126 A VIEW OF* 



who travel from the moft remote parts, without 

 money or provifions, to earn 30 or 40 fhillings in 

 the Lowlands by harveft work, are often decoyed 

 into the army, by ftratagems which do no credit to* 

 the humanity of the age. 



Thefe virtuous but friendlefs men, while endea- 

 vouring, by every means in their power, to pay 

 their rents, to fupport their wives, their children, 

 their aged parents, and in all refpecls to act the 

 part of honeft, inoffenfive fubjects, are dragged 

 away they know not where to fight the battles of 

 nations who are infenfible of their merits, and to 

 obtain victories of which others arc to reap the ima- 

 ginary benefits. 



The aged, the fick, and the helplefs, look in 

 vain for the return of their friends, from the voyage 

 or the harveft. They are Ireard of no more. La- 

 mentations, cries, and deipair, pervade the village 

 or the diftricl:. Thus deprived of their main fup- 

 porc, the rent unpaid, the , cattle fold or feized, 

 whole families are reduced to the extremity of want, 

 and turned out, amidfl all the inclemencies of the 

 winter, to relate their piteous tale, and to implore 

 from the wretched, but hofpitable mountaineers, a 

 little meal or milk, to preferve their infants from 

 perifhing in their arms. 



In this fituation they wander towards the Low- 

 lands, * happy to find fhelter at night from the chil- 

 fing winds, driving fnow, or inceffant rains, in fome 

 cavern or deferted cottage ; ftiil more happy, if 

 chance hath provided their lodging with a little 

 ftraw or heath, whereon to lay their ah noil lifelefs, 



* The Highland poor have of late become fo numerous in the 

 Lowlands that fome towns pofitively refute them admittance.' 

 ** We are eat up, fay they, with beggars. '* Thus the poorcrea* 

 tures, efpecially women, children, and old people, are driven 

 from place to place, as nuifances in ibciety, and unworthy of ex- 

 iftence, though they require nothing more than the coarfefl gifts of 

 nature, which Britojis in general would fpurn at* 



infants. 



