48 REVIEW.-Tour in the Highlands. 3. Sketch of a Tour in the Highlands of Scotland, through Perthshire, Argyleshire, and Inverness-shire, in September and October, 1818; with some Account of the Caledonian Canal. Lond. 8vo, 1819. pp. 352. Baldwin and Co. THIS Tour has much of a statis tical character, relieved occasionally by digressions. Tours are so various in kind, that this specific denotation of the form of the Work is essential. It is a Survey in the manner of an engineer, making minute geographical descriptions, for the purpose of aiding or suggesting improvement; and guiding travellers. It is observed in page 22, that the erection of weirs in salmon rivers occasions fewer salmon to frequent the rivers. In page 40, we have a long account of the dwellings and agriculture of the Highlanders, before modern innovation had assimilated them to the plans of their more civilized neighbours. "One principal cause of the rapid and extensive improvements in this district (Strath-Tay), and other parts of the Highlands, is the advantage long possessed by Scotland, with respect to the division and inclosure of lands, without the necessity of resorting to the Legislature. Every proprietor had it in his power, by a summary legal process, to compel such a division and inclosure.......In the Highlands of Scotland, the expense and difficulty [of Acts of Parliament] would have been an insurmountable bar to the most valuable improvements." P. 58. The same remark may be applied to all barren countries. Lawyers, in their proper professional zeal for the preservation of rights, upon which zeal depends their character for integrity, do not consider that they are men who keep an old house in good condition, but never improve it. But by exalting Law, over the first principle of all law, the public good, they forget that, in foro conscientiæ, the observation of it may be no longer a duty; and that the said law is degraded into a custom more honoured in the breach than in the observance. They people our common lands with spectres of quibbles, whom the Red Sea of Parliament can alone prevent from annoying their rustic neighbours by their grim appearance; whereas, by simple agreement alone, among the claimants themselves, an immense portion of our lands had [Jan. been reduced to private property; to the great reduction, no doubt, of geese, but to the vast increase of corn, cattle, and timber. In commemoration of Druidical Stone circles, we find (p. 72) that "stones is, in the language of the old Highlanders, a common designation at this day for the church, or place of worship." The following remarks upon scenery are profound and philosophical: "Scenery of extraordinary maguificence forms one of the great features of a country; and, like those local situations which are associated with the memory of events of national importance, possesses somewhat of a public character. In these, every one, as a part of the community, feels himself interested, and as far as the bare facility of inspection is concerned, has an interest of the enjoyment of which he cannot in justice, using the word in the largest sense, be deprived, although such places should be the property of a few individuals. It would be, besides, most im rate. politic, with reference both to the private proprietor and the public, to discourage that opinion of common interest in such situations, which binds by so many agreehis country, and to the rest of the comable ties, every individual to the soil of munity, and stifles the envy which the appearance of vast possessions and wealth in the hands of an individual is apt to geneextensive scenery of this description aFor the inspection of splendid and round a mansion house, the points of a public road are of all others the most convenient. The traveller gratifies his curiosity, while he pursues his journey, without further attention or trouble; the temptation to general and improper trespass is diminished, and the pretence for it taken away. The privacy of the proprietor, and preservation of his grounds are equally consulted, while the public taste and curiosity are indulged in the easiest pp. 75, and most commodious manner.” 76. In page 85, we have some important remarks concerning pruning timber trees. It appears that the branch ought to be cut close to the body of the tree, and some composition applied to assist Nature in curing the wound. It seems too, that excessive pruning injures the quality of the timber, and that one third of the whole length of the tree ought to remain unpruned. Upon the whole, this book is instructive. The description is close, too # too close, occasionally bearing too much an air of detail, but to persons on the spot this minuteness renders the work more acceptable and useful. 4. An Account of the Improvements on the Estates of the Marquess of Stafford, in the Counties of Stafford and Salop, and on the Estate of Sutherland. With Remarks. By James Loch, Esq. 8vo. pp. 226. With an Appendix of 128 pages, and 40 engraved Plans. Longman and Co. THIS is a Monument to the noble Marquess more honourable than Brass or Marble. Mr. Loch, in a manly Dedication to the Marquess, thus accounts for the publication: "It was incumbent on me to give some account of the nature and progress of those measures (now that they are completed), which your Lordship and Lady Stafford had adopted for the improvement of the estate of Sutherland, in order to contradict, in the most positive and direct manner, the unfounded and unwarrantable statements; or, perhaps, I shall be more correct if I were to say, the artful perversions of the truth which have been circulated in regard to this subject;statements which were not more calumnious to your Lordship and to the respectable gentlemen and other individuals who Occupy that estate, than unjust to the people themselves, whose orderly conduct and excellent behaviour cannot be too bigbly commended, and which