to deſtroy themſelves and their Deſign, but by little and little, to cauſe every piece of Land to be improved, better'd and hearten'd to the Extent of its Nature and Capacity, in this Caſe you would ſoon ſee the Lands in Scotland equal in many places to the Lands in England, and all places much differing from what they are now.
When Land is thus inclos'd, planted and improved, I hope I need not ſay it ſhall be let to the Tenant, not for leſs, but for much more than before; and it remains only, that your Servants take care the Tenants keep it up to its Goodneſs, and that till they are uſed to Methods of Husbandry, ſuitable, they may neither by want of Skill or Diligence weaken the Land—. And thus no Gentleman ſhall ſink his Rent, and yet the Tenant be ſet to work in carrying on the Improvement which the Landlords have begun, till both together enjoy the Benefit of a plentiful and improv'd Country.
By this Method the Gentlemen of Scotland ſhall encreafe their Eſtates, the Tenant ſhall, to encourage his Induſtry, have his Farm at ſuch a Rent as he may pay it, and live comfortably alſo, and both together ſhall revive from the preſent languiſhing poſture of their Affairs.
If it be objected, this ſhall put the Gentlemen to extraordinary Charges—, I readily grant, Fencing, Encloſing, Planting, &c. of Land, muſt imply ſome Charge—: But this is anſwered with ſo many unanſwerable Reaſons,that nothing can reſiſt—. As, 1. It is your own, the Charge is laid out upon your own, all the Profit is your own—, and that Profit ſo infallibly certain, if perform'd with Judgment, that no Man can call it an Expenſe. 2. No Money can be laid out to equal Advantage, nor in which the return can be equally certain or ſoon. 3. 'Tis your Countreys Advantage in general, and as the Scots have always been ready to adventure Life and Eſtate for the Honour and Advantage of their Countrey, as much as any People under Heaven, it is hard they ſhould be backward to a Service in which is no Hazard, little Trouble, and certain Gain, both to themſelves and their Poſterity.
For this Reaſon I have addreſt theſe Sheets to this Honourable Aſſembly, humbly to lay before you the Neceſſity, the Advantage, and the Eaſineſs of thus ſetting your Hands to the general Good of your Countrey.
If this be done, I preſume 'tis eaſy to make it appear, you may bring Scotland to be equal in her Native Wealth, I mean the Produce of the Ground, Breed of her Cattel, Induſtry of her People, and greatneſs of Trade and Manufactures, in Proportion to any of her Neighbours, and that with or without an Union.
Indeed I have often wondred, the Gentlemen who are warm againſt an Union, have never erected this Propoſal as an Equivalent againſt it—. They have entred into the Preliminaries of Scotland's Felicity, and attempted to ſhow which way to bring it to paſs; but I never met with this Medium.
If any thing will make you able to live without an Union, it muſt be improving your Eſtates, encreaſing the Produce, and enriching your Lands.
