the growth of the materials,
the purchale of their fhips, and allowing them a free trade with the
Weft Indies. " Of 679 veflels which* were required to tranfport
the great Weft Indian cargo cf 1772 to Britain, much more than
two thirds had been built in our colonies. To fo great an extent
had we refigned the mo ft ufeful of all our manutattures to our
colonifts, contrary to the retnonft ranees of the wifeft men of their
time. We have been fufficiently folicitous about the manufactures
of wool, of hats, and of iron, in the colonies ; but we have cared
little, during the laft century, for the more important manufaC"
ture of ihips. This had been a melancholy remark, were it not
that we derive confolation from reflecting, how much the public
wildom may convert misfortunes into benefits. We may now re»
gain the bufmefs of fhip-building to no fmall extent, which our
imprudent kindnefs had given away : Our fafety requires, that we
ought to retain every advantage, which alignal revolution has hap-
pily thrown in our way. "— Mr. Chalmers's Opinions on inter eft ing
Subjects nf Public La!w and Commercial Policy ; arijing from Ame-
rican Independency. See alfo, Lord Sheffield's Obfcrvations on the
Commerce of the American States,
f The timber imported from Holland, Hamburgh, and the
Baltic, comes chiefly from the interior parts of Germany, Poland,
and Ruffia, by means of large rivers, and is become both fcarcer
and dearer of late years, as appears from the report of fundry
merchants and fhip-builders, to the houfe of commons. The coafts of
America begin alfo to feel a fcarcity of timber ; what we now receive
from that country is brought down the rivers in floats to the ports,
from whence there is a voyage of 3000 miles. All thefe circum-
ftancee are in favour of Britifh timber. The Scots build their buffes
THE HIGHLANDS. 151
boats, thefe weftern fhorcs, as foon as the propofed
canals fhall be opened, will contribute their quota
to the fupply of the capital, in timber, ftate, lead,
and fifh ; while that city will, in return, fupply the
jiecefTary wants of thofe fhores j thus opening new
channels of commerce and navigation to the mutual
benefit of individuals, and giving, at the fame
time, additional (Irength to the Britifh navy.
Copper hath been difcovered in the Highlands of
Scotland j iron-ftone is found in many places j and
lead mines have long been wrought with fuccefs.
Some iflands, as Efdale, and others in its neigh-
bourhood, are compofed entirely of flate, of which
many cargoes are exported 5 befides quarries through
the interior parts of the main land, which, from
the want of commerce and towns, cannot be brought
into ufe.
The ifland of Lifmore, eight miles in length, is
one continued rock of lime-ftone. Rofsfhire and Su-
therland abound in mountains of marble refembling
the Parian ; but this treafure is of no benefit to the
proprietors, on account of the diflance from water
carriage, and the almoft uninhabited (late of thofe
remote regions.
Freeftone, granite, marie, filver fand, (hells, kelp,
potters clay, fullers earth, and fern, are common
throughout the Highlands.
Rivers and inland lakes are extremely numerous in
the Highlands; they contain falmon, trout, char,
eels, poans, and other delicate fifties ; and, as it is
well known that fifh may be tranfported from one
country to another with fuccefs, thefe lakes might be
rendered of ftill greater utility. The Chinefe pedlars
carry on fuch bufmeis throughout the various provin-
ces of that extenfive empire.
In Switzerland, a country refembling Scotland in
the magnitude of its mountains, and the number of
and coafters chiefly with Welch timber, which is extremely proper
for their purpofe. Many cargoes have been had from that coun-
try fmce the late peace, of which the landholders feel the benefit,
befides the giving employment to the poor natives.
15* A V I E W 0 F
its frefh- water lakes, there are one or more towns on
each j and, fays bifhop Burnet, it is generally com-
puted, that an eighth part of the inhabitants live by
the produce of their fiihing. Mr. Ray obferves, that
in the lake of Zugh, which is not very confiderable,
there are at lead fifty different fpecies of eatable fifh,
all in great plenty, and fbme of the moft delicate forts,
fuch as trout, grayling, char, perch, and others, moft
of which had been brought thither from diftant parts.
But all the above enumerated articles, though they
might be rendered extremely favourable to commercial
purpofes, are loft in the comparifon with the riches
of the feas which environ the Highlands of Scotland.
Through the openings, between the bales of the
mountains, flows the great Weftern Ocean, in various
directions, forming one continued fucceflion of bays
and lakes, from five to forty-five miles within land ;
which, with the founds and channels formed by the
Hebride jflands and the banks interfperfed upon
thefe fhores, contain the greateft repository of fifh.
hitherto difcovered in any part of the known world,
and of excellent qualities. The moft ufeful are turbot,
cod, ling, hake, tufk, fturgeon, HERRINGS, whitings,
haddocks, fkait, foals, phinocs, mackarel, falmon,
trout, char, pike, eels, and poans; various fpecies
of fhell-fifh, as lobfters, oyfters, crabs ; alfo all kinds
of cetaceous fifh, from whales of every denomination
down to the grampus ; feals, fea-dogs, and other
amphibious animals, which frequent the caverns, in
great abundance.
Of all thefe fifties, the herring is the moft impor*
tant, not only on account of the incredible fhoals
which annually prefent themfelyes in the Scottifh feas,
but alfo their fuperior quality, in thofe parts, as ap-
pears from tlie defcriptions given of the.m by Sir Wal-
ter Raleigh, Sir William MonJbn, arid other writers
of the laft and prefent century,
HISTORY
HISTORY
O F
FISH, and the FISHERIES.
Of FIJb.
i, ocean is the great receptacle of fifhes. It
^ hath been thought by fome, that all fifh^arc
naturally of that fait element, and that they hare )
mounted up into frefh water by fome accidental mi- I
gration. A few ftill fwim up rivers to depofit their
fpawn ; but of the great body of fifhes, of which the
fize is enormous, and the fhoals are endlefs, thofe all
keep to the fea, and would auickly expire in frefh
water. In that extenfive and undifcovered abode,
thoufands refide, whofe manners are a fecret to us, and
whofe very form is unknown. The curiofity of
mankind, indeed, hath drawn fome from their depths,
and their wants many more : with the figure of thefe,
at leaft, he is acquainted ; but for their puriuits, mi-
grations, focieties, and manner of bringing forth,
thefe arc all hidden in the turbulent element that
protects them,
The number of fifh to which we havt given names,
and of the figure, at leafl, of which we know fome-
thing, according to Linnxus, are above 400. Thus,
to
154 HISTORY OF FISH.
to appearance, the hiftory of fifh is tolerably copious;
but when we come to examine, it will be found that
of the greateft part of thefe we know very little.
Thofe qualities, Angularities, or advantages, that
render animals worth naming, ftill remain to be dif-
covered.
Moft fifh offer us the fame external form ; iharp at
either end, and fwelling in the middle; by which
they are enabled to traverfe the fluid which they in-
inhabit with greater celerity and eafe. That pecu-
liar lhape which nature hath granted moft fifhes, we
endeavour to imitate in fuch veffels as are defigned
to fail with the greateft fwiftnefs ; however, the pro-
grefs of a machine moved forward in the water by
human contrivance, is nothing to the rapidity of an
animal defigned by nature to refide there. Any of
the large fifh overtake a fhip in full fail with great
eafe, play round it without effort, and outflrip it
with pleafure. Every part of the body feems ex-
erted in this difpatch ; the fins, the tail, and the
motion of the whole back-bone, affift progreffion ;
and it is to that flexibility of body, at which art can-
not arrive, that fifhes owe their great velocity.
The chief inftruments in. a fifh's motion, are the
fins 5 which, in fome fifh, are much more numerous
than in others, A fifh completely fitted for failing,
is furnifhed with, at the leaft, two pair ; alfo three
fingle fins, two above and one below. Thus equipped,
it migrates with the utmoft rapidity, and takes voy-
ages of 1000 leagues in a feafon. But it does not
always happen that' fuch fifh as have the greateft
number of fins have the fwifteft motion ; the fhark is
thought to be one of the fwifteft fwimmers, yet it
wants the ventral or belly fins ; the haddock does
not move fo fwift, yet is completely fitted for
motion.
But the fins ferve not only to affift the animal in
frogreffion, but in rifmg or finking, in turning, or
even leaping out of the water. To anfwer thefe
purpofcsj
HISTORY OF FISH.
purpofes, the pedtoral fins ferve, like oars, to put
the animal forward : they are placed at fome little
diftance behind the opening of the gills ; they are
generally large and ftrong, and anfwer the fame pur-
pofes to the fifh in the water, as wings do to a bird
in the air. With the help of thefe, and by their
continued motion, the flying-fifh is Sometimes fecn
to rife out of the water, and to fly above an hundred
yards ; till, fatigued with its exertions, it is obliged
to fink down again. But the tail, which in fome
fifhes is flat, and upright in others, feems the grand
inftrument of motion : the fins are but fubfervient
to it, and give direction to its great impetus, by
which the fifh feems to dart forward with fo much
velocity.
The fenfe of touching, which beads and birds
have in a fmall degree, the fifh, covered up in its
coat of mail, confuting of various fubftances, can
have little perception of. The fenfe of fmelling,
which in beads is fo exquifite, and among birds is
not wholly unknown, feems given to fifties in a very
moderate proportion. Of tailing, they feem to
make very little diftinftion ; the palate of moft fifh
is hard and bony, and confequently incapable of
the power of reliihing different fubftances. Hear-
ing, in fifhes, is ftill more imperfect, if it be found
at all. Seeing, feems to be the fenfe fifhes are pof-
feft of in the greateft degree -, and yet even this
feems obfcure, if we compare it to that of other
animals.
From all this, it appears how far fifh fall behind
terreflrial animals in their fenfations, and confe-
quently in their enjoyments. Thus nature feems to
have fitted thefe animals with appetites and powers
of an inferior kind j and formed them for a fort of
pafTive exiftence in the obfcure and heavy elements
to which they are configned. To preferve their own
exiftence, and to continue it to their pofterity, fill
up the whole circle of their puriuits and enjoyments;
to
HISTORY OF FISH.
to thefe they are impelled rather by necefiity than
choice, and feem mechanically excited to every
fruition. • Their fenfes are incapable of making any
diftinctions ; but they drive forward in purfuit of
whatever they can fwallow, conquer, or enjoy.
A cealelefs defire of food feems to give the ruling
impulfe to all their motions. This appetite impels
them to encounter every danger ; and indeed their
rapacity feems infatiable. Even when taken out of
the water, and almoft expiring, they greedily fwal-
low the very bait by which they were allured to de-
ftruction. Some that have very fmall mouths feed
upon worms, and the fpawn of other fifh. : others,
whofe mouths are larger, feek larger prey -3 it mat-
ters not of what kind, whether of another or their
own. Thofe with the largeft mouths purfue almoil
every thing that hath life ; and often meet each
other in fierce opppfition, when the fifh with the
largeft fwallow comes off with the victory, and de-
vours its antagonift.
Thus are they irritated by the continual defire of
fatisfying their hunger; and the life of a fifh, from
the fmalleft to the greateft, is but one fcene of hof-'
tility, violence, and evafion. But the fmaller fry
ftand no chance in the unequal combat -, and their
ufual way of efcaping, is by fwimming into thofe
ihallows where the greater are unable, or too heavy
to purfue. There they become invaders in turn,
and live upon the fpawn of larger fifh, which they
find floating on or near the furface of the water 5
yet there are dangers attending them in every place.
Even- in the Ihallows, the mufcle, the oyfter, and
the fcallop, lie in ambufh at the bottom, with their
fhells open, and whatever little fifh inadvertently
approaches into contact, they at once clofe their
fhells upon him, and devour the imprifoned prey
at their leifure.
Nor is the purfuit of fifties, like that.of terreftial,
animals, confined to a, fingle region, or to one
effort ;
HISTORY OF FISH. 157
effort : fhoals of one fpecies follow thofe of another
through vaft tracks of ocean, from the vicinity of
the pole even down to the equator. Thus the cod,
from the banks of Newfoundland, purfues the whit-
ing, which flies before it even to the fouthern
fhores of Spain. The cachalot, a fpecies of whale,
is faid, in the fame manner, to purfue a Ihoal of
herrings, and to fwallow hundreds in a mouthful.
This may be one caufe of the annual migration
of fifties from one part of the ocean to the other ;
but there are different motives, which come in aid
of this alfo. Fifties may be induced to change the
place of their refidence, for one more fuited to
their conilitutions, or more adapted to depofiting
their fpawn.
All forts of fifti, a few of the larger ones excepted,
multiply their kind, fome by hundreds and fome by
millions. There are fome that bring forth their
young alive, and fome that only produce eggs : the
former are rather the leaft fruitful : yet even thele
are feen to produce in great abundance. The vi-
viparous blenny, for inflance, brings forth 2 or 300
at a time, all alive and playing round the parent
together. Thofe who exclude their progeny in a
more imperfect ftate, and produce eggs, which they
are obliged to leave to chance, either on the bottom
at the edge of the fhore, or floating on the fur-
face of deep water, are all much more prolific; and
ieem to proportion their ftock to the danger there is
of its confumption. Of thefe eggs thus dcpofited,
fcarce one in an hundred brings forth an animal :
they are devoured by all the lefifer fry that frequent
the fhores ; by aquatic birds near the margin, and
by the larger fifh in deep water. Still, however,
there are enough for fupplying the deep with inha-
bitants : and, notwithstanding their own rapacity,
and that of the fowls of various tribes, the numbers
that efcape are fufficient to relieve the wants of a
very coniiderablc part of mankind. Indeed, whr
conlider
158 HISTORY OF FISH.
confider the numbers that a (ingle fim is capable of
producing, the amount will feem aftonifhing.
Among other writers* Mr. Harmer hath invefti-
gateci this fubject with uncommon attention ; and
tHe following table gives the refult of his enquiries.
The weights he ufed were avoirdupoife, and he
reckoned 437 -|- grains to an ounce. See Phil.
Tranf. vol. 57, for 1767, art. xxx, page 280.
Abftratt of the
fable.
t .
Weight of
.
Fijh. WeiSht-
fpawn.
r ecundi
oz. dr.
Grains.
Eggs.
Carp 25 8
2571
203109
Cod-fifh
12540
3686760
Flounder24 4
2 2OO
1357400
Herring 5 10
480
36960
Lobiler 36 o
1671
21699
MaekareliS o
I223f
546681
Perch 8 9
765!
28323
Pike 56 4
5lOO|
493°4
Prawn ( 1 27 grains)
ii
3806
Roach 10 6|
361
81586
Shrimp (3 9 grains)
7
6807
Smelt 2 o
149*
3*278
Soal 14 8
542i
100362
Tench 40 o
383252
April 4.
Dec. 23.
Mar. 14.
oa. 25.
Aug. 1 1.
June 18.
April 5.
April 25.
May 12.
May 2.
May 3.
Feb. 2u
June 13.
May 28.
Such an amazing increafe, if permitted to come
to maturity, would over-flock nature, and even the
ocean itfelf would not be able to contain, much lefs
to provide for the half of its inhabitants, But two
wife purpofes are anfwered by this amazing increafe -,
it preferves the fpecies in the midfl of numberlefs
enemies, and ferves to furniih the reft with a fufte-
nance adapted to their nature.
All fifhes, except the whale kind, are entirely di-
veiled of thofe parental folicitudes which fo ftrongly
mark the manner of the more perfecl: terreflrial ani-
mals.
HISTORY OF FISH. 159
mals. They have different feafons for depofiting
their fpawn ; fome, that live in the depths of the
ocean, are faid to choofe the winter months } but, in
general, thofe with which we are acquainted, choofe
the hotteft months in fummer, and prefer fuch water
as is fomewhat warmed by the beams of the fun.
They then leave the deepeft parts of the ocean, which
are the coldeft, and Ihoal round the coafbs, or fwim
up the frefh- water rivers, that are warm as they arc
comparatively fhallow. When they have depofited
their burdens, they then return to their old ftations,
and leave their progeny to fhift for themfelves.
The fpawn continues in its egg-ftate in fome fifh
longer than in others, and this in proportion to the
animal's fize. In the falmon forinftance, the young
animal continues in the egg from the beginning of
December till the beginning of April -, the carp con-
tinues in the egg not above three weeks; the little
gold fifh from China is produced (till quicker.
Thefe all, when excluded, at firft efcape by their
minutenefs and agility. They rife, fink, and turn
much readier than grown fifh ; and they can efcape
into very fhallow waters when purfued. But, with
all their advantages, fcarce one in a thoufand fur-
vives-the numerous perils of its youth. The very
male and female that have given them, birth, are
equally dangerous and formidable with the reit,
forgetting all relation at their departure.
Such is the general pradlice of thefe heedlefs
and hungry creatures : but there are fome in this
clafs, living in the v/atcrs, that are pofiefTed of finer
organs, and higher fcnfations ; and have all the ten-
dernefs of birds and quadrupeds for their young;
that nurfe them with conftant care, and protect them
from every injury. Of this clafs are the cetaceous
tribe, or the fillies of the whale kind. There arc
others, though not capable ofnurfing their young,
yet that bring them alive into the world, and defend
them with courage and activity. Thefe are the car-
2 tilaginous
160 HISTORY OF FISH.
tllaglnous kinds, orthofe who have griftles inftead of
bones. But the fierce unmindful tribe we have been
defcribing, that leave their fpawn without any pro-
teftion, are called thefpinous, or bony kinds, from
their bones refembling the iharpnefs of thorns.
Thus there are three grand divifions in the fifli
kind : the cetaceous the cartilaginous, and the fpi-
nous ; all differing from each other in their confor-
mation, their appetites, in their bringing forth, and
in the care of their young. Thefe three great dif-
tindtions are not the capricious difference formed
by a maker of fyftems, but are ftrongly and firmly
marked in nature. Thefe are the diftinctions of
Ariftotle ; and they have been adopted by mankind
ever fince his time.
As on land there are fome orders of animals that
feem formed to command the reft, with greater
powers and more various inftincls, fo in the ocean
there are fillies which feem formed upon a nobler
plan than others, and that, to their fifhy form, join
the appetites and the conformation of quadrupeds*
Thefe all are of the cetaceous kind^ which are raifed
as many degrees above other fifhes in their nature, as
they are in general in their fize. This tribe is com-
pofed of the whale, and its varieties, of the cachalot,
the dolphin, the grampus, and the porpus. Thefe
fifh never produce above one young, or two at the
inoft, at a time ; and this the female fuckles entirely
in the manner of quadrupeds ; her breads being
placed, as in the human kind, above the navel.
It is not only upon land that man hath exerted
his power of deflroyirig the larger tribes of quadru-
peds ; he hath extended his efforts even in the
midft of the ocean ; and hath cut off numbers of
thofe enormous animals that had poflibly exifted for
ages. We now no longer hear of whales from 200
to 250 feet long, which were often feen about two
centuries ago. They have all been deftroyed by the
ikill of mankind, an: he fpecies is now dwindled
into
HISTORY OF FISH, 161
into a race of diminutive animals, from 30 to 80
feet long.
The northern feas of Spitsbergen and Greenland
were once the region to which the largeft of theie
animals reforted; but ib great hath been the deftruc-
tion of whales fmce the reign of queen Elizabeth,
rhat they begin to grow thinner every year; and
thofe that are found there, feem, from their fize,
norcometo their full dimenfions. The grcateft
whales refort to places where they have the lead dif-
turbance ; to thofe feas that are on the oppofite fide
of the globe, near the fouth pole. In this part of
the world., there are dill to be feen whales
above 160 feet long; and perhaps even longer might
be found in thofe latitudes near the fouth pole, to
which we have not as yet ventured.
Though this magnitude be wonderful, yet ftill
greater wonders may pofTibly be concealed in the
deep, v.hich we have not had opportunities of ex-
ploring. The whales are obliged to fhew themfelves
ki order to take breath ; but who knows the fize of
thofe animals that -are fitted to remain forever under
water, and that have been increafing in magnitude
for centuries ?
We have feen that fifties of the cetaceous kind
bear a ftrong refemblance to quadrupeds in their
conformation ; thofe of the cartilaginous kinds are
more than one remove feparated from them ; they
form the fhade that completes the imperceptible
gradations of nature.
Cartilaginous fifh may be divided,
i. Into thofe of the (hark kind, comprehending
the great white fhark — bafking fhark — blue (hark —
balance fi(h — horned fi(h — fmooth horned filh —
monk fifh — dog fifh — cat fifh — fea fox — the zy<:;;irn:i
—the tope — and the porbeagle. Thefe are all ot
the fame nature, and differ more in fize than in
figure or conformation.
L 2. Flat
ifia HISTORYOF
2* Flat fifh, comprehending the torpedo — the
flcaite— the fharp-nofed ray — the rough ray — the
thornback — and the fire flare.
3. The (lender fnak'e-fhaped kind : as the lamprey
—the pride — and the pipe fifh.
4. The fturgeon and its variety — the ifinglafs fifh,
5. A variety of fifh of different figures and na-
tures, that do not rank under the former divifions ;
as the fun filh — the lump fifh — the tetrodon— the
fea fnail — the chimera — 'and the fiftung frog.
The third general divifion of fifties is into that of
the fpinous or bony kind.
Of this clafs are already known above 400 fpecies,
of which the following are a part, viz. the eel, cod,
ling, hake> tuflc, haddock, whiting, pollack, doree,
holybutj falmon, trout, herring, mackarel, pike,
perch, charr, mullet, carp, fhad, tench, dace, roach,
gudgeon> pilchard, fmall fprat, tunny, turbot, plaife,
foal, flounder.
The fourth divifion confifts of the fhell kind, as
the tortoife or turtle, lobfter, crab, prawn, cray-fifh,
fhrimp, oyfter^ mufcle, and cockle,
Of the Fifheries*
The origin of the Scottilh herring fiflieries is loft
in the obfcurity of antiquity. Boethius mentions
Inverlochy at the head of the Linnhe Loch, having
been a town of confiderable magnitude, a feat of the
Scottiih kings previous to the conqueft of the Picts 5
and to which both French and Spaniards reforted^
on account of trade, but moft probably to purchafe
herrings and falmon. At the fouth entrance of the
Loch ftood the antient Beregonium, fuppofed to
have been the largeft town of the weflern Caledonians*
Its fituation was remarkably favourable for the
filheries, being almoftfurrounded with lakes and fmall
bays. It ftood in the neighbourhood of Dunftaff-
nage, another royal feat, of which a confiderable part
ftill
THE FISHERIES. 163
(till remains, but the towns of Beregonium and In-
verlochy were totally deftroyed by the Danes,
It is recorded, in the Batavian annals, that the
Scots fold their herrings to the inhabitants of the
Netherlands as early as the ninth century, This
traffic laid the foundation of a commercial alliance
between both countries, which fubfifted to their mu-
tual advantage, during many ages, but is at prefent
of very little confluence.
We have already mentioned the attention paid to
this great national concern in later periods> by the
Scottifh monarchs and legiflature, in order to re-
cover the fifheries of the eattern fide of the kingdom,
which the Dutch had long engrofled, greatly to the
prejudice of the rightful owners.
The frequent laws which were enabled in the reigns
of James III. IV. and V. difcover a fteady, determin-
ed zeal for the benefit of the native fubjecls, the full
reftoration of the fifheries, and the fplendour of the
kingdom, and do honour to the memory of trifle pa-
triots whom modern times aftedt to call barbarians.
The expedition of James V. to the Hebrides and
weftern parts of the Highlands, and his afliduity in
exploring and founding the harbours, difcovered a
fixed refutation in that active prince, to civilize the
inhabitants, to promote the valuable fifheries at
their doors, and to introduce general induflry. His
death, at an early period> and the fubfequent reli-
gious and civil commotions in the kingdom, fruf-
trated thofe wife defigns, and the weitern fifheries
remained in their original ftate of neglect. At
length, 1602, James VI. relumed the national
purpofes which had been thus chalked out by his
grandfather. " Three towns, (fays Dr. Robertlon)
which might ferve as a retreat for the induftrious,
and a nurlery for arts and commerce, were appointed
to be built in different parts of the Highland* ;
one in Cantirc, another in Lochaber, and a th
L 2
1 64 HISTORY OF
the Ifle of Lewis 5 * and in order to draw the inha-
bitants thither, all the privileges of the royal bo-
roughs were to be conferred upon them. Finding
it, however, to be no eafy matter to inipire the in-
habitants of thofe countries with the, love of induf-
try, a refolution was taken to plant among them
colonies of people from the more induftrious coun-
tries. The firft experiment was made in the Ifle
of Lewis ; and as it was advantageoufly fituated for
the h'lhing trade, ajource from which Scotland ought
naturally to derive great wealth^ the colony tranf-
ported thither was drawn out of Fife, the inhabi-
tants of which were well fkilled in that branch of
commerce. But before they had remained there long
enough to manifefl the good effects of this inftitution,
the Iflanders, enraged at feeing their country occu-
pied by thofe intruders, took arms, and furprifmg
them in the night-time, murdered fome of them, and
compelled the reft to abandon the fettlement. The
king's attention being foon turned to other objects,
we hear no more of this falutary project.''
The great object which engaged the king's atten-
tion, was his fucceffion, in 1603, to the crown of
England, which gave a fevere blow to the prof-
perity of Scotland, and improvements in that
country.
The Scottifh fifheries were, however, refumed by
Charles I. of which there are many evidences. <c I
confefs, fays Sir William Monfon, this filhing is a
bufmefs I have taken into confideration. My lord
of Northampton, if he were now living, was able to
witnefs how much it was iblicited and defire'd by
me, and no lefs wifhed and defired by his lordfnip.
But by the death of my lord, it refted unthought on
by me, till the late duke of Richmond revived it,
and importuned me once more to it. His death in
the like manner made it die, till his majefly (Charles
* Csmpbletovvn, Inverlochy, now Fort William, and Strona-
\vay«
THE FISHERIES. Mf
I.) of late, out of his princely care for the good of
his loving fubjects, for the renown of his kingdoms,
and defire of the unity and equal benefit of his two
realms of England and Scotland, took more than an
ordinary care how to effect it, well becoming Ib
benign and blefled a prince."
I have been favoured with a manufcript copy of a
commiflion of that monarch, relative to a committee
for the fifheries, which begins thus ; " Our Sovereign
Lord ordains a commiflion to :>ede under
his majelty's great feal of the kingdom of Scot-
land, making mention, thit whereas his majefty by
his two feveral charters, under the great feal of his
king f Scotland and England, refpectively,
hath ordained an aflbciation to be of both the
kingdoms, comprehending Ireland under the faiU
land, for a general fifhing within the
leas and coaftsofhis majefty's kingdoms, except
inch as are referved in the faid feveral charters ; and
for the government of the faid aflbciation, hath or-
dained, that there fliould be a ftanding committee
chofen and nominated by his majefty, and his fuccef-
fors from time to time, of equal number of both the
kingdoms, comprehending Ireland under the-
lorn of England as laid is, whereof the one half
(hall be Scotfmen, and the other to be Englifh and
Irifli. And his majefty being perfectly inform-
the ftability and good affection of his majefty's fub-
jefts of either of the faid kingdoms after Ipecified,
ro undergo the charge of the faid general committee
•Ihing ; therefore his majefty hath given, and
cnts gives full power and commiflion to
the faid perfons after following, &c." Signed,
Thomas Hope.
: funs of diftinftion embarked in the
fign, which the king honoured wit itronage,
encouraged by his bounty. He alfo
' to be more ftriftly obfcrved ; prohibited the
station of fifii taken by foreigners ; and agreed
L 3 to
1 66 HISTORY OF
to purchafe from the company his naval ftores, and
the filh for his fleets. Thus the fcheme of eftab-
lifhing a fifhery in the Hebrides began to affume a
favourable afpect ; but all the hopes of the adven-
turers were fruftrated by the breaking out of the
civil wars, and the very tragical death of their ge-
nerous benefactor. The company had built two
ftore-houfes or magazines j one on the fmall ifland
ofHermetra, on the north fide of North Uift; and
the other upon a fmall ifland in Loch Madie, a ce-
lebrated bay of the above mentioned North Uift.
Martin, who vifited the Hebrides in the reign of
Queen Anne, faw the foundations of thofe houfes,
<md was informed by the natives, that Charles I. had
a fhare in the fifhery upon their coafts,
De Witt, in his book called The Inter eft of Holland,
fays, <c That when England had feton foot a herring
fifliery, in the reign of King Charles I, and had taken
their herrings at one and the fame time and place
with the Hollanders, and fent them to Dantzick,
in the years 1637 and 1638, the Dutch herrings,
were there approved as good ; but the Englifh her-
rings, to the very laft barrel, were efteemed naught. "
It appeared, upon a fubfequent enquiry, that the
company had fuflained fundry lofTes and wrongs by
their fervants, throughout the whole bufinefs,
In 1 1 654, a number of perfons of diftinftion in.
London, feemed earneftly to fet about the herring
fifhery ; and for their encouragement, the Englifh
commonwealth granted them an exemption from the
duties on fa.lt, and on naval ftores, to be ufed in their
laid fifhery, Collections were likewife made at Lon-
don, and other parts, toward the erecting of wharfs,
docks, and ftore-houfes ; and for the purchafmg of
groimd for the making and tanning of their nets.
The attempt being fruftrated through Cromwell's
ufurpation, nothing was done except the deftroying
the old fortification at Stronaway, by Cromwell, and
his building another to bridle the inhabitants, whq
.
THE FISHERIES. 167
aotwithftanding this precaution, cut off his garrifon
to a man.
In 1 66 1, Charles II. the duke of York, lord
Clarendon, and other perfons of rank or fortune,
refumed the bufmefs of the fiiheries with greater
vigour than any of their predeceflbrs. For this pur-
pofe the mod falutary laws were enacted by the
parliaments of England and Scotland, in virtue of
which, all materials ufed in, or depending upon, the
fifheries, were exempted from all duties, excifes, or
impofts whatever. In England, the company were
authorifed to fet up a lottery, and to have a vo-
luntary collection in all parilh churches ; houfes
of entertainment, as taverns, inns, ale-houfes, were
to take one or more barrels of herrings, at the dated
price of thirty fhillings per barrel j* alfo two /hil-
lings and fix-pence per barrel was to be paid to the
(lock of this company on all imported ftlh taken by
foreigners.
Some Dutch families were alfo invited, or per-
mitted, to fettle at Stronaway; the herrings cured
by the royal Englifh company gave general fatif-
faction, and, as mentioned above, brought a high
price for thofe days. Every circumftance attending
this new eftablifhment feemed to be the refult of a
judicious plan, and thorough knowledge of the bu-
fmefs, when the neceflities of the king obliged him
to withdraw his fubfcription or bounty, which gave
fuch umbrage to the parties concerned, that they
ibon after diflblved.
In 1777, a new royal company was eftablilhed in
England, at the head of which was the duke of
York, the earl of Derby, &c. Befides all the pri-
vileges which former companies had enjoyed, the
king granted this new company a perpetuity, with
power to purchafe lands ; and alfo twenty pounds
* The p-.efent average price of Scotch herrings, at the port of
London, though burdened with a duty of three Ihiiiimjs and
pence per barrel*
14 to
i6S
HISTORY OF
to be paid them annually, out of the cuftoms of the
port of London, for every dogger or lujs they fhould
build and fend out for feven years to come. A flock
of £10,980 was immediately advanced, and after-
wards £1600 more. This fmall capital was foon
exhaufted in purchafing and fitting out bufies,
with other incidental expences. The company made,
however, a fuccefsful beginning ; and one of their
buffes or doggers actually took and brought home
^2,000 cod-Em ; other veflels had alfo a favourable
fifhery
Such favourable beginnings might have excited
frelh fubfcriptions, when an unforefeen event ruined
the whole defign beyond the poffibility of recovery.
Mofh of the buffes had been built in Holland, and
manned with Dutchmen; on which pretence the
French, who were *hen at war with Holland, feized
fix out of feven veiTels, with their cargoes and fifh-
ing tackle, and the company being now in debt, fold',
in 1680, the remaining ftores, &c. A number of gen-
tlemen and merchants raifed a new fubfcription of
£60,000, under the privileges and immunities of the
former charter. This attempt aifo came to nothing,
owing to the death of the king, and the troubles of
the fubfequent reign.
Soon after the revolution,, this bufmefs was again
refumed, and upon a more extenfive fcale, the pro-
pofed capital being 300,000!. of which ioo,oool.
was to have been raifed by the furviving patentees,
or their fucceffors, and 200,000!. by new fubfcribers*
Copies of the letters patent, the conflitution of the
company, and terms of fubfcription, were lodged at
f jndry places in London and Weftminfter, for the
perufal of the public, while the fubfcription was fil-
ling. It is probable, that King William's partiality
to the Dutch fifheries, the fucceeding war, or both
of thefe circumftances, fruilrated this new attempt,
of which we have no further account, in the annals
of that reign, or fince.
The
THE FISHERIES. 169
The Scottifh parliament had alfo, during the
thi > igns, patted iundry afts for ere&ing com-
panies and promoting the fiftieries ; but the inteftine
commotions of that country, and the great exertions
which were made for the Darien eilablifhment,
enfeebled all other attempts, whether collectively,
or by individuals, within that kingdom.
In 1749, his late mnjdly having, at the opening
of the parliament, warmly recommended the im-
provement of the fifheries ; the houfe of commons
appointed a committee to enquire into the (late of
the herring and white fifheries, and to confider of
the moll probable means of extending the fame.
All ranks of men were elevated with an idea f
the boundlefs riches that would flow into the king-
dom from this fource ; a fubfcription of 500,000!.
was immediately filled in the city, by a body of
men who were incorporated for twenty-one years, by
the name of The Society of the Free Britifl) Fifiery.
Every encouragement was held out by government,
both to the fociety and to individuals, who might
embark in this national bufmefs. A bounty of thirty
fix (hillings per ton was to be paid annually out of
the cuftoms, for fourteen years, to the owners of all
decked veffels or buftes, from 20 to 80 tons burthen,
which fhould be built after the commencement of
the acl, for the ufe of, and fitted out and employed
in the faid filheries, whether by trie fociety or any
ifltfier perfons. At the fame time numerous pam-
phlets and news-paper efiays c .11 prmrit-
ro elucidate the iutjjrffcghttid • the
public with what facility the hen ; might
be transferred from Dutch to Britiih i
This proved, however, a ; ' (k than
had been foreieen by fuperficia! : >; The
Dutch were frugal in their expenditures aml'lMfeg^
perfedl mafters of the arts of fifhing and curing,
which they had carried to the greaiefl height a
perfection. They were in full poflcflion of the Eu-
ropean
ryo HISTORY OF THE
ropcan markets, and their fifh, whether defending or
otherwife, had the reputation of fuperior qualities
to all others taken jn our feas.
With fuck. advantages, the Dutch not only main<*
tained their ground againft this formidable company,
but had alfo the pleafure of feeing the capital gra<-
dually finking, without having procured an adequate
return to the adventurers, notwithftanding various
aids and efforts of government from time to time
in their favour, particularly in 1757, when an ad-
vance of twenty fhillings per ton was added to the
bounty.
.Such hath been the fate of all the fpirited efforts of
the Scottifh and Britifh governments for thefe lad four
hundred years, to recover the filheries from the
hands of foreigners j and if ever this national object
fhall be accomplished, either wholly or in part, it
v/ill be folely owing to the encouragements given,
not to companies, but individual adventurers, and
the abilities of thofe adventurers to perfevere in that
bufmefs againft all the accidents, difcouragements,
and misfortunes that attend it, both in the capture,
and the fale of the fifh. Even the frugal Dutch, who
have reduced all the branches of the fiiheries into a
regular fyftem, founded upon long experience,
judged it neceffary, after repeated attempts in favour
offocieties, to relinquiih that mode, and to direct
their attention indiscriminately to the fiiheries in
general. This is alfo the practice of all other ftates
whofe fubjects embark therein, They are encou-
raged by exclufive privileges and exemptions, .fuit-
cd to the various cafes and circumftances of their
refpe&ive fituations ; and this leads to a minute in-
veiligation of the Scottifh herring filheries, as carried
on at the prefect time, by foreigners, as well as
natives.
HERRING FISHERIES. 171
Migration of the Herrings.
THERE are fome fifties, as the herring, cod-fifh,
haddock, whiting, mackarel, tunny, and pilchard,
that may be called tifh of pailage, and bear a ftrong
analogy to birds of pafiagej both from their focial
difpofition, and the immenfity of their numbers.
Other fifh live in our vicinity, and refide on our
coafts all the year round ; or keep in the depths of
the ocean, and are but feldom feen : but thefc, at
Hated fealbns, vilit the more ibuthern ihores with
regular certainty, generally returning the fame week
in the fucceeding year, and often the fame day.
The herrings are found, in the greateil abundance,
in the higheit northern latitudes within the arctic cir-
cle. In thofe inacceflible leas, that are covered with
ice during a great part of the year, the herring find
a quiet and lure retreat from all their numerous ene-
mies : there neither man, nor their dill more deftruc-
tive enemy, the fin-fifh, or the cachalot, the moft
voracious of the whale kind, dares to purfue them.
The great colony of herring fets out from the
icy fea about the middle of winter, compofed of
fuch numbers as to exceed the powers of imagina-
tion, but they no iooner leave their retreats, than
millions of enemies appear to thin their fquadrons.
The fun-fifh, arid the cachalot devour hundreds at a
time; the porpus, the grampus, the fhiirk, cod-
fifh, haddocks, pollacks, and the whole numerous
tribe cf dog-fifh find them an eafy prey, and defift
from making war upon each other : but ftill more
the unnumbered flocks of lea fowl, that chiefly inha-
bit near the pole, watch the outfet of their dangerous
migration, and fpread cxtenfive ruin.
In this exigence, the defencelefs emigrants find
no other fafety but by crowding clofer together, like
fheep when frightened, and leaving to the outmofl
bands the danger of being ftrft devoured. The
n body begins at a certain latitude to feparate
I into
17* HISTORY OF THE
into two great divifions, one of which moves to the
•weft, and pours down along the coafts of America,
as far fouth as Carolina, and are fo numerous in the
Chefapeak bay, as to become a nuifance to the
fhores. The other divifion takes a more eaftern
direction, towards Europe, and falls in with the
great ifland of Iceland about the beginning of
March; upon their arrival on that coaft, their
phalanx, which hath already fuffered considerable
diminutions, is nevertheiefs found to be of amazing
extent, depth, and clofenefs, occupying a furface
equal to the dimenfions of Great Britain and Ire-
land, but fubdivided into columns of five or fix
miles in length, and threeorfour in breadth, each line
or column being led, according to the idea of fifh-
ermen, by herrings of more than ordinary fize. The
herrings fwim near the furface, linking now and
then then for ten or fifteen minutes. The fore-
runners of thofe who vifit the Britifh kingdoms ap-
pear off Shetland in April or May, and the grand
tody begins to be perceived in June. Their ap-
proach is known to the fifhers by a fmall rippling of
the water, the reflection of their brilliancy, and the
number of folan geefe, or gannets, and other aerial
perfecutors,who feaft richly upon this offered bounty;
and who, with the marine attendants, may be a
concurrent caufe of driving the ihoals into bays and
creeks. Here new enemies await thefe Heaven-di-
rented ftrangers. Whole fleets of Dutch, French,
Flerniih, Pruflian, and Danifo veiTels, with all the
apparatus of netting, are in readinefs on a fixed day,
to drag the ocean, thereby fnatching from the
fboals, not hundreds, but hundreds of thoufands3
every night from June till September.
The Shetland iflands, where the herrings meet
with the firft interruption in their progrefs fouth-
wards, lie at the diitance of 100 miles due north
from the mainland of Scotland, and extend almoft
a. degree in length. -Though thefe iflands break,
auf
HERRING FISHERIES. 173'
and fcparate the grand body of the herrings into
two parts, thefe wanderers ilill continue their comic
to the Southward ; one divifion proceeds along the
call fide of Britain, pays its tribute to the Orkneys,
the Murray Firth, the co.ifts of Aberdeen, Angus
and Fife; the great rivcT Forth, the coaft of Scar-
borough, and particularly the far projecting land at
Yarmouth, the antient and only mart of herrings
in Fngland, where they appear in October, and arc
found in confiderable quantities till Chriftmas. Du-»
ring this feafon they fend a confiderable fuppi
the London market; and pafling down the channel,
they pay a flight vifit to the north coaft of France,
but fo cxhaufted arid impoverifhed, that they are
very improper for commercial purpofcs, though
ibmetimes cured for exportation.
The other brigade take their cotirfe from the
Shetland iflands, along the weft fide of Britain, and
are obferved to be larger and fatter than thofe on
the eaft fide. After pafling the Shetland, and the
Orkney ides, they crowd in amazing quant
into the lakes, bays, and narrow channels of the?
fhires of Sutherland, Rofs and Invernefs; which,
with the Hebride iiles, efpecially the Long Ifland,
compofe the greateft ftationary herrin
Britain, that upon the coaft of Shetland except*.
Sometimes, as in 1784, this (hoal, in its fou-
thern progrefs, edges clofe upon the extenfive ci
.rgylefhire ; fills every bay and creek ; viiits, in
1 detatchments, the Firth of Clyde, Lochfine,
and other lakes within the entrance of that river; the
coaft of Airfliiro, and of Galloway, to the head of the
Sohvay Firth. Having performed this friendly office to*
the wefternlhores of Scotland, the (hoal proceeds to-
wards the north of Ireland ; where, meeting wirh a
fecond interruption, they are again divided into two
brigades; one ihoal pal; n the Iriili Channel,
the Ilk of Man, and affords an occasional ft;
to
174 HISTORY O F T H E
to the eaft coaft of Ireland, and the weft coaft of
England, as far as the Briftol Channel. The other
ihoal fkirts along the weft coaft of Ireland, where after
vifiting the lakes of Donnegal, it gradually difap-
pears, and is finally loft in the immenfity of the
Atlantic. So bountiful is providence to the inhabi-
tants of the Britilh ifles, in one article of food only.
<c Were we inclined, fays a well-known writer,
to confider this partial migration of the herring in
a moral light, we might reflect with veneration and
awe on the mighty power which originally imprefled
on this moft ufeful body of his creatures the inftinct
that directs and points out the courfe, that blef-
fes and enriches thefe iflands, which caufes them at
certain and invariable times to quit the vaft polar
deeps, and offer themfelves to our expecting fleets.
That benevolent being has never, from the earlieft
records, been once known to withdraw his blefTmg
from the whole, though he often thinks proper to
deny it to particulars ; yet this partial failure (for
which we fee no natural reafon) fhould fill us with
the moft exalted and grateful fenfe of his provi-
dence, for impreffing fo invariable and general an
inftindt on thefe tifh towards afouthward migration,
when the whole is to be benefited, and to withdraw
it only when a minute part is to fufFer.
" This impreffion was given them, that they
might remove for the fake of depofiting their fpawn
in warmer feas, that would mature and vivify it
more a(Tu redly than thofe of the frigid zone. It is
not from defect of food that they fet themfelves in
motion, for they come to us full of fat, and on
their return are almoft univerfally obfcrved to be
lean and miierable. What their food is near the
pole, we are not yet informed ; but in our feas
they feed much on the onifcus marinusy a cruftace-
ous infect, and ibmetimes on their own fry.
" They are in full roe to the end of June, and
continue in perfection till the beginning of winter,
when
HERRING FISHERIES. 17$
when they begin to depofit their fpawn. Thougb
we have no particular authority for it, yet a? very
few young herrings are found in our leas during
the winter, it feems mod certain that they muft
return to their parental haunts beneath the ice,
to repair the vaft deftru&ion of their race during
Summer, by men, fowl, and fifh.'*
Review of the Herring Fijhtries.
The whole coaft of Scotland may be confi-
clered as one continued fifhcry, diftmguifhed how-
ever, by various names :
1. The Shetland, or Northern Fifhcry.
2. That on the call fide of the kingdom, from
the Pcntland Firth to Benvic.
3. The Weftcrn, or Loch Broom Fiihcry.
tte Shetland, or Northern Fijhery.
The Shetland Ifles are fituated between 60 and
6 1 degrees of north latitude, about one degree north
from the Orkney Ifles, 100 miles from the mam-
land of Scotland, and nearly the fame diftancc
from the coaft of Norway. Of thefe iflands forty-
fix arc inhabited, bcfides a number of letter ones,
which afford a little grafs, and are called holms ;
others are mere rocks, the refidence of voracious
fowls, which, like the human fpccies, reibrt
hither after the herrings and other fifties that abound
thefe fhores. The principal iiland of this divi-
fion is called Mainland -t and it extends about fixty
miles from north to fouth, is in general very nar-
row, and much interfered with bogs or open-
ings, fome of which penetrate almoft from fi
fide. The furface of thefe iflands is rock, or ;
and in the valleys, a fcanty portion of clay
which produces fmail crops of barley and blark oats,
but
176 HISTORY OF THE
but very unequal to the wants of 20,000 inhabi-
tants, who in bad feafons experience all the diftref-
fes of poverty, and famine. Nature^ however> hath
been more liberal to their- fhores, not only in
herrings, but in various fpecies of white fifh,
the conftant attendants of the herrings in their an-
nual migrations from north to fouth.
The principle town on thefe iflands is called
Lerwic, .fituated upon a narrow channel of the
mainland, called BraiTa Sound. Here the Dutch
and other foreigners refort to the fifheries at the
appointed feafons, when Lerwic hath all the ap-
pearance of a continued market or fair.
We have, in the annals of Scotland, traced the
origin of the Dutch fifheries on the fhores of that
kingdom, which have proved fo beneficial to the
latter, that the relation thereof would be confidered
as fabulous or chimerical, were it not fully authen-
ticated by the joint teflimony of Dutch and Britifh
writers, as well as by the ftatutes and archives of
both countries.
Sir Walter Raleigh relates, That, in 1603, the
Dutch .fold to different nations as many herrings as
amounted to 1,759,000!. That, in 1615, they at
once fent out 2000 buries, and employed in them
37,000 filhermen. That, in 1618, they fent out
3000 bufles, with 50,000 men, to take the herrings,
and 9000 more veflels to tranfport and fell the
fifli; which, by fea and land, employed 150,000
men, befides thofe firft-mentioned. All this wealth
fays he, was gotten on our coafts ; while our atten-
tion was taken up in a diftant whale fifhery.
Sir William Monfon, after taking a review of the
great commerce carried on by the Dutch, in various
parts of the world, which he afcribes chiefly to their
fifheries, proceeds thus •> <c There needs no repetition
of any former relation ; for truth has fpoke it, which
is fo glorious of hcrfelf, that it needs no fhade to
give it better glofs : in what follows I will demon-
ftrate
HERRING FISHERIES. 177
ftrate by the particular proceedings of the Hollanders,
in their pinks and bufies, what certain gain they
yearly mife out of thern ; and when experience, the
mother of knowledge, fhall make it apparent to you,
I hope you will remember what you are, and how
eafy you may make yourfelf and country by it.
" Fom the Texel in Holland to Brafound in Shet-
land, an ifland belonging to his majefly's dominions
in Scotland, is two hundred thirty and odd leagues,
whither there refort the 2 ad or 231! of June well nigh
2000 fifhing vetfels. The 24th they put to fea, being
prohibited till that day, and a penalty upon the
breaker thereof, holding the herrings till then unfea-
fonable to fait, for their fatnefs.
" Every one of thefe veflels that day directs its
courfe to find out the fhoal of herrings, like a hound
that purfues the head of a deer in hunting : when
they have laden their bufles, which is fooner or later,
as they find the fhoal of herrings, they presently re-
turn home for Holland, and leave their herrings
afhore to be there repacked, and from thence imme-
diately to be fent into the Sound (the Baltic), where
they receive them for a great dainty.
<f The bufies having thus difburthened thernfelves
in Holland, once more furnifhed with vidhials, cafks
and fait, they repair to fea to look out the fhoal they
had formerly left j and then finding them, and filling
them once again, they do as they did before, return
to Holland.
<c Nor thus ceafmg, the third time they repair to
the fhoal, as aforefaid ; and in their three fifhings,
computing with the lead, they take to the number of
100 lafts of herrings, which being valued at ten
pounds the lad, which is not feventeen fhillings a
barrel, will amount to 1000 pounds flerling each
(hip.
M M Many
17* HISTORY OF THE
f c Many times this fiihing fleet is attended with cer-
tain vefifds called yawgers, which carry fait, cafk, and
vjftuals, to truck with the buffes for their herrings,
and carry them directly into the Sound, without re-
turning into Holland ; for it is a matter of great con.-
fequencc and gain, to bring the firft herrings into
the Sound -, for there they are efteemed as partridges
with us, at their firft coming : but now of late years
the Hollanders are prohibited by the ftate, carrying
or trucking away their herrings, till they firft land
them in Holland; which will prove the more com-
modious to us. "
Sir William proceeds next, to ftate the expence of
a bufs of feventy tons from the {locks, with the price
of her nets, tackling, fait, victuals, cafks, mens wages,
and other particulars ; likewife, of a pink of forty
tons, for the white fifhery. He alfo draws a compa-
rifon between the Weft India trade and the Britifh
fifheries, wherein he ufes various arguments to prove,
that the latter branch is, upon the whole, more im-
portant than the former, and merits the firft atten-
tion of the Britifh government. <c You will wonder,
fays he, being born a fubject of England, and caft-
ing.ycur eyes upon the gainful foil of the land, that
you never conceived what the fea afforded : I confefs
it were impoffible for you to live in that ignorance,
if it did not appear by the enfuing difcourfe, how
you, ypur country, and efpecially the princes of thefe
realms, have been abufed, and the profit thereof con-
cealed.
" What better light can we have for this work*
than from our neareft and intimateft friends the Hol-
landers ? who, by their long travels, their exceflive
pains, their ingenious inventions, their incomparable
jnduftry, and provident care, have exceeded all other
nations in their adventures and commerce, ancl made
all the world familiar with them in traffic ; whereby
we may juftly attribute to them, what the Chineie
affumed to thernfelves, that only they have two eyes,
the
HERRING FISHERIES. 179
the Europeans but one, and all the reft of the world
none. How can this better appear than out of their
labours and our fifh only ?
cc They have encreafed the number of veflels ;
they have fupplied the world with food, which other-
wife would have found a fcarcity ; they have advanced
trade fo abundantly, that the wealth of fubjedb and
the cuftoms of princes have found the benefit of it j
and laftly, they have thus provided for themfelves,
and all people of all forts, though they be impotent
and lame, that want employment, or that are forced
to feek work for their maintenance.
" And becaufe their quantity of fifh is not to be
vended in their own provinces, but to be difperfed
in all parts of Europe, I will give you an account
of it, as it hath been carefully obferved and taken
out of the cuftom-houfe books beyond the feas. *
" In four provinces within the Sound, viz, Ko-
ningfberg, Melvin, Stetin, and Dantzick, there is
vended in a year betwixt 30 and 40,000 lafts of her-
rings -, which will amount to more than 620,000
pounds; and we none.
" Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Leifland, Rie, Re-
gel, Narpe, and other towns within the Sound, take
off above 10,000 kfts, worth 160,000 pounds.
" The Hollanders ftnd into Ruflia above 1500
lafts of herrings, fold at 27,000 pounds ; and we
not above thirty or forty lafts.
" Stode, Hamburgh, Bremen, Embden, and upon
the river Elbe, in fifh and herrings above 6000 lafts,
fold at 100,000 pounds; and we none.
" Cleveland, Juliers, up the river Rhine, Frank-
fort, Cologne, and over all Germany, in fifh and
herrings near 22,000 lafts, amounting to 440,000
pounds ; and we none.
* This account is equally curious and interefling, as it points
put the markets then cxiiling, and which (till remain, though in
a lefler dtgrce.
M 2 " GO
HISTORY OF THE
cc Gelderland, Artois, Hainhaut, Brabant, Flan*
ders, and the archduke's countries, 8 or 5000 lafts,
fold at eighteen pounds the laft, amounts to 160,006
pounds -, find ive none.
