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 Thus the Families of Crawford, Erskin, Rolle, Murray, Maxwel, Livington, Forbes, and many others, tho ome of them Senior in Antiquity to ome of thoe named, will not, I hope, take their being omitted in the Examples, or larger Characters here quotted, as any Neglect either of their Perons or Merit, ince it was impoible to run a length of Names with any tollerable Regard to the Verion, or any poibility of keeping within the bounds of a Poem.

On this account, tho ome 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 Mas of illutrious Merit which the Nobility of Scotland, furnihes for this Work.

Perhaps another Occaion may preent, which may furnih me to make amends to the whole Body, and anwer for this eeming Defect.

But this is far from being the occaion of my Addreing this Poem to this Honourable Aembly, and therefore I begg leave to come directly to the Deign.

Thro the whole Poem, I think it is plain, I go all along upon a Suppoition of Improvement; and it is not without ome Difficulty a Poet can ecape letting go ome Severities by way of Reflection on the Neglect of it.

When have aid what Scotland may be, and when I reflect what he is, I need ay no more than lay open the Scheme of both, it would certainly lay a mot indelible blame ome where.

That the Land, the Sea, the Climate, and the People of Scotland are all adapted for Plenty, Wealth, Riches, and Fruitfulnes is no Complement to you, but really a Satyr, and leads o directly to the main Quetion, that I ee no avoiding it, viz. Why is he not Rich, Plentiful, and Fruitful?

And this is the Head on which I addres to this Honourable Aembly, and begging firt your Pardon for the plainnes, I ay, 'tis in your Power to put a new Countenance on the dejected Countrey Men, a new Propect on the melancholly Surface, a New Treaure in the General Stock, and a new Face on the whole Nation.

As I aid before, I hall not concern the Union in this Dicoure; So I take the freedom to ay here, the Union is noways concern'd in this Propoal.

With or without an Union the Lands may be improved, the Tenants incouraged, the Fields incloed, Woods planted, the Moors and Wates fed, and Scotland recovered from languihing Poverty.

With or without an Union, the Nobility and Gentry may plant, manure and enrich their Etates; the Sheep Maters manage, direct, and take care of their Sheep, preerve the Breed, and nourih the Encreae of their Cattel.

With or without an Union Husbandry may be revived, the Farmers retored, 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 eay and pleaant, and the Etates of the Gentry would rie in their Value.