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screwing up his features into a look of dissent and disgust；
commented on my remarks to this effect 'Those who reproach a
nation for its poverty； when it is not owing to the profligacy or
vice of the people； deserve no answer。 The Lacedaemonians were
poorer than the Scots； when they took the lead among all the free
states of Greece； and were esteemed above them all for their
valour and their virtue。 The most respectable heroes of ancient
Rome； such as Fabricius； Cincinnatus； and Regulus； were poorer
than the poorest freeholder in Scotland； and there are at this
day individuals in North…Britain； one of whom can produce more
gold and silver than the whole republic of Rome could raise at
those times when her public virtue shone with unrivalled lustre；
and poverty was so far from being a reproach； that it added fresh
laurels to her fame； because it indicated a noble contempt of
wealth； which was proof against all the arts of corruption If
poverty be a subject for reproach； it follows that wealth is the
object of esteem and veneration In that case； there are Jews and
others in Amsterdam and London； enriched by usury； peculation；
and different species of fraud and extortion； who are more
estimable than the most virtuous and illustrious members of the
community。 An absurdity which no man in his senses will offer to
maintain。 Riches are certainly no proof of merit： nay they are
often （if not most commonly） acquired by persons of sordid minds
and mean talents： nor do they give any intrinsic worth to the
possessor； but； on the contrary； tend to pervert his
understanding； and render his morals more depraved。 But； granting
that poverty were really matter of reproach； it cannot be justly
imputed to Scotland。 No country is poor that can supply its
inhabitants with the necessaries of life； and even afford
articles for exportation。 Scotland is rich in natural advantages：
it produces every species of provision in abundance； vast herds
of cattle and flocks of sheep； with a great number of horses；
prodigious quantities of wool and flax； with plenty of copse
wood； and in some parts large forests of timber。 The earth is
still more rich below than above the surface。 It yields
inexhaustible stores of coal； free…stone； marble； lead； iron；
copper； and silver； with some gold。 The sea abounds with
excellent fish； and salt to cure them for exportation； and there
are creeks and harbours round the whole kingdom； for the
convenience and security of navigation。 The face of the country
displays a surprising number of cities； towns； villas； and
villages； swarming with people； and there seems to be no want of
art； industry； government； and police： such a kingdom can never
be called poor； in any sense of the word； though there may be
many others more powerful and opulent。 But the proper use of
those advantages； and the present prosperity of the Scots； you
seem to derive from the union of the two kingdoms！'
I said； I supposed he would not deny that the appearance of the
country was much mended； that the people lived better； had more
trade； and a greater quantity of money circulating since the
union； than before。 'I may safely admit these premises （answered
the lieutenant）； without subscribing to your inference。 The
difference you mention； I should take to be the natural progress
of improvement Since that period； other nations； such as the
Swedes； the Danes； and in particular the French； have greatly
increased in commerce； without any such cause assigned。 Before
the union； there was a remarkable spirit of trade among the
Scots； as appeared in the case of their Darien company； in which
they had embarked no less than four hundred thousand pounds
sterling； and in the flourishing state of the maritime towns in
Fife； and on the eastern coast； enriched by their trade with
France； which failed in consequence of the union。 The only solid
commercial advantage reaped from that measure； was the privilege
of trading to the English plantations； yet； excepting Glasgow and
Dumfries； I don't know any other Scotch towns concerned in that
traffick。 In other respects； I conceive the Scots were losers by
the union。 They lost the independency of their state； the
greatest prop of national spirit； they lost their parliament； and
their courts of justice were subjected to the revision and
supremacy of an English tribunal。'
'Softly； captain （cried I）； you cannot be said to have lost your
own parliament； while you are represented in that of Great…Britain。'
'True （said he； with a sarcastic grin）； in debates of
national competition； the sixteen peers and forty…five commoners
of Scotland； must make a formidable figure in the scale； against
the whole English legislature。' 'Be that as it may （I observed）
while I had the honour to sit in the lower house； the Scotch
members had always the majority on their side。' 'I understand
you； Sir （said he）； they generally side with the majority； so much
the worse for their constituents。 But even this evil is not the
worst they have sustained by the union。 Their trade has been saddled
with grievous impositions； and every article of living severely
taxed； to pay the interest of enormous debts； contracted by the
English； in support of measures and connections in which the
Scots had no interest nor concern。' I begged he would at least
allow； that by the union the Scots were admitted to all the
privileges and immunities of English subjects； by which means
multitudes of them were provided for in the army and navy； and
got fortunes in different parts of England； and its dominions。
'All these （said he） become English subjects to all intents and
purposes； and are in a great measure lost to their mother…country。
The spirit of rambling and adventure has been always
peculiar to the natives of Scotland。 If they had not met with
encouragement in England； they would have served and settled； as
formerly； in other countries； such as Muscovy； Sweden； Denmark；
Poland； Germany； France； Piedmont； and Italy； in all which
nations their descendants continue to flourish even at this day。'
By this time my patience began to fail and I exclaimed； 'For
God's sake； what has England got by this union which； you say；
has been so productive of misfortune to the Scots。' ' Great and
manifold are the advantages which England derives from the union
（said Lismahago； in a solemn tone）。 First and foremost； the
settlement of the protestant succession； a point which the
English ministry drove with such eagerness； that no stone was
left unturned； to cajole and bribe a few leading men； to cram the
union down the throats of the Scottish nation； who were
surprisingly averse to the expedient。 They gained by it a
considerable addition of territory； extending their dominion to
the sea on all sides of the island； thereby shutting up all back…doors
against the enterprizes of their enemies。 They got an
accession of above a million of useful subjects； constituting a
never…failing nursery of seamen； soldiers； labourers； and
mechanics； a most valuable acquisition to a trading country；
exposed to foreign wars； and obliged to maintain a number of
settlements in all the four quarters of the globe。 In the course
of seven years； during the last war； Scotland furnished the
English army and navy with seventy thousand men； over and above
those who migrated to their colonies； or mingled with them at
home in the civil departments of life。 This was a very
considerable and seasonable supply to a nation； whose people had
been for many years decreasing in number； and whose lands and
manufactures were actually suffering for want of hands。 I need
not remind you of the hackneyed maxim； that； to a nation in such
circumstances； a supply of industrious people is a supply of
wealth； nor repeat an observation； which is now received as an
eternal truth； even among the English themselves； that the Scots
who settle in South…Britain are remarkably sober； orderly； and
industrious。'
I allowed the truth of this remark； adding； that by their
industry； oeconomy； and circumspection； many of them in England；
as well as in her colonies； amassed large fortunes； with which
they returned to their own country； and this was so much lost to
South…Britain。 'Give me leave； sir （said he）； to assure you；
that in your fact you are mistaken； and in your deduction
erroneous。 Not one in two hundred that leave Scotland ever
returns to settle in his own country； and the few that do return；
carry thither nothing that can possibly diminish the stock of
South…Britain； for none of their treasure stagnates in Scotland
There is a continual circulation； like that of the blood in the
human body； and England is the heart； to which all the streams
which it distributes are refunded and returned： nay； in
consequence of that luxury which our connexion with England hath
greatly encouraged； if not introduced； all the produce of our
lands； and all the profits of our trade； are engrossed by the
natives of South…Britain； for you will find that the exchange
between the two kingdoms is always against
Scotland； and that she retains neither gold nor silver sufficient
for her own circulation。 The Scots； not content with their own
man