" At Roan in Normandy, 500 lafts of herrings,
fold at 10,000 pounds ; and we not 100 lafts \ there
commonly fold for twenty, and fometimes thirty
pounds a laft.
cc Befides what they fpend in Holland, and fell
there to other nations, the value of many hundred
thoufand pounds.
" Now having perfected the valuation of the Hol-
landers fifh, caught in our feas, and vended into
foreign countries, ourfhame will m an ifeftly appear,
that of fo many thoufand lails of fifh, and fo many
hundred thoufand pounds in money made by them;
we cannot give account of 150 lafts taken and vend-
ed by us.
<c The Hollanders are no lefs to be commended,
in the benefit they make of the return of their fifh;
for what commodity ibever any country yields in lieu
thereof, they tranfportin their own veffels into Hol-
land, where they have a continual ftaple of all com-
modities brought out of the fouth, from thence fent
into the north and the eaft countries ; the like they
do from out of the north into the fouth, their fhips
continually going a.nd bringing ineftimable profit;
like a weaver's fhuttle, he cafts from one hand to
another, ever in action, till his gain appear in the
cloth he makes.
cc But the greateft navigation of theirs, and of mofl
importance to their flate, for maintenance of fhips of
burthen and ftrength, is into the Streights, from the
port of Marfeilles, along the coaft as far as Venice.
During thefe eighteen years laft paft they have fo in-
creafed their navigation, whereas before they had not
above two fhips to five of ours within the Streights,
within the faid eighteen years they are able to ihew
ten of theirs to one of ours, and merely by the trade
of
HERRING FISHERIES.
pf fjih ; for true it is, that there is no commodity in
the world of ib great bulk and fmall value, or that
can fet fo many fhips of burthen to work.
cc The principal work I am at, is how to under-
take the Hollanders with our own weapons, and how
to equal them with pinks, bufles, and other vefTels,
till we be made partners with them in the fifhing :
not out of envy to their labours ; or to revenge dif-
courtefies : only we will feek to do what nature
dictates, viz. to enjoy and make ufe of our own, by
the countenance of our blefied king, that in jufticc
gives all people their right and due.
cc I prefent you not with toys to pleafe children,
or withiliadows of untruths ; for I know truth to be
fo noble of itfelf, that it makes him honourable that
pronounces it; and that an honed man will rather
bear witnefs againfl fricndfhip than truth. I have
made it appear with what facility the Hollanders
go through with the golden mine of theirs, which they
fo term in their proclamation extant : I make proof
that their bufles and pinks are built to take filh •> that
they fill themfelves thrice a fummer with fifh ; that
this fifh is vended and efteemed as a precious food
in all the parts of Europe; and that the return there-
of gives them means to live and breathe ; without
which they could not.
" It is manifeft that fifh has brought them to a
great ftrength both by land and fea, and fame withal,
in maintaining their inteftine war againft fo great and
potent an enemy as the king of Spain.
<c And if all thefe benefits appear in them, and no-
thing but fhame and fcorn in us, let us enter into the
caufe thereof and leek to amend it ; let us labour to
follow their example, which is better than a fchool-
m after to teach us. Nothing is our bane but idle-
nefs, which ingenders ignorance, and ignorance error;
all which we may be taxed with; for to a flothful
man nothing is fo eafy, but it will prove difficult, if
it be not done willingly.
M 3 IC There
182 HISTORY OF THE
" There are but two things required in this work j
that is to fay, a will to undertake it, and money to
go through with it, which being found we will place
charity to begin at home with ourfelves, before we
yield it to our neighbours ; and then this bufmefs
will appear to be effected with more benefit, more
ftrength> more renown, more happinefs, and lefs ex-
pence, than Hollanders have or can go through withal.
Time is the moft precious experience; and you Ihall
find that time will cure our careleffhefs paft, that rea-
fon could not hitherto do*
cc The inftruments by which the Hollanders work,
are their veflels of leveral kinds, as 1 have declared,
not produced out of their own country ; for it yields
nothing to further it, but their own pains and labour.
cc Their wood, timber, and planks to build fhips,
they fetch out of divers other places 5 and yet are
thefe no more available to undertake their fifhing and
navigation, than weapons are without hands to fight.
Their iron, hemp, cordage, barrel-boards, bread and
malt, they are beholding for to feveral countries j
and if at any time out of difpleafure they be prohi-
bited the tranfportation, they are to feek a new oc-
cupation, for the ftate fails.
<c Comparing their cafualties and inconvenien'cies
with ours, you {hall difcern the advantage and benefit
God has given us, in refpecl of them ; for all the
materials formerly repeated, that go to their fhipping,
England yields moft of them, or in little time the
earth will be made to produce them in abundance ;
fo that we Ihall not need to ft and upon the courtefy of
our neighbours, or to venture the hazard of the fea
in fetching them.
cc Whereas all manner of people, of what degree
foever in Holland, have commonly a fhare, accord-
ing to their abilities, in this fifhing; and that the
only exception amongft ourfelves, is the want of mo-r
ney to undertake it, you Ihall underftand how God
and nature have provided for us ; for I will appa-
rently
HERRING FISHERIES. 183
rently anfwer the objeftion of money, and caft it
upon the fluggifhnefs and ill-difpofition of our peo-
ple, who if they will take away the caufc of this im-
putation, they lhall take away the offence due to it,
and by which we are fcandalized.
" In the objection of lack of money to fet on foot
this work, it would feem ridiculous to ftrangers that
behold the wealth and glory of this kingdom, with
the fumptuous buildings, the coftly iniide' of houfes,
the mafs of plate to deck them, the daily hofpitality
and number of fervants to honour their matters, and
their charitable alms diftributed out of their fuper-
fluities. And to deicend to people in particular, if
they behold the bravery of apparel vainly fpent, the
rich and curious jewels to adorn their bodies, and
the needlefs expences yearly wafted, they would con-
clude, that it was not want, but will, that muft be
our impediment. "
After enumerating the various natural productions
raifed in England favourable to the fisheries, Sir
William enforces his favourite theme, by fundry
nautical remarks, all of them proving, beyond a
doubt, the fuperior advantages which the natives
enjoy from their local fituation ; and the riches
yet in ftore, from this inexhauftible Iburce, to all
Britifh fubjecls, who fhall fearch after them.
" All the fhoals (fays an anonymous author), ap-
pointed by the immutable decree to pofiefs the
tirths and bays on the eaft (hereof Britain, come into
the German fea by the eait fide of Shetland, and that
not many leagues from the fhore ; as thofe appointed
to ipawn on our north and weft bays of Scotland,
which are much the greater numbers, fwim by the
weft fide of it.
" But thele natives of our Scots bays in the Ger-
man fea fwim clofe by the fhore, which is the reafon
they cannot efcape, and are fo broken that they never
come in confirmed fhoals, or great bodies, to their
fpawning beds, any year the Dutch can conftantly
M 4 keep
1&4
HISTORY OF THE
keep at fea the months of June ahd July. For how
is it pofiible to efcape 5 or 600 miks of riets that
every night {trains every foot length of water five or
fix leagues from the fhore ?
" Every Dutch bufs has a large mile lengof
very deep nets dragging after him every night from
fun-fet to fun-rifmg. There are about 6 or 700 of
them come now generally out •, the conflant ftation of
all thefe is the eaft coaft of Shetland ; they never go
further than four or five leagues from the ftiore, yea
I have feen them fifh within half a league. The
nearer the fhore^ fo that there is water deep enough
to keep their nets from the bottom, they ftfh the bet-
ter : for the herrings that make their courfe to the
eaft coaft fwim clofe by the fhore : for no compafs
morejuftly directs the fhip to her port, than the
leaders of that innumerable army of herring guides
their body to the particular bay or firth natural to
them, and they directly make for.
" They many years make two or three loaded re-
turns; and this laft fummer (1728) though our few
bufles came home almoft empty, I am credibly in-
formed, the Dutch, after ours came away, carried
two or three freights home, though it is certain the
ftorminefs of the fummer hindered their fifhing the
true right herring on the coaft of Shetland ; but the
latter end of the year, by their good patience, they
ftaid out the bad weather, and though they did not
fifh the good fat herring they commonly ufed, in the
proper ftation for fuch herring, they followed the
herring, picked up their loadings of fpent big-bellied
ones on the coafts of Caithnefs, Buchan, Banff, and
all the Murray Firth. Any was better than going-
home empty handed.
ef It was happy for our fhallow waters, or firth-
fifhing, the fummer was fo bad, that the Dutch
could not fifli on the eaft coaft of Shetland, to take,
break, or divert the fhoals, that by the command*
and unalterable decree of the firft omnipotent fiat,
are
HERDING FISHERIES. 1*5
are appointed constantly to keep that very route to
come to our fhores and propagate their kinds. For
fincc the French, in queen Anne's reign, burnt 5 or
600 Dutch bufles in one day, we had not fo many
herrings in our firths and bays on the call coaft of
Scotland, as we had this year. "
Mr. Grofett, a gentleman of Dutch defcent, hath
the following remarks, in a pamphlet on th^
growth of the Dutch States, and the caufes thereof*
" If we pay the leait attention to the original
(late of the Dutch filheries, or by what means they
railed themfelves to their prefent ftate of opulence,
we fhall find that they were abiblutely nothing more
than mere filhermen, who had collected themfelves
into a fmall body, from different quarters, and lived
in luits> erected upon a fpot then called Damfluys,
which (till retains its name* but to the aftoniih-
ment of travellers, when enquired for, will be found
in the centre of the famous city of Amsterdam ;
which though originally nothing more than a poor
fifhing hamlet, now pretends to difpute confe-
quence with the firft trading city of the known
world — London.
" Early in the twelfth century, their progrefs was
fo great, that the Harlemers and Wa.terlanders be-
came jealous of them, embraced a frivolous op-
portunity of joining John VI. Count Florent, at-
tacked the poor fifhermen, and totally deltroyed
their habitations to the very foundations. In i.ioo,
they found themfelves re-aflembled in a confider-
able body, on the old fpot > and in 134: they ob-
tained a renewal of their privileges from the then
reigning Count Florent, William IV. In 1346,
the lordfhip of that domain devolved to the J
of Holland by marriage, fmce which they have in-
created by degrees to their prefent pitch of un-
doubted opulence.
" The great inrreafe of people, in proccft of time,
obliged them to feck new fields of employment.
Of
its HISTORY OF THE
Of courfe, none could be more eligible than the
fifhery which they difcovered on the coafts of Ire-
land, and weftern iflands of Scotland. This branch*
they ftuck clofely to, till the Englifli difcovered
the Whale Fifhery, in Queen Elizabeth's time.
From 1598 the Englifh carried on that branch
unrivalled till 1612, when the Hollanders fent
their firft fhip to Spitfbergen, or Greenland, in
hopes of reaping a part of the benefit of that moft
beneficial difcovery. The Englifh claimed the pro-
perty as the firft difcoverers, and would not allow
the Dutch to fifh thereabout, or have any fhare in
fo profitable a trade. The conteft ran high, and
fundry bickerings enfued between the {hips of both
nations. At length the ftates general, unwilling
to give offence to king James, lent a deputation
to England, to treat upon the fubject of the free-
dom of the fifhery ; the king avoided giving any
abfolute decifion in point of right; yet at the fame
time his majefty not encouraging the Englifh mer-
chants to difttirb the Dutch, it remained a matter
undetermined, and both parties went on fifhing as
before. Soon after, the Danes, Hamburghers, and
French, began, and have ever fmce continued to filh
in thofe feas.
<c The Dutch have found fo efTential an intereft
in the continuance of fifheries, that they do give
* Mr. Groffett is under a miftake in making the weft fide of
Britain the feat of the Dutch herring fifheries. A few families
were permitted to fettle, as before obferved, on the Lewis Ifland,
and were afterwards driven away. The great Dutch fifhery was
formerly, as it is at prefent, carried on upon the eaft fide of the
Shetland Iflands, from whence the buiTes fometimes follow the
herrings down the channel, till want of ftores. or other circunv
ilances, obliges them to return to the grand rendezvous, off Brafla
Sound, in Shetland.
If the north-weft coafts of Scotland be unfavourable for a Dutch
fifhery, that of Ireland is much more fo. Voyages from Holland
by the Pentland Firth to the coaft of Donnegal would require, upon
an average, three or four weeks, befides unavoidable dangers ;
while thofe to the Shetland Ifles may be performed, aiznoft with
any wind, in ten or twelve days at fartheft,
every
HERRING FISHERIES. 1*7
every poflible encouragement to the profecution of
them. By inattention, we loft the fway in the
Greenland fifheries, though the firft difcoverers :
and, by negligence, we have differed the Dutch
to raife immenfe fortunes from our fhores, by the
herring fifheries. Their uninterrupted pofleffion of
that lucrative branch of traffic, was what originally
gave birth to their now general commercial inter-
courfe, and confequence, with every trafficking
quarter of the world. OUR SEAS WERE THEIR ORIGINAL-
MINES, as acknowledged by the Dutch, and may be
fcen on the face of one of their proclamations for
the encouragement of the filheries, bearing datc>
anno 1624; they there call it their GOLDEN- MINE,
from which they have long derived a ftaple com-
modity, to barter againfl articles which other na-
tions had to fpare."
Sir Lucius Obrien juftly obferves, fc that fmcc
the tirft eftablifhment of the herring fifhery, the
Dutch have enjoyed the principal part of it; to
this they fland indebted for their freedom, having
thereby been enabled to contend fuccefsfully with
the richeft monarch and moil powerful nation in
Europe, and not only to defend themfelves, but
during the courfe of a long war to beautify their
country, fortify their cities, eftablilh a powerful
marine, and fix colonies in the moil diftant parts
of the world ; and in the midft of all thefe expen-
ces to encreafe daily in wealth and fplendour ; and
therefore it is not without reafon that, by order of
the ftates, it is inferted in the daily prayers offered
up in their churches, that God would be graci-
oufly pleafed to blefs their land, and to prcferve to
them the great and imall riiheries.
" The French too have benefited themfelves
exceedingly by this trade, and yet thefe nations
are obliged to feek their fifti on our coafts, by a
long and expenfive navigation in large {hips,
while providence bringcth them even to our
doors;
iSS HISTORY OF THE
doors; it might be expefted we fhould be able
to take them at a much lefs expence by boats,
and cure them more perfectly on our fhoresj
and yet his majefty's fubjects have not yet been
able to eftabliih this rifnery effectually, pro-
bably from the poverty and neglect of the north-
weft parts of Scotland and Ireland, to both of
which countries every year comes as great an
abundance of herrings, as to any part of the world,
while the wretched inhabitants have neither a flock
of fait fufficient to fave even what they can catch,
nor a fufficient number of barrels to pack them in."
Of the Eaftern Fijberies.
The herring fifheries along the eaftern fhores of
Scotland, though lefs confiderable than thofe on
the coafts of Shetland, would, with proper atten-
tion, be of great national benefit. The northern
fifhery is almoil entirely engrofied by foreigners -,
that upon the eaftern Ihores might employ our
own people, afford relief to the inhabitants, and
become a confiderable article of foreign commerce.
A fifhery near home may alfo be carried on with
greater expedition, and with lefs expence and ha-
zard, to the parties concerned.
But, though the whole line of coaft from Caitl
nefs to Berwick is the occafional refort of herrings,
in their autumnal voyage fouthward, yet there is
not, in this courfe of 300 miles, (including the Mur-
ray Firth) a fixed or ftationary filhery, fuch as that at
Yarmouth, Donnegal, and Gottenburgh> where the
herrings arrive almoft to a certainty, and generally
at the fame period of time. The Ihores on the
eaftern fide of Scotland, that have been moft ge-
nerally explored, and have produced the greateft
quantity of herrings, are thofe of the Forth, and
the Murray Firth. The banks of the Forth, and
the
HERRING FISHERIES.
the fhores of that great river where It falls into thfe
were in antient times the chief theatre of thfe
Scottifh fifheries. The coafts of Fifefhire, and the
Lothians, were full of towns, inhabited by a race of
experienced fifhermen, and intrepid feamen, who
navigated the mercantile trade of the king-
dom, who manned its (hort-lived navy, fought
the Englifh with defperate bravery, and rendered
their country refpeftable amongft foreign nations.
But thofe populous diftrifts being ruined by Crom-
-well, the inhabitants, thus deprived of their pro-
perty, (hipping, (lores, and utenfils, loft their fpirit,
as well as their abilities ; the fifheries, the towns,
and the coafting trade, gradually declined, and all
refemblance of former times vanifhed from the eye.
The white fifheries were carried on by fmall buf-
feSjfrom 15 to 30 tons burthen, with clofe decks, and
one fnaft that ftruck -, upon this mail one of their
nets lay drying in the night-time, while they rode
by the other ; put out in head to catch herring for
bait, when they were at the white Mining, and thus,
during moderate weather, lay fnug in the water.
About the beginning of March, theie buffes
went to the white fifhery, on the coafts of the
Orkneys : they faked their fifh in the hold ; and,
xvhen the weather Was dry, they put them afhore,
and dried them on the beeches and rocks. They
returned in May to the Firth, and wafhed the laic
out of their mud-fifh, and dried them on their own
beeches and ftages at home, then fold them, partly
for home confumption, and partly for exportation.
About the eighth or tenth of June they took in
their large nets, fait and cafks, and i'.-t out to the
fifhing of deep water herrings, in the feas frequent-
rd by the Dutch. When they had catched as
many as their fmall holds could conveniently flow,
bcfidcs their fifhing equipage and (lores, they run
to the coaft, put thefe alhore, took in a frefh fup-
ply of nets, fait, and calks, and continued fifhing
till
HISTORY O F T H E
till the end of Julys then returned home, ihifted
their nets again, and fifhed acrofs the opening
of the Forth from Fifenefs to Eyemouth, fo long
as the feafon continued. Here they generally met
with fuccefs, and gave certain intelligence to the
open boats (of which they were ufually lharers)
where to lay their nets for the herrings, near the
Ihore in ihallow water. When this fifhing was
over, the fame bufTes, with a frelh ftock of nets,
failed by the Pentland Firth, to the Hebride fifh-
ing, and there remained among the lochs and bays
of Sutherland, Rofs and Invernefs Ihires, till
Chriflmas, then returned home, and laid up their
bufles to be repaired : while thefe bold men, who had
tmdergone incredible fatigues and dangers, inftead
of loitering idly at home, went out immediately
in open boats, fifhed upon the coaft till March,
and thus, by conftant practice, incredible fatigues
and danger, became the hardieft and moft expert
filhers in Europe,
The herring-fifhing in the Forth, by open boats,
was thus conducted. The boats belonged partly
to the bufs fifhermen above mentioned, but
the greateft number, belonged to fhip carpen-
ters, and other perfons on (hore, who built and
equipped them purpofely to become adventurers in
the trade. Two or three fifhermen collected fix or
ieven landmen, to make up the crew for this fifh-
ing, which was called a dreve, which fignifies a
drove. Every filherman had, for the moft part,
one net of his own ; but the reft of the nets were
taken in from the net-makers, and other individu-
als, as iharers in profit and lofs during the feafon.
One perion was appointed to keep their ftock-purfe,
to lay in provifions, and to receive the money for
all the herrings fold. When the fifhery was over
they made up their accounts : the expenditure on
provifions, ftock, and accidents, was deducted from
whaj
HERRING FISHERIES.
what they called the whole head, and the remainder
v/as divided into eight or nine fhares, called deals*.
The proprietor of the boat drew one deal, every
man half a deal, and every net half a deal; and if
:c happened to be a layman or two in the boat,
who never were at the fifhing before, thefe were
called boys, and drew only the quarter of a deal, for
their firft year.
From 6 to 800 boats were thus employed
in the Forth, and many thoufand barrels of
herrings were annually exported, befides fupplying
the home demand. The coaft fifhing on the Mur-
ray Firth was conduced on the fame plan, govern-
ed by the fame regulations, and proportionably be-
neficial to that populous, though remote part of
the kingdom. It employed from 5 to 700 boats
of a lefs conftruction than the former, and each
boat had fix or fcven men. The general utility of
thefe two Hfheries may be thus ftateii : They
gave employment to a confiderable number of per-
fons of both fexes, and of all ages, as feamen,
Jandmen, fhip-builders, coopers, net-makers, (which
is chiefly performed by women, children, and old
people, incapable of any other work) rope-makers,
fail-makers, blackfmiths, fak-makers, colliers,
carters, day labourers, &:c. They fupplied the
neighbourhood with cheap food, extended commerce
to the amount of 60 or ioo,oocl. annually, and em-
ployed fhipping to various parts of Europe.
As a nurfery of feamen for the royal navy, we
lhall fuppofe the Forth to have employed, upon an
average, 700 boats, having nine men each. - 6300
And, that the Murray F'irth employed)
(>oo boats, having feven men each $ ^2<
pcricnced feamen, and men advancing in
that line, — — 10500
Thefe fifheries, though at prcfent in a low ftate,
barely defcrving the name of a national object,
I may
HISTORY OF THE
may, I have been informed, through various re-
fpeftable channels, be extended to any degree,*
and alfo the deep water fifnery, to the diftance of
twenty
* Among the many obligatiops Scotland owes to the learned and
humane Thomas Pennant, efq. may be reckoned his Simulating
afpirit of enquiry into fuch works of nature and art, as tend to
illuftrate the hiitory of that country, and to affift the antiquary in.
his mvefligations. Of the numerous correfjpondents who thus
embarked in the laudable dclign of communicating their obfer-
Vations through the channel of Mr. Pennant's publications, was,
the Rev. Mr. Cordiner, miniiter of the Englim chapel at Banff;
and that gentleman, encouraged by the refpecl paid to his com-
munications and drawings, publiihed, iri 1780, a moft enter-
taining work, entitled, Antiquities and Scenery of the North of
Scotland, in a Series of Letters to Thomas Pennant, Efq. The
favourable reception of this volume by the public, prompted the
author to circulate propofals, for publishing in numbers, V'iecws of
Remarkabk Ruins, 'and Romantic Profpe Els in the North of Scotland.
I had received fo much fatisfadtion in perilling the former work,
that on feeing the iirft number of the latter, I transmitted fome ot
iervations to the author, which I thought might be ufeful to hii
in the progrefs of his work. His anfwer came to my ham
while I was drawing up the above account of the eaitern fifheries,
and as he had .perufed what I had formerly published ou thefe
iubjefts, he favoured me with the following intereiling and feaibii-
able intelligence.
" In the Murray Firth, herrings, at times, make their appear-
ance in fuch plenty, as might become a valuable acquiiition to
the coaft, could the fifhermen afford to have nets in readinefs
againit the periods of their arrival ; and, had they knowledge of
the methods of aic.ertaining, more accurately, their being on the
coaft, it is probable we iliould find it more frequently the cafe
than it is at prefent apprehended. In fome feafons, off Troup-
head, about fix miles eail from this, the fhoals of herrings havfe
been found fo crowded, that the fifher- boys, by putting feveral hooks
back to back, and finking them with a bit of lead, in pulling
them up through the moal of herrings, feldom failed to bring up
numbers. — What a treafure would a herring net have been to
them ! —
44 There was another thing xvhichlpropofed to the board of truf-
tees, and which they were inclined to favour, had they not been
abridged of their power and finances, by the reparation of the
forfeited eftates. In examining the progrefs of manufacturers in
this and the neighbouring counties, I found that their perfection
in the weaving of clamalk or figured linen, was greatly retarded
by their total ignorance of the principles of drawing, and want
of taile for elegance of defign. At the fame time the tradefmen
were
HERRING FFSHERIES.
£o miles from the coaft, where the herrings are larger
and fatter than thofe taken in the Forth, or near the
fhores, and are nearly equal to the herrings taken in
deep lochs of the weft Highlands. This eaftern
fifhery is therefore to be confidered as producing
herrings of two different qualities, the large and the
imall, and requiring two different modes of regula-
tion. The deep water fifliery is to be carried on
by buffes or "decked veflels, from 20 to 80
tons burthen, who ought to be at the Shetland
iflands early in the fcafon, and attended by quick fail-
ing veflels to run with their rirft prime herrings to
Edinburgh, London, Hamburgh, Bremen* Copenha-
gen, and other cities where fuch herrings bring a high
price. While their rirft cargoes are thus in the market,
the bufies may continue the rifhery down the chan-
nel till the end of the feafon, and in this 'manner
the markets will be conftantly fed with frelh fup-
plies, greatly to the benefit of the merchant, the
filhers, and the labouring poor* along the whole
coaft.
I have not been able to difcover any fegifter or au-
thentic lift of the number of decked veflels fitted out
from the eaftern coaft, previous to the year 1750; thofe
fent out on the bounty fmce that period have been
very inconfiderable. There is no data, therefore,
on which to form a conjecture refpecYmg the num-
ber that might be fuccefsfully employed from this
part of the kingdom. Were certain impediments
removed, and encouragements given, the adven-
turers would be enabled to meet the Dutch and
Swedes at foreign markets on equal terms, or nearly
ib, by which the fale would be confiderably encreaf-
were altogether unnhle to be at any expense in teaching even the
moil ingenious children to draw ; and young artilh might b*
found among them, who attenvards would probably be able to
make a figure in advancing the finer parts of manufachirct, iuch
as printed linen?, the above mentioned damafts, &c«"
N di
HISTORY OF THE
cd : men pofTeffed of adequate capitals, relying on
the aid of government, and the profpect of a perma-
nent demand, would chearfully embark in the bufi-
nefs, and purfue it with firmnefs, through all its
vicifitudes of profit and lofs. Upon this fuppofition
I conjecture that three hundred buries would, in a
Hiort time, ornament thefe eaftern Ihores : diffufing
unfpeakable benefits amongft half a million of peo-
pie.
Reflecting the number of boats that might at the
fame time be employed in the fh allow water fifhery,
a more pofitive calculation may be formed, not only
from former eftimates, but alfo from the abfolute
certainty of an inland fale, which would increafe
proportionably to the extenfion of manufactures, popu-
lation, and foreign trade, for which thefe coafts are moft
admirably adapted, in the comparative fertility of the
country, the abundance of coal, fait works, and har-
bours j the eafy communication with London, the
Baltic, Germany, Holland, and Flanders ; but efpe-
cially from the very fingular induftry of the people,
was that induftry permitted to expand, inftead of
being deprefled ; which every real friend to his
country moft devoutly wifhes. Suppofing therefore,
that all obftructions to the fifheries, and manufactures,
lhall be removed, the number of ftout boats may
very foon amount to 3000.
Confequently, the eaftern fifheries will employ
300 bufies from 20 to 80 tons, navigated^
upon an average with 1 5 men each, for r 4500
the moft part, able feamen J
3000 large boats, built after the Scarbo- ^
tough manner, each carrying upon an i8,cco
average 5 men and a boy — J
Experienced feamen, and perfons advanc- 7
ing in that line — i
Of obftructions, bounties, foreign markets,
and other particulars, .which equally concern the
fifheries
HERRING FISHERIES. 195
fi&eries of the kingdom in general, I propofe to
fpeak hereafter. One circumitance however, re-
quires to be mentioned in this place. Though the
arrival of the great body of herrings on the coafb of
Shetland be certain, and almoft to a day, yet the
movements of the leffer bodies or detachments, and
their arrival on the ibuthern fhores, are, as before ob-
ferved, extremely uncertain. Some years they feern
to forfake the coafl almoft entirely ; other years they
arrive in fuch quantities as to occupy a fpace of feve-
ral miles ; but the time and place afford matters
for fpeculation only* During this fufpenfe, a few
fmall boats venture out, in all kinds of weather, to
explore the (hore — -they return unfuccefsful — fet out
again on the fame defign — and an* again unfortunate
in having feen no herrings. The towns on the
coaft begin to defpair — frelh attempts are made
with no better fuccefs — the fifhermen having loft
much time in thefe fruitlefs purfuits, return cha-
grined to. their ftarving families, and finally aban-
don the bufinefsfor thatfeafon.
But thefe difappointments of the poor fifhermen
are comparatively trivial to the diftrefies of thofc
perfofis who have provided a (lock of fait and
calks, in the fanguine hope of a fuccefsful fifhing.
Great, alfo, is the lofs fuftained by the labouring
people, efpecially in feafons of fcarcity, which are
frequent in that country. At fuch times, herrings
and potatoes would be a'feafonable relief to thou-
iands of numerous families, whole joint earnings
at the wheel and the loom, do not exceed 6 or j
ihillings weekly, upon an average of the whole year.
Here therefore> the community,, the merchant, and
the flate, fuftain a negative lofs, not from natural
caufrs, but an ill-judged parfimony by which a few
hundred pounds are faved at the cxpencc of tens of
thoufands.
The herrings, though frequently undifcovered by
the poor people who paddle along the fhores, con-
N a tinue
196 HISTORY OF THE
tinue invariably their courfe fouthward, as appears
from their periodical arrival on the coaft of Yar-
mouth, a land which projects far into the fea, and
thus intercepts both the fhallow and deep water
fhoals, where they may be taken every feafon in
great abundance.
Therefore, to infure a certain annual fifhery on
the eaftern coaftsxrf Scotland, it would be expedient
to ftation a double line of cutters from one extre-
mity of the kingdom to the other -, viz. four fmall
cutters to be employed, without intermifiion, in
dragging the fea to the diftance of fix miles from the
Ihore ; and four larger vetfels employed in the fame
manner, and to extend the line from the fmall vcf-
fels to the diftance of thirty miles due eaft from
land.
The herrings ufually keep at fome diftance from
the coaft in July and Auguft, and it is at this time
only that the fifhers follow them in the open fea.
About the end of Auguft, and until the middle of
September, they come into iliallow water, where
they remain for forne time in the bays and inlets of
the coaft, and this is termed the ground drave.
Thefe circumftances being authenticated by the
Dutch and Scottifh fiihermen, would facilitate the
bufmefs of the cruifers, and render the efcape of the
Ihoals almoft impoffible. The ftations of the
veflels might be off the, Murray Firth, Peterhead,
Montrofe, and Dnnbar. Every difcovery fhould
be immediately communicated in writing, figned
by the mafter, with the particulars and dates, to the
magiftrates of the town that could be firft made,
though fuch town fhould lie beyond the line of
their cruife fouthward or northward. Such in-
.telligence fhould alfo be notified to the inhabi-
tants by the town bell, and exprelfes fent in
writing, and figned by the magiftrates, to all the
adjacent towns on the coaft.
HERRING FISHERIES. 197
Of tbe Weftern Fijhery, including a Review of the Re-
gulations as tbe Law now ftands, with their Ope-
rations and Ef efts upon tbe Fi/berics, and tbofe con-
cerned therein. Alfo> a Retro/peel into tbe Proceed-
ings of tbe Commiffioners of tbe Revenue in Scotland ;
:btir Interpretation of tbe Law in certain Cafes ;
and tbe Fees impofed on tbe Fijhcries ; with other
Particulars.
Of tbe Non-payment of tbe Bounty.
Having brought down the hiftory of the eaftern
fifheries to the prefent time, it is now propofed to
relume the fubjeft of the weftern fifhery, from the
period when the Britifh company abandoned their
cnterprize, and fold their veilels and materials.*
It hath been obferved, that in the years 49-503
government, to encourage the herring fcfherieSj
whether carried on by companies or individuals,
granted a bounty of 30 (hillings per ton on the buf-
fes employed therein; and that, in 1757, it was
found expedient to extend that bounty to 50 Ihillings.
Upon the ftrength of fuch encouragement, and re-
lying on the punfbual payment thereof, the enter-
prizing fpirit of the weft country exerted itfclf to
the utmoft ; drained every nerve ; bid defiance to
the inclemencies of the fevereit weather ; the dan-
gers of the turbulent Atlantic ; and thus maintained
their ground, and extended the fiflieries, after all
attempts in other parts* of Scotland had totally
failed.
The number of bufll-s increafcJ with aftonilhing
iity ; the nets, and all the apparatus of the filh^
cries, were every year improved ; the men became
more expert in navigating thofe difficult feas, and
in taking, and curing the herrings.
The demand to Ireland, the Weft Indies, and for
home confumption, was great. A filhery thus car-
ried on by a perfevering people, flimulated by quick
* Which brought them only 7'. per cent, of their capital.
N z fales
19$ HISTORY OF THE
fales, and fupported, apparently, by liberal boun-
ties, aflumed for a time, every appeafance of nati-
onal, and individual benefit. But thefe flattering
appearances were of fhort duration : the*4ncitements
held out by government proved fallacious and rui-
nous to all thofe who had turned their attention and
capital to that bufmefs.
The bounty granted by parliament was tolerably
well paid till the year iy66> and the adventurers,
whofe cifcumflances in general admitted of no
delay, had till then, either obtained payment in a
few months, or got their bounties difpofed of to
bankers at 5 to 7! per cent, difcount. But, on the
return of the fleet in January 1766, fuch of their
owners as had the misfortune to refide in Scotland,
were thunder-ftruck on finding they could neither
receive payment of the bounties, nor prevail on any
banking companies to difcount them at any price ;
while their companions in the fame fifhery from the
weftern coafts of England, were paid at fight. *
The Scottiih adventurers were told that the fund
appropriated for paying the bounties within that
kingdom was already anticipated for fome years,
and no money could be paid till the prior bounties
were difcharged.
Thefe perfons had, by their induftry, perfever-
ance, and the afliftance of friends, increafed the
number of bufTes between 1762 and 1768, from r/
to 261. The aggregate burden amounted to
1-2,476 tons ; the number of perfons whom they
had drawn into their fervice, from idlenefs;, indi-
gence, the fpade or the plow, and who were now
become expert feamen, was 2881.
From this deduction and flatement, the reader
may eafily conceive the bad policy of thus over-
turning a bufmefs of fuch coniequence to the ilate?
* "!The Englifh bounty was paid from the general revenue of the
nation ; while the payment of the Scottifh bounty was iffued from
one branch only of the revenue in Scotland ; which, falling fhoit of
the demands made upoji it, left t&e pocr filhers of that
•without remedy.
HERRING FISHERIES. 19$
to the fugar iflands, and to thoufands of perfons
who now depended upon this branch, at home.
The fhock occafioned by the difappointment
was not only felt feverely by perfons immediately
concerned in the fifhery, and who had ftretchcd
their credit to their utmoft limits ; but alfo by their
neighbours, friends, and kinfmen ; by merchants,
coopers, blackfmiths, and other perfons who had
affixed them in the various operations and difburfe-
ments of the bufinefs. The unexpected flroke fell
particularly heavy upon thofe claires of men, who
build and navigate our (hips ; who fight our bar-
ties, protect our commerce, and defend our coaft.
From the fame caufe, alfo, hundreds of perfons,
whofe induftry would othcrwifc have been loft to
the public, now faw themfelves deprived of that
comfortable fubfiftence which their labours had re-
cently procured. The old and the young, perfons
of both fexes, and at either verge of life, who,
though unable or unqualified for other labours,
found employment in Ipinning hemp, net-mak.ing
gutting, packing, and other branches which the hfii-
ery affords.
Such were fome of the confequences to various
descriptions of people, from inattention, or ill-
judged policy, in withholding the trifle which thofe
induftrious and ufcful members of the community
i right to expect. But the mifchief did not end
here. The nature of a fiihery requires a long prepa-
ration in a variety of expenfive articles, as (hip-
ping, boats, nets, cafks, and fair. Nearly 261 buf-
les had in 5 years been railed, through an exertion
fcarcely to be exceeded by any body of people in
thofe (rations of life, and under the fame fcanty cir-
cumftances. Thefe veflcls being in 1766 engaged in
a promifing fifhcry, and the bounty, till then, having
been well paid, a new fleet was confequcntly on the
(locks j timber, pitch, tar, fails, cordage, and fait
\rere provided, commiflioned, or on (hip-board.
The coopers hid made, and were employed, al-
N 4 mod
200 HISTORY OF THE
moft day and night in making, from 50 to 60,000
barrels ; every department were buiily engaged in
their refpe&ive branches.
It would be difficult to enumerate all the channels
of expenditure into which the adventurers, and all
perfons depending on that bufmeis, had further em-
barked for extending the fifhery; neither can we
form an eftimate of the aggregate amount. But
though we cannot afcertain, with precifion, the pofi-
tive expence of works then going on, we way draw
fome inference, and form a probable conjecture,
from a ftatement of the expences of 261 bufTes al-
ready afloat.
The building a bufs of 60 tons, and equip-"
ping her for the fifhery in boats, net-
ting, &c. cofts the owners, excluiive of
caflcs, fait, provifions, and mens wages, j» 1 85,049
709!. confequently, the prime coft of
261 bufles, befides occafional repairs,
and frefh fets of nets, amounted to
As preparations were then making for"
profecuting the fifhery with redoubled
vigour, and upon the moft extenfive
fcale, we cannot conjecture the pofitive }> IOO,OOQ
difburfements, and the engagements
in which thofe venturous men had
$gain embarked, at lefs than
To this ftatement may be added the rear
or apparent lofs, fuftained by the indivi-
duals of Campbeltown, who, from the
year 1750, when the bounty was firft
granted, had upon fpeculation, built
many expenfi ve houfes of ftone, lime,
and flate •, which lofs, operating in va-
rious ways amongft a great number of
perfons,, could not be lefs
285,049
50,009
HERRING FISHERIES. 201
Here therefore was a fum far exceeding general
conjecture, of which one part was pofitively funk,
and the other part in a train of being expended on
a property wherein the proprietors had fufficient rea-
fon to rely, till the (loppage of the bounty ; when this
property fuddenly fell in value, became a dead flock,
and could neither be fold nor transferred on any
conditions.
Univerfal dejection, complaints, and murmurs
pervaded the whole weftern coafts of the kingdom ;
a general fufpicion, every man of his neighbour,
friend, or brother, fucceeded to mutual confidence
and reciprocal good offices. The payment of the
bounty, even at any diflant period, became doubtful.
In the mean time, numbers of thofe men who had
unfortunately embarked in expenfive undertakings
upon the faith of parliament, unable any longer to
pacify their creditors, found themfelves reduced to
the fad alternative of public bankruptcy, a jail, or
of flying to a country deflined to become the afylum
of the unfortunate, the injured, and the opprefTed
from all parts of thefe kingdoms, and of Europe.
The more affluent or fortunate number, who had
been able to difcharge their engagements, feeing
themfelves ftill in pofTefiion of the vefTels and mate-
rials, were obliged to flruggle with the fifhery againft
all impediments, or fuffer the bufies to rot in the
harbours. The intreaties of the idle, the indigent, the
widow and the fatherlefs, who depended on this bufi-
nefs for daily fupport, contributed alfo to quicken the
refolves of the owners, who, during the four fucceed-
jng years, fitted out the following number of bufles,
on the fuppofed Scottifh bounty, befides a number
of vefTels who repaired to Whitehaven, to clear out
pn the Englilh bounty, then regularly paid.
In I767 _ — _ -63
1768 — — — 202
— — 89
— — — 19
The
HISTORY OF THE
The patience and abilities of the adventurers being
now completely exhaufted, and the old bounty flill
unpaid, the fcene of diftrefs which operated amongft
all orders of perfons exceeded that of any former
period.
Every man was eager to transfer his property,
upon any terms, to avoid the horrors of a jail;
many veffels were attached and fold at half their va-
lue y and happy was he who could aflign over his
bounty certificates at a difcount fo low as 30 per
cent. Many of the adventurers thus ruined and
undone, found it necefiary to contemplate new
objects whereby themfelves and their families might
be fupported. In this manner, the Britifh fifhery
begun in 1750, under the vigorous fupport of go*
vcrnment, was at the expiration of 20 years, almoft
annihilated, with the lofs of 4 or 500,000!. to the
fubjecls of the two kingdoms, while foreigners
were gaining that fum annually by the fifheries of
the Scottifh feas, with which they fupplied Europe
and the Weil Indies.
During this melancholy flate of the bufinefs, cer-
tain perfons thought of an expedient which foon after
took place, and again revived the hopelefs> deje&ed
mind. Experience had convinced the filhers that
a fmall bounty well paid, was preferable in its ope-
ration, to a nominal large bounty, withheld for a feries
of years, and at length producing only 70 per cent.
They accordingly made a propofal to accept 30 {hil-
lings per ton inftead of 50; which being agreed to
by government, the 50 Shillings bounty was declared
to ceafe, and in lieu thereof, a bounty of 30 {hil-
lings was to commence in 1771, and to be punctually
paid from the Scottifh revenue at large, upon pro-
ducipg authenticated certificates that the refpeftive
claim'ants had in all cafes faithfully conformed to the
regulations fpecified in the ftatute.
The effects of regular payments may be feen in
the annexed table, wherein it appears that between
1770, and 1776, the number of bufies on the Scot-
i tiih
HERRING FISHERIES.
tijfh bounty had encreafed from 19 to 294. The
fifhery was carried on inTurnmer, as well as in winter.
The money received from the merchants and the ex-
chequer circulated through every bay, lake, and chan-
nel ; extended to the cabins of the interior parts,
and reached the mod diftant iflands, when an un-
expected event, co-operating with the fcantinefs of
the bounty, once more involved thefc devoted men
in a feries of hardfhips and misfortunes. This w^s
the American, and afterwards, the French, Spanifh,
and Dutch wars ; a fevere and unexpected ftrok?,
unparalleled in former wars, and it is hoped will
never again happen at any one period of time. All
fupplies of (laves, tar, fait, and other materials, were
nearly cut off, and rofe to an exorbitant price ; which,
with the necefTity of an enlarged capital, rendered the
bufs fifhery a lofing trade to all thofe, without excep-
tion, who were unhappily engaged in it.
The rife in the price of certain articles was thus,
Before the During the
war.
Spanifh and Portugal falt| ,
per bufhel — J ^ °
Barrels for herrings 026 o 5 3
per barrel — 080 220
, hemp per cwt. weight 1140 260
While feamens wages, provifions, and various ma-
terials, rofe to a height unknown in any former
period. The fifhery of courfc declined, and though
we are now at peace with mankind ; though the
bounty is now regularly paid ; the number of bufies
fitted out in 1783, amounted only to 153; and this
leads to an enquiry whether there do not exift cer-
tain obftru&ions to this, and all other Scottifh fifhc-
rics, which it would be expedient to remove.
204 HISTORY OF THE
Of the Time of Charing Out.
It hath been obferved, that the arrival of the her-
rings on the coaft of Shetland is certain and almoft
to a day, on or before the 2 ad of June, when the
bufTes and yawgers of various nations are ready to
receive, and forward them without delay, to their
refpe&ive countries.
Such hath ever been the forefight, expedition,
and wife policy, of the Dutch in particular ; while,
on our part, the nature and bufinefs of the fifheries
have been fo little underftood, or fo fhackled by mif-
reprefentation and unneceflary reftraints, that almo'ft
.every ftatute relative to the Hebride fifherf, however
well intended by the legiflature, has, in a greater
or lefler degree, defeated its own purpofe,
We have alfo obferved, that the Dutch follow
the eaftern fhoals without ceafmg, in their migra-
tions from the Shetland iflands fouthward ; and we
have likewife recommended the fame practice to the
Britifh bufTes fitted out on that fide of the kingdom,
by which we may, as Sir William Monfon obferves,
f{ undertake the Hollanders with our own weapons ;
and equal them with pinks, bufTes, and other vefTels ;
till we be made partners with them in their fifhery."
It is now propofed to Hate the diftinftion between
the eaftern and weftern fifheries, and to fuggeft fuch
amendments as feem beft adapted to the latter, the
conveniency of the adventurers, and the merchants
trading to the Weft Indies'.
The paflage to Shetland from Holland, Ham-
burgh, Denmark, and the eaftern fide of Great
Britain, is through an open lea, uninterrupted with
iflands, rocks, or far projedting capes j infomuch,
that
HERRING FISHERIES. 105
that in moderate weather, it is ufually performed In
a few days. On the other hand, the palTage from
Greenock, Port Glafgow, and other towns on the
Clyde, is attended with fuch hazards, expcnces, da-
magtt, and delays, that it is fcldoin attempted ;
and therefore the adventurers, inltead of proceeding
to the North Seas, which, upon an average, would
take up more time than a voyage to Newfoundland,
wifh to clear out for the Hebrides, Loch Broom,
and other openings upon the coail of Inverneis and
Rofs (hires, where, in the fummer and autumn,
they would fall in with the (hoals, as they advance
towards the fouth. It might, therefore, be fuppofed
that the laws had been fo framed or explained, as
to enable the weftern fifheries to be on the fpot in due
time to avail themfelves of the offered bounty, and
to follow the fhoals through all their wanderings,
amidft that Archipelago of three hundred iflands.
The people underitood, that the ftatute pafled in
1771 had this in view, and that thcfe words, " and
lhall be at the place of rendezvous of the laid
hlheries, on or before tbe twenty-Jecond day cf June,
for the eafl coaft j and on or before the jirjt day of
Oftober, for the weft coe.fi , " gave them a difcre-
tionary power of clearing out at fuch times, be-
tween the twenty-fecond of June and the firlt day
of October, as might be molt Suitable to their
refpedive circumflances. They accordingly prepared
to clear out, ^d be at the place of rendezvous agree-
able to the exprefs conditions of the ftatute; but
I cat was their furprife, when they were informed by
•: commilnoners of the revenue at Edinburgh,
that thofe who failed before the firjt Jw ttf 0
ber> would forfeit all title to the bounrv . 1
whole coal\ was alarmed ; every man advilcd with
his neighbour upon a proceeding fo lingular and ex-
traordinary. They referred to the act ; pleaded upon
the
HISTORY OP THE
the obvious interpretation thereof; reprefented ttid
diftrefles, Ihould the bounty be withheld, to their fami-
lies, their creditors, and all the defcriptions of peo-
ple who had depended upon the words of the legif-
lature. Still greater was their furprife, when an ex-
planation of the words on or before was demanded
from council, and they were anfwered, that on or
before, meant on and not before*
In this manner were thofe ufeful members of fo-
ciety thwarted and perplexed by the fervants of
the public, contrary to the intention of government,
and the fpirit of the law. But, however juflly they
might ridicule this explanation, there was no remedy
or redrefs. " Sir, if you do not comply with the law*
as explained by our council, you fhall not be entitled
to any bounty," was the language, or rather the
jargon of oppreffion, under which this fifhery flrug-
gled till 1779, when the adventurers triumphed
over thefe perfons, by virtue of an aft, empowering
them to be at the place of rendezvous any time be-
tween the firil day of Auguft, and the firil of Oc-
tober in each year.
But even the law itfelf is flill defective in this
refpedt. Experience and obfervation have difcovered
that the herrings are filh of paffage; that at one
time they direct their courfe by the mainland, and
at another, by the iflands ; that the period and place
of their appearance, depend much on the ftate of
winds and weather ; that as they fwim ne.ir the furface>
the other elements as well as the fea, have great
influence upon their motions, as thunder and light-
ning, by which they are greatly affected. - Thefe
confiderations, therefore, afford unanfwerable ar-
guments in Favour of a free, difcretionary power to
* Printed memorial of the adventurers in the Britifh white her-
ring fifhery,
the
HERRING FISHERIES. 207
the fifhers refpeding the time of clearing out, and
the destination of the buffcs. Thofc men are, and
ever will be, the bed judges of time and place.
The herrings in their movements pay no regard
to a£b of parliament; they are governed generally
by the laws of nature, and partially, or accidentally,
by the elements and icafons. They come and go,
appear and difappear, agreeable to thefe circumflan-
ces. Their movements are allb governed in fome
meafure, by the tides, currents, bays, and head-
lands of the Hebrides. By thefe they are hurried
on, kept back, and driven from fhorc to Ihorej
fometimes rilling the lochs of the mainland, at other
times crowding upon the coaft of the Long Ifland,
at the diftance of forty miles weft ward. . As they
invariably follow a fouthern courfe, after leaving the
Shetland Jfiancs, tni-y reach the Hebrides in July,
Meep prefiing forward amidft this intricate laby-
rinth, till the beginning of September, when they
nto deep water ; or in other words, when the
great body of the herrings have reached the Irifh feas.
Frefh ihoals appear in November, and continue
till January, when they become ufclefs for commerce;
but whether thcfe herrings be the remains of the
former fhoals in their return from the circumnavi-
>n of Britain and Ireland, or a new migration
from the frozen regions, is a matter of uncertainty.
The knowledge of real importance to mankind,
rcfpe&s the time of arrival, of fojourning, and de-
parture of the herrings. Thofe circumftances being
fully afcertarned, it is, or ihould be, the object of
the buries to be on the filhing grounds before the
fhoals have reached the Hebrides; completely
equipped for taking and curing; accompanied, at
the fame time, with quick failing veflels, for the
purpofc of conveying the herrings to the ports of
the Clyde, where the Weft India fhips wait impa-
tiently
2o3 HISTORY OFTHE
tiently their arrival. Therefore, inftead of limiting
the departure of the buffes to the firfl ofAuguft, it
would be expedient to fay, any time after the fir ft of
Juney and totally to abolilh all diftin&ions ofafummer
and winter fifhery, leaving the buffes in full poffeffion
of the feas, and in the free liberty of following
the herrings from place to place $ of returning homey
going out a fecond time, and in all refpects a dif-
cretionary power to act as their refpe&ive views^
and circumftances may dictate*
Of the Places of Rendezvous.
By the ftatute of 1750, the buffes, after being ex-
amined at the refpeclive ports from whence they
cleared out for the Hebride fifhery, were to rendez-
vous on or before a ftipulated day, at the port of
Campbeltown; a reftriction without an object, though
attended with inconveniencies, expence, and fre-
quently great delays in the outward-bound voyage,
by which the feafon was wafted or loft, the adven-
turers injured, and the Weft India veffels unnecef-
farily detained from profecuting their voyages. The
port of Gampbeltownj lies atthe diliance of fixty miles
ifrom Greenock, and though in the track of the buf-
fes to the Hebrides, no veffel would flop there un-
lefs driven thither by ftorms or contrary winds.
After a fliip hath got her clearance, and is fairly
in the open fea, ihe fpreads and adjufts her fails to
the winds then blowing, and to all the variations
thereof, eagerly embracing every favourable gale,
and thus ftretches on towards the deftined port,
without the lofs of a day or even an hour, on the
part of the mariners. This fcrupulous regard to time,
is not always owing to the importance of an hour or
a day, which in fome voyages is of little confequence,
but to the hazards of unfavourable winds or weather^
by which a veffel that goes into a port with a
view to turn out next morning, may be detained in
fuch
HERRING FISHERIES. 209
fuch port, during a period equal to the time in which
fhe might have completed a fhort voyage, had
fhe kept in the open Tea. This is particularly the
cafe with all vefTels which put in at Campbeltown.
The bay is capacious, fafe, and abundantly deep
for vefiels of any burden ; but the entrance is fo
remarkably narrow that no veflel can get out with
a flrong head-wind, and confequently the whole fleet
of bufTes, by putting in at that place, are obftructed
in their voyage ; and fhould the wind check about
before next day1 they run the chance of being de-
tained from one to two or three weeks. In the
mean time 1000 men or upwards are living in
idlenefs, confuming the provifions, and otherwife
incurring expences, to the detriment of their fami-
lies and the owners ; while the feafon is exhaufted*
and the herrings are moving from the fhores.
The inconveniencies of limiting the place of ren-
dezvous to this port were, confequently, reprefented to
government, and in the ftatute of 1778,11 was left to
the option of the adventurers to rendezvous either at
Campbeltown or Stranrawer. From the latter place
verTels can get in or out almoft with any wind, and
the bay or loch is alfo commodious and fafe. But
notwithftanding the natural advantages of this bay,
fknown by the name of Loch Ryan) the buffes
found no great relief therefrom.
Their courfe to the Hebrides is by the Cape of Can-
tire ; which having doubled, they proceed due north.
