Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

6
BARRA.
that it is a just principle in a government to do foir
the general welfare, that which proprietors and inhabit-
ants are unable, for want of means, to effect. In the
same manner, it has itself an interest, in the shape of con-
tingent advantages, in such improvements. It has been
said, even in recent writings, very idly, that it is unjust
to " tax the inhabitants of Middlesex," for the purpose
of building bridges or making roads for the Highlanders,
As well might it be argued that the salary of an English
judge should be paid exclusively out of English revenue,
or that a grant of money to the harbour of Rams-
gate is a fraud on the Highlanders who pay taxes. But
it is useless to dwell on an argument so utterly inconsi-
derate; the philosophy of those who see not beyond the
length of their noses.
That agriculture in general is in no very flourishing
state in this island, might be imagined from the use of
the ristle plough; an ancient instrument carrying the
coulter alone, and preceding that which contains the
share. One circumstance relating to it, is, however, re-
markable ; namely, the superior cultivation of the farms
in the possession of the Roman Catholic population. It
is not the only instance where the Priests of that persua-
sion in Scotland, laudably interest themselves in the tem-
poral prosperity of their flocks. This island affords one
miserable instance, out of too many, of the evils arising
from excessive population. The number of houses at
Kilbar seemed to be about twenty, and the population
should therefore be nearly a hundred ;
while this village
was the refuge of those who had been unable to procure
any land, after the island had been allotted. It is diffi-
cult to conceive how people do contrive to live without
land in this country ; nor, in fact, is it possible for them
to do more than exist miserably. The men caught fish,