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of each farm consisted of 〃out…field；〃 or unenclosed land； no
better than moorland； from which the hardy black cattle could
scarcely gather herbage enough in winter to keep them from
starving。 The 〃in…field〃 was an enclosed patch of illcultivated
ground； on which oats and 〃bear；〃 or barley； were grown； but the
principal crop was weeds。
Of the small quantity of corn raised in the country； nine…tenths
were grown within five miles of the coast； and of wheat very little
was raisednot a blade north of the Lothians。 When the first crop
of that grain was tried on a field near Edinburgh； about the middle
of last century； people flocked to it as a wonder。 Clover；
turnips； and potatoes had not yet been introduced； and no cattle
were fattened： it was with difficulty they could be kept alive。
All loads were as yet carried on horseback； but when the farm was
too small； or the crofter too poor to keep a horse； his own or his
wife's back bore the load。 The horse brought peats from the bog；
carried the oats or barley to market； and bore the manure a…field。
But the uses of manure were as yet so little understood that； if a
stream were near； it was usually thrown in and floated away； and in
summer it was burnt。
What will scarcely be credited； now that the industry of Scotland
has become educated by a century's discipline of work； was the
inconceivable listlessness and idleness of the people。 They left
the bog unreclaimed； and the swamp undrained。 They would not be at
the trouble to enclose lands easily capable of cultivation。
There was； perhaps； but little inducement on the part of the
agricultural class to be industrious； for they were too liable to
be robbed by those who preferred to be idle。 Andrew Fletcher；
of Saltouncommonly known as 〃The Patriot；〃 because he was so
strongly opposed to the union of Scotland with England*＇2＇
published a pamphlet； in 1698； strikingly illustrative of the
lawless and uncivilized state of the country at that time。
After giving a dreadful picture of the then state of Scotland：
two hundred thousand vagabonds begging from door to door and robbing
and plundering the poor people； 〃in years of plenty many
thousands of them meeting together in the mountains； where they
feast and riot for many days； and at country weddings； markets；
burials； and other like public occasions； they are to be seen； both
men and women； perpetually drunk； cursing； blaspheming； and
fighting together；〃he proceeded to urge that every man of a
certain estate should be obliged to take a proportionate number of
these vagabonds and compel them to work for him； and further；
that such serfs； with their wives and children； should be incapable
of alienating their service from their master or owner until he had
been reimbursed for the money he had expended on them： in other
words； their owner was to have the power of selling them。
〃The Patriot〃 was； however； aware that 〃great address； diligence；
and severity〃 were required to carry out his scheme； 〃for；〃 said he；
〃that sort of people are so desperately wicked； such enemies of all
work and labour； and； which is yet more amazing； so proud in
esteeming their own condition above that which they will be sure to
call Slavery； that unless prevented by the utmost industry and
diligence； upon the first publication of any orders necessary for
putting in execution such a design； they will rather die with
hunger in caves and dens； and murder their young children； than
appear abroad to have them and themselves taken into such
service。〃*＇3＇
Although the recommendations of Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun were
embodied in no Act of Parliament； the magistrates of some of the
larger towns did not hesitate to kidnap and sell into slavery lads
and men found lurking in the streets； which they continued to do
down to a comparatively recent period。 This； however； was not so
surprising as that at the time of which we are speaking； and；
indeed； until the end of last century； there was a veritable slave
class in Scotlandthe class of colliers and salterswho were
bought and sold with the estates to which they belonged； as forming
part of the stook。 When they ran away； they were advertised for
as negroes were in the American States until within the last few
years。 It is curious； in turning over an old volume of the 'Scots
Magazine；' to find a General Assembly's petition to Parliament for
the abolition of slavery in America almost alongside the report of
a trial of some colliers who had absconded from a mine near
Stirling to which they belonged。 But the degraded condition of the
home slaves then excited comparatively little interest。 Indeed； it
was not until the very last year of the last century that praedial
slavery was abolished in Scotlandonly three short reigns ago；
almost within the memory of men still living。*＇4＇ The greatest
resistance was offered to the introduction of improvements in
agriculture； though it was only at rare intervals that these were
attempted。 There was no class possessed of enterprise or wealth。
An idea of the general poverty of the country may be inferred from
the fact that about the middle of last century the whole circulating
medium of the two Edinburgh banksthe only institutions of the
kind then in Scotlandamounted to only 200；000L。； which was
sufficient for the purposes of trade； commerce； and industry。
Money was then so scarce that Adam Smith says it was not uncommon
for workmen； in certain parts of Scotland； to carry nails instead
of pence to the baker's or the alehouse。 A middle class could
scarcely as yet be said to exist； or any condition between the
starving cottiers and the impoverished proprietors； whose available
means were principally expended in hard drinking。*＇5＇
The latter were； for the most part； too proud and too ignorant to
interest themselves in the improvement of their estates； and the few
who did so had very little encouragement to persevere。 Miss Craig；
in describing the efforts made by her father； William Craig；
laird of Arbigland； in Kirkcudbright； says； 〃The indolent obstinacy
of the lower class of the people was found to be almost
unconquerable。 Amongst other instances of their laziness； I have
heard him say that； upon the introduction of the mode of dressing
the grain at night which had been thrashed during the day； all the
servants in the neighbourhood refused to adopt the measure； and
even threatened to destroy the houses of their employers by fire if
they continued to insist upon the business。 My father speedily
perceived that a forcible remedy was required for the evil。
He gave his servants the choice of removing the thrashed grain in
the evening； or becoming inhabitants of Kirkcudbright gaol： they
preferred the former alternative； and open murmurings were no
longer heard。〃*＇6＇
The wages paid to the labouring classes were then very low。 Even
in East Lothian； which was probably in advance of the other Scotch
counties； the ordinary day's wage of a labouring man was only five
pence in winter and six pence in summer。 Their food was wholly
vegetable； and was insufficient in quantity as well as bad in
quality。 The little butcher's meat consumed by the better class
was salted beef and mutton； stored up in Ladner time （between
Michaelmas and Martinmas） for the year's consumption。 Mr。 Buchan
Hepburn says the Sheriff of East Lothian informed him that he
remembered when not a bullock was slaughtered in Haddington market
for a whole year； except at that time； and； when Sir David Kinloch；
of Gilmerton sold ten wedders to an Edinburgh butcher； he
stipulated for three several terms to take them away； to prevent
the Edinburgh market from being overstocked with fresh butcher's
meat！*＇7＇
The rest of Scotland was in no better state： in some parts it was
even worse。 The rich and fertile county of Ayr； which now glories
in the name of 〃the garden of Scotland；〃 was for the most part a
wild and dreary waste； with here and there a poor； miserable；
comfortless hut； where the farmer and his family lodged。 There
were no enclosures of land； except one or two about a proprietor's
residence； and black cattle roamed at large over the face of the
country。 When an attempt was made to enclose the lands for the
purposes of agriculture； the fences were levelled by the
dispossessed squatters。 Famines were frequent among the poorer
classes； the western counties not producing food enough for the
sustenance of the inhabitants； few though they were in number。
This was also the case in Dumfries； where the chief part of the grain
required for the population was brought in 〃tumbling…cars〃 from the
sandbeds of Esk； 〃and when the waters were high by reason of spates
＇or floods＇； and there being no bridges； so that the cars could not
come with the meal； the tradesmen's wives might be seen in the
streets of Dumfries； crying； because there was no food to be
had。〃*＇8＇