Some men, (from pure motives no doubt,) have suggested the propriety of extirpating this language, by forbidding its being printed or written, or taught to children in the parochial and charity schools; and by every other devisable means usually resorted to for destroying languages. This would, as they fancy, produce a very desirable uniformity of tastes and opinions, remove national prejudices and jealousies; and confirm and consolidate that political union which binds this portion of our population to the rest of their countrymen :-It would, (they add,) remove, at the same time, many obstacles which now keep the natives backward in point of civilization and refinement.

Now, granting that there is some plausibility in these arguments against the ancient and venerable language of our once powerful and gallant nation, it may be answered by the Hebridian :-That his language is, in itself, at least as good as the English, or any base bastard tongue, made up of mingled materials, huddled together accidentally into a barbarous jargon, by the pirates and robbers of modern Europe; and composed of Frenchified Latin, Low Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Scandinavian, Saxon, &c.---That language, being merely an instrument for conveying ideas, and his own Celtic being fully equal, or superior, to any other in that respect; (a proof of which he has in his own superiority to the common Lowlander, or Englishman, in argument and in description;) he cannot see the use of throwing away a better instrument, with the use of which he is acquainted, and taking a worse in its room, to which he is a perfect stranger :---That he is as good a soldier, sailor, and subject, as if he spoke the dialects Nn 3 of

of York or Aberdeen :---That his own language neither blunts his sword, nor unnerves his arm, in the day of battle; and that there is no connection whatever between the Celtic language, and any evil passion towards God or man,---towards King, parliament, or nation.— That it is a difficult and ungracious task to force any language upon a population of 400,000 souls :--That the English already undermines the Celtic; and will, probably, in a few ages, without any direct assault, banish that language from this kingdom :---and that, therefore, it would be harsh and impolitic to refuse instruction to the people of these districts in their own language, or to punish them in the interim, in order that posterity may receive some contingent advantage, of which they have, at present, no clear conception, &c.

There are no provincial terms in the English used here by the higher classes; nor is any glossary requisite for understanding all expressions common among them. They write and speak the language of the best English writers; and are equally strangers to the broad Scotch, and to the vulgar provincial dialects of England.

CONCLUSION.

CONCLUSION.

MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT, AND THE MEASURES CALCULATED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THESE have been dwelt upon occasionally in different parts of this report; and all that is now proposed, is to bring them into one point of view, in as contracted a shape as possible. The late Dr Walker, in his Economical History of the Highlands and Hebrides, is of the same opinion with the reporter, with regard to the adoption of most of the following measures, for the improvement of the Western Isles; and many persons of information and influence in that extensive region, have expressed similar sentiments upon the subjects in ques tion.

TENURE OF LANDS.

1. SUBSETTING of lands should be gradually abolished, excepting in some of the remoter and larger islands, where gentlemen farmers are necessary for the maintenance of good order in the country.

2. All possessions in land should be occupied either by leases for at least 9 or 10 years, and upwards, to 30 years, or by feus, or during a number of lives. Such leases to be granted by the proprietor, and couched in as plain language as possible, and burdened with as few conditions and stipulations as is consistent with the mutual interests of landlord and tenant.

3. Every farmer, or tenant, should have his possession disjoined from those of other tenants, and completely at his own disposal. Run-rig and co-partnerships in tillage and paying rents, ought, in every case, to be done away.

4. Every lease of consequence, especially if its duration be of considerable length, ought to have some stipulated improvements ingrossed in it; such as inclosing, draining, reclaiming some portion of waste land, observing a proper rotation of crops, and such other conditions as evidently benefit the tenant himself, while they ultimately conduce to the advantage of the proprietor. Such stipulations must be clearly explained to the tenant, and meet with his hearty concurrence and

acceptance,

acceptance, otherwise they must prove ineffectual, and even pernicious, both to the master and the tenant.

5. There should be a just proportion between the farmer's stock and the extent of his farm.

6. Rents should be in money, instead of corn, fish, butter, wool, or any other commodities; and services of every kind, as well as all burdens usually borne by the tenants, should be incorporated with the gross rent. In this case, resident proprietors may easily purchase from their tenants the necessaries of which they may stand in need, and also the services which they may occasionally require. A certain number of days in harvest time, now due by the tenants, ought to be commuted for an adequate sum in money; and every similar vestige of vassalage done away.

7. Every resident proprietor ought to encourage regular day-labourers to settle on various parts of his estate, but especially in his own neighbourhood, and within easy reach of the parts of his property which he intends to improve. Cottagers also ought to be encouraged, by giving them cow's grass, and some acres of waste land gratis, for some years at first, raising the rent gradually and very moderately upon them according to circumstances. Even the day-labourer and cottager should hold his landed tencment by lease,-and be perfectly secured in the possession of his time, and the fruits of his labour.

8.. Stipulations and conditions of every kind which relate to the tenure of lands, ought to be punctually observed, and rigorously enforced.

FARM