fjgi. tbservations ott the salt laws ^97' 



lefs the charge of a complicated suit in Exchequer; so that 

 it is all one to them whether the demand be legal or not. 

 If it be made they must tamely submit to it. 



Why do not the owners of lands in those regions vindii 

 eate the rights of their people, and prevent them from suf- 

 fering opprefsion, in which their own interests are so- 

 deeply involved ? I answer that the principal land ow- 

 ners there neither know that their people are opprefsed, 

 nor are they sensible of the consequences of these acts 

 of opprefsion, if they heard them, I will venture to say, 

 that no set of men will be more apt to overlook these 

 observations, or even to contiadict them in private con- 

 versation, than some of the the great land owners of the 

 Highlands. They think it is for their honour that it fliould 

 be believed that their people suffer no opprefsion, and 

 for that reason they will maintain it. Is a minister to be- 

 blamed if he trusts .to the representations of such men, in. 

 preference to that of those who write with a kind p.rdour, 

 as I now do, which many will think can only flow froiti 

 some, private pique ? Yet it will be difficult for these me-\ 

 to say what reason could influence me so warmly to es- 

 pouse the cause of these people, unlefs it be a principle .of 

 humanity and justice alone. I have neither connections 

 nor private property in that country ; nor have I the mos^ 

 distant view of ever having any such ; yet I cannot help 

 being an.xious for the welfare of these people. I have seen 

 'heir patience, their indigence, their unavailing industry. I 

 have seen them languiihing in want, yet scarcely even da- 

 ring to complain. I have seen despair heaving their bosoms 

 with anguilli, and urging them with irresistible powerto 

 abandon that country which refuses to permit them to taste 

 of that plenty which heaven has put within their reach- 

 Having seen and pondered these things, I dare to A6, 

 ■what no one else seems tc think prudent ; and, rc£,r,;d!els 



