Ch. x. in Scotland and Ireland. 467 



grain. Tenants were most of them ruined. Be- 

 fore this period, consumptions were not near so 

 frequent as they have been since. This may be 

 justly attributed to the effects of the scarcity and 

 bad victual in the year 1783, to the long inclement 

 harvests in 1782 and 1787, in both which seasons 

 the labourers were exposed to much cold and wet 

 during the three months that the harvests con- 

 tinued; but principally to the change that has 

 taken place in the manner of living among the 

 lower ranks. Formerly every householder could 

 command a draught of small beer, and killed a 

 sheep now and then out of his own little flock ; 

 but now the case is different. The frequent want 

 of the necessaries of life among the poor, their 

 damp and stinking houses, and dejection of mind 

 among the middling classes, appear to be the 

 principal causes of the prevailing distempers and 

 mortality of this parish. Young people are cut 

 off by consumptions, and the more advanced by 

 dropsies and nervous fevers. 



The state of this parish, which, though there 

 are others like it, may be considered as an ex- 

 ception to the average state of Scotland, was, 

 without doubt, occasioned by the ruin of the 

 tenants ; and the effect is not to be wondered at, 

 as no greater evil can easily happen to a country, 

 than the loss of agricultural stock and capital. 



We may observe that the diseases of this parish 

 are said to have increased, in consequence of the 

 scarcity and bad victual of 1783. The same cir- 

 cumstance is noticed in many other parishes; and 



II h 2 