Campbeltown, the place of rendezvous appointed by
the former act of parliament, is fituated near the
extremity of this cape, and confequently in the
direct track of the builes to the place of their defti-
nation. Whereas Stranrawer lies at the diftance of
forty miles fouth-eaft of the cape, and the fame
number of miles out of the courfe of all veffels
bound from the Clyde to the Hebrides. To make
this intelligible to our Englifh readers, let us fup-
that a number of veflels cleared out annually
O from
2IO
HISTORY OF THI
from London to the herring fifhery off Yarmouth,
upon a bounty— that to be entitled to this bounty,
they were required to rendezvous upon a rixed
day in Ramfgate harbour, at the mouth of the
Thames -, but, upon a reprefentation of the difficul-
ties and delays in making that harbour, and alfo in
getting out of it, parliament Ihould pafs an act
whereby the veflels might have it in their option to
rendezvous at Ramfgate, or if the winds did not
ferve for that harbour, they might fleer for the port
of Calais, on the oppofite fide of the channel, Ihew
themfelves to the cuftom-houfe officers of that port,
and from thence return to the fifhing grounds off
Yarmouth.
The cafe of the bufTes from the Clyde is exactly
Tnnilar; they'muft either flop their courfe, however
fair the winds, and put in at Campbeltown, or bear
faway to the extent of forty miles out of the track of
the fifheries, to which they mufl again return through
the fame navigation. Whoever, therefore, advifrd
government in the framing thefe laws, knew little of
the nature of maritime affairs; neither were thofe
laws necefTary in any refpect whatever. The vefTels
fitted out at Campbeltown and Stranrawer, rendezvous
at thofe places only j may not alfo, the vefTels fitted
out at Greenock, Port Glafgow, Rothfay, and other
ports of the Clyde, rendezvous at their refpe&ive
ports, each of which being accommodated with a
cuftom-houfe. If the rendezvous of the buries
hath any meaning or object, it is this ; that the
cuftom-houfe officers fhall have free permiffipn 'to
go on board, examine the fize of the refpective
vefTels, their nets, and number of men ; which is
^nothing more than a repetition of what had been
done upon clearing out, and is therefore unnecef-
fary, or may be rendered fo by an amendment' in
the act, ordering a fecond examination by his ma-
HERRING FISHERIES.
.
/
jefty's cutters, at any time or place while the
veffels are* upon the riihing grounds, as at Brafla
Sound, Loch tBroom, or the Long I (land j by
this all evafion of the law would be impracticable,
and the purpofes of government effectually anfwered,
at no expence or delay to the parties concerned. It
is therefore propofed, that the practice of a general
rendezvous at Campbeltown, or clfewhere in the
Weft Highlands, do ceafe, and that every vefTd after
having cleared out, {hall be permitted to proceed
directly to the fifheries.
Of the Delays, Dangers, and Loffes arifingfrcm the
Pa/age by the Mull of Can fire.
But all the various inconveniencies and difcou-
ragements above enumerated are trivial, when com-
pared to the delays, hazards, damages, lofs, of vef-
fels, cargoes and men, in the outward and home-
ward navigation by the Mull of Cantire. By Can-
tire is meant, a narrow peninfula, which ftretches
forty miles from the mainland of Scotland, in a
fouthern direction, till it approaches within twenty
miles of the county of Antrim in the north of Ire-
land. By this narrow paflage between the two king-
doms, all the (hipping of the Clyde pafs to and
from the Weft Highlands, the Hebrides, and the
Atlantic.
The diftance from Greenock to the promontory or
cape, which terminates this peninfula, ufually called
the Mull of Cantire,* is above fixty miles in a fouth-
* 3f«/7, or, as it is called by the Highlanders, Mo-!, feems
to be the Gallic term for cape, and hath been adopted by the
Lowlanders in two inftances only, viz. the Mull of Cantire, and
the Mull of Galloway, the two ibuthern extremities oil the weft
fide of the kingdom.
o 2 weft
HISTORY OF THE
weft dire<5tion ; but if we include the courfe of Hup-
ping thither, the iflands to be avoided, the tacks
and evolutions occafioned by contrary winds, and
lee-fhores, we may eftimate the voyages from
Greenock upon an average, at eighty miles each ;
which eighty miles, being a circuitous navigation,
that muft be made good on the oppofite fide of
the cape, till the vefiels have got fo far northward
as to be on a line with Greenock, the place from
whence they fet out, occafions an extra navigation
of 1 20 miles; or 240 miles outward and homeward,
to every veflel or boat pafling from the Clyde to the
Weft Highlands. The lofs of time, the expence
in provifions and feamens wages in performing
this voyage, muft be obvious to every reader j while
a confideration of ftill greater importance remains to
be mentioned. As there are no lands between this
cape and America, and the prevailing winds being
generally from that quarter, acrofs an ocean of 3000
miles, the collective force of thefe winds, and the
weight of the Atlantic, fall with the moft tremen-
dous and awful velocity on the cape ; which, had it
not been compofed of folid rock, muft have yielded,
long fince, to thofe raging elements. Veflels, there-
fore, whether outward or homeward bound, but
more efpecially the former, are frequently under
the necefllty of taking fhelter in fome commodious
port, creek, or bay, till the ftorms abate, till the
winds prove favourable, and the pafTage becomes
practicable. For, unlefs the wind be moderate as
well as fair, the bufTes and other fmall yeflels dare
not proceed, and thofe who are hardy enough to
make the attempt in rough weather, frequently
founder in the crofs and rapid tides that run at the
cape, and add very confiderably to its clangers.
Nor are thefe the only difficulties that the buiTes '
have to encounter in this navigation. The wind
that favoured the voyage down the Firth of Clyde,
/v . becomes,
HERRING FISHERIES. 213
becomes, confequently, adverfe, after having doub-
led the cape, when the vefiels have to fteer in an
oppofite direction, and to encounter new toils and
hazards.
Thus, the Hebride fifhery, though an object of
great importance, not only to that country, but to
the fupport of the fugar iflands, labours under every
poffible difficulty; and as all the hopes of the adventu-
rers, depend on a fpeedy fifhery, and a quick fale,
nothing can prove more difcouraging than the im-
pediments and uncertainty of this circumnavigation.
Was the weftern navigation fhortened, and thefe
dangers and delays cut off, the adventurers would
be enabled to bring their fifh to market in proper
time, which, from the above mentioned caufes,
cannot be accomplished at prefent with any degree
of certainty. Ships, it is well known, often wait
feveral weeks in the ports of the Clyde for the ar-
rival of the herrings, and are frequently obliged to
fail without them. Thus the adventurers lofe their
market for the feafon; the merchants lofe their
freights, the planters their fupply of provifions, and
the unhappy negroes their regular fupport. Soon
after the departure of thefe (hips, the bufles which
had been detained on the weft-fide of the cape by
unfavourable weather, arrive, not fingly, but in
fleets, which occafions a glut in the home market,
greatly to the prejudice of the adventurers in ge-
neral ; while fome are totally difabled from contU
nuing the bufmefs.
Againft fuch a multiplicity of evils, nature hath
fortunately provided a remedy, in forming a fhort
jfthmus acrofs the peninfula of Cantire, which ad-
mits of an inland palfage, whereby this long an4
navigation may be avoided.
»3 Of
H I S T O R Y OF THE
Of the Reftriftion which prohibits the Eu/es front
furchafing Herrings from the Highland Boats.
It feems evident, from tradition and hiftory, that
the French and Spaniards frequented the Hebrides
in very early times, where they trafficked with the
natives for fifh. By this, may be underftood that
the Scots were the fifhers, and that foreigners were
the carriers.
It is probable, that this fifhery was carried oa
by little open boats or birlins, fuch as the High-
landers generally ufe at the prefent day. The Scot-
tifh legiflature, in later times, laboured to enforce
a more effectual and extenfive mode of carrying on
the fifheries, by obliging not only the royal bo-
roughs, but alfo the nobility and principal gentry,
to fit out bufles and pink boats for the filheries
throughout the whole kingdom. Though the
Hebrides and the oppofite fhores, far removed
from the feat of government, were, it may be fup-
pofed, fcarcely within the reach of thofe laws, yet we
find certain regulations in the reign of James III.
refpe&ing the Hebride fifhery. Each boat in Scot-
land paid a certain quantity of fifh to the crown,
which compofed a part of the hereditary revenue.
Part of this duty was farmed by the family of Ar-
gyle, who alfo had a jurifdi&ion annexed, for regu-
lating the fifhing, between the Pentland Firth and
the Mull of Galloway, and punifhing thofe who tref-
parTed againft the laws.
This jurifdi&ion included what is properly named
the Hebride or Weftern Fifhery, the thoroughfare,
if it may be fo called, of the great weftern fhoal of
herrings, in their annual tour from the Shetland
iflands to Ireland, which, in the opinion of fome
writers, they environ, and from whence they return
by the oppofite channel, in the fame manner as the
caftern Ihoals environ Great Britain, and return north
by the weftern channel.
There
HERRING FISHERIES. 215
There was alfo an inland fifhery on this fide
the Mull of Cantire, promifcuoufly called die Clyde,
or Lochfine fifhery, becaufe thefe copious waters
communicate with each other, and with fundry in-
ferior lakes, as Loch Long, Loch Strevan, Gare
Loch, the Hele Loch ; the whole being the occa-
fional refort of fmall detachments of the herrings
from the main body in their fouthern courfe.
This inland fifhery was chiefly carried on by the in-
habitants of Glafgow, t)unbarton and Airfhire, till the
reign of Charles II. when the royal Britifh company,
of which the king was a partner, built a large houfe
and cellars at the bay of St. Lawrence, now called
Greenock, fituated 22 miles below Glafgow, which
they made the feat of their trade and exports.
When the company diflblved in 1684, their build-
ings at Greenock were purchafed at public fale by
the magiftrates and town council of Glafgow, who
were profecuting the Clyde fifheries with great
fpirit and perfeverance, by boats built after the man-
ner of little galleys : each boat had four men, and
twenty-four nets, every net being fix fathoms long,
and one and a half in breadth, which nets being joined
together, made a confiderable length for fuch narrow
waters. Of thefe boats 900 were frequently em-
ployed. The fifhing began on the 25th of July, when
the herrings were obferved to come from the fea, and
continued till the 25th of December. The boats or
draves, being under no reftridions whatever, generally
made three fifhings in the feafon. A part of the her-
rings were fold to the inhabitants, fome were made
into red herrings ; but the greateft quantity was ex-
ported to different parts of Europe, particularly to
France, the antient ally of the Scottifh nation. In
1674, there were exported to Rochelle 1700 Lifts, or
20,400 barrels; befides confiderable exports to other
towns in France, to Sweden, Dantzick, and different
parts of the Baltic. One Gibfon, a merchant at Glaf-
gow, cured and packed in one year 3600 barrels,
o 4 which
2i6 HISTOTIY OF THE
which he fent to St. Martins in France, and brought
brandy and fait in return. Another merchant of the
name of Anderfon, firft imported white wines into
Glafgow, which he procured in exchange for his her-
rings. But the Clyde fifhery decayed after the union,
owing partly to the duties on imports and exports,
cuftom-houfe fees, and other clogs upon commerce,
in confequence of that treaty, by which the French
market was loft, and the friendship of that nation
alienated. Other caufes may alfo be afligned for
the decay of this fifhery ; particularly the failure of
the herrings, which are now feldom found in any
confiderable quantity j the growth of the Newfound-
land fifhery; and laflly, the rife of the trade to
America, which diverted the capitals of the merchants
to new channels, and gave full employment to the
feafaring and labouring people on the Clyde. The
demand, however, from Ireland, Stockholm, and
the Weft Indies, kept the fifhery alive, though in a
very limited degree, and in this ftate it remained
till the year 1750, when government adopted a new
method of reviving the Britilh fifheries in general,
by means of bounties. This encouragement would
have enfured fuccefs to the bufs fifhery, had not the
liberality of government been counterpoifed by the
checks before ftated, as well as thofe that remain
to be mentioned.
By the bounty laws, the bufTes were prohibited
from purchaflng herrings from the Highland boats,
on penalty of forfeiting the bounty j and inftead
thereof, they were to fifh for the herrings themfelves,
till the expiration of three months from the time of
their clearing out, unlefs they had fooner completed
their loading. This reftraint was a grievous hard-
fliip to the poor natives, whofe fiflieries were thus
limited to their own confumption ; and the fupply of
the thinly inhabited wilds of their neighbourhood.
It ruined their fifhery, difcouraged induftry, and
left thefe unhappy people Tolely at the mercy of
every
HERRING FISHERIES. 1x7
every fuperior who might choofe to opprefs them in
all their operations by land and water.
This law, which feems to have been dictated by
perfons of no nautical knowledge, was equally dif-
couraging to the proprietors of the buflfes on the
weftern fide of the kingdom. The object which
government had principally in view by thefe boun-
ties, was the raifing a numerous body of intrepid,
hardy feamen, fkilled in the principles of practical
navigation, who might be ready upon every emer-
gency to man the royal navy. With this view it was
judged expedient to oblige the bufTes to remain on
the fifhing grounds during a given period, and there
to be employed in the exercife of fifhing.
It hath already been obferved that there are two
methods of taking the herrings. Firft, the floating
fifheries, by conftantly dragging the fea, under fail, as
practifed by the Dutch. Secondly, the ftationary
or ground fisheries, upon the fhores, bays, or lakes,
where the bufles call anchor, and remain pafllve
during the whole period of the fifhery, which is per-
formed in the following manner. Every bufs hath
one, two, or three fmall boats and a proportionable
number of men and nets. From thefe boats the
nets are fufpended and hauled in fuccefiively, be-
tween fun-fet and day-light next morning, when
the men, fatigued and drenched in wet, board their
refpedive bufles.
This method of fifhing, therefore, inftead of
training feamen, fubjects the men to unneceflary
hardfhips, the veflels to various accidents, the
owners to burdenfome expenditures in provifions,
liquors, and wages, while the merchants or purcha-
iers are equal, if not greater fufferers, by the delays
occafioned through this tedious method of procuring
cargoes. And, it is alfo certain, that though the bufles
are thus detained upon a fedentary fifhery, they fel-
dom return home with mgre than half their loading ;
whereas
ai« HISTORY OF THE
U VI
whereas a permifllon to purchafe herrings, as well
as to fifh, would enable the vefTels to return earlier,
and with better cargoes, to the mutual benefit of all
parties concerned, from the poor half-ftarved High-
lander upon the fhores of the Hebrides, to the
equally wretched being who toils under the burning
fun of the Weft-Indies. >
Since therefore, the mere act of fifhing, while the
veflel lies at anchor, is extremely difcouraging to
that branch in every refpect, as well as to indivi-
duals of all defcriptions j and, fince it is likewife
evident, that this reftraining method anfwers no bene-
ficial purpofe to government, it would be expedient
to allow thofe people a free difcretionary power to
take, to purchafe, or do both; and in every refpect to
act as circumflances may dictate for their own intereft.
All the purpofes of government are effectually
anfwered in the voyages to and from the fijhing
grounds. No feas between the two extremes of
the earth are better adapted for training mariners ;
infomuch, that the Hebride fifiiery may be juftly
Ityled the fchool of navigation. In a voyage to Ame-
rica, or the Cape of Good Hope, the veflel follows
one courfe ; and as the winds keep moftly in one
direction, the fails are fet, and the men remain inac-
tive, or nearly fo, after leaving Ireland, till they ap-
proach the diftant land. But in a voyage from the
Clyde to the ufual reforts of the herrings on the
north -weft fhores of Scotland, the vefTel no fooner
clears one cape, than another appears ; which, to
weather, is moft generally attended with difficulties
and hazards : the helm muft be in the hands of an
experienced feaman -, the fails and rigging require
unremitting attention ; the men are conftantly in
motion, ftruggling and toiling without ceafing, day
and night : and fo hazardous and fatiguing is this
navigation through the winter, when the frequent
hurricanes threaten deftruction on every fide, that
the fafe return of the buries feems miraculous to
2 men
HERRING FISHERIES.
men who have fpent their lives in the mercantile
fervice, or the royal navy.
The feamanfhip acquired in thefe narrow channels
would be ftill further promoted by permitting the vef-
fels, inftead of lying at anchor in the lochs, to load
and carry home at pleafure, becaufe the fame vef-
fels would have a chance of making two or three
voyages in the feafon, inftead of one. This is the
method obferved by the Dutch : Some veflels fend
home their cargo by yawgers that attend the fifh-
eries for that purpofe ; while others, are their own
carriers.
<c The inftant the bufies have difcharged their
cargo, they are refitted for fea ; and as the herrings
make an annual tour round Great Britain, experi-
ence has taught the Dutchman where to proceed on
his fecond voyage, and to be fure of his game.
While the bufles are out on their fecond voyage, the
proprietors on fhore are bufy in taking out the fifh
packed at fea, and repacking them with frelh pickle
for exportation. "
This is alfo the practice of the Irifh bufles, who
being under no reftraints, frequently make their
cargoes in a few days, which they land at Belfaft,
Dublin, or Cork, from whence they return im-
mediately for another cargo, and are again loaded
with furprifing difpatch.
Thus the Irifh, Dutch, and all nations who en-
gage in the filheries, are enabled to go to market
early, and fucceflively, while the Scots are detained
at anchor in the lochs of the North Highlands
till the markets have been fupplied by their
neighbours.
I fhall clofe this fubject with a recent circum-
ftance which adds confiderable weight to the argu-
ments in favour of an unlimited fifhery. The win-
ter herrings generally frequent the coafl of Don-
negal in Ireland during the months of October, No-
vember, December, and part of January -, but in
1784,
HISTORY OF THE
1784, they did not appear till the 3Oth of December,
and then in one place only. Had the Irifh fifhery
been under the fame reftri&ions as that of Scotland,
confined to a bufs fifhing only, no great capture could
have been made during the few remaining days of the
fifhing feafon. But by means of 450 country boats, 300
bufles were nearly loaded between the joth of Dec.
and the middle of January, which from the failure of
the Scottifhand Swedilh fifheries, brought an extraor-
dinary price, both for home and foreign demand.
Of the Reftraints refpetfing the Irijh Fijhery, by the
Commiffioners of the Cuftoms at Edinburgh, contrary
to the Statutes.
As the great weftern fhoal of herrings falls upon
the north coaft of Scotland, and continues its courfe
fouthwards till interrupted by the coaft of Donnegal
in Ireland, nature feems to have intended this fhoal
for the joint benefit of both kingdoms, and confe-
quently, the refpeclive inhabitants being the confti-
tuent members of the fame empire, fhould be
allowed to follow the fifhing from place to place,
and in all refpects to enjoy the fame privileges and
protection in their perfons and property.
This being the idea of the Scottifh adventurers,
they refolved to follow and to take the herrings upon
any part of thofe extenfive fhores; but the conftruftion
put by the commiflioners of the cuftoms, upon the
prefent exifting laws for regulating the herring fifheries,
involved thole devoted men in new and unexpected
calamities. It was declared that no herrings could
O
be admitted to entry, either for home confumption
or exportation, that did not appear upon the oath
of the mailer or owners to have been caught on the
coaft of Scotland, excluding by this means, all her-
rings taken or procured upon the coafts of Ireland and
thelfle of Man.
The adventurers on the other hand, upon look-
ing
HERRING FISHERIES.
ing into the laws relative to the fifneries, could
not difcover upon what grounds the diftin&ion was
made between herrings taken on the coafts and bays
of Scotland, and the coafts and bays of Ireland and
the Ifle of Man ; nor were they able to trace the
caufes of this reftridtion, to any fources in the leaft
degree connected with the fecurity of his majefty's
revenue, or calculated to promote the increafe of
Teamen, or any other political advantage connected
with the honour or intereft of the flate. But all
'remonftrances in favour of the fifheries, however well
grounded, were in vain. The commiffioners, who
feemed to have fet their faces againft that branch,
remained inexorable.
In confequence of this perfevering obftinacy, a
paper was drawn up in 1783, under the following
title : " To the right honourable the lords commif-
fioners of his majefty's treafury ; The humble
petition of the convention of the royal boroughs in
Scotland, in behalf of the merchants and others con-
cerned in the white herring fifhery. "
This fpirited conduct of the convention had the
defired effect, and in 1784, the commiflioners of
the cuftoms at Edinburgh iffued a circular letter,
acknowledging that the acts of parliament, the
xr. and xix. of his prefent majefly, gave the moft
unlimited fcope for carrying on the herring fifhery in
any part of the Britifh feas.
The words of the law are thefe : cc And be it further
enacted by the authority aforefaid, That all and
'every perfon or pcrfons employed in the faid fifheries,
may fifti in any part of the Brftijbjfas3 and fhall have
and exercife the free ufe of all ports and harbours,
ihores and forelands, in Great Britain, or the ijlands
belonging to the crown of Great Britain, below the
higheft high water mark, and for the fpace of 400
yards on any wafte or uncultivated land beyond
fuch mark within the land, for landing their nets,
calks,
HISTORY OF THE
cafks, and other materials, utenfils and (lores, and
for erecting tents, huts, and ftages, and for the
landing, gutting, pickling, and re-loading their
fifh, and in drying their nets, without paying
any foreland or other dues, or any other fum
or fums of money, or other confideration whatever,
for fuch liberty. And if any perfon or perfons fhall
prefume to demand or receive any dues, fums of
money, or other confideration whatever, for the ufe
of any fuch ports, harbours, fhores, or forelands
within the limits aforefaid, or fhall obftruct the fifh-
ermen, or other perfons employed in the taking or
curing of fifh, or drying their nets, in the ufe of
the fame, every perfon fo offending, fhall, for every
fuch offence, forfeit the fum of lool. to be reco-
vered and levied in manner herein after directed.
Provided always, that nothing in this act con-
tained, fhall extend to exempt the veffels or boats
employed in the faid fifheries from the payment
of fuch harbour or pier dues as are, and by the
law ought to be demanded for fhips, veffels, or
boats, in piers or harbours which are built or artifi-
cially made; but that fuch harbour or pier dues
fhall be paid, in like manner as the fame were liable
to be paid before the paffing of this act. "
The above extract is then fully inferted for the
information of all perfons concerned diredtty or in-
directly with the fifheries, and who have no oppor-
tunities of perufmg the acts of parliament at large. It
fhows the ardent zeal and attention of government,
for promoting, by every pofllble means, that great
national object; which, on the other hand, it hath
been the uniform practice of certain revenue officers
to deprefs; -even to the counteracting the law itfelf,
though exprefled in fuch plain terms that a child of
ten years old would comprehend it on the firfl
glance.
One ftatute exprefsly fays that the bufTes fhall be
permitted to depart for the fifheries on or before the
HERRING FISHERIES. 223
ifl day of Ofttber. , The revenue officers declared,
That, on and before, meaned> ony and not before.
Another ftatute exprefsly fays, 'That allperfens em*
ployed in thefifoeries, may Jit out for any part of the Bri-
tifljjeas, or the ijlands belonging h the crown of Great
Britain. But the licences granted by the revenuetoffi-
cers to the bufles on clearing out, borCjtbat/ucb a veffel
was to proceed to the North-weft Highlands -, and the
oaths adminiftercd on the' fufferance inwards, was,
that the herrings were caught on the coafts of Scotland.
Thofe who could not take this oath had the mortifi-
cation to find themfeives deprived of the parliarneij-
tary bounty, a£ well as the drawback on exportation
of the herrings, which government allows in lieu of
the duty upon fait ufed in curing the fiih. There
was a wanton cruelty in thefe reftricYions which thofe
only, who are acquainted with the weftern coafts, and
the nature of the fifheries, can fully comprehend: The
herririgs for fome years pad did not appear in fucji
-quantities as formerly. In 1782, the coaft feemed
to be totally abandoned by the Ihoals -t yet during
thefe years tlley crowded upon the north coaft of
Ireland and the I lie of Man, where the Scots were
precluded from following them. Thus, though the
ftatutes are clear and decided, it would feem thit
their fpirit evaporates in a journey of 400 miles ; and
the fifhers are obliged to ftruggle for a time under
the fpuripus decrees of fubordinate officers. Upon
the whole, the lofTes and injuries, pofitive and nega-
tive, fuftained in confequence of thefe reftri&ions,
by the merchants, adventurers, carpenters, coopers,
and thoufands of labouring people, cannot be efthnatcd
at lefs than 160,000!. befides the injury done to. the
public, in thus counteracting the exertions of govern-
ment for raifing a body of men, on whom our com-
merce, our colonies, and even our exiftence, as a
free, imperial empire, depend.
224 HISTORY OF THE
Fees exafted by the Revenue Officers — Exfenfive
Journies, and Attendances of the Owners or MaJ-
ters of Bujftsy to, and at, the CuJlom-HouJeSy with
ether Particulars.
It hath ever been the policy of dates to form their
fifhery laws on the fimpleft principles , to adapt them
to circumftances and local fituations ; and, particu-
larly, to guard againft unneceflary expences, vexati-
ous attendancies, and cuflom-houfe impofitions.
The forms and papers at thefe offices in Scot-
land are, however, fo numerous, perplexing and ex-
penfive, to the owners or mailers of the bufTes,
that many perfons who could fit out fmall veflels
from 20 to 40 tons are difcouraged from the attempt;
and even thofe who embark in larger undertakings
are full of complaints on this head.
The fees on a bufs of 64 tons are thus :
To the collector and comptroller out-*)
wards and inwards — — J
Bounty bond -— - 076
Duty on provifions or (lores — » — 0211
Land- waiter and furveyor — — 0106
Coaft coquet to Greenock with the her- *] o 6
rings for fale — — j
Certificate of fait and herrings being i r
landed — — ~ — j °
Coaft-bond — — — 076
Land-waiters at Greenock — ~— o 2 6
Upftair fees at ditto — — o 4 ,6
Fees upon a cargo of 300 barrels, at\ o IO o
2d. each barrel — — j
Salt -bond on exportation — - —076
Certificate for cancelling — • ' — • o i 6
Settling fait accounts annually *— o 10 6
/. 6 18 ii
Brought
HERRING FISHERIES. 225
Brought over — —
Cumbra light-houfe — - —
Greenwich hofpital * — —
L 8 12 5
To this we are to add the expences in journeys and
attendancies at the offices 5 particularly the journey
to Edinburgh for payment of the bounty, viz. from
Miles.
buhbartofi — 58
Port Glafgo'w — — — 64
Grcenock — — — 66
Irvvin - — — » — — 69
Air — 76
Saltcoats — 76
Rothfay — — — 80
Invereray — — - 115
Stran rawer — — — 126"
Cambeltown — 177
Oban, and the South Hebrides upon 1
an average — — J
Stronaway, and the North Coaft upon "I
an average — * — J
Befides the expences of thefe journeys, or com-
mifiion paid to agents, the perfon who receives the
bounty at Edinburgh is probably fubject to a pay-
ment of additional fees; which, with all the before-
mentioned difburfements, may be eftimated at 15!.
and if to thefe we add the expences in the rendez-
vous, at Campbeltown or elfewhere as before flated,
the total fum of petty expenditures cannot upon an
average be lefs than 20!. exclufive of the bonds, &c.
for fait from year to year, exceeding credibility.
Importance
HISTORY OF THE
Importance of the Wefiern Bu/s Fi/hery — Difficulties
of the Adventurers, arifing from natural Caujes —
Expediency of increafmg the Bounty — Plan of a
Bounty per Barrel on Fifh taken, impracticable — A
Boat Fifhery recommended — The Means of eftab-
lifting it.
Having ftated fundry reftri&ions, which in the
experiment have proved detrimental to the bufs
fifheries, and the poor natives of the Highlands, I
am under the necefiity of propofing a 5o-lhilling
bounty, as elTentially requifite to the reftoration
and permanent eftablifhment of that important fifh-
ery ; as well as the improvement of the whole line
of coaft, with all the ifiands, lying between the
Mull of Cantire and Cape Wrath.
This liberal fupport, with the removal of certain
obnoxious reftriclions already mentioned, and others
which remain to be mentioned, would place the
weftern fifhers on an equality with thofe of the
neighbouring nations, and enable them to fupply
foreign markets as early as their rivals, and fome-
times earlier.
The encouragements given by other dates, and
alfo the natural advantages which they enjoy, will
be the fubjedt of a feparate chapter; at prefent I
lhall chiefly confine myfelf to a comparative view of
the voyages to and from the refpective Scottifh
fifheries, a fubject which hath not hitherto been
elucidated.
The voyage from the northern parts of the Euro-
pean continent, and alfo from the eaft fide of Great
Britain, to Shetland, is attended with no great diffi-
culty. The courfe is in a flraight line, through
an open fea, and the fails being fet, require no alter-
ation (ftorms and change of .wind excepted) till the
vefTel hath reached the fifhing ground. This voyage
being for a fummer fifhery only, is alfo favoured by
the mildnefs of the weather, and the length of the day.
• • i Under
HERRING FISHERIES. 227
Under thefe fortunate circnmftances a Dutch
veflel may fet out, and profecute her voyage with
any wind ; flie hath ample fea room wherein to
range at pleafure; and, though the winds maybe
unfavourable, yet (he ftill proceeds, by means ot
tacking. All the difference therefore between a
favourable, and an unfavourable wind confifts, not
in time loft by being obliged to take fhelter in har-
bours, but the difference of time occupied in
ftraight, or in crofs failing. The diftance between
Holland and the coaft of Shetland is reckoned to be
600 miles. This, with moft winds, may be per-
formed in 6 or 7 days ; with a ftrong wind a-head, it
cannot require above 10 or 1 2 days. The voyage from
the eafl coaft of Great Britain is exactly fimilar, and
may be performed from any part of Scotland in
half the time: from the coaft of Aberdeen, and the
Murray Firth, in two days, at the utmoft. When a
velFel arrives at Shetland, fhe finds herfelf amongft
an immenfe body of herrings, fends off her capture
to the market, or returns with her cargo, by the fame
eafy navigation.
So favourable for the fifheries is the fituation of
the eaftern ports of Scotland. While thofe of Ire-
land, as Strangford, Portaferry, Downpatric, Carric-
fergus, Belfaft, Lerne, Londonderry, Inverbay,
Killybeggs, Tillon, RofTes, Shecphaven, Donnegal,
and Sligo, are within 24. hours failing of the fifheries
on the coaft of Donnegal. Here alfo, as at the Shet-
land iflands, the herrings are certain, and the bufTes
expeditioufiy loaded.
Very different is the navigation, and fifhery, of the
Weft Highlands. This hitherto neglected divifion
of Great Britain, prefents a coaft, taken in a diredl
line from the extremity of Cantire to Cape Wrath,
of near 250 miles ; and if to that extent, we add the
numerous head lands to be doubled, the inter-
vening iflands to be evaded, the creeks or bays to
which a veflel muft frequently run for fhelter; a
p 2 winter
HISTORY OF THfi
winter voyage from Greenock, may, upon an ave-
rage, require two or three weeks.
After the vefTel hath furmounted the difficulties
and dangers of this intricate voyage, fhe does not
arrive at a certain fifhery, where, as in Ireland, fhe
may load by her own boats, or thofe of the inhabi-
tants, in a few days. Though the migrations of
the herrings to the North- weft Highlands be cer-
tain, their arrival in one particular loch, bay, or
ifland, is very precarious.
All have their turns. The loch that was crowded
•with fifh one year, may be quite deferted the fol-
lowing, and for many years after. Sometimes they
fall in between the Mainland of Rofsfhire and the
Long Ifland ; at other times, they take a circuitous
paffage between the Long Ifland and the rocks of
St. Kilda. When this happens, there can be no boat
fifhery. efpecially in winter; neither is there any
:bufs fifheryj thofe veflels not being accuftomed to
the Dutch method of a floating fifhery, by follow*
ing the fhoals through the ocean : thus the Hebride
fifhery is, of all others, the moft uncertain, expen-
five and hazardous, on which account the parlia-
mentary encouragement fhould be adequate. In
•fpeaking of this fifhery, the following particulars
may be ufeful to the adventurers. The young her-
rings always come in a body fome time in June ;
their fray depends on the winds and weather. Thofe
which fall in between the Mainland and the Lang
Ifland, are wrought upon and dire&ed, not only by
the winds, but alfo by the large fifhes, and fome-
times by the buflfes, in their cruifers from place to
place.
As the feafon advances, the great fhoals of full
grown herrings appear on the coalts moving fouth-
ward. If upon their approach, the weather happens
to be ftormy, and the winds from fouth-weft to
north-weft, the fhoal, thus interrupted by a ftrong
head wind, crowds into the openings or lochs, and
there
HERRING FISHERIES. 229
there is every probability of a fuccefsful fifliery,
either on the Lewis coaft or that of the Mainland.
But if the winds happen to be cafterly, or within
the eaftern points, as is often the cafe towards the
end of harveft, there is little chance of a winter
fifhery, becaufe, as before obferved, the herrings
keep out in the main ocean. Nature, in this refpecl:,
gives the Irifh fifhers a manifeft advantage over the
Scots. The fhoals, after having cleared the Scot-
tifh feas, whether their voyage hath been on this
fide the Long Ifland, or on the weft fide, have to
encounter a ftill more turbulent fea, owing to the
great weight and fwell of the Atlantic being oppofed
by the lofty coaft of Donnegal ; which, with the
jarring currents and tides, interrupt the progrefs of
the herrings, who, fatigued and weak, are glad to
take flicker in the openings or lochs of that coaft.
This circumftance gives the Irifti an abfolute cer-
tainty of an annual fifhery, and that fifhery being
drawn towards one point, enables the adventurers to
double the gains of their neighbours, and with lefs
trouble, hazard, and expence.
Having thus ftated the natural, as well as parlia-
mentary dilcouragements and difficulties, attending
the northern or Hebride fishery, an eftirnate of the
cxpence a.nd gains properly follows.
p 3 Exfencts
530 HISTORY OF THE
$x fences of a Veffel of Sixty fons Burden, fitted out
as a Bufs for tbe White Herring Fijhery.
To the fhip-builder's account for the hold, at 5!. 15$.
per ton - £. 345 o o
To joiner's account, fitting up the
cabin, making pumps, &c. - £. aj JO o
To blockmaker's account, paint, &c. - 1800
To rope work account, for fails, rigging,
cables, &c. . i^o o o
To fmith's account, for anchors, &c. - za 10 a
To fpars for maft, bowfprit, boom, &c. - 25 o o
To three fiming boats, at 7!. IDS. each - 21 10 o
To compafles and furniture for cabin - 8 10 o
Coft of the veffel
Cut-Jit of tbe above' yeffel as a Bufs to tbe White Herring
fijbery as follows :
To 464 bufliels foreign great fait, mak-
ing ii lafts, at 4.1. Jos. per laft 45 o o
To -J2 lafts herring barrels, at 503. per laft 2o o o
TO 15,000 fquare yards of netting, or 156
common herring nets, at los. 78 5 o
To tailing for nets - - 440
To buoys and bow-ftocks - - 400
211 90
To provisions for 14 men 3 months,
at 8d. per man each day - £.42 10 o
To fpirits for men when at work 500
To 13 mens wages for 3 months,
at 273. per man each month . 51 13 o
To the fliip-mafter's wages, by the
run allowed him - - 10 o o
To bond, and clearing out at the
cuftom-houfe « - o 15 o
no 18 9
3** 7 •
Coft and out-fit for the white herring fimery of a veffel
•f fixty tons • . . £.
HERRING FISHERIES. 231
Suppofing the above ye/el to make one Half of her Cargo of Herrings
Yearly ) lubicb has not been the Cafe for thefe Seven Tears back, on an
Average ) the State of the Account willjland as under.
Voyage to the Herring Fijbery, to Owners Dr.
To one half of the fait carried out, con fumed on herrings £.2210 o
To one half of the barrels being ufed with herrings - 48 o o
To tear and wear of 1 5,000 yards netting, fuppofing them
one third worn - 26 i 3
To provifions and fpirits confumed as above - - 47 10 o
To mens wages, including the flcipper, ditto - - 61 13 o
To tear and wear of rigging and veflel, at 5 per cent.
per month . .. - - -3011"*
To infurance on 957!. for 3 months, at ZT per cent. - 2316 o
To intereftof 957!. for 3 months - - n li o
To wafte on fait and barrels, cellarage, &c. at 10 per cent. 3 10 o
To-freight of herrings to Cork, at as. per barrel, 192 barrels 19 4 o
To duty of herrings in Ireland, at is. per barrel - - 9 la o
3°5 5 5
Contra - - Cr.
By fales of 192 barrels herrings, at 2rs. £• 191 ° o
By debenture of the above herrings*, at as, Sd. 25 iz o
By bounty on 60 tons - - 90 o o
307 12 o
Gain on a home fifliery - - 167
Extra Expenct on fuck BuJJ'es as go to the Ir'ijb Fijberj*
To duty of 1 7 J tons fait paid in Ireland,
although neither fait nor barrels are
landed in Ireland, the duty paid is
iis. 4d, per ton - * £• IO '9 xl
To duty paid in Ireland on 32 lafts of bar-
rels, at 3$. per lalt - 4 16 o
To fees paid in Ireland, at 42$. per boat,
for 3 boats ..... 660
22 I 11
» -
Lofs, if upon the Trim fifhery - • £. 19 15 4
p 4 To
232 HISTORY OF THE
To thefe pofitive expenditures may be added, in-
finance during the fifhery; the various fees inwards
and outwards, and upon fait ftored from year to
year; commiflion to agents; charges on rcpack-
irg for exportation; cabin ftores, coal, candles,
and other petty difburfcments, which being added to.
the general account, leaves the adventurer confider-
ably out of pocket, in the prefent (late of the fifhery,
after all his anxieties, cares, and labours, fcefides his
lofs of time.
The following table fhows the revolutions of the
bufs fifhery ; and when we corifider the magnitude
of the expences as above dated, the dangerous leas
to be navigated, particularly during the winter fifh-
ery ; the grievous reftri&ions, and fait regulations,
which the adventurers labour under, while thofe of
other nations have the moft ample freedom ; and the
the lofs of markets in confequence of thofe reflric-
tions ; it is matter of furprize that the whole fi{h<rry on,
the bounty laws hath not been entirely g;vea up.
HERRING FISHERIES. 233
An Account of the Number of Bi</es fitted out in Scotland fro tn the Tear
1750/0 the Teat 1783, both iKclujii)et tvith the Amount of their Ton-
nage, Number of Men , and the Barrels of Herrings taken. Extra&ed
jrutn the Cujlom-Houj'e Books at Edinburgh.
Anno
Number
ofBufles.
Tonnage.
lumber of
Men.
Barrels of Her-
rings taken.
1
1750
*•<
— : — — J75J
2
148
33
213
0
1752
4
67
424
?
1753
8
518
116
5*9
"3
-. .... ?754
6
403
89
564
"-i
X
7.7
J7
67
o
— — 175*
i
77
>7
64.
. '__
1757
a
103
24
317
'75*
3
41
*45
— 1759
3
181
41
4
bd
< — '-* 1760
554
130
3089
E
176.
J7
745
J74
4046
n*
176.
49
1056
489
129+9
^
1763
3691
865
O
1764
119
5131
J2C6
8831
0
CO
1765
147
7056
^651
39691
. 1766
26l
12476
2881
2 f 146
• 1767
263,
12556
2898
2Si6z
E?
1768
2C2
955?
2207
15538
v< r»
— — — 1769
Sf
jl68
899
17822
II
.,','. , i yyc
J9
861
201
1878
Summer 1771
4
210
47
3*5
Winter 1771
25
J039
236
2447
*f*
Summer 1772
95
4C29
94-8
8489
^1
Winter 1772
74
3373
789
13759
Summer 1773
86
3621
859
17197
^1
Winter 377'
JC4
4718
1094
24858
° |
Summer 1774
1*5
49'3
1 1 50
251 34
S. z.
Winter 177^
6456
15X4
3 '459
""*•! QJ
Summer 1775
101
4277
1003
13396
3 3
Winter 1775
180
8795
2028
40^73
3 o
Summer 1776
68
670
7748
"o S
Winter 1776
226
I M34
1695
44«M
0 °
Summer 1777
64
2663
6*3
8546
"c ^
Winter 1777
176
9064
1977
34^67
f c
Summer 1778
96
4372
1014
9623
5'Ji
Winter 177?
124
6505
1490
3 '335
S--T3
Anno 1779
206
10191
2343
29367
^ HL,'
. a78^
181
8963
2061
19085
1781
136
6449
1494
16625
| 0
, 1782
147
7291
$667
3457
», **
. 1783
^53
7171
1687
'3595
^* 2"
11
wn 5*
3
fni
234 HISTORY OF THE
The following important table is inferted for the
information of the public, refpe&ing the operation
of the now exifting bounty Jaws on the Hebride
Ifles, and the weftern fhores in general. Here we
perceive a dawn of beneficial induftry amongft thefe
forlorn natives, and had the bounty been continued
at 50 (hillings and well paid ; had the laws been
more liberal, allowing thefe new adventurers the
fame fcope as the Irifh fifhers on the oppofite coaft,
it is probable that inflead of 9 bufles, to which their
number is now reduced, the increafe might have
amounted to 100 or upwards. When we refleft
that the improvement of the Highlands, the bring-
ing forward a people hitherto loft, in a commercial
view, from penury and wretchednefs, to profitable,
well-paid induftry j every friend to humanity, and
the profperity of his country, mud lament the check
thus given to their firft attempts, and the deflruc-
tive confequences to whole iflands or diftricls, whofe
conjunct abilities had been wholly occupied in
raifing this little fleet, to bring from their fhores a
degree of wealth which their healthy mountains,
never did, and never can afford, to fuch extent.
Cujtvm-
HERRING FISHERIES. 1135
Cuftom-Houfe Qban, Sept. 25, 1784.
For Mr. K N O X.
From the year 1765, during the continuance
of the 50-fhilling bounty, and until the year 1772,
there was employed in the white herring bufs fifh-
ing upon this and adjacent coafts, particularly
from the places after-mentioned betwixt the Mull
of Cantire and the Ifland of Sky, the number of
veflels following, viz.
No. ofveflels No. of veflels
Bounty 50$. Bounty jos.
Weft Loch Tarbert 8 i*
Oban, and Lochetive 4 5
Ifland of Hay • — 4
Gigha — 3
Collonfay — 3
Lunga — - 3 i
Efdale — 2
Mull 3 i
Sky — 3 i
In all 33 9
The principal caufes of this decline in the num-
ber ofveflels employed in the white herring fifhery
were firft the dilatory payments of the bounty dur-
ing the latter part of the act allowing fifty fliillings
per ton ; and fecondly, the reduction of the bounty
from fifty to thirty fhillings per ton.
The within and above ftatements extracted from
the cuftom-houfe books, and are attefted by
DUNCAN CAMPBELL, Collector.
JOHN LOVJE, Surveyor.
The
236
HISTORY OF THE
The following table will ferve to give fome kl'ea
how far the royal navy, the revenue, and other
important matters of public concern, will alfo be
affefted, fnould the bufs fifhery be abandoned.
Value of a bufa 47 tons ready for fea, fait, &c.
included — * —
Annual wear and tear
Annual duty paid on materials for repairing wear
and tear —
Annual wear and tear of nets, bark for tanning
included — —
T)uty on hemp ufed annually for new nets —
Number of men employed on board —
Pay of ii men for 4 months, at 275. per man per
month — • ' — —
Expence of provifion for 11 men 4. months, at 8d.
per day for each man —
Number of men annually employed who never were
before at fea. — -v
• barrels put on board — —
barrels of herrings got at an average
fiftring * —
— — barrels of herrings exported —
. barrel s of herrings confumed in Scotland
Bumels of fait confumed in curing and re-packing
Gallons pf rum imported, for 67 barrels of herrings
exported — —
Quantity' of fugar imported in return for 68 barrels
herrings exported — — — cwt.
Duty payable at 45. per gallon for 950 gallons of
rum fm ported, exclufive. of the excifc
payable at 128. 6d. per cwt. for fugar ditto —
payable for 320 bufhels of fait near ad. each —
• paid for 45 barrels of herrings ufed in Scotland,
at is, per barrej —7. -^ —
»';'..• paid for materials requilite fo.r building and
equipping at firft outfit
Freight payable for 135 barrels herrings exported,
• of 950 gallons of rum imported at 6d. per
gallon
— r-r.? — payable for 181 a-^dscwt. fugar imported
at 45. per cwt. —
Tonnage — —
Bounty from government at 30$. per ton
Debenture at as. Sci. ^er barrel for 135 barrels of
herrings exported — "-—
each bufs Total on
jcobuff.
720 o o — 216000
26 o o — 78*0
2 12 0-r- 780
21 O 0 — ' 6jO«
2 O O - 6.CO
1 1 — 3300
59 8 o— i78i»
44 o o — 13200
240—72000
i8c — 540*0
135—40500
45 — 13500
320—9,6-000
950—285000
181 2- 3d— 545 19
90 o o — 57000
14 o o — 34200
2 1O C— 750
2 5 £— 67$
56 o o — 16800
4-7 5
71.35
36 6 8 — 10900
47 o c-i-t- 14,100
70 10 o— 21150
18 o o — • 5400
* This table fuppofes a good fifhery in time of j5eace--rb.ut; the main
average of the nTntry in peace and war is only half cargoes j and fir.ce
1778, :he herrings taken have only occupied no of the 240 bands
c-inkd cut*
HERRING FISHERIES. 237
Government debtor to 300 bitffes, viz.
Duty paid on materials imported for bufs
repairs annually — — £.780
for repairs of nets — ' — 600
•• on 285000 gallons of rum, at 53. 4d. 76000
545 1 9 cwt. weight of fugar, at 12s.
6d. per cwt. — 34200
96000 bufhels fait — 750
13500 barrels of herrings confumed
in Scotland 675
Intereft of the principal fum paid on duty
for materials ufed in building 300 bufTes"
Per contra Creditor. 113005
By bounty to 300 buflfes 14100 tons, at"|
3os. 2ii5ol.[ 26550
By debenture on 40500 barrels of herrings J
exported, at 2s. 8d. 5400!. J
Balance in favour of government £. 86455
The greateft number of bu fifes fitted out in one year,
was nearly 294. The eftimate, for the fake of even
numbers, is made upon 300. The revenue arifing
from this fleet, after deducting the bounty and deben-
ture, is 86,455!. but admitting this balance in favour
of government to be imaginary; or, in other words,
that the annual revenue, derived from the bufles,
amounted only to the fum total of the expenditure in
bounties and debentures, all the concurrent effects
would be clear gain to the public, viz.
1. Employing 3300 feamen annually.
2. Ditto carpenters, coopers, blackfmiths, joiners,
" block-makers, painters, falt-works, hecklers, fpin-
ners, net-makers, rope-manufacturers, fail-cloth
manufacturers, and fail-makers, tanners, and la-
b9urers of all kinds.
3. Supplying the labouring part of the nation, as
manufacturers, farmers, and fervants, with cheap
and whole fome food.
4. Preventing
138 HISTORY OF THE
4. Preventing emigration.
5. Giving employment to the induftrious, particu-
larly in the Highlands.
6. Diffufmg amongft that people a competency of
the necefTaries of life.
7. Bringing forward a valuable colony within our
own ifland, who, befides defending our fhores, and
fighting our battles, would extend the fcale of
manufactures and commerce in both kingdoms,
by means of their encreafing opulence.
8. Increafe of fhip-building, Slipping, exports, and
freights.
9. Raifing the value of barren lands, and natural
woods.
10. Bringing into the line of inland trade, various
fpecies of fifh which abound on the weftern fhores,
at prefent of little or no value, as fundry fpecies
of the whale ; the grampus, fharks, feals, and dog
iifh, for oil. Alfo various kinds of fifh, for food,
which, from the want of ready markets in the
Highlands, bring no price, as turbot, ikate, mack-
arel, * oyfters, and lobfters.
Thefe are among the numerous benefits which in->
dividuals and the flate would derive from an exten-
five and well-eftablifhed bufs fifhery. The wealth
of this coaft is boundlefs, prefenting to our view
an inexhauftible treafure, rifing in its importance,
and opening new fields to induftry, to commerce,
and to a comfortable fubfiftance. On the other
hand, by neglecting this mode of carrying on the
* When the fifhers find mackarel on their lines infteadof white
fifh, they generally throw them back into the fea with dildain,
unlefs when neceflary for bait.
Oyfters, in fome parts, are chiefly ufed for manuring the ground.
They are brought in bafkets to the lime kiln and burnt without
being opened. Thefe and other fifties that abound amongft the
Hebrides, exclufive of the herring and white filh, would find a
ready market at Greenock if the voyage was (hortened by mean*
of the propofed canal at Crinan. It is alfo probable that the Gree-
nock people would cure a part of them for foreign markets.
fifhery,
HERRING FISHERIES. 139
fifhery, we fhall thereby make a transfer of the
whole, to Ireland, Holland, and Sweden, who will
be much obliged to us for a favour fo fignal and
unexpected, and it may be pofitively afTerted, that
fhould this fifhery be abandoned, the perfons who have
been brought up if! that line of life, will embrace
the flattering invitations of the Irifh government,
and carry their knowledge, their induflry, their
capital, and fhipping, to the contiguous county of
Donnegal, where they will be received with open
arms by the gentlemen of that coaft, who are ufmg
every means to invite them thither-
Before I clofe this part of the fubjeft, it is necef-
fary to fuggeft the expediency of fome amendment
in the ftatutes refpecting the fize of vefTels fitted out
upon the bounty. By the prefent laws, the burden
of the bufles is not to be under 20 or above 80 tons.
In converfing with the adventurers, collectively,
it was propofed by fome, that the lowed burden
fhould be reduced to 15 tons or 80 barrels; but this
was oppofed by others in more opulent circum-
fiances.
If to extend the take of herrings, and to
give employment to a greater number of peo-
ple, are objeds worthy the attention of parlia-
ment, the requeft of the inferior adventurers fhould
be granted. We have flated the great expence in
building and equipping veflels for the fifheries,
agreeable to the preient ftandards. It exceeds the
abilities of many, who, in other refpects, are well
qualified for that bufinefs. The good effects of this
indulgence would operate chiefly among the poor
natives on the weft fide of Cantire, and might, until
fome regular fettlements fhall be eftablifhed on thele
jfhores, prove a fubftitute for a boat fifhery. In fome
refpecls it would be preferable, particularly in being
able to filh at fea, to follow the herrings from place
to place, and to carry them to markets, inflead of
being
240 HISTORY OF TH£
beirig obliged to wait for purchafers at an
nient diftance from the Weft India fhipping
While this is the requeft offome perfonsy others,
of more extenfive capitals, wiJh to employ veficls of
any fize within 1 20 tons* limiting the higheft bounty,
however, to 80 tons, as it ftands at prefent. Who-
ever is acquainted with mercantile affairs will fee
the utility of this indulgence. VefTels of 120 tons,
when not engaged in the fifheries, could be let out
in freights to foreign parts, or in the coafting trade,
and thus advantageoufly employed throughout the
year, to the mutual conveniency of the owners and
earnen..
We fhall elofe this fubjecl: with a conjectural eftr-
mate of the increafe of the weftern bufs fifhery, fup-
pofing the bounty at 50 fhillings per ton. Hitherto
we have feen nearly 300 veffels employed in this fiftr-
ery, though labouring under numerous difcourage-
ments ; and lately a ftrong rivalfhip from Ireland
and Sweden, who had, formerly been their beft cufto-
mers. Let us now fuppofe the bounty extended to
50 fhillings, every reftriftion removed, the paffage
ihortened, the natives of the Highlands bufily em-
ployed, the navigation aft in full vigour, the adven-
turers relying on the ftesdy protection of government*
and in high fpirits 5 there can be no great hazard in
Hating the number of bufTes which in a few years
may be engaged in the weftern tifhery at 500.
And, though it is propofed to admit into this num-
ber, vefiels of fo fmall burden as 15 tons, yet this
deficiency in tonnage will be qualified by the fize of
other veflels, which of late it hath been the practice
to build upon a large conftruction. Taking there-
fore the average number of men in 500 bufles from
15 to 80 tons burden, at 14 men each, the amount
will be 7000, a nurfery which merits every fup-
port that the public can beftow. And it is alfo
a confideration worthy of remark, that this nur-
fery is, of all others, the moft rapid in its progrefs.