approbation is particularly due to those whose removals have been carried into effect in the month of May; in spite of all that was done during the course of the last year to inflame their passions, and mislead their judgments." In a concise and luminous Preface Mr. Loch observes, that in the Work he now presents to the Publick, "The consideration of the more general questions, as to the propriety of the policy of permitting or encouraging emigration, and of converting small occupations into large farms, with the consequent effects of accumulating a large portion of the population of the country into villages and large towns, has in some degree been taken for granted, as matters upon which the public mind seems to be in a great measure made up; at least as far as the practice of the whole nation can be supposed to be a proof of their acquiescence in the truth of these once strongly contested points. At the same time, it is true, that it is too much the case in all questions of political economy, to agree, with GENT. MAG. January, 1821. out hesitation, to the truth of every general principle, but immediately to set up so many exceptions to the rule, as utterly to destroy the effect of this gratuitous admission *. "In the following pages, however, the truth of those general principles being they apply as well to Lord Stafford's Engtaken for granted, it will be shown, that lish estates, aud to the county, or rather to the estate of Sutherland, as they do to the rest of the kingdom. "In doing this, it will be pointed out, how it should have happened that these estates should only now be undergoing that change, which began to operate in England, as far back as the reign of Henry VII." Mr. Loch then proceeds to state what passed in England in conseof another 39 Eliz. intituled, quence of a Statute of Henry VII. and "An Act that arable land made pasture since 1 Eliz. shall be again converted to tillage, and what is arable shall not be converted to pasture, &c." attended with as little effect as another Statute of this Sovereign, enacted to prevent the enlargement of London. "The outrages of the people, and their open defiance of the laws, in regard to these measures, continued to a much later period. "The arrangement of the Northern counties was naturally suspended, as long as the island obeyed two monarchs, but, during the period which elapsed between the union of the Crowns and that of the Kingdoms, the same system was essentially carried into effect in the Border districts of both countries, except that the land thus freed of people, was applied to the rearing of sheep, and not to the cultivation of grain. The attachment to the Stuart family, and the hereditary jurisdictions, still maintained in full force the former arrangement of society, peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland. But the discomfiture of the adherents of the Pretender, and his own defeat in 1746, with the abolition of the heritable jurisdictions in 1747, *It is universally conceded, that it is from large farms alone that a surplus produce can be obtained for the maintenance of our artisans and manufacturers. It is conceived, that there is as little doubt that such an arrangement also, rather increases than diminishes the agricultural population of the country. Nor can there be much hesitation in admitting that a sober, well-doing farm labourer, feels less want, and experiences fewer hardships than the poorest class of tenants, formerly the occupiers of the soil of England. having REVIEW. Lord Stafford's Improvements, having brought the Highland chieftains within the pale of the law, and placed them on the same footing as the other gentlemen of the land, they began rapidly to acquire the same tastes,-to be occupied with the same pursuits,-to feel the same desires, and to have the same wants as their brethren in the South. In order, however, to indulge these propensities, and to be able to appear in the capital with due effect, it was necessary that they should convert their estates to that mode of occupation most suited to their circumstances, and from which they could derive the greatest income. Luckily in this, as in every other instance in political economy, the interest of the individual, and the prosperity of the State, went hand in hand. And the demand for the raw material of wool by the English manufac turers, enabled the Highland proprietor to let his lands for quadruple the amount they ever before produced to him. These arrangements continued to be carried into effect from time to time, in the Southern and central Highlands, up to about the commencement of the French Revolution war; not always, however, without serious resistance on the part of the people. "The demand for soldiers, after the commencement of the war, to recruit fencible regiments, for a time influenced the progress of these changes, but as the supply of men became more equal to the demand, and as the Highlanders have never enlisted cheerfully by the ordinary means of recruiting, these arrangements never ceased altogether to be acted upon. "The Northern Highlands still remained to undergo that change which the rest of the island had already adopted. In this district it naturally began to be fol lowed in the counties situated nearest to those into which it had already been introduced. In Rosshire, accordingly, it was undertaken on a great scale in 1792. The dissatisfaction produced was so great, that the most serious affrays took place, and the military had to act, and blood was shed before quiet was restored. "Between that time, and about four years back, the greater portion of the county of Sutherland, not belonging to Lord and Lady Stafford, was arranged according to those plans, so universally adopted. Why this antient condition of society should have prevailed longer on the estate of Sutherland, than in any other part of the island; and why the proprietors of this