=24. Social Progress.=--The removal of the Government to London attracted thither not only all the Scottish nobles, but also all the wealthy and the ambitious commoners. Thus _Edinburgh_ lost much of its importance through the _Union_, though it still remained the intellectual capital, where the members of the Courts of Law and of the University took the lead in society. Meanwhile _Glasgow_, the capital of the west, where the manufactures which were first introduced by _Duncan Forbes_ had taken firm root, gradually rose to much greater importance in wealth and commerce. During this period two great elements of civilization, productive industry and intellectual culture, have done much to improve the _Lowland_ population, among whom book-learning has always been in advance of material comfort. It was not till after the _Rebellion_ of 1745 that the spirit of industry first began to animate the people. But the Highlands remained for some time in a very bad state. The spirit of the people was broken, and the severe climate, barren soil, and lack of minerals left them no resource but the fisheries. The _Highland Society_, founded in 1784, did much to improve the state of agriculture, by reclaiming the waste districts; and latterly great numbers of the people have emigrated. At the time of the Union Scotland was without agriculture, manufactures, or trade; since then she has risen to excellence in them all, and has produced some of the most useful inventions of modern times. _James Watt_, who perfected the invention of the steam-engine, and thus placed a new power in the hands of man, was born at _Greenock_ in 1736. It was in Scotland that this power was first put to use for traffic by steam navigation. A small pleasure-boat, worked by a steam-engine, was tried on _Dalswinton Loch_ in _Dumfriesshire_ in 1788; another effort was made on the _Forth_ and _Clyde Canal_ in 1802; but the first steamboat actually used for traffic was the _Comet_, which began to ply on the _Clyde_ in 1812. It was projected by _Henry Bell_, a house-carpenter in _Glasgow_. Many improvements in calico-printing and dyeing, and in all sorts of machinery, are likewise due to _Scotchmen_. Among others _Macadam_ is noteworthy for originating that system of road-making which is now known by his name.