Veflels
HERRING FISHERIES. 241
vefiels bound for the Baltic, the Mediterranean,
America, Africa, the Eaft and Weft Indies, fail in
ilraight lines, and many of them with trade winds.
Having fet their fails, no funhcr feamanihip is re-
quifite, the men walk the deck, play at cards, and
go to fleep.
But when a vefTel fails from the Clyde for the
north-weft Highlands, fhe embarks on a circuitous
voyage of unknown extent and duration. The mo-
ment fhe fpreads her fails, fhe launches into a laby-
rinth of difficulties, dangers and hair-breadth efcapes:
fhe muft navigate in every direction, and to every
point of the compafs; at all times through rapid
currents and jarring tides, and frequently amidft
hurricanes and ftorms. No fooner hath fhe doubled
one cape, than another appears, which the men,
already fatigued and worn out, muft alfo encounter,
and thus are kept in continual motion, terror, and
alarm. Thefe outward and homeward voyages, the
various cruizes from bay to bay, and from one ifland
to another, in fearch of the herrings, form the hardy,
experienced feamen, fo highly valued in the mer-
cantile lervice, and the royal navy.
Other methods may be d^vifed whereby the fifh-
eries may be confiderably extended, and the natives
of the (bores and iflands beneficially employed j bur
no method can be put in competition with the wcftern
bufs fiibery, confidered as afource of commerce, and
a nurfery for feamen \ whoever therefore attempts to
undermine this bulwark, whether defignediy or in-
advertently, ads an injurious part to the general in- -
terdts of his country, and the itate.
Of tie IFeJlern Boat Fifiery.
It would feem as if fate had decreed againft the
weftern fiihery. The fame laws which were intended
as a ftimulus to exertion, contained among other re-
frictions,
HISTORY OF THE
(Iridions, an obligatory claufe, whereby the bufTes
were prohibited from purchafing herrings from the
natives, and thus the poor people, who had formerly
affifted in completing the cargoes of fuch veflels
as came amongft them, now faw themfelves deprived
of the advantages which local fituation, and the vifi-
tations of the herrings upon their fhores, held forth.
Thefe gifts of Providence were counteracted by a
narrow, ill-judged -decree of their country, and
fliows, amongft a thoufand inftances, the imper-
fection of human wifdom, when put in competition
with the great line of action which diftinguifhes the
works of the Deity.
As the raifing and training a number of feamen
was a principal object of the legiflative bounties, it
was deemed expedient to oblige the men to remain
a certain time on the. fiftiing grounds, and to load
with the herrings taken by themfelves only. .
It is fomewhat fmgular, that a nation celebrated
for knowledge in maritime affairs, did not fee the
ijiefficacy of this reftriction.
When the men quit their buMes and go on board
their long boats, to throw out the nets, and to haul
them in, alternately, no feamanfhip is required;
no knowledge is gained. It is the drudgery of com-
mon labourers, and requires no qualification what-
ever. The iearnanfhip confifts in navigating to and
from the fifhing grounds ; in refearches after the
herrings ; in adjufting the fails to the various points-
of the compafs, and to all the viciflitudes of weather.
In the mean time, the poor natives, thus deprived
of their natural right, and without redrefs, ftill kept
up a petty fifhery for the fupply of their families and
the neighbourhood, in freih .herrings, having no
means of curing for a diftant market.
Their little open boats are clinker built, fharp
bottomed, and formed upon the conitruclion of cut-
ters, for quick failing, for doubling head lands,
and eluding dangers, Manned by a hardy race of
Highlanders
HERRING FISHERIES. 243
Highlanders, whofe neceflities render them defperate,
theft boats attend the buries through the molt tur-
bulent feas j • they will undertake, even in the win-
ter feafon, voyages round the Mull of Cantire, and
to Ireland, though it too often happens that they
never return. They are hurried irrefiftibly by the
violence of the winds and the ftrength of the cur-
rents againft rocks, and in a moment are broke to
pieces 5 others are fwallowed up by the great fwell
of the ocean, againft which their fmall conftruction,
and the fcanty lupplies of ropes and fails, are ut-
terly inadequate. *
Each
* The reader will be able to form fome idea of thefe voyages,
and the dangers attending them, from the following narrative, by
the Rev. Mr. Macaulay ; which alfo contains fundry particulars
that tend to corroborate the character given of the Highlands in
the courfe of this work.
On the 6th day of June 1758, I loofed from Harris, a part of
that large track of land now called the Long-Illand, and formerly
the weftern ^Ebuda. We fleered our courfe for Haw-Skeer, a
rock in the ocean, fo its name fignifies in the Gallic tongue, ly-
ing at the diibmce of feven leagues from the neafefl promontory
of North-Uift, to which it belongs. As the day was quite fultry,
and Haw-Skeer the only rcfting place in our way, and extremely
romantic, the crew found it convenient to rilt a little and divert
themfelves there.
This rock is half a mile in circumference, acceflible in a fingle
place only, and though almoft totally deititure of grafs, is of fome
confequence to the proprietor, bein^ at ilated periods the conftant
haunt of a prodigious number of feals, and theie perhaps by much
the largeft upon the coaft of Scotland. The manner in which thele
fea animals are hunted down in this place, the feafon fit for that
profitable diverfion, the ferocity and little flratagems of thefe im-
wieldly creatures when aflaulted, their love dalliances upon other
occafions, that violent fpirit of jealouty with which they are actu-
ated, if provoked by rivals ; thefe and fome other particulars, are
drcumftantially enough related by Martin in his description of the
Weftemlfles. To his account of the matter I (hall only add,
that the fat of the feals, is by the people, to whofe fhare that per-
quifite falls, converted now into oil and fent to market. But in
that writer's time, and for ages immemorial before, this* together
with the flefli of thefe animals, was eaten, either frefli or faked ;
and by thofe who were ufed to it, was accounted a pleafant as well
as a very falubrious and rich kind of aliment,
Oft
244 HISTORY OF THE
Each boat that goes upon the herring fifhery con-
tains four men, whole joint ftock is far too fcanty for
the expence of fails, ropes, nets, &c. . When the
fifhing
On the weft fide of the rock, , are two remarkable large caves, of
a conficlerable height : To thelc a valt multitude of lea cormorants
retire every 'evening. Here likewife they lay their eggs and foftt-r
their young. The method pra'ctiled by the iflanders for catching
ibv» Is of this kind, while fecured within inch fairneifes, is far frbm
being incurious, though abundantly limple ; nor is the paltime at
all dilagreeable. A band of young fellows make a. party, and af-
ter having provided themfclves with a quantity of it raw or heath,
creep with great caution to the mouth of the cave which affords
the game, armed with poles light enough to be eaiily wielded :
This done, they let fire to the combuftible fluff, and raiie an uni-
verfal (bout ; the cormorants, alarmed by the outcry, frightened
by a glare ib ftrange, and offended by the fmoke, quit their beds
and neils with the greateft precipitation, and fly directly towards
the light: Here the fpcrtimen, if alert enough, will knock dowu
a conCderable number of them, and, together with the cormo-
rants, whole coveys of pigeons.
At Haw-Skeer we found incredible numbers of wild-fowl eggs.
After Ibme of my people had made a great, though unneceiiary
acquifition cf theie (unneceiiary furcly to men dertined for St.
Kiida) we began to purfue our intended voyage, at ten o'clock at
night. The wind was at fir ft extremely favourable, as it blew from
the lb\ith-eail, and was little more than a gentle gale. It began
to frefhen at the end of half an hour, and was gathering new
"flrengtli every moment : Before we had proceeded above four
leagues, the whole face of the Iky was overcall with clouds ; \\ hich,
after the levered threatnings, burfted afunder and tumbled down
"upon us in violent torrents of rain, accompanied w ith flames of
lightning and peals of thunder extremely terrible. All this was
'fuccesdcd by a hurricane which would have alarmed the moil in-
fenfible, and did greatly confound the ftcniteil: fearr.en among us,
men who had imagined they had leen thefe fame mighty waters in aU
their horrors. '1 o me it was matter of aftonilhment that a veflel
fo fmall and frail, a fix-rnred highland boat, could have ftruggled
for any time agr.inft iuch enormous billows, without either being
overlet or drilled to pieces.
The tii ft glirnpie of hope my crew had, was from a great flight
of fea-fowls, of the diving kind, which was fcon fucceeded by
'another, and after fliort intervals by many more, in itill greater
numbers. They concluded, from this circumftance, that the
hour of their deliverance was at hand ; but we found that our
hopes were too ianguine and premature, [Virgil rankp this circum-
iL.nce among inauljpicious prognoflics, and experience has convinced
H E R HI N G FISHERIES. 245
fifliing happens to be fuccefsful, they arc enabled to
carry a fmall pittance home to their refpective fami-
lies, befides diicharging the debts contracted in fit-
ting
me, that this obfervfction, and all the red he has made on the fub-
jeft of the weather, are perfectly juil, ) for the florin continued to
rage for about iix hours, before we had the almolt defpaired of
happinefs of ipyinga rock, which lies at the diitance of a mile from
the bay of St. Kilda. The current round about this rock is exceed-
ingly impetuous, and Ib its name Liunilli implies, Lhibb in the
old Britifli language fignifying a ftream or torrent.
In a little after we had doubled the point of Livinifli I difcovered
a ftrangely formed wall of dreary rocks, which face a part of St.
Kilda. Thefe rocks appearing through the medium of a very
thick fog, role to our view, to a ftupendous height, though quite
inconliderable, we afterwards found, if compared to others on the
fame coait.
In a. few moments more, we cameclofe to the ordinary landing
place, which is nothing e!fe than a folid rock, lloping gradually
down to the bottom of the fea, and all overgrown with Lichen.
Marinus, or the plant commonly called Laver in England, and
Slawk in Scotland.
As the wind blew with all its fury into the bay, and as the waves
dalhed themfelves with exceflive violence againll the rock, juft now
defcribed, it was impollible to attempt a landing. Reduced to
almoft the laft extremity, we dropped anchor before the Saddle,
and made a ihift to Hand there for five hours more in a moil dil-
trelsful condition, drenched all over, fliivering with cold, and
under the dreadful apprehenlion of being Iwallowed up every
moment.
The machine conftantly made ufe of inllead of the anchor, by
thofe who make annual voyages to St. Kilda, is a large hamper
made of ftrong wicker and nearly filled up with ftones. The foul-
nefs of the ground is the argument they bring to juilify a practice
lu uncommon. How far they may be in the right, leafaringinen are beft
able to determine. One thing I am fare of, that we mude ufe of our
anchor without fufFering the leaft inconvenience ; though the furf
rofe to fuch a height that ten fathoms of our cable were alternately
buried in the fea, or perfectly vifible. The truth is, the anceftors
of thofe men who carry on a lort of commerce with this ifland,
had recourle to the iimple expedient of the hamper, before navi-
gation had made any to'erable progrefs in their country, and for
that reafon their poilei irv ieem to retain the lame cuitom.
The people of St. Kilda, upon the firlt norice they had of our
arrival on their coaft, flew down from the village to our atfiitance,
men, women and children. From their behaviour upon the rock,
to which we lay pretty clofe, it evidently appeared that they have
humanity enough to feel deeply for fellow creatures in diftrcfs. Ic
Q 3
246 HISTORY OF THE
ting out. But when the fifhery proves unfuccefsful,
or barely fufficient to keep them in neceflaries, it is
eafier to conceive than relate, the general diftrefs of
whole
was impoffible for us to underftand the meaning-of their cries ;
only we had reafon to believe that they were greatly afifedted by our
danger. From the repeated fignals they made, we concluded at
laft, that in their opinion, we might lately weigh. Trufting to
their fuperior fkill, and our patience being quite exhaufted, we
took the hint without lofs of time. But after approaching the
Saddle, in fpite of our united efforts, we were foon reduced to the
difagreeabie necefiity of (heering off.
A little to the weft of this rock, there is a fandy beach, accefli-
ble only at low .water. Here is a fort of landing-place though ex-,
tremely dangerous, and for that reafon feldom attempted, unlels
the weather be very favourable. To this beach the people ran in
a body, after having directed us to the fame place. We obeyed wil-
lingly, and they, with an amazing intrepidity flew into the water
to meet us ; a moil defperate adventure, in which any other race
of men would hardly think of engaging, were they to fee their
neareft relations in the fame danger. The difpofition they made
was this : After having divided and formed themfelves into two
lines, the two ableit men among them marched forward into the
iea, each in the front of his own little corps. Thofe next in ftrength
and ftature, feized thefe two leaders by the middle, and the reft,
from one end of each row to the other, clung faft to thofe imme-
diately before them, wading forward till thofe who were foremoft
in the rank, and after them every one elfe in the order in which he
flood, got hold of the boat. Thofe who go from year to year to
St. Kilda, always take the precaution to v^rap a ftrong rope round
the ftern of their boat, and tie another to the prow. As foon as
the St. Kildians have pofted themfelves round it, they immediately
hand about the two ropes from one to another, till the women and
children who Hand upon the beach come at it, fo as to have their
fhare of the work. This operation, which is fo very neceflary, be-
ing foon over, a general fignal is given, and every individual ex-
erts himfelf with ail his ftrength and fpirit : The confequence is,
the boat and every thing contained in it, are with furprifing quick-
nefs and dexterity hauled on beyond the reach of the iea.
All the ftrength of this art was with the greateft alacrity tried
upon this occafion, and with a fuccefs beyond any thing I could
have expected. Without giving time to any one of us to jump out
into the water, the St. Kildians hoifted up, almoft in a moment,
pur little yeflel, ourfelves, and all the luggage that belonged to us,
to a dry part of the ft rand.
- In St. Kilda, the miferable may find relief as well as elfewhere.
We were received there by a very hofpitable race of Barbarians (if any-
one
HERRING FISHERIES. 247
whole diftrifts. A boat arrives with the melancholy
tidings of the general failure ; of the violence of the
florins, and the lives that have been loft. Report,
which never deeps, flies over the mountains, lakes,
and morafles, till it hath filled every bread with
agony for paft misfortunes, and gloomy apprehenfions
of new difafters.
The fifhermen, after having combated the fury of
contending elements; after having, in their wanderings
from fea to fea, furmounted all the fatigues of a win-
ter's navigation, direct their courfe homewards; they
haul their fhattered boats on fhore, lodge the nets and
tackling; and returning, emaciated and worn- out,
to their families, they confirm, by dejected looks, and
empty pockets, the unwelcome news ; while the
confideration of debts recently contracted, and
which they are utterly unable to pay, gives addi-
tional poignancy to the anguifh of their minds.
Were there any towns, or any encouragement
for labour, on their fhores, an occafional failure in
the fiflieries, might be repaired by induftry, and the
family kept together ; but in the prefent {late of that
one incline to call them fo) with the heartieft congratulations,
the fincereft profeifions of friendship, and the ftroqgeil demonflra*
tions of a profound refpect.
It is thought perhaps by many, that thofe who inhabit that divi-
fion of the weftern Highlands, are much the rudeft, the molt bru-
tal and merdlefs, and in one word, the moft favage-like men
within the kingdom of Great Britain. Whether that opinion be
ftrictly juft or not, is fubmitted to thole, and to thofe only, who
have fenfe and virtue enough to divert themfclves of popular or
early prejudices. One thing I may venture to affirm without com-
mitting the fcnalleft trefpafs againft truth, that thofe featuring peo-
ple, who have the misfortune to be fhipwrecked about the welt ern
Iflands, or are reduced to extreme diftrefs there, are treated with
much greater humanity and chriiuan benevolence, than many of
their fellow fufterers, whofe harder fate drives them to the more
barbarous mores of (bme divifions of Scotland, and England. It
is certain, that thefe unhappy perfons would meet with Wronger
marks of true politenefs, or, what is infinitely more valuable, of
real companion and generolity at St. Kilda, than in the more civi-
lized places I now allude to.
country,
C4S HISTORY OF THE
country, the man who is unfuccefsful, for one fea-
fon only, is undone.
If this reprefentation be jufl ; if the endlefs dif-
trefles of thefe our countrymen and fellow fubjecls,
can imprefs the minds of a great, a juft, and a
generous nation, this bufincfs will be taken into
confideration, and fuch meafures adopted as may
induce that ufeful clafs of men to remain in their
native country, with comfort to themftlves, and
gain to the flate.
For this pvrpofe, various proportions have been
fuggefted, fuited to the fancies, the partialities, or
the interefted views of fpecnlative men, whofe
knowledge of the country and people, of the exift-
ing evils, the fprings from whence they proceed,
and the means of effectual remedies, is too fuper-
ficial to merit attention.
Some have propofed to give boats and netting to
the young men, wherewith to begin the world ; a
plan totally inadequate to the great objects pro-
pofed by government, and which, at beft, would
only give a temporary fpurt to induihy. Should the
boat and netting be loft, or greatly damaged, the
natives would find themfelves in their original fitua-
tion, unlefs government were to repair the injuries
fuftained from time to time, and repeat their dona-
tions ad infnitum. Were this method to be adopted,
it would be neceflary to have a number of boats al-
ways ready at a call, and others on the flocks; with
complete fets of nets, rigging, anchors, &c. to be
delivered at the difcretion of perfons in the fervice
of government, fuppcrted at a very great expence,
and liable to bribery, or collufion.
Another method hath been propofed, with confi-
derable appearances of equity and efficacy, but
which, in the experiment, will be found imprafti cable
and fallacious. This is, to give a bounty, not on
tonnage, but on the herrings taken, at the rate of 4
fhiilings per barrel, which, it is fuppofed, would
draw
HERRING FISHERIES. 249
draw thither adventurers with their capitals, from
all parts of the kingdom, to purchafe the her-
rings, to fupply the merchants, furnifh the na-
tives with provifions, boats, netting, and other ne-
ceflaries required in the refpective diftricts -, and
who would alfo erect buildings for themfelves, and
the people.
To thefe fuggeftions it may be obferved, that tho*
perfons poflefled of fome property might be drawn
thither upon fpeculation, a greater number would
become adventurers without any property. That the
former, inflead of finking their capital on houfe-build-
ing in a remote barren country, would referve it for
the more quick returns to be expected from trade j
ftill lefs would they be difpofed to erect quays, ware-
houfes, and other public works, however necefiary
in the firft inftance, for the purpofes of trade and
(hipping.
But the principal, andalmoft unanfwerable objec-
tion, to this method of eftabliftiing a boat fifhery in
the Weft Highlands, arifes from the great extent of
coaft on the mainland, and the ftill more extenfive
fhores of 300 iflands, which give the herrings an un-
bounded fcope wherein to range, and renders their
arrival at any particular fpot extremely uncertain.
Let us fuppofe the new adventurers to have taken
their ftation at Loch Broom, with all the neceffary
materials of boats, fait, cafks, provifions, &c. in
the purchafe of which they had expended their capi-
tal in the expectation of a fpeedy and profitable
return from the quantity of herrings taken, and the
magnitude of the bounty to be received thereon.
The feafon approaches; an unfriendly wind carries the
fhoal by other channels j no herrings appear in Loch
Broom, or within 50 miles of it; all the fanguine
hopes of the adventurers vanifh j they blame their
own credulity, and abandon the unfociable heathy
defcrts.
But
HISTORY OF THE
, But fuppofmg that the herrings were more certain,
affording the traders fufficient encouragement, not
only to remain on thefe fhores, hut to ered villages
or towns ; the mode of granting a premium per
barrel would open a door for boundlefs frauds upon
government, which neither divine nor human laws
could prevent. At prefent, the natives are an honeft,
fimple people; but when intermixed with flrangers
of loofe morals, hackneyed in all the rogueries and
mercenary ftratagems of the great world, they will
become more or lefs tinctured with the manners of
the perfons with whom they affociate in trade, and
to cheat the king, as it is called, will be reckoned
dexterity in bufmefs. Frauds, and abufes, are daily
pradtifed, even in the capital itfelf j in the face of
king, lords, and commons ; in defiance of all laws,
checks, and regulations, that wifdom can devife.
It may therefore befuppofed, that (till greater abufes
will become the common practice of perfons fettled
in the mod remote parts of our ifland, far re^
moved from the infpedtion of fuperiors, and under
the ftrong temptation of four Ihillings on every bar-
rel of herrings that can be prefented to the view of
the refident officers.
Upon the whole, this plan, however feafible in
theory, cannot be reduced to practice, unlefs govern-
ment fhall be able to accomplifh the following
purpofes.
1. To induce the adventurers to build quays, ftore-
houfes, and private dwellings, at their own expence,
upon the precarious hope of being repaid with
. intereft, on a future day.
2. To perfuade the herrings to come annually to
thefe places that they may be taken, faked, and
cured, by the inhabitants, inftead of rambling
from place to place, and thereby eluding the vi-
gilance of the boats.
HERRING FISHERIES. 25 1>
3. To enforce honefty, and a drift adherence to the
fpirit of the law, amongft the claimants of the
bounty, as well as the officers appointed by go-
vernment.
Such being the infurmountable difficulties at-
tending this fcheme in the Highlands, we recur to
the plan fuggefted in the former editions of this,
work : a propofal adapted to the natural (late of
the country, the feas, the climate, the uncertainty
of the herrings, and other circumftances worthy of
notice.
^The utility of a boat fifhery around the whole
kingdom, and particularly in the weft Highlands,
being readily admitted -, that plan which can be car-
ried into execution upon the fimpleft principles,
with the leaft danger of frauds, and confequently
the leaft expence in revenue officers, hath a prefer^
able claim to the attention of the public.
We have confidered the bufs fiihery as abfolutely
necefTary in thofe feas -, the ftamina of the whole Scot-
tifh fifheries, by which the Weft India markets are>
fupplied, the mercantile trade affifted in freights,
and the royal navy ftrengthened, though at no ex-
pence to government. It hath alfo been propofed
to admit vefTels of ten tons burthen within the de-
fcription of buffes, for the conveniency of fubordi-
nate orders of men, who have an equal title to the
protection of government as thofe of fuperior for-
tune. Let the fame munificence be extended ftilt
further; to that numerous clafs of people, whofe
united exertions are limited to the equipment of
open boats. Let thefe boats be regiftered, and
placed under the fame regulations as the bufles, re--
fpecting the dimenfions and conftruction of the boat,
the quantity of netting, and the number of men.'
Each boat containing five men and a boy, might be.
entitled to a bounty or premium of lol, or 15!. an-
s which fum, though fmall, would, in unfuc-
cefsful
HISTORY OF THE
cefsful feafons, prove a comfortable relief to men of
humble views, whofe cares are folely directed to the
mere fubfifte nee of their families, on the moft fimple
fare, and at the fmalltft expence.
By this mode ofdiffufing parliamentary munifi-
cence, proportioned to the fize of the vefiels and the
expence of the equipment, the buffes and boats
would mutually afiift, and be aflifring to each other,
of which the whole Highlands, and the commu-
nity at large, would foon feel the benefits. By
means of the propofed bounty j by removing all re-
ftraints ; fhortening the channel of commercial inter-
courfe with the Clyde, and the Murray Firth; erecting
ftorehoufes or towns, and other regulations that re-
main to be mentioned, the increafe of flout, well-
manned boats, would exceed the moft fanguine hopes
of the public. It hath already been obferved, that
in old times, 9^0 boats, built after the form of little
galleys, have been engaged in the Clyde fifhery only ;
and I am informed by the perfon who was infpector,
or admiral of the boat fleet, from 1749 to 1757,
that he fome years reckoned 1600 boats between
Lochryan and the found of Mull.*
When we reflect that thefe boats compofed only a
part of the whole out-fit of the wefrern fhores •, and if
we alfo take into the account, the boats of Rofs-fhire
and the northern iflands, we cannot ftate the whole
number employed in favourable years at lefs than
2000.
Combining this circumflance, with the powerful
* I have feen 8 or 900 boats in the Clyde, as high as Greenock.
In September 1784, 500 boats were in Lochfine. The herrings,
from the want of lalt, were fold at a trifle. The weft fide of the
peninfufa was equally crowded. But the fisheries in thefe parts
are cafual, owing to fome uncommon circurnftances of wind and
weather. The great fifliery lies on the coafts of Rofsfliire, and
the Long Ifland.
incentive
HERRING FISHERIES. 253
incentive of iol* of 15!. per boat ; of a difcretionarv
power at the fame time, to fupply the buffes, or to fail
immediately with their capture, to the Clyde, by
means of the propoied canal j judging from the
effects of thefe and other advantages, now in con-
templation, there can be no hazard in concluding
that the boats may hereafter increafe to double the
number that hath been on the fifheries without
thefe advantages, or 4000 boats, containing 20,000
men, and 4000 boys.
As a nurlery of feamen the boat Rftjery will con-
fcquently exceed that of the bufles in numbers -, but,
oi\ the other hand, it cannot be put into competition
with the buffes in nautical knowledge. It may be
confidered as the firft ftep towards feamanfhip ;
which, without the fubfequent experience of the
bufTcs, leaves the men only one degree removed
from their original flare at the plough.
A young man ifTues from the glens and wilds of
the Highlands, in order to mend his fortune -, he
engages with the mailer of a boat, for a feafon or
two; returns home with a little money, expatiates
on the wonders he hath feen, the dangers he hath en-
countered, and fancies himfelf qualified for entering
on board a decked veflel. Here, he is ridiculed as
a novice in his trade ; but that inherent principle of
honour fo conipicuous in Highlandmen, aided by the
excellent fchool — a bufs navigation, qualifies him in
one feafon only,, to (leer by compafs, to work the fails,
and to perform the various operations of experienced
fearnen : he now, in turn, ridicules the boat-fiihers,
whom he calls land -lubbers ; and having feen the
(hipping of the Clyde, he becomes emulous of greater
preferment, and embarks upon a voyage to America,
or the Weil Indies, which completes his education.
By this gradation, the poor helplefs boy, inftead of
ftarving with his parents and kindred, amongft un-
frequented deferts in the Highlands, becomes a
moft ufeful member of the community, qualified,
when
254 HISTORY OF THE
when his country calls, to co-operate with the
brave tars of the fouth, in whatever fervice that
country 'may require.
And, it may be further obferved, that though
the boats contribute lefs to the revenue, in building
and repairs, than the large vetfels, yet they contri-
bute a moiety •> which, with the proportionable in-
creafe of the fifhery, and confequently of exports,
freights, wear and tear of fhipping, and returns
of foreign produce, paying confiderable duties, may
be fuppofed to refund in the aggregate, the gratuity
received from government.
The boat fifhery upon this plan, cannot, however,
be fully eftablifhed until the poor natives {hall be
accommodated with fait, without the perplexities
of cuftom-houfe forms, attendancies, and fees, re-
quired by the prefent laws, even fuppofing all other
obftr notions were removed.
In the mean time, the boats may be permitted to
fell their frefh herrings to the bufTes, which would be
a relief to both parties, and enable the bufies to load
full cargoes, at lefs expence, and in lefs time than
they can, by the prefent laws, fifh half a cargo.
But here a new difficulty occurs. By the Dutch re-
gulations, the herrings fhould be gutted and cured
immediately after they are taken; and by no means
remain above twenty-four hours without fait.
Any herrings therefore, that cannot be cured with-
in the time ftipulated by the law, are thrown over-
board.
This very necefTary regulation, unlefs enforced
by a fpecial claufe, will not be obferved on the ex-
tenfive fhores of the Highlands, where the buffes
who wifh to purchafe, and the boats who wifh to fell,
may happen to be wind-bound at the diftance of 50
miles or upwards from each other ; thus, the boat
cargoes might remain a week or upwards uncured,
and the reputation of the Scottifh fiiheries be thereby
a confiderably
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY.
confiderably injured. To prevent this abufe, it
would be proper to prohibit all freih herrings from
being brought into any loch, bay, or port, for fale
to the biifles, then- at anchor in fuch loch, bay, of
port -, and alfo to enact, that no herrings fhall be fold
to the bufles except thofe taken in company with the
purchafers, and within twelve hours after the capture,
under certain penalties.
'
Of the Herring Fijheries by Foreigners, en the Shores
of Britain and the Continent-, particularly the
with their Method of curing and pack*
The coafts of Norway, Sweden, Holftein, Ger-
many, Britain, ' arid Ireland, are, or have been, the
principal feats of the herring fiiheries on this fide the
Atlantic. Sometimes, however, the herrings, after
having frequented certain coafts for many feafons,
and even ages, have capricioufly abandoned thofe
fhores, feemingly never to return. Antiently, the
coaft of Norway and Sweden abounded fo plentifully
in herrings, that vefTels. reforted thither, from all the
northern parts of the European continent, to the
amount of fome thoufands. Leaving that northern
coaft, the herrings fell down upon Holftein,, and the
German fhore, and became a' valuable prey to the
Hanfe towns, who thereby acquired a degree of opu-
lence, power, and . fplendour, till then unknown in
the north.
About the beginning of the fixteenth century, the
herrings alfo forfook the coafts of Germany and Hol-
ftein, as appears by the writings of Camden, Raleigh,
Monfon, and other Britifh as v/ell as foreign hifto-
rians ; and it was during the fubfequent period, that
the induftrions Dutch directed their attention to the
Scottifh
256 HISTORY OF THE
Scottifh filheries with fuch afliduity and perfeve-
rancc, that it is conjeftnred they have thereby rea-
lized three hundred million fterling, while the .in-
fatuated natives were mere dabblers both in taking
and curing.
The Dutch have trie reputation of being the firft
who obferved the feveral feafons of the pafiage of
the herrings, and their firft regular fifhery is, by
their own hiftorians, • fixed at 1163. They alfo
claim the merit of being the firft who difcovered the
| fecret of pickling and of drying herrings, which they
afcribe to William Benkelen of Biervlet, near Sluys,
who died in 1397, and whofe memory was held in
fuch veneration for the fervice he had rendered man-
kind, that the emperor Charles V. and the queen of
Hungary, made a journey on purpofe to vifit his
tomb. Such is the refpedt paid to thofe who pickle
and barrel with dexterity.
The merit claimed by the Dutch, of being the firft
in this line, is not however founded in truth ^ fince it
is evident that herrings were cured both in Britain
and on the continent, long before Benkelen's time,
though it is probable that he made forne improve-
ments thereon; which his countrymen have carried to
the higheft degree of perfection, as well as the pre-
paring or qualifying their fait. By their ingenuity
and perfeverance, they have reduced the whole bu-
finefs of the fifheries into a regular fyftem, which,
it would be the intereft of other dates to follow.
They have likewife b:en wifely aided from time to
time, by their refpe&ive provincial legiflatures,, not
only in every privilege and fupport, but alfo a well-
digefted body of laws and regulations, extending to
the moft minute circumftance, from the commence-
ment of the out-fit, to the export of the herrings ;
and to all perfons of whatever profeflion or denomi-
nation, from the day-labourer to the merchant;
enforced by oaths, and by penalties, adapted to the
nature
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY. 257
nature of every poflible trefspafs. No field is left
for the voluntary exercife of honour and honefty.
The upright man and the rogue are put on a level.
<c This is the law> and this is the penalty, " is the
language of a Dutch tribunal, to all perfons without
dillinftion, who engage in •the fifheries. The
reputation of their great ftaple, and the credit of
the (late are at ftake, and he who is not naturally
upright, is compelled to practical integrity.
Every perfon knows his duty, and the confequen-
ces of neglect, delay, or fraud ; infomuch, that
though the whole body of fiihery laws may contain
two or t'i'ee hundred claufes, each individual is fo
perfect in his own department, and fo faithful to his
truft, that mifconduct feldom happens. The whole
bufinefs is carried on as it were by mechanifm,
without noife, buftle, or jealoufy ; for it may be
obferved, that almoft every Dutchman is a patriot,
having the interefl of his country at heart^ equally
with that of his family.
Each of the four marine provinces hath a regular
fifhing board, eftablifhed for facilitating whatever
relates to that bufinefs, called a Fijhing Chamber, to
which there is a confervator, and a certain/ number
of afiiftants, clerks, &:c.
All the laws and regulations committed to the
management of thefe official departments, lead to
the perfection, delicacy, and flavour of the herrings,
by which the republic may enjoy a preference at
foreign markets. Of thefe laws I have felected a
fpecimen, which may amufe fome readers and be
ufeful to others*
\j
i. Each mafter of a veflel or bufs fliall declare to
the fecretary of the port from whence he fails,
where he intends to fifh, to what port he is to-
mum, and what mark he is to ule, that it may
be regiftered* under the penalty of 120 guilders.
1. That no mafter of a veflel fhall be allowed to go
to the herring tilhery, without the confent of the
R burgomafara
258 HISTORY OF THE
burgomafters of the town from whence he fails.
That he fhall make oath that he is properly fur-
nifhed, according to the fize of his verTel, with
tackle, feamen, barrels, fait, and all other ne-
cdfaries wanted or tiled in the herring rifhery.
That he will not «ail a herring net into the fea,
or catch herrings before the 24th of June, nor af-
ter the 3 1 ft of December.*
3* He rnuft make oath that he will feparate the her-
rings taken in one night, from thofe taken in
another night, and that he fhall notify in the lift
of the marked barrels, on what night each were
taken, on forfeiture of fhip and cargo, and degra-
dation of the matter. Farther, he fhall not fill
up the herring barrels more than once with prefled
herrings, taking care that the herrings be laid
even in their lays, from the bottom to the top ;
that the fame be not -cart with bafkets or buckets
into the barrel,, mixed, wrong laid, or adulterated ;
and that as little of the bloody pickle thereof be
fpilt as poffible.
4. He mull make oath that he will not fell, give in
prefents at fea, or cure orv fhore any herrings,
under a penalty of 24 guilders for each barrel,
and confifcation of the fhip. Nor fhall any maf-
ter traffic for herrings with any fhips or yawgers
but thofe authorifed by the chief magiilrate where
, the herring trade is eftablifhed in Holland and
Weft Friefland, and who iliall produce the pro-
per voucher of confent, having on the top, the
reprefentation of a. herring bufs, being the feal of
the great fifhery, flamped thereon, and figned by
the fecretary of the, city from whence he comes :
to which refpective fhips he fhall be impowered to
deliver over his herrings taken between June 24
By aplacart of 1682, the time limited for fifliing was not to
cxread beyond November 20*. The above-mentioned period is in
virtue of a placart of 1749.
and
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY. 259
and July 15 inclufive, and no longer; under the
penalty of the faid herrings, or their value, and a
fine of 600 guilders, and the matter rendered in-
capable of ever a6ting in that capacity for the
future.
The mailers of yawgers fhall make oath, that they
will not take on board herrings, from any others
but fu'ojech of Holhnd, and Weft Friefland, ob-
ferving to get a certificate from the mafter figned
by himfelf and two or three failors, with the fhip's
name and port fhe failed from, the quantity deli-
vered, and that they were taken after June 24,
faked and laid in barrels in his fhip, on penalty of
the herrings, or value of them; nor fhall any mafter
receive them on board yawgers after the I5th of
July on penalty as above.
The herring mafters fhall not mix different forts
together, or fort them as the firft fort, which con-
tain full, middle, and fm all. But 'the firft or full
herrings fhall be forted with the firft, the fecond
or middle herrings with the fecond, and the third
or fmail herrings with the third ; and in cafe of
an extraordinary capture, the time not permitting
to fort them properly, the mafters, at their coming
on fhore, fhall be obliged to report them as un-
forced herrings to his owners.
. The firft taken herrings are not to be fold, unlefs
they have been ten days in pickle, and not then,
till marked by the infpe6tors between the neck and
belly hoop, on penalty of 300 guilders; and, in cafe
of non-payment, to be confined to bread and wa-
ter for a month ; and all herrings brought into the
faid provinces, without fuch mark, to be publicly
thrown into the fea.
. That no inhabitants of Holland or Weft Friefland
fliall be engaged with others living out of the faid
provinces, in buffes or yawgers, under the penalty
of ihip and cargo, and 600 guilders to be reco-
R 2 vered,
H I S T O & Y OF THE
vered, though the fact hath been committed 20
years paft.
9. Any perfon who cures herrings with French fait,
from St. Martins, Olderdame, Borea, Browart, tht
South of France, the Weft Indies, or Ifle of May,
fhall forfeit the herrings.
10. No Spanifh or Portugal fait (hall be put in cafks
before the cure-maflcr has examined it, on penalty
of 25 guilders for every hundred weight ; nor fhall
they carry to fea any other but the above for the
herring fifhery> and that to be twice examined by
the cure-mafter, who muft open each barrel be-
fore it is (hipped, and ftamp them with his
mark; in cafe of failure, the mailer to forfeit 36
guilders.
11. Full barrels are to be faked in no lefs a propor-
tion than 4 barrels of fait to every laftj or twelve
barrels of herrings ; the herrings to be properly
gutted, and afterwards laid crofs^ways in the bar-
rel, under a penalty of 300 guilders* The her-
rings fo improperly faked, viz. the firft fort mixed
with the fecond, to be reckoned unforted, and to
be fold with the third fort as third fort, and to be
reckoned and paid in that manner by the pur-
chafer, likewife at the charge of the mafter.
12. The curing of the herrings fhall be completed
three weeks after they arrive, whether they be fold
or not, and fhall be repacked more than once, ac-
cording to the nature of the herring, and cuftom
of the place ; if not in the above limited time, the
buyer to have no redrefs.
13. Herrings friall not be repacked or heightened
with frefh pickle, but in the public flreets, or cuf-
tomary places, with open doors, where any may
enter, under a penalty of 240 groats.
14. No herrings fhall be repacked or heightened to
be lent abroad before the cure-mafter has infpecled
them, and afcertained that they are duly packed.
Nor are fmall herrings to be packed up with great,
but
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY. 461
but each fhall be filled up with thofe of a like
kind, and taken at the fame time and branded
with theirs and the city's mark. Each cure-maf-
ter may make the matter of the bufs open his bar-
rels twice in his view, to have two infpecYions, and
at each time to pay half a farthing, the one to be
paid by the buyer, and the other by the feller.
15. Herrings taken after July 26, and faked with
fine fait, may be exported as wrack weftward -3 the
barrel to be bound with fixteen hoops, having
the date of the year on the belly, and mark of
thepurchafer thereon.
1 6. Herrings taken after Auguft 24, and Bartholo-
mew tide, may be falted with fine fait, boiled with
fea water, according to agreement with the city
of Cologn.
17. There fhall not be fent abroad to the weftward,
or France, Flanders, and Brabant, any herrings
but thofe taken and packed after Bartholomew tide,
and marked with the grand Rouen brand: Nor fhall
any be fent to Hamburgh, Bremen, Cologn, or other
ports, that may be cured with coarfe fait, whether
they be wrack, or refufal fifh, on penalty of 6
guilders each barrel, and naval correction.
1 8. Herrings once exported, fhall not be brought
back, or cured anew, on pain of forfeiture of
the
To the above regulations of the ftatesfince 1749,
we fhall add fpndry laws of the laft century, which,
though in fome parts ambiguous, may be ufeful.
Inftruftions by the Magiftrates of Rotterdam, to be Q&-I
Jerved by the Labourers employed in lifting Herrings
out of the Barrels, and bringing them to the- pack-
ing 'Tubs (called by them Inwerpers}.
i. No man fhall be admitted to be an inwerper
except fuch as fhall take an oath to obferve the fol-
R 3 lowing
HISTORY OF THE
lowing articles, and be approved of by the magif-
trates.
2. They fhall throw no herring into the packing
tub before they have firft put into it two and one half
or three barrels of clear pickle, which pickle is to
be put through a fieve to clean .it from fcales and
other naftinefs.
3. They fhall not raife up any herrings or carry
them to the packing tub before they have firft filled
up the barrels with clear pickle, and the cure-mafter
as vifitor has performed his office.
4. In railing the herrings they fhall narrowly no-
tice the fea marks, and obferve whether the herrings
they take up are of the fame fort which ought to be
packed for fuch a burn-mark, viz. the barrels marked
i, containing jacobi herrings, to be packed into the
circle or jacobi burn-mark > the Bartholomew her-
rings marked B, to be packed into the Bartholomew
burn-mark, and the crofs herring marked X fhall be
packed into the crofs burn-mark, and great burn-
mark.
5. In cafe they fhall difcover any other mixture
of herrings than the fort that is appointed for fuch a
burn-mark as they are ordained to be marked with,
.or have any doubt about them, or find the herrings
better in the top than in the middle, they fhall im-
mediately carry them off from the packing tub and
fhew them to the vifitors, and take fpecial care that
no herrings that are rejected by the vifitors fhall be
fraudulently brought back to the tub or thrown
into it.
6. They fhall throw no more herrings into the tub
at a time than they can handfomely lift up with their
hands.
7. They fhall raife only feven barrels, and put
thofe herrings into the tubs, and afterwards put the
pickle that is in the tubs through a fieve before they
offer, to throw in more herrings.
8. They fhall not allow the boys to take herrings
out
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY. 263
out of their hands, but out of the tubs, where they
muft firft be plunged, that they may appear clear
in the barrels into which they are packed.
9. The tubs are to be filled moderately, to prevent
lofmg of the herrings or pickle, by throwing in
too many.
10. They lhall be obliged to fort out a parcel of
the beft middling fort of herrings, which are to be put
into ,a barrel, and made uic of by the packers for the
upper gangs, and not thrown into the tubs with the
reft ; the pickle that is in th-e barrel which holds the
laid herrings is to be cleaned by a fieve &t the fame
time that the tub is cleaned, which is after the raifing
of feven barrels, &c.
n. They fhall not be frighted or feared from
their duties by threats, promifes, gifts, or rewards ;
neither corrupted nor enticed to do any thing that is
contrary to the fixed regulations, direftly or indi-
rectly ; if any fuch thing {hall'happen, they are im-
mediately to acquaint the vifitors of the fame.
12. They fhall behave themfelves foberly like
honeft housekeepers, and forbear fmoking tobacco
during their work.
13. All which articles the aforefaid labourers
(inwerpers) employed in raifing of herrings and bring-
ing them into the tubs for packing, fhall faithfully,
honeftly, truly, and diligently obferve, as alfo fuch
general ordinances and ftatutes as are made concern-
ing the great filhery, on pain of being removed
from their fervice, reputed perjured, and punifhed
as fuch.
Inflruftions by tbe Magiftrates of Rotterdam, to be ob-
ferved by tbe Packers and Uf fillers of Herrings.
i. No man fhall prefume to exercife the office of
a packer before he is firft admitted thereto, and has
R 4 taken
-£4 HISTORY OF THE
taken the ufual oaths required, under pain of difcrc-»
tionary punifhment,
2. The aforefaid packers fhall not fill up or pack
any herrings for the circle, or burn-mark, before
thc^y be firfl vifited by the keurmeeflers, while they
are in fea package.
3. In cafe the herrings in the middle of the bar-
rel fhall not prove fo good as in the top, they fhall
acquaint the vifitor with it, and obferve his direction
about them.
4. And they fhall not pack into the aforefaid
package, but throw out,, a\l broken herrings, fuch as
are fick in the ran or melt, belly fick, fuch as have
been too long ungutted, fpaned herrings, fuch as have
been fcr imped of fait, wrack herrings, white ranned
herrings, and in general all forts of herrings that are
not merchantable and unfit to be packed,
5. The packers fhall lay the herrings, as flifF and
fail as poffible, flretch the gangs, clofe them, and
bring them clofe to the. fides of the barrel, that the
mark may be well packed, and as heavy as pofiible.
6 . The packers fhall not in one day lay at any tub
more than two lafts of herrings of the great burn-
mark, 3 lafts of crofs burn-mark, and 45 barrels
of circle or Bartholomew burn-mark, except it fhall
be by exprefs order of the vifitor.
7. All herrings packed by them in barrels, which
are marked with the great burn- mark, lhall be lifted
out of the packing tub from amongfl the pickle, and
put into trays or flat tubs that have holes bored in
their bottoms for draining, out of that they are to
be packed into the barrels, except the two upper-
moil gangs, which for herrings marked with the
great burn-mark, are to be taken out of the flavour
barrel, and the upper gang of all other marks taken
likewife out of faid barrel. They fhall likewife
draw off or pull away the (bellern) bellies from the
herrings laid intothofe flavour gangs.
8, They lhall put their marks upon both heads
within
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY.
within each barrel, and likewife upon the broadeft
Have in the middle of the barrel, which they fhall
fliow to the vifitors, fpringers, and coopers being
prefent, under the penalty of three guilders.
9, They fhall throw no pickle upon herrings with-
out putting it through the fieve, for which end they
fhall have with them a fmall pickle difh, a fieve, and
a (lick.
IQ. So foon as the bell of the cure-houfe (hall ring,
they fhall be obliged to repair thither to ferve the
fnerchant, and to pack if they are deiired ; and be-
fore they call lots amongft themfelves who fhall be
employed qn the work, they fhall firfl enquire of
the merchant how many herrings he defired to be
packed, which he fhall be obliged to declare, and
thole packers, who by lot falls to ferve him, fhall
work at faid herrings, neither more nor lefs, under
tfee penalty of 24 guilders, to be forfeited by him
who has cauied more to be packed ; and the packer
phat has packed more herrings than are given up by
the merchant, before cafting of lots who fhould
.work, is to be deprived of the privilege of working
as a packer for a month, and forfeit three guilders,
except it be by exprefs confent of the cure-
p/iafters,
1 1 . The aforefaid packers fhall not hight or pack
any herrings into Deuttltonncn, .neither begin to
pack or hight herrings before the barrels, out of
which they pack, be firfl filled up with pickle ; and
likewife, before they begin to pack, they fhall take
out the undermofl and uppermoft plugs from the
barrels into which they pack burn-mark or circle,
that the pickle may run off, under the penalty of
jo ilivers.
12. The packers or fillers up of herrings, fhall
not pack or hight herrings any otherwife than under
the open heavens, and for that realbn immediately
kave work when it begins to rain, all under the pe-
nalty often guilders, which the cure-mailer fhall ex-
act
266 HISTORY OF THE
act of them, or caufe to be exacted from them by
the. officer, or fufpenfion from their office.
13. The faid packers and highters fhall not give
away any herrings, or fuffer that to be done without
con lent of the merchant, directly or indirectly.
14. They fhall be obliged to ferve in their births,
othersvife not allowed to work next year.
15. They fhall work out their work, -which they
are obliged to do by lots, except being great burn-
mark packers, and at the time employed in packing
lefTer fort of herrings, they fhall be called from
their tubs to pack great burn-mark herrings, then
.other packers be put, or fhail be put in their room.
16. They (hall have for fees or falary, for each
barrel of Rouane great burn-mark, 5 ftivers, and for
half a barrel, 3 ftivers, and for the tirkin i^ ftiver;
for every barrel (ceulfe crurs brand) ceulen crofs
burn-mark, Bartholomew and circle herrings, 4 fti-
vers, and for every half barrel of fuch herrings, af
ilivers, and for the firkin, i| ftiver , for every barrel
'wracks or unfufficient herrings, 4 ftivers, for the
half barrel, 2 ftivers, and for the firkin, i~ ftiver.
The laid packer fhall pay the (inwerper) labourer,
that puts the herrings into the packing tubs, 1 8
pence per diem, their wages proportioned ac-
cording to the time they work, and likewife-to the
boy that lifts the herrings out of the packing tub and
puts them into trays or fiat tubs for draining, 8
pence per diem ; to the fillers- up of the herrings
named hoogers, 6 ftivers per laft, including the
gangs that are raifed by the vifitor for trying the
fufficiency Of the herrings; and the faid packers fhall
pretend to no more falaries or fees, under any name
whatfbever, neither claim any herrings under name
of drink-money, beergelt, or brandinine, either by
themfelvesj their wives, or any other pcrfon what-
foever, but content themielves with the aforefaid
fees or falaries only.
17. They ihall behave themfelves foberly during
their
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY. 267
their work, and refrain from fmoking tobacco,
under penalty of being difcharged from working,
1 8. The packers and highters of herrings fhall be
bound to obierve the aforefaid directions in every
point, obey the cure-matters in the exercife of their
office, on pain of being fufpended from their em-
ployments, and the arbitral correction of the magii-
trates according to the nature of their crime.
Infiruftions by the Ma?iftr cites of Rotterdam to tbf
Servants attending their Herring Cellars named by
them Plaatjknegten.
i. No man fhall be admitted or allowed to ferve
as a labourer or overfeer in the herring works, ex-
cept fuch as <have taken an oath to obferve the fol-
lowing articles, and are approved of by the ma-
gittrates.
-•2. All fuch fervants or overfeers fhall be obliged
to take up a faithful and exact account of what her-
rings they receive, for their ;naiters ufe, out of the
buffes, by writing down the fnerman, or matter of
the bufs's mark, adding to it a diftinction, what
forts the herrings confift of, or whether they be full
herrings cured with great fait, manis herrings which
are their fat herrings ; herrings caught after St.
James's day, St. Bartholomew's day, cruife herrings,
or herrings caught after, or in the months of Sep-
tember or October ; yelen herrings, or lean fpanned
herrings ; and take care they dont mix them by layr
ing them through one another, on the quay, ftreet,
or warehoufe, but keep them leparate according to
their marks
3. When the vifitors or cure-matters Ihall enquire
for a fight of any herrings in tbeir cuftodv, the ievc-
ral overfeers of the herring works fhall (how them to
them diftinctly, according to their forts.
4. When herrings are filled up, the aforefaid fer-
vants
$6$ HISTORY OF THE
vants fhatl take care to keep feparate all fuch her-
rings as are wracks, have faults, or are inefficient^
without mixing them with other herrings, or furTer-
ing any other perfon to do it, keeping every mark
by itfelf as in the fecond article.
j. In. the like manner the aforefaid fervants fhall
not only hinder, but ufe all poflible diligence to pre-
vent the mixing of herrings in repacking them, efr
pecially that no grofs fait herrings be mixed with
jacobi herrings,, nor great fait and jacobi herrings
arnoncrft Bartholomew herrings or cruife herrings ^
far lefs any wrack herrings fhall be brought, or fuf-
fered by them to be brought to the tubs where the
packers are working, but immediately they are to,
carry them off fo foon as the cure is performed by
the vifitors^ by (hutting up the barrel and rolling
them a. way.
6, The aforefaid fervants fhall by no means
iJifturb or maleft the cure-m after s or vifitors in the
exercife of their office, neither the coopers and
packers ; and fhall not endeavour to corrupt or bribe
them to negled their duty either by threats, gifts, or
promife of reward, or any other manner of way
whatfoeve*;.
7. And in cafe any of faid fervants fhall be de~
fired by their matters to commit any frauds contrary
to the faid regulations, they fhall be obliged to ac-
quaint the directors of the fiftiery, named penning
jneetoren.
S. The aforefaid fervants fhall not endeavour to
afoufe or deceive the vifitors of the herrings, by
caufing them to put a wrong burn. -mark on repacked
herrings, viz. a lefs fort for a greater; far lefs fhall
they alter any of the marks after burning, or alter
the hooping of the barrels to make herrings lefs in
value, pafs for a different mark from what they were
defignedi and for preventing fuch frauds and abufe,
take care always to keep the mark feparate.
9. In
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY. :>6f
9. In cafe the aforefaid fervants fhall have orra-
fion for any affiftants, they are to acquaint the vifi-
tors, and to be accountable for all abufes and frauds
thefe afiiftants fliall happen to be guilty of contrary
to the faid regulations.
10. The aforefaid fervams iliall not at any time
alter any of the fea-marks, dates, burn-marks, by
ihaving or cutting them off from the feaftrikers re-
packed herrings, far lefs (hall they put any other
marks in place of them, nor fuffer it to be done by
others.