estate, notwithstanding they have afforded the people advantages which no other owner ever gave the people they moved, should have been the object of animadversion, while others have passed without notice, it is the object of the following pages to explain." "For the sake of accuracy, it is also ne son. [Jan. cessary to mention that eighteen families have left the Barony of Assynt this seaEight of these, deceived by the delusions of the Transatlantic Association, entered some time ago into an agreement with the master of a vessel, who insisted on its being fulfilled, notwithstanding their wish to remain and settle on the lots they had at first refused. The other ten famimilies had long been established fishermen on the coast, but having attached themselves to the doctrines of a fanatical blacksmith, they followed him to the other side of the Atlantick-the only schism which ever occurred in Sutherland-a fact which reflects no small credit on the worthy and zealous persons who compose that Presbytery, and who, by the diligent exercise of their pastoral duties, do ho nour to the Church of which they are members. "It has been omitted to be stated, in its proper place, that about twenty houses have been built on the coast by the proprietors, for aged widows, who had it not in their power to do so themselves." This is a truly valuable publication; and contains much useful infor. mation on the subject of the excellent roads and bridges recently constructed in the Highlands-on the cultivation of land and on the erection of convenient inns and farmhouses. The improvements on the English estates are not less important; but we have only room for one very short extract: "Upon the Shropshire estates there have been planted, within these few years, above half a million of trees, and nearly three hundred thousand quicks. At Trentham about two hundred thousand trees, and in Yorkshire about three hundred thousand." 5. Summary of the Mahratta and Pindarree Campaign, during 1817, 1818, and 1819, under the Direction of the Marquess of Hastings; chiefly embracing the Operations of the Army of the Deckan, under the Command of his Excellency Lieut.gen. Sir T. Hislop, Bart. G.C.B. With some Particulars and Remarks. 8vo. pp. 362. THERE are few who think that the success of the British arms in India confers a real blessing on the natives, but no fact is better established. India was divided among wretched petty tyrants, under which neither life nor property was secure; and no law, human or divine, could check their despotism and extortion ов on their subjects. Our writer is supported by high authorities, when he says, Every subject of a native government is exposed not only to the imposition and severity of one ruler, but to every intermediate step between his humble post, as a peasant, and the foot of the throne, and to the throne itself. Has he a horse, the State requires it without compensation; is he able-bodied, he is called into service, without subsistence or provision left for his family-he must himself look to plunder for his own support; has he a family, the fairest will be selected for the prince, and the next possibly for the minister; if he has money, he must take care of his life; and should he have rent to pay, and not the means, he may be put to the torture: in short, in the code of native Governments, the Prince is every thing, and all, and the subject nothing. It is no wonder, therefore, that these princes, seated upon their sandy thrones, and ob serving the advances and blessings diffused by the British, and dreading them as a contagion to their States, should have trembled at the sound of such a form of laws as one of impartial justice, and tried as the last resource to combine and shake off such an unwelcome connection. In all the reduced provinces we have seen amongst the inhabitants this feeling of general pride and gratitude to Heaven at their release from the bondage and insecurity of their own governments, and at their falling under ours. The natives now say, We can wear our own clothes; we can now decorate our wives and children with the buried ornaments of their ancestors; we can now call our house our own; no petty tyrant of the vil lage can now molest, no minister of lust can any longer pollute our families or our dwellings. We have long since heard of the Company, and all we fear is that they may again withdraw from the country, and leave us to our former masters."" P. 277. Such being the just character of our Indian Government, the next important question is the probable prospect of its permanency. The first and most serious danger would be the appearance from any quarter of a power or arm like our own (p. 295). There is little to be apprehended from the natives; for "The Madras and Bombay Nativè corps are generally composed of men who are as fit for boxers as they are for soldiers; many of them not equalling in muscular strength an European boy of 12 years old, and scarcely able to stand the shock of their musquet. The whole of the Native cavalry on these establishments are subject to the same observation; many of We are sorry to say, that, according to our Author, there are very important defects in the Military establishment, but the judgment of King's officers is disputed. Native officers of family and respectability will not enter into our service, because they are precluded rising except from the ranks (p. 305), and our English officers are in the habit of obtaining extraneous situations, so that, when a regiment is called into action, there are few or no officers attached to it. "With nearly 400 men [of the 1st Madras Infantry], there stood alone three lieutenants to their whole charge, each of them with two companies to look after, and the whole of the staff duties of the corps to be discharged and sustained by them in like manner." This speaks volumes, as to the system in the Company's army: it may answer in a dead calm, but