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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＇
The misery of the country was enormously aggravated by the wretched
state of the roads。 There were； indeed； scarcely any made roads
throughout the country。 Hence the communication between one town
and another was always difficult； especially in winter。 There were
only rough tracks across moors； and when one track became too
deep； another alongside of it was chosen； and was in its turn
abandoned； until the whole became equally impassable。 In wet
weather these tracks became 〃mere sloughs； in which the carts or
carriages had to slumper through in a half…swimming state； whilst；
in times of drought it was a continual jolting out of one hole into
another。〃*＇9＇
Such being the state of the highways； it will be obvious that very
little communication could exist between one part of the country
and another。 Single…horse traffickers； called cadgers； plied
between the country towns and the villages； supplying the
inhabitants with salt； fish； earthenware； and articles of clothing；
which they carried in sacks or creels hung across their horses'
backs。 Even the trade between Edinburgh and Glasgow was carried on
in the same primitive way； the principal route being along the high
grounds west of Boroughstoness； near which the remains of the old
pack…horse road are still to be seen。
It was long before vehicles of any sort could be used on the Scotch
roads。 Rude sledges and tumbling…cars were employed near towns；
and afterwards carts； the wheels of which were first made of
boards。 It was long before travelling by coach could be introduced
in Scotland。 When Smollett travelled from Glasgow to Edinburgh on
his way to London； in 1739； there was neither coach； cart； nor
waggon on the road。 He accordingly accompanied the pack…horse
carriers as far as Newcastle； 〃sitting upon a pack…saddle between
two baskets； one of which；〃 he says； 〃contained my goods in a
knapsack。〃
In 1743 an attempt was made by the Town Council of Glasgow to set
up a stage…coach or 〃lando。〃 It was to be drawn by six horses；
carry six passengers； and run between Glasgow and Edinburgh； a
distance of forty…four miles； once a week in winter； and twice a
week in summer。 The project； however； seems to have been thought
too bold for the time； for the 〃lando〃 was never started。 It was
not until the year 1749 that the first public conveyance； called
〃The Glasgow and Edinburgh Caravan；〃 was started between the two
cities； and it made the journey between the one place and the other
in two days。 Ten years later another vehicle was started； named
〃The Fly〃 because of its unusual speed； and it contrived to make
the journey in rather less than a day and a half。
About the same time； a coach with four horses was started between
Haddington and Edinburgh； and it took a full winter's day to
perform the journey of sixteen miles： the effort being to reach
Musselburgh in time for dinner； and go into town in the evening。
As late as 1763 there was as only one stage…coach in all Scotland
in communication with London； and that set out from Edinburgh only
once a month。 The journey to London occupied from ten to fifteen
days； according to the state of the weather； and those who
undertook so dangerous a journey usually took the precaution of
making their wills before starting。
When carriers' carts were established； the time occupied by them on
the road will now appear almost incredible。 Thus the common
carrier between Selkirk and Edinburgh； a distance of only
thirty…eight miles； took about a fortnight to perform the double
journey。 Part of the road lay along Gala Water； and in summer time；
when the river…bed was dry； the carrier used it as a road。 The
townsmen of this adventurous individual； on the morning of his
way…going； were accustomed to turn out and take leave of him；
wishing him a safe return from his perilous journey。 In winter the
route was simply impracticable； and the communication was suspended
until the return of dry weather。
While such was the state of the communications in the immediate
neighbourhood of the metropolis of Scotland； matters were； if
possible； still worse in the remoter parts of the country。 Down to
the middle of last century； there were no made roads of any kind in
the south…western counties。 The only inland trade was in black
cattle； the tracks were impracticable for vehicles； of which there
were only a fewcarts and tumbling…carsemployed in the immediate
neighbourhood of the towns。 When the Marquis of Downshire
attempted to make a journey through Galloway in his coach； about
the year 1760； a party of labourers with tools attended him； to
lift the vehicle out of the ruts and put on the wheels when it got
dismounted。 Even with this assistance； however； his Lordship
occasionally stuck fast； and when within about three miles of the
village of Creetown； near Wigton； he was obliged to send away the
attendants； and pass the night in his coach on the Corse of Slakes
with his family。
Matters were； of course； still worse in the Highlands； where the
rugged character of the country offered formidable difficulties to
the formation of practicable roads； and where none existed save
those made through the rebel districts by General Wade shortly
after the rebellion of 1715。 The people were also more lawless
and； if possible； more idle； than those of the Lowland districts
about the same period。 The latter regarded their northern
neighbours as the settlers in America did the Red Indians round
their borderslike so many savages always ready to burst in upon
them； fire their buildings； and carry off their cattle。*＇10＇
Very little corn was grown in the neighbourhood of the Highlands；
on account of its being liable to be reaped and carried off by the
caterans； and that before it was ripe。 The only method by which
security of a certain sort could be obtained was by the payment of
blackmail to some of the principal chiefs； though this was not
sufficient to protect them against the lesser marauders。 Regular
contracts were drawn up between proprietors in the counties of
Perth； Stirling； and Dumbarton； and the Macgregors； in which it was
stipulated that if less than seven cattle were stolenwhich
peccadillo was known as pickingno redress should be required； but
if the number stolen exceeded sevensuch amount of theft being
raised to the dignity of liftingthen the Macgregors were bound to
recover。 This blackmail was regularly levied as far south as
Campsiethen within six miles of Glasgow； but now almost forming
part of itdown to within a few months of the outbreak of the
Rebellion of 1745。*＇11＇
Under such circumstances； agricultural improvement was altogether
impossible。 The most fertile tracts were allowed to lie waste； for
men would not plough or sow where they had not the certain prospect
of gathering in the crop。 Another serious evil was； that the
lawless habits of their neighbours tended to make the Lowland
borderers almost as ferocious as the Higlanders themselves。 Feuds
were of constant occurrence between neighbouring baronies； and even
contiguous parishes； and the country fairs； which were tacitly
recognised as the occasions for settling quarrels； were the scenes
of as bloody faction fights as were ever known in Ireland even in
its worst days。 When such was the state of Scotland only a century
ago； what may we not hope for from Ireland when the civilizing
influences of roads； schools； and industry have made more general
progress amongst her people？
Yet Scotland had not always been in this miserable condition。 There
is good reason to believe that as early as the thirteenth century；
agriculture was in a much more advanced state than we find it to
have been the eighteenth。 It would appear from the extant
chartularies of monastic establishments； which then existed all
over the Lowlands； that a considerable portion of their revenue was
derived from wheat； which also formed no inconsiderable part of
their living。 The remarkable fact is mentioned by Walter de
Hemingford； the English historian； that when the castle of
Dirleton； in East Lothian； was besieged by the army of Edward I。；
in the beginning of July； 1298； the men； being reduced to great
extremities for provisions； were fain to subsist on the pease and
beans which they gathered in the fields。*＇12＇ This statement is all
the more remarkable on two accounts： first； that pease and beans
should then have been so plentiful as to afford anything like
sustenance for an army； and second； that they should have been fit
for use so early in the season； even allowing for the difference
between the old and new styles in the reckoning of time。
The magnificent old abbeys and churches of Scotland in early times
also indicate that at some remote period a degree