1 1 . The fervants fliall faithfully and exactly no-
.tice, in conjunction with the vifitors, all the wracks
and faults that may happen to be on fea-fheck her-
rings, taking care that there be an exact account
taken of them, as well by them as the vifitors, which
they fhall deliver in to their mafters, without feed or*
favour, and any ways wronging their intereft,
12. Under the general name of herrings made
mention of in the aforefaid regulations, is to be un-
derftood, no other forts of herrings than fuch as are
dreffed and faked, conform to their high and mighti-
nefTes their placarts, and conform to the ftatutes
of the great fifhery of the country ; no fervant or
plaatfknegt fhall offer to meddle with any herrings
caught by foreigners, imported into the provinces,
either to pack or re-pack them, far lefs mix fuch
herrings with Dutch.
13* Every evening the faid fervants fhall, in con-
junction with the vifitors, take up an exact lift how
many wracks have happened that day, 'and whether
they be right netted on each mark ; alfo that thofe
wracks remain ; if otherwifc, they fhall acquaint the
perfon that buys the herrings to prevent any miftakc
by mixture.
14. The aforefaid fervants fhall, during their
work, forbear the firoking tobacco, behave them-
felves diligently, foberly, and faithfully in their
mafters fervice, without giving them any unman-
nerly
270 H I S T O R Y O F t H E
nerly offence, neither fhall they defert their matters
fervice, except on a lawful occafion.
. 15. The aforefaid fcrvants fhall, fo far as it con-
cerns them, faithfully and truly regulate themfelves
according to the foregoing articles, and the general
ordinances that are ilatute concerning the her-
ring fifhery, on pain of being turned oil t of their
fervice, accounted menfworn, or perjured, and pu-
niihed as fuch.
Inftruftions for the Coopers and Haunters or Springers
of Herring* .
1. None fhali take upon them to exercife the
office of a cooper or fpringer of herrings before
they be admitted and have taken an oath before the
magiftrates to obferve the following directions.
2. The coopers belonging to any herring works
fhall not be allowed to daunt* any herrings that
have the circle or burn mark, but leave that to be
done by the coopers and claunters whofe turn it is
to do that ftrvice by lot, and who friall firit once
daunt the aforefaid circle and burn-mark, and like-
wife the great burn- m ark, which they ihall wafh off
with clear pickle, and afterwards making loofe the
bulge hoops, tread in the head of the barrel as {tiff
as poMible, taking good notice that the bellen of the
two laft gangs of the great burn-mark herrings be.
taken oft by the packers, and the belien of the laft
gang of the Keuleen brand.
3. The coopers and fpringers fhall not daunt any
herrings except fuch as are faked with refined fait,
(according to the order of package) and fhall head
or fuffer to be headed no herrings except fuch as
are full, fliff, and well packed, and when they find
* Daunting fignifies preffing the herrings, jumping upon them.
after they are packed. Some of the mod experienced fifhers in the
weft of Scotland, think that this practice looiens the herrings from
thcvbone, and is othervvife hurtful.
them
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY. 271
them otherwife, they .(hall challenge, or charge the
packers, upon their oath, that they have taken to
make them iufficient, and that they preis them bet-
ter with their hands in laying as they ought, and the
packers fhall be obliged to hearken to their reproofs
and directions.
4. The fpringers and coopers fhail take notice
that the packers fhall pack no herrings before the
barrels out of which they pack are firft made full
with pickle, and likewife take notice that the pack-
ers do not pack or hight herrings in any deutel t</.
ncn, as alfo that the plugs below and above be fr
taken out of the barrels that the pickle may run <;
thole that does otherwife (hall be delated to the cure-
mailer, who is immediately to be acquainted with it.
5. The fpringers (hall take narrow notice that the
right hand of the barrel into which herrings that
have the burn-mark are packed, be marked on the
under or inner fide with the packer's mark, and they
fhall not clofe up or head up any herrings before
they have feen laid mark diir.inc~r.ly, under the p
nalty of 20 (livers.
6. No man fhall prefume or take in hand to rut
off, or fuffer to be cut off, any circles or marks that
are put on the barrels by the cure-mafters, and by
fo doing get a fecond cure performed on faid
herrings.
7. The aforefaid coopers (hall bind every barrel
that is marked with the great burn-mark with 20
hoops, or more, according to the largenefs or fmall-
nefs of the hoops ; tJie warks and outfhots of faid
herrings, with 16 hoops and no lefs ; alfo the Ceulen
brand with 16 hoops, and the warks of them with 16
hoops of the bed fort that the merchant has.
After all jny enquiries in Holland and Great
Britain relative to the Dutch ; or* Milling and
curing the herrings 1 V.M; .,"ib!e of
ciency in the kno .
$72 HISTORY OF THE
The perfons engaged intheHebride and eaft country
fifheries feemed totally unacquainted with it. Others
alfo who had refided in Shetland differed widely
from each other in their reports 3 And evert natives
bf Shetland, two of whom were examined before:
the committee of the Houfe of Commons, feemed
imperfect on that fubjedt The firft perfon exa-
mined, faid, he lived on a remote ifland* at a' confi-
derable diftance from BrafTa Sound ^ that he was
folely engaged in the white fifhery, and could give
no account of the herring bufmefs. The fecond per-
fon refided at Lerwic> and was more intelligent, but
being alfo engaged in the white fifhery, his account
of the herring bufmefs fell fliort of my expectations,
though I fpent fome hours with him privately on
that head. Sdon after, I was feafonably favoured
with the following important particulars^ by two
different channels ; which, with the informations
communicated in the courfe of this work^ lays operi
the whole myfbery of the bufmefs as practifed by the
Dutch j with fuch benefit to individuals/ and the
ftate.
of a Letter from Lerwic, Capital of the Shetland
IJles, March 9, 1785.
The Dutch buffes, of all nations, are the beftcori-
ftrucled for the herring fifhery in the open fea, as
they are long round veffels, with a waifte about 30
inches high, which not only makes them warm and
comfortable, but fafe for the fimermen, while em-
ployed in gutting and curing the herrings. A pro-
per yeffel for the herring fifhing on the coafl of Shet-
land, in fummer, if new, fhould not eoft,* with her
new cafks and every other fifhing implement, under
loooL of which the nets cofl a very large iliare.
The lize of the Dutch veffels run from 50 to 70 tons.
They have what is called a fleet of 50 nets to each
bufs. The nets, -when fining or made faft to the
rope to which they are fixed, meafure about £o fa^
thorns long, and 7! deep. What they call the bufs
rope,
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY. 273
rope, which is the rope that the whole fleet of nets
depend upon, and by which the veiTel rides when
the nets are out, is generally 120 fathoms long, and
7} inches thick; and of which the Dutch, Danes,
and Prufiians always have two, in cafe of one failing.
Thefe ropes are feldorn ufed above three, often not
above two years, and are made of the beft materials,
and great need is for it, as on it depends, in a ftorm,
the fafety of the out-fit of nets, buoys, ropes, &c.
and perhaps a large haul of herrings. Inftances
have happened, when, by the failure of this rope,
the whole out-fit has been loft, and the vefTel obliged
to return home.
Altho' it is faid, and generally believed, that the
herrings in fummer are caught near the Shetland
coaft, yet it as frequently happens that they are
caught near the Buchannefs, but it as regularly hap-
pens that when they are caught near the Buchannefs,
and near Shetland, at the fame time, that the latter
are of a fuperior quality, and give a higher price at
market.
The fifhing vefifels are all divided below decks in
rooms calculated to hold each its particular part of
the out-fit, and the accefs to each of them is from
the deck by a feparate hatch.
When they fet out^ the vefTels are quite full of
cafks, one part of which is filled with fait fufficient
to fill the whole cargo. This is always foreign fait,
either .bay fait or St. Ubes. No Britifh fait has
ftrength to cure the fat herrings caught here in
fummer.
When the nets are hauled in, and the herrings taken
from them, the nets are put immediately below
decks into their own room, and the herrings into
two equal places, built upon deck, like large meal
garnels, with fhifting boards, and immediately after
all is (towed away, they begin to gut, clean, * and
* The writer muft be under a miftake with regard to the clean-
ing of herrings, there Jbeing no fuch pra&ice, or any caufe for it.
S pack
*74 HISTORY OF THE
pack the herrings into barrels, and whatever remains
uncured at the fun's going down, is thrown overboard.
The crew confifts of 14 people ; the mailer, mate,
cook, five experienced fiftiermen, two young men
who have not full wages, two younger than thefe,
two, at ftill inferior wages, and two young boys,
fometimes poor boys that are taken on board for their
victuals without wages.
When herrings are caught, the mafter, mate, and
cook, manage the veffel -, the oihers are all employed
in their different ftations, in gutting, cleaning,
packing, and curing the herrings. The five expe-
rienced fifhermen muft all be coopers, and pack,
cure, and cooper the cafks, and each muft put his
particular mark on the cafks he coopers, fo as to
detect him if he works fuperfi dally, and for which he
often pays by lofing part of his wages.
The Dutch never fhoot their nets before the 24th of
June. They have a certain number of* j aggers for
carrying of the herrings caught from that time to the
1 5th of July. The firft, go to Holland ; the fecondj
to Hamburg ; and the third, to Bremen*
. If the" demand for herrings is greater at Hamburgh*
they often fend two or three cargoes more there.
No herrings go to market until they are repacked,
(that is filled up) except thofe caught the fecond or
third night, which are fent off in their original pack-
age in order to catch the firft market, there being no
time for repacking*
When they have time, they generally repack or
fill up, eight days after the herrings have been firft
faked. The veffels often filh within fight of the
land, and fometimes very near it, fo as they are feen
riding under their nets from the fhore, but that ia
always with an off-fhore wind. They fhift ground
as they find the herrings more to the northward of
fouthw^rd, but are feldom upon the coaft, at leaft
few of them, after the end of July, or firft week of
Auguft, alledging that the herrings go all fputhward
as the feafon fpends, a#d they generally end tha:
fifhery near Yarmouth*
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY.
The herrings are feldom in our bays in fummer,
Except a fmall kind not merchantable. Somj-
times they fet into the bays on the weft coaft in au-
tumn, butfo uncertain, that gentlemen who have at
different times kept a flock of fait and cafks upon
hand for the purpofe, have loft confiderably by it.
The barrels ufed by the Dutch,, meafure about 34
gallons ; are of a thin fuperficial make, and made
only fit to carry their herrings to market once.* They
coft in Holland a guilder, or a fum equal to is. $d.
No jaggers remain with the buries after the i5th of
July. They muft that day leave their ftations and
go home, whether they have got cargoes or not.
But it often happens that they have all cargoes, and
Are away a week before they are obliged to go.
All the herrings caught after the jaggers leave the
fleet, are cured and kept on board the refpective
veflels by whom they are caught, until a cargo is
made, or until the feafon is over for filhing.
Sloops of an ordinary make are not fit for fifhing
in the open feas, as there is no room upon their decks
for all the operations and conveniencies necefiary.
Befides, they are commonly too low in the waift.
The jaggers carry boats for bringing the herrings
from the bufles at fea, but the bufTes never carry
any, as there is no room upon deck for them. The.
Dutch know from the colour of the water, whether
the herrings fwim deep or high up in the water, and
regulate their buoy ropes accordingly.
ExtraR of a Letter from Scotland, May 10, 1785.
Since you was in this place I have had a converfa-
tlon with a perfon who was many years engaged in,
curing of herrings on board the Dutch buflcs ; and
it is from him, as well as from others, I learned that
the fuperiority of irhe Dutch herrings, may be
afcribed to the follc A ing caufes, viz.
* Meaning the barrels for the early fammer hen ings.
s a i. To
HISTORY OF THE
1. To the fine hearings being never caught but
when they are in feafon. The Dutch never begin
to fifh before the 24th of June, and their prime her-
rings are taken chiefly in the month of July.
2. To the herrings being taken alive out of the
nets; for, as the Dutch drive with their nets from
the bufs, and haul them every now and then, the
herrings do not hang long in the nets, as is the cafe,
with fuch of our bufles as fifh with boats, and fet
their nets to the ground.
3. To the herrings being flrewed over with fait, the
moment they come out of the nets and are laid upon
the deck of the vefiel, are which is done before they
are gutted.
4. To the gills and gut being taken out by an
incifion made with the knife, inftead of being taken
Out with the fingers as is the practice with us. By
which firft method the great blood vefiels at the
heart are laid open, and the fifh difcharges itfelf of
blood, &c. Hence the peculiar whitenefs of Dutch
herrings, both in the fifh, and at the boner where
there is no blacknefs occafioned by the coagulation
of blood, as is often the cafe with Britifh herrings.
5. To their being cured with refined fait, which
is prepared exprefsly for the purpofe, by being
cleared of bittern, and all that putrefcent matter,
which tends to corrupt, in place of preferving the
fifh. I am told that even the fait from France,
Spain, Portugal, &c. is refined in Holland before
it is ufed for the curing of herrings,
6. To the Dutch never taking on board any,bufs
more herrings in the morning than they can cure be-
fore fun-fet : nay, I am informed, if any fuch remain,
the mailer of the veffel is obliged to throw them
overboard.
7. To their being packed fea-ftidc in tight bar-
rels made of oak, \ inch thick in the ftave, fuch as
will hold in the firfl brine or pickle, which brine
it is that alone makes the cure of the fifh.
L/aftly, To their wife regulations with regard to
the whole procefs of curing and packing.
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY. 277
Notwithftanding the unwearied attention of the
Hates of Holland to this fifhery, the fale hath gradu-
ally fallen off fmce the middle of the laft century,
infomuch, that the bufTes, which on an average of
years, exceeded 2000, fcarcely amount at prefent to
200 -, but as every bufs makes two or three cargoes,
we may ftill eflimate the annual cargoes of herrings
taken on the Scottifh coaft, at 500; befides the
augmentation in the tonnage of the bufles which of
late years hath doubled the antient dimenfions.
When popery was more univerfal, and when the
lent was rigidly obferved, the Dutch market ex-
tended over great part of Europe j it is now chiefly
confined to their own country, Germany, the Auftrian,
and French Netherlands.
This trade is greatly facilitated by means of fundry
large rivers, as the Rhine, the Maefe, the Wefer, the
Ems, the Elbe, and the Schield, with their branches.
At Frankfort, and the hither parts of Germany,
a Dutch herring fells at the price of two pounds of
beef or mutton.
In Bohemia, and other diftant parts, the price is
enhanced to fix pence, owing partly to the numerous
tolls or tonnages in pafflng through' different Hates.
It would feem that the Dutch have always been
iealous of the interference of Great Britain in the
herring fiiheries. A certain author attributes the
mifcarriages of the Britifh eftablifliments in the laft
century to the gold and influence of that people.
When the Britifh government, in 1749, refumed
the bufmefs of the fiiheries, the Dutch took the
alarm, and immediately publifhed frclh placarts on
pretence of enforcing the fifhery laws, which they
a Hedged had been neglected, and Cf from whence,
fay they, it is to be apprehended that the now al-
ready much lefiened foreign fale of the Dutch her-
rings, and the good repute thereof, will entirely
ceafe, and, on the contrary, become in difefteern, to
the great detriment and prejudice of the trade, and
s 3 confe-
278 HISTORY OF THE
confequently to the ruin of the great herring fifhery j
being fo apparent a lofs to the trade and welfare of
the country, and the inhabitants thereof, in cafe it is
not fpeedily and rigoroufly examined into. V
Such is the language of ftrangers, who from long
ufage confider themfelves as having a right to the
fifhery, but as nature hath bellowed this bounty on
the Scottifh fhores, as an equivalent for her fcanty
difpenfations in the foil and climate, it is but fair
that the inhabitants fhopld be permitted the full en-
joyment thereof; or, at lead, feme exclufive privi-
leges, by which they may not only arrive earlier at
foreign markets than the Dutch, but alfb be enabled
to fell their cargoes fomewhat cheaper.
So trifling is our fifhery in the north feas, that when
a folitary Scotfman appears in his little black (loop or
brig, amongft the elegant veflfels belonging to the
Dutch, he becomes the ridicule of the whole fleet,
cc Here comes the admiral — falute our noble com-
modore— hoift your pennants — fire your guns, " are
the feoffs levelled at the poor Scotfman, even by the
phlegmatic Dutch. An anonymous author affirms
that thefe people will fometimes run in clofe upon
the coaft after they have got their cargo, on pufpofo
to break the fhoals, with a view to obftruct the fuo
cefs of the natives. Though we can hardly give
credit to this report, it is certain, that the Dutch
method of dragging the ocean from the Britifh fhore
to the diftance of 20 or 30 miles, muft fo difperfe
the herrings as to prevent thenY'from appearing in
large bodies fo often as they otherwife would, both
on the Scottifh and the Englifh coaft.-
Befides the detriment to the Britifh fifheries, as
above ftated, the Dutch, by means of their great
capitals, and univerfal correfpondence, are enabled
to foreftal the European markets, even before the
herrings are taken, a circumftance which will, una-
voidably, retard the progrefs of the native fifhery,
aotwithftanding every effort of government to fut.:~
port
DUTCH HERRING FISHERY.
port it. If, therefore, the Scots wifh to recover
their hereditary patrimony, theftaple fource of com-
merce, navigation, and national confequence, thev
will endeavour to fecure the northern fifheries to
themfelves and their fellow fubjects of England,
either by a total prohibition of all foreigners from
rendezvoufing and fifhing within a limited diflance of
the Shetland Iflands •, or, by fubjecting them to fu'cli
tonnage, or duties, as will prevent them from en-
grofiing foreign markets. This Britons have a right
to expect : it is the law of nations, the language of
common fenfej even the Dutch themfelves could
not deem it unreafonable. On the contrary, they
have fet the example in their infignificant fifhery
upon their own fhores, which they farm, or let out
to the belt bidder 3 thereby making a property of
the fea.
CHARLES I. In 1636, HTued a proclamation,
prohibiting their fifhing on our coaft, which the
Dutch difregarded, on a prefumption of right, de-
rived from the (lender pretext of an occasional
toleration from fome of his predeceflbrs. Upon
this, the king fent the earl of Northumberland with
a fleet to the north feas, where the Dutch bufies
were bufily employed : the earl having in vain re-
quired of them to defrft, he funk fome, took others,
and put the reft to flight. The ftates were then glad
to folicit the lord high admiral to intercede for them
with the king, for permiflion to continue their fifh-
ing for that ieafon only, for which they would pay
his majefty 30,000!. their requeft was granted and
they paid the money. They further offered to be-
come tributary forever, for the fame amount, but
the propofal was rejected. 30,000!. annually, with
its accumulated intereft, would, at the prefent day,
have exceeded 17,000,000!. which is more than we
have realized by the whole empire of North America,
after deducting the expence of that country in wars,
protection, bounties, and civil eftablifiiments. Fur-
s 4 ther,
*8o HISTORY OF THE
ther, had fuch annual tribute been appropriated
unalienably to the improvement of Scotland, and
particularly the Highlands, this noble ill and would
not have become a nurfery of manufacturers, farmers,
feamen, and fifhers to other countries, from want of
encouragement at home.
An opportunity offered at the clofe of the late war,
for taking this matter into confideration, but it
feems to have been overlooked. Something may ftill
be done, by amicable negotiation, with a people who
; owe their civil and religious liberties ; the rile of
their opulence, commerce, and navigation, to the
I afliftance of England, and the fifheries of Scotland.
This feems to be the fenfe and the earneft wifti of
both kingdoms from the Thames northward.
Of the Swedijh, Norway, Danifh, Prujftan,
and French Fijberies.
The herrings, as hath been obferved, forfook the
Swedifh and German coafl about the beginning of the
1 6th century, a circumftance extremely favourable to
the Dutch, who thus faw themfelves without a rival,
the trifling exports from Yarmouth and Scotland ex-
cepted. At length, about 30 years ago, the herrings
returned to the coaft of Sweden, which they have con-
tinued to vifit with fuch regularity, (till 1784, when
no fifh appeared) that the rifhery hath become a capi-
tal object of the Swedilh commerce, , The Swedes
have not, however, adopted the Dutch v method of
cnring, and their herrings are fo greatly inferior,
that they fell in Stockholm at a farthing each ;
while thofe from Holland bring a penny, and are
ufed by the firft families of that capital.
It is faid, that the Swedes have fallen upon a me-
thod of extracting oil from the herrings, and with,
confiderable profit to thofe who have engaged therein.
The herrings have frequented the coafl of Nor-
way with greater regularity, but we know little of
their manner of curing. It is certain that the Danes,
ENGLISH HERRING FISHERIES. 281
though they are matters of Norway, frequent the
Scottilh fhores in the nlhing feafons, to the number
of 30 or 40 bufles. This preference to the Scottilh
fifhery, muft either be owing to the fuperior quality
of the herrings, or the turbulence of the ocean on
the coaft of Norway, and the dangers of a lee-fhore
during the wefterly winds. v
About the fame number of bufles frequent the
coaft of Shetland, from Pruflia, Oftend, Dunkirk,
and France, for which permiffion the Britiih court
hath a claim to fome exclufive commercial privileges
from thofe ftates, though hitherto neglected.
Of the Englijh Herring Fijheries.
To a temperate climate, a fruitful foil, and rich
mines, England is abundantly lupplied in great vari-
ety of fifh, as herrings, cod, ling, haddocks, whitings,
pilchards, falmon, mackarel, flat and flieli fifh; info-
much, that the capital, though at the diftance of 50
miles from the lea, is well iupplied at all feafons, be-
fidcs an export trade amounting to about 100,000!.
annually.
Of thefe ftfheries, that carried on from Yar-
mouth, for herrings, is the moit antient upon record
in the national annals, and which, it is conjectured,
from its magnitude and long duration, hath brought
a lum into the kingdom equal to 20,000,000!. of
the prefent money.
It appears from antient records that the place
where great Yarmouth now {lands was originally a
fand-bank in the fca; that by degrees it appeared
above water, and became dry land : and that fifher-
men from different parts of England, tfpecially the
Cinque ports, and aifo from France, and the Low
Countries, rdbrted hither annually to catch herrings
at a certain feafon of the year, when the fca afforded
great plenty. That, as the faid land was then un-
occupied,
HISTORY OFT H'E
occupied, and its fituation extremely convenient for
drying their nets, manufacturing their filh, and ex-
poiing it there to fale, they creeled temporary booths
or tents, as their feveral circumftances permitted, to
retreat, and fecure themfelves from the inclemency
of the weather.
And, that for the better keeping of the peace, and
fecuring each his property, the barons of the Cinque
ports, then the principal fifhermen of England, de-
puted feveral officers, called bailiffs, to attend this
nihery or fair, every year, during the fpace of forty
days, from Michaelmas to Martinmas, that being
the principal herring ieafon. Thus the fiihery con-^
tinued fome time after the firft beginning, which
appears from various concurrent circumftances, to
have been foon after the landing of Cerdick the
Saxon, in 495,
In later times, when the fandy beach became fafe
and commodious to dwell upon, the fifhermen began
to build houfes, and for their better defence, foun-
ded a burgh, which, gradually increafing, contained
in the reign of Edward the Confeflbr, feventy
burgefTes.
In noS, Henry I. in confequence of the great
increafe of inhabitants, and concourfe of fifhermen
and traders, from various parts of England, Flan-
ders, and Normandy, appointed a magiftrate to
govern the borough, called in Latin Profofitus, but
in the dialect of thofe times Le Provofl.*
From this period downward, we perceive an un-
remitting attention to the fuccefs of the Yarmouth
filhery, particularly in 1357, when a body of laws
was enacted by Edward III. and his parliament, rela-
tive to the better regulation of the fisheries, and
the great annual fair held at Yarmouth. That politic
* This term is ftill ufed in Scotland, where the mayor is called
the prqyoft, and the lord mayor, the lord provoit.
monarch^
ENGLISH HERRING FISHERIES. 283
monarch, with a view to promote the herring trade,
became a purchafer of their fifh, and in 1358, fifty
lads of herrings were (hipped at Portfmouth for the
ufe of his army and fleet in France. This practice
was adopted by his fucceffors down to queen Eliza-
beth ; who alib enforced the ecclefiaftical laws re-
fpecting the keeping of Lent, in favour of the
rifheries.
In 1635, a patent was granted to one Thomas
Davis, Efq. for gauging red herrings, at Yarmouth,
with a fee of 2 Shillings and 3 pence per laft. His
duty was to view/ try, fearch, and gauge all barrels
of red herrings ; and with certain feals, marks, or
ilamps, to make difti notion of the feveral forts and
kinds of herrings contained therein, made up, and
packed. And it was ordained in the fame grant,
" That none other vefiel or veflels from time to
time, (hall be marked, fealed, or (lamped, than
fuch, as upon his or their view, trial, fearch, and
gauging, fhall be found to be without deceit, found,
uncorrupt, and unmixt. "
In 1671, Charles II. the Duke of York, and feve-
ral of the nobility went to Yarmouth, where they
were entertained at an expence of loool. The cor-
poration alfo prefented his majefty with four golden
herrings and a chain of 250!. value.
The Yarmouth herrings being moft proper for
drying, the inhabitants feem to have ftruck into that
branch only, in which they have long had the repu-
tation of being the bed curers in Europe, infomuch
that the Dutch were amongft the number of their
foreign cuftomers.
The Yarmouth people have greatly the advantage
over the Dutch, firft, in being nearer the herring
fhoals ; and fecondly, in being plentifully fupplied
with wood ; whereas the Dutch are obliged to fmoke
their herrings with turf or draw.
The fmacks commence the fifhing about the 2i(l
of September, and continue the bufinefs till the 25th
of
284 HISTORY OF. THE
of November. The fifhing grounds are from TO
leagues north of Yarmouth to the South Foreland.
Their fmacks or vetfels carry from 30 to 50 tons, and
9 men and a boy upon an average. Every vefTel is
generally equipped at the firft fitting out with 90 or
100 nets, which are replaced about the middle of
the feafon by a frefli fee of the fame quantity and
dimenfions. The length of a net is 20 yards on the
lint, which implies the melh work, and 6 yards in •
depth ; the value £. i 1 1 6 each.
Expence of i fets of nets of 90 nets! Q
each fet, at £. i 1 1 6 each , J
6 warps to faiten the nets together, -|
each warp being 120 fathoms long, I 37 16 o
at £. 6 6 o — — J
60 buoys for floating the nets — 770
Mens wages for the feafon, befides il. 1
per laft oh all the herrings taken /
Provjfions for ditto 30 o o
£- 398 13 o
Befides various contingent and accidental expences,
as damages by ftrefs of \yeather, and the deflrudlion
of the nets by dog fifh,
Each vefTcl takes out upon an average 5 tons of
fait for each outfit. The quantity is weighed out
by the officer to the owner of the vefiel, who, if the
fait be foreign, gives a bond that itiliall.be ufed
only in curing fi(h : Upon return of the vcfTel, the
owner gives an account to the officer, upon oath, of
the quantity confumed, whether foreign or home fait,
and the remainder being re-weighed, is laid up in his
ir.ajefty's (lores. The home fait is imported from
Liverpool. There are no cuftom-houfe fees except
for the fait bond, which is from 9 to 1-2 {hillings.
When the veifel arrives on the fifhing ground fhe
fhoots her nets after fun-fet from over the fide, which
extend near a mile in length, and are carried by the
tide from 7 to 10 miles .each .tide, In two hours
after
ENGLISH HERRING FISHERIES.
after fhooting the nets, they heave the warp by the
capftern, and thus draw the net to the verlel, and if
few or no fifh are perceived, they wear the net out
again and drive two hours longer; the fame is
repeated till morning, unlefs they get their quantity
of fifh fooner; or unlefs the dog-fifh ihould rife, in
which cafe they draw their nets in as quick as pofii-
ble, fet one mail and one fail, and go about a
mile or two from this deflroyer of nets, by whom
50!. or upwards is fometimes loft in one night.
Rough weather, if not a mere hurricane, is pre-
ferred by the Yarmouth fifliers, which gives them an
advantage over the Dutch, who decline the bufmefs
when the fea is greatly agitated.
Each veflel is furnifhed with an apartment called
a well, into which the fifli are conveyed by a fort of
machine, as foon as they are difengaged from the
nets. The bottom of the well is full of holts,
through which the blood and water runs out, and is
pumped overboard.
There are two apartments called wings, one on
each fide of the well, into which the men throw the
herrings with fcoops ; 'a third throws in the fait,
while a fourth and fifth man throws up the herrings
to the furtheft part of the wings.
By this means the herrings are preferved, until the
veiTel hath got in 10 or 12 lads, when fhe returns to
Yarmouth road, fends the Hfh afhore in fmall boats,
from whence they are carted to the fifli-houfe. Here
they are faked on the floor, in which ftate they lie
t\vo days ; they are then walhed in large vats of frefh
water, put on the fpits, and dried with many tires of
billet- wood. If the herrings are intended for ex-
portation, they are kept in this ftate from four to fix
weeks, when they are packed in cafks of 3^ gallons ;
cadi cafk containing 1000 herrings. One laft of
fait cures three laft of herrings. A bounty or draw-
back of 7^. per cent, is allowed on account of bar-
rels,
286 HISTORY OF THE
rels, cordage, twine, and high wages. The fale is
chiefly in Italy*
This ancient fifhery is greatly on the decline*
chiefly from the advanced price of fifhing materials^
amounting to 25 per cent, and alfo from rivalfhip, of
which forne particulars will be given hereafter.
In 1760, the town of Yarmouth fitted out 205
veffels from 30 to 100 tons, which gave employment
to above 6000 perfons of both fexes. Upon an
average of 21 years previous to that period, there
were caught upwards of 47,000 barrels each year, of
which 38,000 barrels were exported, at a medium
price of 1 8s. per barrel, which produced an annual
gain to the nation of 42,300!. befides 203000!. paid
at foreign markets, to 40 fhips for freight, and the
9000 barrels confumed at home, which added fo
much to the national flock of provifions, Between
the years 17 60 and 1783, the number of fifhing vefieh
hath decreafed from 205 to 94, and the average
quantity of herrings caught annually during the lafl
fix years, amounted only to 14,000 barrels, of which
9335 were exported.
This fifhery ufed to be frequented by 30 or 46
vefTels from Folkflone, Haftings, and other ports ;
all of which have of late difappeared, and are fup-
pofed to have taken up the trade of fmuggling.
The effects of this decline of the fifheries are not
only feverely felt by the parties immediately con-
cerned therein., but by the town at large, where the
poor rates have rifen to 95. and upwards in the
pound.
When we confider the many difadvantages under
which the Engltfh fifhers labour, from the compa-
rative great expence of (hip-building, fifhing mate-
rials, feamens v/ages, and the late rivalfhip of fo-
reign nations, fome parliamentary aid feems indif-
penfibly neceffary, not only to preferve the fifhery
from falling into the hands of foreigners, but alfo,
for
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES.
for the defence of the kingdom on that fide, where it
is moft expofed and vulnerable.
Refpe&ing the weftern fifhery, we have before- ob-
ferved, that part of the weftern brigade, after vifiting
the coaft of Scotland, pafTes down the Irifli channel,
till it is loft in the Atlantic. I have been informed
by Mr. Pennant, that in 1766 and 1767, great quan-
tities of fhotten herrings appeared on the coaft of
Fiintfhire towards autumn, and continued till De-
cember; but they have ever fmce abandoned that
coaft, as well as Carnarvon/hire. Their arrival in
the Briftol channel, particularly the bay of Barnfta-
ple, is more certain, into which they are forced by
the great fwell of the Atlantic, and where they are
fometimes taken and cured for exportation, in very
confiderable quantities.
Of fife Englijh WbiteFiJheries.
England was chiefly fupplied in ancient times with
white fifh taken on the coafts of Shetland, Iceland,
and the Farro iQands *. The king of Denmark fet up
an exclufi ve claim to thofe feas, which gave rife to fre-
quent bickerings between his lubjc»5ts and the Eng-
lifh filhers. Queen Elizabeth's inftruc~tions,.in 1602,
to her plenipotentiaries for treating with the king of
Denmark on this fubjecl, are too curious to be
omitted. " But it is very unreafonable fervility, to
look for fuch a power over another monarch, in a fea
of fuch dimenfions as is between his countries and
Iceland, when it is well known, that none of our
Ihips do ever come within fight of land. We/'
adds the queen, " may as well impofe the like toll
upon all friips of his country that pafs through any
of onr channels, or about our kingdoms/' The
king of Denmark, in his reply, quoted old treaties
between England and Denmark, but which the queen
would not allow to be of any force in her days,
* The Shetland ificslie from the North of Scotland 100 miles.
The Farro ditto ditto. 140
Iceland ditto ditto 400
HISTORY OF THE
This fifhery, which had been profecuted for many
centuries with unremitting vigour, became now of lefs
importance to England, in confequence of the inex-
hauftible treafure on the banks of Newfoundland^
and the North-American feas, to which England
claimed an exclufive right, in virtue of the difcovery
of thofe leas by Sebaftian Cabot, in the fervice of
Henry VII.
The banks of Newfoundland are of various di-
menfions, and known by different names. The
Great Bank is fuppofed to be a fubmarine moun-
tain, 500 miles in length, and near 300 in breadth.
The feamen know when they approach it by the
great fwell of the fea, and the thick fogs that gene-
rally impend over it. Its fituation is fouth-eaft from
Newfoundland, between which and Cape Cod in
New-England, there is a chain of lefTer banks^ as
the Green, French, Porpoife, and Sable Banks \
Brown's and St. George's ditto, Befides thefe
banks, the whole coaft of Newfoundland, New-Eng-
land, Nova-Scotia, and Labrador, is one continued
fifhery; the greateft that hath yet been difcovered
by Europeans, and confifting of boundlefs variety,
fome for the table, others for oil, and fome for both,
as the cod fifhery, the great obje<5t of the Britifh,
Irifh, French, and American States, who, by virtue
of treaties, pofTefs thefe fifheries exclufively.
England long contended to engrofs the whole of
thefe fifheries, to which France never would fubmit>
as it muft have rendered that kingdom dependent on
England, not only for home fupplies of fifh, but
alfo for the fupport of her Weft India colonies.
The American provinces were permitted the full
enjoyment of the fifhery, with permiffion to fupply
Europe and the Weft Indies, but fubjecl: to certain
duties upon importation into England. Lord Shef-
field, in fpeaking of the late treaty of peace, fays,
<c that France did not intend the American ftates
fhould have a fhare of the Newfoundland fifhery,
which,
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 289
\vhich, it is faid, coming to the knowledge of the
American commifTioners> they immediately, and
without the knowledge of the French minifters, and
contraiy to orders from congrefs, fuddenly figned
the provifkmal articles with our negotiator, who (ig-
norant of the above circumftance, although -known
to many at Paris) had explained that he was ready to
fign on any terms, and readily gave up the New-
foundland fifhery. '''
This fifhery, thus fecured to America, by a fuddcn
manoeuvre of her able negotiators, will, it is hoped,
contribute to keepthofe dates quiet in time coming;
for, it is not to be fuppofed that Great Britain, Ire-
land, Nova Scotia, and Canada, will agree in any
future treaty, to the participation of this valuable
branch, by any power whatever, France only cx-
cepted.
Ireland, though prohibited from thofe fifheries,
carried on a clandefline trade, by connivance of the
commodores on the Newfoundland ilacion, who re-
turned the Irifh veffels as Englifh; and under this
precarious indulgence, their fifhery laboured till the
year 1774, when goYernment liftened to the prefling
intreaties of certain friends of Ireland, and abolifhed
all diftincYions between Britim and Irifh fhipping ;
fince which period, the Irifh Newfoundland fifhery,
aided vigoroufly by parliament, hath been carried to
a confiderable height, and is annually increafing.
The particulars of this diftant fiihcry are fully
ftated by Lord Sheffield, Mr. Chalmers, and the
Abbe Raynal ; but however flattering it may appear
in a commercial view, the fifheries around our own
ifland have a preferable claim to public attention,
and parliamentary fupport. From the former, our
navy receives a precarious, and at beft, a (lender
fupply of feamen 5 from the latter it is manned with
a race of veterans, invincible in war, and whofe ap-
proach in the day of battle, flrikes the boldcft enemy
TV i th fear and trembling.
T The
290 HISTORY OF THE
The fifhery in the north feas was ftill carried on
from Yarmouth and other eaftern ports of England*
to a very considerable extent. Veffels of 40 to 60
tons burden, fitted out in April, took in expert
feamen at the Orkney Iflands, whom they relanded
,on their return, about the end of Auguft. They
fifhed for cod with hand-lines, dried and falted the
filh in the hold of the veffel. They alfo extracted
fome oil from the livers, and generally found good
markets both at home and abroad. But it would
feem as if fome evil genius had confpired to ruin the
Britifh fisheries, on or near their own fhores. The
adventurers in this branch wese obliged to pay duty
for all fait carried out, that was not ufed in curing the
£fh, which was found ib oppreffive, that about 15 or 20?
years agorthe fiihery was completely abandoned. Thus
the third of revenue operates equally to the decay of
manufactures, fifheries, commerce, navigation, and
confequently thofe nurferies for fearrren en whom the
navy chiefly depends.
Of all the wandering tribe, herrings excepted, the
cod-fifh is the moft valuable to mankind. ' This fifb
js fond of cold climaoies, and is fuppofed to refide
chiefly between the latitudes 66 and 45. What are
taken north and fouth of thofe degrees, being either
few in quantity, o£ bad in quality.
They are found as far north as Greenland, but they
are fmall and emaciated ; while thofe taken, on the
banks of Newfoundland, beyond the 45th degree, are
in high perfection,, and fo numerous as to exceed all
power of calculation.
In Europe they chiefly frequent the co-a-ft of Ice-*
landy Norway, the Baltic, the iflands and mainland
of Scotland. After paflkig thofe latitudes, they de-
creafe in number,, but the indrfry of the Englifh
fifhermeny Simulated by quick faleS at the London-
market, hath of late years turned their own fhores to
good account. The grounds where the white fifb
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 291
are taken, are the Dogger-bank, the Well-bank,
and the Cromer, all on the eaft fide of the king-
dom, oppofitc Norfolk, Lincoln, and Yorkfhire.
Of thefe banks the Dogger is the moft extenfive
and valuable for white fifh in general, as appears
from the following defcription communicated to
Thomas Pennant, Efq. by Mr. Travis, furgeon in
Scarborough, whofe account of thefe fifheries is
both curious and inftructive.
The neareft part of the Dogger-bank lies 12
leagues from Flamborough Head, i6J from Scar-
borough, 23 from Whitby, and 36 from Tinmouth
below Newcaftle. The north fide cf the bank
ftretches off E. N. E. between 30 and 40 leagues,
until it almoft joins the Long-bank, and Jutts Riff.
It is to be remarked, that the fifhermen feldom
find any cod, fry, or other round fifh upon the Dog-
ger-bank itfelf, but upon the doping edges and hol-
lows contiguous to it. The top of the bank is
covered with a barren fhifting fand, which affords
them no fubfiftence ; and the water on it, from its
fhallownefs, is continually fo agitated and broken,
as to allow them no time to reft. The flat fifh do
not fuffer the fame inconvenience there ; for when
diflurbed by the motion of the fea, they flicker them-
felves in the fand, and find variety of fuitable food.
It is true, the Dutch fifh upon the Dogger-bank ;
but it is alfo true, thtry take little except foles,
fkates, thornbacks, plaife, &c. It is in the hollows
between the Dogger and the Well-bank, that the
cod are taken which fupply London market.
The bottom from the fhore to the edge of the
Dogger-bank is a fear; in fome places very rugged,
rocky, and cavernous ; in others fmooth, and over-
grown with variety of fubmarine plants, mofles, co-
rallines, &c.* Some parts again are fpread with
* I met on the fhores near Scarborough, fcnall fragments cf
the true red coral.
X Q, fand
HISTORY OF THE
fand and fhells ; others, for many leagues in lengthy
with foft mud and ooze, furnifhed by the difcharge
of the Tees and Plumber.
Upon an attentive review of the whole, it may,
be clearly inferred, that the fhore along the coaft on.
the one hand, with the edges of the Dogger- bank
on the other, like the fides of a decoy, give a direc-
tion towards our fifliing grounds, to the mighty
fhoals of cod, and other fiih, which are well known
to come annually from the northern ocean into our
feas -, and fecondly, that the great variety of fifhing
grounds near Scarborough, extending upwards of 16,
leagues from the fhore, afford fecure retreats and
plenty of proper food for all the various kinds of fifh, .
and alib fuitable places for each kind to depofit their
fpawn-in.
The fishery at Scarborough only, employs 105.
men, and brings in about 5250!. per annum, a trifle
to what it would produce, was there a canal from
thence to Leeds and Manchefter ; it is probable it \
would then produce above ten times that fum, em-
ploy fome thoufands of men, give a comfortable and
cheap fubfiftence to our manufactures, keep the mar-
kets moderately reafonable, enable our manufactur-
ing towns to underfell our rivals, and prevent the
hands, as is too often the cafe, from raifmg in-
furrections, in every year of fcarcity, natural or
artificial.
The method of taking turbot and other fifh by the
people of Scarborough is thus; when they go out to
fifh for turbot, each perfon is provided with 3 lines ;
each man's lines are fairly coiled upon a flat oblong
piece of wicker-work ; the hooks being baited, and
placed very regularly in the centre of the coil; each
line is furnifhed with 14 fcore of hooks, at the dif-
tance of 6 feet 2 inches from each other. The
hooks are fattened to the lines upon fneads of
twilled horfe-hair, 27 inches in length. When
fcfhing, there are always three men in each coble, and
confequently
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 293
'^bnfequently 9 of thefe lints are fattened together,
and ufed as one line, extending in length near 3
iniles, and furnifhed with 2520 hooks. An anchor
and buoy are fixed at the firft end of the line, and
•one more of each at the end of each man's line ; in
iill 4 anchors, which are commonly perforated ftone.%
and 4 buoys are made of leather or cork. The
line is always laid acrofs the current. The tides of
flood and ebb continue an equal time upon our
coaft, and when undifturbed by winds, run each
way about fix hours. They are fo rapid that the
4ifhermen can only fhoot and haul their lines at the
turn of tide; and therefore the lines always remain
upon the ground about 6 hours. The tide prevents
their ufing hand-lines, and therefore two of the peo-
ple commonly wrap themfelves in the fail, and deep
while the other keeps a ftricx look-out, for fear of
being run down by fhips, and to obierve the wea-
ther. For ftorms often rife fo fuddenly, that it is
with extreme difficulty they can ibmetimes efcape to
the fhore ; leaving their lines behind.
The coble is 20 feet -6 inches long, and 5 feet ex-
treme breadth. It is about one ton burden, rowed
with 3 pair of oars, and admirably conftrucled for
the purpofe of encountering a mountainous fca :
they hoift fail when the wind funs.
The 5 men boat is 40 feet long and 15 broad, and
of 25 tons burden : it is fo called, though navigated by
6 men and a boy, becaufe one of the men is commonly
hired to cook, &:c. and does not fhare in the profits
with the other $. Ail our able fifhermen go in thefe
boats to the herring fifhery at Yarmouth the latter
end of September, and return about the middle of
November. The boats are thus laid up until the
beginning of lent, at which time they go off in them
to the edge of the Dogger, and other places, to filh
for turbot, cod, ling, fkates, &:c. They always take
3 cobles on board, and when they come upon the
ajichor the boat, throw out the cobles, and
T 3 fifti
294 HISTORY OF THE
fifti in the fame maner as thofe do who go from the
fhore in a coble, with this difference only, that here
each man is provided with double the quantity of
lines, and inftead of waiting the return of tide in the
coble, return to the boat and bait their other lines ;
thus hauling one let and fhooting another every turn
of tide. They* commonly run into harbour twice a
week to deliver their fifh. The 5 men boat is decked
at each end, but open in the middle, and has two
large lug-fails.
The beft bait for all kinds of fifh is frefh herring
cut in pieces of a proper fize, and notwithftanding
what has been faid to the contrary, they are taken
here at any time in the winter, and all the fpring,
whenever the fifhermen put down their nets for that
purpofc. The 5 men boat always takes fome nets
for that end. Next to the herrings are the. leffer
lampreys,* which come all winter by land carriage
from Tadcafter. The next baits in efteem are fmall
haddocks cut in pieces, fand-worms, mufcles, and
limpets ; and laftly, when none of thefe can be had,
they ufe bullock's liver. The hooks ufed here are
much fmaller than thofe employed at Iceland and
Newfoundland. Experience has fhewn that the larger
filri will take a living fmall one upon the hook,
fooner than any bait that can be put on ; therefore
they ufe fuch as the fmall fifli can fwallow. The
hooks are 2j inches long in the fhank, near an inch
* The lefler lampreys are chiefly taken in the Thames between
Chelfea and Stains. They are fold as bait to the people of Har-
wich, and others engaged in the white fifhery, at 6 guineas per
thoufand ; but the great purchafers are the Dutch merchants,
who contract for 400,000 per annum, at 3!. per 1000, and con-
vey them to Holland in large veflels of 200 tons, each veflel car-
rying 50,000. The contract this year hath not been fully com-
pleted, on the part of the Englifh fifhermen, 300,000 only having
teen fent. This nfeful fpecies of the Lamprey are alfo found in
the Severn and the Dee,
wide
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 295
between the fhank and the point,* The line
is made of finall cording, and is always tanned be-
fore it is ufed. Turbots, and all the rays, are ex-
tremely delicate in their choice of baits. If a piece
of herring or haddock has been 12 hours out of the
fea, and then ufed as bait, they will not touch it.
Such is the manner of fifhing on theEngliHi coaft
for thofe fifh that ufually keep near the bottom ; and
Duhamel obferves, that the belt weather for fucceed-
ing, is a half calm^ when the waves are juft curled
with a filent breeze* t
la
* The hooks ufed in England are genecally white and bright,
^s if plated. Of this circumftance the fifhermen are very exa<%
taking care to fcour or polifii them occaiionally.
f But the extent of the Englilh fiming lines, \vhich run, as we
have feen, 3 miles along the bottom, is nothing to what the Itali-
ans throw out in the Mediterranean. Their fiihery is carried on
in a Tartan, which is .a vellel much larger than ours ; and they
ibait a line of no lefs than 20 miles long, with 10 or 12000 hooks.
This line is called the Parafma, and the frflving goes by that of the
Fielago. The line is not regularly drawn every 6 hours, as on the
icoaft of Yorkfhire, but remains fome time in the fea ; and requires
^4 hours to take it up. By this apparatus they take rays, (harks.,
.and other fifti, fome of which are above -1000 pound weight.
When they have caught any of this .magnitude, they llrike them
•through with an harpoon., to bring them on bearo^, and kill them
sis fad as they can.
This method of catching fifn is obvioufly fatiguing and dange-
rous, but the value of the capture generally repays the labour. The
•fkate and the thornback are -very good food ; and their fize, which
Js from i o pound to 200 weight, iufficiently rewards the trouble of
timing for them. But it {ometimes happens that the lines are vi-
fi ted by very unwelcome intruders; by the rough-ray, the fire-
<flare, or the torpedo. To all theie the'fimermen have the greateft
-antipathy; and, when difcovered, mudderat the fight ; however,
they are not always ib much upon their guard, but that they fome-
-tirnes teel the diffetent refentments of this angry tribe ; and, in- .
ftead of a prize, find they have caught a vindictive enemy. When
Juch is the cafe, they .'take care to -threw them back into' their own
element with theiu •jfteft. expedition.
The rough-ray inflich but flight wounds with the prickles wifb
-which its whole body is furnilhed. To the ignorant it ieems harm-'
, and a man would at firft fight venture to take it in his hand,
any apprehenlioiij but he loon finds that there is not a
T 4
296 HISTORY OF T H E*
In our Teas the cod-fifh begin to fpawn in January,
and depofit their eggs in rough ground, among
rocks. Some continue in the roe rill the beginning
of April. The cod-fifh in general recover fooner
after fpawning than any other fifh, therefore it is
common to take fome good ones all the fummer.
The fiih of a middling fize are mod efteemed for the
table, and are chofen by their plumpnefs and round-
nefs, eipecially near the tail j by the depth of the
pit behind the head, and by the regular undulated
appearance of the fides, as if they were ribbed.
The glutinous parts about the head lole their deli-
cate flavour after it hath been 24 hours out of the
water, even in winter, in which thefe and other fifh
of this genus are in highcft feafon.
The largeft that we ever heard of taken on our
coaft weighed 78 pounds; the length was 5 feet 8
inches, and the girth round the fhoulders 5 feet. It
wa$ taken at Scarborough in 17 55, and fold for i fhil-
ling. But the general weight of thefe fifh in theYork-
fhire feas, or more properly on the Dogger bank, is
from 14 to 40 pounds. Fifhermen are weil acquainted
with the ufe of the air bladder^ mjotwdof the cod, and
are very dextrous in perforating this part of a live filh
fingle part of its whole body that is not armed with fpines ; and that
there is no way of ieizing the nfh, but by the little fin at the end of
the tail.
But this animal IB harmkfs, when compared to the fireflare,
.which feems to be the dread of even the boldeft and mofl expert
enced fifhermen. The weapon with which nature hath armed this
animal, is 5 inches long, of a flinty hardneis, the fides thin, fliarp
pointed, and clofely and fharply bearded the whole length.
The torpedo is poiTefTed of one of the mofl potent and extraordi'
nary faculties in qature. To all outward appearance, it is furnifhed
with no uncommon powers, yet the inflant it is touched, it numbs
pot only the hand and arrn, but fometimes the whole body, pene-
trating ia an inilant through the pores tp the ve,ry fprings of life,
fcnc! gives great pain,
with
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 297
<with a needle, in order to difengage the enclofed air;
for without this operation it could not be kept under
water in the well-boats, and brought frefh to mar-
ket. The founds of the cod faked is a delicacy
often brought from Newfoundland. Ifinglafs is alfo
made of this part by the Iceland fifhermen ; the pro-
cefs of which is thus given by Humphry Jackfon,
Efq. in the Philofophical Tranfactions of 1773.
The founds of cod and ling bear a general likenefs
to thole of the flurgeon kiad of Linnaeus and Artedi,
and are in general fo well known as to require no
particular defcription. The Newfoundland and Ice-
land fifhermen fplit open the fifh as foon as taken, and
throw the back-bones, with the founds annexed, in
a heap ; but previous to putrefaction, the founds are
cut out, warned from their dimes, and faked for ufe.
In cutting out the founds, the parts between the
ribs are left behind, which are much the bed; the
Iceland fifhermen are fo fenfible of this, that they
beat the bones upon a block with a thick flick, till
the pockets, as they term them, come out eafily,
and thus preferve the found entire. If the founds
have been cured with fait, that mull be diiTolved by
fteeping them in water, before they are prepared for
ifinglafs. The frelh found mufr then be laid upon a
block of wood, whofe furface is a little elliptical, to
the end of which a fmall hair brufh is nailed, and
with a faw knife, the membranes on each fide of the
found mud be fcraped off. The knife is rubbed
upon the brufh occafionally,. to clear its teeth, the
pockets are cut open with fciflars, and perfectly
cleanfed of the mucous matter with a coarfe cloth :
the founds are afterwards wafhed a few minutes in
lime water, in order to abforb their oily principles ;
and laftly, in clear water. They are then laid upon
nets, to dry in the air j but if intended to refrmble
foreign ifinglafs, the founds cf cod will only admit
of due called back, but thofe of ling both fhapes.
The
298 HISTORY OF THE
The thicker the founds are, the better the ifinglafs,
colour excepted ; but that is immaterial to the brewer,
who is its chief confumer.*
Befides this ufeful article^ the tongues of cod and
ling fifli are faked and barrelled up for fale. As
alfo the roes, which being falted and barrelled, ferve
to caft into the fea, to draw fifh together, particularly
pilchards. The livers of thefe fifh produce oiJ,
which is ufed chiefly in drefiing of leather.
LINO . The ling fifh abound near the Scilly Ides,
and on the Yorklhire coaft. In the latter they are
in perfection from the ift of February to the ift of
May, and fomc till the end of that month. In June
they fpawn, depofiting their eggs in the foft oozy
ground of the mouth of the Tees. At that time the
males feparate from the females and refort to fome
rocky ground near Flamborough Head, where the
fifhermen take great numbers without ever finding
any of the female or roed fifh among them.