there is no need of remark, as to its total inefficiency, should there be any thing to be done. Now, with the number of well-educated youths in the mother-country, who want situations, there can be no sound reason for a deficiency of officers, in the manner described. Ignorance of the native language, very serious defects in the medical and camp departments, and a load of non-effectives, are among other very pressing evils which require reform. In short our Author considers the Sepoys, as, in the main, unfit for military life; and recommends (p. 323) the "Introduction of another class of oops, to be composed of Seedees or Abyssinians, Arabs, Mukranuees, natives of Madagas-. car, of the Malay and French Islands, and even those remote in the West Indies." This is said, to be mere opinion of a King's officer. We have given these remarks a prominent aspect, in order that they may meet with attention in the proper quarters; and be divested of any party statement. We have often thought seriously of the maxim of St. Paul," to do good unto all men, especially those who are of the household of faith," as a maxim fit for the consideration of all, who burn with zeal for the con version 52 REVIEW.-Dr. Trotter on manning the Navy. version of Heathens, and are lukewarm concerning the education and instruction of their fellow-countrymen. We are satisfied, that they are beginning where they ought to end; and that European habits and sciences "The ought to be first introduced. prejudices of the natives will then gradually shift off of themselves. This, however, must be a work of time, and, unless by the interposition of Providence, cannot come about for centuries, in that country, but with loss and deterioration to the little moral character at present among them." The Hindoo is, at present, a harmless, simple, quiet character; by converting him to a nominal christian, we make him dissolute, drunken, and ungovernable; and form a banditti of dangerous vagabonds." P.288. The following is the manner in which pence, shillings, and pounds, extracted from the pockets of good people who can ill afford it, are shamefully wasted. The money raised, answers no better purpose than that anciently given to images and shrines: "The zeal of the Missionaries will not be restrained by natural impossibilities. They seem to think, that the dispersion of the Gospel in the Chinese, Sanscrit, Hindoostanee, or Malay, amongst the people, is sufficient for the proposed object; and, as they deal out these to the Presidents and Magistrates of the different places, they consequently set down their converts and their work, in proportion to the number dispersed. We have ourselves observed, at more Presidencies to the Eastward than one, where scarce a vessel arrived without bringing a box or package of the above books, in the Chinese language, to the President, who was requested to disperse them, and did so far as was in his power. He sent them to all quarters, by bundles of hundreds at a time. The Chinese looked at them, and said they had finer stories of their own; for there was no person amongst them to describe the intention or purport of these books. They did not know, why they were sent, whether for entertainment or moral improvement; and seeing so many copics, they latterly threw them aside altogether, and the above President could disperse no more. Nevertheless, the fervid zeal of the Malacca Missionary heaped them on him ship after ship; and they at length acquired such a mass in his office, that he was compelled to remove them to an outoffice, and several thousand copies of that description were handed over to the Dutch authorities, in whose hands we are sure [Jan. they will never bear much fruit. This was the Missionary of whom we read in an English paper, a few years ago, as having written home to the Missionary Bible Society for three hundred millions of Bibles, or copies of the Acts!!! In the above manner he could easily get rid of even that number, by delivering them, as ballast, or turning them out of doors without an index or monitor to explain them." Pp. 286, 287. The Pindaree campaign was a mere war against banditti ; and having thus taken grand points, we recommend the work to our Readers, as an in structive book. 6. A Practicable Plan for manning the Royal Navy, and preserving our maritime Ascendancy without Impressment; addressed to Admiral Lord Viscount Exmouth, K. G. B. By Thomas Trotter, M. D. late Physician to the Grand Fleet, &c. &c. Newcastle, 8vo. 1819, pp. 90. Longman, &c. Dr. Trotter observes (p. 4), that' impressment is the cause of more destruction to the health and lives of our Seamen, than all other causes put together. This general datum be exhibits by various luminous details; and recommends, instead of the present system of impressing men, a requisition founded upon the same principle, as Mr. Pitt's well-known Parish Bill. We know, that the impress plan would be gladly abolished, if any other could be substituted, which would supply men with equal speed upon emergency; and we also know, that seamen dislike the King's service, probably on account of the inferior pay, and the necessary discipline, › which in merchant-vessels they esTrotter, in addition to his plan, the cape. We beg to suggest to Dr. supply of boys from parishes, who should, by a power of law, be placed for nautical education, during peace, on board our merchant-ships, the number being regulated according to tonnage, such persons being transferable, till a certain age, to his Majesty's service in time of war. "A Seaman's duty," says Dr. Trotter, "cannot be learned in less than seven years, or after twenty-one years of age. He must be accustomed to it from boyhood, for no adult being can ever be brought to endure the privations, dangers, aud hardships, which are inseparable from a sea-life." P. 38. We also think, that it would be an inducement for seamen to enter as volunteers, |