Ch. x. in Scotland and Ireland. 453 



mortality was produced as in England, owing to 

 the smaller proportion of towns and manufactories 

 in the former country than in the latter. 



From a general view of the statistical accounts 

 the result seems clearly to be, that the condition 

 of the lower classes of people in Scotland has been 

 considerably improved of late years. The price 

 of provisions has risen, but almost invariably the 

 price of labour has risen in a greater proportion ; 

 and it is remarked in most parishes, that more 

 butchers meat is consumed among the common 

 people than formerly ; that they are both better 

 lodged and better clothed ; and that their habits 

 with respect to cleanliness are decidedly improved. 



A part of this improvement is probably to be 

 attributed to the increase of the preventive check. 

 In some parishes a habit of later marriages is 

 noticed ; and in many places, where it is not men- 

 tioned, it may be fairly inferred from the propor- 

 tion of births and marriages and other circum- 

 stances. The writer of the account of the parish 

 of Elgin,* in enumerating the general causes of 

 depopulation in Scotland, speaks of the discou- 

 ragement of marriage from the union of farms, 

 and the consequent emigration of the flower of 

 their young men, of every class and description, 

 very few of whom ever return. Another cause 

 that he mentions is the discouragement to mar- 

 riage from luxury; at least, he observes, till 

 people are advanced in years, and then a puny 

 race of children are produced. " Hence how 



* Vol. v. p. 1 . 