While a ling is in feafon its liver is very white,
and abounds with a fine flavoured oil ; but when
the fifti goes out of feafon, the liver becomes red
like that of a bullock, and affords no oil. The fame
happens to the cod and other fifli in a certain degree,
but not fo remarkably as in the ling. When the filh is
in perfection, a very large quantity of oil may be
melted out of the liver, by a flow fire, but if a violent
Tudden heat be ufed for that purpofe, they yield very
little.
Great quantities of ling are falted for exportation,
* It is alfo ufed fey wine coopers, being the mo ft efficacious, as
well as the moft fate and innocent of all the ingredients they life for
clearing their wines. It is alfo an excellent agglutinant and
ftrengthener, a*id is often prefer ibed in jellies -aad broths. The
greateft quantity of ifinglafs is made in Ruflia from a (pecies of fifli
very common in the Volga. We have it principally from the Dutch,
who contract for it before it is made. It is alfo plenty on the
banks of the Danube, and might be equally fo on the Britifh mores,
cfpecially thofe of the north, where cod and ling are in the greateft
as
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES.
as well as for home confumption. When it is cut
or fplit for curing, it muil meafure 26 inches or up-
wards from the fhoulder to the tail ; if lefs than that
it is not reckoned a fizeable fifh, and confequently
not entitled to the bounty on exportation; fuch
are called drizzles, and are in feaibn all fummer.
The ufual fize of a ling is from 3 to 4 feet; but fome
have meafured 7 feet.
HADDOCKS. The haddock, the whiting, and the
mackarel, are thought, by fome, to be driven upon
our coafts rather by their fears than their appetites ;
and it is to the purfuit of the larger fifties, we owe
their welcome vifits. It is more probable, that they
come for that food which is found in greater plenty
near the fhore, than farther out at fea. One thing
is remarkable, that their migrations feem to be regu-
larly conducted. The grand fhoal of haddocks that
comes periodically on the Yorkfhire coafts, ap-
peared there in a body on the loth of December,
1766 ; and exactly on the fame day, in the follow-
ing year. Thefe Ihoals extended from the fhore
near 3 miles in breadth; and in length from the Flam-
borough Head to the mouth of the Tyne below New-
caftle, being 80 miles, and poffibly much farther
northwards. The limits of this great body from the
fhore are precifely known ; for if the fifhermen put
down their lines at the diftance of more than 3 miles
from (hore, they catch nothing but dog-ftlh : a proof
that the haddock is not there.
Within the diftance of a mile from Scarborough
harbour, three fifhermen have frequently loaded
their coble with them twice a day, taking each time
about a ton of fifh.
The beft haddocks have been fold from 12 to 1 8
pence per fcore, and the poor had the fmaller fort at
a penny, and fometimes a halfpenny per fcore.
The large haddocks quit the coaftas foon as they go
.out of feafon, and leave behind great plenty of fmall
ones. It is faid that the large ones vifit the coafts
of
300 HISTORY OF THE
of Hamburgh and Jutland, in the fummer. It is
no lefs remarkable than providential, that all kinds
of fifh, mackarel, and in fome degree herrings ex-
cepted, which frequent the Yorkfhire coaft, approach
"the fhore, and offer themielves to us generally as
long as they are in high feafon, and retire from us
when they become unfit for ufe. The beft had-
docks for the table are thofe which weigh from 2
to 3 pounds ; thofe of a very large kind are coarfe
eating.
Large haddocks begin to be in roe about the mid-
dle of November, and continue fo till the end of
January ; from that time till May they are very thin
tailed, and much out of feafon. In May they begin
to recover, and fome of the middling-fized fifh are
then very good, and continue improving till the
time of their greateft perfection. The fmall ones
are extremely good from May till February, and
fome even in February, March, and April, viz.
thofe which are not old enough to breed.
The Scarborough fifhermen afiert, that in rough
weather haddocks fink down into the fand and
ooze in the bottom of the fea, andfhelter themfelves
there till the fborm is over, becaufe in ftormy wea-
ther they take none, and thofe that are taken imme-
diately after a ftorm are covered with mud on their
backs. In fummer they live on young herrings and
other fmall fifh, in winter on the ftone-coated worms,
which the fifhermen call haddock meat.
WHITINGS. Thefe fifh frequent the Englilh
feas in great fhoals, particularly during the fpring,
keeping at the diftance of half a mile to three miles
from the fhore. They are taken in abundance by
the line, and afford excellent diverfion. They are
the moft delicate, as well as the moft wholefome of
any of the genus, but do not grow to a large fize near
the coaft, where the ufual length is 10 or 12 inches. In
the deep water on the edge of the Dogger-bank they
have been found to weigh from 4 to 8 pounds.
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 3oi
It is matter of furprize that the white fifheries on
the Englifh coaft were almoft totally negle&ed by the
natives till within the prefcnt century, as appears
from a (late of the cod and haddock fifhing trade,
addrefied to the public by the fifhermen of Harwich,,
in 1774.
Whereas, fay they, the filheries of this kingdom
in general have been worthy the care and attention
of the . legiflature, and they have, at fundry times,
enacted fuch laws as they judged would tend to the
encouragement of them, we lhall recite the claufes
of fuch a6ts of parliament as were made relating ,to
the filheries, prior to the beginning of the north feaj
cod and haddock filhery, that the legiflative body of
the kingdom, in particular, may judge of their ten-
dency towards the rife of the faid fiihing trade.
The acts thus recited are the
15 of Charles II. chap. 7. feet. 16.
1 8 2. 2.
32 — 2. 2.
10 and ii of William III.
. i of George I. Hat. 2. feet. iS.
9 II. feet. 33.
Thefe laws chiefly related to the exclufion of foreign
fifli being imported into England, under high penal-
tics, .as herring, cod, pilchards, ling, or falmon,
frefh, faked, dried, or bloated ; nor any grill, rnack-
arel, whiting, haddock, fprats, coal-tiih, gull-fifh,
nor any fort of flat fifh, nor any other fort of frdh
fifli whatfoever, turbot excepted, either taken by,
bought of, or received from foreigners, except pro-
ttftant ftrangers inhabiting this kingdom.
Thefe prohibitory laws gave rife to a confidcrablc
white fifhery on the eaft coaft, from Harwich, Yar-
mouth, and other ports, which began and is carried
on in the following manner.
The frefh cod, haddock, &c. that were brought
to
302 HISTORY OF THE
to London market, at the time the aforefaid laws
were ena&ed, and for feveral years after, were
caught in harbours, rivers, and bays, and by boats
laying lines upon the coaft, from Orford, as far as
Pakeleld or Leftoff in Suffolk, where the fifhing-
fmacks, from Harwich and other places, lay and
took them in for London ; for, at that time, there
were no fifhing fmacks or veffels that went into the
north feafrom Harwich, nor (by the account of the
oldeft fifhermen) from any other port in England,
to catch live cod and haddock for London market.
In 1712, there were 3 fmacks, of about 40 tons
burden each, belonging to Harwich, which carried
about 20 men and boys. And, in 1715, Richard
Orlibar, m after and owner of one of the aforefaid
fmacks, having received information of the Dutch
fifhermen where they took the cod, &c. proceeded,
at his own hazard and expence, on a voyage to the
north fea, (meaning the Cromer and the Dogger-
banks) and, after a trial of 6 weeks, he returned to
Harwich, having caught only one cod, and one coal-
fifh. Notwithftanding this bad fuccefs in his firft
attempt, he went a fecond time, and having the
good fortune to catch a confiderable quantity of fifh,
not only encouraged him to continue this fifhery,
but alfo induced the other two owners of fmacks at
Harwich, and the fifhermen at Horflydown, &c. to
take up this trade of fupplying London with
frefh fifh.
From 1715 to 1720, the number of fmacks in
the port of Harwich, had increafed to 1 2 fail ; in
1735, to 33 fa^5 from 40 to 50 tons burden each;
in 1774, to 62 fail, from 45 to 55 tons* and imme-
diately before the late Dutch war, to 72 fail.
They fifhed with hand-lines till about the year
1770, when an Englifhman who had been on the
Dutch fifhery, introduced the method praclifed by
that people in* the winter by means of long lines.
At fail they had little or no fuccefs in the long-line
fifhery,
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 303
fifhery, but they are now equally expert as the
Dutch themfelves, in both methods.
In June or July, they fail to the diftance of 1 5
leagues from the coaft of Norfolk and Lincolnfhire,
where they remain till November, fifhing with hand-
lines, for haddock, and fmall cod; their bait is
wilks and mufcles.
They then proceed to the Dogger-bank, where
they fifh till the end of April, with long-lines, for
cod, and other fifh of a larger fize.
They i>fe a bufhel and a half of Liverpool fait,
to a barrel of cod. London is the market for both
frefh and fait fifh; pays 40 fhil lings per barrel for
the latter.
It is computed that the Harwich fmacks fupply
the capital with about 2000 ton weight of cod,
haddocks, whitings, holibut, fkate, and coal-fifh.
Every fmack carries upon an average 4 men, and 5
or 6 apprentices, who ferve 7 years. The number
of fmacks is at prefent reduced to 58-01- 60. This-
decreafe is chiefly owing to the buffering perfons
from other parts to purchafe fi(h from the Dutch,
which they bring to the London market; and ic-
condly, from the reftri&ions and duties on fait,
which obliges them frequently to throw their fifh
overboard unfalted ; thirdly, the money demanded
at the coaft office in London.
Some fmacks frequent the lobfler fifhery in March,
April, May, June, and fome part of July. With
proper encouragement they would fupply London
with turbot between April and Auguft. A bounty
of 40 or 45 (hillings per ton, on veflTeh from 40 to
45 tons would employ our own people, and fave a
drain of many thoufand pounds paid annually to
the Dutch, who employ from 40 to 50 vcfTels, from
30 to 70 tons burden, chiefly in fupplying the- lion*
don market.
When a number of Dutch fmacks arrive in the
river with turbot, lobiUrs, crab-fifh, plaife, and
eels,
304 HISTORY OF THE
eels, they anchor at Gravefend, from whence they
feed the market .with the nicefi exa&nefs, being en-
abled thereto by the law, which permits them to re-
main 7 or 8 days to fell their fifh ; confequently the
price of turbot is artificially kept at from 15 to 21
fhillings.
It further appears that the fifh on the Dogger and
other banks, are inexhauilible. That the fifhers,
befides amply fupplying the London market, could
alfo, with fuitable encouragement, raife a confide-
rable export trade, the beneficial effects of which
need not again be repeated.
•i Here is ;a rich fea, ready fales, and a populous
coait of hardy well-trained fifhermen, whofe inclina-
tions, habits, and local fituation, qualify them for
that branch only.
MACKAREL. The mackarel is a fummer fifhof paf-
fage, found in large fhoalsin various parts of the ocean,
not far north; but efpecially on the French and Eng-
lifh coafts. They enter the Englifh channel in April,
and proceed up to the mouth of the Thames as the
feafon advances, where they furnifh London with a
plentiful fupply till June, and are then in high per-
fection. An inferior fort is alfo taken during the
harveft months. In June they reach the oppofite
coafts of France and England, where the fifhery is
moft confiderable. They are taken either with a
line or nets -, but chiefly with the latter, andufually
in the. night-time. The beft fifhing is during a frefh
gale of wind, which is thence called the mackarel
gale.
Thefe fifh may be pickled two different ways ;
firft by opening and gutting them, then filling the
belly with fait, crammed in as hard as poflible^with a
flick j this done, they ,are ranged in rows, at the
bottom of the veffel, .with fait ftrewed. between the
layers. By the fecond method, they are put imme-
diately into tubs full of brine, made of frefh and
fait water; then left to fteep till they have imbibed
fait
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 305
fait enough to make them keep ; after which the/
are taken out and barrelled up, being well preiTed
down.
Mackarel, both frefli and falted, are modly con-i
fumed at home, except a fmall quantity that are ex-
ported by the Yarmouth and LeftorF merchants. In
this refpect they are lefs ufeful as an article or mer-
chandife than other fpecies of the gregarious fifb, be-
ing very tender and unlit for carriage.
The ufual weight of mackarel is about 2 pounds,
but there was one fold in London, in 1775, thac
weighed 5^ pounds.
During winter a film grows upon the eyes of
mackarel; in the fpring they are half blind; and in
fummer the tilm is call.
The form of die mackarel is extremely elegant,
and ufually confidered as a model for naval architec-
ture. Nothing can exceed its brilliancy when firir
taken out of the water, which death impairs, but
does not wholly obliterate. The excellency of the
tafte and flavour is alfo greatly extinguifhed a few
hours after it is taken.
PILCHARD. The pilchard is lefs than the her-
ring, which in other refpects it refembles. It is
alfo a fifh of pafiage from the northern latitudes,
and the approach of the fhoals is known by nearly
the fame figns as thofe that indicate the arrival of
the herrings, when the whole country prepare to take
the advantage of this treafure, providentially thrown
before them. They appear about the middle of July
on the Cornifh coaft, and no where elfe in England,
where they range between Fowey harbouf and the
Scilly iflands till September ; fomctimes a few re-
turn after Chrillmas. This fifn, like the herrings,
naturally follows the light, a circumilance which
greatly facilitates both fijheries. The Dutch bulfes,
in the herring tifhtry, have lights at their Herns,
which they arc obliged to extinguifh when the ntrrs
are hauled in. The benehts derived from the pil-
U charj
306 HI-STORY OF THE
chard fifhery are thus enumerated by Dr. Borlafe in
his Hiilory of Cornwall. •
It employs a great number of men on the fea,
training them thereby to naval affairs : employs
men, women, and children, at land, in faking, pref-
fing, wafhing, and cleaning : in making boats,
ropes, nets, cafks, and all the trades depending on
their conftrucYion and laic.
The poor are fed with the offals of the captures,
the land with the refufe of the fifh and fait ; the
merchant finds the gains of commiffion and honeft
commerce, the fifhermen the gains of the fifh.
Ships are often freighted hither with fair, and into
foreign countries with the fifh, carrying off at the
fame time part of our tin. The ufual produce of
the number of hogfheads exported each year, for 10
years, from 4747 to 1756 inclufive, from the 4
ports of Fowey, Falmouth, Penzance, and St. Ives ;
it appears that Fowey has exported yearly 1732
hogfheads ; Falmouth 14631 ; Penzance and Mounts
Bay 12149; St. Ives 1282; in all 29795 hogfheads.
Every hogfhead for 10 years laft paft, together with
the bounty allowed for each hogfhead exported, and
the oil made out of each, has amounted one year
with another at an average, to il. 135, 3d. fo that
the calh paid for pilchards exported has, at a me-
dium, annually amounted to 49,532!. los.
Doctor Borlafe afiured Mr. Pennant, that on the
5th of October, 1767, there were at one time in-
clofed in St. Ives Bay 7000 hogfheads, each hogf-
head containing 35,000 fifh, in all 245,000,000.
When the pilchards are taken, they are brought
to a warehoufe on fhore, where they are laid up in
broad piles, fupported by backs and fides. As they
pile them, they fait them with bay fait ; in which
they lie foaking 20 or 30 days, and difcharge a great
quantity of blood, with dirty pickle and bittern ;
which laft draws much of the oil from the fifh, to
the great lofs of the owners. When taken out of the
j pile,
ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 307
le, there remains a quantity of fair, blood, fcales,
c. at the bottom, which, with frefh fait, ferves
for another pile. They then proceed to wafh them
in fca water to clear off the dirt and blood ; and
when dry, they put them up in barrels, and prefs
them hard down, to fqueeze out the oil, which
ilfues away at a hole irt the bottom of the cafk ; and
in this ftate they are fit for fale, or ufe.
SALMON. Though there are fome tribes offifh
that live only in the fea, and others only in frefh
water, yet there are fome whofe organs are equally-
adapted to either element ; and that fpend a part of
their feafon in one, and a part in the other. Thus
the falmon, the flounder* the-fmelt, and the (had, an-
nually quit the fea at certain feafons to depofit their
fpawn in fecurity, in gravelly beds of rivers, remote
from their mouths. There are fcarce any difficulties
or dangers which the falmon will not encounter
to find a proper place for the depofition of their
future offspring. They will afcend rivers 500 miles
from the fea, force themfelves againll the moft ra-
pid dreams, and fpring with amazing agility over
cataradts, of feveral feet in height. They are fre-
quently taken in the Rhine, as high as Bafil in Swit-
zerland ; they gain the fources of the Lapland rivers,
in fpite of their ilrong torrents 5 and furmout the per-
pendicular fall acrofs the Liffy, at Leixlip, 7 miles
above Dublin, though near 30 feet in height. As
foon as they come to the bottom of the cafcade,
they feem difappointed to meet the obftruftion, and
retire fome paces back : they then take a view of
the danger that lies before them, furvey it motion-
lefs for fome minutes, advance, and again retreat j
till at laft fummoning up all their force, they take a
leap from the bottom, their body quite ftraight, and
with a ftrong tremulous motion j and thus moft fre-
quently clear every obftruftion. It fometimts hap-
pens, however, that they want ftrcngth to make the
leap, in which cafe, they arc entangled in their de-
u i
308 HISTORY OF THE
fcent, by bafkets placed on purpofe, from which
they cannot efcape. The fliooting of falmon in their
leap is fometimes practifed for amufement.
The falmon is a northern fifh ; occupying in the
European feas, the latitudes lying between France
and Greenland.
Clear ftreams with a gravelly or fandy bottom
produce the bed filh, and alfo the mod numerous.
They abound in the Severn, the Eden, Tine, and
Tweed. This laft being the greateft fifhery in Bri-
tain, the following particulars communicated to the
public by the late Mr. Potts, of Berwick, may be
acceptable to moil readers.
At the latter end of the year, or in the month of
November, the falmon begin to prefs up the rivers*
as far as they can reach, in order to fpawn; when
that time approaches, they fearch for a place fit for
the puipofe : the male and fejpale unite in forming
a proper receptacle for it in the land or gravel,
about the depth of 18 igches. This done they cover
it carefully with their tails, where it lies buried till
fpring, if not disturbed by-violent floods. The fal-
mon, now thin and lean, and known by the name of
kipper, hafcen to fea as foon as they are able in order
to recover their ftrength.
About the end of March the young begin to ap-
pear, which gradually increafe to the length of 4 or
5 inches, and are then termed fmelts or fmouts.-j-
About the beginning of May the river feems to be
all alive with them, when a feafonable flood hurries
them to the lea, few or none being left behind.
About the middle of June, the earlieft of the
fmouts or fry, begin to drop back from the fea into
" Viz. The Tweed and the various auxiliary itreams which flow
into that river from different directions in Scotland,' as the Tiviot,
the |Yarfow, and the Etterick, by which ftreams they afcend above
40 miles from the fea at Berwick.
f An appellation frequently given in Scotland to children of
{mall growth.
the
ENGLISH r WHITE FISHERIES. 309
•
the river, and are then from 12 to 16 inches in
length : they continue increafing in number and mag-
nitude till about the end of July, which is at Ber-
wick termed the height of gilfe time, a name given
to the fifh of chat age. They now leflen in number,
but increafe in fize, being in Auguft from 6 to 9
pounds in weight.
The capture in the Tweed about the month of
July, is prodigious 5 in a good filhery often a boat
load, and fometimes near two, are taken in a tide :
From 50 to iro is very frequent: fome years ago
700 were taken at one haul. The feafon for fifning
in the Tweed begins November 30, but the fifher-
men work very little till after Chriftmas : it ends on
Michaelmas day j but the corporation of Berwic
(who are confervators of the river) indulge the fifh-
ermcn with a fortnight paft time, on account of the
change of the (tyle.
There are on the river 41 confiderable fifheries,
extending about 14 miles upwards, which are rented
for near 5400!. per annum. The expence for
fervants wages, boats, nets, &c. amounts to
5000!. more, which together makes up the fum of
10, tool.
The markets are the Mediterranean and London.
Thofe for the former are opened along the back j the
guts, gills, and the greateft part or the bones are
taken out, to make the infide as fmooth as pofTible.
They are then faked in large tubs, where they lie a
confiderable time in brine, and in October are
packed up clofe in barrels.
But the demands from London, and the hig.h price
given by the fifhmongers in that voluptuous ciry^
have of late almoft annihilated the export trade of
falmon, both from England and Scotland.
Thus we perceive England to be environed with
flioals of fiih, btftli delicate and plenteous. The*
coafts of Northumberland and Durham abound in
falmon ; Yorkfhire and Lincolnlhire in white fifli
u 3
3to HISTORY OF THE
and flat fifh; Norfolk, Suffolk, and Eflex in white
fifh, flatfifh, fhell fifh, and herrings ; SufTex in mack-
arel ; Cornwall in ditto and pilchards ; the Briftol
channel in white fi(h, flat filh, and herrings ; the
Severn and the Eden in falmon; the adjacent
fliores of Scotland, Ireland, and the Ifle of Man in
boundlefs Ihoals of large herrings.
Of the In ft Herring Fi faeries.
Ireland had remained in a (late of nature, without
arts, manufactures, commerce, fifheries, or fhipping,
till the reign of Charles II. when the- Duke of Or-
mond, in his inductions »to the Council of Trade in
1664, thus expreffed himfelf: Ton are to cowftder ly
what means the ffting trade may be mojl improved in
the kingdom of Ireland. But neither the fifheries,
nor any other branch of commerce, was profecuted
effectually, till about the year 1750, when a confi-
derable number of the nobility, gentry, and clergy,
incorporated themfelves by royal charter, under the
name of ¥he Dublin Society for improving of buf-
landry, and other lifeful arts. This fociety being
liberally endowed by parliament, diffufed a fpirit of
inquiry, induflry, and enterprize, over great part of
the nation, particularly the North, where the linen
manufacture hath arrived at an incredible height.
The rife of the fifheries is of a rriuch later date,
ov/mg to the inefficacy of premiums, inilead of ton-
nage bounties, the only mode by which the fifheries
of thefe kingdoms can be carried on for a perma-
nency to any confiderable extent.
In the year 1764, the Irifh parliament confidering
this bufinefs as an object of national importance,
began to frame fuch laws, and to grant fuch aids, as
the nature of the fifheries fuggefted ; liberal, ju-
dicious, and flattering, <c every matter relative to the
fifheries/' fa-id they, cc ought at once to be rendered
as
IRISH HERRING FISHERIES. 311
as efficacious and permanent as the nature of things
and our prefent infight will permit. The hitherto
greateft impediments to the progrefs of the Britifh
tifheries carried on from Scotland, has been owing
to the ill calculated laws, reftrictions, and duties
laid upon fait, ufed in curing of herrings. Let not,
therefore, infignificant fait duties be a ftumbling-
block with us; as we have feen the abfurdity in
others, let fuch provifion be made at darting, as may
prevent any fuch accident from blafting the rirft pro-
grefs of the Irifh fiiherics."
The fifh that frequent the Irifh fhores are gene-
rally the fame fpecies as thole upon the Englifh
coaft, the pilchard excepted, whofe refort is to the
eaft fide of Cornwall, and no where elfe in the Bri-
tifh feas.
Previous to a detail of thofe fifheries, the follow-
ing geographical fketch of that kingdom and its
ihores may be deemed expedient by Britifh readers.
The comparative dimenfions of Ireland to Great-
Britain, in ftatute miles, is thus, viz.
Miles,
England and Wales, with their iflands, 49,450
Scotland, with the three divifions of
- , - - 27,794
Size of Great Britain, - — : — ~ 77>244
Ireland^ with the ifles,
Bting nearly equal to Scotland, and above one-third
of the fize of the two Britifh kingdoms.
Ireland is fitu^ted or> the weft fide of Britain,
from which it is feparated by a narrdw fea, called
the Irifh Channel. It is environed by the Atlantic
Ocean on the fouth, weft, and north, between which
and America there is no intervening land, \vhich
gives it an, eafy communication -with that great con-
u 4 tinent,
3i2 HISTORY OF THE
tinent, the Newfoundland fifheries, and the Weft
Indies.
The eaft coaft of Ireland is, upon the whole, in-
termixed with hills of no ftnking height, it is a
rich champain country,, producing abundance of
grain, both for home demand and exportation; but
its fifherifjs, at no time 'considerable, have of late
'fallen off; infomuch that Dublin, though fituated
at the' bottom of an extenfive bay, is partly fupplied
in white rifh from the Hebride Ifles. The northern
part of Ireland facing Scotland, and alfo the weftern
fide lying upon the Atlantic, is in general moun-
tainous, and more proper for grazing than tillage.
The whole range of coaft from Beifaft Loch to the
•north-weft cape called Fair Head, and from thence
to Mizen Head on the fouth-weft, is lofty, fre-
quently perpendicular, wafhed at the bafe by the
Atlantic, much expofed to the northern and weftern
•winds; but, happily indented by lakes and bays,
which penetrate far into the country between the
ridges of the mountains, fimilar to the Scottifh
lakes, and affording fhelter to navigation, as well as
conftderabie fisheries. In this arrangement, we per-
ceive the provident care of the Author of nature,
both upon the European and American continents.
"Where the foil affords a fcanty fubfiftence to the
inhabitants, the fea is rich ; as in Scotland, Norway,
and Iceland, in Europe ; Nova Scotia, Newfoundland,
and Labradore, in North America. The principal
Irifh fifhery is that of. the herrings, who, after having
"cleared the Scottifh fhores, pay an annual vifit to
the lakes of Donegal, into which they are driven
with a north- weft wind, by the heavy fwell of the
Atlantic. The principal fifheries are in Loch
Swilly, the Rofies, Killebeggs, and Inverbay, on
the coaft of Donegal. An inferior kind of herrings
are occasionally taken on the coaft of Sligo and
Mayo, as far fouthward as Broadhaven,
The
IRISH HERRING FISHERIES. 313
The fifhery at Inverbay begins in July, and con-
tinues till the beginning, fometimes the end of Sep-
tember.
The herrings are fmall, and have not hitherto
been cured for exportation. The other fifheries
commence in November, and end in January.
The fnoals that enter the lochs within this period
exceed credibility ; the whole coaft is then in
motion ; filhermen, farmers, and mechanics, are all
bufily employed day and night, while the bufles
from the trading towns of the kingdom are conti-
nually arriving, loading, and departing, being under
no reitraints whatever; they either fifh, or purclvale
from the country boats, as feems molt convenient to
themfelves or their owners. When the fiihery is
good, they load in a few days, and immediately
proceed with their cargo agreeable to their inftruc-
tions. They return immediately to the fiOiing
ground, thus availing themfelves of the bounteous
gifts of Providence, while the Britifh veiTels are
obliged to remain three months, or until they have
procured a cargo by means of their own boats only.
Such a diftinction gives the Irifh a decided advan-
tage over the latter, as the law now (lands, both in
refpeCt to the quantity of herrings cured, and the
early fupply of the home and foreign markets.
The herrings taken by the Britifh veffels are,
however, preferred by the merchants, on account of
their being gutted, and cured in barrels of 32 gallons.
The Iriih ungutted herrings, on the other hand, are
in fome parts of the coaft, faked in holes dug in the
earth, till the fiihers have an opportunity of felling
them to the bufles 5 they are then packed or piled
up in the hold of the veffel, and are thus carried to
Cork, and other ports, where they are put into
barrels of 28 gallons, and exported to the Weft
Indies.
Of the winter herrings taken in Loch Swilly, 500
fill a barrel ; and of the early herrings, Sco.
The
jr4 HISTORY OF THE
The buffes are from 20 to 100 tons burden $ they
are under certain parliamentary regulations refpedt-
ing netting, and the number of men. An improve-
ment hath lately been made in the management of
the nets, by which there is a confiderable faving to
the proprietors. Hitherto the nets were tanned
with bark alone, but the improved method is a mix-
ture of tar and fifh oil ; five parts of tar, and one of
oil, are melted together, to incorporate thoroughly}
when quite hot, it is poured upon the nets in a tub,
in quantity fufficient to wet them. It is then drawn
off by a hole at the bottom of the tub, immediately,
in order that too much of it may not flick, and make
them clammy, which would be the cafe, if it cooled
on them. At the bottom of the tub fhould be an
open falfe bottom, or the nets will flop the hole, and
the mixture will not run off free enough. By means
of this fimple operation, the nets are prevented from
rotting, and the fifhermen are faved the trouble of
ever fpreading and drying them, which in common,
is done every day, and is a great flavery in the fhort
days: the benefit has been found fo great, that al-
mofl all the country has come into it.
Improvements have alfo been made in work-
ing the nets ; it is found, that corking the line
under the flrapped buoys is wrong, as it keeps it in
an uneven direction ; there fhould be a vacancy of
corks for three fathom on each fide the buoy lines,
but the middle fpaces (hould be corked thick, which
is found to anfwer exceedingly well.
A vefTel of 100 tons hath two boats from 19 to
•21 feet keel, 7 feet 4 inches broad, and 3 feet 4
inches in depth; the expence of building 19!. each.
The nets are 1 20 fathom long at the rope, and 7 feet
deep. It fometimes happens, that the want of a fuffi-
ciency of buoy rope is the reafon why country fifher-
men are often unfuccefsful, though immediately
above the herrings*
The
IRISH HERRING FISHERIES. 315
The following eftimates fhow the great progrefs
of the Irifh herring fifheries during thefe laft 30
years.
Average number of^
barrels of herrings im- From Eafl Total.
ported annually, pre- I Britain. Country.
vious to the bounty, j" .
between 1756 and j 23,201 1847 25,048
1764, inclufive, — J
Pitto after the bounty, -|
between 1764 and V 16,657 25,365 42,02-
1773, annually, — J
Ditto, during four- years preceding Lady- 1
day 1783 j 2>277
Exports from Ireland, in native and foreign her-
rings, viz.
Annual average barrels for four years, -i ,.• „
ending Lady-day 1767, j
Ditto, ending at Lady-Day 1783, 24*273
In the year ending at Lady-day 1783, 35>9^o
The herrings imported from Scotland are gene-
rally purchafed at 20 s. per barrel, and confumed at
home. Thofe from Sweden, being greatly inferior,
were purchafed, in Ireland, at 14$. per barrel of 36
gallons, and exported to the Britifh Weft Indies. In
'1777, the Irifh parliament laid a duty of 45. on
every barrel of Swedifh herrings, which, on account
of the extreme cheapnefs of thofe herrings, and the
magnitude of the barrel, was found inadequate to
the national object of promoting the Irifh fifheries;
the parliament, therefore, in 1785, extended the
duty to i os. per barrel; which, if no drawback is
allowed on exportation, will operate effectually in
favour of the natives.
The
•3i6 HISTORY OF THE
The prices will be generally thus, viz.
Swedifh herrings at Gottenburg, from 75. to 95,
Average prime coft — ,£.080
Freight — 05 o
Duty in Ireland • o 10 o
^ » '
Scottifh herrings delivered in
Ireland £.100
Duty . , a i o
• — i i o
Jrifh herrings from i6s. to 205.
» The average . o 1 8 o
The parliament have alfo granted a bounty of 2s.
per barrel on Irifh herrings exported; which, with
thefmall fize of their barrel, the low price of fait, and
the advantages arifing from the certain arrival of the
flioals annually on aTmall tract of coaft, muft en-
able the Iriih merchants to engrofs the Weft India
market^ unlefs adequate encouragements fhall be
fpecdily given in aid of the Britilh fiiheries.
Of tie Irijb White Fijberies.
Thefe are chiefly cod, ling, hake, coal fifh, and
haddock. In thefe fifheries the Jrifh are very ex-
pert, being trained thereto by their fifliing on,the
banks of Newfoundland, as well as the bays of that
ifland, to which fifheries fome thoufand Irifhmen
refort every feafon, and from whence they return
with a fmall pittance to their families.
White fifh abound on the weft coaft of Ireland,
but the banks have not been fufficiently explored,
and no fifhery hath yet been eftabliilied with fuc-
eels'.
IRISH WHITE FISHERIES. 317
cefs*. Of thefe banks and fifheries, the following
particulars, communicated by Sir Lucius O'Brien irr
the Irifh Houfe of Commons, feem highly imercft-
ing both to Britifh and Irifh fubjefts. This pa-
triotic fenator, after explaining the nature of the
Newfoundland fiihery, for which the fituation of
Ireland is well adapted, proceeds thus :
" And now let me appeal to any man, and afk,
does he know another trade fo likely to produce
profit as this fifhery from Ireland, or on which fo
many encouragements have been accumulated in fo
fhort a period? If the landed men (hall confider it
in its proper light, not only as providing a flrength
and defence for the whole empire, but as fecuring
employment for their people, and certain markets
for every production of their efrates ; a-nd if fuch
confiderations fhall induce them either to become
joint adventurers, or otherwife to afliftwith capitals,
the merchants in the out-ports of this kingdom, I
ihould not defpair of feeing fifhing veilels fitted out
from every harbour of the kingdom, to the infinite
emolument of the whole. Some ports, however,
and thofe hitherto the mod neglected of all, may
poflibly have advantages, the knowledge of which
is not yet fufficiemly afcertained: I mean in the
northern and north -weftern parts of Ireland, off of
which there is the (Irongeft reafon to believe there
are fifhing banks, perhaps as prolific as thole of
Newfoundland, though their nature and extent hath
not hitherto been explored; and if fo, the fifhery
may be carried on dill cheaper from the neighbour-
ing ports. In fcveral very ancient maps I find the
bay of Galway called the bay of Hakes, from the
quantity of that fifh with which it was fupplied. .
* Some years ago, a company of Irifli merchants engaged in
the Irifli white fifliery, which they were obliged to relinquish,
after having loll groat part of their capital.
"Sir
3i8 HISTORY OF THE
" Sir William Monfon, who was one of the moft
experienced Teamen England ever bred, in the 4th
book of his Naval Tracts takes notice, that from die
iiland of Rona off Scotland, and between 15 and 16
leagues from the ifland of Lewis, there runs a bank
of 100 miles in length, and as far as Till Head in
Ireland, which bank affords a great quantity of the
bed cod and ling of any part of the feas, which had
not for one hundred and odd years been ufed; fince
his time above another century has elapfed, and yet
thefe bountiful gifts of Providence remain equally
negle&ed.
cc In the year 1740, John Atkin, mafter of the
Friendship of Air, coming from Virginia round the
north of Ireland, when about 30 leagues weft by
their reckoning from the ifland Tory, faw diftinctly
a fhoal under water, about 50 yards from the veffel,
on which he judged there might be about four feet
of water. This he publifhed an account of in print,
for the information of others, to which he fubjoins
that about 15 or 20 leagues N. W. £ N. from the
ifland Tory, there is a bank on which there is from
25 to 30 fathom water.
" In October 1746, the commanders Kelly, John-
fton, and Thornton, failing in company from Vir-
ginia for Liverpool, about 25 leagues weft from
Tory iflandj heaved the lead each of them, and
found 65 and 70 fathom fand and fhells; between
that and Ireland they founded again^ and found no
bottom : this information is from Mr. Lowns, a
merchant of repute in Liverpool, who was on board
one of the fhips^ and made them put tallow on the
lead, which otherwife would have been omitted.
<c About the year 1756, Mr. Bachop of London-
derry, coming from Philadelphia, was becalmed
about 22 leagues N. W. of the ifland of Tory, with-
out fight of land; he founded, and found the depth
30 fathom; then throwing out fome fifning lines,
catched about 150 cod in two hours time; the wind
fpringing
IRISH WHITE FISHERIES. 319
fpringing up, they made fail, and in a few hours faw
the land on the north-weft coaft of Ireland.
" Lieutenant Grasme, in his cruife along the weft
coaft of Ireland, in the year 1766, (as I think) by-
order of the Lords Commiffioners of Admiralty,
founded on a bank, which extends 25 or 30 leagues
weftward from the coaft, between the river Shannon
and Sline Head; the depth on it he found to be from
45 to 80 fathoms, for the moft part fand and final I
ftones, but along the weft and north fides of it
deepening fuddenly to 92 and 100 fathoms, and then
no bottom. It does not appear by his journal that
he tried to catch fifh on this bank. — The extent of
Mr. Grime's fearch northward was no further than
the parallel of Broad Haven in Mayo, fo that he had
no opportunity of difcovering any fhoals weftward or
north-weft of Tory ifland, nor had he weather at all
fit for the purpofe he was fent on, being too late in
the year.
c* In the year 1769, when Mr. Murdoch McKenzie,
in the (loop Bird, was taking views of the weft coaft
of Ireland, about the diftance of from three to feven
leagues from the land, wherever there was an oppor-
tunity of trying to catch fifh, they found them, par-
ticularly off the iflands of Inifh Shank and Boffin in
Mayo, where happening to be becalmed, the crew
caught cod, ling, and holly, one or other of them
almoft as often as their lines could be letdown.
" At Broad Haven in Mayo, the people have a
general perfuafion that there is a Milting bank 20
or 30 leagues weftward of their coaft, and affirm
that they have fcen feveral {hips mafters who have
taken fiih there. The like perfuafion prevails of a
fifhing bank off Malbay, in the county of Clare.
About fix or eight leagues S. W. from the ifland
Durfey, at the S. W. point of Ireland, there is a
fhoal called the Lock, on which feveral fifhing fhips
from Kinfale take abundance of ling every year, from
the
HISTORYOF THE
the month of April to September, when the weather
obliges them to give over fiihing; on this fhoal Mr.
Gneme founded, and fpoke with the fifhers.
cc In fhort, there feems to be a general opinion,
fupported by a multitude of facts, that there are ex-
ceedingly profitable banks off of thefe coafts, though
their limits are not afcertained. Mr. M'Kenzie,
whofe authority will be of confiderable weight, is
perfuaded of if, and he thinks they run almoft pa-
rallel to Ireland, and extend all the way from Shet-
land to the Nymph bank off Waterford ; others ap-
prehend they run in a contrary direction towards the
banks of Newfoundland, and even extend the whole
of that way.
fc At all events, this deferves a further examina-
tion, for if the banks are found within 30 leagues of
our coaft, the filhers on them will be entitled to the
benefits of the Iriili bounties.
" And here, as I am upon the f object of examin-
ing our coafts, I cannot avoid taking notice of the
good will of England, and the liberality of its par-
liament towards Ireland in another meafure of the
Jaft feffion ; the Lords of the Admiralty had for many
years employed a very (kilful officer, Mr. Murdoch
M'Kenzie, to make iurveys of the whole coaft of
Ireland, with the foundings, views, and all things
nectffary for the moil perfect charts; and this work
being completed, the parliament laft year voted
2038!. for the publifliing of them, and the work is
now in great forvvardnefs. And this I confider as a
very ufeful favour, for which this nation is in a con-
fiderable degree indebted to the noble Lord who
prefides at prefent among the Lords Commiffioners
of the Admiralty.
" The reft of the work in fearching for thefe.
banks, and taking their foundings at fea, ought to
be done by this country, and may be accompliilied
at a very moderate expence, either by one of the re-
venue
IRISH FISHERY LAWS.
Venue cutters, or by a veflel hired for that purpofe;
and I am certain there will not be a member in the
next parliament who will not readily allow the king's
letter, which 1 fuppofe may be obtained for defray-
ing the charges of fuch an undertaking*."
SALMON FISHERY. — The rivers of Ireland abound
in falmon, of which the river Ban affords the greateft
quantity. This river iflues from the great Loch,
Neagh, a frefh water lake near Bdfaft, and after a
courfe of 30 miles, falls into the North Sea, facing
the Hebride Ifles of Scotland.
The falmon quit the river in Auguft, and remain
in the fea till January, when they return to the frefh
waters, and are taken in their pafiage to the lake
and the rivers which fall into the Ban. They are
taken both by nets and weirs, under certain parlia-
mentary regulations. Thefe fifheries employ 80
men, are let at 6000 1. and the expence is fuppofed
to be equal to the rent. The quantity taken fome
years almort exceeds credibility. In 1777 there
were taken, in one haul of a net, 1452. • Fart of
the falmon are fold frefh, from id. to if d. per Ib.
The remainder are faked for the London, Spanifh,
and Italian markets, where they bring from. 14!. to
20 1. per ton. The filh are cured in puncheons with
common fait, and afterwards in tierces of 42 gallons
each, fix of which make a ton.
Table of Bounties, Premiums, and Drawbacks, for the
Encouragement of the Injh Fijberies in Europe and
America •, alfo the Premiums allowed by the Dublin
Society.
Bounty per ton on all vefTels built on the
coaft of Donegal for the herring £. s. d.
fifhery, from 20 to 60 tons inclufive /*. 300
* In 1783, Capt. Ellifon of the Adrian \vas fcnt i
Lord Lieutenant, in fearch of the banks fuppofed to lie otf the
north-weft of Ireland ; but after taking the moft accurate found-
ings, no appearances of fuch banks \vciw- dii
X annual
gift IRISH FISHERY LAWS.
Annual tonnage bounty on the herring £» s. fa
fifhery to craft or vcflelsi from 20 to
100 tons burden *~ • -*- i o Q
Bounty or drawback per barrel of 32
gallons, and fo in proportion for any
finaller quantity of white herrings ex-
ported — *— O 2 0
Ditto for every barrel of white herrings,
containing 32 gallons, caught on the
coaft of Ireland, cured and packed after
the Dutch method 031
Ditto for every barrel of red herrings
cured after the Yarmouth method 020
Ditto on every barrel of the fame contents
wherein mackarel are packed — — 026
For every fix fcore of ling or cod taken
on the coaft of Ireland — • " 050
For every fix fcore of hake, haddock, or
coal fiih, and conger eel, ditto ^ 030
For every tierce, containing 41 gallons
of cured wet fifh, ditto — O 4 g|
For every tierce containing 42 gallons of
cured falmon -*» o 4 3
For every ton of oil extracted from whales goo
Ditto for oil extracted from other fifli
and manufactured in Ireland — 3 0 O
For every cwt. of all fins of whales^ com-
monly called whalebone, taken on the
coaft of Ireland, and manufactured
therein — 400
The above bounties are on condition that th.e fiih
are good, found, and well cured; but they do not
extend to fifh exported to Great-Britain or the Iflc
of Man.
Annual Premiums to Ships in the Newfoundland Cod
Fijbery. £. j. d.
To the firft 20 {hips which arrive, each 40 o o
To the next 40 ditto 2000
To the next 40 ditto •• 10 o o
Premiums
IRISH FISHERY LAWS,
Premiums to Veffels employed in tie Whale Fijhery in the
Gulpb of St. Lawrence, Coaft of Labrador, New-
foundland, or in any of the Seas to the South of
David's Streights, or of Lat. 44 Jeg. N. killing one
Whale at leaft in f aid Latitudes.
For the greateft quantity of oil taken £. s. d.
by one fhip 500 o o
For the fecond greateft quantity — 400 o o
For the third ditto — — 300 o o
For the fourth ditto — — 200 o o
For the fifth ditto — 100 o o
Annual Premiums given ly the Dublin Society, cxclufwe
of Parliamentary Bounties.
A premium of los. a ton will be given upon all
home-made or imported fait, to fuch perfons as fhall
confume theYame in curing of fifh upon the north-
weft coaft of this kingdom, from the joth day of
June 1784, to the firft day of June 1785, provided
the feveral fums to be adjudged fhall not exceed
200 1. otherwife the faid fum to be rateably di-
vided among the claimants. £. 200
Salted Ftjh exported.
A premium of i s. a barrel will be given upon
every barrel containing 32 gallons of fi{h, and(fo in
proportion for a cafk of a fmaller gage, provided
the gage of the cafk be legibly branded thereon)
taken upon the north-weft coaft of this kingdom,
and well packed with bay or other foreign fait;
which fhall be exported to foreign parts, between
the firft day of June 1784, and the firft day of June
*7%5> provided the claims which fhall be allowed
fhall not exceed 4000 barrels; and if they fhould,
the fum of 200 1. to be rateably divided among the
claimants: and provided allb, that no fuch premium
x 2 be
324 IRISH FISHERY LAWS;
be paid until fatisfaftory proof fhall be laid before
the Society, that the fifh fo exported have been ac-
tually fold in foreign parts. .. £. 200
.
faking Herrings by Seining.
The fum of 150!. will be appropriated to be
given in premiums of is. per icoo on all herrings
taken by the crews of veflels by feining on the north-
weft coafl of this kingdom, between the firft day of
June 1784, and the firft day of June 1785 ; faid pre-
mium to be equally divided between the owners aird
the captain and company of fuch velTels: fhould
there be claims for more than 3,000,000 of herrings,
then thofe fhould be preferred who have contributed
moft to the loading of their vefTels, by catching the
greateft quantity of fifh, are earlieft, and have moft
taerit. — £, 150
Leftroying Seals,
The fum of 50!. will be appropriated to be given
in premiums for all feals taken by nets, -killed by
harpoons, or fhot on the north -weft coaft of this
kingdom, from Aug. i, 1784, to June i, 1785, at
the rate of 2 s. for each feal fo taken or killed ; and
if more than 500 are claimed, the faid fum of 50!-
is to be rateably divided between the claimants:
Provided that every perfon, to whom any fuch pre-
mium fhall be fo adjudged, fhall be obliged to give
to the captain and crew of every vefTel, his pro-
perty, half the amount of the premium upon fuch
number of feals as fhall be fo taken or killed by the
faid captain and crew. £. 50
While this part of the work was in the hands of
the printer, I received a paper from Mr. Snow of
Lancafhire, in which is the following teftimony of
his ingenious invention for drying white fifh during
the
IRISH FISHERY LAWS. 325
•
the winter feafon, when the want of heat and fun
obftrufts that bufmefs in the natural way.
^
Report of the Committee of the Irijh Houfe of Commons.
Mr. SPEAKER,
The committee appointed to take into confidera-
tion the petition of Charles Snow, having met ac-
cording to order, and examined fome of their mem-
bers relative to the fubjec~b matter of the laid peti-
tion, are fatisfied that he had invented a method of
curing and drying fifh (which will effectually operate
to that great purpofe) by artificial heat and the in-
troduction of pure air. — That this method of curing
and drying fifh is extremely cheap and practicable —
That the petitioner expended a large fum of money
in the county of Donegal, in raifing a kiln, ftore-
houfes, &c. for carrying into execution the curing
of fifh on the north-weft coaft of this kingdom,
where fifh of all kinds can be had in the greateft
abundance : therefore came to the following relblu-
tions :
Reiblved, That it is the opinion of this commit-
tee, that the petitioner has fully proved the Allega-
tions of his petition.
Refolved, That it is the opinion of this commit-
tee, that the petitioner deferves the aid of parliament.
(Signed) ROBERT GAMBLE,
Chairman of the committee of the fifheries.
A committee of the Irifh houfe of commons having been ap-
pointed to enqu;re into the ftate'of tfie fifheries of that kingdom, a
bill was prelentetl to the houfe in March 1785, from which I am
enabled to give the following abftradt, though "the bill hath i.
been palFed into a lav/, vi/.
Be it enadted, that after the firft day of next, the
faid feveral recited acts, and all matters and things therein con-
tained, be, and they arc hereby repealed, and rendered null and
void, to all intents and purpofcs \vhati<x
And in order to encourage the trade and navigation of this king-
dom, and to provide a nurleiy of feamca for the navy of th
X3
3*6 IRISH FISHERY LAWS.
pire : Be it enacted, by the authority aforefaid, that a bounty of
twenty {hillings per ton (hall be paid annually out of his majefty's
Revenues, under the management of the commiffioners of the
revenue, to the owner or owners of fuch veflei or veflels, reftding
in this kingdom, or their agents, as now are, or fhali hereafter
be built in Great Britain or Ireland, and manned and navigated as
by the laws now in force is directed, and herein-after more parti-
cularly defcribed, for fulling on the coafls of this kingdom. And
that no fuch bufs or veflel mall be entitled to the bounty of twenty
(hillings per ton, by virtue of this aft, unlefs faid bufs or veflel
fhall be decked or partly decked and built in Great Britain or
Ireland, and not under the burden of 20 tons, nor upwards of
100 tons burden, and that fhe fhall have been regiftered with the
collector or chief officer of the port to which fhe belongs, at leaft
months before her entering upon the bounty, which re-
giftry fhall be returned to the commiffioners of his majefty's
revenue every year, on or before the firft day of June, and firil
day of November, and mall proceed on the faid fifheries from
fome port in Ireland ; and before fuch bufs or veflel proceed on
fuch voyage, or be entitled to the benefit of this act, (he fhall
be vilited by fuch officer or officers of the revenue, belonging to
fuch port, who fhall be appointed by the commiffioners of his
majeity's revenue, or any three or more of them, to examine into
fuch bufs or veflel, and who fhall take an account of the tonnage
thereof by admeafurement, and fhall certify upon oath before the
collector of the diftrift, or a juftice of the peace for the county,
fuch his or their viiitation, examination and admeafurement, to
the commiffioners of his majefty's revenue, in the following words,
viz.
** I being appointed by the commiffioners of
*' his majefty's revenue, do hereby certify and fwear that I have
«* vifited, examined and meafured the above veflel called the
« , of , matter. That
44 the faid veflel is by admeafurement, tons burden ; and that
** faid veflel is, according to my judgment and belief, a found,
44 well-built, well-found and proper veflel to be employed in the
•' fifheries on the coaft of this kingdom. Witnefs my hand this
«• day of
" Sworn before me."
And upon its further appearing, by the oath of one or more
owner or owners, of their agent, and of the matter or chief officer
of fuch bufs or veflel, written at the foot of the faid certificate,
and made before the collector or comptroller of fuch port, who
are hereby refpectively empowered and required to adminitter the
fame, that it is really and truly his or their firm purpofe, and deter-
mined refolution, that fuch bufs or veflel fhall proceed, well manned,
furnifhed and accoutred (if entered for the winter fifhery, with 4
barrels, or ttaves and hoops to make 4 barrels, for every ton bur-
den which fhe fhall meafure) , to fifh upon fbme one or more of
the coafls of this kingdom, or within 33 leagues of the fame, and
that
IRISH FISHERY LAWS. 317
that they, or either of them, will not permit or fuffer faid veflel to
be employed in any other manner whatever during the fifliing
feafon of the year 1 7
^ Then follows a claufe refpe&ing fait, and the duty thereon.
And that faid veflel has on board one compleat fuit of fails
made of Irifh fail -cloth, together with a copy of this act ; and
that a journal (hall be kept of all their proceedings, and an account
cf the quantities of fifli which (hall be taken on each voyage.
Then follows the oa.th of the furveyor or infpeclor ot the bufles
on their arrival at the fifliing grounds, and the vouchers to be
produced previous to their receiving the bounty ; particularly that
Inch bufs was employed in the laid fifliery during three months,
between the firft day of May and the firft day ot Auguft on the
fummer fishery, or between the fir ft day of November and the firft
day of February on the winter fifhery, except in cafes of diftrefs
of weather, or having complcated her cargo^ of which the entry
of the fifti at the port where me (hall arrive, (hall be fufficient
evidence ; then all fuch requifites being fully performed, (hall
entitle the owner or owners to the faid bounty.
And whereas the fifheries on the coaft of the county of Donegal
are carried on only in the late feafon of November, December,
and January, by boats, when the fifli reibrt to the leveral bays,
inlets and creeks : And whereas there is great realbn to iuppoie
that the flioals of herrings frequent the coafts much earlier, but
from the want of veflels of a certain fize to protect the boats in
caie of tempeituous weather, the fifliei men are afraid to venture
from under the (helter of the headlands : And whereas the encou-
raging of (hip-building on that part of the coart immediately con-
tiguous to the feat of the fifliery, would tend greatly to the im-
provement of the fame.
