148 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



deer," writes another indignant Briton. Conclusive, 

 certainly ! 



The Highlands, and the condition of their inhab- 

 itants, are now engrossing public attention. The 

 whole question requires a very much abler head 

 than I have on my shoulders or, I am bold enough 

 to say, than " Spectator " has on his to solve. 

 Whether Highland proprietors are acting wisely or 

 properly in " foresting," to the extent they are doing, 

 I am unable to determine ; but as long as forests are 

 to let, and the laws of the land remain as they are, 

 I fail to see why " Spectator " has any more right to 

 enter my forest in the north, than I should have to 

 enter his coverts in the south ; or any more right to 

 drive the deer off my ground, than I should have to 

 drive the pheasants off his. But to follow him still 

 further, " liberty to stroll through the forests, to 

 climb the mountains, freedom to roam over barren 

 moors without being checked and bullied by the 

 underlings of the shooting tenant, will give content- 

 ment" This is very beautiful ; but until those 

 halcyon days arrive, I recommend " Spectator " to 

 stick to the roads, and tempt the fates no more. 

 He may get some rough handling from the under- 

 lings he writes of, and his "16s. trousers" torn 

 possibly in an unromantic spot, I am not writing 

 of the scenery, or the unmentionables in question 

 may take leave of him altogether. He may find 

 himself converted into a ready-made Highlander, cut 



