In this calculation, we have deducted nothing from the expences of the plantation for the number of trees cut-down and sold off or used as thinnings, and which would, in all probability, amount to three times the number of 300, which we have allotted to each acre. These thinnings however, amounting to many hundred thousand annually, after the first eight or nine years, would not only benefit the planters by the large sums which they would receive for them, (and which may here stand for the interest of the money expended in planting the trees, and in repairs, &c.), but also prove of immense service to the agricultural interests of the Hebrides by supplying them with abundance of timber. Houses, office-houses, cottages, inclosures, boats, implements of husbandry, fuel, and, in short, every article of which the deprivation is at present most severely felt, would soon be procured in abundance. Emigration would no more be heard of, because the natives would have abundance of work and regular employment at stated wages, and consequently of wealth. Roads would be opened up in every direction to the principal harbours in the vicinity,of the different plantations; and a basis would be laid for making us for ever independent of foreign countries for timber for our navy. We are not so sanguine as to believe that this could soon take place, but we maintain that a basis would be laid for it. The opposite mainland coast of Scotland, (a stretch of 1200 miles along the sea-mark), from the Mull of Kintyre to Cape Wrath, would soon follow the example of the Hebrides in those sheltered parts formed by the inlets of the sea, which are so numerous on that coast; and their proprietors would find no perceptible defalcation defalcation in the rents of their sheep walks and other farms from the measure. There are about half a million of acres of this description in Argyle, Ross, and Inverness-shire, without having recourse to Sutherland, where harbours are not so plentiful and safe *. Let * We are perfectly aware that suggestions of this nature will be deemed visionary and extravagant by many of our readers, and that they will call out for facts instead of calculations upon the subject. It is fortunate that such facts may be adduced in abundance. One may suffice, and it refers to poor soil in a part of the county of Argyle, which of all those of Scotland possessess the most valuable islands. In 1751, the valued rent of all the park lands about Inverary, consisting of 124 merk lands, was L. 50. Sterling. Some hundred acres were planted gradually, until the three or four thousand acres now under wood were finished. The expence of inclosing and planting is not precisely ascertained, but is not believed to have exceeded L. 20,000. Mr Knox, the celebrated traveller, reckoned these plantations, in 1786, at two millions of trees, worth 4s. each, or a total sum of L. 400,000 Sterling. The account stands thus: Let it not be objected to this plan, that Scotch plantations are inexpedient, because England contains vast tracts of inland wastes and mountains, better calculated both in point of soil and climate, for being converted into national forests, than the more northerly and more exposed regions under review. There are two insurmountable difficulties to be removed with respect to the English wastes. 1. They are too far from the sea, which makes the carriage and export of wood so very expensive as to run away with the profits. 2. They are too high above the level of the sea, and generally of too bad a soil for the vigorous growth of valuable timber. Besides these incalculable disadvantages, they would cost infinitely more to purchase and to inclose them (perhaps ten times the sum per square mile,) than the same extent on a sea-shore, and in the situation of the Hebrides and opposite mainland. We are not, however, by any means of opinion, that the Eglish wastes, especially those of Cumberland, Westmorland, and North Wales, are unsusceptible of immense improvement by being inclosed and planted. On the contrary, L. 400,000 0 @ Plantation Cr. By 2,000,000 trees at 4s. L. 400,000 0 0 105,137 10 0 Duke of Argyle's clear profit on his Invera ry plantations L. 294,862 10 0 contrary, we hope that their proprietors will speedily commence such improvements, and carry them on with energy. They themselves and the nation will soon see the good effects. Meanwhile, we leave the consideration of what profits may arise from woods and plantations in them to those who report to the Board their agricultural state, and who are more competent judges of their condition than we can pretend to be; and only add, that the subject on which we have hazarded the above observations merits the attention of every good Briton by its utility, and the most serious consideration of our legislature by its expediency and importance. SECTION IV.TIMBER. 1. Scarcity.-The timber of shipwrecks, vulgarly called a Godsend, is the only species within the common Hebridian's reach *. Even this resource is of late The following was part of the prayer of a worthy native of Barray, for half a century: His son still lives near Keesamul, in that island,-" Mas fheadar gun thèid luingis a'dhith; O Thighearna, stuir usa a fiodh s'an cainb gu years become precarious, because wood is so scarce and valuable over all Britain, that the proprietors and their agents look sharply after every stick that is cast upon the shores. In justice to the poorest people in the Hebrides, we must also remark, that they are distinguished by humanity towards such unfortunate seamen as are cast away, or get aground on their coasts; and very frequently exert their utmost efforts to get off vessels, of which they would otherwise share the timber among themselves. And in this humane labour we have often seen them successful, and almost always ungrate fully treated both by the owners and insurers or underwriters of the vessels which they had saved. As an instance, among thousands that might be quoted here, of the excessive scarcity of timber in this extensive region, we have seen 10s. 6d. paid in ready money for a pair of bad oars, in the island of Uist; which, in Gottenburg, would have cost 6d. and in Liverpool 4s. The scarcity in some places is such, that poor people are wounded, and sometimes mortally, by the roofs of their huts falling in upon them for want of rafters to support or bind the couples; and scarcely one cottage in twenty has half the wood in its roof which would be requisite for tolerable security and comfort. But tràigh Bhorbh as caolas Vatersai," i. e. "If ships must at all events perish, do thou, O Lord, guide their timber, with their tackling and rigging, to the strand of Borve and the sound of Watersay." The last mentioned places lay convenient for the pious Barray-man's boats and horses for carrying home the blessing implored, |