Be it enabled, that a bounty of 3!. per ton (hall be paid out of
his niajefty's revenues, to Inch perion or perfons, or their agents,
as (hall hereafter buila within the dirtricl of any port in the county
of Donegal, any Ip.ufs or decked veflel fit for tifhing in deep
water, not under the burden of 20 tons, nor upwards of 60 tons
burden, provided that fuch bufs or veflel (hall be launched pre-
vious to the 311!; day of December 1788; and provided always
that fuch bufs or veflel, which Ihall be built upon fuch bounty
aforefaid, (hall not be entitled to receive any other bounty granted
by this acl, or for three years next following the time at which
inch veflel or buls (hall be launched. And provided alfo that the
perfon or perfons claiming fuch bounty Ihall become bound, with
two fufficient fureties, that the faid veflel for which he fliall receive
fuch bounty fliall be employed in the fiflieries on the coaft of this
kingdom during three months in each of the three years next
following the time at which fuch buls or veflel ihall be launched.
No bounty fliall be paid for or in refped of any veflel, the
whole of which veflel fliall not be made appear to the fatisfa&ion
of the commiflioners, to have been for fix months before failing
on herfifliing voyage, really and bonafJ* the property of one or
* more
328 IRISH FISHERY LAWS.
more owner or owners, having their known and fettled place of
reiidence for them and their iamilies in this kingdom, fix months,
i.i leail, before luch time of the failing of faid vellel.
And whereas great frauds have been committed by the owners
f f veflels which are not entitled to the bounty, in making frau-
dulent bills of fale, and in carrying on'a contraband trade of fait
and other commodities, under pretence of carrying on the fiihery :
to prevent fuch practices, fundry claufes are enacted befides the
oath of the mailer of every bufs, in the prefence of infpectors or
furveyors.
And be it enacted, that it fhall and may be lawful for the in-
habitants of this kingdom, at all times and feafons of the year
when they fliall think proper, freely to fifh for, take and buy from
.fifhermen, and cure any herrings, mackrel, cod and ling, or other
forts of white fifh, in all and every part of the feas, channels,
creeks and bays wherefoever fuch fifh are to be found, or can or
may be taken on the coails of this kingdom, f^ve only in. fuch
places as are referved by the infpectors for the prefervation of the
fry, and for the better order and regulation of the fifhery : and
that no other perfon or perfons mall, under any pretence what-
foever, prefume to obilruct or .hinder any perfon or perfons from
£ihing in the places aforefaid ; nor fhall any perfon prefume to
demand or receive, any dues, fums of money, or other confider-
ation whatsoever, for the ufe of any ports, harbours, fhores or
forelands, on the coafis of this kingdom, except for the payment
of fuch harbour or pijJF duties, as are, and by law ought to be
demanded for mips, 'veffels and boats, in piers and harbours which
are built and artificially made ; and that every perfon or perfons
fo offending, ihall, for every luch offence, forfeit the fum of 20!.
to be recovered and levied as other forfeitures are levied by this
3d.
And be it further enacted, that for an encouragement to all
perfons whatfoever, as well bodies politic and corporate, as others,
who mall engage in the faid fifheries^ there fliall be pa:d out of
his majelty's revenue, under the management of the commifTioners
of the revenue, a bounty of two fliillings for every barrel con-
taining 32 gallons, and ib in proportion for any fmaller quantity,
wherein good, found and well cured white herrings Ihall be
packed, upon the exportation thereof to any parts beyond the feas,
except to Great Britain and the Ifle of Man ; and a bounty of two.
ihillmgs for every barrel of herrings cured after the manner of
Yarmouth, and commonly. called red herrings, upon the exporta-
tion thereof; and a further bounty of is. id. for every barrel
of white herrings containing 32 gallons, and ib in proportion for
a lefler quantity, upon proof of the exporter upon oa h that fuch
herrings were, to the beil of his belief and knowledge, caught
upon the coafls of this kingdom, within the diilance of leagues,
and cured with .at leail a moiety of Spanifh and Portugal fait, or
fait refined by three days boiiing in barrels, troughs, vats or other
yeiTels, fo as to preferve tlie pickle \ that they were not cured in
bulk,
IRISH FISHERY LAWS. 319
bulk, and that they were gutted and falted before the night of
the day on which they were taken, and' repacked not within tea
days before exportation, in oak barrels ; and a bounty of 23. 6d.
on every barrel of the fame contents, wherein good, found and
well-cured mackrel lhall be packed upon exportation ; a bounty
of 53. for every fix fcore of ling or cod taken on the coafts of
this kingdom, upon the exportation thereof; a bounty of 35.
for every fix fcore of hake, haddock, glaring, otherwife coalfiih,
and conger-eel, taken on the coafts of this kingdom, upon the ex-
portation thereof ; a bounty of 43. 3d. j for every tierce, contain-
ing 41 gallons, and fo in proportion fora lefler quantity, wherein
fuchfifli, well cured, (hall be packed, upon exportation thereof;
a bounty of 3!. per ton for oil extracted from whales, and 3!. per
ton for the oil extracted from other fifli taken on the coafts of this
kingdom, and manufactured therein ; a bounty of 4!. for every
cwt. of all fins of 'whales, commonly called whalebone, taken on
the coafts of this kingdom, and manufactured therein.
And whereas it would greatly facilitate the trade to the Weft
Indies, and be a mutual advantage to the Britifh and Irifti fifheries,
if a reciprocal liberty was granted to ftore fuch herrings as are
deftined for re-exportation : Be it enacted, that fo foon as per-
miflion mail be granted by the laws of Great Britain, for the entry
of Britifli herrings duty free, to be ftored for re-exportation ; that
all Britifh-caughtfifh, entered from Great Britain, fhall be admit-
ted duty-free, provided bond fhall be given to the collector, that
the fame fhall not be confumed in this kingdom, in like manner as
for othe^r commodities entered for re-exportation.
• And, to prevent all fraudulent entry of foreign, fifh into the
Weft Indies, under the colour of being Britifh or Irifh fifh: Be it
enacted, that every veflel entering at any port of this kingdom
which fhall break bulk, or which fliall take in any pait of her
cargo for the Weft Indies, or any foreign port, fliall be obliged to
produce her bill of lading from the port from whence me cornes ;
and if there fliall appear to be any foreign fifli on board, flie {hall
be obliged to land the fame.
Then follows iimclry claufes refpecting the curing, forting, and
re-packing of herrings, the brand marks and other particulars,
with fines and penalties.
And, fays the bill, to the end that the vefTcls employed in the
fifheries of this kingdom may be the more readily known, and the
mafters and crews of fuch veffels more eafily brought to punifh-
men for any offences committed by them, or any of them,
againft this act, or the other acts made for the encouragement of
faid fifheries : Be it further enacted, thnt before any perlon mail
be permitted to enter a veffel in any cuftom-houfe for laid fiflierie?,
the owner of fuch vcfTel, or his agent, fliall caufc the name of
ihtd vdl'el to be cut or branded in characters at Icaft five inches
long, and one quarter of an inch deep, on the tranfnm of faid vei-
fel, and the fame, as well as the port to which fhe belongs, to be
painted in large characters \vith white lead and oil on the quar-
ters,
330 IRISH FISHERY LAWS.
ters of faid veiTel, as alfo on all boats and buoys belonging to th«
fame j and the collector (hall caufe a number to be added to fuch
name, which number lhall be inferted in the entry, and painted in
like manner on laid veilel, and on the boats and buoys belonging
to her ; which names and number fhall not be obliterated, but
kept fair and legible during the time faid veflel fhall remain on
faid fifhery.
And whereas a great number of fmall boats proceed every year
to the fifheries on the coafls of this kingdom, and from the irre-
gular manner with which they fhoot their, nets, the fifhery is
greatly injured, and the nefs of other fifhermen are much dama-
ged, and the offenders cannot be difcovered fo as to be brought to
juftice : Be it further enacted, that no boat fhall proceed to faicj
fifheries unlefs the name of the fkipper is cut or painted in large
characters, with white lead and oil, on the item of faid boat,
and the initial letters on the oars and buoys belonging to her ;
which boat, with the name of the fkipper, fhall be regiftered with
the infpector of the diflrict wherein faid fkipper fhall refide.
And whereas the quantity of fifh is diminifhed by methods of
fifhing which deftroy the fpawn and fry of fifh : Be it enacted,
that no drag-net or other fea net, which hath a mem of lefs than
three inches and a half from knot to knot, fhall be made ufe of
in catching any kind of fifh except herrings, pilchards, fprats,
flirimps, and prawns, and fmall fhell-fifh for bait, upon any parts
of the coafts of this kingdom, or within any of the bays, har-
bours, rivers or creeks thereof; nor fhall any falfe or double
bottom cod or pouch, or any other net, though of legal 6ze, be
placed upon or behind the other, in order to take and deftroy
fmall fifh.
And whereas the fhoals of herrings are frequently frightened
from the entrance of the bays and creeks by vefTels mooring and
{hooting their nets in improper places, and; by laying long lines
for taking of cod and ling, acrofs the entrance of bays and creeks,
and other irregularities ; Be it enacted, that no veflel reforting tot
the fifhery on the coaft of the county of Donegal, fhall moor or
fhoot their nets in any place which mail be forbidden by the in*
fpectors ; nor fhall any perfon fhoot any net or any long line for
taking of cod, ling and other fifh, at any time nor in any place,
which fhall be forbidden by faid infpector.
And whereas a great' abufe is committed in making of barr.els
for white herrings of infufikient timber or flaves, to the very
great prejudice of the trade of this kingdom : Be it enacted, that
no perfon or perfons fhall buy or fell any barrel or barrels for
packing of white herrings for exportation, or fhall pack up
white herrings in any barrel or barrels for exportation, unlefs
the fame be made of (laves not lefs than three-eighths of an
inch in thicknefs, and free from fap, and each barrel bound with
fixteen fufficient hoops, and branded on the head and fide with
the maker's name, and the place of his abode, with the number
of gallons which each barrel contains, in figures — and every
weigh-
IRISH FISHERY LAWS. 331
weigh-mafter, or infpe£tor, are hereby required and directed to
brand on the iide of luch barrel or barrels, the firft letter of hit
Chriilian name, and his furname at length, with the name of the
city, town-corporate, or place where fuch barrel or barrels fhall
be 'examined as aforeiaid.
And "be it further enacted, that no nets fliall be (hot or wet
for the taking of herrings in the day time.
Thefe laws diicover a thorough knowledge of the fubject of the
Irifli fiftieries, for the better regulation of which they are framed
with great judgment and propriety. They include every object
or circumltance for which the adventurers may be encouraged,
and the liftieries extended in all their branches.
The claufes relpecling brand marks, forting the fifli, and the
penalties tor every trelpafs, negled or fraud, ieem evidently
copied from the Dutch placarts, though lefs perplexing than the
originals, which are far too numerous for Britifli or Inih fubjects
to reduce to pradice.
The geographical limits of the fisheries include the whole coafls
of Ireland, the Ifle of Man, the weft-coaft of England and Wales;
with the Sol way Firth, the Firth of Clyde, and the Well High-
lands of Scotland, as far north as the Ille of Mull. Defirous to
improve their own country, to diffule induftry and wealth upon
their own fhores, they have thus restricted the bufles from wander-
ing too far northward after a precarious tifliery, while their own
are more certain, and their people prepared in boats and nets
proper for the buimefc.
The periodical limitations of their fiflieries are now extended
from the firft of May to the firft of February. As it hath been
generally underftood that the herrings were unmarketable after
the 1 2th of January, this matter merits inquiry, in order that the
fiflieries of both kingdoms may be put on the lame footing. If it
Ihall appear to the Britifh parliament, that there was no juft cauie
for doling the fifliing on the i2th of January, it may in that calc
be found expedient to allow an unlimited fifliery through the
whole year upon the bounty, to be dirtinguiflied by the names of
the four fealbns, as the fummer, autumn, winter and ipring
fiflieries, and regulated agreeable to the nature of the fifh and
fishery in each refpective period.
A VIEW
V- I E W
OF THE
Scottifli White Fiftieries,
TT THITE fifh, as cod, ling, hake,tufk, coalfifli»
\ \ haddocks, whitings j and flat fifh, as turbot,
fkate, foals, and flounders, abound fo univerfally
around the Scottifli fhores, that the whole northern
feas, from the Dogger Bank in lat. 54, to the nor-
thern extremity of Iceland, lat. 67, and from the
coaft of Norway eaftward, to unknown latitudes on
the weft, may be confidered as one great fifhery, in
which Scotland, as lying in the centre, hath a mani-
feft advantage over all other nations. Bountiful
Nature hath placed that country in or upon the beft
fifhing grounds, as appears from the annual refort
of veffels from the northern Hates of Europe and
America, to that portion of the ocean lying between
the Hebride Iflands and Iceland, an inexhauftible
fourceofall the varieties of white fifli ; while the
banks of Newfoundland produce only the cod fifh.
If report be true, the European fifh are alfofuperior
in quality; certain it is, that when properly cured,
they are excellent in tafte and flavour.
Nature, or rather the indulgent Author of nature,
hath alfo furnifhed Scotland with the means of
making fait, in the great quantity of coal found on
the fhores of its navigable firths; but all thefe blef-
fmgs, fo far as they regard the fifheries, have of late
years been loft, through the fyftem which facrifices
fiiheries and manufactures to revenue 3 infomuch
that,
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 333
thatj in order to re-eftablifli a great and permanent
fifhery in thefe capacious Teas, it will be expedient
to repeal the fait laws, and to grant fuch aids, as the
experience of merchants, and practical fifhers, have
humbly reprefented to be unavoidably necefifary.
The arguments already advanced relative to the
herring, are equally applicable to the white fi(h-
cries.
They lead to the fame point ; they anfwer the
fame national purpofes in all pofiible cafes, and the
adventurers, are equally difpofed to employ their
capitals promifcuoufly on both. In reality, it is
one great fifhery under two denominations. The
fame men, and in many cafes the fame vellels, may
be employed in both.
Any lofs fuftained by an occafional failure of the
one, may be fupplied by the fuccefs of the other;
and thus the adventurers, by unremitting perfeve-
rance, will find their capitals incfeafed, and their
families decently fupported, while upon the clofe of
life, they will enjoy the pleafmg reflection, thai:
they have drawn from indigence and idlenefs, thou-
fands of perfons whom they have trained up for the
fervice of their country.
It is propofed to fubdivide the white fifhery into
1 . The eaftern coaft fifhery, from Berwick to the
Pentland Firth.
2. The Shetland, or north-eaft fifhery.
j. The Hebride, or north-weft filhery.
Of the Eaftern Fffiery.
Though the white fifh are the infeparable com-
panions of the fhoals of herrings in all their migra-
tions, yet the moft certain fiiheries are upon the
banks which lie at greater or leiler diftances from
the fhores.
The moft confiderable of thefe banks, called, by
way of pre-eminence, the Long Fortys, ftretches
M
334 HISTORY OF THE
in a parallel line with the eaft coaft, from the county
of Durham to Kinnairds head, at the entrance of the
Murray firth 5 thus affording an uninterrupted line
of fifheries almoft from one extreme of the kingdom
to the other* and in fome parts at a very inconfidera-
ble diflance from the fhore. The coaft itfelf is alfo
well qualified for the eftablifhment of a regular fifh-
ery, in the numerous towns and creeks, of which
there are nearly 120 between Berwick and the
Pentland firth, inhabited more or lefs by perfons
who have been trained from their infancy in that line
of life ; who would co-operate in every meafure of
government for the extenfion of that branch* and
whofe united exertions might not only fiipply the
inland demand, but alfo afford a confiderable article
for export. From this review of the eaftern fifheries,
it might be expedted that Edinburgh* which lies on
that fide of the kingdom* might be fupplied with
every variety of fifh* This* however, is not the
cafe j fmall haddocks, fmall cod, and turbot, *
are the fiih which moft abound in Edinburgh j whit-
ings are to be had* but of a diminutive fizej andj
ftrange as it may feem, that capital hath been partly
fupplied in white fifh, by a land carriage of 76
miles, from the town of Air, fituated on the weft
fide of the kingdom*
From the Forth northward* the coaft proje&s gra-
dually towards the eaft* till it terminates in a cape
or promontory at Peterhead, in Aberdeenfhire,
where fome refemblance of a regular fifhery is carried
on, which might be extended to a confiderable
length. The fifh caught at Peterhead and its neigh-
bourhood are chiefly fmall cod, which are fold in
London at 40 to 45 fhillings per barrel.
Tarbet-Nefs in Rofsfhire, and the eaft coaft of
Caithnefs, are alfo good fiihing grounds.
* Turbot, on which feveral perfons may dine, are fold from a
to 7 fhttlings ; oyfteis from 8 to 1 2 pence per hundred.
of
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 335
Of the Shetland Fijherj.
Thefe fifheries are, however, trivial when com-
pared with tfrofe of the north feas, particularly on
the banks which environ the Shetland iflands on
the eaft, north, and weft, at Unequal diftanoes from
land.
The filh on thefe banks are large and numerous*
of which the natives take* cure, and export, from
500 to 1000 tons annually* Ling is the moft gene*
ral fifh $ tufk next} cod, few arid precarious.
As thefe feas are boundlefs/ the filh inexhauftible,
and the demands unlimited, a flfhery might be efta-
blifhed to the extent of fome thoufand tons annually,
not folely by the natives, who are in a (late of fervi-
tude> and in the utmoft indigence, but by adventu-
rers from the whole eaftern coaft of Scotland, and the
Orkneys.
The fifheries round Shetland are carried on by tws
different methods, viz. by boats accompanied with
decked veflels ; and, fccondly, by boats only.
The fifheries of the firft clafs go out of fight of
land, where, in 90, loo, and 120 fathom water,
they get the largeft fifh. When arrived on the filh-
ing grounds they fet their long lines, each line of 56
fathom^ having i£ hooks; and thefe lines are joined
to one another till the number of hooks amount from
600 to lloo. The bufmefs of the Hoop is to keep
fight of the buoys of the lines, and receive the fifh
from the boats, and to fave the lives of the poor
fifhermen in bad or dangerous weather. This fifhery
Is carried on five days in the week, viz. between
Monday and Saturday* On their return they de-
liver the fifh to their refpedtive lairds at the rate of
35. 6d. per cwt. for all green fifh. It is one of the
conditions of their leafes, that they fhall fell no fifh
to any perfons but thofe of whom they hold the
lands, who fix the price of the fifh, and alfo furnifh
them
2?6 HISTORY OF THE
them with (lores, fifhing tackle, &c. at their own
prices.
The fecond method of canning on this fifhery
Is by boats fingly, of 2 tons burden, and 6 men
each.
In fummer jhey fifh at the diftance of 7 to ig
leagues from land ; and in winter at the diftance of
3 leagues. The depth of water to the neareft banks
is about 140 fathom, and clear ground.
The fummer fifhery is carried on from the ift of
June to the ift of Auguft. The boats go out three
times in the week, and continue 24 hours, each time.
The large boats carry from 100 to 120 lines; each
line frorh 54 to 60 fathom in length, and hung with
1 5 hooks at 20 feet afunder from one another. The
fmall boats take in their lines only once during the
trip. They ufe hand lines in winter, when long
lines cannot be managed. They bait with a fmall
fifh called pollocks when at fea. If thefe cannot be
procured, they ufe cod, turbot, haddocks, or any
other fifh. This is a dangerous, or more properly
a defperate fifhery ; but the poverty of the people
pre'vents them from employing larger vefTels. They
have frequently a flrong head-wind upon their return,
which fometimes keeps them 16 hours in the voyage
from the fifhing ground, when they are obliged to
throw many of their fifh. overboard, befides the da-
mage to the remainder. Many lives are alfo loft
in this boat fifhery.
Of tie Helrlde or North Weft Fijhery.
Taking our direction weftward, we come to the
the third divifion of the white fifhery; to ftores of
wealth yet in referve for die whole weflern coaft of
Scotland, from the head of the Solway firth to the
coaft of Iceland, lying at the diftance of 400 miles
N, W. from the Long Ifland in the Hebrides.
We
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 337
We fhall, for the fake of perfpicuity, confider this
fifhery under two divifions, viz. The great rifhery
in the main ocean, which environs the Long Ifland
on the weft and north. Secondly, the lefier fifhery
lying immediately among the Hebrides.
In fpeaking of the banks between the Long Ifland
and Iceland, and alfo between that ifland and St.
Kilda on the weft, we have few materials whereon to
form a conjecture relative to the fituation, number,
or dimenfions of thofe banks.
No national attempts have yet been made to ex-
plore the northern feas ; fpeculation muft therefore
fupply the place of authentic documents. But
though we neither can delineate the banks, nor di-
rect the hardy mariners in their courfes, we can pro-
nounce that thofe latitudes abound in fifli. That
feamen, in their voyages, amufe themfelves by
taking them with the hand lines. That veflels of
various nations, are often feen in that employ, and
that the cod and ling, in thofe feas, are of a
large fize.
Several captains of fhips having reported that they
found great quantities of cod and ling in certain
directions, gave rife to an opinion, that a great bank
lay between St. Kilda and the north of Ireland; and in
1761, two veflfels were fent from Glafgow, with proper
fifhing materials to afcertain the reality of the bank ;
but after having examined the leas, agreeable to their
inftructions, they declared, on their return, that no
fuch bank exifted. It was, however, ftrongly fuf-
pe&ed, that this important inquiry was not faithfully
executed, and no further attempts have been made.
Leaving thefe unknown feas to future inveftiga-
tion, I fhall attempt a defcription of the fifhing
grounds lying between the Hebrides and the main
land. The principal bank begins near the mouth
of Gareloch, in Rofs-ftiire, and is fuppofed to
ftretch in a north-weft direction, towards the Butt of
the Lewis, and pofTibly beyond that cape. It
Y abounds
338 HISTORY OF THE
abounds in all the varieties of white fifh, of which,
from 25 to 30,000 are taken annually by the natives,
befides thofe caught by ftrangers.
A chain of fmall banks ftretches along the eaft
fide of the Lewis, from three to fix miles off
the fliore, and as this fifhing is ftationary or fixed,
and fo near the land, it is carried on by the natives
both in fummer and winter.
The tenants *, who live near the banks, go out
in the evening in ftout boats, with 7 men each, and
fet their nets with buoys, ufing worms and fmall filh
for bait. Next morning they take up their lines.
From 20 to 30 ling is reckoned a good night's fifh-
ing, though fometimes they get 40 or 50. The fifli
are immediately fplit, wafhed, and faked in a pile,
where, in winter, they lie with the pickle draining
from them till the fummer, when they are fpread on
the fhores in dry weather. In Augufh they are
carried to the warehoufes in Stronaway, where they
remain until they are fhipped. .Some people have
cured their fun in large tons or hogfheads, but this
gives a bend to the filh, which fpoils its jfhape, and
ought to be avoided, as the fifhmongers are nice in
regard to the fhape and colour. Great care fhould
alfo be taken to give a due proportion of fait, and
to have the fifh thoroughly dried, as otherwife they
are apt to fpoil. In the warehoufes they (hould be
well fecured from air. The fifh taken in the winter,
are poorer and fmaller than thofe taken in fummer.
The annual capture, confiding chiefly of ling,
amours to 90 tons, and after going through four or
five different hands, from the fifher to the merchant,
by which the price is confiderably enhanced, it is
exported to the Weft Indies, where there is a great
demand for white fifh in general, and alfo to Dublin
during the time of Lent, at from 22!. to 25!. per
* From a manufcript account of Lewis, and the flflicries on its
coails, by a native of that ifland.
ton.
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 339
V
ton. The bounty on exportation, is 3!. per ton;
and 2S. per barrel, on cod cured in barrels, with
pickle called mudfifh. This fifhery is greatly im-
peded and injured by the fait regulations and duties.
The conditions between the merchants and farm-
ers, with the fifhers and lower tenants, are thefe.
A tackfman or fanner, fubjefts his farm, or part of
it, at very little more than he pays himfdf, to feveral
fub-tenants, on condition of their fifhing for cod,
ling, &c. in his boats ; the fifh to be delivered to
him at certain prices, agreeable to the fize, and alfo
herrings at the current rates in the feafon.
The tackfman, on receiving the white fifh, caufes
them to be faked and dried. He hath generally a
fervant in the boat, for whom and the boat he re-
ceives two-fevenths of the fifh taken. The other
five-fevenths belong to the crew, who, at the end of
the feafon, are thus enabled to fettle the account for
lines, hooks, hemp, meal, and other necefiaries ad-
vanced by the tackfman.
But the fifhers from the town of Stronaway, being
immediate tenants of the proprietors,"procure boats
from the merchants or traders fettled there, and
allow them one-feventh of the fifh for the ufe thereof.
The merchants advance them fait, hooks, lines,
&c. and in return, they get all the fifh caught by
fuch boats, ready cured and dried, at a certain price
per cwt. or per dozen, but more generally by the
dozen, viz. For cod, 35. and for ling, from
6s. 6d. to ys.
Befides thefe inland fifheries, as they may be
termed, there is a good fifhery off the north-weft
point or butt of the Lewis, facing the main ocean;
but the natives are not fufficiently (killed For
carrying it on to any confiderablc exten; ; fo
bountiful is nature to the fhores that bound this
noble channel on the eafl and weft. The fouthern
boundary is formed by the great Ifle of Sky, which
ftretches from the main land in a north-weft direc-
tion, almoft acrofs the channel to the Long Ifland,
y a leaving
34Q HISTORY OF THE
leaving only an opening of 12 or 14 nailes, called
the Minch, through which the fifh generally pafs
from north to fouth, and from fouth to north.
The whole coaft of Sky is confequently one con-
tinued fifhery, of the fame fpecies, fize, and quali-
ties, as thofe already defcribed.
After pafllng this ifland, we enter upon the South
Hebrides, whofe feas prefent a number of fifhing
banks, which we (hall briefly enumerate in the fol-
lowing order, from north to fouth. A good bank,
and pretty extenfive, lies between the ifland of Ca-
nay and Dunveggan Head in Sky, on the eaft;
Loch Boifdale and Loch Maddie on the weft ; and
up to the currents of Schant off the Lewis.
But the moft extenfive and valuable bank in thofe
feas, called by the old natives, the Mot her- Bank,
lies between Mull on the eaft ; Barra and South
Uift on the weft. It is a noble fifhing ground,
producing every fpecies known in our feas : the
kinds vary according to the fituation when taken ;
but the beft fuccefs depends on an acquaintance
with the ground ; without which, the fifhers may
fearch a whole week, between Barra Head, Canay,
and Mull, without touching upon the two moft fa-
vourite fpots. Strangers fhould therefore procure
directions from experienced natives, and adhere
flrictly to fuch information : this accomplifhed,
they feldom fail in quantity, quality, and variety.
It is from this bank that Glafgow and the towns
on the Clyde are chiefly fupplied with cod and
ling.
There is a bank between the iflands of Coll and
Tirey, in the direction of the fmall ifland of Gun-
ria, which lies in the centre *.
* The duke of Argyle having favoured me with theperufal of
a journal kept by the mafter of a iloop fitted out in 1773, upon the
white fifnery on the coaft of Tirey, I find the cod, fkate and ling
to be the moil numerous. The natives were fo ignorant of the
MI •£ of £fhing, that they came on board the Hoop for inftru&ion.
A valuable
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 341
A valuable bank lies between the iflands of
Mull, Coll, and Ardnamurchan, on the main land
of Argylefhire •, the ground is not extenfive, but the
fifhery is great upon the proper ground, which is
not eafily difcovered, without a thorough fearch
agreeable to dire&ions, and obfervations upon land
marks.
In the found of Mull, there is a fmall bank,
which flretches from Aros to Scalafdale Bay. The
fifh are fmall in fize, but good in quality.
There is an inexhauftible fifhery along the coaft
of Argylefhire, called the Inner Sound, through the
currents lying between Mull and Morven on the
north, and the three Lorns on the fouth ; as far
within land as the currents of Carran and Fort-
William.
A bank lies between Loch Tarbat, in Jura, and
the Ifle of Colonfa, one mile in breadth, and 16
miles in length, of a good hard ground, and from
1 4 to 1 6 fathoms water. Each fide of the bank is,
however, about 70 fathoms, and the tide runs very
rapidly over it. Thofe who fifh on this bank,
fhould throw their lines at flack tide \ that is, nearly
at high or low water. Another bank lies in the
channel, between Jura and Hay on the weft, and
the main land of Knapdale on the eaft.
Thefe are the principal banks of the Hebrides, on
the weft fide of the Mull of Cantire. On this fide
of the cape, within the Firth of Clyde, there is a
good fifhing ground around the craig of Ailfa; from
whence a large bank ftretches from Ballintrae in
Airfhire, and thence, along the coaft, to the Mull
of Galloway, where it is loft in the Irifh channel.
Another bank ftretches in a north-weft direction
towards Sanda I (land, and from thence towards
Knapdale, off the north fide of Arran.
Befides the fifhings on the banks of the Hebrides,
every bay or loch, of which there are fome hun-
dreds between Cape Wrath and the Mull of Can-
Y 3 tire,
342 HISTORY OF THE
tire, affords great variety of white and flat fifh,
though lefs in fize than thofe in the open feas. It is
therefore obvious., that with due encouragement, and
by means of proper regulations, the Scottifh white
fiiheries may be gradually extended from their pre-
fent infant ftate, to a height that can only be fur-
pafled by thofe of Newfoundland, from which incre-
dible wealth is derived. In fome refpe&s, the Scot-
tifh fiiheries have the advantage of the former. The
banks of Newfoundland lie at the diftance'of 2500
to 3000 ryiiles from London, Briftol, Liverpool,
Dublin, Cork, and Glafgow, and can only be fre-
quented during the months of February, March,
April, May, and June. The Scottifh fiiheries, when
the propofed navigations fhall be opened, will, upon
a medium, be within a week's failing of thefe com-
mercial emporiums, whom they can fupply in fea-
fons when the Newfoundland fifhery cannot be
carried on.
The meafures to be adopted for the extenfion of
this valuable branch, will appear in the following
obfervations, with which, amongft many others, I
am furnifhed by perfons who are, or have been, en-
gaged therein.
Extrafl of a Letter from a mercantile Company at
Greenocky Oft. n, 1784.
S I R,
Being informed that you are on a journey
through Scotland for the purpofe of enquiring into
the prefent flate of its fifheries, the caufes of their
decline for many years paft, and the moft effe&ual
means for reftoring them ; and judging that every in-
formation that will tend to throw light on the fub-
jeft will be acceptable, we beg to communicate to
you our fentiments on thefe important objecls.
The ling, tufk, and cod fifhing on* the coafts of
Shetland and the Hebrides, appear to us to labour
under
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 34^
under the greateft hardfhips, and to be the moft ne-
gle&ed by government, of" any of the Scots fifheries.
There are annually caught on the coaft of Shetland,
from 800 to 1000 tons of thofe fifh, the greateft part
ling. They are taken by the inhabitants in fmall
boats, in a tempeltuous fea, at the hazard of their
lives; and no fooncr do they bring them on fhore,
than the fifh are taken from them by their landlords,
or their fubftitutes, at fuch a price as they choofe to
give, which is generally 3d. for every fifh of a certain
fize, and ifd. for thofe under that fize, which the
landlords fait, dry, and prepare for market.
Twenty-four ling, when properly dried, weigh
on an average one cwt. and the average price thefe
five years 'paft has been 153. per cwt. The greateft
part of the fifh caught at Shetland are exported to
Bilboa and Barcelona in Spain. The refufe or
worft quality are fent to Ireland and Hamburgh,
and confumed in Scotland. Thefe fifteen years
paft we have annually purchafed at Shetland, and
fhipped from thence on our own account, to the
Spanifh and Irilh markets, from 120 to 180 tons of
ling; and from our firft entering into that branch
of bufmefs, the price has gradually increafed from
I2S. 6d. to 1 6s. per cwt. and we now find that if
the filh are kept at that high price, we will be under
the necefiity of dropping the trade entirely, as our
neighbours the Norwegians can afford in general to
tmderfell us at the markets to which we export our
fifh.
We are of opinion, that if the poor inhabitants of
Shetland were relieved from their prefent fervitude j
to their landlords, and allowed to cure and fell their
own fifh to the merchants, a much greater nunber
of fifh would be caught, the merchants fupplicJ at
a cheaper rate, and the fifhermen properly recom-
penfed for fheir induftry. At prefent they are in a
ftate of flavcry to enrich their landlords.
y 4 It
344 HISTORY OF THE
It may be argued by interefted people, that the
fifhermen in Shetland are fo very poor, that they
cannot purchafe fait, and the other neceflaries for
catching and curing fifh. This argument we readily
admit •> as, in their prefent ilate they can hardly earn
a fcanty fubfiftence, but were they allowed to dif-
pofe of their fifh to the befl advantage, the intend-
ing purchafers would fupply them with every necef-
fary to be paid for in fifh next feaibn.
The white fifhery on the coaft of Shetland is at
prefent confined to the inhabitants of thefe iilands.
A number of years paft, it was attempted to be car-
ried on from different towns on the river Clyde, by
means of vefieis from 30 to 50 tons burden, but as
all new undertakings are in general at firft attended
with many difadvantages to the adventurers, they in
their firfl attempts loft money by the bufmefs, were
difcouraged, and dropt it entirely.
We are convinced, that was a bounty given by
government, equal to that allowed to the Greenland
fifhery, and feveral reftrictions with regard to fait
removed, for all vefTels from 20 to 80 tons burden,
properly equipped, employed in the white fifhery on
the coaft of Scotland^ that branch of bufinefs would
be profecuted with fpirit and vigour, and confe-
quently become a very great fource of wealth to the
nation, and one of the moft valuable nurferies for
feamen.
As it is well known that great numbers of ling,
tufk, and cod-fiih frequent the weftern Highland
ides', or Hebrides, we, in the year 1776, fitted out
one vefTel of 64 tons, and another of 45 tons mea-
furement, in .order to profecute the white fifhing.
The largeft of thefe veffels carried 18 men, the other
14 men, and both were in every refpecl properly
equipped. They proceeded on their voyages the latter
end of March, and continued fifhing to the weft-
ward of the ifland of Barra, 3 months. Each of
the veiTeis caught a confiderable number of fifh,
which,
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 345
which, when cured and dried, were equal, if not
fuperior to thofe caught on the coaft of Shetland; and
though the fale of the filh amounted to a confiderable
fum of money, yet from the great expence attending
the fitting, victualling, and manning thefe veflels,
we loft money by the adventure. Not difcouraged
by the lofs we fuftained in this our firft attempt, we
next feafon fitted out the fame veflels, and the fuc-
cefs was much the fame as in the former feafon j but
finding the trade could not be profecuted without
lofs, we dropped it, and that branch of bufmefs has
not fince been attempted by any adventurers from
the Clyde. Had we been allowed a bounty by go-
vernment, it would have enabled us to have carried
on the bufmefs, fo as not to be a lofing one, and
in a fhort time it would have become a confiderable
trade from this place.
We were for a confiderable time concerned in the
white herring fifhery, but from the many reilrifrions
laid on that branch of bufmefs, we found it not
worth the profecuting , and as you have got very
full and authentic information refpecting the hard-
Ihips that the herring fifhery labours under, from thofe
who are immediately concerned therein, we fhall not
pretend to fay any thing on that head.
A Letter Jigned by the principal Merchants and Adven-
turers in Port GlaJgoWy after enumerating the many
Obftruflions to the Succejs of the Herring FJhery, both
from the exifting Afts of Parliament, and t&c Mr/in-
terpretation thereof y by the CommiJJioners of the Cuf-
tomsy gives the following Intelligence reJpcRing the
White Fijhery.
— But the chief depcndance is upon the 'cod and
ling fifhery, which happily occurs at a feafon of the
year different from the herring, but like it, is at-
tended with great expence, and cannot, without the
aid of government, fupport itfelf. Many of the
buifes are 'particularly well adapted for this employ-
ments we would therefore fuggcft that a bounty
from
346 HISTORY OF THE
from 30 to 40 fhillings per ton be allowed on vef-
fels in this trade ; that thefe be from 30 to go tons,
carrying at leaft as many men as in the herring
filhing bounty, and properly fitted out with a fuffi-
cient number of boats, hooks, lines, &c. according
to their tonnage. There is not a doubt but in this
way, the cod and ling fifhery may be carried on to
great national advantage, and between it and the
white herring fifhery, afford ample employment to
the men.
/
Extra?} from Jundry Papers relative to the Fijheriesy
Jigned by the Magiftrates and Adventurers in
Rothfay.
— White fifhing for mod part is carried on with
fuccefs wherever there is a herring fifhery, or where
a fhoal of herrings pafs 5 in fupport of which affertion
there are at all times plenty of ling and tufk on the
banks of Shetland, where the herrings frequent ;
alfo at Barra, and other parts of the Long Ifland, as
the herrings take that route when on the'ir paffage
to Ireland, and in all feafons whenever there is a
fifhery in the Scottifh lochs, cod, ling, and other
kinds of white fifh are got in great abundance.
Wherries are beft calculated for white fifheries of
every kind, on account of their faft failing j floops
cannot work lines under fail as wherries do. No
fooner is the feafon of herring fifhing over, than that
for the cod and ling commences. Wherries can
therefore be always employed ; floops can alfo go to
the white fifhing, in lochs, or near the coaft, by
fifhing with boats ; but none can fifh on the banks,
at fea, but wherry rigged vefTels.
A bounty of 50 fhillings per ton fhould be al-
lowed to every veflfel fitted out in a proper manner
for fifhing cod and ling, or other white fifh. Sea-
men can be bred and trained up to fatigue in that as
well as the herring fifhery.
ExtraR
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 347
Extratt of a Letter figned by the Magijlrates and prin-
cipal Adventurers in Campbell own.
— The herring filhing is commonly finilhed, and
the herrings fent to market, about the middle or latter
end of January, when near two thirds of the crew
are difcharged, 6 men being fufficient to navigate
a veflel of 60 tons in the coafting trade, that will re-
quire 14 men when employed as a bufs. Thefe dif-
charged men either ftarve at home, till the next fifh-
ing feafon, or adopt the more frequent alternative of
feeking employment in America, or other foreign
countries. To keep thefe at home, and in employ-
ment during the fpring and part of fummer, it
would be expedient to give fome public encourage-
ment to the cod and ling rifhery, which might be
purfued with fome profpeft of fuccefs upon the
coafts of the Hebrides. An eftimate of the expence
of equipping a veflel for this fifhery will likewife be
furnilhed to Mr. Knox.
ExtraR from the Report of a practical Fijberin Sir an-
rawer ; which I took down from his verbal Declara-
tion, viz.
That he was lately in a veflel of 16 tons upon the
white fifhery in the Hebrides ; that he confide rs this
fifhery of greater importance than is generally under-
flood, but it labours under many inconveniencies,
not only from the fait laws, but alfo from fundry
proprietors of the fhores, who levy fuch iums as
their avarice ftimulates, upon the poor filhers, and
even the boats of their own tenants. Every veflel
or boat muft pay a fum for permiflion to dry the fifh
on the rocks of the fhores, and alfo liberty to dig up
the fand for bait, though within the fea mark, and
confequently no detriment to the proprietors.
That
34* HISTORY OF THE
That the average weight of ling fifh when taken
is from 10 to 12 pounds, but when dried, it does not
exceed 5 or 6. That the average weight of the
cod fifti when taken, is from 6 to 12 pounds. Some
have weighed 30 pounds when taken.
That the whole weftern coaft of Scotland abounds
in fkate fifh, but from the thinnefs of inhabitants, it
is of little value when frefh, and there is no foreign
market for it when cured. Thefe fifh weigh from
8 to 10 pounds. Some have been taken weighing
200 pounds.
Mackarel, and other fmall fifh, are fo common in
the Highlands as to bring no price ; but were towns
eftablifhed in thefe parts, fuch fifties would find a
market to the great benefit of the inhabitants ; and
even were a canal cut from Lochfine, great numbers
of boats would run to the Clyde, and return with
cafh, meal, fifhing tackle, &c.
That white fifh fprinkled with fait in the hold will
keep for home market, from 10 to 30 days, but the
reftrictions refpefting fait, almofl entirely prevents
any benefit from being made of this method, and
the white fifh as well as herrings are often left on the
Ihore to rot, from the want of fait.- — —
The importance of the Hebride fifhery is further
confirmed by the annual refort of vefTels from Ire-
land and the eaft coaft of Scotland, through long
and dangerous navigations.
The Irifh wherries, particularly thofe of Rufh
near Dublin, repair every fummer to Barra, for the
fupply of that metropolis.
The Orkney people, though fo near the Shetland
fifheries, refort to Gareloch and Barra, during part
of the year 5 Peterhead, Portiby, and other towns
on the Murray firth fend veflels, about the begin-
ing of February to Gareloch, where they fifh for cod
till the firft of May, when they frequently go to Burra
for ling. The fifh are faked and dried or* the fpot :
Every veffel hath three boats, and 1 8 men, or men
4 and
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 349
and boys. They return in Auguft, and fend their car-
goes, with falmon, to Spain, Portugal, the Mediter-
ranean, and London. ^
SALMON. Scotland, from its northern fituation,
its gravelly bottomed rivers, and numerous lakes,
pofTefles many excellent falmon filheries. Its iflands
alfo abound in falmon and trout.
The fifheries have, however, greatly fallen off
during the laft 20 years, for which fome perfons
have attempted to afiign a reafon, as the watering
or foaking of flax, the increafe of bleacheries, tan-
neries, and other manufactures by which the rivers
are more or lefs affefted. Thefe arguments, though
plaufible, are not conclufive; the failure of the
fifheries is not confined to the feats of manufactures
only ; it is equally felt in many parts of the High-
lands where the rivers retain their original purity.
To this natural misfortune, for which we can
aflign no caufe, tlie laws have of late years permitted
an artificial one, by allowing curves to be placed at
the mouths of rivers and lakes ; which in fome wa-
ters have almoft totally deftroyed the fifhery, and the
natives are thus deprived of their natural right, by
overgrown monopolizers, with whom the former
cannot enter into competition.
The great fifheries, are thofe of
The Tweed — an open fifhery,
The Forth — a curve above Stirling,
The Tay — open,
The Dee — ditto,
The Don — ditto,
The Devron — ditto,
The Spey — curves at its mouth,
Findhorn — open,
The Nefs — curves, and the inhabitants of Inver-
nefs denied the ufe of falmon,
The Beaulie — ditto ditto,
From thence northward to Dungfbay head,
The
350 HISTORY OF THE
The coaft of the Pentland firth,
Ditto from Cape Wrath to the Mull of Cantire,
, All the Hebride iflands, and
The coaft of Airlhire, Galloway, and the Solway
firth, where the rivers, bays, or lakes are open.
The principal markets for the Scottilh falmon are
London, Holland, France, Spain, and the Medi-
terranean. London, as before obferved, ufes the
fifh pickled ; a few only are fent alive in wells made
in the holds of the fmacks.
Having formerly given fome particulars relative
to the Tweed filhery, and modes of curing; the prac-
tice of the Aberdeen fifhers may be equally interefling
to perfons in that branch through both kingdoms.
The feafon of fifhing at Aberdeen, is from the
joth of November to the 8th of September; but
few fifh come into the rivers before the ift of
January,, from which time, to the middle of May,
the falmon are boiled and kitted, ffor the London
market; and fent off almoft every week, by fwiftfail-
ing (loops, called fmacks, retained for the purpofe.
Thofe caught through the fummer are faked for
exportation to Holland, France, Spain, or where-
ever there is a demand for them ; but from the de-
cline of the fifheries in other parts, and the high
price lately given by the London ftlhmongers, it is
probable that the foreign trade will decreafe in a
proportionable degree. No falmon is fuffered to be
barrelled and cured, except by the town's coopers,
who are obliged to put the initial letters of their
name on all the barrels they make, nor can they be
fhipped for exportation till the letters A. B. D. have
been burned on each barrel, by an officer appointed
for that purpofe. No filh that hath been bit by
feals, none under a certain fixed weight, nor any
that have been damaged in the carriage from the
river, are to be put into a barrel, without having
the word rebate burned on the end of the cafk.
The barrels are of a certain fixed fize, containing
about 250 pounds of fifli, and fo carefully packed,
that
SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 351
that they do not differ a pound of fifh from one
another. After they are packed from the vats, in
which they had been faked, great care is taken ta
keep them brimful of pickle, till the bungs are fixed
down, a day or two before they are fhipped. By
this care and attention, the Aberdeen falmon hath
acquired fuch a character abroad, that it generally
fetches the higheft price, and no queftions arc afked
refpecting the quality.
Of the Seal, bajking Shark and Sea Dog Fi/herits.
SEALS. 'Of thefe fifheries, that forthefeals fecms
to be the mod gainful. The fkin of the feal is tan-
ned and made into Ihoes, which generally go under
the name of dog- fkin fhoes, ancLare purchafed as fuch
at the rate of 10 {hillings a pairp by beaux and mac-
caronies. It alfo ferves for the bottoms of chairs, and
various other purpofes. The oil is ufed in cham-
bers, and fells, in time of peace, at 20!. per ton,
whereas that of the cod-fifh is burned in ftreet lamps,
and fells at 15!.
The greateft feal fifhery is on the coaft of Labra-
dor in North America. The boats ufed in the cod
fifliery, upon the fh ores and bays of Newfoundland,
are about 50 feet in length, decked at both ends ;
they have two mads, a fhort bowfprit, are built of
fir or fpruce, and will fail on the wind, or as the
feamen term it, in the wind's eye. In the winter
feafon, when the cod fifhery is over at Newfound-
land, thefe boats, with 30 or 40 men in each, repair to
the frozen fhores of Labrador, where the winds and
tides often drive immenfe floats of ice into the bays,
and on thefe floats great numbers of feals. As the
boats belong to different merchants, the float of ice is
marked out in equal portions, and each boat's crew
are ftridtly limited to the part affigned them. Thefe
regulations being fettled, they attack the feals much
in the fame manner as captain Bobadil propofes to
deflroy an army of 20,000 men.
The
HISTORY OF THE
j
The fifliers enter the ice in regular order, each
man knows his department, and attends that only.
The firft man of the party advances towards a feal,
which he ftrikes immediately above the nofe with a
club— attacks another — kills it — marches forward
towards a third — kills that alfo. Thus advancing,
the whole field becomes a fcene of blood, ftrowed
with dead feals.
When the firft feal is killed, the next perfon in
rank tears off* the {kin, which he leaves on the fpot,
and advances to the fecond, and fo on. A third
perfon takes off a layer of fat, with which the feal is
covered next the ikin, this he alfo leaves on the fpot,
and immediately follows the two former. Thus the
killer, the flayer of fkin and fat, with the remain-
ing crew, will fometftnes clear to the value of 500!.
within the fpace of 24 hours. When this happens,
they return with 'what they call a full cargo, which
abundantly reimburfes their employers. There is
alfo, at other feafons, an open-fea fifhery, by which
fortunes are acquired.
The feal filhing in Scotland, is in fome refpects
fimilar. . The Scottifh feas are open through the
whole year, and the feals being of the amphibious
kind, frequent the caverns and openings of the rocks
upon the ftiore, where they bring up their young.
The Hebrides, and the northern fhores of the
mainland, are the principal refort of the feals. Of
the former, Mr. Martin gives the following enter-
taining account, in his defcription of North Uift, a
part of the Long Ifland.
cc On the weflern coaft lies the rock Confmil,
about a quarter of a mile in circumference, and it is
ftill famous for the yearly fifhing of feals there in the
end of October. This rock belongs to the farmers
of the next adjacent lands j there is one who furniih-
eth a boat, to whom there is a particular fhare due
on that account, befides his proportion as tenant.
The
SEAL, SHARK, AND DOG FISHERIES. 353
The parifti minifter hath his choice of all the young
feals, and that which he takes is called by the na-
tives, Cullen Mory, that is, the Virgin Mary's feal.
The fteward of the ifland hath one paid to him, his
officer hath another, and this by virtue of their offi-
ces. Thefe farmers man their boats with a compe-
tent number, fit for the bufmefs, and they always
embark with a contrary wind, for their fecurity
againft being driven away by the ocean ; and like-
wife to prevent their being dilcovered by the feals,
who are apt to fmell the fcent of them, and prefently
run to fea.
When this crew is quietly landed, they furround
the pafles, and then the fignal for the general attack
is given from the boat, and ib they beat them down
with big (laves. The feals at this onfct make to-
wards the fea with all fpeed, and often force their
pafiage over the necks of the ftouteft afiailants, who
aim always at the forehead of the feals, giving many
blows before they be killed, and if they be not hit ex-
actly on the front they contract a lump on their
foreheads which makes them look very fierce ; and
if they get hold of the ftarT with their teeth, they
carry it along to fea with them.* Thofe that are
in the boat, (hoot at them as they run to fea, but
few are catched that way. The natives told me that
fcveral of the biggeft feals lole their lives by endea-
vouring to lave their young ones, whom they tumble
before them towards the fea. I was told alfo that
320 feals, young and old, have been killed at one
time in this place. The reaibns of attacking them
in October is, becaufe in the beginning of this
* There is great cruelty in this imperfect method of conducing
the leal fiiliery. The leals, \\hile endeavouring to lave their young,
are knocked on the head with flicks or ftaves, which, though often
repeated, does not always prove effectual, and thus the poor ani-
mal efcapes in tortures, which inhuman man hath no right to in-
flier. Let thole perfons be obliged to ufe clubs headed with iron,
by which the bulmefs will be done inftantly and effectually.
' month
354 HISTORY OF THE
month the feals bring forth their young on the weft
fide of thefe iflands; but thefe on the eaft fide, who
are of the lefier ftature, bring forth their young in
the middle of June.
The feals eat no fifh till they firft take off the fkin;
they take hold of the fifh between their teeth, and
pluck the {kin off each fide with their fharp-pointed
nails : this I obferved feveral times. The natives
told me that the feals are regularly coupled, and
refent an encroachment on their mates at an extra-
ordinary rate. The natives have obferved that when
a 'male had invaded a female already coupled to
another, the injured male upon its return to its mate,
would, by a ftrange fagacity, find it out and refent
it againft the * aggreffor by a bloody conflict, which
gives a red tincture to the fea in that part where they
fight. This piece of revenge has been often ob-
ferved by feal hunters, and many others of unquef-
tionable integrity, whofe occafions obliged them to
be much on this coaft. I was allured by good
hands that the feals make their addrefles to each
other by kifTes : this hath been obferved often by
men and women, when fifhing on the coaft in a clear
day : The female puts away its young from fucking,
as foon as it is able to provide for itfelf, and this is
not done without many fevere blows.
There is a hole in the fkin of the females, within
which the teats are fecured from being hurt, as it
creeps along the rocks and ftones, for which caufe
nature hath formed the point of the tongue cloven,
without which the young could not fuck.
The natives fait the feals with the afhes of burnt
fea-ware, and fay they are good food. The vulgar
cat them commonly in the fpring time, with a long
pointed ftick inftead of a fork, to prevent theftrong
fmell which their hands would otherways have for
feveral hours after.
This four-footed creature is reckoned one of the
fwifteft in the fea 5 they fay likewife that it leaps in
cold
SEAL, SHARK, AND DOG FISHERIES. 355
cold weather the height of a pike above water; that
the (kin of it is white in fummer, and darker in
winter, that their hair ftands an end with the flood,
and falls again at the ebb. The fkin is by the na-
tives cut in long pieces, and then made ufe of inftead
of ropes to fix the plow to their horfes when they
till the ground. "
BASKING SHARK. Thefe are fuppofcd to be mi-
gratory fifti, from the arctic circle ; they frequent
the coaft of Norway, the Orkney and Hcbride ifles,
the firth of Clyde, the bay of Ballyfhannon in Ire-
land, and the weft coaft of Wales, particularly Car-
narvonfhire and Anglefey. They appear in the firth
of Clyde, near the ifle of Arran, in fmall fhoals of
7 or 8, but more generally in pairs, fome time in
June, where they remain till the end of July, when
they difappear.
Though their fize is from 10 to 40 feet in length,
they are the moft inorFenfive fifh, and fo tame, or
fo ftupid, that they will fuffer themfelves to be
ftroked in the water. They generally lie motion-
lefs on the furface as if afleep, commonly on their
bellies, and fometimes like tired fwimmers on their
backs. They fometimes play on the waves, and
leap with great agility feveral feet out of the water,
They will permit a boat to follow them without
accelerating their motion, till it comes within con-
tact ; when a harponner ftrikes his weapon into
them, as near the gills as pofilble. But they are
often fo infenfible, as not to move till the united
ftrength of two men hath forced the harpoon deeper.
