DISTRESSES OF 300 EMIGRANTS. 



univcrfal benevolence, have the faireft and bcft of 

 all tides ro their pofTeflSons, are cenfurcd indifcrimi- 

 nately with men who hold their lives only through 

 the defect of human laws ; it is therefore proper to 

 draw the line, and to refcuc the innocent or the meri- 

 torious from a ftigma which, upon the ifcri&eft in- 

 quiries, fccms ill-dire&cd, if not unjulh 



When lands began to rife in the more fouihern 

 parts of the ifland, the gentlemen of the north, who 

 drew a mere pittance from extenfive di drifts, con- 

 el therhielves as having an equal right to an 

 increafe of rents, but without duly attending to the 

 circumftances of foil and climate, the want of towns. 

 manufactures, and capital. 



The tenants, accuflomed from age to age, to pof- 

 fcfs hundreds of acres, for the value of a few pounds, 

 were diunderllruck on finding their rents doubled , 

 and in many places trebled ; while all the feudal 

 fervices, fome few eftates excepted, remained in full 

 force. The confequence of this premature increafe 

 of rents need not be repeated ; many gentlemen now 

 fee their error, and are taking meafures for their 

 own relief and that of the tenants; but it is too 

 evident, that, from the natural circumftances of the 

 country, no expedients can be effectual, unlefc afiifted, 

 in the firft inftance, by the public. The proprietors 

 may in fome parts, improve the foil, but they can- 

 not improve the climate. Herein lies the great 

 barrier to agriculture in the Highlands ; on which 

 account, the greateft part of the vallies, as well as 

 lulls, would have been turned into pafture-grounds, 

 for the raifing of cattle and fheep, had not huma- 

 nity and patriotifm ileppcd forth in the generoug 

 brc afb, and faid, by turning tbeje lands into grazing 

 parks, you will depopulate your country y and deprive 

 the flate of 200,000 inhabitants. Gendemcn re- 

 coiled at the thought, and at this moment fubmitta 

 all the inconveniencics of a numerous tenantry, 

 whofe rents on fome eftates are from 2 to id. per 



annum i 



