certain payment; for if the land be doubled, and the stock
remains the same, the tenant becomes no richer. The proprietors of the
Highlands might perhaps often increase their income, by subdividing the
farms, and allotting to every occupier only so many acres as he can
profitably employ, but that they want people.

There seems now, whatever be the cause, to be through a great part of the
Highlands a general discontent. That adherence, which was lately
professed by every man to the chief of his name, has now little
prevalence; and he that cannot live as he desires at home, listens to the
tale of fortunate islands, and happy regions, where every man may have
land of his own, and eat the product of his labour without a superior.

Those who have obtained grants of American lands, have, as is well known,
invited settlers from all quarters of the globe; and among other places,
where oppression might produce a wish for new habitations, their
emissaries would not fail to try their persuasions in the Isles of
Scotland, where at the time when the clans were newly disunited from
their Chiefs, and exasperated by unprecedented exactions, it is no wonder
that they prevailed.

Whether the mischiefs of emigration were immediately perceived, may be
justly questioned. They who went first, were probably such as could best
be spared; but the accounts sent by the earliest adventurers, whether
true or false, inclined many to follow them; and whole neighbourhoods
formed parties for removal; so that departure from their native country
is no longer exile. He that goes thus accompanied, carries with him all
that makes life pleasant. He sits down in a better climate, surrounded
by his kindred and his friends: they carry with them their language,
their opinions, their popular songs, and hereditary merriment: they
change nothing but the place of their abode; and of that change they
perceive the benefit.

This is the real effect of emigration, if those that go away together
settle on the same spot, and preserve their ancient union. But some
relate that these adventurous visitants of unknown regions, after a
voyage passed in dreams of plenty and felicity, are dispersed at last
upon a Sylvan wilderness, where their first years must be spent in toil,
to clear the ground which is afterwards to be tilled, and that the whole
effect of their undertakings is only more fatigue and equal scarcity.

Both accounts may be suspected. Those who are gon