Chai*. XATI. Appendix.

402

There are others which may be obviated in part, though netentirely removed. The want of regular posts and packet boats—the scarcity of wood—the want of artizans of every descrip,tion—the irruptions of the sea, and overflowings of rivers—thewant of shelter of every description for cattle and cover—andthe desolations occasioned by sand-drift, are all natural and pow-erful obstacles to the improvement of these districts, which ne-ver can be wholly removed; yet they may all be partially ob-viated.

Such are the leading obstacles to improvement which are lo-cal, and almost peculiar to the Highlands and Hebrides . It nowremains to point out

The Bleffns nf Removing these Obstacles*

Some of them, it is true, can hardly be surmounted ; hut ifthe landlord, the tenant and the Legislature , were to combinetheir united elforts, several- of them might be altogether remov-ed, and most of them may be partly remedied. It is indeed iathe power of the landlord alone, to remove some of them-; othersmay be remedied by the tenant; but it would require the addi-tional aid and interference of the Legislature to obviate or re-move entirely some of them, or even to alleviate others.

I. The landlord has it in his power to remove many of the ob-stacles above mentioned.

1. Subletting of L,and he has it in his power to prevent. Andthis practice ought in every case to be abolished ; excepting,perhaps, in those districts where the proprietors do not reside. Ineach of these, one or more tenants of superior rank and talents,should be placed to act as a Justice of the Peace, and a sensiblefarmer should act as a factor, in absence of the landlord. Ofcourse he may possess a large farm. But if he he allowed to sub-set any part of it, a lease ought to he granted for a limited timeto everj’ possessor. In general, all persons, except the labourersattached to farms, ought to hold their lands immediately fromthe proprietor. -

2. Leases ought to be granted to every tenant, great, or small,in order to encourage him to improve his possession. Per-haps in no case ought these leases to be less than 15 or 20 years,and expressed in language so plain, that every tenant may fully un-derstand them. The proprietor ought also to specify the improve-ments that ought to be attempted, as well as encourage thoseby an addition to his lease, ov proportioned to the exertions hehas made, and the expense he has incurred.

5. All run-rig, totvnship, or Joint possessions of every kind,ought immediately, and for ever,'to be abolished ; and the bound-aries of every farm should he defined; and the arable part ought,as far as is possible, to he enclosed. If the tenant be employed