As foon as they perceive themfelves wounded, they
fling up their tail and plunge headlong to the bot-
tom; and frequently coil the rope round them in
their agonies, attempting to difengage the harpoon
from them, by rolling on the ground, for it is of-
ten found greatly bent.
As foon as they difcover that their efforts are in
vain, they fwim away with amazing rapidity, and
z 2 with
3S6 SEAL, SHARK, AND DOG FISHERIES.
with fuch violence, that there hath been an inftance
of a veffel of 70 tons having been towed away by
them againft a freih gale. They fometimes run
off with 200 fathoms of line, and with two har-
poons in them -, and will employ the fifhers for 12,
and fometimes 24 hours before they are fubdued.
When killed, they are either hauled on fhore,
or if at a diftance from land, to the fide of the
vefTel. The liver, being the only ufeful part, is
taken out and melted into oil in kettles provided
for that purpofe. A large filh, particularly the
female, will yield eight barrels of oil, two of ufelefs
fedirrient, and afford a profit of 20!.
The oil is of the mod valuable kind; pure,
fweet, extremely proper for lamps, and much va-
lued by tanners. It is alfo ufed by the filhers for
curing burns, bruifes, and rheumatic complaints.
The commiffioners of forfeited eftates at Edinburgh.,
were at confiderable expence in encouraging this
valuable, though fmall fifhery ; but their good in-
tentions were fruflrated through the mifconducl of
the perfon whom they appointed to carry it on. At
prefent it is only attempted occafionally, by pri-
vate perfons.
Doc-FisH. The catching fea dogs is properly a
defenfive fifhery. Thefe animals, though fcarcely
exceeding the fize of a large cod, are equally de-
ftruftive -to nets, and to all the fpecies of fifli whom
they can overcome. They had become fo offenfive
upon the coafts of Newfoundland and Labrador,
that the enraged fifhermen made war upon them,
as a common enemy, and with fuch fuccefs, thar
they have almoft extirpated the whole fpecies from
the American fhores.
They abound on the coaft of Shetland, particu-
larly the Hebrides, where they are taken in confi-
derable numbers. Being fplit and dried, they are
conveyed by the women through different parts of
the country, and fold or exchanged for neceflaries ;
thus forming a petty inland commerce.
REMARKS ON WHALES. 357
Whales of the larger and leffer Species.
Whales are found in Scotland wherever the her-
rings abound. In Augult, 1784, two young ones
followed the herrings into Oban bay, where they
remained fome days, playing on the furface, and
fometimes within a hundred yards of the cuftom-
houfe, where there is a great depth of water. Some
months after, two larger whales were obferved in
Lochfine.
Sometimes one or two whales will block up the
fhoal of herrings in a loch, to the great emolument of
the fifhers j but whether thcfe fervices from the
whales be an equivalent for the per contra injuries,
\ve fhall not pretend to decide. No regular whale
fifhery hath yet been attempted on the Scottifh
fhores ; but were towns eftablifhed on the weftern
parts, it is probable that a body of harponeers would
fettle there for carrying on the greater and letter
fifheries. Small whales of the grampus kind abound
in the Hebrides. When a fhoal appears, the natives,
armed with Hones, clubs, fpears, and guns, imme-
diately embark on board their fifhing boats, in-
clofe the fhoal between a line of boats and the Ihore ;
and begin the attack with Ihowers of flones. The
affrighted fifh directly make for the firft bay or open-
ing j — the men purfue, and commence a bloody at-
tack with guns, fwords, clubs, &c. — a defperate
fight enfues— the fifh ftruggling to efcape, and the
men to fecure them. Great numbers are thus ta-
ken ; and, on account of the oil extracted from their
livers, become a valuable capture to the afiailants.
Theporpus is remarkable for the great quantity
of fat or lard that furrounds the body, which yields
abundance of excellent oil.
In the days of Henry VIII. and Queen .Elizabeth,
the flefh of the porpus, however greafy and naufc-
ous, was ferved up at the royal table.
All fi(h of the whale kind fwim againft the wind,
except when they follow the herrings, and fcem much
agitated upon the approach of a ilorm, when they
tumble about with unufual violence.
358 BRITISH PREMIUMS AND BOUNTIES.
Account of the "Bounties, "Premiums, and Drawbacks
or Debentures, granted by Parliament for the En-
couragement of the Britijh Fijheries, viz.
Annual tonnage and bounty to decked "} £. s. d.
veflels from 20 to 80 tons inclufive
employed in the white herring filhery f
till 1786, per ton
barrel of pickled "]
028
aw. ,
jj.i.0
- On every barrel of 32 gal- \
Ions of full red herrings J
Of clean-fhotten red her- "1
J
rngs
On dried cod fifh, ling, or "|
J
hake, per cwt.
32 gallons
On wet ditto, per barrel of \
r O 2 O
On falmon, per barrel of 42 i
gallons • J ° 4 o
— Of pilchards, per cafk of 50 1
gallons J
— On dried red fprats, per lafl* o i o
* PREMIUMS ON THE FISHERY.
Trujtees Office, 'Edinburgh, March 22, 1784.
The Commiflioners and Truitees for Fifheries, Manufactures,
and Improvements in Scotland, do hereby advertife, that they are
to give the undermentioned Premiums, in the year 1784, for pro-
moting the fimeries of cod, ling, and tulk, and fun or fail filh, on
the coafls of Scotland, viz.
To theperfbn or company, whofe vefTel of thirty tons
burden, or upwards, fitted out or freighted for the I £. s.
fifhing at their own nfk and expence, mall take I ,
and cure the greateft quantity of cod, ling, and
tulk, in proportion to the number of men em-
For the fecond greateft quantity — 50 o o
Fer
BRITISH PREMIUMS AND BOUNTIES. 359
Herrings or falmon exported in barrels of any other
iize than the above, (except half barrels) are not
entitled to the drawback.
No
For the third greateft quantity . 40 o o
For the fourth greateft quantity — 30 o o
And for the fifth greateft quantity 20 o o
To the peribn or company, whole veflel or boat of «v
any burden^ fitted out and freighted at their own 1
riik and expence, either from the main-land or 1 1 5 o o
any one of the Weftern Ifles, (hall from the fun or I
lail-filh caught, make the greateft quantity of oil J
For the legend greateft quantrcy " — jo o o
For the third greateft quantity ~ — 700
For the fourth greateft quantity — 600
For the fifth greateft quantity — — 500
For the fixth greateft quantity .. 400
And for the ieventh greateft quantity — — 300
250 o o
Perfons intending to compete for thefe premiums, excepting
fuch as refide in any of the liies, muft lodge in this <J)ffice, on or
before the i5th of May next, an intimation of their intention fo to
do, fpecifying the name and burden of the vetfel, with the number
of hands, 'boats, and hooks, to be employed. And the mafter of
every competing veflel, upon fending to this Office, will receive
a book wherein his journal and oblervations are to be entered.
When the fifhing feaibn is over, or before the ift of March 1 78;,
every competitor for the premium upon cod, ling, and tufk, muft re-
turn to this Office the faid journal-book, properly filled up, with an
affidavit before a magirtrate or juftice ofpeace, fubjoined as to the
truth thereof; and, at the fame time, there muft be tranfmittcd a
certificate under the hand of the collector or comptroller of the
cuftoms at the port to which the veflel returns, of the bxrden of
the vejjcl, the prcclfe number of bands and boats which havt been
employ edy and number and weight of the different forts ofjijh caught
and cured) (mentioning whether or not the heads of the fijb be in-
cluded in the weight) and in cafe of their having caught any fun
or fail-fiftl, the number of gallons of oil made therefrom. And every
competitor who fails to lodge his journal and affidavit, and the
cuftom-houfe certificate here, on or before the foreiaid ill of
March 1785, will be debarred from the premium.
On account of the great diftance of the Illes, no intimations
are required from the matters or outfitters of boats there for the
fun or fail fifhery ; and an affidavit by the mafter, together with a
certificate under the hand of the minifter of the panfh to which
he belongs, lodged here before the faid ift of March 1785, will
Z 3 be
360 BRITISH PREMIUMS AND BOUNTIES.
No allowance to be paid on fifh badly cured, or
unmerchantable. Fifh fraudulently re-landed in
Great-Britain, and re-imported, is forfeited, and
double the value to be recovered of the importer
or proprietor.
No fee to be taken for a debenture or certificate, or
for payment of the money.
Any officer refuting or neglecting to pay the
money i or give a certificate, as above, forfeits
double the fum to the party aggrieved.
Thefe encouragements, great as they may feem,
are found in the experiment to be inadequate to the
heavy expences attending every Britifh fifbery ; be-
fides the accidents to which the adventurers are ex-
pqfed from war," dorms, or unfavourable feafons ;
alfo the great difproportion in fhip-building, outfit,
mens wages, provifions, calks, &c. between the
Britifti and foreign expenditures in thefe branches.
This will appear more forcibly in the following ab-
flracT: from what hath been faid relative to the
fifheries.
be held as evidence of the quantity of oil (the number of gallons
being fpecified) made from the fun or fail -fifh taken by each
boat.
The Truftees are likewife to give two premiums of lol. and
$1. to the matters of the competing veifels, who {hall keep the
moil: accurate journals of their procedure, and give the moil fa*
tisfadory account of any new fiihing-ground, or mall point out
diftinctly any practicable improvement which can be made upon
the preient mode of profecuting the fifhery. But they rcferve
to themfelves a power of with-holding either or both of the pre-
miums, in cafe it mail appear to them that none of the journals
have fufficient merit in thefe refpedls.
By order of the Board,
ROBr. ARBUTHNOT, Sec.
Vitw
DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY. 361
View of fbe refpeftive Fijheries, giving the Average
Exports at different Periods -, and the Number of
Veffels in the White and Herring Fijberies.
Annual average of pilchards exported in former
years, 30,000 barrels; — in the laft four years,
12,500; — laft year, only 5500.
Ditto of red herrings from Yarmouth and its
neighbourhood, 38,000;— ditto, laft fix years, only
9335-
Veflels from ditto employed in the Iceland 1
white fifhery previous to certain fait [ 200 o
regulations -
VefTels employed from Harwich in the •)
white filhery upon the Dogger and [70 60
other banks in the channel, in 1778 J
Bufles fitted out from the Thames, &c.
for the Shetland white herring fifhery,
when the bounty was 505. per ton, about
the year 1760
Bufles fitted out from the weft coaft of
Scotland for the Hebride herring fifh-
4o
294 1 53
ery in 1776*
For the Shetland ditto in 1776 o o
. -- White fifhery - o o
Hebride white fifhery - - o I
Such is the declining Mate of the Britifh fifheries,
while, to the furprize of many perfons, a writer of
confiderable reputation and abilities labours to anni-
hilate that mode which government, afcer the expe-
rience of ages, difcovered to be beft calculated for
the fupport of the ftate, and the increafe of commerce.
Doctor Smith, fpeaking of the herring-bufs fifh-
ery, thus exprefies himfelf ; — " It has, 1 am afraid,
* From Greenoclc, in or before 1776 138 40
From Port Glafgow in 1776 - 30 1 1
From Dunbarton in 1776 - 40
From Saltcoats in 1776 12 5
From Irwin in 1776 - 50
From Campbeltown in 1772 94 39
From Oban and its neighbourhood, including "1
thelflcs, in 1776 J H
362 DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY.
We
building
been too common for veflels to fit out for the folc
purpofe of catching, not the fifh, but the bounty."
find the expence of a velTel of 60 tons, in
and fitting out for the fifhery, amounts
to — £. 957 o o
The bounty on that Cze is gol. ex-
clufive of 2S. 8d. per barrel, on
herrings exported, oo o o
£. 867 o o
Can it be fuppofed, that any man in his fenfes
would expend, in the firil inflance, nearly loool.
upon periihable articles, on the view of recovering,
during the enfuing year, a fum barely fufficient to
defray cuftom-houfe and other incidental expences
attending the fifhery.
The expence of fitting out, every
fubfequent year, exclufive of the
large fum originally funk in
building the vefTel and boats, is, £.313 o o
The return per bounty*. — * . 90 o o
f 223 O 6
Were further arguments necefiary on this head,
we might appeal to the total failure of the eafl coun-
try, and the declining ftate of the weft country bufs
filneries. The Royal Britifh Company had at one
time in employ, 40 bufTes, on a capital of 120,000!.
a&ually paid, and a bounty of 505. per ton, befides
other privileges already enumerated ; yet they found
their capital gradually finking, and, in a fhort time,
wxre obliged to fell their veflels and materials, with
a lofs of 92-2- per cent.
If an able body of merchants, gentlemen of land-
ed eftate, and other perfons of real property, aided
alfo by 505. per ton from government, were obliged
to diflblve,with the lofsof almoft their whole capital,
in the fpace of a few years, is it to be fuppofed that
/
* Soon after the firft publication of this book, a filly para-
graph appeared in the news-papers, fignifying, That the adventu-
rers, at convenient feafons, threw the herrings overboard, being fuf-
ficiently reimburfed, "and rewarded by the magnitude of the ton-
nage bounties.
•
DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY. 363
gerfons, in a fubordinate line, can get fuch wealth
by the bufmefs, as to fifti, not for the herrings, but
for a diminifhed bounty of 305. and under the va-
rious reftraints before mentioned ?
In fpeaking of companies, great allowances are to
be made on account of frauds, neglects, &c. but,
while this company exifted, there were alfp indivi-
dual adventurers on the eait coaft, who enjoyed the
fame bounties and privileges. If the bounty now at
305. be very advantageous, how happens it, that
only 3 veflels annually have been fitted out of late
between the Thames and the Shetland Iflands on the
bounty ? Men generally purfue fuch branches as
are found in the experiment to be profitable. If the
money received from government, and by the fale of
fifh, was fufHcient, after reimburfing the expence, to
afford even a moderate profit, the whole eaft country
of Scotland would be lined with decked veflels for
the bufs filhery.
The doctor is equally unfortunate in the follow-
ing propofitions : " When the undertakers of fifhe-
ries, after fuch liberal bounties have been beftowed
upon them, continued to fell their commodity at the
fame, or even at a higher price, than they were ac-
cuftomed to do before, it might be expeded that
their profits fhouid be very great ; and it is not im-
probable that fome of thole individuals may have
been fo. In general, however, I have every reafon
to believe they have been quite otherwife. The
ufual effect of fuch bounties is to encourage rafh un-
dertakers to adventure in a bufinefs which they do
not underftand ; and what they lofe by their own
negligence and ignorance, more than compenfates
all that they can gain by the utmoft liberality of go-
vernment."
Is the dodlor to be informed, that, previous to
the asra of the bounties, the fifheries of the Clyde,
Lochfine, and the Weft Highlands were more certain
and plentiful, particularly in the Clyde, confequendy
the people were at lefs expence, and had lefs
trouble in fearching from place to place after the
364 DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY.
fhoals. The expence of the bufs fifhery is alfo con-
fiderably augmented by parliamentary regulations,
which obliges them to employ more men than are
really neceflary for the filhery in the prefent prac-
tice of curing 3 and it is partly on this account that
the bounty is given.
The prices of all kinds of materials, provifions,
wages, and whatever is connected with the fifheries,
are alfo raifed very confiderably; fome of them, as
herring barrels, above 100 percent, within thefe laft
40 years.
The vexatious, and expenfive journies and fees in
confequence of the fait laws -, the enormous fees de-
manded at the cuftom-houfes upon all occafions ; the
delay and expence in the rendezvoufes ; the obliging
veflels to fifh their own cargoes, and to, remain three
months upon the voyages; and other circumftances
unknown in former times : — Thefe combined, we
lhall find the bounties to be in effect little more than
a name, placing the adventurers of the prefent day,
with a bounty , in much the fame ilate as their prede-
cefibrs without that general aid*. Some of thofe par-
ticulars, as the cuftom-houfe fees, either did not occur
to the doctor, or they were kept purpofely out of the
way, as is the cafe fometimes with evidence in lawfuits.
. The fecond pofition : cc That the ufual effed of
fuch bounties is to encourage rafh undertakers to ad-
venture in a bufmefs which they do not underftand,
and what they lofe by their own negligence and ig-
norance, more than compen fates all that they can
gain by the utmofl liberality of government." This
is a fevere infmuation againft a body of people, the
leaft pofiibly deferving of it within thefe kingdoms.
Had I never feen Scotland, or that part of it where,
the adventurers refide, I fhould moft probably have
given implicit belief to whatever came from the pen
of doctor Smith ; I fhould have imagined thefe wefl
country merchants and fifhers were a fet of defperate
* The bounty was formerly given, not on the fifh taken, but on,
the fiih exporte'd. .
DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY. 365
rafli adventurers j ignorant, negligent, and fo ex-
tremely foolilh, that what they got with one hand,
they threw away indifcriminately with the other.
And that there muft furely be fomething more than
ordinary abfurdity in fupporting that branch, and
thofe people. Happening, however, to be fully ac-
quainted with the whole progrefs of thefe fifheries, the
caufes of their decline, and the difficulties under which
they have laboured ; being alfo perfonally acquaint-
ed with many individuals in that line, intelligent, in-
defatigable, poflefled of much experimental know-
ledge, and anxious for the honour, the defence, and
the fafety of their country, I cannot, in juftice to
thefe ufeful members of fociety, admit that the doc-
tor's inlinuations, in whole or in part, have the final-
led foundation in truth.
The adventurers in the herring branch at Greenock
and Port-Glafgow, are engaged more or lefs in mer-
cantile affairs, at home or abroad ; and fome of them
are perfons of confiderable capital. The inhabitants of
Rothfay in the ifle of Bute, have been in the fifhing
bufmefs for ages pad. They are more fuccefsful at
prefent than other towns on that coaft, and the rea-
ibn they give is worthy of being recorded. " There
are," fay they, " no fmugglers amongfl us, no idlers,
and fcarcely any beggars. Every man is employed,
and that employ is chiefly in the fifheries, the ancient
ftaple of Rothfay."
The inhabitants of Campbeltown are thus defcrib-
cd, by a late writer, who vifited that place in his paf-
fage to the Hebrides, at a period when the fifheries
were feemingly flourifhing, and the traders in ap-
parent good circumftances.
<c The town of Campbeltown has increafed confi-
derably fince the commencement of the bounty on
the herring Milling. The tonnage of their (hipping
is now ten to one what it was a few years ago j con-
icquently the number of failors, carpenters, coopers,
and,
266 DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY.
and, in fhort, all ranks of people, have multiplied in
the fame proportion. Trade, commerce, and ma-
nufa&ures ; induilry, humanity, friendlhip and be-
nevolence, dwell and flourifh among the inhabitants
of this town and neighbourhood; who, from the
profits of the fifheries, procure all the conveniencies,
and enjoy all the comforts that can be wanted, or
fhould be wiihed for in this tranfitory life. Such
are the good effects arifing from the fifheries in this
part ; and fuch will continue to be the happy confe-
quences wherever they are eftablifhed, if the bounty
were continued under certain regulations, and due
attention paid to this favourite child, who, though
now out of leading-firings, flill requires fome fetter-
ing care to bring him to a ftate of maturity : then
will Britannia be the umpire of the fea, and be ren-
dered the firfl commercial and moft powerful nation
in Europe."
cc Campbeltown," (fays Mr. Pennant in his tour
1 772)> <c ls now a ver7 confiderable place. It was
created by the filhing; 260 vefTels have been feen in
the harbour at once •, but their number declines fince
the ill payment of the bounty."
Doftor Smith makes an eftimate of the quantity,
of fait ufed upon the herrings cured by the weft
country bufles, during a period of 1 1 years ; and cal-
culates the amount of duty which government re-
mits upon every barrel of herrings cured or exported
duty-free. This he confiders as a lofs to govern-
ment. But would not government have fuflained an
equal lofs had there been no bufs filriing, and confe-
quently no fait ufed ?
We now come to the grand argument, whereon^
the doctor chiefly grounds his objeftions to a bufs
fifhery, viz. the fmall quantity of herrings taken fince
the commencement of the bounty, which, he fays, hath
not been adequate to the expence of government.
There is fomething harfh in this kind of reafoning;
and it comes with a very bad grace from a commif-
fioner
DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY. 367
fioner of the cuftoms, as will occur to any reader
who hath perufed the foregoing fheets. Who pre-
vented the bufies from clearing out at an early pe-*
riod, by which the fummer fifhery was entirely lo(t ?
Who prevented the adventurers from going to Ire-
land and the I He of Man, where the herrings were
plenty, tho' the Hebride filhery had failed ?
To lay an embargo, as it were, upon the veflcls,
and afterwards to fpeak of the want of fuccefs, as an
argument for withdrawing the parliamentary aid, and
abolifhing the bufs eftabliftiment, does the doctor
no great honour. Confidering thefe circumftances, and
the various impediments formerly enumerated, it is
a matter of furprize that fo many herrings were taken,
and that the bufmefs hath not been totally aban-
doned.
Befides, the quantity of fifh was not the principal
motive that induced government to adopt this mode
of extending the fifheries. The great object of the
bounties was the training a hardy race of fearnen, and
that is effected whether the fifhery be fuccefsftil or
otherwife, proportioned to the number of veflels fit-
ted out. Were fome hundred vefiels to fail from
Clyde to Loch-Broom, and from Loch-Broom to the
Clyde, without throwing a net, the main view of go-
vernment would be gained ; and itill more effectual-
ly, if the bulTes had been permitted to make two
voyages every year, inftead of keeping them idle in
harbours till the firft of Auguft or October.
The doctor is rather filent on this head in his
writings; but I have been well informed that he la-
bours, in converfation, to depreciate the importance
of the bufs fifhery, confidered as a nurfery of feamen.
Though it hath already been my endeavour to (late
that matter in a true light, to the conviftion of evety
reader who will allow himiclf the free excrciie of his
reaibn, I ihall take my leave of the doctor and his
logical powers, by dating a few inftances, which,
were
DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY.
were it neceflary, could be corroborated by the navy-
books, wherein the names, places of birth, and other
particulars refpecYmg Teamen, are entered.
About two thirds of the feamen, who fail in the
mercantile fervice from Clyde, have been trained to
that bufmefs by the herring bufies, befides numbers
of Highland feamen, who navigate the fhipping of
London, Liverpool, Briftol, and other ports of thefc
kingdoms.
Immediately before the year 1750, the number of
inhabitants in and about Campbeltown did not ex-
ceed 3000 or 4000 ; at prefent they exceed 7000.
In 17^0, the decked vefTels belonging to Campbel-
town were 4, and thefe of fmall fize; the number of
men 30 or 40. In 1777, the number of bufies be-
longing to that port amounted to 62, manned with
750 hardy, and, for the moft part, experienced failors.
During the lafb war nearly 1000 men, who had
been trained in the bufs fifhery belonging to Camp-
beltown, ferved on board the royal navy, and thus
compofed a confiderable portion of that invincible
body, who maintained the unequal combat in every
quarter of the world •> protected the centre of em-
pire from invafion, and both the Indies from falling
into new hands. From this circumflance relative to
Campbeltown, we may form a conjecture refpectiug
the quota furnifhed by the weftern bufs fifhery in ge-
neral. The number of veflels fitted out in 1776
was 294 ; but, as fome of thefe veflels made double
voyages within the year, we (hall flate the individual
veiTels actually exifting, at 250 ; if therefore Camp-
beltown fupplied the navy with nearly 1000 men
from a bufs fleet of 62 vefiels, the fupply from the
whole fifhery may be eftimated from 3500 to 4000
men.
It is well known that the naval captains are parti-
cularly fond of the blue bonnets^ viz. Highland
failors
DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY. 369
failors, for the mod part, on account of their hardi-
nefs, temperance, and fober manners. Above 100
of thefe blue bonnets have been counted on board a
fhip of the line at one time.
Neither hath doctor Smith in his publication, foun J
it expedient to mention the employment given to
various clafles of people by means of the bufs ft/he-
ry, and the comfortable fubfidence which the poor
acquire by their induftry in thefe branches. No lefs
than 8ool. per annum was paid to boys and girls in
and about Campbeltown, for dreffing hemp, fpinning
twine, and knitting and making the nets for the ufc
of the bufies there. But the mod ufeful body of
men, next to the feamen, are the fhip carpenters, and
coopers, of whom this branch raifed a confiderable
number.
Refpecting all thefe degrees of people, and the
ruin of the owners of the bufles, was that branch to
be abandoned, the doctor exprefies no fympathizing
feelings ; no fenfations for what they have already
fuffered, and what they muft again fufFer, were go-
vernment difpofed to withhold their aid, by which
the remaining property would fink to half its value,
by which hundreds of families would be driven to
Ireland ; and the rifing ports of Campbeltown, Stran-
rawer, &c. reduced to their former (late of indigence,
or the idle pernicious habits of fmuggling.
There hath long exided a jealoufy between the in-
habitants of the eaft fide of Scotland and thole of the
wed; a proof that the amor patri* doth not flourifti
at prefent in the Scottifh foil. The people in the
eaft country have not found the bufs fifhery worthy
their attention, or adequate to the great cxpcnce in
fitting out. They therefore wilh to encourage a
boat fifhery upon their fhores, which, to edablifh,
requires fome parliamentary aid ; and this aid, they
imagine, cannot be obtained during the exiftcnce of
the bounties to the weftcrn bufs filhcry. From this
A A fourcc
37o DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY.
fource may be traced, in a great meafure, the oppofi-
tion given to the latter fifhery, by various individuals,
\vhofe writings do not in all cafes merit the confi-
dence of the public, much lefs ought the Reprefen-
tatives of the public be guided by them. Why fhould
government be advifed to abandon that mode of
fifhing which anfwers moft effectually the purpofes
of the (late ; which is bed adapted to the nature of
the country, the genius and habits of the people ; em-
ploys the young and old of both fexes -, furniihes a
confiderable article of exports -, gives freights to
Shipping, &c. in order that others may be enabled
to follow a method of greater conveniency to them-
felves only ? The liberal principles fo prevalent
of late in the fouth, have not, it would feem, got
fo far as the Tweed; and it appears fomewhat ex-
traordinary, that men of jfhining abilities, whofe
writings manifefr., at lead, the theory of moral fen-
timents, fhould imbibe the local narrow prejudices
of a frilling town.
Having Hated the origin of the prefent conteft be-
tween the two oppofite fides of the kingdom, as pro-
ceeding from the clamours of fundry perfons engag-
edi or who wifh to be engaged in the eaft country
filhery, I am forry to find reafon for fufpecYmg, that
the fame fpirit operates more or lefs amongft fome
perfons of that line in the weft.
It hath been cbferved, that the bounty-laws, by
retraining vefFels from purchafing herrings from the
Highland boats as heretofore, proved the ruin of the
boat fifhery, which was merely limited to their own
petty home faie ; and, upon confidering that this
reflraint alfo ftruck at the root of improvements in
the Highlands, an object which I have ever had in
view, equally with the extenfion of the fifheries, I
refolved to ftate that matter to the public, and, at
the fame time, advert to the injury of the fifheries in
general by that reftricting claufe. This refolution
having gone abroad, and that I had recommended
to the committee of the houfe of commons a repeal
* 4 of
DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY. 37 1
of that law, I received a letter from one of the prin-
cipal adventurers in the weft country bufs fifhery,
containing fundry arguments againft any altera-
tion of the law on that particular claufe. " Upon
the whole," fays he, <f all here (meaning the town
where he refides) are determined never to fit out a
bufs on fuch a footing."
I thought it necefTary to communicate this intelli-
gence immediately to the chairman of the commit-
tee, as a fubjed worthy their ferious deliberation;
though, in my own opinion, I remain unalterably de-
cided on that head. The herrings frequent the
ihores of the Highlands ; ftrangers go there from
England, Scotland, and Ireland, to take them ; fome
of thefe ftrangers, in order to fave the petty expence
in purchafing herrings from the natives, had intereft
to procure a law whereby the bufies were prohibited
from purchafing; and, inftead thereof, that their own
people fhould be tied down during 3 months to the
drudgery of fifhing their own cargoes ; a reftraint
lefs adapted to an imaginary faving, than to the mif-
taken views of individuals in another refpcdt : cruel
towards the natives, whom it deprives of their natu-
ral right; repugnant to the intention of Providence ;
to the fpirit of the Englifh conftitution; to the ge-
neral benefit of the community ; and one great fource
of emigration amongft a helpleis people, who feem
to have had few friends to reprefent their grievances,
and defend their rights.
But, notwithftanding the narrow fpirit fo preva-
lent in human nature, there are many perfons con-
cerned in the filheries on both fides of Scotland, who
heartily coincide in every liberal propofition refpcdt.-
ing the extenfion of that branch ; whole wifhes are,
not to exclude others, but to partake with them, in
the wealth which the fea affords around the whole
ifland.
A 2 Review
GENERAL REVIEW
Review of the Markets for Herrings, with f owe Propo~
fats, whereby the Sale may be extended. — Eftimates of
the Sale of Fijh in general, and the Number of People
that may be employed in that Branch, providing Go-
vernment jhall afford a liberal Aid.
H E opening new Markets, and extending old
ones, are objects of very ferious national con-
cern, and in which the aid of the irate is efTentially
necefiary. Refpecting all the varieties of white fifh,
fiat fifh, falmon, and thofe of the whale kind, the
markets are boundlefs. Great Britain alone, were
all fifh taken by foreigners prohibited, would exhauft
the cargoes of many hundred vefTels in the white and
fiat fifheries. All the rivers in the Ifland cannot
fiipply the demands of London in falmon ; which,
of late, hath rifen to a price beyond the abilities of
the labouring people to purchafe.
For oil, and other produce of the whale kind, the
falc at home is continually encreafing.
The market for herrings, and that only, requires
particular attention.
From the period when the herrings forfook the
Swedifh and German fhores, till the year 1754, or
thereabouts, when they returned to the continent,
Great Britain had an opportunity of being enriched
by the monopoly of the fifhery upon her fhores. We
have feen by what means this fifhery was loft to both
kingdoms. Their civil and religiou-s commotions,
their fchemes of colonization, and their continental
'wars, engrofTed the attention of government and in-
dividuals 5 while the Dutch fupplied Europe in this
great article, almoft without a rival.
The fcenc is now greatly changed; fince 1754, the
herrings have been on the Swedifh coaft in fuch
quantities, that nearly 200,000 barrels are fuppofed
to be exported annually, at half the price which we
can afford to take. Ireland neglected her fifhery
till
OF THE FISHERIES. 373
.till about the year 1763, when (he began to try the
experiment, and with fuch fuccefs, that, inftead of a
cuftomer, fhe hath become a formidable rival to (
Britain at the Weft India market, and even in Eng-
land. France alfo, though the herrings on
coaft are of the worft kind, hath, within t
years, attempted to fupply her Weft India colonies,
partly from her own fhores, and partly by I
fitted out for the coaft of Scotland.
Thefc three nations have alfo becrim the trade of
drying herrings for the Italian and other markets in
the fouthern parts of Europe. Amongft all thefc
competitors for trade, Scotland enjoys a luperior ad-
vantage, from the early arrival of the herrings and
their long continuance upon her coafts. The Swc-
dilh fifhery on their own coaft begins in October,
and continues fix weeks. The French fifhery is near-
ly about the fame period. The Dutch, and other fo-
reigners who frequent the Scottifh fhores, generally
quit that fifhery at the commencement of the winter,
on account of the inclemencies of the feafon, when ic
cannot be carried on to advantage in the open feas,
without the aid of adjacent fhores or ports. In Ire-
land, the herrings begin to appear in fomc lochs to-
wards the end of June, if the wind be favourable;
.but the great fifhery feldom commences before No-
vember, and fometimes, as in 1/84, not before De-
cember. Upon an average, the Irifh fifhery for ex-
portation does not laft above fix weeks or two
months, every year.
Let us now examine the fifheries on the Scottifh
coaft, fuppofing them carried on to the fullcft extent
by the natives. The herrings that furround Great
Britain are compofed, firft, of ftationary or native
herrings, fpawned in the Britifh fcas, and found upon
the coaft at all feafons of the year. Of thefc hcr-
rin»s a few are taken off the coaft of Norfolk and
Suffolk, during the fpring, for the London markets ;
and, of late years, the Scottifh caft country boats
A A 3 have
374 GENERAL REVIEW
have attempted an April fifhery; the herrings then
taken are immediately cured and lent to London for
the Weft India market; but no fifhery at this feafon
hath been attempted upon the coafts of Shetland or
the Hebrides, though the herrings are alfo found in
thefe feas through the whole year.*
Secondly, the great fhoals of emigrants or ftran-
gers from the north feas, as reinforcements to the for-
mer ; but whether thefe two divifions of herrings, the
natives and the ftrangers, unite or blend together, is
a matter of mere {peculation. We only know for a
certainty, that the great northern fhoals begin to ap-
pear off the Shetland iflands in May, and that on the
24th of June, they are found in fuch numbers as to
give full employment to hundreds of vefTels, and
thoufands of people, day and night. We alfo know,
that the great body of the herrings remain on the
Scottifh coaft, though not on every part of it, till the
1 2th of January or later; coniequently that nation,
from its northern fituation, and the natural progrefs of
the herrings, enjoys, or may enjoy, a great fifhery one
half of the year, befides a partial fifhery of native
herrings during part of the other half. It is this
happy fituation that gives Scotland a great advantage
in the duration of their fifhery ; and as there is reafon
to hope that the Britifh fifhery-laws will be no longer
difgraced by a. reftrictionj which tied up the hands
of
* That thefe herrings are nntives of this iflanel appears evident
from the following important difcovery, which was communicated
to me by an intelligent perfon from the Hebrides, viz. That at a
certain feafon, when the people of St. Kilda defcend the rocks in
queft of young folan geete and other fowl, they generally find the
nefts well flocked with young herrings, which are daily fifhed by
the mothers, and laid in as food to their young brood. When the
fcirds come from the eggs, the herrings are then two inches long ;
and when the former are ready to fly and {hift for themfelves, the
herrings are nearly in full fize. Thus {hey keep time, as it were,
in their advances towards maturity. The number of young her-
rings procured for this purpofe, by the old birds, exceed all credit
OF THE FISHERIES. 375
of the inhabitants, while foreigners were carrying
away the fine rich herrings with which they fupplied
Europe ; we humbly recommend a vigorous early
bufs filhery upon the coafts of Shetland ; from thence
ibuthward on both the fides of the ifland, without
ceafing, while the boats Ihould be conftantly employ-
ed on the fhores and lakes for home fale, as well as
the fupply of the builes or merchants.
As the herrings gradually fall off in richnefs and
flavour foon after their arrival at the Shetland iflands,
I have been at fome pains to difcover whether we
might not commence the Shetland fifhery with fuc-
cefs before the 24th of June •, but no perfon with
whom I have converted on the fubjedt, could give a
fatisfa&ory anfwer on that head ; neither could they
account for the Dutch regulation, which prohibits
their fifhing till that day.
As this point is of very confiderable importance,
it is fubmitted to confideration, whether it would not
be proper to have a veficl at Brafia Sound on the
firflof June, equipped in all refpe&s after the Dutch
method, having alfo a fufficient quantity of refined
fait, iuch as is ufed by that people. From Brafia
Sound fhe might fail on the evening of June i,
in queft of the herrings, taking care to keep a mi-
nute journal of all die appearances that occurred,
and circumftances that happened in the cruize, and
ftrictly to obferve the Dutch method of curing and
packing. By this experiment we might discover
whether that fiihery admits of an earlier commence-
ment ; for if only one week could be gained in this
valuable feafon, very efifcntial advantages would re-
fult therefrom to the ftate and to individuals. It
would enable us to open new markets in the north-
ern parts of Europe, for which thefe rich, early her-
rings are only proper, and where they would bring a
high price.
This may be called the firft ftage of the fifhery,
and continues, as we perceive by the Dutch laws,
A A 4 till
376 GENERAL REVIEW
till the 1 5th of July, which commences the fecond
period, or harveft fifhery that remains till October.
During this period the herrings pafs gradually down
both fides of the kingdom ; and it is during this fea-
fon only, that a floating bufs fifhery could be carried
on with fuccefs and fafety among the Hebrides.
The herrings having now loft much of their fatnefs,
rnay be cured for the Weft India, as well as the Eu-
ropean markets. This is alfo the feafon for reddening
herrings, and may be confidered as the beft feafon
for a general fifhery over the whole kingdom. This
is therefore the period which the Scots fhould im-
prove with the utmoft exertion, being then in pof-
fefiion, not only of an exclufive fifhery, but alfo
of exclufive markets, the Dutch excepted.
The winter fifhery, which continues from October
to the 1 2th of January, furnifties herrings of a large
fize, on the weft coaft of Scotland, Ireland, the Ifl?
of Man, and the coaft of Sweden. Thofe taken
about this feafon at Yarmouth, Biddeford, and the
coaft of France, are of a fmaller fize, and the fifheries
are lefs confiderable.
The great winter fifheries, and the rivalfhip in
thofc ftilieries, lie between the Irifh, Swedes, and
Scots. I have already obferved the natural advan-
tages which the two former have over the latter in
taking the herrings at this feafon.
The Swedes and Irifh take them at their doors ;
the firft with bafkets, the laft with open boats ; while
the Scots, after fearching from place to place, upon
a coaft of 250 miles, in the boifterous ocean, fre-
quently return with their fait and cafks unoccupied.
By means, however, of great perfeverance, they
generally pick up many half cargoes for the Weft
India market; and the reftraints laid upon their
fifhery on the Scottifh and the Irifla coafts, being
now in a fair way of redrefs, this winter fifhery pre'-
fents an extenfive field for their induftry.
Thus we perceive three fifheries — the fummer,
the autumnal, and the winter, haying each their e?
OF THE FISHERIES.
culiar charadleriftic, and for which the inhabitants
fhould'be fuitably accommodated and qualified.
By a ftricl adherence to the regulations proper for
each refpe&ive branch on the part of the adven-
turers, and a fuitable aid on the part of govern-
ment, thefe three fifheries cannot fail of fuccefs ; and
this leads to an inquiry into the prefent (late of the
markets, and how far they may be extended.
Formerly the principal markets for Scottifh herrings
were France, Sweden, Ireland, and the Well Indies.
Of all thefe, a part of the Weft India market only
remains for the Britifh exports of white herrings.
The French now fupply themfeives chiefly by-
means of herrings taken on their own, and the Scot-
tifli coafts.
The Swedes, befides home fupply, have an over-
plus of near 200,000 barrels annually for the Euro-
pean markets and the Weft Indies. From the con-
nection between France and Sweden, it is probable
that the herrings from the latter kingdom have a
preference in the French colonies to all other
nations. *
Ireland, befides fupplying her own confumption,
which is very great, hath allb become a rival at thr
Weft India markets, as appears from the preceding
ftatements of her imports and export, upon averages
of four years, ending in 1767 and 1783.
The want of fale was one of the principal caufes
of the failure of the Britifh white herring company,
eftablilhed in 1750, by men of unlimited property,
aided by a bounty of fifty fhillings per ton, and
without the rivalfhip of Ireland.
May it not therefore be fuggefted, that while the
wifdom of parliament is engaged in framing laws and
regulations for the extenfion of the Britilh filheries,
it is no lefs worthy their deliberation to confider of
markets for the difpofal of the fifh? The honv
* The ifland of Bartholomew lately ceded to Sweden by France,
and mad.ea free port, will greatly facilitate the laic of Dutch and
£wediih Herrings,
373 GENERAL REVIEW
of herrings in Scotland is cramped by a duty of
one fhilling per barrel, which, confidcring the increafe
of taxes, and the rife in the neceffaries of life in that
country*, it would be politic arid humane to
abolifh.
Though this tax amounts to a twentieth part of
the value of pickled herrings confumed in that coun-
try, and confequently a burden on the lower ranks
of life, it is unproductive, as an article of revenue.
It was originally impofed by the Scottifh parlia-
ment, in lieu of the duty on fait ufed in curing. A
burden of much greater magnitude is laid upon
herrings fent to England, viz. 35. 4d. per barrel,
which, with the carriage from Greehock to the ca-
nal, the carriage and tonnage duties in pafling that
water, the refhipping at the Forth, the carriage from
thence to London, the fees and port expences in the
river, enhances the price of herrings to the London
retailer to 30 (hillings per barrel ; in lefs plentiful
years, as at prefent, to 36 fhillings; and to the con-
fumers about 3!. upon an average of years f. The
arguments refpe£ting the labouring people in Scot-
land are applicable to thofe of the fame clafs in
London, where, though wages are higher, the peo-
ple are not always employed. Surely the additional
-k
* Bread and butchers meat in Glafgow, Paifley, Greenock, and
other trading towns of Scotland, are as high as in London. Tea
and fugar are higher than in London. Herrings and potatoes are
therefore the general food of the manufacturers, of theinduftrious,
and the aged poor. When thefe articles fail, fcarcity and famine
Approach.
f The wljite and red herrings retailed in London at prefent, and
for. fome years paft, are chiefly Irifh herrings, fold under the name
oflfle of Man herrings. They are the large winter fifh, of which
500 fills a barrel, and retailed at three halfpence each. The re-
tailers fay that herrings of a middle fize are more generally
called for, as they fuit the pockets of their cuftomers better, be-
ing fold at a penny. When pickled herrings are foaked two or
three days in water, and hung by the tail, about the fame time,
to dry, at a moderate diftance from the fire, or in the fun, they
eat extremely well with potatoes*
expense
OF THE FISHERIES.
379
^xpence of freight and port expences, are a fufficient
tax on this clafs of people, amongft whom there is
much diftrefs and mifery.
As this duty alfo, was impofed on account of the
fait, it follows, that if the latter be abolifhed, the
former fhould ceafe. By this means two purpofcs
extremely effential to a trading nation will be gain-
ed ; the fiftieries will be increafed, and the labouring
people fupplied with cheap food, taken upon our
own coaft, and by our own people.
But the home fale is comparatively trifling to the
channels that may be opened with foreign ftates, by
including fifh as an article of Britifh exports, in all
commercial treaties and arrangements with thofc
powers, particularly France, Spain, Portugal, Italy,
Germany, Poland, and Ruflla.
Upon the fuppofition that government ihall take
thefe matters into ferious confideration, affording
every aid to the taking, and the fale of herrings ; and
that the adventurers ftrictly obferve the regulations
which experience hath pointed out as abfolutely ne-
ceflary in the various departments of that branch,
the herrings exported from Scotland to foreign parts,
will probably amount to
Barrels. Value.
300,000 JT. 300,000
And the white fifti dried or
wet, equal to **• 100,000 200,000
£. 400,000 500,000
Men&Boyt.
Which, including the fifhing for home
fale, will employ 300 bufles from 20 to
1 20 tons, fitted out from the eaft coun-
try, between Shetland and Berwick, na-
vigated upon an average by 14 men
each — — 4100
3000 large
380 GENERAL REVIEW >
Men & Boy v
3000 large, flout boats, each carrying 5 men
and a boy — — 18,000
500 bufTes from 20 to 120 tons, fitted out
from the Solway Firth, the Clyde, Loch
Fine, the weft Highlands, and Hebride
ifles, for the floating and Loch fifheries
between Iceland and the Ifle of Man,
navigated upon an average by 14 men
each
4000 large, ftout boats, fitted out from the •*
before-mentioned places, particularly the I
Lochs of the Highlands, each carrying \
5 men and a boy
7000
Men and boys in the Scottilh fifheries 53,200
Befides quick-failing cutters and wherries employed
in running to market with herrings and white fifh ;
alfo various veffels built on particular conftrudtions,
for particular purpofes, not regiftered or compre-
hended within the bounty laws, and which may be
termed irregulars.
Of the Engiifh fifheries upon the coafts of that
kingdom, and alfo by Englishmen on the, coafts of
Scotland, Ireland, and the Ifle of Man, I cannot
fpeak with fuch preciflon j but as the parliamentary
aids relative to bounties and markets will operate
.equally in both kingdoms, it rnay be fuppofed that
. the Engiifh fifheries will increafe in a very confider-
able degree, particularly the white fifhery in the
North Seas, which is at prefent given up.
Without entering into particular ftatements of
the Engiifh fifheries, we may eftimate the value of
exports as equal to one half of the Scottilh fale;
confequently the general amount will ftand thus :
Exports from Scotland « — 500,000
g.-. England 250^000
Total Amount of exports from Great
Britain ~- — - £. 750,000
But
OF THE FISHERIES.
But if the exports of fifh from England "
fhall be lefs than thofe from Scotland,
her home confumption will be propor-
tionably greater, or more fo ; and if, to
the before-mentioned fpecies of fifh,
we add falmon, haddocks, whitings, ' 1>°oo,oc
turbot, and all the varieties of flat and
fhell-fifh, the value of the home con-
fumption in Great Britain will proba-
bly exceed
To which is to be added the value of
oil extracted from white fifh, herrings,
feals, grampufes, &c. alfo the fkins of
feals, ifmglais, and other marine pro-
duce upon our fhores, which at a low
calculation will amount to
Total amount of wealth £. 2,000,000
• that may be drawn from the Britifh feas annually,
which, befides Supplying the inhabitants in above
twenty different kinds of fifh, will bring into the
nation, in fpecie and goods, to the value of 750,000!.
-We have ftated the number of men, which
the Scottifh fifheries carried on by the
natives of that kingdom may employ, at 53*200
Allowing for England — 42,000
250,000
And that the carrying trade of fifh from
both kingdoms to foreign markets, will
employ — — — 4800
Men and boys in the fifheries of Great
Britain — — 100,000
A nurfery of feamen which no branch of naviga-
tion in thefe kingdoms, or in any foreign kingdom,
can equal ; befides giving employment to above
half a million of people of both fcxes, and of afl
ages. Were we to extend our cftimatcs flill further,
through
GENERAL REVIEW
through all the branches of trade, commerce, and
manufactures, and to all the claffes of men by whom
thofe branches are carried on, who are more or lefs
affeded by extenfive regular fifheries, fuch inquiries
"would lead to a field of endlefs calculation, and
boundlefs advantages to the community.
Let us,forinftance, fuppofe, that 100,000 feamen
were fully employed in fifheries, whofe annual pro-
duce, after deducting the value of fait and cafks, re-
alized a clear profit of 1,500,000!.; fuch accumu-
lating wealth would place many thoufand indivi-
duals in comfortable circumftances, and enrich
others; confequently the benefits of the fifheries
would extend to the population and increafe of vil-
lages, towns, and even the capitals of the two unit-
ed kingdoms, thereby augmenting the national pro-
perty, the revenues of the ilate, and of corporations ;
giving bufinefs and employment to the brickmaker,
the iron and timber merchants, dealers in oil and
colours, paper-makers and ftainers, bricklayers,
maibns, carpenters, painters, glaziers, blackfmiths,
labourers, &c. From thefe we might proceed to
the numerous claffes engaged in the various kinds of
houfehold furniture, confiflingof manufactured ma-
hogany, filver, fteel, iron, copper, tin, china, glafs ;
of filks, cottons, linens, prints, and other arti-
cles, well known to every reputable houfe-keeper.
From the expenditures on furniture, we might
proceed to the articles of elegant drefs manu-
factured at home; the confumption of provifions,
malt liquors, and cyder, the produce of thefe king-
doms ; of fugar, rum, and other articles, from our
Weft India iilands ; of wines, brandy, and fruits,
had in exchange for our fifh. Placing thefe, and a
thoufand other particulars, to the credit of the fifhe-
ries, and taking alfo into the account, that, by the
national exertion, towards which the fifheries, even
in their diftreffed ftate, contributed very confidera-
bly, we broke the ilrength of the moft formidable
confederacy
OF THE FISHERIES. 383
confederacy known in Europe ; that great branch,
the donation of Heaven to this much favoured ifland,
muft rife in the eftimation of every man who hath
the profperity and fafety of his country at heart. It
claims the approbation, and merits the fupportof
every individual in thefe kingdoms, whether the con-
ftituent or the reprefentative. We have feen the ex-
ertions of former ages in favour of the fifheries; the
contributions made at church doors for carrying them
on with vigour ; the exclufive privileges, and exemp-
tions from cuftom-houfe duties, upon imports and
exports of whatever related to the fifheries ; the laws
obliging houfekeepers of certain defcriptions to ufe a
barrel of herrings annually at 305. per barrel, being
equal to 405. or 505. at the prefent time; the poli-
tical rigours, of keeping lent ; thefe, and other cir-
cumftances which could be enumerated, fhow the
importance of the fifheries to our anceftors ; and the
wifdom of thofe ages in the great, though ineffe&ual
attempts to carry them to their utmoft extent. If
fuch exertions engaged the attention of the court,
the fenate, and the nation, when they had only France
to contend with, when provifions were cheap and
plentiful, when manufacturers bore a very fmall pro-
portion to the community at large, — how much more fo
ought the prefent age to ufe every effort, not only to-
wards tlxe reftoration of the fifheries in all their varieties ;
but eftablifh that bufmefs-upon a wider fcale, there-
by increafing the number of feamen, and the quan-
tity of cheap food, proportionablyto the accumulated
collective ftrength of hofUle powers abroad ; to the
great increafe of manufacturers, the rife of provifions,
and the heavy burden of taxes at home. The empire
is alfo difmembered, and many provinces are loll ;
our pofleflion of thofe that remain is, and ever will be
precarious ; but fuppofing the worfl event to happen,
there flill remains an empire which no human power
can abridge or detach. It is the boundlefs, and
greatly neglected feas, by which we are environed,
which
GENERAL REVIEW
which pour treafures into every river, bay, and lake,
in continual fucceflion, and in immenfe bodies, on
whofe numbers the petty captures of man can
fcarcely make any imprefiion.
To avail ourfelves completely of thefe treafures,
requires, as before obferved, certain aids fuited to
the nature of each refpective fifhery. But all fchemes
calculated for that important end, upon a contracted
plan of economy, will prove delufive to the flate, as
well as individuals. Nothing lefs than a general
bounty extending to veflels of every fize, and to fifhe-
jies of every denomination, will be found effectual
upon the experiment j neither can any plan be adopt-
ed fo fimple in its operation, or lefs fubjecl: to frauds
and grofs impofitions. *
* At the time of the union, the exporters of white herrings from
Scotland, and ibon after from England, were entitjed to los. 5d.
Jfterling per barrel, which mode of public bounty proved the ruin of
their trade ; the whole buiinefs became a fcene of fraud and perju-
ry, on the part of the exporters ; of connivance and breach of trufr,
on the part of the revenue officers. Barrels, inilead of being filled
with good and fufficient herrings, well cured and packed, were
partly filled with ftones or rubbifh ; frequently the fame barrels
were entered a fecond time ; every art and device was ufed for ob-
taining the public money ; and the traders being regarcllefs of the
condition of the herrings fo exported, that article fell into difrepute
abroad ; few merchants would pnrchafe our herrings at any price ;
and mould government again hold out the fame temptations, fimilar
confequences may be expected.
The emperor of Germany, though his mother the queen of
Hungary owed her elevation to Great Britain, who fought her
battles, and thereby incurred many millions of debt ; hath lately
publifhed an edict, which almoft prohibits the importation of
Britifh produce and manufactures, into his dominions ofAuftria,
Hungary, Bohemia, and the Auftrian Netherlands. The duty
upon the importation of herrings is los. 6d. per barrel, and as
the Netherlands hath ever been a great market for herrings, the
only means of obtaining a mare in that trade, under the heavy
duty now impofed, will be, to keep off the Flemifli veflels who
have hitherto fifhed upon our fhores, through the indulgence of
the Britifh court ; or, by laying fuch veflels under a contribu-
tion equal to the duty on'Britifli taken herrings.
HC
257
S4K6
1785
v.l
Knox, John
A view of the British
Empire 3d ed., greatly
enl.
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