Thus the Families of Crawford, Erskin, Rolle, Murray, Maxwel, Livingſton, Forbes, and many others, tho ſome of them Senior in Antiquity to ſome of thoſe named, will not, I hope, take their being omitted in the Examples, or larger Characters here quotted, as any Neglect either of their Perſons or Merit, ſince it was impoſſible to run a length of Names with any tollerable Regard to the Verſion, or any poſſibility of keeping within the bounds of a Poem.
On this account, tho ſome of the Gentlemen have done me the Honour of their Acquaintance, and to others, I mean, the Family of Forbes in particular, I have extraordinary Obligations, yet have I been obliged to take but a few out of the great Maſs of illuſtrious Merit which the Nobility of Scotland, furniſhes for this Work.
Perhaps another Occaſion may preſent, which may furniſh me to make amends to the whole Body, and anſwer for this ſeeming Defect.
But this is far from being the occaſion of my Addreſſing this Poem to this Honourable Aſſembly, and therefore I begg leave to come directly to the Deſign.
Thro the whole Poem, I think it is plain, I go all along upon a Suppoſition of Improvement; and it is not without ſome Difficulty a Poet can eſcape letting go ſome Severities by way of Reflection on the Neglect of it.
When have ſaid what Scotland may be, and when I reflect what ſhe is, I need ſay no more than lay open the Scheme of both, it would certainly lay a moſt indelible blame ſome where.
That the Land, the Sea, the Climate, and the People of Scotland are all adapted for Plenty, Wealth, Riches, and Fruitfulneſs is no Complement to you, but really a Satyr, and leads ſo directly to the main Queſtion, that I ſee no avoiding it, viz. Why is ſhe not Rich, Plentiful, and Fruitful?
And this is the Head on which I addreſs to this Honourable Aſſembly, and begging firſt your Pardon for the plainneſs, I ſay, 'tis in your Power to put a new Countenance on the dejected Countrey Men, a new Proſpect on the melancholly Surface, a New Treaſure in the General Stock, and a new Face on the whole Nation.
As I ſaid before, I ſhall not concern the Union in this Diſcourſe; So I take the freedom to ſay here, the Union is noways concern'd in this Propoſal.
With or without an Union the Lands may be improved, the Tenants incouraged, the Fields incloſed, Woods planted, the Moors and Waſtes fed, and Scotland recovered from languiſhing Poverty.
With or without an Union, the Nobility and Gentry may plant, manure and enrich their Eſtates; the Sheep Maſters manage, direct, and take care of their Sheep, preſerve the Breed, and nouriſh the Encreaſe of their Cattel.
With or without an Union Husbandry may be revived, the Farmers reſtored, and the Tenantry in general encouraged, and this alone would change the Face, both of the Countrey, and of the People, make the Life of the poor Husband-Man eaſy and pleaſant, and the Eſtates of the Gentry would riſe in their Value.
