| Extract of Some Thoughts concerning the State of the Highlands of
Scotland - |
| It will be no difficult matter to have the Disarming Act executed
amongst the well affected highlanders; But it will require a considerable
Standing Force, & that for Some Years, to disarm, & effectually
to prevent the Use of Arms amongst the Rebellious Highlanders. |
| For as the Districts, in which They reside, because the Asperity
of the Surface, & the total Want of Accommodation, & of the
Common Conveniences of Living, with which His Maj[es]ty's other Subjects
are accustomed, are seldom, if ever, visited by Strangers, The Clan,
or Kindred, may continue to do, amongst Themselves, what They think
fit. Offences against the Disarming Act, may be committed without
Discovery; and when discovered, It will be no easy Matter to bring
the Offenders to Justice: Not to mention the Possibility of attainted
Persons, or other Emissaries from France, coming amongst them without
the Danger of being hear'd of; far less of being seized by the Government. |
| To obviate these Difficulties, It seems absolutely necessary, that
Some Force, more or less, be placed in the Several Straths, Glens,
or Districts, where those Lawless Highlanders reside; To keep a constant
Communication with Each Other; To observe what passes, and give Notice
to the next Commanding Officer; And to execute Such Orders, as They
shall receive. |
| To effectuate This, in the Way the most practicable, & which,
at the Same Time would be attended with a Train of other advantageous
Consequences, It is proposed, that Five, or Six different Stations,
in the Body of the Highlands, be pitched upon; in Each of which, Ten,
or Twelve Companies may be placed; And, from which, Small Parties
may be detached to the Several Straths, or Glens, etc., in the Neighbourhood
of Such Stations, to prevent the Wearing Arms, etc., all Intercourse
between the Inhabitants, & attainted Persons; And to assist in
the Execution of all Warrants by Civil Officers. |
| That Each Station be secured by some Slight Fortification, in the
most unexpensive Way, As They are to be made Use of no longer than
till the Disarming Scheme is sufficiently executed. |
| That, at every Such Station, a Parcel of Ground be set off, to be
built on by Sutlers, Butchers, Malsters, Bakers, and all other Tradesmen,
& Dealers, who may find their Account in carrying on their Business
at those Stations. |
| That Power be given to Some proper Person, at each Station, to set
off the Ground, that may be fit for any Undertaker to build on, And
that a Property in the Ground be given to the Undertaker. |
| That, at the Several Stations, Spinning Schools be set up, to draw
the idle Females of those Countries into that Manufacture; And that
Weavers be stationed there, so soon as there is Spinning sufficient
to set them to Work. |
| That so soon as any Collection of industrious People is thus brought
together, His Majesty do erect the Villages, with Such further Limits
as |
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